IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the "International Patent
Office," No. 8, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in County of
Middlesex, Consulting Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS."-A communication from abroad by John
Webster Cochran, of the City and State of New York, United States of
America.
Sealed the 8th May 1868, and dated the 11th November 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
11th November 1867.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office, No. 8,
Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Consulting Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS," a communication, to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates more especially to that class of breech-loading fire-
arms wherein the breech is closed by a sliding bolt which is locked and unlocked
by turning on its axis, provision being made for inserting the cartridges through
an aperture in the barrel or breech receiver when the bolt is drawn back to

page_text: a suitable position, and the firing of the cartridges being effected by a pin
passing through the said bolt and struck by a hammer at the rear of the
same.
The said Invention consists partly in the novel construction of the said
aperture in the barrel or breech receiver, whereby while provision-is made for
easily inserting the cartridges in a proper position relatively to the shell
ejector a firm support is given to the upper part of the breech block or bolt
and its tipping up is prevented. The said Invention also consists in the novel
combination with the block or bolt of a cover for closing the said aperture in
the barrel or breech receiver when the breech is closed and the bolt locked,
which cover is also made to serve as a means for locking the bolt. Also in
the peculiar construction of the firing pin and hammer, whereby the possibility
of firing the cartridge prematurely or before the recoil bolt is closed and
locked is effectually prevented, while at the same time the firing pin is allowed
to pass the hammer when drawn back with the bolt in opening the breech.
The said Invention also consists in the construction of the cartridge shell
ejector and in a certain simple provision for cleaning the recoil bolt and
breech receiver. The barrel is provided at its rear end with a breech receiver
whose interior is continuous with the bore of the said barrel; a lock frame
is also secured to the said receiver, these parts being all secured to the stock
in any suitable manner. The forward portion of the breech receiver has a
longitudinal opening on its upper side through which the cartridge is placed
in the said receiver in loading the arm. The forward or main portion of this
opening is wide enough to readily admit the body of the cartridge but not the
flange or rim, the rear portion of the opening being widened or enlarged to admit
the said rim; by this means the cartridge is brought into the proper relation
with the shell extractor. The back or rear portion of the breech receiver is
provided internally with longitudinal ribs, the forward ends of which form flat
shoulders at right angles to the bore of the barrel. The recoil bolt or breech
block is a cylindrical piece of metal of such a size that it may slide freely in
the said receiver, and is furnished at its rear end with radial lugs or projections
corresponding in number with the ribs of the breech receiver. These lugs
are so formed and arranged that when the recoil bolt is turned with the lugs
in front of the ribs the latter will serve as solid abutments behind the said
lugs and keep the breech tightly and securely closed. When the said bolt is
turned to bring its lugs in line with the grooves between the ribs of the
receiver the said lugs will slide in the grooves and allow the block to be drawn
back longitudinally, thus opening the breech to permit the insertion of the
cartridge. A broad groove or channel is formed around the periphery of the

page_text: This shield is furnished at its
afford a convenient means for
The firing pin passes through
The
breech block or bolt near the forward end of the same, into which the
upwardly projecting spur of the extractor fits. The tooth of this extractor
is so formed and arranged that when the breech is closed it lies in front
of the flange or rim of the cartridge shell and withdraws the same from
the barrel when the recoil bolt is drawn back. Two apertures or slots are
formed in the bottom of the breech receiver, through the forward one of
which the curved end of a spring projects. The said spring is secured to the
under side of the receiver, and may be formed in one piece with another spring
whose extremity forms a prong extending up through the other aperture or
slot. A semicircular shield or cover is fitted to slide upon the exterior of the
receiver and is attached to the recoil bolt by a solid connecting piece at its
forward end. This shield is so arranged that when the recoil bolt is brought
into position to close the breech it will cover the opening in the receiver,
and when the bolt is drawn back to open the breech it will uncover the said
opening, being then at the rear of the same.
forward end with knobs or projections which
manipulation in opening or closing the breech.
a suitable aperture formed centrally in the recoil bolt, and is of such length
that when the breech is closed its rear end projects into the lock frame.
forward portion of this firing pin is reduced in diameter and is surrounded by
a light spiral spring which presses the pin back. The said pin is formed with
a transverse oblong slot, and a small stop passed through the same serves to
limit the backward movement of the firing pin in the recoil bolt, and also
causes the said pin to move with the recoil bolt when the latter is turned upon
its longitudinal axis. At the rear end of the firing pin is a radial spur, and
when the breech is closed and the hammer is down this spur enters a notch
formed in the front of the lock frame, the said spur being forced into the said
notch by the pressure of the hammer. The inner side of the hammer is
recessed or cut away in such manner that when the said hammer is pulled back
to "half cock" and the spur is brought out of the recess and turned into a
vertical position it will pass the hammer when the recoil bolt is drawn back
to open the breech. In the bottom of the rear part of the breech receiver an
opening is formed which extends through the stock, the object of which opening
is to provide a means whereby any extraneous matter finding its way into.the-
breech receiver may readily escape from the same. To load the arın the
hammer is first brought back to "half cock," when the small spiral spring
forces back the firing pin until its spur clears the recess or notch in the front
of the lock frame. The recoil bolt or block together with the shield attached
to the same is turned toward the left hand to bring the lugs of the said bolt

page_text: in line with the grooves between the ribs in the breech receiver, the spur of
the firing pin being at the same time brought into a vertical or nearly vertical
position. The recoil bolt is then drawn back longitudinally within the receiver,
the lugs sliding in the grooves between the ribs and the recess in the inner
side of the hammer permitting the spur of the firing pin to pass the said
hammer. As the recoil bolt is thus drawn back the tooth or claw of the
extractor catching upon the rim of the cartridge shell draws back the same
until the rear end of the extractor strikes a fixed stud or shoulder which tilts
upward the forward end of the said extractor, the suddenness and force of this
movement of the latter being very materially increased by the upward pressure
of the spring below the same. The cartridge shell is by this means thrown
completely out of the breech receiver through the opening in the top of the said
receiver, which is uncovered by the backward movement of the shield with the
recoil bolt. As the recoil bolt is thus moved back the curved portion of the
spring projects upward through the forward aperture in the bottom of the
receiver. The breech being thus opened and the empty shell ejected from the
arm, the cartridge for the succeeding charge is dropped into the forward part
of the breech receiver, its flange or rim passing through the enlarged rear
portion of the opening and dropping behind the tooth of the extractor. The
recoil bolt is then pushed forward, foreing the cartridge before it into its place
in the barrel. The inclined or curved surface of the spring acts as a guide to
keep the cartridge from striking at the forward end of the breech receiver
as it enters the barrel. The recoil bolt is then turned to bring its lugs in
front of the shoulders of the receiver, thus securely closing the breech. The
recoil bolt is held in this position by a supplemental spring friction catch
attached to one side of the breech receiver and arranged to take into a suitable
notch formed near the edge of the shield. The spur of the firing pin is at
the same time brought into its original position with regard to the recess and
in front of the striking surface or portion of the hammer in such manner
that the movement of the hammer upon the said spur will force the pin
forward and bring the said spur within the recess. The firing pin is thus
firmly locked, and the turning of the recoil bolt before igniting the cartridge
by the action of the firing pin thereon is prevented.
My improvements may be advantageously employed in the conversion of
muzzle-loaders into breech-loading arms by a simple modification of some of
the parts. Instead of arranging the hammer to act directly upon the firing
pin the latter is operated by a rod formed upon a sliding piece which is forced
forward by the hammer. This rod is so arranged that when the recoil bolt is
in the position to close the breech the spur of the firing pin will be situated in

page_text: front of the said rod, so that the forward movement of the latter will operate
the firing pin to ignite the cartridge, and when the recoil bolt is turned into
the position for opening the breech the spur will be brought out of line with
the said rod, and the latter will enter a hole formed in the block parallel with
the firing pin and thereby permit the required movement of the bolt.
In this arrangement of parts as in the other arrangement herein-before
described the width of the forward portion of the opening through which the
body of the cartridge is introduced into the breech receiver is less than the
diameter of the recoil bolt or breech block, so that any tilting upward of the
forward portion of the said bolt is effectually prevented.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 9th May 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office," No. 8, Southampton
Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirty-first year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said William Robert Lake, Her special licence that I, the said
William Robert Lake, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from
time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of
Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Robert Lake,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Robert Lake, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings
forming a part of this Specification :-
This Invention relates more especially to that class of breech-loading fire-
arms wherein the breech is closed by a sliding bolt which is locked and un-
locked by turning on its axis, provision being made for inserting the cartridges
through an aperture in the barrel or breech receiver when the bolt is drawn
back to a suitable position, and the firing of the cartridges being effected by a pin
passing through the said bolt and struck by a hammer at the rear of the same.
The said Invention consists partly in the novel construction of the said
aperture in the barrel or breech receiver, whereby while provision is made
for easily inserting the cartridges in a proper position relatively to the
shell ejector a firm support is given to the upper part of the breech block or
bolt and its tipping up is prevented. The said Invention also consists in the
novel combination with the block or bolt of a cover for closing the aperture
in the barrel or breech receiver when the breech is closed and the bolt locked,
which cover is also made to serve as a means for locking the bolt. Also in
the peculiar construction of the firing pin and hammer, whereby the possibility
of firing the cartridge prematurely or before the recoil bolt is closed and
locked is effectually prevented, while at the same time the firing pin is allowed
to pass the hammer when drawn back with the bolt in opening the breech.
The said Invention also consists in the construction of the cartridge shell
ejector and in a certain simple provision for cleaning the recoil bolt and
breech receiver.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of part of a fire-arm constructed according
to my Invention shewing the breech closed; Figure 2 is a plan of the same
also showing the breech closed; Figure 3 is a transverse section on the
line x, x, Figure 1; Figure 4 is a transverse section on the line y, y,
Figure 1 Figure 5 is a transverse section on the line z, z, Figure 1;
Figure 6 represents detached portions of the said fire-arm; Figure 7 is
T

page_text: the position of the parts when the breech is open; Figure 11 is a transverse
section on the line y', y', Figure 9. Like letters indicate the same parts in
each of the Figures.
The barrel A is provided at its rear end with a breech receiver B, C, whose
interior is continous with the bore of the said barrel.
A lock frame D, shown
receiver, these parts being
The forward portion B of
more clearly in Figures 1 and 5, is secured to the said
all secured to the stock E in any suitable manner.
the breech receiver has a longitudinal opening a, a¹, on its upper side through
which the cartridge is placed in the said receiver in loading the arm. The
forward or main portion a of this opening is wide enough to readily admit the
body of the cartridge, but the flange or rim of the latter can only enter through
the rear portion a¹ of the said opening, which portion is widened or enlarged,
as more clearly shewn in Figure 8 for that purpose. By this means the
The
cartridge is brought into the proper relation with the shell extractor.
back or rear portion C of the breech receiver is provided internally with
longitudinal ribs b and grooves c. The forward ends of the said ribs form flat
shoulders at right angles to the bore of the barrel A. The recoil bolt or breech
block F is a cylindrical piece of metal of such a size that it will slide freely in
the receiver B, C, and is furnished at its rear end with radial lugs or projections
d corresponding in number with the ribs b of the breech receiver. These lugs
are so formed and arranged that when the recoil bolt F is turned with the
lugs d in front of the ribs 6 the latter will serve as solid abutments behind the
said lugs, the breech being thus kept tightly and securely closed and the bolt
being sustained against the explosion. When the said bolt is turned to bring
its lugs d in line with the grooves c between the ribs 6 of the receiver the said
lugs will slide in the grooves and allow the block to be drawn back
longitudinally, thus opening the breech to permit the insertion of the cartridges
through the aperture a, a¹. A broad groove or channel e is formed around
the periphery of the breech block or bolt F near the forward end of the same,
into which is fitted the upwardly projecting spur G of the extractor G. The
tooth or claw G³ of this extractor is so formed and arranged that when the
breech is closed it lies in front of the flange or rim of the cartridge shell and
withdraws the said shell from the barrel A when the recoil bolt F is drawn
back. Two apertures or slots f, 9, are formed in the bottom of the breech
receiver, and through the forward one of these two apertures the curved end
of a
spring pojects. The said spring is secured to the under side of the
receiver, and may be formed in one piece with another spring i, whose
extremity terminates in a prong extending up through the other aperture or
slot g. A semicircular or curved shield or cover I is fitted to slide upon the

page_text: exterior of the receiver B, C, and is attached to the recoil bolt F by a solid
connecting piece j at its forward end. This shield is so arranged that when
the recoil bolt F is brought into the position to close the breech it will cover
the opening a, a', in the receiver, as shown in Figure 1, and when the bolt F
is drawn back to open the breech it will uncover the said opening, being then
at the rear of the same, as shown in Figure 7. The shield I is furnished at its
forward end with knobs or projections k, which afford a convenient means for
manipulating the bolt or block in opening or closing the breech. The firing
pin J passes through a suitable aperture formed centrally in the recoil bolt F,
and is of such a length that when the breech is closed the rear end of the said
pin projects into the lock frame D, as shewn in Figure 1. The forward portion
J' of this firing pin is reduced in diameter and is surrounded by a light spiral
spring h, which presses the pin backward. The said pin is formed with a
transverse oblong slot, and a small stop pin c* passing through the same serves
to limit the backward movement of the firing pin J in the recoil bolt F, and
also causes the said pin F to turn with the recoil bolt when the latter is turned
upon its longitudinal axis. At the rear end of the firing pin J is a radial spur
d*, and when the breech is closed and the hammer K is down, as in Figure 1,
this spur enters a notch e* formed in the front of the lock frame D, the said
spur being forced into the notch by the pressure of the hammer K. The inner
side of the hammer is recessed or cut away, as shown at f*, in such manner
that when the said hammer is pulled back to "half cock" and the spur d* is
brought out of the recess and turned into a vertical position it will pass the
hammer when the recoil bolt is drawn back to open the breech. In the bottom
of the rear part of the breech receiver B, C, an opening 9* is formed which
extends through the stock E, the object of which opening is to provide a means
whereby any extraneous matter finding its way into the breech receiver may
readily escape from the same. To load the arm the hammer is first brought
back to "half cock," when the small spiral spring h* forces back the firing
pin J until its spur d* clears the recess e*. The recoil bolt or block F together
with the shield I attached to the same is turned toward the left hand to bring
the lugs d of the said bolt in line with the grooves c between the ribs b in the
breech receiver, the spur d* of the firing pin J being at the same time brought
into a vertical or nearly vertical position. The recoil bolt F is then drawn
back longitudinally within the receiver, the lugs d sliding in the grooves c
between the ribs 6 and the recess in the inner side of the hammer K,
permitting the spur d* of the firing pin to pass the said hammer. As the
recoil bolt F is thus drawn back the tooth or claw G3 of the extractor
catching upon the rim of the cartridge shell draws back the same until the

page_text: rear end or point G³ of the extractor G strikes a fixed stud or shoulder a*
which tilts upward the forward end of the said extractor, the sharpness and
force of this movement of the extractor being very materially increased by the
upward pressure of the spring i below the same. The cartridge shell is by this
means thrown completely out of the breech receiver through the opening a, a¹,
in the top of the receiver, which opening is uncovered by the backward
movement of the shield I with the recoil bolt F. As the said bolt is thus moved
back the curved portion of the spring h projects upward through the forward
aperture in the bottom of the receiver, as shown in Figure 7. The breech
being thus opened and the empty shell ejected from the arm, the cartridge for the
succeeding charge is dropped into the forward part B of the breech receiver, its
flange or rim passing through the enlarged rear portion a¹ of the opening and
dropping behind the tooth or claw G' of the extractor. The recoil bolt is then
pushed forward, forcing the cartridge before it into its place in the barrel. The
inclined or curved surface of the spring h acts as a guide to keep the cartridge
from striking the forward end of the breech receiver as it enters the barrel.
The recoil bolt F is then turned to bring its lugs d in front of the shoulders
of the receiver, thus securely closing the breech. The recoil bolt F is held
in this position by a supplemental spring friction catch 62 attached to one
side of the breech receiver and arranged to take into a suitable notch formed
near the edge of the shield I. The spur d* of the firing pin J is at the same
time brought into its original position with regard to the recess e* and in
front of the striking surface or portion of the hammer K in such manner that
the action of the hammer upon the spur d* will force the pin J forward and
bring the said spur within the recess. The firing pin is thus firmly locked, and
the turning of the recoil bolt before igniting the cartridge by the action of the
firing pin thereon is prevented.
My improvements may be advantageously employed in the conversion of
muzzle loaders into breech-loading arms by a simple modification of some of
the parts, which I have illustrated in Figures 9, 10, and 11. In this case
instead of arranging the hammer to act directly upon the firing pin J, the
latter is operated by a rod m formed upon a sliding piece L, which in firing
is forced forward by the hammer. This rod m is so arranged that when
the recoil bolt F is in the position for closing the breech the spur d* of
the firing pin J will be situated in front of the said rod, so that the forward
movement of the latter will operate the firing pin to ignite the cartridge, and
when the recoil bolt F is turned into the position for opening the breech the
spur d* will be brought out of line with the said rod and the latter will enter
a hole formed in the block or bolt F parallel with the firing pin, as shewn in

page_text: In
Figure 10, and thereby permit the required movement of the said bolt.
this arrangement of parts as in the other arrangement herein-before described
the width of the forward portion a of the opening through which the body of
the cartridge is introduced into the breech receiver is less than the diameter
of the recoil bolt or breech block F, so that any tilting upward of the forward
portion of the said bolt is effectually prevented.
Having thus fully described the said improvements as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, and shown how the same may be conveniently
and advantageously carried into practice, I claim,
First. The opening in the top of the breech receiver made with its forward
portion a of a width less than the diameter of the sliding recoil bolt, sub-
stantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Second. The shield I in combination with the recoil bolt F, constructed and
operated substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Third. The firing pin J in combination with the recoil bolt F and the
hammer or striking device, whereby when the recoil bolt is turned pre-
paratory to opening the breech the firing pin shall be turned or brought out
of line or contact with the said hammer or device, substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
Fourth. The head or spur d* of the firing pin arranged in relation with the
recess and the hammer, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Fifth. The arrangement of the head d* of the firing pin with reference to
the recessed portion f* of the hammer, substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
Sixth. The opening g at the lower side of the breech receiver and arranged
with reference to the sliding recoil bolt substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Ninth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE. (L.S.)
Witness,
THO. N. PALMER,
Clerk to Messrs. Haseltine, Lake, & Co.,
8, Southampton Buildings, W.C.