IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE. ARMS AND ROTATING BREECH CYLINDER PISTOLS, AND CARTRIDGES TO BE USED THEREWITH
Year: 1865

page_text: man,
LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Vincent Newton, of the Office for Patents,
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughts-
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE.
ARMS AND ROTATING BREECH CYLINDER PISTOLS, AND CARTRIDGES TO BE USED
THEREWITH." A communication from abroad by Silas Crispin, of the
City of New York, in the United States of America.
Sealed the 6th March 1866, and dated the 16th December 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Vincent Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 16th December 1865.
I, ALFRED VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-
LOADING FIRE-ARMS AND ROTATING BREECH CYLINDER PISTOLS, AND CARTRIDGES TO
BE USED THEREWITH," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in breech-loading gunsand
pistols which will admit of the use of a peculiar construction of cartridge,
also constituting part of the present Invention, and calculated to form a
perfect gas check for those arms. The barrel of the gun is hinged to the
breech or stock at the under side to provide for the insertion of the charge at
the rear end of the barrel, and a spring strap attached to the upper side of
the barrel and catching on to a hub on the breech is used to make good the
connection between the breech and barrel. The cartridge employed has a
D

page_text: metal case with a flange or annular projection some distance in advance of the
rear end of the case. This annular projection fits into an annular recess made
to receive it, one half being in the barrel and the other half in the breech.
When, therefore, the cartridge is ignited this metal flange or projection will
effectually close the opening between the breech and barrel, and prevent the
discharge of lateral fire.
To adapt this improvement to repeating arms constructed on the rotating
breech principle the breech is divided into two parts at right angles to its
axis, the larger portion being mounted on a pin carried by the barrel, and the
latter on a pin projecting from the recoil shield or breech piece, These two
parts are intended to rotate together under the action of the ordinary driver,
and they are temporarily connected together by the insertion of the metallic
cartridges in the chambers of the rotating breech, or it may be by dowel pins.
To allow of the insertion of the cartridges the sections of the breech are
made to separate readily, the barrel and stock being connected together by a
hinge as in the gun, and further secured by an elastic strap. The rim or
annular projection on the cartridges lies in a recess made to receive it in the
line of section of the rotating breech, and slots are made in the periphery of
the rear section to allow the hammer to reach and strike upon the rim ; or
in lieu of these slots an igniting rod within the upper part of the recoil shield
may be used to receive the blow of the hammer and impart the same to the
explosive matter in the cartridge. This means of firing the charge is also
adapted to the above-described breech-loading gun.
The improved cartridge is a primed metallic cartridge, which serves not only
as a gas check but offers facilities for removal (when discharged) by applying
the fingers to the rear end thereof. The cartridge may have a seamless
metallic case made in the ordinary manner, or a case made of thin wrapped
sheet metal. In it there is formed to receive the priming or percussion
powder a rim or annular recess anywhere intermediate between the bottom of
the case and that end of it into which the bullet is inserted. A paper or
a metallic cup, or a cup of elastic substance may be inserted in the cartridge
case before the same is filled. The case is then charged with powder and
ball as is done in making ordinary primed metallic cartridges. The annular
recess or rim is formed in the case by the insertion therein of a properly
shaped tool while the case is being rotated in a lathe. It will be understood
that when the improved cartridge is fired the case will form a perfect gas
check, and on the breech being opened the empty case can be removed by the
fingers without the employment of any auxiliary mechanical device.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Alfred Vincent Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 16th June 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALFRED
VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-ninth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Alfred Vincent Newton, Her special licence that I, the said Alfred
Vincent Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as the said Alfred Vincent Newton, my executors, administrators, 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 AND ROTATING BREECH CYLIN.
DER PISTOLS. AND CARTRIDGES TO BE USED THEREWITH," being a communication
from abroad, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Alfred
Vincent Newton, 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, 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 Drawing hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereou (that is to say):-
This Invention, as communicated to me by myforeigncorrespondent, relates
to certain improvements in breech-loading guns and pistols which will admit
of the use of a peculiar construction of cartridge, also constituting part of
the Invention, and which cartridge is intended to form a perfect gas check
for those arms.
The first improvement has reference to that kind of breech-loading gun in
which the chamber for receiving the cartridge is transversely divided, one

page_text: portion of such chamber being formed in the breech piece attached to the
stock or neck of the stock, and the other portion being formed in the breech
end of the barrel; the two parts are connected by a hinge joint, which will
allow of the opening of the breech for the insertion of the cartridge and the
withdrawal of the case. This part of the Invention consists in so forming the
two parts of the cartridge chamber with a chamfer on the mouth of each that
when they are brought together to hold the cartridge there shall be an
annular groove adapted to accommodate an annular rim or fulminate flanch
on the body of a peculiar construction of cartridge herein-after to be more fully
described.
In the accompanying Drawing, Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a breech-
loading carbine constructed according to the first head of the Invention, and
Fig.2 is a similar view of the same, showing the breech open for the insertion
of the cartridge.
In these views A, A, are the barrel stock and barrel, and C the stock; D
is a breech piece, which is formed on or attached permanently to the stock C,
and in which is formed a portion of the cartridge chamber b. The other
portion of the chamber b is formed in the rear end of the barrel a, and the
two parts are hinged together at i in such manner that they can be swung
apart as shewn at Fig. 2, and closed up as shewn at Fig. 1. On the upper
side of the breech piece D is a projection or lug h, and on the top of the
breech of the barrel a is another and similar lug g. Over these two lugs
shuts a spring bar f, which serves to hold the parts together, as shewn at
Fig. 1; is a sliding rod or bar which serves to force up the rear end of the
spring to unlock the parts so that they can be swung open, as shewn at
Fig. 2, for the insertion of the cartridge previous to firing, and for the
extraction of the discharged or empty cartridge case. B represents one of
the new metallic cartridges fitted with a conical ball p and inserted into the
breech of the barrel a (or the forward portion of cartridge chamber b); n is
the trigger guard; m, the trigger; and k, the cock or hammer, all of which
parts may be constructed and arranged in any desired manner. The hammer
acts upon a piu or rod which slides in the side of the breech D, and is so
arranged as to impart the blow from the hammer to the annular flanch or
fulminate rim o of the cartridge B. By reaming out the edges of the two
portions of the chamber 6, as shewn at c and d, Fig. 1, an annular channel
or groove is formed for the reception of the rim o of the cartridge.
Breech-loading guns constructed as described to receive the new cartridge
having the fulminate rim between the base and forward end of its case may be
used with great advantage. It will be seen that by simply pressing up the

page_text: rod with the forefinger the spring f will be forced up and the parts allowed
to assume the position of Fig. 2 for the ready and easy insertion of the
cartridge or extraction of the empty case; in the latter instance, from a large
portion of the empty case protruding from the chamber 6, the case can be
readily withdrawn by the fingers.
Under this head of the Invention I claim constructing breech-loading guns
with the cartridge chambers formed in two parts, as described, to receive the
fulminate flanch of the cartridge, substantially in the manner and for the
purpose above set forth.
The second part of the Invention consists in adapting breech cylinder fire-
arms to receive the improved flanged metallic cartridge and facilitate the
removal of the waste cases therefrom.
Fig. 3 is a side view of a pistol having a revolving many-chambered breech
piece or cylinder, the breech cylinder being constructed in two parts; Fig. 4
is a side view of the pistol,showing the breech open; Fig. 5 is a partial plan
or top view of the pistol when in the position represented in Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is
a partial, central, longitudinal, vertical section; and Fig. 7, a side view of the
pistol with the breech divided into two parts or sections at or near its pointend.
a, a, on the Drawing represent the barrel of the pistol attached to or
formed with its frame 6 hung by a hinge joint c to and upon the lower side d
of the stock f, which frame and stock are held together at their upper parts
when closed by the interlocking of a spring plate g (on the barrel frame) with
the projecting piece h on the stock. The breech cylinder is formed in two
parts or sections n, o, with the division near the closed or rear end thereof,
and it has a series of chambers m, m, m, extending nearly through its length,
and of the same size as the bore of the barrel a. One of these sections, n,
turns upon a shaft p of the barrel frame, and the other upon a shaft g of the
stock. The two sections are so arranged that when brought together by the
closing of the barrel frume and stock as before described the contiguousends
of each section will perfectly coincide with each other, as also will their
chambers, which are brought in turn in line with the bore of the barrel by
the devices ordinarily employed for revolving the breech cylinder. In the
chambers m, formed in the two sections or parts of the breech cylinder, the
metallic cartridges, represented by red lines in Figures 4 and 5, and hereafter
to be fully described, are inserted, they extending across from one section to
the other, with their fulminating rims held by and in the shoulders and s of
the contiguous ends of the sections; these cartridges, when brought in turn
to and in a line with the barrel by and through the ordinary devices usually
employed for revolving the breech cylinder, are discharged by means of the

page_text: hammer t, which is made of the proper shape and size to strike their
fulminating rims, the periphery of the rear section o being cut away at the
proper point, as seen at u, u, in order to expose the rims to the action of the
hammer. From the above it is evident that as the metallic cartridges extend
from one section to the other of the breech the two parts must necessarily
revolve together and as one piece when the rear portion o is actuated as
above described, but in lieu thereof the sections may be secured together by
dowel pins either inserted in one or the other if desired or deemed expedient,
and furthermore it is apparent that in order to insert the cartridges within the
breech cylinder its two parts must be opened from each other, as represented
in Figures 4 and 5, when the ball end of the cartridge is placed within the
chamber of the front section n with the fulminating rim resting upon the
shoulder thereof, after which the rear end o of the breech is closed upon
the cartridges, thereby covering their projecting ends, and the sections n & o
are locked together by the spring plate G before referred to, the pistol is then
ready for use. To remove the waste cartridge cases the two parts of the
cylinder are re-opened as before described for charging the chambers, when
by taking hold of the projecting portions they can be easily and readily
removed. Among the many advantages resulting from the above-described
arrangement or construction of the breech cylinder of the pistol, in addition
to the facility with which the waste cartridge cases can be removed therefrom,
may be here mentioned that the rear end of the cylinder can be entirely
closed, thus protecting the cartridges from contact with the stock with which
they have heretofore generally come in contact, and the objections to which
are well known to all conversant with fire-arms, and furthermore by being
thus entirely closed within the cylinder they are not liable to injury from any
cause whatsoever.
In Fig. 7a modification of the above-described improvement is represented.
It consists in dividing the breech cylinder at or near its front end, which
necessitates a corresponding change in the position of its fulminating rim of
the metallic cartridge and the use of an igniting rod within the upper portion
of the stock. This rod is arranged in such a manner that the striking force
of the hammer of the pistol shall communicate through the same with the
fulminating rim of the cartridges, as is plainly represented in Fig. 7. I would
here remark that although I have described the second part of the Invention
in connection with a pistol having a revolving chambered breech cylinder, it
is manifest that it can be as well applied to other and various forms of
rotating breech pieces, and therefor I do not intend to limit myself to its use
for any one particular form of cylinder breech pieces,

page_text: Under the second head of the Invention I claim the application to a revolver
of a transversely divided cylinder constructed and operating in the manner and
for the purpose above described.
I will now proceed to describe the improved cartridge which forms the third
and last part of this Invention.
Fig. 8 is a piece of sheet metal cut to the shape required to form into a
cartridge case by wrapping; Fig.9 is a longitudinal section of such a case in
one stage of its manufacture; Fig. 10 is a side view of the finished case;
Figures 11, 12, and 18 are cups or discs for insertion in the cases before
filling, the first being of paper, the second of metal, and the last of an elastic
material; Fig. 14 is a longitudinal section of a seamless case; and Fig. 15,
an elevation of the finished cartridge. The object of this part of the Inven-
tion is to provide a primed metallic cartridge extremely simple and cheap in
its construction, and which will form a perfect gas check in breech-loading
fire-arms, and can after the discharge of the piece be removed by the fingers
with great ease without the use of any special means. The cartridge may
have a seamless metallic case made in the ordinary manner or a case made of
thin wrapped sheet metal. In the case a rim or annular recess is formed to
receive the priming or percussion powder at any part of its length between
the bottom of the case and that end of it into which the bullet is inserted.
To make the cases by wrapping there are cut from sheet copper or other
suitable thin sheet metal of about fifteen-thousandths of an inch in thickness
pieces of the form shewn at Fig. 8. These pieces are in length about five or
more diameters of the bore of the gun in which the cartridge is to be used,
and two-thirds or more diameters of the said bore more in width than the
cartridge is intended to be in length. A cylindrical former of either wood or
iron, the latter is preferred, is now placed on one of the pieces and pressed
and rolled until the piece is wrapped closely and completely around it, the
lower or open end of the wrapped metal projecting about two-thirds of a
diameter of the former beyond the end of the former. This end of the
former in shape is made to match the base of the chamber of the arm for
which the cartridge is intended, whilst the gauge of the former must be such
that the cartridges when finished shall fit the chamber of the gun neatly.
The wrapped metal is now crimped over the end of the former with the fingers
or with a crimping tool. After thus compressing the metal tightly around
the end of the former the metal cylinder still on the former is placed in an
iron, steel, or wooden die, and the former is struck a smart blow or pressed on
its uncovered end, and the base of the cylinder receives the form of the dye.
The cylinder thus formed is placed in a suitable die in a lathe, and a proper

page_text: tool being applied to the inner surface of the cylinder at the desired point the
cylinder is rotated until the thin metal is spun out to the required diameter,
and the rim or annular recess A, Fig. 9, for containing the percussion powder,
is formed. The cylinder so prepared is now placed in a swedge properly
fitting it, and is by pressure or by smart blow pressed into the finished state
shewn in Fig. 10. Fulminating or percussion powder is now inserted in the
rim in the ordinary manner. A paper cup like that shewn in Fig. 11, or a
metallic cup like that shewn at Fig. 12, or a cup of elastic substance like
that shewn at Fig. 13, and made in any approved manner, may be inserted
in the cartridge case before the same is filled. The case is then charged with
powder and ball as is done in making ordinary primed metallic cartridges.
If it is desired to use seamless cases they are prepared in the ordinary
manner and then placed in the lathe, and the annular recess or rim is formed
in them in the manner above described. When the cartridge made as above
described is fired the case will form a perfect gas check, and on the breech
being opened the empty case can be removed by the fingers without the
employment of any auxiliary mechanical device. It is manifest that
cartridges so made can be placed in the arm in which they are to be
used as rapidly as any other primed cartridge, also that the case of no
metallic cartridge can be so simply, rapidly, and certainly removed from the
breech loader; it is also manifest that these cartridges can be used in breech-
loading shot guns.
Under this head of the Invention I claim constructing cartridges as
described, with the fulminate placed within a projecting annular recess or
rim formed at a point between the ends of the cartridge case, for the purpose
above set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Sixteenth day of June in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
A. V. NEWTON. (L.S.)