IMPROVEMENTS IN REVOLVING BREECH-LOADING GUNS
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Wilson Ager, of No. 8, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN REVOLVING BREECH-LOADING GUNS."
Sealed the 13th July 1866, and dated the 17th January 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Wilson Ager at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
17th January 1866.
I, WILSON AGER, of No. 8, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in
the County of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN REVOLVING BREECH-LOADING GUNS," to
be as follows:-
These improvements relate more especially to guns of small calibre
mounted on carriages and adapted for service in the field or on the decks
of vessels, and the said improvements consist chiefly in means for closing.
the breech and preventing the escape of gas therefrom at the time of
firing, and also in means whereby the said guns are rapidly loaded, dis-
charged, and accurately pointed at any required angle, the gunner being
protected from injury by a shield attached to some portion of the gun or
carriage. The cartridges are inserted into steel carriers primed with any
ordinary percussion cap. These carriers, when loaded, are placed in a box
or hopper having an inclined bottom. By moving a handle which agitates

page_text: this inclined bottom these loaded carriers are caused to drop into revolving
chambers communicating with the barrel of the gun, and are then dis-
charged by the blow of a suitable hammer operated by a cam or other
equivalent device. The rear end of the gun barrel is screwed into a
framing of cast iron or other suitable metal attached to the carriage. The
revolving set of chambers turns upon a pin or stud firmly secured in the
said framing below the barrel. These chambers are so arranged that when
rotated upon their centre pin each one of them in turn comes accurately
in line with the bore of the gun barrel. These chambers communicate
with the receiving box or hopper containing the loader carriers.
At each
turn of the handle one of these carriers drops into one of the revolving
chambers. The ends of these carriers when in the chambers project out
behind the surface thereof, and the said carriers are pressed into close
contact with the end of the gun barrel by a strong wedge sliding in an
aperture formed in the framing, and brought into action by an excentric
or other suitable device operated by a handle or lever. In order the more
effectually to ensure this close contact between the carriers containing the
charge and the end of the gun barrel, in case of the wearing of the
sliding wedge and its guideways, or in case of a variation in the length of
the said carriers, springs are employed to act against the back of the
sliding wedge. The said springs are by preference secured to the sides of
the framing on each side of the percussion hammer, and are attached in
such a manner that their pressure upon the back of the wedge can be
regulated by a screw or other suitable means. These springs allow the
wedge to slide freely in its guideways, but will always keep the said wedge
close up to the ends of the carriers, and thereby effectually prevent any
escape of gas at the time of firing. The end of the gun barrel is recessed
or countersunk, and the ends of the carriers are correspondingly formed
to ensure a perfect fit between the two surfaces when forced into contact
by the sliding wedge. To render the piece more generally efficient it
must be capable of being easily worked on any ground, no matter how
uneven, and also on the deck of a ship, when the level is subject to sudden
and extreme variation. It is also necessary that the piece be capable of
quick and accurate adjustment to point at any angle either vertical or
horizontal. To effect these objects the breech end of the barrel is con-
nected by a ball and socket or other universal joint, with an élevating
screw. This screw works through the boss of a hand wheel turning in
suitable bearings in the framing. By turning this wheel the barrel is
quickly elevated or depressed. The ball-and-socket connection allows the

page_text: barrel to be pointed in any direction, and then secured in the required
position by means of a set screw or other suitable fastening. A handle or
lever projects from the rear end of the barrel, by which the gun is quickly
elevated or depressed and pointed as required. Thus a sweeping and
destructive fire can be swiftly brought to bear upon any object within
range at any degree of elevation.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the. Letters Patent, filed
by the said Wilson Ager in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
17th July 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILSON
AGER, of No. 8, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of January, in tlie year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the twenty-ninth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Wilson Ager, Her special licence that I, the said
Wilson Ager, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as 1, the said Wilson Ager, my executors, administrators, or 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 REVOLVING BREECH-LOADING GUNS," the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Wilson Ager, my executors or adminis-
trators, 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.
upon
NOW KNOW YE, that I,, the said Wilson Ager, do hereby declare
the nature of my 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
_making a part of this Specification.

page_text: These improvements relate more especially to guns of small calibre
mounted on carriages and adapted for service in the field or on the decks
of vessels, and the said improvements consist chiefly in the means for more
perfectly closing the breech and preventing the escape of gas therefrom at
the time of firing, and also in the means whereby the said guns are rapidly
loaded, discharged, and accurately pointed at any required angle, either
vertical or horizontal, the gunner being protected from injury by a shield
attached to some portion of the gun or carriage. The cartridges are
inserted separately into cylindrical steel carriers, which may be primed
with any ordinary percussion cap. These carriers when loaded are placed
in a box or hopper having an inclined bottom. By moving a handle or
other device the said inclined bottom is agitated, and the loaded carriers
are caused to drop into revolving chambers so arranged that they can be
brought alternately into communication with the barrel of the gun. As
each of the loaded carriers is brought into position by the revolving
chambers it is secured by a strong wedge, and is discharged by the blow of
a hammer operated by a cam or other suitable device.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a plan of the top of the gun; Figure 2 is a side elevation of
the same, partly in section; Figure 3 is a section on the line x, x, Fig. 2;
Figure 4 is a rear elevation of the main parts of the gun; and Figure 5 is
a plan of detached portions of the same. Like letters refer to corresponding
parts in each of the Figures.
A is the frame or gun stock, which is formed of cast iron or other suit-
able metal; B is the carriage supported on the wheels C, by which the
gun is easily transported from place to place. The rear end of the gun
barrel D is firmly screwed into the framing A. The said framing is sup
ported upon the top surface of the swivelling bracket A', which turns upon
the fulcrum pin A secured to the carriage B. The bracket A' is adjusted
as required by means of the screw B¹. The revolving series of chambers
E (in which the steel carriers a are held while the cartridges are being
discharged) turns upon a pin or stud F, firmly secured in the framing A
just below the gun barrel D. The arrangement of these chambers allows
each one of the carriers a in turn to be brought accurately in line with the
bore of the barrel D, in which position they are discharged by the per-
cussion hammer G, the breech being at the same time securely closed
by a strong sliding wedge H. These chambers E communicate with the
receiving box or hopper I, which contains the loaded carriers a previous

page_text: to their discharge. These carriers are introduced from this hopper into
the revolving chambers through. the passage b, their dropping properly
therein being ensured by the agitation of the bottom c of the hopper,
which agitation is produced by the contact of the sliding wedge H with
the catch d, when the former is moved upward to open the breech. The
ends of the carriers a when in the chambers E project beyond the rear-
ward surface of the said chambers, and come in contact with the wedge H,
which slides through the aperture e formed in the framing A. This
wedge is firmly secured to the slide J, the said slide being moved up and
down by the excentric K fixed on the spindle L. This slide J also carries
the catchf, by which the revolving chambers are turned on the centre pin
F at each discharge of the piece, the said catch taking into the notches g
in the chambers E, which are held at the time of firing by the spring
pawl h; the excentric K is operated by means of the handle M secured
on the end of the spindle L. The said spindle L also carries the cam M,
which draws back the percussion hammer G, the force expended by the
said hammer in delivering its blow being derived from the main spring O.
In case of the wearing away of the surface of the sliding wedge H or
its guideways, or in case of a variation in the length of the carriers a, the
necessary close contact between the said carriers and the end of the gun
barrel D at the time when the discharge takes place is effectually secured
by the springs P, which act upon the back of the sliding wedge H, and
press it firmly against the end of the barrel D. The said springs are by
preference secured to the sides of the framing A in the positions represented
in Figures 1 and 4, and are attached to the said framing in such a manner
that their pressure upon the back of the wedge H can be regulated by the
screws or other suitable means. These springs allow the wedge H to
slide up and down freely in its guideways, but at the same time will always
keep the said wedge close up to the ends of the loaded carrier in the
revolving chamber then in position to be struck by the hammer G, and
will thereby effectually prevent any escape of gas at the breech when the
gun is fired. The end of the barrel D is recessed or countersunk at j, as
represented in Figure 2, and the ends of the steel carriers a are corres-
pondingly formed to ensure a perfectly close fit or contact between the
two surfaces at the time of firing. To render the piece more generally
efficient, and to prevent its usefulness as a destructive weapon being in any
degree impaired, it must be constructed to be worked upon any ground,
no matter how uneven or irregular, and also upon the deck of a ship or
other vessel, where the level is subject to sudden and extreme variations

page_text: The barrel D must be capable of quick and accurate adjustment to point
at any required angle, either vertical or horizontal, and the rapid and
accurate working of the gun must remain entirely unaffected by any
position in which the gun may have to be placed. To effect these objects
the framing A carrying the barrel D is connected by means of a ball-and-
socket joint Q, Figures 2 and 3, to the elevating screw R. This screw
works through the boss of a hand wheel S. The socket h, to which the
screw R is attached, is fitted to slide in the box 1, fixed or formed in the
swivelling bracket A'. By raising this socket the plates a¹ and a² are
separated, and the barrel D and other parts in connection therewith are
supported entirely upon the ball-and-socket connection Q. This enables
the barrel to be pointed in any direction, and allows the gun to be worked
with the greatest ease, however irregular the ground may be, as in what-
ever position the wheels may stand, the position of the barrel D and hopper
I need not be affected thereby. When the barrel D has been properly
adjusted upon the ball-and-socket joint Q it can be secured by means of
the set screw T. Instead of the ball-and-socket connection, other devices
constituting a universal joint may be employed. The handle or lever U
projecting from the rear end of the framing A is provided to enable the
barrel to be more quickly pointed in any required direction. The shield
V, shewn attached to the framing, protects the gunner from injury by an
enemy's guns, and at the same time affords great security to the gun itself.
In using the gun the case W, filled with loaded steel carriers, is placed
upon the top of the hopper I, as represented in Figures 2, 3, and 4. The
sliding bottom m is then drawn out, the steel carriers falling down into the
hopper I. The barrel D is then adjusted by means of the elevating screw
B and ball-and-socket joint Q, and is pointed by means of the handle U
any desired direction. The handle M is then rapidly turned in the
direction of the arrow in Figure 2, and turns the revolving chambers round
in the direction of the arrow in Figure 3, bringing each one of the cham-
bers carrying a loaded carrier into line with the barrel D, each of the said
carriers as it comes into position for firing being struck by the hammer G.
The said carriers as they are fired are carried around in their chambers,
and are dropped through the opening X, Figure 3, into any convenient
receptacle, wherein they are collected for reloading. With a gun con-
structed according to my improvements it is obvious that a most destruc-
tive fire can be brought to bear upon any object within the range of the
said gun at any angle of elevation or at any horizontal position. The
apidity with which the shots are discharged, and the accuracy and swift-
in

page_text: ness with which the gun can be pointed render one gun of this description
equal in effectiveness to a great number of ordinary guns of the same
calibre, while its lightness and facility for adjustment render it available
under circumstances where ordinary guns capable of throwing the same
weight of metal in a given line could not be advantageously used. It
will be found equally serviceable either as a field piece for artillery or for
use on the decks of vessels. It would be invaluable for merchant ships
sailing in seas infested with pirates, as one of these guns, though taking
little space and adding nothing practically to the weight of the vessel,
would be superior in effect to any number of ordinary guns that could be
carried by vessels of a similar class.
Having thus fully described my Invention, and shown how the same.
may be conveniently and advantageously carried into practice, I wish it
understood that I do not claim the general construction and arrangement
of the parts of the gun, neither do I confine myself to the exact details
thereof, as herein set forth and illustrated, but I claim,-
First, the employment of the springs P in combination with the sliding
wedge H, for the purpose and substantially in the manner set forth.
Second, the ball-and-socket connection Q, or other equivalent device for
facilitating the working of the gun, substantially in the manner set forth.
Third, the combination of the ball-and-socket connection Q and screw
R, with the framing and other parts of the gun, for the purpose and
substantially in the manner set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Wilson Ager, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
WILSON AGER. (L.S.)
Witness,
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE,
International Patent Office,
8, Southampton Buildings, W.C.

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Wilson Ager, of No. 8, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN REVOLVING BREECH-LOADING GUNS."
Sealed the 13th July 1866, and dated the 17th January 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Wilson Ager at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
17th January 1866.
I, WILSON AGER, of No. 8, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in
the County of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN REVOLVING BREECH-LOADING GUNS," to
be as follows:-
These improvements relate more especially to guns of small calibre
mounted on carriages and adapted for service in the field or on the decks
of vessels, and the said improvements consist chiefly in means for closing
the breech and preventing the escape of gas therefrom at the time of
firing, and also in means whereby the said guns are rapidly loaded, dis-
charged, and accurately pointed at any required angle, the gunner being
protected from injury by a shield attached to some portion of the gun or
carriage. The cartridges are inserted into steel carriers primed with any
ordinary percussion cap. These carriers, when loaded, are placed in a box
or hopper having an inclined bottom. By moving a handle which agitates

page_text: this inclined bottom these loaded carriers are caused to drop into revolving
chambers communicating with the barrel of the gun, and are then dis-
charged by the blow of a suitable hammer operated by a cam or other
equivalent device. The rear end of the gun barrel is screwed into a
framing of cast iron or other suitable metal attached to the carriage. The
revolving set of chambers turns upon a pin or stud firmly secured in the
said framing below the barrel. These chambers are so arranged that when
rotated upon their centre pin each one of them in turn comes accurately
in line with the bore of the gun barrel. These chambers communicate
with the receiving box or hopper containing the loader carriers. At each
turn of the handle one of these carriers drops into one of the revolving
chambers. The ends of these carriers when in the chambers project out
behind the surface thereof, and the said carriers are pressed into close
contact with the end of the gun barrel by a strong wedge sliding in an
aperture formed in the framing, and brought into action by an excentric.
or other suitable device operated by a handle or lever. In order the more
effectually to ensure this close contact between the carriers containing the
charge and the end of the gun barrel, in case of the wearing of the
sliding wedge and its guideways, or in case of a variation in the length of
the said carriers, springs are employed to act against the back of the
sliding wedge. The said springs are by preference secured to the sides of
the, framing on each side of the percussion haminer, and are attached in
such a manner that their pressure upon the back of the wedge can be
regulated by a screw or other suitable means. These springs allow the
wedge to slide freely in its guideways, but will always keep the said wedge
close up to the ends of the carriers, and thereby effectually prevent any
escape of gas at the time of firing. The end of the gun barrel is recessed
or countersunk, and the ends of the carriers are correspondingly formed
to ensure a perfect fit between the two surfaces, when forced into contact
by, the sliding wedge. To render the piece more generally efficient it
must be capable of being easily worked on any ground, no matter how
uneven, and also on the deck of a ship, when the level is subject to sudden
and extreme variation. It is also necessary that the piece be capable of
quick and accurate adjustment to point at any angle either vertical or
horizontal. To effect these objects the breech end of the barrel is con-
nected by a ball and socket or other universal joint, with an elevating
screw. This screw works through the boss of a hand wheel turning in
suitable bearings in the framing. By turning this wheel the barrel is
quickly elevated or depressed. The ball-and-socket connection allows the

page_text: barrel to be pointed in any direction, and then secured in the required
position by means of a set screw or other suitable fastening. A handle or
lever projects from the rear end of the barrel, by which the gun is quickly
elevated or depressed and pointed as required. Thus a sweeping and
destructive fire can be swiftly brought to bear upon any object within
range at any degree of elevation.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Wilson Ager in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
17th July 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILSON
AGER, of No. 8, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the twenty-ninth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Wilson Ager, Her special licence that I, the said
Wilson Ager, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Wilson Ager, my executors, administrators, or 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 REVOLVING BREECH-LOADING GUNS," upon the condition
(amongst others). that I, the said Wilson Ager, my executors or adminis-
trators, 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 Wilson Ager, do hereby declare
the nature of my 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
making a part of this Specification.

page_text: These improvements relate more especially to guns of small calibre
mounted on carriages and adapted for service in the field or on the decks
of vessels, and the said improvements consist chiefly in the means for more
perfectly closing the breech and preventing the escape of gas therefrom at
the time of firing, and also in the means whereby the said guns are rapidly
loaded, discharged, and accurately pointed at any required angle, either
vertical or horizontal, the gunner being protected from injury by a shield
attached to some portion of the gun or carriage. The cartridges are
inserted separately into cylindrical steel carriers, which may be primed
with any ordinary percussion cap. These carriers when loaded are placed
in a box or hopper having an inclined bottom. By moving a handle or
other device the said inclined bottom is agitated, and the loaded carriers
are caused to drop into revolving chambers so arranged that they can be
brought alternately into communication with the barrel of the gun. As
each of the loaded carriers is brought into position by the revolving
chambers it is secured by a strong wedge, and is discharged by the blow of
a hammer operated by a cam or other suitable device.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a plan of the top of the gun; Figure 2 is a side elevation of
the same, partly in section; Figure 3 is a section on the line x, x, Fig. 2; 1
Figure 4 is a rear elevation of the main parts of the gun; and Figure 5 is
a plan of detached portions of the same. Like letters refer to corresponding
parts in each of the Figures.
A is the frame or gun stock, which is formed of cast iron or other suit-
able metal; B is the carriage supported on the wheels C, by which the
gun is easily transported from place to place. The rear end of the gun
barrel D is firmly screwed into the framing A. The said framing is sup
ported upon the top surface of the swivelling bracket A', which turns upon
the fulcrum pin A* secured to the carriage B. The bracket A¹ is adjusted
as required by means of the screw B¹. The revolving series of chambers
E (in which the steel carriers a are held while the cartridges are being
discharged) turns upon a pin or stud F, firmly secured in the framing A
just below the gun barrel D. The arrangement of these chambers allows
each one of the carriers a in turn to be brought accurately in line with the
bore of the barrel D, in which position they are discharged by the per- 3
cussion hammer G, the breech being at the same time securely closed
by a strong sliding wedge H. These chambers E communicate with the
receiving box or hopper I, which contains the loaded carriers a previous

page_text: to their discharge. These carriers are introduced from this hopper into
the revolving chambers through the passage b, their dropping properly
therein being ensured by the agitation of the bottom c of the hopper,
which agitation is produced by the contact of the sliding wedge H with
the catch d, when the former is moved upward to open the breech. The
ends of the carriers a when in the chambers E project beyond the rear-
ward surface of the said chambers, and come in contact with the wedge H,
which slides through the aperture e formed in the framing A. This
wedge is firmly secured to the slide J, the said slide being moved up and
down by the excentric K fixed on the spindle L. This slide J also carries
the catch f, by which the revolving chambers are turned on the centre pin
F at each discharge of the piece, the said catch taking into the notches g
in the chambers E, which are held at the time of firing by the spring
pawl; the excentric K is operated by means of the handle M secured
on the end of the spindle L. The said spindle L also carries the cam M,
which draws back the percussion hammer G, the force expended by the
said hammer in delivering its blow being derived from the main spring O.
In case of the wearing away of the surface of the sliding wedge Hor
its guideways, or in case of a variation in the length of the carriers a, the
necessary close contact between the said carriers and the end of the gun
barrel D at the time when the discharge takes place is effectually secured
by the springs P, which act upon the back of the sliding wedge H, and
press it firmly against the end of the barrel D. The said springs are by
preference secured to the sides of the framing A in the positions represented
in Figures 1 and 4, and are attached to the said framing in such a manner
that their pressure upon the back of the wedge H can be regulated by the
screws i or other suitable means. These springs allow the wedge H to
slide up and down freely in its guideways, but at the same time will always
keep the said wedge close up to the ends of the loaded carrier in the
revolving chamber then in position to be struck by the hammer G, and
will thereby effectually prevent any escape of gas at the breech when the
gun is fired. The end of the barrel D is recessed or countersunk at j, as
represented in Figure 2, and the ends of the steel carriers a are corres-
pondingly formed to ensure a perfectly close fit or contact between the
two surfaces at the time of firing. To render the piece more generally
efficient, and to prevent its usefulness as a destructive weapon being in any
degree impaired, it must be constructed to be worked upon any ground,
no matter how uneven or irregular, and also upon the deck of a ship or
other vessel, where the level is subject to sudden and extreme variations

page_text: The barrel D must be capable of quick and accurate adjustment to point
at any required angle, either vertical or horizontal, and the rapid and
accurate working of the gun must remain entirely unaffected by any
position in which the gun may have to be placed, To effect these objects
the framing A carrying the barrel D is connected by means of a ball-and-
socket joint Q, Figures 2 and 3, to the elevating screw R. This screw
works through the boss of a hand wheel S. The socket, to which the
screw R is attached, is fitted to slide in the box 1, fixed or formed in the
swivelling bracket A¹. By raising this socket the plates a¹ and are
separated, and the barrel D and other parts in connection therewith are
supported entirely upon the ball-and-socket connection Q. This enables
the barrel to be pointed in any direction, and allows the gun to be worked
with the greatest ease, however irregular the ground may be, as in what-
ever position the wheels may stand, the position of the barrel D and hopper
I need not be affected thereby. When the barrel D has been properly
adjusted upon the ball-and-socket joint Q it can be secured by means of
the set screw T. Instead of the ball-and-socket connection, other devices
constituting a universal joint may be employed. The handle or lever U
projecting from the rear end of the framing A is provided to enable the
barrel to be more quickly pointed in any required direction. The shield
V, shewn attached to the framing, protects the gunner from injury by an
enemy's guns, and at the same time affords great security to the gun itself.
In using the gun the case W, filled with loaded steel carriers, is placed
upon the top of the hopper I, as represented in Figures 2, 3, and 4. The
sliding bottom m is then drawn out, the steel carriers falling down into the
hopper I. The barrel D is then adjusted by means of the elevating screw
B' and ball-and-socket joint Q, and is pointed by means of the handle U
in any desired direction. The handle M is then rapidly turned in the
direction of the arrow in Figure 2, and turns the revolving chambers round
in the direction of the arrow in Figure 3, bringing each one of the cham-
bers carrying a loaded carrier into line with the barrel D, each of the said
carriers as it comes into position for firing being struck by the hammer G.
The said carriers as they are fired are carried around in their chambers,
and are dropped through the opening X, Figure 3, into any convenient
receptacle, wherein they are collected for reloading. With a gun con-
structed according to my improvements it is obvious that a most destruc-
tive fire can be brought to bear upon any object within the range of the
said gun at any angle of elevation or at any horizontal position. The
apidity with which the shots are discharged, and the accuracy and swift-

page_text: ness with which the gun can be pointed render one gun of this description
equal in effectiveness to a great number of ordinary guns of the same
calibre, while its lightness and facility for adjustment render it available
under circumstances where ordinary guns capable of throwing the same
weight of metal in a given line could not be advantageously used. It
will be found equally serviceable either as a field piece for artillery or for
use on the decks of vessels. It would be invaluable for merchant ships
sailing in seas infested with pirates, as one of these guns, though taking
little space and adding nothing practically to the weight of the vessel,
would be superior in effect to any number of ordinary guns that could be
carried by vessels of a similar class.
Having thus fully described my Invention, and shown how the same
may be conveniently and advantageously carried into practice, I wish it
understood that I do not claim the general construction and arrangement
of the parts of the gun, neither do I confine myself to the exact details
thereof, as herein set forth and illustrated, but I claim,-
First, the employment of the springs P in combination with the sliding
wedge H, for the purpose and substantially in the manner set forth.
Second, the ball-and-socket connection Q, or other equivalent device for
facilitating the working of the gun, substantially in the manner set forth.
Third, the combination of the ball-and-socket connection Q and screw
R, with the framing and other parts of the gun, for the purpose and
substantially in the manner set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Wilson Ager, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
WILSON AGER. (L.S.)
Witness,
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE,
International Patent Office,
8, Southampton Buildings, W.C.