IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Andrew Wyley, of Barker Street, Aston Manor,
in the County of Warwick, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS."
Sealed the 11th August 1871, and dated the 17th February 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Andrew Wyley at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
17th February 1871.
I, ANDREW WYLEY, of Barker Strect, Aston Manor, in the County
of Warwick, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS," to be as follows :—
My Invention relates to fire-arms in which the breech is closed by a
block having an angular motion transverse to the barrel. When the
block has a separate motion it is made to swivel on an actual hinge
or an imaginary axis below the level of the barrel travelling over a
cylindrical or slightly conical saddle, to which its lower surface is fitted..

page_text: It is moved by a projecting handle and by a simple transverse motion
cocks the gun, and extracts the cartridge. The block carries a sleeve
which turns on a stout pin projecting from the trigger plate. A cam on
the rear end of the slcevo nets on the cock, and a projection on its forc
end or a cam groove works the extractor according as the latter is of
the lever or sliding bar class. A slot in the axis pin serves for mounting
the cock and lever extractor. The block contains a short percussion pin
which is withdrawn by a how-shaped spring passed through an eye in
same, and working in a hole nearly quite across the block. The cock is
pivotted under the rear surface of the block, and is acted on by a fint
mainspring slotted for a great part of its length to permit the trigger
which is pinned to the scar to work through it. If a long block is used
it may carry a spiral spring and striker lock, which is cocked by a pin
from the striker head working in a cam groove in the cylindrical saddle.
In the last a bar extractor is embedded, a stud on which is acted on by a
cam groove in the block, or a bell-crank extractor engaging the cartridge
at the side may be used worked by the motion of the block. The
segment of a cylinder which forms the saddle may be in this case nearly
of quadrantal section. The actual hinge may be dispensed with if the
block is partly made of a dovetail or interlocking section. The sleeve of
the block may also be made to swivel on a stout pin at the side, as in
the Snider and similar guns. A cam groove in this fixed pin cocks the
striker, as in the last, while the extractor bar which lies in a groove in
the same pin is worked in the same way, a stud from it entering a cam.
groove in the sleeve, but I prefer to place the pin at the bottom instead
of at the side. Double barrels may be thus made with two blocks and a
single pin, the sleeve being divided one half to cach block, or a lever
extractor placed at one side may be worked directly by the block. In
this case the cylindrical saddle is preferably placed obliquely.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, 30
filed by the said Andrew Wyley in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 17th August 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ANDREW
WYLEY, of Barker Street, Aston Manor, in the County of Warwick, send
greeting.
3

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of February, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-
fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Andrew Wyley, Her special licence that I,
the said Andrew Wyley, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Andrew Wyley, 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," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Andrew
Wyley, 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 Andrew Wyley, 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
he following statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings
hereunto annexed, that is to say :—
My Invention relates to fire-arms in which the breech is closed by
a recoil block having an angular motion transverse to the barrel, by
which same motion the gun is cocked and the cartridge extracted. The
block swivels either on an actual hinge pin or on a cylindrical saddle,
or on both, the block in the latter case being combined with a sleeve
which works on the said hinge pin. The cocking is effected by a cam
surface or groove or a partially cam-shaped arm, either directly or
through the intervention of a sliding pin, and the extractor is acted
on either by a similar cam surface on the block or sleeve thereof, or
by a portion of the block impinging on the short arm of a bell-crank
extractor.
Various ways of carrying this Invention into effect are set forth in
the accompanying Sheet of Drawings which I shall now describe. In
these the same letter refers to the same or analogous parts.

page_text: Fig. 1 shows in partial section a fire-arm in which the block B
with its sleeve O turns on a stout pin E which projects from the trigger
plate, and which is slotted for mounting the cock G and extractor F
which are operated by suitable cam surfaces on the sleeve O, S, and N,
Figs. 4 and 5. A groove in the C, Fig. 5, allows it to work over the
cock pin d. The extractor pin e passes through a short collar g
Figs. 1 and 4, which forms a front bearing for C. A cottor pin may
be passed through E to tighten up. The block B contains a percussion
pin, which is held back by a bow-shaped spring passed through a holo
in the same, and working in a hole O bored nearly quite across the 1
block, see Figure 1 and dotted lines in Fig. 3. The block B interlocks
with the breech body by a circular rib b, Figs. 2, 3, and 7, and a
vent hole may be formed at h.
Fig. 2 shows a cross section on the line a-u, Fig. 1, also tho
slotted mainspring I with the lock in the cocked state. The trigger J 1
and scar K are not shewn. The former is passed up through the trigger
plate, next the guard is screwed on, then the slotted mainspring is
passed over the trigger, and the bolt being got into its place and
passed through the sleeve O the trigger is rigidly pinued to the sear K.
The extractor F is passed down through a slot in the saddle D and the 2
cock through a slot in the tail picco A, the pins & aud e screwed in, the
block B got into place, striker and bow pin inserted, and lastly B
screwed to the upright arm of C.
Figure 3 is a section on the line o, o, Fig. 1, or rear of the saddle D
with B opened fully.
Figs. 5, 4, and 6 are perspectives of C, G, and E. A hollow cam k
is formed on one edge of the block to force in the cartridge which is
stopped by the extractor, better seen in Fig. 8.
2
Figure 7 is a perspective of a modification in which the axis pin E¹
is placed to one side and the saddle D' oblique of nearly quadrantal å
section. The cock which is mounted on the pin is forced back by
a somewhat cam-shaped arm on E³, which last is pinned to the sleeve C¹
and moves along with it. The extractor F' has an incline on its lower
part, which acted on by an incline N' in a curved recess in the block B
draws the cartridge, which is finally ejected by a short boll-crank arm
on F coming in contact with the end of the recess. A simple bell-
crank arm may be used, in which case the recess is made deeper or
nearly through the entire width of the block.

page_text: Fig. 8 is a front view of the block B' and sleeve C¹ showing the
action of the arm of E' upon the cock. Instead of a spring to draw
back the striker a pin screwed into same, Figs. 9 and 8, may be used,
the lower end of which works in a cam groove in D', Fig. 7.
Fig. 10 shows in partial section a gun in which a long block B"
is used carrying a spiral spring and striker G and swivelling by a
sleeve C" on a pin E" of greater diameter than the bore of the barrel,
which pin is kept in place by the cross pin f. A pin 7 screwed into
the striker through a slot in B" projects slightly, and acted on by the
cam surface of the groove S" brings the striker G to the cocked
position, where it is held by the spring blade engaging in a notch in
its tail end. The blade works in a slot in a tube, Fig. 14, which
tube is screwed in from the back of B" within the spiral spring. The
mode of fixing by a collar and round nut is shown in Figs. 14
and 15. The blade is released by a finger projecting from the
trigger J", and a circular groove is cut in the rear of the block to allow
it to pass over the end of the said finger, as seen in Figs. 18 and 19.
A safety lever w is shewn which blocks the trigger till pressed by the
thumb. The dotted lines shew another form. Or the trigger may be
blocked by a sliding bolt W, Fig. 16. The extractor head projects
from a bar which lies in a groove in the pin E. A small stud on this
bar is inserted in a cam groove in the sleeve C", best seen in Fig. 19.
Thus when the block is turned to one side the first action is to cock
the striker, the second to draw the cartridge. Part of the sleeve is cut
away to allow the extractor head to come back. The extractor F" is
returned to place by a spiral spring inserted in E" which presses
against a rod depending from the extractor bar z, Fig. 10, or against
a cylinder attached to the bar, Fig. 11, or against a cylinder detached
from but pressing against a stud depending from the bar, as in Fig. 11.
The last is preferred for double barrels. In assembling the gun the
extractor is placed with its stud in the groove N" with its head clear
of the barrel; the sleeve is then got into place and the pin E" slipped
over the extractor bar, the stud 7" entering through a gap at the end
of the cam S".
Figure 13 is a side view [of a pistol differing from the last in that
the spiral spring and striker are replaced by an ordinary lock carried
in the framing A" projecting from the rear of the pin "E". It thus
approximates more closely to the form Fig. 1. A cam groove in the

page_text: rear of the sleeve S' acting on the projecting head of a pin p forces
the latter back and so brings the arm to full cock. The cock G" actuates
a striker or piston R by means of a short plug R', which entering the
block Blocks the same. It is disengaged by the striker R being forced
back previous to opening the block by a stud 7 projecting inwards from
the lower part of the handle T and coming in contact with a shoulder
on R, the handle T having a certain amount of play on a centre pin for
that purpose. A projection on the head of T is at the same time dis-
engaged from the shoc. Fig. 12 is a section on the line a, a, in Fig. 13.
The spring i there shown serves to return T to its original or locked
position.
Figure 17 is a perspective view of a double barrel in which two blocks
are used swivelling right and left on a pin E common to both. The
extractor bars, Fig. 20, are placed side by side in an angular groovo
in E and have their studs so placed as to engage one in each sleeve.
The action is otherwise pretty much as shown in the single barrel,
Fig. 10, but the triggers have short studs y screwed into their sides
which act on the rear end of two levers 9 which aro inclined to each
other, as shewn in plan, Fig. 21, and whose fore ends disengage the
spring blades t. The tang A, Figure 17, and trigger plate are in one
piece with E and the barrels are detachable. They are first bored
out in the rear so as to admit the cartridge flange freely and the ends
filled up with screw plugs which have projections M by which they aro
screwed in and which partly carry the levers 9. Lateral spaces are cut
out of the barrels for the blocks B, shewn detached in Fig. 19.
Fig. 22 represents a sort of washer for the foremost sleeve to work
against. It is slid over a reduced part of E and is kept in place by
a cotter pin which passes through both and also through a flat lump
beneath the barrels by which the latter are held down, their rear being
held by a long screw stud from the trigger guard passing through En
or by an expansion of the tang A" overlapping the projections M.
Fig. 18 is a section in rear of the blocks 13"".
Fig. 23 is a side view, the block being removed, and Fig. 24 a
section behind the block, of a modification compounded of the forms
shown in Figures 1 and 10. The saddle of the former is retained, but
the centre pin E is suppressed, its place being supplied by narrow
circular flauges on the lower part of the block. The mode of igniting
and extracting the cartridge and of cocking are as in Figure 10, sup-

page_text: posing the under side of the block to represent the sleeve C" and the
saddle D" to represent the pin E™. The trigger action may also be as
in Figure 10, though in Figure 23 it is shown as mounted in a flat
tang A, which is screwed up by a rod from the rear of the butt, as
in the Martini arm. A hole for the finger is cut in the wood of the
stock. A strong spring U screwed to the bottom of the saddle, and
having a stud projecting into the groove S", acts as a stop when the
block is opened, and a continuation of U or a solid pin on the opposite
side stops the block when closed.
In all the forms above described the block has been a separate picce
moved by a projecting handle, but it will be seen that several features
of the above Invention, particularly the cylindrical saddle and the com-
bination of a transverse swivelling recoil block with the cocking and
extracting arrangements by means of cam or inclined surfaces, as already
described, are applicable to that closely allied class of arms in which
the block is attached to and moves with the butt, which in this case
acts as the handle. Thus Fig. 25 is a side elevation, Fig. 27 a rear
view, and Fig. 29 a plan (the barrels being removed) of a gun action
of this class. A saddle Dч projects from the block B. Beneath the
barrels is an arched piece fitting the saddle D", and interlocking with it
by a circular dovetail in front v³, and with B' by a circular flange v¹¹ in
its rear.
The barrels are thus free to move on D™ to the right and left,
and will work more easily if a steady pin or guide, Fig. 26, be fixed
to the lower side of the barrels, and be made to enter a central hole
in D. A strong spring click c" retains the barrels in the closed state.
The cocking is effected by a V-shaped cam S¹¹ on the arch beneath the
barrels forcing back the pin P¹ against the cocks, which lie side by side
and ignite by divergent needles whose heads form a sort of ball-
and-socket joint, Fig. 29. The extractor F™" acts as in the common
dropgun, but is divided vertically, a part acting separately, and being
pushed out or in by a stud on its lower side coming against the inclined
part of the groove N". The lateral motion of the barrels is restricted
by a spring U like that indicated in Figures 23 and 24, shown in
Fig. 30. A fixed pin projecting from the barrel arch travels in a
5 straight groove in D" till it comes into contact with the spring U',
closing said groove, which springs serves to return the block a small
way, also partially returning the extractor. The cam k" forces in the

page_text: cartridge. The action of the safety lever w', which engages with one or
both cocks, will be obvious.
Again, in Fig. 28 is shewn in partial section a pistol in which the
recoil block B, here also attached to the butt, swivels to one side by
means of a pin firmly screwed into B", and passing through a sleeve
or hole in a lump below the barrel. Here also the cocking is performed
by a cam surface on the above sleeve S forcing back the pin P", and
so cocking the arm, as in the forms Figs. 13 and 25. The cock is
mounted in a slot in the rear end of the pin D, and a bow spring
is used for the striker, as in the form Figure 1. The tumbler bents are
cut on the inside of a projecting segment, which is split down the middle
to admit the sliding rod J", which by a knife-edge cross head engages
the tumbler the reverse way and acts as a trigger sear.
Figure 32 shows the pistol in its opened state. Fig. 33 is a rear
view of the barrel and sleeve showing the cocking cam Sand the
extractor Fr, which has a projecting cam on its lower end, which
travels in a groove seen in Fig. 34, till coming in contact with tho
incline N at the end of same the cartridge is drawn by the opposite
arm of Fr.
A space is cut in the rear block to permit of the latter
coming back, also space for the passage of the cartridge, also a cam
hollow to force in the same.
Fig. 31 shows a form differing from the last in that a common
arrangement of lock is employed. The trigger and cock are both
mounted on a piece projecting from the trigger plate so arranged that
a circular cam S on the head of the pin D', which is in this case
reversed, can turn round about 110°, and so bring the arm to full cock.
The cross head of the striker pin is retained loosely in a notch in the
cock G. The extractor F, is mounted on the left-hand side, and acts
like that shown in Figure 7. The spring catch c" must bo pressed down
before the breech will open.
In describing the above arms I have not mentioned the minor details,
which will readily present themselves to the skilled gunmaker. Thus
it is understood, unless otherwise mentioned, that spring catchics c, c',
such as are used in Snider guns, should be inserted in the block or slioc
to retain the former in firing position, and vent holes for gas escape,
such as h, ', be made where practicable.
3

page_text: And having now described, by aid of the accompanying Drawings, the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
carried into effect, I would now state that what I claim is as follows:-
Firstly. I claim the construction of breech-loading fire-arms in which
the breech is closed by a recoil block having an angular motion trans-
verse to the barrel, by which same motion the arm is cocked and
the cartridge extracted, substantially as described and set forth in the
accompanying Drawing, Figures 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 10, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 23,
and 24.
I claim more especially the cylindrical saddle D and its modifications;
the arrangement of the parts J, II, and K, Fig. 1; the combination of
igniting, cocking, and extracting arrangements shown in Figs. 10, 17,
18, and 19; the saddle circular flanged block, cocking and extracting
arrangements shewn in Figs. 23 and 24.
Secondly. I claim the application of certain of these improvements to
fire-arms in which the recoil block moves with the stock, particularly
the cylindrical saddle, as shewn in Figs. 25, 27, and 29, and the com-
bination of cocking and extracting arrangements by cam surfaces shewn
in the same Figures, and in Figures 28, 31, 32, 33, and 34.
In witness whereof, I, the said Andrew Wyley, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of August One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-one.
Witness,
RICHARD MARSILALL,
3, Barker St.,
Lozells,
Birmingham.
ANDREW WYLEY. (L.S.)