IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING AND REPEATING FIREARMS
Year: 1885

page_text: RICHARD PAULSON of Boon Hills, Langwith, in the County of Nottingham,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
BREECH-LOADING AND REPEATING FIREARMS, to be as follows:-
This invention for Improvements in Breech loading and Repeating Firearms,
relates chiefly to the manner in which advantage is taken; to extract the empty
or exploded shell recock the weapon, operate the breech action, so that it is again
ready for fireing (after a fresh cartridge has been inserted either by hand or from
a magazine) by means of the kick or recoil caused by the explosion of the charge.
In firearms constructed according to my invention, I prefer to make use of a
sliding bolt which, may be made to expand on receiving the blow of the striker
or tumbler, this sliding bolt usually contains the striker, these are operated either
by means of a hand lever placed in any convenient position, or by the force of
suitable springs, compressed by the force of the explosion, and when so compressed
or driven back by the recoil, they may be retained in position by suitable detents,
or catches, so that the exploded cartridge may be ejected and a fresh charge
inserted.
These detents, or catches, may be controlled by the trigger, or a small lever,
placed preferably at the side and capable of being operated by the thumb, so that
they can be liberated' when required. This arrangement also prevents any liability
of accidential explosion, the detents or spring catches acting as a safety bolt.
The spring or springs that operate the breech action, may be placed either within
the stock, under, or at the sides of the barrel, as may be desired.
The chamber also that receives the cartridge may be made to extend some
little distance further within the barrel than is usually done, so that the sliding
bolt can enter therein.
Should it be desired, this sliding bolt when driven back and compressing the
spring or springs by the force of the kick or recoil, may be brought up or
checked in any required position until the force of such kick is expended, when
the force stored up in such springs may be used to operate the breech-action,
ejecting the empty shell and prepareing the arm for again being fired.
Double triggers, or a single double-acting trigger may be used, or it may be
so arranged that the recoil of the stock of a pistol held in the hand, or of any other
weapon upon the shoulder or heel plate, may cause the detents or catches holding
back the sliding bolt against the compressed springs to be liberated so as to operate
such breech action as required, or for the purpose of ejecting the empty cartridge
case and prepareing the arm ready for again being fired.

page_text: .
The breech block if used in conjunction with the sliding bolt as aforesaid, may
be made so as to fall or be depressed by the action of the recoiling sliding bolt
and striker, or it may slide downwards or in any required direction, so that the
cartridge can be ejected and a fresh one inserted as required.
I entend to apply this improved breech-action to various classes of weapons,
such for instance as the Martini Henry, Field or Peabody class, in which a falling
or sliding block is used, or where practable to any class of military or sporting
weapons and repeating arms, the object being to render the extracting and ejecting
of the exploded cartridge, also the cocking and in some instances the reloading of
the arm automatic, the operator only requiring to pull the trigger at each discharge,
or if no magazine is used also insert a fresh charge by hand.
The magazine used with any of these weapons may be detachable, or form part
of the weapon if desired, and be placed under the barrel, or in any convenient
position.
The sliding bot may carry the extractor as in most bolt guns and in ejecting the
cartridge advantage may be taken whenever practable to use the present extractors
aided by the blow given by the falling or sliding block.
To prevent any liability of a cartridge becoming jamed in the breech chamber
I may make use of an extractor formed preferably of two expanding clips, these
may extend the whole length, or only part of the distance within the breech
chamber, so as to carry with it and tightly grip the cartridge as it is forced home
within the said, breech-chamber.
I may also make use of any of the usual hand levers to operate the breech action;
when required this lever may be placed at the side, or under the body of the
weapon as desired.
In applying these improvements to pistols I prefer to convert the stock of the
weapon into the magazine to contain the rerve cartridges; the sliding breech-
bolt, striker and spring operating the same being preferably placed in a suitablo
chamber behind the barrel; As this weapon is fired each cartridge case is auto-
matically extracted and ejected by the force of the kick or recoil; a fresh
cartridge being inserted and the arm prepared ready for again fireing as long
as any cartridges remain-or a bolt may be used to retain the cartridges in the
magazine for any emergency that may arrise, while single shots may be fired the
cartridges being inserted by hand; A lever may be also used to cock the weapon
when desired.
I may also make a detachable or hinged cover, of metal or other substance so as
to protect the breech action and other parts from dust or wet.
I may also make use of a cover to prevent the hand being burnt by contact
with the barrel during rapid fireing, and when these parts become hot.
An air chamber may be so constructed as to receive and modify the shock
' of the recoil.
The sliding bolt may be made oval, or made to rotate as well as simply slide,
by means of projecting shoulders working in inclined grooves, or the sliding bolt
may cause the breech-block to be rotated or thrown open (as in the Snider rifle)
as it is driven back by the recoil.
In some instances I make a small perforation leading into the barrel, so that the
pressure of the exploded charge can escape through such perforation into a sinall
chamber under it and forcing back a small piston or other convenient part, so as to
operate either the breech action or parts of it as may be desired.
Signed and dated the eighth day of September 1885.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Breechloading and Repeating Fire-arms.
I RICHARD PAULSON of Boon Hills Langwith in the County of Nottingham
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
The object of my invention for Improvements in Breech Loading and repeating
fire arms is to construct a fire arm from which it shall be possible to fire rapidly
single shots or a larger number of shots in quick succession from a magazine attach-
ment situated under the barrel or in the stock or attached to the body or shoe or
other convenient part of the fire-arm or which can be used as an ordinary breech-
loading fire-arm as may be desired.
In fire-arms constructed according to my invention the force of the kick recoil
or gases generated from the explosion operates a piston or other parts and thereby
compressing a suitable springs for extracting the empty cartridge, forcing in a new
one, operating the striker sliding bolt and breech mechanism generally.
The breech chamber that receives the cartridges may be made to extend a short
distance further into the barrel than usual.
The cartridge is pushed into this chamber by a thumb, or by means of a bolt
sliding in the said chamber and carrying the striker. The cartridge extractor is
attached to the said bolt or the rim of the cartridge is received in grooves in its
bifurcated end.
The sliding bolt is so constructed that when the cartridge is being driven home,
along the aforesaid chamber no pressure will be exerted on the percussion cap or
other part intended to receive the blow of the striker or needle. This arrangement
prevents any liability of an explosion should a shell or cartridge remain in the
breech chamber whilst a second cartridge is being pushed forward by the sliding
bolt. The sliding bolt or breech block are actuated either by means of a hand
lever operating in the usual manner so that a cartridge or empty shell can be
withdrawn at any time without being exploded, or by means of springs compressed
by the force of the explosion and controlled by the trigger of the firearm as herein-
after described.
•
The sliding bolt or block is arranged so that the force of the explosion or the
hand lever causes it together with the shell of the cartridge when such shell is
used to be driven back until it reaches the end or nearly the end of the breech
when it is locked or brought up by a bolt or a projection on the breech block in
which position a fresh cartridge is inserted in the breech chamber either from a
magazine if such be used or by hand. The force thus exerted on the sliding bolt
causes it to compress a spring or springs which is or are so placed that when
liberated it or they operate the breech, force the fresh cartridge into its proper
position and operate the striker to explode it.
The trigger which is placed in any convenient position may be double acting so
that supposing the parts to be in the proper positions when operated it acts so

page_text: to liberate the striker and explode the charge and when released it is forced to
resume its normal position by a spring and liberates the sliding bolt which was
forced back by the explosion and retained by a catch during the interval of time
intervening between the explosion and the release of the trigger.
The sliding bolt when forced back may be made to rotate as well as simply
sliding back by means of projecting shoulders working in inclined grooves in the
enclosing casing or vice versa and this rotation may be transmitted to the breech-
block causing it to be operated in the required manner. The breech-block may be
depressed when the sliding bolt is forced back until an opening therein intending
to receive the cartridge comes opposite the passsge leading into the magazine when
a fresh cartridge may be inserted therein either by hand or from the magazine as
may be desired.
On the bolt being forced back to its full extent by the explosion or by the hand
lever, the breech block is forced to rise by means of a spring or by the forward
movement of the sliding bolt.
The herein-before described breech-action or obvious modifications of them may
be applied to various classes of firearms such as sporting or military guns, carbines
or rifles, pistols and double, treble or multiple barrelled firearms. Any known
safety arrangement may be used to lock the firing pin in a position of safety and
be operated automatically or otherwise so as to prevent the accidental discharge of
the firearm.
The firing pin striker or needle is placed within the sliding bolt or block and
is operated by a spiral or other spring which is compressed and locked in its
compressed condition as the bolt is driven backwards, forward or downwards.
The hand lever for operating the breech mechanism by hand may form the
trigger guard.
The magazine may be of any suitable construction and is preferably constructed
so that the cartridges are liberated by a catch so that they can be reserved for an
emergency the firearm being meanwhile fed by hand.
In order that the said invention may be more fully understood I now proceed to
describe the same with reference to the three sheets of drawings annexed.
•
Figure 1, shews in vertical longitudinal section an application of my invention
to a Martini or Peabody Rifle. The operation is as follows:
Supposing the rifle to be just exploding a portion of the gasses generated in the
barrel are forced through the aperture A after the bullet has passed into the
piston A¹ carrying it forward and pressing the spring B' which afterwards forces
the rod B backwards, this rod having the wedge shaped end B' Figure 2 forces
up the arms C¹ of the lever C which depresses the falling block D and extracts the
cartridge in the ordinary way and by the aid of the shoulder 0 presses up the
bammer E thereby cocking the firearm by drawing back the striker F and com-
pressing the spring f¹ until the bent e' engages with the sear or trigger e¹ each of
these may be rounded so that the pull of the trigger would be gradual in place of
being suddenly withdrawn as at present.
•
As soon as the falling block D is depressed the two spring catches d¹ and d
Figure 3 fly out and bold it down until a fresh cartridge is pressed in which acts
upon the inclined sides of the catches and presses them back far enough for the
top of the falling block to act upon the inclined bottoms and by the aid of the
spring D the various parts are forced back into their normal position as shewn in
Figure 1 but the return of the piston is gentle by reason of the slot in the piston A¹
which admits the gas being very narrow at the a¹ end thereby allowing the gas
enclosed in the piston to only gradually return through the aperture and thereby
gaining time for the falling of the block and the extraction of the cartridge.
I do not confine myself to the details of these particular arrangements for I may
connect the end B' of the rod B direct to the lever C and I may connect the rod B
with a catch on the trigger in place of having the elongated and narrowed slot a³
in the piston and I may connect a lever to the rod B so that the rebound caused
by the spring D shall force the cartridge in, in place of doing it by hand,

page_text: In case of a miss fire I arrange under the barrel in the particular place where
the left hand would grasp while firing a slide G as shewn in Figure 4 having the
cross pin G' which is provided with a slot to allow the rod B to slide when firing
but in the case of a miss fire it would be necessary to press the head g³ of the
pin G¹ until the solid portion of the pin G engaged in the slot in the rod B, it
would then only be necessary to draw the slide G towards the stock which would
have the same effect as though the rod had been forced by the piston but I do not
confine myself to this particular method as I may have a hand lever or other
arrangement acting upon the.falling block to answer the same purpose. .
Figure 3, shews a magazine suitable for this rifle but I do not confine myself to
this one in particular as I may use any suitable magazine such as the Maulicker
McEvoy, Burton or others. In Figure 3 the magazine H which may slide on is
arranged to hold several cartridges which may be inserted and kept as a reserve
or would automatically fall on to the block by means of the vertical rod h¹ which
is raised after firing by means of the inclines B³ formed upon the rods B and thereby
lifting the top h³ and allowing the cartridge to roll into the block D the arm h³
preventing more than one at a time falling, the cartridges are raised by the
spring hand the lid h³ is held down by a stronger spring at the side.
Figure 5 shews my invention applied to the Colts Winchester Spencer or similar
rifle which in this case has the magazine under the barrel the action being the same
as at present used in these rifles or instead a sliding block similar to the one shown
in Figure 11 may be applied. A³ is the piston case and G is the slide arrangement
in case of a miss fire.
Figure 11 and 12 shew in longitudinal section the application of my invention
to any vertical sliding block and in this case to avoid complication I have not
shewn the trigger and striking arrangement but it may be similar to those in any
vertically sliding block.
The body or casing containing the breech mechanism may be arranged as clearly
shewn so that the sliding bolt J which contains the striker projects into the barrel
which may be enlarged for this purpose and is driven back by the force of the
explosion so as to clear the end of the barrel and then slides downwards being
drawn by means of the spring K the cartridge being extracted in the ordinary
way while immediately before this the locking arrangement L under the barrel
is released by the force of the gasses through the aperture A and it being free
the bolt J in its travel by means of the upright N₁ forces back the rod N and
compresses the spring M and the whole is then in the position as shewn by
Figure 12 the block being held down by means of two spring catches similar to
those shewn in Figure 3 until a new cartridge is automatically or otherwise forced
in which releases it and the spring M being of sufficient strength to overcome the
spring K the block is raised by means of the inclined piece N' whish is fixed to
the rod N pressing against the incline cut in the block until the bolt J is opposite
the barrel when it is forced in by the spring J¹ the striker being kept back and
operated in the usual way. It will be seen by Figure 13 that when the block is
down the upright piece N1 is disengaged from the bolt and thereby allows the
rod N to slide forward and raise the block the bolt when flying into the barrel
compresses the two spring catches n' and 'no and the upright N¹ until quite home
when they fly out and grip it as shewn by Figure 14.
In case of miss fire I have a similar arrangement to that shown by Figure 4 but
in addition the incline N' is provided so that previous to forcing the rod back it
will be unlocked from the catch L'.
I do not confine myself to these particular details for
may arrange for the
spring M to be compressed by any suitable lever which would also close the breech
and by the aid of the catch lock the spring in that position until the explosion
occured when the gas, would force the rod N over the catch L' and the spring
would force a wedge shaped piece against an incline in the block and thereby lower
it to the position shewn in Figure 12 and this arrangement may be applied to any

page_text: .
vertical sliding block firearm, and I may have a spiral spring for either raising or
lowering the block as may be required and I may close the breech by any suitable
lever the catch L retaining it in that particular position until the rifle is fixed. In
this case any suitable magazine contained in the stock or other part may be used
in place of the hopper magazine or the hand.
Figures 6 to 10 shew the application of my invention to a repeating pistol
which is as follows. The plunger O Figure 7 is driven back by the explosion and
is retained as shewn in Figure 8 by the spring catch P which is withdrawn by the
return of the trigger sufficiently to allow the plunger to return home which is done
by means of the two side springs O' and O' which might be put under the barrel
the spring catch remaining up a sufficient distance to engage with the guide Q1
which is part of the striker Q and thereby preventing it from going forward until
the trigger R is again pulled which by the aid of the incline R¹ still further withdraws
the catch P and releases the striker which is forced forward by the then contracted
spring Q. The cartridge when driven back is rejected by the spring extractor Q³
which is fixed to the plunger the cartridge shell being forced up by the point of the
succeeding cartridge which is in turn pressed upwards from the reservoir by the
springs S and S¹ as shown the reservoir being filled from a flap at the side or any
known contrivance. A overhanging edge or clip upon each side of the opening
at T prevents the head of, the next cartridge from rising until it is forced sufficiently
forward to clear it by the return of the plunger which then drives it home into the
chamber. The slot X Figure 64 is provided each side the barrel in which the
shoulders V and V¹ of the plungers slide, and as soon as the plunger returns home
as shewn in Figure 7 it is locked in its position by means of the small pin 0³ on
one side pressing the rod U down and a similar pin on the other side pressing the
other rod up which forces the shoulders V and V₁ in to the position shewn in
Figure 9 thus locking the plunger at each side similar to a bolt gun.
The plunger is unlocked immediately after firing, by means of a slot formed on
each side of the case W having an incline which as the barrel recoils presses the
shoulders V and V₁ straight and thereby places them in the proper position to be
· forced back along the grooves and it will be readily seen that unless the plunger
is right home and locked it is impossible for the striker to operato upon the cap of
the cartridge. As in the before mentioned cases I do not confine myself to the
particular details shewn for I may in this case form a piston under the barrel as
shewn in Figure 10 in which case the rod would be connected to the plunger or
other suitable part or I may lock it by the catch L arrangement shewn in Figures 11
and 12 and I may in place of locking the plunger by means of the shoulders V
and V¹ and the slot X continue the covering case Z on and lock it to the barrel in
the manner shewn by Figure 6B and it would then be unlocked by wedge shaped
pieces placed on either side or preferable in front of the case W which in case of
miss fire or other reason could be forced-forward by hand in place of the recoil of
the barrel so that the weapon could be unloaded either by forcing the wedges off
the catch by hand or by the recoil from the fire. The pistol may also be used to
fire single shots to enable which a small catch operated by hand may be provided
at the exit from the magazine to prevent the cartridges being forced forward. A
spring guide or other contrivance may be placed in any suitable position for
controlling the throw of the empty cartridges. Double triggers or a single double-
acting trigger may be used, or one of the triggers may be placed so as to be operated
by the thumb for the purpose of cocking or otherwise controlling the breech action
and these triggers may be applied to any of the weapons before mentioned-I may
make the recoil of the weapon upon the stock unlock the catches or other parts by
which the bolt or breech is retained in position, .in a pistol the stock may thus be
made to slide forward or receiving the shock of the recoil at the same time unlocking
the detaining catches and operate the breech mechanism so that the weapon is thus
ready for again being fired, the above or a slight modification thereof may be
applied to revolvers or rifles such as the Snider or a piston (or other suitable
contrivanse) as in Fig. 1, may be used for the aforesaid purposes the force of the

page_text: explosion being utilized to rotate the chambers and also to recock the weapon if
required.
It may be readily understood that either the sliding piston as shown in Fig. 1,
or the catch as shown in Figs. 11 and 12, or modifications thereof may be applied
to and combined with any class of weapon, as for instance I may in both the
Martini or falling block types or the Colts or Winchester replace the usual breech
mechanism by a vertically sliding block and operate the same by any of the
before mentioned and described methods and the same may be so combined with
any suitably placed magazine arranement so that in firing the weapon it would
only be necessary to pull the trigger at each discharge, or simply close the breech
by means of a lever worked by hand which would also compress suitable springs
until the weapon was fired as herebefore described-The striker may be made
rebounding if required, thus rendering the arm more secure against accidential
discharge, the guides or other parts of the said striker may be so arranged that
unless the locking arrangement securing the breech is in its proper position they
would be checked or retarded in their forward movement and thus prevent the
striker exploding the cap of the cartridge, on the othe hand should these catches
be secure the guides Q-Figs. 7 and 8 may be made to doubly lock them in their
place until the recoil caused by the explosion takes place when they are released
as the plunger or other part is driven back-Clips expanding to receive, the
cartridge and extending forward beyond the plunger into the chamber may be
used so that as they are driven home as the breech is closed, they firmly grip
the said cartridge especially at the moment of firing and also aid in extracting
the same.
°
I prefer to arrange the parts operated by the forece of the gases through the
perforation in the barrell so that the same may be readily removed for the purpose
of cleaning; the said perforation I may also line with platina or any non-corrosive
metal.
In case I apply the locking catch as shown in Figs. 11 and 12 (L.) to pistols
I prefer to screw the barrel securely to the stock instead of allowing it to slide
backwards as in Fig. 7.
I may also make an opening through or behind the block in rifles so that the
weapons may be examined or cleaned through such opening.
I may use any modification of the means for operating the breech mechanism as
shown in Figs. 11 and 12, to any class or kind of arm to which it could be applied
also that shown in Fig. 1.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1st. In fire-arms the manner of utilizing the force of the kick, recoil or gases
generated from the explosion operating a piston so that a sliding rod being driven
back against the resistance of a spring, (or springs) which operates the breech
mechanism in such a manner that the empty cartridge is extracted ejected and a
fresh cartridge inserted either by hand or from. a magazine substantially as
described.
· 2nd. In fire arms of the vertically sliding or falling block type, or having a
rotating or sliding block, bolt or plunger, the spring and catch for locking the bolt
until firing and the unlocking thereof by the force of the generated gas previous to
the kick or recoil driving back the sliding bolt and extracting the cartridge ready
for a fresh cartridge to be inserted from a magazine or by the hand substantially
as described.
3rd. The construction of a fire arm in which the kick or recoil, or force of the
explosion is utilized for extracting the empty cartridge shell and operating the
breech mechanism in combination with the means as shown by Figure 4 for doing
so by hand substantially as described,

page_text: 4th. The construction of a firearm in which a lever or other means is used for
closing the breech being made to compress the spring M and engage the catch I, so
that the gas generated by the explosion will again liberate the catch allowing
the spring to expand open the breech and thereby eject the spent cartridge
substantially as described.
5th. The combination of the means shown in Figr. 1 or in Figures 11 and 12
for operating the breech mechanism so that the weapon.can be either loaded
automatically or by hand ready for firing with weapons of the Spencer, Colts or
Winchester type.
6th. The construction of fire arms substantially as described with referance to
the drawings and description. generally, in combination with a magazine for
automatically or otherwise loading the same.
7th. The construction of a pistol in which the kick, recoil or generated gas after
the explosion is utilized for operating the breech mechanism, preparing the weapon
for again being fired or to extract the empty cartridge shell cock the pistol and
force in a new cartridge from a reservoir or magazine as described with reference
to Figures 6 to 9 inclusive substantially as described.
Dated this Savonth day of the seventh month (Jul A'D 1886