IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Joseph Altman, of Birmingham, in the
County of Warwick, Merchant, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS."
Sealed the 14th September 1875, and dated the 17th March 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Joseph Altman
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 17th March 1875.
I, HENRY JOSEPH ALTMAN, of Birmingham, in the County of War-
wick, Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS," to be as follows:―
This improvement consists of the so mounting and fitting breech end
of gun barrels that by moving a side lever or handle in an horizontal
direction motion is obtained by means of a stud formed on the centre
thereof moving in an horizontal grove for opening the breech, the
extreme end of said stud being brought to act in a curved groove cut in
a falling block swinging upon an axis transverse to the bore of the
barrel within a vertically cut shoe or body, thereby causing the said

page_text: block to rise and fall at the fore end, motion being thereby given to a
steel block in a square opening cut within the shoe at fore end, being an
enlargement of the said vertically morticed shoe or body. The fore end
of the falling block being cut away in its centre forms a forked
opening, into which the square block is fitted; motion is thus derived
for raising and lowering the steel block, thus bringing it opposite or
below the line of barrel to receive the recoil or free cartridge case.
The arrangements for cocking are performed alternately, being partly
performed in opening the action, and finally in closing it, giving great
freedom to the sear and ease of motion.
I claim further the position of the lever on either side or at bottom,
the same result being obtained. Also to a safety bolt fitted to the upper
side of the guard, consisting of a steel plate placed between guard and
trigger plate, the same being formed into a spring at one end, and
actuated in an horizontal direction by a thumb piece at the back of the
trigger guard.
I further claim improvements for the purpose of converting the
Restell system of breech-loading arms, Patent No. 639, dated 1871. I
propose to substitute a trigger with triangular foot, this shape being
preferred for the purpose of passing easily through the present opening
in the shoe thereof. I then use a trigger having an oblong opening at
one of its ends instead of its present form, the other being any
length or shape suitable to the arm we desire to convert, terminating
in the usual shaped trigger finger piece. This lever, being jointed to
the shoe midway between the ends gives the necessary weight or
pull-off.
In converting the Chassepot to this system I used a shoe of such form
and shape as to fill up that portion of the stock previously cut away for
the reception of the Chassepot action.
Improvements in brecch-loading fowling pieces and for small fire-
arms where the barrels are mounted so as to turn on horizontal axles
under their breech ends, as in breech-loading fowling pieces of ordinary
construction, I employ in order to lock the barrels in position for firing
a spring catch or bolt fitted into the breech piece. To effect this I cut
away from the back of body (or break-off) a double groove, forming a
square at right angles with each other, into which is fitted a steel bolt

page_text: with a loop formed horizontally through the upper part thereof, into
which is fitted an angular shaped cam, through which is passed the axis
of a lever from the top of tang or break-off, the end of the axis to be
squared or otherwise shaped to fit a similarly shaped opening in the
cam. The square face of the cam is brought in contact (by a spring)
with the flat side of the loop in the steel bolt; thus motion is obtained
to withdraw the bolt by forcing the lever to the right or left of
the gun stock. This arrangement to be applied to the ordinary ex-
tended barrel lump or to the usual kind, cither with single or double
locking.
SPECIFICATION m pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Henry Joseph Altman in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 16th September 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
JOSEPH ALTMAN, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Merchant,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of March, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the thirty-
eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Henry Joseph Altman, Her special
licence that I, the said Henry Joseph Altman, my executors, admini-
strators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Henry Joseph
Altman, 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 Henry Joseph Altman, my exe-
cutors 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

page_text: 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 Henry Joseph Altman, 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:-
These improvements consist of firstly, the so mounting and fitting
breech end of gun barrels that by moving a side lever or handle in an
horizontal direction motion is obtained by means of a stud formed on
the centre thereof moving in an horizontal groove for opening the
breech, the extreme end of said stud being brought to act in a curved
groove cut in a falling block swinging upon an axis transverse to the
bore of the barrel within a vertically cut shoe or body, thereby causing
the said block to rise and fall at the fore end, motion being thereby
given to a steel block in a square opening cut within the shoe at fore
end, being an enlargement of the said vertically morticed shoe or body.
The fore end of the falling block being cut away in its centre forms a
forked opening, into which the square block is fitted; motion is thus
derived for raising and lowering the steel block, thus bringing it opposite
or below the line of barrel to receive the recoil or free cartridge
case.
The arrangements for cocking are performed alternately, being partly
performed in opening the action, and finally in closing it, giving great
freedom to the sear and ease of motion.
I claim further the position of the lever on either side or at bottom,
the same result being obtained. Also to a safety bolt fitted to the upper
side of the guard consisting of a steel plate placed between guard and
trigger plate, the same being formed into a spring at one end, and
actuated in an horizontal direction by a thumb piece at the back of the
trigger guard.
I further claim improvements for the purpose of converting the
Restell's system of breech-loading arms, Patent No. 639, dated 1871. I
propose to substitute a trigger with triangular foot, as herein-after
described.
I convert the Chassepot to this system in the manner hereafter
described.

page_text: Secondly. My Invention consists of improvements in breech-loading
fowling pieces and for small fire-arms where the barrels are mounted
so as to turn on horizontal axles under their breech ends, as in breech-
loading fowling pieces of ordinary construction. I employ in order to
lock the barrels in position for firing a spring catch or bolt fitted into
breech piece. To effect this I cut away from the back of body or
break-off a double groove, forming a square at right angles with each
other, into which is fitted a steel bolt with a loop formed horizontally
through the upper part thereof, into which is fitted an angular shaped
cam, through which is passed the axis of a lever from the top of tang
or break-off, the end of the axis to be squared or otherwise shaped to
fit a similarly shaped opening in the cam. The square face of the cam is
brought in contact by a spring with the flat side of the loop in the steel
bolt; thus motion is obtained to withdraw the bolt by forcing the lever
to the right or left of the gun stock; this arrangement to be applied to
the ordinary extended barrel lump or to the usual kind, either with
single or double locking.

page_text: Fig. 10, I then place the cocking lever, Fig. 8, in a recess cut away from
inside of shoe, described in Fig. 1, at 2-2. The stud of Fig. 4ª is
passed through the horizontal groove, Fig. 1, at 1, the screwed portion.
of the stud being inserted in Fig. 8, and screwed firmly therein, the
extreme end of Fig. 4 reaching into the curved groove, Fig. 2^, at 1.
The hammer being in position, as in Fig. 2º, the projecting end is brought
in front at A, in Fig. 6, the breech block, Fig. 3, will be put in position
between the forked opening of falling block Fig. 2 at B, and in the
enlarged opening in shoe, as shewn in Fig. 1 at 7—7.
Fig. 7 extractor is fixed in two grooves cut in shoe, Fig. 1 at 4-4,
its upper ends being formed into a fork, as seen in Fig. 7, and B being
held in position by a bolt passed through its centre at B in Fig. 7, and
through the shoe at B, Fig. 1, a dovetail groove cut in shoe, Fig. 1, at 5,
to receive extractor, Fig. 7°, Fig. 5, trigger and sear being placed in
Fig. 1 at 6, being a groove cut to receive it and its spring, the same being
held in position by a bolt passing through that portion of shoe. It will
thus be seen that by drawing back the side lever, as shewn in Figures 1^
and 1º, the catch is released from the opening on side of shoe by the
force required to move same, the cocking lever, Fig. 8, bringing back
the needle and compressing the mainspring, at the same time acting in
the curved groove of the falling block, causes a depression of the falling
block, and taking with it the breech block, thus opening the chamber of
barrel for cartridge, and at same time bringing back that portion of the
hammer shewn in Fig. 1 at 1 and 2. The action then presents the
appearance as shown in Fig. 1". In returning the side lever the sear at
end of trigger taken in the hooked point of hammer preventing the
return, and further raising the spring by the resistance thus offered,
thus raising the falling block and breech block into position for firing,
as at Fig. 1. It will be seen that the cartridge cases are taken out by
the force derived from the downward course of breech block on that
part of extractor, Fig. 7, at A, being further expelled by the action.
and spring, Fig. 7º, passing over an angular shaped opening in Fig. 7º
at B.
Fig. 11 and 11, safety bolts.
I further claim safety bolts for locking to prevent accidental discharge,
as shewn at Figs. 11 and 114.
The thumb piece in Fig. 11 c, c, is passed through an opening in tail

page_text: at the rear of guard to make a locking. It will thus be seen that by
pushing forward the thumb picco C it will carry with it the steel plate A
passing under the projecting piece on trigger, preventing return until
the bolt is withdrawn.
Fig. 11 consists of a lever fitted in a slot cut in the fore part of the
guard acting on a stud therein, held in position by a check and spring;
its motion will be understood on reference to the Drawing 11*.
I further claim improvements for the purpose of converting the
Restall's system of breech-loading fire-arms (as shewn at Fig. 12) Patent
No. 639, dated 1871. I propose to substitute a trigger with a triangular
foot A, this shape being preferred for the purpose of passing easily through
the present opening in the shoc thereof. I then use a piece B, B,
having an oblong opening at one of its ends C instead of its present
form, the other being any length or shape suitable to the arm I desire
to convert, terminating in the usual shaped trigger finger piece. This
lever being jointed to the shoe midway between its ends gives the
necessary weight or pull-off.
In converting the Chassepôt to this system I use a shoe of such form
and shape as to fill up that portion of the stock previously cut away for
the reception of the Chassepôt action.
To carry out the second part of my Invention, consisting of improve-
ments in breech-loading fowling pieces and for small fire-arms where the
barrels are mounted so as to turn on horizontal axles under their brecch
ends, as in breech-loading fowling pieces of ordinary construction, I
employ in order to lock the barrels in position for firing a spring catch or
bolt fitted in to the breech piece at A on Figures 13, 13ª, 13. To effect
this I cut away from back of body (or break-off) a double groove,
forming a square at right angles 13" with each other, into which is fitted
a steel bolt, Fig. 14, with a loop A formed horizontally through the
upper part thereof, into which is fitted an angular shaped cam, Fig. 14*,
through which is passed the axis of a lever, Fig. 14, from the top of
tang or break-off, the end of the axis to be squared or otherwise shaped
to fit a similar opening in the cam. The square face of the cam A,
Fig. 14, is brought in contact by a spring with the flat side of the loop
at B in the steel bolt, Fig. 15. Thus motion is obtained to withdraw
the bolt by forcing the lever, Fig. 14, to the right or left of the gun
stock. This arrangement to be applied to the ordinary extended barrel

page_text: lump, as shewn in Fig. 15 at A, or to the usual kind, either with single
or double locking, as shewn in Fig. 15 at C and D.
Having thus described and particularly ascertained the nature of my
said Invention, I declare that what I claim and desire to be secured to
me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the improve-
ments in breech-loading fire-arms, substantially as herein-before described
and shewn on the Drawings, or any mere modification thercof.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Joseph Altman, have here-
unto set my hand and scal, this Fifteenth day of September, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
five.
HENRY JOSEPH ALTMAN. (L.S.)
HENRY JOSEPH ALTMAN. (L.S.)