IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Gibbs and Thomas Pitt, both of the City
and County of Bristol, Gun Manufacturers, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS."
Sealed the 18th March 1873, and dated the 24th January 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Gibbs and
Thomas Pitt at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 24th January 1873.
We, GEORGE GIBBS and THOMAS PITT, both of the City and County of
Bristol, Gun Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for " IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS," to be as
follows:-
This Invention particularly refers to breech-loading fire-arms known
as the "Lefaucheux" and "snap action" fire-arms.
The primary object of the Invention is to render these guns self-
cocking by the action of the grip lever, and in such manner that when
the grip lever is turned or depressed (according to whether it is a
"Lefaucheux
66
or snap action" gun) to unfasten the barrel or barrels
the hammer or hammers is or are pushed back by a rod or bar, as here-
after described, to half or to full cock, and when the grip lever is turned
23

page_text: back or raised respectively as aforesaid to lock the gun, the bar or rod
before mentioned is withdrawn, so as not to interfero with the fall of the
hammers.
In order to
The first part of the Invention consists in connecting a rod or bar,
which we call a "cocking bar," with the grip lever in the "Lefaucheux"
action, and a similar cocking bar to the bolt of the single, double, or
treble bite snap action guns. This cocking bar or rod is applied to the
locking disc on the grip lever. The rod may be loosely jointed to the
said lever or connected thereto by a ball-and-socket or other joint, or
otherwise, and this bar or rod passes through the body of the action and
abuts against the lever end of the hammer or hammers.
render the contact between hammer and cocking bar as frictionless
as possible, and to prevent more of the body of the action being cut
away than is absolutely necessary, we prefer to form the end of the
cocking bar with a short piece jointed thereto, the said short jointed
piece projecting beyond the body of the action and abutting against the
hammer as aforesaid; but of course this cocking bar may be made in one
piece if preferred. A projection may be formed on the hammer at that
part where the cocking bar comes against it, and a corresponding
portion may be cut away on the cocking bar, or vice versa.
In order to facilitate and insure the desired action of the rod (viz., to
push back the hammer), which is arranged and fitted in such manner
and so connected by joint as aforesaid, or otherwise, at its opposite end
to the disc on the grip lever, that when the latter, viz., the grip lever, is
turned to unfasten the barrels the jointed end of the cocking bar, or
that end which we have described as preferring to make with a jointed
piece, is caused to press against the hammers, which are thus pushed
back into the firing position, or to half cock; and when the lever is
turned back to lock the gun it (the grip lever) draws the cocking bar or
rod back to its original position so as not to interfere with the fall of the
hammers on the strikers.
In some cases where, for example, the cocking bar is loose from
the disc of the grip lever, we use a spring on the action, one end of
which is caused to press on the cocking bar and to press it back to the
disc on the grip lever after the hammer or hammers are cocked.
The rod or bar may be arranged so as to bring the hammer to full or
If orranced to bring the hammer to half cock we provide.
helf real

page_text: another cock outside the action, which is then used for bringing the
hammer or hammers to full.cock. If the cocking bar is arranged to put
the hammer or hammers to full cock, then the outside cock may be used
for placing the gun at half cock.
In the various snap action arrangements we connect the aforesaid
cocking rod or bar to tho ordinary bolt so that the action is similar to
that last described in so far as the action of the cocking rod or bar on
the hammer is concerned.
By the improvements as aforesaid the ordinary gun locks are dispensed
with, and a lock or locks can be used with the trigger plate for base,
whereby we are able to bring the hammers lower down and consequently
in a much better position than heretofore for delivering their blow on the
striker.
By lengthening the cocking bar before described so as to extend it to
clongated tumblers, the Invention is applicable to locks of ordinary con-
struction; nevertheless we prefer the arrangements previously described.
Our Invention further consists in the construction and employment of
a stop or lock apparatus for locking the hammer or hammers when at
full cock, or it may be at half cock, as hereafter described. We form a
notch or aperture in the heads of the hammers, into which a pin or bolt,
also passing through the strap of the action is caused to enter. Another
bar or bolt on the strap, having a button or thumb piece at one end to
move it to and fro on the strap, and at the other end a cam-shaped pro-
jection on one (the upper side) with another and similar cam-shaped
projection in the opposite or lower side. This bar or bolt is passed
through an aperture formed in the upper end of the pin or bolt, which
enters the apertures in the hammer heads. By pushing the bar or bolt
along the strap the cam-shaped projections thereon cause the other pin
or bolt to rise or fall according to which of the cam-shaped projections is
in the aperture of the locking pin; thus by pushing the bar on the strap
forwards, the cam on its lever side presses the pin into the apertures in
the hammer or hammers, which are thereby locked, and by pulling the
bolt back the cam on the upper end is brought or drawn through the
aperture in the pin, the pin is raised, and the hammer or hammers are
thus unlocked.
3

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said George Gibbs and Thomas Pitt in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 24th July 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, wc, GEORGE
GIBBS and THOMAS PITT, both of the City and County of Bristol, Gun
.Manufacturers, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of January, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the
thirty-sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto us, the said George Gibbs and Thomas
Pitt, Her special licence that we, the said George Gibbs and Thomas
Pitt, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the
said George Gibbs and Thomas Pitt, our 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, usc, 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 we, the said George Gibbs and
Thomas Pitt, our executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under our, 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 we, the said George Gibbs and Thomas Pitt,
do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement, reference being had to the
accompanying Drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon,
that is to say :-
This Invention particularly refers to breech-loading fire-arms known
as the "Lefaucheux" and "snap " action fire-arms.
The primary object of the Invention is to render these guns self-
cocking by the action of the grip or snap lever, and in such manner that

page_text: when the grip lever is turned or the snap lever depressed (according to
whether it is a
"
"Lefaucheux or snap action" gun) to unfasten the
barrel or barrels, the hammer or hammers is or are pushed back by a rod
or bar, as hereafter described, to half or to full cock, and when the grip
lever is turned back or raised respectively, as aforesaid, to lock the gun,
the bar or rod before mentioned is withdrawn so as not to interfere with
the fall of the hammers.
The first part of the Invention consists in connecting a rod or bar,
which we call a "cocking bar," with the grip lever in the "Lefaucheux"
action, and a similar "cocking bar" to the bolt of the single, double, or
treble bite snap action guns. This "cocking bar" or rod is applied to
the locking disc on the grip lever. The rod may be loosely jointed to
the said lever or connected thereto by a ball-and-socket or other joint,
or otherwise, and this bar or rod passes through the body of the action
and abuts against the lower end of the hammer or hammers. In order to
render the contact between hammer and cocking bar as frictionless
as possible, and to prevent more of the body of the action being cut
away than is absolutely necessary, we prefer to form the end of the
cocking bar with a short piece jointed thereto, the said short jointed
piece projecting beyond the body of the action and abutting against the
hammer as aforesaid; but of course this cocking bar may be made in one
piece if preferred. A projection may be formed on the hammer at that
part where the "cocking bar" comes against it, and a corresponding
portion may be cut away on the cocking bar, or vice versa.
In order to facilitate and insure the desired action of the rod (viz., to
push back the hammers), which is arranged and fitted in such manner
and so connected by joint as aforesaid, or otherwise, at its opposite end
to the disc on the grip lever, that when the latter, viz., the grip lever, is
turned to unfasten the barrels the jointed end of the “cocking bar," or
that end which we have described as preferring to make with a jointed
picce, is caused to press against the hammers, which are thus pushed
back into the firing position, or to half cock; and when the lever is
turned back to lock the gun it (the grip lever) draws the cocking bar or
rod back to its original position, so as not to interfere with the fall of the
hammers on the strikers.
In some cases where, for example, the "cocking har" is loose from.

page_text: which is caused to press on the cocking bar and to press it back to the
disc on the grip lever after the hammer or hammers is or are cocked.
The rod or bar may be arranged so as to bring the hammer to full or
half cock. If arranged to bring the hammer to half cock we provide
another cock or cocks ouside the action, which is then used for bringing
the hammer or hammers to full cock. If the cocking bar is arranged to
put the hammer or hammers to full cock, then the outside cock or cocks
may be used for placing the gun at half cock.
In the various snap action arrangements we connect the aforesaid
cocking rod or bar to the ordinary bolt so that the action is similar to
that last described in so far as the action of the cocking rod or bar on
the hammer is concerned.
By the improvements as aforesaid the ordinary gun locks are dispensed
with, and a lock or locks can be used with the trigger plate for base,
whereby we are able to bring the hammers lower down and consequently
in a much better position than heretofore for delivering their blow on the
striker.
By lengthening the cocking bar before described so as to extend it to
elongated tumblers, the Invention is applicable to locks of ordinary con-
struction; nevertheless we prefer the arrangements previously described.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings shews in section as much of
a fire-arm of the "Lefaucheux" type as will be necessary to illustrate
one method of carrying our Invention into effect. a is the cocking bar
or cocking piece, a detached view of which is given in side elevation at
Figure 2, and in plan at Figure 3. One end of the bar a, viz., that end
which is intended to abut against the hammers, is in this arrangement
jointed as shewn at 6; the other or opposite end of the bar a is operated
by the disc c of the lever d. The bar a is made of such width as to suit
either a single hammer or two hammers, as required, according to
whether the action is applied to a single or to a double barrel fire-arm.
The disc c on the lever d is provided with a recess for operating the
bar a, one wall of said recess to throw the bar back to cock the fire-arm,
the other wall to bring the bar back to its normal position and to
prevent its jointed end from interfering with the fall of the hammer or
hammers on the strikers, or, as before stated, a spring e may be used for
that purpose. The operation of this action is as follows:-The cartridge
or cartridges, as the case may be, is or are inserted, the barrels fall or

page_text: are pushed up into position, and the lever d is brought round under the
trigger guard; the result is that one wall of the recess on the disc c
during its first movement has caused the bar a to have a backward or
rearward motion, and to cock the hammers the continuation of, the
motion of the disc c and of the lever d to its position under the trigger
guard causes the second wall of the recess on the disc c to come into
action and to withdraw the bar a back to the position, or as nearly so as
may be, to that which it occupied before the first wall of the recess on
the disc came into operation and caused the bar to advance; or, where
there is no second wall on the disc c, the spring e would be used, and
then come into action. At the same time that the bar has cocked the
arm and been withdrawn to its original position, the barrel has been
locked to the stock in the ordinary way known for the Lefaucheux
action.
The hammers may be brought to full or to half cock by the bar, and
although we prefer, according to this our Invention, to have them
enclosed in the action, still they may, if required, be made visible.
In some cases we provide cocking hammers outside the piece, in order
that provision may be at hand to bring the hammers to half cock if
required, or to full cock from half cock in the event of the internal
arrangement being only arranged to bring the fire-arm to half cock.
Figure 4 is a side view, Figure 5 is a horizontal section, and Figure 6
is a vertical section of another arrangement for carrying this part of our
Invention into effect as applied to a double-barrel "Lefaucheux” firo-
arm. a is the cocking bar; b is the grip lever; c, c¹, the walls of the
recess in the locking disc on the said lever 6 for operating the bar a.
The wall marked c is for operating the bar a for the purpose of cocking
the hammers or strikers; the wall marked c¹ is for withdrawing the
bar a after the hammers are cocked so as not to interfere with the fall
thereof.
Detached views of the cocking bar a are given at Figure 7. d, d, are
the hammers, each with the sleeve or recess e, into and against which
the bar a is caused to act; ƒ is a hook on the bar a, against which one
wall c¹ of the recess on the disc of the grip lever b is caused to act to
cause the bar a to be brought back to such position as to clear it of and
to allow of the fall of the hammers d, d. The operation is as follows:-
Open the breech in the ordinary way for the "Lefaucheux" action,

page_text: insert the cartridge, close the barrel, and lock same with the lever b.
When in this position the gun is both cocked and loaded, the following
operations having taken place :-The action of withdrawing the lever b
from under the trigger guard causes a rearward motion of the bar a by
reason of the wall c pressing against the said bar a, and by this means
the other end of the bar a is caused to press against the hammers d, d,
in the sleeves or recesses e, e, formed therein, and immediately the
hammers are thrown to full or to half cock, as may be arranged. The
barrels being then open the cartridges can be inserted, then before the
disc on the lever has completed its motion, or in other words before the
grip lever 6 is carried back under the trigger, the second wall c¹ of
the recess on the disc comes into operation (the barrels having of course
fallen into position in the stock after the cartridges have been inserted),
and abuts against the hook f on the bar a in such manner that it (the
disc) draws the bar a in a forward direction and sufficiently far out of
the sleeves in the hammers, so that as soon as one or both of the triggers
are pulled, the said hammer or hammers, if the same have been brought
to full cock, are free to fall. Of course it will be understood that if the
cocking piece is only arranged to bring the hammers to half cock, they
must be put to full cock before the piece can be fired.
Figures 8, 9, and 10 are views in side elevation, in horizontal section,
and in vertical section respectively of a fire-arm constructed according to
our Invention as applied to a snap action fire-arm, shewn fitted in this
case with outside cocking levers, although as before stated with reference
to the previous Figures, these outside cocking levers are not essentially
necessary. In these views too the action is shewn applied to a double
barrel snap action fire-arm, although, as we shall hereafter describe and
shew, it is equally applicable to single barrels. a is the cocking bar, in
this case jointed as in the arrangement first described. Detached views
of the cocking bar, which is also used and acts as a locking bar, are
given at Figure 11. 6 is the snap lever, the short arm c of which
operates the locking and cocking bar a, which is in a piece with the
bolt f; d, d, are the hammers; e, e, the sleeves or recesses in samo into
which the bar a enters; f, f, are the bolts on the bar a which take into
the recesses on the barrel and lock the same. The action is just similar
to that before described. On opening the locking lever to withdraw
cartridge cases and to insert other cartridges, the bar a is forced back
against the hammers, and on the closing up of the aforesaid lever under the

page_text: Instead of the cross piece just described pins, studs, or equivalents
may be employed on the tumbler for the cocking bar to act against.
Figures 21 and 22 are views of an action shewing the lever at the top
instead of at the bottom of the stock; Figure 23 is a view of the lever
detached. The lower end of the lever carries a stud h, which is caused
to abut against another stud i on the cocking and locking bolt a, so that
when the lever is turned the stud h is caused to press on and against
the stud i, and consequently to press back the cocking bar and thereby
to cock the hammer or hammers.
In all the vertical sections the levers are shown closed; in the hori-
zontal sections they are shown open.
Our Invention further consists in the construction and employment of
a stop or lock apparatus for locking the hammer or hammers when at
full cock, or it may be at half cock, as hereafter described. We form a
notch or aperture in the heads of the hammers, into which a pin or bolt,
also passing through the strap of the action, is caused to enter. Another
bar or bolt on the strap, having a button or thumb piece at one end to
move it to and fro on the strap, and at the other end a cam-shaped pro-
jection on one, the upper, side, with another and similar cam-shaped
projection on the opposite or lower side. This bar or bolt is passed
through an aperture formed in the upper end of the pin or bolt, which
enters the hammer heads. This stop or lock apparatus is shewn at
Figures 24 and 25. 1 is the locking pin or bolt, free to rise or fall in
the box 2; 3 is the sliding bar or bolt; 4 and 5 are the cam-shaped pro-
jections thereon, one being on the upper and the other on the lower side
of the said bar; 6 is the button or finger piece for communicating a to-
and-fro motion to the sliding bar 3; 7 is the strap along which the bar 3
is free to move. By pushing the bar or bolt 3 along the strap 7 the cam-
shaped projections thereon cause the other pin or bolt 1 to rise or fall
according to which of the cam-shaped projections is in the aperture of the
locking pin; thus by pushing the bar 3 on the strap, the cam 4 on its
lower side presses the pin 1 out of its box into the apertures in the
hammer or hammers, which are thereby locked, and by pulling the
bolt 3 back the cam 5 on the upper end is brought or drawn through the
aperture in the pin 1. The pin is thus raised, and the hammer or
hammers are unlocked.
This stop or lock apparatus is applicable to any description of fire-arms
to which it is desired to have an efficient and easily manipulated stop or

page_text: lock for preventing the hammer or hammers falling. It is applicable to
single or to double barrel guns, for although only described in con-
nection with a single bolt or pin. it is evident that the arrangement is
with equal facility applicable to two bolts or pins. This bolt may be
placed in any desired suitable position for locking the hammers.
Our Invention, as before described, is particularly applicable to all
actions known as Lefaucheux or drop down guns, whether grip or
snap action, and to all fire-arms of such class, no matter whatever may
be the position of the lever for opening and closing and cocking the arm,
whether it be under the trigger guard, at the side, or at the top of
the arm.
We have illustrated and described several methods of carrying our
Invention into effect, but we do not limit ourselves to the precise
arrangement of the parts described or to the particular shape thereof;
for example, the cocking bar or piece could with great case, without
departing from the Invention, be made of some other equivalent shape.
It is therefore evident that our Invention is to some extent susceptible
of certain modifications without departing from the essential features
thereof.
Having now described the nature of our said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, we declare that we claim as our
improvements in breech-loading fire-arms,-
First. The employment and utilization of that part of the "Le-
faucheux" action used for locking the barrel and for securing the same
ready to be fired, viz., the grip lever as a means, medium, or agent
whereby the hammer or hammers, as the case may be, is or are cocked,
all substantially as described.
Second. The employment and utilization of that part of the action in
<< snap "action fire-arms used for locking the barrel and for securing the
same ready to be fired, viz., the bolt as a means, medium, or agent
whereby the hammer or hammers, as the case may be, is or are cocked,
all substantially as described.
Third. The employment, in connection with the locking lever or its
equivalent, of a rod, bar, or connecting piece in connection with the said.
locking lever or equivalent, which is caused to act upon the hammer or
hammers, and to cock the arm, substantially in manner herein-before set
forth,

page_text: Witness,
EDWP. GRIFFITH BREWER,
89, Chancery Lane.
GEORGE GIBBS. (L.S.)
THOMAS PITT. (L.S.)