IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1864

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Thomas Woodward at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 21st December
1864.
I, THOMAS WOODWARD, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Gun
Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS," to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to improvements in breech-loading fire-arms, and
consists, first, in the use of a chamber in connection with the barrel or
barrels for receiving the cartridge, and having a slot or groove in its base to
allow the free action to and fro of the extractor for the purpose of removing
the cartridge or cartridge case; and also having a slot or socket at the back,
into which a bolt in the breech is to enter for the purpose of keeping the
breech in position during firing and removing same and opening the chamber"
in order to remove the empty cartridge case, and reloading.
Secondly, in the use of a solid breech moveable on a hinge or hinges, and
which when placed within the chamber will form a recoil bearing surface for
the cartridge on the piece being discharged.
Thirdly, in the use of a bolt acted on by a spring in combination with the
breech, and partly fitting into the slot or socket at the back of the chamber.
Fourthly, in the use of an extractor moveable in the slot or groove in the
base of the chamber for the purpose of withdrawing from the barrel or
chamber the cartridge or cartridge case.

page_text: Fifthly, in connecting the barrel or barrels with the chamber by letting the
rear end of the barrel into the chamber, and fixing or securing them together
by a pin or other suitable means.
My said Invention will be better understood from the following description
of a military or sporting rifle or gun, with my improvements, reference being
had to the Drawings.
Drawing 1 shows the parts of a single barrel rifle or gun, and Drawing 2,
a double-barrel rifle or gun. The same figures and letters represent the cor-
responding parts in each of the rifles or guns.
Fig. 1 shews the rifle or gun in position for loading. A is the chamber;
B, the solid breech; D, the extractor. Figs. 2 and 3, show the slot or
groove C in the base of the chamber A; Fig. 4 shews the rifle or gun when
the breech is closed for firing, F being the bolt fitted into the slot or socket E;
Fig. 5 is an end view of the barrel when the breech is taken off; Fig. 6 is a
view of the bolt F; Fig. 6ª is an end view of the extractor D; Fig. 6b is
the extractor D; Fig. 7 is a view of the thumb piece or handle which screws
on to the extractor; Fig. 8 is an end view of the breech block shewing the
nipples, and also the slot or socket into which the bolt works; Fig. 9 is a
view of the spring which works the bolt; Fig. 10 is a side view of bolt;
Fig. 10 is an end view of breech removed from the barrels to shew the slot
or socket E into which the bolt F takes; Fig. 11 is an end view of the bolt
shewing the projection by which it is worked; Fig. 12 is an end view of the
breech when the barrel is removed, and shewing the slot or socket which the
bolt takes to hold down the breech during firing.