IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS AND CANNONS
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Gloag, of Edinburgh, in the County of Mid
Lothian, Scotland, Captain in the Madras Artillery, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS AND CANNONS."
Sealed the 28th December 1860, and dated the 17th July 1860..
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Gloag at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his. Petition, on the 17th July
1860.
I, HENRY GLOAG, of Edinburgh, in the County of Mid Lothian, Scotland,
Captain in the Madras Artillery, do hereby declare the nature of the Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS AND CANNONS," to be as
follows:-
My Invention relates to the combination and arrangement of the parts of
breech-loading fire-arms and cannons, whereby the moveable breech of such
fire-arms is retained securely in position, and a tight joint is obtained between
the end of the barrel and the breech, so as to avoid windage or escape of gas
when the explosion takes place. For this purpose I construct a gun or other
fire-arm or cannon with a moveable breech chamber, which moves on axes at
or near its centre; such axes being supported and carried by the sides of a
slotted frame or case, into the front end of which the barrel is firmly screwed.

page_text: The back end of this slotted breech frame or case is bored, and has a female
screw cut therein to receive a hollow screw plug, which is suitably formed for
being screwed or unscrewed by a key or lever applied thereto, and this breech
screw or plug bas a square passage through it and a slot or opening is formed
on one side, through which the nipple, on the end of the moveable breech
passes when moved into and out of position for discharging and loading the
piece. The back end of the moveable breech has a female screw cut therein
of the same pitch as the breech screw, just described, to receive the screw of
the nipple, which closes the end of the breech, and to, which I attach a sliding
cartridge case or breech lining made of copper or other suitable metal, which
projects a short distance from the end of the moveable breech, and comes up
to a shoulder formed in the end of the barrel when the breech is screwed up
ready for the discharge, thus closing or covering the joint between the barrel
and the breech. When the breech screw is screwed up tight the square on
its inner end passes over the square formed on the nipple, and thus screws up
the nipple and forces the cartridge case or lining a short distance into the
barrel, and when the breech screw is withdrawn a short distance and the slot
or opening formed in it is brought opposite to the slot in the frame or casing
the breech may be moved horizontally or vertically on its axes into a position
to receive a fresh charge, which may be of loose powder and ball, or a made-
up cartridge, or ordinary Government ammunition may be used.
The breech frame or case is formed with projections to attach it to the stock
or carriage of a gun, or other fire-arm in any convenient manner..
The cartridge case, or lining to the moveable breech may be dispensed with,
the end of the moveable breech being ground or accurately fitted and forced
up to the end of the barrel by the breech screw, as previously described.
The Invention is applicable to guns and rifles, and to cannons or other
ordnance.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of July, in the year of our Lord,
One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-fourth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Henry Gloag, Her special licence that I, the said Henry Gloag,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Henry Gloag, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at auy
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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 "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS AND CANNONS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Henry Gloag, my executors or adminis-
trators, 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 Henry Gloag, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say :-
My Invention relates to the combination and arrangement of the parts of
breech-loading fire-arms and cannons, whereby the moveable breech of such
fire-arms is retained securely in position, and a tight joint is obtained between
the end of the barrel and the breech, so as to avoid windage or escape of gas
when the explosion takes place. For this purpose I construct a gun or other
fire-arm or cannon with a moveable breech chamber, which moves on axes at
or near its centre, such axes being supported and carried by the sides of a
slotted frame or case, into the front end of which the barrel is firmly screwed.
The back end of this slotted breech frame or case is bored and has a female
screw cut therein to receive a hollow screw plug, which is suitably formed for
being screwed or unscrewed by a key or lever applied thereto; and this breech
screw or plug has a square passage through it, and a slot or opening is formed
on one side, through which the nipple on the end of the moveable breech
passes when moved into and out of position for discharging and loading the
piece. The back end of the moveable breech. has a. female screw. cut therein

page_text: Figure 1, Sheet 1, shews a longitudinal section, and Figure 2 a plan, of a
gun or rifle constructed according to one method of my Invention; the other
Figures shew separate views of some of the parts detached, the nature of each
of which is written thereon. a is the moveable breech chamber, which moves
horizontally on axes at a', these axes being carried by the upper and lower
sides of the slotted frame or case b, into front end of which the barrel c is
firmly screwed and retained in position by the screw nut c'. The back end of
this slotted breech frame or case is formed with a female screw to receive
the hollow screw plug d, on the end of which a key or lever d¹ is fixed, which
when moved into or out of position screws up or withdraws the breech screw d.
The screw or plug d is formed with a square passage at the front end to fit
over the square on the nipple; and there is a slot or opening on one side

page_text: through which the nipple on the end of the moveable breech passes when
moved into and out of position for discharging and loading the piece. The
back end of the moveable breech a has a female screw cut therein (of the
same pitch as the breech screw d), which receives the screw of the nipple to
close the end of the breech, and to this screw e is fixed the sliding cartridge
case or breech lining f made of copper or other suitable metal, which (when
the parts are in proper position for discharge) projects a short distance from
the breech chamber into the barrel, coming up to a shoulder formed therein,
thus closing or covering the joint between the barrel and the breech when the
discharge takes place. When the breech screw d is screwed up tight by the
action of the lever d', the square on its inner end acts on the nipple screw e
and case or lining f, to force the end of the case a short distance into the
barrel, as before described, and when the breech screw d is withdrawn by the
movement of the lever d', the slot or opening in the breech screw permits
the nipple to pass or move outwards when the moveable breech a is moved
into position to receive a fresh charge. The breech frame or case b may be
formed with projections to attach it to the stock or carriage of a gun or other
fire-arm in any convenient manner; or it may be secured as shewn in the
longitudinal section.
The advantages arising from the construction of guns or rifles according to
my improvements will be seen from the following detailed description of the
different component parts:-
The nipple being in the breech of the chamber, the communication with the
charge is consequently direct. The hammer strikes the nipple through the
breech screw, which is hollow. The joint rendered gas-tight not only by
the contact of the muzzle of the chamber and the end of the barrel, but also
by their point of junction being covered by a copper or other metallic cartridge
or lining, which is advanced a sufficient distance into the barrel by the action
of the breech screw. The casing of circular section has a hole through it
lengthways, and rectangular slots are cut in its sides; threads of a female
screw are formed in both its extremities for the purpose of receiving the barrel
and breech screw; and it has a notch cut in its right side, at its back end, for
the purpose of allowing the nipple to escape in the act of opening the breech
for loading.
The cylinder or breech chamber for containing the copper cartridge, shewn
separately in section at Figure 4, has a few threads of a screw cut in its
interior at the breech end, as shewn, for the purpose of receiving the male
screw attached to the copper lining, shewn in elevation Figure 5.

page_text: The male screw, by means of which the copper cartridge is advanced into
and withdrawn from the barrel, is firmly secured to the copper lining having a
square shoulder which fits into a hole in the breech screw; the nipple is
screwed partly into this screw and partly into the end of the copper
lining.
It will be seen by examining the section, Figure 1, and Figures 4 and 5,
where the copper sliding cartridge case is drawn in the way it is entered into
the cylinder, that the sliding cartridge can only move outwards, as shewn in
the plan by as much as the male screw e exceeds the female screw (in the
cylinder a) in length, which may be of a turn, and which is the distance the
copper lining enters the barrel. The moveable breech chamber composed of
the cylinder a, the copper lining f, screw e, and nipple turns on two pivots
or axes in the casing as before described. The barrel c screws into the fore
end of the casing, and is secured in its place by a screw nut. The breech screw,
views of which are given at Figure 6, is hollow, the hole through it at the
front end or that which comes in contact with the breech of the chamber is
'square for a short distance, it then widens towards the rear end, and becomes
of a circular form; the square part of the hole through the breech screw fits
the square shoulder on the screw e (before mentioned) by turning the lever d',
attached to the breech screw, the pressure is taken off the joint and the copper
cartridge is withdrawn from the barrel (into which it enters when the breech
screw is tightened) by means of the screw e, (the shoulder on which enters the
square hole in the breech screw d,) and at the same time a notch or slot in the
breech screw is brought to coincide with that in the side of the casing, thus
permitting the passage of the nipple, and allowing the chamber to turn on the
pivots into a position so that the operations of capping and loading can be
readily gone through. The lever d fixed to the rear end of the breech screw,
when the breech is closed, lies in front of the hammer, where it may be
secured to the lock plate by a catch or other convenient contrivance; when
the breech is open it is in the position shewn in the plan, being turned to the
left as far as a stop on the stock will permit. The hammer strikes the nipple
through the breech screw, and is made with a projecting ledge or rim round
its nose at g, so that it may be forced back to half-cock by turning the lever to
the left for the purpose of loosening the breech screw and opening the breech.
The half-cock, suppose the hammer to be resting on the nipple, or on au
exploded cap after a discharge, then the lock may be so arranged that on
turning the lever to the left the hammer will be forced back as far as the breech
screw moves outwards, when the half-cock notch should catch it, thus the plau

page_text: admits of the breech being opened, and the hammer raised to half-cock
by one motion of the lever d¹.
Safety. When the breech is opened, as at Figure 2, and the operations
of capping and loading have been finished, the chamber is turned into a position
in line with the barrel, (as far as the casing will permit) then it is obvious that.
the hammer cannot in any way fall on the nipple till the lever is turned down
to the right for the purpose of tightening the breech screw, and firmly closing
and securing the joint. The hammer may be raised to the half-cock in the
usual manner with the thumb, then the lever is turned to the left to open tho
breech, the breech screw moves outwards a little, and consequently the hammer
cannot touch the nipple till the breech screw is tightened or advanced in order
to close the joint. The flash from the explosion of the cap may be allowed to
escape at the side or sides of the casing through a hole or holes made for the
purpose, one of which is shewn at, Figure 2.
Sheet 2, of the Drawings, shews another arrangement of a breech-loading
gun or rifle constructed according to my Invention, very similar to the
arrangement previously described, the metal cartridge case in this arrangement
being dispensed with, and the nipple being placed on the side of the moveable
breech as in ordinary fire-arms.
The figures and parts being marked with similar letters of reference thero
will be no necessity to repeat the same here.
For the purpose of clearly explaining the arrangement of the parts of the
breech-loading rifle shewn in Drawing No. 2 the following description is given.
The casing b is a piece of metal of circular section having a hole through it
lengthways and rectangular slots are cut in its sides as represented in Figure 5;
this circular sectioned piece of metal 6 has threads of a female screw cut in
both its extremities for the purpose of receiving the barrel c, and breech screw d;
the portions of the casings marked X X act as stops against which the muzzlo
and breech of the chamber rest when the breech is closed, as shewn in
plan; these stops ensure the perfect coincidence of the axis of the chamber
and barrel when the breech is shut. The breech chamber a is carried in the
casing b on two pivots or axes a', the muzzle moving in the direction of
the arrow a² the breech in that of arrow a. The pivots or axes may be
screwed into the chamber, as represented in the section or attached in any
convenient manner. The holes in the casing in which they work are to be
slightly eased forward in order to prevent their being affected by the pressure
of the breech screw, if necessary two small plates may be sunk in the casing
covering the pivots, and secured by screws, their object is to prevent the

page_text: pivots becoming loose from the friction of the chamber turning on the pivots,
The joint is formed by the muzzle of the chamber a, and end of the barrel c.
being ground or made to fit each other with accuracy, the ends of the chamber
are segments of a sphere, whose centre is situated at a' in the vertical line
passing through the axis of the pivots; the end of the barrel is scooped out or
hollowed to fit the muzzle end of the chamber, which may be faced with a
copper or platina ring, as shewn at a'; the breech end of the chamber also
must fit and be in contact with the face of the breech screw when it is
tightened to close the breech; the joint between the breech and barrrel is
rendered gas-tight by the pressure of the screw d turned by a lever d' attached
to it. The lever d¹ may be fixed to the breech screw by screws (or otherwise),
the face of the screw is hollowed out to fit the breech end of the chamber,
which, as already said, is the segment of a sphere; the lever d' when the
breech is closed is held by a spring catch (or other suitable contrivance)
attached to the lock plate. To load, the hammer is raised to half-cock, the
lever turned to the left as far as possible, when the chamber can readily be
turned on the pivots by a touch of a finger of the left hand which grasps the
rifle in front of the trigger guard, thus exposing the muzzle of the chamber,
and admitting of the charge and bullet being inserted; no force but what can
be exercised by a finger of the right hand is required to enter the bullet into
the chamber. The gun or rifle when the breech is open for the purpose of
loading is merely held slightly inclined to the right in the left hand, thus there
is little chance of the powder escaping by the nipple; the charge being
introduced, the chamber is turned by a finger of the left band as far as the
casing will admit, the breech screw is then tightened by the lever, and the cap
placed on the nipple. For safety, capping should be accomplished after
loading, when the breech screw is tightened, holding the chamber in its
proper position, which entirely prevents the chance of an accident occuring
by the accidental fall of the hammer; besides, the lever may be so arranged
and made that it will intercept the hammer, should it by any means fall when
the breech screw is loose, and the chamber not exactly in its proper position.
And should the hammer fall when the chamber is in the position here
represented, it will strike on the plate of metal shewn separately at Figure 7;
should it be considered necessary to cap before loading, the chamber being in
the position represented in plan, and the charge, &c., being inserted, it is
impossible for the hammer should it accidentally fall to strike the nipple.
After loading, the chamber can readily and quickly be brought into its proper
position, and be there secured by the breech screw, as already described.

page_text: It will be evident from the foregoing description that my improvements may
be applied to cannons or other fire-arms differing in arrangement to those
shewn in the Drawings, at the same time I have not thought it necessary to
shew other examples, as a competent workman, aided by the previous
descriptions and Drawings, would readily apply my improvements to other
descriptions of fire-arms.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, I would have it under-
stood that I do not confine myself to the exact details herein laid down; but
what I claim is, the arrangement and construction of breech-loading fire-
arms and cannons, as shown and described in respect to Sheets 1 and 2 of the
Drawings hereunto annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Gloag, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eleventh day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
HENRY GLOAG. (LS.)