AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to François Aristide Clerville, of Paris, France, and
of 4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Captain d'Etat Major, for the
Invention of "AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FIRE-ARMS."
Sealed the 2nd June 1854, and dated the 31st December 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said François Aristide Clerville
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
31st December 1853.
I, FRANÇOIS ARISTIDE CLERVILLE, of Paris, France, and of No. 4, South
Street, Finsbury, London, Captain d'Etat Major, do hereby declare the nature
of iny Invention for "AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FIRE-ARMS" to
be as follows:-
My Invention consists in constructing guns, pistols, and other similar fire-
arms with a moveable breech, and in the mode of moving it for the introduction
of the cartridge.
For the better understanding of the Invention I will describe a single
barrel gun, reference being had to the figures and letters of reference of the
Drawing.
The barrel G, Figure 1, is provided with two spindles T, T, and at its lower
part with an iron piece serving to join it to another iron piece A, a side view
of which is represented by Figure 2. That piece A replaces the ordinary
breech, and is separated from the barrel by about th of an inch.
Between the piece A and the barrel G, the moveable breech is placed,
which being made to turn from right to left uncovers the barrel, and allows

page_text: the ingress of the cartridge, which passes also through the piece A, purposely
provided with an opening on its upper part. The barrel G, and the piece A,
are united to the stock of the gun by means of two plates symetrically placed
on each side, Figures 4 and 5; each of them is provided with a hole to receive
the spindles T, T, and be fixed to the piece A, Figure 1, by means of a screw
B. They are united together by the screw C; the left part of the breech is
placed at D, where it is made to turn on a hinge. The plate at the right
side, Figure 5, is the side which is provided with the usual gun hammer,
and serves also to unite the barrel and the part of the right side of the breech.
That piece serves also to close the breech by means of the spring F, which
passes through that plate and stops the motion of the breech; its upper part
is set in a recess cut in the right side spindle T of the breech, so that when
the thumb bears on the top of the spring F, and the right side spindle of the
breech is raised with the forefinger of the right hand, the plates are made to
open, and the breech to turn on tho left side on its hinge. This opens the
barrel, and the cartridge can be introduced.
The picce A is supported by the trigger guard screw, and its back is united
by the usual screw to the stock and the guard. The recoil takes place on
the plates, Figure 4 and 5, and consequently on the spindles T, T, and its
motion is divided, especially on the lower part of A, and is exerted on the
trigger guard screw. The piece A, Figure 1, and the plates, Figures 4 and 5,
can be replaced by a single piece; instead of its spindle T, T, a small tongue
V can be placed at 2, Figure 6; by that means the barrel may be easily taken
down, and if the piece A is entirely hollowed, the cartridge will be more easily
introduced without bending. Figure 7 represents a cylindrical and conical
ball. Figure 8 is a cylindrical and conical cartridge. Figure 9 represents a
side view of a pistol constructed with the improvements.
V, Figure 18, is the trigger guard screw.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, tiled
by the said François Aristide Clerville in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 27th June 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FRANÇOIS
ARISTIDE CLERVILLE, of Paris, France, and of 4, South Street, Finsbury,
London, Captain d'Etat Major, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirty-first day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the seventeenth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said François Aristide Clerville, Her special license that I, the said
François Aristide Clerville, ny executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said François Aristide Clerville, 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, uso, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention
for "AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FIRE-ARMS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said François Aristide Clerville, by an instrument
in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, 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 François Aristide Clerville, 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 fol-
lowing statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawing hereto annexed,
and to the figures and letters marked thereon, that is to say :-
My Invention consists in a peculiar arrangement of fly breech for charging
guns and pistols, and in mechanical contrivances for strengthening and fixing
the same to the stock.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a pistol, with all its parts complete.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of part of the barrel.
Figure 3, a plan of the fly breech, and iron breech piece for fixing it.
Figure 4, a front view of the fly breech apart.
Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9, shew a different arrangement of mechanism for
strengthening and fixing the fly breech to the stock of a gun or pistol.
Figure 10, cartridge, with a cylindro-conical ball. G, Figure 1, barrel;
E, stock; H, hammer; L, lock plate; g, trigger; S, trigger guard; X; fly
breech, represented when raised; b, knob for raising or lowering the fly breech
with the finger, hingeing at n, on a pin i, Figure 3, which is adapted to the
lateral ears, of the iron breech piece A, K, represented by red dotted lines
in: Figure 1, and in plan, Figure 3. The piece A, K, is let into the stock
suitably formed to receive it, where it is fastened by the screw V; à mortise mi,

page_text: .
Figure 3, in the piece A, K, receives a tenon m³, Figure 2, in the barrel
the two pieces are firmly fixed to the stock by a screw J. The piece A, K,
Figure 3, is hollowed out as far as a, y, to receive the barrel, which is closed
exactly by the fly breech X; a spring r, Figures 1 and 3, fixed to the piece
A, K, is provided with a hook which enters in a recess o, Figure 4, in the fly
breech, and holds it down in a steady position between the barrel and the cars
i, p, of the piece A, K.
To load the gun I first raise the fly breech X, by bearing with the thumb
on the spring r, and lifting up the knob b; at the same time, with the bent
forefinger, I introduce the cartridge through the hollow part A of the breech
piece into the breech of the barrel. The cartridge I employ contains a
cylindro-conical ball, and consists of a fulminating cap c, Figure 10, placed
inside, and a brass pin 1 projecting outside the cartridge, which pin is set in
the kind of touch hole; the cap c, and pin l, must be of the same diameter to
allow the withdrawal of the cap from the cartridge, and the introducing another
if necessary. The fly breech being lowered, the pistol is ready to be discharged
by pulling the trigger, which causes the hammer to fall, strike the pin 7, and
explode the
сар C. In lieu of the breech piece A, K, the mechanical arrange-
ments herein-after described and shewn at Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9, may be
employed for fixing and strengthening the fly breech.
Figure 5 is a side elevation of a portion of the barrel near to the fly breech,
with one of the side plates, and contrivances for fixing it to the stock.
Figure 6, breech end of the barrel; Figure 7, a front view of the breech
piece. T, T, Fig. 6, two iron trunnions of the barrel. An iron plate a, a,
is fixed to the lower part of the barrel to secure it to a breech piece A,
Figure 5, set at a distance of about three quarters of an inch from the barrel,
to allow sufficient space for the introduction of the fly breech X, Figures
8 and 9. The piece A is hollowed out at its upper part, as seen at Figure 7,
to allow the introduction of the cartridge into the barrel. The barrel and
piece A are firmly connected by two similar iron plates P, P', represented in
cross section, Figures 7 and 9, and by red lines, Figure 5; each plate is bored to
receive a trunnion T of the barrel, and a screw B serves to fix it firmly to the
piece A. The plates P, P¹, are also united together and held fast to the stock
by a transverse screw M. The left ear D of the fly breech bears on the plate
P, where it hinges on a pin which traverses and retains it. The right ear of
the fly breech bears on the plate P', where it is secured by means of a spring
as herein-before described. The piece A is also fixed to the barrel by the
trigger guard screw V, and on to the stock by the screw N. The recoil of the
barrel received by the pięce A is sustained by both plates P, P', and trun-

page_text: nions T, and also by the under screw V. The lock plate, trigger guard, and,
if desirable, the stock of the present muskets and holster pistols, may be
retained.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner
of carrying the same into effect, I would have it understood that I do not
confine myself to the precise details of construction herein laid down, provided
the principle of the mechanical arrangements be retained. But what I
claim is,
First, the construction of guns and pistols with a fly breech, as herein-
before described and referred to in Figures 1, 3, 4, 8, and 9 of the Drawing.
Secondly, the mechanical arrangements for adapting the said fly breech to
the stocks of guns and pistols, as herein-before described and referred to in the
various Figures of the Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said François Aristide Clerville, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of June, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
Witness,
HY GILBEE.
F. A. CLERVILLE. (L.8.)