IMPROVE- MENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS." MENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS.
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Shedden, of Ardgarton House, Parish of
Lochgoilhead, Argyleshire, North Britain, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS."
MENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS.'
دو
Sealed the 13th September 1867, and dated the 16th March 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Shedden at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
16th March 1867.
I, THOMAS SHEDDEN, of Ardgarton House, Parish of Lochgoilhead, Argyle-
shire, North Britain, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS," to be as follows, that is
to say :-
This Invention which relates to the arrangement and construction of an
improved combination of mechanism whereby the breech of breech-loading
fire-arms may be very effectively closed and rendered tight, consists as
follows: A lug is formed on one side of the barrel into which a stud or bar is
fixed parallel to the axis of the barrel. A shutter or breech-closing piece is
employed which is secured to the stud or bar referred to by an eye projecting
from it, through which the stud or bar passes in such manner that the shutter
or breech piece is free to turn thereon. The shutter or breech piece is made
of sufficient thickness to admit of a hole being formed through it in a transverse
direction, through which an eccentric shaft passes; one end of the eccen-
tric shaft passing into a hole formed to receive it in a link which is also

page_text: capable of being turned round simultaneously with the breech piece upon the
borizontal stud or bar, the object of the link being to form a firmer and more
secure bearing and attachment for one end of the eccentric shaft. On the
side of the arm opposite that to which the shutter is hinged a metallic plate
which forms a continuation of the barrel is provided with a recess formed in
it, into which the other end of the eccentric shaft falls when the breech-loading
piece is shut down, which forms a secure bearing for the end of the eccentric
shaft.
A second lug projects up at the rere end of the metallic part con-
taining the breech piece, into which one end of the stud or bar, herein-before
referred to, is fixed and at the same time forming part of the abutment from
which the breech is tightened, as herein-before described. The eccentric
shaft is provided with a lever at one end, by means of which the shaft may be
turned round for either tightening or- releasing the breech shutter, in tightening
which the eccentric is turned round so as to press against the rere abutment
lug and the reremost of the two projecting pieces constituting the notch in the
metallic plate herein-before referred to, thereby forcing the breech shutter
close against the end of the barrel. The lever for actuating the eccentric
shaft may or may not be provided with a catch to retain it in position, and the
breech piece may be made with a conic or other formed projecting piece to
fill the end of the barrel, or it may be made flat, thereby constituting a plane
joint with the barrel.
By means of the foregoing arrangements the weapon may be constructed
to act with central-fire, pin, or ordinary cartridges, in the former case the
needle would be situated at an inclination in passing through the breech
shutter so as to be struck by the hammer against the centre of the cartridge;
in the second a recess is formed in the barrel to allow the pin to pass through;
and in the third case a nipple is employed for the affixing thereto of an
ordinary percussion cap.
It is to be understood that in connection with this Invention an ordinary
extractor of suitable construction may be employed.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Shedden in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
13th September 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
SHEDDEN, of Ardgarton House, Parish of Lochgoilhead, Argyleshire, North
Britain, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent; bearing date the Sixteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Thomas Shedden, Her special license that I, the said Thomas
Shedden, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Thomas Shedden, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should
at any time agrée 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 Thomas Shedden, 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 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 Thomas Shedden, do hereby declare
the nature of my 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, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-.
My said Invention, which relates to the arrangement and construction of an
improved combination of mechanism whereby the breech of breech-loading fire-
arms may be very effectually closed and rendered tight, consists as follows:-
A lug is formed on one side of the barrel, into which a stud or bar is fixed
parallel to the axis of the barrel. . A shutter or breech-closing piece is
employed which is secured to the stud or bar referred to by an eye projecting
from it through which the stud or bar passes in such manner that the shutter
or breech piece is free to turn thereon. The shutter or breech piece is made
of sufficient thickness to admit of a hole being formed through it in a trans-
verse direction, through which an eccentric shaft passes, one end of the
eccentric shaft passing into a hole formed to receive it in a link which is als
capable of being turned round simultaneously with the breech piece upon the
horizontal stud or bar; the object of the link being to form a firm and secure
bearing and attachment for one end of the eccentric shaft. On the side of
the arm opposite that to which the shutter is hinged a metallic plate which
forms a continuation of the barrel is provided, with a recess formed in it into
which the other end of the eccentric shaft falls when the breech-closing piece.

page_text: is shut down, thus forming a secure bearing for the end of the eccentric shaft.
A second lug projects up at the rere end of the metallic part containing the
breech piece, into which one end of the stud or bar, herein-before referred to,
is fixed, and at the same tine forming part of the abutment from which the
breech is tightened, as herein-before described. The eccentric shaft is pro-
vided with a lever at one end by means of which the shaft may be turned for
either tightening or releasing the breech shutter, in tightening which the
eccentric is turned round so as to press against the rere abutment lug and
the reremost of the two projecting pieces constituting the notch in the metallic
plate, herein-before referred to, thereby forcing the breech shutter close against
the end of the barrel. The lever for actuating the eccentric shaft may or
may not be provided with a catch to retain it in position, and the breech
piece may be made with a conic or other formed projecting piece to fill the
end of the barrel, or it may be made flat, thereby constituting a plane joint
with the barrel.
By means of the foregoing arrangements the weapon may be constructed
to act with central-fire, pin, or ordinary cartridges; in the first case the needle
would be situated at an inclination in passing through the breech shutter so
as to be struck by the hammer against the centre of the cartridge; in the
second case a recess is formed in the barrel to allow the pin to pass through;
and in the third case a nipple is employed for the affixing thereto of an
ordinary percussion cap.
It is to be understood that in connection with this Invention an ordinary
extractor of suitable construction may be employed.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I now
proceed more particularly to set forth the system, mode, or manner in or
under which the same is or may be used or practically carried into effect,
reference being had, for the sake of more complete elucidation, to the several
Figures upon the explanatory Sheet of Drawings which I have hereunto
appended, that is to say: -
Figure 1 is a plan of the breech end of a barrel with the breech-closing
apparatus applied thereto; the stock is not shown, as my Invention may be
carried out with an ordinary or other stock; Figure 2 is a side elevation
corresponding to Figure 1, showing the lever K, Figure 3 being an elevation
of the side opposite to that shown at Figure 2; and Figure 4, a transverse
section of the barrel and breech piece; the remaining Figures are herein-after
more particularly referred to.
From the barrel A the lug B projects, through which the bolt or pin C
passes, and into which it is fixed, the opposite end of the bolt C being retained

page_text: or held by another lug D projecting from the side of the breech cavity. The
breech piece E is attached by a lug F to the pin or bolt C through a hole in
which the bolt passes, and through the rear end of the breech piece E a
cylindrical hole is formed, as shown at a, Figure 5, which is a transverse
section of the breech piece along the line 1, 1, Figure 1; this hole a is for the
reception of the eccentric shaft G, shown in detail at Figure 6. One end of
the shaft G is carried and supported in the link H, shown also in side
elevation and transverse section at Figures 7 and 8 respectively, the link H
being capable of rotating on the bolt C which passes through the hole b; it is
thus obvious that when the breech piece E is turned upon the bolt C for the
purpose of opening and closing the breech that the link H turns with it. In
order to maintain the link E in proper working position it is provided with a
steady pin i, as shown at Figures 3, 7, and 8, the inner end or point of the
pin catching into a groove in the pin or bolt C, shown at Figure 13. In
that side of the breech cavity opposite to the link H a recess I is formed, into
which the projecting end of the eccentric shaft. G falls when the breech piece E
is shut down. The shaft G is provided with a lever K by which it is rotated,
the rotation of the eccentric causing the advancement and effectual closing of
the breech piece E against the rere end of the barrel or the withdrawal of the
breech piece therefrom accordingly as the lever K is moved through an upward
or downward angle. The breech piece has, by preference, a conical projection
in front, as shown at Figure 5, in order that the joint with the barrel may be
rendered tighter, at the same time to allow for the wear of the breech
itself as well as the eccentric. When the lever is in such position that the
breech piece is out of contact with the barrel it is then only necessary to turn
it through an upward angle when the barrel is opened and ready for reloading.
When the breech is closed the pressure produced by the eccentric acts from
the points c and d as abutments in a forward direction upon the breech piece
itself, thus the breech piece is supported in a solid and effectual manner.
steady pine is put into the rere of the breech piece, its point entering a
groove in the eccentric shaft, as shown at Figure 6. Figure 9 is a front
elevation of the breech piece E, showing the conical projection h, and
Figure 10 is an elevation rerewards; Figure 11 is a transverse section
showing the end of the barrel on the line 2, 2, Figure 1; Figure 12; a section
through the breech cavity on the line 3, 3, Figure 1; whilst Figure 13 shows
the pin or bolt C, in detail, upon which the breech piece E and link F are
carried.
A
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner
in which the same is or may be used or practically carried into effect, I would

page_text: observe in conclusion that what I consider novel and original, and therefore
claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited
Letters Patent is,―
First, the general arrangement and construction of parts constituting
the breech-loading mechanism of fire-arms, substantially as herein-before
described.
Second, the mode of applying an eccentric shaft for effecting the opening
and closing of the breech by means of moving one lever only, as herein-before
described, or any mere modification thereof..
Third, the use of a moveable connecting link for the purpose of attaching
the eccentric shaft to the bolt or pin on which the breech piece turns, thus
enabling the breech piece and eccentric shaft to be moved round upon the
bolt or pin simultaneously.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Shedden, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventh day of September, One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-seven.
Witness,
ST. JOHN VINCENT DAY, C. E.,
Patent Office,
166, Buchanan St.,
Glasgow.
THOMAS SHEDDEN. (L.s.)