IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edwin Russ, Henry Hammond, and Edwin Ham-
mond, all of Winchester, in the County of Hants, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ARMS."
Sealed the 1st March 1867, and dated the 3rd September 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edwin Russ, Henry
Hammond and Edwin Hammond at the Office of the Commissioners
of Patents, with their Petition, on the 3rd September 1866.
We, EDWIN RUSS, HENRY HAMMOND, and EDWIN HAMMOND, all of Win-
chester, in the County of Hants, do hereby declare the nature of tho said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ARMS," to be as follows:-
We unite to or form in a piece with the breech end of a muzzle or barrel a
metal plate shaped thus ☐ to receive a solid plug or breech lump as
hereafter described. We hinge the solid plug to the side of the metal bed
plate, and along which latter the plug has a slight lateral motion. The rear
end of the solid plug has inserted in it a cam or lug receiving motion from
a lever on the top and outside of the said plug; this cam or lug when the
breech is locked enters an aperture or slight cavity formed in the rear end of
the metal bed plate while the forward end of the plug enters a recess formed
or cut in the forward end of the metal plate; in this manner the solid plug is
firmly held (and at the same time secured by the cam or lug) within the flat
metal plate before described. In an arrangement where we employ a central

page_text: fire cartridge we form a cavity in the plug in which we insert a pin or needle,
and round which a helical spring is placed; one end of this spring abuts
against a plate screwing into the face of the plug and the other against the
base of the chamber containing the spring. The rear end of the needle or
pin has a notch cut in it, and into which the cam or lug takes so that as the
said cam is turned by its lever it draws back the pin or needle, contracts the
spring which surrounds it, and hides or conceals the point of the needle within
the breech plug. There is a rod in the breech plug through which the
pin or needle passes, the latter having a notch formed in it into which a fork
or corresponding notch on the former takes as the pin or needle is being
drawn back, a spring keeping the fork in the notch on the lever; in this
position the pin or needle cannot move until the fork is raised out of the
noteb, and this is accomplished by a lever in connection with an ordinary
trigger being caused to press against the lower end of the rod through which
the needle passes, and thus raised the needle is released and the spring drives
the point thereof against the centre of the cartridge in the barrel. The arm
may be locked by placing a slide above the plug to lock the rod so that the
trigger cannot act thereon until the slide is released. By the use of a needlo
working in the manner described the ordinary lock is dispensed with. The
cartridge is withdrawn by an extractor which slides at the side of the arm in
front of the breech plug, a spring forcing it back as the breech is opened,
and consequently driving the expended cartridge case out. When we use a
pin cartridge we employ the ordinary lock and hammer, which latter must be
somewhat lengthened in order to strike the pin of the cartridge. In the
case of those arms made according to our Invention where pin cartridges are
used the arm is capable of being converted into a muzzle-loader and fired with
ordinary ammunition in the following manner :-We insert in the rear end of
the barrel a metal case or chamber having an aperture formed in the centre
of the base thereof for the passage of the fire flash; the inside end of this
case or chamber is made somewhat conical. To enable the fire from the
cap to pass from the nipple which is on the hinged and solid breech plug to
the centre of the metal case before described we insert in the forward end of
the plug a movable pin capable of receiving motion from a nipple screw, and
according to the direction in which it is turned so the aperture leading from
the nipple to the metal case is opened or closed.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Edwin Russ, Henry Hammond, and Edwin Hammond, in
the Great Seal Patent Office on the 2nd March 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, EDWIN
Russ, HENRY HAMMOND, and EDWIN HAMMOND, all of Winchester, in the
County of Hants, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Third day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
us, the said Edwin Russ, Henry Hammond, and Edwin Hammond, Her
special licence that we, the said Edwin Russ, Henry Hammond, and
Edwin Hammond, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as we, the said Edwin Russ, Henry Hammond, and Edwin Hammond,
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, 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
FIRE-ARMS," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said Edwin
Russ, Henry Hammond, and Edwin Hammond, our executors or adminis-
trators, 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 Edwin Russ, Henry Hammond,
and Edwin Hammond, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement, reference being
bad to the accompanying Drawings, that is to say:-
We unite to or form in a piece with the breech end of a muzzle or barrel a
metal plate shaped thus ❘ to receive a solid plug or breech lump as
hereafter described. We hinge the plug to the side of the metal bed plate,
and along which latter the plug has a slight lateral motion. The rear end of

page_text: the plug has inserted in it a cam, lug, or tumbler, receiving motion from a
lever on the top and outside of the said plug; this cam or lug when the breech
is locked enters an aperture or slight cavity formed in the rear end of the
metal bed plate, while the forward end of the plug enters a recess formed or
cut in the forward end of the metal plate. In this manner the plug is firmly
beld (and at the same time secured by the cam or lug) within the flat metal
plate before described. In an arrangement where we employ a central-fire
cartridge we form a cavity in the plug in which we insert a pin or needle, and
round which a helical spring is placed, one end of this spring abuts against a
plate screwing into the face of the plug, and the other against the base of the
chamber containing the spring. The rear end of the needle striker or pin
has a notch cut in it, and into which the cam or lug takes, so that as the said
cam is turned by its lever it draws back the pin or needle, contracts the
spring which surrounds it, and hides or conceals the point of the needle or
striker within the breech plug. There is a rod in the breech plug, through
which the pin or needle passes, the latter having a notch formed in it, into
which a fork or corresponding notch on the former takes as the pin or needle
is being drawn back, a spring keeping the fork in the notch on the lever, in
this position the pin or needle cannot move until the fork is raised out of the
notch, and this is accomplished by a lever in connection with an ordinary
trigger being caused to press against the lower end of the rod through which
the needle passes, and thus raised the needle is released, and the spring
drives the point thereof against the centre of the cartridge in the barrel; the
arm may be locked by placing a slide or bolt over or in the plug to lock the
striker or rod, so that the trigger cannot act thereon until the same is released.
By the use of a needle working in the manner described, the ordinary lock
is dispensed with. The cartridge is withdraw by an extractor, which slides
at the side of the arm in front of the breech plug, a spring forcing it back
as the breech is opened, and consequently driving the expended cartridge
case out.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings is a plan, and Figure 2 is a side
elevation of so much of a fire-arm constructed according to this part of our
Invention, showing the breech piece closed, and in the position it occupies
when ready for firing, as will be necessary to illustrate the manner in which
it is carried into effect; Figure 3 is a view in plan of the arm with the breech
piece open, and as it appears when the cartridge can be admitted or with-
drawn from the barrel; and Figure 4 is a side elevation of the same; Figure 5
is a longitudinal section of a portion of the fire-arm taken through the shoe

page_text: and barrel, showing a central-fire cartridge inserted therein; Figure 6 is a
plan, and Figure 7 is a side elevation of the shoe; Figures 8, 9, and 10, are
detached views of the breech block; Figures 11, 12, and 13 are views of the
lever cam or tumbler for communicating motion to the breech block; Figures
14, 15, and 16 are views of the tumbler or lever plate in connection with the
tumbler; Figures 17 and 18 are views of the trigger lever; Figures 19 and
20 are views of the scear; Figures 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25 are views of the
needle or striker; Figures 26 and 27 are views of the bolt and indicator;
Figures 28, 29, 30, and 31 are views of the extractor for withdrawing the
cartridge case from the barrel; and Figure 32 shows the extractor tube.
Similar letters of reference refer to like parts in all the Figures.
a is the metal plate or shoe; b is the breech block or plug. This block is
hinged to the side of the plate a, and is free to slide within certain limits on
the rod c, Figure 3; d is a circular cavity, formed at or near the rear end of
the breech block b; e is a pin or stud, set at or about the centre of the
cavity d, to carry the tumbler f and plate g; and h is a screw for keeping the
parts together; i is a bandle in connection with the tumbler f for communi-
cating motion thereto. By turning this handle i motion is also imparted to
the breech block b as well as to the needle or striker as hereafter described.
The breech end k of the barrel 1 or forward part of the shoe a is formed
with a recess, as clearly seen in Figures 4 and 5, to receive the forward end
of the breech block b when the same is closed for firing. The tumbler f
bas a portion m of its circumference removed, and when the breech block is
open this flat or cut-away portion is clear of the rear end of the shoe or plate a,
so that the breech block can be lifted from the shoe or placed therein by
raising or lowering the handle i, as the case may be. After the breech block.
has been placed in its shoe by turning the handle i into the position shown at
Figures 1 and 2, the breech block b is caused to advance along the rod or
pin c, and the tumbler jambing between the breech block and the slight
cavity n formed in the rear end of the shoe thereby firmly secures the breech
in position. The motion of the tumbler when acting on the breech block at
the same time draws back the needle or striker o and cocks the arm in the
following manner :-p is the helical spring surrounding the needle o, which
latter is inserted in the chamber p', best seen in Figure 10; the forward end
of this chamber receives a plate 92, and against which the lump o' on the
needle o abuts, while the aperture in the centre of the plate 9 allows the
point of the needle at the desired time to strike the centre of the cartridge in
the barrel of the arm; r is a notch on the rear end of the needle o taking into

page_text: a recess or cavity s on the under side of the tumbler f; t is a forked rod or
scear through which the needle o passes; u is a second notch on the needle o
to hold the scear after the needle has been drawn back and the helical spring
compressed; is the lever in connection with the trigger w through the pin v
for releasing the scear from the needle. The action is as follows:-On com-
municating motion to the tumbler f through the lever or handle i the recess
or cavity s takes into the notch r on the needle o, and as the tumbler revolves
the notch r travels in the recess and draws the needle o backwards until its
motion is arrested by the notch u passing the scear t, the helical spring p
being then compressed, as shown in Figures 5 and 23, and in this position
the arm is cocked. On pulling the trigger w the lever v causes the pin v¹ to
raise the scear out of the notch u, and the spring p instantly expanding drives
the point of the needle against the centre of the cartridge; x is a bolt passing
through the breech lock connected to a lever y for communicating motion to
the same from outside the arm; is a recess in the bolt which is adjusted in
front of the collar o', and as seen in Figure 5, thus by raising or lowering the
side lever y motion is communicated to the bolt a so as to remove the said
bolt from the collar o' and to allow the striker to strike the cartridge or to
cause the bolt to abut against the collar o' and to lock the arm until the lever
is again moved. The full lines in Figure 2 show the position of the lever y
when the arm is unlocked, and the dotted lines the position of the said lever
when the arm is locked. The cartridge extractor is best seen in Figure 3;
it consists, as clearly shown in the detached views, Figures 28, 29, 30, and 31,
of a plate 1 carrying a clip 2 against which the rim of the cartridge is placed
as it is inserted in the barrel; the plate 1 is connected to a rod 3 carrying a
helical spring 4 covered by the tube 5; as the cartridge is placed in the arm
the spring 4 is contracted, so that when the breech block is opened the plate 1
is released and the spring expanding drives the cartridge case out. In order
to assist the extraction of the cartridge case a clip 6 on the breech block b
takes into a recess between the breech end of the arm and the extractor; this
clip being made in a piece with the breech block consequently moves there-
with, thus as the breech block is withdrawn by the tumbler the clip 6, also
receding, draws with it the extractor and the cartridge until the breech block
is raised, when the extractor being released the spring thereof expands and
completes the extraction of the cartridge case, as herein-before described.
When we use a pin cartridge we employ the ordinary lock and hammer,
which latter must be somewhat lengthened in order to strike the pin of the
cartridge. Figure 33 is a view in plan of a fire-arm constructed according to

page_text: this part of our Invention showing the breech block closed. A is the hammer
which is lengthened, as shown at A 1, to allow it to fall on the pin B of the
cartridge. The breech block is opened, closed, and locked in the manner
before described, and therefore needs no further description here.
Arms made according to our Invention are capable of being converted into
muzzle-loaders and fired with ordinary ammunition in the following manner :-
We insert in the rear end of the barrel a metal case or chamber having an
aperture formed in the centre of the base thereof for the passage of the fire
flash. The inside end of this case or chamber is made somewhat conical. To
enable the fire from the cap to pass from the nipple which is on the hinged
breech plug to the centre of the metal case before described, we insert in the
forward end of the plug a moveable pin capable of receiving motion from a
nipple screw, and according to the direction in which it is turned so the
aperture leading from the nipple to the metal case is opened or closed.
In the arrangement first described the arm is also capable of being used as
a muzzle-loader by inserting a similar case or chamber in the breech end of
the barrel, and after loading in the ordinary manner from the muzzle, by
placing a cap in the base of the chamber and exploding the same (and
consequently the charge or cartridge) by the striker or needle in manner
before described.
And 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 Fire-arms,"-
First, the employment in breech-loading fire-arms of a cam or tumbler
in the breech block for opening, closing, and locking the same, all sub-
stantially as herein-before described and illustrated in the accompanying
Drawings.
Second, the construction, arrangement, and method of action of the breech
block, substantially as herein-before described and illustrated in the accom-
panying Drawings.
Third, the construction, arrangement, and method of action of the needle
or striker for exploding the cartridge in breech-loading fire-arms, sub-
stantially as berein-before described and illustrated in the accompanying
Drawings.
Fourth, the employment of a cartridge extractor constructed and acting
substantially in manner herein-before described and illustrated in the accom-
panying Drawings.
Fifth, the method herein-before described and illustrated in the accom-

page_text: panying Drawings of converting breech-loaders, firing pin, and central-fire
cartridges into muzzle-loaders for firing ordinary ammunition.
In witness whereof, we, the said Edwin Russ, Henry Hammond, and
Edwin Hammond, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Eleventh
day of February, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and sixty-seven.
EDWIN RUSS.
(L.S.)
.
HENRY HAMMOND. (L.s.)
EDWIN HAMMOND. (Ls.)