IM- PROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Engineer and Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ARMS."-A communication from abroad by Alexandre
Guerriero, of 29, Boulevart St. Martin, Paris.
Sealed the 29th August 1863, and dated the 5th March 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Clark at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 5th
March 1863.
I, WILLIAM CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ARMS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to an improved revolver pistol, which in describing
I will consider in four parts:-1st, the barrel, which is slightly rifled at
that part next the ramrod; 2ndly, the cylindrical breech; 3rdly, the rotating
breech chamber, intended to receive the projectiles in a case enclosing
the back part of the breech chamber, and which protects the faluminating
points; and, lastly, the stock, which contains the actuating mechanism and
carries an iron pin serving to connect the three principal parts together, and
an eccentric groove for connecting the barrel thereto. The butt has a screw
ring for slinging the pistol, while the action is double, and is effected simply
by cocking the hammer and then pressing the finger on the trigger. . The

page_text: two principal parts may be detached or connected together by hand by means
of a simple arrangement and without the aid of any instrument.
I will now proceed to illustrate some of the advantages possessed by this
improved fire-arm as compared to those hitherto constructed, by reference to
the accompanying Drawing, first enumerating some of the inconveniencies of
that known as the Lefaucheny revolver.
1st, the cylindrical breech I, I, seen in elevation in Fig. 1 of the Drawing,
turns on axis F, in the space between A and B, and slides lengthwise in
breech C, fixed to the butt. Thus the copper cases of the cartridges after
the discharge expanding on said breech often stop up the opening, and pre-
vent the cylinder from turning, and so prevent the other barrels from being
discharged.
2ndly, as a consequence of the foregoing effect of the expansion of the
cartridge case the cylinder not turning on a fixed point between the pins G, G,
of the cartridges in breech chamber I, Fig. 2 and Fig. 5, plan of the same,
may be struck by the edge of the hammer H, and the blow. not being in a
line with the centre of the barrel P, the projectile would strike its end,
and in its escape might injure the person using the fire-arm.
3rdly, the cartridge pins projecting all round the cylindrical breech
chamber, any blow from the outside, or the fall of the pistol, may cause a
discharge, which would be dangerous for those adjacent.
4thly, if the conical ball becomes detached accidentally from its copper case
and moves towards the chambers in the breech, it would also prevent its.
rotation.
5thly, the barrel being attached to the principal part by means of a large
and small screw, every time it is cleaned it requires to be unscrewed, which
ultimately creates a looseness of the parts, that is prejudicial to the fitting of
the barrel.
6thly, the butt of the pistol is formed of several pieces of iron connected.
together by screws, and its action presents a complication of parts, which are
easily put out of order.
7thly, the pistol cannot be taken to pieces after a number of discharges,
except by a skilled person, consequently rendering it unfit for service in the
field.
The following are the improvements in the above-named pistol according to
the present Invention:-1st, I cause the expansion of the cartridge case to take
effect in a cylindrical case T, seen in section and plan at Figs. 3 and 4, which
is attached to cylindrical chamber I at six points, and also by means of stop
Q, the rotating breech chamber is also separate from the parts effecting the

page_text: rotating movement, hence there can be no liability of stoppage from the
exploded case, and all the barrels will be discharged with certainty.
2ndly, the direction of the line of fire in the centre of the barrel is also
assured, as the hammer is pointed, and must necessarily penetrate the six
holes contained in breech S, in order to strike the pin also in same.
3rdly, there is consequently no fear of accidental explosion from blows
or falls, the pins being enclosed by the breech S, as above mentioned."
4thly, the rotation cannot be impeded in case the projectile should become
detached from its copper case, which improvement I effect by means of a
plate R, which covers the six holes in the section of cylinder.
5thly, the barrel being attached to the principal part by means of an
eccentric D, and sliding along the turned axis F, there will be less friction
between the parts, which are polished, and there is consequently less proba-
bility of wear in the attachment of the barrel.
6thly, the butt of the pistol is made of a single piece of forged iron N, N,
and although the pistol has a double action it is little complicated and con-
sequently not liable to get out of order.
7thly, the pistol may be readily separated into four pieces after repeated
discharges by any one, and may be then cleaned without the aid of any
instrument, by means of a brush, and in a few minutes be again ready for
use.
8thly, a guard spring L is applied to insure the loading and discharge; the
revolver may also be attached to the person by means of a cord connected to a
rine fixed to the butt
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
2nd September 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer and
Patent Agent, send greeting..
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-sixth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself,. Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said William Clark, Her special licence that I, the said William
Clark, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the

page_text: said William Clark, 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, 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," a communication to me from abroad. by
Alexandre Guerriero, of 29, Boulevart St. Martin, Paris, upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said William Clark, 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 William Clark, do hereby declare
the nature of the 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 had to the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say) :-
This Invention relates to a improved revolver pistol, which may be divided
into four principal parts:-1st, the barrel, which is slightly rifled, slides on a rod
or axis at the under part, to which it is fixed by means of an eccentric; 2ndly
a cylindrical breech; 3rdly, a rotating breech chamber intended to receive the
projectiles partially fitting in a case enclosing its rear end, and which protects
the fulminating points; and lastly, the stock, which contains the actuating
mechanism, and carries the iron pin or axis before mentioned serving to con-
nect the principal parts together, and an eccentric groove for connecting the
barrel thereto. The butt has a ring for attaching the pistol to the body, while
the action is double, and is effected simply by cocking the hammer and then
pressing the finger on the trigger. The two principal parts may be detached
or connected together by hand by means of a simple arrangement, and without
the aid of any instrument.
I will now proceed to illustrate some of the advantages possessed by this
improved fire-arm as compared to those hitherto .constructed, by reference to
the accompanying Drawing, first enumerating some of the disadvantages of
that known as the Lefaucheux revolver.
1st, the cylindrical breech I, I, seen in elevation in Fig. 1 of the Drawing,
turns on axis F, in the space between A and B, and slides lengthwise in
breech C, fixed to the butt. Thus the copper cases of the cartridges after the
discharge expanding on said breech often stop up the opening, and prevent

page_text: the cylinder from turning, and so prevent the other barrels from being dis
charged.
2ndly, as a consequence of the foregoing effect of the expansion of the
cartridge case, the cylinder, not turning on a fixed point between the pins
5 G, G, of the cartridges in breech chamber I, Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, plan of
same, may be struck by the edge of the hammer H, and the blow not
being in a line with the centre of the barrel P, the projectile would strike
its end, and its escape might injure the person using the fire-arm.
3rdly, the cartridge pins projecting all round the cylinder, a blow or
the fall of the pistol may cause a discharge, which is dangerous for those
adjacent.
4thly, if either of the conical balls becomes detached accidentally from its
copper case and moves towards the chambers in the breech, it would also
prevent its rotation.
5thly, the barrel being attached to the principal part by means of a large
and small screw, every time it is cleaned it requires to be unscrewed, which
ultimately creates a looseness of the parts that is prejudicial to the fitting of
the barrel.
6thly, the butt of the pistol is formed of several pieces of iron connected
together by screws, and its action presents a complication of parts, which are
easily put out of order.
7thly, the pistol cannot be taken to pieces in order to clean it after a
number of discharges except by a skilled person, consequently rendering it
unfit for service in the field.
The following are the improvements in the foregoing pistol according
to the present Invention:-1st, I cause the expansion of the cartridge case
to take effect in a cylindrical casing T, seen in section and plan at Figs.
4 and 5, which is attached to cylinder I at six points, and also by means
of stop Q; the rotating breech chamber is also separate from the rotating
movement, hence there can be no liability of any stoppage from the before-
mentioned cause, and all the barrels will be discharged with certainty.
2ndly, the direction of the line of fire in the centre of the barrel is also
assured, as the hammer is pointed, and must necessarily penetrate the six holes
contained in breech S, in order to strike the pins also in same.
3rdly, there is consequently no fear of explosion from blows or falls, the pins
being enclosed by the breech S as above described.
4thly, the rotation cannot be impeded in case a projectile should become
detached from its copper case. I effect this improvement by the application
of a plate R, which covers the six holes in the section of cylinder.

page_text: 5thly, the barrel being attached to the principal part by means of an eccen-
tric D, and sliding along the turned axis F, there is less friction between the
parts which are polished, and consequently less probability of wear in the
attachment of the barrel.
6thly, the butt of the pistol is made of a single piece of forged iron N, N,
and although the pistol is of double action, it is much less complicated than
the foregoing, and consequently less liable to get out of order.
7thly, the pistol may be readily separated into four pieces after repeated
discharges by any one, without the aid of any instrument, and may then
be cleaned by means of a brush, and in a few minutes be again ready for
use.
8thly, a guard spring L is applied to ensure the loading and discharge; the
revolver is also attached to the person by means of a cord connected to a ring
fixed to the butt.
Having described the nature of this Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be to be protected
by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the arrangement and
construction of revolvers in the manner and as herein-before described and
represented in the Drawing annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Clark, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this First day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
Witness,
W. G. E. SWINNOCK,
58, Chancery Lane,
London.
W. CLARK. (L.S.)