IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING AND OTHER ORDNANCE, PART OF WHICH IS APPLICABLE TO THE UTILIZING OF OLD SMOOTH-BORE CANNON, AND IN PROJECTILES TO BE USED THEREWITH
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jacob Snider, junior, of Dorset Street, in the
County of Middlesex, Merchant, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN BREECH-LOADING AND OTHER ORDNANCE, PART OF WHICH IS APPLICABLE TO
THE UTILIZING OF OLD SMOOTH-BORE CANNON, AND IN PROJECTILES TO BE USED
THEREWITH."
Sealed the 26th February 1864, and dated the 1st September 1863..
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Jacob Snider at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 1st
September 1868.
I, JACOB SNIDER, junior, of Dorset Street, in the County of Middlesex,
Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "Ix-
PROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING AND OTHER ORDNANCE, PART OF WHICH IS APPLI-
CABLE TO THE UTILIZING OF OLD SMOOTH-BORE CANNON, AND IN PROJECTILES TO BE
USED THEREWITH," to be as follows:-
The first part of my Invention consists in producing a breech-loading
cannon when the structure of the gun is entirely new, as follows" :--
I bore out the gun to its destined calibre through its entire length, I. then
cut a hole into the top body part of the breech of the gun, which hole is
destined to receive the "breech piece" that will directly receive the force of
the recoil of the explosion of the charge. This hole is in shape at the surface
a parallelogram, with its edges sloped off or displayed towards its interior a
certain distance only, so that the top surface of the "breech piece" and the
hinge apparatus connected with it, and hereafter described, will be below the.

page_text: line of outer surface of the body of the gun. Below the sloped off or displayed
part this hole on its forward line or surface is vertical and at direct right angle
to the axis of the bore of the gun. Its rear line or surface inclines at an angle
from the base of the hole where the width of the hole from front to rear is
least, up to the top or greatest width, so as to form a receptacle for the angular
or wedge-shaped "breech piece" destined to fill it. The sides of this hole aré
not straight or angular, but curved in a manner adapted to receive and sustain
in place the breech piece, as also to retain for strength all the metal possible to
the body of the gun, likewise to receive the recoil of the "breech piece" on the
explosion of the charge, while at the same time giving adequate space for
curved movement of the "breech piece," so that the breech may be opened
and closed with but two simple movements, and in the act of closing to lock
itself by means of a self-locking bolt or latch, all as hereafter described, thus
obviating the use of any lever or screwing into place, or of having a breech
apparatus of detached pieces.
The breech piece destined to fill the hole as aforesaid is constructed, formed,
attached, and operated as follows:-I prefer to make this solid breech piece of
steel. It is wedge-shaped on its rear fitting surface and straight or vertical
n its front surface, with its edges or sides at right angles to the same, but
curved so that when in place and filling up the hole aforesaid, it will amply
cover the opening or bore of the gun, front and rear, and have a secure bearing
surface all around, it against the rear side of the hole which is the receptacle
for it.
The steel or other metal "breech piece" is attached to the gun and
operated as follows" :-I construct a hinge working on a pivot or pin, and with
two faces with curves or angles, the one fitting into. the other, so that simul-
taneously with the least movement that opens or releases the "breech piece"
by lifting it on its hinge bearings, the breech piece will recede from bearing
its front or vertical face upon the barrel face or opening at the rear end of the
charge chamber. This movement is given to it in order that any nitrous or
other deposit left on the face of the breech piece from the explosion of the
powder charge shall not cause friction on the barrel face and impair it, and
then when the breech piece is turned up or out sufficient to leave the bore
open so as to charge from the rear end of the gun, the recoil bearing surface
face of the breech piece can, if required, be instantly wiped off clean after
every discharge and while the gun is being again loaded. This method of
acting or manipulating the breech piece constitutes in my present Invention
of breech-loading a system of non-friction surface at the point where powder
fouling deposits. The hinge is made of two pieces firmly screwed or other-

page_text: wise fastened to the gun and breech, and having a pivot or pin solid to one
part and a tube to receive it on the other, with a nut to screw on the end
of the pin after it is covered by the tube. But in order not to let the
operating joints in this hinge become fouled or obstructed by sand, dirt, or
other foreign substances, I encase the movement which is essential to operate
the receding of the "breech piece" within a tube forming a solid part of the
body of one portion of the hinge, into which tube part is introduced a pin.
the head of which is grooved or shaped so that on its movement against the
nut or head (now about to be described) in lifting or opening the "breech
piece" it causes the latter to recede, as already described herein. After this
pin is passed into the tube part of the hinge a head or nut is then screwed
into the said tube part in order to retain the pin, and the inner face of this
head or nut will fit and correspond to the head of said pin, which pin pro-
truding through the said tube enters another tube attached to or formed solid
to the "breech piece," and by screws let in through which the breech piece
is attached, and this pin revolves as the hinge pivot. The head of the pin is
shouldered off and has play to move and bear back against corresponding
shoulders in the tube, so that when pressed by the upward opening movement
of the "breech piece" it recedes. The recoil from the explosion of the
charge in the chamber of the gun will naturally bear violently against the
"breech piece," which because of its sloped or wedged-shaped rear face will
have a tendency to rise up. This tendency to an impulsive movement of
the breech piece" I check or arrest by locking fast the breech piece" into
the breech opening at all times by means of a self-acting latch or spring bolt,
which bolt is secured in and passes through the rear part of the body of the
gun. As the breech piece is being shut or closed into the receptacle for it,
this self-acting bolt enters a hole provi.led for it in the rear of the "breech
piece," and thus the breech is closed, and at the same time locked fast by
only one simple movement, which brings the breech apparatus completely into
position for firing.
I would here observe, first, no breech-loading cannon or small arm can
ever be efficient which permits escape of gas at the breech or explosion of the
charge; second, there is but one element or principle by which to prevent
this, and that is "flexion" at the instant of explosion.
Now by my Invention I obtain this quality of flexion at the instant of
explosion by the application of a "gas check" constructed and applied in the
following mauner :-An annular recess is cut in the rear part of the charge
chamber in the bore of the gun longitudinally, and in depth proportioned to
the calibre. Into this recess à copper or other metal ring of an elastic or

page_text: '
plastic quality or nature is introduced, the said ring being formed on its
respective edges or faces, so that by its expansion, dilation, or flexion at the
instant of explosion, the joints both at its anterior or inner end or face and its
rear end in its bearing against the face of the "breech piece" are closed and
thus efficiently prevent the escape of gas.
The second part of my Invention consists in converting muzzle-loading
cannon into breech-loading cannon.
This plan especially applies to cannon of previously smooth bore, made
originally to fire spherical shot, or to cannon where it may be desired to
reduce the calibre in order to fire elongated shot, while at the same time
they may be converted from muzzle-loading into breech-loading cannon. I
first readjust the bore of the gun from any inequalities and at the same time
extend the bore entirely through the rear or breech end. I then make the
opening or receptacle for the "breech piece" in form as already described in
making a new gun. Then, for the purpose of introducing into the bore of
the gun a steel cylinder, adapted to reduce or contract the bore or calibre
to the desired size, and which steel cylinder has a shoulder or greater
thickness of metal on its rear or "breech end than elsewhere, as will be
more fully described herein, I bore out the extreme end of the gun in as
far as the breech piece opening or receptacle, and a short distance into the
bore of the gun, of a diameter as much larger than I bore the remainder
of the gun as will be the projection or shoulder on the "breech end of the
cylinder which is to retain the cylinder in the gun. This steel cylinder has
its rear end thickest, with an off-set on its exterior, and a right-angled
annular shoulder. This shoulder prevents the cylinder being driven forward
on explosion, and the gas check, which is placed in the annular recess at
the rear of the cylinder, prevents any backward movement of it. As this
shoulder on the cylinder makes an annular recess to enable it to be let in
larger than is required for the diameter of the " gas check," I insert an
annular collar of steel into this recess, extending behind the rear end of
the steel cylinder for a short distance, and then the "gas check" is placed
inside of the steel collar, which will thus form a "lap joint" at the
junction of the end of the cylinder with the "gas check." The bore of
the gun between the hole or "breech piece" receptacle having been
enlarged in order to let pass through it the larger rear end of the steel
cylinder, I now contract its diameter to that of the interior calibre of the steel
cylinder (which has now essentially become the bore of the gun) by cutting
a female screw in it, and screwing therein an annular collar of iron, copper,
or steel, of the required size. In thus transforming muzzle-loading ordnance

page_text: or cannon into and to utilize them as breech-loading, I prefer to make the
sides and curvature of the "breech-piece "a little larger in order that the recoil
of the "breech piece" may not bear too exclusively upon the annular metál
collar thus screwed in.
My improvements in smooth-bore guns, where such are to be used as
muzzle-loaders to fire elongated projectiles, consist in re-boring the gun- and
fitting therein a steel, iron, or other metal cylinder. To insert the cylinder
into the gun, I sink its breech end slightly into the breech or chamber seat,
and reduce the diameter of the rear recoil bearing surface in the chamber.
To retain the cylinder in position I let a screw into its rear or chamber end
through the rear centre breech part or boily of the gun, and held by a nut
outside or by means of a hole in the rear of the cylinder coincident with a
like hole through the breech of the gun. Into the interior of the cylinder I
put a steel cup or other suitable shaped valve made solid to a shaft or shank,
which latter passes through the holes in the cylinder and breech of the gun,
and is screwed into place by a nut on its external end. Thus, on explosion,
the recoil bearing on this valve head holds the cylinder firmly in place, and
when desired for inspection or otherwise, the nut can be released and the
valve taken out. I use an elongated ball of a form and pattern similar to
that known as the system of "Gen. Jacob," with flanges to fit the riflings,
but I modify the shape of my flanges curving from their elevated portion
off to nothing both at the right sides and towards the point of the projectile,
so that in its rotary motion in the air it has no projection on its surface to act
against the air.
I use "soft soap" as a lubricator by saturating a wad or otherwise placed
behind the ball or projectile, and also a similarly saturated wad at the rear of
the powder charge in my "breech-loading cannon, in order to prevent-
adhesion of the breech block.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Jacob Snider in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 1st
March 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, 1, JACOB
SNIDER, junior, of Dorset Street, in the County of Middlesex, Merchant,-send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the First day of September, in the year of our Lord.

page_text: One thousand eight bundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-seventh year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Jacob Snider, junior, Her special licence that I, the said Jacob
Snider, junior, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Jacob Snider, junior, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any 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 "IMPROVEMENTS
IN BREECH-LOADING AND OTHER ORDNANCE, PART OF WHICH IS APPLICABLE TO THE
UTILIZING OF OLD SMOOTH-BORE CANNON, AND IN PROJECTILES TO BE USED THERE-
WITH," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Jacob Snider,
junior, my executors or administrators, 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
Seni Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Jacob Snider, junior, 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, that is
to say :-
The first part of my Invention consists in producing a breech-loading cannon
when the structure of the gun is entirely new, as follows:-
I bore out the gun to its destined calibre throughout its entire length, I
then cut out an aperture or recess in the top body part of the breech, to receive
the breech block or piece which bears or receives the force of the recoil on the
explosion of the charge. This aperture is in shape at the surface " a parallel-
ogram," with its edges sloped off or displayed towards its interior a certain
distance only, so that the top surface of the breech piece, and the hinge
apparatus connected with it and hereafter described, shall be below the line of
the outer surface of the body of the gun; below this sloped off or displayed part
the aperture on its forward line or surface is vertical, and at a direct right angle
to the axis of the bore of the gun; its rear line or surface inclines at an angle
from the base of the aperture where its width from front to rear is least up to
the top or greatest width, so as to form a receptacle for the angular or wedge-
shaped breech block or piece destined to fill it. The sides of this aperture are
not straight or angular, but curved in a manner adapted to receive and sustain

page_text: in place the breech piece, as also to retain for strength all the metal possible
to the body of the gun; likewise to receive the recoil of the breech piece on
the explosion of the charge, while at the same time giving adequate space for
the curved movements of the breech piece, so that the breech may be opened
and closed with but two simple movements, and in the act of closing to lock
itself, by means of a self-locking bolt or latch, all as hereafter described, thus
obviating the use of any lever or screwing into place or having a breech
apparatus of detached pieces.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings is a longitudinal section and
Figure 2 a plan of so much of a breech-loading gun as will be necessary to
illustrate the manner in which I carry this part of my Invention into effect;
Figure 3 is a vertical section through the line x, y, of Figure 1.
A is the body of the gun, and B is the breech block fitting into an aperture
formed in the body A to receive it. This block B is hinged on a pivot or pin
C, passing through the block and the body of the gun, and terminating in a
handle D, whereby the block is raised out of its aperture or seat. Sometimes,
however, I dispense with this handle and simply attach a loop E to the head
of the breech block, and lift it up thereby, as shown in Figure 8. The breech
block B is secured to the pin C by screws or bolts i, i, passing through the pin
and entering the blocks, so that, by communicating motion to the pin C
through the handle D or loop E, the block moves with it. I prefer to make
the breech piece B of steel, but it may be made of other metal. It is wedge
shaped on its rear fitting surface, and straight or vertical on its front surface,
with its edges or sides at right angles to the same, as seen in Figure 1, but at
the same time curved as shown in Figure 3, so that when in place and filling
up the aperture in the gun it will amply cover the opening or bore F of the
gun, front and rear, and have a secure bearing surface all around it against the
rear side of the aperture, which is the receptacle for it, as seen in Figures I
and 3. The pivot or pin C on which the breech block is hinged is constructed
as follows:-This pivot or pin C terminates at one end in a face or projection b
fitting into a corresponding groove cut or formed on a plug or pin c, as shown
in Figure 2, and forming with the head d a nut, so that simultaneously with
the least movement that opens or releases the breech block or piece B by lifting
it on its binge bearings, the breech piece B recedes from bearing its front
or vertical face upon the barrel face or opening at the rear end of the charge
chamber. This movement is given to it in order that any nitrous or other
deposit left on the face of the breech piece from the explosion of the powder
charge, shall not friction on the barrel face and impair it; and then, when the
orecch piece is turned up or out sufficient to leave the bore open, as shown by

page_text: the dotted lines in Figure 3, so as to charge from the rear end of the gun, the
recoil bearing surface face of the breech piece can, if required, be instantly
wiped off clean after every discharge and while the gun is again being loaded.
In order not to let the operating joints in the hinge become fouled or
obstructed by sand, dirt, or other foreign substances, I encase the movement
just described within a tube or cap e forming a solid part of the body of one
portion of the hinge, and a head or nut d is then screwed into the tube to keep
the parts before described firmly together. The recoil from the explosion of
the charge in the chamber of the gun will naturally bear violently against the
"breech piece, which because of its sloped or wedge-shaped rear face will have
a tendency to rise up. This tendency to an impulsive movement of the breech
piece I check or arrest by locking fast the breech piece into the breech opening
at all times, by means of a self-acting latch or spring bolt f, which bolt is
secured in and passes through the rear part of the body of the gun. As the
breech piece is being shut or closed into the receptacle for it, this self-acting
bolt enters a hole provided for it in the rear of the breech piece, and thus the
breech is closed, and at the same time locked fast by only one simple move-
ment which brings the breech apparatus completely into place for firing. To
open the breech, the bolt f is withdrawn by the ring or handle 9 until the
breech piece is free.
I would here observe, first, no breech-loading cannon or small arm can
ever be efficient which permits escape of gas at the breech on explosion of the
charge; second, there is but one element or principle by which to prevent this
escape and that is "flexion" at the instant of explosion.
Now, by my Invention I obtain this quality of flexion at the instant of
explosion by the application of a gas check, constructed and applied in the
following manner :-An annular recess is cut in the rear part of the charge
chamber, in the bore of the gun, longitudinally, and in depth proportional to
the calibre; into this recess a copper or other metal ring of an elastic or
plastic quality or nature is introduced, the said ring being formed on its
respective edges or faces, so that by its expansion, dilation, or flexion at the
instant of explosion, the joints, both at its anterior or inner end or face and its
rear end in its bearing against the face of the breech piece, are closed,
and thus efficiently prevent the escape of gas. This gas check is shown at h,
Figure 1.
Since the filing of my Provisional Specification I have discovered that that
portion of what I considered my Invention, relating to the converting of old
smooth-bore guns used to fire spherical shot into muzzle-loaders to fire
elongated shot or projectiles is not new, I therefore would have it understood

page_text: that I lay no claim whatever to that portion of my Invention, and therefore
have in this my Specification omitted the description thereof.
The second part of my Invention now consists in converting muzzle-loading
cannon into breech-loading cannon. This plan especially applies to cannon of
previously smooth-bore, made originally to fire spherical shot, or to cannon,
where it may be desired to reduce the calibre, in order to fire elongated shot,
while at the same time they may be converted from muzzle-loading into
breech-loading cannon. I first readjust the bore of the gun from any
inequalities, and at the same time extend the bore entirely through the rear
or breech end. I then make the opening or receptacle for the breech piece
in form as already described in making a new gun; then, for the purpose of
introducing into the bore of the gun a steel cylinder, adapted to reduce or
contract the bore or calibre to the desired size, and which steel cylinder
has a shoulder or greater thickness of metal on its rear or breech end than
elsewhere, as will be more fully described herein, I bore out the extreme end
of the gun in as far as the breech piece opening or receptacle, and for some
distance into the bore of the gun, of a diameter as much larger than I bore
the remainder of the gun as will be the projection or shoulder on the breech
end of the cylinder which is to retain the cylinder in the gun. The steel cylinder
has its rear end thickest, with an off-set on its exterior, and a right-angled
annular shoulder. This shoulder prevents the cylinder being driven, forward
on the explosion of the charge, and the gas check, which is placed in the
annular 'recess, at the rear of the cylinder, prevents any backward movement
of it. As this shoulder on the cylinder makes an annular recess to enable it to
be let in larger than is required for the diameter of the gas check, I insert
an annular collar of steel into this recess, extending behind the rear end of the
steel cylinder for a short distance, and then the gas check is placed inside of
this steel collar, which will thus form a "lap joint" at the junction of the end
of the cylinder with the gas check.
Where the cylinder introduced to contract the bore is sufficiently thick to
admit of it, I use no such steel collar behind the gas check, but let the cylinder
entirely fill the bore back to the face of the breech block, and set the gas check
in a recess in the cylinder; also where the cylinder used is thick enough to
admit of so doing, I let the cylinder extend beyond the breech opening
entirely to the rear of the gun, thus dispensing with a screwed in collar, and,
as hereafter described, to refill the rear part and likewise allowing the breech
block to work into and out of an opening in the cylinder, equally as though
the cylinder was an original part of the solid body of the gun. The bore of
the gun at the rear of the breech piece receptacle having been
enlarged, in

page_text: order to let pass through it the larger rear end of the steel cylinder, 1
contract its diameter to that of the interior calibre of the steel cylinder (or
nearly so), which has now essentially become the bore of the gun, by cutting
a female screw in this enlarged opening and screwing therein an annular collar
of iron, copper, or steel, of the required size. In thus transforming muzzle-
loading ordnance or cannon into and to utilize them as breech-loading, I
prefer to make the sides and curvature of the breech piece a little larger, in
order that the recoil of the breech piece may not bear too exclusively upon the
annular metal collar thus screwed in.
Figure 4 is a longitudinal section of an old muzzle-loading gun converted
into a breech-loader according to my Invention, and as just described.
A is the body of the gun; B, the breech piece, constructed in the manner
before described; C is the steel cylinder; D, the steel collar, to form the lap
joint; E, the copper gas check; and F is the block or piece screwed in at the
rear to fill up the bore. In some cases this piece F and, the steel cylinder C
are made in one and the same piece.
pro-
My Invention also consists in the construction or application to an elongated
ball of a form and pattern somewhat similar to that known as the system of
"General Jacob" of flanges of a form to fit the riflings, but I modify the shape
of my flanges, curving from their elevated portion off to nothing, not only at
the right sides but also and in addition thereto towards the point of the
jectile, so that in its rotary motion in the air it has no projection on its surface
to act in such manner as to increase the resistance to its flight. Although I
have described the manner of constructing the flanges as an improvement
applicable to a "Jacob" shot, yet I do not limit myself to this, as the method
described of making or shaping the flanges is equally applicable to all elongated
projectiles. Figures 5 are views of a projectile with the flanges applied as
described.
My Invention, finally, consists in the use of "soft soap" as a lubricator for the
bore of the gun and the shot, and for saturating wads of felt or other material,
as also for lubricating the breech apparatus or any part of the machinery or
appliances connected with guns or projectiles.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I lay no claim to the
gas check" herein-before described, but I caim as my Invention;-
66
First, the construction of breech-loading cannon, together with the method
of constructing and operating the breech apparatus for opening and closing
the breech, substantially in manner herein-before described and illustrated in
the accompanying Drawings.

page_text: Second, converting or transforming of muzzle-loading cannon into breech-
loading cannon, as herein set forth, and in contracting or diminishing the bores
thereof by the introduction of cylinders from the rear or breech end, substan-
tially in manner herein-before described.
Third, the employment of flanges on elongated projectiles, substantially as
herein-before described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
Fourth, the employment or application of "soft soap" as a lubricating
material, to be used in connection with projecting shot or projectiles from guns
or ordnance, or for otherwise lubricating the bores of guns or cannon, or the
breech apparatus or machinery or appliances connected therewith, all as
berein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Jacob Snider, junior, have hereunto set
.my
hand and seal, this First day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
Witness,
EDW. G. BREWER,
89, Chancery Lane, W.C.
JACOB SNIDER, JUN. (L.S.)