CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS, AND IN CARTRIDGES AND BULLETS FOR THE SAME
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Newton, of the Office for Patents,
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for
the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS,
AND IN CARTRIDGES AND BULLETS FOR THE SAME."-A communication from
abroad by Hiram Berdan, of the City of New York, United States of
America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
10th December 1866.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS, AND IN
CARTRIDGES AND BULLETS FOR THE SAME," to be as follows:--
One part of this Invention consists in attaching to the barrel of a breech-
loading fire-arm a breech block, which opens the barrel for loading by swinging
upward over the top thereof, whereby screws which weaken the barrel are
dispensed with. Great facility is also afforded for the detachment of the
breech block for cleaning the gun or other purposes; at the same time the
breech block closes properly and comes to a proper bearing against a recoil
bearing, which is square with the line of bore of the barrel; a second joint
in the breech block or a jointed brace attached to its rear end is also avoided,

page_text: and the hinge joint upon which the breech block works is relieved of all
injurious strain in opening, closing, and firing.
In carrying out the Invention one part of the hinge joint is formed upon
the breech block, and the other part upon a strap piece which is fitted to
move longitudinally upon a spline formed upon or rigidly attached to the top
of the barrel; between the strap piece and spline there is applied a spring
to prevent the strap from moving too easily and to hold the breech block back
against the recoil bearing so as to prevent it from swinging open accidentally;
the same spring serves as a catch to lock the slide securely upon the barrel
when the breech is open.
Another part of the Invention relates to the cartridge shell extractor or
ejector, which consists of a thin plate of steel of circular form with a radially
projecting spur and tooth; this plate is bored centrally to fit the pin of the
hinge joint of the breech, and it is fitted to work easily between the parts
of the hinge. The spur works in a narrow groove in the top of the barrel.
The extractor thus constructed has applied to it a spring, one end of which is
pivoted into the strap piece or other bearing attached to the barrel, and
the other into the extractor; this spring, when the breech block is closed,
tends to hold the extractor back in an inoperative position. As the breech
block opens the extractor is undisturbed until the face of the breech has
moved far enough out of the way of the cartridge shell, when the breech
block comes into action on the tooth of the extractor and turns it far
enough to make it draw out the shell with a positive motion so far that it is
quite loose in the barrel; during this action the spring is almost inactive
or is not allowed to act independently upon the extractor; but when the shell
is loose the spring acts upon the extractor so forcibly and suddenly as to
throw the shell completely out of the gun, its exit being facilitated by inclined
ways provided in the breech receiver. To provide for the free working of the
extractor and prevent its becoming clogged with rust and dirt its sides are
countersunk, so as to present only sharp edges to the faces of the hinge
between which it is placed.
Another part of the Invention relates to the use of two firing pins in a
breech block made in one piece or without a joint; these pins abut against each
other, the forward one being in line with the bore of the barrel when the
breech is closed, and the other having a suitable inclination to suit the
direction of the blow of the hammer. The forward pin has a head at its rear
end, and its insertion is provided for by the use of a hollow screw, the head
of which is also employed to form a boss on the face of the breech block and
to enter the barrel in rear of the cartridge. The head of the rear firing pin

page_text: serves as an efficient preventive to the blowing out of either pin. The spring
to throw back the pins after firing is coiled around the forward pin, and is
strong enough after the momentum of the blow has spent itself to press back
the hammer far enough for the sear to enter a safety notch in the tumbler.
Another part of the Invention relating to cartridges for breech-loading fire-
arms consists in an annular wad, or a wad with a central opening interposed
between the powder and ball, and which is expanded by the gases acting
outwardly upon its interior, so as to make it serve as a swab to clean out the
bore of the barrel; this wad, when a conical plug is inserted into the bullet
for the purpose of expanding the bullet, provides for the gases acting directly
upon the plug to drive it forward into the cavity of the bullet.
Another improvement in the cartridge. consists in the insertion of an
independent piece to serve as an anvil, against which the blow of the hammer
explodes the percussion cap or fulminate priming within a cavity formed in.
the back of the head of the cartridge shell of the same piece of metal with
the head itself.
The improvement in bullets relates to an elongated bullet with a cavity in
the rear, and consists in the insertion into such a cavity of a plug of wood or
other light but solid material which fills up the cavity, so that the pressure of
the gas in rear of it does not tend to expand the bullet, but the plug merely
serves to lighten the bullet. The main object of this improvement is to
obtain a longer bearing for the sides of the bullet with a given weight of
metal more especially in fire-arms of large calibre in which it is desired to
use bullets not exceeding a certain weight.
5 SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Edward Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 8th June 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of December, 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 me, the
said William Edward Newton, Her special licence that I, the said William
Edward Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as

page_text: I, the said William Edward Newton, 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 "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS, AND IN CARTRIDGES AND BULLETS
FOR THE SAME," being a communication from abroad, upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said William Edward Newton, my exccutors
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 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 Edward Newton, 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 Drawing hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
One part of this Invention consists in a novel mode of attaching to the
barrel of a breech-loading fire-arm a breech block which opens the barrel for
loading by swinging upward over the top thereof, whereby screws or other
contrivances (the insertion of which into the barrel injuriously weakens it or
which may be lost in the detachment of the breech block) are dispensed with,
and whereby also great facility is afforded for the detachment of the breech
block for cleaning the gun or for any other purpose, while at the same time
provision is made for the breech block both closing properly and coming to a
proper bearing against a recoil bearing, which is square or as nearly so as
desirable with the line of bore of the barrel with a solid breech block, or
without the necessity of a second joint or a slide in the breech block itself,
or a jointed brace attached to its rear end, and the hinge joint upon which
the breech block works is relieved of all injurious strain in opening, closing,
and firing. One part of the aforesaid hinge joint is formed upon the breech
block, and the other part upon a strap piece, which is fitted to move longi-
tudinally upon a spline formed upon or rigidly attached to the top of the barrel;
between this strap piece and spline there is applied a spring, the object of
which is to produce sufficient friction to prevent the strap from moving too
easily, and to hold the breech block back against the recoil bearing with
sufficient friction to prevent it from swinging open in case of the gun being

page_text: turned over with the breech underneath. The same spring is so formed as to
serve as a catch to lock the slide securely upon the barrel when the breech is
open.
This part of the Invention is illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 5*
of the Drawing.
Fig. 1 is a central longitudinal section of the breech parts of a breech-
loading fire-arm; Fig. 2 is a top view of the same; Fig. 3 is a transverse
section of the barrel in the line x, x, in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a transverse section
of the barrel in the line y, y, in Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is an inverted plan of the
strap which connects the breech block with the barrel; Fig. 5* is a central
longitudinal section of the barrel and breech receiver.
A is the barrel, the rear part of which is countersunk sufficiently larger
than the regular bore to admit of the head of the cartridge shell; the greater
part of the countersunk portion has a longitudinal opening in the upper side
to form a receiver for the solid or unjointed breech block B; this is the method
of forming the receiver when altering muzzle-loaders. The same method may
be adapted for new guns, but if preferred in new guns the receiver may be
made of a separate piece and have the barrel screwed into it; C is the strap
piece by which the breech block is hinged to the barrel, so that it may open
as shewn in dotted outline in Fig. 1, the outer parts h, h, of the hinge being
represented as formed upon the strap piece, and the inner portion i upon
the breech block, as shewn in Figures 2 and 5. The breech block is fitted
into the receiver in such a manner as to have a rear bearing against a recoil
shoulder a, the upper part of which is square or nearly so with the line of
the bore of the barrel. The strap piece C has its under side grooved to fit, as
shewn in Fig. 3, and slide quite freely upon the flanged spline c, which is
firmly secured on the top of the barrel in front of the receiver. This spline is
represented at b, b, in Fig. 3 as being fitted and soldered into a transverse
dovetail groove in the barrel, and further secured by a countersunk screw d,
which also serves the purpose of securing in place the rear end of the spring e,
Figures 1 and 3, by which friction is produced upon the strap to prevent it
from sliding too easily as herein-before mentioned. This spring is formed of a
slightly curved strip of steel, and is inserted between the strap piece and spline c
in a groove in the latter; near the forward end of the spring there is on its
upper side a tooth f, shewn in Fig. 1, which enters a notch g, shewn in Figures 1
and 5, and so prevents the strap piece from being drawn off the spline and
the breech block from being detached without the necessity of screws screwing
into and weakening the barrel, and which might be lost in detaching the breech
block in active service, while at the same time it admits of the instantaneous

page_text: drawing off the strap piece from the spline, and detachment of the breecl
block at any time on the depression with the thumb or finger of the forward
end of the spring, which protrudes from under the forward end of the strap
piece, as shewn in Figures 1 and 2. When the strap piece is slipped on to the
spline again the tooth of the spring enters the notch g and secures it. This
facility for detachment and re-attachment of the breech block provides for the
cleaning of the breech block and its appurtenances, and allows the breech block
to be carried in the pocket of the soldier on march in wet weather or over
dusty roads, and the detachment permits the gun to be disabled by throwing
away the breech block when capture is inevitable. In opening and closing the
breech block the strap piece slides a short distance, say about one-hundredth
part of an inch along the spline c; in the opening the movement of the strap
picce takes place in a forward direction to allow the rear end of the breech
block to clear the recoil bearing a, and in closing the breech block the move-
ment is backward to allow the block to come close up to the recoil bearing a
As the completion of the closing operation, during which the strap piece moves
longitudinally backward, is being performed the fulcrum on which the breech
block moves is on the rear face of counterbore or chamber of the barrel, where
an edge represented by the red line j, j, in Fig. 4 is formed at the sides of the
counterbore near the top thereof by slightly cutting away the part of the
barrel above the said line, the face of the breech block bearing against this edge,
which is also indicated by the letter j in Fig. 5*. When the firing takes place
it is impossible for the breech block to rise from the closed position, shewn in
Fig. 1, as the upper edge of the cartridge shell presses against the face of the
breech piece and becomes to the breech piece the fulcrum of a lever on which
it must move, and the red line k drawn from this fulcrum in the above-
mentioned Figure to the lower part of the recoil bearing is longer than the
line drawn from the same fulcrum to the top of the bearing. It will be
seen, therefore, that the breech block is in a measure hooked under the recoil
bearing, and the greater the pressure of the cartridge shell against it the
closer and tighter it is hooked and the more effectually is its upward move-
ment counteracted. After firing the shrinkage or forward movement of the
cartridge head and forward movement of the strap piece C, allow the brecch
block to open on the fulcrum j; it may be said that the breech piece has at
times three different fulcrums, viz., the pin m of the hinge, the edge j on the
rear face of the barrel, and the upper part of the edge of the cartridge shell.
The recoil face a instead of being positively square with the face of the barrel
may be an arc described from the point occupied by the top of the butt of the
cartridge shell.

page_text: Another part of the Invention consists in a novel construction and arrange-
ment of and mode of operating the cartridge shell extractor or ejector, which
is shewn in place in Figures 1, 2, 4, and 5, and of which Fig. 6 is a side view,
and Fig. 7 an axial section. The extractor consists of a thin plate of steel D
of circular form, with a radially projecting spur n and tooth r; this plate is
bored centrally to fit the pin m of the hinge joint of the breech, and it is fitted
to work easily between the part i and one of the parts h, h, of the hinge. The
spur n works in a narrow groove n*, Figures 5 and 8, in the top of the barrel.
The extractor thus constructed has applied to it arranged within a cavity q
(Figures 1 and 5) in the under side of the strap piece C a spring E of coiled
wire, the form of which is best shewn in Fig. 5, and one end of which is
pivotted into the strap piece C. This spring when the breech block is closed
presses upon the extractor above the axis of the pin m, so as to hold up the
spur n, as shown in Fig. 1, to such a position that the lower and forward edge
of the spur will be close to the front of the flanged metallic head of the
cartridge shell. As the breech block is opened the extractor remains stationary
until the block has moved back far enough to leave room in front of its face
for the shell to move back in contact with the tooth r, and the continued
movement of the block produces a pressure against the tooth r and causes the
extractor to turn on the pin m and the spur n to press back the cartridge
shell, which is thus started and drawn out from the chamber of the barrel
with a positive motion until (being slightly taper) it is quite loose. By this
time the breech block has moved upward far enough to leave the way clear
for the ejection of the cartridge directly parallel with the bore of the barrel,
and the rear end of the spring which has passed what may be called the dead
centre in which its pressure is directly against the axis of the pin m, and up
to this time has been moving downward, comes to such a position that while
having expended very little of its force by expansion it presses against the
extractor far enough below the axis of the pin m to make it act with great
force to turn the extractor in the direction of the arrow shewn upon it in
Fig. 1, when it suddenly expands and causes the spur n to throw out the shell.
This action is so sudden and forcible that if suitable inclined ways 8, 8, be
provided in the rear part the receiver, as shewn in Fig. 5*, and also in
Fig. 8, which is a plan of the rear portion of the barrel or breech receiver
with the breech block removed, and by a dotted line in Fig. 1, it will eject the
shell completely out of the gun in whatever position the gun may be held.
The pivotting of the spring allows it to accommodate its position to the move.
ment of the extractor. It may be remarked that although the spring applied
and operating as above described is a very valuable feature of the Invention,

page_text: its breakage, were such accident possible, would by no means destroy the
efficiency of the extractor, as the positive motion of the latter produced by the
action of the breech block upon the tooth r will draw out the shell far enough
to enable it to drop out when the muzzle of the gun is elevated. When the
breech is closed the extractor is returned to the position shewn in Fig. 1 by
the pressure of the face of the breech block (or of the flanged head of the
cartridge shell if the gun be loaded) against the rear edge of the spur n. A
spring pivotted to act in a similar manner upon the extractor or cartridge
shell may be arranged on one side of or below the barrel. In order to
prevent the extractor from becoming clogged with rust or dirt, which might
interfere with the necessary freedom of its operation, it is countersunk on both
sides in the manner shewn in the axial section, Fig. 7, so that its only contact
with the parts and i of the hinge are on two thin circular edges t, t. The
ways 8, 8, provided in the breech receiver or barrel to facilitate the ejection of
the cartridge shells may be left in the solid metal of the breech receiver or
barrel, or by inserting one or more pins with inclined surfaces in the bottom
of the breech receiver or barrel, or be made in any way of separate pieces and
adjustable.
Another part of the Invention consists in furnishing the breech block with
a projection so formed and arranged and in so constructing the hammer that
when the breech block is closed and the hammer is down the head of the
hammer will lap over the projection and keep the breech block securely
closed; and if the hammer should be let off when the breech block is not
quite closed the hammer head will by sliding over this projection perfectly
close the breech block. This part of the Invention is illustrated in Fig. 1,
and in part in Fig. 2. t is the projection or the breech block, the forward
portion of the upper surface of which is struck in the form of an arc which
corresponds with the are formed surface of the under part of the hammer
head, and the rear portion of this surface is rounded off, as shewn in Fig. 1.
It will be seen by reference to the representation of the hammer in dotted
outline in Fig. 1 when the hammer is down it will lap over this projection
and lock the closed breech block. If when the hammer falls the breech is
not quite closed the head will slide over the rounded rear portion of the upper
surface of the projection and close the breech block by a cam-like action.
Another part of the Invention consists in the construction of the face of
the breech block of a screwed pin which screws into the front of the breech
block, and the head of which forms a boss to enter and fit the counterbore
provided in the barrel for the reception of the head of the cartridge shell.
By this construction of the face of the breech block a boss is formed upon it
,

page_text: to enter the barrel at much less expense and much better than such a boss
could be formed by cutting it out of the solid metal of the breech block.
This part of the Invention is illustrated in Fig. 1, in which E* is the screwed
pin, the head u of which screws up tight against the front of the block and
forms the boss that enters the counterbore of the barrel. In the manufacture
of the arms screwed pins E* with heads of different thickness, varying very
slightly, say, one hundredth of an inch are provided, and in what is termed
assembling the parts of the gun a pin with a thicker or thinner head is used,
according to the depth of the counterbore of the barrel, the length of the
breech block, or the distance of the recoil shoulder from the counterbore, and
in this way the screwed pin is made to correct those slight variations which are
unavoidable in the counterboring of the chamber and the cutting of the recoil
bearing. The head of the pin E* has two holes in its face on opposite sides
of the centre to receive a two-pronged screwdriver by which the pin is screwed
into the breech block. The firing pin is divided into two parts, which abut
against each other at an angle in a solid or unjointed breech block, the
forward one which protrudes through the face of the breech block being
parallel with the bore of the barrel, so as to strike squarely on the percussion
cap or priming, and the rear one upon which the hammer strikes is arranged
at such an angle to it as will suit the position of the hammer. By this means.
the difficulty of making an oblique bore exactly in the proper line for a single
pin to meet both the hammer and the point at which the priming should be
struck is obviated, and provision is afforded for the hammer to stand off out
of the way of the sight, and yet the hole for the pin will not cut through the
side of the breech. When the face of the breech block is formed by a screwed
pin the arrangement above described (by the construction of the forward
firing pin with a broad head at its rear end) prevents the blowing out of the
firing pin in the act of firing the gun. This improvement is shewn in Fig. 1;
F is the front firing pin which strikes upon the percussion cap or other priming
of the cartridge; this pin has a broad head 20 at its rear end. The screwed
pin E is bored centrally for the reception of this pin F, and the pin F is inserted
into the pin E* from the rear thereof before the latter is screwed into the
breech block, which is bored out to a depth sufficiently greater than the length
of the pin E* to receive the head of the pin F, and permit the necessary longi-
tudinal movement of the same. The pin E* is counterbored for the reception
of the spring which is coiled around the pin F, and which by its pressure
against the head of the latter draws it back after firing. G is the rear firing
pin upon which the hammer strikes, and which is inserted through a hole
bored obliquely from the rear upper part of the breech block to meet the hole

page_text: bored in the front thereof for the reception of the pin E; this pin G abuts
against the head of the pin F; the pin G is kept in place by means of a
screw w screwed in through one side of the breech block, and entering a recess
in one side of the pin long enough to permit its necessary longitudinal move-
ment for firing. The broad head of the pin F is an effectual preventive of the
blowing out of the firing pin. The spring is made of such strength that
although it yields to the momentum of the hammer when the hammer falls
after the hammer has expended its force it (the spring will by its pressure
through the pins F, G, force the hammer back far enough for the serc II to
enter the safety notch 12 of the tumbler, and so effectually lock the hammer,
the head of which still overlaps the projection of the breech block and
thereby locks the block securely. The hammer is arranged outside of the
stock, and in the conversion of muzzle-loaders into breech-loaders the old lock
plate and internal parts of the lock can be used by making the third notch 12
in the tumbler for a safety notch.
One of the improvements in cartridges consists in the employment between
the bullet and the charge of powder of an annular wad, or a wad with a hole
in it, into which the gas evolved in the explosion of the charge enters for the
purpose of expanding the wad to such a degree that it will serve as a swab to
clean the bore of the gun. This improvement is shewn at Figs. 9 and 10,
in which J represents the wad which fits to the interior of the cartridge shell
or case. The wad may be made of felt or paper, which can be saturated with
grease, wax, or other lubricating material. When an expanding bullet with
an internal cone 13 is employed, as shewn at Fig. 10, the central hole allows
the
gas to act directly upon the cone, and press it forward into the cavity of
the bullet, for the purpose of producing its expansion without driving the wad
into the cavity, and thereby contracting it circumferentially. This kind of
bullet requires a cartridge case, the sides or body of which is capable of
expansion.
Another of the improvements in cartridges consists in a cavity in the head
of the cartridge shell or case formed of the same piece of metal with the head
of the shell or case itself for the reception of a percussion cap which serves as a
gas check and an independent anvil against which the priming of the cap is
exploded by the blow of the hammer. This construction of the cavity obviates
the necessity of a wad or packing which is necessary for a gas check when the
cavity is composed of a separately constructed cup inserted into a hole in the
head of a cartridge shell, besides simplifying and cheapening the construction.
This improvement is shewn at Figures 9 and 10, in which 14 is the cavity
formed by indenting the metal head of the cartridge shell or case from the

page_text: back or exterior in a forward direction; 15 represents the independent anvil
made of a solid plug of metal sufficiently smaller than the interior of the
cavity 14 to enable the percussion cap 16 to be inserted over it and into the
cavity 14. When the hammer strikes either directly or through the inter-
vention of a firing pin upon the head of the cap, the priming is exploded and
the fire reaches the charge of powder in the cartridge case or shell. through a
vent 17 in the bottom of the cavity 14. Fig. 9 shews the application of this
feature of the Invention to the head of a cartridge case or shell made wholly
of a single picce of metal, and Fig. 10 shews it applied to a head made of
a separate piece from the body of the cartridge case, as in the Boxer and other
cartridges.
The improvement in bullets consists in a plug of wood or other suitable
material lighter than the lead or alloy of which the bullet is made inserted
into and filling a cavity in the bullet for the purpose of lightening it, and
enabling it when made of a given weight to be made longer than it otherwise
could be, and thereby obtaining a longer bearing for the bullet in the bore
of the gun, and enabling the bullet to be made large enough to slug in the
rifle grooves of the gun without expanding the expansion by the action of the
gas being prevented by the plug, and the necessity for an expanding cartridge
case being obviated; the improvement is shewn at Fig. 9, in which 18 repre-
sents the plug which fills the cavity of the bullet.
Having now described the Invention of "Certain Improvements in Breech-
loading Fire-arms, and in Cartridges and Bullets for the same," as com
municated to me by my foreign correspondent, and having explained the
manner of carrying the same into effect, I claim as the Invention secured to
me by Letters Patent, as aforesaid,-
First. The attachment of the solid hinged brecch block to the barrel by a
sliding connection, as and for the purpose herein specified.
Second. The friction spring e applied between the sliding connection and the
barrel, as and for the purpose herein described.
Third. Securing the strap piece C or its equivalent to the barrel by means
of a spring catch which provides for its easy attachment to and detachment
from the barrel.
Fourth. The pivotted spring applied to hold the spur of the extractor
forward while the breech is closed, and to pass the centre of motion of the
extractor as the breech opens, and finally to throw back the spur of the
extractor suddenly for the ejection of the cartridge shells, as herein specified.
Fifth. The arrangement of the extractor spring between the barrel and the
strap piece which attaches the breech block thereto, as herein specified.

page_text: Sixth. The cartridge shell extractor constructed with countersunk sides, as
and for the purpose herein set forth.
Seventh. The projection t on the breech block in combination with the
hammer constructed to hook over the same, as and for the purpose herein
described.
Eighth. The combination of the safety notch 12 in the tumbler of the
hammer, the projection t on the breech block, and the hammer head con-
structed to overlap the projection, as herein set forth.
Ninth. The construction of the face of the breech block of a pin E screwed
into the face of the block, as and for the purpose herein specified.
Tenth. The divided or compound firing pin F, G, made without a joint or
jointed brace, and arranged in relation with each other and with the breech
block, as and for the purpose herein set forth.
Eleventh. The spring so constructed and applied to a firing pin and com-
bined with a safety notch in the tumbler as to force back the hammer far
enough for the sere to enter the safety notch, as herein specified.
Twelfth. The annular wad J applied within the cartridge shell between the
charge of powder and the bullet, as and for the purpose herein specified.
Thirteenth. The cavity 14 in the cartridge shell or case for the reception of
the percussion cap or priming made of the same piece of metal with the head
of the shell or case in combination with a percussion cap serving as a gas
check, as herein specified.
Fourteenth. The plug 18 of wood or other suitable material inserted into
and entirely filling a cavity in the rear of the bullet, as and for the purpose
herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Newton, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the First day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.