IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH LOADING SMALL-ARMS to be as follows:-
Year: 1884

page_text: We, CHRISTOPHER GEORGE BONEHILL of Belmont Row, Birmingham, in the
County of Warwick, Gun Manufacturer and ARTHUR JOSEPH SIMPSON of William
Street, Lozells, Birmingham, aforesaid Manager of Works, do hereby declare the
nature of said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH LOADING SMALL-ARMS
to be as follows:-
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Our invention has reference to small arms of the kind commonly called drop
down guns; or small arms in which the breech ends of the barrels turn upon a
horizontal joint on the fore-part of the said body; the breech ends being held firmly
against the face of the break off during discharge, and raised from the said break
off for loading; and our said invention consists of the improvements hereinafter
described in mechanism for securing or bolting down and liberating the breech ends
by a lever on the tang; also the cocking of the hammers by the act of raising the
breech ends of the barrels for loading; and further in an intercepting reserve
hammer safety bolt, for preventing the accidental falling of the hammers when
cocked, and so securing small arms against accidental discharge.
Our improved mechanism for bolting down the breech ends of the barrels for
discharge, and liberating the said breech ends for reloading is constructed as
follows.
On the tang of the break off, we joint an arm or lever turning in a horizontal
plane, or in a plane parallel to the break off; the front or body of the arm works
in a concentric cut away part of the same shape or curve as the front end of the
lever, and upon the underside of the lever is a solid peg which passes through a
hole in the strap; a square neck and bush on the end prevents the lever from
rising. The grip or top bolt which takes into the prolonged rib of the barrels, is
actuated by a pin on its upper side, which takes into, and engages in an inclined
alot or recess in the underside of the lever. The said bolt also slides and works;
within a recess cut in the strap or tang, which is in a line with the grip. The
underbolt which takes into the lumps on the barrels, is actuated by a depending.
arm extending from the underside of the sliding grip bolt referred to, (or the under
bolt may be worked in the usual way) so that on turning the lever aside, the
eccentric inclined alot on the underside of the lever, draws back the sliding grip
bolt, and with it the depending arm, which actuates the underbolt; this effected
by the pin on the sliding grip bolt, engaging within the slot in the underside of.
.

page_text: the lever. A spring or springs of the ordinary kind takes the bolts back to their
normal positions, on the liberation of the lever, and on the shutting down of the
barrels.
The curved or circular body end of the lever moves concentric with the sides of
the recess on the.tang in which it works, instead of coming or moving away from
the solid metal of the recess on the turning aside of the lever; by so arranging the
lever as described, no grit, or other foreign matter can get between the moving
parts or joints, as in the old form where the end moves away.
Our improved mechanism for the raising or cocking of each hammer of the arm
is effected on the raising of the breech ends of the barrels for charging, without
employing the fore-end as the expedient by which the hammer or hammers of the
said arm are cocked or raised; that is to say, instead of employing a lever or levers
actuated by the fore-end for the cocking of the hammers or tumblers of small arms
we employ a single spring; that is to say, the tail or spring end of a spring both
effects the cocking and discharge of the arm.
The hammer or striker has a double foot or fork opposite to its axis and in front
of, and below the breast of the said hammer, and within this forked or divided
part the free end of the spring takes, which effects both the cocking and discharge
of the arm.
The spring consists of a single limb, free at one end and rigidly affixed
at the other end, to the joint pin upon which the body of the arm turns; so that
. when the gun is in its normal or closed position, the free end of the spring is
pressing upon the inside of the lower fork or arm on the breast of the hammer, and
forms when in this position the main spring by which the momentum or impetus
is given to the hammer on being liberated, on removing the nose of the sear from
the hammer bent; that is to say, when in this position, the spring is under tension,
and pressing forcibly upon the lower foot, the tension of the spring being created
by the closing of the body of the arm upon the ends of the barrels. When the
barrels are in an intermediate position with respect to the body, the spring lies
evenly between the forked arms and has no effect, but when the arm is closed, its
body is advanced towards the end of the spring, and forcibly presses upon its end
the lower fork upon the hammer breast. The continued motion of the closing,
bends or curves the spring, and so gives the requisite tension thereto, so as to con-
stitute the main spring by which the arm is discharged, the hammer and spring
under tension being retained and held by the sear.
After the discharge of the arm, the end of the spring still rests upon the lower
fork, but on the opening of the barrels in order to effect the extraction of the spent
cartridges and for reloading, the body of the arm carrying the jointed tumbler or
hammer moves upon the joint pin as a centre; leaving the spring which is affixed
rigidly to the joint pin, behind it. This movement of the body brings the tail end
of the spring to the underside of the upper fork on the breast of the hammer, and
so by the continued movement of the body, carrying the tumbler with it, its upper.
fork coming in contact with the end of the spring, turns the hammer or tumbler
backwards upon its centre, into its cocked position, which is retained by the sear
nose, engaging with the bent of the said hammer, so that by the simple opening
and closing of the barrels, the spring fulfils the office of the main spring and the
cocking lever, by acting alternately upon the upper and lower forks of the breast
of the hammer. The spring acts alternately as a lever or hammer lifter and as a
main spring.
On again closing the barrels, the end of the spring again comes in contact with
the lower fork of the hammer and is pressed or forced again into a state of tension.
The joint pin which affixes and holds the tang of the spring hereinbefore
described is made rigid or immovable by passing a pin transversely through it
leaving protruding ends, top and bottom; so that the ends form the abutments
for preventing the rotation of the said joint pin on the turning of the body
thereon.
The back lump is suitably notched or recessed for receiving the protruding
parts of the pin described.

page_text: Instead of the tang of the spring passing through a slot in the end of the joint
pin, the same effect may be produced by continuing the tang into the solid of
the fore-end, so that the fore-end remains the fixture for holding the stationary
spring.
The safety hammer bar consists of a bar jointed near its lower end and situated
at the back of the hammer. The said safety bar or intercepting lever bolt, has an
undercut recess near the joint upon which the lever turns, and into this undercut
recess, a prolonged arm on the trigger takes. The back of the hammer has a
shoulder or bent into which the intercepting lever bolt engages when the hammers
are cocked; so that on the throwing back of the hammers into bent, the reservo
or intercepting bolt falls into the notch, and is held there so long that the trigger
or triggers are not pulled; but when the triggers are pulled, the prolongation an
their front parts draw back the intercepting lever bolt from the notches or
shoulders in the backs of the hammers, and so liberates the said hammers which
are taken out of bent by the sears, which are at the same time being acted upon,
by the triggers; the said gun is now discharged; and that in consequence of the
bammers being detained by the reserve intercepting bolt or lever, there is additional
security imparted to the arm, from the fact that the safety cannot be raised from
the backs of the hammers until the triggers have been pulled.
Our improvements are equally applicable to single as well as to double barrelled
guns, rifles and pistols.
•
September 1884.
CHRISTOPHER GEORGE BONEHILL
ARTHUR JOSEPH SIMPSON.
By Henry Skerrett,
6, Livery Street, Birmingham,
Agent to the Applicants,

page_text: improvements in Breech-10ading Small Arms.
We, CHRISTOPHER GEORGE BONEHILL of Belmont Row, Birmingham in the
County of Warwick, Gun Manufacturer, and ARTHUR JOSEPH SIMPSON, of William
Street Lozells, Birmingham, aforesaid Manager of Works, do hereby declare the
nature of said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH LOADING SMALL-ARMS
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
"
Our invention has reference to small arms of the kind commonly called drop
down guns, or small arms in which the breech ends of the barrels turn upon a
horizontal joint on the fore part of the said body, the breech ends being held firmly
against the face of the break off during discharge, and raised from the said break
off for loading; and our said invention consists of the improvements herein-after
described in mechanism for securing or bolting down and liberating the breech ends
by a lever on the tang; also the cocking of the hammers by the act of raising the
breech ends of the barrels for loading; and further, in an intercepting reserve
hammer safety bolt for preventing the accidental falling of the hammers when
cocked, and so securing small arms against accidental discharge.
Our improved mechanism for bolting down the breech ends of the barrels for
discharge, and liberating the said breech ends for reloading, is constructed as follows.
On the tang of the break off we joint an arm or lever turning in a horizontal
plane, or in a plane parallel to the break off; the front or body of the arm works
in a concentric cut away part of the same shape or curve as the front end of the
lever, and upon the underside of the lever is a solid peg which passes through a
hole in the strap; a square neck and bush on the end prevents the lever from
rising The grip or top bolt which takes into the prolonged rib of the barrels, is
actuated by a pin on its upper side, which takes into, and engages in a slot or
recess in the underside of the lever-The said bolt also slides and works within a
recess cut in the strap or tang, which is in a line with the grip-The underbolt
which takes into the lumps on the barrels, is actuated by a depending arm
extending from the underside of the sliding grip bolt referred to (or the underbolt
may be worked in the usual way) so that on turning the lever aside, the pin
engaging in the hole on the underside of the lever, draws back the sliding grip
bolt, and with it the dépending arm which actuates the underbolt; this is effected
by the pin on the sliding grip bolt, engaging within the hole in the underside of
the lever A spring or springs of the ordinary kind takes the bolts back to their
normal positions on the liberation of the lever, and on the shutting down of the
barrels.
The curved or circular body end of the lever moves concentric with the sides of
the recess on the tang in which it works, instead of coming or moving away from
the solid metal of the recess on the turning aside of the lever By so arranging the
lever as described, no grit or other foreign matter can get between the moving
parts or joints, as in the old form where the end moves away.
Our improved mechanism for the raising or cocking of each hammer of the arm
is effected on the raising of the breech ends of the barrels for charging, without

page_text: employing the fore-end as the expedient by which the hammer or hammers of the
said arm are cocked or raised; that is to say, instead of employing a lever or
levers actuated by the fore-end for the cocking of the hammers or tumblers of
small arms we employ a spring which both effects the cocking and discharge of
the arm.
The hammer or striker has a double foot or fork opposite to its axis, and in
front of, and below the breast of the said hammer, and within this forked or
divided part the free ends of the spring take which effects both the cocking and
discharge of the arm.
•
The safety hammer bar or intercepting bolt consists of a spindle or rod situated
at the back of each hammer of a double gun, in such a position, that when the gun
is cocked, and the hammers thrown back, a portion of each bar comes in front of
an extended ear on the side of the cock, and so prevents the accidental discharge of
the hammer or hammers, should the sear or sears become accidentally displaced
from the hammer bent or bents. The intercepting bar is gapped on its side, which
allows the hammer to fall when the bar is turned. The turning is effected by a
foot or turned end on the end of the bar operated and pressed upon by an extension
of the trigger, when the trigger is raised for firing the arm.
I will now proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying Drawings
the manner in which the same is to be performed.
Figure 1 represents a longitudinal vertical section of a breech loading double
gun constructed according to my invention, the hammer being in its thrown back
or cocked position, and the gun ready to be discharged. Figure 2 represents a
longitudinal vertical section alike unto figure 1, with the barrels open, and the
triggers at safe; the handle or lever is shown also turned aside for the withdrawal
of the top and bottom bolts, and the pressing back of the trigger safety, for putting
the gun at safe. Figure 3 is a vertical section of a portion of the arm figure 1
with the hammer discharged. This is simply an explanatory view to show the
respective positions of the tail ends of the spring, and how the rib or key carried
by the joint pin takes into a slot or hole in the back lump. Figure 4 representa
the ends of the barrels, and the back lump formation. Figure 5 is a transverse
section of the joint pin, and figure 6 is a plan of the joint pin and the springs.
Figure 7 is a plan of the top lever or lever on the tang, also the grip bolt shown
in dotted lines. Figure 8 is an underside view of figure 7. Figure 9 is an end
view partly in section of the gun figure 1, showing the hammer safety arrangement.
Figure 10 is a diagram view showing the respective positions of the trigger and
intercepting bolt when the hammer is cocked. Figure 11 is a view of the inter-
cepting bolt and figure 12 is the said intercepting bolt in position when the
hammer is at safe, and figure 13 when the hammer can be discharged.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures
of the Drawings.
a is the body of the arm, 6 the barrels, o the hammers with the forked or
hollowed out part in the front of and below the breast of the hammer, and
within this forked or divided part, the terminal or free ends ď ď³ of the spring d
take, for effecting both the discharge and cocking of the arm or tumbler by the
two limbs of a single spring, which act alternately first for cocking and then for
raising. e is a movable joint pin of the arm swinging or turning within the fore
part of the body, and upon this joint pin the barrels also turn. The joint pin has
upon its top side, a standing up rib, or key e¹ by which the turning of the pin is
effected for the change of inclination or angle of the spring, in producing the
requisite compression for discharge, and also for turning upwards of the top limb of
the said spring for hammer lifting. The spring is connected to the said joint pin
by passing through cut away parts e³ e; so that by connecting the spring as
described so as to move with the joint pin, its limbs are made to respectively act
for cocking and discharge. f' is one of the lumps on the underside of the barrels
and is the other lump. This lump ƒ has a hole or groove f" has a hole or
groove f³ corresponding to the key or rib e³, and wherein the said key takes; no.

page_text: that when the joint pin is in the seat f* and the rib in the groove f³ the parts
move together on the opening and closing of the barrels. The aforesaid lumps are
locked by the bolt g h is the trigger, and the fore part h³ of the blade, acts upon
an incline of the intercepting bolt or rod i, which prevents the hammer from
being accidentally discharged. The rotation of this hammer safety bar is effected
on the discharge of the arm by the pulling of the trigger which turns it upon its
fulcrum and depresses the fore part h³, and at the same time rotates the bar i, so as
to bring the gapped or cut away part out of the way of the standing out ear
of the hammer c. j is the sear, the tail end of which lies within the recess h³ of:
the trigger blade. k is the lever on the tang which turns in a horizontal plane and
works within a concentric cut away part of the same shape or curve as the front:
end of the lever, as best seen in figure 7; and upon the underside of the lever, is a
peg or axis which passes through a hole in the strap m; and at the lower end of.
this peg or axis, is an excentric boss which is provided with a lug 13 for carrying
the end of the safety bar n, part of which is cylindrical and part plain, and marked
respectively n n². The end n³ acts against the safety slide o and presses it back to.
safe on the opening of the barrels; and engaging with the safety slide, is the
jointed lever p, which moves backwards and forwards a slide q, for taking the
end q over or removing it from the cut away part ht of. the triggers, so as to lock
and unlock them. The grip or top bolt r which takes into the prolonged rib 6* of
the barrels bis actuated by a pin on the upper side of the slide which takes into
a hole on the underside of the lever. The bolt r slides and works within a
recess cut in the tang. This recess and the bolt is in a direct line with the grip.
The under-bolt 9 which takes into the lumps on the barrels, is connected with the
excentric movement of the lever by the pins which takes into a standing up part g³
of the bolt.
By making the curved end k of the lever move concentric with the sides of the
recess in which it works, instead of coming or moving away from the solid of the
metal, and turning aside of the lever, no grit or other solid matter can get between
the moving parts or joints as is common with lever joints of the ordinary form.
To discharge the arm, when the slide q has been removed from off the ends h* of
the triggers by the movement of the slide o as represented in figure 1, on either of
the triggers being pulled, it is turned upon its fulcrum, and the prolonged front
part h³ depressed and lowered upon the inclined turned in end of the intercepting
bolt This downward movement of the trigger ond acts in such a way, that the
stem of the bolt i is turned round from the position figure 12 into that of figure 13,
and so brings the gap in front of the ear of the tumbler, so that the said
tumbler can now fall on the nose of the sear being removed from the hammer bent,
as represented in figure 3. Thus the liberation of the hammer, allows the arm d'
of the spring d which has been compressed by the closing of the barrels, to press
forcibly upon the inner side of the foot d, and urge forward the hammer with
considerable force in virtue of the power stored up within the limb of the spring,
which thus effects the throwing forward of the hammer and the discharge of the
gun. The positions of the terminal ends of the spring when in its discharged
position, remains evenly disposed between the forked arms as represented in
figure 3.
After the release of the triggers, the spring t on the back of the turned end of
the bolt i returns the said-intercepting bolt to its normal position.
To open the barrels and again cock the gun after the arm has been discharged,
turn the lever k aside which withdraws the locking bolt g from the lumps ƒ ƒ and
the grip bolt r from the prolonged rib 6 of the barrels; the former is effected
through the intervention of the pin or carrier a carried by the slide r; and the
latter by the pin on the top of the slide being drawn back by the hole or slot k*
on the underside of the lever k, thus effecting the withdrawal of the top and
bottom bolts. The turning of the lever also rotates the shoulder 13 of the boss 7,
presses back the rod n³ n³ and the slide O, turns the lever p upon its fulcrum, and
presses the slide q over the ends of the trigger blades, thereby putting the arm at

page_text: safe, which overhanging end of the said slide, prevents the rising of the trigger,
and prevents the hammer intercepting bolt from being operated. The barrels on
being liberated now fall by their own weight, and carry the joint pin with the
lumps, in consequence of the rib or key engaging with the slot. This movement of
the joint pin, turns the spring as it were upon a fulcrum, relieves the end of the
limb d from contact with the foot c, and presses the upper limb d³ upon the
underside of the overhanging lip c³, and so by the angular movement, the spring
raises the hammer, as represented in figure 2, the pressing back of the hammer
turns the intercepting bolt aside, and is retained in its cocked position both by the
bolt and by the sear. Thus the downward movement of the lower limb of the
spring effects the discharge of the arm, and the upward movement of the upper
arm effects the cocking, and this cocking and discharge is entirely dependent of the
joint pin wherein the turned end of the spring seats itself and is fixed and takes of
its motion, and which said pin partakes of the motion of the barrels. The shutting
down of the barrels allows the parts to resume their normal positions as represented
in figure 1. The top or cocking limb of the spring is relieved from upward pressure
by the return movement of the barrels, which return movement or closing presses
the limbs of the spring in the reverse direction to that of the opening, and thus
stores up within the spring the momentum necessary for the discharge of the arm
by the acting end of the cocking limb of the spring pressing upon the foot of the
hammer while the joint pin is rotated.
The hammer safety intercepting bolts act independently of each other when used
in connection with a double gun as represented.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
First. The improvements in cocking and discharging mechanism for breech-
loading small arms consisting of a spring carried and operated by a rotary or
movable joint pin turning with the barrels, or the under lumps of the barrel,
substantially as described and illustrated.
Secondly. Top lever mechanism herein before described and illustrated in the
several figures of the drawings; that is to say, a top lever working within a
concentric recess on the tang, and carrying upon its underside a depending spindle
with a lug boss upon its end which operates the safety mechanism, while the grip
bolt and underbolts are worked through the intervention of a pin on the former,
taking into a hole on the underside of the lever, so that the turning of the lever
aside for the opening of the barrels, simultaneously withdraws both top and bottom
bolts and puts the arm at safety, the parts being arranged combined and operated
in the manner and for the purpose substantially as described and illustrated.
Thirdly. Preventing the accidental discharge of small arms by an intercepting
hammer bolt or safety bar, consisting of a gapped spindle or rod, with an inclined
foot or turned up end, which is operated or turned aside by the fore part of the
trigger plate, so as to bring the solid of the bar out of the way of a lug or ear on
the hammer, substantially as described and illustrated.