IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Chevalier Armand Wurmb de Nordmünster, of 28, Bury
Street, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS."
Sealed the 18th April 1878, and dated the 22nd October 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Chevalier Armand Wurmb
de Nordmünster at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd
October 1877.
CHEVALIER ARMAND WURMB DE NORDMÜNSTER, of 28, Bury Street, in the
County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS."
My Invention consists in a new construction and connection of a closing chamber
piece, hammer, and lever.
The closing and chamber mechanism lie in a case connecting the divided shaft, of
which the left side plate is movable.
The closing chamber piece, the hammer, and lever are by means of a handle
turned backward and forward upon three horizontal bolts affixed and permanently.
secured to the right side of the plate of the case containing the lock..
The motion of. the handle forward causes the lever closing chamber piece and the
hammer to turn upon the bolt in such a manner as to lay open the loading chamber
to eject the discharged cartridge and to cock the firing spring.
Having introduced the cartridge the handle is turned backward, by which means
the closing chamber piece returns to its former position, closing the loading
chamber.
By pulling the trigger the hammer is thrown against the chamber piece at the
point where the exploding needle is inserted in the chamber, ensuring the secure
closing of the mechanism and the ignition of the charge.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Chevalier Armand Wurmb de Nordmünster in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 22nd April 1878.
CHEVALIER ARMAND WURMB DE NORDMÜNSTER, of 28, Bury Street, in the
County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS."
This Invention relates to improvements in breech-loading fire-arms, and parti-
cularly to the breech mechanism of rifles, carbines, and other such like small-
arms.
And in order that my Invention may be clearly understood and readily carried
into effect, I will proceed to describe the same, with the aid of the accompanying
Drawings, reference being had to the letters and figures marked thereon, and in
which,―
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a breech-loading arm constructed according to my
Invention, the woodwork being removed and the barrel shown broken off.
Figure 2 is a similar side elevational view with the front (left-hand) plate or
cheek of the breech chamber removed, and showing the breech and lock mechanism
in the position of normal rest, which is also the position assumed by each part
immediately after the discharge of the weapon.
Figure 3 is a similar side elevational view, but showing the breech open in the
position for the insertion of the cartridge, and the hammer at full-cock.
Figure 4 is a sectional view taken at the line a, b, Figure 1.
Figures 5 to 12 are views of detail, more fully hereafter described.
The breech mechanism is contained in the breech chamber at the rear of the
barrel in the ordinary manner.
The right-hand cheek A, Figures 2 and 3, of the breech chamber is in one piece
with the barrel (B), but the left check (C, Figures 1 and 5) is made to take off and
be fixed on, as herein-after explained. In Figure 2 this cheek is removed, and the
breech and lock mechanism is illustrated in the position of normal rest, which is also
the position assumed by the mechanism on the discharge of the gun. D is the
breech block, carrying also the exploding needle E; F is the hammer; G, the internal
lever, and H the external lever for operating the breech mechanism.
To open the breech for the insertion of the cartridge the lever H is taken hold of
and pulled sharply downwards into the position shown at Figure 3. Lever H is
centered to the outside of cheek A on the outer end of pin I, which is made very
strong, and either one with cheek A or rigidly fixed thereto, and is sufficiently
long to project through both cheeks A and C, and thus forms the centre on which
the lever H turns. A screw is inserted into the end, passing through cheek A, so
as to keep lever H attached to the cheek when the left-hand cheek (C) is removed.
Lever H has also attached to it or forming part of it a strong pin J, which projects
only from one side of lever H, and is of such length that it will just pass flush
under cheek C when that cheek is on. Lever Ghas passing through it two holes
corresponding in size and relative position to pins I and J, through which holes the
pins pass, and so attach the two levers G and H together, so that both will turn on the
same centre. Thus when lever H is pulled down into the position shown at Figure 3,
turning on pin I, pin J causes the lever G also to turn on pin I, and assume the
position shown also at Figure 3. Lever G in thus moving acts directly on both
the breech block D and the hammer F.
་་
It will be seen that breech block D has formed on its lower or inner side a link d,
the form of which is shown; this link d is flush with the other part of the breech
block on that side next cheek A, but not on the side of the moveable cheek C, it
being only about half the thickness of the other part of the block; this link d, as
will be seen, is overlapped by an arm of lever G, a pin g in the extremity of which
enters the slot of link d, thus connecting lever G and the breech block D, which
latter, turning on pin K, is pulled over by lever G into the position, also shown at
Figure 3.

page_text: Pin K is made very strong, and is either constructed one with cheek A, or is
rigidly attached thereto.
L is the spent cartridge extractor; it is centred by one of its arms to the rear of
the barrel (B) by a pin l, which drops easily into position, and is kept there by
cheek C. As breech block D is pulled sharply over into the position shewn at
Figure 3, a projection d' strikes against the lower end of the extractor L, and
thereby forces the upper part outwards from the barrel, as shewn at Figure 3; this
movement jerks the cartridge case from the barrel of the gun, leaving the breech
end quite free for the insertion of the next cartridge.
It will be seen that the rear end of lever G has jointed to it a toggle M, which in
the forward motion of the toggle connects lever G with the hammer F, as shewn.
The direction of motion of the toggle is determined by a pin thereon taking into a
groove N formed on the inner side of cheek A. As lever G is pulled over from the
position shewn in Figure 2 into that shewn at Figure 3, the toggle M forces the
hammer over into the position, also shown at Figure 3, in which position it is
retained by the trigger pawl O in the usual manner. The hammer turns on the
pin P, also made very strong, and made one with or rigidly attached to cheek A;
thus the one motion downwards of the lever H, through the medium of lever G and
toggle M, pulls over breech block D and ejects the spent cartridge, thus opening the
breech and fully preparing the gun for the insertion of the next cartridge, and at
the same time forces hammer F to full-cock.
The cartridge is now inserted in the ordinary way in the rear of the barrel as far
as it will go (that is, until the rim at its rear end meets the extractor), and lever H
is then raised sharply to the position shown at Figure 2, where it is caught by the
spring catch at Q, and retained there until again released by a pull; this motion of
lever A returns the breech block to the position shown at Figure 2, thus fully
inserting the cartridge and closing the breech, but leaving the hammer at full-cock
ready for the gun to be fired.
On the trigger being pulled in the usual way the hammer also assumes the posi-
tion shewn at Figure 2, striking the rear end of needle E and exploding the charge.
R is a blade spring for actuating the hammer through the medium of the jointed
tail, and S is a like blade spring for opering the trigger; these two springs are
both tensed and slackened as required by the screw T, operated by the thumb
lever t.
To half-cock the gun the toggle M should be brought to bear on the hammer by
ineans of lever H, so as to control it and allow it to go half way down after having
been relieved from the trigger pawl by pulling the trigger. The latter is then again
released, and the haminer thereby secured at half-cock..
To fully cock the gun from half-cock and whilst the charge is in the gun, the lever
H should be lowered slowly; this will fully cock the gun without throwing out the
cartridge, and the breech must then be again closed by raising lever H.
For the purpose of the above description of the mechanism of the gun, Figures 2
and 3 shew same, the cheeks E removed; Figure 1 shews this cheek attached and
in position; the cheek is shown detached at Figure 5 in face and edge view. It is
provided with four holes corresponding in size and relative position to the four fixed
pins I, K, P, U, the latter being formed on the body of the gun; these pins are
made sufficiently long to protrude for a short distance through the holes in cheek C
when it is placed in position over them, and to allow of a small cut or groove being
made on their inner sides to be flush with the outer side of cheek C when in posi-
tion on the gun; these notches in the pins are taken into by a lock plate V, turning
on a centre pin on the outer face of chcek C.
Figure 5 shews the position of lock plate V before it is turned into position to
lock the cheek C on to the pins, and Figure 1 shews the same turned into position.
It is operated by the thumb piece u, and is in its turn locked in its home position,
as at Figure 1, by a pin W attached to one end of a blade spring connected in a
groove or slot to the under side of cheek C; this pin protrudes through both the
cheek and lock plate, and another pin X, also attached to the same spring and pro-

page_text: truding through the cheek, is provided to depress the pin W, and so release the lock
plate V.
Figure 4 is a sectional view taken at the line a; b, Figure 1; Figure 6 shews the
trigger and trigger pawl; Figure 7, the breech block; Figure 8, the hammer;
Figure 9, the cartridge case extractor; Figure 10, lever G and toggle M; and
Figures 11 and 12, lever H, Figure 12 being a sectional view taken at the line a, b,
Figure 11.
My improvements described may be used with any description of barrel.
I do not confine myself to the precise details shewn, but I claim as my Invention
to be secured by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent,-
First. The construction and use in breech-loading fire-arms of a breech block (D),
of a lever (G) and toggle (M), and of a hammer (F), and of a removable cheek (C)
and lock plate V, each and severally, substantially as herein-before described and
illustrated.
Second. In breech-loading fire-arms, the combination and use in combination of
the breech block D, the lever G and toggle M, the hammer F, and the lever H, sub-
stantially as herein-before described and illustrated.
Third. In breech-loading fire-arms, the combination of rigid notched pins
I, K, P, U, movable cheek C, and lock plate V and pins W and X, on spring sub-
stantially as herein-before described and illustrated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Chevalier Armand Wurmb de Nordmünster,
have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twentieth day of April, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
CH. A. WURMB NORDMUNSTER. (L.S.)
Witness,
JOHN W. GRAY, C.E.,
Consulting Engineer & Patent Agent,
16, Southampton Buildings,
London,
W.C.