IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS AND CARTRIDGES
Year: 1870

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Alexander Melville Clark at.
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 3rd November 1870. A communication from abroad by Paul
Ganidel, of Bordeaux, France, Civil Engineer.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS AND
CARTRIDGES," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates, first, to improvements in breech-loading fire-
arms, which improvements are also applicable for the conversion of
muzzle-loaders.
The breech mechanism is composed of a hinged block containing a
central needle sliding in an adjustable sheath or nose piece. At the rear
end of the block is à rectangular aperture through which a striker of
similar form passes to act on the needle, and also serving to lock the
breech block in the closed position. The breech block is hinged at ats
rear end to a moveable, sleeve piece through which the striker passes.
The breech block is thus hinged independently of the barrel, and this

page_text: The following is a description of the mode of adapting these improve-
ments to existing fire-arms :-The barrel of the fire-arm is first removed
from the stock, and a portion of the metal removed by boring for the
reception of the breech block and cartridge. In this operation only a
portion of the breech screw need be removed, so that it may serve again.
in remounting the barrel. The metal of the breech is then partly
removed to permit of the play of the breech block, and a mortise is
made in the bottom of the breech chamber for the spring used for
retaining the sleeve piece. The tail piece is also lengthened by welding
on an additional part. A rectangular aperture is next made in the
breech screw to receive the striker and form a guide therefor. A groove
is also made on the under side of the tail piece to admit of the necessary -
motion of the striker. As regards the lock, the bridle of the tumbler
is dispensed with, and the hammer for acting on the striker is fixed to
the tumbler in a line with the axis of the barrel. The detents are then
made at the proper points of the tumbler, and also a recess for fitting
the end of the hammer thereto. The sear screw is then reduced to form
a pivot for the sear. The breech block, sleeve piece, and striker are
then fitted in position as before described.
I construct cartridges for breech-loading fire-arms of a tube of in-
testinal skin (such as used by sausage manufacturers) of the desired
dimensions, and introduce the bullet therein and fix it by moistening
with gum water that part of the skin which is around the bullet. I
then introduce the necessary charge of powder and place thereon an
india-rubber disc containing the priming. I next close the tube by
turning down its edges on the india-rubber disc, after moistening them
with gum water. I next strengthen the cartridge by wrapping round
it some more skin, and finally dip the bullet in a bath of melted wax.
The priming consists of a small quantity of fulminate of mercurý
deposited at the centre of the india-rubber disc and covered with a disc
of paper pasted thereon.
The india-rubber disc possesses several important advantages :--It
firstly protects the fulminate from injury and moisture; 2ndly, it
renders the breech perfectly gas-tight without requiring an india-rubber
washer for the breech block. The latter however should be retained
to serve in lieu of the one in the cartridge, and when the latter has to
be manufactured by the soldier in the field. It also effectually prevents

page_text: the fouling in the interior of the breech block by closing the striker
aperture. After firing the whole of the cartridge is consumed except
the india-rubber disc, which remains in the barrel and serves to clear
the same on being driven out by the next cartridge fired.