IMPROVEMENT IN MARTINI-RIFLES AND SIMILAR BREECH LOADING SMALL ARMS
Year: 1884

page_text: We, JOHANN HÄMMERLI and JOHANN HAUSCH, Manufacturers, of Lenzburg, in
the republic of Switzerland, do hereby declare the nature of our invention for.
IMPROVEMENT IN MARTINI-RIFLES AND SIMILAR BREECH LOADING SMALL ARMS to
be as follows:
Our invention has for its object to facilitate the cleaning of the barrel and.
cartridge bed of Martini-rifles and other breech loaders provided with a falling
breech-block which in the ordinary construction renders the cleaning from behind
impracticable,
For this purpose we perforate the breech block as well as the casing in which it
is hinged so that in the lowest position of the block the bore is approximately in
line with the bore of the rifle,
This perforation which has preferably the same diameter as the bore of the rifle
renders the barrel easily accessible from the back for inspection and for cleaning.
The hinge of the block the striker and the screws are placed so as not to
interfore with the axial opening, the hinge pin being situated above and the striker
below the same.
When the block is raised, and therefore the breech closed, the perforation of the
block has an oblique position so as to clear the cartridge bed of the barrel, but
when the block is lowered and therefore the breech opened, the perforation is in
line with the axis of the barrel, as well as with the perforation of the block casing,
so that a rod for cleaning the interior of the barrel may be introduced into the
latter through the axial perforation of the casing and of the block.

page_text: We, JOHANN HAMMERLI and JOHANN HAUSCH, Manufacturers, of Lenzburg,
Switzerland, do hereby declare the nature of our invention for IMPROVEMENT IN
MARTINI RIFLES AND SIMILAR 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 :-
Martini-Rifles and other small arms with falling breech-blocks as hitherto made
have the drawback, that the interior of the barrel together with the cartridge bed
can only be cleaned from the muzzle, and not from the back.
In order to avoid this disadvantage, we perforate the breech block, and the
casing which encloses the same, in such a manner, that when the block has been
lowered (and thereby the breech opened) the perforation of the breech block and
casing forms a continuation of the bore of the barrel, and that consequently in the
open position of the breech the whole length of the bore, together with the
cartridge bed, may be easily examined without a mirror, and cleaned from behind
by means of a straight rod.
The hinge of the block and the scrows are placed so as to clear the said
perforation.
In the accompanying Drawing Figures 1 and 2 are longitudinal sections of the
breech of a Martini rifle embodying our invention Figure 3 represents a plan and
Figure 4 an end view-In Figure 1 the breech block is raised, while in Figure 2 it
is lowered and ready for the insertion of a Cartridge-A is the barrel, B the breech
block and C the casing a represents the cartridge bed, 6 the hinge of the breech
block, b¹ the longitudinal canal or perforation in the block, c the continuation of
the same through the casing.
It is evident that our improvement may be applied not only to Martini rifles,
but also to other Rifles having a similar breech action.
If desired, the perforation may bo temporarily closed by a plug, lid or slide
provided for this purpose.
The opening or perforation in the breech block and the parts situated behind
the same may have any suitable size or shape, but so as to give sufficient access to
the rear end of the bore for examination, without a mirror, and for cleaning.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
Invention and in what mannor the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is
"
1. A Martini-Rifle or similar breech loading fire-arm in which the bore of the
barrel is continued axially through the breech in such a manner, that in the open
position of the breech a staight rod may be introduced into the rear end of the
barrel. substantially as described.

page_text: 2. In Martini Rifles and similar breech loading fire arms, a breech block and
casing perforated longitudinally in such a manner that when the breech block has
been lowered the longitudinal perforation or canal forms a continuation of the bore
and cartridge bed of the barrel, substantially as and for the purposes described.
3. The combination of a breech block B with a casing C, both being perforated
and connected with each other in the manner described and illustrated.