IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS, WHICH IMPROVE- MENTS ARE APPLICABLE ALSO TO THE CONVERSION OF MUZZLE-LOADERS INTO BREECH- LOADERS
Year: 1867

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Lloyd Wise at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 29th January
1867. A communication from abroad by Mr. Lambert Jean Joseph
Ghaye, Manufacturer of Fire-arms, residing at Liege, in the Kingdom
of Belgium.
I, WILLIAN LLOYD WISE, of the Office for Patents, Chandos Chambers,
Adelphi, in the City of Westminster, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS, WHICH IMPROVE-
MENTS ARE APPLICABLE ALSO TO THE CONVERSION OF MUZZLE-LOADERS INTO BREECH-
LOADERS," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in breech-loading fire-armis,
which improvements are applicable also to the conversion of muzzle-loaders
into breech-loaders, and consists, firstly, in the employment of a second or
inner barrel capable of being moved endwise or backwards and forwards
within the outer or ordinary barrel after having (in the case of an arm to be
converted) enlarged the existing barrel if necessary. The end wise or backward
and forward movement of the inner barrel is effected by means of a handle or
handles, or projection or projections attached thereto.
The first part of this Invention is shewn in black ink in the two.
accompanying Sheets of Drawings in several Figures whereof parts are
broken away.
Fig. 1 represents a longitudinal vertical" section of an arm with the inner
barrel (d) withdrawn from the breech, and shewing the aperture (a) for the

page_text: introduction of the cartridge into the barrel; the piece 6 serves to remove
the cartridge from the barrel when it is opened; c is the striker which fires
the cartridge. Fig. 2 is a section of the weapon closed and provided with
a fixed chamber 1, as herein-after described. Fig. 3 is a view of the outer
barrel or tube (9), and of the vent (f). Fig. 4, the same weapon in plan
with the barrel open, shewing the breech plug (h) and the opening (a) as
well as the end of the inner barrel extending beyond that of the outer one,
which latter is in reality only a tube for the purpose of supporting and pro-
tecting the moveable barrel which serves to project the bullets. Fig. 5 is a
section showing the moveable barrel brought up to the breech which is in
its closed position. Fig. 6 represents the inner barrel (d) provided at intervals
with projections or bearings (i) for the purpose of diminishing friction and
preventing fouling in the outer barrel. Fig. 7 is an end view, partly in section,
of the inner barrel (d). Fig. 8 is a breech with its stopper or plug (h) apart
from the barrel. Fig. 9 is the combined chamber and breech (7) of Fig. 2.
The inner barrel has a backward and forward motion being brought back by
means of a handle, as is seen in Fig. 5, which is a longitudinal section when
in its closed position; Fig. 4 exhibits it open for the introduction of the
cartridge, the same movement takes place for Figs. 1 and 2; the fixed
chamber (7) of the arm shown in Fig. 2 may be loaded with an ordinary paper
cartridge by merely tearing the paper, for the purpose of pouring the powder
into the chamber, and then placing the ball in the manner commonly practised
with muzzle-loaders, excepting that in the case of the present arrangement
no ramrod is required. In Fig. 1 the barrel is on the same principle and is
arranged so as to admit the use of central-fire cartridges whether made in
metal or any other material, the striker (c) being placed in a convenient position
for receiving the blow of the hammer.
The second part of the Invention is shewn in red ink on the accompanying
Drawings, and consists in an improved striker which is pushed back sufficiently
high to make it clear the cap on opening the barrel by means of a notch
made in the hind part of the barrel, and also in the application of a cartridge
bearer which facilitates the introduction of the cartridge into the barrel;
Fig. 1 represents a section of the weapon without the stock or the lock;
Fig. 10 is a transverse section shewing the cartridge bearer (k) which goes
through the outer tube to take hold of the cartridge, as is shewn in Fig. 1 ;
Fig. 11 is a side view of the breech showing the cartridge drawer (6) as
well as the striker (c) shown at Fig. 10; Figs. 12, 13, and 14 are views of
the cartridge bearer (k) which is fixed below the barrel by a screw; Figs. 15
and 16 shew the back of the barrel with the notch (n); Fig. 17 is that

page_text: part of the barrel attached to the stock showing the spring (k) in its full
size.
By the combination of improved striker and notch first referred to with
reference to this part of the Invention if the striker were out when the
barrel was open it would be again thrown back, by bringing the barrel to the
breach, and could only act when the weapon was perfectly closed, as the notch
must be in front of the striker to allow it to act. The striker is kept in its
notch by a cross pin, which nevertheless allows the striker to act freely, as may
be seen in Figs. 15 and 16.
The application of the cartridge bearer (k), as shown in Fig. 1, facilitates the
introduction of the cartridge (m) into the barrel; Fig. 17 shows how it is kept
below the barrel; and Figs. 12, 13, and 14 show the shape of the cartridge
bearer which acts as a spring when the barrel is closed.
I should mention that weapons according to this Invention can be made
with the moveable barrel shorter than the outer barrel, or the inner barrel
may be longer than the outer barrel in order to make the weapon longer.
The inner barrel is formed with grooved projections on its outer surface
so that air can circulate in the space between the inner and outer barrels.