IMPROVEMENTS IN MECHANISM FOR BREECH ACTION IN BREECH-LOADING RIFLES AND OTHER DESCRIPTIONS OF FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jolin Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields,
in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MECHANISM FOR BREECH ACTION IN BREECH-LOADING
RIFLES AND OTHER DESCRIPTIONS OF FIRE-ARMS."-A communication from
abroad by Donald Stuart and Alfred Henry Vandermeersch, both of
Colony of Mounitiva
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 14th January 1873.
"
I, JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County
of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MECHANISM FOR BREECH ACTION IN BREECH-
LOADING RIFLES AND OTHER DESCRIPTIONS OF FIRE-ARMS," a communication to
me from abroad by Donald Stuart and Alfred Henry Vandermeersch,
both of Port Louis, in the Colony of Mauritius, to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to improvements in breech-loading rifles and
smooth bores or fowling pieces, and comprises an improved form of stock,

page_text: an improved stationary breech piece, and an improved sliding or
moveable breech block, with which latter there are immediately con-
nected the following pieces of mechanism, namely, a self-acting cartridge
extractor, a self-cocking lock with striker, a trigger, a trigger guard with
guard handle, a block wedge fitting the moveable breech block and
corresponding chambers in the inner sides of the stationary breech, and
lastly, a lever handle for actuating the said block wedge.
In lieu of making the stock with the downward bend from the breech
end of the barrel, we continue the said stock in a straight line with the
barrel for some distance in the rear, such straight portion of the stock
between the actual butt and the breech being requisite for affording a
free run to the lever handle herein-after referred to, for opening and
closing the breech. Moreover in this construction of stock the long
break which existed in all the ordinary stocks between the cye and the
line of the barrel by reason of the downward bend is very considerably
reduced. When raised to the firing position the gun is to be grasped
well forward by the left hand, whilst the right hand, in lieu of as hereto-
fore grasping the stock, simply grasps the "breech actuating lever
handle," and the "guard handle," herein-after referred to as situate
beneath the stock. By this arrangement of fire-arm and mode of
handling the same, greater precision and steadiness of aim are ensured
whatever may be the position of the marksman, whilst at the same time
facility is afforded for freeing the arm from a spent cartridge, loading
and firing without removing the gun from the shoulder, which is a most
important desideratum both in a military and sporting point of view.
The frame or stationary breech piece within which the moveable or
sliding breech block slides is composed by preference of steel, and has
the breech end of the barrel (which may be of any approved make)
screwed therein. This stationary breech piece is made open throughout
its length on the under side, and with parallel sides in each of which on
the interior there is formed a longitudinal guiding groove for the recep-
tion of gun metal ribs attached to each side of the sliding breech block, so
that the latter may slide longitudinally within the former. A wedge
chamber is also formed on each side of the stationary breech piece for
the reception of a wedge or cam in connection with the actuating lever
handle herein-after referred to. A cap or cover plate is fitted along the
after portion of the stationary breech piece, under which the sliding

page_text: цицили расрах
loading the arm.
The sliding breech block contains two enclosed chambers, the lower
one being readily removeable when access to the lock and trigger
mechanism is required. In the upper chamber there is fitted a cocking
rod and retracting spring, which on being pressed inwards from the rear
end of the breech block by a tail piece on the actuating lever cocks tho
hammer, by pressing against the upright arm of a bell-crank lever
which is connected by a link to the tail end of the hammer. The
horizontal arm of the said bell-crank lever is acted upon by the main
spring. These parts with the striker pin and its retracting spring are
all contained within the upper chamber of the sliding breech block.
The lower chamber contains the trigger head with its single notch
engaging with the tail end of the hammer and the trigger spring. So
long as the cocking rod is maintained, pushed inwards by the horizontal
position of the actuating lever handle, the gun cannot possibly be fired
accidentally. If desired, however, any special safety or half-cock
appliance may be employed, consisting, for example, of a sliding rod
with a button head behind the trigger, which can be pushed forward to
fix the trigger, and drawn back to free it. The spring claw forming the
cartridge extractor is secured to the upper front end of the breech
block.
The rear end of the breech block is provided with a hinge pin forming
the fulcrum of the actuating lever handle, and has a recess for the
entrance of the wedge or cam on such lever.
When the arm is loaded and ready for firing the actuating lever arm
projects downwards at right angles to the under side of the stock, and
lies close against a vertical portion of the trigger guard, which we call
the "guard lever." In the act of firing these two levers are grasped by
the thumb and three fingers of the right hand, the forefinger being on
the trigger. When in this position the tail of the actuating lever leaves
the protruding end of the cocking rod entirely free, and the wedge or
cam is in its recess holding the breech block firmly against the chamber
of the barrel. When the actuating lever is turned on its fulcrum, so as
to bring it up against and parallel to the under side of the straight
portion of the stock, the wedge is removed and releases the breech block,
whilst at the same time the tail of the actuating lever by pressing

page_text: inwards the cocking rod cocks the hammer. On continuing to draw
back the actuating lever in a rectilinear direction the breech block will
also be drawn back, at the same time extracting the spent cartridge case,
and leaving the breech open for the reception of the next cartridge. In
closing the breech the lever handle is pushed forward and downwards
sharply, so as to restore it to its original position, whereby the breech
block will be brought firmly against the chamber of the barrel ready for
firing, and the extractor will be engaged with the flange of the cartridge
in readiness for its withdrawal on the opening of the breech again.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 10th July 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-sixth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said John Henry Johnson, Her special license
that I, the said John Henry Johnson, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said John Henry Johnson, my executors,
administrators, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MECHANISM
FOR BREECH ACTION IN BREECH-LOADING RIFLES AND OTHER DESCRIPTIONS OF FIRE-
ABM8," a communication to me from abroad by Donald Stuart and
Alfred Henry Vandermeersch, both of Port Louis, in the Colony of
Mauritius, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John
Henry Johnson, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the

page_text: to wedge the block in order to give additional security to the wedging.
A lever handle C for actuating the said block wedge. D, and at the same
time to form a handle in conjunction with the guard handle M (which
it clutches) for holding the gun in the act of firing. A cylindrical
projection (in the centre of which is the striker pin H) at the fore end
of the sliding block R fits into the chamber of the cartridge aperture,
thereby closing in the cartridge hermetically. A projecting cocking
spur P curved upwards from the rear end of the cam D behind the hinge
of the latter, and serving to cock the lock in the manner herein-after
described. A claw spring F fitted over the rear end of the sliding
block Ŕ to catch the head of the cocking spur P, and hold it in place
when the sliding block R is pushed forward; this serves partly as a
half-cock action and partly to prevent friction of the wedges D of the
cam against the under sides of the stationary breech piece S when the
block R is being pushed forward.
When raised to the firing position the gun is to be grasped well
forward by the left hand, whilst the right hand, in lieu of as heretofore,
grasping the stock, simply grasps the "breech actuating lover handle " C,
and the guard handle M herein-before referred to as situate beneath the
stock. By this arrangement of a fire-arm and mode of handling the
same greater precision and steadiness of aim are insured, whatever may
be the position of the marksman, whilst at the same time facility is
afforded for freeing the arm from a spent cartridge case, loading and
firing without removing the gun from the shoulder, which is a most
important desideratum both in a military and sporting point of view.
No special motion is needed to cast out the spent cartridge, as it simply
drops through an opening G¹ left in the gun stock when the sliding
block R is drawn back, and the same retractile motion effects a full cock
and a safety cock of the hammer.
The frame or stationery breech piece S, within which the moveable or
sliding breech block R slides, is composed by preference of steel, and
has the breech end of the barrel (which may be of any approved make)
screwed therein. This stationary breech piece is made open throughout
its length on the under side, and with parallel sides, in cach of which on
the interior there is formed a longitudinal guiding ridge or rib b to fit
into corresponding grooves wrought in each side of the sliding breech
block R (see Figure 2), so that the latter may slide longitudinally
within the former. A wedge chamber c is also formed on each inner

page_text: side of the stationery breech piece S for the reception of the locking
wedges (or cams) D in connection with the actuating lever handle C,
herein-before referred to.
A cap or cover plate & is left along the after portion of the stationery
breech piece S, being of the same piece of metal under which cover
plate the sliding breech block R is withdrawn by the actuating lever
handle C, preparatory to loading the arm. At the rear end of the cover
plate is an extension thereof, with a screw hole for the reception of a
screw d to fasten the plate to the stock Z. At the rear end of the
stationery breech piece S under the cover plate s is a moveable plate e
fitting by dovetails over and closing the end of the breech piece against
the wood of the stock.
Under the upper side of the cover plate is a small recess at finto
which the spring claw F at the rear end of the breech block R rises
when the block is driven home, thus freeing the tail or spur P, and
allowing the actuating lever handle C to be moved to its perpendicular
position, as shown in Figure 1. On drawing back the block R the spring
claw F is again forced down on passing out of the recess, and catches
the tail or spur P, as shown in Figure 3.
•
The sliding block R contains a chamber N, enclosed in which there
is fitted a cocking rod E and a retracting spring, which on being pressed
inwards from the rear end of the breech block R by the tail or spur P
on the actuating lever C cocks the hammer (see Figure 3) by pressing
against the upright arm of a bell-crank lever O which is connected by a
link Q to the tail end of the hammer U. The horizontal arm of the
said bell-cránk lever is acted upon by the mainspring V. These parts with
the striker pin H and its retracting spring are all contained within the
chamber N of the sliding breech block R. Under this chamber are situate
the trigger head W with its single notch engaging with the tail end of
the hammer U and the trigger spring X. This portion of the lock is
protected by a plate g fixed to the trigger guard, and through this plate
the trigger K passes. Under this plate are the guard L and guard
handle M, with a sliding rod and button I passing through from behind
the guard handle to serve as an additional safety lock or bolt by
engaging with and fixing the trigger.
So long as the cocking rod E is maintained pushed forward (inwards)
11
1.
11
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11
AL
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page_text: the gun cannot possibly be fired accidentally. This position forms a
species of safety or half cock which is secured by the claw spring F
above the tail or spur P, herein-before described, when the breech
block R. is withdrawn under the cover plate, so that the lock cannot be
started when it has been cocked until the breech block is pushed
forward again. The same diagonal position of the lever handle C, if
voluntarily maintained when the breech block is driven home or forward,
constitutes also a safety cock on the same principle. If a safety cock is
required after the lever handle C is brought to a perpendicular position
the sliding rod and button I on being pushed forward will effectually
secure the lock from starting. On drawing back the sliding rod I the
trigger K is freed, and the lock is ready to be let off. There are thus
three safety actions in the arm.
The spring claw G forming the cartridge extractor is secured to the
upper front end of the breech block R, whilst the spring claw F forming
the safety cock and antifriction action is secured to the upper rear end
of the same breech block.
The rear end of the breech block R is provided with a hinge pin T
forming the fulcrum of the actuating lever handle C, a recess c for the
entrance of the wedge or cam on such lever being made in each side of
the fixed breech piece S. When the arm is ready for firing the actuating
lever arm C projects downwards at right angles to the under side of the
stock (see Figure 1), and the bent end of the handle grips over the end
of the guard handle M, thus fixing the lever C and wedge D securely in
place whilst the gun is fired.
In the act of firing the gun the guard and lever handles M and C are
both grasped by the thumb and three fingers of the right hand, the
forefinger being on the trigger K. When in this position the tail or
spur P of the actuating lever C leaves the protruding end of the cocking
rod E entirely free, and the cam or wedge D is in its recess, holding the
breech block R firmly against the chamber of the barrel.
When the actuating lever C is turned on its fulcrum T so as to bring
it to a diagonal position (if about 50 degrees to the stock of the gun,) (see
Figure 3) the wedge D is removed clear of its recess c, the connection
between the lever and guard handles and the catch pin a of the cam
being both relieved at the same time by a sharp pull, and the breech
block R is freed. By the same motion the tail or spur P of the actuating

page_text: lever C pressing in the cocking rod E cocks the hammer U, and as soon
as the drawing back of the breech block R begins the tail or spur P is
caught by the spring claw F above it; on continuing to draw back the
actuating lever handle C it will draw back along with it the sliding
breech block R, at the same time extracting the spent cartridge case
and leaving the breech open for the reception of the next cartridge. In
closing the breech the lever handle C is pushed forward and downward
sharply so as to restore it to its original position, whereby the breech
block R will be brought firmly against the chamber of the barrel ready
for firing, and the extractor G will be engaged with the flange of the
cartridge in readiness for its withdrawal.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or
carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to
be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to
me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The general construction, arrangement, and combination of
stationary and moveable breech picces and parts connected therewith,
constituting the breech action of a breech-loading fire-arm, when
arranged, combined, and operated substantially as hercin-before de-
scribed and illustrated by the Drawings annexed.
Second. The combination with a sliding breech block of the actuating
lever handle C, wedge or cam D, guard handle M, and cocking spur P,
when arranged and operated substantially as and for the purpose herein-
before described and illustrated by the Drawings annexed.
Third. The combination of the spur P, cocking rod E, and spring
claw F, with the peculiar sliding breech block, substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated by the Drawings annexed.
Fourth. The peculiar arrangement of lock or hammer mechanism in
combination with the arrangements for cocking the same and main-
taining it in a state of safety or so called half cock, as hercin-before
described and illustrated by the Drawings annexed.
Fifth. The so combining and arranging together the actuating lever C
and guard lever M, as that they shall form a convenient means of
holding and steadying the gun when in the act of firing, as herein-
before described.

page_text: before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this
my Specification set my hand and seal, this Tenth day of July
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three..
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (L.S.)