IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS AND IN CARTRIDGES FOR BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Johann von der Poppenburg, of Birmingham, in
the County of Warwick, Mechanical Engineer, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS AND IN CARTRIDGES FOR
BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS."
Sealed the 12th February 1867, and dated the 6th October 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Johann von der Poppen-
burg at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 6th October 1866.
I, JOHANN VON DER POPPENBURG, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS AND IN CARTRIDGES FOR BREECH-
LOADING FIRE-ARMS," to be as follows:-
My improvements in breech-loading fire-arms relate to breech-loading fire-
arms in which the breech end is opened for charging and closed for discharge
by means of a block hinged to the top of the rear end of the barrel, the said
hinged block being shut down into a breech chamber at the rear of the
barrel for discharge, and raised out of the said breech chamber and thrown
back upon the top of the barrel for loading.
My improvements consist, firstly, of the following arrangement for working
the sliding bolt by which the hinged block is fastened in its place preparatory to

page_text: the discharge of the gun-I place the bolt in the binged block and makes its
rear end pass through the rear end of the block and engage in an opening in
the rear end of the chamber into which the hinged block shuts down. I give
a sliding to-and-fro motion to the said bolt by means of a horizontal axis
working through a slot in the side of the breech chamber, the inner end of
the said axis carrying a pinion and the outer end a handle or thumb plate.
The bottom of the front end of the bolt in the block is made into a rack, with
which rack the teeth of the pinion described engage. By giving a partial
rotation in one or other direction to the handle or thumb plate the bolt is
projected through the block into the rear end of the breech chamber, and the
said block thereby locked down, or the said bolt is withdrawn from the end of
the breech chamber into the block. When in the last-described position the
hinged block can be turned on its joint by means of the handle or thumb
plate and raised from the breech chamber for loading. The bolt is fixed or
locked in its shot or withdrawn position by means of a pin passed through the
top of the block and pressed down by a spring, the said pin dropping into
notches or depressions made in the said bolt.
My improvements consist further of the following arrangement for pre-
venting the accidental discharge of the gun while the hinged breech block is
unfastened In the lock plate of the gun and near the front of the cock or
hammer I make a slot, through which slot a bolt or stud having a horizontal
motion works. This bolt or stud is carried by the free end of a flat spring
fixed to the inner side of the lock plate; the said spring when at liberty to
move presses the bolt or stud through the slot so as to project it in front of
the hammer, and prevent the descent of the said hammer. The said spring
bolt or stud is acted upon by the handle or thumb plate of the fastening bolt
of the block already described in such a manner that when the said block is
bolted down the spring bolt or stud in the lock plate is pressed inwards, and
made to lie flush with the lock plate, so as not to interfere with the descent
of the hammer upon the pin or striker to discharge the gun. When the
hammer has been lifted to half-cock after the discharge of the gun and the
block unbolted, the bolt or stud in the lock plate being no longer acted upon
by the handle or thumb plate, springs outwards in front of the half-cocked
hammer, and thereby prevents the fall of the said hammer and the accidental
discharge of the gun while the hinged block is unbolted.
My improvements consist further in making the lump or block on the top
of the barrel to which the closing block is hinged of a separate piece of metal
instead of making the said lump or block in one piece with the barrel. I fix

page_text: the said separate lump or block to the barrel partly by means of screws
passed through it on either side and taking into the barrel, and partly by
hard soldering or brazing it to the barrel. I also chamber out the front or.
binged end of the closing block for the purpose of receiving the metallic end
or cap of the cartridges herein-after described, and constituting part of my
Invention.
My improvements in central-fire cartridges to be used with guns of the
construction herein-before described are as follows:-I.make the metallic end
or cap of the cartridge of a cylindrical figure and without a rim or flange,
and the open end of the said cap I make slightly conical. To the said conical
part of the metal cap I attach a tube or case of linen or other fabric, in which
the gunpowder and projectile are placed in the usual manner. The parts by
which the cartridge is discharged contained in the metallic end are of the
ordinary construction. When the cartridge is placed in the breech of a gun
of the kind herein-before described, and the hinged block is shut down, the
metallic end or cap of the cartridge occupies the chamber or cut-away part
made at the front of the said hinged block. On the discharge of the gun the
linen tube or case is detached from the metallic cap or end of the cartridge
and carried with the projectile, leaving the said metallic cap or end in the
chamber or recess in the hinged block; after the hinged block has been raised
from the breech chamber and thrown back upon the top of the barrel the
metallic cap or end of the exploded cartridge can be removed from the block
by hand.
By making the cartridge and end of the hinged block according to my
Invention the use of a cartridge case extractor is rendered unnecessary.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Johann von der Poppenburg in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 3rd April 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHANN
VON DER POPPENBURG, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Mechanical
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her.
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,

page_text: the said Johann von der Poppenburg, Her special licence that I, the said
Johann von der Poppenburg, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Johann von der Poppenburg, my executors,
administrators, and 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 BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS
AND IN CARTRIDGES FOR BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Johann von der Poppenburg, my executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of
their hands and seals, 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 Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Johann von der Poppenburg, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement thereof, that is to say :-
My improvements in breech-loading fire-arms relate to breech-loading fire-
arms in which the breech end is opened for charging and closed for discharge
by means of a block hinged to the top of the rear end of the barrel, the said
hinged block being shut down into a breech chamber at the rear of the barrel
for discharge, and raised out of the said breech chamber and thrown back
upon the top of the barrel for loading.
My improvements consist, firstly, of the following arrangement for working
the sliding bolt by which the hinged block is fastened in its place preparatory
to the discharge of the gun :-I place the bolt in the hinged block and make
its rear end pass through the rear end of the block and engage in an opening
in the rear end of the chamber into which the hinged block shuts down. I
give a sliding to-and-fro motion to the said bolt by means of a horizontal axis
working through a slot in the side of the breech chamber, the inner end of the
said axis carrying a pinion and the outer end a handle or thumb plate. The
bottom of the front end of the bolt in the block is made into a rack, with
which rack the teeth of the pinion described engage. By giving a partial
rotation in one or other direction to the handle or thumb plate the bolt is
projected through the block into the rear end of the breech chamber, and the
said block thereby locked down, or the said bolt is withdrawn from the end

page_text: of the breech chamber into the block. When in the last-described position
the hinged block can be turned on its joint by means of the handle or thumb
plate and raised from the breech chamber for loading. The bolt is fixed
or locked in its shot or withdrawn position by means of a pin passed through
the top of the block and pressed down by the prolongation of the hinge
joint, the said pin dropping into notches or depressions made in the said.
bolt.
My improvements consist further of the following arrangement for pre-
venting the accidental discharge of the gun while the hinged breech block is
unfastened-In the lock plate of the gun and near the front of the cock or
hammer I make a slot, through which slot a bolt or stud having a horizontal
motion works; this bolt or stud is carried by the free end of a flat spring
fixed to the inner side of the lock plate; the said spring when at liberty to
move presses the bolt or stud through the slot so as to project it in front of the
hammer and prevent the descent of the said hammer. The said spring bolt or
stud is acted upon by the handle or thumb plate of the fastening bolt of the
block already described in such a manner that when the said bolt is bolted
down the spring bolt or stud in the lock plate is pressed inwards and made to
lie flush with the lock plate, so as not to interfere with the descent of the
hammer upon the pin or striker to discharge the gun. When the hammer
has been lifted to half-cock after the discharge of the gun and the block
unbolted, the bolt or stud in the lock plate being no longer acted upon by the
handle or thumb plate, springs outwards in front of the half-cocked hammer,
and thereby prevents the fall of the said hammer and the accidental discharge
of the gun while the hinged block is unbolted.
My improvements consist further in making the lump or block on the top
of the barrel to which the closing block is hinged of a separate piece of
metal instead of making the said lump or block in one piece with the barrel.
I fix the said separate lump or block to the barrel partly by means of screw's
O passed through it on either side and taking into the barrel, and partly by soft
soldering it to the barrel. I also chamber out the front or hinged end of the
closing block for the purpose of receiving the metallic end or cap of the
cartridges herein-after described and constituting part of my Invention.
My improvements in central-fire cartridges to be used with guns of the
5 construction herein-before described are as follows:-I make the metallic end
or cap of the cartridge of a cylindrical figure and without a rim or flange;
to the metallic end or cap I attach a tube or case of linen or other fabric, in
which the gunpowder and projectile are placed in the usual manner. The

page_text: parts by which the cartridge is discharged contained in the metallic end are of
the ordinary construction. When the cartridge is placed in the breech of a
gun of the kind herein-before described, and the hinged block is shut down, the
metallic end or cap of the cartridge occupies the chamber or cut-away part at
the front of the said hinged block. On the discharge of the gun the linen
tube or case is detached from the metallic cap or end of the cartridge and.
carried with the projectile, leaving the said metallic cap or end in the chamber
or recess in the hinged block. After the hinged block has been raised from the
breech chamber and thrown back upon the top of the barrel the metallic cap
or end of the exploded cartridge can be removed from the block by hand
or by an ejector brought into action by the throwing back of the hinged
block.
Having explained the nature of my Invention I will proceed to describe,
with reference to the accompanying Drawing, the manner in which the same
is to be performed.
Figure 1 represents a side elevation of the breech end of a hinged block
gun constructed according to my Invention; Figure 2 is a plan of the same,
and Figure 3 a longitudinal vertical section of the same, the breech block in
the said Figures 1, 2, and 3 being fastened down and the gun ready to be
fired; Figure 4 represents a plan (partly in section) of the gun with the breech
block thrown back on to the top of the barrel and the breech open for the
introduction of a cartridge into the barrel;. Figure 5 is an end elevation, and
Figure 6 a side elevation (partly in section) of the breech block separately;
Figures 7 and 8 are portions of the gun as herein-after described. The
same letters of reference indicate the same parts in Figure 1 to 8, both
inclusive.
a is the binged breech block by which the breech chamber of the gun is
opened and closed, the said block turning on the hinge b on the top of the
barrel. The block a is fastened in its place by means of the bolt c sliding in
the block, and capable of taking into an opening d in the rear end of the
chamber e, into which the binged block a shuts down. A sliding-to-and-fro
motion is given to the bolt c by means of a horizontal axis f working through
a slot or opening f in the side of the breech chamber e. The inner end of
the axis carries a pinion 9, and the outer end a handle or thumb plate h.
The pinion g gears with a rack made on the under side of the bolt c. By
giving a partial rotation in one or other direction to the handle h the bolt c is
projected through the rear end of the block a into the opening d in the rear
of the chamber e, and the said block is thereby locked down; or the bolt c is

page_text: withdrawn from the chamber e into the block a, so as to liberate the said
block. When in the last-described position the block a can be turned on its
binge 6 by means of the handle h, and the breech chamber e opened for
loading, as represented in Figure 4. The bolt c is fixed in its locked or
withdrawn position and its motion limited by the loose pin i pressed down by
the prolongation of the hinge joint situated on the top of the block a (see
Figures 2 and 3), the said pin i dropping into notches or depressions in the
bolt c. The accidental discharge of the gun when the breech block a is
unfastened is prevented by means of a bolt or stud k passing through a slot
in the lock plate l, and carried by the free end of a flat spring m fixed to the
inner side of the said lock plate 7. The spring bolt or stud k attached to the
lock plate is represented separately in Figure 7. The spring m when at
liberty to move presses the bolt or stud k through the slot in the lock plate l,
and projects it in front of the cock or hammer n, and thus prevents the descent
of the said hammer. When the block a is bolted down by the depressing of the
handle h the spring bolt or stud k is pressed into the slot in the lock plate by
the part 2 of the handle h passing over the inclined part 2, the said stud being
made to lie flush with the plate, as indicated in Figure 2, so as not to interfére
with the descent of the hammer n upon the pin or striker p to discharge the gun.
The edge or front of the hammer n is cut away at n², which part n³ on the
fall of the hammer to strike the pin or striker p enters the cut-away part at
the end of the handle h (see Figure 2). When the hammer n has been
lifted to half-cock after the discharge of the gun by raising the handle h the
block a is unbolted; and the safety bolt or stud k being no longer acted upon
by the said handle h springs outwards in front of the half-cocked hammer,
and thereby prevents the fall of the said hammer and the accidental discharge
of the gun while the breech block a is unbolted. The return motion of the
pin or striker p on lifting the hammer from it is effected by disks or washers
of india-rubber q (see Figure 1) acting against shoulders on the said pin or
striker. At the front or hinged end of the closing block a is a chamber r,
which receives when the block is shut down the metallic end or cap of the
cartridge, the metallic end or cap being without a flange or rim. The
construction of the cartridge which I prefer to use with the gun is herein-after
particularly described. On the discharge of the gun the metallic end or cap
of the exploded cartridge is left in the chamber r, and if fixed in the said
chamber by the explosion is removed therefrom on the throwing back of the
block a by an ejector constructed in the following manner:--The ejector
consists of a flat rod or bar & capable of sliding in the recess t in the block

page_text: behind the chamber r. A pointed pin u passing through the block a engages
with an inclined recess in the ejectors (see Figures 3 and 6). When the
block a is shut down the pointed end of the pin u is situated near the top of
the incline of the said ejector, its upper end projecting from the top of the
block a, and the front end of the ejector lies flush with the back of the
chamber (see Figure 3). On raising and throwing back the hinged block a
after the gun has been discharged the projecting outer end of the pin u.strikes
against the projection v on the top of the barrel, the pin u is thereby depressed,
and by working down the incline of the ejector s pushes the said ejector into
the chamber r, and ejects the cap or end of the exploded cartridge from the
said chamber in the manner illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, where the end or
The
cap of the cartridge is represented just ejected from the chamber r.
motion of the pin u by which the ejector is worked is limited by the collar u².
On shutting down the block a after the introduction of a fresh cartridge into
the barrel the end of the ejector s is pushed flush with the end of the
chamber by the end or cap of the cartridge in the barrel, and the pin u is
raised by the inclined slot of the ejector into the position represented in
Figure 3.
When muzzle-loading guns are converted into breech-loading guns by my
Invention the block a is hinged to a separate lump or block of metal w fixed
to the top of the barrel partly by means of the screws passed through either
side of said lump, and taking into the barrel, and partly by soft soldering;
this separate lump or block is represented detached and fixed to the barrel in
Figure 8. By fixing the lump to the barrel in this way the re-heating of the
barrel which is necessary when the block is fixed by hard soldering or brazing
is avoided.
gun
Figure 9 represents in end and side elevation a central-fire cartridge con-
structed according to my Invention, and Figure 10 represents a cross section
and longitudinal section of the same. 1 is the metallic cap or end of the
cartridge of a cylindrical figure, and without a rim or flange; the said end
or cap 1 is of a size proper to fit in the chamber r of the herein-before
described. In the said cap 1 is a paper wad 2, in which is fixed the cup,
percussion cap, and anvil 3 by which the cartridge is discharged, the cup, per-
cussion сар, and anvil being of the ordinary construction. Inside the cap or
end 1 I fix a tube or case 4 of linen or other fabric, in which linen tube or
case the gunpowder and projectile are placed as represented in Figure 10. I
fix the linen tube or case 4 to the cap or end 1 by means of an inner metal
strengthening tube 5, between which tube 5 and the inner side of the cap 1

page_text: the linen tube 4 is secured by the closing of the cap 1 upon the end of the
linen tube 4 and inner metal tube 5. The position of the cartridge in the
breech of the barrel is seen in Figure 8; on the discharge of the gun the
inner tube or case 4 is detached by the explosion from the cap or end 1 and
inner tube 5, and carried away with the projectile, leaving the cap or end 1.
in the chamber r of the block a with the inner strengthening tube 5 attached
to it, as represented in Figures 4 and 6, the cap or end being removed from
the chamber in the manner herein-before explained. The parts of the
cartridge, Figures 9 and 10, are marked with the same letters in the gun,
Figures 3, 4, and 6.
.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I do not
limit myself to the precise details herein described and illustrated in the
Drawing, as the same may be varied without departing from the nature of my
Invention; but I claim as my Invention of improvements in breech-loading
fire-arms in which the breech end is opened for charging and closed for
discharge by means of a block hinged to the breech end of the barrel,―
Firstly, working the sliding bolt by which the hinged block is fastened in its
place by means of a rack and pinion as herein-before described and illustrated
in the accompanying Drawing; also the arrangement of parts described and
illustrated for fixing the sliding bolt in its shot and withdrawn positions, and
for limiting its motion.
Secondly, the construction and arrangement of the spring bolt or stud and
handle by which the sliding bolt is worked for the purpose of preventing the
descent of the cock or hammer and the accidental discharge of the
gun while
the hinged block is unfastened, substantially as herein-before described and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawing.
Thirdly, making in the front or hinged end of the breech block a chamber
or recess for the purpose of receiving and retaining the cylindrical metallic
end or cap of the cartridge as herein-before described and illustrated in the
Drawing; also the arrangement or combination of parts described and illus-
trated in the accompanying Drawing for ejecting the metallic end or cap of
the exploded cartridge from the said chamber or recess on the throwing back
of the hinged breech block.
Fourthly, fixing the lump to which the breech block is hinged partly by
screwing and partly by soft soldering, as herein-before described and illustrated
in the accompanying Drawing.
Lastly, I claim making the metal cap or base of ordinary self-ignition

page_text: cartridges without a rim or flange as herein-before described and illustrated
in the accompanying Drawing; also combining with the metal cap or base of
self-ignition cartridges a case or tube made of linen or other fabric for con-
taining the gunpowder and projectile of the cartridge, as herein-before
described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Johann von der Poppenburg, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Second day of April, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
JOHANN VON DER POPPENBURG. (L.s.)
Witness,
CHARLES HENRY POPP.