In- PROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS AND CARTRIDGES
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Engineer and Patent Agent, for the Invention of "In-
PROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS AND CARTRIDGES."-A communi-
cation from abroad by Martial Pidault and Guillaume Elièze, otherwise
Lagrèze, Gunmakers, and Jules Félix Gévelot, Manufacturer, all of
29. Boulevart St. Martin, Paris.
Sealed the 30th April 1867, and dated the 10th November 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Clark at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
10th November 1866.
I, WILLIAM CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS AND CARTRIDGES," to be
as follows:-
This Invention relates, first, to improvements in breech-loading fire-arms,
with a view to render them at once simple in construction and easy of action,
even to those unpractised in their use. Contrary to the usual practice I
make the breech chamber to move backwards in a line with the barrel to
afford room for the introduction of the cartridge, which backward motion
cocks the hammer, and at the same time holds it in such position as to
prevent its falling accidentally before the cartridge is properly placed in
position in the breech chamber. The rectilinear movement of the breech

page_text: chamber is produced by a lever disposed at the side of the stock, and inside
the said chamber is fitted a socket constituting an abutting surface for the
cartridge, which socket is a fixture and serves to extract the cartridge case
after firing; the socket is further bored at its centre to receive a pin or stem
which is movable with the breech chamber, and terminates at one end in a
point serving as a striker for igniting the central cap of the cartridge; the
other end of this stem acts on the hammer in order to cock it and hold it in
such position as above mentioned. The different parts of the arm are so
combined as to enable muzzle-loaders to be converted on this system into
breech-loaders, it being only necessary to cut away the rear end of the barrel
and fit the breech piece thereto. The cartridge which has what is termed a
central fire, is made so as to prevent any escape of gas, the cap or priming
being placed at the centre of a wad of compressed pasteboard, and then
covered with a metal cap enclosing. the whole of the end of the cartridge.
This Invention is illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, Figure 1 of
which shows aside elevation of a gun with the improvements applied;
Figure 2, a plan of the same; Figure 3, a longitudinal section with the breech
chamber slid backwards, and with the hammer cocked and retained in position
by the central pin or stem; Figure 4 shows a similar section to the foregoing
with the breech closed; lastly, Figure 5 shows a transverse section on
the line 1, 2, Figure 3. The same letters serve for all the Figures.
The barrel C of the military or other fire-arm is fixed to the stock in the
ordinary way, its rear end being provided with a projection c taking in the
part B of the breech to which the whole action is fitted; by this means the
barrel may be dismounted with the greatest facility for the purpose of cleaning
after firing a great number of rounds. The short tube c¹ in the rear end of the
barrel serves to make a tight joint between it and the breech chamber, and
may be readily renewed when worn out. The breech B is hollowed out, as
shown in Figure 5, to receive the cylindrical breech chamber A which slides
on a socket D fixed to the breech lump b. The breech B is also provided
with a lateral extension 6 to receive a screw v, forming the axis of a hand
lever E disposed on the side of the stock, as seen in the several Figures; a
groover on the inside of this lever receives a pin or stud a fixed in the
sliding breech piecé; the groove r being an arc of a circle, by raising the
lever E in the direction of the arrow from the position shown in Figure 3 it
will turn on the screw pivot v carrying forward with it the breech chamber A,
it being guided throughout its traversé in a rectilinear direction by the fixed
socket D. The hammer G works in a slot made in the tail piece g of the
breech, and is provided with detents a, a, for cocking and half-cocking, as

page_text: usual; the hammer may also be cocked at pleasure in the ordinary way
without the aid of the sliding stem. The spring R serves to produce the fall
of the hammer on firing, while the spring R¹ disposed below it holds the
hammer at half-cock; the end of this spring forms a kind of inclined plane on
which the end of the trigger H bears, the latter being mounted in a trigger
plate as usual. Within the socket D is placed a stem K which slides with
the breech chamber A, for this purpose the socket D is grooved longitudinally
at d to permit of the passage of a screw taking in the breech chamber A
and moving with it. The head of this screw slides in a longitudinal groove
forming a guide made in the bottom part of the breech B; this screw also
enters a longitudinal slot k¹ serving to limit the motion of the striker rod.
The front end of the stem K terminates in a pin or striker m for exploding
the cartridge when the socket D is in the position represented in Figure 3,
the stem K being slid backwards with the breech chamber A not only cocks
the hammer G by pressing it back but also holds it fixed in such position, the
nose or striker m being at this time drawn back to the end of the socket.
After introducing the cartridge as shown in Figure 3, the lever E is raised in
the direction of the arrow, sliding forward the breech chamber A so as to
enclose the cartridge as shown in Figure 4; the concave ends of the socket
and chamber are intended to give a constant central tendency to the cartridge
whatever may be its position when inserted. The stem K is then again
pushed forward so as to bring the striker or nose m flush with the front end of
the central socket D, its rear end projecting a little beyond the breech lump 6,
in which position the screw is at the forward end of the slot k¹ in the
stem K. By pulling the trigger H the spring and sear combined, R¹, is
depressed, thereby releasing the cock, which by the aid of the spring R. is
caused to strike the end. of the stem K, and slightly drive it forward, so as to
bring the nose or striker m in forcible contact with the cap in the cartridge
and so ignite the powder. The whole of the pressure developed by the
explosion is received by the fixed socket D and breech lump 6, while the outer
sliding chamber A has only to resist the lateral pressure at the periphery of
the cartridge.
The Invention further relates to improved cartridges for use with such fire-
arms. The cartridge is composed of a pasteboard case n, having at the rear
end a wad o of firmly compressed pasteboard, in which is inserted a kind of
bridge piece p, on the nose of this is placed the cap or priming q; à metal
cap eucloses the whole, and thus prevents all escape of gas, which is also
further insured through the percussive action being produced at the centre of
the cartridge. The cylindrical part of the ball or projectile being of rather

page_text: larger diameter than the tube c¹ produces in passing through a slight
expansion of the latter, which renders the junction of the parts c³ and A
completely gas-tight.
I would observe that although these improvements are here represented as
applied to a single military fire-arm they are equally applicable to sporting
and other guns of any bore or dimensions, and whether single, double, or
repeating.
The chief features of the Invention are, 1st, the method of sliding back the
breech chamber in a line with the barrel; 2ndly, the fixed socket, on which is
fitted the sliding chamber, and serving to close the breech end of the barrel;
3rdly, the arrangement of the central stem provided with a striker for
exploding the cartridge, as also its application for cocking the hammer, and
retaining it in such position during the loading by sliding it back with the
breech chamber; 4thly, its adaptability for converting muzzle-loading guns to
breech-loaders, the mechanism described answering completely the conditions
required; 5thly, the peculiar arrangement of the trigger action; 6thly, the
improved construction of cartridge herein-before described.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 9th
May 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
CLARK, of 58, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer and
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of November, 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, the said
William Clark, Her special licence that I, the said William Clark, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Clark, 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 CARTRIDGES," a communication to me from abroad by Martial Pidault and
Guillaume Elièze, otherwise Lagrèze, Gunmakers, and Jules Félix Gévelot,

page_text: Manufacturer, all of 29, Boulevart St. Martin, Paris, upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said William Clark, my executors or adminis-
trators, 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 the said William Clark, 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, reference being had to the five Sheets of
Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked. thereon
(that is to say):
==
This Invention relates, first, to improvements in breech-loading fire-arms,
with a view to render them at once simple in construction and easy of action,
even to those unpractised in their use. Contrary to the usual practice I make
the breech chamber to move backwards in a line with the barrel to afford
room for the introduction of the cartridge, which backward motion cocks the
hammer and at the same time holds it in such position as to prevent its
falling accidentally before the cartridge is properly placed in position in the
breech chamber. The rectilinear movement of the breech chamber is
produced by a lever disposed at the side of the stock, and inside. the. said
chamber is fitted a socket constituting an abutting surface for the cartridge,
which socket is a fixture, and serves to extract the cartridge case after firing;
the socket is further bored at its centre to receive a pin or stem, which is
movable with the breech chamber, and terminates at one end in a
point,
serving, as a striker for igniting the central cap of the cartridge, the other end
of this stem acts on the hammer in order to cock it and hold it in such
position as above mentioned. The different parts of the arm are so combined
as to enable muzzle-loaders to be converted on this system into breech-loaders,
it being only necessary to cut away the rear end of the barrel and fit the
breech-piece thereto. The cartridge which has what is termed a central-fire,
is made so as to prevent any escape of gas, the cap or priming being placed
at the centre of a wad of compressed pasteboard, and then covered with a
metal cap enclosing the whole of the end of the cartridge.
This Invention is illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, Figure 1 of
which shows a side elevation of a gun with the improvements applied;
Figure 2, a plan of the same; Figure 3 a longitudinal section with the

page_text: breech chamber slid backwards, with the hammer cocked and held in that
position by the central pin or stem; Figure 4 shows a similar section of the
foregoing with the breech closed; lastly, Figure 5 shows a transverse section
on the line 1, 2, Figure 3. The same letters serve for all the Figures. The
barrel C of the military or other fire-arm is fixed to the stock in the ordinary
way, its rear end being provided with a projection c, taking in the part B of
the breech to which the whole action is fitted. By this means the barrel may
be dismounted with the greatest facility for the purpose of cleaning....The.
short tube c¹ in the rear end of the barrel serves to make a tight joint
between it and the breech chamber, and may be readily renewed when worn
out. The breech B is hollowed out, as shown in Figure 5, to receive the
cylindrical sliding breech chamber A, which slides on a socket D fixed to the
breech lump. b. The breech B is also provided with a lateral extension 6 to
receive a screw v forming the axis of a hand lever E disposed on the side of:
the stock, as seen in the several Figures; a groover on the inside of this 'lever
receives & pin or stud a, fixed in the sliding breech piece, the groove'r being.
an are of a circle; by raising the lever E in the direction of the arrow, and
from the position shown in Figure 8, it will turn on the screw pivot, carrying
forward with it the breech chamber A, being guided throughout its traverse
in a rectilinear direction by the fixed socket D. The hammer G works in a
slot made in the tail piece 9 of the breech, and is provided with detents x, x²,
for cocking and half cocking, the hammer may also be cocked at pleasure in
the ordinary way without the aid of the sliding stem. The spring R serves to
produce the fall of the hammer on firing, while the spring R¹ disposed below
it, holds the hammer at half cock, the end of this spring forms a kind of inclined
plane on which the end of the trigger H bears, the latter being mounted on a
trigger plate as usual. Within the socket D is placed a stem K, which slides
with the breech chamber A, for this purpose the socket D is grooved longi-
tudinally at d to permit of the passage of a screw 7 taking in the breech
chamber A and moving with it. The head of this screw slides in a longitudinal
groove, forming a guide made in the bottom part of the breech B; this screw
also enters a longitudinal slot k', serving to limit the motion of the striker rod.
The front edge of the stem K terminates in a pin or striker m, for exploding
the cartridge; when the socket D is in the position represented in Figure 3
the stem K being slid backwards with the movable breech chamber A, not
only cocks the hammer G by pressing it back, but also holds it in such
position, the nose or striker m being at this time drawn back to the end of the
socket. After introducing the cartridge, as shown in Figure 3, the lever E is
raised in the direction of the arrow, sliding forward the breech chamber A, so

page_text: as to enclose the cartridge, as shown in Figure 4; the concave ends of the
socket and chamber are intended to give a constant central tendency to the
cartridge, whatever may be its position when inserted. The stem K is then
returned so as to bring the striker or nose m flush with the front end of the:
central socket D, its rear end projecting a little beyond the breech lump. b, in
which position the screw is at the forward end of the slot k in the stem K.
By pulling the trigger H the spring and sear R³ combined is depressed,
thereby releasing the cock, which by the aid of the spring R is caused to
strike the end of the stem K and slightly drive it forward, so as to bring the
nose or striker m in forcible contact with the cap in the cartridge and to ignite
the powder. The whole of the pressure developed by the explosion is
received by the fixed socket D and breech lamp b, while the outer sliding.
chamber A has only to resist the lateral pressure at the periphery of the
cartridge.
The Invention further relates to improvements in cartridges for use with
such fire-arms. The cartridge is composed of a pasteboard case n having at
the rear end a wad o of firmly compressed pasteboard, in which is inserted
a kind of bridge piece p, on the nose of this is placed a cap or priming 9,
a metal cap s enclosing the whole and prevents all escape of gas,. which is also
further ensured through the percussive action being produced at the centre
of the cartridge. The cylindrical part of the ball or projectile being of rather.
larger diameter than the tube c¹ produces in passing through a slight expansion
of the latter, which renders the junction of the parts c¹ and A completely
gas-tight.
⚫ Sheet 3 of the Drawings shows some modifications in fire-arms constructed
according to this Invention, Figure 6 is a longitudinal section of the fire-arm.
with the breech chamber or plug drawn back, and the hammer at full cock.
The red lines indicate the closed position of the breech plug. Figure 7 shows
a plan of the same, and Figure 8 a detached view of the trigger and parts
connected with the same. The same letters of reference serve for these three
Figures.
The modifications consist, 1st, in dispensing with the lever mounted on the
right-hand side of the stock for operating the movable breech plug A, and
substituting therefor a lever P placed at the under side of the stock, forming a
trigger guard; this lever turns on a centre p, and is provided with two claws
or arms r, 1¹, between which engages a projection c fixed to the under part
of the sliding part A. The other end of the lever is provided with a bent
lever C turning on a centre e and held in position by a spring K. "The hooked
end f, formed on the part C, holds the lever P in place when the. breech is.

page_text: closed, as shown by the red lines in Figure 6. At the same end of lever P
there is formed a tail piece 9, which bears on the trigger G, and prevents its
being released until the breech is completely closed as shown, this part 9 is
separately shown in Figure 8. This arrangement also enables the breech
plug A to be made uniform above and at the sides, and also of covering in the
opening 9, 9, of the breech either by a part applied thereto or by hollowing
out the breech at 9, 9. In this manner nothing can fall accidentally into
the vacant space between the bottom of the breech F and the part D when
the breech is closed. Thirdly, the lugs h, h, may be carried downwards in
the manner shown at Figure 6 in which are mounted the hammer and trigger..
Fourthly, the striker K at the centre of the part D, instead of being made of
a single piece and receiving the blow direct from the hammer, at the back end,
may be operated by the aid of levers or jointed parts in connection with a
hammer mounted on the side of the fire-arm; this is of a special advantage
for the conversion of existing fire-arms where the lock plate is retained.
Fifthly, the nose i of the hammer which effects contact with the striker may
be rounded in order to lessen the friction between these two parts on the
striker cocking the hammer.
Sheet 4 of the Drawings represents another arrangement of the combined
lever trigger guard shown in Figure 3. Figure 9 is a longitudinal section of
the breech end of a gun fitted with this improved lever guard, and Figure 10
a side view of the same. In this arrangement the lever P instead of having
two claws r, r, between which is received a projection formed on the under
side of the sliding breech piece is jointed in a fork on the same being mounted
on a fixed point p¹ connected by a lever S. This is a simpler arrangement
than the preceding, and has the additional advantage that when the breech
is closed the greater part of the lever is received within the stock of the gun,
as shown by the red lines in Figure 9, the only projecting part being that
'enclosing the trigger.
Sheet 5 shows the mode of converting existing military fire-arms on this
improved principle. Figure 11 is a side view of a converted gun, and
Figure 12 a longitudinal section on line 1, 2, Figure 13 which is a transverse
section of the breech on the line 3, 4, Figure 12. In order to convert a
military fire-arm it is simply necessary to cut a space in the rear end of the
barrel C for the insertion of a fixed metal socket B on which slides the
plug A, the socket B is fixed at the back end by a screw a passing through
the butt and screwing into the trigger plate, a thimble piece c¹ is also fitted
in the breech end of the barrel as before described. D, inner socket screwed
to the breech lump 6; K, striker, the rear end of which is inclined or bevilled

page_text: at K; on the part 6 is also a projection y, on the side in which an inclined
pin z works up and down, terminated by a bevilled end p in contact with the
end k of K. The hammer H mounted on the side of the stock acts on the
pin z driving forward the striker K for discharging the cartridge. The barrel
having the space made therein as above mentioned terminates in a heel
piece c entering a mortise 6' in the breech, to prevent the barrel shifting in
position, it being further secured to the stock by bands as usual. The other
parts of the arm are the same as before described.
The various modifications as above described are entirely independent of
the principle on which this Invention is based, viz., the application of a
moveable breech piece open at both ends, moving parallel to the line of the
barrel in which the fore end is received, the rear end being closed by a fixed
breech taking up the recoil. This latter is of cylindrical form, the movable
breech piece sliding thereon and is also made hollow to receive a striker of
suitable form. The cartridge on being placed in position with the point of
the ball inserted in the thimble piece at the end of the barrel will not be
displaced, the breech closing piece sliding over and covering it, at the same
time slightly raising its rear end to bring it in a line with the barrel. After
the discharge the withdrawal of the breech plug exposes the remains of the
cartridge case, so dispensing with a cartridge extractor; this arrangement
thus enables metal headed cartridges to be used without requiring to displace
the barrel or the use of an extractor. I would observe that although these
improvements are here represented as applied to a single military fire-arm,
they are equally applicable to sporting and other guns of any bore or dimensions,
and whether single, double, or repeating.
Having described the nature of this Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim, as the Invention to be protected by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First, sliding back the breech plug in a line with the barrel in the manner
and as herein-before described.
Secondly, the fixed socket on which is fitted the sliding plug, and serving
to close the breech end of the barrel.
Thirdly, the arrangement of the central stem provided with a striker for
exploding the cartridge, as also its application for cocking the hammer, and
retaining it in such position during the loading by sliding it back with the
breech plug.
Fourthly, its adaptability for converting muzzle-loading guns to breech-
loaders, the mechanism described answering completely the conditions required.
Fifthly, the arrangement of the thumb and guard levers.

page_text: Sixthly, the peculiar construction of the trigger action.
Seventhly, the improved construction of cartridge herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Clark, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventh day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.