IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS AND IN FIXING BAYONETS TO BREECH LOADING FIRE ARMS
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Westley Richards, of Birmingham, in the County
of Warwick, Gun Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
DNA MA DOG FALDWA
LETTERS PATENT to Westley Richards, of Birmingham, in the County
of Warwick, Gun Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS AND IN FIXING BAYONETS TO BREECH LOADING
FIRE ARMS
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Westley Richards at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 25th October 1870.
I, WESTLEY RICHARDS, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Gun Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS AND IN FIXING BAYONETS
TO BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS," to be as follows:-
My improvements in breech-loading fire-arms relate, firstly, to breech-
loading guns of the kind called drop-block guns, that is, guns in which
the breech block is jointed at its rear end to the frame or body, the said
block descending in the said body to open the breech for loading,
My Invention consists in constructing and arranging the parts of the
said
guns in the following manner :-The hand lever by which the block

page_text: is supported and operated and by which the hammer is cocked is placed
at the front of the trigger guard as usual, but the acting part of the
hammer of the gun is situated immediately behind and is acted upon
directly by the upper part of the said hand lever to cock the hammer.
The striker is made shorter than usual and works in a slot in the front
of the breech block, the hammer acting upon the rear end of the striker
to project it forward for discharging the gun. On the under side of the
striker is an incline, and in one of the curved openings in the block into
which the upper arm of the hand lever takes to depress and raise the
block is a curved or nearly semicircular lever, the said lever being
jointed to the lowest point of the block. The said lever has a very
limited motion in the curved recess of the block and the function of the
said lever is to withdraw the striker from the barrel before the block
commences to descend to open the breech. The semicircular lever in
the block is furnished with a tail piece which passes horizontally across
the middle of the block in which the striker is situated and bears
against the front of the incline on the striker, and the said tail piece by
acting on the said incline withdraws the nose of the striker from the
barrel, or the striker may be withdrawn by a spring.
The action of the parts of the gun is as follows:-When the gun has
been discharged the upper part of the hammer rests against the rear of
the striker, the breast of the hammer also resting against the upper arm
of the hand lever. The lower edge of the tail piece of the semicircular
lever in the block also projects a little below the block and behind the
extreme end of the upper arm of the hand lever. To open the breech
the hand lever is pushed towards the muzzle end of the gun. The first
action of the upper arm of the hand lever is to slightly press back the
hammer by bearing on the breast of the said hammer and withdraw its
upper end from the rear end of the striker. The striker now being
free to move the further motion of the hand lever causes it to press
upon the lower edge of the tail piece of the semicircular lever and
turn the said lever on its joint. The said lever is thereby raised
in the recess in the block and the tail piece acting upon the incline of
the striker presses back the said striker and withdraws its nose from
the barrel. The upper arm of the lever now passes from under the
front end of the block and the block descends in the frame, and by the
'continued motion of the hand lever the said block is carried down and
the breech opened for charging; the hammer is at the same time carried

page_text: down and cocked by the sear engaging with the full-cock bent of the
hammer.
By the arrangement of parts described the hammer is cocked by the
direct action of the hand lever and the nose of the striker is withdrawn
from the barrel preparatory to the opening of the breech by the action
of the said hand lever operating through the semicircular lever in the
block upon the incline of the striker.
My Invention consists, secondly, in making the strikers of breech-
loading fire-arms of a hexagonal or other prismatic figure instead of
cylindrical as usual. By this improvement the bearing surface of the
striker is reduced to a minimum, and clogging and missfire are pre-
vented. I also make the acting end of the striker flat and curved or
inclined in front for the purpose of dispensing with a spring as both the
opening and closing of the barrels or block forces back the striker into
the break-off or body of the gun.
My Invention consists, thirdly, in actuating the strikers of breech-
loading fire-arms discharged by an ordinary external hammer, such as
drop-down guns in the following manner:-The striker is withdrawn by
a spring at the back of the face of the break-off. In an oblique hole in
the body of the gun a driver works, the lower end of the driver being.
oblique and acting against the oblique rear end of the striker.
the descent of the hammer the said driver urges forward the striker
and discharges the gun. On the raising of the hammer the striker.
and driver are restored to their normal positions by the spring described.
On
My Invention consists, fourthly, of the following improvements in
fixing bayonets to breech-loading fire arms. In place of the ordinary
bayonet fastening I form the tang of the bayonet in a line with the
blade or body and forge or fix on the bayonet at the junction of the body
with the tang a ring or socket of a size proper to fit accurately on the
cud of the barrel of the fire-arm. The said ring or socket has a slot in
it, in which slot the fore-sight near the end of the barrel fits. The end
of the tang is provided with a recess into which a projection on the front
of the barrel takes when the bayonet is placed by a sliding motion on
the barrel. A spring fastening engaging with the said projection fixes.
the bayonet in its place. Pressure upon a projecting. button or stud
disengages the fastening and permits of the removal of the bayonet..
Bayonets fixed to fire-arms according to my Invention are more easily
fixed and unfixed than by the use of the ordinary, fastening, and when

page_text: in use are not liable to produce the deflection in the end of the barrel
frequently produced by the use of bayonets fastened in the ordinary
way. The tang of the bayonet may be covered by a handle similar to
a sword handle.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Westley Richards in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 25th April 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WESTLEY
RICHARDS, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Gun Manu-
facturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of October, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the
thirty-fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Westley Richards, Her special
licence, that I, the said Westley Richards, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Westley Richards, 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 FIXING BAYONETS TO BREECH-LOADING
FIRE-ARMS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Westley
Richards, 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 Westley Richards, 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, firstly, to breech-
loading guns of the kind called drop-block guns, that is guns in which

page_text: the breech block is jointed at its rear end to the frame or body, the said -
block descending in the said body to open the breech for loading. The
said improvements are in part based upon those which are described in
the Specification of former Letters Patent granted to me and dated 18th
January A.D. 1870 (No. 144).
This Invention consists in constructing and arranging the parts of
the said breech-loading guns in the following manner:-The hand lever
by which the block is supported and operated, and by which the hammer
is cocked is placed at the front of the trigger guard, but the acting part
of the hammer of the gun is situated immediately behind and is acted
upon directly by the upper part of the said hand lever to cock the
hammer in the manner herein-after more particularly described with
reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying Drawings.
In one modification of my improvements the striker is made shorter
than usual and works in a slot in the front of the breech block, the
hammer acting upon the rear end of the striker to project it forward
for discharging the gun. On the under side of the striker is an incline,
and in one of the curved openings in the block into which the upper
arm of the hand lever takes to depress and raise the block is a curved
or nearly semicircular lever, the said lever being jointed to the lowest
point of the block. The said lever has a very limited motion in the
curved recess of the block, and the function of the said lever is to
withdraw the striker from the barrel before the block commences to
descend to open the breech. The semicircular lever in the block is
furnished with a tail piece which passes horizontally across the middle of
the block in which the striker is situated and bears against the front
of the incline on the striker, and the said tail piece by acting on the
said incline withdraws the nose of the striker from the barrel.
In other modifications of my improvements the striker may be with-
drawn by a spring, or a striker with a curved nose may be used so
arranged as to dispense with a spring.
The action of the parts of the gun is as follows:-When the gun
has been discharged the upper part of the hammer rests against the
rear of the striker, and the breast of the hammer rests against the upper
arm of the hand lever. When the semicircular lever above mentioned
is used the lower edge of the tail piece of the semicircular lever projects
a little below the block and behind the extreme end of the upper arm
of the hand lever. To open the breech the hand lever is pushed towards

page_text: the muzzle end of the gun. The first action of the upper arm of the
hand lever is to slightly press back the hammer by bearing on the
breast of the said hammer and withdrawing its upper end from the rear
end of the striker. The striker now being free to move the further
motion of the hand lever causes it to press upon the lower edge of the
tail piece of the semicircular lever and turn the said lever on its joint.
The said lever is thereby raised in the recess in the block, and the tail
piece acting upon the incline of the striker presses back the said striker
and withdraws its nose from the barrel. The upper arm of the lever
now passes from under the front end of the block and the block descends
in the frame, and by the continued motion of the hand lever the said
block is carried down and the breech opened for charging, the hammer
is at the same time carried down and cocked by the sear engaging with
the full-cock bent of the hammer.
By the arrangement of parts described the hammer is cocked by the
direct action of the hand lever and the nose of the striker is withdrawn
from the barrel preparatory to the opening of the breech by the action
of the said hand lever operating through the semicircular lever upon
the incline of the striker.
In the other modifications above referred to the striker may be with-
drawn by an ordinary spring or where the striker with a curved nose is
employed the depression of the block carrying the striker causes the
lower surface of the curved nose to press upon the lower side of the
cavity indented in the cap or base of the cartridge by the blow of the
striker, and the action of the incline so brought into operation causes
the striker to recede. This is the form of striker which I have previously
used in my shot guns.
This Invention further consists in making the strikers of breech-
loading fire-arms, including sporting guns made on the drop-down
principle, of a hexagonal or other prismatic figure instead of cylindrical
as usual. By this improvement the bearing surface of the striker is
reduced to a minimum, and clogging and missfire are prevented. The
acting end of the striker may be made flat and curved or inclined in
front for the purpose of dispensing with a spring in the manner herein-
before described, as both the opening and closing of the barrels or block
forces back the striker into the break-off or body of the gun.
This Invention further consists of the following improvements in
fixing bayonets to breech-loading fire-arms:-In place of the ordinary

page_text: bayonet fastening I form the tang of the bayonet in a line with the blade
or body, and forge or fix on the bayonet at the junction of the body
with the tang a ring or socket of a size proper to fit accurately on the
end of the barrel of the fire-arm, the tang besides being used as a
fastening is made to serve as a handle or hilt by covering it with wood
or other suitable material. The said ring or socket may have a slot in
it, in which slot the fore-sight near the end of the barrel fits. The end
of the tang is provided with a recess into which a projection on the front
of the barrel takes when the bayonet is placed by a sliding motion on
the barrel. A spring fastening engaging with the said projection fixes
the bayonet in its place. Pressure upon a projecting button or stud
disengages the fastening and permits of the removal of the bayonet.
Bayonets fixed to fire-arms according to my Invention are more easily
fixed and unfixed than by the use of the ordinary fastening and when
in use are not liable to produce the deflection in the end of the barrel
frequently produced by the use of bayonets fastened in the ordinary
way. The tang of the bayonet may be covered by a handle similar to
a sword handle or hilt.
Having explained the nature of my Invention. I will proceed to
describe with reference to the accompanying Drawings the manner in
which the same is to be performed.
Figures 1 and 2 represent the breech end of a drop-block gun the
parts of which are constructed and combined according to my Invention.
Figure 1 representing a longitudinal section of the gun, the parts being
in the positions which they respectively occupy after the gun has been
discharged, and Figure 2 representing the same when the hammer has
been raised to full-cock preparatory to the discharge of the gun. The
same letters of reference indicate the same parts in Figures 1 and 2.
a is the barrel; the body or frame to which the drop block c is
jointed at c²; d, d², is the hand lever turning on the centre d³ for
supporting and operating the drop, block c and for cocking the hammer é,
the said hammer being situated immediately behind the upper part of
the lever d, d². The axis e on which the hammer e turns is forged solid
or in one piece with the hammer. h is the main spring of the hammer
the hooked end of which acts upon the hammer in the manner repre-
sented. I prefer to employ a mainspring of the ordinary kind connected
to the hammer by a swivel, as shown in Figure 2, instead of the main-
spring shown in Figure 1. A small lever pressed upon by the spring g

page_text: tends to hold the hand lever d, d², either in the position which it occupies
when the breech is open or that which it occupies when the breech is
closed. In the front end of the block c is a curved opening c into which
the upper arm d² of the hand lever takes to depress and raise the said
block; i is the sear for engaging with the bents in the hammer e; & is
the sear spring; is the trigger turning by preference on the same
centre as the sear i. The lock mechanism, that is, the hammer e, e²,
mainspring h, sear and sear spring i, 2, and trigger are made upon or
carried by the trigger guard and the tang of the said trigger guard, so
that the removal of the trigger guard 7 detaches the whole mechanism
of the lock from the body of the gun. is the striker working in the
tubular part, which part is screwed into a hole made in the front end
of the drop-block c. The hammer e acts upon the rear end of the
striker to project the latter forward for discharging the gun. The
nose of the striker is flat vertically and bevilled on its upper and
lower sides for the purpose of withdrawing the striker into the block c on
the rising or falling of the block to close or open the breech of the gun.
A spring is thereby dispensed with. Or the striker may be withdrawn
into the block by a spring or by the use of the semicircular lever in the
block herein-before described.
The action of the gun is as follows:-After the discharge of the gun
the parts occupy the positions represented in Figure 1. To open the
breech for the introduction of a fresh cartridge into the barrel the hand
lever d, d, is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow. The first
action of the upper arm d² of the hand lever is to slightly press back the
hammer e by bearing on the breast of the said hammer and withdraw its
front upper end from the rear end of the striker . The continued motion
of the hand lever causes its arm d² to pass from under the front end of
the block c and enter the curved recess c² in the said block. The block
now descends into the frame or body b, the striker being withdrawn
into the block by its bevilled nose striking against the cartridge, and
by the continued motion of the hand lever d, d², the said block is carried
down and the barrel opened for charging. The hammer e is at the same
time depressed and cocked by the sear i engaging with the full-cock bent
in the said hammer, as represented in Figure 2. On bringing the hand
lever d, d³, into the position represented in Figure 2 after the introduction
of a fresh cartridge into the barrel the block is lifted and supported by
the hand lever so as to close the breech, the cocked hammer being left

page_text: behind. The gun is now ready for discharge. By pressing the trigger i
the sear is released from the bent of the hammer e, and the said
hammer falls, and driving forward the striker & discharges the gun.
Figures 3 and 4 represent longitudinal sections of the body of a drop-
down gun, containing strikers constructed according to my Invention,
and Figures 5 and 6 represent the strikers detached.
The object of this part of my Invention is to diminish the friction of
the strikers and to prevent their clogging and consequent missfire.
According to my Invention I make the body of the striker g of an
angular or prismatic figure in cross section. The said striker works in
the opening in the break-off, those parts only of the striker at the
junctions of the planes of which the striker is made up bearing against
the sides of the said opening. The nose or acting part of the striker,
Figures 3 and 5, is reduced in thickness or flattened and is bevilled at
top and bottom for the purpose of enabling it to be pushed back into
the break-off, when the barrel is lifted for opening the breech, a spring
is thereby rendered unnecessary. Or the prismatic striker may be with-
drawn into the break-off by means of the spring m, as represented in
Figure 4. In this case the acting end 7 of the striker has the cylin-
drical figure represented in Figure 6. The striker is introduced into
the opening in the break-off from the front of the break-off, the front of
the said opening being closed and the striker retained in its place by the
plate n fixed by the screw p.
This part of my Invention is applicable to strikers for various kinds
of breech-loading fire-arms. By making the striker of a prismatic
figure it bears only at a few points in the opening in which it works,
the friction is thereby diminished and the risk of clogging and missing
fire wholly obviated.
Figure 7 represents in plan, Figure 8 in side elevation Figure 9 in
longitudinal section, and Figure 10 in cross section a bayonet fixed to
the barrel of a breech-loading gun according to my Invention; Figure 11.
represents a plan of the under side of the fastening end of the bayonet;
and Figure 12 is a side and front elevation of the fastening bolt of the
bayonet.
a is the end of the barrel; b is the body or blade of the bayonet; c
is the tang of the bayonet, situated in a line with the body or blade b.
At the junction of the body b with the tang c of the bayonet is a ring

page_text: The rear
or socket d, which fits accurately on the end of the barrel a.
end of the tang c is provided with a T-shaped recess e, and the side of
the barrel is provided with a projection of a corresponding shape (see
Figure 11). The said projection f is made on the band g. In the
tang c of the bayonet is a spring catch fastening h, h², the bolt / of the
said catch or fastening crossing the slot e in the tang c. A portion of
the said bolt h is cut away at 7³ (see Figure 12) to permit of the
passage of the projection f on the barrel into the slot e of the bayonet
tang c. The tang c of the bayonet is covered by a handle. In order
to fix the bayonet 6 on the barrel a, the said bayonet is placed by a
sliding motion on the barrel, its T-shaped slot e being engaged with
the T-shaped projection on the barrel, and the ring or socket & on the
bayonet fitting upon the end of the barrel. As the tang c is placed
upon the projection f, the said projection acting against the tooth part
7 of the spring fastening bolt ŉ lifts the said bolt, and when the bayonet
has arrived at its place on the barrel, the tooth part of the bolt drops
behind the wide part of the projection f, as indicated in dotted lines in
Figure 10, and thereby securely fastens the bayonet to the barrel. By
pressing upon the projecting end of the fastening bolt the tooth part
of the said bolt is lifted from behind the projection fand the bayonet
by a sliding motion may be removed from the barrel.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I claim as my Invention,―
First. The combination of parts forming the breech-loading action,
constructed as herein-before described and shown in Figures 1 and 2 of
the Drawings.
Secondly. The arrangement and combination of the hand lever d, d²,
and hammer e substantially as described and illustrated in Figures 1
and 2, the said hammer turning upon a different axis from that on which
the hand lever turns, and being cocked by the direct action of the said
hand lever.
Thirdly. Constructing strikers for breech-loading fire-arms as herein-
before described and illustrated in Figures 3, 4, 5, and 6 of the accom-
panying Drawings, that is to say, making the said strikers of an angular
or prismatic figure in section, whereby friction is diminished and the
tendency to clogging and missfire is obviated.
Fourthly. The improved construction of bayonet constructed as herein
described and represented in Figures 7 to 12, both inclusive, of the

page_text: accompanying Drawings, in such manner as to enable the said bayonets
to be fixed more safely and efficiently than heretofore.
In witness whereof, I, the said Westley Richards, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of April, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
one.
Witness,
H. H. MURDOCH,
7, Staple Inn,
W.C.
WESTLEY RICHARDS. (L.S.)·