IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Harrison of the Strand, and Frederick Beesley
of the Edgware Road all in the County of Middlesex, Gun Makers for an
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS
"3
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Harrison and
Frederick Beesley at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
14th April 1883.
EDWARD HARRISON of the Strand, and FREDERICK BEESLEY of the Edgware
Road, all in the County of Middlesex, Gun Makers "IMPROVEMENTS IN
BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS 23
Our Invention refers to improvements in self cocking Break-down guns whereby
we are enabled to use the power developed in the actions both of opening and
closing the gun for the purpose of cocking either lock by either of those actions as
desired.
To effect these objects we use cam pieces revolving round the joint pin in slots
cut in the action; the said cam pieces actuating in the manner hereinafter
described, sliding rods passing up the body of the action to the lockwork.
We cock a lock by the falling of the barrels, for this purpose we cut a notch
into the cam piece on its under side into which an angle or leg at the front end of
the sliding rod drops, when the barrels drop down, the under part of the barrels
bearing on the flat top side of the cam or the fore part being made to catch the
cam will cause it, the cam, to revolve round the joint pin thrusting the rod from
its under side against the breast of the hammer carrying it to full cock; when the
barrels are closed the cam by engaging the angle piece leg or spur on the front end
of rod will draw it back out of the way of the hammer, when that is falling to
explode the gun
To cock a lock by the closing of the barrels we cut a notch into the upper side
of the cam piece into which the leg or angle of the sliding rod drops; when the

page_text: barrels are closed the cam revolves as in the other case by the pressure of the
barrels on its flat upper edge or side thrusting the rod backwards up the body of
the action against a lever or lifter which in its turn acts against the breast or an
arm of the cock and raising it to full cock; previous to firing the gun the
aforesaid lever or lifter is lifted out of the way of the hammer, by the action of
the safety bolt of the gun, or automatically by sliding up an inclined plane, or in
other convenient ways; when the gun has been discharged and is again opened
the cam will be carried round and engaging the leg of the sliding rod will draw
that as well as the lifter or lever forwards when the latter will drop by the action
of a spring in front of the breast or arm of cock ready to raise it on again closing
the gun.
The arrangements before described may be reversed or either arrangement may
be applied to one or both barrels according to-circumstances.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Edward Harrison and Frederick Beesley in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 13th October 1883.
EDWARD HARRISON of the Strand and. FREDERICK BEESLEY of the Edgware
Road all in the County of Middlesex, Gun Makers "IMPROVEMENTS
BREECH LOADING FIRE ARMS."
IN
Our invention refers to improvements in self-cocking break down guns whereby
we are enabled to use the power developed in the actions both of opening and
closing the gun for the purpose of cocking either lock by either of those actions as
desired.
To effect these objects we use cam pieces revolving round the joint pin in
slots cut in the action; the said cam pieces actuating in the manner hereinafter
described; sliding rods passing up the body of the action to the lock work.
We cock a lock by the falling of the barrels; for this purpose we cut a notch
into the cam piece on its underside into which an angle or leg at the front end of
the sliding rod drops, when the barrels drop down, the under part of the barrels
bearing on the flat top side of the cam, or the fore part being made to catch the
cam, will cause it, the cam, to revolve round the joint pin thrusting the rod from
its underside against the breast of the hammer carrying it to full cock, when the
barrels are closed the cam by engaging the angle piece leg or spur on the front end
of rod will draw it back out of the way of the hammer when that is falling
to explode the gun.
To cock a lock by the closing of the barrels we cut a notch into the upper side
of the cam piece into which the leg or angle of the sliding rod drops; when the
barrels are closed the cam revolves as in the other case by the pressure of the
barrels on its flat upper edged side thrusting the rod backwards up the body of the
action against a lever or lifter which in its turn acts against the breast or an arm
of the cock and raising it to full cock; previous to firing the gun the aforesaid
lever or lifter is lifted out of the way of the hammer; by the action of the safety
bolt of the gun; or automatically by sliding up an inclined plane, or in other
convenient ways when the gun has been discharged and is again opened the cam
will be carried round and engaging the leg of the sliding rod will draw that as
well as the lifter or lever forwards, when the latter will drop by the action of the
spring in front of the breast or arm of cock ready to raise it on again closing
the gun.
The arrangements before described may be reversed or either arrangement may
be applied to one or both barrels according to circumstances
In order that our invention may be more fully understood we will now proceed
to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 shows in side elevation partly in section sufficient of a break down
gun and its action in the position of the barrel down and Figure 2 a similar view
with barrels closed in order to illustrate one arrangement of mechanism or
combination of mechanism for carrying our invention into effect or in other words
for cocking a lock according to one of the plans constituting our invention.
A is the breech block to which the barrels B are pivotted in the usual manner
at the point C. D is the plate bearing the lockwork of which E is the tumbler or
cock having on its outer side a projection F for the purpose described hereafter;
G is the bridle piece, H the sear; I the sear spring, J the main spring linked to
the tumbler as usual, K is a cam piece made to revolve in a recess cut in the breech
block round the pivot C which cam along its upper edge bears along the underside

page_text: of the barrels B, and at its bottom edge engages in the manner shown with a rod L
sliding through a hole drilled along the breech block from front to rear; M is the
striker. On the gun being opened for charging the fall of the barrels causes the
cam K to revolve which engaging with the angle piece L' at the front end of
rod L thrusts it backwards through the action when coming into contact with the
projection F on the tumbler or cock E it lifts it back to full cock as shown at
Figure 1 where it is retained by the sear H ready for the discharge of the gun.
On closing the gun after charging, the cam K being caused to revolve in an
opposite direction will withdraw the sliding rod L from before the projecting
piece F on the cock, see Figure 2, and allow the latter to fall with its full force on
the striker M when released by the sear for that purpose; the letters are the same
in each Figure for corresponding parts
Figures 3 and 4 show a partial side section of a break down gun and they
represent the combination of mechanism used according to a modification to cock
a lock. also according to our invention and showing the arrangement in two
positions; the letters describing the different parts are the same as in the previous
Figures up to the letter M where in addition there is N a slide travelling in a groove
cut along the lock plate D which slide carries a lifter O pivotted at the point P
and kept down to its work by a spring S attached at Q. This lifter O and spring S
together with the projecting pin F are shown in the detached perspective view
at Figure 5. T is the horn of the link T¹ connecting the tumbler E and
mainspring J which horn T projects beyond the side of the tumbler under the
lifter O.
In this movement of parts, when the gun is opened for charging, the cam K
engaging with the angle piece L' of the rod L draws it, the rod L forwards, the
rod L in turn engaging with the sliding piece N at the point R see Figures 5
and 6 draws that and the lifting piece O with it until the lifter O actuated by the
spring S drops in front of the projecting piece F on the side of the tumbler E as
shown in Figure 3.
On the gun being closed the barrels actuating the cam K will thrust back the
rod L, the slide N and the lifter O. which lifter O pressing against the projecting
pin F will lift the tumbler or cock back to full cock as shown at Figure 4 when
as tho backward motion is still continued, the projecting horn T of the link T¹
revolving with the tumbler comes in contact with the lifter O and lifts it up out of
the way of the projecting piece F on the tumbler when the cock falls a little
forward, where it is retained by the sear until released from that for the discharge
of the gun (see Figure 4) On opening the gun after discharge, the same move-
ments are repeated.
Figure 6 shows a plan view of the rod L, the slide N with the lifter O pivotted
at P the point R explains the mode of engagement by a transverse slot being cut
across the rod L into which a corresponding piece of the slide N projects
In the arrangement shown at Figures 3 and 4 a projecting solid piece on the
side of the tumbler may be substituted for the horn T of the link T¹ to catch under
the lifter O. Figure 7 shows another mode of removing the lifter O by allowing it
to come in contact with a projecting spur on the forward part of the bridle piece G
as shown at the point V or it may be accomplished by a projecting finger piece V₁
on the lifter O to come in contact with the bridle piece G at the point W as shown
in Figure 8.
Figure 9 shows a modification of the cam arrangement by which on closing the
gun after the point T on the cam has passed the point V2 of the sliding rod, the
latter has a little loose end shake permitting the lifter O to be freely lifted out of
the way of the projecting pin F on the tumbler E by an extraneous arrangement
not shown, such arrangement to be actuated by the locking lever, the safety bolt
or the triggers as may be desired.
In Figures 3.4 and 9 the sliding piece N may be affixed in the breech block
instead of on the lock plate as shown, if desired.
In our drawing we do not show the locking arrangements as they have nothing

page_text: to do with the invention. Neither do we show the fore end iron or wood as the
respective arrangements work from the barrels independent from any assistance
from those parts and the gun may be used without them.
Figure 10 shows in sectional plan the two actions before described applied to one
break down sporting firearm. The action shown and described with reference to
Figures 1 and 2 is shown on the right hand side while the action shown and
described with reference to Figures 3 and 4 is shown on the left hand side of the
firearm but we do not limit ourselves to the sides on which we place the actions,
and in some cases we use one or other of the two arrangements together with
either of the modifications thereof on both sides of the same fire-arm.
Having now described the nature of our said Invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed We declare that we are aware that before the 1st of
January 1883 double barrel firearms which open by the barrels turning down
about a transverse pin or axis, have been provided with mechanism for setting
back to full cock, the hammers or tumblers of the locks at the time when the
gun is being opened, also that such firearms have been provided with mechanism
for setting back the hammera or tumblers at the time when the gun is being
closed, we therefore do not claim the simple employment of one of the former
mechanisms and one of the latter mechanisms in one and the same such fire-arm,
but we do claim.
Firstly-The combination in a lock action as applied to break down fire-arms
of the cam arrangements K with rod Langle piece L' and projecting pin Fair
tumbler, forming the improved mechanism more especially adapted for lifting the
hammer to full cock on opening the gun and withdrawing such mechanism out of
the way of the hammer on closing the gun substantially as described with reference
to Figures 1. 2 and 10 of the accompanying drawings.
Secondly:-The combination in a lock action of break down firearms of the cam
arrangements K rod L with angle piece L³ projecting pin F slide N, lifter O, horn T
together with the several modifications described and all more especially adapted
for the purpose of lifting the hammer to full cock on closing the gun and with-
drawing the same on opening the gun substantially as described with reference to
Figures 8 to 10 of the accompanying drawings and any mere modifications
thereof.
In witness whereof I the said Edward Harrison for myself and on behalf of
the said Frederick Beesley have hereunto set my hand and seal this twelfth
day of October in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty
three,
EDWARD HARRISON (LS,)