IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Stephen Law, of Wolverhampton, in the County of
Stafford, Gun Maker, and Joseph Law, of Wolverhampton, aforesaid,
Gun Maker, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING
FIRE-ARMS."
Sealed the 80th January 1866, and dated the 9th August 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Stephen Law and Joseph
Law at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their Petition,
on the 9th August 1865.
We, STEPHEN LAW, of Wolverhampton, in the County of Stafford, Gun
Maker, and JOSEPH LAW, of Wolverhampton aforesaid, Gun Maker, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-
LOADING FIRE-ARMS," to be as follows:-
Our Invention consists, firstly, of the arrangement or combination of the
parts herein-after described for fastening down and releasing the barrels of
such breech-loading fire-arms as turn in a vertical plane upon a joint on the
fore part of the body, the said fire-arms being commonly called drop-down or
snap guns. We fasten down the barrels of the said guns by means of a bolt
turning upon a centre near the top of the break-off, and having motion in a
vertical plane upon the said centre. The bottom of the lever bolt is enlarged
and forms a catch, the said catch engaging in a recess made in a lump at the
extreme ends of the under side of the breech ends of the barrels. The lever bolt

page_text: is urged forward towards the barrels by means of a spring at the back of the
break-off. When the barrels are shut down the bevilled end of the lump on
the barrels pushes back the bolt so as to permit of the descent of the said
barrels. The barrels having been shut down to their full extent, the bolt is
nrged forward by its spring and the catch snaps into the lump and firmly
holds down the barrels. The lever bolt is released from the lump when the
barrels are to be raised for charging by the raising of the hammer to half-cock
in the following way:-Across the break-off and in front of the lever bolt is a
horizontal axis, one end of which-axis projects from the side of the gun. The
said axis is capable of a motion of partial rotation as well as a slight sliding
motion, the said axis being pressed outwards when at liberty to move by a
spring. That part of the axis which is situated opposite the lever bolt is
partly cut away. When the axis is turned in the manner herein-after ex-
plained, so that the cut-away part is brought opposite the bolt, the said bolt is
urged forward by its spring and enters the said cut-away part. The lower
'end or catch of the bolt is thereby made either to engage with the lump for
fastening down the barrels or is projected into the body of the gun ready to
be forced back by and snap into the lump when the barrels are shut down.
The horizontal axis is partly rotated for the purpose of releasing the barrels
by the following parts:-The projecting end of the axis is provided with a
tooth, and the front of one of the hammers of the gun has also a tooth made
on it. When the gun has been discharged the tooth on the hammer is
situated under that on the horizontal axis. In order to release the barrels
for reloading the hammer is raised to half-cock, in doing which the tooth on
its front lifts the tooth on the axis and gives a partial rotation to the said
axis. This partial rotation of the axis causes the uncut part of the said axis
to press upon the lever bolt and force its lower end or catch out of the lump
on the barrels and permit the said barrels to rise from the face of the break-
off. On the tooth of the horizontal axis escaping from the tooth on the
hammer the said axis returns to its normal position by the pressure of the
bolt, the said bolt re-entering the cut-away part of the axis, its catch being
projected into the body. In order that on the discharge of the gun the tooth
on the bammer may escape that on the axis and pass to the lower side thereof
without giving a partial rotation to the axis the lower face of the tooth on the
hammer is bevilled and the outer edge of the tooth on the axis is also bevilled,
so that on the descent of the haminer to discharge the gun the tooth on the
said hammer acts upon the tooth on the axis and presses the said axis into
the break-off by a sliding motion; and thus permits the tooth of the hammer
:

page_text: to pass, that on thé axis without giving a partial rotation to the said axis.
The tooth on the hammer is then in such a position that on the raising of the
hammer to half-cock it lifts the tooth on the axis and gives to the said axis
the motion necessary to release the barrels for charging, as before explained:
Our Invention consists; secondly, of the following improvements in dis-
charging the cartridges of breech-loading fire-arms by a central-fire action.
Through the face of the break-off a pointed pin or striker works the said pin-
or striker; being pressed into a recess in the break-off by a coiled spring. A
vertical bolt working through the break-off acts upon the striker by means of
its bevilled end bearing against the inclined side of a recess cut in the upper
side of the striker. When on the pulling of the trigger the hammer falls it
strikes on the top of the vertical bolt and causes it to urge forward the pin' or
striker and discharge the cartridge.
Our Invention consists, thirdly, of the following improvements in self-acting
cartridge case extractors for extracting or starting the discharged cartridge
cases from the barrels of drop-down or snap guns. We place the cartridge
case extractor on the under side of and between the barrels, the said cartridge
case extractor consisting of a rod or stem sliding between the barrels having
on its outer end an expanded head or wing-shaped piece. The said expanded
head of the extractor fits into a recess made between the ends of the barrels,
and when' pushed home into the said recess forms part of the circumference
of each of the said barrels and lies' flush with the ends of the barrels. The
said head' has grooves in it corresponding with those in the ends of the barrels,
in which' grooves' the flanges or rims of the cartridge cases enter when placéd
in the barrels. The rod of the extractor slides freely between the barrels,
and' when it' is' pushed outwards the expanded head pushes before it or starts"
the discharged cartridge' cases from the barrels. The said extractor is made
self-acting, that is, is forced outwards on the rising of the barrels; and pushed
home on the shutting down of the barrels in the following manner: In the
lump between the barrels on which the locking bolt acts to fasten down' the
barrels a cranked lever is situated, the said lever turning in a vertical plane:
The arms of the said lever are situated nearly at right angles to one another,
the end of the vertical arm working' against the end of the rod or stem of the
extractor, and the end of the horizontal arm being free and situated opposite'
the inner face of the break-off of the gun. The said free end of the lever'
projects' somewhat' from the end of the lump, in which it works. When 'the'
barrels are raised after the gun has been discharged the projecting free end of
the lever is depressod by striking against the bolt of the gun by which the

page_text: barrels are held down, and the said lever is thus permitted to pass the said
bolt. By the depression of the free end of the lever the opposite end of the
said lever is made to force outwards the head of the extractor and cause the
said head to start or extract the discharged cartridge cases from the barrels.
On shutting down the barrels the free end of the lever in the lump pushes
back the locking bolt to enable it to pass the said bolt, and the head of the
extractor is pushed home into its place between the barrels by coming against
the inner face of the break-off of, the gun. When the barrels are shut down,
the head of the extractor is flush with the end of the barrels and the free end
of the cranked lever is situated below the bolt of the gun ready to strike
against the said bolt when the barrels are raised, and thereby cause the head
of the cartridge extractor to start or extract the cartridge cases, as herein-
before explained.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Stephen Law and Joseph Law in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 7th February 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, STEPHEN
LAW, of Wolverhampton, in the County of Stafford, Gun Maker, and JOSEPH
LAW, of Wolverhampton aforesaid, Gun Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-ninth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the said
Stephen Law and Joseph Law, Her special licence, that we, the said Stephen
Law and Joseph Law, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as we, the said Stephen Law and Joseph Law, our executors, adminis-
trators, 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," upon. the con-
dition (amongst others) that we, the said Stephen Law and Joseph Law, our.
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under our or their
hands and seals, or under the hand and seal of one of us or them, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in

page_text: 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 we, the said Stephen Law and Joseph Law, 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 :-
Our Invention consists, firstly, of the arrangement or combination of parts
herein-after described for fastening down and releasing the barrels of such
breech-loading fire-arms as turn in a vertical plane upon a joint on the fore
part of the body, the said fire-arms being commonly called drop down or snap
guns. We fasten down the barrels of the said guns by means of a bolt
turning upon a centre near the top of the break-off, and having motion in a
vertical plane upon the said centre. The bottom of the lever bolt is enlarged,
and forms a catch, the said catch engaging in a recess made in a lump at the
extreme ends of the under side of the barrels. The lever bolt is urged forward
towards the barrels by means of a spring at the back of the break-off. When
the barrels are shut down the bevilled end of the. lump on the barrels pushes
back the bolt so as to permit of the descent of the said barrels. The barrels
having been shut down to their full extent the bolt is urged forward by its
spring, and the catch snaps into the lump, and firmly holds down the barrels.
The lever bolt is released from the lump when the barrels are to be raised for
charging by the raising of the hammer to half-cock in the following way :-
Across the break-off and in front of the lever bolt is a horizontal axis, one
end of which axis projects from the side of the gun. The said axis is capable
of a motion of partial rotation as well as a slight sliding motion, the said axis
being pressed outwards when at liberty to move by a spring. That part of
the axis which is situated opposite the lever bolt-is partly cut-away. When
the axis is turned in the manner herein-after explained, so that the cut-away
part
is brought opposite the bolt, the said bolt is urged forward by its spring,
and enters the said cut-away part. The lower end or catch of the bolt is
thereby made either to engage with the lump for fastening down the barrels,
or is projected into the body of the gun ready to be forced back by and snap
into the lump when the barrels are shut down.
rotated for the purpose of releasing the barrels
projecting end of the axis is provided with a tooth, and
The horizontal axis is partly
the following parts:-The
the front of one of
the hammers of the gun has also a tooth made on it. When the. gun bas
been discharged the tooth on the hammer is situated under that on the hori-

page_text: zontal axis. In order to release the barrels for re-loading the hammer is
raised to half-cock, in doing which the tooth on its front lifts the tooth on the
axis, and gives a partial rotation to the said axis. This partial rotation
of the axis causes the uncut part of the said axis to press upon the lever
bolt, and force its lower end or catch out of the lump on the barrels, and
permit the said barrels to rise from the face of the break off. On the tooth
of the horizontal axis escaping from the tooth on the hammer the said axis
returns to its normal position by the pressure of the bolt, the said, bolt re-
ëntering the cut away part of the axis, its catch being projected into the
body. In order that on the discharge of the gun the tooth on the hammer
may escape that on the axis, and pass to the lower side thereof without giving
a partial rotation to the axis, the lower face of the tooth on the hammer is
bevilled; and the outer edge of the tooth on the axis is also bevilled, so that
on the descent of the hammer to discharge the gun the tooth on the said
hammer acts: upon the tooth on the axis, and presses the said axis into.the
break-off by a sliding motion, and thus permits the tooth of the hammer to
pass that on the axis without giving a partial rotation to the said axis. The
tooth on the hammer is then in. such a position that on the raising of the
hammer to half-cock it lifts the tooth on the axis, and gives to the said axis
the motion necessary to release the barrels for charging as before explained.
Our Invention consists, secondly, of the following improvements in dis-
charging the cartridges of breech-loading fire-arms by a central-fire action.
Through the face of the break-off a pointed pin or striker works, the said pin
or striker being pressed into a recess in the break-off by a coiled spring. A
vertical bolt working through the break-off acts upon the striker by means of
its bevilled end bearing against the inclined side of a recess cut in the upper
side of the striker. When on the pulling of the trigger the hammer falls, it
strikes on the top of the vertical bolt, and causes it to urge forward the pin
or striker and discharge the cartridge.
Our Invention consists, thirdly, of the following improvements in self-
acting cartridge case extractors for extracting or starting the discharged
cartridge cases from the barrels of drop. down or snap guns. We place the
cartridge case extractor on the under side of and between the barrels, the said
cartridge case extractor consisting of a rod or stem sliding between the barrels,
having on its outer end an expanded head. The said expanded head of the
extractor fits.into a recess made between the ends of the barrels, and when
pushed home into the said recess forms part of the circumference of each of
the said barrels, and lies flush with. the ends of the barrels. The said head

page_text: bas grooves in it corresponding with those in the ends of the barrels, in which
grooves the flanges or rims of the cartridge cases enter when placed in the
barrels. The rod of the extractor slides freely between the barrels, and when
it is pushed outwards the expanded head pushes before it or starts the dis-
charged cartridge cases from the barrels. The said extractor is made self-
acting, that is, is forced outwards on the rising of the barrels, and pushed
home on the shutting down of the barrels in the following way:-In the lump
between the barrels on which the locking bolt acts to fasten down the barrels
a cranked lever is situated, the said lever turning in a vertical plane. The
arms of the said lever are situated nearly at right angles to one another, the
end of the vertical arm working against the end of the rod or stem of the
extractor, and the end of the horizontal arm being free and situated opposite
the inner face of the break-off of the gun. The said free end of the lever pro-
jects somewhat from the end of the lump in which it works, When the
barrels are raised after the gun has been discharged, the projecting free end
of the lever is depressed by striking against the bolt of the gun by which the
barrels are held down, and the said lever is thus. permitted to pass the said
bolt. By the depression of the free end of the lever the opposite end of the said
lever is made to force outwards the head of the extractor, and cause it to start
or extract the discharged cartridge cases from the barrels. On shutting down
the barrels the free end of the lever pushes back the locking bolt to enable it to
pass the said bolt, and the head of the extractor is pushed home into its place
between the barrels by coming against the inner face of the break-off of the
gun. When the barrels are shut down the head of the extractor is flush with
the end of the barrels, and the free end of the cranked lever is situated below
the bolt of the gun ready to strike against the said bolt when the barrels are
raised, and thereby cause the head of the cartridge extractor to start or extract
the cartridge cases, as herein-before explained.
Having explained the nature of our Invention, we will proceed to describe,
O with reference to the accompanying Drawing, the manner in which the same
is to be performed.
Figure 1 represents in side elevation the breech end of a double breech-
loading drop-down gun containing our several improvements; Figure 2 is a
longitudinal vertical section of a portion of the same; and Figure 3 is a cross
section of the same through the line x, Figure 2; the other Figures represent
separate portions of the same, as herein-after explained. The same letters of
reference indicate the same parts in each Figure.
a, a, are the barrels, turning upon the axis 6 in the ordinary way; c is the

page_text: break-off, against the face of which the open breech ends of the barrels a are
held during fire; d is the lever bolt, turning on the centre d³, by which bolt
the barrels are fastened down by its catch or expanded end d³ entering a recess
in the lump e at the under side of the breech ends of the barrels. The said
lever bolt d is pressed towards the barrels a by the spring f. Across the
break-off c, and in front of the lever bolt d, is a horizontal axis g, one end of
which axis projects from the side of the gun, and carries a tooth or crank g³,
one side of which is bevilled, as represented. The axis g is shown separately
in Figure 4. The axis g is capable of a motion of partial rotation as well as
a slight sliding motion, the said axis being pressed outwards when it is at
liberty to move by the coiled springh (see Figure 3). A recess g³ is made in
the axis g, and opposite the bolt d, and when the said axis is turned so that
the said recess or cut-away part g³ is brought opposite the bolt d the latter is
'urged forward by its spring f and enters the said recess or cut-away part.
The catch d' of the bolt can thereby engage with the lump e, and fasten down
the barrels, as represented in Figure 2, or be projected into the body of the
gun when the barrels have been raised. The front of one of the hammers
marked i is provided with a tooth 2, the inner side of which is bevilled, which
tooth can be made to act upon the tooth g³ on the axis 9, and release the
barrels, the said tooth being situated below the tooth on the axis when the
gun has been discharged, as represented in Figure 1. The action of the
mechanism for fastening down and releasing the barrels is as follows:-
The parts of the gun after discharge occupy the respective positions represented
in Figures 1 and 2. In order to release the barrels a for reloading, the
hammer is raised to half-cock, in doing which the tooth on its front lifts
the tooth g on the projecting end of the axis g, and gives a partial rotation
to the said axis. This motion of the axis g causes the uncut part of the said
axis to press upon the lever bolt d, and force its lower end or catch out of
the lump e, and permit the barrels a to rise from the face of the break-off c.
On the tooth on the axis 9 escaping from the tooth 2 on the hammer i, the
said axis 9 returns to the position represented by the pressure of the bolt d,
the said bolt d re-entering the cut away part or recess 9³ in its axis, the
catch ds being projected into the body of the gun. After loading the barrels
a, a, they are shut down, the lever bolt d is thereby pressed back, and its
catch d³ made to snap into the lump e, and fasten down the said barrels. By
now raising the hammer or hammers to full cock the gun may be discharged.
On the fall of the hammer i, to discharge one of the barrels of the gun, the
bevilled inner side of the tooth on the said hammer acts upon the outer

page_text: bevilled side of the tooth g³ on the axis g, and presses the said axis into the
break-off by a sliding motion, and thus permits the tooth on the hammer i
to escape that on the axis g without giving a partial rotation to the said axis.
When the tooth on the hammer has passed to the lower side of that on the
axis, the said axis is pressed outwards by its coiled spring h ready to be acted
upon by the tooth on the hammer when the latter is raised to half-cock, as
herein-before described.
We discharge the central-fire cartridges used with the gun by the central-
fire mechanism best seen in Figure 5, which Figure 5 represents in longi-
tudinal vertical section the break-off and body of the gun, Figures 1 and 2.
k is the pin or striker by which the central-fire cartridges are discharged.
The said pin or striker works in a recess made through the face of the
break-off C, and is pressed into the said recess by the coiled spring . The
base of the pin or striker is enlarged, and has a recess m made in it, one face
of the said recess being bevilled or inclined. n is a vertical bolt (shown
separately in Figure 6) working through the break-off c, its motion being
limited by the pin p. The end of the said bolt is bevilled or inclined. When
the hammer i falls to discharge the gun, a projection 9 (see Figure 1) on its
under side strikes the top of the vertical bolt n; the said bolt is thereby made
to descend in the break-off,, its bevilled end acting against the bevilled side of
the recess m in the pin or striker k, urges forward the said pin or striker,,
which latter discharges the cartridge. When the hammer is lifted from the
vertical bolt n, the pin or striker k is pressed into the recess in which it works,
and the vertical bolt n raised by the coiled spring 1. In order to discharge
central-fire cartridges or ordinary pin cartridges at pleasure by the use of our
improved gun, we prolong the nose of the hammers in the manner represented.
in Figure 1, so that the said nose may act upon the pin of the pin cartridge
when pin cartridges are to be discharged by the gun.
Our improved self-acting cartridge extractor is represented in longitudinal
section in Figure 2, end elevation in Figure 7, plan in Figure 8, and side
elevation in Figure 9. The said cartridge extractor consists of a rod or stem r
sliding freely in a recess between the barrels, the said stem having on its
outer end an expanded head; the said head fits into a recess between
the ends of the barrels (see Figure 2), and when pushed home into the said
recess forms part of the circumference of each of the barrels, and lies flush
therewith. The said head has grooves in it marked s in Figures 7, 8, and 9,
in which grooves the flanges or rims of the cartridge cases enter when placed
in the barrels. In Figure 7 a central-fire cartridge, marked t, is represented
:

page_text: placed in one of the barrels, its rim or flange entering the groove in one side
of the head of the extractor. The sliding motion of the extractor is limited
by the pin u entering a slot in the stem, as represented in Figure 2. In the
lump e, between the barrels, is a cranked lever v, v³, turning in a vertical
plane on the centre v³, the arms of the said lever being situated nearly at right
angles to one another. The arm of the cranked lever v, v³, bears against the
end of the rod r of the extractor, and the end of the other arm vis free, and
projects a little from the lump e in which it works. When the barrels à are
raised after the gun has been discharged, the projecting end of the arm of
the lever strikes against the end d³ of the bolt d (which has been projected
into the body of the gun), and the said arm vis depressed and permitted to pass
the said bolt; the opposite arm of the lever is thereby made to force
outwards the head of the extractor in the manner represented in Figures 8
and 9, and cause the said head to start or extract the discharged cartridge
cases from the barrels. When the barrels are shut down the free end of the
arm of the lever v, v³, pushes back the bolt d' sufficiently far to allow it to
pass the said bolt, and the head of the extractor is pushed home between the
barrels by coming against the face of the break-off, the several parts assuming
the positions represented in Figure 2.
Although we have described and represented our several improvements
combined in one gun; yet they may be used separately. Our improvements in
discharging central fire cartridges and extracting discharged cartridge cases
are applicable to ordinary drop-down guns or to snap guns of various
constructions.
Having now described the nature of our Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, we wish it to be understood that we do
not limit ourselves' to the precise details herein described and illustrated, as
the same may be varied without departing from the nature of our Invention ;
but we' claim as our Invention of improvements in breech-loading fire-arms of
the kind commonly called drop-down or snap'guns,
Firstly, the arrangement or combination of the parts described and repre-
sented' in the accompanying Drawing, for fastening' down and releasing the
barrel's of the said fire-arms.
Secondly, the arrangement or combination of the parts described, and
represented in the accompanying Drawing, for discharging central-fire
cartridges.
Thirdly, the arrangement or combination of the parts described, and illas-
trated in the accompanying Drawing, of self-acting cartridge extractors for

page_text: extracting or starting the exploded cartridge cases from the barrels of the said
fire-arms.
In witness whereof, we, the said Stephen Law and Joseph Law, have
hereunto set our hands and seals, this Third day of February, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
Witness,
GEORGE SHAW.
EPHEN LAW.
JOSEPH LAW.
(L.S.)
(L.S.)