A New or Improved Breech Action for Fire Arms.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Sept., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 21st June, 1892-Accepted 10th Sept., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Breech Action for Fire Arms.
I, RICHARD MORRIS, of Bennett Park, Blackheath, in the County of Kent,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to a breech action for fire arms, which is of the following
description.
In a recess behind the breech of the arm I pivot on a horizontal axis a block in
which is pivotted a second block or bolt which by means of a projecting handle
It has à
can be turned partly round and can also be raised out of the recess.
screw thread cut on its exterior fitting a screw thread formed in the lower part of
the recess, and on its two sides the threads are flattened off.
When this bolt is raised out of the recess a cartridge can be introduced into the
breech, the bolt then being pushed down into the recess and partly turned, becomes
screwed forward so that its front end is close against the base of the cartridge and
is engaged in the mouth of the breech, in which position it forms an effectual
closure of the breech during the firing of the charge. The firing may be effected
by means of a spring striker within the bolt acting on a cap in the cartridge or by
means of an electrical conductor within the bolt acting on a fuse in the cartridge.
The striker is so arranged that it cannot be urged forward by the spring unless the
bolt is in the safe position, and in like manner the electrical conductor cannot
convey a current unless, by the turning of the bolt to the proper position, two
contacts are brought together.
Dated this 22nd day of Sentember 1891
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Breech Action for Fire Arms.
I, SARAH RACHEL MORRIS Executrix of Richard Morris, deceased, of Bennett
Park, Blackheath, in the County of Kent, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to a breech action for fire arms which is constructed and
arranged as I shall describe referring to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section, Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line X X of
Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a plan of a breech action according to my invention.
Fig. 4 is part plan shewing the striker cocked and
Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line Z Z of Fig. 3 shewing the contact made
for firing by electricity.
In a recess behind the breech A of the fire arm I pivot on a horizontal axis B¹
a block B' in which is pivotted a second block or bolt B which, by means of a
projecting handle H can be turned partly round and can also be turned on the
pivot B' so as to be raised out of the recess. The bolt B has a screw thread cut
on its exterior fitting an internal screw thread formed in the recess, and on the two
sides of the bolt the screw threads are flattened off. When the bolt B is raised
out of the recess the shell of a fired cartridge can be extracted by hand and a
fresh cartridge can be introduced into the breech A; the bolt, being then pushed
down into the recess and partly turned, becomes screwed forward so that its front
end is close against the base of the cartridge and is engaged in the mouth of the
Pain Q1

page_text: breech, in which position it effectually closes the breech during the firing of the
charge. The firing may be effected by means of a spring striker S within the bolt
acting on a cap of the cartridge, this striker being so arranged and operated that it
cannot be urged forward by the spring unless the bolt B is in the safe position,
down in the recess and screwed forward to close the breech. For this purpose,
there is fitted in the striker S a spring plunger the lower part P of which is
cylindrical, the upper part P¹ being narrower with flat sides so that it can slide
along a slot in the upper side of the bolt B, but the lower part P of the plunger
cannot rise until it is drawn back to a part of the slot at P3 which is widened out
circularly to give passage upwards to the cylindrical part P of the plunger. By
means of the lever L, the striker S is pushed back straining its spring, and as soon
as the plunger P reaches the hole at P2 it springs up thus holding the striker on
cock. In order to fire the charge, a wedge W is pushed in through slots in two
upwardly projecting ears W₁ and this wedge forces down the plunger P but holds
its head part P¹ so that it cannot move forward; but on pulling out the wedge W
by a lanyard attached to its eye, the striker is released and is propelled forward by
its spring so as to fire the percussion cap in the cartridge. When the firing is to
be effected by electricity, one conductor C is attached to a spring D fixed to the
breech stock with insulating material I interposed and insulating washers I' sur-
rounding the fixing screws, the other conductor being attached to any part of the
metal of the gun.
A stud E projecting from the striker S makes contact with D
only when the bolt B is moved by the handle H into the safe position. An
electrical current being then transmitted is conveyed through the striker to an
electric fuse in the cartridge.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A breech action for fire arms consisting of a breech bolt made with part
screw threads, and pivotted so as to be partly turned and to be raised out of their
breech recess, in combination with a spring striker and its cocking mechanism,
substantially as described.
2. In combination with the breech bolt and striker above referred to a stud on
the striker arranged to make electrical contact with an insulated spring, substan-
tially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 21st day of June 1892.
ABEL & IMKAY,
Agents for the Applicant.