IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING SMALL ARMS
Year: 1883

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Thomas Woodward at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th August 1883,
THOMAS WOODWARD of N° 130 Lozells Road, Aston in the County of Warwick,
Gun Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING SMALL ARMS'
."
The first part of my invention consists of improvements in the lock-mechanism
of self cocking breech-loading Small Arms which are carried out in the following
manner.
The fixed stud or abutinent against which the stand side of the main-spring in
the case of V springs (or end in the case of spiral springs) bears is removed: The
spring would then expand beyond the position it normally occupies when at bearer.
and in order to prevent this I fix a clip on, through or around the main-spring
which allows it to have free play in the ordinary manner, but not beyond.
It will now be found that the tumbler or hammer of the lock can be turned or
pushed back to full-cock on opening the gun, with the greatest ease (by any means
found desirable, according to the style of gun to which this invention is applied)
carrying with it the main spring. On closing the gun a lever or other suitably
formed piece is moved carrying with it or moving a stud or abutment which comes
against the normal stand side or end of the main-spring thereby compressing it.
The gun can then be fired in the usual manner by pulling the trigger. Internal or
external hammers can be used with this part of my invention and the lock
mechanism may be fixed in any part of the gun found most desirable.
This invention will be found very useful, as the main spring being held in a clip
no special tools will be required for removing them thereby doing away with the
greatest difficulty found by amateurs in taking to pieces their gun locks for
cleaning purposes. This part of my invention can be applied to double or single
barreled guns.
The second part of my invention consists of improvements in the lock
mechanism of breech loading hammerless guns and is carried out as follows:-
I use as long and heavy a hammer as the construction of the gun will permit.
The said hammer being pushed back to full cock by any means found desirable
I do not use a main spring but substitute the following arrangement for driving the
hammer forward with sufficient force and speed to discharge the gun by means of
a cap and striker in the usual manner. The hammer when pushed back to its

page_text: fullest extent is held in that position by a spring click or catch. The trigger of
the gun when pulled in the usual manner acts upon the hammer near its centre
either directly or by means of an intervening lever in such a manner as to turn it
round.
When sufficient pressure has been exerted upon the trigger the spring click or
catch rives way allowing the hammer to move forward very rapidly owing to the
sudden impetus it receives, thereby discharging the gun. This part of my
invention can be applied to every description of small-arms with one or more
barrels.
The third part of my invention consists of an improved safety mechanism for
the locks of breech-loading small arms constructed according to Letter's Patent
No 651 Granted to Thomas Woodward AD 1876 to prevent the accidental
discharge of the gun owing to the sear jarring out of the bent or not holding the
hammer properly when raised to full-cock. To carry out this idea I use a spring
in the interior of the gun, which may be fixed to the lock of the gun in such a
manner as found desirable. This spring is fixed at one end the other end being
free to move and having a stud thereon which is so arranged when in its normal
position, as to catch or interc-pt the hammer, in the event of it slipping or jarring
off the bent otherwise than by pulling the trigger in the usual manner.
This
spring has also an arm attached to it, which comes on to the trigger. On pulling
the trigger this arm moves the spring and therewith the stud allowing the
baminer to fall in the usual manner; under any other circumstances...it will..be.
caught by the spring stud thus preventing an accidental discharge.
This invention can be applied to double or single guns one spring being fitted
to each lock.
The fourth-part-of-my-invention consists of an improved bolting or locking
'mechanism for breech loading small arms, with drop down barrels and is carried
out in the following manner. I drill a vertical hole through the false breech of
the gun and also through the extension of the rib.
The hole through the false breech is then tapped with a quick threaded female
screw and male screw fitted therein having au arm on its lower end, and its upper.
end passing through the extension of the rib. This screw is turned round by the
action of the ordinary snap-nction bolt on its lower arm. On being turned round
it runs downwards out of the extension rib owing to the quick thrend thereon
thereby releasing the barrells and allowing them to fall in the usual manner. The
vertical hole instead of being tapped may be left smooth and a rod fitted therein
having an arm on its lower end and a disc shaped piece on its upper end This
disc fits into a T shaped slot in the extension of the rib thereby holding the
barrels in position. On the action-bolt being drawn in the usual manner it turns
round the disc which is cut away that when turned to its fullest extent it allows
the extension of the rib to move out of its slot thereby frering the barrels and
allowing them to fall in the usual manner. Or the upper dise before mentioned
'may be turned round by a projecting arm on the top lever of the gun instead of
by the arm on the lower end of the vertical rod before mentioned which can thus
be dispensed with.