IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH LOADING GUNS AND IN AMMUNITION THEREFOR"
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thorsten Nordenfelt of 1 St. Swithin's Lane in the
City of London for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH LOADING
GUNS AND IN AMMUNITION THEREFOR"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thorsten Nordenfelt at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th December 1881.
THORSTEN NORDENFELT of 1 St. Swithins Lane in the City of London.
* IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECHI LOADING GUNS AND IN AMMUNITION THEREFOR"
I employ for closing the breech end of guns a combination of a transverse block
and a direct screw action in the following manner.
A sliding block can be shifted to and fro horizontally along slots formed trans-
versely through the breech end of the gun. A number of grooves are formed along
the upper and under sides of this sliding block; corresponding projections are
formed in the top and bottom of the slot. Through one end of the block a hole is
formed corresponding to the chamber of the gun, and when the block is at one end
of its movement this hole in the block is in a line with the bore, and the projectile
and charge can be inserted-When the block is at the other end of its movement
a breech screw with gas check carried in a recess in the front face of the block is
brought in line with the bore; This breech screw is screwed through the block.
The rear end of the screw has one or more lever arms projecting sideways from it,
by which it can be turned, and when by movement of the sliding block, the plug or
gas check has been brought opposite to the rear end of the bore of the gun, the
plug with the gas check is thrust forward into the chamber by the turning of the
screw and is made to fit tightly in the chamber.
When the breech is to be opened the screw is turned in the opposite direction
and the plug with the gas check is withdraw by the first part of the turn of the
screw and as soon as the plug with the gas check has been withdrawn a toothed
segment on the rear end of the screw comes into gear with a rack on the upper or
under side of the slot in the breech end of the gun, and as the screw is turned
further these teeth shift the block sideways and opens the breech.
This gun can be fired either by means of a fuze inserted through the centre of
the screw or by means of a striker or firing pin inserted through the screw the one
end of which is struck by a hammer, and the other end of which strikes the
percussion cap of a primer which can be inserted into a claw or shoe fixed on the
foremost end of the screw, and which can be charged by hand each time the breech
is opened, when part of the foremost end of the screw protrudes outside the
breech box.

page_text: In order to secure the breech during firing, and to insure that the gun shall not
be fired until the breech has been properly closed and the plug or gas check thrust
into the bore I form the lever arms, by which the screw is turned, of a circular rod
passed through a transverse hole in the screw and capable of turning therein-On
one or both ends of the rod are handles projecting at right angles from it. When
the breech is closed the lever arms are in their final position and the handles are
turned flat against the rear surface of the gun; a hole through the bar forming
the levers then comes in a line with the vent hole formed through the centre of
the breech screw, which on its foremost end carries the gas check, and the friction
tube for firing the gun can be inserted through this hole, but if the handles are not
perfectly flat against the rear face of the gun the hole in the bore will not coincide
with the hole in the screw, and the tube can not be inserted-A projection and a
hook is formed on the lever arm, and a suitable hole in the breech of the gun, or the
breech block for the hook prevents the lever arm from being turned until the
handle is moved away from the rear face of the gun, when this is done and the
arms are started for unscrewing the breech screw, the hook and the projection
slide over a cycloid shaped surface on the rear face of the gun, in this way keeping
the handle in a steady position and preventing it from being turned down until
the gas check is screwed home. Or I gain the same security against insertion of
the friction tube before the breech is perfectly closed if I fix the lever arms firmly
to the breech screw and apply the handle, the hook and the projections on a tube
which can move round the lever arm, this tube should then, at the end where it
approaches the centre line of the gun be provided with a cover which at the
required movement opens and shuts the vent hole.
In case I fire the gun by means of a firing pin and primer, I gain my object of
security against too carly firing, by letting the hammer strike the firing pin
through a groove in such a manner that unless the breech is completely closed this
groove is not opposite the hammer, and the hammer cannot consequently strike the
firing pin until the breech is completely closed, or by fitting the hammer onto the
tube in such a way that it can only hit the firing pin when the hook of the tube is
in the hole in the breech or breech block.
Although this breech action is capable of very quick firing I would not gain as
great rapidity as can be had if I had to load the gun by first inserting the projectile
and then inserting the powder chargo separately into the chamber. I therefore
propose to affix the powder charge to the projectile in order to be able to insert
then both at the same time. To do this I make a tube of stiff paper or of paper
pulp or other similar substance. I push one end of this tube onto the rear end of.
the projectile and tie it on round the projectile by a piece of wire or string and I
push the other end of the tube over the front end of the bag in which the powder
is held, and tie this rear end onto the powder bag in the same manner, with a wire
or string, but I do not allow the tube to reach as far as the rear end of the powder
bag, but leave a portion of the powder bag to reach behind the rear end of the tube.
My object in doing so being that when the shot is fired and the projectile is pushed
out of the front part of the tube there would still be sufficient powder behind the
rear end of the tube to ensure that the powder gas pushes the tube clean out of
the barrel of the gun with the projectile so that no part of it may remain in the
chamber or in the gun to interfere with the next shot. The part of the tube
which covers the portion of the powder bag can be split along its side or sides in
order to make it easier for the powder gas to push the tube out of the barrel.
In making the tube I can make one or more indented rings where I propose to
tie the tube around the projectile and powder with a view to make it hold on
better in moving the cartridges about before loading.
As in all quick firing guns it would be very expensive to train the gunners by
always firing complete cartridges, I therefore propose to make a special practice
cartridge in the following manner :-
For a gun which fires made up cartridges with percussion caps in the metallic
cartridge cases I make a practice cartridge out of brass or other metal which is

page_text: soft enough not to make indents into the powder chamber or barrel, this practice
cartridge would have the same shape as the entire cartridge case and projectilo
together so that the gunners when practising would insert the practice cartridge
and extract it in a similar manner to what would be done in actual firing.
Through
the centre of the practice cartridge I make a hole through which I insert a tube,
at the end of which I make a chamber suitable for the sinal bore metallic
cartridge. When the gunners are to be trained a certain number of these
practice cartridges which are to be used for the training have small bore cartridges
put into the rear end of the hole or tube running through them, the percussion cap
of such small bore cartridges being in the same position where the percussion cap
of a big cartridge would be.
The gunners who are to be trained will then supply cartridges to the gun either
by hand or through feed cases depending upon the construction of the gun in
question and they would go through the entire motions of firing and extracting
these practice cartridges as if they were firing real cartridges.
The diminished expense of training would be that instead of firing each time a
projectile of the full calibre of the bore they would only fire the small bore
cartridge inserted into the practice cartridge and the tube or hole in the practice
cartridge would act as barrel for the bullet of the small bore cartridge.
In this manner a gunner by firing at short ranges against a target or targets,
and by quickly changing aim from one point to another would be almost as well
trained as if he fired full sized projectiles at great expense.
In guns where made up cartridges are not used I would in order to keep as
near the actual work as possible, make a practice cartridge in two parts the first
part of which would be of the same shape as the projectile of the gun in question,
and this first part would then have a hole or tube through it with a chamber for
the small bore cartridge. In fact the part here representing the projectile would
do the same work as the previously described practice cartridge in one piece. The
second part of this divided practice cartridge can be made of wood or other light
material to represent as nearly as convenient the weight of the powder charge;
this second part of the practice cartridge would also have a hole through it, with
a firing needle reaching from end to end with a widened head at the rear.
When the gunner has to be trained with these practice cartridges he would
then go through actually the same movements with the gun as if he were firing a
full size cartridge, he would first open the breech, then he would insert the first
part of the practice cartridge, representing the projectile, and into which a small
bore cartridge had previously been inserted, he would then put into the gun the
second part of the practice cartridge, which would represent the powder charge,
then he would close the breech and if the gun in question, fires with a firing
needle, that firing would strike the widened piece of the firing needle in the second
part of the practice cartridge, which again in its turn would strike the cap of the
small bore cartridge inserted in the first part of the practice cartridge.
Or in case the gun in question is fired with a vent fuze friction tube he would
fire off this vent fuze, the powder gas of which would act against the widened
part of the firing needle in the second part of the practice cartridge.
In case the vent is not at the rear of the gun, but at the side, the widened end
of the firing needle in the second part of the practice cartridge would have to be
at the side of it and the firing pin would have to act by means of a catch and
spiral spring or lever in striking the percussion cap of the small bore cartridge.
After the gun is fired the breech would have again to be opened when the two
parts of the practice cartridge would be pushed out rearwards in washing out the
gun.
•
When the practice firing is done or when the practice cartridge is required to
be reloaded the fired cartridge case of the small bore cartridge would be pushed
out of the practice cartridge by means of a rod provided for this purpose.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Thorsten Nordenfelt in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
17th June 1882.
THORSTEN NORDENFELT of 1 St. Swithins Lane in the City of London
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH LOADING GUNS AND IN AMMUNITION THEREFOR"
I employ for closing the breech end of guns a combination of a transverse block
and a direct screw action in the following manner.
A sliding block can be shifted to and fro horizontally along slots formed transversely
through the breech end of the gun. A number of grooves are formed along the
upper and under sides of this sliding block; corresponding projections are formed
in the top and bottom of the slot. Through one end of the block a hole is formed
corresponding to the chamber of the gun, and when the block is at one end of its
movement this hole in the block is in a line with the bore, and the projectile and
charge can be inserted. When the block is at the other end of its movement a
breech screw with gas check carried in a recess in the front face of the block is
brought in line with the bore. This breech screw is screwed through the block.
The rear end of the screw has one or more lever arms projecting sideways from it,
by which it can be turned, and when by movement of the sliding block the plug
or gas check has been brought opposite to the rear end of the bore of the gun, the
plug with the gas check is thrust forward into the chamber by the turning of the
screw and is made to fit tightly in the chamber.
When the breech is to be opened the screw is turned in the opposite direction
and the plug with the gas check is withdrawn by the first part of the turn of the
screw and as soon as the plug with the gas check has been withdrawn a toothed
segment on the rear end of the screw comes into gear with a rack on the upper or
underside of the slot in the breech end of the gun, and as the screw is turned
further these teeth shift the block sideways and opens the breech.
This gun can be fired either by means of a fuze inserted through the centre of
the screw or by means of a striker or firing pin inserted through the screw the one
end of which is struck by a hammer, and the other end of which strikes the per-
cussion cap of a primer which can be inserted into a claw or shoe fixed on the
foremost end of the screw, and which can be charged by hand each time the
breech is opened, when part of the foremost end of the screw protrudes outside the
breech box.
In order to secure the breech during firing, and to ensure that the gun shall not
be fired until the breech has been properly closed and the plug or gas check thrust
into the bore I form the lever arms, by which the screw is turned, of a circular rod
passed through a transverse hole in the screw and capable of turning therein. On
one or both ends of the rod are handles projecting at right angles from it. When
the breech is closed the lever arms are in their final position and the handles are
turned flat against the rear surface of the gun; a hole through the bar forming the
levers then comes in a line with the vent hole formed through the centre of the
breech screw, which on its foremost end carries the gas check, and the friction tube
for firing the gun can be inserted through this hole, but if the handles are not
perfectly flat against the rear face of the gun the hole in the bore will not coincide
with the hole in the screw, and the tube cannot be inserted. A projection and a
hook is formed on the lever arm, and a suitable hole in the breech of the gun, or
the breech block, for the hook, prevents the lever arm from being turned until the
handle is moved away from the rear face of the gun; when this is done and the
arms are started for unscrewing the breech screw, the hook and the projection slide

page_text: over a cycloide shaped surface on the rear face of the gun, in this way keeping the
handle in a steady position and preventing it from being turned down until the
gas check is screwed home. Or I gain the same security against insertion of
the friction tube before the breech is perfectly closed if I fix the lever arms firmly
to the breech screw and apply the handle, the hook and the projection on a tube
which can move round the lever arm, this tube should then, at the end where it
approaches the centre line of the gun, be provided with a cover which at the
required moment opens and shuts the vent hole.
In case I fire the gun by means of a firing pin and primer I gain my object of
security against too early firing, by letting the hammer strike the firing pin
through a groove in such a manner that unless the breech is completely closed this
groove is not opposite the hammer, and the hammer cannot consequently strike
the firing pin until the breech is completely closed or by fitting the hammer on to
the tube in such a way that it can only hit the firing pin when the hook of the
tube is in the hole in the breech or breech block.
Although this breech action is capable of very quick firing I would not gain as
great rapidity as can be had if I had to load the gun by first inserting the projectilo
and then inserting the powder charge separately into the chamber. I therefore
propose to affix the powder charge to the projectile in order to be able to insert
them both at the same time. To do this I make a tube of stiff paper or of paper pulp
or other similar substance I push one end of this tube on to the rear end of the
projectile and tie it on round the projectile by a piece of wire or string and I push
the other end of the tube over the front end of the bag in which the powder is
held, and tie this rear end on to the powder bag in the same manner with a wire
or string, but I do not allow. the tube to reach as far as the rear end of the powder
bag, but leave a portion of the powder bag to reach behind the rear end of the
tube My object in doing so being that when the shot is fired and the projectile is
pushed out of the front part of the tube there would still be sufficient powder
behind the rear end of the tube to ensure that the powder gas pushes the tube
clean out of the barrel of the gun with. the projectile, so that no part of it may
remain in the chamber or in the gun to interfere with the next shot. The part of
the tube which covers the portion of the powder bag can be split along its side or
sides in order to make it easier for the powder gas to push the tube out of the
barrel.
In making the tube I can make one or more indented rings where I propose to
tie the tube around the projectile and powder with a view to make it hold on
better in moving the cartridges about before loading.
As in all quick firing guns it would be very expensive to train the gunners by
always firing complete cartridges, I therefore propose to make a special practice
cartridge in the following manner :—
For a gun which fires made up cartridges with percussion caps in the metallic
cartridge cases I make a practice cartridge out of brass or other metal which is soft
enough not to make indents into the powder chamber or barrel, this practice cartridge
would have the same shape as the entire cartridge case and projectile together, so
that the gunners when practising would insert the practice cartridge and extract
it in a similar manner to what would be done in actual firing. Through the centre
of the practice cartridge I make a hole through which I insert a tube, at the end
of which I make a chamber suitable for the small bore metallic cartridge. When
the gunners are to be trained a certain number of these practice cartridge which
are to be used for the training have small bore cartridges put into the rear end of
the hole or tube running through them, the percussion cap of such small bore
cartridges being in the same position where the percussion cap of a big cartridge
would be.
The gunners who are to be trained will then supply cartridges to the either
gun
by band or through feed cases depending upon the construction of the gun in
question, and they would go through the entire motions of firing and extracting
these practice cartridges as if they were firing real cartridges.

page_text: The diminished expense of training would be that instead of firing each time a
projectile of the full calibre of the bore they would only fire the small bore
cartridge inserted into the practice cartridge, and the tube or hole in the practice
cartridge would act as barrel for the bullet of the small bore cartridge.
In this manner a gunner by firing at short ranges against a target or targets, and
by quickly changing aim from one point to another would be almost as well
trained as if he fired full sized, projectiles at great expense.
In guns where made up cartridges are not used I would, in order to keep as
near the actual work as possible, make a practice cartridge in two parts the first
part of which would be of the same shape as the projectile of the gun in question,
and this first part would then have a hole or tube through it with a chamber for
the small bore cartridge. In fact the part here representing the projectile would
do the same work as the previously described practice cartridge in one piece.
The second part of this divided practice cartridge can be made of wood or other
light material to represent as nearly as convenient the weight of the powder
charge; this second part of the practice cartridge would also have a hole through
it, with a firing needle reaching from end to end with a widened head at the rear.
When the gunner has to be trained with these practice cartridges he would
then go through actually the same movements with the gun as if he were firing a
full size cartridge; he would first open the breech, then he would insert the first
part of the practice cartridge, representing the projectile, and into which a small bore
cartridge had previously been inserted; he would then put into the gun the
second part of the practice cartridge, which would represent the powder charge;
then he would-close-the-breech, and-if-the-gun-in-question-fires-with-a-firing-
needle, that firing would strike the widened piece of the firing needle in the second
part of the practice cartridge, which again in its turn would strike the cap of the
small bore cartridge inserted in the first part of the practice cartridge.
Or in case the gun in question is fired with a vent fuze friction tube he would
fire off this vent fuze, the powder gas of which would act against the widened
part of the firing needle in the second part of the practice cartridge.
In case the vent is not at the rear of the gun, but at the side, the widened end
of the firing needle in the second part of the practice cartridge would have to be
at the side of it, and the firing pin would have to act by means of a catch and
spiral spring or lever in striking the percussion cap of the small bore cartridge.
After the gun is fired the breech would have again to be opened when the two
parts of the practice cartridge would be pushed out rearwards in washing out
the gun.
When the practice firing is done or when the practice cartridge is required to be
reloaded the fired cartridge case of the small bore cartridge would be pushed out
of the practice cartridge by means of a rod provided for this purpose.
In order that my said Invention may be most fully understood and readily
carried into effect I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a vertical section of the breech end of a gun constructed according to
my Invention.
Figure 2 is a vertical section on the line A, B, in Figures 3 and 4.
Figure 3 is an horizontal section.
Figure 4 is an end view of the gun as it appears with the breech closed and
Figure 5 is an end view with the breech open.
a, is the breech block, b is the part of the gun which is slotted to receive the
breech block and in which the breech block can slide transversely, c is a screw
passing through the breech block and serving to support the gas check d. This
gas check may be attached to the screw but in these Figures the gas check is

page_text: of a capsule inserted into a chamber at the rear of the breech screw but other
arrangements for firing are shewn in other Figures hereinafter described.
el, cl, are gear teeth formed upon the breech screw, and these in opening the
breach after the screw has been turned partly round (so as to retire it a short
distance from the gas check), come into gear with corresponding teeth 6¹, on the
gun and then the further rotation of the screw causes the breech block to move
laterally. a, is a hole in the breech block which is thus brought to coincide with
the bore of the gun, and this being done the cartridge can be inserted. In opening
and closing the breech the breech screw c, is turned by means of the projecting
bars or arms c, e, and on one of these there is a tube f, carrying a handle f¹,
a hook f2, a hammer f³, and an arm f, in the arm f, there is a socket containing
the firing pin f5, and also inclines f, to extract the capsule case from the chamber
in the screw after firing. The hook f², prevents premature firing of the gun; as it
cannot enter the recess in the breech block until the breech screw is home and
the hammer cannot strike the firing pin except the hook has fully engaged with the
block. In opening the breech after firing the movement of the tubo f, around
the bar e, carries the wedges or inclines 6, under the flanges of the case of the
priming capsule and forces it out until it is able to fall clear away; similarly in
closing the breech the face of the arm f, forces home the fresh priming capsule
which has been placed in the priming chamber.
When after the withdrawal of the hook f, the breech screw is rotated, the
surface fx on the look immediately comes against the surface g, on the gun and
the tube f, cannot turn on the bar or arm e, until the breech is again closed.
g is a spring stop at the end of the surface the hook f comes against it when
the breech is fully opened. When the stop is pressed out of the way the breech
block can be removed from the gun.
The hammer 3 is arranged to be worked by a lanyard.
Figure 6 is a longitudinal section showing another arrangement in respect to
the breech screw. In Figure 6 the gas check is carried upon the end of the
breech screw and the breech screw is perforated to receive a friction tube for firing.
The vent passes through the bar e, and the bar is free to turn in the hole by
which it passes through the breech screw. In order however that it may be
turned to open the vent it is necessary that the hook f, should be brought to the
position in which it can enter the recess prepared to receivo it consequently
premature firing by the friction tube is impossible. Figure 8 is a section showing
the breech screw arranged for firing by means of a primer to be applied to the face
of the screw when the breech is open. cx is a flange provided on the face to
retain this priming. A firing pin passes through the screw and is struck by the
hammer in rear. The dotted lines at f*, represent a shield which may be fixed
upon the tube f, to close the passage through the breech screw except when the
breech is secure; it has a hole through it which at that time only coincides with
the passage through the breech screw.
Figure 9 is a section and Figure 10 is a side view of a cartridge in which the
projectile and the powder bag are connected to admit of their being more readily
inserted together into the breech of the gun. a is the projectile, b is the powder
bag, and c is the connecting tube of paper or like material; it is tied around the
projectile and the powder bag at the points c¹, c. c, c², are slits which may be
formed in the paper, the better to ensure its being completely ejected from the gun.
Figure 11 is a longitudinal section of a dummy cartridge for use in practice
this cartridge is traversed by a barrel like tube a which at its rear end receives a
capsule cartridge 6 of small proportions such as is used for breech loading pistols.
Figures 12 and 13 represent the dummy or practice projectile and powder bag for
use in guns which receive the projectile and the powder bag separately. Figure 12 is
the section of the dummy projectile, a is a barrel like tube passing through it and
charged with the small capsule cartridge b. Figure 13 is the section of the dummy
powder bag, it is provided with a striker c which receiving the blow of the firing pin
of the gun transmits it to the priming of the cartridge b. Or where the gun

page_text: receives a friction tube or capsule primer the gases from the primer will throw the
striker forward and so fire the small cartridge b.
Figure 14 is a longitudinal section of a dummy powder bag of another form,
for use in a gun with a side vent. The striker is provided with a spring d, and
when thrust back is retained by a catch lever e which is connected with a plunger
f working in a cylindrical guide. When the plunger is forced in by the gases
from the primer the striker c is liberated. Figure 15 represents a similar duimmy
powder bag for use with guns having the vent in rear.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention and the manner of
performing the same I would have it understood that in respect to the breech
loading guns herein described I do not claim the traversing breech block and
breech screw, but what I do claim is:
First. The method of securing the breech by the hook, upon the tube f turning
upon the handle bar e substantially as described.
Second. The means for preventing premature firing through the instrumentality
of the tube f turning upon the handle bar e substantially as described.
Third. The ineans for preventing premature firing, by forming the vent through
a handle bar e, which can be turned to bring the passage in it to coincide with the
other parts of the vent passage only when the breech is securely closed substantially
as described.
Fourth. The means for operating the breech block and firing, mechanism of
breech loading guns substantially as herein described.
Fifth. The method of connecting the projectile and powder bag, by means of a
-tube-a-of-paper-or-like-material-substantially-as-represented-in-Figures-9-and-10.
Sixth. The construction of dummy or practice ammunition with barrel like
tubes a receiving small ball cartridges substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I the said Thorsten Nordenfelt have hereunto set my hand
and seal this Fifteenth day of June in the year of our Lord, One thousand
eight hundred and eighty two.