IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH LOADING FIRE-ARMS AND APPLIANCES USED THEREWITH
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
BREECH LOADING FIRE-ARMS AND APPLIANCES USED THEREWITH."
A com-
munication from abroad by Louis Napoleon Valasse, of Paris, France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th January 1881.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH LOADING FIRE-ARMS AND APPLIANCES
USED THEREWITH." [A communication from abroad by Louis Napoleon Valasse,
of Paris, France.]
This Invention relates to improvements in military and sporting guns, applicable
also to pistols and other fire-arms, which improvements have for their object, first,
to prevent grit or dust raised on the march or by the wind, and which may enter
the breech mechanism, from interfering with its working and thereby causing
miss-fires; secondly, to protect the marksman's eyes from the fire in the event of
a cartridge bursting; thirdly, to effect the automatic lubrication of the breech-
mechanism; fourthly, to cause the hammer to rebound to half-cock; fifthly, to
enable the parts of the mechanism to be readily mounted and dismounted.
For convenience the Invention will be described with reference to the
accompanying Drawings, in which Figures 1 and 2 are elevations of opposite
sides of the gun; Figure 3 is a longitudinal section, Figure 4 an upper, and
Figure 6 an under side view of the trigger plate; Figure 5, a detail in section ;
Figure 7 is a longitudinal section of the pivot of the breech locking lever;
Figure 8, an elevation of the hammer, partly in section, to show the oil holes
Figure 9 shows different views of the hammer pivot; Figures 10, 11, 12,
and 13 represent respectively an end view, cross section, a top view, and an
underside view of the piece covering the joint between the vertically sliding breech
block and the barrel; Figures 14 and 15 are an elevation and section of a turn
screw, the handle of which serves as a grease box.
In all the Figures the same letters of reference indicate the same parts.
According to this Invention the hammer, shown separately in Figure 8, is
provided with serrated or roughened surfaces a, between which and the
corresponding faces of the breech case b any grains of sand that may enter are
ground by the movement of the hammer to fine powder, so as not to impede the
action of the mechanism and thereby cause miss-fires. The side faces of the breech
[Price 8d1

page_text: block d are similarly roughened with the same object. These roughened surfaces
may be formed in any suitable way and may be varied in form and direction. The
ground dust is received in a cavity c in the hammer, where it cannot interfere with
the action of the lock; e is the side lever, by which the vertically sliding breech
block d is operated to open and close the breech. The hexagonal pivot 2 of this
lever e carries a lever arm f, which is slotted at the end to receive a pin h on the
block d. When the hammer is down the lever e is locked by the breech block d
bearing upon the hammer, but when the hammer is cocked by depressing levere in
the direction of the arrow, Figure 1, the block is free to be lowered to insert the
cartridge in the barrel j; k is the trigger plate; l, the trigger; m, the sear spring;
n, the main spring, and o, the side lever spring. The joint between the barrel j
and the block d when the latter is raised is completely closed by a plate or
shield a¹, shown in detail in Figures 10, 11, 12, and 13, having an angular shoulder
or projection b¹ on its lower surface, which enters the joint between the block d
and the barrel j, as seen in Figure 3. The wedge shaped shoulder b¹ serves as an
abutment to the block, which cannot cant in its chamber. The rear end of the
barrel has a small groove e¹ which corresponds with a groove in the front face of
the shoulder b' and leads into a vent f¹ extending forwards under plate a¹ for the
escape of the gases, as indicated by the small arrows in Figure 3, in case of a
⚫ cartridge bursting.
The means for lubricating the mechanism is as follows:-The pivot 1 of the
hammer (Figure 9) and that of the side lever (Figure 7) are both hollow to receive
the lubricant, which is held in place by a washer 3 of leather, indiarubber, or other
material. The open ends of these pivots are flush with the side of the breech case
and are covered by buttons 4 (Figure 2), which may be turned round on screws 5.
The hammer pivot has two holes 6 and the tumbler corresponding holes 7 for
lubricating the main spring n, the tumbler notches, and the nose of the trigger.
The pivot 2 of the side lever (Figure 7) also has two holes 8, and there is a
corresponding hole in the lever f for the lubrication of the spring o. The mechanism
is thus well lubricated and the parts prevented from becoming heated, however
quickly the arm may be fired.
The rebounding of the hammer to half cock is effected by an inclined shoulder g,
which meets the nose of the trigger when the hammer strikes the striker r and
causes it to slip into the notch p. The trigger plate k is fixed by means of a single
screw, so that the parts may be readily put together and taken to pieces. The
trigger plate k has a lug t at its front end, which is received in a stud u screwed in
the stock by screw w.
The two bearing blocks y (Figure 5) fixed on the trigger plate, and which support
the axis 2 of the breech block lever, are also provided each with a lug 2, which
enter cavities in lumps w¹ on the sides b of the breech case, as shown in dotted
lines, Figure 3. These lugs, being placed in their sockets as above described, a
single screw w² is sufficient to hold the trigger plate firmly in place. Instead of a
lug t at the end of the trigger plate the end of the plate itself might be halved
into the stud u. The latter has a shoulder u' to guide it into its proper position
in the stock.
The cartridge used is a metallic one and has a second grease wad to clean the
barrel. Figures 14 and 15 show a turn screw, the handle 9 of which has a
cavity 11, which forms a receptacle for the lubricant and is closed by a screw
plug 12; 9 also serves as a handle for the cleaning rod 15 when the latter is being
used, said rod being screwed into a socket 14 which is itself screwed into the
handle 9.

page_text: SPECIFICATION. in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
6th July 1881.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent. ." IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH LOADING FIRE ARMS AND APPLIANCES
USED THEREWITH." A communication from abroad by Louis Napoleon Valasse,
of Paris, France.
This Invention relates to improvements in military and sporting guns, applicable
also to pistols and other fire-arms, which improvements have for their object, first,
to prevent grit or dust raised on the march or by the wind, and which may enter
the breech mechanism, from interfering with its working, and thereby causing
miss-fires; secondly, to protect the marksman's eyes from the fire in the event of
a cartridge bursting; thirdly, to effect the automatic lubrication of the breech
mechanism; fourthly, to cause the hammer to rebound to half cock; fifthly, to
enable the parts of the mechanism to be readily mounted and dismounted.
In order that the Invention may be more readily understood, I have illustrated
an example thereof in the accompanying Drawings, in which Figures 1 and 2 are
elevations of opposite sides of the gun; Figure 3 is a longitudinal section;
Figure 4 an upper, and Figure 6 an underside view of the trigger plate; Figure 5
a detail in section; Figure 7 is a longitudinal section of the pivot of the breech
locking lever; Figure 8, an elevation of the hammer partly in section to show the
oil holes; Figure 9 shows different views of the hammer pivot; Figures 10, 11, 12,
and 13, represent respectively an end view, cross section, a top view, and an
underside view of the piece covering the joint between the vertically sliding breech
block and the barrel; Figures 14 and 15, are an elevation and section of a turn
screw, the handle of which serves as a grease box. The same letters of reference
indicate the same parts in all the Figures.
According to this Invention the hammer shown separately in Figure 8 is made
with a quadrant shaped part a, having striated or roughened surfaces like those of
a coffee mill, between which and the corresponding faces of the breech case b any
grains of sand that may enter are ground by the movement of the hammer to
tine powder so as not to impede the action of the mechanism and thereby cause
miss-fires. The side faces of the breech block d are similarly roughened with the
same object. These roughened surfaces may be formed in any suitable way, and
may be varied in form and direction. The ground dust is received in a cavity c in
the hammer, where it cannot interfere with the action of the lock; e is the side
lever by which the vertically sliding breech block d is operated to open and close
the breech. The hexagonal pivot 2 of this lever e carries a lever arm f, which is
slotted at the end g to receive a pin h at the underside of the block d. When the
hammer is down the lever e is locked by the part i of the breech block d bearing
upon the hammer, but when the hammer is cocked the block is free to be lowered
by depressing lever e in the direction of the arrow, Figure 1, in order to insert the
cartridge in the barrel j; k is the trigger plate; l, the trigger; m, the sear spring;
n, the main spring; and o, the side lever spring. The joint between the barrel
and the breech block d when the latter is raised is completely closed by a plate or
shield a', shown in detail in Figures 10, 11, 12, and 13, having an angular shoulder
or projection b¹ on its lower surface which enters the joint between the block d
and the barrel j, as seen in Figure 3. The wedge shaped shoulder b² serves as an
abutment to the block which cannot cant and set fast in its chamber. The rear
end of the barrel has a small groove e¹ which corresponds with a groove in the
front face of the shoulder 61, and leads into a vent f₁ extending forwards under
plate a' for the escape of the gases in case of a cartridge bursting, as indicated by

page_text: the small arrows in Figures 3. The form and dimensions of the plate a' may ve
varied.
The means for lubricating the mechanism is as follows:-The pivot 1 of the
hammer (Figure 9) and the pivot 2 of the side lever (Figure 7) are both hollow
to receive the lubricant which is retained by a washer 3 of leather, indiarubber, or 5
other material. The open ends of these pivots are flush with the side of the breech
case, and are covered by buttons 4 (Figure 2) which may be turned round on
screws 5. The hammer pivot has two holes 6, and the tumbler has corresponding
holes 7 for lubricating the main spring n, and also the tumbler notches and the
nose of the trigger. The pivot 2 of the side lever (Figure 7) also has two holes 8, 1
and there is a corresponding hole in the lever f for the lubrication of the spring o.
The mechanism is thus automatically lubricated and the parts prevented from
becoming heated however quickly the arm may be fired.
The rebounding of the hammer to half cock is effected by an inclined shoulder q
which meets the nose of the trigger when the hammer strikes the striker and
causes it to slip into the notch p. The trigger plate k is fixed by means of a single
screw so that the parts may be readily put together and taken to pieces. The
trigger plate k has a lug t at its front end which is received in a stud u screwed in
the stock by a screw w screwing into a socket x on the barrel. The two bearing
blocks y fixed on the trigger plate, and which support the axis 2 of the breech
block lever, are also provided each with a lug z which enter cavities in lumps w¹
on the sides b of the breech case, as shown in dotted lines, Figure 3. These lugs
being placed in their sockets, as above described, a single screw w² is sufficient to
hold the trigger plate firmly in place. Instead of a lug t at the end of the trigger
The latter has a
plate the end of the plate itself might be halved into the stud u.
shoulder u¹ to guide it into its proper position in the stock.
The cartridge used is a metallic one, and has a second grease wad to clean the
barrel in firing. By thus greasing and cleaning the barrel, washing with water,
which is not always convenient and injures the barrel, may be dispensed with.
After firing the barrel is simply wiped and greased without being washed. For this
purpose an arrangement of turn screw represented in Figures 14 and 15 is employed,
which also forms a receptacle for grease. 9 is a wood or metal handle, and 10 is a
turn screw fixed therein, the handle having a cavity 11 closed by a screw plug 12.
A screw 13 passes through the handle, and is provided with a tapped socket 14 in
which the cleaning rod 15 of the fire-arm is screwed. The turn-screw thus serves
as a handle for the cleaning rod thus fixed to it, the said rod having a slot at the
With a handle
other end for the attachment of the cleaning and lubricating rag.
of this kind the cleaning rod is more easily used, and there is less risk of
bending it.
The form and dimensions of the various parts of the fire-arm, as well as of the
turn screw, may be varied in practice without departing from the Invention.
Having described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the
hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is,―
1st. In military and sporting guns or other fire-arms a breech closing block and
a hammer having serrated or roughened surfaces acting in combination with the
corresponding walls of the breech case, substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
2nd. In military and sporting guns and other fire-arms, lubricating devices
consisting of hollow pivots for the hammer and the side lever, said pivots containing
a lubricant, and being provided with holes for lubricating the mechanism,
substantially as described with reference to Figures 7 and 9 of the Drawings.
3rd. In military and sporting guns and other fire-arms, the effecting the
rebounding of the hammer to half cock by means of an inclined shoulder q meeting
with the nose of the trigger when the hammer strikes the striker and causing it
to slip into the notch p, as described with reference to Figure 3 of the annexed
Drawings.

page_text: 4th. Fixing the trigger plate k to the stock v by means of a single screw w² and
three lugs, one of these lugs t being at the front end of said trigger plate while the
other two lugs z, z, are placed upon the bearing blocks y, substantially as above
described with reference to Figures 3, 4, 5, and 6 of the annexed Drawings.
5th. Closing the joint between the barrel j and the breech block d by means of a
plate or shield a¹ having on its lower surface an angular shoulder b¹ provided with
a groove g¹ leading into a vent f¹ extending forwards under the plate a', the whole
acting in combination with the groove e¹ of the barrel, as described with reference
to Figures 3, 10, 11, 12, 13, and for the purpose set forth.
6th. In a cartridge for military or sporting guns and other fire-arms the use of a
second grease wad to clean the barrel, as above set forth.
7th. A turn screw, the handle 9 of which has a receptacle 11 for the lubricant,
and also serves as a handle for the cleaning rod 15, said rod being screwed when
used into a socket 14 in said handle, as described with reference to Figures 14
and 15 of the annexed Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Sixth day of July, A.D. 1881.