CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William La Penotière, of Camden Road, Camden
Town, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of
"CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ARMS."
Sealed the 26th March 1867, and dated the 29th September 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William La Penotière
at. the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 29th September 1866.
I, WILLIAM LA PENOTIÈRE, of Camden Road, Camden Town, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ARMS," to be as follows:-
My present Invention represents improvements in the arrangement or
construction of certain parts of fire-arms, and relates more particularly to the
rifle for which I have obtained Letters Patent dated 20th July 1865, and
numbered 1894. These improvements consist in the better securing of the
moveable chamber, the conversion of the said rifle into a needle gun, and in
an improved method of adjusting the box or case containing the needle, so as
to prevent escape of gas on firing the rifle.
Firstly, instead of securing the moveable chamber by means of the spring
bolt as set forth in the Specification of the Letters Patent aforesaid, I
propose to. bolt or secure the same at the part fitting into the backing part of

page_text: the trough which receives the chamber when it reposes in its horizontal
position, the said bolt or bolts passing through the backing piece into a hole
or holes made in the end of the chamber. These bolts are withdrawn by
pulling the hammer slightly beyond full cock, when the chamber flies open,
being pressed upwards by two springs.
Secondly, I propose to construct a moveable metal case for the said needle,
which I insert in the opening of the chamber previously used for the reception
of the cartridge case. This case is moveable, and is kept pressed forward by
means of one or more springs; so that when the chamber is lowered into the
trough and is in a horizontal position, one end of the said case will enter into
the bore of the barrel at its rear, and the other end of the case will be pressed
backwards against the backing piece. On the trigger being pulled the striker
in the backing piece is driven on to the needle in the chamber, pushing it
forward so that its point enters the cartridge, discharging the piece.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William La Penotière in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 28th March 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
LA PENOTIÈRE, of Camden Road, Camden Town, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of September, in the year
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said William La Penotière, Her special licence that I, the said William
La Penotière, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
1, the said William La Penotière, my executors, administrators, 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 "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ARMS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said William La Penotière, my executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their
bands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of
the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,

page_text: 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 I, the said William La Penotière, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the follow-
ing statement, reference being had to the accompanying Sheet of Drawing
forming part of this my Final Specification, and to the figures and letters of
reference placed thereon.
My Invention has for its object improved arrangements in the construction
of certain parts of fire-arms, and relates more particularly to improvements in
the rifle for which I obtained Letters Patent bearing date the 20th July
1865, and numbered 1894, such novel and improved arrangements in the
construction converting the said rifle into a needle gun.
rifle of 1865 just
This case or box
Instead of securing the moveable chamber by means of the spring bolt
placed as set forth in the Specification of the Letters Patent aforesaid, I bolt
or secure the same at the part fitting into the backing part of the trough
which receives the chamber; when it reposes in its horizontal position the
said bolt or bolts passing through the backing piece into a hole or holes in the
end of the chamber, these bolts are withdrawn by pulling the hammer to half
or full cock when the chamber flies open, being pressed upwards by two
springs, as shewn in the Specification aforesaid, and also at Figs. 1 and 13 of
this Specification. I construct a moveable metal case or box for the needle,
which I insert in the opening of the chamber, which in the
alluded to was used for the reception of the cartridge case.
is pressed forward by means of one or more springs, so that when the chamber
is lowered into the trough and is in a horizontal position, one end of the needle
box enters into the bore of the barrel at its rear, and the other end of the
needle box is pressed backwards against the backing piece, or I find the
action of the needle box when the chamber is being pressed horizontally down
adjusts itself as required. In discharging the gun the point of the hammer or
striker 6 lodged in the backing piece is upon the fall of the lever a driven on
to or into the needle box, forcing the needle forward so that its point enters
the cartridge (the cartridge lying in a chamber immediately at the back of the
ifling of the barrel), which thus pierced explodes.

page_text: parts of my improved fire-arm or needle gun, and the means by which the
different parts or pieces are actuated.
The lever a acting on its axis or spindle a¹ turning it in half or quarter
revolution (when charging) towards the breech of the gun A, thereby removes
the hammer or striker b away from the hinder end of the needle g (see
Figure 12), thereby at full or balf cock unlocking or releasing the chamber r
in which the needle case or box is placed (Figure 4); the chamber then
rises by the action of the springs a before mentioned (assisted if required
by the thumb-piece r¹), throwing it forward and over its axis, thereby
giving every facility for loading. The cartridge is placed or passed into posi-
tion within the breech bore of the barrel, the trough C being occupied by the
chamber and needle case H. In using the lever a as previously directed,
the striker or hammer b presses against a small moveable clutch c (Figure 9),
which moving upon its axis c¹ presses back the upright lever d, the top end of
which is made oval (y, Figure 8), and working within a space d' provided for
the same within the slide or traverser e (hereafter to be described), the said
taverser being always kept to its work by means of a springh acting
continually upon the lower end of upright lever d at its axis d. The striker
or hammer b is thrust or brought home (upon pulling the trigger f) by means
of the powerful double spring 9. (see Figure 7), being connected thereto by a
small link 6', and attached at either end by pins, 6, 6, the trigger being
assisted in the performance of its duty by spring f.
Figure 2 is an end view (the stock being romoved) shewing the mode of
connecting the before-mentioned pieces of mechanism; Figure 3 is a plan of
that part of the gun containing the trough chamber and needle box, shewn at
Figures 1 and 12, also the key or lever w for raising the chamber should the
springs fail in their action; Figure 3* is a horizontal sectional plan through
line C, D, Figure 1, shewing more fully the action of the slide or traverser e
(see Figure 9), which is provided with two bolts or pins e', e¹, each of which
enters on either side of the trough C upon the closing or raising the chamber
or needle box holder r, thereby placing the needle box upon the chamber
being closed in its proper position. On the under side of the chamber
bearing Z, at the back end of trough C, there is a small projecting nib i,
which passing through the trough C rests upon a corresponding piece of
metal F, forming part of small plate F¹ (which is recessed within plate E),
said plate F¹ having an axis F³, said axis being a spindle 7 (see Figures 2
and 3) with the square head for the purpose of fitting the key or lever win
the event of the chamber failing to rise by means of the springs or the thumb-
picce previously described. Figure 4 is a plan and elevation of the

page_text: chamber, Z, Z, being the bearings for needle case. In the side of bearing Z
there is a small groove o (see Figure 12), within which, the point of the
screw p (Figure 4) slides or works, thereby preventing the needle box from
turning round in its bearings or falling out of its place; the object of this is
evident, as the needle case is curved off at this end towards the under side of
its circumference, fitting closely against the back end of the trough C, thereby
accomplishing the desired object, namely, a closely fitting trough. Figure 5
is the lever a which actuates the spindle a¹, thereby removing or pushing
back the striker or hammer as previously described; Figure 6 shews the
striker or hammer working on spindle a'; Figure 7 denotes the powerful
double spring 9, which by the assistance of link plate b¹ brings the striker or
hammer home upon pulling trigger f as before described; Figure 8 shews the
vertical lever d, the top of which y works within a slide or traverser (see
Figure 9); thereby retiring bolts e', e', and releasing the chamber r; Figure 9
denotes the slide or traverser e with its two bolts or pins e¹, e, working as
previously described; Figure 10 represents a brace plate s, whose centre is the
axis a of the striker or hammer. b, the left-hand centre k forming the axis of
trigger f, and its right-hand centre being the axis of spindle l, for the pur-
pose previously set forth; Figure 11 shews the trigger and front of axis K,
against which rests the brace S; Figure 12 represents the needle case or box
in plan and section, n being the needle with tapering point m and a round
head with a collar g', the needle n being surrounded by a spiral spring t, all
of which acts within the hollow chamber u, the forward end of which is pro-
vided with an opening v sufficiently large to permit the taper point of the
needle to pass through it and explode the cartridge. I make my needle
tapering that it may cause the wad at the hinder end of the cartridge to
expand, and thereby more completely fill that part of the barrel into which it
passes on the discharge, and whose bore it should fit or fill. Figure 18 shews
one of the springs x detached.
g
In the foregoing description I have shewn how my Invention is to be
applied in constructing a gun or rifle having a single barrel only, and I do
not deem it necessary to enter into any detail of the arrangements for applying
it to a double barrel gun, as the additions and modifications necessary for that
purpose will be obvious to any practical gunsmith.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and means by which the same is or may be carried into practical
effect, I would have it distinctly understood that I do not confine myself to the
precise details herein shewn and described, as the same may be varied or
modified without departing from the peculiar character of my Invention, nor

page_text: do I claim any of the mechanical parts used by me in effecting my object
when taken separately as parts, and not arranged or in combination with each
other, or used for the purposes of my Invention, which I declare to be and
I claim the adaptation or arrangement of certain mechanical parts, such parts
'when combined or put together substantially as herein-before directed forming
an improved fire-arm or needle gun.
In witness whereof, I, the said William La Penotière, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of March, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
W. LA PENOTIÈRE. (L.S.)