AN IMPROVED METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Leetch, of Birmingham, in the County
of Warwick, Gun Maker, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED
METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS."
Sealed the 27th February 1854, and dated the 23rd September 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Leetch at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 23rd September 1853.
I, JAMES LEETCH, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Gun
Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention of "AN
IMPROVED METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS" to be as
follows:-
The constructing the chamber which contains the charge in one
entire piece separate from the barrel, so that when the powder explodes
the whole explosive power of the gases evolved is sustained by the
cylindrical chamber equally upon all sides, and independent of the
barrel, by which means the same strength for resistance is obtained as
when the powder is placed in the barrel. This chamber is hinged to
the under side of the barrel, and opens out of and closes into the barrel
through an aperture left in one side of the barrel for that purpose.

page_text: Fig. 1, shows a section across the barrel and chamber when closed for
firing; Fig. 2, a similar section, with the chamber open for loading;
Fig. 3, a cross section of the barrel, showing the closed end of the
chamber and the nipple attached. Its action is thus:-When the
hammer of the gun is placed upon half cock the chamber can be
opened by reason of the bolt b, (see Figs. 4, and 5,) being drawn back
by the hammer to which one end of the bolt is attached; the charge is
then placed within the chamber at the fore end, and shut into the
barrel, where it is temporarily held by a spring, not seen in the Draw-
ings; the cap is placed upon the nipple and the hammer on full cock
in the usual manner. In firing the gun the releasing of the trigger
causes the bolt b, to be pressed forward with it, and, passing into the
hole a in the movable breech,-locks it previous-to the hammer reaching
the cap to explode the charge. Figs. 4, and 5, represent respectively.
a top view and side elevation of so much of a gun as suffices to show
the improvement. The hammer is represented on full cock, in order
to show the extent and method of action of the locking bolt b., The
breech requires very little to hold it in its proper position for firing, but
the locking bolt serves also as a check against the firing of the charge,
should the chamber and barrel through accident be out of line, because.
in that case the bolt would prevent the hammer reaching the cap.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said James Leetch in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 22nd March 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I;
JAMES LEETCH, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Gun
Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of September, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the
seventeenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me; the said James Leetch, Her special
licence that I, the said James Leetch, my executors, administrators, and

page_text: assigns, or such others as I, the said James Leetch, 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 "AN IMPROVED
METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS," upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said James Leetch, by an instrument
in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the
Great Seal Patent Office, in Southampton Buildings, in the County of
Middlesex, within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Leetch, 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 following statement (that is to say):
My Invention of "An Improved Method of Constructing Breech-
loading Fire-arms," consists in the construction of a moveable breech
which contains the explosive charge in one entire piece separate from
the barrel of the gun, so that when the gunpowder is ignited the
explosive power of the gases evolved is sustained by the breech equally
upon all sides and independent of the barrel, by which means the same
strength for resistance is obtained as in the ordinary gun. This breech
is hinged to the under side of the barrel, into which it opens and closes
(so as to bring the cylindrical chamber of the breech which receives
the charge in a line with the bore of the barrel) by means of an
aperture left in the side of the breech end or butt end of the barrel for
that purpose. The breech is held in its central position during the
explosion of the charge by a bolt (which I term the locking bolt) shot
forward from the butt end of the barrel by the hammer of the gun
during its descent to the percussion cap upon the nipple. The placing
the hammer upon half or full cock after the discharge of the piece

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
By the accompanying Sheet of Drawings the detailed arrangements
will be more clearly understood. Fig. 1, represents a side elevation of
a military rifle fitted with my Invention. The breech is here repre-
sented as closed, and the hammer on full cock ready for the discharge
of the rifle. d, is a guard plate of metal, applied merely for the purpose
of covering the hinge of the breech; c, a thumb piece projecting from
the upper side of the breech b, in order to obtain a leverage for the
purpose of opening and closing the breech. e, is the locking bolt.
Fig. 2, represents the same rifle with the breech opened to receive a
fresh charge. a', is the opening left in the barrel through which the
breech b, opens and closes; f, a portion of the gun-stock hollowed out
to admit of the cartridge or charge being introduced into the breech
chamber.
Fig. 3, a cross section at B, B, Fig. 1, with the breech closed. Here
the hinging of the breech to the barrel is more clearly seen. g, is the
hinge pin.
Fig. 4, shews the same section, but with the breech b, opened, the
open end of the breech chamber 6, being presented to view. The
Figures 3, and 4, are sections in front of the breech.
Figs. 5, and 6, are similar sections, but taken at A, A, and cutting
through the breech. In Fig. 6, el represents the hole in the butt end
of the barrel a, through which the locking bolt is projected.
Fig. 7, a horizontal section through the centre of the breech when
closed into the barrel, the letters of reference referring to the same
parts as in all the other Figures.
Fig. 8, a horizontal section through that portion of the butt end of
the barrel and of the breech in which the locking bolt e, acts. The
position of the hammer on full cock is here represented by dotted lines in
order that the form of the locking bolt may be seen. The hole e¹, shows
the extent of the traverse of the locking bolt during the fall of the hammer.

page_text: h, is a pin which secures the bolt to the hammer; it works in a slotted
hole cut in the flattened end of the bolt e, to allow of the horizontal
movement of the bolt during the curved travel of the pin when the
hammer falls.
Fig. 9, shews an edge or front view of the hammer, with the locking
bolt e, attached to it by the pin h.
.
By the foregoing description it will be clearly seen that it is impos-
sible that the gun be accidentally discharged when the breech is
imperfectly closed, or, in other words, when the chamber of the breech
is not in line with the bore of the barrel, because in that case the
locking bolt e, would not be in line with the hole e', in the breech; and
consequently, although the hammer were relieved by the trigger, it would
be prevented from reaching the cap upon the nipple by the locking
bolt reaching the flat end of the breech instead of the slot hole cut to
receive it.
As there is nothing but the friction of the parts to keep the breech
in its closed position when the hammer is on half or full cock, I propose
for that purpose the arrangement shown in Figs. 10, and 11, which
represent respectively a section and elevation of a portion of the breech
closed in the barrel. The thumb piece c, has an oblong slot cut through
it, into which slot a bent lever catch i, somewhat in the form of a bell
crank, is pivoted at o; a spring 1, pinned to under side of the thumb
piece c, presses upon the upper arm of the lever i, and consequently
the other arm is pressed downwards into a slot cut upon the upper
side of the barrel to receive it.
When it is desired to open the breech the action of the thumb
pressing upon the thumb lever for that purpose will at
press the arm, of the lever i, and relieve the catch.
the same time
The action of
barrel in the
closing the breech will cause the lever to catch upon the
same manner as the bolt of a common door lock catches when the door
is shut. The breech may be used, however, either with or without any
catch, as the friction of the moving parts is sufficient to keep it in
position until locked by the descent of the hammer.
I claim as new and of my Invention the hinged breech in combina-

page_text: tion with a locking bolt acted upon by the hammer, as described.
Also the locking bolt acted upon by the hammer, as described, for the
purpose of locking any form of moveable breech.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Leetch, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twentieth day of March, One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-four.
Witness,
EDWARD JAMES POWELL.
JAMES (LS.) LEETCH.