IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING SMALL- ARMS
Year: 1873

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Henry Macaulay at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 8th
January 1873.
I, HENRY MACAULAY, of Kingston-upon-Thames, in the County of
Surrey, Captain 5th Royal Lancashire Militia, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING SMALL-
ARMS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in breech-loading
small fire-arms whereby the following advantages are obtained :-An
casier method of opening the breech than is usual; a withdrawal and
the ejection of the empty cartridge case with little labour; perfcct
clearance through the barrel for cleaning purposes; perfect closing of
the breech block to prevent back escape of powder while firing; less
cutting away of the stock; and lastly, a fixing of the hammer at full
cock to prevent accidental discharges.
Beyond the barrel the tang is continued and is so shaped as to give
a perfect opening, the rear part being curved to permit of the easy

page_text: insertion of a full cartridge into the bore. The block rises and falls
within cheeks provided for it in a box, the block being centred upon
a lump under the barrel in advance of the barrel end, so as to fall from
the front.
The rear of the block at its underside is recessed for one end of a lever
centred upon a pin arranged on the trigger plate to work for releasing
and returning the block when the opposite end of the lever is acted upon
by the hand either from below or from above, according to its position;
if the lever is below, its end is furnished with a spring catch or claw
for taking into an aperture in the trigger guard to fix it in position;
but if it is above, no means of fastening is required, it being held by
its own weight and by the pressure of the hand in gripping the small
of the butt. The hammer is nearly flat and works within the block,
its striking point passing through a central aperture therein for acting
against the cartridge base; the lower end of the hammer is fitted upon
a pin, and below this is another pin under which a claw end of the
extractor leg engages for operating it at the required time.
Behind the hammer main pin is a pin upon which the mainspring
swivel is mounted, the mainspring (which is of the flat kind, as in the
Enfield lock) at the bend being held in place by the claw recess in
which it is fitted.
The trigger is arranged upon a pin at the fore part where it is
embraced by the sear, also centred upon the same pin, so that the
operation of the one by the other is simultaneous for the discharge of
the arm.
I form a nose at the fore end of the sear under which is a
catch or fastener; the turning of this in one direction fixes the sear and
consequently the hammer at full cock, whilst a turn in the reverse
direction releases them.
The "comb" of the cock is shaped and in such a position in the
breech block that the throw backwards of the under lever or the lift of
the upper lever carries the hammer down, as well as the block in the
opening operation, and sets it at full cock, the other movable parts
being acted upon in regular order.
The trigger guard or the trigger plate is formed with checks or flanges
between which the hammer Jovon mainanning
слон

page_text: .
trigger, and locking bolt, are attached or arranged, so that by the
removal of two screw pins at the bottom the whole of them can be
moved away at the same time for facilitating repairs, or for renewal of
worn out parts without disturbing the barrel from the stock.