IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS.
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Newton, of the Office for Patents,
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS.".
communication from abroad by Thomas Jefferson Vail, of Hartford, in
Sealed the 11th December 1866, and dated the 25th August 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
25th August 1866.
.I, WILLIAM EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS," to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to that class of breech-loading fire-arms in which a
solid swinging breech block is used to open and close the cartridge chaniber,
which is in the rear of the barrel or in advance of the breech block.
The Invention consists, firstly, in making that part of the arm or frame
which forms the sole connection between the barrel and the stock a bearing
or journal for the breech block to turn and be supported upon.
Second, in making the rear portion of the breech block and that part of the
frame against which this rear portion works of a cam-shaped or excentric form,

page_text: and therefore when the breech block is swung to the left it shall have a lateral and
oblique rearward motion in order to open the cartridge chamber, and when
swung to the right shall have a lateral oblique forward motion to close the
cartridge chamber.
Third, in combining with a breech block that moves laterally and
obliquely in opening and closing the breech or cartridge chamber an
ejector which is operated by the breech block for backing out the empty
cartridge case. On the under side of the breech block is a projecting piece
which works in an oblique groove made in the arm of the ejector, which is of
the ordinary form. When the breech block is moved in its seat the projecting
piece. by moving in the oblique groove forces back the ejector and pushes out
the cartridge.
Fourth, in arranging the movements of the breech block and ejector
so that the breech block shall move first and then the ejector shall
follow, but with a more rapid movement, until the empty cartridge case is
pushed out, when the ejector becomes released from the block and flies back
into position for retracting the next empty case, whilst the block remains
stationary and the chamber open to receive the new charge or cartridge.
Fifth, in causing the nose and heel of the hammer when down to enter into
openings or recesses respectively in the block and in the frame so as to aid in
strengthening the parts of the arm against the strain occasioned by firing
heavy charges.
Sixtb, in serrating or otherwise roughening the breech block and
the hammer at the points or parts where they would touch each other
when the block is swung open and the hammer accidentally or otherwise let
down against it. The object of this improvement is to prevent an accidental
discharge should the breech block be closed without cocking the hammer, which
would let the hammer fly with such force against the firing pin as possibly to
ignite the charge:
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Edward Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 25th February 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters

page_text: Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of August, in the year of our 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 Edward Newton, Her special licence that I, the said William
Edward Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said William Edward Newton, 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
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS," being a communication
from abroad, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William
Edward Newton, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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 within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Edward Newton, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
This Invention relates to that class of breech-loading fire-arms in which a
solid swinging breech block is used to open and close the cartridge chamber,
which is in the rear of the barrel or in advance of the breech block.
The Invention consists, firstly, in making that part of the arm or frame
which forms the sole connection between the barrel and the stock a bearing
or journal for the breech block to turn and be supported upon.
The Invention consists, secondly, in making the rear portion of the breech
block and that part of the frame against which this rear portion works of a
cam-shaped form, so that when the breech block is swung to the left it shall
have a lateral and oblique rearward motion in order to open the cartridge
chamber, and when swung to the right shall have a lateral oblique forward
motion to close the cartridge chamber.
The Invention consists, thirdly, in combining with a breech block that
moves laterally and obliquely for opening and closing the breech or cartridge
chamber an ejector, which is operated by the breech block for backing out
the empty cartridge case.

page_text: The Invention consists, fourthly, in so arranging the movements of the
.breech block and ejector, that the breech block shall move first, and then the
ejector shall follow, but with a more rapid movement, until the empty cart-
ridge case is pushed out, when the ejector becomes released from the block
and flies back into position for retracting the next empty case, whilst the block
remains stationary and the chamber open to receive the new charge or
cartridge.
The Invention consists, fifthly, in causing the nose and heel of the hammer
when down to enter into openings or recesses respectively in the block and in
the frame so as to aid in strengthening the parts of the arm against the strain
occasioned by firing heavy charges.
The Invention consists, sixthly, in serrating or otherwise roughening the
breech block and the hammer at the points or parts where they would touch
each other when the block is swung open and the hammer accidentally or
otherwise let down against it. The object of this improvement is to prevent
an accidental discharge should the breech block be closed without cocking
the hammer, which would let the bammer fly with such force against the
firing pin as possibly to ignite the charge.
In the accompanying Drawings Fig. 1 represents a side view of so much
of the arm as will illustrate the Invention, and as it appears when the breech
block is closed and the hammer down just after the act of firing; Fig. 2
represents a top or plan view with the breech block swung open and the
haminer drawn back to the half-cock notch as when prepared for receiving a
cartridge or charge; Fig. 3 represents a vertical section through the working
part of the arm to shew the interior parts and arrangement; Figures 4, 5, 6,
and 7 represent details of the arm which will be more particularly referred to
in the description.
A is the barrel; B, the stock; C, the frame; D, the hammer; and E,
the trigger of the arm; the portion F of the frame constitutes the sole con-
nection between the barrel and the stock of the arm, and this portion F
constitutes also the bearing or journal upon which the breech block G is
On the frame C there is
moved, supported, and locked, as the case may be.
formed a cam plane or surface a, and on the rear of the breech block there
is formed a similar cam surface b, so that when the breech block is swung to
the left (to open the bore of the gun or arm) it will also have an oblique
rearward motion, and when moved to the right (to close the bore of the arm)
it will have an oblique forward movement, and close up tightly against the
barrel where it becomes locked, as will be hereafter explained. The exterior
form of the breech block is seen in Figures 1 and 2, whilst the sections

page_text: through it, as shewn in Figures 3 and 5, will shew its interior construction;
as, for instance, in Fig. 5 x represents the box sleeve or opening which fits
over the journal or bearing F; y is the opening in which the thumb piece or
unlocking piece II is placed and operated; is the opening for the firing pin
to work through; p is the recess for the nose of the hammer to enter, and gt
is a curved slot for the head of the locking pin c to enter, and to allow the
block to turn past the head. Through the vertical opening y in the breech
block the thumb or unlocking piece H is placed, and sets over the locking
pin or bolt c, so that by pressing on the thumb piece H when the breech
block is closed against the bore of the barrel, the locking bolt will be pressed
down against the action of a recoil or returning spring d so as to unlock the
breech piece and allow it to be moved. Through the breech block G and
thumb piece H passes the firing pine that transmits the blow of the hammer
to the cartridge, the opening through the thumb piece being of an oblong
form so as to admit of its movement to a certain extent past the firing pin.
On the lower end of the thumb piece H there is a projection f that works in
a cam groove 9 cut in the piece or part F, and this projection by following
in such groove (which is oblique in its direction) causes the breech block in
which the piece H is fixed to move also in that oblique direction. There is
also cut or formed in the piece F a longitudinal slot i in which the cartridge
ejector j works; this ejector is more distinctly seen in the detached Fig. 7;
it has a lip k upon its forward end for catching in front of the flange of the
cartridge so as to back, it out of the firing chamber; it has also an oblique
groove cut across its upper surface for the projection f to take into and
force it rearward; there is also a narrow portion m which works against a
coiled spring n, Fig. 6, in the frame C; and, finally, there is a bevilled-off
portion o over which the projection f can pass without catching when the
ejector has been sprung back, and when the block is moved to its closed
position. When the thumb piece H is pressed down it also presses down the
locking bolt c, and by turning the breech block to the left the projection f
takes the oblique groove 9 (and the head of the locking bolt takes the
groove g¹ on or in the block to admit of it), and causes this block to move
obliquely rearward. By continuing the motion of the breech block the pro-
jection takes the groove in the ejector j, and draws the ejector back
against the spring n; the ejector will then force out the empty cartridge case
from the charge chamber. When the projection f has passed through and
beyond the cam slot 7 there is nothing to hold or restrain the ejector, and the
spring n by recoiling throws it suddenly back into its proper position for again
catching in front of the flange of the next cartridge case which will be forced

page_text: out by the next operation of opening the breech. When the breech block is
brought back to close the cartridge or firing chamber the projection f rides
over the bevilled surface o of the ejector without catching upon it, and when
the block has arrived fully and fairly at its closing position then the locking
bolt c by the action of its hitherto compressed spring rises into or against the
unlocking piece H, and secures the block in its closed position. The
hammer D is so made as to enter both the block as at p, Fig. 1, and the
frame as shewn by dotted lines at q, Fig. 3, so as to afford additional support
to the parts to sustain the strain occasioned by firing heavy charges. The
hammer is, moreover, so shaped that when the block is swung open the
heel 7 of the hammer prevents the latter from being snapped or let down; the
heel of the hammer and the rear end of the breech block, as at r, s, Fig. 2,
are roughened or serrated at the points or parts which come in contact when
the block is open or partly so, so that if the hammer be allowed to rest on
the block when open or partly open it will prevent the block from being
pushed into its shut position which might allow the hammer to fall with so
much force upon the firing pin as to ignite the charge when the arm is loaded.
Before the block can be pushed home the hammer must be raised to the half
or full cock notch. The friction surface t of the bearing F on which the
block turns is grooved, as shewn in Fig. 6, so also are the surfaces u of the
unlocking bolt H, as seen at Fig. 4, and of the firing pin, as seen in
Fig. 3, the object being to lessen the amount of friction, and to afford
better means for lubricating the moving parts, and retaining the lubricating
material in contact therewith. The front part B₁ of the stock at the joint
between it and the frame C by contact with the metal which becomes heated
by firing is liable to shrink and open an unsightly joint; to provide a remedy
for this a nut v is inserted in the wood of the stock, as seen in Fig. 3, and a
screw bolt w is passed from the frame into this nut, so that the stock may at
any time be drawn up tight against the frame.
Having thus fully described the Invention that has been communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, and having explained the manner of carrying
the same into effect, I claim as the Invention secured to me by Letters
Patent as aforesaid,―
First, using that part of the frame of the arm which is the sole connection
between the barrel and the stock as a bearing or journal for a solid breech
block to swing or turn upon as described.
I also claim making the rear portion of the breech block and that part of
the frame against which this rear portion works of a cam-shaped form, so that
when the brecch błock is swung to the left (to open it) it shall have a

page_text: lateral and oblique rearward motion, and when swung to the right (to close
the cartridge chamber) shall have a lateral oblique forward motion as
described.
I also claim combining with a breech block that moves laterally and obliquely
for opening and closing the bore or cartridge chamber of the arm a cartridge
ejector operated as herein set forth by the breech block for backing out the
empty cartridge case.
I also claim so constructing the breech block frame and hammer 'that the
nose of the hammer shall enter the breech block and its heel enter the frame
when down, and thus aid in sustaining the parts against the strain occasioneḍ
by firing heavy charges.
I also claim so arranging and regulating the movements of the breech
block and cartridge ejector that the breech block shall move first, and then
the ejector afterward, but with a more rapid motion until the empty case is
drawn out, when the ejector is tripped and by its spring is thrown back into
position for a similar succeeding operation, whilst the block remains open for
recharging the arm as described.
I also claim roughening or serrating the rear of the block and the front of
the hammer at the parts which come in contact when the block is open or
partly so, so that if the hammer from any cause be allowed to rest upon the
block it will prevent the latter from being closed, which closing if allowed
might cause a premature discharge of the arm by the hammer falling upon
the firing pin.
I also claim the combined use of the nut and bolt for drawing the stock
tight up against the frame, when from the shrinking of the wood there would
otherwise be a bad or open joint between them.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Newton, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Fifteenth day of February, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane."
W. E. NEWTON. (L.S.)