IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH- LOADING RIFLES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Hibbert, of Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Machinery Agent, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-
LOADING RIFLES." A communication from abroad by Valentine Saverbrey,
Basel, Switzerland, since deceased.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Hibbert at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd June 1881.
ROBERT HIBBERT, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Machinery Agent.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH LOADING RIFLES," A communication from abroad
by Valentine Saverbrey, Basel, Switzerland, since deceased.
This Invention relates to an improved construction and combination of breech
mechanism for cocking and extracting, extreme simplicity and strength of parts is
secured, and economy of construction, the breech mechanism being removable, and
the several parts may be detached from each other (for cleaning) and replaced
without the aid of any kind of tool; also an "improved construction of sight."
The breech mechanism consists of a cylinder and lever, the latter employed for
cocking and manipulating or sliding to and from the cylinder, the latter being
guided and held by groove or key bed and key or dovetail. Near the end of the
groove or key bed is a stop piece, which on being depressed permits the cylinder
being drawn out of and detached from the breech, affording free access to the
barrel, facilitating cleaning barrel and cocking mechanism. The parts constituting
the cocking, firing, and extracting mechanism comprise a cylinder having on
its outside a spring bar hooked or barbed at its inner end. The barb serves to
engage with the rim or flange of the cartridge case, and so "extracts" the case
when the cylinder is withdrawn from the breech. Within the cylinder is the
striking end of the piston, its point forming the striker for exploding the cap, and
the said piston is a spiral spring and holding nut. The other end of the piston
extends outside the cylinder and is provided with a wing, against which a cam
way or incline formed on the boss of the cocking lever acts, so that when the

page_text: cocking lever is raised the wing of the striker piston is forced up the incline, so
compressing the spring. The wing is received and held in a slight recess or hollow
at the head of the incline. The gun is now cocked, then the cylinder is withdrawn
from the breech. The empty case is caught by the barbed extraction and expelled
by contact with a pin in the side of the breech chamber. A cartridge is now
inserted, and the cylinder being slided forwards and the lever depressed, the gun
is ready for firing. Should it be desired to "bolt" or put the gun at safety
without receiving the loaded cartridge, it is only requisite the lever should be
raised to the horizontal position, whereon the wing of the striker is clear of the
trigger action, and the gun is secure.
The sight comprises a bed plate from which spring two curved arms between
which a finger is hinged, and which carrys the V or other shaped sight notch.
The upper surface of the curved arms, and also the hinged finger, are graduated or
marked for the varying distances, the hinge or joint of the finger being tight
enough to hold the finger and sight notch in any position to which they may
have been "set" or adjusted, the sliding bar and elevating steps being dispensed
with.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Robert Hibbert in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
2nd December 1881.
ROBERT HIBBERT, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Machinery Agent.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH LOADING RIFLES." A communication from abroad
by Valentino Saverbrey, Basel, Switzerland.
This Invention relates to an improved construction and combination of breech
mechanism for cocking and extracting, extreme simplicity and strength of parts in
secured, and economy of construction, the breech mechanism being removable, and
the several parts may be detached from each other (for cleaning) and replaced
without the aid of any kind of tool.
The breech mechanism consists of a cylinder and lever, the latter employed for
cocking and manipulating or sliding to and fro the cylinder, the latter being guided
and held by grooves or key bed and key or dovetail. Near the end of the groove or
key bed is a stop picce, which on being depressed permits the cylinder being drawn
out of and detached from the breech, affording free access to the barrel, facilitating
cleaning barrel and cocking mechanism. The parts constituting the cocking,
firing, and extracting mechanism comprise a cylinder having on its outside a
spring bar hooked or barbed at its inner end. The barb serves to engage with
the rim or flange of the cartridge case, and so "extracts" the case when the
cylinder is withdrawn from the breech. Within the cylinder is the striking end
of the piston, its point forming the striker for exploding the cap, and on the said
piston is a spiral spring and holding nut. The other end of the piston oxtends

page_text: outside the cylinder, and is provided with a wing against which a cam way or
incline formed on the boss of the cocking lever acts, so that when the cocking lever
is raised the wing of the striker piston is forced back by the incline, so compressing
the spring. The wing is received and held in a slight recess or hollow at the head.
of the incline. The gun is now cocked, when the cylinder is withdrawn to rear
end of the breech. The flange of the empty case is caught by the barbed extractor
and expelled by contact with a pin in the side of the breech chamber. A cartridge
is now inserted, and the cylinder being slided forwards and the lever depressed, the
gun is ready for firing. Should it be desired to "bolt
or put the gun at safety
without removing the loaded cartridge, it is only requisite the lever should be
raised to the horizontal position whereon the wing of the striker is clear of the
trigger action and the gun is secure.
"
Such being the nature and object of this my said Invention I will now proceed
to describe the same in detail, and in order that the same may be fully understood
I have hereunto annexed 2 Sheets of Drawings, and have marked the same with
figures and letters of reference.
Fig. 6 is an end view of breech action removed.
The Figures on Sheet 2 are details or the parts composing the cocking, extracting,
and firing mechanism or "action". detached. The several parts are put together
in the following order:―
The point of the striker 1 is introduced to and passed through the bush or tube 2
until its cam or incline wing 3 is within the slot 4 of the said bush. The spiral
spring 5 is placed on the spindle 6 of the striker, and the washer 7 is passed over
the striker and upon the end of the spiral spring 5, and the latter is then coin-
pressed until the washer is below the shoulder of tho vanes 8, whereon the
washer is turned to the right or to the left one quarter of a revolution, bringing
the recess 9 in position for receipt of the vanes 8, 8, and securing the spring in
position, the lower end of the spring resting on the end 10 of the tube or bush 2.
The striker, spring, and bush are now passed through the hole 11 in the boss of
the cocking lever 12 until the cam wing 3 is at the bottom 13 of the incline
slot 14. The hollow cylinder 15 is now passed over the spring 5 and striker
piston 1 until its end 16 rests upon the end 17 of the cocking lever 12. A slight
pressure on the end 18 of the cylinder 15 will compress the spiral spring 5 until
the hole 19 is opposite or over the hole 20 of the bush 2, whereon the pin or
stud 21 of the spring barbed extractor 22 is placed in the holes 19, 20. The
extractor being then turned on the stud 21 as a centre until the pin. 23 is over and
received within the hole 24 of the hollow cylinder 15, the side of the cylinder
under the extractor being filed down or made flat, the better to secure the
extractor 22 in position.
The action is now complete, but before it can be placed in the breech the cam
wing 3 must be forced along the incline 14, further compressing the spring 5, and
the rounded part 25 of the wing 3 is received and held in the hollow 26 of the
cocking lever 22, bolting or putting the action at "safety." This motion withdraws
the striker 1 into the hollow cylinder 15, and the action is cocked and bolted (as
shewn at Fig. 3).
The action is now to be introduced to the end (Fig. 6) of the breech, the dovetail
piece 27 of the cocking lever 12 being received within the V slide 28, and slided

page_text: •
forwards until the shoulder 29 of the lever 12 is against the end of the falso
breech 30, and the two V blocks 31, 32, are within the V grooves or slots 33, 34,
and the handle 35 of the cocking lever 12 is depressed into the notch or recess 30
cut in the side of the stock 37 for receipt thereof. The gun is now completed.
To load, the lever 35 is raised to position, shewn at Figs. 1, 2, thereby forcing
the incline 13 against the cam 25 of the wing 3, compressing the spring 5 and
cocking the action, which is then withdrawn along its slide until arrested by stop
piece 38. A cartridge being introduced through the opening to the chamber 39,
the action is then slided forward home to the false breech 30, whereon the barbed
end 40 of the extractor 22 springs over the rim of flange 41 of the cartridge 42,
the lever 35 being depressed into the notch or recess 36, and removes the rounded
part 25 of the cam wing out of the notch 20, which permits the striker G to
move forward until restrained by the square shoulder 44 of the upper part of the
trigger entering the notch 45 of the cain wing 3, and the rifle is then ready for
being discharged or fired.
To bolt or put the gun at "safety "raise the lever 35 to the horizontal position,
whereon the top portion 14 of the incline 13 bear against the cam 25 of the wing 3,
forcing the striker and wing back until the notch 45 is clear of the trigger 44, and
holding it there until the lever 35 is depressed into its notch 36.
On withdrawing tho action tho barb 40 draws and extracts the empty caso or
shell of cartridge along the chamber 39, the opposite side of flange 41 fouling
or being brought into contact with the pin 43, and tilts the shell sideways and
expels it through the opening 39, the cylinder 15 having a slight groove 44° so as
to clear the protruding end of the pin 43.
To detach and remove the action from the breech chamber the stop piece 38
must be depressed or turned on its centro pin by tho thumb, whereon the action is
free to be drawn endways out of the breech chamber.
The ready removal of action and the detaching or separation of all its parts, and
replacing of same without the aid of tools, affords special facilities for inspection
and thorough cleaning and oiling all the mechanism, and at the same time leave
an unobstructed passage way through the barrel, which is open at both ends.
Having thus fully described the nature and particulars of the said Invention
communicated to me as aforesaid, together with the manner in which the same is
to ho or may be performed or carried into practical effect, I would have it under-
stood that what is claimed as new is,-
The combination of parts 1, 2, 5, 7, 12, 15, and 22, constituting the improved
breach action or apparatus for cocking, firing, and extracting, substantially as
herein described and illustrated by Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Hibbert, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Thirtieth day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and ciøbtv one.
Witness,
J. BAGLDON TAYLOR,
4, St. Ann's Square,
Manchester.
ROBERT HIBBERT. (L.s.)