IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Daniel Dowling, of Turin, in the Kingdom of Italy,
at present residing at Radley's Hotel, Blackfriars, in the City of London,
Ex-Colonel of the Southern Army of Italy, and Charles Greves, of 17,
Shepherdess Walk, City Road, Gun Maker, for the Invention of "IM-
RAKVERSIO
Sealed the 2nd July 1867, and dated the 5th January 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Daniel Dowling and
Charles Greves at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition, on the 5th January 1867.
We, DANIEL DOWLING, of Turin, in the Kingdom of Italy, at present
residing at Radley's Hotel, Blackfriars, in the City of London, Ex-Colonel of
the Southern Army of Italy, and CHARLES GREVES, of 17, Shepherdess Walk,
City Road, Gun Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS," to be as follows:-
Our Invention consists in the prolongation of the barrel at the breech end, and
its formation with a slot at top and bottom, and an opening in one side. In this

page_text: prolongation of the barrel is inserted a tubular case containing a plunger to be
worked by a spring, and at the end of the plunger is the striker for acting on
the end of the cartridge and producing a central fire; this tubular case fits the
interior of the said prolongation of the barrel, and it is formed with a solid
piece at the top which fits into and is moved along the slot in the top of the
said prolongation of the barrel. The said solid piece at the top of the
plunger case is of such a length as to fit into the opening in the side of the
prolongation of the barrel when turned down, and thereby, with the front end
of the plunger case, to present a firm resistance to the backward pressure caused
by the explosion of the charge, the hinder end of the said solid piece taking
the recoil. The said solid piece of the plunger case has a spring stop inserted
in the front end, which takes into a notch in the rear end of the barrel, and
is capable of holding down the flanged end of the empty cartridge when the
plunger case is turned back. On the opposite side of the barrel in the bottom
slot of the prolongation thereof is inserted a cartridge extractor consisting of
a hollow tube working on a fixed pin or spindle, such hollow tube having a
projection at one end for taking bold of the flange of the cartridge, and another
to admit of its being drawn backwards by the backward movement of the
plunger case on which is formed an incline and shoulder for the purpose
corresponding with that on the extractor. When the extractor is drawn back
the whole length of the cartridge its incline is brought under an incline on
the bottom of the prolongation of the barrel, and the extractor is thus
gradually released, when it is returned to its original position by the re-action
of a spiral spring on the pin or spindle and is caught again when the plunger
case is pushed forward. By the foregoing arrangement of the parts the ordinary
lock, cock, and side nails, nipple, and snap cap are dispensed with; also by
means of the same arrangement the gun is opened ready for loading by turning
and drawing back the plunger case, being the same movement by which after
firing the cartridge is extracted, and the gun is closed for discharging by
pushing forward and turning down the plunger case, thereby at the same
time cocking the gun.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Daniel Dowling and Charles Greves in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 5th July 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, DANIEL 35
DOWLING, of Turin, in the Kingdom of Italy, at present residing at Radley's

page_text: Hotel, Blackfriars, in the City of London, Ex-Colonel of the Southern Army
of Italy, and CHARLES GREVES, of 17, Shepherdess Walk, City Road, Gun
Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the said
Daniel Dowling and Charles Greves, Her special licence that we, the said
Daniel Dowling and Charles Greves, our executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as we, the said Daniel Dowling and Charles Greves,
our 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," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said Daniel
Dowling and Charles Greves, our executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under our, or one of our, 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 Charles Greves, on behalf of myself
and the said Daniel Dowling, do hereby declare the nature of our said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This Invention consists in the prolongation of the barrels of breech-loading
fire-arms at the breech end, and the formation of such prolongation (which is
open at the inner end) with slots or openings at the top and bottom and in one
side of the shape and for the purposes berein-after mentioned.
In this pro-
longation of the barrel is inserted a cylindrical tubular case sliding easily in it
and containing a plunger worked by a spring contained in the tubular case,
and at the front end of the plunger is a needle or striker which when the fire-
arm is loaded and the trigger pulled is projected against the end of the
cartridge producing a central fire which explodes it. The tubular case con-
taining the plunger is formed with a solid piece projecting from the top, to
which a handle is attached; this solid piece fits into and slides along the slot
in the top of the prolongation of the barrel when the tubular case is moved
forward by the handle; this slot is continued. at right angles to the length of

page_text: the barrel, so that when the tubular case has been pushed forward sufficiently
to hold the cartridge firmly in its place the solid piece and handle can be
turned down into the slot thus continued, the shoulder of which holds it firmly
and prevents the tubular case from being driven back by the explosion of the
cartridge. The front end of the tubular case described is recessed deeply
enough to contain the flange or base of the cartridge which is thus embraced
by the annular ring which forms the front end of the tubular case through
the centre of which the needle or striker projects sufficiently to explode the
cartridge. In the lower part of the prolongation of the barrel is a longi-
tudinal slot into which is inserted a cartridge case extractor consisting of a
rectangular bar baving a hook at each end and a hole bored longitudinally
through it; in this hole is fixed a wire guide and a spring, the front end of
which presses against the hooked bar or extractor and the back end against a
recess in the back of the prolongation of the barrel to which the wire guide is
fixed. The extractor is thus kept constantly pressed forward, but can be
drawn back by compressing the spring. The Look at the front end of this
extractor is recessed into the inner end of the barrel and thus forms part of
the collar against which the flange of the cartridge is pressed forward by the
tubular case when the fire-arm is loaded. The hook at the back end of the
extractor catches upon a notch formed upon the lower part of the tubular
case in such a position that the hook is ouly caught by it when the tubular
case is pressed forward against the cartridge, and this notch is continued
transversely across the case so that the hook remains in it when the case is
turned down by the handle, as already described. When the cartridge has been
exploded the handle is raised and the tubular case is drawn back by it for re-
loading. Tho notch in the case draws back the extractor, the front hook,
upon which brings with it the empty cartridge until completely out of the
barrel. The back end of the slot in which the extractor works is formed with
a slant or incline which catches a similar slant upon the back extractor hook
so that when the tubular case is drawn sufficiently back this hook is gradually
disengaged from the notch which holds it (the wire guide and spring being
sufficiently flexible to allow this) and the extractor is forced back by the
spring into its original position really for a fresh cartridge to be inserted.
The plunger which works in the tubular case and carries the needle or striker
is forced forward by a spring, the front of which presses against a collar upon
the plunger and the back end against a loose collar inserted into the end of
the case and held there by screws; the back end of the plunger passes out
through this collar and ends with a nut or thumb piece by which the plunger
may be drawn back, if required; this nut or thumb piece strikes against the

page_text: end of the case (with the intervention in some cases of a leather or other
washer) and prevents the spring from forcing the needle or striker too far
forward into the cartridge. The tubular case has a narrow longitudinal slot
in the bottom, through which a catch worked by the trigger rises (an opening
of sufficient size being made for it in the bottom of the prolongation of the
barrel; this slot allows the tubular case to be moved sufficiently backwards
and forwards as described without being stopped by the catch, and the back
end of the slot is also continued at right angles, so that the tubular case may
be turned down by the handle, as already described, without being stopped by
the catch; the position of this catch is so fixed that the back of it rising through
the slot into the interior of the tubular case holds back the front of the collar
upon the plunger when the case is pushed forward, the spring being com-
pressed by the same action. When the tubular case is pressed forward
against the cartridge and turned down it is only necessary to withdraw the
catch by means of the trigger when the collar is released and the needle or
striker forced forward against the cartridge which is thus exploded. The act
of moving forward the tubular case thus leaves the fire-arm ready for firing.
The back of the upper part of the trigger catch described is hooked back, and
this hook fits into an annular recess in the front of the collar upon the
plunger, so that the catch cannot be drawn down by the trigger until the
collar has been turned round so that the hook is opposite a part where the
ring on the collar has been partly cut away; the part so cut away is opposito
to the hook upon the catch only when the tubular case has been turned down,
so that the cartridge is held firmly and the fire-arın cannot be discharged by
withdrawing the trigger at any other time. Sometimes in order to carry the
loaded fire-arm with greater security a notch is formed in the back of the
projecting piece upon the tubular case into which a small projection upon
the shoulder of the slot in the prolongation of the barrel fits when the handle
is not turned completely down; in this position the trigger catch cannot be
pulled down. When it is required to fire the arm the handle is turned
completely down, and the trigger catch can then be withdrawn. This is
equivalent to the "half-cock" of an ordinary fire-arm. By this arrangement
of the parts the ordinary lock, cock, and side nails, nipple, and snap cap are
dispensed with; also by means of the same arrangement the gun is opened
ready for loading by turning and drawing back the tubular plunger case, being
the same movement by which, after firing, the cartridge case is extracted and
the gun is closed for discharging by pushing forward and turning down the
tubular plunger case, thereby at the same time cocking the gun.

page_text: In illustration of this Invention the accompanying Sheet of Drawings contains
figures exhibiting some of the forms and arrangements of fire-arms constructed
according to our Invention.
Fig. 1 represents a longitudinal section and Fig. 2 a plan of a gun con-
structed according to this Invention; Fig. 3 is a section showing the tubular
case closed and the gun ready for firing, and Fig. 4 is a section showing the
case drawn back in order to load the gun.
A is the barrel of the gun, and B the prolongation of the barrel as described.
When new guns are made according to this Invention the barrels with the
prolongation described are forged or made in one piece, but when guns already
made are to be converted or altered according to this Invention the back end
of the barrel is screwed into the prolongation made as described; in this
prolongation of the barrel B slots are formed of the shape shown. C is the
tubular case containing the plunger D worked by the spring E and carring
the needle or striker F. The tubular case C is formed with a solid projecting
piece to which the handle G is attached, and which moves in the slot shown.
When the case C is pushed forward against the cartridge, as shown in
Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the handle is turned so that the shoulder of the slot prevents
the case C being forced back by the explosion of the cartridge. The front
end of the tubular case C is recessed, as shewn at H, so as to enlarge the
flange of the cartridge; or sometimes instead of a recess the tubular case is
made smaller, being only of the same diameter as the outside of the flange of the
cartridge, and a small projecting piece at the top is sufficient to hold down
the cartridge case against the extractor. This is shewn in Fig. 12, where C
is the tubular case and D the projecting piece holding down the cartridge
case against the extractor I. In the lower part of the prolongation B is
formed a slot which carries the cartridge case extractor I consisting of a bar
having a hook at each end and sliding upon a wire guide which carries a
spring, as shown separately in Fig. 5 and in cross section in Fig. 7. The
front hook of this extractor catches the flange of the cartridge case and
withdraws it when the extractor is pulled back by the hook at its other
extremity, which is caught by the notch K in the bottom of the tubular case.
When the cartridge case bas been completely withdrawn the back end of the
extractor meets the slant or incline L (Fig. 5) in the slot, and is gradually
released from the notch K, when the extractor flies back by means of the
spiral spring shown into its original position, as shown in the Drawings.
a, Fig. 5, is a spring and roller by which the hook is kept against the catch.
The plunger D is forced forward by the spring E pressing against a collar

page_text: upon the plunger and against the loose collar M, which is held in its place by
screws, and the plunger itself terminates in a nut or thumb piece by which it.
may be drawn back if required. In some case we make a hole in the
plunger D in front of the nut or thumbscrew, into which a loose pin can be
inserted to prevent the needle pressing upon the cartridge when required.
The tubular case C has a narrow slot N in the bottom, through which the
catch O rises, which may be drawn down by pulling the trigger P. This slot
allows the case to be moved backwards and forwards and turned partially
round by the handle G without being stopped by the catch O, as shewn from
below in Fig. 6. When the case C is pushed forward to close the gun the
catch O holds back the plunger D by catching the collar upon it, the spring E
being compressed by the same action, as shown in Fig. 3. The catch O bas
a hook upon its extremity (Figs. 1, 3, and 4), which fits into a recess formed
in the front of the collar upon the plunger D. It is consequently impossible
to draw down the catch O by means of the trigger P. When, however, the
tubular case C and plunger D have been turned round by the handle G so
that the gun is closed ready for firing the catch O can be drawn down where
a part of the annular recess has been cut away, when the spring E is released
and the cartridge exploded, and in no other position can the gun be fired
(Figs. 8 and 9).
Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4 shew the trigger and catch as adapted to an ordinary
fire-arm converted according to this Invention; Fig. 10 shows a form of
trigger and catch which we use in new guns made according to this Invention,
the trigger P being prevented from hanging loose by a small spring not
shown in the Drawing.
Fig. 11 is another modification which we sometimes prefer where the
trigger, spring, and catch are all made in one piece as shewn.
Having now described our said Invention we wish it to be understood that
we do not claim the making of fire-arms closed at the breech, and in which
cartridges are exploded by means of needles or strikers; but we claim as our
Invention,
First, the novel combination of the several parts of the fire-arms herein
described.
Second, the novel arrangement of the plunger case, plunger, and striker as
described for the purpose of opening or closing breech-loading fire-arms and
cocking them ready for firing by one movement.
Third, the novel arrangement of apparatus as described for extracting
cartridge cases.

page_text: Fourth, the novel arrangement of triggers, springs, and catches as described
for the purpose of discharging fire-arms.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Greves, on behalf of myself
and the said Daniel Dowling, have hereunto set my hand and seal,
this Fifth day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-seven.
Witness,
WILLIAM SPENCE,
8, Quality Court.
CHARLES GREVES. (L.S.)