IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Villin, of Piccadilly, in the County of Middlesex,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS."
Sealed the 23rd July 1878, and dated the 24th January 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Villin at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th January 1878.
CHARLES VILLIN, of Piccadilly, in the County of Middlesex.
IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS."
"IMPROVEMENTS
My Invention relates to an improved construction and arrangement of breech
mechanism applicable to breech-loading fire-arms.
This mechanism comprises three principal moving parts, viz., a moveable breech
or drop block, a link or connecting piece of the drop block, and an arm or lever for
actuating it. The link or connecting piece serves to communicate motion to the
block, and is mounted at one extremity on a pin passing through the body under-
neath the breech chamber and projecting out of the body, where it is attached to
the said arm or lever, by the act of moving which a partial rotary motion is imparted
to the block at the required periods. At the other extremity of the link or
connecting piece of the drop block there is formed a slot by which it is connected
to a pin passing through the drop block, and serving to transmit motion to the
same.
The drop block consists of a piece of iron, steel, or other suitable metal, the front
face of which is flat and rectangular, so as to bear tightly against the rear extremity
of the barrel. This breech block has a vertical or nearly vertical motion in grooves
formed inside the body, such motion being obtained by operating the lever or arm
and the connecting link herein-before referred to. The said grooves are made of
slightly greater width at the lower part than at the upper in both directions, so as
to avoid the friction of the block when the latter leaves its position facing the barrel
of the gun.
The breech block is traversed by a striking pin which extends throughout its

page_text: length, and projects a short distance behind at the place where it is acted on by a
hammer herein-after described. A helical spring which surrounds the front end of
the striking pin and bears against a shoulder in the block serves to bring back the
striking pin after firing.
Underneath the explosion chamber there is formed a dovetailed groove, in which
is placed a cartridge extractor with a flat, round, or oval stem. This extractor bears
against the rear end of the explosion chamber where it engages with the flange of
the cartridge, and is actuated by a hook or tooth formed on the end of the link of
the drop block.
The external arm or lever which works the drop block is situate by preference on
the right-hand side of the barrel, and its rear extremity when the breech is closed
lies immediately above the trigger guard, so as to be within reach of the hand of
the operator.
The hammer projects from a segmental or curved boss which acts as a tumbler
turning on a pin passed through the body; this tumbler is provided with two bents,
a full-cock bent and a half-cock bent, which engage at the proper moment with the
trigger. The trigger guard and trigger plate are formed together in one piece, and
this compound plate is provided on its upper and inner side with two springs, one
at each extremity, fitted, dovetailed, or set into the plate, so as practically to form one
piece; one of these springs acts upon the link of the breech block, and the other is
the mainspring of the hammer.
The trigger plate is provided with projections of a dovetailed shape engaging with
other projections of a counterpart form on the body, it being inserted in its place
by a sliding motion and finally secured by screws.
The whole mechanism of the gun with the exception of the external lever is
enclosed in the said body or case (composed of metal) so as to be completely protected
from dust and damp. The circular or curved form of the boss of the hammer
enables it to rotate on its axis without exposing the interior of the breech box.
The breech is operated in the following manner:-The arm or lever is turned
round a sufficient distance which partially rotates the link or connecting piece herein-
before referred to and causes the drop block to descend, the slot formed in such link
or connecting piece affording the requisite play, so as to admit of the downward
motion; the cartridge is then inserted, after which the arm or lever is turned in the
reverse direction and acting on the slotted arm causes the block to rise to its former
position, and close the breech ready for firing, the slotted link or connecting piece
having the effect of locking or fixing the breech in that position.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Charles Villin in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 24th July
1878.
CHARLES VILLIN, of Piccadilly, in the County of Middlesex.
IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS."
•
"IMPROVEMENTS
My said Invention relates to that description of breech-loading fire-arms in which
a "drop" breech block is employed, the breech being opened by the descent of the
said block, and closed by the block being raised to its normal position behind the
open rear end of the breech chamber, and it consists of an improved construction,
arrangement, and combination of the parts of the mechanism of the gun, whereby
the number of component parts is reduced, and greater simplicity and strength,
together with facility and economy in manufacture are obtained.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood, I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to
the several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings, the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying Drawings represent longitudinal sections
of the breech portion of a breech-loading fire-arm constructed in accordance with
my said Invention, the parts being shewn in the two Figures in two different
respective positions, and Figures 3 and 4 are transverse sections of the same taken
respectively along the lines 1-2, and 3-4, in Figure 1, and corresponding to that
Figure.
The breech mechanism comprises three principal moving parts, videlicet, A drop
breech block A, a link or connecting piece B, and an arm or lever C for actuating
the said drop breech block.
The breech block A, which is composed of iron, steel, or other suitable material, is
formed at its front part with a flat rectangular surface, so as to bear tightly against
the breech end of the barrel A' containing the cartridge chamber B', whilst the
sides of the said breech block at a, a, are made slightly wedge-shaped in both
directions, diminishing upwards, and are adapted to grooves at b, b, of corresponding
form in the shoe D, in which the block A works in its falling and rising motions,
the sides a, a, being in contact with the surface b, b, when the block A is in its
normal elevated position, as shewn in Figure 1, but gradually liberated from
contact in both directions, so as to avoid friction, as the block is depressed from
the said elevated position into the position shewn in Figure 2.
The breech block is traversed by a striking pin c, which extends throughout its
length, and projects a short distance behind, where it is acted upon by a hammer E
for the ignition of the priming and explosion of the charge, a helical spring which
surrounds the front end of the striking pin and bears against a shoulder in the block
being employed to bring back the striking pin c after firing.
The breech block A is supported and is actuated (so as to be raised and lowered
as required in a vertical or nearly vertical direction) by the link or connecting piece B,
which is formed at one end with a slot d and attached to the block by a pin e
passing through the latter and through the slot d, whilst the opposite end of the
link B is fast on a pin f, passing through the shoe D, and formed in one piece with the
arm or lever C, by the aid of which the link B is moved, and the block A is thence
actuated.
The arm or lever C is situate by preference on the right-hand side of the barrel,
as shewn, and its rear extremity when the breech is closed lies immediately
above the trigger guard F, so as to be within reach of the hand of the operator.
The extractor for withdrawing the cases of the discharged cartridges consists of a
segmental rim G, having a stem g, which is formed with bevelled sides adapted to a
dovetailed groove or recess at h, h, made in the lower part of the cartridge chamber.
The flange of the cartridge (when the latter is introduced into the chamber B') is

page_text: situate on the rear side of the rim G and in contact therewith, so that when the
extractor is retracted after the discharge, the case of the exploded cartridge will be
withdrawn. This motion of the extractor is obtained from the link B, which is
provided on its fore end with a hook or tooth i for acting upon the fore part of the
stem of the extractor G, in order to draw back the same. The extractor is returned
to its normal position by the pressure of the drop block A in the act of closing the
breech.
The hammer consists of the actuating portion E and of a segmental or curved
boss k, from which the latter projects, and which acts as a tumbler turning on a pin l,
which passes through the shoe D, and being provided with a full-cock bent m and
a balf-cock bent n which engage with the trigger o at the requisite periods. By
reason of the elongated shape of the segmental or curved boss kit is enabled to
rotate upon its axis without exposing the interior of the shoe D. The trigger
guard E is formed in one piece with the trigger plate F', and this compound plate is
provided on its upper side with two springs p, q, fitted, dovetailed, or set into the
plate, so as practically to form one piece therewith, the spring p acts upon the
link B, whilst the spring 9 forms the main-spring of the hammer.
The trigger plate is provided with lugs or projections 7, 8, of a dovetailed shape
engaging with lugs or projections r, s, of a counterpart form on the shoe D, it
being inserted in its place by a sliding motion in the direction from the breech to
the muzzle, and finally secured by screws t.
The whole of the mechanism with the exception of the arm or lever C is enclosed
in the shoe D (composed of metal), and is thus completely protected from dust and
damp.
The gun is operated in the following manner, videlicet:-The hammer E is first
drawn back and the arm or lever C is turned from the position shewn in Figure 1 to
that indicated in Figure 2, whereby the link B is partially rotated, and the breech block
A caused to descend, thereby exposing the cartridge chamber B¹, as shewn in the latter
Figure. The extractor G is also simultaneously and by the same movement retracted,
thus withdrawing or expelling the empty cartridge case, if one be contained in the
cartridge chamber B'. A fresh cartridge is then inserted and the arm or lever C is
turned in a direction the reverse of that of its previous motion, thus elevating the
block and returning the extractor to the position shewn in Figure 1, when the gun
may be discharged by acting upon the trigger o in the usual manner.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said Invention
and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect, I would
observe in conclusion that I do not claim generally the use of breech mechanism for
breech-loading fire-arms in which a drop breech block is employed, but what I
consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me
by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the construction, arrange-
nient, and combination of the parts of a breech-loading fire-arm, substantially as and
for the purposes herein-before described, and as illustrated by the accompanying
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Villin, have to this my Specification set
my hand and seal, the Twenty-fourth day of July One thousand eight
hundred and seventy sight
CH. VILLIN. (L.S.)