IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING AND SELF-CAPPING FIRE-ARMS, AND IN PERCUSSION CAPS OR PRIMERS, AND IN THE MODE OF APPLYING SUCH PERCUSSION CAPS OR PRIMERS. TO FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1855

page_text: ETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields,
in the County of Middlesex, and of Glasgow, North Britain, Gentleman,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING AND SELF-CAPPING
FIRE-ARMS, AND IN PERCUSSION CAPS OR PRIMERS, AND IN THE MODE OF
APPLYING SUCH PERCUSSION CAPS OR PRIMERS. TO FIRE-ARMS."-A communi-
cation from William Pratt, of the City of Baltimore, in the State of
Maryland, in the United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
24th July 1855.
1, JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
Middlesex, and of Glasgow, North Britain, Gentleman, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING AND SELF-
CAPPING FIRE-ARMS, AND IN PERCUSSION CAPS OR PRIMERS, AND IN THE MODE OF
APPLYING SUCH PERCUSSION CAPS OR PRIMERS TO FIRE-ARMS," a communication
from William Pratt, of the City of Baltimore, in the State of Maryland,
in the United States of America, to be as follows:-
This Invention relates, first, to an improved construction and arrangement
of faucet breech for breech-loading fire-arms, whereby the breech is rendered
less liable to become clogged or fouled under repeated and rapid discharges
than in the existing arrangements.
Another modification of the Invention relates to peculiar constructions and

page_text: arrangements of self-acting mechanism for capping the arm, either by the action
of cocking the gun or by a separate manipulator, the caps being supplied from
a suitable magazine attached to the gun.
Another portion of the Invention relates to an improved cap or priming for
fire-arms.
The improvements under the first head of the Invention consist in so con-
structing the faucet brecchi as to admit the charge through it into the main
breech, the faucet being groved, cut away, or chamfered, so as to break the
continuity of the joint in the breech, for the purpose of preventing the con-
densed portion of the explosion from extending over more than a small portion
of the breech joint, and allowing the faucet to be readily opened and closed
after repeated discharges of the arm. This grooved faucet is made slightly
tapering or conical, and is kept perfectly tight in its seat by means of a stiff
spring or screw acting endwise thereon. This conical form of faucet allows
also for the compensation of the wear as it takes place. The grooved faucet is
actuated by any convenient form or arrangement of lever, and may be placed
either vertically or horizontally in the breach; in some cases it may be actuated
by the trigger guard. In arms of large calibre the axis of the grooved faucet
is placed slightly below the axis of the bore of the arm, whereby the socket of
the faucet need not be inconveniently raised above the breech, thus allowing
the sights to be placed in the ordinary manner without the necessity of raising
them above the surface of the barrel; a key or wedge piece fits into an inclined
groove in the back of the grooved faucet, and is connected with the faucet
lever, by which means the faucet may be tightened before firing, and slackened
when it is to be opened again. In order to prevent the premature ignition of
the charge before the breech is fairly closed, the cap nipple is so placed on the
faucet and in such a relative position to the haminer as to be turned away
from under it till after the breech is closed. In cases when the nipple is
placed upon the barrel, a projecting piece of metal is placed on the end of the
faucet or on its actuating lever, which piece abuts against the hammer when
the breech is open, thereby preventing its fall upon the cap nipple until the
breech is closed.
Under the second-head-of-this-Invention,--the-improvements consist,
according to one modification, of cap holder or carrier, and wedged or in-
clined cap fixer, for fitting or pressing the cap brought forward by the carrier
on to the nipple. Both the fixer and carrier slide on the top plate of the
lock, and work in connection with each other, being actuated either by
the hammer of the lock, or by hand, when not connected with or worked
by the lock. The caps, which may be of the ordinary construction, are con-

page_text: tained in a suitable magazine or tube, placed in the stock either forward or
behind the lock, and carried at its discharging end, so as to present the caps
in the same angle which they assume when on the nipple. The caps are kept
pushed forward by a volute spring and piston, similar to an ordinary watch
spring, or they may be fed up by a weight, compressed air, or other convenient
arrangement. The cap is forced out of the tube into the cap carrier, which
then moves forward and brings it over the nipple; the fixer then moves for-
ward, and its inclined end presses the cap out of its holder on to the nipple,
whereupon the whole moves back again to receive another cap and allow the
hammer to descend. When worked by the cock, a slotted arm and spring
actuates the slides, and this arm is worked by a pin on the hammer.
According to another modification, a single slide may be used for bringing
the cap over the nipple, a pin being fitted into the striking face of the hammer,
which in its descent forces the cap out of the carrier on to the nipple and
then explodes it. This slide or carrier is worked by the hammer itself.
The improvements under the third head of the Invention consists in forming
a continuous chain of shallow caps, which are struck up by suitable stamping
mechanism on a strip or ribbon of copper, soft brass, Muntz's metal, or other
suitable material, the superfluous metal between each cap or cup being
subsequently cut away by another machine for that purpose, thus leaving a
very small piece of metal between each cap to keep them joined in the form
of a chain. This chain of caps is placed in a suitable slot or groove in the top
of the lock plate, or in a plate attached thereto, and is moved forward either
when the hammer descends or when it is cocked by means of a suitable catch
or pall connected with the hammer. A fixed chisel or cutter is fitted near
the nipple to sever the cap on the descent of the hammer, one portion of the
face of the hammer descending on to the chisel, and cutting off the cap
simultaneously with its explosion.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 24th January 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
and of Glasgow, North Britain, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of July, in the year of our Lord

page_text: One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the nineteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said John Henry Johnson, Her special license that I, the said John Henry
Johnson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said John Henry Johnson, my executors, administrators, or 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 "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN BREECH-LOADING AND SELF-CAPPING FIRE-ARMS, AND IN PERCUSSION CAPS
OR PRIMERS, AND IN THE MODE OF APPLYING SUCH PERCUSSION CAPS OR PRIMERS TO
FIRE-ARMS," a communication from William Pratt, of the City of Baltimore,
in the State of Maryland, in the United States of America, upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said John Henry Johnson, by an instrument in
writing under my hand and seal, 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.
per-
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Henry Johnson, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manuer the same is to be
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:
The said Invention relates to certain improved constructions and arrange-
ments of breech-loading and self-capping fire-arms, and also to an improved
construction of chain caps or primers. The improvements consist,-
Firstly, in constructing breech-loading fire-arms of the class technically
known as faucet breech, in such a manner as to prevent the clogging or fouling
of the moving parts, so that the arm may be readily opened and closed in the
breech after rapid and repeated discharges, and to compensate for the wear of
the moving parts under use.
Secondly, of a method or methods of capping or priming the arm by the
action of the lock, or by a separate manipulation, using the ordinary percussion
cap, or an improved chain cap, which I shall herein-after describe.
In arms of small calibre the faucet breech is made in the ordinary manner,
being slightly tapering, to allow of its more readily grinding into its place, and
maintaining the breech joint tight under wear. This is effected by drawing
action of a screw or spring.
or thrusting the faucet further into its seat by the

page_text: The surface of this faucet is cut away, except so much of it as will cover the
base of the bore, and it is also cut away or grooved at the opposite side, which
abuts against the seat in which the faucet turns. It will be seen from this, that
only a small portion of the breech joint can become clogged by the condensed
residuum of the explosion, as this cutting away or longitudinal grooving breaks
the continuity of the joint, and gives vent to the breech. The faucet can thus
be readily turned in its seat by a lever for this purpose. The hole or opening
through the faucet being turned in a line with the bore forms a prolongation
of the bore, and admits the charge into the main barrel, and when turned so
as to present the solid portion of the faucet to the base of the bore, forms a
closed end to it capable of resisting the explosion. In small arms, as in sport-
ing rifles, this grooving or cutting away of the surface of the faucet is sufficient
to free the breech, as the faucet being small, the lever for opening and closing it
has sufficient power to overcome the resistance of the joint. In arms of large
calibre this process of grooving or cutting away of the surface is not alone
sufficient, as the surface of the faucet is necessarily greater, and the force of
the explosion much increased; therefore, in such arms I form a recess in the
back of the cylinder or faucet furthest from the bore of the barrel, and the metal
is there so cut away or grooved as to allow of a slight free play of the faucet
in its seat. This groove or recess is fitted with a wedge-shaped key, which is
attached to the lever used for turning the faucet. Supposing the arm to be
discharged and the faucet stuck firmly in its seat, the lever (which is jointed
in the faucet and attached to the wedge or key) is first drawn a slight distance
from the side of the gun; this movement, which thrusts or draws the wedge
from the faucet, releases it, so that a small power applied in rotating the lever
easily turns the faucet in its seat and exposes the bore. The gun being
charged, a reverse movement of the lever (viz, rotating it to close the bore,
and then pressing it towards the gun,) firmly secures it in its place to resist
the discharge.
For preventing the premature ignition of the charge before the breech is
perfectly closed, I place the cap nipple upon the grooved faucet in such a
relative position to the hammer as to be turned away from under it until after
the breech is closed; but where the nipple is placed upon the barrel, as is
ordinarily done, I place a piece of metal upon the faucet, or the lever which
turns it, which piece of metal abuts against the hammer when the breech is
open, and thereby prevents its fall upon the cap nipple, but allows it to fall
freely the instant the breech is closed.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood, I shall now
proceed particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose I shall refer to

page_text: the several Figures on the Sheets of Drawings hereunto annexed, the same
letters of reference indicating corresponding parts throughout all the Figures.
Fig. 1 on Sheet 1 of my Drawings represents a side elevation of my
improved faucet breech, applicable to all sizes of fire-arms. A represents the
brecch-piece, in which the faucet B turns; C. the stock of the arm; D, the
nipple attached to the faucet; E is the lever for turning the faucet in its seat,
which lever is jointed in a recess cut in the end of the faucet, and turns on
the pin F, F. The opening & through the breech piece, shewn in dotted lines,
is to allow of the exit of any superfluous powder. Fig. 2 represents a top
view of the breech portion of the gun, with the breech partly cut away to
shew the faucet more clearly; H represents the wedge-shaped key, connected
to the lever E; I is the hole for loading; and J, the corresponding hole in the
faucet, shewn in dotted lines. Figs. 3 and 4 represent a section and side
elevation in detail of the faucet detached; it is recessed at K to receive the
wedge or key H, and the opening or slot L is where the lever E is inserted.
In the end view of the faucet, the smoke grooves are represented at M, M.
Fig. 5 represents a side elevation of the other portion or side of the faucet,
shewing the smoke grooves M and passage N, communicating between the
nipple and the front part of the faucet. O is a cap, screwed on to the end of
the faucet to prevent it from slipping out of its place, the cap being slightly
larger than the hole or seat in which the faucet turns. Fig. 6 shows the
simple connection of the wedge H and lever E, working on the fixed centre F
in the faucet. Figs. 7 and 8 represent an end and side elevation of a faucet
used in arms of very small calibre, the wedge in this case not being necessary.
P, Fig. 9, is a screw, which holds the lever to the faucet, and at the same time
The nipple
tightens the cylinder or faucet by drawing it further into its seat.
in this arrangement is not placed on the faucet, but on the barrel.
grooves M are also shewn in these Figures. Fig. 10 shews the application of
a piece of metal Q, which is screwed either to the lever E or to the faucet B,
to prevent the fall of the hammer S on the nipple while the breech is open.
The other portions of this Figure are not referred to, as their uses are common
-to-all-arms; the nipple in this case is placed on the barrel instead of on the
faucet.
The smoke
The method of arranging the parts of the arm is of course subordinate to
the above generally described arrangement, and depends on the use for which
the arm is intended. In arms of large calibre, I place the axis of the faucet
below the axis of the bore of the arm, that is, eccentric to it; the object
of this is to have as much solid metal in the faucet as is necessary to resist the
explosion without raising the metal in which the faucet turns so far above the

page_text: upper surface of the barrel as would be otherwise necessary, thus allowing
the sights to be placed as ordinarily, instead of raising them some distance
from the surface of the gun.
The faucet must turn about one quarter of a revolution to open and close
the breech, which may be done by a lever of any convenient form attached
to either end of the faucet. When attached to the smaller end, the same
screw which holds the lever upon the cone or faucet may also be the means of
tightening the breech by drawing the faucet further through both the breech
and lever. The lever may be variously formed and placed, and still falfil the
required conditions; it may be placed running either forward or back, lying
closely to the stock, an upward or downward motion opening the breech, or it
may lie over the breech strap, and a portion of it form a cover to the opening
in the breech piece through which the charge is introduced. The trigger
guard may also be made to form the lever by placing the faucet vertically
instead of horizontally, and turning to one side to open the breech; or where
the wedge key is used, a downward motion will draw the key, and a lateral
motion open and close the breech. The bore of the breech being slightly
enlarged, it forms a chamber into which the cartridge is easily dropped. The
end of the cartridge may be cut off in the upward motion of closing the
breech, or made with a spring, which pulls it open, and thereby exposes the
powder. The ball should be thoroughly covered with tallow, or a mixture of
tallow and bees-wax, which at the same time diminishes the friction and
reduces the leading of the bore. When cartridges are not used, the ball is
dropped into the gun, and the powder poured from a graduated flask into the
breech, which when closed is ready for discharging.
The second part of the Invention relates to the placing of the common per-
cussion cap upon the nipple, either by the action of the lock in cocking or
discharging the gun, or by any independant and separate manipulation. To
effect this object, where the common percussion cap is used, the magazine or
cap tube is placed in any convenient situation upon the arm; the caps are
introduced therein by a suitable opening, and pressed forward towards the
nipple by the action either of a spring, a weight, compressed air, or other con-
venient means. It is necessary that the cap tube or magazine should be so
placed and formed as to allow the cap to enter the cap carrier or slide in the
same angle as the nipple which subsequently receives it. The cap carrier
is made in one or two parts, according to the intended operation of the capper;
the carrier is connected with the hammer or other part of the lock in such a
manner that upon half cocking the arm the carrier remains stationary; but
upon full cocking the same, the carrier cither slides forward with the cap,

page_text: placing it on the nipple, and retreats upon the act of firing the gun, or it is
drawn back upon cocking the piece over the mouth of the magazine, receiving
therefrom a cap, which is carried forward by the hammer in the act of firing,
driven upon the nipple through the carrier, and exploded by a pin placed in
the face of the hammer.
Figs. 11 and 12 represent, in longitudinal section and side elevation, one
method of constructing the self-acting primer for ordinary percussion caps.
The primer is here applied to a gun with a back-action lock, the cap tube
being placed forward under the barrel, and the slide or carrier is placed on a
picce of metal attached to the lock plate. A represents the barrel; B, the
cap tube; C, the spring box; D, a volute spring, which is similar to a common
watch spring, attached to the piston E; a stud d serves to draw out the
spring D and piston E when requisite. is a small cover or lid in the tube B,
opening on a hinge to admit the caps. A slot in the under part of the cap
tube admits the screw, which secures the spring to the piston, and allows it to
slide freely along the tube, pressing forward in its action the caps F towards
the capper G and H, which slides forward upon the piece of metal I, placed
above the lock plate. The capper is composed of the two slides G and H,
the slide G being represented in detail, side elevation and plan, at Fig. 1 on
Sheet 2 of the Drawings. The slide H is also shewn in side elevation and
plan at Fig. 2. The slide G is inclined at one end, and slides in a short slot
g in the carrier or slide H, which is fitted with a cap holder h. It is formed
like a spring in the middle, and projects over the end of the carrier H, both
being secured to the plate I by the screw J. Fig. 3 is a side elevation and
plan view of the plate I, upon which the carrier El slides; i being the hole
through which the caps pass into the holder of the cap carrier; and B, the
cap tube. Fig. 4 represents, in section, the action of the spring slide G
when forcing the cap upon the nipple K, after the cap has been carried
forward thereto inside the holder h by the movement of the slide or cap
carrier H. The holder h is slotted to admit the inclined end of the slide or
inserter G to work through it.
Fig-5-represents-an-arrangement of self-acting capper actuated by the
hammer of the lock. This capper throws the cap forward, places it on
the nipple, and retreats again to its place by the act of cocking and dis-
charging the arm. A is the lock plate; B, the hammer; G and H, the
two slides of the capper, herein-before described; J, the screw holding them
to the lock plate; L is a metal arm working between the lock plate and
hammer on the centre l. A long slot is made in one end of the arm, and
a spring M is screwed on to the other end. The slot allows a small

page_text: ping on the top slide G to play in it, and the spring M is always bearing
against a pin h in the under slide H. N is a strong spring, which is screwed
to the lock plate, and presses against the arm L in such a manner as always
to throw the slides G and H back. There is a small pin b attached to the
cock, which works in the slot c at the foot of the arm L. It will thus be
seen from the above arrangement, that ou pulling the hammer back to half
cock the parts of the capper will not move, but upon full cocking the piece
the pin enters the slot c, and lifts the arm L forward. The spring M,
bearing against the pin h in the lower slide H, moves the whole forward over
the nipple; the lower slide then remains stationary, and the spring M allows
the slot in the upper end of the arm L to move the upper inclined slide G
forward, pressing the cap downward by the action of its wedge-shaped point.
When the arm is discharged, the spring N bears against the lower end of the
arm L, and throws the whole back into position before the hammer reaches
the nipple K. The caps may be pushed forward into the slides in the manner
shewn in Fig. 11, Sheet 1, or the magazine may be placed in the stock, and
the caps pushed forward by a helical spring. Fig. 6 represents the method of
arranging the capper where only a single slide H is used, and the cap is placed
on the nipple by the forward action of the cock in discharging the arm, the
caps being pushed or fed up by the action of a spiral spring. This Figure
also shews the inside form of the cock to drive forward the carrier, it being
necessary that the cap should reach a point exactly over the nipple before the
pin A in the face of the hammer reaches it, and also on withdrawing the hammer
that the pin should be released from the hole in the slide EI before the slide
commences its backward movement. The shape here represented, by acting
against the pins I, I, in the slide, which is shewn detached, produces this
effect; a slot also of the same general figure, with a single stud or pin working
in it, would answer the same purpose.
Fig. 7 represents another modification of the capper where the cap is placed
on the nipple by the act of discharging the arm. In this the caps arc placed
forward by a spiral spring
in a tube under the breech strap, and are fed
placed in the breech, or in a channel made in the upper part of the lock
plate; in this the caps are placed side by side instead of being placed endwise,
and on cocking the gun a cap is pushed up into the carrier, and held there
till the arm is discharged. I represents a slide working in a recess made in
the plate fitted above the lock plate; this slide carries forward the cap, which
is pushed up into it on cocking the gun by the action of the arm n, which
works between the hammer E and lock plate, and is actuated by the spring m,
which is fixed to the hammer, and raises the arm on cocking the gun. On

page_text: discharging the arm the slide is carried forward by the mechanism shewn at
Fig. 6, and the cap is driven on the nipple by the pin in the face of the
hammer as it descends; at the same time a small pino on the inside of the
hammer throws down the arm n in the slot, and allows another cap to enter
from the magazine to be ready for again cocking the arm. Fig. 8 represents
the picce of metal in which the slide H works, as well as the arm n, for
forcing up the cap into the slide; the dotted lines shew the caps and channel
through which they pass.
I
Fig. 9 represents the improved construction of percussion caps in a continuous
chain or strip, and constitutes a portion of the second part of the Invention.
take a strip A of copper or other suitable metal, such as soft brass or Muntz
metal, of convenient length, say, from one to three feet, or longer.
This strip
of copper is rather wider than the cup of the cap before it is stamped up. The
metal should be about the thickness of the best percussion caps, as it spreads
a little in forming, and should be thoroughly annealed and softened. It is
then passed under a suitable die, any convenient reciprocating motion operating
the same. The bed piece over which the strip is passed has depressions sunk in
it corresponding to the raised portions of the moving die; this strip of copper.
being fed forward by a graduated movement, comes out in the form of a
narrow ribbon B, having shallow cups raised upon its surface. It is then
passed through another moving die, which cuts off all the superfluous metal,
leaving only the caps with a narrow strip of copper between them, as at C;
this string of caps is now passed under any convenient form of filling machine,
and the requisite amount of any of the ordinary percussion powders placed
therein. When it is desirous to make the caps waterproof, they may be var-
nished with a solution of gutta percha or india-rubber dissolved in chloroform,
or any other waterproof varnish. D represents the chain, with the metal left
at each side instead of at the centre of the cap; and E represents the chain of
caps in section. Fig. 10 represents an arrangement of self-capping mechanism
to be used with my chain primers; and Figs. 11, 12, and 13 are details of
the same detached. In using these caps, a piece of metal is fastened either
-to-the-lock plate, or the-lock plate is made rather wider than usual, and in
this a slot A is cut the eutire length, and of sufficient capacity to allow the
chain of caps B to move freely from one end to the other.
On the upper
portion of the part containing this channel or groove is hinged or jointed at C
another piece of metal D, (Fig. 13,) running under the hammer, and kept in
position by a stiff spring E. This piece of metal is recessed or hollowed out,
so as to allow the insertion of a small detent or spring F (Fig. 13), the end
of which presses on the chain caps between each cap, allowing the cap to

page_text: nove forward, but not to move back. Working in the same recess and
attached to the hammer is a pall or catch G, Fig. 13, which carries the chain
of caps forward. It slides over the cap in its backward motion, and carries
the string of caps forward when the arm is discharged, or by the intervention
of an arm (Fig. 11), attached to the cock. The pall or catch will throw
the cap forward on cocking the arm, instead of throwing it forward when
the arm is discharged. Immediately forward of the jointed piece D is a small
knife or chisel I, pressed upward by a spring, not shewn in the Drawing; the
link of metal between the caps lays over this knife when a cap is over the
nipple, and a flat surface on the face of the hammer J (Fig. 12) cuts off'
the link upon the hammer striking the cap. After the chain of caps has
become exhausted, the jointed piece of metal D is lifted up, taking with it both
the spring F, which holds the caps in position, and the pall G, which throws
the caps forward, thus allowing of the ready insertion of another string or
chain of caps. The jointed piece is then shut down, and the arm is ready for
use so far as priming is concerned. The pall G is attached to the hammer by
a link K (Fig. 13), and is fitted with a pin g, working in a slot d in the jointed
piece D.
The detail, Fig. 12, shews the curved slot j on the inside of the hammer J,
in which the pin % of the link K plays, which link draws forward the pall G,
to which it is attached at g, when the arm is discharged. I propose applying
the herein-before described arrangements for capping or priming fire-arms to
all sizes and classes of armis, whether muzzle-loading or receiving the charge
at the breech, and ordinarily known as breech-loaders.
I may here observe that faucet brecch-loading fire-arms, and also smoke
grooves or chambering in the metal surrounding the breech, as well as in
ordinary cylindrical faucets, have been long known and used; I therefore wish
it to be distinctly understood that I lay no claim to these arrangements taken
separately, but confine myself to the herein-before described peculiar combina-
tion of the same.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the
said Invention, and the mauner in which the same is or may be used
or carried into effect, I would observe, in conclusion, that I do not confine or
restrict myself to the precise details or arrangements which I have had
occasion to describe or refer to, as many variations may be made therefrom
without deviating from the principles or main features of the said Invention;
but what I consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Inven-
tion secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,-
First, the system or mode of slackening and tightening the faucets of

page_text: breech-loading fire-arms, in the manner and for the purpose herein-before
described, and illustrated on the Drawings.
Second, the application and use of a conical or tapered faucet, admitting of
the charge being entirely passed transversely through it into the gun, and
having its surface grooved, chambered, or cut away to prevent clogging, in
combination with the means of tightening up the faucet in its seat to allow
for wear, as herein-before described.
Third, the arrangement by which the cap nipple is adapted to and placed
upon my peculiar conical or tapered and grooved faucet, and also the mode
of preventing the accidental descent of the hammer on the cap when the
cap nipple is fitted on to the barrel of the gun, in the manner and for the
purpose hercin-before described.
Fourth, the arrangement by which my peculiar conical or tapered and
grooved faucet is placed slightly below the central axis of the bore of the gun,
in the manner and for the purpose herein-before described.
Fifth, the arrangements or combinations of mechanism for placing the
ordinary cap or primer on the nipple, as herein-before described, and illus-
trated on the Drawings.
Sixth, the peculiar construction of chain caps or continuous primers, wherein
all superfluous metal is cut away or removed, as herein-before described, and
illustrated on the Drawings.
Seventh, the arrangement or combination of mechanism for pushing for-
ward, holding in place, and cutting off the improved chain caps or continuous
primers, as herein-before described, and illustrated on the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of January, One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-six.