IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Tertius Harlow, of Upper Saltley, near Bir-
mingham, in the County of Warwick, Printer, and Edmund Harlow, of
Balsall Heath, in the County of Worcester, Gun Maker, for the Inven-
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Tertius Harlow and
Edmund Harlow at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 28th September 1863.
We, JOHN TERTIUS HARLOW, of Upper Saltley, near Birmingham, in the
County of Warwick, Printer, and EDMUND HARLOW, of Balsall Heath, in the
County of Worcester, Gun Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS," to be as
follows:-
Our Invention principally relates to those kinds of breech-loading fire-arms
in which the barrels turn upon a joint upon the body, the breech ends of the
said barrels being raised from the face of the break-off for loading,, and
depressed and held firmly against the face of the said break-off during
discharge..
Our improvements in breech-loading fire-arms of the kind described consist,
firstly, of the improvements herein-after described in locking down the barrels
during discharge; secondly, of the improvements herein-after described in
fitting the lump on the under side of the barrels and that part of the body into

page_text: which the lump enters so as to transfer the strain which occurs on discharge
from the joint of the barrels to the said fitted parts; thirdly, of the improve-
ments herein-after described in regulating the distance to which the breech
ends of the barrels may rise when the said breech ends are opened for charging;
fourthly, of the improvements herein-after described in extracting the cases
of the discharged cartridges from the breech ends of the barrels.
Our improvements in locking down the barrels of the said breech-loading
fire-arms are as follows:-In locking down the barrels according to one of our
improvements we use a bolt working in a slot in the lump on the under side
of the barrels. By projecting the said bolt forward when the barrels have been
shut down, the free end of the said bolt is made to enter a recess or opening
in the body immediately under the break-off, and securely hold or lock the
breech ends of the barrels firmly against the face of the break-off. Or the
locking bolt may work in a longitudinal slot in the body of the break-off, the
free end of the said bolt being made to engage in a recess or opening in a pro-
jecting part of the lump, the said bolt moving towards the break-off, or the bolt
may be passed through a projecting part of the lump into a recess or opening
in the body of the break-off adjoining the said lump. The bolts described may
be worked by means of any of the ordinary arrangements of levers, but we
prefer to work the said bolts by means of levers arranged as follows:-We
connect the lever to the bolt by means of a link or links, the said lever turning
on a joint, so as to be raised towards the muzzle ends of the barrels. The
said lever lies upon or engages with a recess in the stock beneath the barrels ;
or the lever may turn upon a joint, so as to be raised towards the shoulder
end of the fire-arm, and be fixed upon or in the body beneath the barrels.
We also lock the barrels by means of a bolt, which said bolt is withdrawn
from the end of the barrels by the action of the cock or hammer. In this
case a sliding bolt is situated behind the break-off, and passes through the
said break-off, and engages in the lump on the under side of the breech ends
of the barrels. The end of the bolt most distant from the barrels is cranked,
and to the said cranked end an arm or lever is jointed. A flat spring bears
against the end of the arm or lever, and presses the bolt into the lump on the
barrels when the said barrels are shut down. On the axis upon which the
cocks or hammers turn a cam is situated, having a tooth or projection on its
periphery. The said tooth or projection engages in a recess near the end of
the arm or lever connected with the bolt, and when the cocks or hammers are
raised to half-cock, the said tooth or projection withdraws the bolt from the
ends of the barrels, and permits the said barrels to be raised. On shutting
down the barrels for discharge, the bolt is pushed back by the lump on the

page_text: barrels, and when the barrels are shut down the locking bolt is urged forward
by its spring, and made to engage in the lump, and to lock the barrels firmly
during discharge.
Our improvements in fitting the lump, and that part of the body into which
the lump enters, are as follows:-In fire-arms of the ordinary construction the
lump on the under side of the barrels does not accurately fit the opening in
the body into which it enters, and the strain which occurs on discharge is
mainly thrown upon the joint on which the barrels turn. According to this
part of our Invention we fit on or into the lump a wedge or wedges, so that
the said wedges when the barrels are shut down shall accurately fit the opening
into which the lump enters. In place of or in addition to a wedge or wedges
on the lump a wedge or wedges may be fitted on or into that part of the
body into which the lump enters. By thus fitting the parts the strain which
occurs on the discharge of the fire-arm is borne by the said accurately-fitted
parts, and the joint wholly or nearly relieved of all strain.
Our improvements in regulating the distance to which the breech ends of
the barrels can rise when the said breech ends are raised for loading are as
follows:-We place a bar or projection across the under side of the body and
near the joint upon which the barrels turn, and upon the said joint we place
a projection. When the breech ends of the barrels are raised to the required
distance, the projection on the joint strikes against the bar on the body, and
the further rising motion of the barrels is arrested. Or the same object may
be attained by means of a pin on the body working in a slot in the joint.
When the barrels are raised, the pin works in the slot in the joint until it
strikes against a stop placed in the said slot, and the further rising motion of
the barrels is thereby arrested.
Our improvement in extracting or partially extracting the cases of the
discharged cartridges from the breech ends of the barrels is as follows:- We
joint a vertical lever to the front of the lump, that is, to that end of the lump
nearest the break-off. One arm of the said lever projects beyond the bottom
of the lump, and the end of the opposite arm of the said lever fits the circum-
ference of the end of the barrel, a recess being made for its reception. After
discharge, on raising the barrel, the projecting end of the arm of the lever
below the lump strikes against the face of the break-off, the opposite arm of the
said lever is thereby moved from the end of the barrel, bringing with it the
case of the discharged cartridge, the end of the said arm engaging behind the
flange on the end of the said cartridge case.
Our Invention relates further to those kinds of breech-loading fire-arms in
which the barrels are stationary, and consists of the improvements herein-after

page_text: described in closing the breech ends of the barrels during discharge, and
opening the said breech ends for the introduction of the charge. The barrel
is open from end to end, and on the under side of the breech end of the said
barrel a block is jointed, the said block moving in a vertical plane upon its
joint. The said block has somewhat the form of a sector of a circle, its upper
face being so shaped that when the said block is raised into a line with the
axis of the barrel it accurately fits and closes the end of the said barrel. The
said block is raised into and withdrawn from the breech end of the barrel by
means of a lever, the said lever being provided with an arm or projection,
which projection, when the block enters the end of the barrel, engages with a
recess in the said block, and thereby holds the said block firmly in its place
during discharge.
Our improvements may be applied both to single and double barrelled
breech-loading fire-arms.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Tertius Harlow and Edmund Harlow in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 23rd March 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JOHN
TERTIUS HARLOW, of Upper Saltley, near Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Printer, and EDMUND HARLOW, of Balsall Heath, in the County of
Worcester, Gun Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-seventh
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto us, the said John Tertius Harlow and Edmund Harlow, Her special
licence that we, the said John Tertius Harlow and Edmund Harlow, our
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said John
Tertius Harlow and Edmund Harlow, 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 Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that we, the said John Tertius Harlow and Edmund Harlow,
our exécutors or. administrators, by 'an instrument in writing under our or

page_text: their hands and seals, or under the hand and seal of one of us or them, 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 imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said John Tertius Harlow and Edmund
Harlow, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement thereof, that is to say:-
Our Invention relates chiefly to breech-loading fire-arms in which the
barrels turn in a vertical plane upon a joint upon the body, the breech ends
of the said barrels being raised from the face of the break-off for loading, and
depressed and held firmly against the face of the break-off during discharge.
Our improvements in breech-loading fire-arms of the kind described
consist, firstly, of the improvements herein-after described in locking down the
barrels during discharge; secondly, of the improvements herein-after described
in fitting the lump on the under side of the barrels, and that part of the body.
into which the lump enters, so as to transfer the strain which occurs on
discharge from the joint of the barrels to the said fitted parts; thirdly, of the
improvements herein-after described in regulating the distance to which
the breech ends of the barrels may rise when the said breech ends are opened
for charging; fourthly, of the improvements herein-after described in ex-
tracting the cases of the discharged cartridges from the breech ends of the
barrels.
Our improvements in locking down the barrels of the said breech-loading
fire-arms are as follows:-In locking down the barrels according to one of
our improvements we use a bolt working in a hole in the lump on the under
side of the barrels. By projecting the said bolt forward when the barrels
have been shut down the free end of the said bolt is made to enter a recess or
opening in the body immediately under the break-off, and securely hold or
lock the breech ends of the barrels firmly against the face of the break-off.
Or the locking bolt may work in a longitudinal hole in the body of the break-
off, the free end of the said bolt: being made to engage in a recess or opening
in a projecting part of the lump, the said bolt moving towards the break-off.
Or the bolt may be passed through a projecting part of the lump into a recess
or opening in the body of the break-off adjoining the said lump. The bolts
described may be worked by means of any of the ordinary arrangements of
levers, but we prefer to work the said bolts by means of levers arranged as
follows: We connect the lever to the bolt by means of a link or links, the

page_text: said lever turning on a joint so as to be raised towards the muzzle ends of the
barrels. The said lever lies upon or engages with a recess in the stock
beneath the barrels. Or the lever may turn upon a joint so as to be raised
towards the shoulder end of the fire-arm and be fixed upon or in the body
beneath the barrels. We also lock the barrels by means of a bolt, which
said bolt is withdrawn from the end of the barrels by the action of the cock or
hammer. In this case a sliding bolt is situated behind or in the break-off,
and passes through or out of the said break-off, and engages in the lump on
the under side of the breech ends of the barrels. The end of the bolt most
distant from the barrels is cranked, and to the said cranked end an arm or
link is jointed. A bent spring bears against the end of the arm or link and
presses the bolt into the lump on the barrels when the said barrels are shut
down. On the axis upon which the cock or hammer turns a cam is situated
having a tooth or projection on its periphery. The said tooth or projection
engages with the arm or link connected with the bolt, and as the cock or
hammer is raised to half-cock the said tooth or projection withdraws the bolt
from the ends of the barrels, and permits the said barrels to be raised. On
shutting down the barrels for discharge, the bolt is pushed back by the lump
on the barrels, and when the barrels are shut down the locking bolt is urged
forward by its spring and made to engage in the lump and to lock the barrels
firmly during discharge.
Our improvements in fitting the lump and that part of the body into which
the lump enters are as follows:-In fire-arms of the ordinary construction
the lump on the under side of the barrels does not accurately fit the opening
in the body into which it enters, and the strain which occurs on discharge is
mainly thrown upon the joint on which the barrels turn.
According to this part of our Invention we fit on or into the lump a wedge
or wedges, so that the said wedge or wedges when the barrels are shut down
shall entirely fill up the opening into which the lump enters. In place of or
in addition to a wedge or wedges on the lump, a wedge or wedges may be
fitted on or into that part of the body into which the lump enters. By thus
fitting the parts the strain which occurs on the discharge of the fire-arm is
borne by the said accurately fitted parts, and the joint wholly or mainly
relieved of strain.
Our improvements in regulating the distance to which the breech ends of
the barrels can rise when the said breech ends are raised for loading are as
follows: We place a bar or projection across the under side of the body and
near the joint upon which the barrels turn, and upon the said joint we place
a projection. When the breech ends of the barrels are raised to the required

page_text: distance the projection on the joint strikes against the bar on the body, and
the further rising motion of the barrels is arrested. Or the same object may
be attained by means of a pin or pins on the body working in a groove or
grooves in the joint. When the barrels are raised the pins work in the slots
in the joint until they strike against the end of the slots or against stops
placed in the said slots, and the further rising motion of the breech ends of
the barrels is thereby arrested.
Our improvement in extracting or partially extracting the cases of the
dischargéd cartridges from the breech ends of the barrels is as follows:-We
joint a vertical lever to the front of the lump, that is, to that end of the
lump nearest the break-off. One arm of the lever projects beyond the lump,
and the end of the opposite arm of the said lever fits the circumference of
the end of the barrel, a recess being made for its reception. After dis-
charge, on raising the barrel the projecting end of the arm of the lever strikes
against the face of the break-off, the opposite arm of the said lever is thereby
moved from the end of the barrel, bringing with it the case of the discharged
cartridge, the end of the said arm engaging behind the flange on the end of the
said cartridge case.
Our Invention relates further to breech-loading fire-arms in which the
barrels are stationary, and consists of the improvements herein-after described
in closing the breech ends of the barrels during discharge and opening the
said breech ends for the introduction of the charge. The barrel is open from
end to end, and on the breech end of the barrel a block is jointed, the said
block moving in a vertical plane upon its joint. The said block has somewhat
the form of a sector of a circle, its upper vertical face being so shaped that
when the said block is raised into a line with the axis of the barrel it
accurately fits and closes the breech of the said barrel. The said block is
raised into and withdrawn from the breech end of the barrel by means of a
lever, the said lever being provided with an arm or projection of a wedge
form, which projection, when the block enters the end of the barrels, lies
behind the said block and thereby holds or locks the said block firmly in its
place during discharge.
Our improvements may be applied both to single and double barrelled
breech-loading fire-arms.
Having explained the nature of our Invention, we will proceed to describe,
with reference to the accompanying Drawings, the manner in which the same
is to be performed.
Our first improvement in locking down the barrels of breech-loading

page_text: fire-arms known as drop-down guns is represented in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
and 6.
Figure 1 represents a longitudinal vertical section of a portion of a double-
barrelled breech-loading gun, containing this part of our Invention in com-
bination with other parts of our Invention, as herein-after explained, the barrels
of the gun being locked down ready for discharge; Figure 2 represents the
same with the bolt withdrawn and the barrels ready to be raised from the
break-off for charging; Figure 3 represents the same with the barrels raised
from the break-off, and their open ends exposed ready for the introduction of
the charge; Figure 4 represents a plan of the under side of the gun; Figure 5
represents a plan of the upper side of the body of the gun; and Figure 6
represents a plan of the upper side of the bolting mechanism of the gun.
The same letters of reference are employed to indicate the same parts in
Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.
a are the barrels of the gun turning in a vertical plane upon the joint b;
c is the break-off, against the face of which the breech ends of the barrels a
are held firmly during discharge; d is the lump on the under side of the
barrels, which said lump when the barrels are shut down enters an opening e
in the body f. In the said lump d we place a sliding bolt g working in a hole
in the said lump. The rear end of the said bolt is connected by a link h to
the short upper arm of the lever i, the said lever turning in a vertical plane
upon the axis, the free end of the said lever being turned towards the muzzle
ends of the barrels. The bolt g is shot forward from the lump into the recess c
in the break-off c (see Figure 1), or from the said lump (see Figure 3), when
it is at liberty to move by means of the spring k, the said spring also raising
the lever i into a recess on the under side of the stock. The free end of the
said spring k bears against a shoulder on the lever i, and by pressing upon
the said lever raises it and projects the bolt in the manner described and
represented. The manner in which the bolt g is connected to the link h, and
the said link to the arm of the lever i will be readily understood by an
examination of the Drawings.
When the parts of the gun are in the respective positions represented in
Figure 1 the bolt g is engaged in the recess in the break-off c, and the gun
is ready for discharge. After discharge, to unlock the barrels a for re-charging,
the lever i is depressed into the position represented in Figure 2, and the bolt
thereby withdrawn from out the recess c² in the break-off c into the lump d.
The barrels a can now be turned upon the joint 6 into the position represented
in Figure 3, in which position the barrels are ready for charging. The barrels

page_text: having been brought to the position Figure 3, the lever i is loosed from the
hand, when it is raised by the spring k into the position represented in
Figure 3. The charges having been introduced into the barrels they are
shut down against the face of the break-off c. On shutting down the barrels
the projecting bevilled end of the bolt g bears against the face of the break-off
and is pushed into the lump d, as represented in Figure 2.
When the barrels have been shut down to their fullest extent and the end of
the bolt g brought opposite the recess c in the break-off'c, the said bolt is pressed
forward by the spring k, acting through the arm and link h, and the end of
the said bult made to engage with the recess c² in the break-off c. The barrels
a are thereby locked down firmly against the face of the break-off, as repre-
sented in Figure 1, and the gun is again ready for discharge. Simultaneously
with the shooting of the bolt g, the lever i, which had been depressed to the
position, Figure 2, during the shutting down of the barrels, is raised into the
recess on the under side of the stock, the said lever lying flush with the said
stock, as represented in Figure 1. A recess m is made on the under side of
the stock into which the finger is placed to raise the lever i from the said
stock. In place of making the lever i which works the bolt move in the
direction of the muzzle ends of the barrels, the said lever may move in the
reverse way, its free end being turned towards the shoulder end of the gun,
"the arrangement of the lever and link resembling in this case the arrangement
represented in Figure 8.
Another of our improvements in locking down the barrels is represented in
longitudinal vertical section in Figure 7. In this arrangement of our Invention
the locking bolt a is situated and works in a hole b in the body c of the break-
off d. The said bolt a has a sliding motion in the hole to and from the
break-off d. When advanced towards the break-off d the bolt a passes
through a hole in the lump e on the under side of the barrels f and engages
in a recess d in the break-off d, and thus securely locks down the barrels.
The advancing and retiring motions of the bolt a are effected by a lever h
(indicated in dotted lines) situated on the side of the gun. The bolt a
is connected to the lever h by the link i and arm g, the said arm g being
situated on the axis to which the lever h is fixed. By depressing the
lever h, the armi g is moved from the break-off d and the bolt a withdrawn
from. the said break-off d and lump e. The barrels can then be raised for
charging. After charging, the barrels are shut down against the face of
the break-off d. The lever h is then raised into the position indicated in
dotted lines, and the bolt a thereby shot through the lump e into the break-
off d and the barrels are fixed down for firing.

page_text: Instead of making the bolt pass through the lump into the break-off, as
represented in Figure 7, it may be made to engage in a recess in the lump
only. This arrangement of our Invention is represented in longitudinal
vertical section in Figure 8.
a is the bolt working in the hole b in the body c. The said bolt is worked
by the lever turning on a centre d³, the bolt being connected to the said
Jever by the link e. By raising the lever d into the position represented after
the barrels f have been shut down, the bolt a is shot into the recess in the
lump 9 and the barrels are locked down for firing. By depressing the lever d
the bolt a is withdrawn from the lump into the body c and the barrels can be
raised for charging. The lever d may be made to shut under the stock in the
manner represented in Figure 4.
The locking bolt a may be made self-acting by means of a spring bearing
against the back of the vertical part of the lever d or against the bolt
itself.
Figure 9 represents the arrangement of our Invention in which the locking
bolt is withdrawn from the barrels by raising the hammer to half-cock.
a is the bolt working through an opening in the break-off b and engaging
in the recess c in the lump d on the under side of the barrels e. The bolt a
has a cranked end a behind the break-off, to which cranked end an arm or
link is jointed, the free end of the said arm being booked. The arm fis
held down by a bent spring 9 acting on the end of the said arm, the said spring
g also presses the bolt a through the break-off into the lump d, and locks
down the barrels, or into the open space in the body when the barrels are lifted
from the break-off; h is the axis on the end of which the cock or hammer is
fixed. On the said axis h is a cam i having a tooth on its periphery. When
the gun bas been discharged the tooth on the cam i is engaged with the
hooked end of the arm f, as represented in the Drawing. After discharge, in
order to release the barrels for re-charging, the hammer fixed on the end of the
axis is raised to half-cock, a partial rotation is thereby given to the cam i
in the direction of the arrow, and the said cam is made to withdraw the end
of the bolt a from the lump into the break-off 6 by its engagement with the
arm or link f, and thus liberate the barrels and permit them to rise. As the
hammer reaches the half-cocked position the tooth of the cam i
escapes from
the hooked end of the lever f and the bolt a is again shot forward by its spring,
but the breech ends of the barrels during the temporary withdrawal of the
bolt a having risen the bolt a cannot re-enter the recess c in the lump until the
barrels have been again shut down. After the hammer has been raised to full
cock and liberated by the trigger, the tooth on the cam i re-engages with the

page_text: hooked end of the lever f ready to withdraw the bolt on the hammer being
raised to half-cock.
Our improvements in fitting the lump and that part of the body into which
the lump enters when the barrels are shut down are illustrated in Figures 1,
2, 3, and 5 of the Drawings.
On the face of the opening e in the body f we fit a steel wedge marked n,
against the face of which wedge n the inclined face d of the lump d accurately
bears when the barrels are shut down. In place of or in addition to the steel
wedge n, a steel wedge may be fitted on or into the face d of the lump d.
When worn, these wedges can be removed and replaced by fresh ones. By thus
fitting the parts, the strain which occurs on the discharge of the gun is borne
by the said parts d and n. and the joint b wholly or mainly relieved of
strain.
Our improvements in regulating the distance to which the breech ends of
the barrels can rise when the said breech ends are raised for loading are
illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 5 of the Drawings.
p is a bar or rod fixed across the opening in the body f, and near to and
parallel with the joint pin b. The position of the said bar or rod will be
readily understood by an examination of the Drawings. The front of the fore
end of the stock q is made concave, or is hollowed out at q, to permit of the
motion against it of the fixed bar p. When the barrels a are raised the con-
cave part of the fore end 9 moves freely until the bottom of the said concave
part q strikes against the bar p, when the further rising of the breech ends
of the barrels is prevented, as represented in Figure 3. Instead of making
the hollow or concave end of the fore end 7 work against the fixed bar p, a
groove or grooves may be made in the said fore end q, in which groove or
grooves a pin or pins fixed in the position of the bar p may work and limit
the rising motion of the barrels. We prefer, however, the arrangement
represented in the Drawings.
Our improvement in extracting or partially extracting the cases of the
discharged cartridges from the breech ends of the barrels is represented in
side elevation in Figure 10, and end elevation in Figure 11.
a is a vertical lever jointed to the front of the lump b. One arm of the
said lever a projects beyond the lump, and the end a² of the opposite arm of
the said lever fits part of the circumference of the end of the barrels c, a recess
being made in the said barrels for its reception. The end a of the arm a
engages behind the flange on the end of the cartridge case when the said case
is in its place in the breech end of the barrel. After the discharge of the gun,
on raising the barrels the projecting lower end of the arm of the lever a

page_text: strikes against the face of the break-off, the opposite arm a² of the said lever
is thereby moved from the end of the barrel, bringing with it the case of the
discharged cartridge.
Our improvements in opening and closing the breech ends of fire-arms
having stationary barrels are illustrated in vertical longitudinal section in
Figures 12, 13, and 14 of the Drawings.
At the open breech end of the
of it, is a block b moving in a
of the said block b may be made
Figure 12 represents one arrangement of this part of our Invention.
a is the fixed barrel open from end to end.
barrel a, and within a hollowed prolongation
vertical plane upon the centre c. The part
of the conical figure represented, and when the block is raised into a line with
the axis of the barrel a the said conical part 6 will accurately fit and close
the open breech end of the barrel. Or the block 6 may be made flat, as:
indicated by the dotted line, the flat part shutting against the breech end of
the barrel. Behind the said block b is a sliding piece d of a wedge form
working in the recess in the continuation of the barrel a. The slide dis
connected by a pin and slot at f to the lever g turning on a centre at g², the
free end of the lever g lying, when it is in its raised position, under the
guard h. The slide d is connected to the block by a projection on the
former engaging in a slot in the latter, the said slide and block being raised
and lowered together. When the parts of the gun are in the positions repre-
sented the gun is ready for discharge, the breech, end of the barrel a being
closed by the block b, and the said block being supported in its place by the
slide d. The lever g may be fixed in its place under the guard h by a spring-
catch fastening. To open the breech end of the barrel a for charging the
lever g is depressed so as to draw the slide & from out the stock to a distance
sufficient to permit of the turning of the block 6 upon its joint to open the
breech end. After charging the lever g is raised, the slide d is thereby lifted
in the slot in which it works, forcing before it the block b into the breech end
of the barrel, and the gun is again ready for discharge.
Figure 13 represents another arrangement of this part of our Invention.
In this arrangement, instead of making the slide separate from the lever by
which it is raised and lowered, we make the said slide and lever in one piece.
The parts of the gun, Figure 13, are marked with the same letters as corre-
sponding parts in Figure 12, the action being precisely the same.
Figure 14 represents another arrangement of this part of our Invention.
In this arrangement we support the block b closing the open breech end of
the barrel a during discharge by the arm c working in the opening in the
continuation of the barrel. The said arm c is fixed on the axis e, the outer

page_text: end of the said axis carrying a leverf situated at the side of the stock. When
the parts of the gun are in the positions represented, the end of the arm c bears
firmly against and supports the block b, and the gun is ready for discharge.
To open the breech end for charging, the lever f is raised so as to depress the
arm c into the position indicated in dotted lines. As the arm c is brought into
this position the block b is turned from out the end of the barrel a by the free
end of the said arm c striking against the lower end or tail-piece b² of the
block b, and the breech thereby opened for the introduction of the charge.
When the free end of the arm c strikes against the tail-piece the said free
end is opposite the recess in the back of the block b, and the said block is
permitted to turn upon its joint and lie against the upper side of the said
arm c, as indicated in dotted lines. On raising the arm c by the lever f the
said arm first lifts the block 6 into a vertical position, and its free end after-
wards wedges against the upper part of the said block and holds it firmly in
its place, as represented in the Drawing. The lever f may be fixed against
the side of the stock during discharge by a spring-catch fastening.
Having now described the nature of our Invention, and the manner in which
the same is to be performed, we wish it to be understood that we do not limit
ourselves to the precise details herein described and illustrated, as the same
may be varied without departing from the nature of our Invention, but we
claim as our Invention of improvements in breech-loading fire-arms in which
the barrels turn in a vertical plane upon a joint on the body,―
Firstly, the improvement in locking down the barrels berein-before described
and illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 of the accompanying Drawings,
that is to say, locking down the barrels by means of a bolt working in a hole
in the lump on the under side of the barrels, the said bolt engaging in a recess
in the break-off.
Secondly, the improvements in locking down the barrels herein-before
described and illustrated in Figures 7 and 8 of the accompanying Drawings,
that is to say, locking down the barrels by means of a bolt in the body of the
gun, the said bolt having motion from the body towards the break-off, and
either passing through the lump and engaging with the break-off or engaging
with the lump only, substantially as described and illustrated.
Thirdly, the several methods of actuating the bolts herein-before described
and illustrated.
Fourthly, the arrangement, herein-before described and illustrated in Figure 9
of the accompanying Drawings, for withdrawing the locking bolt when the
hammer is raised to half-cock.
Fifthly, the improvements, herein-before described and illustrated in Figures

page_text: 1, 2, 3, and 5 of the accompanying Drawings, in fitting the lump on the under
side of the barrels and the opening in the body into which the lump enters
when the barrels are shut down, so as to relieve the joint wholly or mainly
from strain on discharge, that is to say, by means of the wedge piece or pieces
described and illustrated.
Sixthly, the improvements in regulating the distance to which the breech
ends of the barrels can rise from the break-off for charging, herein-before
described and illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 5 of the accompanying
Drawings.
Seventhly, the improvement in extracting the cases of discharged cartridges
from the breech ends of the barrels, herein-before described and illustrated in
Figures 10 and 11 of the accompanying Drawings.
Eighthly, we claim, with respect to breech-loading fire-arms having sta-
tionary barrels, the opening and closing of the breech ends by means of a
hinged block, as illustrated in Figures 12, 13, and 14.
Ninthly, the several methods, herein-before described and illustrated in
Figures 12, 13, and 14, of actuating and supporting during discharge the
aforesaid hinged block.
In witness whereof, we, the said John Tertius Harlow and Edmund
Harlow, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twenty-second
day of March, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and sixty-four.
Witness,
RICHARD SKERRETT,
Clerk to George Shaw,
JOHN TERTIUS HARLOW. (L.S.)
EDMUND HARLOW.
(L.S.)
Birmingham.