CERTAIN IM- PROVEMENTS IN CENTRAL-FIRE, SNAP, OR LEFAUCHEUX GUNS, APPLICABLE TO SINGLE OR DOUBLE BARRELS, AS ALSO IN THE CARTRIDGES TO BE USED WITH THE SAME; A PART OF WHICH SAID IMPROVEMENTS MAY BE ADAPTED OR APPLIED TO Den DRD
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Seth John Wallis, of Spalding, in the County of
Lincoln, Gun Manufacturer, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IM-
PROVEMENTS IN CENTRAL-FIRE, SNAP, OR LEFAUCHEUX GUNS, APPLICABLE TO
SINGLE OR DOUBLE BARRELS, AS ALSO IN THE CARTRIDGES TO BE USED WITH THE
SAME; A PART OF WHICH SAID IMPROVEMENTS MAY BE ADAPTED OR APPLIED TO
Den
DRD
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Seth John Wallis
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 8th December 1871.
66
I, SETH JOHN WALLIS, of Spalding, in the County of Lincoln, Gun-
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention for
CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN CENTRAL-FIRE, SNAP, OR LEFAUCHEUX GUNS, APPLICABLE
TO SINGLE OR DOUBLE, BARRELS, AS ALSO IN THE CARTRIDGES TO BE USED WITH THE
SAME; A PART OF WHICH SAID IMPROVEMENTS MAY BE ADAPTED OR APPLIED TO GUNS

page_text: NOW IN USE WHETHER FOR BIRDING OR MILITARY PURPOSES," to be as follows
(that is to say) :-
My improvements, as far as the general construction of the gun is con-
cerned, may be said to apply to the description known as central-fire, fall-
down, or Lefaucheux guns, and I will describe them in connection with
a double-barrelled fall-down or snap gun, which improvements consist in
applying two detents or snap bolts, worked or actuated by the trigger
guard, which has a range of sliding action from the barrels, and is so
constructed as to have a projection that enters a recess in the breech
block, and engages with the united detents, which are held or pressed
forward by a spring secured to a strap of the break-off, but which detents
or snap catches are pulled back by applying the finger to the trigger
guard with sufficient pressure to overcome the force of the spring before
referred to.
The novelty of my lock consists in applying a bolt working in an open
joint formed in the tumbler, and which bolt passes through the rear body
of the breech block concentrically with the base or rear end of the
cartridges when in the barrels, so that by pulling the trigger the said bolt
will strike the cap, centrally provided, for explosion, by which means the
full force of the mainspring is applied.
...
I have considered it advantageous that an indicator should be provided
to show when a gun is loaded, and this I effect by small projections in the
face of the break-off or breech block of the gun, which is forced back by
its contact with the rear end of the cartridge when the gun is loaded,
showing a bright mark or other equivalent, or the word "loaded;" and
by extending this visible instructive external appearance of the condition
of the piece, I apply a soft metal strap to the cartridge, which extends
externally beyond the circumference of the breech of the barrels, and to
the cock or cocks of such guns..
I apply the means of cutting off the said extended strap level with the
exterior of the breech of the barrels, so that in loading and discharging a
gun and cartridge so constructed, the piece indicates that its cartridge or
cartridges have been applied, and also that the same have been exploded,
as the descent of the hammer caused' by the trigger leaving the tumbler,
and the bolt before described being impelled, forward, explodes the
cartridge, and the cock cuts off the small projecting strap from the

page_text: cartridge, thus conveying to the practised mind the loaded or exploded
condition of such guns.
I
As modifications of these several improvements I may state that the
cock may be so constructed as to operate on the strap from the cartridge
from it's nose or extreme radial point, such as when the strap of the
cartridge stands in a vertical position, or on the front side of the cock
when the strap of the cartridge is placed in the barrels in a lateral
position, and the action of the detents may be controlled or actuated by
converting the trigger guard into a lever, or applying a lever to lie over
the guard; or applied to the strap of the break-off, and actuated by a lever
working along the strap as preferred. A practical gunsmith will readily
understand how these several improvements may be applied to single or
double-barrelled guns, and how the extractor may be simultaneously
actuated by the action of the dropping of the barrels as the barrels are
releived from the detents by the combined action of the guard, lever
guard, or auxiliary lever in connection with the guard, as before
expressed.
In applying my improvements relating to strap cartridges to ordinary
guns now in use, the only alteration required would be a modification of
the cock for dividing or cutting away the external portion of this un-
exploded cartridge, and this also applics when using this description of
cartridges for military purposes, observing that the nature or colour of the
thin metal strap will indicate the nature of the cartridge, whether blank,
shot, or ball.
5 SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Seth John Wallis in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 7th June 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, SETH JOHN
WALLIS, of Spalding, in the County of Lincoln, Gun Manufacturer,
O send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of December, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight, hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-

page_text: "I
་
fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Seth John Wallis, Her special licence that
I, the said Seth John Wallis, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others, as I, the said Seth John Wallis, my executors, adminis
trators, 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 " CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN CENTRAL-FIRE,
SNAP, OR LEFAUCHEUX GUNS, APPLICABLE TO SINGLE,or Double BarrELS, AS ALSO IN
THE CARTRIDGES TO BE USED WITH THE SAME, A PART OF WHICH SAID IMPROVEMENTS
MAY BE ADAPTED OR APPLIED TO GUNS NOW IN USE
SE; WHETHER FOR BIRDING OR
MILITARY PURPOSES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I the
said Seth John Wallis, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, 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.
4
11
L
"
NOW KNOW YE; that I; the said Seth John' Wallis; do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement
My improvements relate to that description of fire-arm known as
central-fire, fall-down, or Lefaucheux guns, and have for their objects,
firstly, to produce a gun which by continued use will not shoot loose or
shake either upward or forward, as is generally the case with double-grip
and self-locking or snap guns. Secondly, providing more efficient and
certain means of discharging or exploding the cartridge, and to dispense
with the use of nipples and spiral springs in the working of the strikers
or bolts which strike the percussion cap contained-in-the-cartridge.
Thirdly, to render accidents less frequent, by means of visible indicators
shewing when the barrel is loaded and when discharged.
ㄓˊ
I now proceed to explain the means by which I propose to attain the
said objects of my Invention with the aid of the accompanying Drawing
which forms part of this Specification. An ordinary lock is used, so that
_ my improvements may be more easily understood.

page_text: Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of the break-off, with a
portion of the breech of a barrel; and Figure 2 is a horizontal plan of the
same. These Figures shew my improved method for holding or securing
the barrels in position.
Figures 3 and 5 are elevations of the trigger guard; and Figure 4 is a
horizontal plan of the same.
Figure 6 is an elevation of a gun lock shewing my improved striker or
bolt as set for discharging; and Figure 7 is a similar elevation shewing
the position of the said striker on and after discharging the gun.
Figure 8 is an end elevation of the two barrels shewing the cartridge
in place with my new strap indicator attached thereto. Figure 9 is a
horizontal sectional plan of the break-off shewing the two positions. of my
improved indicator, one indicating that the barrel is charged, and the
other shewing that the barrel is discharged or empty.
In the following description the same parts are indicated in each
Figure where the same index letters appear.
α
Firstly. For securing the barrels in place I fix a stud or lump a
under the breech of each barrel, in this stud I form a catch or hook to
receive the end of the detent, bolt, or bar 6; this bolt is shewn in plan by
dotted lines in Figure 2 with a double detent suited to a double-barrelled
gun; c is a spring fixed to the strap c¹ of the break-off, for the purpose of
pressing the detents forward and holding them there, so that when the
barrels are in place, and the studs a are in the recesses a¹, the ends of
these detents engage in the catches of the said studs a, and secure the
barrels from any motion whatever. When it is required to open or raise
the breech end of the barrels the detents 6 are drawn back by forcing
the trigger guard backward from the barrels, for which purpose the said
trigger guard is fitted with a stud d, which engages with the detent 6 by
the hole 6, and has a sliding motion equal to the projections of the
detents 6 into the recesses a¹; when the trigger guard is thus forced
backward it assumes the position shewn in plan in Figure 4, and by the
red lines in Figure 3, and the forward ends of the detents are drawn
within the face of the breech block as shewn in red in Figure 5.
The said detents may be drawn back by pivotting the trigger guard
and its stud d to a projection at e on the strap f (see Figure 5); the rear
part of the trigger guard is made to separate at e¹ as shewn; when the ear

page_text: or projection'e is pressed down to the position the said trigger guard,
stud d, and detent b take the positions shewn in red.in Figure 5.
The said detents may also be drawn back by sliding the trigger guard
forward; in this case the stud d'is pivotted on the upper side of the strap
f, when by forcing the trigger guard forward the upper part of the stud
d moves backwards, and with it the detent b, and assume the positions
shewn in red in Figure 5. By these means I dispense with the use of all
unsightly levers such as are generally used in opening' guns.
2.1 ТАЯГ
'
1
.:
t
1
Secondly. For the more efficient and certain discharge of the cartridge
I provide for each barrel a hard metal bolt g (see Figures 6 and 7,)
pointed at its forward end, and jointed at its other or rear end to a
projection or arm formed or fixed on the tumbler h of the lock; this bolt
works in a hole or channel g', formed through the rear body of the breech
block B directly opposite the centre of the bore of the barrel, and also of
the cartridge i when inserted in the breech of the barrel. The pointed
end of this bolt is drawn within the breech block B by pulling or putting
the lock on half-cock; when it is required to discharge the gun, ör
cartridge, the lock is put on full cock, and the trigger pulled in the usual
way to liberate the tumbler h, when the bolt, is impelled forward with
the full power of the mainspring into the centre of the cartridge 2, where
it strikes and explodes the percussion cap placed there for the purpose,
and the gun is discharged.
•
.
.
141
"
It will be seen that I thus dispense with the use of nipples and spiral
springs in exploding the.cap, and render a miss-fire almost impossible.
Thirdly. For the purpose of shewing at sight when the gun is loaded,
I form a L shaped recess ; in the face and upper part of the breech block
B, opposite the bore of each barrel; in the horizontal portion of this recess
I fit a sliding indicator, on which is the word "loaded" or other equi-
valent therefor; this indicator is held forward and out of sight when the
barrel is not loaded by a spiral-spring-/ fitted in a hollow screw k², which
is fixed in the body of the said breech block B, so that the spring may act
on the rear of the said 'slide; the front part of this slide has a projection
1 beyond the vertical face of the breech block; when the cartridge is
inserted in the
the barrel and the latter fixed in place, the rear face of the
cartridge presses against the projection, 7, and thus forces the slide under
the slot or vertical part of the L-shaped recess, so as to render the word
loaded or its equivalent visible therein.

page_text: Also to shew when the gun is loaded and exploded or discharged I
attach a thin soft metal strap m to the rear end of the cartridge of
sufficient length to shew the word "loaded" thereon beyond the external
surface of each barrel; this strap is cut off at the said external surface of
the barrel by the nose of the cock at each discharge of the gun, thus
shewing that the cartridge has been exploded. In the case of military
cartridges, this strap may be made to shew also the nature of the charge
in the barrel by having impressed thereon "blank," "shot,” or “ball,”
respectively.
Having thus fully described the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is carried into effect in practice, I would have
it understood that as my several arrangements, especially the breech
indicator, are susceptible of great variations, I do not confine myself to
the forms or dimensions of the several details herein described or shewn
upon the Drawing; but what I claim as my Invention and desire to
secure by the before-mentioned in part recited Letters Patent is, -
Firstly. The mode of securing or locking the barrel to the breech
block by means of a sliding double detent operated by the trigger guard.
Secondly. The method of impelling a horizontal bolt into the percussion
of the cartridge with the full power and force of the mainspring and
within the body of the gun.
cap
Thirdly. The strap attached to the cartridge shewing when the gun is
loaded and when discharged, and the sliding indicator in the breech
block.
All substantially as herein described and shewn upon the Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Seth John Wallis, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Sixth day of June, in the year of our Lord
S. J. WALLIS. (L.S.)