Improvements in Breech Loading Small Arms.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Feb., 1891-Accepted, 28th Mar., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Breech Loading Small Arms.
I, HARRY GREENER, of the firm of W. W. Greener, of Prize Gun Works,
St. Mary's Square, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Gun Manufacturer,
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 invention has for its object improvements in breech loading small arms: and
relates to those of the drop down kind which enables me in such guns to obtain
increased strength and solidity in the body part with greater simplicity in the
construction of the mechanism and increased smoothness in action and less liability
in the parts to yield or spring and these several advantages are obtained at less cost
in material and workmanship, when compared with similar guns now in use.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood and more easily carried into
practice, I have appended hereunto a double sized sheet of drawings upon which I
have sufficiently illustrated the nature of my said invention to enable others to
understand the mode of operating the same so that the principle may be applied
where the general details and outlines somewhat vary.
Figure 1, is a broken-off-part, longitudinal section of my gun the lock itself
being in sectional elevation so as to show the internal mechanism more plainly. In
this figure, the breech is closed and the mechanism as it would be after firing.
Figure 2, is a similar longitudinal sectional elevation to that of Figure 1, with
this difference, that, the breech of the gun is open and the mechanism is in the
position it would occupy when all the parts are in full bent.
Figure 3, is a cross section through the breech case on line 1-2, Figure 1 looking
towards the breech so as to show clearly the scear spring P.
Figure 4, is a view of the end a¹ of the rod A shewing a modification in which an
eye is provided instead of a notch for attachment to the tongue b¹ on the
tumbler B.
One part of my invention consists in the novel mode of operating the tumblers
in striking the cartridges which I effect as follows:-I drill two diagonal or other
holes F one for each tumbler on each side the breech through the body H of the
breech action, in which I mount the spring sliding rods A which are capable of a
reciprocating sliding action. The tumbler end a¹ of these rods are slotted to hook
on to corresponding projecting tongues upon the tumblers B so as to be capable
of moving them in either direction. The lower end of the sliding rod A has an
enlarged head a which forms an internal shoulder a corresponding with the
shoulder e¹ formed near the top of the hole F thus leaving a recess in which 1
mount the coiled spring D which encompasses the sliding rod A. These springs D
are mounted upon their rods A in their relation to the tumblers B so that they have
a constant tendency to bring them forward, by the hook of the sliding rods upon
the tumblers and they thus act as the main springs of the gun in bringing the
tumblers forward to strike the cartridges in firing, the springs being specially
arranged for this purpose. The sliding rod A is so mounted in the hole or chamber F
that the head a projects from the body H of the breech action a short distance
into a suitably prepared recess or hollow of the fore end K. This projecting
head a² of the sliding rod A is formed at the end with inclined face and rounded
nose a³ so that when the breech is opened the lower portion of the fore end K, by
its special formation, presses against the head a² and moves the sliding rods A
upwards against the tumblers B carrying them back against the pressure of the
springs D sufficiently for the scear M to secure them in full bent as shown by
Figure 2. The closing of the breech then leaves the tumblers B cocked and with

page_text: It will
the main springs D in full action upon them tending to bring them forward.
thus be evident that by the release of the tumblers, upon the triggers being pulled,
that they are brought forcibly forward by the main springs D, and the gun is fired,
thus leaving the rods A in the positions as seen in Figure 1 again ready for the
operation of recocking when the breech is again opened as before described.
The scear spring P as seen more clearly at Figure 3, is so formed as a single
spring operating upon both scear that its effective length for elastic, and effective
action upon each is about equivalent to two springs the full length. It will be seen
that the ends p¹ and p² bear one upon each of the scears M and M' and are kept in
action by the centre projecting nose piece 2 which is formed from the top of the
aperture in the body of the breech action and they may thus be mounted con-
veniently with very little trouble.
It will be noticed that the bottom of the body or casing of the breech action
is in my gun formed in one piece with the sides thereof as shewn in Figure 3 which
enables me to secure greater strength and stability with lightness and of course with
less shake or vibration of the parts of the mechanism. It will, however, be obvious
that the other improvements may be carried out without this being the case.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1st. The improvements in breech loading guns substantially as herein set forth
and illustrated by the drawings.
2nd. In breech loading guns the operating of the sliding rods A by the main
spring D for firing the gun substantially as herein set forth and illustrated.
3rd. In breech loading guns, the scear spring P mounted and operated as herein
set forth and shown upon the drawings.
4th. In breech loading hammerless guns in which the locks are contained in
the body, the solid body substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth and
illustrated.
Dated this 13th day of February 1891.
GEORGE BARKER,
77, Colmore Row, Birmingham, Agent for the Applicant.