IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH LOADING FIRE ARMS
Year: 1882

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Williams at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd May 1882.
JOHN WILLIAMS of Birmingham in the County of Warwick Gunsmith
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH LOADING FIRE ARMS
This Invention refers to Improvements in the self cocking action, to an
improved safety block for preventing the hammer from reaching the striker in
case of accident, and to a crank arrangement for the opening lever.
The self-cocking action is by means of a sliding bar working lengthwise through
the body by the side of the locking bolt. A. lifting piece jointed in the front lump
of the barrel works the bar forward as the gun is opened, the bar acting upon a
stud upon the side of the hammer cocks it. The safety block is jointed in the
trigger plate and should there be any accident to the sear or the bent on
the hammer, the hammer descends upon the block and is prevented reaching the
striker. The action of the trigger removes the block out of the way of the
hammer in firing the gun. The opening lever is a top one working upon a third
out of line with the centre bolt which passes through the body and thus giving a
crank action in the horizontal plane.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Williams in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
1st November 1882.
JOHN WILLIAMS of Birmingham in the County of Warwick, Gunsmith.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECHLOADING FIREARMS.
This Invention refers to Improvements in the self cocking action, to an
Improved safety block for preventing the hammer from reaching the striker in
case of accident, and to a crank arrangement for the opening lever.
The self-cocking action is by means of a sliding bar working lengthwise through
the body by the side of the locking bolt a lifting piece jointed in the front lump
of the barrel works the bar forward as the gun is opened, the bar acting upon a
stud upon the side of the hammer cocks it. The safety block is jointed in
the trigger plate, and should there be any accident to the sear or the bent on the
hammer, the hammer descends upon the block and is prevented reaching the
striker, the action of the trigger removes the block out of the way of the hammer
in firing the gun.
The opening lever is a top one working upon a stud out of line with the centre
bolt which passes through the body and thus giving a crank action in the
horizontal plane.
Referring to the Drawings Figure 1 is a part longitudinal section of a
Breechloader closed and fitted with my Improvements. Figure 2 is a similar view
shewing the gun open. The self cocking action is obtained by means of a sliding
bar (a) shewn detached in Figure 3. This sliding bar (a) works lengthwise
through the body (b) by the side of the locking bolt, a lifting piece (c) is secured
fast to the front lump of the barrel (d) and works the sliding bar (a) forward when
the gun is opened, as seen in Figure 2, and the sliding bar (a) acting upon a stud
or projection (e) upon the side of the hammer (f) cocks it.
Figure 4. is a Sectional Plan shewing the employment of a pair of my Improved
sliding bars (g g') as applicable to a double Breechloader and working lengthwise
through the body (h) on either side of the locking bolt (i) Figure 5 represents
in side Elevation and Plan from the underside, the double arrangement of lifting
pieces (¹) secured on either side of the front lump (1) of the barrel as employed
for double Breechloaders.
Figure 6, illustrates in detached views the parts forming my Improved safety
block for preventing the hammer from reaching the striker in case of accident.
(m) is the safety block jointed in the trigger plate (n) and having an incline
upon its lower edge, and operated by a slide (0) working in the trigger plate (n)
the slide (o) also having an incline as shewn.
The slide (o) is actuated by a nose (p) formed as part of the trigger (p³) as the
trigger is moved either way the slide (o) bears against or recedes from the incline
on the safety block (m) thereby producing a rising or falling action of the safety
block (m) and which is kept up to its work by a small spring (r), should there be
any accident to the sear or the bent on the hammer (f) it descends upon the
safety block (m) and is prevented from reaching the striker, the action of the
trigger (p') and slide (o) removing the safety block (m) out of the way of
the hammer (f) in firing the gun-Figure 7 illustrates in Plan the double
arrangement of the improved safety block as required for double Breechloaders,
(8 8¹) are the safety blocks hinged together and working simultaneously, being
kept up in position by the double spring (t), the operation of the trigger noses
(u u¹) and slides (v v¹) being similar to those described for the single action.

page_text: My Improved crank arrangement for the opening lever is represented in detached
views, Figure 8 the opening lever (w) is a top one working by means of a peg (w')
through a slot and into a recess formed in an upright bar (s) on the central locking
bolt (3) thus giving a crank action to the opening lever (w) in the horizontal
plane For double Breechloaders made according to my Invention, I prefer to use
Scott's snap arrangement for the locking and opening operations.
Having thus described the object and nature of my said Invention and the
manner in which the same is to be carried into effect,
I claim, without limiting myself to these precise details.
Firstly; The sliding bar (a) and the lifting piece (c) Figs. 1. 2 and 3 operating
upon the hammer (f) and forming an Improved self cocking action for single guns,
and as shewn in Figure 4 in its application to double guns.
Secondly, I claim, the safety block (m) the sliding bar (o) the trigger nose (p)
and the spring (7) Figure 6, these parts together forming an improved safety block
for single guns, and as shewn in Figure 7 for double guns.
Thirdly, I claim, the crank arrangement for the opening lever (w) in connection
with the central locking bolt (y) as shewn in Figure 8, applicable to single guns
made in accordance with my present Invention, and also to certain actions of
different construction.
In Witness Whereof I the said John Williams have hereunto set my hand
and seal this thirty first day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
JOHN WILLIAMS. (L.S.)