AN IMPROVED BREECH-LOADING NEEDLE RIFLE AND IMPROVED CARTRIDGE
Year: 1867

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Cesar de Tivoli, at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 22nd April
1867. A communication from abroad by Signor Francesco Glisenti, of
Brescia, Italy.
I, CESAR DE TIVOLI, of No. 1, Great Winchester Street Buildings, in the
City of London, County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "AN IMPROVED BREECH-LOADING NEEDLE RIFLE AND IMPROVED
CARTRIDGE," to be as follows:-
It consists, as shown by the annexed Drawings of a portion A, B, of the
barrel at the breech (partially cut at C, D,) for insertion of the cartridge,
open at the rear and of a larger diameter than the barrel. The cutting C, D,
by which the cartridge is introduced into the barrel is cut slantingly at the
lower end D, E (Fig. 2), and has two longitudinal grooves parallel to the
axis. The cylinder F, G, which is inserted in the portion A. B, and which
slides in it smoothly, is also hollow, and contains the needle holder (see
Fig. 3) with a spiral spring, to which is attached a cog H, which serves to
cock and start the needle. This cog H is controlled by the lever M, N,
(Fig. 1), worked by a common trigger B'. After firing, the cylinder F, G, is
moved a quarter turn to the left, by means of the bandle or bolt O, and
having a short spiral cut on its lower side forces back the cog H, with the

page_text: needle holder into its proper position, as in the Drawing (Fig. 1) and be-
comes thus fixed behind the lever M, N, ready to fire. Simultaneously the
cylinder is pulled backward, leaving the opening C, D, (Fig. 1 & 2) free;
the cartridge is inserted, the cylinder F, G, is pushed forward again, and the
lever or bolt O turned to the right; this last movement by means of the cog
P (Fig. 1 & 2), which runs along D, E, (Fig. 2), presses the dies of the
cylinder F, G, against the corresponding conical cavity of the barrel, making
it thus air and gas tight. The needle holder is kept in its position by means
of a cog, which may be set free by unscrewing the knob Q. By this move-
ment the spiral spring (Fig. 3) is released, and consequently the needle
cannot act and the firing of the gun becomes impossible, although loaded and
ready.
The several and important improvements introduced in this needle gun
system differ completely from all those hitherto adopted, both for the special
arrangement of the cylinder F, G, and for the slanting or sharp spiral cut
by means of which the needle is cocked, and also for other improvements in
the system, as described in the following recapitulation :—
1st. Perfect air and gas tightness, obtained by means of the friction dies;
which perfect tightness is maintained, even if the movable portion of the
system becomes foul after much firing.
2nd. Simplicity in the construction of the spring, since by the same move-
ment of the bolt which pulls back the cylinder F, G, the needle is cocked,
so that with only three easy movements the gun is loaded and ready for
firing.
3d. Security that the weapon is perfectly closed before firing, because
even if the soldier after loading were to neglect to turn the bolt or lever O
from left to right by pulling the trigger the cylinder is turned round and
tightly closes. the barrel before the needle darts; thus the great danger of
the charge exploding against the soldier is entirely removed.
4th. Facility in rendering the gun harmless, even when loaded, by simply
unscrewing the knob Q. Thus the needle spring being released not even a
fall or a knock against the knob can make the needle dart and explode the
cartridge, because to reset the needle it is necessary to push forward and
simultaneously screw on the knob Q, to remount the spring.
5th. The cylinder has in its conical portion a movable piece, fixed by means
of a screw. Should it by any chance happen, that after many years use of the
gun, and in consequence of any friction caused by the cogs working on the
slanting faces, any little slackness of the cylinder occurring such as to leave the
smallest space between the cylinder and the sides of the barrel, the fault may

page_text: be easily remedied by fitting a thin plate "ad hoc " under the movable piece,
and there will be no necessity for a new cylinder.
6th. Length of the needle. The needle instead of being long and thin like
the Prussian, and therefore easily bent or broken, whereby great inconvenience
is caused by its not striking straight in the centre of the cartridge where the
percussion cap is placed and not firing the gun; the needle of this gun may
for its thickness be better compared to a punch (F. 6) than to a needle, con-
sequently it is exempt from all the failings above mentioned.
7th. The shape of this needle being cylindrical and tapering towards the end
is calculated to prevent any escape of gas, which might soil the interior.
8th. Owing to its perfect tightness a smaller quantity of powder com-
paratively is required to obtain the same results as from the Prussian gun.
9th. The safety and durability of the barrel thus being almost complete
even in that portion where the tight closing system is worked.
10th. The simplicity of construction of this gun allows its cost to be
considerably under that of any other. The cartridge used with this gun is
a common one with paper case, and having an ordinary percussion cap fixed
in the centre (see Fig. 4). The percussion cap as already said is a common
one, and with two or three holes in the head of it in order to ensure a better
contact of the powder with the igniting spark. To make the tight closing of
the gun more perfect, and better to protect the percussion cap itself, an india-
rubber or felt disc or washer (see Fig. 5) is attached to the rear of the
cartridge. This disc or washer is 1 millemetre thick and slightly larger in
diameter than the cartridge so as to make every part of the barrel gas-tight.
This cartridge is most economical and of easy construction.