IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH LOADING RIFLES
Year: 1885

page_text: I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, Fel. Inst. P.A. of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, and
323 High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of the said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH LOADING RIFLES
(a communication from abroad by Carl Gercke of Berlin, in the Empire of
Germany, Doctor of Philosophy) to be as follows:-
"
This invention relates to improvements in the breech mechanism and the rifling
of the barrels of breech loaders.
The movable mechanism of the closing parts consists of a combination of the
lever principle with a tipping movement of the breech block; at the same time by
means of a sideways movable bolt, adapted to the lever an exceedingly strong
closure of the mechanism is obtained and the mechanism simplified considerably in
consequence of the combination of several parts thereof usually made separate to
only one piece.
It may however be remarked here, that this combination of several parts of this
system to one piece agrees essentially with the distinguishing marks of another
invention of mine, entitled "Improvements in breech loading rifles," for which a
separate application for letters patent has been filed.
The arrangement of the parts of the new breech mechanism is as follows:
The breech box forming the connection between the barrel with the stock and
the butt consists of an oblong metal piece provided with a massive piece in front
into which the barrel is screwed, the side walls of the breech box are constructed
parallel and in the space between them are placed the breech block and the other
essential parts of the mechanism, the hammer, the main spring, the extractor, the
lower stay, the trigger and sear, the cock-closing and safety bolt. The two side
walls of the breech box are furthermore provided with square notches behind the
breech block for holding the closing bolt of the lever; to the upper rear end of
the box is secured by means of rivets the upper stay with a channel for the
cartridges and the screw bolt the latter, passing through the butt, unites the upper
1131

page_text: stay with the lower stay and gives in connection with these two parts, a sure hold
for the butt which is also let into the breech box.
The breech block secured from recoil by the bolt is moved by a lever axle in
consequence of a square fitting of the latter into the right side wall of the block;
the middle part of the block is hollowed out in such a way that it is open down-
wards and to the rear end; the massive fore-part is provided with a conical opening
for receiving the hammer another hollow is made in the left side wall for the
extractor which rests besides that with its round shoulder in the left side wall of
the block.
The well-known reliable main spring which is preferred to the new spiral spring
principally destined for receiving the recoil is screwed to the hammer and of a
circular shape which gives it an increased strength and durability; it is made in
one piece with the sear spring and fastened by a screw. The trigger is combined
with the sear in the form of a hook catching the hammer from behind and
retaining it. The trigger guard with screw pin for the strap holder, unless it is
made in one piece with the lower stay, is secured at the rear end by means of a
shoulder, which is adapted to the lower stay by a screw bolt and at the fore end
by the screw aforesaid.
The lever practically made in one piece consists of a closing bolt, with a knob
secured to the lever and of the true lever with plate and axle the latter, turning in
the side walls of the breech box moves by its square part the breech block, and its
thinner end serves at the same time as rotating axle for the hammer and the
extractor; in closing the breech the closing bolt snaps into a spring arranged on
the left outside wall of the breech box this spring, when the lever axle with the
groove is lengthened, may also serve for a safety bolt. The safety bolt when
released allows the lever and breech block quickly to be taken out while in the
same direction, it forms a certain stop for the hammer because it is lying with the
full axle on the sear, even when the indentation in the axle has been turned away.
The mechanism is handled in the following manner:
In the closed position the breech block is secured from recoil by the bolt and
rests with the tenon in the barrel whilst below, it is supported by the lever axle.
If the mechanism is to be opened the closing bolt is rapidly turned with the thumb
by means of the knob to the right until the projecting edge leans against the wall
of the breech box and stops the movement, whereupon by another quick pressure
of the thumb, the lever is turned round its axle and brought into position; at the
same time the breech block is brought into its open position the extractor is
actuated and the hammer made ready. This whole operation and also the
operation of closing the mechanism is easily and rapidly executed principally by
means of the thumb and by the grip of the hand round the neck of the stock.
The introduced cartridge if it is not perfectly placed in position, is effectually
pushed into its bed by the breech block in consequence of the lever force acting
there upon, while in the sliding and lifting movements of the other constructions
very troublesome difficulties can arise in introducing the cartridges, when they are
somewhat crushed out of shape and when their introduction is not assured by a
pushing lever motion. If the bent hammer is to be secured, the safety bolt is
brought into position as set forth. To dismount the whole mechanism it is only
necessary to take out the two screws; to clean the barrel only it is sufficient to
open the mechanism, as the channel for the cartridges is below the axis of the
barrel, so that the latter may easily be cleaned from behind.
The entire mechanism of this system contains only seven pieces not including
the parts generally necessary to rifles, but including the pins and screws necessary
to this special system, and the whole rifle is composed of thirty pieces, which can
all be manufactured by machinery, so that the manufacture of this rifle is con-
siderably cheaper than that of rifles of different construction, while at the same
time all the pieces of this system are of such strength, that an experimental
explosion of a cartridge in the barrel intentionally caused and directed backwards,
forced out the stock but did not make any part of the mechanism unserviceable.

page_text: The principle advantages of this system are therefore solidity, simplicity,
cheapness and very easy handling of the mechanism, and in consequence of the
arrangement of the several parts, the mechanism of these rifles can easily be kept
very clean, as it can be dismounted and mounted in less than a minute without
any difficulty or use of a special tool. This rifle can also if necessary, be made
unsuitable for further use and consequently harmless in a few moments by taking
out the most essential parts thereof, while on the other hand the application of the
lever principle, as described offers, however great the fouling or rusting of the fire-
arm, always a certain force for opening and closing the mechanism an advantage
over all constructions on the sliding principle and the simple eccentric movement
of the breech block, whereby many inconveniences of great importance are caused,
as experience has shewn.
The improvements in the barrels of the breech loading rifles are as follows:
Considering the well known fact that every body struck by a given force
undergoes vibration, which is stronger or weaker according to its nature, and
consistency, and that this vibration developes still stronger waves of motion at the
ends of the body, the inventor has arrived at the conclusion that the considerable
vibration set up in a rifle barrel by the explosion of the powder, and increased by
the resistance of the bullet especially at the muzzle, must materially influence the
course of the bullet. Repeated experiments with a choke bored rifle have given
results even at short distances confirming the conclusion above stated.
It is therefore evidently desirable so to bore the barrel, that the bullet would be
liberated from contact with it at the point at which the so called "dead point" of
the vibration is situated. If the bullet leaves the barrel at this point, it will not
be influenced at the last moment, by the vibration of the barrel. Theoretical
studies and practical experiments on these phenomena have enabled the inventor
to formulate a new theory of the laws of vibration, which is briefly as follows: if
a body be divided according to its weight into eight equal parts, the dead points
will be found to coincide with the divisions between the first and the second, and
between the seventh and the eighth parts, and this portion of the invention
consists essentially in the application of this principle to the boring of a rifle
barrel. There are marked off upon the rifle barrel accordingly, eight equal parts
(by weight) and the small projections gradually planed off between the grooves of
the rifling conically in the direction of the muzzle, from the division between the
sixth and seventh part of the barrel, up to that between the seventh and eighth so
that this inclination reaches the exact depth of the grooves of the rifling, at the
dead point aforesaid. From the dead point to the muzzle the barrel is perfectly
smooth inside, and the diameter of the bore is slightly larger than that of the
bullet so that the bullet ceases to be in contact with the barrel from the point at
which the vibration is reduced to a minimum. It will be obvious from the above
description that the angle of the inclined plane to that of the axis of the barrel.is
extremely small: its exact amount may be varied to suit different kinds of fire-
arms. Another point kept in view in the design of the boring according to this
invention is that the rifling and boring be arranged so as to secure as flat a
trajectory and as long a range as possible together with increased accuracy of aim.
In these respects the inventors own experience has not substantiated the
commonly accepted opinion in favour of quick and deep rifling and of a bullet
which passes along the barrel only under heavy pressure. The quick and deep
rifling of many systems destroys the accuracy of the shooting by the rapid leading
of the barrel and induces moreover such an oxidation of the rifling that no cleaning
or even scouring suffices to clean the barrel effectively, whilst the difficult passage
of the bullet through the barrel increases the recoil of the firearm excessively (in
some early Martini-Henrys this recoil amounted to 95 pounds pressure) and instead
of the bullet receiving as intended a larger proportion of the force developed by the
powder, a large portion of the same is entirely wasted as direct experiments have
clearly proved; a rifle of the improved design loaded with the same charge of
powder and weight of bullet tried against a Martini-Henry at the same elevation

page_text: giving a trajectory twice as long: further experiments confirmed this result,
proving the advantages of a moderate twist and very flat gradually planed down
elevations between the grooves, and that the bullet must fit the barrel well but
not so tightly, that it cannot be driven through the barrel by hand pressure.
These gradually planed away elevations between the grooves consist of two
elliptical surfaces in which the difference between the longer and shorter axes in a
calibre of 10.5 millimetres is only 0.5 millimetres whereby the height of the
raised surfaces between the deepest parts of the grooves does not exceed some
0.2 millimetres and the barrel appears to the eye to be almost smooth bored.
As however the diameter of the bullet corresponds exactly to that of the greatest
diameter of the bore measured in the grooves, the raised portions must press into
the lead; these flattish smooth elevations therefore impart to the bullet a steady
and sufficient rotation whilst on the other hand any serious escape of gas is pre-
vented by the bullet fitting the grooves, whilst the bullet in consequence of the
comparatively easy passage through the barrel, leaves it with a greater initial
velocity producing a flatter trajectory and longer range, which must obviously
follow according to the well known natural law, by which a body propelled by a
given force will travel faster and further the less friction and resistance it
encounters, especially at the commencement of its career. I have fixed the
number of the grooves at four and vary the twist of the same, according to
whether the barrel is designed for firing bullets exclusively or is to be used for
shot as well, from a half to two thirds of a turn, the very long spiral having been
ascertained to improve the trajectory.
The advantages of this invention are as follows:
The ball after having attained a helicoidal motion in consequence of its passage
through nearly two thirds of the barrel leaves the barrel just at the place where its
further trajectory will no longer be influenced by a last vibration of the barrel.
The arrangement of the extremely flat rifling in the length of nearly two thirds of
the barrel, and the contrivance of the completely smooth slightly conical enlarge-
ment of the rest of the barrel up to the muzzle admits of the barrels being used
either for ball cartridges or for shot cartridges, an advantage which will be
appreciated by the soldier as well as by the sportsman.
The slightly conical enlargement of the barrel towards the muzzle has especially
for barrels of small calibre the special advantage, when shot cartridges are used,
that, according to the angle of inclination of the conical enlargement the field
covered by the shots may be enlarged at will while the flat undulatory arrange-
ment of the grooves diminishes considerably the danger of leading and fouling, and
facilitates at the same time the keeping of the barrel clean.

page_text: I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, Fel. Inst. P.A. of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, and
323 High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention (a communication from abroad by Karl Gercke of
Berlin, in the Empire of Germany, Doctor of Philosophy) and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:-
This invention relates to improvements in the breech mechanism and the rifling
of the barrels of breech-loaders.
The movable mechanism of the closing parts consists of a combination of the
lever principle with a tipping movement of the breech-block; at the same time by
means of a sideways movable bolt, adapted to the lever, an exceedingly strong
closure of the mechanism is obtained, and the mechanism simplified considerably in
consequence of the combination of several parts thereof usually made separate to
only one piece.
It may however be remarked here, that this combination of several parts of this
system to one piece agrees essentially with the distinguishing marks of another
invention, entitled "Improvements in breech loading rifles," for which a separate
application for Letters Patent has been filed.
The arrangement of the parts of the new breech mechanism is shewn in sheet I
of the annexed drawings.
Figures 1 and 2 are vertical sections of the breech mechanism of this system;
Figure 1 represents the mechanism closed and Figure 2 the mechanism open.
Figure 3 shews the exterior view of the same part of the rifle, the different
position of the lever and safety bolt are marked in full and dotted lines.
Figures 4 to 14 shew the principal parts of this invention in side, front, back
and top views.
Figure 4 is a side view of the breech-box A, with the upper stay I. Figure 4b is
a back view thereof.
Figures 5 and 5 are side and top views of the upper stay I.
Figures 6 and 6b are side and top views of the lower stay K.
Figure 7 is a side view of the lever L, and Figure 7b a back view thereof with
the closing bolt R, the knob L' and the axle L°.
Figure 8 is a side view of the trigger guard P and Figure 8b a top view
thereof.
Figure 9 is a side view of the breech block D and Figure 9b a back view
thereof.
10 is a side view, 10" a back view, and Figure 10° a front view of the
hammer E.
Figure 11 is a side view of the safety bolt O and Figure 11b a back view
thereof with the cock closing axle m.

page_text: Figures 12° and 12b are side and top views of the main spring F; the Figures 13ª
and 13 are side and front views of the extractor H, and the
Figures 14 and 14b are side and front views of the sear G.
The arrangement and combination of these parts is as follows:
The breech-box A forming the connection between the barrel B with the stock S
and the butt C consists of an oblong metal piece provided with a massive piece in
the front part, into which the barrel is screwed in; the side walls of the breech
box are constructed parallel, and in the space between them are placed the breech
block D and the other essential parts of the mechanism; the hammer E the main
spring F the extractor H, the lower stay K the trigger and sear G, the cock-closing
and safety bolt O. The two side walls of the breech box are furthermore provided
with square notches behind the breech-block for holding the closing bolt of the
lever; to the upper rear end of the box is secured by means of rivets the upper
stay I with a channel g for the cartridges and the screw bolt M, the latter, passing
through the butt, unites the upper stay with the lower stay K and gives in
connection with these two parts, a sure hold for the butt C which is also let into
the breech box.
The breech block D secured from recoil by the bolt R is moved by a lever
axle L° in consequence of a square fitting of the latter into the right side wall of
the block; the middle part of the block is hollowed out in such a way, that it is
open downwards and to the rear end; the massive fore-part is provided with a
conical opening for receiving the hammer; another hollow is made in the left side
wall for the extractor, which rests besides that with its round shoulder in the left
side wall of the block (see Figures 9b and 13b).
The well known reliable main spring, which is preferred to the new spiral spring,
principally destined for receiving the recoil, is screwed to the hammer and of a
circular shape, which gives it an increased strength and durability; it is made in
one piece with the sear spring and fastened by a screw d. The trigger G is
combined with the sear in the form of a hook, catching the hammer from behind
and retaining it. The trigger guard P with screw pin e for the strap holder, unless
it is made in one piece with the lower stay, is secured at the rear end by means of
a shoulder, which is adapted to the lower stay by the screw bolt N and at the
fore-end by the screw d.
The lever L practically made in one piece, consists of a closing bolt R with a
knob Lb secured to the lever, and of the true lever with plate and the axle Lc;
the latter, turning in the side walls of the breech-box, moves by its square part the
breech-block, and its thinner end serves at the same time as rotating axle for the
hammer and the extractor; in closing the breech the closing bolt snaps into a
spring arranged on the left outside wall of the breech-box, this spring, when the
lever axle with the groove is lengthened, may also serve for a safety bolt. The
safety bolt when turned into the position O, marked in dotted lines, allows
the lever and breech-block to be quickly taken out, while, in the same direction it
forms a certain stop for the hammer, because it is lying with the full axle on the
sear, even when the indentation in the axle has been turned away.
The mechanism is handled in the following manner:
In the closed position Figure 1 the breech block is secured from recoil by the
bolt R and rests with the tenon P in the barrel, whilst below, it is supported by
the lever axle L. If the mechanism is to be opened the closing holt R is rapidly
turned with the thumb by means of the knob Lb to the right until the projecting
edge w (see Figure 7) leans against the wall of the breech-box and stops the
movement, whereupon by another quick pressure of the thumb, the lever is turned
round its axle Le and brought into the position L' (Figure 3), at the same time the
breech-block D is brought into its open position (see Figure 2), the extractor is
actuated and the hammer made ready. This whole operation and also the operation
of closing the mechanism is easily and rapidly executed, principally by means of
the thumb and by the grip of the hand round the neck of the stock.

page_text: The introduced cartridge, if it is not perfectly placed in position, is effectually
pushed into its bed by the breech-block in consequence of the lever force acting
thereupon, while in the sliding and lifting movements of the other constructions
very troublesome difficulties can arise in introducing the cartridges, when they are
somewhat crushed out of shape, and when their introduction is not assured by a
pushing lever motion. If the bent hammer is to be secured, the safety bolt is
brought into position 0¹ (Figure 3) as set forth. To dismount the whole mechanism
it is only necessary to take out the two screws N and M; to clean the barrel only
it is sufficient to open the mechanism as the channel g for the cartridges is below
the axis of the barrel, so that the latter may easily be cleaned from behind.
The entire mechanism of this system contains only seven pieces not including
the parts generally necessary to rifles, but including the pins and screws necessary
to this special system, and the whole rifle is composed of 30 pieces, which can all
be manufactured by machinery, so that the manufacture of this rifle is considerably
cheaper than that of rifles of different construction, while at the same time all the
pieces of this system are of such a strength, that an experimental explosion of a
cartridge in the barrel intentionally caused and directed backwards forced out the
stock, but did not make any part of the mechanism unserviceable.
The principal advantages of this system are therefore solidity, simplicity, cheapness
and very easy handling of the mechanism, and in consequence of the arrangement
of the several parts, the mechanism of these rifles can easily be kept very clean, as
it can be dismounted and mounted in less than a minute without any difficulty or
use of a special tool. This rifle can also, if necessary, be made unsuitable for
further use and consequently harmless in a few moments by taking out the most
essential parts thereof, while on the other hand the application of the lever
principle, as described, offers however great the fouling or rusting of the fire-arm,
always a certain force for opening and closing the mechanisin, an advantage over
all constructions on the sliding principle and the simple eccentric movement of the
breech-block, whereby many inconveniences of great importance are caused as
experience has shown.
The improvements in the barrels of the breech-loading rifles are as follows :-
Considering the well known fact that every body struck by a given force under-
goes vibration which is stronger or weaker according to its nature and consistency,
and that this vibration develops still stronger waves of motion at the ends of the
body, the inventor has arrived at the conclusion that the considerable vibration set
up in a rifle barrel by the explosion of the powder and increased by the resistance
of the bullet, especially at the muzzle, must materially influence the course of the
bullet. Repeated experiments with a choke bored rifle have given results even at
short distances confirming the conclusion above stated.
"
It is therefore evidently desirable, so to bore the barrel, that the bullet would
be liberated from contact with it at the point at which the so-called "dead point'
of the vibration is situated. If the bullet leaves the barrel at this point it will not
be influenced at the last moment by the vibration of the barrel. Theoretical
studies and practical experiments on these phenomena have enabled the inventor
to formulate a new theory of the laws of vibration which is briefly as follows:
If a body be divided according to its weight into eight equal parts, the dead points
will be found to coincide with the divisions between the first and the second, and
between the seventh and the eighth parts, and this portion of the invention
consists essentially in the application of this principle to the boring of a rifle
barrel. There is marked off upon the rifle barrel accordingly eight equal parts (by
weight), and small projections gradually planed off between the grooves of the
rifling conically in the direction of the muzzle from the division between the sixth
and seventh part of the barrel, up to that between the seventh and eighth, so that
this inclination at the dead point aforesaid reaches the exact depth of the grooves
of the rifling. From the dead point to the muzzle, the barrel is perfectly smooth
inside and the diameter of the bore is slightly larger than that of the bullet,
so that the bullet ceases to be in contact with the barrel from the point at which

page_text: the vibration is reduced to a minimum. It will be obvious from the above
description that the angle of the inclined plane to that of the axis of the barrel is
extremely small: its exact amount may be varied to suit different kinds of fire-
arms. Another point kept in view in the design of the boring according to this
invention is that the rifling and boring be arranged so as to secure as flat a
trajectory and as long a range as possible together with increased accuracy of aim.
In these respects the inventor's own experience has not substantiated the
commonly accepted opinion in favor of quick and deep rifling, and of a bullet
which passes along the barrel only under heavy pressure. The quick and deep
rifling of many systems, destroys the accuracy of the shooting by the rapid leading
of the barrel, and induces moreover such an oxidation of the rifling that no
cleaning, nor even scouring suffices to clean the barrel effectively, whilst the
difficult passage of the bullet through the barrel increases the recoil of the firearm
excessively (in some early Martini-Henrys this recoil amounted to 95 pounds
pressure).
And instead of the bullet receiving as intended a larger proportion of the force
developed by the powder, a large portion of the same is entirely wasted as direct
experiments have clearly proved, a rifle of the improved design loaded with the
same charge of powder and weight of bullet tried against a Martini-Henry at the
same elevation giving a trajectory twice as long-further experiments confirmed
this result, proving the advantages of a moderate twist and very flat gradually
planed down elevations between the grooves, and that the bullet must fit the
barrel well, but not so tightly, that it cannot be driven through the barrel by
hand pressure.
These gradually planed away elevations between the grooves consist of two
elliptical surfaces in which the difference between the longer and shorter axes in a
calibre of 10.5 millimetres is only 0.5 millimetres, whereby the height of the raised
surfaces between the deepest parts of the grooves do not exceed some 0.2 millimetres
and the barrel appears to the eye to be alinost smooth bored.
As however the diameter of the bullet corresponds exactly to that of the greatest
diameter of the bore measured in the grooves, the raised portions must press into
the lead; these flattish smooth elevations therefore impart to the bullet a steady
and sufficient rotation, whilst on the other hand any serious escape of gas is
prevented by the bullet fitting the grooves, whilst the bullet in consequence of the
comparatively lazy passage through the barrel, leaves it with a greater initial
velocity producing a flatter trajectory and longer range, which must obviously
follow according to the well known natural law by which a body propelled by a
given force will travel faster and further the less friction and resistance it
encounters, especially at the commencement of its career. The number of the
grooves have been fixed at four and vary the twist of the same, according to
whether the barrel is designed for firing bullets exclusively, or is to be used for
shot as well, from a half to two thirds of a turn, the very long spiral having been
ascertained to improve the trajectory.
Referring to sheet No II of the annexed drawings
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the upper part of the barrel. The dotted
lines E, F are the division lines between the sixth and seventh part of the barrel,
or the points where the conical enlargement of the barrel is beginning; C, D is the
division line between the seventh and eighth part, or the dead points of the
vibration, G, H is the line of the muzzle of the barrel; A is the barrel, B the
calibre or the bore and L K the axis thereof. The points n and m, the distance
whereof corresponds exactly with the largest diameter of the grooves, indicate the
place in the barrel, where the ball in consequence of the conical enlargement of the
barrel, separates from the barrel on the aforesaid dead points of vibration, and
the dotted lines g, h, and g¹, h¹, indicate the turn or twist of the grooves. The
lines b, v, and c, w, mark the height (0.20 millimetres) of the undulatory twists of
the lower part of the barrel and the lines v, n, and w, m, the conical sloping of the
same until the line C, D, of the dead point; the lines n, r, and m, q, are the

page_text: continuation in a straight line of this conical enlargement up to the muzzle, while
the dotted lines n, o, and m, p, indicate the free trajectory of the ball in the barrel
from the dead point up to the muzzle.
Figure 2 is a section of the grooves of the barrel in full size shewing the orifice
of the barrel on the muzzle in the circle 8, 81, 811
Figure 3 is the same section on a larger scale for the purpose of showing more
clearly the undulatory turns between the grooves, the radius x, x whereof is
equal to the radius of the grooves z, z', the points x¹, x, denote the centres of
these inner arcs.
Figure 4 is a section of the grooves in the middle of the sloping on the line N M.
The advantages of this invention are as follows:
The ball, after having attained a helicoidal motion in consequence of its passage
through nearly two thirds of the barrel, leaves the barrel just at the place where
its further trajectory will no longer be influenced by a last vibration of the barrel.
The arrangement of the extremely flat rifling in the length of nearly two thirds
of the barrel, and the contrivance of the completely smooth slightly conical
enlargement of the rest of the barrel up to the muzzle admits of the barrels
being used either for ball-cartridges or for shot-cartridges, an advantage, which
will be appreciated by the soldier as well as by the sportsman.
The slightly conical enlargement of the barrel towards the muzzle has especially
for barrels of small calibre the special advantage, when shot-cartridges are used,
that, according to the angle of inclination of the conical enlargement, the field
covered by the shots may be enlarged at will, while the flat undulatory arrange-
ment of the grooves diminishes considerably the danger of leading and fouling,
and facilitates at the same time the keeping of the barrel clean.
Having now particularly described and ascertained, the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is
1. In breech loading rifles a block closing mechanism with the block D moveable
in the line of vision and the closing bolt R, which is movable in a direction
perpendicular to D and turning round the lever L fastened with the block D to
the axle Le, the hammer E with the spiral spring F, serving also for sear spring
and the axle m, which serves for a hold for L as well as for security.
2. The graduated conical boring of the barrel from a certain point up to the
muzzle in such a way, that on the division-line between the seventh and eighth
part upwards the greatest diameter of the ball is obtained, and that therefore the
ball, in consequence of the conical enlargement of the barrel, separates from the
barrel on one of the dead points thereof, that is to say, where no vibration exists.
3. The particular rifling of the barrel consisting of two elliptical twists or turns
passing rectangularly through the barrel with flat undulatory elevations of only
0.2 millimetres height between the depth of the several turns; the ball being so
exactly adapted to the deepenings of the twists, that the passage of it through the
barrel will not be too difficult, and the ball notwithstanding be put in the requisite
rotary motion, substantially as set forth and shewn in the drawings.