IMPROVEMENTS IN 59. FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Bentley, of Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Gun Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
59.
FIRE-ARMS."
Sealed the 16th April, 1858, and dated the 17th October 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Bentley at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 17th
October 1857..
I, JOSEPH BENTLEY, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Gun Manu-
facturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN FIRE-ARMS," to be as follows (that is to say) :-
This Invention consists of improvements in the locks of fire-arms, whereby
the hammer can be raised to half-cock, and discharged or let off by merely
drawing the trigger backwards by the finger, as in the ordinary self-acting
revolving-chambered fire-arms; or the hammer may be placed at half or full
cock by the "comb" of the hammer, as in the common gun lock.
These improved locks are applicable to either repeating or single-action fire-
arms, and certain improvements applicable to lever ramrods for repeating
fire-arms.
These improvements in locks for fire-arms are accomplished by means of a
small lever, working on a transverse pin or axis on front of the hammer,
the upper end of this lever forming the "sear nose," and is caused to take.

page_text: into a notch or "bent "formed on the front of the hammer by a spring acting
against its lower portion. It is preferred to form only one bent or notch in
the front of the hammer, and to hollow out the side of the lever next to the
hammer from the head or upper end, for the distance downwards that would be
required between the bents were two bents used, so as to form a ledge or notch,
upon which the "bent" of the hammer will rest when raised to half-cock.
A small regulating screw is fitted to the sear lever, to regulate its action ;
but if it should be deemed advisable two 'bents may be formed on the front of
the hammer in place of one, and the small ledge..or rest on the lever. The
small sear lever on the front of the hammer may work upon a transverse pin
passing through the body or frame for the purpose; or it may be so formed
that it will work on the same pin as the trigger. In either case it is preferred
to form a mortice or slot in the trigger head, across the line of its axis, to
admit the lower portion of the sear lever, and to allow its spring to work
against it. The sear lever spring preferred is single, and placed within a longi-
tudinal horizontal recess, formed beneath the stock frame, the point of the
spring being bent slightly upwards, so as to act against the lower portion of
the seaer. The upper portion of the hammer is formed with a comb, in
way, and is coupled to the mainspring by a "swivel" in the
the or
usual n
there is
er.
On front of the bottom of the lower limb of the hammer
ojection or arm, which takes into a mortise formed in the back of
the upped of the trigger head, which forces forward the head of the trigger
and throw ack the lower limb thereof. When the hammer is half cocked,
or cocked by the action of the thumb on the hammer comb, the hammer
is placed at half-cock or further elevated, to be discharged by merely drawing
back the trigger by the action of the finger, by reason of the head of the
trigger pressing in an upward direction against a short lever, which is placed
on the front of the hammer, and projects downwards to an elevated projection
formed on the rear end of the trigger head. This short lever is mounted upon
a pin or axis, passing transversely through the hammer at a point on front
of the axis upon which the hammer works. This elevating lever works on
its axis a given distance, and is provided with a small spring at the back
thereof, to admit of its lower portion yielding in a backwards direction, to
admit the projection on the head of the trigger to get beneath its lower end;
which it does by the action of the trigger spring when relieved from the
pressure of the finger on the trigger when the fire-arm is discharged. When
the head of the trigger is sufficiently elevated to raise the hammer to be
discharged, the head of the trigger is turned sufficiently forward to pass from
beneath the elevating lever, and coming against the back of the sear lever,

page_text: forces the point thereof out of the bent in the front of the hammer, when the
hammer is free to strike the nipple by the action of the mainspring. If it
should be preferred, in place of the elevating lever described, a "dog" may be
used, and applied to the bottom of the lower limb of the hammer, coupling
or hooking on to the head of the trigger, by which the hammer may be raised
by the trigger, as described in the Specification of a Patent granted to the
applicant, and dated 4th December 1852; and when applied to revolving
chambered fire-arms, it is proposed also to use a small lever or pawl tooth,
which is attached by a pin to the side of the head of the trigger, or to the
side of the lower limb of the hammer, and which works within a recess formed
in the stock frame, and against ratchet teeth formed on the back of the
revolving chambers, as described in the said Specification of Patent dated
4th December 1852.
The improvements in lever ramrods consists in applying a small locking bolt
or catch, working upon a pin within a mortise formed on the end of the rod,
and which is caused to take into a slot or notch formed in a small projection
or stud formed on the barrel, immediately on front of the position occupied by
the rod when laid against the barrel, by means of a small spring placed within
the mortise at the back of the lever bolt; and in applying a spring to the
lever of the rod so as to bear against the barrel, that it may cause the lever
to spring into the palm of the hand when the bolt on the end of the lever is
relieved from its resting place in the notch on front of the ramrod.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Joseph Bentley in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
17th April 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOSEPH
BENTLEY, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Gun Manufacturer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twenty-first year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Joseph Bentley, Her special licence, that I, the said Joseph Bentley, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Joseph
Bentley, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the

page_text: 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ARMS,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Joseph Bentley, 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Joseph Bentley, 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 state-
ment, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the letters
and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
My Invention relates, first, to improvements in the locks of fire-arms,
whereby the hammer can be raised to half-cock, and discharged or let off by
merely drawing the trigger backwards by the finger, as in the ordinary self-
acting revolving-chambered fire-arms; or the hammer may be placed at half
or full cock by the "comb" of the hammer, as in the common gun lock, and
which improvements are equally applicable to repeating or single action fire-
arms; and, secondly, to certain improvements applicable to lever ramrods for
repeating fire-arms.
These improvements in locks for fire-arms I accomplished by means of a
small lever, working on a transverse pin or axis on front of the hammer,
the upper end of this lever forming the "sear nose," and is caused to take into
a notch or "bent" formed on the front of the hammer by a spring acting
against its lower portion. It is preferred to form only one "bent" or notch in
the front of the hammer, and to hollow out the side of the lever next to the
hammer from the head or upper end, for the distance downwards that would
be required between the "bents" where two "bents" used, so as to form a
ledge or notch, upon which the "bent" of the hammer will rest when raised
to half-cock. A small regulating screw may be fitted to the sear lever, to
regulate its action. But if it should be deemed advisable two "bents" may
be formed on the front of the hammer in place of one, and the small ledge or
rest formed on the lever. The small lever on the front of the hammer may
work upon a transverse pin passing through the body or frame for the purpose,
or it may be so formed that it will work on the same pin as the trigger, and if
it should be prefered the sear lever may be reversed, and constructed with

page_text: the sear nose at the foot or bottom thereof, so as to take into bents formed
on the foot or lower portion of the hammer, in which case the sear lever
spring I prefered is single, and placed within a longitudinal horizontal
recess formed beneath the stock frame, the point of the spring being bent
slightly upwards, so as to act against the lower portion of the "sear nose."
In either case I prefer to form a mortice or slot in the trigger head across the
line of its axis, to admit the lower portion of the sear lever, and to allow its
spring to work. The upper portion of the hammer is formed with a comb in
the ordinary way, and is coupled to the mainspring by a "swivel," in the
usual manner. On front of the bottom of the lower limb of the hammer I
form a projection or arm, which takes into a mortice or other appliance formed
in the back of the upper end of the trigger head, which forces forward the
head of the trigger, and throws back the lower limb thereof, when the
hammer is half cocked or cocked by the action of the thumb on the hammer
comb. The hammer is placed at half-cock or further elevated to be discharged
by merely drawing back the trigger by the action of the finger, by reason of
the head of the trigger pressing in an upward direction against a short lever
or "dog," which is placed on the front of the hammer, and projects downwards
to an elevated projection forward on the rear end of the trigger head. This
short lever is mounted upon a pin or axis, passing transversely through the
hanımer at a point on front of the axis upon which the hammer works. This
elevating lever or "dog" works on its axis a given distance, and is provided
with a small spring at the back thereof, to admit of its lower portion yielding
in a backward direction to admit the projection or catch on the head of the
trigger to get beneath or couple with its lower end, which it does by the action
of the trigger spring when relieved from the pressure of the finger on the
trigger when the fire-arm is discharged. When the head of the trigger is
sufficiently elevated to raise the hammer to be discharged, the head of the
trigger is turned sufficiently forward to pass from beneath or uncouple itself
from the elevating lever or "dog," and coming against the sear lever forces
the point thereof out of the bent in the hammer, when the hammer is free to
strike the nipple by the action of the mainspring. If it should be preferred,
in place of the elevating lever described, a "dog" may be used, applied to the
bottom of the lower limb of the hanımer, coupling or hooking on to the head
of the trigger, by which the hammer may be raised by the trigger, as described
in the Specification of a Patent granted to me, and dated Fourth December,
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two.
When this my said Invention is applied to revolving-chambered fire-arms
I prefer to use a small lever or pawl tooth, which is attached by a pin to

page_text: 'the side of the head of the trigger, or to the side of the lower limb of the
hammer, and which works within a recess formed in the stock frame, and
against ratchet teeth formed on the back of the revolving chambers, as
described in my said Specification of Patent dated Fourth December, One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-two..
The improvements in lever ramrods consists in applying a small locking bolt
or catch working upon a pin within a mortice or cut formed on the end of
the rod, and which is caused to take into a slot or notch formed in a small
projection or stud formed on the barrel immediately on front of the position
occupied by the rod when laid against the barrel by means of a small spring
placed within the mortice at the back of the lever bolt, and in applying a
spring to the lever of the rod, so as to bear against the barrel, that it may
cause the lever to spring into the palm of the hand, when the bolt on the end
of the lever is relieved from its resting place in the notch on front of the
ram rod. That this my said Invention may be the more readily seen and
understood, I have hereunto annexed Drawings of so much of the same as will
be necessary to illustrate its practical application; like letters and figures
marked thereon have reference to similar parts.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a revolving-chambered pistol shown with
part of the stock frame, and body removed to expose the lock to view; and
Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 are various parts of the lock of ditto, shown
detached; and Figure 8 is the side elevation of the body and stock frame
with the axle upon which the chambers revolve, and having a safety lever
locking bolt on the side thereof. Figure 9 is a side elevation of a pistol stock
frame, &c., in partial section, with another modification of my improved lock,
having the "sear nose" formed on the lower end of the lever and taking into
bents formed on the lower edge or foot of the hammer. Figure 10 is a
side elevation of a pistol barrel shown detached. Figure 11. is a side elevation
of a pistol stock frame in section, and exhibits the internal parts of another
modification of my improved lock action. Figures 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17,
and 18 are sundry parts of ditto, shown detached. Figure 19 is a sectional
side elevation of another pistol stock frame and the side view of another
modification of my improved lock. Figures 20 and 21 are portions of the
lock shown detached. Figure 22 is a plan of the lever bolt or catch of the
ramrod. Figure 23, spring of ditto. A, stock frame and body, which
are formed in one piece; B, the barrel; C, the revolving breech-loading
chambers; D, cock or hammer which works on its axis d; E, trigger;
e, trigger axle; e, trigger guard; F, trigger spring; f, a projection on the
lower side of the trigger spring, which abuts and acts against the trigger

page_text: head; f, a projection on the upper side of the rear of the trigger spring,
which act as a stop or lock to the revolving chambers, when the trigger
head is elevated for the discharge of the piece, or when on full cock;
G, "dog" or lever for elevating the hammer by the trigger head acting:
5 against its lower end; 9, pin passing transversely through the hammer and
upon which the "dog" or elevating lever works; g', "dog" or elevating lever
spring; H, "sear lever" the head of which takes into the bents in the.cock;
h, fixed pin, upon which the sear lever works; h¹, the sear spring; I, a
lifter or pawl tooth for revolving the breech-loading chamber, and which is
connected to the upper end of trigger head by a fixed stud or pin, upon which
it works within a recess formed in the stock frame, and acts upon ratchet
teeth formed on the back of the rotating chambers, as described in the
Specification of a Patent granted to me by Her most Gracious Majesty, dated
the Fourth day of December, One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two.
i, spring of ditto; K, fixed pin or spindle upon which the breech-loading
chambers revolve, and which has at its outer end a mortice hole for the
insertion of L, a locking bolt for securing the barrel to the body and stock
frame after the revolving chambers are mounted upon (K) their axis; M, main
spring; N, swivel. G¹, Figures 11 and 13, is a "dog" or elevating lever, having
a small projecting catch on front, which takes into a mortice or hole formed
in the projecting limb of the trigger head, shown at Figures 11 and 14, and
which acts as a drag link, when the hammer is elevated by the cock-comb.
H', (Figures 11 and 16, and Figure 19,) is another. modification of the sear
lever, which acts on the under side of the hammer. O (Figure 8) is a safety
lever bolt, by which the revolving chamber can be securely locked when the
hammer is directly opposite one of the safety partitions by throwing forward
the head of the vertical lever, which carries a small bolt on its head, which
takes into a hole formed in the edge of each of the safety partitions of the
revolving chambers. This lever bolt works on an axis at p, and is actuated from
the bottom. R, a small thumbpiece, and S is a flat spring which keeps the
lever bolt in position, and is secured to the stock frame by a stud or pin at its
outer end. T, the ramrod, which works through the barrel "foot" and is
jointed on its outer end to U, the lever of the ramrod, which is jointed to the
under side or "foot" of the barrel, and is provided at its outer end with Y,
a catch or locking bolt which works in a mortice or slot cut in the end of the
lever of the ramrod; y, the locking bolt spring; Z, a piece of metal attached
to or formed on the under side of the barrel, and has a notch formed on its
inner side to receive the catch of the ramrod lever when it is out of use;
Z, a spring to cause the lever of the ramrod to fall into the palm of the

page_text: hand when released by pressing the catch Y by pressure applied by the
thumb.
Having now fully described and, ascertained the nature of this my said
Invention, and how the same may be. performed; what I claim is,-
Firstly, the construction and application of "sear levers," formed and
applied to the locks of fire-arms, as, herein-before described.
Secondly, the peculiar mode of forming upper portions of triggers and the
lower portions of the cocks or hammers, as herein-before described... ..
Thirdly, the peculiar form and mode of applying the elevators and drag
motions to communicate action from the triggers to the hammers and from
the hammers to the triggers, as herein-before described.
Fourthly, the application of the locking bolt or catch upon the outer end
of the lever of the ramrod, as herein-before described.
And, lastly, the combination of the various parts herein-before described for
the construction of locks for fire-arms, substantially and in the manner herein-
before described.
In witness thereof, I, the said Joseph Bentley, have hereunto set my
hand and affixed my seal, this Sixteenth day of April, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight...
Witness,
WILLIAM WALKER,
of 44, Castle Street, Liverpool."."
JOSEPH (L.S.) BENTLEY.
2).