IMPROVEMENTS IN REVOLVING FIRE-ARKS, AND IN CARTRIDGES FOR THE SAME
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Adams, of King William Street, in the City of
London, Gun Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
REVOLVING FIRE-ARKS, AND IN CARTRIDGES FOR THE SAME."
Sealed the 7th January 1862, and dated the 12th July 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Adams at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 12th
July 1861.
I, JOHN ADAMS, of King William Street, in the City of London, Gun
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN REVOLVING FIRE-ARMS, AND IN CARTRIDGES FOR THE SAME," to be
as follows:-
My Invention relates principally to that class of revolving fire-arms wherein
a cylinder or series of revolving chambers containing separate charges is
employed, each chamber being brought in succession opposite to a fixed barrel
to be discharged.
The first part of my improvements consists in forming the barrel and the
frame or opening in which the chambers rotate from one piece of metal, but
in place of forming the frame and barrel as heretofore in one piece, suitable
for being attached to the stock of the fire-arm, I form it in two parts. The
part of the frame which carries the rotating chambers is firmly connected to
that part of the frame which carries the lock and hammer, and which is
attached to the stock of the fire-arm, by which arrangement the construction
of the parts is greatly simplified.

page_text: The second part of my improvements consist in constructing and arranging
the cylinders or series of revolving chambers in combination with a revolving
breech piece or base plate, such chambers being suitable for receiving and
exploding the charges contained in cases or cartridges somewhat similar to the
cases or cartridges denominated "Lefancheux cartridges," and part of my
Invention consists in so constructing revolving fire-arms of this description
that a set of rotating chambers suitable for being charged at the muzzle with
cartridges or with ordinary ammunition may be substituted for the set of
chambers which are only suitable for being loaded with cartridges at the
breech end. Apparatus is also arranged for forcing out the empty cases when
exploded, and forcing in the charge when the cylinder is loaded at the muzzle.
Heretofore when the "Lefaucheux Cartridge" has been employed for
charging the chambers of revolving fire-arms a fixed breech piece or base
plate has been employed to close the back ends of the chambers to receive the
lateral concussion when the discharge takes place, and revolving fire-arms so
constructed were only suitable for being charged with such cartridges;
now, according to my Invention the series of revolving chambers and the
breech piece or base plate are arranged so as to rotate together on the same
pin or central axis, which is capable of being readily withdrawn when it is
desired to detach or exchange the rotating cylinder.
In order to load the fire-arm when it is arranged with a cylinder and
chambers suitable for receiving "breech-loading cartridges," the central axis
(which is retained by a spring) is partly withdrawn so as to release the base
or back plate, which can then be slid sideways, leaving the back ends of part
of the chambers on one side of the cylinder open ready to receive the cartridges
in succession, each of which is furnished with a suitable percussion cap to be
exploded when struck by a projection on the hammer, openings being left in
the back plate for this purpose. The lock and apparatus for giving motion to
the revolving cylinder is of the ordinary construction, and the driver, by acting
upon a ratchet on the back of the breech or base plate, gives motion thereto,
and a tooth or projection on this plate in its rotation comes against one of a
series of projections upon the cylinder, and causes it to rotate with it. A
sliding rod is arranged in combination with the sliding axis, upon which the
cylinder and breech piece rotates; this rod is employed to force out the
empty cases when exploded, and is also suitable for ramming in the charges
when ordinary ammunition is employed; it is also so arranged that when the
sliding axis is forced home, and the parts are in position for being discharged,
the rod is fixed by a sliding pin or bolt actuated by the central axis.
When ordinary ammunition is employed, the rotating chambers previously

page_text: described are to be removed by withdrawing the central axis, and, an
additional set of chambers substituted therefor, suitably constructed for receiving
ordinary powder and ball, or made up cartridges, together with a percussion
cap for exploding the same, the breech piece and other parts remaining as
before described; or the rotating breech piece and cylinder may both be
removed, and a cylinder or series of chambers of the ordinary construction
substituted therefor.
My improvements in cartridges for revolving fire-arms, such as before
described, consists in forming them with a percussion cap and an exploding
pin placed in the base or back end of the cartridge in place of introducing the
pin through the side of the cartridge, as heretofore.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Adams in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 11th
January 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
ADAMS, of King William Street, in the City of London, Gun Manufacturer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fifth year of Her
reign, did, for lerself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said John Adams, Her special licence that I, the said John
Adams, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said John Adams, 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 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 REVOLVING FIRE-ARKS, AND IN CARTRIDGES FOR THE
BAKE," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John Adams,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascer-
tain 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.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Adams, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say :-
My Invention relates principally to that class of revolving fire-arms wherein
a cylinder or series of revolving chambers containing separate charges is
employed, each chamber being brought in succession opposite to a fixed barrel
to be discharged.
The first part of my improvements consists in forming the barrel and the
frame or opening in which the chambers rotate from one piece of metal, but in
place of forming the frame and barrel as heretofore in one piece suitable for
being attached to the stock of the fire-arm I form it in two parts. The part
of the frame which carries the rotating chambers is firmly connected to that
part of the frame which carries the lock and hammer, and which is attached
to the stock of the fire-arm, by which arrangement the construction of the
parts is greatly simplified.
my
The second part of my improvements consists in constructing and arranging
the cylinders or series of revolving chambers, in combination with a revolving
breech piece or base plate, so that such chambers may be suitable for receiving
and exploding the charges contained in cases or cartridges somewhat similar
to the cases or cartridges denominated "Lefancheux cartridges," and part of
Invention consists in so constructing revolving fire-arms of this description
that a set of rotating chambers suitable for being charged at the muzzle with
cartridges or with ordinary ammunition may be substituted for the set of
chambers which are only suitable for being loaded with cartridges at the
breech end. Apparatus is also arranged for forcing out the empty cases
when exploded, and forcing in the charge when the cylinder is loaded at the
muzzle.
Heretofore, when the "Lefancheux cartridge" has been employed for
charging the chambers of revolving fire-arms, a fixed breech piece or base
plate has been employed to close the back ends of the chambers to receive the
latoral concussion when the discharge takes place, and revolving fire-arms
so constructed were only suitable for being charged with such cartridges.
Now, according to my Invention, the series of revolving chambers and the
breech piece or base plate are arranged so as to rotate together on the same
pin or central axis, which is capable of being readily withdrawn when it is
desired to detach or exchange the rotating cylinders.
In order to load the fire-arm when it is arranged with a cylinder and
chambers suitable for receiving "breech-loading cartridges," the central axis

page_text: (which is retained by a spring) is partly withdrawn so as to release the base
or back plate, which can then be slid sideways, leaving the back ends of part
of the chambers on one side of the cylinder open ready to receive the
cartridges at the breech end of the cylinder in succession, each of which is
furnished with a suitable percussion cap to be exploded when struck by a pro-
jection on the hammer, openings being left in the back plate for this purpose.
The lock and apparatus for giving motion to the revolving cylinder is of the
ordinary construction, and the driver by acting upon a ratchet on the back of
the breech or base plate gives motion thereto, and a tooth or projection on this
plate on its rotation comes against one of a series of projections upon the
cylinder, and causes it to rotate with it. A sliding rod is arranged in com-
bination with the sliding axis, upon which the cylinder and breech pieco
rotates. This rod is employed to force out the empty cases when exploded,
and is also suitable for ramming in the charges when ordinary ammunition is
employed. It is also so arranged that when the sliding axis is forced home,
and the parts are in position for being discharged, the rod is fixed by a sliding
pin or bolt actuated by the central axis. When ordinary ammunition is
employed the rotating chambers proviously described are to be removed by
withdrawing the central axis, and an additional set of chambers substituted
therefor, suitably constructed for receiving ordinary powder and ball, or mado
up cartridges, together with a percussion cap for exploding the same. Tho
breech piece and other parts remaining as before described, or the rotating
breech piece and cylinder may both be removed, and a cylinder or series of
chambers of the ordinary construction substituted therefor.
My improvements in cartridges for revolving fire-arms, such as before
described, consists in forming them with a percussion cap, and an exploding pin
placed in the base or back end of the cartridge, in place of introducing the
pin through the side of the cartridge as heretofore.
And in order that my Invention may be most fully understood and
readily carried into practice, I will proceed to describe the Drawing hereunto
annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1 shows a side view of a revolving fire-arm constructed according
to the first part of my Invention; Figure 2 shows a side view partly in section
of the barrel and frame, in which the chambers revolve in combination with
the part of the frame which carries the lock and hammer, and to which the

page_text: a is the barrel and frame in which the series of chambers revolve, formed, as
shown, out of one piece of metal, the lower part a' of which fits accurately into
the slot b' formed in the part 6 of the frame which carries the lock and hammer,
and to which part the stock of the fire-arm is attached, as is well understood in
the construction of revolving fire-arms of this description. The two parts a, b,
are secured together by screws or pins at a³, a³, or in any other convenient
manner. By thus forming the barrel a and frame b to which it is attached in
two parts, the construction of such parts is greatly simplified, and the cost of
manufacturing fire-arms of this description is considerably reduced.
I will now describo the second part of my improvements, which consists in
constructing and arranging the cylinders or series of revolving chambers of
revolving firc-arms in combination with a revolving breech piece or base plate,
so that such chambers may be suitable for receiving and exploding the charges
contained in cases or cartridges, somewhat similar to those known as "Lefan-
cheux cartridges." c, c, in the several Figures of the Drawing shows the
series of revolving chambers which are open at each end, and suitable for
being charged with cartridges at the breech end of each chamber; d is the
breech piece or base plate for closing the back ends of the chambers c when
the fire-arm is discharged. This breech piece or disc d is carried by and
rotates with the chambers c on the same central pin or axis f, which is capable
of being readily withdrawn when it is desired to release the breech piece to
detach or exchange the revolving chambers c. The lock of the fire-arm and
the apparatus for giving motion to the combined parts c and d, is of the
ordinary construction, the driver being arranged to act on a ratchet formed
on the back of the breech piece or base plate d, so as to give rotary motion
thereto, there being a tooth or projection d' on the breech piece d, which in its
rotation comes against one of a scries of projections c' formed on the outer
circumference of the revolving chambers c, by which such chambers are caused
to rotate correctly with the breech picco d. Openings are formed in the
breech piece d for the hammer e to pass through in order to explode the
cartridge when the fire-arm is discharged. When it is desired to load the fire-
the central pin or axis f (which is retained by a spring f¹) is withdrawn
a short distance to permit the breech piece d to be slid a short distance
sideways, so as to uncover the back ends of some of the revolving chambers c
on one side, in order to admit of the cartridges being introduced into the back
end of each chamber as they are brought round in succession for this purpose.
The cartridges employed in this arrangement are each furnished with a
percussion cap arranged as hereafter described, which is exploded when struck
by a projection on the hammer. A sliding rod 7 is arranged in combination
arm,

page_text: with the central axis f, as shown at Figure 11, to force out the empty
cartridge cases when exploded. This rod 9 is also suitable for ramming in
the charges when chambers carrying ordinary ammunition are employed;
it is also so arranged that when the central sliding axis f is forced home
and the parts are in position for being discharged, the rod g is fixed
by a sliding pin or bolt 9* actuated by the central axis. In place of
arranging the sliding ramrod 9 as above described, I prefer to arrange it
in combination with the lever h, as shown as Figures 1, 2, 4, and 7, in
which arrangement the curved part h¹ of the lever his caused to act on the
slotted part of the rod g, when the lever is raised to force it a short distance
into one of the chambers c (in order to ram in the charge when muzzle-
loading chambers are employed, as herein-after described). When tho lever
is raised to its highest position the curved projecting rib or surface h³ on the
lever h passes completely through the slot in the rod g, so that the rod is then
quite free to be slid further into the chambers c as they are brought opposite to
it, to force out the empty cartridge cases, and when the rod g is drawn back
and the lever h is depressed, the projecting rib or surface h³ re-enters the slot
in the rod g and withdraws it completely from the chambers o, as shown.
It will be evident from the foregoing description that by withdrawing the
central axis the set of revolving chambers c may be readily removed and
another set of chambers substituted therefor; and part of my Invention
consists in constructing revolving fire-arms of this description, that a set of
rotating chambers c*, such as is shown at Figure 9, suitable for being charged
at the muzzle with cartridges or with ordinary ammunition, may be substituted
for the set of chambers c, Figure 8, before described, which are only suitable
for being loaded with cartridges at the breech end. It will be seen on
examining Figure 9 that these chambers c* are formed with a nipple suitable
for receiving an ordinary percussion cap, which is exploded by a blow from the
hammer e, which passes through openings formed in the breech piece d, which
is the same together with the other parts as before described. Or, in place of
substituting the set of rotating chambers c* for the set of rotating chambers c,
both the rotating breech piece and cylinder c or c* may be removed, and a
cylinder or series of muzzle-loading chambers of the ordinary construction,
and such as are generally used with rotating fire-arms may be substituted
therefor, and used in combination with the other parts of the piece constructed
according to my Invention.
My improvements in cartridges suitable for being used with revolving fire-
arms, such as before described, are shewn by the enlarged section of a
cartridge, constructed according to this part of my Invention, at Figure 12,

page_text: which it will be seen is arranged with a percussion cap i, and an exploding
pinj, placed in the base or back end of the cartridge. The cap with the small
exploding pin is inserted into a hole or recess formed in the solid base k of the
cartridge, a small hole or passage being formed to connect the recess in which
the cap is placed with the interior of the cartridge, so that the fire from
the explosion of the cap passes directly into and through the centre of the
charge.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of
carrying the same into practice, I would have it understood that I do not
confine myself to the precise details herein described, so long as the peculiar
character of either part of my Invention be retained; but what I claim is,―
First, the arrangement and combination of the parts a, b, of revolving fire-
arms, as herein described.
Secondly, I claim the arrangement and combination of the revolving
chambers c and breech-piece d for loading the chambers of revolving fire-arms
at the breech end, as herein described.
I also claim the arrangement and combination of the parts of revolving fire-
arms, whereby muzzle-loading rotating chambers c* may be substituted for the
breech-loading chamber c, as herein described.
I also claim the arrangement of apparatus for forcing out the discharged
cartridge cases from the chambers c, and for ramming in the charge when the
chambers c* are employed, as herein described.
And, thirdly, I claim the improvements in cartridges for rotating fire-arms,
as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Adams, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eleventh day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
Witness,
J. G. TONGUE,
Patent Agent,
34, Southampton Build., W.C.
JOHN ADAMS. (L.S.)