IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH- LOADING FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Frazier, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Gunmaker, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-
LOADING FIRE-ARMS."
Sealed the 15th November 1864, and dated the 19th May 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Frazier at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 19th May
1864.
I, JOHN FRAZIER, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Gunmaker,
do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS," to be as follows, that is to say:
This Invention has reference to breech-loaders constructed upon the break-
down principle, and consists of improvements in the mode of locking together
and unlocking the barrels and back parts.
The annexed Drawings shew the parts affected by my improvements,
(Figure 1) shewing them in side elevation, and (Figure 2) in section, and
representing them as locked.
(a) is the breech end of the barrel, to the under side of which is jointed the
piece (6) forming part of and solid with the back plate and back strap of the

page_text: break down. Upon the part (b) is formed a slotted stud (c) in which the
bolt (d) engages when forced forwards by an inward pressure upon the locking
trigger (e) the spring (f) assisting this operation, and the second spring (9)
keeping the bolt up to its position for engaging in the slot in the stud (c).
To disengage the parts for charging it is merely necessary to press outwards
the locking trigger (e), thereby releasing the bolt (d), when all the parts are
free.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Frazier in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th
November 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
FRAZIER, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Gunmaker, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-seventh year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said John Frazier, Her special licence that I, the said John Frazier,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
John Frazier, 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 "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said John Frazier, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal,
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 John Frazier, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say) :-

page_text: This Invention has reference to breech-loaders constructed upon the break-
down principle, and consists of improvements in the mode of locking together
and unlocking the barrels and back parts.
The annexed Drawings shew such portions of the arm only as are affected
by my improvements.
Sheet A, Figure 1, represents in side elevation the parts of a breech-loading
gun treated according to my Invention, and Figure 2 a section of the saine;
Sheet B, Figure 3 represents a plan of a portion of the stock and forearm of a
gun, the barrels being removed, and shewing a slight modification of the same
Invention Figure 4 a section of the same shewing the barrels in place, and
Figure 5 side elevation of the same. In all the Drawings the parts are shewn
in the position they assume when the gun is locked, the change of position
in unlocking will be readily understood from the following description:-
(a) Sheet A) is the breech end of the barrel, to the under side of which is
jointed the piece (6) forming part of and solid with the back plate and back
strap of the break down, upon the part (6) is formed a slotted stud (c) in
which the bolt (d) engages when forced forwards by an inwards pressure upon
the locking trigger (e), the spring (f) assisting this operation, and the second
spring (9) keeping the bolt up to its position for engaging in the slot in the
stud (c). To disengage the parts for charging it is merely necessary to press
outwards the locking trigger (e), thereby releasing the bolt (d),hen all the
parts are free.
The Drawings shewn on Sheet B represent a modification of the Invention
in the part termed the fore end joint, a strong pin (h) passes through lugs (i)
formed on the under side of the body, and a stud (k) hollowed out on the fore
edge to fit the pin (h) forms a hinge joint; the locking bolt (1) is round in
cross section, having a beak which engages in the slot (m) in the stud upon
the under side of the barrels. The lever or locking trigger (n) is provided
with a small spring (0) and a pin (p) passes through it and into and through
the trigger guard (2) forming thus a safety catch securing the lever or locking
trigger from being accidentally operated upon, the pin () passes through the
body and the wood of the fore arm, keeping both those parts firmly fixed
together. The parts being shewn locked and ready for discharge, the operation
of unlocking is performed in precisely the same manner as in the arrangement
of parts shewn in Sheet A.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I do not limit myself to these exact details,
but that which I claim is the improvements in the construction and com-

page_text: more fully set forth and specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Frazier, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Seventeenth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
JOHN FRAZIER. (L.S.)