IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Jackson, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Gun Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS."
Sealed the 14th September 1866, and dated the 22nd March 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Jackson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
22nd March 1866.
I, JOHN JACKSON, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Gun
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists of the improvements herein-after described in breech-
loading fire-arms of the kind commonly called drop-down guns, that is, breech-
loading fire-arms in which the barrels turn in a vertical plane upon a joint,
the
open breech ends of the barrels being raised from the face of the break-off
for charging, and shut down against the face of the break-off to prepare the
arm for being discharged.
My improvements consist, firstly, of the following arrangement of parts for
discharging central-fire cartridges in drop-down guns:-I make a cylindrical
hole or opening in the break-off in a line with the axis of the barrel when the
barrel is shut down, the said opening being of smaller diameter at the front or

page_text: face of the break-off than at the back of the break-off; in this hole or
opening a cylindrical rod or striker works, the said rod or striker having a
collar near its middle. At the back of the break-off a collar having a hole
in its axis is screwed into the hole or opening in the break-off, the rear end of
the striker passing through the hole in the said collar. A coiled spring is
placed upon the striker before it is put in its place in the hole or opening in
the break-off. The said coiled spring bears at one end against the shoulder
formed at the junction of that part of the hole or opening in the break-off of
larger diameter with the part of smaller diameter. By the action of the
said spring the striker is pressed from the face of the break-off towards the
back of the break-off, and when the striker is in its normal position its front
end is flush with the face of the break-off, its rear end protruding from the
before-mentioned collar at the back of the break-off. The hammer is made
to strike the rear end of the striker and discharge the cartridge in the follow-
ing manner: In the lock plate is a horizontal slot in which a slide works,
one end of the said slide being situated outside the lock plate, and the other
end being situated on the inner side of the lock plate and immediately opposite
the rear end of the striker. When on the pulling of the trigger the hammer
falls it strikes against the outer end of the slide, and drives it forward or
towards the muzzle end of the gun. The inner end of the slide strikes against
the rear end of the striker, and driving the striker forwards causes its fore
end to strike the fulminate at the base of the cartridge, and thereby discharge
the cartridge.
My improvements consist, secondly, of the following arrangements of the
parts of a cartridge extractor for drop-down guns:-In the top rib, and
situated between the barrels, I make a cylindrical hole in a direction parallel
with the axes of the barrels, and on the bottom rib situated between the
barrels I make a similar hole; in these holes cylindrical rods are situated,
the outer ends of theso rods carrying a cross piece situated in a plane parallel
with the ends of the barrels. The sides of the said cross piece are curved to
the curvature of the breech ends of the barrels, and the inner edges of the
breech ends of the barrels are cut away, so as to allow the said cross piece to
lie flush with the ends of the barrels. In each of the holes in the ribs a
sinal coiled si ring is placed, which when the breech ends of the barrels are
raised from the break-off press out the rods and cause the cross piece to stand
out from the ends of the barrels. When the barrels are shut down the cross
piece coming against the face of the break-off is pressed into the cut away
part, and lics flush with the ends of the harrels. In charging the gun the
cartridges are inserted in the breech ends of the barrels, the flanges of the

page_text: cartridges bearing against the curved sides of the cross piece. On shutting
down the barrels the cartridges are pushed homo in the barrels and the cross
piece pressed into the cut away part at the ends of the barrels by the face of
the break-off When the barrels are raised after discharge the springs in the'
holes in the ribs force the rods and cross piece outwards. The cases of the
exploded cartridges, the flanges of which rest against the cross piece, are
started from their places in the barrels, and can be readily taken hold of and
removed by hand. Instead of forcing the cross piece from the ends of the
barrels by two springs, as described, it may be forced out by means of a spring
situated under the middle of the cross piece.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Jackson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
21st September 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, Jonn
JACKSON, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Gun Manufacturer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the twenty-ninth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said John Jackson, Her special licence that I, the said John
Jackson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said John Jackson, 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 "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said John Jackson, 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 Inven-
tion, 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 Jackson, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be

page_text: performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say:-
My Invention consists of the improvements herein-after described in
breech-loading fire-arms of the kind commonly called drop-down guns, that is,
breech-loading fire-arms in which the barrels turn in a vertical plane upon a
joint, the open breech ends of the barrels being raised from the face of the
break-off for charging, and shut down against the face of the break-off to
preparo
the arm for being discharged.
My improvements consist, firstly, of the following arrangement of parts for
discharging central-fire cartridges in drop-down guns:-I make a cylindrical
hole or opening in the break-off in a line with the axis of the barrel when the
barrel is shut down, the said opening being of smaller diameter at the front or
face of the break-off than at the back of the break-off. In this hole or
opening a cylindrical rod or striker works, the said rod or striker having a
collar near its middle. At the back of the break-off a collar having a holo in
its axis is screwed into the hole or opening in the break-off, the rear end of
the striker passing through the hole in the said collar. A coiled spring is
placed upon the striker before it is put in its place in the hole or opening in
the break-off. The said coiled spring bears at one end against the shoulder
formed at the junction of that part of the holo or opening in the break-off of
larger diameter with the part of smaller diameter. By the action of the said
spring the striker is pressed from the face of the break-off towards the back
of the break-off, and when the striker is in its normal position its front end is
Alush with the face of the break-off, its rear end protruding from the before-
mentioned collar at the back of the break-off. The hammer is made to strike
the rear end of the striker and discharge the cartridge in the following
manner: In the lock plate is a horizontal slot in which a slide works, one
end of the said slide being situated outside the lock plate, and the other end
being situated on the inner side of the lock plate and immediately opposite
the rear end of the striker. When on the pulling of the trigger the hammer
falls it strikes against the outor end of the slide, and drives it forward or
towards the muzzle end of the gun. The inner end of the slide strikes
against the rear end of the striker, and driving the striker forwards causes its
foro end to strike the fulminate at the base of the cartridge, and thereby
discharge the cartridge.
My improvements consist, secondly, of the following arrangements of the
parts of a cartridge extractor for drop-down guns:-In the top rib and situated
between the barrels I make a cylindrical hole in a direction parallel with the
axes of the barrels, and in the bottom rib situated between the barrels I mako

page_text: a similar hole. In these holes cylindrical rods are situated, the outer ends of
these rods carrying a cross piece situated in a plane parallel with the ends of
the barrels. The sides of the said cross piece are curved to the curvature
of the breech ends of the barrels, and the inner edges of the breech ends of
the barrels are cut away, so as to allow the said cross piece to lie flush with
the ends of the barrels. In each of the holes in the ribs a small coiled spring.
is placed, which when the breech ends of the barrels are raised from the
break-off press out the rods and cause the cross piece to stand out from the.
ends of the barrels. When the barrels are shut down the cross piece coming.
against the face of the break-off is pressed into the cut-away part, and lies:
flush with the ends of the barrels. In charging the gun the cartridges are
inserted in the breech ends of the barrels, the flanges of the cartridges bearing
against the curved sides of the cross piece. On shutting down the barrels the
cartridges are pushed home in the barrels and the cross piece pressed into the;
cut-away part at the ends of the barrels by the face of the break-off. When
the barrels are raised after discharge the springs in the holes in the ribs force
the rods and cross piece outwards. The cases of the exploded cartridges, the
flanges of which rest against the cross piece, are started from their places in
the barrels, and can be readily taken hold of and removed by hand. Instead
of forcing the cross piece from the ends of the barrels by two springs, as
described, it may be forced out by means of a spring situated under the middle
of the cross piecc.
Having explained the nature of my Invention, I will proceed to describe,.
with reference to the accompanying Drawing, the manner in which the same;
is to be performed.
Figure 1 represents in side elevation the breech end of a double-barrelled
drop-down gun containing my improvements for discharging central-firo car-
tridges; Figuro 2 is a side elevation (partly in vertical section) of the body,
break-off, and locks of the same; and Figure 3 is a plan of Figure 2;
Figures 4 and 5 are separate views of parts of the discharging mechanism as
herein-after explained. The same letters indicate the same parts in Figures 1,
2, 3, 4, and 5.
a are the barrels of the gun turning on the pin or centre 6 in the usual
way; c is tho body, and d the break-off of the gun. In the said break-off d
and in a line with the axis of each barrel is a cylindrical hole or opening e,
the said opening being of smaller diameter at the front than at the back of
the break-off (see Figure 2). In the said opening e a cylindrical rod or
striker works, the said rod. or striker f being pressed from the face of the
break-off by the coiled spring g, one end of which spring bears against the

page_text: shoulder of the opening e, and the other end against the collar f near
the rear end of the said rod or striker f. The rod or strikerf is secured in
the break-off by a screw collar h being screwed at the back of the break-off
into the hole e. The screw collar h has a hole in its middle through which
the back end of the rod or strikerf projects when the striker is in its normal
position, as represented in Figure 2. When in the position Figure 2 the
front end of the strikerf is within the hole in the break-off, and thus offers no
obstruction to the shutting down of the breech ends of the barrels against or
raising them from the face of the break-off. The rod or strikerf is introduced
into the break-off from the back thereof, the spring 9 being placed upon the
striker before it is introduced into the hole or opening e. After the insertion
of the striker and spring the screw collar his screwed into its place in the
manner represented in Figure 2. The hammers i, i, of the gun are made to
act upon the strikers f, f, to discharge the central-fire cartridges in the breech
of the barrels in the following way :-In each of the lock plates k, k, of the
gun a horizontal slot at 7 (best seen in Figure 2) is made. In the Drawing
the mechanism of the locks is omitted in order better to exhibit those parts
constituting my Invention. In the slot a slide marked m, m³, works, the
part m³ being situated outside the lock plate k, and the part m on the inner
side of the lock plate, and immediately opposite the rear end of the striker f.
A plan of the upper side of the slide m, m², is represented in Figure 4, and an
end elevation of the same applied to the lock plate is represented in Figure 5.
The slide m, m2, is maintained in the slot 7 in which it works by means of a
trough-shaped piece p being screwed upon the part m after the latter has been
passed through the slot 1, as will be understood by an examination of
Figures 4 and 5. Recesses are made in the stock in which the inner ends m
of the slides m, m³, work. When the hammer i of the gun falls its front
strikes against the outer part or stud m² of the slide, and drives it forward
towards the muzzle end of the gun. The inner end m of the slide is thereby
made to strike against the rear end of the striker f, driving the said striker
forward, and causing its fore end to strike the centre of the cartridge in the
breech of the barrel and discharge the gun. Both barrels are discharged in
the manner described. On the raising of the hammers to half-cock pre-
paratory to loading the slides m, m², and strikers f return to the positions
represented in Figures 2 and 3 by the pressure of the coiled springs g, and
the breech ends of the barrels are free to be raised from the face of the
break-off.
Figure 6 represents in plan the breech end of the barrels of a drop-down
gun to which a cartridge case extractor constructed according to my Invention

page_text: is applied; Figuro 7 is a longitudinal section of the same; and Figure 8
is an end elevation of the same; Figure 9 is a side elevation; and
Figure 10 an end elevation of the extractor: separately. The same letters
indicate the same parts in Figures 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10. The said extractor
consists of two parallel cylindrical rods q, q, the outer ends of which rods
carry a cross piece r. In the top and bottom ribs of the barrels a cylin-
drical holes 8, 8, are made in a direction parallel with the axes of the said
barrels. Into these holes the rods 9, 7, of the extractor are placed. The
sides of the cross piece are curved to the curvature of the breech ends of
the barrels in the manner represented in Figures 8 and 10, and the breech
ends are cut away at t, so as to allow the cross piece r to lie flush with the
ends of the barrels. The cross piece r is also provided with depressions
corresponding with those in the sides of the barrels, into which the flanges or
rims of the cartridges enter when placed in the barrels. In the holes s in the
ribs and at the backs of the rods q, q, coiled springs u, u, are placed, which
said springs when the barrels are raised from the break-off press the rods and
cross piece outwards. When the barrels are shut down the cross piece r
coming against the face of the break-off is pressed into the cut-away part t,
and lies flush with the end of the barrels, the rods q, q, at the same time
compressing the coiled springs u, u. The distance to which the rods q, q, can
slide in either direction is limited by the pin v working in a slot w in the lower
rod of the extractor. In loading the gun the cartridges are introduced into
the breech ends of the barrels, the rims or flanges of the said cartridges
entering the curved sides of the cross piece r, and on shutting down the
barrels the cartridges are pushed home in the barrels, and the cross piece r is
pressed into the recess t by the face of the break-off. When the barrels a are
raised after the discharge of the gun the springs u, u, being at liberty to
expand, force the rods q, q, and cross piece r outwards in the manner repre-
sented in Figures 6 and 7, and start or partly remove the cases of the
exploded cartridges from the barrels. Instead of forcing the cross piece r
from the ends of the barrels by springs at the ends of the rods q, q, it may be
forced outwards by a coiled spring situated at the middle of the back of the
cross piece at the point marked . I prefer, however, the arrangement of
parts herein first described and represented in the Drawing.
'
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I do not
limit myself to the precise details herein described and represented in the
Drawing, as the same may be varied without departing from the nature of my
Invention; but I claim as my Invention,-

page_text: Firstly, the arrangement or combination of parts herein-before described,
and illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, of the accompanying Drawing, for
discharging central-fire cartridges in drop-down guns, that is to say, the
arrangement or combination of parts described and represented whereby the
falling hammer of the gun is made to drive forward a slide working in the
"lock plate, and cause the said slide to strike a pin or striker in the break-off,
which pin or striker strikes the cartridge and discharges the gun.
Secondly, the arrangement or combination of the parts of a self-acting
cartridge case extractor for drop-down guns, herein-before described and illus-
trated in Figures 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10, of the accompanying Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Jackson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
Witness,
RICHARD SKERRETT,
Clerk to George Shaw,.
Birmingham.
JOHN JACKSON. (L.B.)