IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON- STRUCTION OF FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jean Jongen, of Liège, in the Kingdom of Belgium,
Gun Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON-
STRUCTION OF FIRE-ARMS."
Sealed the 28th February 1865, and dated the 28th September 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Jean Jongen at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 28th
September 1864.
I, JEAN JONGEN, of Liège, in the Kingdom of Belgium, Gun Manufacturer,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF FIRE-ARMS," to be as follows:-
This Invention of improvements in the construction of fire-arms relates
to that description of fire-arms, known as revolvers or repeating fire-arms,
in which four or more shots may be discharged in quick succession from
a series of chambers formed in a removable breech cylinder which is made to
rotate on a fixed spindle. The chambers are closed at their rear ends by
screwed blocks through which a central hole forming the touch-hole is bored.
These blocks carry the nipples on which the percussion caps are placed.
The chambers are brought up in succession in a line with the barrel by
means of a click operating upon ratchet teeth formed on the rear of the
breech cylinder. The hammer for discharging the arm is actuated by a
spring and tumbler in the ordinary manner, but instead of the hammer being
made to strike the percussion caps as usual, it acts upon a horizontal pin

page_text: called the ram pin, which is placed in a line with the barrel, and is carried
by the lock frame. When the hammer is released by pulling the trigger it
descends with considerable force on the ram, pin, and drives it forward
against the percussion cap, that is brought into a line therewith, and thereby
ignites the charge. The ram pin is connected with a spring, which when
the hammer is drawn back will force back the ram pin and allow the breech
cylinder to be rotated in order to bring forward another charged chamber.
The barrel is mounted in a hinged frame, which also carries the barrel. This
frame is hinged to the lock frame, and it is held firmly in position by means
of a catch, by releasing which the frame may be opened to remove the
rotating breech cylinder from its spindle, and replace it by a charged cylinder.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the 'Letters Patent, filed
by the said Jean Jongen in the Great Seal Patent Office on-the 28th
March 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE. PRESENTS SHALL COME; I; JEAN
JONGEN, of Liege, in the Kingdom of Belgium, Gun Manufacturer,- send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria,, by. Her. Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-eighth year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said Jean Jongen, Ier special license that I, the said Jean
Jongen, my executors, administrators, and assigns; or such others as I; the
said Jean Jongen, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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 THE CONSTRUCTION-OF FIRE-ARMS," upon the condition (amongst others)
tlint I, the said Jean Jongen, 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 Jean Jongen do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-

page_text: formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement; reference being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed, and to
the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
This Invention of "Improvements..in the Construction of Fire-arms"
relates to that description of. fire-arms, known as revolvers or repeating fire-
arms, in which four or more shots may be discharged in quick succession from
a series, of chambers formed in a removeable breech cylinder, which is made
to rotate on a fixed spindle.
In the accompanying Drawing, Fig. 1 shews in side view, a pistol con-
structed on the improved principle; Fig. 2 is, a side view; shewing the
breech cylinder in section; Fig. 3 is an end view of the rotating breech
cylinder A, in which are six chambers to contain separate charges. These
chambers are closed at their rear ends by screwed blocks a, a, through which
a central hole forming the touch-hole is bored as seen in Fig. 2. These
blocks carry the nipples c, on which the percussion caps are placed. The
chambers are brought up in succession in a. line with the barrel d by means
of a click operating upon ratchet teeth formed on the rear of the breech
cylinder A, as is usual in this description of repeating fire-arm. The hammer e
for exploding the caps on the nipples c and discharging the arm is actuated
by a spring and tumbler in the ordinary manner, but instead of the hammer
being made to strike the percussion caps or detonating compound direct, as is
usual, it acts upon a horizontal pin f called the ram pin, which is placed in
a line with the barrel, and is carried by the lock frame g, g. When the
hammer e is released by pulling the trigger it strikes with considerable force
the ram pin f, and drives it forward against the percussion cap on that nipple c
which is brought into a line with it, and thereby ignites the charge. The ram
pin f is connected with a spring h (shewn in side and end views at Figs. 4),
which when the hammer e is drawn back will force back the ram pin f clear of
the breech cylinder A, and allow the breech cylinder to be rotated in order to
bring forward another charged chamber. The rotating breech A is mounted
in the upper part of the hinged frame g, which also carries the barrel d. This
frame g is hinged to the lock frame g', and is held firmly in position by
means of spring catches as shewn in Fig. 5. By pulling or pressing back
the tail-piece i the frame g may be opened, and the rotating breech cylinder A
removed from its spindle, and a newly charged cylinder put on the spindle in
its place. This arrangement admits of the use of breech cylinders formed to
receive percussion cartridges, the ram pin striking the rear of the cartridge.
Having now described my Invention of "Improvements in the Construc-
tion of Fire-arms," and having explained the manner of carrying the same

page_text: into effect, I claim as the Invention secured to me by Letters Patent as afore-
said, the construction and arrangement of parts herein set forth for exploding
the percussion composition in rotating breech fire-arms.
In witness whereof, I, the said. Jean Jongen, bave hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Eighteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
Witness,
P. F. RUHIER,
Quai de Maestrich,
75 bis..
JEAN JONGEN. (L.S.)