IMPROVE- MENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Pierre Samain, of Blois, Departement de Loir
et Cher, France, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS."
Scaled the 14th June 1872, and dated the 9th January 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Pierre Samain at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
9th January 1872.
I, PIERRE SAMAIN, of Blois, Departement de Loir et Cher, France,
3 Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS," to be as follows, that is
to say :-
My improvements relate chiefly to those breech-loading fire-arms
known as Chassepots and others of like construction, and consist,-
Firstly. In a combination of parts for cocking the arm by the rotatory
motion given to the breech block. For this purpose the bolt is notched

page_text: or grooved, and a helicoidal surface is given to one of the sides of the
said notched or grooved part. I adapt to it a projection on the cock or
hammer of the same shape, so that by turning the breech block the
cock or hammer is moved back from it, and passes above the stop worked
by the scar or tumbler; the arm is then cocked.
The stop
5
Secondly. In a combination of parts for firing the arm.
against which the hammer butts passes through a hole in the tang of
the breach, and extends underneath it on one side into a notched piece
butting against the small lever of the tumbler, and on the other-side
into a blade spring fixed to the tang of the breech. The tumbler fixed 1
in a cap in one piece with the under part of the breech being put in
motion lowers the stop pin of the hammer, and allows the gun to
be fired.
Thirdly. In a combination of parts for extracting the cartridge case
and throwing it out of the breech. For this purpose the front of the 1
breech block is provided with one or several blade springs, the back part
of which is fixed to the breech block, while the other extremity made
of a hook or tooth form projects outside the breech block; the front of
the spring applies the extractor or extractors at the bottom of the groove
where it or they are placed in the bolt, its or their surface becoming 2
identical with that of the bolt without hollow or projection. The breech
block being pushed forward the tooth of the extractor is raised and
passes above the wad at the bottom of the cartridge. When the breech
block is turned the extractor turns round the bottom or draws it (the
cartridge bottom and the cartridge case itself) along with it. When the 2
breech block is drawn back a small plate or recoil picce sliding
longitudinally in a notch of a dovetail shape made in the bolt butts
against the back part of the stop of the hammer and stops there.
The bolt continuing its motion the bottom of the cartridge is pushed
back by the back part of the recoil piece, and the cartridge case is 3
thrown out.
The cartridge is without disc, but is provided with a simple wad; its
back part in the direction of the ball is strongly compressed by which a
conical shoulder is obtained, pressing on a similar projection made in the

page_text: the bolt a longitudinal groove terminating in front by a semicircular
part. Behind there is an enlargement of the groove on one side to form
a lateral space. A curved spring having a to-and-fro motion is placed
behind the breech, and is provided with a knob passing through a notch
in the breech and engages in the groove of the bolt.
In the normal position for firing the back play of the bolt is confined
by the abutment of the knob at the bottom of the groove of the bolt.
In the front play the lateral space is a little behind the knob.
When required to prevent the arm from going off a translating
motion is given to the curved spring carrying the knob; it may then
be engagedin the lateral space and renders the bolt immovable.
filed by the said Pierre Samain in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 8th July 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, PIERRE
SAMAIN, of Blois, Departement de Loir et Cher, France, Civil
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of January, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the
thirty-fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Pierre Samain, Her special licenco
that I, the said Pierre Samain, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Pierre Samain, 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 BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said Pierre Samain, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and scals,

page_text: 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 Pierre Samain, 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 statement, reference being had to the Drawing hereto-
annexed, and to the figures and letters marked thereon, that is to
say :-
My improvements relate chiefly to those breech-loading fire-arms
known as Chassepots and others of like construction.
To make my Invention better understood, I will now proceed to
describe the same by reference to the accompanying Drawing, in which 1
Figure 1 is a vertical section of the arm, the barrel being cut off and
the stock broken off; Figure 2, a section on line c, d, of Figure 1;
Figure 3, a section on line a, b, of Figure 1; Figure 4, elevation of part
of the breech block or bolt; Figure 5, a transverse section of the breech
block or bolt; Figure 6, two detached views of the extractor; Figure 7, 2
a horizontal section through the axis of Figure 1; Figure 8, two views
of the spring serving as a stop notch; Figure 9, two views of the recoil
piece; Figure 10, horizontal section of a gun furnished with a modified
extractor; Figure 11, a section on line t, u, Figure 10; Figures 12
and 13, vertical sections of the breech block; Figures 14 and 15,
elevation and section of the extractor.
The parts for cocking the arm are shown at A, Figure 7; the brecch
block or bolt is notched or grooved; and the hollow part presents the
form of a helical surface. I adapt to it, so as to fit exactly, a projection
of the cock or hammer of the same shape; by this means the rotating a
movement of the breech block cocks the hammer.
To fire the arm I employ a stop B, against which the hammer C butts,
passes through a hole in the tang of the breech, and is adjusted to a
spring D fixed at F under the breech. At the end G is a notch into
which engages the end I of the lever of the sear or tumbler I, which a
turning between two parts of a cap K forming one picce with the tang

page_text: of the breech lowers the stop B of the cock or hammer C, which latter
then strikes the cartridge by means of the striker or pin.
To extract the cartridge case I employ an extractor M, shewn
detached in Figure 6. One of its ends N is attached to the breech
block; the other end O is furnished with a hook forming a projection in
front of the breech block. The whole rests in a groove in the breech
block, and lies even with its surface. The breech block being pushed
forward, the extractor passes above the flange or rim P of the disc of the
cartridge Q, which disc has a diameter equal to that of the cartridge.
A hollow or groove allows of the play of the extractor. When the
breech block is turned it draws with it the extractor, which itself turns
around the cartridge or draws the cartridge with it. If it is brought
back the cartridge is extracted from the barrel. A small blade R,
Figures 1 and 5, made to slide in a dovetail notch S, Figures 1 and 2,
under the breech block butts against the stop B of the cock or hammer ;
and as the breech block continues its movement the disc of the cartridge
is struck and thrown out. The recoil piece R (Figures 5 and 9) is
fixed to the breech block by means of a screw Z, which holds it so as
to allow it to have only a slight longitudinal play sufficient for the
shock.
If instead of employing the special grooved cartridge Q herein-before
described and shewn in Figure 1, an ordinary cartridge be employed, I
arrange the extractor as shewn in Figures 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15.
I make it longer at T, Figure 10, and I place it in a notch S¹. It is
furnished with a projection U, taking into a corresponding notch m¹
at the bottom of the notch in the breech. A knob V takes into a
groove X, Y, W, made in the breech block (Figures 10 and 13), and
allows the extractor to remain fixed until the breech block having
turned and being drawn behind the end W of the groove strikes the
knob V, draws out the cartridge case, and throws it outside.
To prevent the arm going off when not in use I form a longitudinal
groove m, n, Figure 4, on the breech block, which groove is widened on
one side so as to form a lateral cavity p. A curved spring q, r, 8,
Figure 8, having a to-and-fro movement in the direction of its length is
placed at the back of the breech and carries a knob t, the extremity (¹
of which passing through the orifice u takes into the groove m, n, of the
breech block.

page_text: breech block; but when it is desired to prevent the arm from going off
a translating motion is given to the spring r, 8, the knob is moved
opposite the cavity p, and takes into the same when the breech block is
turned (see Figure 2). By this means the breech block remains fixed, t
and the piece cannot be fired until the spring 7, 8, is put back to its
normal position.
Having thus described my Invention and the manner of performing
the same, what I claim is,-
First. The combination of the stop B with the sear or tumbler I, 1
for firing the arm as herein-before described and represented in the
accompanying Drawing.
Secondly. The employment of the extractor M fixed to the brocch
block and combined with the moveable recoil picce R, for withdrawing
and throwing out the cartridge case as herein-before described and 1
represented in the accompanying Drawing.
Thirdly. The employment of the free extractor V, in combination
'with the grooved breech block Y, W, for withdrawing and throwing
out the cartridge case, as herein-before described and represented in
the accompanying Drawing:
Fourthly. The combination of the curved spring r, s, and the
groove m, n, of the breech block for preventing when desired the arm
being fired, as herein-before described and represented in the accom-
panying Drawing.
2
In witness whereof, I, the said Pierre Samain, have hereto set my 2
hand and seal, this Sixth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.