IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Pryse and Richard Redman, Gun Manua
facturers, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS."
Sealed the 3rd November 1866, and dated the 12th May 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Pryse and Richard
Redman at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition, on the 12th May 1866.
We, CHARLES PRYSE and RICHARD REDMAN, Gan Manufacturers, of
Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS," to be as
follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in breech-loading fire-arms,
and is applicable to those descriptions of fire-arms wherein cartridges known
as central-fire cartridges are used, which are furnished with detonating caps
and anvils at their back ends, and wherein the cartridge cases are moved back
by extracting apparatus brought into action by the movement of the breech
ends of the barrels on the axes on which they turn.
In constructing fire-arms according to the present Invention the parts of
the extracting apparatus where it fits the recess formed in the breech ends of

page_text: the barrels of a double-barrel fire-arm, and against which the flanges of the
cartridge rest when introduced into the barrels, are similar to those heretofore
employed. The stem thereof slides within a passage which is formed to
receive it in the metal lump between the barrels, on its upper side the stem is
bevilled to fit into the angle between the two barrels. The axis on which
the barrels turn is fixed in the end of the metal body of the stock by a screw,
and intermediate of the width of the iron body where the axis passes through
it there is formed or fixed to such metal body a projecting stud or finger
which is held and remains in a fixed position. On moving the barrels on
their axis the stem of the extracting instrument comes and rests against this
fixed stud or finger, and is resisted thereby, hence as the barrels turn on their
axis the extracting instrument is caused to move back and to carry with it
the two cartridge cases. The barrels when closed are held and locked
against the breech plate by an excentric and lever handle which comes under
the trigger guard or other action termed a snap action in a similar manner to
what has before been done. The hammers strike against sliding bolts or
pistons which pass through passages formed in the breech plate and at or
nearly at right angles to the face thereof. The passages for these bolts or
pistons are recessed to contain springs which are arranged to act on and to
bring back the bolts or pistons when the hammers are moved back or cocked.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Charles Pryse and. Richard Redman in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 12th November 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, CHARLES
PRYSE and RICHARD REDMAN, Gun Manufacturers, of Birmingham, in the
County of Warwick, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the twenty-ninth year of ller reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the said
Charles Pryse and Richard Redman, Her special licence that we, the said
Charles Pryse and Richard Redman, our executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as we, the said Charles Pryse and Richard Redman,
our 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

page_text: 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 we, the said
Charles Pryse and Richard Redman, our executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under our or their hands and seals, or under the hand
and seal of one of us or them, 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 we, the said Charles Pryse and Richard Redman,
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 theroof, that is to say:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in breech-loading fire-arms,
and is applicable where the cartridge cases are moved back by extracting
apparatus brought into action by the movement of the breech ends of the
barrels on the axes on which they turn; the part of the extracting apparatus
where it fits the recess formed in the breech ends of the barrels of a double
barrel fire-arm and against which the flanges of the cartridges rest when they
are introduced into the barrels is similar to the corresponding part of extractors
heretofore employed. The stem of the extractor slides within a passage
which is formed to receive it in the metal lump between the barrels, on its
upper side the stem is bevilled to fit into the angle between the two barrels.
The axis on which the barrels turn is fixed in the end of the metal body of
the stock by a screw, and intermediate of the width of the iron body where the
axis passes through it there is formed or fixed to such metal body a projecting
stud or finger which is held and remains in a fixed position. On moving the
barrels on their axis the stem of the extracting instrument comes and rests
against this fixed stud or finger, and is resisted thereby, hence as the barrels
turn on their axis the extracting instrument is caused to move back and to
carry with it the two cartridge cases.
And in order that our said Invention may be most fully understood and
readily carried into effect we will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto

page_text: Invention; Figure 2 is a plan of the same, a part of the breech end of the
barrels being broken away to expose the extractor; Figures 3 are several
views of the extractor separately.
a, is the body in which the pin or axis b'of the barrels is fixed; c, are the
barrels which are capable of turning on the pin 6 to expose the breech ends
of the barrels to allow of cartridges being inserted; the barrels are locked in
position for firing and freed for opening the breech for reloading by the locking
lever das heretofore; e is the extractor, its stem e¹ fits into a passage in
the lumpf, and it is bevilled or of such a form on its upper side as to fit
into the angle which the two cylindrical barrels form in coming together; e' is
a set screw inserted into the stem e', through a slot in the lump to limit the
motion of the extractor; this arrangement admits of the extractor stem being
made very strong without increasing the size and weight of any other parts,
the fitting of the parts also is very readily effected; 9 is a finger or stud
formed in one piece with the body a, and this stud or finger comes against
the stem e¹ of the extractor when the barrels are turned on the pin or axis b,
so as to open the breeches for loading, and in this way the extractor is forced
back and so caused partially to withdraw the cartridge cases in the usual way.
If preferred the upper angle of the extractor stem may be rounded off, as is
shown in section at Figure 4.
What we claim is the forming the stem of the extractor in the manner
above described and the fitting it into the angle between the two barrels.
In witness whereof, we, the said Charles Pryse and Richard Redman,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this 9th day of November,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
CHADIES DDVST