IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS, AND IN THE CHARGES AND PROJECTILES
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William la Penotière, of Essex Street, Strand, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS, AND IN THE CHARGES AND PROJECTILES TO BE
Sealed the 16th January 1866, and dated the 20th July 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William la Penotière at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
20th July 1865.
I, WILLIAM LA PENOTIÈRE, of Essex Street, Strand, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS, AND IN THE CHARGES AND
PROJECTILES TO BE USED THEREWITH," to be as follows, that is to say -
The improvements which constitute this Invention relate to guns and fire-
arms generally, but are designed more particularly for small arms, such as
rifles, carbines, fowling pieces, and the like
My first improvement for rifles and similar aims consists in forming a
trough behind or at the breech end of the barrel, into which trough a loading
breech-piece is fitted; the barrel and trough are integral with each other.
The loading breech-piece (which I designate the lever breech) is formed with,
in, upon, oi is fixed to a lever hinged to the barrel by a spring joint at each
side, the axes of the joints being a little above the centre line or axis of the

page_text: barrel. The end of the bore of the barrel at the tough end is coned or
ecessed, rebated or countersunk to receive a corresponding projection at the
banel end of the breech, the latter forms a continuation of the former; when
lowered into the trough the breech-piece is bored through, and when raised
by a self-acting spring, both it and the lever stand in a vertical position, each
end of the breech-piece being then accessible for having the cartridge o
charge and projectile inserted therein or withdrawn therefrom The lever is
lowered by the hand and the end partly let to the stock, where it is self-
secured by a spring catch, and is released and flies up to the vertical
position by touching a spring knob with the finger, or by pulling the hammer
lever back a little more than is necessary to full cock the piece, the lever then
comes in contact with a spring bolt and pushes it back, and causes this bolt
to release the catch by which the lever breech is held when shut down. The
svind metal stock ord of the trough is perforated to receive the striking end
o projecting point of the hammer which is htted in the centre of the stock
at the rear of the trough, the lock and trigger may be of the ordinary or
airy suitable construction, with a side lever, and may be attached to or form
part of the breech, and be let into and come out of the stock therewith. T
propose to adapt a similai lever breech to single and double bariel guns and
fowling pieces.
My second improvement consists of a cartidge formed for being fired from
the weapons constructed as above described. The case of this cartridge may
be made of metal, paper, or other suitable material, the end of which opposite
the projectile is fitted with a strong perforated wad, in which perforation a
shallow detonating cap is sunk and fixed. This cap is perforated at the end;
in exploding it the hammer point strikes into the cap upon the detonating
powder therein, which on being exploded thereby ignites the powder and
cartridge through the perforations When the hammer is made to enter at
the side or from the bottom, I use a similar cartridge with the cap at the
side instead of the end. The mouth of the cap is covered by a pieco of
bladder or other material for keeping out the wet.
The improved projectile consists of a cylindrical leaden bullet with a convex
cone point partly enclosed in a sock of thin felt, or other soft fibrous covering
partially saturated or coated with lubricating matter. When a sock is used
an opening is left or cut at the end to allow the point of the bullet to pass
through it, so that when the piece is fired the projectile will be lubricated by the
sock and driven out of it, while the sock, which will be driven along and out
of the barrel by the change, will both cleanse and lubricate the bore at each
discharge of the piece, and render all other ordinary internal cleaning processes

page_text: unnecessary. The lubricating cover may be cut out of a flat piece of felt or
other suitable material in the shape of a star or winged disc; in covering the
bullet the flat end is placed upon the centre part or disc, and the wings are
turned up and tied together at the point with a piece of weak thread, so that
when the piece is fired the point will break the tie and be driven out, as
before described. For guns or fowling pieces a small case of shot will take
the place of the solid bullet
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William la Penotière in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
20th January 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
LA PENOTIERE, of Essex Street, Strand, in the County of Middlesex, Gentle-
man, send greeting.
WHEREAS 1ler most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by IIe Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-hve, in the twenty-eighth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Iler heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said William la Penotiere, Her special licence that I, the
said William la Penotiere, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said William la Penotiere, my executors, adminis-
trators, 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, AND IS THE
CHARGES AND PROJECTILES TO BE USED THEREWITH," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said William la Penotiere, my executors or adminis-
trators, 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 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 William la Penotiere, 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

page_text: following statement, together with the accompanying Drawings and ex-
planations thereof, herein-after contained (that is to say):-
The improvements which constitute this Invention relate to guns and fire-
aims, and ordnance generally, but are designed more particularly for small
aims, such as rifles, carbines, fowling pieces, and the like of the first
class, and for held pieces of the second class. The object of the said improve
ments being to increase the facilities for loading and fining the same.
My first improvement consists in forming the breech in two parts, the upper
and lower, the former being made to open out of and close into the latter.
This breech (which can be applied to single or double barielled arms) forms
a continuation of the barrel, and may be made integrally therewith, or the
barrel may be fitted and jointed thereto by a screw, or otherwise, so that it
may be separated therefion if necessary when required. The upper or
opening portion of the breech which receives the charge consists of a lever
chamber, which in small aims is formed with a hinge joint and spring catch,
the spring catch holds the upper and lower portions of the breech securely
together when closed, while a spring under the lever hinge at each end causes
the upper portion to fly up and be self-opening when the said spring catch is
released. In field pieces and ordnance the opening and closing lever chamber
of the breech may be actuated by levers or blocks and tackle externally, or
by a sciew or rack-and-pinion motion internally. The chamber which
receives the charge and projectile is formed on the under side of the lever,
and is raised and lowered thereby when loading and firing the piece. The
axis of the joint of the chamber lever is horizontal, and somewhat above the
axis of the barrel, so that when lowered the fore end of the chamber, which
is rebated or coned externally, partially enters the end of the barrel, which is
similaily rebated or coned internally; the breech end of the chamber in small
arms is curved vertically (from the under side of the lever downwards) to the
segment of a circle, the centre of which is the axis of the lever joint; in
ordnance the breech ends of the chamber and recess are both straight
vertically. The recess or lower portion of the breech which receives the
chamber under the contre part of the lever or upper portion of the breech in
small arms is formed with an abutment piece at the car, curved as above
described to receive the curved end of the chamber. The abutment piece 1>
perforated in the centre to allow the hammer point to strike through it into
the cartridge berein-after described; this abutment piece and the two side
flanges which are solid therewith form the sand recess out of and into which
the chamber is raised and lowered by the lever; this lever is formed with side
-flaps or saddle flanges, the lower edges of which are either rebated to overlap

page_text: the upper edges of the sides of the recess, or are fitted very accurately
thereto. The springs for throwing up the leve in small aims are placed
between the edges of these flanges near the joint; springs may also be fitted
for partially raising the chamber lever in field pieces, cannon, and ordnance
thus formed when required. In light guns of the latter class the lever binges
are proposed to be formed with sockets to receive the ends of hand spikes or
lever bars for raising the chamber by hand when the rack and pinion or screw
lift aro removed or dispensed with. The chambers of the sing and falling
levers, which in all cases form a continuation of the banel, are bored clean
through, so that when raised tho charge and projectile can be put in from the
rear end. In small arms the lever chamber is raised to a vertical position, or
nearly so, and the cartridge heiein-after described is dropt into the chamber
when loading; in ordnance the chamber is raised till the bottom line of
the bore is just above the top of the solid biecch of the gun. This solid
breech or portion of the gun at the car of the chamber recess is fitted
with a large solid-ended abutment screw, which screw on being turned
for waid enters and closes the bicech end of the chamber. A channel is boied
into the axis of the abutment sciew, in which channel the striker for exploding
the charge is fitted; the fore end of this striker when in its normal position
is flush or even with the sold end of the screw, and is held in that position
by a spring, but is free to move backwards when pulled from the rear and
compless the sping, and to plunge forward and strike into the cartridge by
the expansion of the sping when the back pull is released. The striker may
otherwise be fitted with a sping for impelling it into the cartridge, and be
held back by a cross bolt to act as a trigger
The second improvement consists of a cartridge or cartridges formed for
being fed from the weapons constructed as above described. The cases of
these cartridges may be made of metal, papier maché, or other suitable
material. The breech ends of the said cartridges are each made of an extra
strength and thickness to interpose resistance between the force of the
explosion and the abutment or breech of the piece, and to receive an inverted
detonating perforated cap, which is sunk and fixed therein, or a hollow is
formed in the end of the cartridge itself, the bottom of which hollow or
indentation is perforated and covered with a detonating composition, as in the
case of the detonating cap; in discharging the piece the striker or hammer
point stakes into the cap or hollow in the end of the cartridge upon the
detonating powder therein, the fire from the explosion of the detonating
powder being driven through the perforated end of the said cap or perforated
bottom of the said hollow or indentation of the cartridge itself into the powder

page_text: or charge therein. When the quantity of powder is large, as in the case of
heavy ordnance, or when else considered requisite, in order to insure the more
perfect combustion of the entire charge, I propose to run a thread of gun
cotton through the centre of the powder or the axis of the cartridge. The
end of this thread being carried through the perforation in the cap or hollow,
it may be exploded by the blow of the staker or hammer point thereon. I
further propose to use gun cotton as the charge by placing it in the cartridge
cases thus formed in a wet, moist, or damp state, and after waids drying it therein.
The projectile, which may be of any requned form, I propose to inclose in
a sock of thin felt, or other soft fibrous covering partly saturated or coated
with lubricating matter; this lubricating cover may be cut out of a flat piece
of felt or other material in the shape of a star or winged disc. In covering
the projectile the breech end is placed upon the centre part or disc, and the
strips or wings, which may be straight oral, are then turned up, and their
ends tied together at the point or front end of the projectile with weak thread
or sting, so that when the piece is fed the said thread or string will break,
and the ball or projectile be driven out of and lubricated by the sock_or_case,
which will also be driven out by the charge, and thus both cleanse and
lubricate the boic at each discharge of the piece, and render all other
ordinary internal cleansing processes unnecessary. When a sock is used an
opening is left or cut at the end to allow the ball to pass through it. For
ordinary single or double barrel guns or fowling pieces a small case of shot
will take the place of the solid ball.
Having thus stated the nature and object of my said Invention, and
described the means I propose to adopt for carrying out the several improve-
ments in practice generally, I will now proceed to spicify the latter more
particularly, reference being made to the several Drawings marked A, B, C,
and D, respectively, accompanying this Specification.
GENERAL EXPLANATION.
Drawing A is intended to illustrate the mode of carrying out my said
improvements as applied to small aims.
Drawing B shows the lever chamber and mode of opening and closing the
same on an enlarged scale.
Drawing C illustrates the modification of the lever chamber and opening
and closing media adapted for ordnance, but more particularly designed for
field artillery.
Drawing D shows the improved forms of the cartridge cases intended to be
used with the said fire-arms, ordnance, and field artillery respectively.

page_text: DETAIL EXPLANATION.
Drawing A, Fig. 1, represents a side elevation of a "service" iifle formed
according to my said Invention.
Fig. 2, a longitudinal section through the centie line of Fig 1 vertically;
Fig. 3 is a view of the same piece taken from the top (over all).
Drawing B, Fig. 1, is an enlarged side view of the breech lever chamber,
lock plate, hammer, lever, and striking arrangement; Fig. 2 is a section at
A, B, Fig. 1, and shows a back view of the lever and loading chamber when
raised for being loaded, Fig. 3, a section at C, D, Fig. 1; Fig. 4, a plan
view of the under side of Fig. 1, Fig. 5 is a plan view of the chamber
recess, and shows a section of the lever chamber at E, F, Fig. 2; Fig. 6 is a
plan view of the lever closed
The following index applies to both Drawings, and to each Fig. where the
reference letters respectively appear.
a is the stock; b, the barrel, c, the chamber lever; d, the opening and
closing loading chamber, e, the breech; f, the breech abutment; 9, a groove
in the lever c, into which the top of the abutment piece f enters when the
level is down, and by which additional support is given to the abutment piece;
h, the cartridge "diaft" on space in the lever for receiving the cartridge in
line with tho axis of the chamber when passing the cartridge into or with-
drawing it from the said chamber before or after fining the piece; t, the lever
hinge, 3, the hammer or lever, k, the stuker or hammer point which
passes through an aperture in the abutment piece; 7, the hammer lever sping;
m, the tugger, n, the trigger spring; o, the back or covering plate of the
breech, o, a segmental recess cut out of the under part of the covering plate
to allow the bammer head to work backwards and forwards; p, the chamber
lever catch for holding the same in position securely when closed, p', a
"thumb-piece or knob " at the top of the sping catch for releasing the
chamber lever by a back pull of the said catch when side springs are not fitted
or are out of order; q, a sping for pressing the catch home upon the end q' of
the chamber level, r, a sliding bolt also releasing the chamber lever catch P
by a back movement of the luch lever u, this lever and the hammer lever j
are both fixed upon the axis v, and consequently they both move together.
On reference to Fig. 2 the position of the hammer lever when at full cock is
shown by the dotted lines 1, 1, the back of the said lever 2 being in contact
or nearly so with the end 3 of the sliding bolt r When the lever is in this
position (or at full cock) a slight further backward motion will cause it to
press against the end of the said bolt and thus release the spring catch p,

page_text: when the chamber lever c will be elevated to the position shown at Fig 4, or
nearly so, by the side spring Z, under the breech and lever chamber joints.
The object of adding the bolt r to release the catchp is to save one movement
of the band when loading the piece, as will be presently explained. s, s, the
"bore" of the chamber d, into which the cartridge is to be inserted; s', the
cartridge and projectile, t, t, the solid end of said cartridge with an
indentation or cap hole formed therein, the bottom of this indentation or
cap hole has a perforation in the centie, and is covered with detonating
powder as in the ordinary cap. Into this indented and perforated end of the
cartridge the striker or hammer point is driven by the stroke of the lever j,
ん
impelled by the spring 2; when the trigger m is pulled, the point impinging
upon the detonating powder causes it to explode and ignite the powder in the
body of the cartidges through the perforation t¹ in the bottom of the
indentation, and thus discharge the piece. An ordinary cap with a perforated
end may be fitted and fixed in the end of the cartridge in an inverted position
for the same purpose, u, the outside or cocking lever, v, the axis of the side
lever and hammer levers, v, v, a safety-"-stud" or "dead pun" projecting
from the side of the chamber lever, over which the double limb of the lock u
passes simultaneously with the entrance of the hammer point into the
cartridge, and thus prevents the lever c from opening while the piece is being
fired, and until the said lever is pulled back to half-cock, when the double
limb or mouth will just clear the safety "stud" and the hammer point
"clear" the end of the chamber; a, the lock plate; y, the bridle plate,
z, the spring to raising the lever chamber when the end is released from the
catch p.
I should here observe that in double-barrel guns the lock plate is in the
centre of the breech, in which case the sliding bolt is made somewhat wider
than here shown, in twin formi oi in single form, with a T or cross head, so as
to be actuated by either of the levels, the latter being fitted so as to move
independently of each other by the action of separate triggers and side
cocking levers formed upon the plan before described.
To load and fire pull back the cocking level u to its full extent; this will
throw up the lever chamber and "full cock" the piece; at the same time
insert the cartridge (s' at s, see Fig 2, at D5. B), until the two studs 4, 4, at
the end thereof enter the spaces 4, 4, at the breech end of the chamber;
then close the lever and the piece will be loaded and cocked ready for fing.
When fired the cartridge case will remain in the chamber; to reload, pull
back the lever u as before, when the lever and chamber will be again raised
to the vertical position. With a fresh cartridge held between the hind fingers

page_text: and the palm of the hand slide the thumb and fore finger up the sides of the
chamber at 5, 5, when they will come in contact with the ends of the two studs
4, 4, by which the exploded cartridge may be lifted out of the chamber, the
sides of which at 5, 5, are flattened as here shown (see also Fig. 5) to give a
greater projection to the studs and facilitate the operation; now insert the
end of the second cartridge as before, close the lever, and the piece is again
loaded and ready cocked for fining, and so on ad infinitum.
Drawing C. Fig 1 is a side view of a field gun or piece of artillery
constructed upon my improved plan, and shows the chamber as raised for
being loaded; Fig. 2 is a breech view; Fig. 3 shows the muzzle end;
Figs. 4 and 5 are longitudinal sections through the centie of the gun vertically;
Figs 6 and 7, breech and fore end views respectively of the chamber recess;
Fig 8, side view of the chamber detached; Fig. 9, plan view of the piece ;
Figs. 10 and 11, breech and fore end views respectively of the breech-loading
chamber.
The following index applies to the whole Drawing where the respective
reference letters are repeated thereon. a, solid breech; b, the bariel; c,
the breech-loading opening and closing chamber; d, the bore of the barrel;
e, the bore of the chamber, which in all cases is of larger diameter than
the bone of the piece; f, the pivot joint upon which the chamber 11ses
and falls; f, the hinge bolt; g, a space in the recess at the ical of the
chamber; h, the abutment screw which is fitted into the solid breech a; i, 1,
cross aims for turning the screw; this screw on being turned for ward causes
the solid end ¹ to enter the correspondingly shaped recess h' at the breech end
of the loading chamber, and thus closes the same and prevents it from rising
when the piece is fired. 3, a striker spring bolt or 1od fitted into a channel
boied in the axis of the abutment screw to receive it, in which channel it is
fiee to move backwards and forwards, and is held in its normal position shewn
at Fig 4, by the spring m in the enlargement of the channel k, or by the
cross bolt or tigger bolt, the normal position being then as shewn at Fig. 5.
Upon the chamber being raised into the position shewn at Fig. 1, by any
of the means herein-after explained, the charge and projectile inserted therein,
and the chamber again lowered into the position shewn at Fig. 4, the abut-
ment sciew can be turned forward into the position shewn at Fig. 5 ready for
hring. The end of the striker bar by which the piece is to be fired is then
capable of being impelled from the normal position shown at Fig. 4 to that
shewn at Fig. 5 by the spring m, either by pulling back the bar, by the
ring o, when upon releasing the pull the expansion of the spring will give the

page_text: required stroke; or by making the normal position of the striker bar, as shewn
at Fig. 5, but keeping it in the position shewn at Fig. 4 by the trigger bolt n,
upon pulling which, the spring being then in a state of compression, the
required stroke of the bar will be given thereby, and the cartridge or case
containing the charge and projectile, formed as herein described, will be
exploded. The fore ends of the recess and chamber are coned respectively, as
shewn at e, e, e, e, in order to make a more perfect vapour-tight joint.
I is a screw plug, by which the enlargement of the channel k is closed; 15 a
collar fixed upon the striker bar, between which collar and the screw plug the
spring for giving the necessary stroke to the bar is compressed.
The breech-loading chamber may be raised and lowered by a rack and
pinion screw or lever power applied at the breech end, or in the case of ship's
guns by block and tackle attached to the ring bolt c', or by forming the breech
end, as shewn at p, p², Fig. 1, and fitting the eccentrics 7, 7, in contact there-
with fixed to the transverse shaft r, the ends of which shaft project on each
side of the piece, where levers can be fitted for imparting the necessary rocking
'motion thereto. The segmental surfaces p, p, are notched-at-the-side-and-
work in contact with spring or gravitating pawls at the top of the solid breech
for-supporting-the chamber as it is gradually raised by the rocking motions of
the eccentrics. The segmental surfaces p, p. of the chamber, and the
peripheries of the eccentrics in contact therewith are plain, and when in the
relative positions shewn at Fig. 5, a slight motion of the levers s downwards
will cause the periphenes of the eccentrics to press forcibly against the
peripheries of the segments. The centres to which these segments are formed
are a small fraction in advance of the centre of the Joint f, upon which the
chamber is raised and lowered, and consequently the distance p' to fis a
fraction less than the distance from p to f, and thus the lifting stroke by the
levers and eccentrics is obtained, the successive lifts of the chamber are
maintained by the pawls before described.
By aising the levers s, the eccentric wheels supply the necessary retarding
power for allowing the chamber to descend by its own weight when loaded,
and the pawls are turned or drawn out of gear with the segments.
Drawing D. Fig. 1 is a side view of one of my said improved cartridges
or cases for containing the charge and projectile; Fig. 2, a view of the breech
end, and Fig. 3 a view of the fore end thereof; Fig. 4 is a longitudinal
section through the centre of the cartridge vertically, and shews the mode of
forming the breech end for receiving the inverted cap or taking the place
thereof. a is the cartridge case or truncated cylinder, which I propose to

page_text: make of metal, papier machié, or other suitable material, the external diameter
of which is somewhat larger than the bore of the piece for which the charge
is intended, and of sufficient thickness at the sales to prevent the chamber
from becoming heated from the rapid finng thereof; b, the solid breech end,
which is intended to subserve the twofold purpose, first of containing or taking
the place of the ordinary detonating cap, and secondly, of interposing a
bearing between the expansive force of the charge, and the breech by which
the rear end of the chamber is closed; c, the indentation or cap hole; d, the
perforation through which the fire from the detonating powder enters the
body a of the cartridge; e, a thread or filament of gun cotton in the centre of
the powder for producing a simultaneous and equal ignition of the mass, the
wetted or damped and knotted end of which thread being carried through
auto the indentation may take the place of the percussion powder or be
embedded therein; f, an elongated ball enclosed in a lubricated cover of very
t'in felt cut out, as shewn at Fig. 6. To thus cover the projectile, the breech
ea is placed upon the centre g, the strips h, h, are then turned up, and the
ends tied together with weak thread, as shewn at Fig. 4, and herein-before
explained in reference to Diawing A.
ligs 5 and 7, shew another mode of covering the ball by means of
Fochs or rolls. The sock shewn at Fig. 5 A may consist of a thin pipe of
felt cut into suitable lengths, and may be either made entire or be formed by
rolling and stitching, and the end may be cut as shewn at Fig. 5 B.
For heavy guns and field pieces I propose to enclose the metal or other
cartridge case a similar sock of thin felt or other suitable material, to
prevent it from getting fixed in the chamber by lateral expansion when fired.
Figs 8, 9, 10, and 11, respectively shew the cartridge or case of the charge
and projectile for ordnance, which is formed upon a similar plan to that above
described. a being the case; b, the solid end; c, the cap hole or indentation;
d, the covering sock of the cartridge case; e, a sunk half ring for drawing out
the empty case when exploded. This ring opens as shown at f, and is flush'
with the end when closed, and takes the place of the studs 4, 4, Figs. 1 and 2
(see also 4, 4, Fig. 2, Draws B) for that purpose; 9, 9, wings or projections'
of compressed wood or metal fitted into the rear end of the projectile, or
for med integrally therewith, and intended to traverse spiral grooves formed in
the barrel of the piece, as shown at Fig. 2, to give the projectile the required'
rotation upon its axis. The ends of these projections or rifle studs are
oval-shaped longitudinally and semi-cylindrical transversely; the oval shape
being designed for allowing the projectile to traverse the spiral groves freely

page_text: and without injury thereto. The groves in the chamber are straight, and
are widened at the breech end to facilitate the entrance of the studs when
inserting the charge therein
Without restricting myself absolutely to the precise details of construction,
as regards their several forms, dispositions, and dimensions thereof shown upon
the respective Drawings, which it will be necessary to vary in practice, I
hereby further declare that I claim as my Invention, and desire to secure by
the before in part recited Letters Patent,-
1st, the through open chamber for the reception of the cartridge case in
small arms and ordnance.
2ndly, the manner in which the chamber is kept in its position by means of
the spring catch at the rear end of the lever chamber in the interior of the
rifle, and the dead pin and cocking lever chip at the side thereof when the
ife is being discharged.
3rdly, the sliding bolt actuated by the spring and by the extra movement
of the cocking and hammer levers for full-cocking the piece and causing the
chamber-to-fly-up-by-the-side-springs at the same time and_by_one_movement_
of the hand.
4thly, the raising the chamber of the rifle by the side springs.
5thly, the placing the lock underneath the breech of the rifle and making
the lock plate an integral part of the breech.
6thly, the formation of the after breech plate behind the abutment piece in
the rifle, with the recess or hanımer space theicin
7thly, the cartridge case and its shape for both small arms and ordnance,
and more particularly the means of communicating the fire to the body of the
cartidge, either through a perforation in the bottom of the indentation of the
solid end when made to take the place of the percussion cap, or containing
such cap with a similar perforation therein.
8thly, the perforation of the end of the percussion cap with a small
opening.
9thly, the introduction of the gun cotton, thread, or filament along the
centre part of the body of the cartridge and through the said perforation or
perforations.
.
10thly, the lubricating socks and wrappers formed and applied as herein
described.
11th, the solid ended abutment breech piece screw for closing and keeping
the chamber in position. Also the mode of fitting the striker therein and
firing the piece thereby, as herein described.

page_text: Lastly, the mode of raising and lowering the chamber by the segments and
eccentries of the equivalents.
In witness whereof, I, the William La Penotière, have hereunto set my
band and seal, this Twentieth day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
W. LA PENOTIÈRE. (L.S.)