AN IMPROVED DESCRIPTION OF BREECH-LOADED AND NEEDLE-EXPLODING FIRE-ARMS AND CARTRIDGE APPROPRIATE THERETO
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Peter Ellis, of No. 9, Orange Court, in Liverpool, in
the County of Lancaster, Architect and Civil Engineer, for the Invention
of "AN IMPROVED DESCRIPTION OF BREECH-LOADED AND NEEDLE-EXPLODING
FIRE-ARMS AND CARTRIDGE APPROPRIATE THERETO."
Sealed the 26th July 1867, and dated the 30th January 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Peter Ellis at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 30th January
1867.
I, PETER ELLIS, of No. 9, Orange Court, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Architect and Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED DESCRIPTION OF BREECH-LOADED AND
NEEDLE-EXPLODING FIRE-ARMS AND CARTRIDGE APPROPRIATE THERETO," to be as
follows, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed :-
My said Invention consists in the mechanism of the said arm whereby
much greater rapidity of use is obtained, a stronger and more serviceable
weapon is produced, the mechanism more enduring, simpler, safer, and better
protected, and the efficiency of higher attainment than any other weapon of
the class, and the same with modification is applicable to the purposes of
guus for sport.

page_text: The barrel or tube of direction, letter b, Figs. I and 2, is of the customary
length and bore, at the rear end are two projecting cheeks or jaws c to carry
the moving action of the breech; the breech a is about three inches in length,
and the bore about one-twentieth part of an inch of greater diameter than the
bore of the barrel; two cheeks d, Figs. 2 and 3, are attached to this breech
by the cheeks c and d, Figs. 1 and 2, and by an axle or journal; the breech
is attached to the barrel, the movement of the breech being vertical; on the
same axle or journal the hammer of explosion d, Fig. 1, is fixed, formed, and
racked as a tumbler; between the jaws of the barrel or tube and under the
breech is the mainspring attached to the barrel jaws and actuating the
tumbler; behind the hammer is the pawl trigger f, the movement of which is
by a thumb-bead in the back of the stock, and under the guard secured to
the jaws c of the barrel, Fig. 2 are the recovery springs actuating the breech
by the ratchet in the back of the breech cheeks d; in the same breech cheeks
are grooves in which the needle bearer h, Fig. 3, travels, and which bearer is
attached to the hammer; at the fore part of the breech is a strong double
latch i, Fig. 1, in the plates or cheeks of which are the lifting lugs, this
latches into an appropriate arrangement upon the barrel or tube of direction;
upon the breech and hinged are a series of sights. The exploding needle,
Fig. 1, and b, Fig. 3, is secured to the needle bearer h, Fig. 3, by slotting,
enabling the ready removal and insertion; the head of the needle forms a
plate closely covering, on explosion, the eye of the needle tube, Fig. 1.
A description of the manner of operation will make the details of descrip-
tion clear. For loading the gun is held by the left hand at the flank or hip,
then taking the lugs between the finger and the thumb of the right hand and
raising the latch is freed, and the breech raised until the hammer is caught
by the trigger pawl, (see dotted red lines, Fig. 2,) then releasing the lugs the
breech by the operation of the recovery springs descends to the position for
loading, the bore being just clear of the barrel, where in remains, (see bluo
dotted lines, Figs. 2,) the power of the spring being arrested by a stud, and the
descent by the latch; the cartridge is then inserted into the breech, then by
pressure of the hand the breech is shut down and securely latched, the
weapon is then ready; thus by two motions of the breech, namely, opening
and closing, every necessary operation is performed..
Any modified needle cartridge may be used, but nevertheless I intend one
which I represent in Fig 4; this cartridge case and bullet is of lead, in the
powder chamber are small blades of steel forming a furcation, between the
blades of the fork is the bead anvil carrying the exploding patch, and with

page_text: exploding patches also in contact with the forks; the cavity is filled with
power, then closed at the base with paper, and made impervious to moisture
by coating of wax. The solid of the bullet is of the diameter corresponding
with the bore of the barrel, this bore being perfectly smooth; the chamber
part of the cartridge is in the diameter equal to the bore of the breech,
namely, about one-twentieth part of an inch larger than the bore of the
barrel; by this form the bullet will be retained in the breech chamber until
the expanding force of the explosion is fully impressed on it; the whole
bullet may be coated with a lubricating mixture of wax and tallow. A
jointed folding cleansing rod may be attached to the gun or carried on the
accoutrements.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Peter Ellis in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 27th July
1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, PETER
ELLIS, of Orange Court, in Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Architec
and Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, and in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Peter Ellis, Her special licence that I, the said Peter
Ellis, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I.
the said Peter Ellis, 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 "AN IMPROVED DESCRIPTION OF BREECH-LOADED AND NEEDLE-EXPLODING FIRE-
ARMS AND CARTRIDGE APPROPRIATED THERETO," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Peter Ellis, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their bands 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.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Peter Ellis, 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, that is to say :-
My said Invention consists in the mechanism of an improved description of
fire-arms intended to be breech-loaded and needle-exploded with the cartridge
or cartridges adapted thereto, whereby much greater rapidity of use is obtained,
a stronger and more serviceable weapon is produced, the mechanism more
enduring, simpler, safer, and better protected, and the efficiency of bigher
attainment than and other weapon of the class, and that the same with some
modification is applicable to the purposes of guns for sport.
In the following description and Specification of the parts and combinations,
I refer for illustration to the Drawings herewith, and which I desire to be
taken as part hereof.
The barrel or tube of direction, Figure 1, is of the customary length and
bore, smooth and open throughout; at the rear or breech end are two pro-
jecting jaws letter a intended to carry the moving action of the breech at b;
the mortar or breech c is about three inches in length, and the bore may be
of larger diameter, more or less than the barrel, to accomplish ease in the
charging and precision in the projecting, and retaining the projectile to the
impress of the highest force of the gases of explosion by the chase or conic,
one or both at the base of the tube d and e. Two cheeks are attached to the
base of the breech or mortar, letter f, Fig. 2, and by a strong axle or journal g
the breech is attached to the barrel, the movement of the breech being vertical;
the breech cheeks are chased h to carry the needle guide. On the axle or
journal g, Fig. 1, is the hammer of explosion i formed and racked as a tumbler.
Between the jaws of the barrel a and under the breech is the mainspring j
attached to the barrel jaws and actuating the hammer or tumbler; behind
the hammer is the pawl trigger k, the movement of which is by a thumb
bead at the back of the stock and under the guard, the pawl trigger is moved
on a centre in the prolongation of the barrel jaws. Secured to the jaws of
the barrel m, Fig. 2, are the recovery springs n, actuating the breech or mortar
by the ratchet in the back of the breech cheeks f; these springs bring the
breech to the position of loading, and are restrained operating the closing by
the studs P. In the grooves in the breech cheeks h, Fig. 2, is the needle
guide; at the fore part of the mortar or breech is a strong double latch q; in
the plates or lifting lugs the means of opening the mortar or breech are
obtained, these latch into an appropriate arrangement upon the barrel or tube

page_text: of direction; upon the rear of the mortar and hinged thereto, Fig. 2, r is the
usual barred sight. The needle guide, Fig. 1, s is double barred, and fixed by
forking into the head of the tumbler or hammer, and into one of the bars of
the guide t, the head of the exploding needle u is slotted and carries a plate.
which on explosion closely covers the needle perforation of the breech and so
preventing the escape of the gases.
A description of the manner of using the gun will make the details of the
mechanisin more lucid. For loading, the gun is held in the left hand at the
right hip, then taking the latch lugs between the finger and thumb of the right
hand and lifting the latch is freed and the mortar or breech raised until the
hammer is caught by the trigger pawl, as indicated by the red dotted lines,
Figs. 1 and 2, then releasing the lugs the mortar, by the operation of the
recovery springs, descends to the position for loading, where it rests in position
as shewn by the blue dotted lines, Fig. 2, the bore of the mortar being just clear
of the back of the barrel, the spring being arrested by the stud, and the descent
of the mortar by the latch; the cartridge is then inserted into the mortar,
and by a slight pressure the mortar is secured in position with the barrel. Thus
by two motions of the breech or mortar, namely, opening and closing, every
necessary operation is performed.
Fig. 3 represents a modified description of my Invention as intended for
field sports, the difference is slight, and consists chiefly in the form of the
opening lugs which I intend, as shewn in the section Fig. 4, the object being
to obtain a fair surface on the barrel; by this process the mortar is secured
by side slots and opened by pressing together, and then lifting, and as before
described.
Fig. 5 is the section of the cartridge which I intend for the weapon when
thought desirable to fill closely the barrel or tube of direction; this cartridge
powder chamber and bullet is of lead, the top of the bullet is pointed, ridged,
and expanded v and section w, for securing in the mortar by the annular chase at
the junction of the mortar and barrel; at the base of the bullet, where the powder
chamber commences, the form is slightly conical, and thence the chamber is
parallel filling the mortar, which in this case is about one-twentieth part larger
in diameter than the barrel. In the chamber and secured in the base of the
bullet are small blades of steel a forming a furcation, and in this furcation is
the bead anvil carrying the exploding patch, and with exploding patches also
in contact with the fork; the chamber w is fluted or channelled in the entire
longitude, so that on projection from the mortar into and through the barrel
the reduction in the diameter of the chamber will not cause any deformity in

page_text: the figure of the cartridge which might affect the trajectory. The chamber
when filled with powder may be closed at the base with paper, and made
impervious to moisture by a coating of wax and tallow, and the whole bullet
therewith lubricated; by this form of bullet the whole expansive forces of the
explosion will be obtained and precision accomplished by the absence of all
windage. The same in degree will also be accomplished by the perfectly
cylindrical cartridge Fig. 6.
Fig. 7 is the form of cartridge for sporting purposes, and consists of a paper
case of sufficient strength, the inner wad, separating the powder and the shot,
is of strong cardboard sufficient to carry the forked bearers of the exploding
patch, the top wad is of stiff paper and felt, and is large enough to fill the
annular chase at the junction of the mortar and the barrel, the whole coated
with a protecting lubricant of bees'-wax and tallow.
A jointed folding cleansing rod may be attached to the gun or carried on
the accoutrements.
I have now described the nature and object of my Invention, and in detail
description, with the aid of diagrams, I have intended fully to explain the
forms and processes whereby I propose to accomplish my intentions, but as it
is probable that in the experience of manufacture certain modifications may
become necessary I do not intend so rigidly to confine myself to the above-
described details, but to make such changes as the desire of efficiency in the
Invention and facility of production may induce, but without departing from
the object and characted of my Invention.
The following I consider to lie new, and therefore I desire to claim as the
Inventions secured to me under the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent,
namely,
The action and the forms and positions and manner of connexion of the
breech or mortar, and the barrel or tube of direction.
The form, position, and axis and action of the hammer or tumbler with the
position and action of the mainspring.
The form, position, action, and modes of connecting the hammer, the guides,
and the needle.
The form, position, and action of the springs, which after the elevation of
the hammer recover the mortar to the position of loading.
The form, position, and action of the pawl, trigger, and guard.
The form, position, and action of the mortar latch; and the forms of the
several cartridges as herein-before particularly described.
Each and all of these particulars as being the details of my Invention, and

page_text: important as means of creating efficiency in the weapon, rapidity in the use
greatly beyond any other, reducing the motions of use to two, opening and
shutting; simplicity and strength of the several parts, and the combination of
the whole, and the mechanism being inclosed is thereby protected from the
effect of external violence.
In witness whereof, I, the said Peter Ellis, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
Signed, sealed, and delivered by
the said Peter Ellis, in the
presence of
JOHN E. BELCHER,
14, Beaufort Terrace, Seacomby,
JOHN MILNE,
34, Boaler Street, Liverpool.
PETER ELLIS. (L.s.)