IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Horsley, junior, of 10, Coney Street, York,
Gun Maker, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING
FIRE-ARMS."
Sealed the 5th August 1862, and dated the 12th February 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Horsley at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with bis Petition, on the 12th.
February 1862.
I, THOMAS HORSLEY, junior, of 10, Coney Street, York, Gun Maker, do
hereby declare the nature of the 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 that class of fire-arms in which the breeches of the
barrels are opened to receive cartridges by turning the barrels on a horizontal
axis at right angles to their length, so as to raise their breech ends up above
the breech plate, which closes them when in a position for firing. In order to
lock the barrels in such class of fire-arms when the breeches are closed, I
employ a bolt or catch, which enters a recess in a lump fixed underneath the
barrels at their breech ends, and this bolt or catch is connected to a lever
placed in front of the trigger guard, and mounted on a horizontal pin or axis,
so that by pressing on the lower end of the lever the bolt or catch may be

page_text: withdrawn. In order that the pressure may be conveniently applied to the
lever, it has a button attached to its end, thic stem of this button passes
through a slot in the front of the trigger guard, so that the head of the button
is within the guard, here it is very conveniently situated for receiving the
pressure of the thumb when it is desired to open the breeches, and it is also
protected from accidental pressure. The bolt is constantly forced forward by
a spring, and it is made to work with an incline so that in closing the
breeches it is self-acting, as when the projection underneath the barrels comes
against it the incline causes it to recede, and as soon as the notch comes
opposite to it, the spring throws it forward, and causes it to enter the notch.
A similar arrangement may be applied to single-barrelled guns.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Horsley in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
12th August 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
HORSLEY, junior, of 10, Coney Street, York, Gun Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, 'by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Thomas Horsley, junior, Her special licence that I, the said Thomas Horsley,
junior, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Thomas Horsley, junior, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN
BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Thomas Horsley, junior, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and scals, should par-
ticularly 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 Thomas Horsley, junior, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be

page_text: performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the fol-
lowing statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto
annexed, and to the figures and letters marked thereon (that is to say) :-
This Invention has for its object improvements in breech-loading fire-
arms, and is applicable to that class of fire-arms in which the breeches of the
barrels are opened to receive cartridges by turning the barrels on a horizontal
axis at right angles to their length, so as to raise their breech ends up abovo
the breech plate, which closes them when in a position for firing. In order
to lock the barrels in such class of fire-arms, when the breeches are closed, [
employ a bolt or catch which enters a recess in a lump fixed underneath the
barrels at their breech ends, and this bolt or catch is connected to a lever
placed in front of the trigger guard, and mounted on a horizontal pin or axis,
so that by pressing on the lower end of the lever the bolt or catch may be
withdrawn; in order that the pressure may be conveniently applied to the
lever it has a button attached to its end, the stem of this button passes
through a slot in the front of the trigger guard, so that the head of the button
is within the guard, here it is very conveniently situated for receiving the
pressure of the thumb when it is desired to open the breeches, and it is also
protected from accidental pressure. The bolt is constantly forced forward by
a spring, and it is made to work with an incline, so that in closing tho breeches
it is self-acting, as when the projection underneath the barrels comes against
it the incline causes it to recede, and as soon as the notch comes opposite to
it, the spring throws it forward, and causes it to enter the notch. A similar
arrangement may be applied to single-barrelled guns.
And in order that my said Invention may be most fully understood and
Foodily carried into effect. I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto

page_text: 2 and 3. Figure 2 is a side view partly in section; and Figure 3 is at
under side view of these parts. The stem 63 passes through a hole in the
breech plate, and has an eye beyond as is shewn. The piston 6 has a catch
or nose at its end as the Drawing shows, and this piston is prevented from
turning in its recess or socket by a set screw ; e, Figure 1, is the trigger
guard; and f is a lever passing through a slot therein, and secured by a pin f
on which it is capable of rocking, the tail of this lever enters the eye of the
stem ; g is a stud fixed to the lever f by its stem g', which passes through a
hole formed for it in the front of the trigger guard. It will be seen that the
piston is capable of being drawn back by moving the lever f, and this is
done by pressing the thumb on the stud g, thus the barrels are freed so as to
admit of their turning on their axis to prepare them for loading. The nose b*
as is shewn, catches a piece of steel c¹ attached by a screw to the barrels. This
piece is inclined at its under side, so that in closing the breeches of the barrels it
pushes back the piston 2, which is immediately set forward again by the spiral
spring b. Figure 4 is a longitudinal section of an arrangement similar to that
already described, except that the lever f is not furnished with a stud, but is
arranged to be pushed outwards by means of a lever i, which is jointed at ¹ to
the under side of the trigger guard as is clearly shewn at Figure 5, this is so
formed that when it is turned partly round as is shewn by the red lines in
Figure 5, it gives the required movement to the lever.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Horsley, junior, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Ninth day of August One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-two.
Witness to the signing hereof,
THOS. HORSLEY, Sen'.
Gun Maker, York.
MATT. CUTHBERT,
Attorney's Clerk, York.
THО. HORSLEY, J. (L.S.)