IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Salvatore Merolla, of Largo Castello, No. 75
Naples, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ARMS."
Sealed the 3rd October 1862, and dated the 3rd May 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Salvatore Merolla at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 3rd
May 1862.
I, SALVATORE MEROLLA, of Largo Castello, No. 75, Naples, do hereby
declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ARMS," to
be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in fire-arms, and consists in
the employment of a cover to the nipple, which, when the piece is put at half-
cock, can be brought over the nipple and cap thereon, so as to protect the cap
from blows arising from the accidental descent of the hammer, or other-
wise, and likewise to protect it from rain and moisture. In this manner
the accidental discharge of the piece will be prevented in many cases in
which it would otherwise occur, and the piece is at the same time rendered
more serviceable, and less liable to miss fire in wet weather. I prefer
to joint the nipple cover to the lock plate at a point immediately in front of
the nipple; within the lock, beyond this joint, a spring is made to press on the
tail of the nipple cover, which has two inclines on it, so that the spring
pressing on one or other of these holds the nipple cover in its place on the

page_text: nipple, or else at a sufficient distance therefrom to allow the hammer to
descend on to the nipple. In order that the nipple cover may be raised at the
time the piece is brought to full cock, the tail of the nipple cover is connected
by a slotted link with the tumbler arm, and thus, as the tumbler is pulled up
to the full cock, it draws the nipple cover up a short distance, and this,
causing the spring of the nipple cover to pass from one incline to the other,
the nipple cover immediately flies back and leaves the cap exposed, ready for
firing after firing and reloading, when the piece is at half-cock, the nipple
cover is again pushed into its place, so as to cover the nipple and cap, or, if
the piece is to be again immediately discharged, this motion may be omitted,
as it is in no way required for the action of the other parts of the lock.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Salvatore Merolla in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
3rd November 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, SALVATORE
MEROLLA, of Largo Castello, No. 75, Naples, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Third day of May, 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 Salvatore Merolla, Her special licence that I, the said Sal-
vatore Merolla, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Salvatore Merolla, 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 FIRE-ARMS," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said Salvatore Merolla, my executors or administrators, by an in-
strument 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 Salvatore Merolla, 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 following
statement thereof, that is to say:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in fire-arms, and consists in
the employment of a cover to the nipple, which, when the piece is put at balf-
cock, can be brought over the nipple and cap thereon, so as to protect the cap
from blows arising from the accidental descent of the hammer, or otherwise,
and likewise to protect it from rain and moisture. In this manner the
accidental discharge of the piece will be prevented in many cases in which it
would otherwise occur; the piece is at the same time rendered more
serviceable, and less liable to miss fire in wet weather. I prefer to joint the
nipple cover to the lock plate at a point immediately in front of the nipple;
within the lock, beyond this joint, a spring is made to press on the tail of the
nipple cover, which has two inclines on it, so that the spring pressing on one
or other of these holds the nipple cover in its place on the nipple, or else at a
sufficient distance therefrom to allow the hammer to descend on to the nipple.
In order that the nipple cover may be raised at the time the piece is brought
to full cock, the tail of the nipple cover is connected by a slotted link with the
tumbler arm, and thus, as the tumbler is pulled up to the full cock, it draws
the nipple cover up a short distance, and this causing the spring of the nipple
cover to pass from one incline to the other, the nipple cover immediately flies
back, and leaves the cap exposed ready for firing. After firing and reloading,
when the piece is at half-cock, the nipple cover is again pushed into its place,
so as to cover the nipple and cap, or, if the piece is to be again immediately
discharged, this motion may be omitted, as it is in no way required for the
action of the other parts of the lock.
And in order that my said Invention may be most fully understood and
readily carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto
annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 shows a lock constructed, according to my Invention, at half-cock,
and with the nipple cover over the nipple. Figure 2 shows the same at full
cock, and with the nipple cover raised. Figure 3 shows the same as it
appears when the hammer has fallen; a, a, is the lock plate; b, is the
hammer; c, the tumbler; d, the bridle; e, the swivel; f, the main spring; g,
the sear, and h, the sear spring. All these parts are of ordinary construction;
i is the nipple cover, which I employ according to my Invention; it is jointed
to the lock plate at i, and is shown separately at Figure 4; j is a spring
pressing on the tail of the nipple cover, on which, as is shewn, two inclines

page_text: are formed, and the spring, by pressing on one or other of these keeps the
nipple cover either in the position in which it is shown at Figure 1, or in that
in which it is shown at Figure 2, and it holds it in whichever of these
positions it may be put; k is a link which is connected with the arm of the
tumbler by the same pin that connects the swivel therewith; the other end of
the link is slotted, and a small pin passes through it into the tail of the
nipple cover; this link comes into action when the hammer is raised to full
cock, the nipple cover being over the cap, and it then draws back the nipple
cover to such an extent, that its spring throws it into the position in which it
is shown at Figure 2; at 1 in the several Figures, the position of the nipple is
roughly indicated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Salvatore Merolla, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
SALVATORE MEROLLA. (L.S.)