- 2. Sheets-Sheet. l. W. RICHARDS, Breech-Loading Fire-Arm. No. 39,246. Patented July 14, 1863

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2 Sheets-Sheet 2, W. RICHARDS Breech-Loading Fire-Arm. No. 39,246. Patented July 14 1863.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WESTLEY RICHARDS, OF , . IMPROVEMENT IN BREECH LOADING FRE-ARVS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 39,246, dated July 14, 1863. To all whon, it may concern: In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical sec Beit known that I, WESTLEYRICHARDs, of tion of part of a breech-loading construct Birmingham, gun manufacturer, a subject of ed according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a side the Queen of Great Britain, have invented or View, partly in section, and Fig. 3 is a plan of discovered new and useful Improvements in the same. Breech-Loading and Fire-Arms; and I, a is the breech end of the barrel, to which a the said WESTLEY RICHARDs, do hereby de box or chamber, b, is fixed. This box or cham Clare the nature of the said invention and in ber is open at the top, and is furnished with What manner the same is to be performed to a cover, c, hinged to it at c'. A plan, a side be particularly described and ascertained view, and an under side view of the cover e and by the following statement thereof-that with its handle are shown at Figs. 4, 5, and is to say: 6, respectively. This invention has for its object improve c is a projection fixed or formed on the un ments in-breech-loading guns and fire-arms. der side of the cover c, and the sides of the For these purposes a hollow box or chamber projection c' form guides for the sliding block is formed or fixed to the breech end of the bar d, which has jointed to it the pluge, used for rel, which breech end is made to receive a cy closing the breech end of the barrel. lindrical plug. The interior of the box or Figs. 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 show, respectively, chamber is made suitable for receiving a car a plan, a side view, an under side view, a front tridge, and in Such manner that when the car view, and a back view of the block d and the tridge has been introduced it may be slid out plug e, combined together; and Fig. 12 is a from the box or chamber in the end of the longitudinal section of the plug e. The mo barrel. The plug used to close the breech end tion of the block d on the cover c is limited of the barrel is attached to a sliding block by by the screw d", the end of which enters a a knuckle or other suitable joint, and this groove, c, formed in the projection c'. block slides along guides fixed longitudinally Fig. 13 shows in plan the position which On the under side of the cover of the box or the parts assume when the box or chamber b chamber; and it is preferred to use V-formed is open to receive a . To load the guides for the sliding block. The cover of the piece, the cartridge is introduced into this bOX or chamber is, in small or sport chamber, and is pushed forward by the finger ing fire-arms, hinged to the fore end of such into the breech end of the barrel, which is en box, and has a handle which extends some dis larged or chambered for the length of the car tance beyond the back end of the box, and is tridge, as shown by the drawings, so as to al received into a recess formed in the stock. low the cartridge to enter freely. When the The back end of the cover descends down be cover c is again closed the operation of load yond the end of the box, so as to prevent there ing is complete. It will be seen that in clos being any flash in a backward direction should ing the chamber b the pluge will, in conse the plug fit imperfectly. The portion of the quence of the form given to it, the manner in plug which enters the end of the barrel is which it is connected with the block d, and made in any suitable manner to render its fit the manner in which this is connected with as correct as may be. The block to which the the cover c, freely enter the end of the barrel, plug is attached is formed with a curved in and the block dwill also freely enter the cham clined end or otherwise, so that in coming ber b. When the box or chamber b is closed, against the end of the box when the cover is the projection d from the block d enters an shut it may be forced forward, so as to cause aperture, l', at the bottom of the chamber, the plug to enter the breech end of the barrel. and thus the block d becomes firmly fixed, so A similar construction is applicable for can that it is unable to move in either direction; O. and when the piece is discharged the back In order that my said invention may be most pressure of the explosion only presses the block fully understood and readily carried into ef more firmly against the end of the chamber, and fect, I will proceed to describe the drawings from the inclined form of the end of the block hereunto annexed. and of the chamber it is impossible for it to be

2 39,246 is forced out of its place. The pluge is kept tight I would remark in respect to the above, I by fixing at its end a disk of copper or soft make no claim to any of the mechanical parts metal covered, it may be, by another disk of separately, nor do I confine myself to the de platinum. e' is a hook fixed into the plug e. tails; but This I sometimes employ for the purpose of What I claim is withdrawing the exploded cartridge when the The combination of the hinged cover andle chamber is opened. The cartridge employed ver c, carrying the sliding block d, and its has a disk of thick felt at the back, through projection d', and pivoted or yielding plug e, which, at the center, a small hole is made, so with the chamber b and its aperture b', in the as to fit the hooke'; and when the cartridge is manner and for the purpose herein described put into the barrel and the chamber closed the and represented. hook enters the hole in the felt disk. In open ing the chamber after the discharge of the WESTLEY RICHARDS. piece the motion of the hook is such as to in sure the withdrawal by it of the disk of felt Witnesses: with the paper of the cartridge attached to it. GEO. PITT, Should the plug emot fit the barrel with per 24 Southampton Buildings. fect accuracy, the form of the cover c is such GEORGE F. WARREN, as to prevent any flash passing back to annoy No. 2 George Yard, Lombard Street, . the user of the weapon.