USRE1199E - Improvement in breech-loading repeating fire-arms - Google Patents

Description

l C. SHARPS.

Revolver.

1,1952 Reissued June 18. 18m

.(Qlll) i UNITED STATES l PATENT OFFICE.

CHRISTIAN SHARPS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN BREECH-LOADING REPEATING FIRE-ARMS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 22,753, dated January 25, 1859; Reissue No. 1,199, dated June is, 1861.

To all whom it may concern.:

Be it known that I, CHRISTIAN'SHARPS, of the city and county ot Philadelphia, and State ot' Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Breech-Loading Fire-Arms; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention relates to improvements in breeclrloading tire-arms in which one particular description ot' ammunition only is usednamely, a cartridge consisting of a case containing the powder with a bullet attached to one end oil the case and an enlargement or projection at the opposite end for containing the detonating material.

My improvements consist, first, in discharging in succession a number ofthe above-mentioned cartridges by means of a projection caused to revolve by the movementof the hammer, the cartridges beingso arranged in respect to theprojection that the latter shall strike the edge only of each cartridge in succession; secondly, in a lever and connecting-rod arranged in respect to the barrel block and stock, as described hereinafter, i'or the threefold purpose ot' operating the barrel, locking and releasing the` latter, and serving as a trigger-guard; thirdly, in a device, described hereinafter, whereby the spent metallic cartridges are withdrawn from the barrel during the act of moving the same out from the breech.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation.

0n reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part ot' this specification, Figure l is an exterior side view of my improved breech-loading tire-arm; Fig. 2, a longitudinal section ofthe same with the hammer down; Fig. 3, a longitudinal section of thesame with the hammer cocked and the barrel slid out, Fig. 4, a plan view; Fig. 5, an end view, lookingin the direction of the arrow 1,Fig. l, Fig. 6, an end view, looking in-the direction of the arrow 2, Fig. 1; Fig. 7, a. detached View, drawn to an enlarged scale, of the hammer when down; Fig. 8, the same view of the hammer when cocked; Fig. 9, a side view ofthe hammer, the reverse of that illustrated in Fig. 7; Fig. l0, a front view of the hammer; Fig. 11, a rear view of the hammer, Fig. l2,a front View of Fig. 8; Fig. 13, a rear view ot' the revolving nipple, showing the notches and retainingpin; Fig. 14, a sectional plan of the hammer with its revolving nipple on the line 1 2, Fig. 7; Fig. 15, aview showing the end of the barrel-block with its four cartridges all having been discharged except one; Fig. 16, a sectional view of the barrel through two ot' the bores and front of the breech; Fig. 17, an exterior view ot' the pistol, showing a lever arrangement for operating, locking, and releasf ing the barrel.

Similar letters referto similar parts throughout the several views.

A is the stock of the pistol, and B the barrel-block, which in this instance has two hores in the width of the block and two in the depth,l

the bores beingat equaldistances from a point, a', in the center of the block, as seen in Figs. 5 and 15. The under side of the barrel-block is made perfectly straight and true, so as to tit accurately on the edges of the projecting portion a ot' the stock, which has grooves adapted to receive the lips ot' the projection b on the under side of the barrel-block, this projection being of such a form as to retain the block in close contact with the projectionaof the block, and to allow the former to slide freely longitudinally on the latter, but so that the one can have no vertical or lateral motion independent of the other. In the projecting portion a of the block, and between the grooves for receiving the lips ofthe projection b, a chamber or recess, c, is formed, and within the same ishung a catch-lever, d, having two arms, the end of one arm fitting into a notch on the under side of the barrel-block, where it is retained by a spring, e, attached to the end of the opposite arm of the lever and bearing against the under sideof the barrel-block. The arm of the lever to which the spring is attached projects so far through an opening in the end of the projection a ofthe stock as to be easily elevated byapplying the finger to it, thereby depressing the opposite arm and releasing the barrel-block, which can be slid outward until itsv notch comes in contact with the point= of the spring, as seen in Fig. 3.

C is the hammer, D thetrigger, and E the mainspring, of the tire-arm, all being arranged within a recess formed in the stock, the two former being hung to pins passing transversely through the stock, and the spring bearing with its point in an angular recess formed in the hammer. i

His the revolving nipple, thepinfot which (see Fig. 14) fits snugly but so asto turn freely in an orifice in the hammer C, to which it isV confined on one side b v a collar, h, which forms part of the nipple, and on the opposite sideby a nut,1, which fits into a recess in the rear of the hammer, and which screws onto or is otherwise secured to the end of the pin f. On the inside of the collar 7L of the revolving nipple, and where it bears against the hammer, are cut four radial notches (see Fig. 13) at equal distances apart, and inclined on one side and abrupt on the other. A pin,j, Figs. 9 and 13, passes freely through an oritce in the hammer, and is caused by means o f a spring, 7c, to bear with its point against the inside of the collar h ofthe revolving nipple, where it rests at the deepest point of one ot' the radial notches of the collar, and thus serves to retain the said revolving nipple H in a given position prior to its being moved therefrom by the cocking ofthe hammer, as explained hereinafter.

To a pin secured to the stock is hung a catch or hand, I, the point of which is adapted to the radial notches on the collar h, in gear with one or other of which it is maintained by a spring, J, secured to the back of the hammer. This hand is so arranged in respect to the notches that it rests, when the hammer is down, on a projection on the stock, the point heilig then clear of the said notches. When the hammer, however, is inthe act of being drawn back, the rear of the collar h is brought in contact with the hand, the point of the latter fitting into one ot' the radial notches and turning the rotating nipple, so that when the hammer has reached the position of full-cock the nipple will have been turned one-quarter of its circumference round, and in this position it is retained by the pin j during the descent of the hammer, when the hand I, by the action of the spring J, recovers its former stationaryposition on the stock until the hammer is again cocked,when the rotating nipple Will be movedk another quarter of its circumference round, as before.

In the breech mi, which projects from and forms a part of the stock, is a circular opening, n, for the free admission of the end g of the revolving nipple I:`[ when the hammer is down, the center of the opening n coinciding with that of the nipple, and the centers of both coinciding with the central point,a:, (Figs. 5 and 15,) of the barrel-block. On the face of the end of the rotating nipple is a projection, s, radiating from thev center ot' the nipple and terminating at the edge of the face. This projection is the immediate cause of the ignition of the detonating substance contained in the enlarged end of the cartridge.

It should be understood that one particular class of cartridges only is used in connection with my improved tire-arm. These cartridges consist of va capsule or casing of thin metal containing powder, a portion ofthe bullet being inserted and secured to one end, and the opposite end being enlarged, so as to form a collar or projection for preventing the cartridge from entering too far into the bore of the barrel and for containing the detonating material. In the breech m four circular recesses are formed, coinciding with the four bores, and into these recesses fit the enlarged ends of the cartridges when the barrelblock is brought home to the breech. rlhe rear of each cartridge is thus covered by the breech, excepting a small portion of the edge, which is necessarily exposed at the central opening, a, as best observed on reference to Fig. 15.

On each side of the stock is secured a springcatch, t, the ends of the catches being bent so as to project inward in front of the breech, a slight incision on each side ot' the barrelblock preventing the latter, when moved toward the breech, from interfering with the points of said catches, which are so constructed and situated that when the barrel, with its cartridges, is brought up to the breech the bent end of one catch shall pass between the enlarged ends of the upper and lower cartridges and the barrel on one side and the end of the lopposite catch between Vthe enlarged ends ot' the upper and lower cartridges and the barrel 0n the opposite side, as seen in Fig. 15, the points ofthe clips assuming this position without any other aid than the pressure of the enlarged ends of the cartridges against them when the barrel is brought home to the breech. The barrel-block being slid forward to the position shown in Fig. 3, the hammer being cocked, and the cartridges being inserted into their respective bores, the block is pushed up to the breech, the heads of the cartridges tting into therecess of the latter and the clips t t catching under the enlarged ends of the cartridges, the catch-lever d assumes its position in the notch on the under side of the barrel-block, when the pistol is ready for tiring.V

When the trigger is drawn the projection s on the face ofthe hammer will strike on the edge ot the enlarged, portion of one cartridge only and cause the same to be discharged. When the hammer is again cocked, prior to a second discharge, the nipple must have turned, as hereinbefore described, one-quarter round, and the projection s, on account of its eccentricity with the center of rotation of the nipple, must consequently have been turned away from the cartridge upon which it acted lastand have assumed a position ready to act upon a sec ond cartridge, and the position of the projections s changing every time the hammer is thrown back, each cartridge will be acted upon in succession until the whole are discharged. rlhe end of thel catch-lever d, which projects through the end of the stock, is then elevated and the barrel released andv pushed forward.

In doing this the catches t t maintain their hold on the enlarged ends of the spent eartridges, the latter being withdrawn from their respective bores and dropping to the ground. It will be observed that as the barrel is being moved a'w'ay from the breech the cartridges are retained in their proper position for allowing the spring-catches t t to retain their hold on the heads of the cartridges. In fact, without the recesses, which thus steady the spent cartridges, the spring-catches would not have the desired effect. The pistol is now in a condition to receive a second supply of cartridges. In adapting my improvements to the larger class of pistols it will facilitate the operation of loading to apply an extra power in sliding the barrel-block in and ont. This is effected by the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 17. A lever, M, of which the trigger-guard uforms a part, is hung to a pin in the projecting portion a ofthe stock, and to this lever is hinged one end of the rod N, the opposite end of which is hinged to a projection on the under side ofthe barrel-block B. An angular projection, V, is formed on the lever M, and this projection is adapted to a notch in the under side of the barrel-block and near the rear of the same. When the latter is slid out from the breech the above-named parts will assume the position illustrated in the figure. When the barrel has to be brought up to the breech the operator draws the lever M to the position shown in dotted lilies, when the projection V is fitted into the notch of the barrel and the bent portion of the lever assumes the character and duty of an ordinary trigger-guard. It will thus be seen that by the above-described arrangement thre duties'are performed-the operation ofthe barrel-block and the locking and releasing of the same. p

Having now described Vthe nature of my invention and the manner in which the same is carried into effect, I Wish it to be understood that I do not desire to confine myself to the use of a barrel-block with four bores or to the precise devices herein described for altering the position ot' the projection s, inasmuch asa barrel-block with morevor less than four bores may be used in connection with my improvements, and as different devices may be used for chan gin g the position of the said projection.

It will be evident that the catch-lever d is applicable for locking and releasing a barrelblock with a single bore, as is also the lever arrangement shown in Fig. 17, and the clip for retaining the spent cartridges as the block is being moved out.

I therefore claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. Exploding in succession a number of eartridges ofthe class herein described by means ot' a projection caused to revolve by the movement of the hammer when the said cartridges are so arranged in respect to the said projection that the latter shall strike the edge only of each cartridge in sueession, as herein set forth.

2. I do not desire to claim broadly the employment of a lever with a projection for the double purpose of locking the barrel and slid.- ing it in and ont, as such al device is shown in Greeners English Patent No.2,693 of 1854; but I claim the lever M, with its projection V and the rod N, in combination with the barrel-block and its stock, when the whole is arranged as set forth, and when the lever M is so formed as to serve the purpose of a triggerguard.

3. Causing the spent cartridges to be withdrawn from the barrel during the moving out ofthe latter by means of a clip or clips, t, applied and operating substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specitication before two subscribing witnesses.

CHRISTIAN SHARPS.

Witnesses:

HENRY HoWsoN, J oHN WHITE.

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