Britain 3218
A.D. 1871, 28th November. № 3218.
Revolvers, &c.
(This Invention received Provisional Protection only.)
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Thomas James Smith at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 28th November 1871.— A communication from abroad by François Alexandre Le Mat, of 23, Boulevard de Strasbourg, Paris, France.
I, Thomas James Smith, of the Firm of Robertson, Brooman, and Company, of 166, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent Agents, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for “Improvements in Revolvers and other Multiple Fire-Arms,” to be as follows:—
This Invention relates chiefly to an Inventor for which Letters Patent were granted to François Alexandre Le Mat, on the 13th day of October, 1868, No. 3131. The object is to simplify the construction and operation of revolvers and other multiple fire-arms, and consists 1st, in a new manner of opening and closing the loading chamber; 2ndly, in an improved action of the hammer; and 3rdly, in improved mechanism for connecting the nut (noix) of the principal hammer to the revolver.
In order to introduce cartridges into the chambers of the revolver a lateral hollowing is made in the metal disc which serves as a back to the chambers, and into this hollowing a hinged door is fitted. This door is so arranged that its hinge is at the upper part, whilst the thumb piece and the spring are at the lower part, so that in order to open the door for loading the revolver the operator must exercise an upward pressure upon the thumb piece.
The improved action of the hammer is as follows:— The central hammer is hinged upon an axis upon the principal hammer; this axis being fixed in an orifice made in the centre of the central hammer. The thumb piece of the central hammer is so placed as to be behind the principal hammer in a mortise made in the latter from side to side. The end or point of the central hammer is placed so as to fit in the tenon of the nut in front of the main hammer. The central hammer being thus arranged it follows that in order to set free the principal hammer preparatory to firing the first or central shot of the series, a pressure downwards must be exerted by the thumb of the firer upon the thumb piece of the central hammer.
In order to connect the movement of the body of the principal hammer to that of the revolving mechanism, so as to render these two actions inseparable, a spring catch is placed at the lower part of the body, the point of which catch engages at the proper time into the teeth of the ratchet keyed to the centre of the hinder face of the revolver.
This arrangement of gearing makes the action of the arm very perfect, and removes all chances of accident.