British 2868
LETTERS PATENT to Henry Genhart, Armourer, of the City of Liege, in the Kingdom of Belgium, for the Invention of “ Impbovements in Fiee-
ABKS AND OlLDNANCE, AND OE THE CARTRIDGES OB PROJECTILES 10 BE USED THEREWITH.**
Sealed the 2nd June 1857, and dated the 3rd December 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Genbart at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 3rd December 1856*
I, Henry Genhart, Armourer, of the City of Liege, in the Kingdom of Belgium, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for “ Improvements nr Fire-arms and Ordnance, and op the Cartridges or Projectiles to be used therewith,” to be as follows:—
This Invention relates to certain new and improved mechanical arrange-^ ments and combinations to be used in the construction of fire-arms and ordnance, and consists principally in arranging and disposing the chamber or revolving breech containing the projectiles horizontally instead of vertically, as heretofore commonly practised in the construction of fire-arms known and distinguished as “ revolvers,” and in the application of such said horizontal revolving breech to the construction of carbines, muskets, fowling-pieces, musquetons, wall pieces, and such like weapons of defence. The principle of construction of these improvements will be better understood by the following explanation of the mode of applying this Invention to the manufacture of a pistol, by way of example, that is to say, I form the barrel thereof to fit into a cylindrical breech case, so as to move backward and forward therein; connected with this said case is a cylindrical hammer; there is also a small ratchet wheel, having teeth corresponding with this several chambers in the cylindrical case in which it turns; there is an eccentric embraced by a ring terminating in a rod, upon which is formed a left-handed screw. A hinge fits into an opening in the side of tho barrel, and on one side of the hinge pin is fixed a right-handed screw; this screw is connected to a left-handed screw by a nut, formed accordingly for either lengthening or shortening the respective parts, so as to regulate the sliding movement of the barrel. The above-mentioned eccentric lias an hexagonal-shaped opening formed therein, into which a rod of corresponding shape fits, and at the opposite end of said rod, where the pall of the aforesaid ratchet wheel is fixed, the rod is formed circular and moves in a suitable bearing. The mainspring of the hammer is fixed by a pin passed through the breech case. The movement of the trigger is regulated by a small spring passing through the mainspring; the cylindrical hammer also passes through said mainspring. This hammer is operated upon by a pin at bottom thereof, which serves to drive said hammer up. There is a lever handle connected to the barrel, for pushing the barrel outward at each discharge, and for again inserting the breech end into another chamber in the revolving chargeholder, which is caused to rotate upon its axis, so as to present another charge in a line with the bore in the barrel, after the method practised with ordinary revolvers. The contents of each chamber are discharged in succession by the action of the trigger operating upon a spring in connection with the cylindrical hammer, the upper end whereof strikes against a projecting detonating cap attached to the cartridge case, which contains the projectile compound, of small shot and gunpowder, or otherwise, according to the description of fire-arm or gun to which such said mechanism is to be adapted. The above cartridges are made in a compound mould suitable for the purpose, and the cases of said cartridges may be made either of cloth, post paper, tin, or leadfoil, but I prefer the use of tinfoil. The percussion cap I form either of copper or glass.
An important feature in this part of my said Invention consists in steeping the cartridge when formed in melted stearine or other similar substance, so as to coat it therewith, thereby protecting it from moisture, and enabling the cartridges to be kept uninjured for a considerable length of time; the fatty coating also serves to facilitate the discharge of the cartridge from the fire-arm or gun. In forming cartridges to be used in small fire-arms, I mix or moisten the gunpowder with spirits of wine, and whilst in the moist state I pour it into .the cartridge case, so that when the spirit evaporates it leave’s the powder in close contact with the shot. The case is then placed in a mould on the powder, and the shot rammed down thereon in any convenient manner, the projecting part of the case is then folded over and the cartridge removed from the mould; the percussion cap or tube is then attached thereto, and, finally, the cartridge is coated with stearine or other similar substance, as before described, and is then ready for use.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed by the said Henry Genhart in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3rd June 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, Henry Genhart, Armourer, of the City of Liege, in the Kingdom of Belgium, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters Patent, bearing date the Third day of December, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the twentieth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said Henry Genhart, Her special licence that I, the said Henry Genhart, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Henry Genhart, 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 and Ordnance, and op the Cartridges or Projectiles to be used therewith,” upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Henry Genhart, my executors or administrators, by an instrument 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 Henry Genhart, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, that is to say:—
My Invention relates to certain new and improved mechanical arrangements and combinations to be used in the construction of fire-arms and ordnance, and consists principally in arranging and disposing the chamber or revolving breech containing the projectiles horizontally instead of vertically, as heretofore commonly practised in the construction of fire-arms known and distinguished as “ revolvers/* and in the application of such said horizontal revolving breech to the construction of carbines, muskets, fowling-pieces, musquetons, wall pieces, and such like weapons of defence. The principle of construction of these improvements will be better understood by the following explanation of the mode of applying my said Invention to the manufacture of a pistol, by way of example, that is to say, I form the barrel thereof to fit into a cylindrical breech case, so as to move backward and forward therein; connected with this said case is a cylindrical hammer; there is also a small ratchet wheel, having teeth corresponding with the several chambers in the cylindrical case in which it turns ; there is an excentric embraced by a ring terminating in a rod upon which is formed a left-handed screw. A hinge fits into an opening in the side of the barrel, and on one side of the hinge pin is fixed a right-handed screw; this screw is connected to a left-handed screw by a nut, formed accordingly for either lengthening or shortening the respective parts, so as to regulate the sliding movement of the barrel. The above-meutioned excentric has an hexagonal-shaped opening formed therein, into which a rod of corresponding shape fits, and at the opposite end of said rod, where the pall of the aforesaid ratchet wheel is fixed, the rod is formed circular and moves in a suitable bearing. The mainspring of the hammer is fixed by a pin passed through the breech case. The movement of the trigger is regulated by a small spring passing through the mainspring; the cylindrical hammer also passes through said mainspring. This hammer is operated upon by a pin at bottom thereof, which serves to drive said hammer up. There is a lever handle connected to the barrel, for pushing the said barrel outward at each discharge, and for again inserting the breech end into another chamber in the revolving chargeholder, which is caused to rotate upon its axis, so as to present another charge in a line with the bore in the barrel, after the method practised with ordinary revolvers. The contents of each chamber are discharged in succession by the action of the trigger operating upon a spring in connection with the cylindrical hammer, the upper end whereof strikes against a projecting detonating cap attached to the cartridge case which contains the projectile, composed of small shot and gunpowder, or otherwise, according to the description of firearm or gun to which such said mechanism is to be adapted.
The above cartridges are made in a compound mould suitable for the purpose, and the cases of said cartridges may be made either of cloth, post paper, tin, or leadfoil, but I prefer the use of tinfoil. The percussion cap I form either of copper or glass.
An important feature in this part of mj said Invention consists in steeping the cartridge, when formed, in melted stearine or other similar substance, so as to coat it therewith, thereby protecting it from moisture, and enabling the cartridges to be kept uninjured for a considerable length of time; the fatty coating also serves to facilitate the discharge of the cartridge from the fire-arm or gun. In forming cartridges to be used in small fire-arms, I mix or moisten the gunpowder with spirits of wine, and whilst in the moist state I pour it into the cartridge case, so that when the spirit evaporates it leaves the powder in close contact with the shot. The case is then placed in a mould on the powder, and the shot rammed down thereon in any convenient manner; the projecting part of the case is then folded over and the cartridge removed from the mould; the percussion cap or tube is then attached thereto, and, finally, the cartridge is coated with stearine or other similar substance, as before described, and is then ready for use.
In order to explain my said Invention as completely as possible, I now proceed to describe the best means I am acquainted with for carrying the same into practical effect, and have attached to these Presents a Sheet of Drawings illustrative of the principle of construction which I adopt, and have found answer well for effecting the objects of my said improvements.
The above-mentioned Sheet of Drawings is marked with numeral figures and letters of reference, similar letters being employed to denote corresponding parts in so far as such parts appear or can be seen at each of such said Figures respectively.
Description op the Drawings.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a pistol constructed according to my said Invention ; Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the under side of the same through the line A, B, at Figure 3, which last-mentioned Figure is a longitudinal and vertical section through the line C, D. Figure 4 is a plan view of the top side of the pistol; Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 are detached parts, herein-after described and referred to.
At each of the foregoing Figures I employ similar letters of reference to denote corresponding parts, in so far as such parts appear or can be seen at each of such said Figures respectively. At Figures 1, 2, 3, A is the barrel of the pistol, fitting into the breech case B, so as to be capable of moving backward or forward therein; C, a cylindrical hammer; D, the axis of a small ratchet wheel, furnished with a number of teeth, corresponding with the chambers in the cylinder X, the lower part of which is inserted in the cylindrical breech case, in which it turns. E is an excentric, surrounded by a ring /, and terminating in a left-handed screw F ; g is a hinge, fitting into an opening in the side of the barrel, and held firmly in its position by a pin *, which passes horizontally through it and into the barrel. On one side of the aforesaid hinge pin * is fixed a right-handed screw G. h is the nut, which corresponds with the said hinge pin and excentric ring Q, which has a right-handed screw on one side thereof and a left-handed screw on the other. The nut h works on parts / and g, and by turning it one way or the other the respective parts are lengthened and shortened, and thus regulate the movement of the barrel. The excentric E is perforated with an hexagonal opening, into which the rod /, also hexagonal on one side, fits exactly, (see Figure 4.) This rod passes entirely through the perforated part of the breech, but is hexagonal only at the part which fits into the excentric, and at the opposite end, whore the pall R of the ratchet wheel fitted on the axis D is fixed. The remainder of the rod is round and moves in the bearing* m is the mainspring of the hammer, fixed by a pin n going through the breech case; o is the trigger, which is regulated by the small spring p, which passes through the mainspring m, as does the cylindrical hammer C, which is traversed at the bottom by a pin, which serves to drive it up with the mainspring m; q> r, are two small connecting rods, attached to each other, and actuated or governed by the pall L The rod r has at one end a notch, which takes into the ratchet wheel. S is a -thin iron socket, which covers the lock, and is fixed by the screw f, connecting the stock with the metallic part of the pistol. When the lever handle x, x, is pushed home the barrel is advanced by means of the excentric which is connected with the lever handle: (see the opening between the breech and the seat of the barrel, Figure 1.) This motion of the lever depresses the mainspring by means of the pin Q\ fixed to the excentric, and projecting a little on each side thereof. With the mainspring the hammer is also drawn downwards, and the trigger, pushed by the spring p, falls with its shoulder under the mainspring; at the same time the small connecting rods are so far drawn backwards that the notch in the rod r takes into one tooth of the ratchet wheel, and is held there by the small spring v. The lever handle being restored to its horizontal position, the barrel is moved back into the breech, but the two connecting rods move in the opposite or forward direction before the barrel enters the breech, and the notch advauces the ratchet wheel on its axis |th, y^th, y^th, y^tb, &c. of its circumference, according to the number of chambers in the cylinder, the peculiar construction of which will be readily understood by reference to Figure 6 of the Drawings. At the same time the pall l escapes from the indentation in tbe connecting rod q, and slides along its circular end whilst the pall stops, and the barrel enters into the corresponding chamber x. One complete movement of the lever handle, therefore, causes the barrel and the connecting rods to move once backwards and forwards, the cylinder to advance by means of the grooves y, and the main spring to be depressed, and the chambers of the cylinder being charged with the cartridges (of the construction herein-after described), that chamber which is in a line with the barrel will be discharged on the trigger being pulled. The action of pulling the trigger causes the cylindrical hammer which is connected with the mainspring to penetrate its entire length into the circular aperture z, corresponding with the cartridge chambers containing the caps of the cartridges, thus causing the said caps to detonate and explode the cartridge; but as the cylindrical hammer fits exactly the aperture z, it closes hermetically the communication between it and the cartridge chamber, so as to effectually prevent the escape of gas, which escape is likewise prevented by the perfect adjustment of the barrel in the cartridge chamber. It will be seen, by referring to the Drawing, that on depressing the lever handle x, x> the barrel will move forward and leave the cylinder free to make another advance, whilst by raising again the lever handle the barrel redescends into the breech of the cylinder case, and presses so firmly the cylinder against the axis of the case and the circumference thereof, that the barrel and cylinder form, as it were, only one piece, and remain so until the shot is discharged, when by a repetition of the movement of the lever handle another cartridge chamber is brought into a line with the barrel. In order that the explosion of the powder may be complete in the cylinder chamber, the diameter of the ball should be somewhat larger than that of the barrel, so that the resistance of the ball allows of the perfect expansion of the gases before it can be forced through the barrel. At the inner end of the cartridge chamber x is left a small space unoccupied by the cartridge, the purpose of which is to allow a portion of the gases to pass behind the envelope of the cartridge, so as to drive out the fragments of the envelope and of the cap, which might otherwise remain partially in the chambers, thus allowing these to be recharged without cleansing, and the filing from 20 to 30 shots in a minute, so that by using one or more supplementary cylinders, and having an assistant to charge them, an almost unlimited number of shots may be fired without interruption.
Although I have confined myself to the description of a pistol, it is obvious that any other kind of fire-arms may be constructed on the same principle, such as carbines, fowling-pieces, muskets, mousquetous, wall pieces, &c., &c., and from the peculiarity of tbe system would offer with the pistol the following advantages:—First, the cylinder being separated from the body of the arm it is tendered totally useless; secondly, its allowing the use of any number of cylinders, and consequently of an almost uninterrupted number of shots.
I now proceed to describe the mode of manufacturing my cartridges, and the apparatus used therein and therefor, as represented at Figures 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13. Figure 12 is a vertical section of an outer mould, shewing in the centre thereof a small aperture to receive the slight steel pin a, provided with a shoulder, which fits exactly into a corresponding aperture formed in the centre of the said mould. Figure 13 is the inner form or mould, the diameter of which is smaller than that of the outer mould by the thickness of the material employed for the cartridge covers. The aforesaid form or mould is provided at its lower part with a hole corresponding to the steel pin a. Figure 11 shews the rammer which serves to press the ball upon the powder, having at its lower end either a hemispherical or conical cavity, according to the form of ball required. For the envelope or cartridge case I use either post paper, tin, or leadfoil, or any other suitable substance, preferring the tinfoil. The material selected is first cut into square pieces, the size of which should exceed by one quarter the circumference of the inner mould, and extend one quarter of an inch above its glandular-shaped head. It is then turned on the inner moiild, and the lower part twisted so as to exactly and completely cover the conical part of it. The inner mould so covered is then introduced into the outer mould. A slight blow is given to the inner one, which can then be easily withdrawn, leaving tho cartridge case round the inner side of the outer mould. The required quantity of powder is then poured in, and the ball placed upon it ; the rammer 11 is then placed on the ball and driven down as far as it can go; a slight blow is then given to the steel pin a, which pushes tho cartridge out cf the mould. In the aperture made by the said pin is next inserted the percussion cap or tube, which I make of copper or glass, of any required size. The cartridge is next immersed in melted stcarine or any other suitable substance, sufficient cf which is allowed to remain on it as will form a slight covering, protecting it from being injured by atmospheric moisture, and enabling it to be kept a long time. This fatty covering has also tho elfect of diminishing the friction in the barrel at the time of firing. I would observe, that although the ball is pressed violently on the powder in making the cartridge there is no danger of an explosion taking place.
To prepare shot or cartridges intended for fowling pieces and sporting purposes, I proceed as follows:—Figure 9 shews, in vertical section, a small shot cartridge. B is the percussion cap or tube; D, the shot case, shewn at Figures 7 and 8; it is made of copper or any other suitable material, and of the exact size of the bore of the gun. It is fitted with shot placed as nearly as possible in regular layers, the number of which depends on the size of the shot employed. I then fill up the spaces between the shot with a moist mixture of finely-ground gunpowder and spirit of wine; the latter evaporates rapidly, leaving the powder alone closely in contact with the shot in the case, which is then placed in the mould on the powder and rammed down thereon in any convenient manner. The projecting part of the envelope is then folded over the bottom of the case, and the cartridge removed from the mould by a slight blow, the percussion cap or tube is then added, the cartridge immersed in stearine or other suitable substance, as before described, and is then ready for use.
Having now described the nature and object of my improvements in firearms and ordnance, and of the cartridges or projectiles to be used therewith, together with the best means I am acquainted with for carrying the same into practical effect, it is to be understood that I do not confine myself to the number of cartridge chambers in the cylinder, nor to the calibre thereof, which I vary as required ; nor do I confine myself to the mode described of making the cylinder rotate or advance, which may be done by other mechanical contrivances, or even by hand. And as regards cartridges for fowling-pieces, &c., commonly termed shot cartridges, I do not confine myself in the manufacture of the shot cases to the use of metal, but reserve to myself the right of using cloth, paper, or any other suitable substances. And I hereby declare my Invention to consist in, and I claim,—
First, the general arrangement and combination of parts as above described, and represented at Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 of the annexed Drawing, as constituting improvements in fire-arms.
Secondly, the mode above described, and represented at Figure 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, of manufacturing cartridges.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Genhart, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
HENRY GENHART. (l.s.)
Witness,
John Piddington,
77, Montague de la Cour,
Brussels.