British 2645
LETTERS PATENT to Robert Adams, of King William Street, in the City ‘ of London, for the Invention of “ Improvements in Fire-arms called Revolvers.”
Sealed the 20th March 1855, and dated the 15th December 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Adams at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 15th December 1854.
I, Robert Adams, of King William Street, in the City of London, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for “ Improvements in Fire-arms called Revolvers ” to be as follows:—
These improvements consist, first, of the application of a bolt to fasten and retain the moveable axis on which the short barrels revolve, and such bolt is moved into and from a recess in the moveable axis by being formed with an inclined thread or screw, so that, by the moving an arm or instrument fixed to the bolt partly round, it securely bolts the moveable axis.
The second improvement consists of the application of a bolt to fasten the short barrels in such a position that, in the event of the hammer being by accidental causes moved back, it will not strike either of the nipples.
And the third improvement consists of a peculiar construction and application of a lever ramrod to such descriptions of fire-arms. For this purpose, on one side of a fire-arm a lever is attached, so as to turn on an axis at its fore end, and lie retained by a spring or other suitable catch at or near the other end. On this lever there is a fixed projection, which, on moving the lever on its axis, enters one of the short barrels, and rams the ball which has been placed therein.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed by the said Robert Adams in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 15th June 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, Robert Adams, of King William Street, in the City of London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of December, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the eighteenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said Robert Adams, Her special licence that I, the said Robert Adams, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Robert Adams, 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 called Revolvers,” upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Robert Adams, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to bo 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 Robert Adams, 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) :—
These improvements consist, first, of the application of a bolt to fasten and retain the moveable axis on which the short barrels revolve, and such bolt is moved into and from a recess in the moveable axis, by being formed with an inclined thread or screw, so that, by the moving an arm or instrument fixed to the bolt partly round, it securely bolts the moveable axis.
The second improvement consists of the application of a bolt to fasten the short barrels in such a position that, in the event of the hammer being by accidental causes moved back, it will not strike either of the nipples.
And the third improvement consists of a peculiar construction and application of a lever ramrod to such descriptions of fire-arms. For this purpose, on one side of a fire-arm a lever is attached, so as to turn on an axis at its fore end, and be retained by a spring or other suitable catch at or near the other end. On this lever there is a fixed projection, which, on moving the lever on its axis, enters one of the short barrels, and rams the ball which has been placed therein.
Having thus stated the nature of my said Invention, I will proceed to describe the manner of performing the same.
Description op the Drawing.
Figure 1 shows a side view of a pistol having my improvement applied thereto ; Figure 2 shows another side view thereof. The other Figures show detached parts, which are marked with the like letters of reference.
And I would state that the construction and combination of the parts shown are for the most part such as were described by me in the Specification of a former Patent; it will, therefore, only be necessary in this Specification to describe the improvements applied thereto according to my present Invention.
a is the axis on which the short barrels revolve, in which is formed a longitudinal groove a1, which at the two ends is recessed or deepened, to receive the point of a screw b or stop pin with an inclined thread formed thereon. The pin b is prevented making more than a partial turn by the screw stop c, which requires to be removed before the axis a can be withdrawn. By this improvement the axis a is prevented coming out, excepting when desired, in order to take off the short barrels, d is a slide bolt, which slides in a dovetail groove /, as shown; and in the back end of the short barrels there are recesses e, e, made to receive the end of the bolt, and these recesses are so placed, that when the bolt is in either of them, the hammer will when down be between two nipples, so that any accidental moving or striking of the hammer would not be attended with any injury, as the hammer would not strike on a cap. The sliding bolt d is retained by the spring gy which has a small projecting stud, which enters one of two holes in the side of the fire-arm, so that the bolt when once set will not be liable to move except with force. The bolt d is prevented moving out or in too far, and is prevented coming out altogether, by the screw d}9 the end of which enters a groove formed in the side of the fire-arm, such groove being of a length equal to that it is desired to allow the bolt d to slide. h is a lever attached to the fire-arm by a pin joint A1. This lever has thereon a projecting rammer Jr, by which the balls are rammed into the short barrels. When not in use this lever is out of the way, close to the side of the fire-arm ; but when in the act of ramming in a ball to one of the short barrels, it is caused to assume the position shown by the red lines in Figure 1.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, I would have it understood that what I claim is,—
First, the mode of securing the axis a of the short barrels.
Secondly, the mode of bolting or securing the short barrels.
And, thirdly, the mode of applying the lever rammer.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Adams, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five.
ROBERT ADAMS. (l.s.)
Witness,
Jno. Alcock.