British 2924
LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Williams, of South Castle Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Gun Maker, for the Invention of “ Ah Impeoved Revolving Pistol.”
Sealed the 16th June 1864, and dated the 16th December 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Williams at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 16th December 1853.
I, Thomas Williams, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Gun Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for “ Ah Impboved Revolving Pistol ” to be as follows:—
The principal features of novelty in this Invention consist in the peculiar form or construction of the lock, which is composed of the following parts:—The cock of the pistol (which is acted upon by a main spring in the usual manner) is provided with a ratchet lever or pall, which causes the breech to turn a portion of a revolution each time the pistol is “ cocked,” by acting directly upon a ratchet wheel attached to the revolving breech, so as to present a fresh chamber opposite to the barrel of the pistol, the said lever or pall being always, kept in gear by means of a feather spring. Between each “ nipple ” of the breech is a partition, against which a projecting part at the lower side of the cock acts, so as to lock or hold the revolving breech firmly when the pistol is cocked. The upper part of the trigger is also furnished with a projecting piece, which, upon pulling the trigger to discharge the pistol, locks against the said partitions before the trigger releases the cock, so that the breech is always held firm and prevented from revolving, except at the moment of cocking. The lock is enclosed by a side piece, which can readily be removed, and all the working parts of the lock are then exposed. Thus it will be evident that the construction of the said improved revolving pistol is simple and effective, and the working parts are at all times easy of access for cleaning, repairing, or other purposes.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed by the said Thomas Williams in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 16th June 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PEESENTS SHALL COME, I,
Thomas Williams, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Gun Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of December, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the seventeenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said Thomas Williams, Her special licence that I, the said Thomas Williams, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Thomas Williams, 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 “Ah Imphoved Revolvihg Pistol,” upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Thomas Williams, 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 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 Thomas Williams, 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):—
The principal features of novelty in this Invention of an improved revolving pistol, consist in the peculiar construction or arrangement of the lock, which is composed of the following parts:—The “ cock ” or hammer of the pistol (which is acted upon by a main spring and lever in the usual manner) is provided with a ratchet lever or pall, which causes the chambers to turn a portion of a revolution each time the pistol is “cocked,”by acting directly upon a ratchet wheel attached to the revolving chambers, so as to present a fresh breech opposite to, or in a direct line with the barrel of the pistol (the said lever or pall being kept always in gear by means of a feather spring). Between each “ nipple ” of the breech is a partition, against which a projecting part at the lower side of the “ cock ” or hammer acts, so as to lock or hold the revolving chambers firmly when the pistol is “ cocked.” The upper part of the trigger is also furnished with a projecting wedge-formed piece, which (upon pulling the trigger to discharge the pistol, locks into a groove in one of the said partitions before the trigger releases the “ cock,” or at the same instant, so that the chambers are always held firm and prevented from revolving, except at the moment of “ cocking,’* or when the pistol is at “ half cock.” The lock is enclosed by a side piece, which can readily be removed, and all the working parts of the lock are then exposed. Thus it will be evident that the construction of the said improved revolving pistol is simple and effective, and the working parts are at all times easy of access for cleaning, repairing, or other purposes. It will also be evident that this Invention is equally applicable to muskets and other similar fire-arms. In order more clearly to illustrate the practical construction of my said Invention, I have annexed hereunto a Sheet of Drawings, representing several views of the same, and have marked thereon figures and letters of reference corresponding with those in the following explanation thereof:—
Tlie Drawing is made full size of the pistol, and similar letters of reference are placed upon corresponding parts of the same in all the Figures, in so far as such parts appear or can be seen at each of the said Figures respectively. Figure 1 is a side elevation of the pistol complete; Figure 2 is a similar view, with the side plate removed in order to shew the working parts of the lock, the pistol being represented as “ on full cock,” or ready to be discharged; Figure 3 represents a plan view of the same as seen from above; a, a, represents the “ stock ” of the pistol, and b, b, the barrel. The barrel b> b, is keyed on to the spindle on which the chambers d, d> revolve; the spindle is attached to the metallic frame or body of the pistol c, c, which is connected to the “ stock ” by means of screws, and carries the revolving chamber and other working parts of the pistol, the side plate of which c\ c\ is moveable (see detached Figure 4), and is secured by screws; d9 d, is the revolving chamber, an end view of which is shewn at Figure 5; this chamber has five breeches bored therein, and is mounted upon centres or pivots, as usual, each breech being provided with a percussion “ nipple ” e, e. At the back of the chamber d, d, a ratchet wheel /, /, is formed or connected by screws or otherwise; g, gf is the “ cock ” or hammer, which is acted upon by means of the mainspring h, h, and lever i, as usual; k, k, is a lever attached to the lower part or tumbler of the hammer by means of a pin l. The upper limb of this lever acts upon the ratchet wheel/,/, causing it to perform one fifth of a revolution each time the hammer is pulled back to “ full cock,” and is kept in gear with the said wheel by means of a feather spring m, m. The lower limb of the lever k, kt forms a bolt, which acts against the side of one of the partitions n, and thus locks the chamber. I would here remark that this bolt may either form part of the lever k, k, as shewn in the Drawing, or it may be a fixed piece, forming part of the tumbler; o, 0, is the trigger, acted upon by the trigger spring p, p. In the detached view of this part, Figure 6, it will be observed that the upper part of the trigger is furnished with a wedge-shaped piece q> which takes into the V shaped notches r, r, in the partitions n, n> and thus holds the chamber firm during the descent of the hammer. The action of my improved revolving pistol is as follows:—Having loaded the fire breeches from the front of the chamber, whilst the hammer is at “ half cock,” and placed percussion caps on the “ nipples/* the hammer is drawn back to “ full cock/* which will bring one of the breeches in a direct line with the barrel, and its corresponding “nipple** opposite to the hammer, and effectually lock it in that position. Upon pulling the trigger, the mainspring will instantly cause the descent of the hammer, and consequently the discharge of the contents of the first breech. It will be perceived that the descent of the hammer also brings down the lever k, to take hold of a fresh tooth of the ratchet wheel, which would leave the chamber free to turn; but in order to prevent the possibility of this, the instant the trigger releases the hammer, the part q comes forward into the notch r, and this holds the chamber firm during the discharge. On again “ cocking ’* the pistol, a fresh breech is presented, which may be then discharged, and so on to the fifth.
Having thus described the nature and object of my said Invention of an improved revolving pistol, together with the manner of carrying the same into practical effect, I would remark, in conclusion, that I claim as my Invention the general construction and arrangement of the working parts of the pistol, as shewn in the Drawings, and above particularly described, more especially the arrangement of mechanism for locking the revolving chamber, both when the pistol is at “ full cock,” and at the instant of the discharge.
In witness whereof, the said Thomas Williams, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
THOMAS WILLIAMS. (l.s.)
Witness,
William Sumners,
N° 39, St. Michaels Terrace,
Oliver Street,
Woodside, nT Liverpool.