Historical Document · 1869
US Patent 97,780 — LeMat, Revolver (1869)
LeMat's 1869 US patent, from the cartridge era of the design.
- lemat
- revolver
- centerfire
- patent
Historical Document · 1869
LeMat's 1869 US patent, from the cartridge era of the design.
F. A. Le MAT, Revolving Fire-Arm, Patented Dec. 14, 1869, Onited states patent (office. FRANCOISAI.EXANDRE LEMAT, OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA, ASSIGNOR TO (HARLES PIETRONI, OF LONDON, ENGLAND. Letters Patent No. 97,780, dated December 14, 1869. IMPROVEMENT IN BREECEI-LOADING REvolving FIRE-ARMs. --places--- The Schedule referred to in these Isetters Patent and making part of the same s-or------ To whom it may concern: central one, is intended for the central barrel M; the Be it known that I, FRANÇOIs ALEXANDRE LE latter is located so as to come opposite the top cham MAT, of New Orleans, parish of Orleans, and State of ber of the revolver, and is intended to allow the pas of the pin d of the hamlaher, so that it may strike Iouisiana, have invented certain new and useful Im sage provements in Revolving and Repeating Fire-Arms; the ball-cartridge. and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, On the circumference of the disk E is formed a re and exact description of the same, reference being cess for the introduction of the ball-cartridges. After the revolving piece H is loaded, the recess is had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a fire-arm closed by a linged piece, g, which fits it, and moves on an axis, i. made in accordance with my invention. Figure 2 is an end view of the same, with the ham The springilholds this piece in position. mer renoved, so as to exhibit the revolving chamber The breech-piece k, of the central barrel, also moves upon a hinge. It carries the pin l, which, when struck and the breeches more clearly. Figure 3 is a side elevation of the fire-arm, on the by the piece IB, is forced forward, as before explained, side opposite to that shown in fig. 1, the two barrels so as to produce the discharge of the central cartridge. This breech-piece is hinged so as to move laterally, as being represented in section. The arm is composed of four distinct parts, viz: shown in fig. 2, and when pressed down, to close the first, the cocking and discharging-mechanism, coin central barrel, is tightly held in place between the prising the trigger-hammer, and other parts usually stationary breech E and two strong metallic shoulders employed; second, the breech, which receives the ol' projections, G. G., which are formed in one piece mechanism especially intended to facilitate the load with the metallic part, which holds the trigger and ing; third, the revolving chamber; fourth the barrels. mechanism connected with the Salme. Of the cocking and discharging-mechanism, the Whenever the hinged breech-piece is raised in order halamer differs from others commonly employed. It is to load the central barrel, the cartridge-retractor m, composed of two linged pieces. The one, A, which is which is a movable half cylinder, of the ordinary form the main part, is regulated directly by the trigger b, employed for the purpose, and is arranged in the rear and carries at its end a percussion-pin, d, which acts end of the central barrel in ally ordinary or suit on the ball-cartridge of the revolver. The other, B, able manner, throws out the cartridge-shell, and thus is fitted in a recess in the part A, and can be turned facilitates its removal. upon a pivot or axis, f, and constitutes a beak or ham The manner in which this is effected, is as follows: mer, to strike the pin li of the piece k, which serves In raising the breech-piece k, its heels presses ob as the breech of the central barrel M, the arrange liquely against the rounded endtofthelever-arm it of the meat of which, with relation to the other barrel L., cartridge-retractor on, (see Figure 7.) which is capable is shown clearly in figs. 1 and 3, and will be presently of moving back and forth upon a stem or fixed axis, v. described. W The half cylinder of the cartridge-retractor is thus Figures 4 and 5 represent the two parts A and B caused to spring forcibly from the barrel, and to throw Separate. out the cartridge-shell. The piece B is held in a slot in the part A, on the A strong spring, n, maintains the hinged breech pivotif, and its upper end, which projects through A, piece firmly in either its open or its closed position, constitutes a thumb-piece, by means of which it can and it is the action of this spring, in throwing back be brought down in the position shown in fig. 1, so as forcibly the hinged breech-piece, that causes the latter to strike the percussion-pin li when the hammer falls. to strike the cartridge-retractor suddenly, so as to IBy drawing back the upper end, on the contrary, the throw out the empty shell with considerable force. hammer-part of the piece 3 will be drawn up in the . The revolving cartridge-chamber H, which is shown recess formed on the under side of the part A (see detached, in Figure 6, turns upon the central barrel fig. 4) so as to be out of the way, in which case, when M, on which it fits with a slight fiction, and is pro the trigger is pulled, the percussion-pin k will not be vided with a circular recess, ar, around the barrel, struck, and the central barrel consequently will not be which will serve to hold the oil or other lubricator discharged. A spring located in the part A, as rep employed. resented by the dotted line, fig. 4, and applied to the A small sliding rod, o, arranged in front of the hub of the piece B, will retain the latter in either po piece H, in the usual manner, so as to be opposite the recess e in the stationary breech E, serves as a means piece H turns, is formed of a metallic disk, E, pierced The upper and lower barrels L. Male arranged par sition. The breech against which the evolving chambered to force out the empty shells from the chambers. with two cylindrical holes, C and D. The former, or allel with each other. The former is used with the 97,780 2 revolving chambered piece H, and is rifled to receive screw limits the movement of the collar, permitting it the ball-cartridge shown in Figure 8. to be brought up to the position shown in red lines, It is about the same length as the lower central fig. 14, in which position the rod o is ready for use, barrel M, the interior of which is simply cylindrical, or to be turned down under the central barrel, as so as to receive the slug or shot-cartridge shown in shown in fig. 13, which is the position occupied by the Figure 10. rod when its services are not required. This cartridge is composed of a conical ball, p, on Having now described my invention, and the mail the neck of which is secured the front end of the car ner in which the same is or may be carried into effect, tridge-shell, which receives the fulminate and powder. What I claim, and desire to secure by ILetters Pat Between the two ends of the cartridge, I place a ent, is suitable number of slugs, r'n' r", three in this in 1. The construction and arrangement with the cen stance, each constituting one-third of the cylindrical tral barrel, of its hinged breech-block, and the central section of the cartridge, as seen in Figures 11 and 12. firing-pin carried in the same, and located with rela The central barrel is screwed into the stationary tion to the hammer, substantially as described and breech E, and the upper barrel is held in place by shown. means of two or more sleeves or collars, at a. 2. The combination of the hinged breech of the The front sleeve, in this instance, is screw-threaded, central barrel, carrying the percussion-pin or firing as seen in fig. 2, and the rear sleeve has a downward-- needle, as described, with the cartridge-letractor, un ly-projecting part, a, which receives a set-screw, b, der the arrangement and for operation as set forth. which is screwed into the stock or metallic portion 3. The herein-described construction of the double connected therewith, so as to assure all parts in place. hammer, with a permanent beak or pin for exploding By loosening the set-screw, the upper barrel may be the cartridge of the revolver, and a linged auxiliary turned around the lower one, and unscrewed from it laminer, constructed and arranged substantially as with ease. specified, to strike against the percussion-pin of the It may be found desirable to so arrange the rod o central barrel. that it can be turned under the central barrel when , In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to not in use. An arrangement for this purpose is shown this specification, before two subscribing witnesses. in Figures 13 and 14. F. A. LE MAT. The rod o slides in a socket, b, attached to a collar, c, which fits on the neck d, of the central barrel M. A quarter-circle groove is formed in the collar c, which is traversed by the end of a screw, e. This Witnesses: G. LAFOND, F. OLCOTT.