,transcriber's ,note3 ,the  character is
 used to signify a superscripted  number
      ,illustration3    #c4,sheets4     
,sheet4#a      ,s4 ,colt4    ,imp-t in  
,fire ,arms4        ,no #acjd4          
,patented ,aug #bi4 #ahci4    ,figs4    
#a-aj      ,illustration3    #c4,sheets4
    ,sheet4#b4      ,s4 ,colt4    ,imp-t
 in ,fire ,arms4        ,no #a1cjd4     
,patented ,aug #bi4 #ahci4    ,figs4    
#aa-ah      ,illustration3              
#c4,sheets4    ,sheet4#c4      ,s4      
,colt4    ,imp-t in ,fire ,arms4        
,no #acjd4       ,patented ,aug #bi4    
#ahci4    ,figs4 #ai-bf                 
,,united ,,states ,,patent ,,office4    
,,samuel ,,colt1 ,,of ,,paterson1 ,,new 
,,jersey4    ,,improvement ,,in         
,,fire-,,arms ,,and ,,in ,,the          
,,apparatus ,,used ,,therewith4         
,specification forming part of ,letters 
,patent ,no4 #a1cjd1 dated ,august  #bi1
 #ahci4      ,to all whom it may        
concern3    ,be it known that ,i1       
,samuel ,colt1 of ,paterson1 in the     

county of  ,passaic and ,state of ,new  
,jersey1 did obtain ,letters ,patent of 
the  ,united ,states for an ,improvement
 in ,fire-,arms1 which ,letters ,patent 
bear date on the #beth day of ,february1
 in the year #ahcf1 and that  ,i have   
made certain improvements in the        
construction of the said  fire-arms1 and
 also in the apparatus for loading and  
priming the  same2 and ,i do hereby     
declare that the following is a full and
 exact  description of my said          
improvements4    ,my first improvements 
appertain to rifles1 guns1 and pistols2 
my second  to the construction of a     
cap-primer for containing the           
percussion-caps  and placing the same   
upon the nipples1 and my third to a     
flask and  other apparatus for loading  
the rifle or gun4    ,for the general   
construction of my fire-arms1 as        
originally patented ,i  refer to the    
,letters ,patent first above named1 the 
same being necessary  to a perfect      
understanding of the improvements       

thereon1 which ,i am now  about to      
describe4    ,figure #a in the          
accompanying drawings represents a      
section through  the lock and breech of 
my rifle or gun and two of the chambers 
of  the revolving receiver1 ,b being a  
part of the barrel of the gun4 ,the     
mouths of the chambers and the end of   
the barrel have their edges  chamfered  
or beveled1 as shown at a a in the      
drawings4 ,in all guns of  this         
description there is necessarily a      
lateral discharge between the  receiver 
and the barrel1 and this lateral        
discharge may endanger the  ignition of 
the powder in the loaded chambers not in
 contact with the  barrel2 but the      
ignited matter1 by coming into contact  
with the beveled  edge as it crosses    
said chamber1 is effectually reflected  
off1 and does  not enter them4 ,the     
beveling of the end of the barrel is not
 a thing of  importance1 it being       
intended merely to prevent its scraping 
or cutting  the ball in its passage from

 the chamber4    ,fig4 #b shows a part  
of the arbor upon which the receiver    
turns4 b  is the portion thereof which  
is immediately below the chamber in     
contact with the barrel1 and in this    
part a channel or groove is made        
descending from the point b in both     
directions1 so as to form two  inclined 
planes meeting at the point b4 ,these   
planes or sections of  the grooves may  
form an angle at forty-five degrees with
 each other4  ,this groove or channel   
serves as a chimney to conduct off the  
smoke  of the lateral discharge1 so that
 it shall pass directly between the     
receiver and the barrel and prevent its 
spreading1 so as to pass in  between the
 receiver and the arbor and the barrel  
and the arbor1 and  consequently from   
condensing there and rendering them     
foul4 ,the barrel  is connected with the
 receiver and with the stock of the gun 
by the aid  of the arbor which at the   
rear end1 is a solid piece with the     
shield  or solid piece of metal which   

receives the recoil and constitutes a   
component part of the metallic          
frame-work or foundation of the lock and
  its appendages4 ,the part ,c of the   
arbor is that upon which the receiver   
revolves1 and the part ,c enters a      
cylindrical cavity in a mass of  iron1  
,d ,d1 to which the barrel is brazed or 
otherwise attached4    ,fig4 #c shows   
the piece of iron ,d ,d and a part of   
the barrel ,b which  is attached to it4 
,the dotted lines in this represent the 
cylindrical  cavity which receives the  
outer end of the arbor ,c4 ,the two are 
keyed  together by the passing of a     
suitable key through a mortise in the   
piece ,d ,d and a corresponding one in  
the arbor4    c1 ,figs4 #a1 #c1 #d1 and 
#e1 represents the key4 ,fig4 #d shows  
its upper  and ,fig4 #e its under side1 
d d are two fluted channels along its   
upper side to receive the heads of two  
screws which are screwed into  the piece
 ,d ,d close to the mortise and on the  
side opposite to that  shown in ,fig4   

#c4 ,the heads of these screws lap a    
little over the  mortise and are        
received into the fluted channels d d4  
,these heads  prevent the key from      
falling out and check it in either      
direction1 and  must be withdrawn in    
order to remove the key4 ,as the key c  
is to act  laterally as a wedge to draw 
the receiver and the barrel into proper 
contact1 it is of importance that it    
should be checked when forced           
sufficiently far in1 or the receiver    
might be wedged up and prevented  from  
turning4 ,for this purpose ,i insert a  
screw1 e1 ,fig4 #c1 into the  steel     
button f1 which is attached to ,d ,d1 to
 strengthen the end of  the mortise and 
prevent the bruising of it by the       
recoil4 ,the head of  this screw1       
overlapping the end of the mortise1     
receives the wedge  and checks it4 ,by  
turning this screw the force of the     
wedge may be  tempered4 ,in ,fig4 #e1 g 
is a spring-latch on the under side of  
the  key1 which catches upon ,d when the

 key is forced in and prevents its      
accidental removal4    ,fig4 #f         
represents a percussion tube or nipple1 
through which the fire  from the        
percussion-cap is to be conducted to the
 chamber4 ,fig4 #g  represents the same 
in section4 ,the outer end1 h1 of the   
tube has the  opening made as large as  
convenience will allow1 and it goes     
tapering  or conical until at the inner 
end1 i1 it is as small as a proper      
entrance of the flame from the          
percussion-powder will warrant4 ,by     
giving the conical or funnel-formed     
opening to the tube the effect of  the  
percussion-powder is greatly increased4 
,e1 ,figs4 #a and #h1 is a bolt for     
locking the receiver when a loaded      
chamber is brought to coincide with the 
barrel1 the rounded end j  being forced 
into a hole in the receiver by the      
action of a spring on  its outer end k4 
,this bolt is drawn back by the hammer  
,f in the act  of cocking4    l1 ,figs4 
#a and #i1 is a spring-cam1 which is    

screwed to the hammer at  m4 ,it is made
 of spring-steel1 so that its cam end n 
may recede  from or approach the hammer 
,f4 ,the cam n bears against the        
projection  o on the bolt ,e on the side
 which lies against the hammer1 and as  
the  hammer is drawn back causes the    
bolt to recede4 ,the bolt is notched to 
enable it to be withdrawn without       
interfering with the joint-pin q of  the
 hammer4 ,the lateral springing of the  
cam-piece l is necessary to  admit of   
its passing by the projection o of the  
bolt when the hammer  is made to strike 
upon a percussion-cap4 ,to enable the   
spring-cam  to pass the bolt ,e1 the    
lower end of it1 n1 is made             
wedge-shaped1  diminishing to a point or
 edge at its extremity1 and as it is    
made to  spring laterally it is received
 into a recess in the hammer as the     
latter passes the bolt in making the    
discharge4    ,fig4 #aj shows the       
ratchet-wheel and hand or pawl by which 
the receiver  is made to revolve to the 

distance from one chamber to another in 
the  act of cocking4 ,the cylindrical   
periphery q of the ratchet-wheel  fits  
into a corresponding cavity on the back 
end of the receiver1 as  shown at q q1  
,fig4 #a4 r is a projection to prevent  
its turning  round1 this being adapted  
to a notch made to receive it4 ,s is a  
hand  or pawl1 which falls into the     
teeth of the ratchet-wheel1 said pawl   
being forced forward by the spring ,s4  
,the arbor t on which the hand  turns is
 received into the opening t4 ,in the   
hammer1 ,fig4 #a1 the hand  itself being
 on the opposite side of said hammer    
from that shown1 its  position is shown 
by the dotted lines surrounding its     
arbor t4 ,the  cocking of the gun causes
 it to act upon the ratchet-wheel1 and  
when  turned to the proper distance the 
bolt ,e is forced by its spring into    
the proper opening in the receiver4 ,the
 mainspring is connected to the         
lock-plate at u1 and to the hammer by a 
stirrup at ,v4 ,the trigger  is shown at

 w4 ,these parts1 not differing in their
 construction and  operation from       
analogous parts in other gun-locks1 need
 no particular  description1 and from   
the description above given of the      
structure and  operation of those parts 
of the rifle or gun which are new1 the  
action  of the whole will1 it is        
believed1 be clearly understood4        
,fig4 #aa is a sectional view of a      
pistol1 the general construction of     
which is the same with that of the rifle
 or gun already described1 such         
modifications only being made as are    
rendered necessary by its size  and     
other considerations4 ,f is the hammer  
carrying the hand or pawl ,s1  which    
operates on the ratchet-wheel1 which    
wheel and hand are arranged  in the same
 way with the same parts in the rifle2  
but the hand is as  here represented on 
the reverse side4 ,the bolt which holds 
the receiver  is1 however1 differently  
constructed to enable it to act in the  
space  which it must occupy4    ,fig4   

#ab is a view of the hammer on the side 
the reverse of that shown  in ,fig4 #aa2
 and ,e1 ,fig4 #ac1 is the bolt adapted 
thereto4 j is the  pin on the bolt1     
which holds the receiver by falling into
 openings on  its periphery instead of  
in its end4 ,the pin j is shown in place
 in  ,fig4 #aa4 ,the bolt ,e vibrates on
 a joint-pin at x1 which is nearly  in  
the same line with the joint-pin y on   
the trigger1 ,figs4 #aa and  #ae1 by    
which it is hidden in those figures4 z  
is a cam formed in a  recess in the     
hammer1 ,fig4 #ab1 which cam is to act  
upon the bolt ,e and  to disengage it   
from the receiver4 ,the ends a a#b of   
this bolt  are capable of receding from 
or approaching toward each other1 as    
they  constitute two spring-cheeks      
formed by splitting or forking the      
bolts1  as shown in the drawings4 ,the  
end a#b lies above the cam z on the     
hammer when the pistol is not cocked1   
and the lower end of a#b1  as well as   
the upper end of z1 being flat1 the bolt

 ,e is lifted in  the act of cocking    
until the pin j is disengaged1 and the  
ends of  a#b and z then pass each other4
 ,the cam z is made wedge shape  by     
sloping from its upper to its lower end1
 and the end a#b of the  bolt is        
similarly formed1 but in the reverse    
direction1 so that when  the piece is   
discharged the end a#b will be made to  
spring in1  allowing the hammer to pass 
readily1 when the end a#b again rests   
upon z as before4    ,fig4 #ad shows the
 hammer with the hand ,s and ratchet q1 
which need no  further description4     
,fig4 #ae shows the trigger and its     
appendages1 which are formed in a  way  
not presenting any claim to novelty4 u  
is the attachment of the  mainspring to 
the lock-plate1 and v its attachment to 
the stirrup and  hammer4    ,fig4 #af   
shows the apparatus which ,i employ for 
forcing the balls into  the chambers4   
b#b b#b are two of the chambers1 shown  
in section2  and ,c1 the arbor by which 
the barrel is attached to the stock and 

upon  which the receiver turns1 as      
already explained4 ,g is a lever        
carrying  a rammer1 ,h1 by which the    
balls are to be forced into the         
chambers4  ,the forward end of the lever
 ,h passes into the mortise c#b1 which  
receives the key by which the barrel is 
attached4 ,the operation of the  rammer 
,h upon the ball d will be apparent4 ,in
 using this lever the  receiver is to be
 turned upon the arbor1 and the chambers
 brought in  succession under the       
rammer4 ,this lever1 at its end e1      
constitutes  a wrench for screwing and  
unscrewing the percussion-tubes1 and    
also  contains a picker attached to a   
screw-cap1 f4 ,a fulcrum for the  lever 
,h may be formed on the barrel or       
otherwise1 instead of using the  mortise
 c#b1 if preferred4    ,figs4 #ag and   
#ah are a top and sectional view of my  
improved cap-primer1  which differs in  
some important particulars from the     
,english and other  cap-primers now in  
use4 ,i make a spiral groove1 a a a1 in 

a plate of  brass or other metal1 which 
groove is of such depth and width as to 
receive the percussion-caps1 and to     
allow them to move freely therein4  b b 
b are caps within said groove4 ,in the  
center of the primer1  under the plate c
 c1 is a spiral spring1 d d1 operating  
like the  mainspring of a watch upon its
 barrels and turning the plate c c4     
,this plate has a groove across it which
 carries a sliding arm1 e e1  having    
under its end e a projecting piece which
 enters the groove1  draws the arm out1 
and presses upon the row of caps4 ,at   
the mouth of  the spiral groove1 where  
the the cap b is seen1 a steel spring1  
f1  checks the cap and counteracts the  
pressure of the spiral spring d  d2 but 
when the cap b is placed upon the tube  
or nipple the spring  f will recede by  
the withdrawal of the cap1 and a new one
 will be  made to occupy its place1 and 
so on until the whole are exhausted4    
,the cover g1 which in ,fig4 #ag is     
shown as raised1 is held down by a      

spring-catch at h4 ,there is a          
spring-catch at i1 which holds the      
sliding arm e at its end e1 when it is  
brought round to the inner  end of the  
spiral groove1 its use being to detain  
the arm while the  groove is being      
filled with caps1 when it is to be      
raised1 and the  arm left at liberty to 
operate4 ,the spring d d may be wound up
 by a  small key1 k1 or by inserting a  
screw driver in a notch made for that   
purpose1 or simply by forcing the arm e 
e round until it is caught by  the catch
 i4    ,fig4 #ai is a representation of 
my ammunition-flask1 by means of which  
all the chambers in my receiver may be  
simultaneously charged with  powder and 
with balls4 ,it consists of two separate
 chambers1 one of  which is a powder and
 the other a bullet magazine1 a being   
the former  and b the latter1 the two   
being connected together by a           
bayonet-joint  at c4 d d d are          
charging-tubes adapted in number and    
position to  the mouths of the chambers 

of the receiver which they are to enter4
    ,fig4 #ba shows the closed top of   
the powder-magazine1 with a valve or    
turn cover1 e1 which closes a hole      
through which the magazine is to  be    
filled4 ,this magazine occupies the     
space from f to g1 ,fig4 #ai1  where the
 powder is contained in bulk4 ,the space
 from g to h is a  receptacle which is  
divided by partitions into separate     
chambers1 the  same in number with the  
tubes d d1 each of which chambers       
contains  the quantity of powder        
required for the charge of a single     
chamber1  i i is the rim of this        
chambered receptacle1 which is capable  
of  being turned round to a short       
distance by the thumb and finger for    
the purpose of charging the chambers    
with powder4 ,this turning round  brings
 openings u u1 ,fig4 #bj1 in the lower  
end of the chambered box  to coincide   
with the openings in the tubes d d1 so  
that the powder  contained in the       
chambers in i i may pass out therefrom  

into the  chambers of the receiver4     
,there are openings also in the upper   
plate or  top of the receptacle i i     
corresponding with openings in the      
bottom  of the magazine a1 which are    
closed by turning the rim i i1 so as  to
 prevent powder from falling through    
from the magazine while the  receiver is
 being filled4    ,fig4 #bg is a section
 through the middle of the chambered    
receptacle  i i1 the circles r r        
representing the chambers for containing
 the  powder4 s s are the openings in   
the top plate of these chambers1        
through which the powder is admitted    
into them from the magazine a4  ,the    
dotted lines t t show the plan of the   
openings in the bottom  plate of the    
chamber a1 the chambered receiver being 
shown in the  position in which those   
openings are covered4    ,in ,fig4 #bh  
the same parts are represented2 but the 
chambered receiver  is supposed to be   
turned round or standing in its ordinary
 position1  so that the openings ,s ,s  

and t t coincide4 ,the chambered        
receptacle  is restored to its place by 
means of a spring of any suitable form4 
,the whole operation of this part will  
be more clearly made known by  the      
sectional representation of the magazine
 for balls1 which ,i am now  about to   
describe4    ,the end of the flask1     
,fig4 #ai1 is1 ,i have said1 the        
magazine for  balls4 ,fig4 #bb is an end
 view of this magazine1 and ,fig4 #bc a 
section  along its axis4 ,the portion   
from f to j1 ,figs4 #ai1 #bc1 and #bd1  
is  divided into as many tubular        
chambers as there are chambers in the   
receiver--say five4 ,these are open at  
top and are to be filled with  balls1 as
 shown at k k in the section ,fig4 #bc4 
,these tubes are also  open at their    
lower ends1 so that the balls may pass  
from them into a  chambered receptacle1 
l l1 similar to that for the powder4    
,from this  chambered receptacle they   
are to fall into the chambers of the    
receiver  when the lower end of the     

flask1 ,fig4 #bb1 is applied thereto for
 that  purpose1 the openings m m in the 
lower end of the flask being adapted    
thereto4 ,the rim of the chambered      
receiver l l is to be turned round  to  
allow the balls to escape through m m1  
as already described in the  charging   
with powder4 ,in ,fig4 #bb1 n n are the 
divisions between the  chambers of the  
chambered receiver1 and which retain one
 set or tier  of balls until the rim is 
turned around so as to cause the        
chambers to  coincide with the openings 
m m4 ,the balls will then pass through4 
,the  same motion of the chambered      
receiver causes the divisions between   
the  tubes and the chambered receiver to
 pass under and sustain the balls  in   
the magazine4 ,in the case of the       
powder-magazine the action is the  same2
 but the powder being in fine particles1
 the apertures at one end  of the       
receptacles must be perfectly closed    
before those at the other  begin to be  
opened1 which is not necessary with the 

balls4 ,in ,fig4 #bd  a portion of the  
exterior of the magazine is removed to  
show how a  spring1 o o1 may be placed  
within it so as to act upon l l2 but    
spiral or other springs may be placed in
 many ways to answer the same  purpose4 
,the central part of both the magazines 
is tubular1 as shown at  p p1 said tube 
fitting onto the arbor ,c1 ,fig4 #af1   
when the barrel is  removed therefrom1  
and the receiver left on for the purpose
 of being  charged1 which operation does
 not require to be further explained4   
,upon  the barrel of this tubular part  
the chambered receptacles are received  
and revolve4    ,figs4 #be and #bf      
represent a top view and a side view of 
a part of an  improved bullet-mold1     
which ,i describe without intending to  
make any  claim thereto1 but merely for 
the purpose of showing the whole of the 
apparatus employed in a complete and    
connected series4 a a are the  two      
handles of the mold1 and b the handle of
 the knife by which the  sprue is cut   

off4 c is one-half of the mold1 of which
 d d is the  hinge-joint4 e is a plate  
of steel1 through which there is a hole1
  f1 for pouring in the lead1 the lower 
edges of which constitute a  knife by   
which the sprue is cut off and the ball 
left perfect4 ,this  knife turns on the 
joint-pin g4    ,having thus fully      
described the manner in which ,i        
construct and use  my improved          
fire-arms1 and the respective articles  
of apparatus  appertaining thereto1 it  
has been necessary in so doing to       
mention many  parts which ,i do not     
claim as new1 the same being similar to 
what has  been before used and patented 
by me1 or which are common property4 ,i 
do hereby declare1 therefore1 that ,i   
limit my claim to the following         
particulars4    ,i claim--    #a4 ,the  
making of a groove or channel on the    
arbor1 as represented at  b1 ,fig4 #b1  
for the purpose of conducting off the   
smoke from the  lateral discharge1 and  
thus preserving the arbor clean within  

the  receiver1 and the tube by which the
 barrel is connected4    #b4 ,the       
particular manner of forming and        
governing the key by which  the barrel  
is attached to the stock by making the  
same with grooves  in which the heads of
 overlapping screw-heads are received1  
and with  a tempering-screw to check and
 regulate its action as a wedge1 as set 
forth4    #c4 ,the making the aperture  
through the tubes or nipples 7which     
receive  the percussion-caps7 conical or
 funnel-shaped1 for the purpose of      
freely admitting the fire from the      
percussion-cap and concentrating it  as 
it enters the chamber4    #d4 ,the      
manner of arranging the bolt ,e of the  
rifle and its spring  cam l n for       
locking and unlocking the receiver1 the 
same being  constructed and operating as
 herein described4    #e4 ,the manner of
 constructing and arranging the bolt ,e 
and its  spring-cam1 operated upon by   
the cam or projecting piece z under that
  modification thereof adopted in the   

pistol1 and herein fully made known4    
#f4 ,the improved manner of arranging   
the ratchet-wheel and band1 as  set     
forth1 by which the hinge-joint to allow
 of the lateral motion of  this band1 as
 described by me in my former patent1 is
 dispensed with  in consequence of the  
placing of the ratchet-teeth on the face
 instead  of on the side of the wheel1  
and operating the same in the manner    
described1 as applied to the rifle and  
to the pistol4    #g4 ,the combination  
of the lever with its rammer for forcing
 the balls  into the chambers of the    
receiver1 as described4    #h4 ,in the  
improved cap-primer1 the making thereof 
with a spiral groove  to receive the    
caps1 and with the sliding arm acted    
upon by the spiral  spring elongating   
itself and forcing the percussion-caps  
forward in the  manner set forth4    #i4
 ,the manner of constructing and        
arranging the respective parts of  the  
magazines for powder and balls1 in the  
flask1 by means of which  the powder and

 the balls are in turn supplied to all  
the chambers in  the receiver at the    
same time1 the whole being made with the
 chambered  receptacles and other parts1
 as set forth4                          
,,saml4 ,,colt4        ,witnesses3      
,,thos4 ,b4 ,,jones1          ,,george  
,,west4      ,disclaimer forming part of
 ,letters ,patent ,no4 #a1cjd1 dated    
,august #bi1  #ahci4    ,to the         
,honorable ,commissioner of ,patents3   
,the petition of ,,samuel ,,colt1 of    
,hartford1 in the ,state of             
,connecticut1  respectfully represents  
that he is the sole patentee and owner  
of  ,letters ,patent granted to him on  
the #bith day of ,august1 #ahci1 for an 
improvement in fire-arms and in the     
apparatus used therewith2 that  he has  
reason to believe that through          
inadvertence and mistake the  claim made
 in the specification of said ,letters  
,patent is too broad1  including that of
 which the said patentee was not the    
first inventor1  although he avers that 

he was an original inventor thereof1 and
 had no  knowledge when he applied for  
,letters ,patent therefor that any other
  person had ever used the said         
improvement before that time4    ,your  
petitioner therefore hereby enters his  
disclaimer to that part  of the claim in
 the before-mentioned specification     
which is in the  following words1 viz3  
8,i claim making the aperture through   
the tubes or nipples 7which  receive the
 percussion-caps7 conical or funnel     
shaped1 for the purpose  of freely      
admitting the fire from the             
percussion-cap and concentrating  it as 
it enters the chamber10 which disclaimer
 is to operate to  the extent of the    
interest in said ,letters ,patent vested
 in your  petitioner1 the same being the
 whole right1 title1 and interest       
thereby  granted to him1 as aforesaid1  
he having paid ten dollars into the     
,treasury of the ,united ,states        
agreeably to the provisions of the act  
of  ,congress in that case made and     

provided4    ,dated at ,hartford this   
#eth day of ,august1 ,a4 ,d4 #ahec4     
,,sam4 ,,colt4        ,in presence of-- 
,l4 ,p4 ,,sargeant4           99        
99       99       99       99           
,transcriber's ,notes3    ,page #a1     
8delare0 changed to 8declare0 7,i do    
hereby declare7    ,page #a1 8guus0     
changed to 8guns0 7guns1 and pistols7   
,page #c1 8repreresenting0 changed to   
8representing0 7the circles r r         
representing7