I am curious as to when the two-diameter patent breech came into use. It seems logical that this is much more appropriate to percussion arms, inasmuch as the closer the main charge is to the touchhole in a flinter, the better the ignition, while many percussion arms had somewhat torturous passages from nipple to charge, and therefore might benefit from a small chamber very close to the nipple. Appreciate commentary from the historical experts, Thanks, ron in FL
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patent breech question
- Thread starter ronrryan
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The Patent Breech was invented by Henry Nock in 1787. This predates the Cap Lock by at least 30 years.
You are correct about the need to have the powder close to the outside of the barrel, and to accomplish this, the original Patent Breech had a cross drilled hole which was sealed with a vent liner similar to the ones we use today in our Flintlocks.
I believe it was John Manton who came up with a very similar breech, sometimes called the "English Breech" which did not violate Nocks Patent and this style of breech is closer (but not the same) to what we mistakenly call a Patent Breech that is used in Caplock rifles.
zonie
You are correct about the need to have the powder close to the outside of the barrel, and to accomplish this, the original Patent Breech had a cross drilled hole which was sealed with a vent liner similar to the ones we use today in our Flintlocks.
I believe it was John Manton who came up with a very similar breech, sometimes called the "English Breech" which did not violate Nocks Patent and this style of breech is closer (but not the same) to what we mistakenly call a Patent Breech that is used in Caplock rifles.
zonie
A patent breech is about the internal design, not the external design...or whether it's a caplock or flintlock...it's about the internal size & shape of powder chambers to enhance ignition...TC introduced a modified version of Nock's patent breech when the US began making mass produced MLs.
Roundball: Thanks for saving me the trouble of finding the crossections!
The "Chambered Breech" on the left is what the modern guns breeches look like, even though they call it a "Patent Breech".
Remembering that when Nock's Patent Breech was invented, most of the flintlocks relied on the ignition coming in from the side of the powder charge and it burning from that point.
The idea behind both of these special breeches is the smaller powder chamber sends a blast of fire into the main powder charge. Kind of a "Flame Thrower" ignition system.
zonie
The "Chambered Breech" on the left is what the modern guns breeches look like, even though they call it a "Patent Breech".
Remembering that when Nock's Patent Breech was invented, most of the flintlocks relied on the ignition coming in from the side of the powder charge and it burning from that point.
The idea behind both of these special breeches is the smaller powder chamber sends a blast of fire into the main powder charge. Kind of a "Flame Thrower" ignition system.
zonie
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