with the hand S and ratchet q, which need no further description.

Fig. 15 shows the trigger and its appendages, which are formed in a way not presenting any claim to novelty. u is the attachment of the mainspring to the lock-plate, and v its attachment to the stirrup and hammer.

Fig. 16 shows the apparatus which I employ for forcing the balls into the chambers. b² b² are two of the chambers, shown in section; and C, the arbor by which the barrel is attached to the stock and upon which the receiver turns, as already explained. G is a lever carrying a rammer, H, by which the balls are to be forced into the chambers. The forward end of the lever H passes into the mortise c², which receives the key by which the barrel is attached. The operation of the rammer H upon the ball d′ will be apparent. In using this lever the receiver is to be turned upon the arbor, and the chambers brought in succession under the rammer. This lever, at its end e′, constitutes a wrench for screwing and unscrewing the percussion-tubes, and also contains a picker attached to a screw-cap, f′. A fulcrum for the lever H may be formed on the barrel or otherwise, instead of using the mortise c², if preferred.

Figs. 17 and 18 are a top and sectional view of my improved cap-primer, which differs in some important particulars from the English and other cap-primers now in use. I make a spiral groove, a a a, in a plate of brass or other metal, which groove is of such depth and width as to receive the percussion-caps, and to allow them to move freely therein. b b b are caps within said groove. In the center of the primer, under the plate c c, is a spiral spring, d d, operating like the mainspring of a watch upon its barrels and turning the plate c c. This plate has a groove across it which carries a sliding arm, e e′, having under its end e′ a projecting piece which enters the groove, draws the arm out, and presses upon the row of caps. At the mouth of the spiral groove, where the the cap b′ is seen, a steel spring, f, checks the cap and counteracts the pressure of the spiral spring d d; but when the cap b′ is placed upon the tube or nipple the spring f will recede by the withdrawal of the cap, and a new one will be made to occupy its place, and so on until the whole are exhausted. The cover g, which in Fig. 17 is shown as raised, is held down by a spring-catch at h. There is a spring-catch at i, which holds the sliding arm e at its end e′, when it is brought round to the inner end of the spiral groove, its use being to detain the arm while the groove is being filled with caps, when it is to be raised, and the arm left at liberty to operate. The spring d d may be wound up by a small key, k, or by inserting a screw driver in a notch made for that purpose, or simply by forcing the arm e e round until it is caught by the catch i.

Fig. 19 is a representation of my ammunition-flask, by means of which all the chambers in my receiver may be simultaneously charged with powder and with balls. It consists of two separate chambers, one of which is a powder and the other a bullet magazine, a being the former and b the latter, the two being connected together by a bayonet-joint at c. d d d are charging-tubes adapted in number and position to the mouths of the chambers of the receiver which they are to enter.

Fig. 21 shows the closed top of the powder-magazine, with a valve or turn cover, e, which closes a hole through which the magazine is to be filled. This magazine occupies the space from f to g, Fig. 19, where the powder is contained in bulk. The space from g to h is a receptacle which is divided by partitions into separate chambers, the same in number