Instructions for Mounting, Using, and Caring for 4. 72 Inch Gun, Armstrong 40 Caliber, Mounted on Barbette Carriage, Armstrong

Excerpt from Instructions for Mounting, Using, and Caring for 4. 72 Inch Gun, Armstrong 40 Caliber, Mounted on Barbette Carriage, Armstrong: October 28, 1904

It is impossible to fire the gun until the breech is completely locked; this is insured by means of a safety gear, consisting of a safety lever, F, pivoted to the block carrier P. The safety lever engages a lug, R, on the rear end of the firing pin, and is actuated by a plunger, S. The safety lever prevents the firing pin from touching the primer while the operating lever L is in the unlocked position.

The firing pin is secured in the carrier by the retaining nut K, and can be readily removed by slightly withdrawing it and turning the nut a quarter of a turn.

To assemble the firing pin it is pushed into its place and the retaining nut turned to the right or left.

The upper end of the spindle F 2 is held in place by a screw counter sunk ih a housing, H The spindle with its torsional spring and spline key locks the operating handle when closed, and should the spline key be broken it will interfere only with this function but in no way affect the safety features of the mechanism) The safety lever F which engages behind the retracting toe R, mounted on the rear end of the firing pin, is fulcrumed at its outer end to the block carrier P at a point, F1. The safety lever controls the motion of the firing pin during the opening and closing of the block, and is operated by the intermediate safety-lever plunger S, which passes through a hole in the block carrier and rests against the rear face of the breechblock. In Opening the block the safety plunger is forced outward and to the rear by the screw motion of the block; it slowly forces out the safety lever, at the same time retracting the firing pin. The safety-lever plunger is made adjustable in length to provide for wear and control of the movement of the firing pin.

This adjustment is to be so made and maintained that in closing the block the firing pin will begin to protrude from the face of the block when the Operating lever is closed to a position about 1 to 5' inches short of that where the toe of the spindle F 3 enters its groove in the operating lever.

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