Patent GB-581820-A (GB)
Title: A new or improved folding and telescoping firearm
IPC: F41C23/04
Filed: 1944-03-13
Abstract: 581,820. Folding smallarms. PATCHETT, G. W., and STERLING ENGINEERING CO., Ltd. March 13, 1944, No. 4640. [Class 119] A folding and collapsable automatic firearm comprises two tubular telescoping members, one carrying the forestock and trigger mechanism and the other the bolt and associated mechanism, and a collapsable butt which folds along the top of the firearm when not in use. A bayonet hinged to the gun muzzle folds under the barrel when not in use. Fig. 1 shows the weapon completely extended and ready for firing, Fig. 3 the weapon when folded, except for the bayonet. The outer tubular member 1 perforated at 3 for barrel cooling, carries a nose ring C on which is mounted the barrel 4, and a clip D to which is hinged the bayonet F by the pin 70. At its rear end, the member 1 carries the handstock A and all the trigger mechanism, which is similar to that described in Specification 559,469 in which the cam 31 can be set by an external lever to automatic fire, singleshot fire, or safe, when the sear is locked in the position shown. The inner tubular member 2 carries a flanged collar 14 which when the gun is extended, slides over the reinforced portion 15 of the barrel and limits the extension by butting against the flange 15a. The gun is locked in its telescoped position by the sear 23 engaging the slot 42 in the member 2 and the depression 46 in the breech-block 16, through the slot 40 in the member 1. On resetting the cam 31 and pulling the trigger, the sear is withdrawn and the gun automatically extended by the recoil spring 18 acting on the inner tubular member 2 through the end cap 11 which is attached by a bayonet joint. The gun may then be locked in this position by inserting the magazine G into its holder 21 formed on the member 1, the sides of the magazine case closely engaging the opening 2a formed in the member 2 which coincides with the holder 21 when the gun is in the extended position. The magazine is locked in the usual way by a catch 49. Relative angular movement of the members 1 and 2 when folded is prevented by slots 9, 9a engaged by the cocking lever 10. The collapsable butt E, which is substantially the same as that described in Specification 566,875 is hinged to the rear of the inner tubular member 2 by the bifurcated arms of the main butt member 51 and pins 13. To fold the butt, the butt plate 62 is disengaged from the member 51, the lower arm 57 nested within the upper, 51, thereby disengaging the terminal 58 from the shoulder 59 formed on the end cap 11, and the plate 62, hinging about the pin 63, folded down on top of the member 51, the spring-loaded button 65 thereby being caused to protrude through the butt plate. Sufficient play is allowed in the bayonet joint on the cap 11 to allow it to be pushed in slightly to disengage the catch 52 from the slot 53 and the folded butt can then be pivoted about the pins 13 to lie along the top of the gun, the button 65 being caused to enter the enlarged portion 6 of the slot 5 formed in the upper side of the member 1 by partially telescoping the gun after withdrawing the magazine and disengaging the sear from the slots 40, 41. On completing the telescoping, the button 65 travels to the forward end of the slot 5, holding the folded butt securely to the top of the gun. The bayonet F is held in operative position by a spring-loaded plunger 72, Fig. 5, mounted in the bayonet shoulder engaging a hole 74 formed in the nose ring C. The plunger may be withdrawn by the knob 73 and the bayonet folded underneath the barrel where the point enters a sheath and a clip 76 engages the grooves 75 formed in its sides. Minor modifications are described comprising an auxiliary catch mounted on the magazine holder 21 to lock the gun in extended position before the magazine is inserted, and an additional catch on top of the gun to hold the butt folded when the gun is extended, the butt not being required, the enlarged part 6 of the slot 5 being extended to the rear of the slot to permit withdrawal of the button 65 without partially telescoping the gun, when it is again desired to use the butt.