Year: 1897

page_text: I, MATTHEW MULLINEUX, of 17 Maple Street, Cheetham, Manchester, Insurance
Inspector do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to means for adapting miniature ammunition or practice
cartridges to fire-arms chambered for a larger cartridge, as described by me in Letters
Patent No. 10,026 of 1896.
My present improvement consists of a simple and effective means of retaining the
adaptor in the chamber when using the miniature ammunition, and of facilitating
the extraction of the adaptor, when desired, with special reference to rifles similar in
construction to the Lee-Metford Rifle.
In the specification of Letters Patent No. 10,026 of 1896 I describe (page 2,
lines 22 to 25) an adaptor for use in rifles having a spring extractor, a portion of the
base of which is cut away to allow the extractor to reach the rim of the miniature
cartridge. In addition to the portion of the base thus cut away, I make a further
cut into the circumference of the base of the adaptor to correspond with the
ventilating hole on the left-hand side of the breech of a Lee-Metford rifle, I then
place a key or locking pin into the ventilating hole from the outside, the point of
which enters the cut in the base of the adaptor and holds it securely in the chamber
while the extractor is operated.
The pin may be of any suitable shape, provided the end be made flush with the
base of the adaptor, and it may be split or curved to form a spring for the purpose
of retaining it in position. A separate spring clip or elastic band placed round the
rifle stock, may, if preferred, be used for this purpose.
The base of the adaptor may be drilled and tapped, and the end of the pin made to
screw in, as an alternative means of fixing; or where there is sufficient room in the
breech I may attach a lug to the base of the adaptor, extending outwards slightly, to
clear the bolt, and rearwards, for the purpose of receiving the spring or screw pin.
Where there is no ventilating hole a metal plate or loose breech block may be
fitted to the breech or attached to the magazine "cut off," one end extending to, and
fitting the aperture cut into the circumference of the base of the adaptor, and acting
in the same manner as the key or pin above described.
Dated this 15th day of February 1897.

page_text: Improvements in Miniature Ammunition or Practice Cartridges.
I, MATTHEW MULLINEUX, of 17 Maple Street, Cheetham, Manchester, in the County
of Lancaster, Insurance Inspector do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:—
This invention relates to means for adapting miniature or practice cartridges to 5
fire-arms chambered for a larger cartridge as described by me in Letters Patent
No. 10026 of 1896; and my present improvement consists of a means of retaining the
Adaptor in the chamber when using the miniature ammunition, and of facilitating
the extraction thereof when desired, with special reference to rifles similar in
construction to the Lee-Metford rifle.
I construct my adaptor in the manner described by me on page 2 lines 7 to 26, and
illustrated at Fig. 6 in Specification to Letters Patent No. 10026-1896, and I
retain it in the chamber during the manipulation of the rifle in the use of miniature
ammunition by four several methods viz:-(1). By inserting a spring locking key,
from the outside, through the ventilating hole in the left-hand side of the breech of 1
a Lee-Metford rifle (the rifle being held in position for firing) which extends into the
rim of the adaptor, the latter being recessed to receive the end of the same.
(2). By inserting in the ventilating hole from the inside of the Breech, a locking-
key which is held in position by a nut on the outside, or other suitable means.
1
(3). By providing the adaptor with a lug which will spring into the ventilating 2
hole when the adaptor is placed in the chamber.
(4). By a breech-plate which fixes to the top of the magazine, the forward end of
which is provided with a lip or small projection to fit a recess provided in the rim
of the adaptor.
The locking key may be constructed of wire to form a spring as shown at Fig. 2, or 2
a flat piece of metal as at Fig. 1; or it may be of any other shape.
The breech plate may be made of strip steel and shaped as shown at Fig. 4, to
clear the movement of the bolt. I do not, however, confine myself to this particular
shape, but may use any other suitable form.
apply the methods above described in the following manner, viz. :-(1). I place 3
the adaptor B (Fig. 7) in the chamber of the rifle; and through the ventilating hole E,
I insert the locking-key A (first pressing the ends together) which will, when pushed
home, protrude beyond the circumference of the base of the adaptor, and thus
prevent its extraction from the chamber without first removing the locking-key.
(2). The locking-key A2 (Fig. 9) is inserted in the vent hole from the inside of the a
breech, after placing the adaptor B in the chamber, and it is held in position by a
small nut on the outside. It may if desired be in the form shown at Fig. 2, the bow
part being reduced to a suitable size and shape.
(3). The spring lug A³ (Fig. 10) is attached to the base of the adaptor B, a slight
lateral movement being provided for. The adaptor being placed in the chamber, the 4
lug As will spring into the vent hole, and hold the adaptor securely during the
manipulation of the rifle. It can be extracted by placing the end of a hooked wire
into a hole provided in the adaptor and drawing it out, at the same time pressing a
pin into the vent hole to release the lug.
(4). After fixing adaptor in chamber I place a plate of metal A¹ (Figs. 4 and 5) in s
the breech (first drawing out the "cut-off” K) the projection F being placed in a
recess in the base of the adaptor provided for the purpose. The hooked end G fixes
over the top of the magazine H (Fig. 6) and below the "cut off"; the latter being
then closed the whole will be held securely in position.

page_text: In the accompanying drawings
Figs. 1, 2, and 11 represent the various forms of locking-key used for my invention
Fig. 3 is a side view of Fig. 2.
Figs. 4 and 5 are section and plan respectively of breech plate.
Fig. 6 is a sectional view showing breech plate fixed.
Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section through the line x y (Fig. 8).
Figs. 8 and 9 are sectional views showing locking-keys fixed.
Fig. 10 is a sectional view of adaptor showing lug attachment.
Having now particularly described my said invention, and in what manner the
ame is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is-
(1). A spring pin or locking-key constructed of wire or flat metal to form a spring,
o be inserted in the vent hole of a Lee-Metford or other rifle from the outside, in
combination with a breech adaptor, for the purpose of retaining the latter in the
chamber during the manipulation of the rifle for the use of miniature ammunition,
substantially as hereinbefore described. .
(2). A pin or locking-key to be inserted in the vent hole of a rifle from the inside
of the breech in combination with a breech adaptor for the same purpose.
(3). A spring lug attached to a breech adaptor so as to fall into the vent hole of a
Lee-Metford or other rifle when the adaptor is placed in the chamber of the rifle, for
he same purpose.
(4). A flat metal plate to be placed in the breech of a Lee-Metford or other rifle in
combination with a breech adaptor for the same purpose substantially as herein before
described.
Dated thin and day of November 1907
MATTHEW MULLINEUX,
Applicant.