Improvements in Magazine Guns.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Feb., 1893-Accepted, 17th June, 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Magazine Guns.
I, ANDREW HOWLAND RUSSELL, Captain of Ordnance, U.S. Army, War
Department, Washington, D.C., U.S.A. do hereby declare the nature of my inven-
tion for IMPROVEMENTS IN MAGAZINE GUNS, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
Fig. 1 is a broken side elevation and partial section of the breech portion of
the gun
Fig. 2 is a cross section through the magazine.
Fig. 3 is a broken longitudinal section and partial elevation through the
magazine.
Fig. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal section, about in the middle of the bolt, showing
modification of magazine follower.
Fig. 5 shows various details of the bolt attachments, as will be understood by the
reference figures.
Figs. 6 to 9 show enough of the bolt and its locking mechanism to illustrate the
different positions thereof.
Fig. 10 is a perspective view of one form of cartridge clip or casing which may
be used to load the magazine. Fig. 16 is a broken detail section of this clip.
Figs. 11, 15, 17 and 18 illustrate various cartridge holding clips or packages
which may be used with the gun.
Figs. 12 and 13 illustrate diagrammatically a method of loading the magazine, and
Fig. 14 shows one way of withdrawing a cartridge clip.
Figs. 19 and 20 show respectively a broken side elevation and cross section of
magazine slightly modified.
Fig. 1 is a broken side elevation of magazine with movable cartridge stay,
which may be used with or without a clip or packing case.
Fig. 22 is a diagrammatic plan section showing manner of applying clip.
Fig. 23 is a perspective of a double column clip or packing case.
The barrel and stock 2 are of usual construction.
recess 3* or in receiver 4.
The bolt 3 moves in a
The receiver has an abutment 5, against which the bolt is locked when closed by
the brace 6, which brace is pivoted to an extension 7 of the bolt. The handle
is attached to a bar 10, which has preferably a moving relation to the brace 6,
being connected thereto by a slot and pin, or in other suitable manner.
Figs. 4 and 9 show the position of the bolt and its brace in locked position.
Fig. 7 shows the position when the bolt is unlocked, and Fig. 6 the bolt open.
When the bolt is locked as in Figs. 4 and 9, a backward pull on the handle
serves to draw back the handle a little, as shown in Fig. 8, and then to swing the
locking brace 6 away from the abutment 5, and into position parallel with the
bolt, as in Fig. 7. At the same time the projection 11 of the handle bar engages
a hook or shoulder 12 of the firing pin 13, and acts as a wedge to press back the
firing pin. The projection 11 enters behind a shoulder 14 at the rear of the bolt.
The bolt being unlocked by the swinging of brace 6 away from abutment 5, the
first backward movement of the bolt is effected by the end 17 of the brace engaging
a fulcrum 16 in the shoe or receiver, and acting as a lever. As soon as the bolt is
started, it is moved back to open position by a direct-backward pull on handle 9.
The bolt is stopped in its open position, Fig. 6, by any suitable stop, as usual in
bolt guns.

page_text: In closing the bolt, the handle 9 is pressed directly forward. During this move-
ment the handle is held up by the hook 12, which engages in a notch in rear of the
projection 11, on the handle, the hook 12 being attached to the firing pin, and
pressed forward by the firing pin spring. This continues until the bolt is nearly
closed, when the engagement of the trigger with the firing pin stops said pin, and
releases projection 11 of the handle bar. The further forward pressure on the
handle swings the brace 6 into locking position, Fig. 8, and then slides the handle
forward in the brace, bringing the projection 11 under the bolt, and so locking
the brace that it cannot swing up until the handle is drawn back.
It will thus appear that the movement of handle 9 in opening and closing the
bolt is in almost a straight line, there being a little lost motion to said operation.
The handle may be carried to convenient position to be grasped, by a suitable
formation of the handle-bar.
The bolt 3 has a longitudinal passage for the firing pin 13 (see Fig. 4). The
pin 13 has preferably a flat rear portion, and a spindle extending forward. The
point 14 may have longitudinal grooves in the sides and an annular groove near
the point, so that washer 23 may be passed onto the pin and held by a partial
turn, the fins of the washer being guided in grooves in the bolt.
The spring 20 is confined between a sleeve 21, which is held in the bolt by
fork 22, and the front washer 23, which is held by the catch described, or by a
key 15 (Fig. 4).
The fork 22 passes into a mortise in the bolt, and straddles the flat part of the
firing pin. The arm 26 of said fork lies parallel with the outer face of the bolt,
and serves to retain the extractor 27. The sleeve 21 may enter a depression in the
front of said fork, and thus hold the fork in place.
By this connection the parts of the bolt are held together without screws, and
may be taken apart by withdrawing the fork 22. The sleeve 21 may be forced
forward to release the fork when the bolt is taken out, by pressing in the firing pin
from the rear, avoiding all use of tools. Too great forward movement of the
firing pin in firing is prevented by the housing of the bolt, against which the side
projections in the rear end of the firing pin would strike.
The firing pin 13 has a projection 28, with which sear 29 engages to hold the pin
retracted or "cocked." The connection of the sear 29 to trigger 30, and the
necessary spring or springs for the sear and trigger may be made in any usual
manner. Or the trigger may have direct engagement with the firing pin, and lift
above the projection 28 on the pin to release said pin.
The magazine as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 extends below the receiver. One.
side, 33, of the magazine is shown as continuous, but may be skeleton form. The
other side has an open slot, extending from top to bottom of the magazine, being
partially covered by plates 341 and 34, front and rear. The follower 40 is connected
to a lever 41, which is pivoted to a support in front of the magazine, and extends
through a slot in the magazine. The lever is actuated by a spring, in suitable
relation to its fulcrum, to lift the follower 40. In Fig. 3 the lever 41 is shown
pivoted on a pin 43 which extends transversely under the barrel. A second
lever 44, pivoted alongside lever 41, has a projection 45 extending under the end
of lever 41, in front of the pivot. This lever 44 has a finger piece 46, in convenient
position to be grasped by the fingers of the left hand, while this hand is holding
the gun. After the lever 44 has been lifted to throw down the follower and fill the
magazine, it will be thrown down by its spring, and held down by catch 52, so that
the follower will not be accidentally thrown down. Preferably there will be a
little lost movement between levers 41 and 44.
The lifting of finger piece 46 throws down the follower, but when finger piece 46
is depressed (Fig. 3) the follower can rise without moving lever 41.
When a simple lever 41 is used to lift the follower, as in Fig. 4, the outer
end, 46, of this lever will be in position to be grasped by the left hand, to depress
the follower. But as the follower might be moved by the action of the fingers at
such times as to prevent forcing a cartridge from the magazine to load the gun, it

page_text: The
is advisable to guard the end of this lever 46° to prevent such action. A swinging
guard 51 is shown in Fig. 4. The fingers may rest on this guard, until it is desired
to retract the follower, when the guard may be swung out of the way.
guard 51 may have a projection to engage the lever, and lock it either up or down,
but this is not necessary.
The side plate 34 of the magazine does not extend down to the bottom of the
magazine. When the follower is depressed cartridges may be introduced into the
magazine above the follower, and on releasing the follower the cartridges will be
pressed into the magazine. A swinging gate 58 at the mouth of the magazine,
near the receiver, prevents the escape of the top cartridge from the top of the
magazine, and guides it toward the receiver, the side of the cartridge lying against
the bolt when the bolt is closed, and being pressed inward to extend slightly in
front of the end of the bolt when the bolt is drawn back, as usual in this class of
guns. The moving of the cartridge forward by closing the bolt causes it to pass
under the gate 58, and thus into the barrel.
The empty shell is extracted and thrown from the gun in the usual manner.
The magazine can be filled from the top, instead of from the bottom, by pressing
cartridges down outside of the gate 58, said gate swinging inward to allow the
cartridge to pass, and then swinging out over the top of the cartridge. The
gate 58 is held up by a suitable spring, and is held against swinging outwardly,
so far as to pass the cartridge out of the magazine, by a suitable stop.
The preferred way of loading the magazine, however, is by means of a clip or
package, as will be now explained.
As will be seen by Figs. 2, 12, 13, and 14, the position of the magazine with
reference to the receiver may be varied. Thus Fig. 2 shows a section of the gun
with the magazine upright and a little at one side of the vertical axis of the gun
while Fig. 14 shows the magazine arranged centrally, and Figs. 12 and 13 show the
magazine slightly inclined to the perpendicular. These slight changes in the
magazine can be readily understood by the skilled mechanic.
The clip or cartridge holder 60 has ears 61, 61, which turn partly over the
cartridge at top and bottom of the clip, leaving a space sufficient for the follower
to pass through the clip.
This clip with its contained cartridges may be passed in at the top of the
magazine, as in Fig. 12, the gate 58 turning down out of the way. The hand of
the operator then drops below the magazine, and grasping the sides of the clip, as
in Fig. 13, the same is drawn out of the bottom of the magazine, leaving the
cartridges in the magazine, as the follower holds them from withdrawal. The sides
of the clip may be roughened, as at 63, to permit a firm hold of the fingers, and
the sides of the magazine are recessed, as at 65, to permit the fingers to grasp the
clip while in the magazine. The gate 58 operates as usual to prevent the escape
of cartridges from the magazine.
A clip may be made to hold the cartridges inclined, and can be strengthened
against. collapse in the fingers by making the wall a little thicker at the lower
corner. (See Fig. 16.)
Fig. 11 shows a form of clip 67 for cartridges without protecting flanges, which
may be used with my magazine in the manner just described, and Fig. 14 shows
how such a clip can be withdrawn from the bottom of the magazine, instead of
leaving it to drop out after the cartridges have been fired, which is objectionable,
as the clips sometimes become bent, and obstruct the movement of the follower.
The construction shown in Fig. 14, however, does not prevent the use of a clip, if
preferred, which remains in the magazine, as in the German gun, until all the
cartridges have been fired from it.
Fig. 15 shows the plan of a clip 70 with a side projection 71, which projection
may pass through the slot in the side wall of the gun, the operator keeping his
thumb or finger on the projection 71, and entering the clip at the top of and moving
it directly through the magazine and out at the bottom with a continuous
movement, leaving the cartridges behind in the magazine.

page_text: From the foregoing it will be understood that my magazine is really a mere
skeleton, having just enough of inclosing wall to hold the cartridges and guide
them to the receiver where the bolt takes them. The magazine can be loaded
singly from the top or side near the bottom, or from a clip passed into or through
the magazine, or cartridges may be pushed out of an open sided clip, Fig. 17, or
a skeleton clip, Fig. 18, into the top of the magazine; and generally the magazine
can be filled when the bolt is either open or closed.
The open sided or skeleton magazine can be adapted for use, so that it can be
loaded from the side, either by a downward or a downward and forward movement
of the hand. Figs. 19 to 23 illustrate the principal elements of construction
necessary or advisable for such use.
When it is not desirable to feed the clip directly through from top to bottom,
the side of the receiver may be strengthened by a bar, as 70, although this is not
essential except where great strength is needed.
If a long follower lever is used, (Fig. 19) the cartridge follower may be rigid
with the lever. As shown in Fig. 20 the lever may be at the side of the magazine,
and the follower may be carried under the cartridges, and rigidly connected to
lever 41.
A clip 73 carrying a double column of cartridges may be used if desirable. The
general arrangement of cartridges in such a clip is not new. As shown in Fig. 20,
the edges of the clip turn in at the top and bottom to hold the cartridges in
transportation.
The follower 40 preferably projects at the side of the magazine as shown at
Fig. 21, and the clip 73 can be held in the hand and used to push down said
follower until the top of the clip can be entered under the bar 70, when the
follower holds cartridges and clip in place in the magazine until the cartridges are
all withdrawn, when the clip falls out.
In Figs. 21 and 22 the rear side wall 34* is supposed to be slightly yielding, so
that the clip 73, after depressing the follower, may be passed from the side
and rear under the front side wall 34', and pressed over the yielding wall 34*,
and the latter will spring over the rear end of the clip or cartridges. Then if the
clip be withdrawn the cartridges will be retained, or, the clip, if left in the
magazine, will retain and guide the cartridges, and will fall out when empty. By
making either front or rear section of the side wall long enough, the other section
may be omitted. The end wall may then be more yielding.
The follower 40 may be attached to a short follower lever 41, Fig. 21, as well
as to long follower lever 41, as shown an Fig. 3. (on the short lever it may be
either hinged or fixed).
From the foregoing description it will be understood that an important feature of
my invention is a skeleton or open sided magazine. That such a magazine may be
filled from clips of various forms, and that the gun may be used while the cartridges
are in the clip and the clip in the magazine, or the clip can be withdrawn at once,
leaving the cartridges in the magazine. That the magazine may be filled with
loose cartridges from the top or side near the bottom. That the magazine follower
is preferably under control of the left hand, while holding the gun, but can be used
whether the follower is controlled or not. That the bolt is preferably operated by
a movement in line with the barrel, or nearly so; and that, by very slight
alteratious, the magazine may be adapted to many kinds of guns in common use.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. The bolt having locking devices and a handle moving in practically a straight
line, and having the brace engaging the firing pin and bolt in substantially the
manner described.
2. The bolt having the firing pin provided with guiding sleeves and connected
to the bolt without screws in substantially the manner described.

page_text: 3. The follower controlled by the hand of the operator which holds the gun,
and protected against accidental depression by suitable mechanism.
4. The magazine open at one side from top to bottom and the clip or cartridge
holder for use with such magazine.
5. The magazine constructed substantially as described to receive cartridges
either at the top or side near the bottom, or to pass a clip directly through, and
having a suitable follower.
6. The magazine having the cartridge holding gate near the receiver and the
opening near the further end to receive the cartridges, and the follower constructed
substantially as described to advance the cartridges.
7. The novel method of filling the magazine, by passing the cartridge holding
clip in at the side thereof, and withdrawing the clip or not.
8. The novel features of construction of the magazine and the follower, sub-
stantially as described.
9. The novel construction of the magazine adapting it to operate with or without
the cartridge holding clip, and to be loaded from various directions.
10. The novel features of construction embraced in a gun, substantially as shown
and described.
Dated this 6th day of February 1893.
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.