Improvements in Magazine or Repeating Fire-arms.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Mar., 1887
Complete Left, 17th Jan., 1888
Complete Accepted, 2nd Mar., 1888
Improvements in Magazine or Repeating Fire-arms.
I, ARTHUR GREENWOOD of the firm of Greenwood & Batley of Leeds, in the County
of York, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in magazine or repeating fire arms, and
especially to that class of fire arms in which the breech is closed by a longitudinally
sliding bolt.
The chief objects of the said improvements are to facilitate the charging of
the magazine; to provide improved means for enabling the gun to be used either as a
single loader or as a repeater; and, when the magazine is full or partly empty, to
allow the cartridges to be readily removed without the necessity for operating the
breech bolt.
To these ends the said invention comprises improvements hereinafter described.
It also comprises other improvements whereby the breech-bolt is locked and
unlocked and the gun cocked by the simple to-and-fro motion of the same, and
whereby a powerful initial movement can be given to the shell of the discharged
cartridge prior to the extraction of the same.
According to my said invention the magazine comprises a small sheet-metal box,
the shape of which in horizontal section corresponds with that of the cartridges for
which the gun is adapted, and of any desired depth according to the number of
cartridges which it is to contain. This magazine is inserted in an opening in the
bottom of the breech-chamber and opens into the latter at its upper end.
At its
lower end it is closed by a plate which is attached to the stock by hinges or screws, or
by any other suitable means, so that it can be readily removed to enable the internal
mechanism of the magazine to be inspected and cleaned.
When in the magazine, the cartridges rest upon a plate or table which is normally
pressed upwards by means of a spring. The said plate or table is guided in the

page_text: magazine by means of lugs which fit into and slide in correspondingly shaped grooves
formed in the longitudinal sides of the magazine.
The cartridges are introduced into the magazine through the chamber in the breech,
and are retained in the magazine against the pressure of the spring therein by means
of a catch, which normally projects over the uppermost cartridge.
This catch projects through the left side of the magazine, and is secured to the free
end of a spring-bar, so that it normally holds the cartridges.
To enable the gun to be used either as a repeater or as a single loader it is necessary
to provide for automatically moving this catch out of engagement with the cartridges
at each forward movement of the breech-bolt, or for allowing it to remain in its
normal position.
To accomplish this I pivot a small double-armed lever to the said catch, which lever
can be so turned that one arm can be caused to project into the path of the breech-
bolt.
The breech-bolt, which may be of any suitable construction, such as, for example,
similar to the bolts of the Vertelli, Mauser, Gras or Berdan guns, is provided at its
front end with a projection, which, when the arm of the said lever is projecting inwardly
to cable the gun to be used as a repeater, strikes against the same and presses it,
together with the caich, outwardly. The cartridges below the catch are then pressed
upwards by the magazine spring, until the uppermost cartridge comes into contact
with the breech-bolt: When after the discharge of a cartridge the bolt is sufficiently
drawn back, the catch returns to its former position and enters between the two upper-
most cartridges. At the next forward motion of the bolt, the cartridge above the
catch is pushed into the barrel. This operation is repeated at every to-and-fro motion
of the bolt so long as cartridges remain in the magazine.
If the contents of the magazine are not to be used, that is to say, if the gun is to he
used as a single loader although the magazine is full, the said double-armed lever is
turned so that its arm is out of the path of the breech-bolt, which does not then move
the catch. The cartridges to be fired are in this case as in other single loading guns
simply placed in the breech-chamber by hand.
If the double-armed lever hereinbefore described is pulled outwardly the catch is
withdrawn from the interior of the magazine; the spring will then eject the cartridges
remaining in the magazine if the breech is open.
According to a modification of my invention the catch is acted upon through the
medium of a cam-disc.
This cam-disc is located in a suitable recess and is provided with a rearwardly pro-
jecting pin and with a handle.
On the breech-bolt is a projecting tongue, which, when the gun is to be used as a
repeater, strikes the said pin every time the breech-bolt is reciprocated. The cam-disc
is thus turned so that its operating portion acts upon an elevation on the catch-bar.
The catch is consequently moved outwardly so that the cartridges which are in the
magazine can rise. After the tongue on the breech-bolt has passed the pin on the
cam-disc, either towards the front or towards the rear, the said cam-disc, owing to the
pressure of the cartridge catch-spring, is returned into the position it previously
occupied, the catch passing between the cartridges. During this operation, the upper-
most cartridge in the magazine is lifted so far that it can be pushed from the breech-
cylinder into the barrel, whilst the next cartridge is held back by the projecting
catch.
In order to enable the fire-arm to be used as a single loader when the magazine is
wholly or partly charged, the cam-disc is turned by means of the handle so that its
rearwardly extending pin is not acted upon by the tongue of the breech-bolt.
The disc is held in the latter position or in the position for repeating, by a tooth on
the disc, which tooth bears against the catch-bar.
In charging the magazine the cartridges may be inserted singly by hand, but I
prefer to insert the same by means of a cardboard or other case, which is adapted to
contain the required number and to be placed over the mouth of the cartridge
magazine.

page_text: The case I prefer to employ for this purpose is that described in the specification
filed with my application for Letters Patent bearing the same date as the present
application and numbered 4050.
To enable the breech-bolt to be locked and unlocked by the simple forward and
backward motions of the same I provide the following arrangement.
Upon the breech-bolt is mounted a cylindrical nut having two or more lugs at its
forward end, and adapted to enter an aperture of corresponding shape in the breech-
casing and to be turned therein to cause the said lugs to engage with suitable slots in
the said aperture.
At the rear end of the nut are formed spiral grooves or recesses with which corre-
spondingly shaped lugs, attached to or connected with a longitudinally sliding sleeve,
are adapted to engage. This longitudinally sliding sleeve is prevented from rotating,
so that when the said sleeve is moved relatively to the nut the latter will be rotated
upon the breech-bolt.
In opening the breech the said sleeve is drawn backwards by means of a handle
attached thereto. During the first part of the backward motion of the sleeve the nut
is rotated, so that the lugs thereon are moved out of their slots. As the rearward
motion continues the bolt is moved backward together with the nut which is drawn
out of the aperture in the breech-casing.
In order to produce an initial movement of the empty cartridge-shell, prior to the
direct withdrawal of the same when the breech-bolt is drawn back, I form upon the
locking nut hereinbefore described a collar having upon its front side a series of in-
clined planes. Upon the face of the breech-casing, with which the said collar
is in contact when the breech is closed, is formed a corresponding series of inclined
planes.
During the first part of the rearward motion of the said sleeve, while the nut is
being rotated to release its lugs from their slots, these two series of inclined planes
are moved relatively to each other, in consequence of which the said nut together
with the breech-bolt and the extractor are moved slightly rearwardly, thus moving
the cartridge-case a corresponding distance prior to the direct extraction of the same
during the rearward movement of the breech-bolt.
In closing the gun this slight motion is utilized for forcing the cartridge home into
the chamber of the barrel.
The cocking is effected during the closing of the gun, an arm attached to the firing
pin engaging with the trigger-lever and holding the said pin against further forward
movement, so that a spring upon the said pin is compressed.
To prevent the firing pin from being released to fire the gun before the breech is
completely closed I form a projection upon the firing pin. designed to enter a corre-
sponding recess in the rear of the said nut. If the nut is not turned sufficiently to
completely close the breech the said projection will not coincide with its recess, so that
the pin cannot move far enough forward to strike the cartridge.
Dated this 17th day of March 1887.
ARTHUR
GREENWOOD.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: I, ARTHUR GREENWOOD of the firm of Greenwood and Batley of Leeds in the
County of York, Engineer 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:-
My invention relates to magazine or repeating fire-arms in which, the breech is
closed by a longitudinally sliding bolt.
My said invention is designed to provide improved means for enabling the fire-arm
to be used either as a repeater, or as a simple breech-loader or "single loader" while
the magazine is charged or partly charged; to provide for readily removing the
cartridges from the magazine when necessary without repeatedly moving the breech-
holt to and fro; to provide for locking the breech-bolt to the barrel, unlocking it
therefrom and cocking the gun by the simple to-and-fro motion of the operating
handle; and to provide for the application of considerable force for causing an initial
backward movement of the shell of the discharged cartridge, that is to say, for
starting the empty cartridge-shell from the barrel prior to its extraction therefrom by
the backward movement of the breech-bolt.
My said invention, moreover, comprises other improvements hereinafter set
forth.
In the accompanying drawings I have shown how my said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal central section.
Figure 2 a transverse section on the line x, x, Figure 1, and
Figure 3 a plan, showing a portion of a magazine fire-arm constructed according
to the present invention, the parts being shown in Figure 3 so adjusted that the
fire-arm may be used as a repeater.
"
Figure 4 is a plan showing the parts so adjusted that the fire-arm may be used as a
single loader."
Figures 5 to 12 are different views hereinafter described showing details of
construction.
Figure 13 is a side elevation, drawn to a reduced scale, of a portion of the said
fire-arm, showing the manner of introducing the packets of cartridges into the
magazine.
Figure 14 is a plan of a movable plate or follower hereinafter described for
supporting the cartridges in the magazine.
*
single loader."
Figure 15 is a side elevation, partly in vertical longitudinal central section, of my
improved magazine fire-arm, showing a modified form of the device hereinafter
described for enabling it to be used either as a repeater or as a
Figure 16 is a transverse section on the line X, X, Figure 1.1.
Figure 17 is a transverse section on the line Z, Z, Figure 15.

page_text: out of engagement with the cartridges in each forward movement of the breech-
bolt . To accomplish this result a repeater stop i is pivoted at ¹ to the said
cartridge catch or check h. This repeater stop is provided with an arm or lever k
which is fitted on a part of the pivot of the said stop and may be turned by means
of the said stop either into the position shown in full lines in Figure 3 and in dotted
lines in Figure 4 so that it projects into the path of the breech-bolt 1, or into the
position shown in full lines in Figure 4 so that it will not be acted upon by the said
bolt. The said stop is retained at either extremity of its movement by a spring 2
secured by means of a screw to the catch and bearing upon one or other of flat
surfaces on the part of the stop.
This
gun when at either
between which the
turned about half a
The stop i is shown in side elevation in Figure 7 and in plan in Figure 8. The arın
or lever is shown in plan in Figure 9 and in side elevation in Figure 10. And tho
spring is shown in plan in Figure 11 and in side elevation in Figure 12.
spring is arranged to bear against flat surfaces on the stop i.
To permit the stop i to lie closely against the side of the
extremity of its movement, the lever is formed with shoulders
stop has free play or movement, so that the stop i must be
revolution in order to adjust the lever k as, and for the purposes, above specified.
The breech-bolt may be of any suitable construction, similar, for example, to the
breech-bolts of the Vetterli, Mauser, Gras or Berdan rifles. It is provided at its
forward end with a projection m which, when the lever k of the repeater stop i is in
the position shown in full lines in Figure 3, will, in the forward movement of the
said bolt, strike against the said lever k and move it outward together with the
cartridge catch or check h. The cartridges below the catch or check will then be
moved upward by the spring f until the uppermost cartridge comes into contact with
the breech-bolt l.
When, after the discharge of a cartridge, the bolt is drawn back, the lever k and
catch or check return to the position shown in full lines in Figure 3, the said
catch entering between the uppermost cartridge and the cartridge beneath it. In
the next forward movement of the breech-bolt 1, the cartridge above the catch or
check his pushed into the chamber of the barrel C. This operation is repeated in
overy to-and-fro movement of the breech-bolt until all the cartridges in the
magazine a have been discharged.
If the contents of the magazine a are to be kept in reserve, that is to say, if
the fire-arm is to be used as a "single loader" while a supply of cartridges is
contained in the magazine a, the repeater stop is turned so that the lever is
out of the path of the breech-bolt so that the latter will not move the cartridge
catch or check h. Cartridges may then be placed one at a time in the breech-
chamber by hand as in a simple breech-loading rifle.
If the repeater stop i be pulled outward when the breech-bolt is at the rear end of
its stroke or movement, the cartridge catch or check h will be withdrawn from
above the mouth of the magazine a and the spring will then eject the cartridges
remaining in the magazine a.
Figures 15 to 21 illustrate a modification of the present invention in which the
cartridge catch or check his arranged to move obliquely and to be acted upon
through the medium of a cam-disc n. This cam-disc n is secured by means of a
screw n¹ in a suitable recess in the exterior of the shoe or body B, and
with a projecting pin o and with a handle P.
provided
On the breech-bolt is a wedge-shaped tongue or projection which, when the
cam-disc n is in the position shown in Figure 15, will strike the pin c in the two-
and-fro movement of the breech bolt and will thus partially rotate the said cam-disc.
The spring of the catch or check is formed with a projection ², upon which
the can n of the said cam-dise will act when the said disc is partially rotated as
above described, so that the said cam will move the catch downward. The gun
can then be used as a repeater. After the projection on the breech-bolt / has
passed the pin o on the cam disc n, either in the forward or rearward movement of
the said bolt, the said cam-dise n, by reason of the pressure of the spring h³, is

page_text: returned to the position it previously occupied, the cartridge catch or check
passing between the cartridges as herein before described. The uppermost cartridge
in the magazine a is thus raised so far that it can be pushed into the chamber of the
barrel whilst the next succeeding cartridge is held down by the projecting catch or
check h.
To enable the fire-arm to be used as a "single loader" while the magazine is
wholly or partly charged, the cam-disc is turned by means of the handle into
the position indicated by dotted line in Figure 15 so that its pin o will not be acted
upon by the projection of the breech-bolt . The cain-lisen is retained at either
extremity of its movement by the projection y on the said cam-disc which projection
bears against the projection 2 upon the spring .
In charging the magazine a (in either of the guns above described) the cartridges
may be inserted singly by hand, but I prefer to insert the same by means of a card-
board or other box or holder which is adapted to contain the required number of
cartridges and is to be placed over the mouth of the magazine a so that the cartridges
will be transferred from it into the said magazine, as shown in Figure 13.
The box or holder which I prefer to employ for this purpose is that described in the
Specification filed with my application for Letters Patent bearing date the 13th May.
A.D. 1887 No. 7045.
To provide for locking the breech-boit to the shoe or body B and unlocking it.
therefrom by a simple forward or backward motion of the said bolt without turning
the same, a cylindrical locking nut is fitted upon the said bolt so that it can be
rotated thereon, as more clearly shown in Figures 22 to 26. This nut has two or more
wings or lugs s at its forward end adapted to enter recesses of corresponding shape
in the shoe or body B and to be turned therein so that the said lugs engage with
shoulders B' on the said shoe or body.
At the rear end of this cylindrical locking nut rare formed spiral or helical, grooves
or recesses with which are adapted to engage correspondingly shaped lugs or projec-
tions attached to or forming part of a longitudinally sliding sleeve v. This longitu-
dinally sliding sleeve e is firmly connected with the breech-bolt 7 and is prevented from
rotating by means of the projection 2 sliding in a suitable groove in a rearward
extension B of the shoe or body B. When the said sleeve » is moved end wise
relatively to the cylindrical locking nut r, the latter will be rotated upon the breech-
bolt 1.
t'
In opening the breech, the said sleeve is drawn backward by means of a handle v
attached thereto. During the first part of the backward motion of the said sleeve,
the locking nutris rotated so that its lugs s are moved out of engagement with the
shoulders B. As the rearward motion of the sleeve » continues, the breech-bolt is
moved backward together with the locking nut r.
In order to produce an initial movement or starting of the empty cartridge-shell
from the barrel prior to the extraction of the same when the breech-bolt is drawn
back, I form upon the locking nut r a collar or flange w having upon its forward side
a series of inclined or helical surfaces . Upon the face of the shoe or body B with
which the said collar w is in contact when the breech is closed, and on the rear of
the lugs s are formed corresponding inclined or helical surfaces."
During the first part of the rearward motion of the sleeve while the locking nutr
is being rotated to release its lugs s from the shoulders B', the series of inclined
planes is moved relatively to inclined planes on the shoe or body B, so that the
locking nut together with the breech-bolt I and the extractor y are moved a short
distance backward, thus moving the cartridge shell a corresponding distance prior to
the direct extraction of the same during the rearward movement of the breech-
bolt 1.
In closing the fire-arn this slight motion and wedge-like action are utilized for
forcing the cartridge home into the chamber b¹ of the barrel C.
To provide for the cocking of the gun during the forward movement of the breech-
bolt, an arm y' is formed on, or attached to the firing pin y² and is adapted to depress

page_text: and slide over a trigger-lever in the backward movement of the breech-bolt and to
engage with the said trigger-lever in the forward movement of the breech-bolt and
hold the firing pin y² against further forward movement, so that the spring z¹ for
actuating the said pin will be compressed.
To prevent rotation of the locking nut before its projections s have entered the
recesses in the shoe or body B, the collar w is provided with suitable projections or
lugs w, w. The lug w¹ slides in the groove and thus prevents the said locking
nut from turning until the said lug w reaches the lateral slot v.
I
To prevent the action of the firing pin before the breech is completely closed,
form upon the firing pin y² a projection y³ designed to enter a corresponding recess¹
in the rear end of the locking nut r. If the locking nut r is not turned sufficiently
to completely close the breech, the projection y will not coincide with the recess
and the firing pin y² cannot move far enough forward to strike a cartridge in the
barrel.
I sometimes modify the construction of my improved fire-arm to adapt it for
utilizing the recoil to automatically unlock the breech-bolt and extract the empty
cartridge-shell.
In Figures 28 to 53, I have illustrated this modification of my invention. The
breech-bolt is provided at its rear end with a left handed screw-thread 1. Corre-
sponding screw-threads are also cut in the cylindrical locking nut which is provided
at its forward extremity with wings or lugs s similar to those hereinbefore described.
The rear end of this locking nut r is hollowed out to receive the hammer y which is
secured to the firing pin y2 (shown detached in Figure 41) by means of suitable screw-
threads. The hammer is shown in side elevation, plan and front elevation in
Figures 38, 39 and 40. It is provided with projections at y' for the trigger to
engage with, and a hook y whereby the gun can be set at half-cock or otherwise. The
said hammer is moreover formed with recesses or cavities y' to reduce its weight.
The breech-bolt is formed with a dovetail groove to receive a correspondingly
shaped tenon or projection y" on the extractor y. The said extractor is shown in side
elevation and plan in Figures 42 and 43. The tenon or projection y³ is rounded at
each end to allow it a slight lateral play, and has moreover at its rear extremity
another projection y' which serves to hold it in place upon the breech-bolt. The
extractor is mounted upon the breech-bolt by placing the tenon or projection y³ in the
dovetail groove 13 with the extractor at right angles to the breech-bolt and then turning
the extractor until its projection y enters the hollow or recess provided in the
breech-bolt for the purpose.
The locking nut is provided with a small disc or washer ¹ which is firmly attached
to it by means of solder or by pressure or otherwise. This washer serves as a
buffer or stop for the firing pin y². The said washer is shown in a face view and an
edge view in Figures 36 and 37. The hole or aperture in the washer is not
entirely circular, that is to say, one side thereof is flat as shown. The screw-threaded
portion of the firing pin y² is flattened on one side and is passed through this washer,
which thus prevents the firing pin from turning when the hammer is being screwed
thereon; the said washer also prevents any possibility of the said firing pin being
turned accidentally during manipulation of the fire-arm.
To connect the above described detached parts of the breech-bolt, the firing pin y²,
upon which is placed the spring z', is pushed through the partly circular hole in the
locking nut and, while the firing-pin is held by means of the said locking nut, the
hammer y is screwed on to the rear end of the said firing pin. The locking nutris
thus connected with the firing mechanism; it is then screwed to the breech-bolt l, and
lastly the extractor y is placed in position. The breech-bolt with the said mechanism
is then inserted in the gun and the breech closed. The breech-bolt is to be moved
to and fro in a straight line. A space is left between the projection 16 on the
breech-bolt and the locking nut r.
When the gun is fired, the breech-bolt moves backward away from the barrel
through the space, thus acting through the medium of the screw-threads upon the

page_text: Tocking nut and unlocking the said nut by turning it so as to free its wings or lugs s
from the shoulders B' and, at the same time, starting the empty cartridge-shell from
the barrel.
According to the number of the wings or lugs s, the pitch of the screw-thread, the
length of the locking or closing lever and the weight of the knob at the end of
the said lever, an automatic movement more or less rapid can be obtained for
unlocking and drawing back the breech-bolt. Thus the screw-throad be of rapid
pitch, the said lever short, and its knob light, the breech-bolt will be unlocked and
drawn back automatically. If, however, the screw-thread be of slow pitch, the said
lever very long or the knob thereof very heavy, the breech-bolt will be unlocked
automatically, but no automatic opening of the breech will take place on discharging
the fire-arm, and a special movement will then be required to open the breech. The
nut and closing lever are shown in front, side and rear elevation in Figures 33,
34 and 35.
To ensure the automatic withdrawal of the breech-bolt to the same extent after
each discharge of the fire-arm, the closing lever ² may, if desired, be provided with a
catch and spring substantially as hereinafter described.
The magazine consists of a metal case open at the top and closed at the bottom by
means of a curved or bent plate attached to the gun-stock A. as hereinbefore described;
it is designed to contain two rows or columns of cartridges as shown in Figure 30,
and is provided with mechanism for elevating the said cartridges. The sides of the
magazine are bent into a convenient shape so as to narrow the aperture in the top of
the magazine in such a manner as only to permit the passage of one cartridge at a
time, which rises owing to the pressure exerted from below upon the double
row of cartridges, and is retained by the cartridge catch or check hereinafter
mentioned.
The elevating mechanism comprises a cartridge-elevator or follower e attached to a
spring. This elevator is provided with projections upon its sides to prevent its
turning over in case, during the operation of charging the magazine, a cartridge
should occupy a wrong position. The said elevator or follower is shown in side
elevation and transverse section in Figures 52 and 53.
To charge the magazine, a packet of cartridges is to be fixed in the opening in the
breech-chamber. The said packet of cartridges is open at the bottom, but two small
blades are provided at each side to prevent the cartridges from quitting the packets
until pushed by the thumb or finger.
The fire-arm illustrated in Figures 28 to 53 is provided with a cartridge catch or
check h attached to one extremity of a spring h', and with a repeater stop i, lever or
arm and spring, substantially as hereinbefore described, though these parts are
somewhat modified in form. The catch or check is shown in plan, side elevation
and transverse section in Figures 44, 44 and 45, the repeater stop i in side elevation
and in plan in Figures 50 and 51, the lever k in plan and side elevation in Figures 46
and 17, and the spring in side elevation and in plan in Figures 48 and 49.
When the breech-bolt is completely drawn back, it pushes the catch h aside and the
uppermost cartridge is pushed upward in front of the said bolt and lies in the
hollow h³ of the cartridge catch or check h, in which it is retained in such a manner
that it cannot fall out of the breech-chamber if the fire-arm be inverted, or nearly
inverted, and the cartridge will be pushed without fail into the chamber 6' of the
barrel when the breech-bolt is driven home. As soon as the said cartridge passes the
catch the latter resumes its original position over the next succeeding cartridge.
This action of the catch h which occurs when the fire-arm is used as a repeater, takes
place if the repeater stop is adjusted to its rearward position. If it is desired to
use the fire-arm as a single loader while the magazine is full, the repeater stop i is
moved forward, which movement places the repeating lever k out of reach of the
projection on the breech-bolt, the catch then remains stationary.
The above described construction admits of the magazine being charged either with
whole packets of cartridges or with cartridges one by one, whether the fire-arm be
used as a simple breech-loader or as a repeater. The fire-arm can be altered from a
B

page_text: repeater into a simple breech-loader or vice versa when the breech-bolt is either open
or closed.
To empty the magazine the cartridge check is sufficiently drawn out by the
repeater stop while the breech is open, the spring in the magazine will then force out
the cartridges.
The above described arrangement of the repeating mechanism and of the magazine
can be employed in a similar manner to convert simple breech-loading fire-arms of
the German, French, Italian, Russian or other types into repeating magazine fire-arms,
the capacity of the magazine will however depend upon the dimensions of the cartridges
to be used.
Figures 54 to 70 show another modification of my invention wherein I provide for
effecting the locking and unlocking of the breech-bolt by a simple to-and-fro movement
and thus obviate the necessity for turning the closing or locking lever.
The breech-bolt is provided with a removable head which is screwed into the
body of the bolt. The locking nut is inade hollow to receive the cylindrical part
of the locking or closing lever which is bored out to fit the rear extremity of the
breech-bolt. This extremnity of the said bolt is provided with a groove in which
engages a key or feather upon the locking or closing lever 7². This key or feather
compels the locking or closing lever to follow a straight course in its movement upon
the breech-bolt.
At the forward extremity of the cylindrical part 3 of the locking lever is a
projection which slides in the spiral groover in the locking nut so that, when the
locking lever is moved backward or forward, it will cause the nut r to rotate and
thus lock or unlock the breech-bolt as hereinbefore described. It is obvious that the
turning movement of the locking nut in opening or closing the breech must be
limited, this is obtained by a lug or projection upon the locking nut r which slides
in a suitable groove formed in the interior of the shoe or body B. This lug or
projection cannot quit the said groove until it has completed its movement. As the
locking nut r has a tendency to turn owing to the action of the projection ³ especially
when closing the breech, and thus produces objectionable friction, a spring r³
provided as a preventative; this spring is fixed upon the locking nut r by means of
a screw. A pin or stud 1 on this spring enters a hole " in the locking or closing
lever when the latter is drawn backward, and remains there until the breech-bolt has
terminated it forward movement. A hook or projection on the said spring comes
in contact with a bent piece on the guide of the breech-bolt, which lifts the spring
sufficiently to move the stud r11 of the spring 78 out of the hole 1, the locking nut
is then free to make its rotary movement in order to perform the operation of closing
the breech.
15
When the locking or closing lever is drawn back and during the time the locking
nut is rotated in the manner above described, the breech-bolt will have retreated the
length of the space 1 left between the collar 16 on the breech-bolt and the locking
nutr and, during this interval, the extractor y withdraws the empty cartridge-shell a
short distance from the barrel.
The handle of the locking or closing lever 72 has a groove ¹³ in which a lever or
catch is pivoted at 15 and is acted upon by a spring 16. The arm of the said
lever or catch is provided with a hook 17 which engages in a notch in the breech-
bolt . By reason of this engagement with the breech-bolt, the hook 17 prevents any
possibility of accidental opening of the breech when grounding the fire-arm or other-
wise. By pressing inward the part of the lever or catch projecting out of the handle
or knob of the locking or closing lever, the breech-bolt is released and can be opened.
The breech-bolt opens automatically in the recoil in a similar manner to that hereinbefore
described, if the catch and spring are dispensed with.
'
The hammer is attached to the firing pin, and the extractor to the breech-bolt in a
similar manner to that hereinbefore described.
The locking nutr is provided with a recess or hollows into which the hammer fits,
when the said nut is in position to close the breech. In this case the firing-pin can
advance far enough to explode a cartridge in the barrel. If however the nut is not

page_text: sufficiently turned to close the breech and an attempt is made to fire the gun, the
hammer will come in contact with the part and the firing pin cannot reach the said
cartridge.
The two arrangements of the breech-bolt in combination with the mechanism of the
magazine and the method of loading adapt themselves to the firing of the gun without
removing it from the shoulder and to the firing of the maximum number of shots in
an excessively short time.
In the modification shown in Figures 71 to 74, the hook 17 of the lever or catch
is adapted to engage with a projection on the lower part of the breech-casing.
The breech-bolt can only make a very limited movement backwards before this hook
will bear against the projection 10. The complete withdrawal of the breech-bolt is to
be effected with the right hand, the hook of the catch being raised at the same
time. It is obvious that this arrangement admits of regulating the amount of the
automatic opening of the breech-bolt to any degree desired, by varying the length of
the hooked part of the catch 7. The same end is attained by employing a hook
bearing at the back against a projecting portion of the breech-casing. To facilitate
the closing of the breech-bolt, the hooked part of the catch is rounded where it
bears against the projection 110, which is likewise rounded at the back. This allows the
hooked part of the said catch to pass over, and to place itself again in front of the
projection on the breech-casing, without any necessity for lifting the said catch
when closing the breech.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondents I wish it understood that I claim
:--
First The magazine a firmly fixed in the shoe or body of the gun and closed at its
lower end by a bent or curved plate attached either to the magazine or to the gun-
stock in such a manner that it can be readily removed therefrom, (with or without the
grooves g for guiding the follower e), all substantially as, and for the purposes set
forth.
Second The cartridge-catch in combination with the repeater lever and stop and
the projection m on the breech-bolt, substantially as, and for the purposes, set
forth.
Third The combination, with the repeater-stop provided with the pin or stud, of a
wedge-shaped projection on the breech-bolt arranged to act upon the said pin or stud
to turn the said stop and withdraw the cartridge-catch from above the cartridges in the
magazine, substantially as described with reference to Figures 15 to 21 of the drawings,
for the purpose specified.
Fourth The provision of the inclined or helical surfaces on the locking nui
arranged to act in combination with corresponding surfaces on the shoe or body of the
gun to start the empty cartridge-shell from the barrel in the partial rotation of the said
locking nut, substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Fifth The employment of one or more projections on the sliding sleeve » working
in helical grooves in the locking nut, or projections on the locking nut working in
grooves in the said sleeve, for the purpose of converting the rectilinear motion of the
said sleeve into a rotary motion of the said nut, as above specified.
Sixth The provision of the projection y³ on the firing pin adapted to enter a recess
or notch in the locking nut and thus permit the firing of the gun when, but not
until, the breech is completely closed, substantially as described with reference to
Figures 22 and 24 of the drawings.
Seventh The provision of the projection w¹ on the locking nut r arranged to
slide in the groove provided with the lateral slot or aperture o so that the
said nut can turn when, but not until, the breech is closed, substantially as set
forth.
Eighth The modification of my invention, substantially as described with reference
to Figures 28 to 53, or Figures 54 to 74 of the drawings, whereby I provide for the

page_text: unlocking of the breech and the extraction, or partial extraction of the empty cartridge-
shell by force created by the explosion in the barrel, as above specified.
Ninth The combination, with the locking-nut, of a collar or washer fitted therein
and serving as a stop for limiting the forward movement of the firing pin, and having
a hole in which the firing pin works and which is so formed as to prevent the turning
of the firing pin, substantially as described with reference to Figures 28, 36 and 37 of
the drawings, for the purposes specified.
Tenth The modification of my improved magazine, substantially as described with
reference to Figures 28 to 30 of the drawings, wherein I provide for the introduction
and elevation of two rows or columns of cartridges.
Eleventh The employment of a spring catch in the handle of the closing lever for
preventing accidental opening of the breech, as above specified.
Twelfth The improved magazine or repeating fire-arm consisting of the parts
constructed and combined substantially as described with reference to Figures 1 to 27,
or Figures 28 to 53, or Figures 54 to 74 of the drawings and operating as, and for
the purposes, above specified.
T
11
T