Improvements in Breech-loading Small-arms.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Apr., 1898-Accepted, 27th Aug., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Breech-loading Small-arms.
I, ALBERT HAUFF, of 44, Gleditschstrasse, Berlin, in the Empire of Germany,
Author, 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 has for its object an improved firearm in which the recoil which
acts on a
single lever ejects the empty cartridge, inserts a new cartridge in the
barrel, and simultaneously sets the firing pin.
In the accompanying drawings:-
Figure 1 is a side elevation in section of the weapon before the shot is dis-
charged;
Figure 2 a cross section of the same;
Figure 3 a side elevation in section of the weapon after the shot is discharged;
Figure 4 a view of the lever;
Figure 5 a longitudinal section of the locking bolt;
Figures 6-10 show another form of construction and details of the same.
Figures 11-13 show the necessary safety device.
The barrel a is closed in the ordinary manner by means of a breech bolt or
closing bolt b which is provided with lugs r and also with a closing head. The
breech bolt contains also the striking or firing pin b¹ and the firing spring b³.
A sleeve c is adjustably mounted on the closing bolt b and causes a rotation of
said closing bolt by means of a slot e and a pin d fixed on the closing bolt. On
the sleeve c there is mounted a pin f on which a lever g pivots. A pin g¹ is fixed
on the butt and is engaged by the forked end of the lever g which is of the shape
shown in Figure 4. After the shot, this lever is moved backwards by the barrel
into the position shown in Figure 3 by means of a pin h mounted on a projection ¿
of the barrel a. In this movement the sleeve c is first pushed backwards by the
lever so that the closing or breech bolt makes about a quarter of a revolution
from right to left owing to the action of the slot e and pin d. The lugs r are
thereby brought out of the locking grooves into the longitudinal groovest and the
breech bolt may come into the position shown in Figure 3. The striking or firing
nin cannot share in the rotation just mentioned as it is held in the grooves kl.
The firing pin has at the rear end a bevel projection m which fits upon a surface n
on the end of the breech bolt 6 by means of which parts m and n the firing pin
is pushed back somewhat on the rotation of the closing bolt and the firing spring
is thus compressed. This device prevents the firing pin reaching the primer if
or when the closing or breech bolt is not entirely in position or if the lugs r have
not been turned correctly into the cross grooves on the end of the barrel. Even
before the recoil has reached its limit (Figure 3) the empty cartridge is ejected
The spring p then comes into play and pushes the barrel again forward. The
sear stands ready and sets the striking or firing pin, and simultaneously a cart-
ridge is inserted in the barrel. The breech or closing bolt b can only turn after the
lugs have reached the cross groove, and the sleeve c is closed up to the breech

page_text: bolt b which then again stands as shown in Figure 1, that is to say the weapon
is again ready for a shot.
The firing mechanism must be so arranged that the sear engages if the person
firing does not sufficiently quickly release the trigger. The trigger link has an
angular slot o o2 which engages a pin o mounted on the butt. The link is con-
nected with the sear by means of a slotted link u. When the trigger is pulled
the link is moved so that the pin o lies at the point ol of the slot and then passes
immediately to o² whereby the said link is raised and the sear again pushed
upwards. The link is again returned to its normal position by a spring Figures 1
and 3 as soon as the shooter releases the trigger which he will do unconsciously
as soon as he wishes to fire the next shot.
Another form of construction is shown in Figures 6-10 more particularly
of the trigger. A lozenge or rhombus shaped projection o³ is mounted on the
sear and a similar projection of is carried by the trigger links on the inner side,
so that both projections 03 and o lie against one another. When the shooter
presses the trigger the projection of bears on the projection 03 thereby forcing
the sear down and the shot is fired. Whilst the pressure still continues on the
trigger the projection slides away over the projection o³ and to the rear side
of the projection o³. The sear then immediately springs upwards again under the
impulse of a suitable spring in order to set the firing pin for the next shot. As
soon then as the shooter momentarily releases the trigger, the links is again
pulled forward by means of a spring u and pressed upwards so that the projec-
tions o and ot again lie together.
There is also in this improved form of construction a device arranged for the
purpose of absolutely only allowing the shot to be fired when the breech is entirely
closed. The sleeve c extends in this case up to the end of the closing boft b. The
end w of the firing pin which engages in the grooves k and 7 has a projection m
which exactly engages in a notch or recess n at the end of the bolt 6, Figure 6.
If the shot has been fired the end w of the pin will rest against the closing bolt b
and the projection m will be engaged or inserted in the notch n.
It must here be noted that the breech or closing bolt 6 alone is turned by the
pin but only because the sleeve c cannot turn. The notch or slot e is two milli-
metres broader than in the previously described form of construction and this
renders it possible for the sleeve to return two millimetres without the closing
bolt moving and this causes the firing pin to return and the projection m to
come out of the notch n. The oblique edge of the notch or slot e then encounters
the pin and pushes it upwards thus causing the bolt b to make a fifth of a
revolution from right to left and the notch n to turn upwards.
The locking
device w is still further pushed back by the sleeve c and the firing spring is
thereby compressed. In this position the whole fastening or locking piece is
pushed backwards and again pressed forwards by the main spring after a cartridge
has been inserted. As soon as the closing bolt b has reached the locking position
the said bolt is again turned by the bevelled edge of the part e, and the recess n
comes exactly opposite the projection m, the side lugs on the front end of the
bolt 6 are turned in the cross grooves and the closing of the weapon is complete.
If the bolt for any reason does not reach the cross groove or is not sufficiently
turned in to the same or the trigger is prematurely pulled, the notch n cannot
turn far enough to come opposite the projection m. The firing pin is thus
checked by the projection m striking on the end of the bolt b and to one side of
the slot n, so that the firing pin does not reach the cartridge. This is absolute
guarantee that the shot cannot be fired when the breech is not entirely closed
and the said shot cannot be prematurely fired.
The automatic safety device (Figures 11-13) is formed by bringing the sear
more forward and thus converting it into a safety slide 2. This holds the end w
of the firing pin firmly at only one millimetre from the end of the breech or
closing bolt so that the point of the firing pin cannot reach the cartridge. The
firing spring remains thus always uncompressed up to the moment of firing.

page_text: When discharging the weapon the slide is pressed down by the links and the
latter then engages a projection c on the end of the firing pin and presses the
same about one centimetre backwards. In larger pistols with stronger springs
this locking device need not be employed. There is employed as well the safety
slide za firing sear a. The latter is mounted on a metal tongue t which is not
a spring one and which extends to one millimetre under the safety slide z but
is in no way connected with this latter.
On firing the weapon the safety slide is first pressed down by the link s. It then
presses on the tongue which consequently draws down the firing scar a. As
springs are arranged under the parts a and z the two slides cannot accidentally
engage. By this means an absolute security is afforded against premature dis-
charging of the shot in consequence of shocks or falls or in consequence of clumsy
handling by unskilled persons, which is an absolute necessity for any military
weapon. The shot can only be discharged when it is intended to do so and when
a pressure with the finger is exerted on the trigger. No handling on the part
of the shooter is necessary for causing the safety device to come into action.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. An automatic firearm with sliding barrel, characterised by a lever (9) being
pivotally connected with a sleeve (c) placed over a breech or closing bolt (b) said
sleeve acting by means of a slot (e) on a pin (d) fixed to the locking bolt (b) so
as to turn the latter and said lever (9) being forked shaped and arranged to
engage with its fork over a pin (h) mounted on the barrel and over a pin (g')
mounted on the butt so that on the recoil of the barrel the pin (h) fixed thereon
will turn the said lever on the pin (g) attached to the butt and thereby effect the
opening of the breech or closing device, substantially as herein before set forth.
2. A further form of construction of the firearm hereinbefore described with an
arrangement having for its object to prevent the shot being fired if the lugs on
the closing bolt are not perfectly engaged in the cross groove, characterised by a
projection (m) being provided on the end of the firing pin to engage in a slot (n)
on the end of the closing bolt so that the said firing pin may reach the cartridge
but only (as the closing bolt and not the firing pin alone rotates) when the closing
bolt has entirely completed its rotation to the right, whilst the end of the firing
pin is only stopped by the sleeve c when the trigger engages substantially as
herein before described.
3. A form of construction of the firearm herein before described in which a
safety slide z is arranged and adapted to place itself before the head of the firing
pin immediately after each shot so that the weapon is always automatically locked
and the shot cannot be fired even when the sear is released by a fall or blow or
by jolting when riding, substantially as described.
Dated this 22nd day of Anril 1898
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.