AN IMPROVED REPEATING SMALL ARM OR GUN
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick John Cheesbrough of the Office for Patents,
15 Water Street, Liverpool in the County of Lancaster, Consulting Engineer
for an invention of "AN IMPROVED REPEATING SMALL ARM OR GUN."
A communication from abroad by Josef Nemetz, of Vienna, in the Empire of
Austria
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick John
Cheesbrough at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th
March 1882.
FREDERICK JOHN CHEESBROUGH, of the Office for Patents, 15, Water Street,
Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Consulting Engineer. AN IMPROVED
REPEATING SMALL ARM, OR GUN. [A communication from abroad by Josef
Nemetz, of Vienna, in the Empire of Austria.]
This Invention relates to that class of small fire arms, or guns, known as
repeating guns, and consists in certain breech, hammer and lock mechanism,
whereby the consecutive or repetition firing is effected, the cartridges being held in
a casing, which travels laterally across the breech.
According to this Invention the percussion and explosion of the cartridges is
arranged to take place in the breech of the barrel of the gun the cartridges being
in rotation pushed forward from the holder, into the barrel before each explosion.
By this arrangement a lighter breech and stock can be used as the danger of
bursting the cartridge holder is avoided.
In the construction of the gun there is used a cartridge holder which consists of
a box, or casing constructed of strong sheet metal, two sides and the bottom of
which are provided with flanges. The casing is open at the front and back and is
provided with a suitable cover hinged to the sides of the casing. Inside the casing
there are two springs which automatically keep the casing open by raising the
cover. At the bottom of the casing, or holder there is a guide provided with pins.
The cartridges are contained in a cartridge box formed in divisions to correspond
with the number of cartridges. This cartridge box is made of any suitable
material, the cartridges being in the divisions and isolated from each other. The
T

page_text: front and back of the cartridge box is closed by a paper band, which prevents the
cartridges from falling out. Another arrangement of the cartridge box consists of
dispensing with the paper ends and holding the cartridges in the box by means of
springs rivetted to the boxes. A pin at the back of the box, prevents the cartridges
falling out. The casing, or holder before described receives the cartridge box and
the casing fits into the breech of the gun being held in position by the guide at
the bottom of the casing. The breech of the gun is provided with a shoulder, or
provision, which when in position keeps the lid of the cartridge holder closed. To
refill the box, the holder is drawn clear of the provision and the lid automatically
opens by the pressure of the springs which lift up the cartridge box so that it can
be taken out from the casing and a new one substituted. The mechanism of the
gun is provided with a lever and a sliding breech piece for the purpose of closing
the breech and pushing forward the cartridge into the explosion chamber of the
gun barrel.
By this operation the back paper band of the cartridge box is
pierced and the cartridge is forced forward by the breech piece piercing in its
passage the front paper band. The lever then locks the sliding breech piece in
position and a hermetic closing is established. The breech piece is provided with
a spring clip, which takes over the back plate of the cartridge for withdrawing the
cartridge case from the gun after explosion. The locking of the breech is effected
by a projection thereon, which takes into a corresponding groove in the breech of
the gun.
This projection also acts as a guide by taking into a slot when opening,
or closing the breech. The breech piece is provided with a central spring-actuated
percussion-needle, which is operated by a trigger mechanism consisting of a trigger
with a projecting arm, which presses upon an upper spring-retained-lever, one end
of which actuates a catch which holds the percussion needle. The back end of the
percussion needle is attached to a hammer piece which slides over the breech piece.
The spring of the percussion needle being contained within the breech piece and
the tension of the spring is regulated by the distance between the breech piece
and the back, or hammer piece, which latter is provided with the catch which
engages with the trigger mechanism. The mechanism for lateral movement to the
cartridge holder after the discharge of the cartridge consists of a rod underneath
the breech, which slides with the breech piece and is provided with an inclined
key, which catches one of the pins under the cartridge holder and causes the lateral
movement of the holder and brings another cartridge into position for firing by
moving the cartridge holder laterally the correct distance. This new cartridge is
then subjected to the same cycle of operation and fired in the barrel of the gun.
After one group of cartridges is exhausted it can be replaced by another.
Under another arrangement the trigger is in one piece and is suspended by a pin
resting in a hooked journal and the catch of the trigger takes directly into the
notch of the hammer piece. The position of the trigger is recovered after firing by
a spring, which bears on the back thereof.
Upon the end of a lever being part of the trigger there is mounted a pin, which
when the gun is cocked takes into a hole in the closing breech piece. In this
position the charge cannot be fired unless the trigger is pulled. Under the hole in
the closing breech piece there slides a bar, which when pushed forward closes the
hole, and on the closing of the breech piece, the pin is prevented from entering the
hole, and so depresses the pin and with it the trigger, thus by one action, namely,
the closing of the breech piece detonation takes place.
To attach the lock to the butt of the gun I form on the under plate a T piece
onto which ships a bent cheek on the end of the lock. A single screw at the
front of the under plate, then secures the whole.
If desired the cartridge holder can be entirely removed and the gun used, as a
single firing gun, namely a non repeating gun.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Frederick John Cheesbrough in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 13th September 1882.
FREDERICK JOHN CHEESBROUGH, of the Office for Patents, 15, Water Street,
Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Consulting Engineer "AN IMPROVED
REPEATING SMALL ARM, OR GUN." A communication from abroad by Josef
Nemetz, of Vienna, in the Empire of Austria.
This Invention relates to that class of small fire arms, or guns known as repeating
guns and consists in certain breech, hammer and lock mechanism whereby the
consecutive, or repetition firing is effected, the cartridges being held in a casing,
which travels laterally across the breech.
According to this Invention, the percussion and explosion of the cartridges is
arranged to take place in the breech chamber of the gun barrel, the cartridges
being in rotation pushed forward from the holder into the barrel before each
explosion. By this arrangement a lighter breech and stock can be used as the
danger of bursting the cartridge holder is avoided.
The following is a description of this Invention, in such full, clear and exact
terms as to enable any one skilled in the art to which it belongs, or with which it
is most nearly connected to make and use the same reference being had to the
annexed two sheets of Drawings making a part of this Specification and to the
figures and letters of reference marked thereon, like letters and figures being used
to denote the same, or corresponding parts throughout the various figures in the
Drawings.
Reference to the Drawings.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal elevation in section of a gun according to this
Invention, the hammer being cocked.
Figure 2 is also a longitudinal elevation in section with the breech bolt drawn
back.
Figure 3 is a transverse section through the line X X Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a transverse section through the line Y Y Figure 1.
Figure 5 is a transverse section through the line Z Z Figure 1.
Figure 6 is a back view of the hammer and breech of the gun.
Figures 7. 8 and 9 represent a lateral view an outside view and a back view of
the hammer.
Figure 10 is a plan of Figure 1 viewed from the top.
Figure 11 is a longitudinal section of the casing of the breech mechanism.
Figure 12 is an outside view of the casing of the breech mechanism.
Figure 13 is an under view of the gun showing the magazine in position.
Figure 14 is a perspective view of the cartridge box.
Figure 15 is a perspective view of the case, or magazine for containing the
cartridge box.
Figure 16 is a view of the sliding wedge for operating the magazine laterally.
Figure 17 is a sectional elevation of a gun showing a further carrying out of
this Invention.
Figure 18 is a transverse section of Figure 17.
Figure 19 is a modification of the cartridge box.
In the construction of the gun there is used a cartridge magazine which consists
of a box, or casing A. (see Figure 15) which is constructed of strong sheet metal the
two sides 1. 1. and the bottom 2, of which, are provided with small flanges 3. 3. 3. 3.
The casing A is open at the front and back and is provided with a lid B. The

page_text: lid B is carried by the ribs 4. 4. These ribs 4. 4. when the casing is closed come
outside the sides 1. 1. The lid B is hinged to the casing at 5. Inside the casing A
are two springs 6. 6. which automatically keep the case open by raising the lid B.
At the bottom 2 of the casing A, there is provided the guide 8 with the pins 7. 7.
The cartridge box C Figure 14 is made of pasteboard formed with a top 10 and a
bottom 9 and divisions 11. 11. to correspond with the number of cartridges. The
spaces formed by the divisions 11. 11. contain the cartridges, which are thus
isolated from each other. The front and back of the cartridge box O is closed in
by a band of paper 12 which prevents the cartridges from falling out. Another
arrangement of the cartridge box, consists in dispensing with the band of
and holding the cartridges in the box C by means of springs i, as shown at
Figure 19. The springs are rivetted to the box C. The interior end of the spring
presses upon the cartridge and holds it. At the back of the spring there is
provided a pin K, which serves to keep the cartridge from falling out and also
serves to retain the spent cartridge when it is brought back into the box as here-
after described. The springs K can be manufactured of thin sheet metal so that
they can be used several times.
paper 12
The magazine casing A of the cartridge box C is fixed by the guide 8 in the
slot 13 of the breech casing (see Figures 1. 2. 3. 10. 11. 12 and 13).
To charge the magazine A (after having opened the breech bolt E (see Figure 2)
the magazine A is moved so as to occupy the position at the extreme right in such
a manner so that it clears the stop 14 of the breech casing D (Figures 10 and 12),
and the lid B of the casing A opens by the upward pressure of the springs 66. The
expended cartridge box C can then be taken out of the casing A and replaced by
a fresh one.
In charging, the box of cartridges C is placed in the casing A with the heavy
end in front, in such a manner that the box C rests upon the springs 6. 6., after
which the lid is closed. At the same time by a pressure of the right hand, you
move the whole of the magazine, which actions brings the cartridge I in line with
the barrel of the gun. After which with the right hand take hold of the closing
lever 15 and close the breech by pushing forward the breech bolt E. By this
operation the back paper band 12 of the cartridge box C is pierced by the head of
the breech bolt E, which pushes the cartridge before it and the ball at the front of
the cartridge pierces the front band of paper of the cartridge box C and the
cartridge is pushed along by the breech bolt E, and enters the chamber of the gun
barrel and takes the position shown at Figure 1. Then by turning down the
lever 15 the breech bolt E is locked. When the box of cartridges shown at
Figure 19 is used the cartridges are pushed direct into the chamber of the gun
barrel.
For the recoil to be equally distributed over a regular surface there is added to
the breech bolt E in front of the closing flange 16 Figures 2 and 4 a flange tongue
piece 17 which when the breech is closed takes position in the groove 18 of the
breech casing D see Figures 4. 10. and 12. There is thus obtained a secure closing.
When you open the breech bolt this tongue 17 serves to guide the breech bolt E in
the breech casing D.
The trigger 19 see Figures 17 and 18 is is one piece and engages directly with
the notch 25 of the hammer F. The trigger is suspended in the hooked journal a
on the breech casing D by a pin 22. The upper part of the trigger carries an arm b.
which moves in a space under the breech casing D. The outer end of the arm b
carries a pin c which moves through the breech casing D and extends to the middle
of the place occupied by the closing flange 16 of the lever 15. In this flange 16
there is a hole e corresponding to the pin c which is closed by the small bar d, or
its equivalent. The spring of the trigger is not fastened by a screw but is dovetailed
into the casing. In the position of the bar d as shown at Figure 17 when the
hammer F is closed the pin c enters the hole e and the trigger cannot release itself
and consequently the gun cannot be discharged. In this position the trigger cannot
be actuated except by the pressure of the finger, but if you push the slide bar d

page_text: over the hole e and then close the hammer and breech bolt, the rod c cannot enter
the hole e. The rod c and also the trigger 19 are pressed downwards by the closing
flange 16. Thus by the one action, namely the complete closing of the breech bolt,
detonation takes place (see the position indicated by dotted lines Figure 17.
When it is required to work the trigger 19 by the pressing of the finger, it is
necessary to withdraw the bar d from over the hole e.
In Figures 1 and 2 there is shown another arrangement of the trigger mechanism,
which consists of the trigger 19 with the projecting arm 20 which presses upon the
spring retained lever 21, which rocks on the pin 22 and the arm 23 of which actuates
the catch 24 which holds the hammer F by the projection 25. By withdrawing
the catch 24 and thus releasing the stop 25, the hammer F causes the needle 27 to
move rapidly forward by means of the spiral spring 26 and causes the explosion of
the cartridge 31 by indenting the end thereof.
The mechanism for moving the magazine casing A containing the cartridge box C
and giving lateral movement thereto after the discharge of the cartridge consists of
the encased rod, 28 to which is fixed the sliding wedge 29 (see Figure 13). The
back end of the rod 28 is turned up at 30 and takes into a groove in the breech
bolt E. The sliding wedge 29 is pivotted to the rod 28 by the pin 35 and is held
in position by the spring 33, which presses upon pin 34 in the way shown at
Figure 16. The pin 34 serves also as a stop to the sliding wedge 29.
After firing
on opening the breech by means of the lever 15 and drawing back the breech bolt E,
the case of the fired cartridge is drawn back into the cartridge box C by the
projecting catch 31 into the position it formerly occupied. Upon drawing the
breech bolt E further back, the backward movement of the rod 28 causes the inclined
wedge 29 to press upon the pin 7 and at the same time moves it laterally so that
the magazine A is moved from the right to the left for the distance of one cartridge.
By the repetition of this operation the cartridges are consecutively positioned and
fired. Upon each backward stroke of the rod 28, the back of the inclined wedge 29
bears upon the pin 7 next in order and takes the position shown in dotted lines
Figure 16. The spring 33 on the rod 28 rests on the pin 34, after having passed
the pin 7, the sliding wedge 29 recovers its position. By this means its point
positions itself past the middle of the pin 7 which comes in front of it. By such
means this pin 7 in the backward movement of the rod is with certainty engaged
by the sliding wedge 29. When the last cartridge has been fired unlock the breech
and push back the breech bolt. Then the inclined wedge 29 takes its place in front
of the last pin 32 (see Figures 3 and 13 and forces the magazine towards the right
so far that it can be brought under the projection 14 see Figures 10 and 12 which
allows of the automatic opening of the magazine spoken of and the uplifting of the
cartridge case C.-The magazine can be removed and the gun can then be used as
an ordinary non repeating gun.
Instead of the screw shown at Figures 1 and 2 there is used, to secure the under-
guard, a bar f carrying two pins g to which is secured the casing D by means of the
cheek h. at the end of the casing. In consequence of this arrangement the following
result is obtained, that the whole system of securing the casing of the gun and the
under guard is accomplished by a single screw 7. (see Figure 17)
is:
What I claim as the Invention communicated to me by my Foreign Correspondent
First In a gun having a breech closing of the type herein described, a magazine,
or reservoir having horizontal, or nearly horizontal movement and open back and
front in which is placed a box filled with cartridges and which is provided with a
guide 8, having the projections 7. in combination with the bar 28 carrying the
inclined wedge 29 which causes, each time the breech is opened, the movement of
the magazine, namely the distance from one cartridge to another.
Second The system of equal distribution of recoil upon the closing breech bolt
by the application of the tongue 17 upon the breech bolt combined with the groove 18
in the casing of the breech, the tongue 17 serving also as a guide to the cylindrical
breech bolt E in the casing of the gun.

page_text: Third A magazine, or cartridge reservoir A having horizontal movement consisting
of a bottom with two lateral perpendicular sides and a moveable cover, in which
magazine are placed the cartridge boxes C which contain the cartridges and from
whence such cartridges are pushed into the chamber of the gun by the movement
of the closing breech bolt.
Fourth The adaptation to the trigger of the gun of the lever b. which is placed
under the closing flange in combination with the closing breech bolt for the purpose
of the automatic releasing of the trigger, the whole as herein described and shown
in Figures 17 and 18 of the Drawings hereto annexed.
Fifth The adaptation of a hole capable of being closed against the locking lever
of the breech, in combination with a lever applied to the trigger for the purpose of
effecting either the automatic releasing, or the releasing by the pressure of the finger
on the trigger as herein described and shown in Figures 17 and 18 of the Drawings
hereto annexed.
Sixth In the locking, or closing lever of guns, of the cylindrical breech bolt type
the adaptation of a closeable hole e which corresponds with the rod c and lever b
fixed on the trigger and 1st when it is opened receives the rod c when the closing
lever is turned back, and 2nd when it is closed presses upon the rod c by the middle
of the locking lever and thus disengages the trigger from its catch so that the gun
can be discharged without pulling the trigger, which effects a saving of time in the
operation of firing.
Seventh In guns the fixing of the lock casing by means of the cheek h in
combination with the rod f fixed to the under guard and a rod g at the end of the
said casing and so that the fitting of the trigger 19 to the casing D is effected by
means of the cheeks a upon the casing D and by the pin 22, in such a manner that
the whole of the casing and breech mechanism can be fixed to the but end of the
gun by the one screw as herein described and shown in Figure 17 of the Drawings
hereto annexed.
Eighth In the cartridge box the use of springs rivetted at their back end to the
cartridge box and pressing by their other end upon the cartridge so as to hold it
in position as herein described and shown at Figure 19 of the Drawings hereto
annexed.
Ninth The arrangement construction and combination of parts of a repeating gun
as herein described and shown in the Drawings hereto annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick John Cheesbrough, have hereunto
set my hand and seal this Twelfth day of September in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
FREDERICK JOHN CHEESBROUGH (LS.)