IMPROVEMENTS IN REPEATING FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the firm of Haseltine Lake
& Co Patent Agents Southampton Buildings London for an Invention of
" IMPROVEMENTS IN REPEATING FIRE-ARMS" cominunicated to him from abr ad
by August Larsen and Claes Erik Winterros both of Liege, in the Kingdom of
Roloium
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at
"
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th December 1883.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake and Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings London "IMPROVEMENTS IN REPEATING FIRE-ARMS [A
communication to him from abroad by August Larsen and Claes Erik Winterros
both of Liege, in the Kingdom of Belgium]
This Invention relates to improvements in repeating fire-arms. The said
improvements are more particularly applicable to central fire guns, rifles, and pistols
provided with a tubular magazine placed under the barrel, but are, with slight
modifications, applicable to repeating fire arms of any kind.
One feature of the present Invention consists in constructing an excentric lever
of particular form. By depressing the said lever and bringing it back quickly,
the empty cartridge shell is withdrawn, the fire-arm is cocked, and a new cartridge
is inserted in the chamber. By pulling slightly the trigger, a solid striker, of a
single piece, strikes the cartridge and explodes it.
This arrangement of mechanism permits the arm to be fired with great speed,
all the cartridges issuing successively from the magazine, without releasing the
fire-arm by the right hand, and without changing the position of the finger on the
trigger guard, which forms a portion of the main-lever.
Another improvement consists in arranging certain mechanical parts in order to
transmit, surely and quickly, the motions of the main-lever, to the internal parts
of the mechanism, and in adjusting the corresponding pieces which produce the
several and simultaneous actions of opening the breech, extracting the empty
cartridge-case, raising a new cartridge to a level with the barrel, and then shutting
the fire-arm and forcing the cartridge into the chamber where it is to be ignited by
firing.

page_text: I may substitute for the main-lever a double-acting shield, bearing a solid button
by which the whole mechanism is easily put in motion.
Another feature of the present Invention consists in constructing the breech-
chamber to receive the sliding bolt and let it move in a groove when actuated by
the lever, to carry a screw supporting the trigger, and to facilitate the motion of
the elevator. In the breech-chamber works also a lever fixed on a pin which
lever actuates the cartridge carrier by its two extremities cut in the form of a
semi-circle.
The "extractor" is let into the upper part of the sliding bolt, and is formed of
a double spring carrying a tenon through which passes a pin in order to enable
the claw to get a firm hold of the base of the empty cartridge case.
The sliding
bolt contains the striker and protects the various internal parts of the mechanism.
The said sliding bolt is either cylindrical or rectangular (in order to leave the
back portion of the breech-chamber without covering) according to the class of
fire-arm to which these improvements are applied.
The striker is formed of a solid piece of metal, around the back part of which is
fitted a spiral spring, which, pressed by the motion of the front extremity of the
main lever, acting on a tenon of the striker, bends such striker to half cock, and
then to full cock preparing the fire-arm for firing. A disc near the fore part of the
striker has a helicoidal groove through which the spiral spring is inserted. A pin
maintains the striker in the interior of the sliding bolt, and a mortise permits its
motion. A handle, at the back part of the striker permits it to be bent without
opening the fire-arin.
The "elevator" is suitably arranged and actuated by the main-lever.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Robert Lake in the Patent Office on the 28th June 1884.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London "IMPROVEMENTS IN REPEATING FIRE-ARMS." A
communication to me from abroad by August Larsen and Claes Erik Winterros,
both of Liege, in the Kingdom of Belgium.
This invention relates to repeating fire-arms and has for its object to provide
mechanism of a simple and durable construction, adapted to be easily and rapidly
operated by means of a single motion.
The cartridge magazine is of well known construction, being in the form of a
tube below the barrel of the fire arm. The cartridges are moved by a spiral
spring. This magazine may extend the whole length of the barrel if required.
The improved mechanism comprises a breech bolt which contains a firing pin
the front part of which under the action of a spiral spring causes the ignition of
the cartridge.
Below the said breech-block is arranged a movable recoil-piece or catch, which
enters a slot in the block and thus firmly locks the same and prevents any
backward impact or recoil when the gun is fired.
A lever is provided having at its front end an elevator movably mounted on a
suitable pivot and serving to raise the cartridge from the magazine.
To open or close and cock the fire-arm I provide a lever capable of being moved
up and down. This lever acts upon the firing pin and upon the lever of the
cartridge elevator, while the motions of the recoil-catch and closing or locking
device are caused indirectly by the aforesaid lever-arm, acting on a circular plate
attached outside the breech-chamber. Through the oscillating motion of the said
lever to open or close the gun, together with that of the said circular plate, the
breech bolt is moved forward and backward by means of mechanism located on the
side of the gun and which is of peculiar shape and construction
The said plate is provided with a curved groove having a series of cam surfaces
which act upon the mechanism during its motion. The back part of this groove
acts upon a roller connected with the recoil catch and thus forces down this catch,
while the breech is being opened, and lifts the same again when the breech is
closed.
A peculiar feature of this mechanism consists in the fact that the motions of the
breech bolt and recoil catch are caused directly from the outside of the gun. The
operating lever also carries the trigger guard and trigger which thus follows the
movements of the said lever. The trigger is so constructed that the discharge of
the gun cannot be effected unless the mechanism is entirely closed and that during
the discharge, the said lever is securely locked. These arrangements thus form an
absolute security against a discharge before the several parts of the mechanism
reach the respective positions which they occupy during the discharge of the arm.
The recoil catch is provided with an indicator, that is to say, a small hand, pivotted
on the outside of the breech chamber and which hand moves together, with the
said catch, so that it may be ascertained, on simply referring to this external hand
whether the catch is in its proper place.
The breech bolt is provided with a guard for retaining the striker in position
while the bolt is being moved. At the front end of the breech bolt is also arranged
an extractor; while at the back of the striker a guard is provided, to prevent the
accidental discharge of the gun.

page_text: In an elongated slot, directly below the left upper edge of the breech chamber a
lever moves inward when the gun is almost completely opened, so as to keep the
cartridge, which is lifted from the magazine by the elevator, in its bed.
In order that the said invention may be fully understood I have represented
the improved mechanism in the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the mechanism, in a cocked position.
Figure 2 is a view partly in longitudinal section of the mechanism with the
breech open.
Figure 3 is a plan partly in section of the parts shown in Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a side elevation of the mechanism located outside the breech chamber
with the circular plate partly in section to show the cam groove the mechanism
being shown in a closed position
Figure 4 is a side elevation of parts shown in Figure 4 in an open position.
Figure 5 is a plan and side view of the recoil-catch, with the roller attached to
the right hand side, and the indicator on the left side
Figure 6 is an underside view of the cartridge-elevator.
Figure 6 is a side view of the same
Figure 7 is a view of the breech bolt seen from the right hand side, showing the
guard or pawl which serves to lock the striker in position when the breech bolt is
in motion
Figure 8 is a transverse section on the line A. B. Figure 1.
Figure 9 is a transverse section on the line C. D Figure 1 certain parts being
removed
Figure 10 is a plan of the breech bolt, partly in section, with the striker held in
position for firing by the pawl mentioned with reference to Figure 7.
Figure 11 is a plan of the breech chamber partly in section so as to show the
position of the said guard or pawl while the gun is closed.
Figure 12 is a plan of the lever serving to retain the cartridge after being raised
from the magazine.
A indicates the breech chamber which has an opening extending the whole of its
length, is strengthened in the middle, by a cross piece B (Figures 1. 8. and 9), and
is provided with suitable connections at the front and back
The front part of the said chamber is provided with two perforations, the upper
one of which is for the reception of the threaded end of the barrel, while the lower
perforation Figures 1 and 9---serves for the passage of the cartridge from the
inagazine
The inner wall of the breech chamber has a guide rail C arranged in its back
part (Figures 3, 8 and 9). D indicates the breech bolt which is of square cross
section throughout nearly the whole of its length, its lower front part only being
rounded
At the upper forward end of the breech bolt is arranged the cartridge extractor D¹
(Figures 1 and 3) in the form of a double spring one part of which bears against
the top of the breech bolt. The said extractor is held in position by a pin 2 which
passes through the breech bolt D and through an eye close to the hook of the
extractor.
The breech bolt has a groove E formed on one side which fits the guide rail C
(Figures 2, 3, 7, 8) whereby the said bolt is properly guided. On the opposite side
of the breech bolt is another groove 3, Figure 3, which does not quite extend to the
forward end thereof. This groove 3 receives the rear part of a lever-bar 4, acted
upon by a spring b¹. This lever serves to support the cartridge raised from the
magazine and turns upon the screw or pivot 5
On the breech bolt is arranged the pawl a (Figures 2, 7, 10 and 11), serving to
hold the firing pin or striker. This pawl moves upon a pivot b, and provided at
its back part with a stud c entering a corresponding recess in the wall of the
breech chamber when the breech bolt is moved forward (Figure 11). The front
end d of the said pawl is inclined, and abuts against a lug e (Figure 11) when the
closing of the mechanism is almost completed, thus moving the pawl out of

page_text: engagement with the firing pin which is then held in a cocked position by means
of the bent lever q
The breech bolt is bored cylindrically so as to receive the striker. F This
striker is considerably thinner at its front part, thus forming the firing pin which
is operated by the spiral spring G, (Figure 1). The said spring is screwed into
position through a spiral groove H in the front plate H' of the striker; thus the
whole of the striker is made in one piece and has no removable part for the
insertion of the spiral spring G. Behind the spiral spring in the striker F, is
formed an elongated hole g through which passes a pin h secured in the breech
bolt D (Figures 1 and 2), whereby the spiral spring G, when the striker is cocked,
is supported by the said pin h. On the underside of the striker is formed a lug or
tooth which is to facilitate the cocking of the gun as hereinafter more fully set
forth. The rear end of the striker is provided with the head I (Figures 1 and 2)
and a lug or projection K. The latter, as well as the tooth i slides in the slot L
formed in the back part of the breech bolt (Figure 10). In the rear part of the
striker a guard or catch is so arranged that the upper surface is on a level with
the striker. The said guard is provided at its back part with a surface to be
pressed when operated. This catch k is pivotally attached to the striker by means
of a pin l, and has placed below it a small double spring m, Figure 1, pressing its
forward end against the striker. When the catch k is operated its point abuts
against the breech bolt and holds the striker against displacement.
The main operating lever M carries the trigger guard. Its back part may be
bent as represented by the full, or by the dotted, lines in Figure 1. In the former
case, the lever is operated by the fingers holding the neck of the gun stock, while
in the latter case, it is moved with the whole of the hand. The latter arrangement
allows of a more rapid closing as it does not require the stock to be seized with the
hand twice.
The trigger N is arranged in the lever arın M on the pivot n (Figures 1 and 2).
The centre of motion, or fulcrum of the lever M is formed by the pin O, the square
part of which is fitted into a corresponding square hole in the lever. The purpose
of such square hole will be more fully bereinafter referred to. Near the fulcruin of
the lever M is formed a cam P
A solid catch Q moving upon a pivot o, and the rounded back part of which rests
against the aforesaid cross-piece or link, situated in the back part of the socket
(Figure 1), serves to prevent the recoil of the breech bolt when the gun is fired.
The catch Qis slotted throughout its length (Figures 1 and 5,) in which slot the
cam P and tooth i freely move. In the open rear end of the recoil catch Q and on
the same pivot as the latter, the bent lever or sear q is arranged. The horizontal
arm of this lever or sear 9 moves in a slot in the rear of the breech chamber where
a spring plate q' is attached. On the right hand side of the recoil catch Q, is a
taper hole in which is inserted a stud r carrying a roller S, and on the left hand
side is arranged the indicator t which is pivotted on the screw o.
R indicates a double arın having its fulcrum on the screw u.
The short arm S¹
of this lever has the shape of a thick triangular blade. The central part of the
lever R is provided with a slot U (Figures 1, 6 and 8) through which the cam P
can freely move. The front part is partly slotted and partly recessed, and in the
latter portion is fitted the cartridge-elevator V, which moves upon the pivot v, fixed
in this slot (Figures 1, 2, 3 and 6). The elevator V has a tappet x in the shape of
a horse shoe formed at its front end, and a long hook y at its rear end. This hook y
moves in the slot U of the arm R.
Below the forward end of the breech chamber is attached a spring B¹ by means
of the screw a¹. The extremity 19 of this spring engages in the hollow portion 20
of the tappet (Figure 6) and the part z, in a corresponding hollow space, Figures 1
and 2, in the breech chamber.
The pivot O for the main lever arm M is rounded at the part connected with the
walls of the socket, and carries, on its right hand side, a semi-circular plate W.
On the left side of the socket the pivot Ō is retained in place by means of the

page_text: screw X (Figure 8). The groove Y of the plate W is shown in Figures 4, 4ª and 8.
With this groove the breech bolt is connected in the following manner. In a
groove, in the external right hand wall of the breech chamber slides a bar A¹, the
rear end of which is connected with a pin a³ on the breech bolt D, while to the
other end is pivotted a rod A². To the other end of this rod is connected by a
pivot 7 one end of a lever Z the other end of which oscillates upon a pivot a² in
the breech chamber. This lever Z is operated by the portions 9 and 13 of the
plate W Figures 4 and 4ª. When the breech is open (Figure 4) the lever Z is
almost entirely concealed by the plate W while, when the breech is closed
(Figure 4) this plate W only covers that part of the lever z which has the pivot a
upon it. Through the motion of the lever Z the bar A¹ through the medium of the
rod A² is caused to slide, which sliding motion is transmitted through the pin a³ to
the breech bolt.
When the main lever arm M is thrown downward the cam P acts upon the tooth or
lug and cocks the firing pin (Figure 1). The recoil-catch Q is also simultaneously
pressed down (Figure 2) through the action of the surface 8 of the groove Y upon
the roller S (Figures 4 and 4). This being accomplished, the portion 9 of the
plate W (Figure 4) begins to press upon the lower surface of the lever Z, thereby
causing the latter to rotate backward upon its pivot a whereby, through the
rod A and bar A', the breech bolt is forced back and the breech is opened. This
movement of the breech bolt, to extract a cartridge shell requires a small effort as
the points 6, 7, and a² are situated in a straight line. By means of the
extractor D¹ the cartridge shell is withdrawn from the barrel, and rests during its
backward motion upon the extension 10, Figure 1, of the breech bolt (Figure 1).
The further withdrawal of the cartridge causes its bottom or flange to strike the
guide rail C and the book of the extractor to release the cartridge. At the same
time a point of the cam P abuts against the short arm S¹ of the lever R and forces
it down, whereby the long arm of the said lever, together with cartridge
elevator V, Figure 2, is quickly raised, thereby bringing the cartridge thereon
opposite the barrel.
The elevator V is caused to assume a horizontal position by reason of its forward
end coming into contact with the pin 11 fixed within the breech chamber
(Figures 2 and 3) whereby the back portion of the cartridge elevator is raised
until its hook y enters a groove in the central cross piece B (Figure 2). Through
the rapid rising of the loaded cartridge an impact is given to the empty one, which
is thus forcibly ejected. At the same time the forward end of the lever 4 is
inserted into the breech chamber as the groove 3 in the breech bolt D terminates
near the extremity of the head of this device, and presses outward the nose of the
said lever, whereby the forward portion of the said lever enters the chamber and
the raised cartridge, as soon as it reaches the proper height, is retained by the
curved part of the lever and prevented from being expelled (Figure 3)
The tappet x serves as a guard for retaining the cartridges in the magazine
while the elevator is in the position just described.
When the breech-bolt begins to move backward and the spiral spring G is
compressed the pawl a is caused to assume a position in front of the firing pin
as shown in Figure 10. As the lug e is drawn back, the said pawl a remains
locked by the spring ƒ in the position described, as long as the breech is completely
opened
When the main lever M is moved backward that is to say into its position for
firing, the part 13 of the plate W presses upon the lever Z and imparts thereto a
rotary forward motion whereby the breech bolt, by means of the connection A², A¹
and a is moved forward, and forces the cartridge into the barrel of the gun. A
considerable strain is necessary at the last part of the movement as the three
points 6, 7 and a³ are situated in the same line
The breech is entirely closed when the part 13 of the plate W passes the upper
point of the lever z. The further movement of the plate W again raises the recoil
catch to its proper position as the surface 14 presses upon the roller S.
At the

page_text: last moment of the closing operation the lever R with the cartridge elevator V
descends to the position shown in Figure 1, as the upper face of lug 15 on the
lever arm M (Figures 1 and 2) presses upon the underside of the short arm S' of
the lever R and the forward end of the elevator V strikes upon lug 19 of the
spring B. At the same time, the pawl a hereinbefore described is moved from
the position shown in Figure 10, into that shown in Figure 11; as the surface d
impinges against the lug e whereby the pawl a is caused to release the striker F.
The striker, with the spiral spring G is held in the cocked position for firing, by the
bent lever or sear q, the horizontal part of which enters the slot of the projection K
of the striker while the trigger N, at its upper part, bears against the vertical arm of
the bent lever q (see Figure 1). This position is the one the mechanism assumes
when the gun is prepared to be fired.
The gun is fired by pulling the trigger N, when the prolongation thereof presses
upon the bent lever q, and forces the same out of engagement with the projection K
thus releasing the striker. Through the pressure exerted by the spiral spring G
the point of the firing pin impinges against the cap of the cartridge and fires the
same. The lever M is fixed in position by the projection 18 of the trigger, engaging
the slot 17, which engagement can only take place (as shown in Figure 1) when
the lever-arm M is completely closed.
The cam P also forms a locking means for the recoil-catch Q, the point of the
said cam resting against the part 16 of the said catch.
When the magazine is to be loaded, the gun is first opened as shown in Figures 2
and 3; the cartridges are then inserted, below elevator V, into the magazine below
the barrel, passing the projection x of the elevator by bending down the spring B¹
together with the piece z As soon as a cartridge has passed the projection x it is
somewhat raised by the piece z of the spring B', which piece prevents the cartridge
from springing back again under the elevator. After the magazine is thus filled,
another cartridge may be inserted by hand into the barrel, and one cartridge may
be placed upon the elevator which is pressed down. Now the mechanism is closed
and the gun is fully loaded
I may mention, that when ball cartridges are to be used a spring 21, (Figure 1)
may be provided upon the lever R, which spring prevents collision between the
several cartridges, and any explosion that might result therefrom. This spring
rests in the hollow portion of the cross piece B (Figures 1 and 2) when the lever R
is raised, and then forms at the same time a catch for this lever
Having thus fully described the said invention as communicated to me by my
Foreign Correspondents, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that 1 claim
First The chamber A having the central cross piece B, the rear cross-portion with
a recess for the recoil-catch, and the guide for the breech bolt D, in combination
with the guide-rail C provided on the inner wall of the said chamber, the lug or
projection e for operating the pawl a, the lug or projection 11 for the elevator V.
the hollow-space provided in the wall of the breech chamber for the lug c, the
recess for the lever 4, and the groove in the outside of the breech-chamber for the
bar A, all arranged substantially as described
Second The breech bolt D, having the extractor D', the grooves, E3, the slot L,
the notch for the recoil catch Q, the striker F having the projection i, and the
pawl a, all constructed, combined, and arranged substantially as, and for the
purposes, set forth.
Third The striker F formed in a single piece and provided with the front part H'
in the form of a circular plate, and having a spiral groove for the insertion of the
spiral spring G; with the oval hole g for the pin h which affords an abutment for
the said spiral spring; with the tooth i for cocking the firing pin; with the back
portion consisting of the head I and the lug K; with the guard movably mounted
on the pin l, and with the slot for the recoil-catch Q, constructed substantially as
described

page_text: Fourth The main lever M having the trigger guard and the double bent-back
portion, for opening, cocking, and loading the gun by hand, curved as represented
by dotted lines in Figure 1, in combination with the cam P, the projection 15, the
trigger N having the projection 18 acting upon the catch 17 and the square spindle
or pivot carrying the plate W, all constructed and arranged substantially as
described and shown in Figures 1, 2, 4 and 4° of the drawings.
Fifth The double lever R-S turning upon the pivot u and having the spring 21,
in combination with the cartridge-elevator V, the projection in the shape of a
horse shoe, the hook y and the projection 11 in the breech chamber, all constructed
and arranged to be operated by means of the lever M, substantially as described and
shown in Figures 1, 2, 6 and 6º.
Sixth The spring B¹, in combination with the projections z and 19, substantially
as, and for the purposes, set forth.
Seventh The recoil piece or catch Q turning upon pivot o and having the slot
for the cam P; and the cross-piece 16 affording an abutment for the said cam P,
in combination with the bent-lever or sear q, pivotted at o (Figures 1 and 2), the
pin having the guide roller S (Figure 5) for connecting the curved plate W with
the recoil-catch Q, and the indicator t mounted on pivot o for ascertaining by
simply looking at the outside of the mechanism whether all its parts are in the
proper position, all constructed and arranged substantially as described.
Eighth. The circular or curved plate W arranged on the outside of the breech
chamber A and connected, by means of the axis O of square section, passing
through a corresponding square shaped opening in the lever M, with the said
lever M, in combination with the groove Y and pieces 14, 8, 13 and 9 arranged
upon the said plate W and operating the parts A', A' and Z, and (by means of a
guide roller S), the recoil catch Q; substantially as described and shown with
reference to Figures 4, 4* and 2 of the drawings
Ninth. The mechanism on the outside of the gun, consisting of the bar A¹ sliding
in the groove of the breech chamber and connected by means of the pin a³ with
the breech bolt, the link A2, held by the screws 6 and 7, the lever Z having the
pin a entering the wall of the breech chamber A; and the hook-shaped part of
the said lever Z for the purpose of being operated, in combination with the curved
plate W, lever M, recoil-catch Q, and breech-bolt D, all constructed and arranged
substantially as described.
Tenth. The combination and arrangement of the parts specified in claiming
clauses 1 to 9, constituting an improved mechanism for repeating guns and pistols,
substantially as described.
Eleventh. The arrangement and employment of any one of the novel parts
specified in claiming clauses 1 to 9, for the purpose of transmitting the motion of,
or operating mechanism for, repeating guns or pistols, substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof I the said William Robert Lake have hereunto set my hand
and seal this Twenty eighth day of June in the year of Our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty four