Improvements in Magazine Fire-arms.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Sept., 1889-Accepted, 21st Dec.. 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Magazine Fire-arms.
I, KARL KRNKA, of 101 Leadenhall Street, in the City of London, Manufacturer
do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to
e performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
My invention relates to improvements in magazine fire arms of the type already
batented to Silvester Krnka and myself under No. 6800 and date 9th of May 1887,
and No. 17197 of the 26th November 188S.
The general action of loading and firing this rifle and the principles of action of the
breech bolt are the same as described in the aforesaid specifications and the present
nvention consists in modifications of detail to obtain lighter weight and more perfect
and reliable action of the parts, and to cheapen the price of manufacture.
In order that my invention may be the better understood I now proceed to describe
the same in relation to the drawings hereunto annexed reference being had to the letters
and figures marked thereon.
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the rifle with the breech open.
Figure 2 is a transverse section on the line
figure 1.
Figure 3 is an elevation of the shoe and shoe plate.
Figure 4 is a transverse section on the line y y figure 3.
Figure 5 is a plan on the top of the shoe.
Figure 6 is a plan of the shoe plate.
Figure 7 is an elevation of the breech bolt removed.
Figure 8 is a plan of the breech bolt and extractor.
Figure 9 is a view of the firing pin detached.
Figure 10 is a view of the breech bolt screw detached.
Figure 11 is a sectional view of the breech bolt engaged with the sear.
Figure 12 is a view of special firing-pin volute spring.
Figure 13 is a view of the breech bolt handle detached.
Figure 14 is a view of the trigger detached.
Figure 15 is a view of the sear detached.
Figures 16 and 17 are two modified views of the magazine catch.
Figure 18 is a view of the spring flaps.
Figure 19 is a view of the magazine detached and loaded.
Figure 20 is an elevation and plan of the cartridge cramp.
Figure 21 is an elevation of the skeleton cartridge box.
Figure 22 is an elevation and plan of the cartridge follower.
Figure 23 is a half size sectional plan of a cartridge loosening mechanism fitted to
the rifle.
With regard to improvements in the shoe stock of the gun, the shoe E is made in a
single piece guiding the action of the breech bolt. A shoe plate E' is attached under
the stock for the reception of the magazine and trigger guard, and carrying the trigger
apparatus.
Figure 3 shows the shoe E in combination with the shoe plate E' connected by the
breech screw り
and the shoe plate screw 7'. The breech screw 9 passes through a
plain hole in the shoe plate E' entering into a tapped hole in the trigger guard I,
which, when screwed home thus holds the shoe plate in place. In the breech bolt B
A circular
both locking ribs are coincident in position at the end of the bolt.
groove e in the shoe E is now made of sufficient diameter to allow of the two locking
ribs rotating in this groove without friction. Further, two fixed screws e¹, figure 1,
are tapped into the wall of the shoe and project into the circular grooves into which
the locking rihs are pushed through suitable side slots to admit them. The ends of the

page_text: said screws e¹ are prepare 1 so as to present a diagonal face to the end of the locking
ribs and serve to produce a first rotary movement of the breech bolt when it is
forced home. A cartridge bridge.e, figures 1 and 5, is left in the shoe E at the
forward edge of the magazine, which enables the cartridge as it is pushed from the
magazine to enter into the breech of the rifle. This takes the place of the spring
tongue, described in the specifications of the former patents as attached to the front of
the spring flaps or gills, and offers the advantage luit, the breech bolt nose ₁ does not
constantly wear against the bridge which is now provided with a central groove or
slot in which the breech bolt nose can enter, and permits a considerable width to the
breech holt nose.
The longitudinal under slot 63 of the breech bolt is provided with a recessed groove
on its inner face in which engages a nose g of the sear shown engaged together at
figure 11. This arrangement is designed to prevent the premature firing of the rifle
effected by pulling down the sear accidentally by the trigger. As a consequence of
this arrangement the sear cannot be disengaged from the breech bolt until the breech
is absolutely closed, tlie engaging lip being, at that point, cut away. A fürilier
advantage also obtained is that when the breech is fully opened and the bolt withdrawn,
it is prevented from falling out of the shoe by its fixed engagement with the sear,
which cannot be removed by accident, but when the sear is withdrawn from engage-
ment with the breech bolt at the proper place, where the ridge is cut away, the breech
bolt can be withdrawn from the shoe without the loosening of any screw, if the
trigger is then continually pressed. The position of the helical slot of the breech
bolt has been changed in position to suit the altered position of the bolt handle A, the
engaging pin a¹ of the handle socket being formed as a continuation of the said
handle. A within the socket (figure 13) to engage in the said helical slot.
Now I apply a modified extractor F, figure 8 which is attached rigidly at its back
end to, or is part of, a socket, and projects entirely beyond the body of the breech
bolt, the clip end being capable of elastic spring on the bolt sufficient for the nose of
the extractor to lift over and engage with the flange of the cartridge. This arrango-
ment is much stronger than the one formerly patented and the friction which formerly
existed between the elastic part of the old extractor and the breech bolt shoe is
removed. The breech bolt in its rotary motion turns within the socket clearance
being allowed in the extractor for the rotation of the bolt lugs. Thus the extractor
does not turn with the bolt.. but, entering a suitable slot in the shoe acts as a guide for
the handle A which engages into the socket of the extractor.
This facilitates the opening of the breech after firing. The helical slots.61 in the
breech bolt and in the breech screw C, figure 10, terminate in a recess in the outer-
most ends of the slots in which engages the little pin a' of the handle A. When, then,
the breech bolt is opened its, motion is first rotary, on account of the backward motion
of the handle A and its pin a travelling in the said helical slots. When however the
handle has been pulled back so far that the pin al is drawn back to the backward end
of the bolt screw C, the breech bolt B has not yet finished its rotary motion, but, when
the handle of the bolt is drawn back further, the breech bolt ends its rotation by means
of the oblique faces of the two shoulders ees (Figure 3) to the rear of the locking
chamber e. The front ends of the two locking ribs are pressed back, rotating the
breech bolt by their disengagement from the oblique faces of the said shoulders. The
handle. A, therefore, by its little pin a engages into the recess or shoulder to the rear
of the aforesaid belical slot and is engaged there ready for the return stroke, the
handle A being held at rest as compared with the rotation of the breech bolt by means
of the aforesaid extractor F. A similar first rotation of the breech bolt, when forced
home upon the breech takes place relatively to the fixed handle by the locking ribs 62
being forced home first against the oblique faces of the studs el, the bolt so far being
pressed home without rotation, by the direct thrust of the pin a' against the shoulder
a¹
of the slot. The extractor socket is provided with a slot to permit the travel of the
pin a longitudinally with the said socket. A similar rotative motion of the breech
bolt B therefore takes place at the closing, of the breech, independent of the driving
effect of the little pin a' in the helical slots and c. The pin a is thus released from

page_text: the shoulder notch and passing down the helical slot completes the locking of the bolt
in the locking chamber.
The improved cartridge extractor has the further advantage that during the repeating
fire from the magazine it catches each cartridge as soon as the same leaves tho
magazine so that the cartridges are prevented from meeting each other during fire.
The helical slot remains always covered by the improved cartriilge extractor.
The improved cartridge extractor may be removed from the breech, like the other
parts, without the use of any special appliances.
I apply a cartridge starting apparatus as in figure 23 in order to start a jammod
cartridge from the breech before the dead pull of the breech bolt comes upon it by
the before mentioned extractor F. The nose of the extractor in this case leaves à
small space such as th of an inch between itself and the inner face of the cartridge
flange. I fit a lever R in a slot through the side or other part of the breech
chamber E pivotted upon a pin so placed that the distance froin the pivoter to the
foot of the projection is double the length of the nose which rests against the
cartridge flange. When the cartridge is home as shown, the breech bolt B is rotated
by the action of the helical slot and the handle pin a', before there is any longitudinal
motion on the breech bolt. As the breech bolt is thon withdrawn, a further rotation is
caused by the locking ribs striking against the inclines e³. This further rotation
and the straight pull longitudinal motion of the breech bolt forces one of the locking
ribs under the projection of the lover R, thus causing the said lever to rotate on
its pivot ejecting the cartridge a short distance by the nose of the said lever.
After this, the nose of the extractor F will have passed through its clearance and have
seized hold of the flange of the cartridge to complete the withdrawal of the exploded
cartridge case by the longitudinal travel of the bolt. Should, then, the exploded car-
tridge case he jammed, the first starting motion effected by the lever R is done under
great mechanical advantage from the part rotating and part longitudinal motion of the
breech bolt through a short distance before the ordinary extractor F completes the
withdrawal.
I may place this starting lever at either side or underneath the breech chamber. In
the latter case the starting lever may be operated by the nose of the breech bolt.
When this cartridge starter is employed in the position as shown, only one obliquely
faced shoe set screw e' is used.
In the improved firing pin D, figure 9, instead of the former hollow collar I construct
upon it, the short full collar d² and where the space for the firing pin spring is small, I
use a conical volute spring, of thin steel ribbon d', Figure 12.
The improved trigger guard I is no longer elastic as before to release the magazine,
but is now supplied with an independent catch, figures 1, 16 and 17, which is capable
of longitudinal motion in a corresponding recess of the trigger guard I. A small
catch spring presses the catch continuously forward against the magazine so that
the latter finds the necessary support on this catebi. The downward arm of this
catch has two steps,, figures 1 and 16. When the lower step is pressed
backwards by the finger, the magazine is released only from the lower catch. This
permits the dropping of the magazine to permit of single firing by the insertion of
single cartridges from the top of the breech.
When, however, it is desired to drop the magazine entirely, it is only necessary to
press the finger against the higher step, when the magazine is entirely released and
disengages and falls out. This however can only he effected by the complete pull
back of the said catch in one movement, as in the intermediate position of single firing
the catch is locked so as to prevent accidental dropping of the magazine from that
position.
The forward movement of this catch is limited by an upright pin in the cylindrical
part which engages in a corresponding groove in the shoe plate E'.
The trigger spring g' is here shown as distinct from the trigger guard to facilitate
manufacture. This spring is screwed to the mechanism at the same time as the
trigger guard I by means of the breech screw g. In order to put this mechanism
together, the trigger guard is hooked with the hook on its front end into the-slot.ed

page_text: in the shoe plate E¹ the trigger spring gl being at the same time inserted through the
slot in the said shoe plate. On screwing up the breech screw which can be
done by hand everything is then secured in place. The shoe plate E is removed and
fixed in the same manner by the removal or tightening of the breech. screw. The
shoe plate screw need not be removed as it merely forms; a fixed shoulder over
which the front end of the shoe plate E may be inserted and readily removed upon.
taking out the breech screw g.
The gills or flaps J, figure 18, are fixed in place by three studs jupon
the shoe plate, but these gills need not be removed for cleaning except fogether
with the shoe plate.
In my improved magazine (figures 1 and 19), the follower (Fig. 22) is now
confined by the two ribs, the former being a recess to receive the heels
of the follower and the latter being a corrugation in the case forming a guide for
a suitable recess in the follower. The follower has its heel towards the breech turned
down so that when the magazine is exhausted the said heel checks any further move-
ment of the breech bolt as it rises to the top of its travel when checked by the elastic
lugs of the magazine. A projecting pin upon the follower h³ engages into the
topmost spiral of the magazine spring to keep it in place, the said spring lying in a
suitable recess in the bottom of the magazine to present the action in the required
direction.
To prevent excessive stiffness of the elastic lugs h¹ of the magazine, they have
circular perforations cut into their front and back ends. On the front of the magazine
is a small plate extending on either side beyond the walls of the magazine for the
purpose of facilitating correct and quick insertion into the rifle.
For loading the magazine when attached to the rifle, I may usera skeleton cartridge
box, figure 21, with a dummy cartridge at the top of the same to enable the whole
contents to be ejected into the magazine by the downward pressure of the fingers, the
dummy being checked at the end of its travel by the pin p striking against the bottom
of the slot pin the walls of the box. Or, I may employ a cramp L, figure 20, which
embraces the flanged bases of the cartridges, two punched depressions at either end !
being made to prevent the cartridges from being accidentally disengaged. The said.
cramp or skeleton cartridge, box are so constructed as to engage with pressure into the
open mouth of the breech.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1st. The construction of a magazine repeating rifle with a breech shoe and shoe
plate, a breech bolt cartridge extractor and bolt handle, a magazine with spring pressed
follower, double catches, spring lugs, a feeding cartridge cramp or skeleton box, a
trigger guard and magazine cateb, substantially as herein described and illustrated.
2nd. In a repeating rifle, the combination of two fixed set screws e¹ with the breech
shoe to facilitate the opening and closing of the rotating breech bolt, substantially as
described.
3rd. In a repeating rifle with a straight pull breech bolt a cartridge starting
pivotted lover R inserted into the shoe or breech chamber E with a short nose resting
upon the inside face of the cartridge flange and the long tail oporated by the locking
ribs or other projection on the straight pull breech bolt, substantially as and for the
purposes described.
4th. In a repeating rifle, the combination with the breech bolt of a cartridge
extractor and socket carrying the bolt handle and projecting from the body of the
bolt and sliding in a slot in the shoe to act as a guide to the bolt handle independent
of the rotary motion, of the breech bolt, substantially as described.
in.a
5th. In repeating rifle, the construction of the sear 9 with a groove or lip engaging
a corresponding lip or groove within the breech bolt to prevent the accidental
lowering or disengagement of the sear except in a pre-determined position where. the
said engaging lip or groove is cut away, substantially as described."

page_text: 6th. In a repeating rifle, the combination with the shoe plate or trigger guard of a
catch with double finger steps and double magazine detents to permit with certainty
the engagement of the magazine in two alternative positions for single firing or
repeating fire, and sliding in a slot of the shoe plate and trigger guard effecting
control by finger pressure to adjust for single firing or detachment as desired,
substantially as described.
7th. In a repeating rifle, the combination with the magazine of a conical volute
band spring of sheet steel for the spring feel of cartridges from the magazine.
8th. In a breech londing rifle the combination with the firing pin of a conical volute
band spring operating the said pin.
9th. In a repeating rifle the construction of a cartridge cramp with spring lips and
punched depressions, to seize and hold the bases of the cartridges to permit the insertion
of a packet by one action into the magazine.
10th. In a repeating rifle, the combination with a skeleton feed cartridge box of a
movable dummy to ensure ejection of the whole charge of cartridges into the magazine,
substantially as described.
Dated this 25th day of Sentomba- 1990
FELL & WILDING,
1, Queen Victoria Street, Agents for the Applicant.