Improvements in Magazine Fire-arms.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Aug., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 28th May, 1891-Accepted, 27th June, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Magazine Fire-arms.
I, CHARLES KRNKA, of 101, Leadenhall Street, in the City of London, Manu-
facturer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention to be as follows:-
:-
My invention relates to improvements in the construction of magazines_for
carrying cartridges such as are attached to rifles or guns to render them self-loading
or, as it is termed "repeating" and to improved means for attaching the same to the
rifle or gun and also relates to an improved device or cramp whereby the magazines
are easily filled with packets of cartridges of five, six or any other suitable number.
It has been the custom to arrange spring lips upon each side of the magazine in
order to allow of single cartridges or whole packets of cartridges to be pressed
downwards into the magazine horizontally at the same time retaining the cartridges
within the magazine until pushed out by the breech bolt cylinder. These devices
fulfilled all the purposes for which they were designed but had the following
disadvantages riz.-as the breech bolt cylinder has to push the cartridge out of the
magazine the bolt must necessarily enter somewhat into the opening of the magazine
which therefore can only be narrowed within certain limits consequently the elastic
sides or spring lips will only grasp the cartridge to a very small extent.
As in every case the cartridges are pressed upwards by the magazine spring
these side elastic lips must be very strong to prevent the cartridges springing from
the magazine when not assisted by the bolt cylinder, and again the filling of the
magazine requires very considerable pressure in order to spring back the elastic
lips when the magazine is being filled with cartridges especially when in packets of
five, six, seven or more.
My invention is designed to obviate these disadvantages and is carried out as
follows:-
The magazine is made of sufficiently strong and stiff material such as steel or
other equivalent material so that there is no elastic action in its sides whatever.
The opening at the top of the magazine is narrowed by two ribs preferably
produced by bending over the sides of the magazine inwards towards one another.
These ribs are of such a width as to absolutely prevent the rims of the cartridges
from being pressed through the space between them.
At the rear end of the magazine these ribs are cut away to the extent of about
double the thickness of the cartridge rim so as to allow of the cartridge passing
into the magazine the rims passing through at the before mentioned openings
allowed for by the shortening of the ribs, the front part of the cartridge passing
through the opening between the two ribs which is of such a dimension as to permit
the passage of this part of the cartridge with ease.
Upon the rear end of the magazine I provide a flat spring B preferably attached
to the lower end by means of screws or other equivalent fastenings. Upon the
upper part of this spring I provide two projections which extend into the space
formed by the shortening of the said ribs. The upper faces of these projections are
bevelled and the under faces are slightly undercut. The object of this is that when
the cartridge is forced into the magazine the forward face of the rim engages
against the end of the ribs while the rearward face engages with the bevelled face
of the projections and forces back the spring until the cartridge is pushed low
enough for the undercut faces of the projections to engage over the top of the rim,
the spring at the back of course then retaining its normal position, pushing the rim
of the cartridge underneath the projecting ribs on the magazine.
By these means it is obvious that the feed spring of the magazine is prevented

page_text: from pushing the cartridges out even supposing that the magazine should be
dropped upon the ground or receive a sharp blow.
The top cartridge when the magazine is in position for repeat firing is in a
position for the breech bolt to force it along beneath the side lips of the magazine
into the breech of the gun.
The upper end of the retaining spring at the back is therefore formed with a
semi-circular recess between the projecting catches in order to allow the breech
bolt or a projection on the same to engage with the upper part of the rim of the
cartridge in order to force it along the top of the magazine into the breech of
the gun.
It is evident that this arrangement may also be used for cartridges that have no
rims in which case it will be necessary to shorten the projections on the retaining
spring.
The functions of the spring and projections will then be to press against the
end of the uppermost cartridge so that its rear end (which must in all cases
be thicker than the forward end) is placed below the side ribs on the top of the
magazine.
The projections and the spring may be formed in one piece or the projections
may equivalently be mounted upon a hinge and acted upon by a suitable spring.
In order to feed the cartridges into the magazine singly it is only necessary that
the rearmost end of the cartridge be pressed into the space between the ends of the
ribs and the projections on the spring without pressing in any way on the front
part of the cartridge as such front end must be somewhat raised when the rim is
pressed down in consequence of the particular form of the space through which the
rim passes.
The magazines of repeating fire-arms are usually arranged with double steps upon
the rear end by which two positions of the magazine may be maintained in the
rifle the first or uppermost being that for repeat firing so that the breech bolt shall
push the uppermost cartridge into the breech and secondly the lower position into
which the magazine is lowered so that the breech bolt does not come in contact
with the top of the cartridge at all the latter position being used in single firing.
No provision however has yet been made to retain the magazine in one position or
the other when shouldering the rifle or lifting it by the magazine the consequence
being that immediately any pressure is applied from beneath the magazine is forced
up into its uppermost position and retained there by the uppermost catch.
In order to overcome this disadvantage I provide a double stepped spring stop
upon the forward end of the magazine the upper faces of the steps engaging with
the lower edge of the shoe-plate or other convenient part.
When now the magazine is in its lower position and it is necessary to raise it
into the upper one this front spring catch or stop must be pressed inwards to allow
the edge of the step passing the edge of the shoe plate, the edge of the shoe plate
engaging with the edge on the second step on the spring stop.
It is clear that the magazine cannot be pushed into the upper position unless the
spring catch is operated and further the movement and rattling of the magazine
within its recess is prevented.
I may equivalently apply a similar spring pressed stop to the sides of the
magazine to further prevent movement.
In repeat firing it is very important that the magazine shall be quickly and easily
filled by a charge of cartridges this I effect by a cartridge frame or cramp of
improved construction which carries a certain number of cartridges.
This frame fits into a suitable recess on the upper part of the breech opening
over the magazine in such a manner that its lower edge is parallel to the side ribs
on the top of the magazine.
The construction of this frame or cramp is as follows:-
The rearward portion is constructed of a trough form having suitable ledges or
shoulders behind which the rims of the cartridges engage.
The material to be used may be of steel, iron, tin, or other equivalent metal,

page_text: There are two projections forced in from the backs of the trough shaped end at
the top and bottom so as to form a certain amount of resistance which shall bear
upon the backs of the cartridges to prevent them from falling out of the cramp.
The front end is constructed of a deep trough form of such a shape as to tightly
embrace the forward ends of the cartridges, that is the end where the bullet is
situated.
The forward and backward portions of the cramp are connected to one another,
a certain distance apart, by two bridges, one being situated on the top right hand
side and the other on the bottom left hand side or vice-versa.
The object of this disposition of the connecting bridges is to provide means for
discharging the cartridges from the cramp by finger pressure.
The edges of the forward end of the cramp are turned over so as to form flexible
lips embracing the uppermost and lowermost cartridges to further prevent their
disengagement from the frame or cramp.
It is obvious from the description that the discharge of the cartridges from the
frame or cramp may be made from either one side or the other as both ends are
constructed alike.
This cramp can only be used for filling the magazine when the latter is attached
to the rifle as it is held in the right position in the rifle above the magazine without
the cramp touching the magazine in any way whatever. On the forward end of
the cramp a rib having bevelled ends is provided in order to stiffen the trough
shaped end and also to form an inclined surface which forces the frame or cramp
from the breech chamber of the gun should the breech bolt be pushed forward
when the cramp is engaged therein. Another advantage of this form of cramp is
that the empty cramp may be placed upon the rifle and the contents of the full
magazine automatically ejected from the same into the cramp by the rifleman
withdrawing the spring pressed projections thus allowing the cartridge rims to pass.
Dated 28th day of August 1890.
FELL & WILDING,
1, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Magazine Fire-arms.
I, CHARLES KRNKA, of 101 Leadenhall Street in the City of London, Manu-
facturer 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 improvements in the construction of magazines for carry-
ing cartridges such as are attached to rifles or guns to render them self-loading or
as it is termed "repeating" and to improved means for attaching the same to the
rifle or gun and also relates to an improved device or cramp whereby the magazines
are easily filled with packets of cartridges of five, six, or any other suitable number.
It has been the custom to arrange spring lips upon each side of the magazine in
order to allow of single cartridges or whole packets of cartridges to be pressed
downwards into the magazine horizontally at the same time retaining the cartridges
within the magazine until pushed out by the breech bolt cylinder.
These devices fulfilled all the purposes for which they were designed but had
the following disadvantages viz.:-as the breech bolt cylinder has to push the
cartridge out of the magazine, the bolt must necessarily enter somewhat into the
opening of the magazine which therefore can only be narrowed within certain
limits consequently the elastic sides or spring lips will only grasp the cartridge to a
very small extent."
As in every case the cartridges are pressed upwards by the magazine spring,

page_text: figures marked thereon. Like letters refer to like parts throughout the figures.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the magazine arranged within the gun.
Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section.
Figure 3 is a plan.
Figure 4 is a back elevation.
Figure 5 is a front elevation.
Figure 6 is a side elevation of my improved cartridge cramp.
The magazine is made of sufficiently strong and stiff material such as steel
or other equivalent material so that there is no elastic action in its sides whatever.
The opening at the top of the magazine is narrowed by two ribs o a preferably
produced by bending over the sides of the magazine inwards towards one another.
These ribs a are of such a width as to absolutely prevent the rims of the cartridges
from being pressed through the space between them. At the rear end of the
magazine these ribs a a are cut away to the extent of about double the thickness of
the cartridge rim, so as to allow of the cartridge passing into the magazine, the
rims passing through at the before mentioned openings allowed for by the shorten-
ing of the ribs a, the front part of the cartridge passing through the opening
between the two ribs a, which is of such a dimension as to permit the passage of
this part of the cartridge with ease.
Upon the rear end of the magazine I provide a flat spring B preferably attached
to the lower end by means of screws or other equivalent fastenings. Upon the
upper part of the spring B I provide two projections which extend into the
space formed by the shortening of the said ribs. The upper faces of these pro-
jections are bevelled and the under faces are slightly undercut. The object of this
is that when the cartridge is forced into the magazine the forward face of the rim
engages against the end of the ribs a while the rearward face engages with the
bevelled face of the projections 6 (see Figure 1) and forces back the spring B until
the cartridge is pushed low enough for the undercut faces of the projections to
engage over the top of the rim, the spring B at the back of course then retaining
its normal position, pushing the rim of the cartridge underneath the projecting
ribs a on the magazine, (see Figure 2).
b
By these means it is obvious that the feed spring of the magazine is prevented
from pushing the cartridges out, even supposing that the magazine should be
dropped upon the ground or receive a sharp blow.
The top cartridge when the magazine is in position for repeat firing is in a
position for the breech bolt to force it along beneath the side lips a of the magazine
into the breech of the gun.
The upper end of the retaining spring B at the back is therefore formed with a
semi-circular recess between the projecting catches & in order to allow the breech
bolt or a projection on the same to engage with the upper part of the rim or rear
end of the cartridge in order to force it along the top of the magazine into the
breech of the gun.
It is evident that this arrangement may also be used for cartridges that have no
rims in which case it will be necessary to shorten the projections on the retain-
ing spring B. The functions of the spring B and projections will then be to
press against the end of the uppermost cartridge so that its rear end (which must in
all cases be thicker than the forward end) is placed below the side ribs on the top
of the magazine. The projections and the spring B may be formed in one piece

page_text: or the projections o may equivalently be mounted upon a muge and acted upon by
a suitable spring.
In order to feed the cartridges into the magazine singly it is only necessary that
the rearmost end of the cartridge be pressed into the space between the end of the
ribs a and the projection bon the spring B without pressing in any way on the front
part of the cartridge, as such front end must be somewhat raised, when the rim is
pressed down, in consequence of the particular form of the space through which the
rim passes.
The magazines of repeating fire-arms are usually arranged with double steps upon
the rear end by which two positions of the magazine may be maintained in the rifle,
the first or uppermost being that for repeat firing, so that the breech bolt shall
push the uppermost cartridge into the breech; and secondly, the lower position into
which the magazine is lowered so that the breech bolt does not come in contact
with the top of the cartridge at all, the latter position being used in single firing.
No provision however has yet been made to retain the magazine in one position or
the other when shouldering the rifle or lifting it by the magazine, the consequence
being that immediately any pressure is applied from beneath, the magazine is forced
up into its uppermost position and retained there by the catch 2. In order to over-
come this disadvantage I provide a double stepped stop cc' mounted upon the
spring C at the forward end of the magazine, the upper faces of the steps engaging
with the lower edge of the shoe-plate or other convenient part.
When now the magazine is in its lower position, and it is necessary to raise it
into the upper one the front spring catch or stop e must be pressed inwards to allow
the edge of the step passing the edge of the shoe-plate; the edge of the shoe-plate
engaging with the edge on the second step c¹ of the spring stop. It is clear that
the magazine cannot be pushed into the upper position unless the spring catch is
operated; and further the movement and rattling of the magazine within its recess is
prevented. I may equivalently apply a similar spring pressed. stop to the sides of
the magazine to further prevent movement.
In repeat firing it is very important that the magazine shall be quickly and easily
filled by a charge of cartridges. This I effect by a cartridge frame or cramp F
Figure 6, of improved construction which carries a certain number of cartridges.
This frame F fits into a suitable recess on the upper part of the breech opening over
the magazine, in such a manner that its lower edge is parallel to the side ribs a
on the top of the magazine. The construction of this frame or cramp is as
follows:-
The rearward portion is constructed of a trough form, having suitable ledges or
shoulders behind which the rims of the cartridges engage. The material to be used
may be of steel, iron, tin, or other equivalent metal. There are two projections
forced in from the backs of the trough shaped end at the top and bottom
so as to form a certain amount of resistance which shall bear upon the backs of the
cartridges to prevent them from falling out of the cramp. The front end is
constructed of a deep trough form of such a shape as to tightly embrace the
forward ends of the cartridges, that is the end where the bullet is situated. The
forward and backward portions of the cramp are connected to one another, a certain
distance apart by two bridges f¹ f¹, one being situated on the top right hand side,
and the other on bottom left hand side or vice versa. The object of this disposition
of the connecting bridges is to provide means for discharging the cartridges from
the cramp by finger pressure, and to allow of such discharge being made from either
one end or the other as both ends are constructed alike. The edges of the forward
end of the cramp are turned over so as to form flexible lips embracing the upper-
most and lowermost cartridges, to further prevent their disengagement from the
frame or cramp.
This cramp can only be used for filling the magazine when the latter is attached
to the rifle, as it is held in the right position in the rifle above the magazine without
the cramp touching the magazine in any way whatever. On the forward end of the
cramp a rib having bevelled ends is provided in order to stiffen the trough shaped

page_text: end and also to form an inclined surface which forces the frame or cramp from
the breech chamber of the gun should the breech bolt be pushed forward when the
cramp is engaged therein. Another advantage of this form of cramp is that the
empty cramp may be placed upon the rifle, and the contents of the full magazine
automatically ejected from the same into the cramp F, by the rifleman with-
drawing the spring pressed projections 6 of the magazine thus allowing the cartridge
rims to pass.
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. A magazine for breech bolt repeating rifles having rigid ribs narrowing part
of the mouth of the magazine so that the thickened rear end or rim of the cartridge,
cannot pass through the space between the said ribs but can pass through the rear-
most part of the mouth over which the ribs do not extend, which opening is closed
by a recessed spring having projections engaging over the base of the cartridge as
and for the purposes described.
2. In such a magazine, a spring having two forward projections the distance
between which, is less than the thickest part of the cartridge and which is recessed
so that the breech bolt or corresponding part can strike the base of the cartridge or
rim between the projection of the said engaging spring.
3. In a removable cartridge magazine as claimed in Claim 1, the arrangement of
catches or stops which resting against the underface of the shoe of the breech bolt
prevent the clattering of the magazine and retain it in a definite position such stops
may be spring fastened and stepped, if the magazine is to be lowered or raised.
4. A cartridge frame or cramp for filling and employing the magazine, having
embossed grooves fitting to the ribs, so that the bases of the cartridges are always
placed over the projections of the magazine spring.
5. A cartridge frame having a bevelled or rounded off front so that after insertion
and emptying it is pushed forward, lifted and ejected by the breech bolt
cylinder.
noth are of Ma 1901
FELL & WILDING,
1, Queen Victoria Street, E.C.