Improvements in Magazine Small Arms.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Jan., 1892-Accepted, 11th June, 1892
[Communicated from abroad by BERTHA KUPHAL, of No. 22, Wilhelmstrasse,
Stettin, Germany, Spinster.]
Improvements in Magazine Small Arms.
1 EDWARD TURNER WHITELOW of No. 70 Deansgate Manchester in the
County of Lancaster, Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent, 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 said invention relates to an improved construction of magazine fire arm in
which the opening of the breech, the removal of the discharged cartridge case, the
introduction of a fresh cartridge and the closing of the breech is effected auto-
matically so that after having put in the first cartridge by hand the person using
the weapon need not after the first shot do more than pull the trigger so long as
any cartridges remain in the magazine. A firearm made in accordance with my
said invention and in the form of an automatic repeating pistol is particularly
adapted for use in place of a revolver compared with which it presents the
advantages of simpler construction, the power of firing a greater number of shots
in succession, and the absence of a cylinder. The latter advantage in combination
with the covered position of all the parts of the lock renders the weapon handier
for use.
The absence on the part of the user of all effort for loading contributes
materially to accuracy of shooting which is further enhanced by the more complete
utilization of the gases arising from the explosion of the charge.
In order that my said invention may be more clearly understood I will describe
the same with reference to the accompanying drawings in which
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of an automatically loading repeating pistol
showing the parts in position for firing and the hammer cocked.
Fig. 2 represents the parts of the mechanism in action immediately after a shot
has been fired when the breech is open, the hammer in the rearmost position, the
empty case thrown out, the new cartridge released but not yet raised.
Fig. 3 is a cross section of part of the lock.
Fig. 4 illustrates the top of the magazine.
Fig. 5 is a cross section of the magazine.
Fig. 6 represents the breech block or cover.
Fig. 7 shows the hammer.
Fig. 8 shows the extractor.
Fig. 9 shows the tumbler.
Fig. 10 represents the muzzle end of the barrel with a prolongation A' at the
moment when the muzzle tumbler F (to be hereinafter described) is in its most
forward position.
Fig. 11 is a cross section through x y of Fig. 1 in which the muzzle tumbler F is
horizontal.
Fig. 12 is a back view of a cartridge magazine with two rows of cartridges.
In all the figures the same letters refer to the same parts or to parts having the
Fig. 9 shows the tumbler.
Fig. 10 represents the muzzle end of the barrel with a prolongation A' at the
moment when the muzzle tumbler F (to be hereinafter described) is in its most
forward position.
Fig. 11 is a cross section through x y of Fig. 1 in which the muzzle tumbler F is
horizontal.
Fig. 12 is a back view of a cartridge magazine with two rows of cartridges.
In all the figures the same letters refer to the same parts or to parts having the
same functions.
The lock is constructed as follows. The barrel A the lock chamber B and the
stock R form a single piece. In the lock chamber are pivoted all the working
parts of the lock. The top part of the lock chamber is cut away to the extent of
about one half in order to allow the breech block free movement. Immediately
behind the breech end of the barrel are two notches 6 for receiving the lugs c¹ of
the breech block (Fig. 6). The fore part of the lock chamber is also cut out to
1

page_text: permit the passage of the tumbler L, the trigger and the fixing of the trigger guard.
The parts of the lock are arranged on the left side of the lock case so that their
movements are not impeded by the cartridge magazine.
The magazine H which is interchangeable is open at the front and ends and when
full is placed in the hollow stock. The magazine is charged at the top from behind
and the cartridges are prevented from falling out at the bottom by the sides being
somewhat contracted there while the two grooves which receive the flanges of
cartridges prevent the latter from falling out at the front. The top of the magazine
has at the front a narrow bridge against which the bullet point of the first
cartridge bears while the other end of the cartridge bears against the strips ²
which are bent inwards. There is an opening in the back as seen in Fig. 4 for the
insertion of the cartridges. The sides extend upwards and curve slightly inwards
to form the jaw shaped parts h³ which hold the cartridges when released from the
magazine in front of the firing chamber until they are pushed home by the action
of the breech block.
W is the magazine spring bearing against the bottom of the stock and held in
its proper position by the guide strips w taking into suitable notches in the spring.
The magazine is introduced when the breech is open and is pressed so far down-
wards on the spring W that the bridge can be pushed under a projection 6' of
the lock case.
The resilience of the magazine spring then prevents the release of
the magazine. The delivery of the top cartridge for cach shot is effected by its
being slid backwards until it clears the strips 2 and the bridge ' so that it may be
elevated by the magazine spring. This sliding movement is imparted by the
backward stroke of the extractor.
Fig. 12 shows a form of magazine containing two rows of cartridges fitting into
each other. The sides of this magazine approach each other at the top so as to
release the cartridges one by one. The rear end is left partly open as shown in
Fig. 12 while the front end is entirely closed. The notches w of the magazine
spring Ware in this magazine arranged to slide along the edges of the opening at
the rear end of the magazine. In all other respects this double magazine is similar
to the single one already described.
The muzzle of the barrel A has a prolongation A¹ of section the horizontal
diameter of which is rather greater than the bore of the barrel. At the bottom of
this prolongation which is quite open is the muzzle tumbler F pivoted by the axis
pin to the draw rod E. The resilience of a spring f' continually tends to bring
the muzzle tumbler F into the position shown in Fig. 1.
If now the fired bullet passes along the prolongation A indicated in Fig. 1 the
front part of the muzzle tumbler F which presents a greater surface than the back
part is depressed by the gases until it is at right angles to the draw rod E. The
free passage of the gases is prevented by means of the back arm of the muzzle
tumbler and in order to escape they must push forward the muzzle tumbler into
the position shown in Fig. 10. The latter movement (during which the projecting
ends of the axis pin f slide in the guiding slot ) is utilized for actuating the breech
closing mechanism. The hook of the draw rod E takes against the round boss / of
the tumbler L. which is provided with two flats so disposed with regard to the
bearing point of the draw rod that the boss may be simply locked in a round
bearing g of the trigger guard g and the tumbler L which is put in the lock
chamber at the right hand of the hammer and bears against the nose d' thereof may
always bear downwards.
The trigger guard G which serves as a spring is preferably only fastened at one
point G to the lock chamber B. The front part springs outwards and is provided
with a round bearing g for the boss of the tumbler L. The bearing g* has at
the back of the top part a notch to allow the draw rod E to pull direct on the
tumbler L.
On a shot being fired the explosive gases acting on the muzzle tumbler Ę drive
this and the draw rod forwards. By this means power is stored up in the spring

page_text: trigger guard (which together with the tumbler L is drawn forwards by the draw
rod) for operating the mechanism.
The extractor P which may be formed so as to act on one or both sides of the
cartridge is pivoted on the axis pin v. The bottom arm p takes against an
excentrically curved surface at the bottom of the hammer so that on the opening
of the breech the upper arm of the extractor slowly recedes and withdraws the
empty case. In the upper part of the extractor the trigger M is pivoted. A
spring attached to the front edge of the ejector continually presses the trigger
forwards. At the right hand of the trigger a fixed safety trigger Z may be placed
to prevent the tumbler being unintentionally released when the breech is open. In
the latter position the trigger will be behind the safety trigger Z as shown in
Fig. 2. At the back spring of the trigger guard G after a shot has been fired the
hook of the draw bar presses against the projection m' of the trigger (over which it
slips during the forward spring) and forcing backwards the trigger and with it the
extractor ejects the spent cartridge case. During the backward stroke of the
extractor the lateral projection p¹ thereon presses against the bullet of the top
cartridge and slides the latter so far back that it may be elevated by the magazine
spring. Just at the end of the backward movements just. described the projection m
of the trigger comes into contact with the upper face of the trigger slot in the lock
chamber and slips clear from the point e" of the draw hook. The extractor can
then (after the release of the top cartridge) be pushed forward by the lift of the
second cartridge the bullet of which bears against the inclined face of the lateral
projection pl. At the same time the trigger is carried forward by the extractor
and the part m acting against the bottom of the tumbler lifts the latter clear of the
stud d of the hammer. Meanwhile the projection m¹ bears on the bottom surface
of the point e2 of the draw hook. The lower arm p of the extractor may however
be dispensed with in which case the spent cartridge case will be removed by the
direct back stroke of the draw rod. The breech block C is provided with a slot e
through which passes the axis pin of the hammer. When the breech block comes
against the barrel it drops and the lugs c¹ take into the notches band the breech is
then closed. When the breech is open the breech block swings backwards and
space is thereby provided for the ejection of the spent cartridge and the entrance
of a loaded one. As the breech block swings forward the fresh cartridge is pushed
into the barrel. The breech block is actuated by the movements of the hammer D
in the following manner. The right hand stud c of the breech block takes against
the curved edge of the hammer while at the same time the left hand stud d' of the
hammer bears on the corresponding edge of the breech block. The breech block
and the hammer are continually pressed forward by the springs g and gl which may
either be combinations of the trigger guard or separate springs. ¹ is a protecting
cover attached to or solid with the breech block.
At
As the hammer is moved back from its foremost position the breech block is not
at first shifted because the studs c and d move along the concentric edges of D'
and C' but as the hammer swings further back the rising curve of the edge of the
hammer pressing against the stud c² lifts the breech block so that the lugs c¹ are
lifted clear of the notches and the stud pulls the breech block backwards.
the moment when the breech block commences to recede the upper bend of the
spring g' (which may have a bowl or roller to diminish friction) bears on the stud 6².
Its compression is thereby limited and the point alone is pressed slightly downwards
and bears only against the curved edge of the hammer. A second stud & prevents
the retreat of the spring in a backward direction. The hammer itself is pushed
backwards by the tumbler the notch of which bears at each shot on the stud d²
and is driven by the back stroke of the trigger guard the spring power of which
exceeds that of the springs g and g¹.
If now the trigger lifts the tumbler clear of the stud on the hammer the spring g
will drive the breech block towards the barrel, the released loaded cartridge will
be pressed home and the hammer will be drawn forwards by the stud c so that by

page_text: the time the breech block reaches the barrel the spring g' will again bear against
the flat heel of the hammer. The stud then bears on the rising curve of the
edge of the part C' of the breech block and pushes it down closing the breech as
in Fig. 1. The stud d then rests against the shoulder of the tumbler and holds
the hammer safe since the superior spring power of the trigger guard prevents any
further forward motion of the hammer. On the trigger being pulled the tumbler
will be lifted and on the hammer completing its forward motion the firing point
will pass through the hole of the breech block and explode the cartridge. If
desired a separate firing point may be mounted in the breech block in the ordinary
manner. The action of the whole mechanism which can now be understood after
the foregoing detailed description of the parts is as follows-
By pulling the trigger the part m raises the shoulder of the tumbler from the
stud of the hammer, the latter strikes and explodes the cartridge. The draw
rod being driven forward by the action of the explosive gases extends the spring
trigger guard and pulls the tumbler so far forwards as that the stud 2 of the
hammer slips into the notch . During the first part of this movement which is
limited by the shoulder e reaching the end of the groove a¹ the point 2 of the draw
hook has depressed the part m² of the trigger and has slipped over. Immediately
the pressure of the gases diminishes the trigger guard springs back opening the
breech and pressing both the springs and downwards and ejecting the spent
cartridge case. The latter effect is produced by the trigger being pressed forward
by the spring immediately after the hook end e has slipped over the trigger
while the flat shoulder of the trigger bears against the bottom surface of its bearing
in the ejector and so secures the trigger that the retreating draw hook e takes
with certainty against the part m' and while ejecting the spent case releases the
top cartridge from the magazine in the manner already described.
I
If the ejector is constructed with the arm p the spent case is loosened before it is
thrown out.
If it at the end of these operations the magazine is empty the breech remains
open but if otherwise the resilience of the magazine spring raises the cartridges as
before described. By means of the ejector and the trigger the tumbler is released
from the hammer stud and the breech is automatically closed when a fresh cartridge
comes opposite to the loading position.
The axis pin o which is firmly connected to the hammer carries on the outside of
the lock chamber a side lever J (Fig. 3) which partakes of all the movements
of the hammer and besides indicating its position enables the breech to be opened
for firing single shots without stretching the strong spring which constitutes the
trigger guard.
To render the arm safe to carry after loading the tumbler is raised from the
hammer stud by pulling back the trigger. The hammer is then allowed to go
slowly forward by the aid of the side lever until the stud & enters the safety
notch 3. To re-set the arm ready for use the tumbler is lifted from the hammer
stud and the side lever is drawn so far backwards that the hammer is brought at
full cock.
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―
1. A repeating fire arm provided with means for automatically ejecting the spent
cartridges reloading and closing the breech and cocking the hammer operated by
the gases resulting from the explosion of the charge acting on a tumbler at the
muzzle end of the barrel substantially as hereinbefore described and shown.
2. In a repeating fire arm operated in the manner referred to in Claim: No. 1 the
use combination and arrangement of the resilient trigger guard G acting as a
storage spring the tumbler L the hammer D the breech block C the extractor P
the magazine H and the side lever J the whole operated by the alternate expansion

page_text: and contraction of the trigger guard substantially as and for the purpose herein-
before described and shown.
3. A cartridge magazine having the bridge ¹ the jaws ³ the contractions h³ and
the rim guides h substantially as hereinbefore described and shown.
Dated this 23rd day of January 1892.
EDWARD TURNER WHITELOW.