cturer of Fire Arms
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Feb., 1887.
Complete Left, 2nd June, 1887.
Complete Accepted, 15th July, 1887
[Communicated from abroad by ALBERT NEWTON RUSSELL and ADDISON BRILL,
Receivers of E. Remington & Sons, Manufacturers of Fire Arms &c. and both resi-
dent at Ilion, County of Herkimer, State of New York, United States of America.]
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT, of 323 High Holborn, in the county of Middlesex
M.L.M.E. do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to that class of firearms known as "bolt-guns," and more
especially to those which have a magazine arranged to feed the cartridges sidewise up
through an opening in the bottom of the receiver, from whence they are shoved for-
ward by the bolt into the chamber of the barrel; and the invention consists in a
number of improvements, hereinafter specified. The first part of the invention relates
to the construction of the bolt and its attachments, the object being to so construct
and arrange these parts as to facilitate the mounting and dismounting of the same.
For this purpose the bolt is constructed in two parts, the main portion being provided
with the usual top rib, and preferably, though not necessarily, with a lug, on the
opposite side, to engage in a recess in the receiver to assist in locking the bolt securely
in place when the breech is closed. The other portion of the bolt consists of a nose-
piece, this nose-piece, at its front end, being made of a diameter corresponding with
that of the bolt but having its body reduced in diameter, so as to fit within the front
end of the bolt, which is made tubular to receive it. On the upper side of this nose-
piece there is a laterally-projecting flange which, when the bolt is in position in the
gun, will project upward in rear of the chamber in the barrel, to serve as a gas check
or deflector, and thus prevent the gas from a defective cartridge from being forced

page_text: back into the face of the soldier or person using the gun. The nose-piece is connected
to the bolt in such a manner that it is caused to move to and fro with the bolt, but
does not turn with the bolt, by forming an annular groove in the exterior surface of
the nose-piece with a longitudinal groove extending backward to the rear end. A pin
is inserted through the wall of the bolt in such a position that when the nose-piece has
its stem inserted into the bolt the end of the pin will enter the longitudinal part of the
groove and pass into the annular portion as the nose-piece is shoved back, and then
turned partly over, thus forming what may be termed a "bayonet-joint," by which the
nose is secured to the bolt in such a manner as to be moved with it as the bolt is
shoved forward or drawn back, but is free to remain stationary when the bolt is turned
to lock or unlock it. The firearm has a rigid extractor, the body of which consists of
a solid piece of metal hollowed out longitudinally, so as to fit upon
the exterior of the
bolt like a sleeve, for about one-fourth of the circumference of the bolt. On its under
side it has a transverse groove, to engage with a corresponding lug or projection on
the top of the bolt by which it is secured to the bolt in such a manner as to cause it to
move to and fro with the bolt, but permit the bolt to be turned independently of the
extractor, the same as in the case of the nose-piece, as already explained. At its front
the body has an offset or shoulder from which a rigid hook projects forward, the inner
face of this hook, at its forward end, being beveled, to cause it to ride up over the
flange of the cartridge when thrust forward by the closing of the breech, there being
a recess formed in the rear end of the barrel for this hook to enter.
On the underside of the arm or hook near the body there is a projection which,
when the parts are put together, rests in a recess, on the side of the nose piece, thus
serving to lock the extractor and nose piece together, so that they cannot rotate
independently of each other. The prime object of this projection, however, is to form
a gas check to prevent the passage of any gas backward at that point, this projection
occupying a position transversely in line with the gas deflector. The rib on the top of
the bolt is undercut, and the rear end, of the body of the extractor, is extended back
a corresponding distance, this extended portion being of a width equal to that of the
rib of the bolt, and of such a thickness as to fit in the undercut, so that when the bolt
is turned to the right, or into the locked position, the end of the rib will rest over or
upon this rearwardly-extended portion of the extractor, thus holding it down upon the
bolt.. The top of the rib is recessed or cut out, and has a pin, passed through it
transversely. Upon the top of the rib a very stiff spring is placed, there being formed
on the under face of this spring a hook-shaped lug, which, when the spring is forced
back, engages under said pin, thereby locking the spring securely in place.
The front end of the spring is provided on its underside with a projection, which
bears upon the extractor and rests in front of the projection on the extractor, when the
bolt is turned to the unlocked position, the projection being simply to add strength at
that point..
It will be observed that the extractor hook always rests upon the upper edge of the
right-hand wall of the receiver and slides back and forth thereon, while the spring at
the time the bolt is thrust forward to close the breech, rests against the left-hand side
or portion of the body and is in line with the hook only when the bolt is turned to the
locked position.
It will also be observed that the width of the deflector and the hook combined is
just sufficient to fill transversely the opening in the top of the receiver and hence the
nose piece with its gas-deflector, and the extractor are prevented from partaking of the
rotary motion of the bolt, but are free to move with the bolt to and fro in a right line.
The shoulder of the extractor also serves as a stop to limit the backward movement of
the bolt by striking against the rear shoulder on the right hand wall of the receiver.
At the rear end of the extractor spring a portion is cut away for about one half the
width of the spring thus leaving a small notch or space for the purpose of permitting
the insertion of the point of the screw driver, (which accompanies each gun) and by
which the spring can be pried or forced forward until the hook or lug is disengaged
from the pin when the spring can be removed. When this spring is removed and the

page_text: bolt slightly retracted, the extractor can be lifted out, and when that is done the
deflector can be turned to the right until its end rests on the wall of the receiver, when
the nose-piece can be drawn forward and disengaged from the bolt, when the latter is
free to be drawn backward out of the receiver.
The firing pin consists of a rod extending through the centre of the bolt its entire
length and projecting slightly at the rear end, where it is secured to the cocking piece
by a flanged nut, the firing pin being provided with a screw thread at its rear end, so
that by turning the nut the point of the firing pin can also be adjusted as desired. In
order to lock this nut in position after the firing pin has been adjusted and prevent it
from being accidentally turned by the jar or concussion, it has a hole bored through its
flange in line with a pin which projects from the rear end of the cocking-piece, so that
when the firing pin is pressed back the nut can be turned until the firing pin is
adjusted, after which it is only necessary to bring the hole in the nut in line with the
pin, when the pressure of the spring will draw the nut firmly against the rear end of
the cocking piece causing the pin to enter the hole in the flange of the nut.
The mainspring rests at its rear end against an annular shoulder formed within the
bolt by counterboring the same from the front back to that point, and at the front the
spring bears against a collar on the firing pin. Another shoulder is formed within
the bolt at the point to which the collar is drawn back when the gun is at full cock,
by boring the bolt out from the front, back to that point the collar being of such a
diameter as to permit it to slide freely within this enlarged bore. In order to prevent
the possibility of an accidental explosion by the protrusion of the point of the firing
pin when the bolt is shoved forward, a pin passes through the wall of the bolt at a
point in line with the front edge of the collar when the point of the firing pin is drawn
back even with the front end of the nose piece, or a little more, this pin thus forming
a stop against which the collar may rest, thus holding the firing pin back, so that its
point cannot protrude beyond the face of the bolt at any time except when the bolt is
in the locked position ready for firing.
To enable the collar to pass the pin or stop as is necessary when the gun is to be
fired, a slot or opening is cut through the collar on one side, so that when the bolt is
turned to the locked position the pin or stud will be brought into line with this slot,
when of course the firing pin will be free to move forward as far as may be necessary
to ignite the charge.
In order to hold the firing pin from turning, and thus be sure that this slot shall
always be in its proper position in line with the pin at the time of firing a longitudinal
groove is formed in one side of the firing pin, at its rear end, and a guide pin inserted
through the wall of the cocking piece, so its inner end will rest in the groove thus
preventing the firing pin from turning, but leaving it free to slide forward and back.
The cocking piece is a short tubular piece fitted against the rear end of the bolt, and
is provided with an enlargement or flange at its rear end, by which it can be drawn
back to cock the arm, or can be let down from the cocked position when desired.
its lower side it has an arm arranged to project forward along the under side of the
bolt, this arm being provided with a balf cock notch, in which the sear engages, said
sear engaging with the front end of said arm when at full cock.
At
When
The bolt is provided at its rear end with two longitudinal grooves connected
by a transverse groove in which a stud on the upper face of the arm moves.
he gun is at half cock, the lug rests in one of the grooves midway between the
nd of the bolt and the transverse groove, and thereby prevents the bolt from being
urned or unlocked while the gun is at half cock.
In order to retract the firing pin in the act of unlocking the breech-bolt, there
an incline on the arm of the cocking piece near its front end, and on the under
ide of the bolt at a corresponding point, a lug or pin is placed, so that when the
olt is turned to unlock it this pin will operate on the incline, and thus force back
he cocking piece and the firing pin connected thereto.
At the end of the incline there is a recess or notch in which the pin engages and
ests when the bolt is unlocked in order to hold the parts in position and counteract

page_text: the tendency there otherwise would be for the incline, which is forced against the
pin by the pressure of the mainspring to throw or turn the bolt back to the locked
position. The retraction of the firing-pin depends on the relative position of the
nut on the firing pin, the incline on the cocking piece or arm, and the stud on the
bolt, and by means of the nut these can be adjusted to their proper positions.
The invention includes certain modifications of the extractor and nose piece.
In one it is made in the form of a small bolt set obliquely in a hole formed in the
projecting nose of the rib, its lower front edge being beveled, so as to ride over the
Hange of the cartridge, while its rear under face is made vertical, so as to get a good
firm hold on the front side of the cartridge-flange. This extractor is seated in its hole
in the rib in such a manner that it has a free oblique movement therein far enough
to enable it to ride over the flange of the cartridge-shell, it being pressed down
by a spring, secured in a recess in the uppper side of the rib, and has its front end
resting in a hole made in or through the extractor.
In another, the extractor is modified in form, but still composed of a single rigid
piece and operates on the same general principle. In this case the body of the
extractor is formed in the segment of a circle and is seated in a correspondingly
shaped recess or groove made for it in the rib. The front end or nose of this
extractor is beveled to cause it to ride over the flange of the cartridge when the bolt
is thrust forward, the same as the one previously described, and its rear end is
connected to the free end of a spring, which is secured in the same recess in the
under side of the rib, and by the same screw as the friction-spring 2.
This self tightening style of extractor may be applied to bolt-guns in which the
bolt is made without the separate nose-piece, it only being necessary in such case
to secure to the bolt at its front end a rib, of such size as may be necessary to hold
the extractor and its spring, and arrange it so that the bolt may be turned
independently of the rib far enough to lock and unlock the bolt..
Around its lower front edge the nose piece is provided with a projecting lip,, this
lip extending about one third (more or less) of the circumference of the front end
of the nose piece and is so located that when the breech is closed it will be directly
under the flange or head of the cartridge in the chamber of the gun there being
of course a corresponding recess for it to enter.
In order to release the shell from the extractor as the bolt is retracted, the gun
is provided with the usual stud or projection located in the receiver at the proper
point for the head of the shell to strike against when it has been drawn entirely out
of the chamber of the barrel, by which it will be tipped upward, and thus be thrown
out of the arm.
Another important feature of the invention consists in certain improvements,
by which the magazine can be loaded through the receiver, and without detaching
the magazine.
The magazine, as is usual in this style of gun, is located directly under the receiver,
in such a manner as to force the cartridge, sidewise up through an opening in the
bottom of the receiver until the upper side of its head is in line with the bolt, when
the forward movement of the bolt shoves it forward into the chamber of the gun. As
heretofore constructed these magazines have been held in position by a spring catch,
but with the present improvements this spring catch may be dispensed with, and the
magazine, may be permanently secured to the arm by a pin, though either plan may
be used, as preferred.
The magazine is made without any spring detent, and without any lips along
its rear upper edge, thus leaving its mouth open the full width of the cartridge; and
the hole through the bottom of the receiver is in like manner made the full width
of a cartridge, so that the cartridges can be shoved sidewise down through, the
receiver into the magazine. In order to prevent the cartridges from being forced
out of the magazine by its spring, and to enable the cartridges to be held therein and
the gun be used as, a single loader or a magazine gun at will, the receiver has
two spring-lips. Instead, however, of arranging both of these lips in the same
5

page_text: Horizontal plane, they are so located that when the gun is arranged to use cartridges
from the magazine, one lip is lower than the other, the opposite lip being arranged
to hold the cartridge in proper position to be struck by the bolt.
The lip having its inner edge a little lower than that of the other lip, will, when
pressed inward by its spring-arm, hold the cartridge in a lower position, thus holding
it depressed out of the path of the breech-bolt. By this arrangement this lip acts
as a cut-off or stop to the magazine, the cartridges being retained therein ready
for use in an emergency, and permitting the gun in the meantime to be used as
a single-loader.
In order to press the lip back or outward far enough to release the cartridges
in the magazine, it is provided on its inner side with an incline, on which the upper
end of a lever, pivoted to the side of the magazine, operates when the lever is moved.
By drawing back the lower end of the lever, its upper end is thrown forward off
of the incline, thereby leaving the lip free to spring inward, when the lip operates
as a cut-off and prevents the cartridges from rising high enough to be struck by the
breech-bolt. By throwing the lower end of the lever forward, its upper end, acting
on the incline forces the lip outward, when the cartridges are free to rise until they
come in contact with the lip, in position to be hit by the breech-bolt and shoved
forward into the chamber of the barrel. In order to hold the lever in position,
a notch is cut in the guard plate into which the lever springs when it is thrown
forward, at which time its upper end rests against the incline of the lip, thereby
holding the lever against accidental displacement. A slide may be substituted for the
pivoted lever and be made to operate on the lip in the same manner, and the lever
or slide may be attached to the arm itself instead of to the magazine.
Instead of the lever being pivoted to the magazine, it may be pivoted to the gun,
or it may be made in the form of a slide to move to and fro and operate on the
incline.
In order to charge the magazine quickly, a number of cases are provided in which
the cartridges are to be carried, and from which they can be shoved into the magazine
when required.
These cases are cut from thin sheet metal, pasteboard, or other suitable material,
a blank of such a form that when properly bent or folded it will form a case or box.
The blank has a slot cut or punched in it in such a position that when it is bent into
the proper form to make the case, this slot will form an opening extending from near
its lower edge up one side, and nearly across the top, there being left an unbroken
strip, along the side below the slot or opening, for the purpose of strengthening
and supporting the side wall, and keeping it and the edges along the slot in position
and preventing them from being bent out of shape.
The case is preferably of a width corresponding with that of the cartridges to
be used, and of such a length as to permit the cartridges to be placed therein, resting
one upon another with their flanges overlapping, and which is the position they must
occupy in the magazine in order to be fed into the gun properly, while the top
and rear walls stand very nearly at a right angle to each other, the front wall is more
inclined, thus making the case gradually decrease in length from front to rear, from
the top downward, when measured on a line parallel with the top wall, the front wall
also being much shorter from top to bottom than the rear wall adapts it to receive
and hold the taper cartridges compactly. If, however, the cartridges be more
or less tapering than those shown, then of course the case will be modified to
correspond, the general construction, however, being the same.
At the lower end of the front wall there is an inwardly-inclined lip.
In order to retain the cartridges in the case when being transported, another
lip is secured to one side of the case, near its rear end, of such a length that it
can be bent over the cartridge next to it. Either or both of these lips may be formed
integral with the walls of the case by leaving suitable projections on the edge of
the blank when it is cut out or they may be inade separately and then be soldered
or otherwise secured to the case, as may be found most convenient in manufacture;

page_text: or,
the front and rear walls are made parallel with each other and of uniform length;
but the case is shorter from front to rear than the cartridges, so that they must occupy
a diagonal position therein, their front ends being supported by or resting on
or against the front wall, this front wall thus serving to support and retain the front
ends of the cartridges in essentially the same manner as does the lip.
The manner of transferring the cartridges from the packing-case to the magazine
is as follows. To do this it is only necessary to straighten out the lip, insert the
mouth of the case in the receiver directly over the magazine, and by inserting the
thumb in the slot, force the entire mass of cartridges directly down into the magazine
below.
11
T

page_text: Improvements in or Appertaining to Magazine Fire-arms.
A communication from ALBERT NEWTON RUSSELL and ADDISON BRILL, Receivers of
E. Remington & Sons, Manufacturers of Firearms, etc., and both resident at
Ilion, County of Herkimer, State of New York, United States of America.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
M.I.M.E. 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:-
This invention relates to that class of firearms known as
especially to those which have a magazine arranged to feed the cartridges sidewise
"bolt-guns," and more
up through an opening in the bottom of the receiver, from whence they are shoved
forward by the bolt into the chamber of the barrel; and the invention consists in
a number of improvements, hereinafter specified.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a gun, showing the breech mechanism
with the bolt partially retracted.
Figure 2 is a similar view with the breech closed.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical central section; and
Figures 5 to 29 inclusive, represent the parts in detail.
The first part of the invention relates to the construction of the bolt and its attach-
ments, the object being to so construct and arrange these parts as to facilitate the
mounting and dismounting of the same. For this purpose the bolt is constructed in
two parts, the main portion C (shown detached in Figure 7), being provided with
the usual top rib C, and preferably though not necessarily, with a
opposite side, to engage in a recess in the receiver to assist in locking the bolt securely
lug g, on the
in place when the breech is closed. The other portion of the bolt consists of a nose-
piece G, (shown detached in Figure 11), this nose-piece, at its front end being made
of a diameter corresponding with that of the bolt C, but having its body reduced in
diameter, so as to fit within the front end of the bolt, which is made tubular to receive
it, as shown in section in Figure 3. On the upper side of this nose piece G, a laterally
projecting flange G' is made as shown in Figures 6, 10 and 11, which, when the bolt
is in position in the gun, will project upward in rear of the chamber in the barrel, as
shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, to serve as a gas check or deflector, and thus prevent
he gas from a defective cartridge from being forced back into the face of the soldier
or person using the gun. The nose-piece is connected to the bolt in such a manner
hat it is caused to move to and fro with the bolt, but does not turn with the bolt.
This is accomplished by forming an annular groove h, in the exterior surface of the
ose-piece as shown in Figure 11, with a longitudinal groove extending from the
groove backward to the rear end, this groove being shown in Figure 9, and indicated
y the dotted lines in Figures 10 and 11. A pin i, (shown in section in Figure 3,

page_text: and in dotted line in Figure 6) is inserted through the wall of the bolt in such a
position that when the nose-piece has its stem inserted into the bolt the end of the pin
will enter the longitudinal part of the groove and pass into the annular portion has
the nose-piece is shoved back, and then turned partly over, thus forming what may be
termed a bayonet-joint," by which the nose is secured to the bolt in such a manner
as to be moved with it as the bolt is shoved forward or drawn back, but is free to
remain stationary when the bolt is turned to lock or unlock it.
A rigid extractor is also provided which is shown detached in Figures 8 and 12.
The body H of this extractor consists of a solid piece of metal hollowed out longi-
tudinally, so as to fit upon the exterior of the bolt C, like a sleeve, as shown in 1
Figure 1 for about one fourth of the circumference of the bolt. On its under side it
has a transverse groove a¹ to engage with a corresponding lug or projection k, on the
top of the bolt as shown in Figure 3, the lug k being shown also in Figure 7, by
which it is secured to the bolt in such a manner as to cause it to move to and fro with
the bolt, but permit the bolt to be turned independently of the extractor, the same as
in the case of the nose-piece, as already explained. At its front the body H has an
offset or shoulder m, from which a rigid hook H¹ projects forward, as represented in
Figures 1, 6, 8, and 12, the inner face of this hook, at its forward end, being beveled, as
shown, to cause it to ride up over the flange of the cartridge when thrust forward by
the closing of the breech, there being a recess formed in the rear end of the barrel for
this hook to enter, as shown in Figures 1 and 2.
On the under side of the arm or hook H', near the body a projection e' is made,
(shown in Figure 8, and by dotted lines in Figure 12,) which, when the parts are put
together, rests in a recess e", Figure 11 on the side of the nose-piece G thus serving
to lock the extractor and nose-piece together, so that they cannot rotate independently
of each other. The prime object of this projection e¹, however, is to form a gas-check
to prevent the passage of any gas backward at that point, this projection el occupying
a position transversely in line with the gas-deflector G₁. The rib C₁ on the top of
bolt C is undercut, as shown in Figures 3 and 7, and the rear end of the body H of
the extractor is extended back a corresponding distance, as shown in Figures 8 and 12,.
this extended portion being of a width equal to that of the rib C, of the bolt, and of
such a thickness as to fit in the undercut, so that when the bolt is turned to the right
or into the locked position, the end of the rib will rest over or upon this rearwardly-
extended portion of the extractor H, thus holding it down upon the bolt. The top of
the rib C is recessed or cut out, as shown in Figures 3 and 6, and has a pin ƒ passed
through it transversely as shown. Upon the top of the rib C³, a very stiff spring d is
placed, as shown in Figure 3 there being formed on the under face of this spring a
hook-shaped luge, which, when the spring is forced back, engages under said pin f,
thereby locking the spring securely in place.
The front end of the spring d is provided on its under side with a projection c¹
which bears upon the extractor H and rests in front of the projection on the
extractor, as shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, when the bolt is turned to the unlocked
position, the projection being simply to add strength at that point.
It will be observed that the extractor-hook H' always rests upon the upper edge of
the right-hand wall of the receiver A and slides back and forth thereon, while the
spring d, at the time the bolt is thrust forward to close the breech, rests against the
left-hand side or portion of the body H, and is in line with the hook H¹ only when the
bolt is turned to the locked position, it being shown in the former position in Figure 1,
and in the latter position in Figure 2.
It will also be observed that the width of the deflector G₁ and the hook H' com-
bined is just sufficient to fill transversely the opening in the top of the receiver, and
hence the nose-piece G, with its gas-deflector, and the extractor H are prevented from
partaking of the rotary motion of the bolt (, but are free to move with the bolt to
and fro in a right line. The shoulder m of the extractor also serves as a stop to limit
the backward movement of the bolt by striking against the rear shoulder on the right-
hand wall of the receiver. At the rear end of the extractor-spring d a portion is cut
away for about one-half the width of the spring, thus leaving a small notch or space
5

page_text: as shown clearly in Figures 1 and 2, for the purpose of permitting the insertion of the
point of the screw-driver, (which accompanies each gun), and by which the spring d
can be prized or forced forward until the hook or lug e is disengaged from the pin f,
when the spring can be removed. When this spring is removed and the bolt slightly
retracted, the extractor H can be lifted out, and when that is done the deflector G¹
can be turned to the right until its edge rests on the wall of the receiver, when the
nose-piece G can be drawn forward and disengaged from the bolt C, when the latter
is free to be drawn backward out of the receiver.
The firing-pin a consists of a rod extending through the centre of the bolt its entire
length, and projecting slightly at the rear end, where it is secured to the cocking-
piece D by a flanged nut b, as shown in Figure 3, the firing-pin a being provided
with a screw-thread at its rear end, so that by turning the nut b the point of the
firing-pin can also be adjusted as may be desired. In order to lock this nut 6 in
position after the firing-pin has been adjusted and prevent it from being accidentally
turned by the jar or concussion, it has a hole bored through its flange in line with a
pin c which projects from the rear end of the cocking-piece D, so that when the firing-
pin is pressed back the nut 6 can be turned until the firing-pin is adjusted, after which
it is only necessary to bring the hole in the nut in line with the pin c, when the
pressure of the spring n will draw the nut b firmly against the rear end of the
cocking-piece D, causing the piu c to enter the hole in the flange of nut b, as shown
in Figure 3.
The mainspring n rests at its rear end against an annular shoulder formed within
the bolt C by counter-boring the same from the front back to that point, and at the
front the spring bears against a collar v, on the firing-pin, as shown clearly in
Figure 3. Another shoulder a² is formed within the bolt, at the point to which the
collar v is drawn back when the gun is at full cock, by boring the bolt out from the
front back to that point, as shown in Figure 3, the collar v being of such a diameter
as to permit it to slide freely within this enlarged bore. In order to prevent the
possibility of an accidental explosion by the protrusion of the point of the firing pin
when the bolt is shoved forward, a pin is inserted, Figures 3 and 6, through the
wall of the bolt C at a point in line with the front edge of collar when the point of
the firing-pin is drawn back even with the front end of the nose-piece G, or a little
more, this pin thus forming a stop against which the collar v may rest, thus holding
the firing-pin back, so that its point cannot protrude beyond the face of the bolt at
any time except when the bolt is in the locked position ready for firing.
To enable the collar to pass the pin or stop as is necessary when the gun is to
be fired, a slot or opening v is cut through the collar on one side, as shown clearly in
Figure 14, so that when the bolt is turned to the locked position the pin or stud i³
will be brought into line with this slot vl, when of course the firing-pin will be free to
move forward as far as may be necessary to ignite the charge.
12
In order to hold the firing-pin from turning and thus be sure that this slot v² shall
always be in its proper position in line with the pin at the time of firing, a longi-
tudinal groove o is formed, in one side of the firing-pin a, at its rear end, as shown in
Figures and 13, and a guide-pin p inserted, through the wall of the cocking-
piece D, so its inner inner end will rest in the groove o, as shown in Figure 3, thus
preventing the firing-pin from turning, but leaving it free to slide forward and back.
It is obvious that the relative position of this slot o and its guide-pin, the slot in the
collar U, and the pin or stud in the bolt must be such that when the bolt is in the
locked position, ready for firing, the slot v must be in line with the pin or stud ², but
at all other times they will be out of line, and hence the firing-pin will be held back
with certainty until the bolt is shoved forward to close the breech, and it is locked fast
by turning its handle so as to cause the rear end of rib (of bolt C to engage with the
shoulder on the receiver.
The cocking-piece D shown detached in Figure 5 is a short tubular piece fitted
against the rear end of bolt C, and is provided with an enlargement or flange at
its rear end, by which it can be drawn back to cock the arm, or can be let down from.
the cocked position when desired. At its lower side it has an arm D¹ arranged to
B

page_text: project forward along the under side of the bolt C as shown in Figure 3 this arm
being provided with a half-cock notch n¹, Figure 3, in which the sear E engages,
said sear engaging with the front end of said arm D1 when at full cock.
The bolt is provided at its rear end with two longitudinal grooves, s, connected
by a transverse groove s¹, as shown in Figure 7, in which a stud u on the upper face
of arm D, Figures 3 and 5, moves. When the gun is at half-cock, the lug u rests in
one of the grooves, midway between the end of the bolt and the transverse groove s¹,
and thereby prevents the bolt from being turned or unlocked while the gun is at
half-cock.
In order to retract the firing-pin in the act of unlocking the breech-bolt, an incline t
is made on the arm D¹ of the cocking-piece, near its front end, as shown in Figure 5,
and on the under side of the bolt C, at a corresponding point, a lug or pin is located
as shown in Figure 7, so that when the bolt is turned to unlock it this pin will
operate on the incline t and thus force back the cocking-piece D and the firing pin
connected thereto.
At the end of the incline a recess or notch y is formed in which the pin j engages
and rests when the bolt is unlocked, as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 6 the
recess being clearly shown in Figure 5, the object of this recess being to hold the
parts in position and counteract the tendency there otherwise would be for the incline,
which is forced against the pin by the pressure of the mainspring, to throw or turn
the bolt back to the locked position. The retraction of the firing-pin depends on the
relative position of the nut b on the firing-pin, the incline t on the cocking piece or
arm D, and the stud j on the bolt C, and by means of the nut b these can be adjusted
to their proper positions.
In order to remove the firing pin and the cocking-piece from the bolt, it is only
necessary after the bolt has been removed from the gun, to press against the front end
of the firing pin and force it back far enough to disengage the flange of nut 6 from
the pin c of the cocking-piece, when the nut can be unscrewed from the firing-pin,
and all are then free to be taken apart, and that without the aid of any tools whatever.
Thus it will be seen that the entire breech mechanism, consisting of the bolt, its nose-
piece, the extractor, firing-pin, mainspring, and cocking-piece, can be dismounted or
assembled without the use of any tool, except a screw-driver, jack-knife, or any similar
implement to loosen the spring d, as previously explained.
In Figures 15 to 19 inclusive, certain modifications of the extractor and nose-piece
have been shown. In Figures 15 and 16 the extractor H is made in the form of a
small bolt set obliquely in a hole formed in the projecting nose of rib C², its lower
front edge being beveled so as to ride over the flange of the cartridge, while its rear
under face is made vertical, so as to get a good firm hold on the front side of the
cartridge-flange, as illustrated in Figure 16. This extractor is seated in its hole in
the rib in such a manner that it has a free oblique movement therein far enough to
enable it to ride over the flange of the cartridge-shell, it being pressed down by a
spring d¹, secured in a recess in the upper side of rib C2, and has its front end resting
in a hole made in or through the extractor H as shown in Figure 16. It will be
observed that the position of the extractor H is such that when force is applied to
extract the cartridge-shell the extractor will be bound in its hole, because the force
.exerted will be at right angles, or nearly so, to its axial line, and this, together with
the force exerted by the spring, will cause it to take and keep a good firm hold on the
cartridge, and as the extractor itself is a single solid rigid piece and is held by the
rigid rib C2, which is securely locked to the bolt C by the lug k, it will be seen that a
most efficient and very strong extractor can thus be produced, and one that is not
liable to break or get out of order.
In Figure 19 the extractor is shown modified in form, but still composed of a single
rigid piece and operating on the same general principle. In this case the body of the
extractor is formed in the segment of a circle, and is seated in a correspondingly-
shaped recess or groove made for it in the rib 02, as shown in Figure 19. The front
end or nose of this extractor H is beveled to cause it to ride over the flange of the
cartridge when the bolt is thrust forward, the same as the one previously described,

page_text: and its rear end is connected to the free end of a spring d², which is secured in the
same recess in the under side of rib C, and by the same screw as the friction
spring 2 as clearly shown in Figure 19. With these parts thus constructed and
arranged it will be seen that when the breech-bolt C is thrust forward to close the
breech of the gun, the lower beveled nose of this extractor will strike against the
rear face of the flange of the shell in such a manner as to cause. the extractor to
move backward in its curved seat, at the same time pressing down the front end of
the spring d, and thus permit the nose of the extractor to rise and ride over the
flange of the cartridge-shell, and that the instant the vertical face of the hook of the
extractor has passed to the front side of the flange of the shell the spring d¹ acting
to force the extractor forward in its seat, will throw its front end down, and thus
cause it to engage with the flange of the cartridge-shell. If, now, when the parts
are in this position, the bolt be pulled backward, the strain brought to bear upon the
flange by the hook of the extractor will tend to pull the extractor in a right line
forward, and that it cannot thus move, because of its curved form and curved seat.
If it moves at all it must move in a curved path, which will simply force the hooked
end more firmly down in front of the flange of the shell, and as the lower edge of
the flange rests on and is firmly supported by the lip w it will be seen that the force
exerted will cause the extractor to tighten its hold upon the cartridge shell. The
same is true also of the extractor shown in Figure 16 for the pull upon it, in drawing
back the bolt, will tend to pull the extractor downward, if it moves at all in its seat,
because of its inclined position, and thus it, too, will be made to grasp the shell still
more firmly, the shell at such time being firmly supported by the lip w, so that it
cannot move or slip away from the extractor, as shown by its position in Figure 16.
It is of course obvious that this self-tightening style of extractor may be applied to
bolt-guns in which the bolt is made without the separate nose-piece, it only being
necessary in such case to secure to the bolt at its front end a rib 02, of such size as
may be necessary to hold the extractor and its spring, and arrange it so that the bolt
may be turned independently of the rib far enough to lock and unlock the bolt;
but it is preferable to use the separate nose-piece, substantially as shown and
described.
Around its lower front edge the nose-piece G is provided with a projecting lip w,
as shown clearly in Figures 16, 17, 18, 19, this lip extending about one third (more
or less) of the circumference of the front end of the nose-piece, and is so located that
when the breech is closed it will be directly under the flange or head of the cartridge
in the chamber of the gun, there being of course a corresponding recess for it to
enter. The object of this lip is twofold-first, to serve as a gas-check and prevent
the gas from a defective cartridge from passing down among the cartridges in the
magazine below, in case one be used, and, second, as a support for the head of a
cartridge-shell against the pressure of the extractor above.
In order to release the shell from the extractor as the bolt is retracted, the gun is
provided with the usual stud or projection located in the receiver at the proper point
for the head of the shell to strike against when it has been drawn entirely out of the
chamber of the barrel, by which it will be tipped upward, as shown in Figure 16, and
thus be thrown out of the arm. This stud is shown in Figure 16 projecting from
the inner face of the left-hand wall of the receiver just on a line with the upper edge
of the lip w, there being of course a small groove in the side of the bolt and nose-
piece, as shown at o³, Figures 17 and 18, to permit the bolt to pass this stud w¹.
Another important feature of the invention consists in certain improvements by
which the magazine can be loaded through the receiver, and without detaching the
magazine.
The magazino M, as is usual in this style of gun, is located directly under the
receiver, in such a manner as to force the cartridge sidewise up through an opening
in the bottom of the receiver until the upper side of its head is in line with the bolt,
when the forward movement of the bolt shoves it forward into the chamber of the
gun. As heretofore constructed these magazines have been held in position by a
spring catch m³, as shown in Figure 3; but with the present improvements this

page_text: spring-catch may be dispensed with, and the magazine may be permanently secured
to the arm by a pin o', as shown in Figure 20, though either plan may be used, as
preferred.
The magazine M is made without any spring-detent, and without any lips along its
rear upper edge thus leaving its mouth open the full width of the cartridge; and the
hole through the bottom of the receiver is in like manner made the full width of a
cartridge, so that the cartridges can be shoved sidewise down through the receiver
into the magazine, as illustrated in Figure 29.
In order to prevent the cartridges from being forced out of the magazine by its
spring, and to enable the cartridges to be held therein, and the gun be used as a single
loader or a magazine gun at will, the receiver is provided with two spring lips P
and P1, as shown more clearly in Figures 22 and 23. Instead, however, of arranging
both of these lips in the same horizontal plane, they are so located that when the gun
is arranged to use cartridges from the magazine M, the lip P¹ is lower than the lip P
as shown in Figure 23, the opposite lip P. being arranged to hold the cartridge in
proper position to be struck by the bolt, as is also shown in Figure 23, in which it
will be seen that the upper edge of the topmost cartridge intersects the annular space
in which the breech-bolt moves to and fro in the receiver.
The lip P, having its inner edge a little lower than that of lip P will, when pressed
inward by its spring-arm, hold the cartridge in a lower position as represented in
Figure 22, thus holding it depressed out of the path of the breech-bolt. By this
arrangement this lip Pacts as a cut-off or stop to the magazine, the cartridges being
retained therein ready for use in an emergency, and permitting the gun in the
meantime to be used as a single-loader.
In order to press the lip P¹ back or outward far enough to release the cartridges
in the magazine it is provided on its inner side with an incline b, as shown in
Figure 21, on which the upper end of a lever L, pivoted to the side of the magazine,
operates when the lever is moved. By drawing back the lower end of lever L its
upper end is thrown forward off of the incline bas represented in Figure 21, thereby
leaving the lip P free to spring inward to the position shown in Figure 22, when the
lip operates as a cut-off and prevents the cartridges from rising high enough to be
struck by the breech-bolt. By throwing the lower end of the lever L forward its
upper end, acting on the incline b forces the lip P outward to the position shown in
Figure 23, when the cartridges are free to rise until they come in contact with the
lip P, in position to be hit by the breech-bolt and shoved forward into the chamber
of the barrel. In order to hold the lever in position, a notch n is cut in the guard-
plate, as shown in Figure 24, into which the lever springs when it is thrown forward,
at which time its upper end rests against the incline of the lip P¹, thereby holding
the lever against accidental displacement. As shown in Figures 22 and 23, this
lever L is made thin enough to permit it to be sprung sidewise to disengage it from
the notch, and as shown it is slightly curved outward from the side of the magazine,
to, permit it to be thus operated and cause it to automatically spring into the notch
when shoved forward.
It is obvious that a slide may be substituted for the pivoted lever and be made to
operate on the lip P' in the same manner, and the lever or slide may be attached to
the arm itself, instead of to the magazine, as will be readily understood by those skilled
in the art.
It will be readily seen that with this improvement the magazine can be loaded the
same as the gun heretofore described, that is, by means of the packing-case or by
putting the cartridges in singly by hand, the spring-lips in this case yielding to
permit the cartridges to pass down through the receiver into the magazine below.
While the lever L has been shown as being pivoted to the magazine, it is obvious
that it may be pivoted to the gun instead, or that it may be made in the form of a
slide to move to and fro and operate on the incline; it being merely a matter of choice
for the mechanic as to the form of the device to be used for that purpose.
The advantages of this improvement will be apparent to any one familiar with this
class of firearms.

page_text: In order to charge the magazine quickly a number of cases are provided in which
the cartridges are to be carried, and from which they can be shoved into the magazine
when required.
To construct a packing-case on this plan, from thin sheet metal, pasteboard, or other
suitable material a blank is cut of such a form that when properly bent or folded it
will form a case or box, such as shown in Figures 25, 26, 27, and 28. The blank has
a slot J cut or punched in it in such a position that when it is bent into the proper
form to make the case J this slot J2 will form an opening extending from near its
lower edge up one side, as shown in Figure 25, and nearly across the top, as shown in
Figure 26, there being left an unbroken strip, J, along the side below the slot or
opening for the purpose of strengthening and supporting the side wall, and keeping
it and the edges along the slot in position, and preventing them from being bent out
of shape; and as these cases are designed to be made of the lightest material that
will answer, this is considered an important feature.
The shape of the case which is preferred is that shown in Figures 26 and 27, it
being of a width corresponding with that of the cartridges to be used, (and which
varies with different guns) and of such a length as to permit the cartridges to be
placed therein resting one upon another, with their flanges overlapping, as shown in
Figure 25, and which, as is well known, is the position they must occupy in the
magazine in order to be fed into the gun properly. It will be seen that while the top
and rear walls stand very nearly at a right angle to each other the front wall is more
inclined, thus making the case gradually decrease in length from front to rear, from
the top downward, when measured on a line parallel with the top wall, the front wall
also being much shorter from top to bottom than the rear wall, as shown clearly in
Figure 25, thus adapting it to receive and hold the taper cartridges compactly. If,
however, the cartridges be more or less tapering than those shown, then of course
the case will be modified to correspond, the general construction, however, being the
same.
At the lower end of the front wall an inwardly inclined lip a³ is formed, as shown
in Figures 25 and 27, which serves two purposes, namely: first, it forms a rigid
bearing for the heavier end of the cartridges, the bullet of the lower cartridge resting
directly on it; and, second, and more important still, it acts as a retainer for the front
end of the cartridges when they are forced out of the case into the magazine below,
thereby causing the heads of the cartridges to pass from the case down into the
magazine first, whereby they are caused to retain their proper relative positions, with
the flange of the upper one in advance of the one next below, as shown in Figure 29,
and to occupy that position in the magazine without failure when thus transferred
from the case J.
In order to retain the cartridges in the case when being transported, another lip t¹,
is secured to one side of the case, near its rear end, of such a length that it can be
bent over the cartridge next to it, as shown in Figure 27. Either or both of these
lips and a³ may be formed integral with the walls of the case by leaving suitable
projections on the edge of the blank when it is cut out; or they may be made
separately, and then be soldered or otherwise secured to the case, as may be found most
convenient in manufacture.
Figure 28 represents a modification of the case, in which the front and rear walls
are made parallel with each other and of uniform length; but the case is shorter from
front to rear than the cartridges, so that they must occupy a diagonal position therein
their front ends being supported by or resting on or against the front wall, as shown
in Figure 28, this front wall thus serving to support and retain the front ends of the
cartridges in essentially the same manner as does the lip a³ in Figure 25. In this case
the cartridges will lie parallel with each other, their front ends resting against the
front wall and their heads at one edge resting against the rear wall as shown, the
shortness of the case preventing them from assuming any other position therein.
this case, also, the angle of the top wall in relation to the rear wall is made a little
more acute, as shown, in order to be sure that the flanges of the cartridges shall
[n

page_text: assume the required position one in advance of the other, the same as in the other
case. It will at once be seen that the cartridges when forced from this case down
into the magazine will have their front ends retained or held back by the front wall in
essentially the same manner as by the lip a³ in the other case, and that they will
thereby be compelled to enter the imagazine in the same manner and assume the same
relative position in the magazine as they would when forced from the case shown in
Figure 25.
The manner of transferring the cartridges from the packing-case to the magazine is
clearly shown in Figure 29. To do this it is only necessary to straighten out, the
lip t, insert the mouth of the case J in the receiver directly over the magazine, and
by inserting the thumb in the slot J' force the entire mass of cartridges directly down
into the magazine M below.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my foreign
correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-'
1. The combination in a gun, of the breech-bolt C and the detachable non-rotating
nose-piece G provided with a tubular stem arranged to fit within the front end of the
bolt, the two being connected by a bayonet-joint, whereby the nose-piece is moved to
and fro with the bolt (, remains stationary when the bolt is turned to lock or unlock
it, and can be disconnected from the bolt without removing the latter from the gun, as
herein set forth..
2. The detachable nose-piece G, provided with the lateral projection G¹, arranged to
fill the space between the edge of the extractor H' and the top of the side wall of the
receiver, whereby it serves as a gas check or deflector, and also prevents the nose-piece
from rotating with the breech-bolt, as shown and described.
3. The rigid extractor H, H¹, in combination with the bolt C and nose-piece G, said
parts being constructed and arranged for joint operation, as set forth..
4. The rigid extractor H, H', provided with the internal transverse groove a¹, in
combination with the bolt C provided with the lug k, for locking said parts together
when the bolt is ready to be retracted.
5. The rigid extractor H, H², having the projection I¹ at its rear end arranged to
engage in the recess " of the rib on the bolt C when the bolt is locked ready for firing,
as set forth.
6. The rigid extractor H, H¹, provided with the gas-deflector e', in combination with
the nose-piece G, provided with the recess e¹¹, substantially as shown and described.
7. A rigid extractor H, in either of the forms shown, in combination with a
reciprocating breech-bolt of a gun.
8. In combination with the bolt C provided with the rib C, having a recess in its
upper side, with the transverse pin fitted therein, the spring d, provided on its under
side with the lug or hook and the rigid extractor H, H¹, said parts being arranged
to operate substantially as set forth.
9. The firing-pin a, provided, with a screw-thread at its rear end, in combination
with nut b, and the cocking-piece D, provided with the pin c, for locking said nut in
position, substantially as shown and described.
10. The firing-pin a, provided with the collar v, having a slot v¹ therein, in combina-
tion with the bolt C, provided with the inwardly-projecting lug or pin and the
cocking-piece D provided with the guide-pin p said parts being arranged to operate
substantially as and for the purpose set forth."
11. The receiver A, having an opening through its bottom corresponding in size
with the cartridge to be used, in combination with one or more spring-lips arranged
to project partially over the mouth of the magazine below, for the purpose of holding
the cartridges in proper position to be fed forward by the bolt, enable the magazine to
be filled by shoving the cartridges in from above, and enable the gun to be used as a
single-loader when the magazine is empty, as set forth.
12. The combination, in a gun, of the slotted receiver A, the spring-lips P at the

page_text: sides of the receiver and above the mouth of the magazine, the magazine M, and the
packing-case J, said parts being constructed and arranged to operate substantially as
and for the purpose herein set forth.
13. The combination, in a magazine-gun substantially such as described, of the
spring-lip Pl, provided with an incline b, and the pivoted lever L, arranged to operate
on said incline, the said lip being located at the side of the receiver A, and just above
the mouth of the magazine, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
14. The combination, in a magazine-gun of the kind herein shown, of the spring-
lip P, arranged to hold the cartridges as they rise from the magazine in position to be
pushed forward by the breech-bolt, and the spring-lip P₁, arranged to hold the
cartridges at a lower level, so they cannot be shoved forward by the breech-bolt, and
a lever L, or similar device arranged to operate on the spring-lip P¹ to force and hold
it out of action when desired, whereby the gun can be changed at will from a magazine
to a single-loader, or vice versa, as set forth.
15. A packing case for cartridges, consisting of the box J, having the slot J' in its
side and top walls with the unbroken strip J³ along its edge below the slot, substantially
as shown and described.
16. A packing-case for cartridges, consisting of the open-mouthed box J, provided
with the slot or opening J, the fixed lip a³ at its front end, and the flexible lip tat or
near its rear end, substantially as shown and described.
Dated this 2nd day of June 1887
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.