Improvements in Recoil-operated Fire-arms.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 7th June, 1892-Accepted, 17th Sept., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Recoil-operated Fire-arms.
We, OTTO BRAUSWETTER, Watchmaker, of Szegedin in Hungary, and
THEODOR BERGMANN, trading as the firm of Eisenwerke Gaggenau, at Gaggenau,
Germany, do hereby declare the nature of our said 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 magazine fire arms, with sliding breech bolt, the opening
of which is effected by the recoil of the shot; and has for its object the con-
struction of a mechanism of this kind, specially suited for sporting fire-arms and
pistols.
In the annexed drawing a mechanism of this kind is shown as applied to a
fowling piece and to a pistol.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section through the gun, with closed breech
bolt.
Figure 2 is a horizontal section through this gun, also with closed breech
bolt.
Figure is a longitudinal vertical section through the gun with open breech
bolt.
Figure 4 is a horizontal section through the gun with open breech bolt.
Fig. 5 is a rear view of the breech receiver.
Fig. 6 shows the breech bolt in side and front view.
Figure 7 shows the rear part of the barrel with extension.
Figure 8 is a longitudinal vertical section of a pistol; with the breech bolt
closed.
Figure 9 is a horizontal section through the pistol, also with closed breech
bolt.
Figure 10 is a longitudinal elevation partly in section, through the pistol, with
open breech bolt.
Figure 11 is a horizontal section through the pistol with open breech bolt.
Figure 12 is a rear view of the pistol.
Figure 13 shows the breech bolt of the pistol in side and front view.
Figure 14 shows the locking bar in section as well as in front and rear view.
Figure 15 shows a side view and partial section of the lock of the gun with a
safety device.
Figure 16 shows a rear view of this gun with the safety device in operation.
Figure 17 shows the same view with the safety device out of operation.
In all figures similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
The gun essentially consists of the barrel A with extension A', the breech
bolt B and the breech receiver C. The barrel A is sliding, and is for this purpose
provided with two guides, one at the side and one below.
The lateral guide of the barrel is formed by its extension A¹, which is by
preference made of one piece with the barrel or rigidly attached thereto. This
extension has by preference the form of part of a cylinder, so as to fit closely
against the breech bolt, and is guided in a groove or recess C¹ of corresponding
form in the side of the breech receiver. The lower guide of the barrel is formed
by the bar, rod, or tube D, rigidly attached to the front part of the stock. The
barrel is provided with one or two rigid lugs a, a' which either form a grip around
guide D, or which, if the latter is in the form of a tube, will run in a suitable slot
or slots in the same. Upon or in guide D a coiled spring d is provided, which
bears with its one end against the lower front part of the breech receiver or case,

page_text: and with the other against lug a¹ of the barrel, in such manner that it always has
the tendency to push the barrel into its forward position.
The breech bolt is a cylindrical body, centrally provided with the firing pin c.
To the side of the breech bolt a cylindrical casing F is attached, which encloses the
coiled spring f, for effecting, the forward or closing movement of the breech bolt.
Outside, the breech receiver carries a turn-button or swivel E, the head e of which
rests against the end of pin f¹ which forms the guide of spring f. Case F is
provided with a lateral slot e', by means of which it is free to pass over the head of
the button E when it slides back with the breech bolt. Heade of button E resting
against the pin of spring f, the latter is compressed during this rearward movement
of the breech bolt, so that it may shoot the latter forward again at the right
moment.
In the side, (by preference in the left side) of the breech receiver is placed a
lever G, oscillating upon a pin G1, which operates the arresting and releasing of
the breech bolt. Extension A' of the barrel, which slides backward and forward
in the breech receiver, is provided with a longitudinal slot a", into which project
the shoulders of lever G, and which terminates forward in a larger opening a, by
preference of rectangular form, the object of which will be described hereafter.
The breech bolt is provided, near its forward end, with a horizontal opening, in
which the locking bar H may slide.
The length of this bar corresponds to the diameter of the breech bolt, and
its. eud facing the barrel-extension A is of such form as to fit exactly into
opening all of the latter. The other end of bar H is provided with a
spring h.
The mechanism thus described operates as follows.
The barrel, and with it the breech bolt, are pushed back by hand, whereby both
springs, barrel spring d as well as breech bolt spring fare compressed. During
this retrograde movement of the barrel with the breech bolt, the nose or shoulder g
of lever G, which projects into slot all of extension A¹, rides upon the surface
of the breech bolt, until a recess b in the latter arrives in front of it. At the same
time projection or shoulder g' of the forward, (by preference somewhat elastic) arm of
lever G. has been reached by opening a in extension A', at the end of which
opening it is forced to rise upon the surface of part A', which movement is facilitated.
by the rounded or slanting form of said nose g'. The forward arm of lever G
being raised in this manner, nose g upon the other arm of this lever is made to
enter into, the before mentioned recess of the breech bolt, so as to retain the
latter in its open position, while the barrel is pushed forward again by its spring
as soon as the uncoupling of its extension A' from the breech bolt has been effected.
When the barrel has again arrived nearly in its forward position, the slanting. end
of slot u in.extension A¹ meets the inclined surface o of lever G,, and disengages
nose y from recess of the breech bolt, whereby the latter is liberated, and is shot
forward by its spring; by means of this movement a cartridge from. the. magazine,
situated underneath the breech receiver is moved into the loading chamber in, the
barrel. Before, however, the bolt B arrives at its closed position, spring, he of
locking bar, H runs upon, the projecting surface x in the receiver, and is: thereby
compressed. Cousequently, as soon as the breech bolt arrives. in its most forward,
closed position, the head of bar H comes into juxtaposition with opening all of
barrel: extension A', and is by its compressed spring h pushed into the same.. In
this, manner the breech bolt and barrel are rigidly coupled. together.. The shot.
may now be fired by driving the firing pin against the cap of the cartridge. The
firing mechanism, by means of which this is effected will be herein. after described.
In order to prevent the firing pin being driven forward and the shot fired before.
the coupling or locking of the breech bolt has been effected, bar H, through which
the firing pin must pass, is provided with a slot h', which permits the passage
of the point of the firing pin, but prevents the shaft or body of the pin passing. On 5
its rear side, the bar H is provided with a recess, wide enough to allow, the
shaft of the firing pin to enter, and, of, such, depth, as to permit the pin to advance

page_text: sufficiently for striking against the cap of the cartridge in the barrel. The position
of recess in bar H is such that it will allow the entrance of the firing pin only
when the bar is in its locking position, that is when the breech bolt and barrel are
coupled. The firing pin may be moved back in the ordinary way by a spring, or
by means of a lever as shown in Figures 2 and 4. For this purpose the firing pin
is provided with a slot c', into which fits one arm of a lever c", pivoted in the
breech bolt in such a manner that, when the firing pin is in its forward position,
the upper arm of lever c will project upon the surface of the breech bolt, and
form an inclined plane e rising towards the forward part of the breech bolt.
The shot being fired, the recoil resulting therefrom drives back the barrel, and
with it the breech bolt coupled thereto, and remain coupled until the inclined
surface of the lever arm c¹ strikes against the inclined surface g" of lever G,
whereby this lever arm c¹ is turned down, and causes the other arm c¹ to draw
back the firing pin. Immediately after the turning down of lever arm cl, bar H,
(the rear edge of which may for facilitating this movement, be rounded off at ""),
strikes against the inclined surface g" of lever G, and is thereby pushed from
opening a in extension A' back into the breech bolt, thus uncoupling the latter
from the barrel. The breech bolt is now by nose y of lever G, retained in its open
position in the manner before described, while the barrel is moved into its forward
position by its spring d. The breech bolt, which is in the usual manner provided
with an extractor i, and opposite to the same with a holding rim i, holds fast the
empty cartridge shell when the barrel returns into its advanced position, until the
latter has cleared the top opening of the receiver when an ejector A" attached to
the advancing barrel extension A' and running in a groove of the breech bolt
strikes against the shell, and throws it out of the receiver, as indicated in Figure 3.
In completing its forward movement, extension A', operating upon the inclined
surface g of lever G in the manner before described, liberates the breech bolt,
which is again driven forward by its spring, taking another cartridge from the
magazine into the barrel, and the locking or coupling is again effected as already
set forth.
•
For operating the firing pin we have by preference employed a hammer-lock of
the kind described, but it is immaterial for the operation of the gun what kind of
firing mechanism is employed. It is important however, on account of the exceed-
ingly rapid operation of the breech mechanism by the recoil, to select a properly
working trigger device. A common trigger mechanism might be employed, but
this would present the disadvantage that after the first pulling of the trigger the
shots would follow each other in such rapid succession, that two and even more
shots would be fired before the finger could let go the trigger. We have therefore
constructed the device shown in the drawing, which ensures a dwell after each
shot.
Hammer K, which turns upon pivot K' and receives its striking impulse by a
spring K, is cocked by the rearward movement of the breech bolt, and is held in
this cocked position by sear L engaging into k. Sear L is pressed against the
hammer by a spring L', and is provided with an oscillating catch which is con-
tinually pressed outwards by a spring . Trigger M engages with its arm m the
catch in such a manner that, when the trigger is pulled, it will operate sear Land
release the hammer. The engagement of the trigger arm m with the oscillating
catch is such that, when the sear is swung downward by trigger arm m, the latter
will leave catch 1, thus permitting the sear to swing back unobstructed and to
arrest the hammer again, which in the meantime has been cocked afresh by the
recoil-operated breech bolt. Meanwhile arm m of trigger M is still held down by
the first pressure of the finger, and remains out of engagement with catch 1,
until the pressure of the finger is released. When this is done, the trigger is swung
back into, its proper position by its spring M¹ catch being pressed aside by arm m
as it passes, until the latter engages in catch 1, whereupon the latter is pressed into
engagement again by its spring . Now the trigger is in position again to operate
another release of the hammer. This device permits the firing of shots in any

page_text: desired intervals. If it is desired to retain the breech bolt in its open position, or
to take it out entirely, button E is turned to the right, when the breech bolt is in
its closed position, so that it cannot operate upon spring f, when the breech bolt is
moved back. Thus, when the barrel is pushed back with the brecchibolt, the spring
of the latter remains uncompressed, and, when the uncoupling has taken place, the
breech bolt will remain in its open position, while the barrel is again moved forward
by its spring. The breech bolt may now be freely pulled out of the receiver.
When it is inserted again it must be pushed forward into its closed position, so
that it is coupled with the barrel; then the button E is turned back into its
original position, and the gun is ready again for being operated in the manner
described.
In pushing in the breech bolt by hand, a cartridge might be accidentally intro-
duced into the barrel, while neglecting to turn button E into its proper position;
the consequence of which would be that on the shot being fired, the bolt would fly
back out of the receiver, and injure the person handling the gun.
In order to
prevent this it is advisable to provide a safety device, a specimen of which we have
shown by way of example in Figures 15, 16 and 17. This safety device consists of
an arm or a projection " upon button E or its pivot, in such a position that, when
the button is thrown out of engagement with the breech bolt spring, this projec-
tion will stand in the way of the hammer so as to prevent it from striking
forward. When the button is in its proper position, projection e" stands clear of
the hammer. This latter position is shown in Figure 17, while Figures 15 and 16
show the safe position.
The magazine N is situated underneath the breech receiver, and suited for the
reception of any desired number of cartridges. The magazine shown by way
of example is to be charged from below and is for this purpose provided with a
hinged bottom N', swinging upon a più . Upon the same pin, but independently
of N the cartridge feeder O is pivoted. The cartridge feeder is operated by a
spring P.
the pin p of which is linked to a short projection o of the feeder arm.
Pin being loosely placed in its recess in the case, may freely swing in either
direction, so that its spring p may act upon the cartridge feeder in two directions.
When the bottom N¹ of the magazine is opened, as shown in Figure 1, spring p
will press arm o to the rear, and in consequence press the cartridge feeder forward,
so that the latter is held against the botton N¹, and keeps the same in its open
position. When the bottom is closed it carries the feeder upward, thus bringing
spring p to bear in the other direction, in which the cartridges are fed upward to
the receiver. This magazine has only been shown and described by way of
example, and any other kind of magazine may be employed with our breech
mechanism.
The pistol shown in Figures 8-14 is essentially constructed in the same manner
as the gun just described, and the description of the same will therefore be restricted
to the modifications employed.
Barrel spring d is here enclosed in the tubular guide D, and lug a of the barrel
is provided with a bar a carrying the spring pin d'. Bar a' runs in tube D and
is guided by means of slot y and pin y'.
Case F containing breech bolt spring is here situated below the breech bolt, and
is attached to the side of the breech receiver. The swivel or button E is not
pivoted in the receiver as in the gun, but is attached to pin f, which passes
through spring and is at its other end provided with a head". Thus, when
the breech bolt is being opened, the button, resting against it, is carried along, and
pin is drawn out, whereby the spring is compressed.
If the breech bolt is intended to be removed, or to be prevented from advancing,
the button is turned aside, the same as in the gun, so that a compression of spring f
is prevented when the breech bolt is moving back. The trigger mechanism of the
pistol shown in the drawing, although constructed on the same principle as that of
the gun, shows certain modifications. Catch is not coupled to sear L, but to
trigger M, so that the sear is operated by the catch, Catch is pivoted to

page_text: trigger M, and by its spring is held in the position shown in Figure 8, in which
its point is engaged with the sear L, which latter is in engagement with k of the
hammer. When the trigger is pulled, the point of the catch / disengages the sear
from the hammer, and the latter is permitted to strike forward. By this pull of
the trigger however the point of catch I disengages from the sear and gets below
the same, so that the latter can, by its spring L be brought into immediate engage-
ment with the hammer, which has in the meantime been turned down again by the
recoil-operated breech bolt. In order to let the hammer strike. forward a second
time. the trigger must first be released from the pressure of the finger, so that
catch, operated by its spring ", may again engage with the sear as described.
Another modification in this construction is that spring h, which operates locking
bar H is not attached to the latter, but to the inside of receiver C. The operation
is the same when the breech bolt advances towards its closed position, bar H,
which projects on the side on which spring his situated, compresses the latter until
it has arrived in line with opening at of barrel-extension A', when it is pushed
into this opening by said spring.
For the purpose of limiting the rearward movement of the breech bolt, and for
receiving the shock caused by the recoil, an abutment has been provided, which
by preference is formed by the end of a strong spring attached to the breech
receiver. The abutment z projects into the receiver, so as to meet a shoulder w of
the breech bolt, when the latter has finished its rearward movement. If the breech
bolt is to be removed, spring' is raised sufficiently from the receiver to permit
shoulder of the breech bolt to pass the abutment z.
Also the magazine of the pistol shown presents some modifications.
Here the right side of the magazine swings upon a pin, instead of the bottom,
and the cartridge feeder is provided with a projection o upon which operates pin
of spring, which in this case is placed in a horizontal position. When the
magazine is open, as shown in Figure 8, pin retains the cover in this position
and holds down the feeder; when the magazine cover is closed however, pin p
operates in the opposite direction, keeping the cover closed, and raising the feeder.
A pin N serves to carry down the feeder when the magazine cover is opened.
The firing pin in this pistol is not carried back by a lever as in the gun, but by a
spring in the usual manner.
Any or all of the modifications shown and described in the pistol, may of course
also be applied to a gun, or vice versa.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:
1.) In breech loading fire arms the breech bolt of which has a rectilinear move-
ment, and the opening of which is effected by the recoil of the shot, the barrel A
with an extension A', guided in the breech receiver and provided with slot a" and
opening a, the breech bolt B with recess b and locking bar H sliding transversely
through said bolt; a spring attached to bar H or to the breech receiver so as to
act upon said bar, and an oscillating lever G with projections 9 and 9' and inclined
surfaces g, the barrel provided with a spring d for moving it forward and
the breech bolt also provided with a spring f for the same purpose; substantially.
as described.
2.) In breech loading fire arms of the kind specified in Claim 1:-
a) A device for tightening breech-bolt-spring f, consisting of a swivel or
turn-button E either pivoted to the breech receiver and fitting with its
head e into a slot of the spring casing Fattached to the breech bolt, so as to
compress spring when the breech bolt recedes, or attached to spring pin f¹,
the other end of which latter forms a support for the spring in the spring
casing attached to the breech receiver in such manner that button E and
spring pin will recede with the breech bolt, and thus compress f;
substantially as described and shown.

page_text: b) A firing pin receiving its rearward motion either from a spring v, or by
a lever pivoted in the breech bolt in combination with locking bar H
provided with an opening h¹ for the passage of the point of the firing pin,
and in the rear with a recess for the entrance of the body of the firing
pin; recess being in such a position that it will allow the entrance
of the firing pin only when bar H is in its locking position; substantially
as and for the purpose described.
c) An ejector formed by a rigid projection A", upon barrel extension A'
and running in a groove" in the breech receiver; substantially as described.
3.) In breech loading fire arms the breech bolt of which has a rectilinear move-
ment, and the opening of which is effected by the recoil of the shot, a trigger
mechanism consisting of the trigger M with arm m, and of the sear L engaging
with the cocking mechanism of the hammer, and provided with a spring-actuated
catch; trigger arm m engaging with the catch 7 in such a manner that, when the
sear has been disengaged from the hammer, trigger arm m may swing downward,
and leave the catch 1, so that the sear may again arrest the hammer independently
of the trigger; substantially as described.
4.) A modification of the trigger mechanism specified in Claim 3, in which the
spring-actuated catch is pivoted to trigger M; the releasing of the hammer by
sear L being effected by catch 1, whereupon said catch / leaves the sear Land
permits the latter to engage again with the hammer; substantially as described.
5.) In breech loading fire arms the breech bolt of which has a rectilinear move-
ment, and the opening of which is effected by the recoil of the shot, provided with
a swivel or turn button E for compressing the breech bolt-spring, a safety device
consisting of a pin or projection upon the turn button or the pivot thereof, placed
in such position that it will prevent the striking forward of the hammer when the
turn button is turned out of engagement with the breech bolt-spring, substantially
as described.
6.) In fire arms of the kind herein described a magazine N situated below the
breech receiver, provided with a hinged bottom N₁ and cartridge feeder O, the
latter provided with a projection o upon which pin p₁ of a spring p may operate
in alternate directions, pressing the feeder upward when the magazine bottom
is closed, and downward when the bottom is open; substantially as described.
Dated 7th June 1892.