IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
86
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS." A communication. from
abroad by David P. Holloway, of Washington, District of Columbia, United
States of America.
Sealed the 21st August 1877, and dated the 29th June 1877.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th June 1877.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-
ARMS." A communication from abroad by David P. Holloway, of Washington,
District of Columbia, United States of America.
The object of this Invention is the production of an effective and reliable arm
which may be used either for firing cartridges from a magazine or for firing single
cartridges as in the ordinary breech-loader.
The arm constructed according to this Invention has two divisions or sections,
one including the barrel, the fore stock, and slide, the other the breech and the
firing mechanism and magazine. The connection between these two sections is
formed by a flanged and recessed projection from the breech working into a corre-
sponding chamber in the barrel section.

page_text: When in the position shown in Figure 2; the magazine A, which is immediately
under the barrel and parallel with it, may be charged by pushing in the cartridges
at the rear and forcing it in the spiral spring B which bears constantly against the
point and presses the row of cartridges back toward the breech. As each cartridge
is introduced its flanged head is engaged by the lever C which swings upon a pivot,
having its front end sustained upon the spring C2; the latter permits the point of
the lever to be depressed for the introduction of the cartridge, but raises it to
confine the latter as soon as its head passes from the lever. A point C¹ on the side
of the said lever passes through a slot in the side of the magazine chamber, and
projects into a space left between the latter and the slide X. On the side of the
slide is a lever D¹ turning on an axis which passes through the slide and carries on
the inner end a cam D, shown in dotted lines in Figure 4. It is flat on one side, so
that when the flattened side is down the parts may slide freely without touching
the cam D; but in the position shown in Figure 4 it will strike the point C¹ in
moving, and thus draw down the lever C and force the head of the cartridge into
the magazine, which cartridge will immediately be ejected by the spiral spring B
into the chamber above the lever C. It is obvious therefore that the position of the
arm D determines the character of the piece. When turned down, as shown in
Figure 4, the cam and point will free a cartridge from the magazine with every
backward movement of the barrel and slide. If thrown up the cam will not touch
the point C, and the piece can be operated as an ordinary breech-loader, the
cartridges remaining undisturbed in the inagazine.
The trigger guard E swings upon a pivot, its front end E¹ being formed with a
notch which engages a recess in the under side of the fore stock when the parts are
brought together, and so confines them until disengaged by pressing the free end of
the guard toward the stock. This guard serves for the further purpose of pre-
venting premature action of the hammer. This is done by making the section E³ of
the guard curved, the centre of its curve being the pivot of the guard. The arcs E³
and E formed at the angle are short, extending only a slight distance on each side
of the angle, when they are merged into the curves of the trigger guard, and the
section E in a curve, the centre of which is the pivot of the trigger. Thus it will
be seen that while the guard is in the position shown in Figure 1, the piece being
ready for firing the trigger will operate without restraint; but when the parts are
detached, as shown in Figure 2, the angle formed at the intersection of the two
curves will prevent the drawing back of the trigger so long as the notch E¹ remains
out of the recess in the fore stock, that is to say, until the barrel is brought back
into contact with the recoil shield and securely locked. The trigger guard being
drawn up and the parts disengaged the cartridge may be inserted by sliding the
flanged head between the ways H until it passes the detent or pin L and rests
on the end of the dog G, when the parts may be brought together and the piece
fired.
If the lever or arm D'is depressed to bring the magazine into action the operation
will be as follows:-The forward section carries with it a piece F placed under the
lever C, not attached to either, but moving with the barrel. This piece is slotted at
its front end to receive the stud F' which permits the piece F to have free play for
the distance of two inches, more or less, until the end of the slot engaging the stud
draws the upwardly curved end under the end of the dog G and turns up the point,
thereby lifting the cartridge, its head sliding between the ways H into place against
the pin L, carrying upon it the blank of the discharged cartridge if the piece has
been previously fired. The point of the dog projects into the cartridge chamber, and
on the dog between the axis and the point are friction wheels G₁ which run on the
upper face of the curved ends of the piece F.
The dog G turns upon a pin G2 which also carries the hammer indicated at I. A
shoulder at G³, Figure 1, also engages a projection on the hammer I, so that when
the dog is raised by the slide, as shown in Figure 2, the hammer will also be thrown
back until the sear K engages a notch on the hammer by which the latter will be
sustained, when the sections are brought together, relieving the dog, which is thrown

page_text: down, to engage another cartridge, leaving the hammer cocked so that the piece may
be fired as soon as the sections are connected and the trigger freed. Thus while the
dog and hammer are connected in such manner that the ascent of the dog cocks the
hammer, the descent of the former is independent of the latter. The slide X extends
over the barrel and behind it, forming a recess, as shewn in Figure 1, when it slides
over the recoil shield, thereby serving as a slip joint. It encircles the barrel which
is screwed into it, and also encloses the magazine, acting as a guide for the same in
sliding the two sections. It is notched to form part of the recess in the fore stock,
which receives the notched head of the trigger guard.
The trigger guard is so formed that a shoulder E bears against the sliding
picce F, which through the stud F1 gives forward movement to the front section of
the piece as the trigger guard is operated to detach the sections to assist in starting
the cartridge to be extracted.
The piece N forms the recoil shield; it supports the parallel slides H and has holes
bored to receive the pins M and L which pass through it and fit neatly into the
holes, forming guides for the front end of the pins. The lower end of this piece is
slotted to permit the point of the dog G to pass into the magazine chamber to act
on the head of the cartridge to lift it as above described.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,
First. The slide into which the barrel is screwed and which is constructed with a
flanged edge to form with the recoil shield a slip joint, as above set forth.
Second. The slide in combination with the hooked head of the trigger guard, as
above set forth and for the purpose specified.
Third. In combination with the slide and lever, the cain and its lever or arm, as
above set forth for converting the piece from a magazine gun to a single loader, or
vice versa.
Fourth. The trigger guard formed with a shoulder in combination with the
sliding piece F and stud to start the forward section, as above set forth.
Fifth. The trigger guard constructed with a notched head to hold the said
sections, as above set forth.
Sixth. The trigger guard constructed with the angle formed by the lines E3 and E*
and arranged in relation to the trigger, as above described and for the purpose
specified.
Seventh. The slide or sliding piece in combination with the dog which is pivoted
at the rear, and acted upon by the inclined face of the said slide, and which,
extending forward into the cartridge chamber, throws up the cartridge, as above
described.
Eighth. The said slide or sliding piece in combination with the dog and hammer,
connected in such manner that the lifting of the dog cocks the haminer, but the
former may fall independently of the latter, as above set forth.
Ninth. The conical pointed detent or pin for confining the cartridge, as above
described.
Tenth. In combination with the dog pivoted in the rear and projecting forward
into the cartridge chamber, the slotted plate placed between the magazine and lock
mechanism, and the guides for the cartridge and the detent or pin, as above set forth.
Eleventh. In a fire-arm, the mechanism consisting of the parts shewn in the
accompanying Drawing, and capable of use either as a magazine gun or as an
ordinary breech-loader by the adjustment of the arm D', as above set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.