IMPROVEMENTS IN "MAGAZINE GUNS
Year: 1884

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
We ANDREW HOWLAND RUSSELL of San Francisco in the County of San
Francisco and State of California, officer United States Army and LESTER
AUGUSTUS BARTLETT of Washington in the District of Columbia also in the
United States of America, gentleman do hereby declare the nature of the
Invention of the said Andrew Howland Russell for IMPROVEMENTS IN "MAGAZINE
GUNS" 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 guns and consists in certain improvements
hereinafter pointed out and claimed.
The object of this Invention is to produce an improved magazine arm of that
class in which the cartridges are placed side by side in a magazine, and the column
of cartridges fed sidewise toward the receiver, which we here denominate a side
push magazine in contradistinction to such as contain the cartridges in a tube and
feed them end wise toward the receiver here called an end push magazine. Also
to adapt a side push magazine to a particular form of breech block as hereinafter
stated.
In the Drawings
Figure 1 is a plan view of the breech mechanism and the magazine of the
improved arm.
Figure 2 is a side elevation partly in section on the line x-x of Fig. 1 showing
breech block closed.
Figure 3 is a similar view showing breech block open.
Figure 4 is a cross section on line 1-1, Fig. 3 parts being omitted.
Figure 5 is a similar section on line 2-2 and
Figure 6, a similar section on line 3-3 the lower portion of the magazine being
omitted in each case.
Figure 7 is a view similar to Fig. 3 in section on line 3-y showing a cartridge in
place in the mouth of the magazine.
Figure 8 is a side elevation partly sectioned showing mode of attachment of
inserter and extractor bar to handle,
Figures 9, 10, 11 are details hereinafter referred to.
Figure 12 is a longitudinal section of the magazine detached.
Figure 13 is a reverse section of the casing of the same.
Figure 14 is a plan section of the magazine.
Figures 15 and 16 are perspective views of the swinging gate to the magazine.

page_text: Figure 17 is a section similar to Fig. 12 showing the magazine adapted for long
cartridges.
Figure 18 is a detail.
The magazine F is attached to the right hand side of the arm, either permanently
or is made removable in the manner hereinafter described, or in other suitable 5
manner.
The column of cartridges will be lifted by follower G and the top one pressed
toward the opening in the side of the magazine which loads into the receiver by
the follower and spring gate m which swing out from recess f* tending to press the
cartridge under the cross bar f³. The numeral 1 represents the barrel of the gun 1
2 the stock, 3 a pin or guide parallel with the barrel on which the handle 4 is made
to reciprocate in operating the breech mechanism of the arm, as in the improved
Spencer arm.
The breech block 5 is pivoted at 6 somewhat in rear of the cartridge chamber in
the receiver. The recoil may be taken up on the pin 6 or on abutment 7. The 1
block may be perforated lengthwise preferably in an oblique direction for the
passage of the firing pin but as the present Invention does not relate to the firing
mechanism it will be unnecessary to describe such as any well known firing
mechanism adapted to the Peabody or Martini breech system may be used.
The left side of the breech block has a cam groovo 9 in which a pin, roller or
projection 10 from rod 11 is adapted to reciprocate. Rod 11 being attached or
connected to handle 4 the reciprocation of said bandle will cause the breech block
to rise and fall. The cam groove 9 has a steep incline near the front of the breech
block so that the movement of the block may be quick in opening and closing.
The cam groove may be so shaped as to throw the block entirely open at the first
movement of the handle, or it may be thrown open only far enough to allow the
shell to be extracted and not quite far enough to allow a cartridge to escape from
the magazine, the latter movement being made as the handle reaches its rearmost
position. Then by an adjustable stop the movement of the handle may be limited
so that the magazine, will not be brought into operation the arm will thus be in
condition for use as a single loader.
The block 5 is rounded or cut at the right upper corner as at 12 so that when
the block is down to its lowermost position there will be room between the corner
of said block and the bar f' for the passage of a cartridge from the magazine F
into the receiver on top of block 5. The cartridge which is in the mouth of
the magazine as shown in Fig. 7, is kept from passing into the magazine by the
projection f on bar f' and can only pass into the magazine when it has been
drawn a little way forward. The forward movement is produced by the inserter 14
which is attached to rod 15 which connects to handle 4 as will be hereinafter
explained.
'
The inserter 14 in its backward movement when propelled by the reciprocation
of handle 4 encounters a gate 16 pivoted or otherwise arranged to swing or slide a
little way alongside of the flange of the top cartridge in the magazine, preferably
pressed into such position by a spring.
As the inserter 14 pushes back the said gate the cartridge will be pressed by the
swinging gate m a little way forward so that the flange projects slightly into the
receiver.
•
The inserter will thus be behind the flange of the cartridge and when moved
forward will carry the cartridge with it. The front or bullet and of the cartridge
will be guided into the receiver by the incline 17 near the front of the magazine
and as soon as the flange is drawn forward beyond the projection f the cartridge
will be forced sidewise into the receiver by the combined pressure of the follower
and spring gate.
The rod 15 carries the inserter 14, and also the extractor 18 the latter being
offset so as to be a little further forward than the inserter 14 and preferably at the
Where the inserter travels
other side of the receiver as shown in Figs. 1 and 10.

page_text: flange.
wed the wange of the cartridge the extractor moves in front of said
The rear end of the barrel is notched or cut away so that the extractor may
close into place as is usual. The extractor 18 may be made to spring over the
5 flange of the cartridge in well known manner, if by any means the flange should
get forward of said extractor or the inserter 14 may carry a spring hook and thus
operate as inserter and extractor.
A projection may be placed in the path of movement of the shell in extracting
so that the backward movement of the extractor flips out the shell from the
0 receiver as is common with shell ejectors.
The gate 16 which as shown in Figs. 7 and 9 swings forward to the position
shown in dotted lines has a notch at its front corner into which the end of the
inserter projects as said inserter moves backward and by its engagement therewith
said inserter moves the gate positively both backward and forward..
In order that the breech block may open enough to allow the shell to pass, said
block before the extractor begins its backward movement there is a lost motion
between the handle 4 and bar 15. This lost notion may be produced by a catch
or coupling similar to that shown in Fig. 8, which permits the handle 4 to have a
movement independent of bar or rod 15.
Let 19 represent a notch in rod 15 and 20 a catch pivoted in the handle so that
the end 21 shall enter said notch except when the end 22 comes in contact with
lug 23 on the barrel, when the catch will be released from the notch and the handle
will be free to move forward that is toward the muzzle of the gun without pulling
the rod with it. This lug 23 is so placed as to release the catch at the time the
inserter has forced the cartridge to its seat in the barrel. The further movement
of the handle closes the breech block through the rod 11 and its connections..
The catch 20 may be offset or "slaggered" as shown in plan in Fig. 11, so that
the end 22 may come under the barrel while end 21 is alongside thereof.
The lug 23 may in some cases be dispensed with the spring catch 20 engaging
the notch with sufficient force to move the bar when there is little resistance but
releasing itself when the resistance becomes great as when the cartridge is fully
home.
The magazine F is preferably of the form shown in Figs. 12 and 17 and is
attached at the right side of the receiver of the arm either by the flanges a a
sliding into suitable grooves in the stock or frame or by screws passing through
holes in the flanges a² The follower G is lifted from below by a spring H. This
spring is notched at the lower end and the notched end grasps pin i in the bottom
of the magazine. See Fig. 18.
The column of cartridges rests upon and is lifted by the follower G. It is
important that the flange of an upper cartridge should not get behind one that is
below it in the magazine. To this end the front of the follower G must not be
permitted to fall lower than its rear end, The rear end of follower G is therefore
extended downward at g parallel with the end a³ of the magazine case and the
follower is of such length that the front end cannot tilt downward because such
projection g bears against the case. The projection 9 may carry an antifriction roll.
The side of follower G has a downward extension g' next the receiver which
serves to close the opening into the receiver when the follower is fully up and also
prevents the follower from rocking sidewise.
One side of the follower G has two projections g¹ g' which projections move up
and down between inclined ribs b b on the side of the magazine These ribs guide
the follower in its movement, and the hooks cc in which the ribs terminate extend.
over the projections g¹¹ and stop the follower G when it has risen far enough.
By pressing the rear end of the follower downward considerably leaving the
ront elevated the follower can be taken out or put into the magazine past tho
books c.
It is often desirable to use a short cartridge in the magazine, To adapt this.
nagazine for short cartridges a short follower may be used, and a piece K inserted_

page_text: at the front of the magazine or a new and shorter magazine may be substituted the
position of the flanges of the cartridge being unchanged.
To adapt the same magazine and follower for use with short cartridges, we cut
away one of the front corners of follower G leaving only a part of the follower as
long as the magazine. In the cut away spaco wo place a block K wide enough to
extend in front of the ball and thick enough to reduce the length of the magazino
to that of the short cartridges This piece K may be secured by a slight fastening
as a screw, when found necessary but if properly fitted to the magazine will bo
held in place by the follower and by the frictional contact.
The 1
The side of the magazine toward the reservoir has a bar f³ at top,...
cartridges as they are lifted by the follower G are prevented from rising out of the
magazine by swing gate m which may be crowded sidewise into recess f¹ against
the force of a spring but which has a tendency to spring into the position shown in
Figs. 4 5 and 6. The resultant of the forces of the spring follower G and spring
gate mis to crowd the top cartridge in the magazine toward the aperture in the
side of the magazine under the bar ƒ³.
The face of swinging gate m which comes in contact with the cartridge has a
slight offset m³ and as the cartridge is moved by the inserter toward the chamber
of the gun, this offset is encountered by the flange of the cartridge which has a
tendency to move the cartridge sidewise more fully into the receiver.
The gate m is cut away or rounded out at m¹ so as to guide a cartridge readily
into the magazine when fed in by hand The gate will swing sidewise into
recess to permit the insertion of cartridges from above but will not swing
upward to allow of their escape.
It is our intention to fill the magazine with cartridges (five or more) at a single
movement by placing a column of cartridges in a feed case over the magazine and
forcing the column sidewiso into the magazine. The offsets a³ ³ in the magazine
will guide the cartridges so that the flange of an upper cartridge will lie in front
of that of the cartridge below it. There might be a slight projection g³ on the
follower G to support the flange of the lowermost cartridge.
•
The top of the magazine may have abutinents on which the cartridge feed' caso
can rest, The magazine will operate in the same way with what is known as a
bolt gun, the bolt serving when closed to close the opening leading from the
magazine to the receiver and operating to insert the cartridge in the same way as
the inserter and extractor above described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. The reciprocating handle and oscillating breech block and the side push
magazine arranged at the side of the arm so as to pass a cartridge from the
magazine sidewise upon the breech block and incchanism as described to move the
cartridge to the barrel.
2. The inserter bar having a lost motion as compared to the reciprocating handle
and the side push magazine arranged at the side of the arm so as to feed a cartridge
sidewise upon the breech block where it is in position to be moved by the inserter
and extractor.
3. The side push magazine having a side opening leading into the receiver so
that a cartridge can pass through said opening upon the breech block and
mechanism as described to prevent the passage of the cartridge until the proper
time.
4. A side push magazine as described and mechanism of the character described
to reduce the length of the same so as to adapt the magazine at will for the use of
long or short cartridges.
5. A side push magazine having a spring follower with a downward projection
about parallel with the magazino wall to prevent the tilting of the follower in the

page_text: 6. A side push magazine having a spring follower and a spring gate to stop the
upward passage of cartridges the gate having an offset and the top-bar of the
magazine, a shoulder so that the cartridge may only move sidewise into the receiver
when it has been moved slightly forward by the bolt or cartridge inserter.
Dated this 18th day of March 1884.
ANDREW HOWLAND RUSSELL.
LESTER AUGUSTUS BARTLETT,
By their Agents,
Wm. Thompson & Boult.