IMPROVE- MENTS IN MAGAZINE OB REPEATING RIFLES AND OTHER GUNS
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
I, HIRAM STEVENS MAXIM of 57º Hatton Garden, in the County of Middlesex,
Mechanical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for “IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MAGAZINE OB REPEATING RIFLES AND OTHER GUNS," to be as follows:-
My invention relates chiefly to magazine or repeating rifles but comprises various
improvements which are also applicable to machine or battery guns.
In the specification of former Letters Patent dated 26th June A.D. 1893, N° 3178
I have described a rifle wherein force developed by the recoil of the breech-block
and parts connected therewith is utilized for extracting and ejecting the empty-
cartridge cases, cocking the arm, bringing another cartridge into position for firing,
and firing the same or preparing the arm for the next discharge. I have ascertained
that the capability of rifles constructed in this manner of firing the whole of tho
cartridges contained in the magazine by only once pulling the trigger, constitutes
an element of danger, and the chief object of my present invention is to construct
a magazine or repeating rifle in such a manner that the breech-mechanism will be
operated by force developed by the recoil of the breech-block, but so that it will be
impossible to fire more than one shot by only once pulling the trigger, that is to
say, after cach discharge of the rifle the breech block will recoil and extract and
eject the empty cartridge shell and cock the gun, and in its return movement, which
is caused by a spring or springs, will insert a fresh cartridge in the barrel and
close the breech, thus preparing the gun for the next discharge, but the trigger
must then be pulled in order to fire the gun.
-
One important feature of my present invention is the employment of a toggle-
joint in combination with the breech block and with one or more springs which are
acted upon by the breech-block in its recoil and which then react to force the said
breech-block "home." This feature is also applicable to automatic guns of the class
described in the specification of former Letters Patent dated 16th July, A.D. 1883,
No 3493 and in the provisional specification accompanying my application for
Letters Patent filed 23rd February, A.D. 1884, Nº 3844.
My present invention, moreover, comprises various other novel features of
construction as hereinafter described.
My improved rifle may be provided with a Lee, Mannlicher or other magazine.
In carrying my invention into practice, according to one method I arrange the
breech-block to slide to and fro in suitable guides at the rear of the barrel, and

page_text: I couple the toggle-joint at one end to the breech-block and at the other end to
the shoe or body of the gun, the said breech-block being slotted at its rear end for
this purpose.
A spring is fixed to one link of the toggle-joint and is coiled around and secured
to the central pin or bolt thereof. The firing pin is arranged within the breech-
block and is acted upon by a spring whereby it is caused to strike the cap or
prining of the cartridge when released by the pulling of the trigger.
I provide for the cocking of the firing pin as follows, thatis to say, 1 make the
said firing pin with a slotted head in which is pivotted the sear. This scar is a
bell-crank-lever and is acted upon by a spring which presses its horizontal or
forwardly projecting arm downward. The head of the firing pin has a hooked
extension with which a projection or shoulder on the forward- link of the toggle-
joint engages, in the rearward movement of the breech-block, so as to draw back
or cock the firing pin. This shoulder or projection, moreover, prevents the said pin
from striking the cartridge and firing the gun before the breech is closed. Whon
the said firing pin is thus drawn back or cocked, the sear is caused by its spring to
engage with a shoulder on the breech-block whereby the said firing pin is retained
in its cocked position.
The vertical, or downwardly-projecting, arm of the sear is arranged to engage
with a sliding bar coupled at its rear end to the trigger and acted upon by a spring
which presses it upward. The forward end of this sliding bar is slotted longi-
tudinally and a pin is passed through the alot and fixed to the shoe or body of the
gun. The forward end of the said bar is, moreover, formed with a shoulder to
engage with the sear.. This sliding bar and the trigger and sear are so arranged,
that, when the trigger has been pulled to fire the gun, the said trigger must be
released before it will again engage with the sear,
The extractor is made in the form of a spring with a hook at its forward end to
engage with the flange of a cartridge. It has, moreover, two lateral projections
which are made with elongated slots through which are passed screws for securing
the extractor to the breech-block in such a manner that the latter will recoil a
short distance before it operates the extractor, for the purpose described in the said
former provisional specification.
In combination with the forward link of the toggle-joint I provide a handle
which is fixed to the pin or bolt that couples the said link to the breech-block.
The object of this handle is to enable the breech-block to be readily drawn away
from the breech-end of the barrel if a cartridge should miss fire, or if the breech
should be closed without a cartridge being inserted in the barrel. This handle is
so arranged that by pulling it backward it will simultaneously impart a downward
angular movement to the said link and a rearward longitudinal movement to the
breech-block.
It is not essential to the proper working of my improved rifle that the toggle-
joint should be coupled directly to the breech-block: According to another method
of carrying my invention into practice I proceed as follows, that is to say, I make
the forward link of the toggle-joint of such length that it extends a considerable
distance into the stock of the gun, which is made hollow for this purpose, and
I make the rear link of the toggle joint slightly curved and with a curved projection
or arm. This link is coupled at its rear end to the stock of the gun and is connected
by a link to a spring secured to the interior of the stock. I also provide an india-
rubber or other elastic cushion in the stock, for the said projection or arm to abut
against when the breech-block recoils. The forward link of the toggle-joint is
coupled at its front end to the rear arm of a curved or crescent-shaped lever which
is pivotted upon a bolt or stud fixed in the shoe or body of the gun. The breech-
block, in its recoil, instead of acting directly upon the, toggle-joint, acts upon a
shoulder formed upon this curved lever near the centre of its fulcrum, so that the
force of the recoil is mainly borne by the bolt or stud constituting the said fulcrum.
When the breech-block recoils, this lever is turned upon its fulcrum until the pin
or bolt coupling its rear arm to the toggle-joint has passed its dead centre. During

page_text: this movement the projection or arm on the short link of the toggle-joint comes
against the elastic cushion, and the aforesaid spring then causes the further move-
ment of the said lever upon its fulcrum in the same direction. This further
movement of the lever causes its front arm to come against projections on the
firing pin, which projections pass through slots in the sides of the breech-block;
the firing pin is thereby cocked and additional momentum is imparted to the
breech-block in its rearward movement. The said breech-block then comes against
an india-rubber or other elastic cushion fitted in the shoe or body of the gun,
which cushion reacts upon the breech-block to drive the same forward. In its
forward movement the breech-block turns the said lever on its fulcrum in the
opposite direction to that above referred to until the pin which couples its rear
arm to the toggle-joint has passed its dead centre; the said lever is then further
moved in the same direction by the aforesaid spring so as to drive the breech-block
home.
In this form or modification of my improved rifle, the firing pin is retained in
its cocked position by a sear or pawl pivotted in a slot in the firing pin and acted.
upon by a spring so that it will bear against a shoulder on the breech-block.
A lever is pivotted to the trigger, which lever has a long arin that bears against
the end of the said sear or pawl, and a short arm which is acted upon by a spring.
When the trigger is pulled, the long arm of this lever presses the sear or pawl
upward and disengages it from the said shoulder on the breech-block. The firing
pin is then caused by a spiral spring to strike the cap or priming of the cartridge
and fire the gun.
By referring to the said former specifications, the application to guns of the class:
therein described of such of my present improvements as are capable of being so
applied will be readily understood.
It is obvious that I may somewhat vary the construction of my improved rifle.
without departing from the nature of my said invention.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
17
I, HIRAM STEVENS MAXIM, of N° 57° Hatton Garden, in the County of
Middlesex, Mechanical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MAGAZINE OR REPEATING RIFLES AND OTHER GUNS and
in what mannor the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:—
My invention relates chiefly to magazine or repeating rifles, but comprises various
improvements which are also applicable to other guns.
In the specification of former Letters Patent dated 26th June A.D. 1883, Nº 3178,
I have described a rifle designed to be worked by the force exerted upon the block
or piece which closes the breech by the explosion of a cartridge in the barrel, and
so constructed that the whole of the cartridges contained in the magazine can he
fired in succession by only once pulling the trigger. I have ascertained that this
feature constitutes an element of danger when the said rifles are used by
inexperienced persons.
One object of my present invention, therefore, is to construct a rifle in such a
manner that the force developed by the ignition of the gunpowder or other
explosive material, will effect all the operations necessary in working the said rifle,
with the exception of the pulling of the trigger, which must be performed by hand
to effect each discharge, that is to say, when the trigger is pulled and a cartridge
exploded, the operations of extracting and ejecting the empty cartridge-case,
cocking the gun, and inserting a fresh cartridge will be automatically performed,
but the trigger must be again pulled to fire the next shot. My improved rifle is,
moreover, so constructed that a cartridge cannot be exploded by the pulling of the
trigger until the said cartridge is properly inserted in the barrel and the breech-
block is driven home.
In fire-arms which are worked automatically by means of the recoil or rearward
action of the explosive force generated or developed in the barrel, the mechanism
must be so arranged that the breech-block or piece which is acted upon by the
explosive force will be moved back against an adequate opposing force so controlled
and regulated as to react at, but not until, the proper moment upon the said
block or piece and thereby effect the required movements of the mechanism.
According to my present invention I obtain this re-acting force by means of a
spring or springs applied to a toggle-joint as hereinafter described, and I term this
part of my improved mechanism a spring toggle-joint. This feature of my invention
is advantageously applicable to automatic machine-guns.
My said invention further comprises various improvements in the construction
of the breech-mechanism of magazine or repeating rifles as hereinafter set forth.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal central section of a rifle constructed according
to one form or modification of my invention and provided with a " Mannlicher
magazine.
Figure 2 is a plan of the said rifle, partly in horizontal section.
Figure 2 is a side elevation of a toggle-ioint hereinafter described.

page_text: Figure 4 a transverse section on the line x, x, Figure 3, shewing details of the
said rifle.
Figure 5 is a vertical longitudinal central section of a rifle constructed according
to another modification of my invention and provided with a "Lee" magazine.
Figure 6 is a plan, partly in section on the line ¹, x¹, Figure 5.
Figure 7 is a vertical longitudinal central section shewing a further modification
of my invention.
Figure 8 is a sectional elevation shewing one form of toggle-joint detached.
Figure 9 is a similar elevation shewing a modification thereof.
Figure 10 is a vertical longitudinal central section of a rifle constructed according
to another form or modification of my invention.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
a is the stock, b the barrel and c the shoe or body of the gun. d is the breech-
block, which is arranged to slide to and fro in suitable guides at the rear of the
barrel. e, fare the two parts or links of the toggle-joint.
In the rifle shewn in Figures 1 to 4, the link e is coupled to the breech-block d
by a pin or bolt e. The link fis pivotted upon a pin or stud f1 fixed in the shoe
or body c. The form of this link is most clearly shewn in Figures 2 and 2, it is
made with two lugs fat each end to receive the pins or bolts f' and g². The
link e is also made with two lugs e³ at ench end for a similar purpose. The said
links are cut out or recessed as shewn by the dotted lines in Figure 2 to permit
the folding of the toggle-joint. The link f is, moreover, made with the projecting
part f' to increase its strength.
A spring g is coiled around, and secured at one end to, the pin or bolt g² which
unites the links of the toggle-joint; the other end of this spring is held by a pin or
stud g fixed in the link f. The link e is firmly secured to the pins or bolts e*
and g, so that the said pins or bolts will move with the said link; but the link fis
fitted to turn freely on the pin or bolt g¹. The recoil of the breech-block and parts
connected therewith causes the bending or folding of the toggle-joint into the
position indicated by dotted lines in Figure 1, and stores energy in the spring g,
which then reacts to straighten the toggle-joint and drive the breech-block home.
h is the firing pin, which is arranged centrally within the breech-block d and is
acted upon by a spring i that tends to drive it forward. I provide for the cocking
or drawing back of the firing pin h as follows, that is to say, I make the said firing
pin with a head h' having a slot in its underside to receive a bent or elbow lever j,
which serves as the sear, and which is carried by, and pivotted to, the firing pin.
The said lever or senr is provided with a spring k, which tends to press its arm j*
downward. The head h' of the firing pin has a hooked extension h; a projection
or shoulder e on the link e is adapted to engage with this extension during the
recoil of the breech-block & and other, parts, and thereby draws back or cocks the
firing pin. This shoulder or projection e¹, in combination with the extension h³,
also serves to prevent the firing of the gun before the breech is closed. When tho
firing pin is drawn back or cocked, the sear ; engages with the shoulder d on the
breech-block, as shown in Figure 1, and retains the said firing pin in its cocked
position.
To prevent the firing of more than one shot by one pull of the trigger, I employ
a sliding bar coupled at its rear end to an extension m* of the trigger m, and
acted upon by a spring n, which is firmly secured to the shoe or body c, and which
tends to press the said bar upward. The forward end of this bar is made with a
longitudinal slot, through which is passed a pin or rod o fixed in the shoe or
body c. The bar is formed with a shoulder to engage with the vertical arm of
the sear j. When the trigger is pulled, the bar 7 moves the sear j out of engage-
ment with the shoulder ', and thereby releases the firing pin. The firing pin is
cocked during the recoil of the breech-block as above described; therefore, during
the return movement of the breech-block, the sear ; will occupy the position shewn
relatively to the breech-block, and will slide over the upper surface of the bar l
which it will press downward; but the shoulder will not again engage with the

page_text: Bear unless the trigger is released. Therefore, after each discharge of the rifle, the
trigger must be released and again pulled before another shot can be fired.
It will be seen, moreover, that, by the above described peculiar arrangement of
the firing pin, the scar, the trigger, and parts connected therewith, the bar cannot
engage with the sear before the breech-block is in its closed position. Therefore
the release of the firing pin cannot be effected by the pulling of the trigger until
the breech is closed.
The extractor p has a hook p¹ to engage with the flange of a cartridge in the
barrel, and it is reduced in thickness, as shewn, to allow it to yield and permit the
said hook to pass over the said flange. It has, moreover, two lateral projections p*
with elongated slots 2, through which are passed screws 21 for securing the
extractor to the breech-block. During a portion of the recoil of the breech-block,
these screws slide freely in the slots p³, the extractor, therefore, by reason of the
"lost-motion," remains inoperative until the pressure of the gases, whereby the
cartridge-case is held tightly in the barrel, has somewhat diminished; the screws
then engage with the rear ends of the slot and move the oxtractor, which then,
easily and without excessive strain, effects the extraction of the cartridge-case.
I usually extend the pin or bolt e* through a slot in the shoe or body c, and
I fix a handle or hand-lover 7 on the said pin or bolt, to enable the breech-block
to be readily drawn away from the breech-end of the barrel, in case a cartridge
should miss fire, or the breech be closed without the insertion of a cartridge into
the barrel. This handle extends upward at right angles, or nearly so, with the
link e; by pulling the said handle backwards, the pin c* is rotated so as to impart
a downward angular movement to the link e, and is necessarily, at the same time,
moved backward so as to withdraw the breech-block d from the barrel b. This
movement of the said handle causes the toggle-joint to assume the position indicated
by dotted lines in Figure 1.
I prefer to provide means, similar to those described in my said former
specification, whereby the breech-block and other parts can, if desired, be held
or retained in the position which they occupy after the recoil or backward
movement of the breech-block, that is to say, a catch A is pivotted to the breech-
block and acted upon by a spring, whereby it is caused to enter a notch or recess
in the shoe or body of the gun, when the breech-block has reached its rearmost
position. This catch can be rendered operative or inoperative by adjusting the
lever B, which is formed with a cam or excentric B¹. When this lever is in the
position shewn in dotted lines in Figure 3, the catch A will operate, but, when
the said lever is in the position shewn in full lines in the said Figure, the catch
will be inoperative.
The operation of this rifle is as follows, that is to say-Assuming the parts to
be in the position which they occupy when the gun is ready for firing, as shown
in Figure 1, then, by pulling the trigger m, the sear j will be disengaged from the
shoulder d', and the firing pin h, being driven forward by its spring i, will strike
the cartridge and fire the gun. The explosion of the cartridge causes the recoil of
the breech-block and parts connected therewith, the empty cartridge-shell is
extracted, and is ejected by striking a projection on the shoe or body of the gun,
or in any other suitable manner, and the toggle-joint e, f is folded or bent into
the position shewn in dotted lines in Figure 1. In this movement, the toggle-
joint cocks the firing pin through the medium of the shoulder or projection e¹ and
the hooked extension h², and compresses the spring g When the breech-block is
in its rearmost position, a cartridge is raised out of the magazine into line with
the barrel b by the spring. The spring g then re-acts and, by straightening
the toggle-joint, forces the breech-block home, thereby pushing the cartridge thus
raised into the barrel. If the trigger is released after pulling it to fire the gun,
the shoulder of the sliding bar engages with the vertical arm of the sear and
the gun is ready for the next discharge; if, however, after firing the gun the
trigger is not released, but is still held back, the sliding bar will be too far
forward to permit the engagement of its shoulder l' with the sear j. It is obvious,

page_text: therefore, that, in order to fire successive shots, the trigger must be alternately
pulled and released.
It is not essential to the proper working of my improved rifle that the toggle-joint
should be coupled to the brecch-block; it may, if desired, be arranged to act indirectly
thereon through the medium of a lever as hereinafter described, and illustrated
in Figures 5 and 6. In the rifle shewn in these figures, the link e of the toggle-
joint is made of sufficient length to extend, as shewn, into the stock a of the gun,
which is made hollow for this purpose, and the link is slightly curved and mado
with a curved projection or arm f. This link is connected by another link t to
a spring u firmly secured at ul to the interior of the stock a. vis an india-rubber
or other elastic cushion fixed in the stock a for the said projection or arm f* to
strike against when the breech-block recoils. The link e is coupled, by a pin
or bolt wat its forward end, to the rear arm of a curved or crescent-shaped
lever w.
This lever is provided with trunnions w, which are supported in bearings in the
shoe or body c. The breech-block, in its recoil, instead of acting directly upon
the toggle-joint, acts upon a shoulder w³ of the lever w. It is evident that, by
reason of the position of this shoulder, the point of application of the force of the
recoil is, at first, very near the centre of the fulcrum of the lever w, also that, as
the breech-block recoils and the said lever is moved in the direction indicated by
the arrow in Figure 5, the position of the said point of application will change,
and the leverage between the breech-block and the toggle-joint will, consequently,
gradually increase as the force of the recoil decreases.
It is, moreover, obvious that the nearer the shoulder wis to the centre of
the fulcrum of the lever w, the greater will be the resistance to the recoil of the
breech-block.
The head h¹ of the firing pin is fitted to slide within a tube h³, and has a pin or
rod passed through it. The ends of this pin or rod project on each side of the
breech-block through suitable slots formed therein. The tube h³ is also formed
with slots, in which the pin or rod is fitted to slide; the said tube is free to
slide a short distance to and fro in the breech-block. The spring i bears, at its
forward end, against a shoulder or collar on the firing pin, and, at its rear end,
against the forward end of the tube h³.
The recoil of the breech-block turns the lever w upon its fulcrum in the direction
indicated by the arrow Figure 5, until the projection or arm f* on the link f
strikes the elastic cushion v. In this movement, the spring u is bent and the
cushion v compressed. The re-action of this cushion and of the spring u tend to
straighten the toggle-joint and thereby cause the further movement of the lever w
upon its fulcrum in the same direction, so that a clear space is left for the breech-
block in its recoil. This further movement of the lever w, moreover, causes its
forward arms w to act upon the ends of the pin or rod, and thereby draw back
or cock the firing pin, and, at the same time, compress the spring i and impart
additional momentum to the breech-block in its rearward movement. The spring i,
in re-acting, pushes the tube h³ backward, so that the said tube projects from the
breech-block and, in the latter part of the rearward movement thereof, strikes an
india-rubber or other elastic cushion y fixed at the rear of the shoe or body c,
which cushion is thereby compressed and reacts to again compress the spring i and
drive the breech-block forward. In the forward movement of the breech-block;
the ends of the pin or rod strike the arms w of the lever w and turn the
same on its fulerum in the direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow, until
the arm f again strikes the cushion v, the spring u being bent by this movement.
The said lever is then further moved, in the direction opposite to that indicated
by the arrow, by the re-action of the spring u and cushion v, so as to drive
the breech-block home. It will be seen that the spring i is compressed in the
forward, as well as in the rearward, movement of the breech-block. This spring,
moreover, acts as a cushion to diminish the shock caused by the recoil of the
breech-block..
j

page_text: ○ In this form or modification of my improved rifle, the firing pin is retained in
its cocked position by a pawl ; which serves as a sear. This pawl or sear is
pivotted in a slot in the head h¹ of the firing pin h and is acted upon by a spring k,
which tends to press it. downward. A lever m¹ is pivotted to the trigger m, the
long arm of which lever bears against the end of the sear or pawlj, its short arm
being acted upon by a spring m³ firmly secured to the shoe or body c. When the
trigger is pulled, the long arm of this lever presses the sear or pawl upward and
disengages it from the shoulder d' on the breech-block, thereby releasing the firing
pin, as above described. The pawl j, in the forward movement of the breech-block,
presses down the lever m' and bends the spring m³, which then re-acts to force the
said lever beneath the pawl, as shewn. But it is evident that the trigger must
be released after it has been pulled to fire the gun, before the lever m¹ will again
engage with the pawl j.. The extraction and ejection of the empty-cartridge cases
are effected as above described, or by other suitable moans.
I have ascertained that it is sometimes advantageous to delay the opening of the
breech for a longer time after the discharge than is provided for by constructing
and arranging the extractor in the manner above described, in order to permit the
pressure of the gases in the cartridge-shell to somewhat diminish before the said
cartridge-shell is extracted, and to prevent, in a great measure, the escape of the
gases from the breech. For these purposes, and also to prevent the too rapid recoil
of the breech-block and parts connected therewith, I sometimes construct the
toggle-joint in the peculiar manner hereinafter described and shewn in Figures 7
and 8, that is to say:-The hole in the link f, which receives the pin or bolt g¹,
instead of being made circular so that the said pin or bolt will accuratoly fit
therein, is made slightly oval as indicated at f, so that, when the breech-block
commences its recoil, the pin or bolt g' will move a short distance backward in the
said hole. The links e, fare formed or provided with shoulders e³, ƒ³, which, when
the toggle-joint is straightened by the spring g, bear against each other, so that
the breech-block is held firmly against the breech-end of the barrel, the force
tending to press the breech-block against the barrel acting in the directions
indicated by the dotted lines 1, 2. When the breech is closed, the centre of the
pin or bolt g¹ is slightly above the straight line connecting the centres of the pins
or bolts e*, f¹..
:
When the gun is fired, the recoil will bend the toggle-joint by moving it around
the point ², until the pin or bolt g¹ bears against the side f of the said hole,
the breech-block moving an almost imperceptible distance backward. The bending
of the toggle-joint continues, but from this point it moves around the pin or
bolt g', and, if the parts are so arranged that the centre of this pin or bolt is then in
line with the centres of the pins or bolts e, f, the breech-block will, by reason of
the impetus or momentum of the parts, continue its rearward movement and open
the breech. But, if the parts are so arranged that the pin or bolt gl bears against
the side of the said hole before its centre reaches a point on the line between the
centres of the pins or bolts e, f¹, the breech-block will be moved. a very small
distance forward by the action of the toggle-joint, before it continues the rearward
movement for opening the breech. It will be understood, however, that this 4
forward movement is so slight that it only causes a momentary delay in the recoil
of the breech-block, and but slightly diminishes the rapidity of such recoil.
In the gun shewn in Figure 7, the trigger m is arranged to act upon a lever 2*
pivotted at 3 to a bracket attached to the shoe or body c.
This lever carries, on a
jin-joint, a slotted piece which is held down by a spring nº. When the gun is 5
cocked and the trigger pulled, the piece is forced up against the lower edge of
the sear j and disengages it from the shoulder on the breech-block, thereby
releasing the firing pin, as above described. g³ is an extra or auxiliary spring
which tends to hold up the toggle-joint e, f.
It will be seen that, in this gun, as well as in those shewn in Figures 1 and 5, 5
the firing cannot be effected by the pulling of the trigger until the breech is closed.

page_text: Figure 9 shews a further modification of the toggle-joint, wherein the links e, ƒ
are made with shoulders e³, ƒ³, which are pressed together when the breech is
closed. The link fis, in this case, made with a shoulder f* which, when the
breech is closed, bears against a shoulder on the bracket or support ƒ³. The hole
in the link which receives the pin or bolt g¹ is made circular, but the holes in
the bracket or support f³ are made slightly oval, as indicated at f, so that the
recoil of the breech-block will first act upon the toggle-joint in the direction of the
lines 3, 4, and the pin or bolt f¹ will move slightly backward in the said holes;
the recoil of the breech-block will thus be delayed as above specified.
In Figure 10, I have shewn a gun constructed according to my present invention
and designed to be provided with the feed-apparatus described in the specification
of Letters Patent dated 23rd May, 1884, N° 9407.
The breech-block d is formed with a shoulder which, when the breech-block
recoils, comes against a stop c' on the shoe or body c. The extractor p is secured
to the underside of the breech-block d and is formed with a slot p through which
passes a pin or rod d* fixed in the breech-block. The effect of this manner of
connection is that the latter will recoil a short distance before actuating the
extractor. The breech-block is made with a projection or extension which,
when the breech-block recoils, acts upon one arm of a bent lever p³ and moves tho
other arm thereof so that its extremity lies beneath the extractor p, which is thus
firmly held in engagement with the cartridge-case until it has started the latter
from the barrel. The extractor is provided with a pin or stud p² which, when the
breech-block has nearly reached its rearmost position, comes in contact with the
inclined face of the fixed arm c³, the extractor is thereby depressed and releases
the cartridge-case which it leaves in such a position that the feed-wheel Q can
carry the same to a discharge opening provided at the side of the gun. This feed-
wheel receives cartridges from a horizontal rotating magazine as described in the
said former specification N° 9407 and carries them into line with the barrel, into
which they are thrust by the breech-block in its forward movement.
d' is an arm attached to the extension d³ to disengage the lever p³ from the
extractor (when the breech-block moves forward) and thus permit a slight down-
ward movement of the extractor to enable it to pass over the flange of a cartridge
in the barrel. p' is a spring secured to the extractor p and bearing upon a pin or
stud d in the extension d³; this spring tends to press the extractor upward and
cause it to engage with the flange of the cartridge-case.
The firing pin h is formed with a slot h³ into which projects one arm of a lever
pivotted to a bracket forming part of, or attached to, the breech-block
extension d³. The other arm of this lever is arranged to be acted upon, during
the rearward movement of the breech-block, by a stationary pin or rod c³ fixed in
the shoe or body c, in order to cock the firing pin. The firing pin is retained
in its cocked position by the engagement of the lever j (which is also pivotted to
the bracket d³) with the notch or shoulder of the lever j¹. A spring j* carried
by the lever ji acts upon the lever j to retain it in engagement with the said
shoulder.
The gun is fired by means of a sliding rod or bar m³, in which the trigger m is
fixed, and which has at its forward end a projection m' to act upon the lower end
of the lever as hereinafter explained. The trigger-guard A is a curved spring,
the free end of which is provided with a hook or catch A* to engage with a
projection on the curved arm B attached to the shoe or body c. The trigger-guard
is, moreover, formed with a shoulder A', which, when the parts are adjusted as
hereinafter described and the trigger is pulled, will engage with the latter and hold
it in its rearmost position, so that the projection m' of the bar m³ will be in position
to release the hammer in each forward movement of the breech-block, and the gun
will continue to operate so long as the supply of ammunition is maintained.
C is a piece arranged to slide to and fro upon the trigger-guard A, and having a
projection C which, when the parts are in the position shown, lies between the
'part B¹ of the curved arm B and the part A¹ of the trigger-guard A, thus holding

page_text: down the said trigger-guard and preventing the engagement of its shoulder A¹ with
the trigger. Therefore, when the parts are in the position shewn, the trigger must
be pulled to effect each discharge; but, if the sliding piece C is moved towards the
muzzle of the gun so as to withdraw the projection C₁ from between the parts A
and B¹, the part A2 will be free to spring upward, so that when the trigger is
pulled to fire the gun, the shoulder A¹ will engage with the said trigger, and the
operation of the gun will be entirely automatic as above specified.
The gun shewn in Figure 10 is, moreover, provided with a device for regulating
the speed of firing. This device has a cylinder or chamber P containing glycerine
and water or other liquid; in which chamber is fitted a perforated piston P¹. The
perforations or holes through this piston are closed (when the gun is ready for
firing) by a collar or flange on the piston-rod P2, the piston being mounted loosely
on the said rod and held against the said collar by a light spring P³. The
chamber P is connected with the piston-rod by a flexible tube P', and is made
slightly conical at its rear end as shewn. A spring P³ is arranged within the
chamber P and tends to push the piston P¹ to the rear end thereof. The piston-
rod P is provided with a block or cross-head P, which is fitted to slide between
suitable guides and is made with a slot P' through which projects the lever p".
When the breech-block recoils, the spring P slightly compresses the spring P³ and
moves the piston-rod P, thereby uncovering the holes in the piston P¹. The piston
is then moved forward by the springs, the liquid passing freely through it. During
the latter portion of the forward movement of the breech-block, its extension d³
acts upon the part Po and moves the piston-rod in the opposite direction, thereby
first closing the holes in the piston, and then moving the said piston in the
chamber P, but this movement will be very slow, as the liquid can only pass
between the piston and the sides of the chamber. The chamber P is screwed into
the frame R and is held between two clamps forming part of a bracket R¹, which
clamps can be drawn together by means of a screw R³, to firmly secure the said
chamber in position. When this screw is slackened, the said chamber can be
turned in either direction to screw it into, or unscrew it from, the frame R, and
thus adjust it, so that the piston is more or less within the taper portion of the
cylinder. In this manner the speed of firing is regulated by increasing or
diminishing the space for the passage of the liquid between the piston and
chamber.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
First. In a magazine rifle or other gun wherein the block or piece which closes
the breech is forced back by the explosion of a cartridge in the barrel, the
employment of a spring toggle-joint in combination with the said breech-block or
piece, for the purposes above specified.
Second. The provision of the shoulder or projection on the forward link of the
said toggle-joint to operate in combination with the hooked extension of the
firing pin, substantially as described with reference to Figure 1 of the drawings, for
the purposes specified.
Third. The combination of the sear carried by the firing pin, with the trigger,
in the manner substantially as described, so that the release of the firing pin can
be effected by pulling the trigger when, but not until, the breech is closed.
Fourth. The improvements in magazine or repeating rifles, substantially as
described with reference to Figure 1, or Figure 5, or Figure 7 of the drawings,
whereby I provide mechanism for automatically effecting all the operations
necessary in working the gun except the firing of the same, in combination with a
trigger to be pulled by hand, as above specified.
Fifth. The combination, with the breech-block and toggle-joint, of the hand-
lever q so arranged that the power exerted thereon to draw back the breech-block,
L

page_text: also acts to bend or turn down the said toggle-joint, as, and for the purpose, set
forth.
Sixth. The modification of my invention wherein one part of the toggle-joint is
pivotted within the stock, and the other part extends therefrom, and is connected
to a lever pivotted in the shoe or body of the gun, to act in combination with the
breech-block, substantially as described with reference to Figure 5 of the drawings,
for the purpose specified.
Seventh. The modification of my invention wherein the toggle-joint is caused to
operate in such a manner as to delay or retard the opening of the breech after
each discharge, substantially as described with reference to Figures 7 and 8, or
Figure 9 of the drawings, for the purpose specified.
Eighth. The improved magazine or repeating rifle provided with mechanism
consisting of the parts constructed and combined substantially as described with
reference to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, or to Figures 5 and 6, or Figure 7, or Figure 10
of the drawings, to operate automatically, as, and for the purposes, specified.