IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH LOADING MAGAZINE SMALL ARMS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Simeon Edge, the younger, of Yardley, in the
County of Worcester, Mechanical Engineer, and John Deeley, of Birmingham,
in the County of Warwick, Gun Manufacturer, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH LOADING MAGAZINE SMALL ARMS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Simeon Edge and
John Deeley at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th
July 1881.
JAMES SIMEON EDGE, the younger, of Yardley, in the County of Worcester,
Mechanical Engineer, and JOHN DEELEY, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Gun Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH LOADING MAGAZINE
SMALL ARMS."
In constructing a magazine breech loading small arm according to one of our
improvements we construct and arrange the parts as follows:-The store of cart-
ridges is contained in a tube extending from the breech chamber of the gun
throughout the length of the stock, the cartridges being urged forward by a
spring.
The raising and lowering of the sliding block, which opens and closes the breech
end of the barrel, the working of the extractor, and the liberation from the
magazine of the cartridges, one at a time, are effected by the motion of a hand
lever on the side of the body of the gun. The raising of this hand lever effects
the lifting of the sliding block, and the lowering of the said lever effects the
depression of the sliding block, the ejection of the spent cartridge case, and the
liberation of another cartridge from the magazine. The said hand lever is fitted
on an axis which passes across the body of the gun. The distant end of this axis
carries an arm or projection which bears on the short arm of a lever, the curved
end of the long arm of which lever engages in a slot or opening in the bottom of
the sliding block. The raising of the hand lever causes the curved end of the
[Price 10d1

page_text: sliding block lever to rise and with it the sliding block.
hand lever causes the sliding block to fall.
The depression of the
On the near internal end of the axis of the hand lever is an arm having a pin
or stud on its side near its end. This pin or stud takes into an angular slot in the
side of a lever which we will call the extractor lever. As the hand lever is raised
and lowered motion in one or other direction is given to the extractor lever. The
extractor slides horizontally, and a pin or stud on its side takes into a slot in the
extractor lever. The motion of the hand lever is thus made to give the required
motions to the extractor.
The cartridges are retained in the magazine by a spring catch engaging with
the rim of the front cartridge. This catch is depressed, and the front cartridge
liberated by means of a lever on which the arm on the near end of the hand lever
acts. When the hand lever is depressed the said arm acts on the said lever,
thereby depressing the spring catch, and the liberated front cartridge is shot forward
by the action of the spring in the magazine.
The action of the parts is as follows:-The gun having been discharged the hand
lever is depressed; this first effects the lowering of the sliding block, next the
action of the extractor and ejection of the cartridge case; then the liberation of the
front cartridge in the magazine, which is shot forward into the breech chamber, in
which the open breech end of the barrel is fixed.
By now raising the hand lever the spring catch for engaging with the cartridge
which next comes to the front is allowed to rise, the extractor is urged forward
towards the breech end of the barrel, carrying with it the cartridge, behind the
flange of which its end is engaged finally, the sliding block is raised, and the breech
end of the barrel is closed, the sliding block in its rising forcing the end of the
extractor from behind the rim of the cartridge, and causing it to engage in front of
the rim ready for extracting the case after discharge.
In constructing a magazine breech loading gun according to another of our
improvements we employ a magazine consisting of a flat case, which can be attached
to the side of the body of the gun by a sliding motion. When the magazine is
not attached to the gun it can be loaded in the usual way. The magazine has on
the side connected to the gun and near the bottom of the said side a slot or opening
of a size suitable to permit of the passage of a cartridge from the magazine through
a coincident slot or opening in the body of the gun.
The raising and lowering of the sliding block and the working of the extractor
are effected in ways essentially similar to those described, excepting that we
employ toothed gearing instead of an angular slot and stud as described, and we
employ a lever under the trigger guard instead of a lever on the side of the gun,
but the supplying of cartridges one at a time from the magazine is effected as
follows:-
At the rear end of the opening in the top of the breech chamber a curved
trough shaped guide is hinged. This guide serves to direct the cartridge into the
charge chamber when the gun is loaded in the ordinary way.
The cartridges are prevented from passing from the magazine by a small lever
on the lower edge of the opening, through which the cartridge passes into the breech
chamber. A projection on this lever takes into a slot in the side of the sliding
block, so that when the sliding block descends it depresses the said lever, and
thereby permits the passage of the cartridge. As the sliding block ascends it raises
the lever and prevents the entrance of another cartridge till the sliding block has
again descended. When the hinged guide is in its normal position it crosses the
rear end of the slot through which the cartridges pass from the magazine to the
breech chamber, and requires to be lifted to permit of the passage of a cartridge
into the breech chamber. This is effected by the extractor.
Under the jointed end of the curved guide is a lever, by pressing back which
the guide is raised. After discharge, the extractor first withdraws and ejects the
spent cartridge case, and next strikes against the said lever. The hinged guide is

page_text: thereby raised, and permits a cartridge to pass from the magazine to the breech
chamber. By the advance motion of the extractor.the guide is allowed to fail, and
the cartridge in the breech chamber is forced into the charge chamber, the small
lever described preventing the entrance of another cartridge into the breech
chamber until the gun has been discharged and the spent cartridge case ejected.
The lever for working the hinged guide is carried by an axis capable of a sliding
motion, and urged by a spring towards the magazine side of the breech chamber.
When the magazine is put in its place it presses on the end of the said axis and
forces it into a position in which its lever engages with the hinged guide. When
the magazine is removed the said axis is forced by its spring into a position in
Hence when the
which its lever is no longer geared with the hinged guide.
magazine is removed and the gun is loaded in the ordinary way the extractor does
not act on the hinged guide.
The parts of the guns which we have not described are of the ordinary kind.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Simeon Edge and John Deeley in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 16th January 1882.
.
JAMES SIMEON EDGE, the younger, of Yardley, in the County of Worcester,
Mechanical Engineer, and JOHN DEELEY, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Gun Manufacturer. 'IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH LOADING MAGAZINE
SMALL ARMS."
"
In constructing a magazine breech loading small arm according to one of our
improvements we construct and arrange the parts as follows:-The store of
cartridges is contained in a tube extending from the breech chamber of the gun
throughout the length of the stock, the cartridges being urged forward by a
spring.
The raising and lowering of the sliding block which opens and closes the breech
end of the barrel, the working of the extractor, and the liberation from the
magazine of the cartridges one at a time are effected by the motion of a hand lever
on the side of the body of the gun. The raising of this hand lever effects the
lifting of the sliding block, and the lowering of the said lever effects the depression
of the sliding block, the ejection of the spent cartridge case, and the liberation of
another cartridge from the magazine. The said hand lever is fitted on an axis
which passes across the body of the gun. The distant end of this axis carries an
arm or projection which bears on the short arm of a lever, the curved end of the
long arm of which lever engages in a slot or opening in the bottom of the sliding
block.
The raising of the hand lever causes the curved end of the sliding block lever to
rise and with it the sliding block. The depression of the hand lever causes the
sliding block to fall.
On the near internal end of the axis of the hand lever is an arm having a pin or
stud on its side near its end.. This pin or stud takes into an angular slot in the
side of a lever, which we will call the extractor lever. As the hand lever is raised
and lowered, motion in one or other direction is given to the extractor lever. The
extructor slides horizontally, and a pin or stud on its side takes into a slot in the
extractor lever. The motion of the hand lever is thus made to give the required
motions to the extractor.
The cartridges are retained in the magazine by a spring catch engaging with the
rim of the front cartridge. This catch is depressed and the front cartridge
liberated by means of a lever on which the arm on the near end of the hand lever
acts. When the hand lever is depressed, the said arm acts on the said lever, thereby
depressing the spring catch, and the liberated front cartridge is shot forward by the
action of the spring in the magazine.
The action of the parts is as follows:-The gun having been discharged the
hand lever is depressed; this first effects the lowering of the sliding block, next the
action of the extractor and the ejection of the cartridge case; then the liberation of
the front cartridge in the magazine, which is shot forward into the breech chamber
in which the open breech end of the barrel is fixed.
By now raising the hand lever the spring catch for engaging with the cartridge
which next comes to the front is allowed to rise, the extractor is urged forward
towards the breech end of the barrel, carrying with it the cartridge, behind the
flange of which its end is engaged; finally, the sliding block is raised and the
breech end of the barrel is closed; the sliding block in its rising, should the extractor
not have been returned to its place, forcing the end of the extractor from behind
the rim of the cartridge, and causing it to engage in front of the rim ready for
extracting the case after discharge.

page_text: In constructing a magazine breech loading gun according to another of our
improvements, we employ a magazine consisting of a flat case which can be
attached to the side of the body of the gun by a sliding motion. When the
magazine is not attached to the gun, it can be loaded in the usual way. The
magazine has on the side connected to the gun and near the bottom of the said
side, a slot or opening of a size suitable to permit of the passage of a cartridge
from the magazine through a coincident slot or opening in the body of the gun.
The raising and lowering of the sliding block and the working of the extractor
are effected in ways essentially similar to those described, excepting that we employ
toothed gearing instead of an angular slot and stud, as described, and we employ
a lever under the trigger guard instead of a lever on the side of the gun, but the
supplying of cartridges one at a time from the magazine is effected as follows:-
At the rear end of the opening in the top of the breech chamber a curved
trough shaped guide is hinged. This guide serves to direct the cartridge into
the charge chamber when the gun is loaded in the ordinary way. The cartridges
are prevented from passing from the magazine by a small lever on the lower edge
of the opening through which the cartridge passes into the breech chamber.
A projection on this lever takes into a slot in the side of the sliding block, so that
when the sliding block descends it depresses the said lever, and thereby permits
the passage of the cartridge. As the sliding block ascends, it raises the lever and
prevents the entrance of another cartridge till the sliding block has again descended.
When the hinged guide is in its normal position, it crosses the rear end of the slot
through which the cartridges pass from the magazine.to the breech chamber and
requires to be lifted to permit of the passage of a cartridge into the breech chamber.
This is effected by the extractor.
Under the jointed end of the curved guide is a lever, by pressing back which the
guide is raised. After discharge the extractor first withdraws and ejects the spent
cartridge case, and next strikes against the said lever. The hinged guide is thereby
raised and permits a cartridge to pass from the magazine to the breech chamber.
By the advance motion of the extractor the guide is allowed to fall, and the
cartridge in the breech chamber is forced into the charge chamber, the small lever
described preventing the entrance of another cartridge into the breech chamber
until the gun has been discharged, and the spent cartridge case ejected. The
lever for working the hinged guide is carried by an axis capable of a sliding
motion, and urged by a spring towards the magazine side of the breech chamber.
When the magazine is put in its place it presses on the end of the said axis,
and forces it into a position in which its lever engages with the hinged guide.
When the magazine is removed the said axis is forced by its spring into a position
in which its lever is no longer geared with the hinged guide. Hence, when the
magazine is removed and the gun is loaded in the ordinary way, the extractor
does not act on the hinged guide.
The parts of the guns which we have not described are of the ordinary kind.
We will now proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying Drawings
the manner in which our Invention is to be performed.
Figures 1 and 2 represent longitudinal vertical sections of the breech end of a
breech loading magazine gun constructed according to our Invention; Figures
and 4 represent side elevations of portions of the same (with the covering plate
removed); and Figures 5 and 6 represent horizontal sections of the said gun;
Figure 7 represents a plan of the gun with portions removed. The other Figures
represent detached parts of the gun, as hereinafter explained.
In Figures 1, 3, and 5, parts of the gun are represented in the positions which
they respectively occupy after the gun has been discharged, and in Figures 2, 4,
and 6, the several parts are represented in the positions which they respectively
occupy after the breech block has been lowered and the breech opened, the
hammer cocked, the spent cartridge case extracted and ejected, and a cartridgo
released from the magazine. The mechanism by which the cartridges are one at a
time released from the magazine is represented in its two positions in Figures 1

page_text: and 2, and the extracting and ejecting mechanism is shown in its two positions in
Figures 3, 4, 5, and 6.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in Figures 1 to 16 of the
Drawings.
a is the barrel of the gun, and b the vertically sliding breech block, the raising
and lowering of which opens and closes the breech end of the said barrel, cocks
the hammer, and operates the extracting and releasing mechanisms; c is the
magazine in the stock of the gun in which the store of cartridges is kept, the
cartridges in the said magazine being urged forward by the coiled spring and
pusher at c d is the hand lever on the side of the gun (shown separately in
Figure 8), by the motion of which hand lever the several parts of the gun are
worked; d² is the axis of the said hand lever passing through the body of the
gun. On a cylindrical part of the said axis d² the hammer e (shown separately in
Figure 9) works, and fixed on a square part of the said axis d² is an arm f, having
a pin or stud f2 on its face near its end. This arm has affixed to it a nearly
elliptical block g by which the hammer e is cocked and the sliding breech block b
raised and lowered. The arm f and block g are shown separately in Figure 10.
The hammer is lifted into its cocked position when the hand lever d is depressed
by the shoulder g on the said block g bearing against the shoulder e³ on the
hammer e. The breech block b is worked by the lever h (shown separately in
Figure 11), the latter being operated by the hooked part g³ of the nearly elliptical
block g acting against the tail end or short arm of the said lever h. The free end
of the long arm of the block actuating lever h takes into a recess b² in the block b
to depress it, and the curved upper side of the said lever bears against the bottom
of the said block b to raise it, as will be understood by an examination of
Figures 1 and 2; i is the extractor lever turning on the centre i³, and shown
separately in Figure 12. In the said extractor lever i is an angular slot ³, in
which the pin or stud fs on the end of the arm f fixed on the axis of the hand
lever d takes. By means of the said pin f' and slot is a rapid motion in one or
other direction is given to the said extractor lever for the purpose hereinafter
explained; k is the extractor turning on the centre carried by the slide 1. The
said extractor and its slide are represented separately in Figure 13. The said
extractor slide / works in a slot m in the side of the body of the gun, and also in a
depression or slot in the inner face of the covering plate p (shown separately in
Figure 14) fixed on one side of the body of the gun. The extractor slide has a
pin or stud 12 on its face, with which a slot near the free end of the extractor
lever engages. When the extractor lever i is in the position represented in
Figures 3 and 5, the extractor k is in its place at the mouth of the charge chamber,
and its hook is engaged with the rim of the cartridge case to be extracted, and
ejected, and when the extractor k has been brought to the position represented
in Figures 4 and 6, the cartridge case has been extracted and ejected, the motion
of the pin or stud f" on the arm f in the angular slot is in the extractor lever i
giving a rapid motion to the said extractor lever, and consequently to the
extractor slide 7 and extractor k carried by it.
By an examination of Figures 5 and 6 it will be seen that the extractor k
consists of a lever, the extracting arm being pressed into its acting position by &
spring.
It is necessary in order to allow the cartridge released from the magazine c to
pass into the breech chamber of the gun to remove the extractor k out of the path
of the said incoming cartridge. This is effected by giving the tail end of the
extractor the construction represented and arranging on the covering plate p an
inclined catch q, the said catch being situated over the depression p² in the said
covering plate p. After the extractor k has been moved sufficiently far to eject the
spent cartridge case, the tail end of the extractor travels upon the incline of the
catch q and the angular part of the said tail end engages with the said catch, as
illustrated in Figure 6. The extracting arm of the extractor k is thus removed
from the path of the incoming cartridge and remains in that position until the

page_text: return stroke given to the extractor slide 1, by the raising of the hand lever d
disengages the tail of the extractor from the said catch q.
In Figure 6 a cartridge is represented in the act of passing from the magazine
into the breech chamber, and by reference to the said Figure 6 it will be seen how
the incoming cartridge is not obstructed by the held back extracting arm of the
extractor k.
We will now describe the mechanism by which the cartridges are retained in
the magazine and liberated, one at a time, from the said magazine. r is a nearly
horizontal lever (shown separately in Figure 15), turning on the centre ³, and
brought when at liberty to move into the normal position, Figure 1, by the spring 7
acting upon its short arm. In the end of the long arm of the lever r is a slot,
which engages with a pin or stud t on the rocking lever catch u (shown separately
in Figure 16). The lever catch u carries at one end a cross stud or projection u³,
and its other end engages with and gives motion to the vertically sliding cross
stud or projection u³. When the spring retaining lever r is in the position
represented in Figure 1 its long arm depresses the rear end of the rocking lever u,
and raising its front end causes the latter to lift the sliding stud u³ and engage it
with the rim of the front cartridge in the magazine c and retain the said
cartridge. When the long arm of the spring retaining lever is raised, as illustrated
in Figure 2, it raises the rear stud u² on the rocking lever catch u, thereby
depressing the sliding stud us from the rim of the front cartridge c³. The front
cartridge, being thus released, is shot forward by the spring pusher c² into the breech
chamber of the gun, as illustrated in Figure 2, where the said front cartridge is
shown in the act of passing into the breech chamber. The depression of the slide
end u³ of the rocking lever catch u for releasing the front cartridge raises the stud
end u², so that the rim of the next cartridge c¹ is retained by the said stud u² in
the magazine, as illustrated in Figure 2. When the pressure has been removed
from the spring retaining lever it takes the position represented in Figure 1,
restoring the rocking lever catch u to its normal position, in which position it
retains the now front cartridge c* by its sliding stud u³, the other stud us being at
liberty on the release of the said cartridge c to retain the cartridge behind it, as
represented in Figure 1.
The retaining spring lever is operated upon to put it into the position,
Figure 2, by the action of the arm f carrying the stud f, which works the
extractor lever i. The said arm f does not operate upon the tail end of the said
retaining spring lever until the hand lever d, which works the said arm f, has
been depressed below the point necessary to open the breech, cock the hammer, and
extract and eject the spent cartridge case.
The front of the magazine c is closed by the jointed flap or guide x, which is
raised by the bullet end of the cartridge passing under it. The flap or guide ∞,
besides closing the magazine, serves as a guide for the cartridges passing from the
magazine to the breech chamber and for the hand fed cartridges. The said jointed
flap or guide a is fixed in its depressed position when it is wished to charge the
gun by hand without using the cartridges in the magazine c by the lever catch y,
the said lever catch y being turned into the position indicated in dotted lines in
Figure 5.
The action of the parts of the gun is as follows:-The gun having been
discharged, the parts occupy the respective positions represented in Figures 1, 3,
and 5. In order to open and reload the gun the hand lever d is depressed into the
position indicated in dotted lines in Figures 2 and 4. The depression of the hand
lever d nearly into the position indicated in Figures 2 and 4 first effects the lowering
of the breech block b through the operation of the hook part g³ of the nearly
elliptical block g on the axis of the said hand lever acting on the lever h, the said
block at the same time cocking the hammer e by the shoulder g³ of the said
block bearing against the shoulder on the hammer, the latter being retained in
its cocked position by the sear as usual. The nearly elliptical block g is held in
the position last described by the spring g* (see Figure 1), the rounded end of

page_text: which drops into a notch 95 (see Figure 10) in the said block g. As soon as the
breech block b has been lowered sufficiently far to open the breech chamber, the
stud on the arm f of the block g, which stud has been moving in the nearly
horizontal part of the slot in the extractor lever i now passes into and works in
the other nearly vertical part of the slot 3, thereby giving a rapid backward
motion to the extractor lever i, and through it to the slide and extractor k, the
parts of the said extracting mechanism now occupying the positions represented in
Figures 4 and 6. By the rapid motion thus given to the extractor k it extracts
the empty cartridge case from the breech chamber of the gun and ejects it through
the open top of the breech body. On the extractor reaching its back or
withdrawn position its extracting arm is removed from the path of the incoming
cartridge and held in that position by the catch q in the manner herein before
described and illustrated in Figure 6. By a further short depression of the hand
lever d beyond that necessary to lower the breech block b, cock the hammer e,
and extract and eject the empty cartridge case, the arm f acting upon the tail end
of the retaining spring lever x causes the said lever to take the position represented
in Figure 2, thereby liberating the front cartridge c³ (Figure 1) in the magazine o
from the rocking lever catch u, which cartridge c³ is shot forward into the breech
chamber and retaining the now first cartridge c¹ in the magazine in the manner
illustrated in Figure 2. On removing the pressure from the hand lever d the
retaining mechanism takes the position represented in Figure 1 by the action of
the spring, and by fully raising the hand lever d into the position represented
in the said Figure 1 the extractor k is released from the catch q and returned to
its place at the mouth of the charge chamber carrying before it the cartridge into
the said charge chamber, and the breech block b is raised: As the extractor k
approaches the mouth of the charge chamber it snaps over the rim of the cartridge
which has been supplied from the magazine and which has been pushed before it
ready for extracting the case after discharge. The gun is now ready for firing by
pressure upon the trigger in the usual way.
This magazine gun may be used as an ordinary breech loading gun either when
the magazine is charged with cartridges or when the store of cartridges is
exhausted. In either case the cartridges are fed to the breech chamber by hand,
the lid or guide x being fastened down by the small lever catch y.
Figure 17 represents a side elevation (with the side plate of the body or shoe
removed), and Figures 18 and 19 represent vertical longitudinal sections of the
breech end of a magazine gun constructed according to our Invention, in which a
detachable magazine at the side of the body or shoe is employed instead of a
magazine in the stock.
In Figures 17 and 18 the vertically sliding breech block is represented raised
and the hammer cocked ready for discharge, and in Figure 19 the said breech
block is represented lowered and the breech open, the empty cartridge case
extracted and ejected and a fresh cartridge from the side magazine fed to the
breech chamber ready on the advance motion of the extractor to be forced into the
charge chamber of the gun.
Figure 20 represents a plan partly in horizontal section of the gun with the
parts in the same positions as in Figures 17 and 18, and Figure 21 represents a plan
partly in horizontal section of the gun with the parts in the same positions as in
Figure 19; Figure 22 represents an elevation of the side of the body or shoe of
the gun at which the magazine is connected, and Figure 23 is a cross section of
the magazine and body or shoe of the gun; Figures 24 and 25 are cross sections
taken through the rear of the body or shoe for the purpose of exhibiting the
mechanism by which the hinged guide at the rear of the breech chamber is
operated by the extracting mechanisin when the magazine is attached to the gun
and thrown out of gear, when the magazine is removed. The other Figures
represent detached parts of the gun as berein after explained.
The same letters indicate the same parts in Figures 17 to 33.
d is the hand lever under the trigger guard, by which the several parts of the

page_text: gun are operated. The said hand lever is represented separately in Figure 26;
e is the hammer and b the sliding breech block, shewn separately in Figure 27.
In this arrangement the shoulder d (see Figure 26) on the head of the hand
lever d cocks the hammer e, and the lever h by which the breech block b is raised
and lowered is operated by the hooked recess d³ in the head of the hand lever d
acting upon the tail end of the block lever h, as will be understood by an
examination of Figures 17 and 19. The hand lever d and hammer e turn on the
same axis. The extractor lever i (shown separately in Figure 28) for operating
the extractor k carried by the slide is worked from the hand lever d in the
manner best seen in Figures 17 and 19. The joint end of the extractor lever i is
made into teeth marked 2, which teeth gear with the teeth m² on the free end of
the lever m (shown separately in Figure 29). The gearing lever m is operated by
the arm d on the head of the hand lever d, a stud d' on the said arm d* taking
into the recess m³ in the gearing lever m. The free end of the extractor lever i is
geared to the slide 7 of the extractor by a stud on the said slido taking into a
groove or depression in the said extractor lever, as in the gun first described.
When the hand lever d has been depressed for opening the breech and cocking the
gun, the further depression of the said hand lever d causes the stud d³ on the
arm d to give motion to the gearing lever m, and the latter to operate the
extractor lever i, the said extractor lever having a rapid motion given to it,
the action of the gearing lever m upon the extractor lever i moving it from the
position represented in Figure 17 to that represented in Figure 19. The extractor
lever i is thus made to give a rapid motion to the slide in its longitudinal slot in
the breech chamber, and the extractor k carried by the said slide first extracts and
afterwards ejects the empty cartridge case in the manner herein before fully
explained with respect to the first described arrangement of our Invention, but the
mechanism herein before described for taking the extractor out of the way of the
incoming cartridge is not used in this arrangement.
The extractor k and its slide are shown in front and back elevation and side
elevation in Figure 30, but their construction and the connection of the slide with
the extracting lever i are best seen in the sectional view, Figure 20.
c is the magazine at the side of the body g of the gun. It consists of a flat case
It has also a lateral slot or
closed at top, and having an inclined bottom c².
opening near its bottom coinciding with the lateral slot or opening at g in the
side of the body or shoe g (see Figure 23). The shape of the coincident lateral
openings in the magazine and body of the gun is indicated in Figure 22. The
magazine c is attached to the side of the body g by the dovetail pieces c, c', at the
ends of the magazine, sliding in the dovetail grooves at g, g, in the side of the
body (see Figures 20, 21, and 22). The magazine is charged with cartridges by
inverting it and dropping them through the lateral opening at c. It is then
attached to the gun in the manner described. Hinged at to the rear end of the
breech chamber in the body or shoe g is a trough shaped guide x, which serves to
direct the cartridges into the charge chamber when the gun is loaded by hand.
This guide has also the function herein after pointed out. Under the hinge x² of
the trough shaped guide x is a cross axis capable of a limited sliding motion in
the direction of its length, the said axis being pressed into its normal position
by a spring f. On the said axis f is an arm f³, by which the trough guide x is
lifted at the proper time through the action of the extractor k, the said guide when
released being pressed down by the spring f. It is through the cross axis f that
the cartridge feeding mechanism of the gun is put into and taken out of action,
that is to say, when the magazine c is removed from the side of the body g, the
said axis takes the position represented in Figure 25. The lifting arm fs on the
said axis f is thereby removed out of the path of the hook of the extractor k, and
the sliding motion of the extractor to extract and eject the empty cartridge case
does not operate the said lifting arm f³, and consequently the hinged guide x
remains at rest. When the charged magazine c is secured in its place at the side
of the body or shoe g it presses inwards the protruding end of the cross axis..f, as

page_text: illustrated in Figure 24. The lifting arm f³ on the said axis f is now brought
into a line with the extractor k, which extractor after it has ejected the empty
cartridge case operates upon the lifting arm f³, and the latter bearing upon the
heel of the jointed guide x lifts the said guide into the position represented in
Figure 19. The lifting of the guide x permits a cartridge from the magazine to
pass into the breech chamber, as berein after explained. The hinged guide x is
shown separately in Figure 31, and the lifting arm f³ and cross axis f are
represented separately in Figure 32.
The cartridges are fed from the magazine cone at a time into the breech chamber
of the gun in the following manner:-The cartridges are prevented from passing
from the magazine when the hinged guide x is lifted by a small lever u which I
will call the retaining lever, but it has another function, as herein after explained.
This retaining lever u is shewn separately in Figure 33, and is also shown in the
gun represented in Figures 18, 19, 20, 21, and 23. It has a rocking motion given
to it by the breech block b as the latter is raised and lowered. This is effected by
a stud us on the inner arm of the said retaining lever working in a groove 65 in the
breech block b. By the striking of the ends of the groove b³ in the block b against
the stud u of the lever u the latter is turned on its centre, so as either to lift the
inclined tooth us on the said lever above the bottom of the slot or opening g' in
the shoe g or depress the said inclined tooth below the level of the said bottom of
the slot or opening g². When the tooth u³ of the retaining lever u is lifted, as
represented in Figures 19, 20, 21, and 23, it prevents the lowest cartridge in the
magazine from passing into the breech chamber, and when the tooth us is depressed
it permits the said lowest cartridge to pass from the magazine. So long as the
hinged guide remains in its depressed or normal position (Figures 17 and 18) it
crosses the rear end of the slot or opening g2 through which the cartridges pass
from the magazine to the breech chamber, and it is necessary to lift the said
guide by the mechanism herein before described to permit the lowest cartridge in
the magazine to pass into the breech chamber.
The action of the parts is as follows:-The hand lever d being depressed from
the position represented in Figures 17 and 18 to that represented in Figure 19,
the following operations take place:-The breech block b is lowered by the action
of the block lever h and the head of the hand lever d, and the hammer e is cocked
by the shoulder d' of the head of the hand lever. As soon as the block b has been
lowered sufficiently far to open the breech, the arm d' on the head of the hand
lever d comes into operation, and through the action of the toothed gearing at m², i³
the extractor lever i is rapidly withdrawn towards the butt end of the gun
carrying with it the extractor slide and extractor k. The empty cartridge case
is thereby extracted and ejected, as seen in Figure 19. Just before the extractor k
reaches the end of its back or extracting stroke it strikes the tail end of the lifting
arm f³, and the latter operating upon the shoulder under the joint of the hinged
guide a lifts the latter into the position represented in Figure 19. The cartridge
feeding slot g² in the breech shoe g is thereby no longer obstructed by the hinged
guide . Simultaneously, or nearly so, with the lifting of the hinged guide x the
retaining lever u is brought into operation by the top of the slot or groove 65 in
the lowered breech block acting upon the said lever u so as to raise its toothed
end us above the bottom of the feeding slot gå in the breech shoe. It will be seen
by referring to Figures 18 and 20 that when the breech block b is in its raised
position the retaining lever u is flush with the bottom of the feeding slot g* and
the bottom cartridge in the magazine has passed onto the bottom of the said
feeding slot, and is retained in that position by the hinged guide x which crosses
the rear end of the said feeding slot g2. Hence, as soon as the hinged guide
lifted, followed immediately by the raising of the inclined toothed end u³ of the
retaining lever u, the said inclined toothed end u³ starts the said bottom cartridge
resting on the base of the feeding slot g², which cartridge fall into the breech 5
chamber, but the now raised toothed end u³ of the retaining lever prevents the
entrance of another cartridge into the said breech chamber. In Figures 19
is

page_text: and 23 a cartridge y is represented fed into the breech chamber, and the now
lowest cartridge in the magazine marked y³ is retained in the magazine by the
raised toothed end us of the retaining lever u. The cartridge thus fed into the
breech chamber of the shoe g falls into the said chamber in such a position that
its rim passes in front of the hook of the extractor k so that on raising the hand
lever d the extractor lever i is made to take its advanced position forcing before it
the cartridge into the charge chamber of the barrel, the breech block 6 rising and
closing the breech. As soon as the rim of the cartridge y has reached its place at
the mouth of the charge chamber the hook of the extractor snaps over the said
rim ready to withdraw the empty cartridge case after discharge.
The several parts now occupy the positions represented in Figures 17 and 18, and
the gun is ready to be discharged. As the extractor k is advanced to its place at
the mouth of the charge chamber, the lifting arm f³ is released, and the hinged
guide x is pressed down by its spring f, thereby preventing the lowest cartridge y³
from the magazine passing into the breech chamber, the said cartridge y² being
permitted to pass onto the bottom of the feeding slot by the withdrawal of the
retaining lever u, which lever u is made to lie flush with the bottom of the slot g
as soon as the breech block b has been fully raised for closing the breech. The
retaining lever u is now ready on the opening of the gun, and the lifting of the
guide x first to start the lowest cartridge in the magazine into the breech chamber,
and afterwards to prevent another cartridge passing from the said magazine as
hereinbefore fully explained.
On removing the magazine c from the shoe or body g, the lifting arm f³ is made
inoperative, and consequently when the gun is charged in the ordinary way no
lifting of tho guide x takes place when the empty cartridge case is extracted and
ejected.
Having thus described the nature of our Invention and the manner in which
the same is to be performed, we wish it to be understood that we claim as our
Invention with respect to the improvements in breech loading magazine small
arms herein before described and illustrated in Figures 1 to 16, both inclusive, of
the accompanying drawings,
First. The construction and combination of the parts described and illustrated
for raising and lowering the vertically sliding breech block.
Secondly. The construction and combination of the parts described and illustrated
of the extracting and ejecting mechanism, and the parts for working the said
mechanism on the raising and lowering of the breech block for opening and closing
the small arm.
Thirdly. The construction and combination of the parts described and illustrated
of the cartridge liberating and retaining mechanism, and the parts for working the
said mechanism whereby, the cartridges are liberated one at a time from the
imagazine in the stock of the gun by the motion of the hand lever which works the
breech block and the other moving parts of the small arm.
Fourthly. The general arrangement or combination of the parts claimed in
claims 1, 2, and 3, into a magazine breech loading small arm, substantially as
described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
We claim with respect
to the improvements in breech loading magazine small arms hereinbefore described
and illustrated in Figures 17 to 33 both inclusive of the accompanying Drawings,
Fifthly. The construction and arrangement of the parts described and illustrated
for raising and lowering the vertically sliding breech block.
Sixthly. The construction and combination of the parts described and illustrated
of the extracting and ejecting mechanism, and for working the said mechanism
by the motion of a hand lever under the trigger guard.
Seventhly. The construction of the spring cross axis f and lifting arm f³ for
putting the cartridge feeding mechanism into action when the magazine is attached
to the gun, and for taking the said mechanism out of action when the magazine is
detached and the gun loaded in the ordinary way.
Eighthly. The construction and combination of the hinged trough shaped

page_text: guide x, and spring cross axis f, and lifting arm f³ with our improved extracting
and ejecting mechanism, for the purpose and substantially as described and
illustrated.
Ninthly. The construction of the retaining lever u, u³, u³, worked by the
vertically sliding breech block for starting the cartridge into the breech chamber
after the hinged guide a has been lifted, and for retaining the next cartridge in
the magazine, substantially as described and illustrated.
Lastly. The general arrangement or combination of the parts of the gun
described and illustrated in Figures 17 to 33, both inclusive, of the accompanying
drawings, whereby the working of the vertically sliding breech block, the cocking
of the hammer, the extraction and ejection of the empty cartridge case, and the
releasing of the cartridges one at a time from the magazine, are effected by the
operation of a hand lever on the underside of the gun.
In witness whereof, we, the said James Simeon Edge and John Deeley,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twelfth day of January, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
Witness,
RICHARD SKERRETT,
37, Temple Street,
Birmingham.
JAMES SIMEON EDGE, JN. (LS.)
JOHN DEELEY.
(L.S.)