Improvements in or connected with Breech Loading Small Arms.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Feb., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 16th Nov., 1891-Accepted, 19th Dec., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Breech Loading Small Arms.
1, JAMES YATE JOHNSON of 47 Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (which has
been communicated to me from abroad by André Virgile Paul Marie Berthier of
21 Rue Royale Paris, in the Republic of France, Engineer) to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a small arm or rifle which can be used either as a
hand loader or as a repeater with cartridges introduced into the magazine by
means of a charger. The several parts constituting the improved weapon as
hereinafter described are designed specially with a view to obtaining great
simplicity in the constraction and facilitating the operation of taking the lock to
pieces when required
The breech closing mechanism of a gun according to this invention is con-
structed with a longitudinally sliding bolt provided with locking projections at
the front end and a moveable head piece and improved extractor hereinafter
described. The projections on the front end of the bolt slide in lateral grooves
and engage with corresponding recesses for closing the breech and the moveable
head is connected to the bolt by a sleeve. A cylindrical part forming the body
of the moveable head of the bolt is provided with projections with engage with
corresponding recesses in the bolt in order that the head may turn or rotate with
the bolt when the lever is raised or lowered but the longitudinal sliding movement
of the bolt is communicated to the head by means of the sleeve which is capable
rotating upon the body or cylindrical part of the head and is provided with two
projections of the same width as those upon the head. When the lever is
elevated a third projection on the sleeve engages with a corresponding recess in
an enlargement on the upper side of the cylinder or bolt so as to connect the
sleeve to the bolt. This sleeve also carries the extractor the spring of the latter
being contained in a longitudinal slot or groove in the sleeve.
The recesses in the sleeve for the reception of the projections on the moveable
head are so arranged that when the mechanism is engaged with the breech they
cannot be presented in line with the grooves in the bolt or cylinder. The front
part of the projections on the moveable head is in contact with the rear surface of
the sleeve and under these conditions the moveable head cannot be separated from
the bolt or cylinder so long as the moveable breech is engaged with the breech box.
The screw usually employed in this class of rifle for connecting the bolt or cylinder
to the moveable head can thus be dispensed with the three parts cylinder, sleeve
and moveable head being firmly connected together during all the movements pro-
duced in closing the breech. A longitudinal groove formed in the under side of the
belt for the passage of the nose of the sear continued through the sleeve is closed
at the same time and forms a passage for the ejector only.
The extractor is provided with a hook at about the middle of its length which
acts as a pivot upon which it can oscillate the said hook being engaged in a recess
in the sleeve. The rear part of the extractor enters the groove in the sleeve and
acts as a spring. This groove is in such a position that the extractor remains
engaged under the enlargement on the cylinder during all the movements of the
closing mechanism in the breech box and is thus prevented from escaping from its
place.
The action of the moveable head is as follows. When the bolt mechanism is
pushed forwards the projections on the moveable head and those on the sleeve
engage with corresponding longitudinal grooves which act as guides. On throwing
over the lever to the right hand side the projections on the moveable head alone

page_text: slide in a transverse groove provided for the purpose near the breech chamber
until they stand in a vertical position with their rear surfaces bearing against
the shoulder forming the rear side of the groove. The sleeve on the other hand
whose projections engage with longitudinal or horizontal grooves is prevented
from partaking of the rotary motion of the bolt or cylinder and the extractor
being carried by the sleeve likewise remains stationary so that the necessity for
cutting away and thereby weakening the breech end of the barrel in order to
allow for the rotary or circular movement of the claw of the extractor is obviated.
The backward motion of the bolt may be limited by an ordinary screw stop or
preferably by means of a screw with a spring lever arm with a milled thumb piece
the said screw being arranged to work in a female screw tapped in the side of the
breech box so that by simply disengaging the spring arm from its recess and
rotating the screw through an angle of say 90 degrees the breech bolt can be freed
by pressing the trigger.
The breech box is provided with an ejector formed by a flat or blade spring
inserted in an under cut or dovetailed recess in the rear part of the breech box
being so arranged that the head of the ejector is depressed by the bolt and
remains in the recess until the bolt arrives at the extremity of its backward
movement whereupon the said head is suddenly elevated and jerks out the
empty case.
In certain cases the projection on the underside of the sleeve is dispensed with
the extractor being placed low down at the side of the lower projection on the
moveable head. With this arrangement the extractor not being retained by the
cylinder may be retained in place by constructing it with a central hooked pivot
engaging with an undercut recess in the sleeve as hereinbefore described and
providing the rear extremity of the extractor with an angular extension projecting
backwards and outwards so as to engage with a corresponding groove or projection
in the cylinder. According to another arrangement the extractor is secured by
providing it with an additional hook at the extremity of the spring which engages
with a corresponding recess in the rear surface of the sleeve. Both of these
arrangements present the advantage herein before referred to of obviating the cutting
away of the rear end of the barrel to allow for a rotary movement of the extractor.
At the same time the two projections on the sleeve fill up the longitudinal grooves
in the box and prevent any escape of gas when a cartridge case happens to burst.
The magazine is in the form of a steel box provided with a projection at the
front end which bears against the stock. Two projections at the rear end hook
over a transverse pin or support. The form of this magazine in plan corresponds
with the profile of a cartridge and is adapted to receive chargers carriers or
packets of cartridges and the mechanism for elevating the cartridges.
This mechanisin is constructed with a base plate provided at one end with a
small tongue or tenon and at the other extremity with a hole for the passage of a
retaining screw. This plate carries a support or bracket to which is pivotted the
first or lower arm or lever of the elevator the free end of this arm being similarly
connected to the upper arm or lever which acts directly upon the cartridges.
A blade spring attached by a dovetail to the base plate acts upon a projection on
the lower arm so as to constantly tend to force it upwards and the upper arm is
forced upwards by another spring similarly arranged on the lower arm.
These
arms or levers are placed in position by simply introducing the tongue on the end
of the base plate into a corresponding recess in the orifice at the lower part of the
magazine and securing the other end of the base plate by a screw.
The rifle can be loaded by hand if desired by simply placing the cartridge upon
the upper arm of the elevator. In order to use the repeating action a charger or
packet of cartridges is placed in the magazine and retained in position by a spring
catch. The cartridges are then pushed up by the elevator and when the carrier is
empty it drops out through an orifice in the bottom of the magazine.
One or more cartridges may be introduced into the breech and fired off after the
magazine is charged but before bringing the repeating mechanism into action

page_text: by holding down the top cartridge in the magazine and introducing another
cartridge by hand.
When using the magazine the breech bolt in its forward movement comes in
contact with the top cartridge in the magazine and pushes it into the breech the
claw of the extractor engaging with the flange at the same time. After the shot
has been fired the lever is raised and the bolt drawn back. The extractor pulls
the case out of the barrel and the ejector throws it out of the breech. The
elevator then places another cartridge in front of the bolt and the same operations
are repeated.
The trigger mechanism is devoid of complication. A sear oscillating on a fixed
pivot is provided with a nose projecting into the breech box so as to engage with a
full cock or half cock notch in the striker or hammer in the bolt or cylinder and
compress the mainspring. The trigger is hinged to the sear and bears against the
under side of the breech box. The sear spring has two legs. The upper leg is
provided with a roller which engages with a recess in the sear and the lower leg
acts upon the catch of the magazine.
The trigger guard plate is provided at the front end with two hooks which hook
over or engage with the transverse pin herein before referred to at the back of the
magazine and the rear end is secured by a short screw engaging with a metal plate
permanently attached to the stock. The trigger guard plate can be removed with
the mechanism attached by simply taking out this screw. The catch of the
magazine can be worked by a lever located in an orifice in the trigger guard so as
to disengage the cartridge carrier if required.
The arrangements hereinbefore described present the following characteristics
namely
(a) The three parts of the mechanism (magazine, trigger action and elevator) are
rendered absolutely independent so that each part can be removed without dis-
turbing the others."
(b) The magazine is enabled to be readily introduced into the stock from below.
(e) The forward or elevator mechanism comprising the elevator with two arms or
levers two blade springs and a base plate is likewise devoid of complication and
easily attached. Like advantages are presented by the arrangement of the
trigger action.
The stock is made in one piece and is brought down in front of the trigger guard
to the bottom of the magazine so as to protect the latter. Recesses are formed at
this part in each side of the stock for the reception of the fingers of the left hand
to afford a firm grip in taking aim or charging. The rifle is also provided with a
ram rod attached in the usual manner.
The barrel of small bore is attached to the stock by rings or straps and its rear
end is covered by a sheath which protects the hand from the heat of the barrel.
This sheath does not completely surround the barrel except at the ends so that the
under side of the barrel rests directly on the stock. The foot of the back sight is
attached to the inner side of the sheath by screws or otherwise. The notches at
the sides of the sight are formed in the upper side of the sheath.
Infantry rifles constructed as hereinbefore described are provided with a sword
bayonet which according to this invention is provided with a handle presenting an
orifice for the passage of the head of the ram rod placed under the barrel so that
the said head enters the handle when the bayonet is fixed on the end of the
barrel. The several improvements hereinbefore described may be employed either
separately or in combination.
Dated this 14th day of February 1891
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Breech Loading Small Arms.
I JAMES YATE JOHNSON of 47 Lincoln's Inn Fields in the County of
Middlesex Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this invention which has
been communicated to me from abroad by André Virgile Paul Marie Berthier
of 21 Rue Royale Paris in the Republic of France Engineer 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 a small arm or rifle which can be used either as a hand
loader or as a repeater employing cartridges which are introduced in the magazine
by means of a charger or carrier as hercinafter explained.
The several parts constituting the improved weapon as hereinafter described, are
designed specially with a view to obtaining great simplicity in the construction and
facilitating the operation of taking the mechanism to pieces when required.
And in order that this invention may be fully understood I shall now proceed
more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to the
several figures on the annexed sheets of drawings the same letters and numerals of
reference indicating corresponding parts in all the figures.
Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings illustrates the general arrangement of a
firearm according to this invention.
Fig. 2 drawn to a larger scale illustrates partly in section the mechanism of the
breech the latter being in the open position and the magazine empty for loading by
hand.
Fig. 3 is a similar view but represents the magazine filled with cartridges for the
repeating action.
Figs. 4 and 5 represent the bolt or cylinder in elevation and in plan respectively.
Fig. 6 represents the moveable breech or obturator in longitudinal section.
Fig. 7 illustrates in section a moveable head piece hereinafter described.
Fig. 8 represents in elevation the moveable head piece with the sleeve turned
from right to left in order to enable the head piece to be removed.
Fig. 9 represents the head piece shewing the relative positions of the projection
on the bolt, the sleeve and the moveable head when the lever is lowered as
hereinafter explained.
Figs. 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 illustrate details of a moveable head piece according
to this invention applied to a rifle of the 1886 pattern.
Fig. 15 is an elevation of the rear portion of the breech box and
Figs. 16 and 17 represent respectively an end and plan view of the same.
'Fig. 18 is a detail illustrating a screw stop for the bolt in side elevation and
Fig. 19 is an end elevation of the same.
Fig. 20 a side view of the moveable head detached.
Figs. 21 and 22 represent the same in plan and end elevation respectively.
Figs. 23, 24 and 25 illustrate the sleeve of the moveable head piece in side
elevation in plan and in end elevation respectively.
Fig. 26 represents the extractor in elevation.
Fig. 27 represents the same viewed from the under side.
Fig. 28 illustrates the breech in section with the projections on the moveable
head engaging with a transverse groove in the breech chamber which is closed.
Figs. 29 and 30 shew the magazine detached in side elevation and in plan
respectively.
Fig. 31 represents partly in section a plate or cap piece covering the rear end of
the barrel and explains the method of attaching the back sight thereto.
Fig. 32 illustrates the mechanism at the rear end of the magazine and
Fig. 33 illustrates the mechanism at the front end.

page_text: Figs. 34, 35 and 36 represent the ejector in side elevation, front end elevation
and plan respectively.
In the present Specification only those parts of the rifle are described which are
necessary to explain the invention the external form (Fig. 1) and the action of the
internal mechanism of the moveable breech or bolt (hammer, striker, coiled
sprang etc.) being substantially the same as in the Gras rifle of 1886 (Tramond
Lebel ride).
1. Breech closing mechanisin:-The breech closing mechanism of a rifle constructed
according to this invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings is con-
structed with a longitudinally sliding cylinder or bolt A provided with locking
projections at the front end and a moveable head piece and improved extractor
hereinafter described with reference to Figs. 2 to 7.
This head piece illustrated separately in Figs. 20, 21 and 22 is provided with
recoil projections 1 and 2 and with a recess 3 for the reception of the base of the
cartridge. A cylindrical part 4 Fig. 5 forming the body of the moveable head
is provided with two projections 5, 6 Fig. 20, which engage with corresponding
recesses in the bolt in order that the head may turn or rotate with the latter when
the hand lever B is raised or lowered.
These projections engage with the grooves in the cylinder or bolt in such a
manner as to cause the head to partake of the rotary motion of the bolt but do not
transmit to the head the backward sliding motion of the bolt. This longitudinal
sliding movement of the bolt is communicated to the head by means of the sleeve 7
illustrated separately in Figs. 23, 24 and 25.
This sleeve is capable of rotating upon the body or cylindrical part 4 of the head
and is provided at the forward end with two projections 8 and 9 of the same width
as the projections 1, 2 upon the head. When the lever B is clevated a third
projection 10 on the sleeve engages with a corresponding recess in an enlargement 11
(Fig. 6) on the upper side of the cylinder or bolt so as to connect the sleeve to the
bolt and cause it to be drawn backwards along with the moveable head when the
backward movement of the breech closing mechanism takes place.
This sleeve also carries an extractor provided with a claw 19 the spring of the
extractor being contained in a longitudinal slot or groove 12 in the sleeve.
Two recesses 13 and 14 are formed in the sleeve for the passage of the pro-
jections 5 and 6 on the moveable head and are so arranged that when the
mechanism is engaged with the breech box they cannot be presented in line with the
grooves in the bolt or cylinder. The front part of the projections on the moveable
head is in contact with the rear surface of the sleeve and under these conditions
the moveable head cannot be separated from the bolt or cylinder so long as the
latter is engaged with the breech box. The screw usually employed in this class
of rifle (1886 pattern) for connecting the bolt or cylinder to the moveable head
can thus be dispensed with the three parts, cylinder, sleeve and moveable head,
being firmly connected together during all the movements produced in closing the
breech. A longitudinal groove 18 forined in the under side of the holt for the
passage of the nose of the sear acting on the notches in the striker is continued
through the sleeve at 15 an through the head at 16 where it forms a passage
for the ejector only the profile of the groove being modified at 15' as represented
in Figures 4 and 23.
The extractor 19 (Figures 26 and 27) is provided with a hook 20 at about
the middle of its length which acts as a pivot upon which it can oscillate the
said hook being engaged in a recess 21 in the sleeve Figures 23 and 25. The
rear part 22 of the extractor enters the groove 12 in the sleeve and acts as a
spring. This groove is in such a position that the extractor remains engaged
under the enlargement 11 on the cylinder during all the movements of the.
closing mechanism in the breech box and is thus prevented from escaping from its
place.
The action of the moveable head is as follows. When the bolt mechanism being

page_text: in the position represented in Figure 2 is pushed forwards the projections 1 and 2
on the moveable head and the projections 8 and 9 on the sleeve engage with
corresponding longitudinal grooves 23 and 24 (Figure 16) which act as guides. On
throwing over the lever B to the right hand side the projections 1 and 2 on the
moveable head alone slide with a circular motion in a transverse or circular
groove 17 Figures 2 and 3 provided for the purpose near the breech chamber until
they stand in a vertical position with their rear surfaces bearing against the shoulder
forming the rear side of the groove as represented at 25 Figure 28. The sleeve
on the other hand whose projections are retained in the longitudinal or horizontal
grooves 23 and 24 is prevented from partaking of the rotary motion of the bolt or
cylinder and the extractor being carried by the sleeve likewise remains stationary
so that the necessity for cutting away and thereby weakening the breech end of the
barrel in order to allow for the rotary or circular movement of the claw of the
extractor is obviated. The two lateral and longitudinal passages 23 and 24 afford a
passage for the projections 1, 2, 8 and 9 as hereinbefore explained.
The backward motion of the bolt or moveable breech may be limited by a screw
stop in the form of a plain screw but is preferably limited by means of a screw 26
Figures 18 and 19 constructed with a spring lever arm terminating in a milled
thumb piece 27 the said screw being arranged to work in a female screw 28 tapped
in the side of the breech box (Figures 1 and 15 so that by simply disengaging the
spring arm from the side of the breech and rotating the screw through an angle of
say 90 degrees and pressing on the trigger the breech bolt is freed and can then be
drawn out of the breech box.
The breech box is provided with a special ejector C Figures 2 and 3 which is
employed in place of the screw ejector heretofore employed in rifles of this class.
This improved ejector represented separately in Figures 34, 35 and 36 is formed by
a flat or blade spring inserted in an undercut or dovetailed recess in the rear part of
the breech box being so arranged that the head of the ejector is depressed by
the bolt and remains in the recess until the bolt arrives at the extremity of its
backward movement whereupon the said head is suddenly freed and elevated by
the action of the spring so as to jerk out the empty case.
This system of closure and moveable head can be applied to rifles of the afore-
said 1886 pattern by arranging it as represented in Figures 10 and 14. In this
case the projections on the moveable head are situated in a vertical line when the
hand lever is raised and in order to withdraw the mechanism it is necessary in the
first place to take off the moveable head and sleeve as in the case of the 1886
rifle but this operation is easily performed as there is no connecting screw. In this
case the projection on the underside of the sleeve is dispensed with the extractor 19
being placed low down at the side of the lower projection I on the moveable head
as represented in Figures 11 and 12. With this arrangement the extractor not
being retained by the cylinder special means have to be provided for connecting
the extractor to the moveable head. With this object the extractor may be
retained in place by constructing it either in the form represented in Figure 13
with a central hooked pivot 201 engaging with an undercut recess in the sleeve as
in the arrangement hereinbefore described and providing the rear extremity of the
extractor with an angular extension 22' projecting backwards and outwards so as
to engage with a corresponding groove and projection on the cylinder when the
parts are put together as indicated in Figures 10 and 11. According to another
arrangement the extractor is secured by providing it with a hook 20" Figure 14
engaging with the sleeve in the same way as the hook 20' Figure 13 and an
additional hook 22" at the extremity of the spring which engages with a corre-
sponding recess in the rear surface of the sleeve and is secured in position
directly the moveable head is put in place by the front face of the bolt. The
advantages of these arrangements are the same as those herein before referred to
namely obviating the rotary motion of the extractor and the movements resulting
therefrom as well as obviating the cutting away or weakening of the rear end of

page_text: the barrel which is necessary in order to allow for the rotary movement of the
extractor. At the same time the two projections on the sleeve fill up the longitudinal
grooves in the box and prevent any escape of gas in the face of the shooter in firing
when a cartridge case happens to burst.
2. Repeating action This action compresses the magazine with the forward
mechanism and the rear mechanism. The magazine is illustrated separately in
Figures 29 and 30. igures 2 and 3 show how it is combined with the other parts
of the rifle. The magazine proper is composed of a steel box 29 of trapezoidal
form which is introduced into the breech from the upper side.
The magazine is provided at the front end with a projection 30 which engages
with the wood at 31. The rear end is constructed with two lugs 32 and 33
presenting notches which hook over a support 34, Figures 2 and 3. The magazine
whose form in plan corresponds with the profile of a cartridge receives the chargers
or packets of cartridges and carries the front mechanism.
This mechanism illustrated separately in Figure 33 is constructed with a base
plate 35 provided at one end with a small tongue or tenon 36 and at the other
extremity with a hole 37 for the passage of a retaining screw 38.
This plate
carries a support or bracket 39 to which is pivoted the first or lower arm or
lever 40 of the elevator the free end of this arm being similarly connected or hinged
to an upper arm or lever 41 which acts directly upon the cartridges. A blade
spring 42 attached by a dovetail to the base plate 35 acts upon a projection 43 on
the lower arm or lever 40 so as to constantly tend to force it upwards until it is
stopped by the end 44 of the magazine (Figures 2 and 3) and the upper arm 41 is
forced upwards by a spring 45 similarly arranged on the lower arm 40. These
arms or levers being attached to the base plate 35 are placed in position by simply
introducing the tongue on the end of the said base plate into a corresponding recess
in the orifice at the lower part of the magazine and securing the other end of the
base plate by the screw 38 as indicated in Figures 2 and 3. This mechanism being
placed in position as described the rifle can be used as a repeater.
The rifle can be loaded by hand if desired by simply placing one cartridge upon
the upper arm of the elevator as represented in Figure 2. In order to use the
repeating action a packet or charger 46 containing 4 cartridges for example as
represented in Figure 3 is placed in the magazine and retained in position by
a spring catch 47. The act of inserting the charger compresses the combination
of springs in the elevator which then pushes up the cartridges as fast as they
are fired away and when the charger or carrier 46 is empty it simply drops out
of the breech through an orifice in the bottom of the magazine which is then
ready for the reception of another charger the elevator being depressed into
the position represented in Figure 3 whenever a full charger is introduced.
The number of shots available may be augmented as follows.
At the com-
mencement of the repeating action the first charger being placed in position as
in Figure 3 the top cartridge is held down with the thumb so as to enable the
bolt to be pushed forwards without driving this cartridge into the breech and at
the same time another cartridge is inserted into the chamber by hand. This
cartridge being fired off the shooter has in reserve the four other cartridges in the
charger.
The action of the repeating mechanism is as follows:-
When the breech bolt is pushed forwards the lower edge of the moveable head
comes in contact with the base of the top cartridge in the magazine and pushes it
into the breech the claw of the extractor engaging with the rim at the same time.
After the shot has been fired off the lever is raised and the bolt drawn back. The
extractor pulls the empty case out of the barrel and the ejector throws it out of the
breech. In the meantime another cartridge is pushed up by the elevator and
takes the place of the first in front of the bolt and the same operations are repeated
until the magazine is empty whereupon the action of the elevator is stopped by the
arm 40 coming in contact with the plate 44.
The rear or trigger mechanism illustrated separately in Figure 32 is devoid of

page_text: all complication. A sear 49 oscillating on a fixed pivot 50 is provided with a
nose 51 projecting into the breech box so as to engage with either a full cock or
a half cock notch in the striker or hammer working in the bolt or cylinder and
compress the main spring. A trigger 52 is hinged to the scar at 53 and bears
against the underside of the breech box. The sear is provided with a spring 54
and has two legs or branches. The upper leg is provided with a roller which
engages with a recess in the sear and the lower leg is provided with a bearing
surface which acts upon a projection formed on the catch 47 of the magazine at a
point above and slightly in advance of the axis or pivot 62. By these means one
spring is utilised for acting on the sear 49 and on the magazine catch 47. The
trigger guard plate 55 carries this mechanism and is provided at the front end with
two hooks 56 which engage with a transverse plate or support at the back of the
magazine passing between the support or projections at the rear end of the latter
and the rear end is secured by a short screw 57 engaging with a metal plate 59
permanently attached to the stock by means of a wood screw 60. The other
extremity of the plate 59 acts as a nut for the tang screw 61. The breech box
being thus connected to the trigger guard by the tang screw the parts are securely
retained in position. The guard is cut away at the front part to provide a passage
for the lever 48 of the catch 47 which works on the pin 62. The breech being
open and a charger placed in the magazine it is simply necessary to press the
lever 48 in order to disengage the cartridge carrier which is then pushed up by the
action of the elevator and can be easily removed.
The repeating mechanism hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 2, 3,
29, 30, 32 and 33 present the following characteristics namely
(a) The three parts of the mechanism (magazine trigger action and elevator)
are rendered absolutely independent so that each part can be removed without
disturbing the others.
(b) The magazine is enabled to be readily dropped into its place in the breech
mechanism.
(c) The forward or elevator mechanism comprising the elevator with two arms
or levers two blade springs and a base plate or support is likewise devoid of compli-
cation and easily attached. Like advantages are presented by the arrangement of
the rear mechanism or trigger action.
3. Stock: The stock is made of one piece of wood as represented in Figure 1
and is brought down in front of the trigger guard to the bottom of the magazine
so as to protect the latter. Recesses 63 are formed at this part in each side of the
stock for the reception of the fingers of the left hand of the shooter to afford a firm
grip in taking aim or charging. The rifle is also provided with a ram rod
attached in the usual manner and which is indispensable for cleaning the barrel.
4. Barrel-The barrel being of small bore is attached to the stock by rings or
straps 64 and 65 Figure 1 and its rear end is covered by a sheath 66 Figures 1. 2. 3
and 28 which protects the hand from the heat of the barrel. This sheath does not
completely surround the barrel except at the ends the lower half being cut away
about one millimeter below the axis so that the underside of the barrel rests directly
on the stock.
The foot 67 (Figures 2 and 3) of the back sight is attached to the inner side of
the sheath by screws or otherwise. The notches at the sides of the sight are cut in
the edges of the sheath as represented in Figure 1.
5. Sword bayonet.-Rifles constructed as herein before described for the use of
infantry are provided with a sword bayonet. This weapon which is not illustrated
in the drawings is similar to that employed with the rifles of the 1886 pattern with
a modification hereinafter described which is necessitated by the presence of the
ram rod.
The pommel or handle of this sword bayonet is perforated according to the
present invention with a hole or opening which enables the head of the ramrod
placed under the barrel to enter the pommel when the bayonet is fixed on the end
of the barrel.

page_text: The several improvements hereinbefore described may evidently be employed
either singly or in combination and may be applied to repeating or other rifles of
any suitable form or dimensions employed for military or other purposes.
The forms and materials and details of construction generally may evidently be
modified in various ways without departing from the essential principles of the
invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In military and other fire arms having a breech mechanism comprising a
cylinder or bolt terminating in a movable head, the breech closing arrangement as
hereinbefore set forth composed of a movable head with recoil projections being
connected to the bolt by other projections and caused to partake of its axial motion
by a sleeve guided by one or two projections and carrying an extractor constructed
and arranged as herein before explained with a view to obviating the rotary move-
ment of the extractor and the necessity for cutting away a circular portion of the
rear end of the barrel, the grooves in the chamber for the passage of the projections
being stopped up when firing all substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. In the breech box of a firearm provided with means for limiting the backward
movement of the bolt, a screw stop with a spring lever retained in position by the
pressure which it exerts on the side of the breech box substantially as herein before
set forth and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
3. In a fire arm constructed with a device which comes in contact with and
throws out the cartridge case, a spring ejector secured by a dovetail under the
breech box and which is pressed into a recess or cavity when the breech bolt passes
over it substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
4. In a fire arm with a removeable magazine, the arrangement of the magazine
and the mode of attaching the same and of the charger substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
5. In a fire arm of the class referred to in the preceding claiming clause the
forward or elevator mechanism as hereinbefore explained the arrangement of the
same upon one base plate capable of being removed by taking out one screw
without disturbing the other parts of the mechanism and the form and arrange-
ment of the main blade spring of the elevator the said spring being connected
to the base plate and acting upon a projection on the underside of the main
arm of the elevator substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
6. In repeating and other fire arms the rear or trigger mechanism arranged upon
the trigger guard plate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to
the accompanying drawings.
7. In repeating and other firearms an ejector arranged and operating substantially
as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
8. The double acting spring constructed and arranged as set forth and acting
simultaneously upon the sear and upon the catch of the charger and the mode of
attaching the support or plate of the trigger guard by means of hooks at the
forward end substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accom-
panying drawings.
9. The cover or sheath on the breech end of the barrel and the arrangement of
the said sheath whereby it is caused to envelope the upper part only of the barrel
so as to enable the latter to bear directly upon the wood of the fore end of the
stock substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
10. The mode of attaching the back sight the sides of the latter being formed by
B

page_text: a part of the sheath substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
11. A fire arm carrying a ram rod and a sword bayonet attached to the under-
side of the barrel the said bayonet having a pommel or handle perforated with a
hole for the passage of the said ramrod as hereinbefore set forth.
12. The arrangements and combinations of parts constituting the improvements
in or connected with fire arms substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this Sixteenth day of November 1891.
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
Agents.