Year: 1887

page_text: I, JOSEPH JAMES SPEED, of 3 Woodstock Villas, Waltham Cross, in the County of
Herts, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to magazine-rifles and other fire-arms, and comprises various
improvements hereinafter set forth.
The main object of my said invention is to improve the construction and increase
the efficiency of the "Lee" magazine-rifle.
Certain of my improvements are, however, applicable to other fire-arms.
My said invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a "Lee" magazine-rifle, showing the parts in the
positions which they occupy when the rifle is ready for firing, the stock being
removed.
Figure 2 is a similar view with the breech open, showing also part of the stock and
a fore-sight hereinafter described.
Figure 3 is a plan partly in horizontal section, some of the parts being removed.
Figure 4 is also a plan partly in horizontal section, showing the extractor and other
parts.
Figure 5 is a rear elevation of part of the shoe or body of the rifle, showing also the
trigger-guard.
Fi
igure 6 is a plan, and
Figure 7 a side elevation of the magazine detached.
Figure 8 is a transverse section of the magazine on the line x, x, Figure 7.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
A is the shoe or body of the rifle; B is the barrel; C is the stock; D is the breech-
bolt, and D the head of the said bolt.
E is the magazine, which is designed to be inserted in the underside of the shoe or
body A, as in the Lee gun as heretofore constructed.
An important feature of my said invention is the construction of the magazine in

page_text: such a manner that it can be used either as a fixed or a detachable magazine, that is
to say, so that it can be loaded either while in place in the rifle, or before its insertion
therein. For this purpose, I employ two springs a which are attached to the
magazine on either side thereof near its rear end, and which are formed with
projections a' extending over the mouth of the magazine. The cartridges are to be
introduced into the magazine by pressing them forcibly downwards between the pro-
jections a¹ of the said springs a, which must be of such strength that they will hold
down the cartridges in the magazine against the force of the magazine spring. The
breech-bolt will slide between the said springs when the magazine is in position in the
gun, and, in its forward movement, will engage with the flange of the uppermost
cartridge in the magazine and push the said cartridge into the chamber of the gun.
If desired, one spring can be employed for the purpose above specified, instead of
two springs as shown.
The above described arrangement permits the rifle to be used on the principle of
either a fixed or a detachable magazine as may be desired, without the necessity for
any alteration in the construction of the gun or magazine. This feature of my
invention is obviously applicable to other fire-arms in which the magazine is inserted
in the underside of the shoe or body. The magazine shown in Figures 6, 7 and 8 is
made of such width that the cartridges contained therein, instead of being situated
one directly above another, will be situated alternately on either side of the centre of
the magazine.
My said invention, moreover, comprises an improved automatic ejector which is so
constructed and arranged that I am enabled to dispense with the groove which is
usually formed in the breech-bolt, in guns wherein the ejector consists of a pin or stud
projecting from the interior of the shoe or body of the gun. My improved ejector
consists of a spring 6 attached to the side of the shoe or body A, and having formed
or fixed thereon a pin or stud 6' which protrudes through a suitable aperture in the
said shoe or body A into the path of the breech-bolt, as shown in Figure 3. The said
ejector is forced outwards by the body of the bolt in the forward motion thereof, but
will return to the position shown, when the bolt is drawn back, in time to come in
contact with the empty cartridge-case, a short groove d (Figure 4) being cut in the
head D' of the said bolt for this purpose.
The shoe or body A is so constructed as to permit the use of a divided rifle-stock
the rear part of which will be of the same length as the "Martini Henry" butt-stocks,
instead of a stock made in a single piece as in the "Lee"
gun as heretoforé
constructed, and, at the same time, to increase the strength of the rifle, and to permit
the attachment of the trigger-guard F to the shoe or body A instead of to the stock as
heretofore, thus greatly increasing its rigidity. The shoe or body A is forged with a
socket e at its rear end, into which the forward end of the rear part of the stock is to
be fitted as shown in Figure 2. This part of the stock is to be securely fastened in
position by means of a screw-bolt C¹ passed through the same and screwed into the
part e of the shoe or body A. The rear end of the trigger-guard F is fitted into a
slot or groove in the underside of the socket e and is secured thereto by means of a
screw it is, morcover, formed with an extension f¹, the forward end of which is
firmly secured to the shoe or body A by means of a screw g passing through a metal
distance-piece h and screwed into the said shoe or body. The rear end of the forward
portion of the stock is to be forked and the shoe or body A fitted into it so that the
said stock will bear against the forward end of the socket e on each side of the said
shoe or body. The said socket e is so made that its outer surface will be flush with
the outer surface of the stock, as shown in Figure 3.
It will be seen that, by the above described construction of the shoe or body A and
trigger-guard F, I am enabled to rigidly connect the same before the stock is applied
thereto, and that the trigger-guard is not dependent for its rigidity upon the stock.
Another feature of my said invention consists in the provision of means for
permitting the withdrawal of the breech-bolt from the gun without removing the head
therefrom. For this purpose, I form a rib i on 'the shoe or hody A, and a groove
at d in the head D' of the breech-bolt D, and arrange the said head to slide to and

page_text: fro upon the said rib; a clearance-way is cut in the said rib at and a locking spring
or lever k is fitted to turn upon a pivot . This locking spring or lever, when in its
normal position as shown in Figure 1, forms a continuation of the said rib. By
turning the said locking spring or lever into the position shown in Figure 2, the head
of the bolt can be turned upon its axis, when the said bolt is drawn back, thus
permitting the, withdrawal of the said bolt from the gun.
The extractor 1, Figure 4, is pivoted at / to the head D₁ of the breech bolt and is
acted upon by a V-shaped spring 12 inserted in a recess in the said head as shown.
By this arrangement, the spring can be very readily inserted in its place and will be
retained therein without the use of screws or other fastening devices, and will exert
its force centrally upon the extractor.
To provide for protecting the action of the rifle against injury through exposure to
dust or rain, I employ a curved shield or cover marranged to slide to and fro with
the breech-bolt. In the rifle shown in the drawings, this cover is formed in two
parts; the rear part thereof is dovetailed to the rib D³ of the breech-bolt and is
secured thereto by means of screws m². The inner surface of the rear part of the said
shield or cover is of the same or approximately the same radius as the outside of the
shoe or body A. When the body of the bolt D is turned into or out of its locking
position, the rear part of the said shield or cover will turn therewith. The forward
part of the said shield or cover is attached to the head of the bolt by means of a
screw m².
The said shield or cover is, in some instances, so connected with the breech-bolt
that it will remain stationary while the said bolt is turned upon its axis. For instance,
it is formed with an internal groove extending partially around it, and a pin or stud
is formed or fixed on the said bolt and extends into the said groove.
My invention further comprises an improved sight for fire-arms.
The back-sights ordinarily used in fire-arms are objectionable for long ranges, for
the reason that the person using the gun must either raise his head considerably or
must lower the butt of the gun in order to bring the notch of the sight into the proper
position relatively to his eye.
To obviate this inconvenience, I employ a fore-sight such as that shown in
Figures 2 and 3. This sight comprises a graduated disc n attached to the stock C
at any suitable distance in front of the chamber of the gun, and an arm n¹ provided
at one end with a stud n² having a circular head, and at its other end with an index
or pointer n³, and fitted to turn upon a pivot n fixed in the centre of the said disc.
By these means, the person using the fire-arm can sight the object aimed at without
having to raise his head for this purpose.
Although I have hereinbefore described my improvements more particularly in
connection with the "Lee" magazine-rifle, it is obvious that certain of the said
improvements are applicable to other fire-arms. Moreover the construction of the
parts may be somewhat, modified without departing from the nature of my said
invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I wish understood that I claim :-
First. The combination, with a detachable cartridge-magazine, of means for
enabling the same to be used as a fixed magazine without alteration, as above
specified.
Second. The improved automatic ejector consisting of the spring attached to the
shoe or body of the gun and provided with the pin or stud extending through the
said shoe or body, substantially as hereinbefore described.
Third. The improvements in the "Lee" gun, whereby I provide for the use of a
divided gun-stock, substantially as herein before described.
Fourth. The construction and arrangement of the shoe or body of the gun, the
trigger-guard provided with the extension, and the distance-piece, substantially as
described, so that the said trigger-guard can be rigidly connected to the said shoe or
body before the gun-stock is applied, as above specified.

page_text: Fifth. The employment of a breech-bolt formed with a groove in the head fitting
upon a rib on the shoe or body of the gun, and a locking spring or lever pivoted to
the said shoe or body, substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Sixth. The employment of a shield or cover arranged to slide to and fro with the
breech-bolt, substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Seventh. The combination of the extractor pivoted to the head of the breech-bolt
and the spring inserted in a recess therein, substantially as described with reference
to Figure 4 of the drawings for the purpose specified.
Eighth. The improved adjustable fore-sight, substantially as, and for the purpose,
set forth.
Ninth. The improved magazine-rifle consisting of the parts constructed and
combined substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 1st day of October 1887.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Applicant.