IMPROVEMENTS IN CARTRIDGE CASES OR HOLDERS, AND IN THEIR APPLICATION TO FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1880

page_text: "
LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Gedge, of No. 11, Wellington Street,
Strand, London, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for an Invention of
IMPROVEMENTS IN CARTRIDGE CASES OR HOLDERS, AND IN THEIR APPLICATION
TO FIRE-ARMS." A communication from abroad by Messieurs Ludwig Loewe
and Company, of Berlin, Prussia, Germany.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Gedge at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th April 1880.
WILLIAM EDWARD GEDGE, of No. 11, Wellington Street, Strand, London, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN CARTRIDGE CASES OR
HOLDERS, AND IN THEIR APPLICATION TO FIRE-ARMS." A communication from
abroad by Messieurs Ludwig Loewe and Company, of Berlin, Prussia, Germany.
This Invention relates to an improved cartridge-case or holder which will receive
a number of cartridges, such, for example, as are used for the "Mauser" infantry
gun, M/71-11, and when placed on the gun, will on the opening of the chamber,
introduce one of these cartridges automatically into its place in the fire-arm, the
loading being thereby considerably simplified, and the quickness of action of the
marksman being greatly increased.
The holder is a case made of sheet steel or other suitable material, and of a
curved form, the cross section and exterior shape of which corresponds to the
cartridges to be placed therein, the one upon the other, and to the exterior
form of the fire-arin at the particular part of the barrel, so that it lies U-shaped
round the stock, its length corresponding to the length of a cartridge.
The form of the case may however be so varied that assuming it to be wound
from left to right, thereby shortening it, and allowing for the reception of fewer
cartridges, it would hang straight down on the right side of the stock.
The opening on the left hand of the U shaped case is closed by a cover, which is
screwed on, and against which presses a flat spiral wire spring lying in the interior.
This carries at the other end an angular slide plate, and is arranged in such manner
and of such length that it may press this slide through the whole length of the
curved holder as far as the opposite right hand opening.
A short stud projects outwards from the slide through a slot provided around
the outer casing of the holder, and carries a knob. On the left side of the holder
this slot terminates in a catch, into which the stud enters after the spring which
takes hold of the knob has become pressed together, whereupon the now empty
space of the holder may be conveniently filled with cartridges. When the spring

page_text: has become extended the stud comes against that end of the slot which is on the
right hand side of the holder, by which means the movement of the spring towards
this side is limited. A curved flap or plate made of sheet steel is arranged over
the opening on the right hand side of the holder; it covers the whole length of the
opening, can oscillate on a pin provided at the side, and contracts in a forward
direction accordingly as the quantity of cartridges decreases. This flap may be
completely opened for supplying the holder with cartridges, and it may be closed
by means of two small spring levers provided at the back of the casing. The levers
are so arranged that they regulate the travel of the flap so that it can only open a
given distanco.
When the flap is shut, the holder wholly or partially filled with cartridges, and
the flat spiral-spring released. from its catch, this latter, by means of the angular
slide attached to it, presses the cartridges forward, and these press against the flap
which they open as far as the spring levers will allow. Thus, the cartridge lying
uppermost is thrown out of the holder, and on the flap closing again the one next
following enters into it to be thrown out for the next shot, and so on; it therefore
follows that by repeated closing and opening, that is to say, setting the flap free,
a cartridge is each time ejected from the holder, whilst all the remaining cartridges
are retained in the holder by the flap.
For the purpose of attaching the holder to the fire-arm, the inner surface of the
former is provided with two flanges or lips, which are fixed over a bar attached to
the trigger-plate of the gun, and between these two flanges or lips a flat spring is
riveted on, which, by means of two projections with which it is provided, takes
into corresponding grooves-of-the-bar, and thus prevents displacement of the holder
lengthwise.
-
When the holder has been filled with cartridges, the flap closed, and the flat
spiral spring released from its catch, the fire-arm (the holder having first been fixed
thereon by a pressure of the hand) may be loaded for any convenient time from
the cartridge pouch, thus using it as a single loader.
If the loading is to be effected from the holder, the spring levers are brought
into such a position by a pressure of the finger that the flap is regulated to a
certain stroke.
Then in the case of the weapon being closed the nearly horizontal breech handle
keeps the flap closed, and on opening the breech by turning the chamber from right
to left, the flap springs up in consequence of the pressure of the spiral spring, and a
cartridge is ejected into the cartridge chamber of the gun-barrel. At the same
moment on drawing back the chamber the extractor placed above draws the shell
of the previously loaded cartridge out of the cartridge chamber, and so far back
that its edge comes against a small stud projecting in the bore of the gun, by
which means it is struck over and ejected from the gun barrel. On the chamber
being again pushed forward the cartridge just thrown into the cartridge chamber
is slid into position in the usual way, and on turning the chamber from left to
right the flap of the holder is pressed down by the chamber handle, and therefore
again closed, whereupon the same operations may be again proceeded with.
The holder is also removed by the pressure of a hand.
Model 71 "Mauser" or infantry gun charged with holder contains 12 cartridges,
including one in the cartridge chamber, which may be fired in rapid succession,
inasmuch that for each time a cartridge is loaded the gun has only to open
and close again quickly without removing the hand from the knob of the
chamber.
This improved cartridge-case or holder may be wholly or partially filled with
cartridges; it may be either fixed on to or isolated from the fire-arm; it is easily
carried, and by means thereof breech-loaders with cylinder closure may be changed
into magazine guns by slight and unimportant alteration without any of the
usefulness of the fire-arms as single loaders being in any way prejudicially
affected.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Edward Gedge in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 5th
October 1880.
WILLIAM EDWARD GEDGE, of No. 11, Wellington Street, Strand, London, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN CARTRIDGE CASES OR
HOLDERS, AND IN THEIR APPLICATION TO FIRE-ARMS." A communication from
abroad by Messieurs Ludwig Loewe and Company, of Berlin, Prussia, Germany.
This Invention relates to certain improvements in cartridge cases or holders, and
in their application to fire-arms, whereby they are made to receive a greater number
of cartridges, and when placed on the fire-arm to introduce, on the opening of the
chamber, one of the cartridges automatically into its place in the cartridge-chamber
of the breech of the fire-arm.
In the accompanying Drawing Figuro 1 shows in longitudinal section, and
Figure 2 in cross section, the holder and the method of connecting the same with
tho fire-arm, in this case with the "Mauser" or infantry arm, Hod/71. Figs. 3,
4, and 5 shew a side view, a ground plan, and a back view of the holder. These
Figures are drawn full size, and the case or holder shown is intended to receive
eleven cartridges.
The holder is a case made of sheet steel and of a curved or bent form, the cross
section and exterior shape of which corresponds to the cartridges to bo placed
therein, the one upon the other, and to the exterior form of the fire arm at tho
particular part below the breech. The exterior shape of the case a may however
also be varied when it is desired to change the same from the left to the right hand,
so that, being correspondly shortened and similarly attached, it hangs straight
down at the side of the stock, as is shown in Fig. 6 (to a scale of one half the
natural size).
The opening on the left hand side of this case a is closed by a cover b, which is
screwed on, and against which presses a flat coiled spiral spring c made of wire
placed inside the case. This spring carries at the other end an angular shaped slide
plate d, and it is made of such kind and length that it may press this slide d
through the whole length of the curved holder up to the opposite right hand
opening.
A stud projects outwards from the slide d through a slot e carried round the
outer casing of the holder, and is provided with the knob f, which serves as a part
to bo laid hold of. This stud, when the spring has become extended and the slide
pressed forward, lies against the right hand end of the slot e at g (Fig. 3), by which
means this movement is correspondingly limited.
The opposite end of the slot e on the left hand side of the holder ends in a
catch (Fig. 3), against which the stud of the slide d presses, after it has taken
hold of the knob, pushed the same back, and being caused to go to the end of the
slot e, is pressed so much sideways that the stud enters the catch h. Before this
latter can take place the fasteners hanging downward must however be turned
sidewise, so that it takes up the position shewn in Fig. 4. By this manipulation
the spiral spring c may be pressed together and held fast in this position, so
that the now empty space in the case a may be very conveniently filled with
cartridges.
Over the right hand opening of the holder is arranged a flap or valve i, which
can turn on the stud and covers the whole length of the opening. The cross
section of this flap i is shewn in Fig. 2, and it becomes smaller towards the front
according to the reduction of the cartridges.
This flap i can take three different positions, and may be fixed in two of them

page_text: by means of the spring levors o and arranged at the rear wall of the case a, see
Figs. 3, 4, and 5.
The spring lever (Fig. 5) may turn round the screw m, and projects with a stud
into the slot n of the rear wall of the case a (Fig. 5), by which means its stroke or
action in an upward and downward direction is limited. In a similar manner the
spring lever o may turn on its screw 2, and with the stud g projects through the
slot (Fig. 5), which limits its stroke towards the right and left hand.
In the first position of the flap i the spring lever Z is placed downward, and the
spring lever o towards the left hand, so that it occupies a position suitable for
the engagement of the spring lever l. The stud 9 of the spring lever o projecting
through the rear wall of the case a then clutches over above the flap i and holds
the-same-closed.
In the second position the spring is placed upward, the spring o towards the
left, until it finds its place in the slot r; then the flap i, as it is correspondingly set
in the angle at u (Fig. 4), can pass over the stud q and be completely opened.
In the third position the spring o, after the flap i is closed, is moved towards the
right hand until it finds its position in the slot r; then on the opening of the flap i
it strikes with the stem (Figs. 2, 4, and 5) against the stud q, and the possible
area of the opening of the flap i then remains limited to a certain quantity
(Fig. 2).
The flap and the spring levers and o may, to commence with, take the first
position, that is to say, the holder may be shut. If it is then wholly or partly
filled with cartridges, and the spiral spring c released from the catch h so that it
presses the cartridges forward with its slide d, then the pressure will be also carried
over from these cartridges on to the flap i, and consequently this will have a -
tendency to open, when, as has been already explained, it is prevented from so doing
by the stud q of the spring lever o.
The flap closure will now be brought into the second position, that is to say, the
spring lover o will be laid towards the right hand; then by the pressure of the
spiral spring c the flap i will be opened to a certain extent (Fig. 2), and the cartridges
follow this opening movement. Upon this the lower part or leg w (Figs. 2 and 5) of
the flap i enters and places itself between the first and second cartridges, and
thereby prevents them, and consequently all the rest, from advancing out of the
holder, whilst the cartridges lying uppermost fall out of the same when the flap i
has opened up to the amount of travel permitted by the stud q.
If the flap i is then again shut the leg w presses the cartridges somewhat
backward and allows the first one, the closure having been effected, to pass over
and rest against the upper part or leg of the flap i, whereupon the manipulation
may commence afresh.
It is therefore by repeatedly closing and releasing, that is opening the flap i, that
a cartridge is ejected from the case a.
In fastening the holder to the fire-arm two flanges or shoulders x, x, are bent up
from the inner casing which are to lay hold over the bar or cylinder t, in addition
to which the spring y is rivetted on to the inner casing between these two shoulders
for the purpose of pressing the holder against the bar t, and by means of the pro-
jections,, engaging in corresponding grooves of the same insure it against
longitudinal displacement.
Loading with the holder is effected in the following manner :-
The spiral spring c is pressed together by means of the knob fand arrested in
the catch after the fastener 8 has been turned sidewise, when the holder is
furnished with eleven cartridges and closed by the flap i and its closure in the
manner above explained. In this position the holder may be carried in any
suitable manner, and may be stuck or placed on the fire-arm by a pressure of a
hand, whereupou the spiral spring c is released from the catch h and the fastener s
again turned downward, so that the stud of the slide & cannot again enter auto-

page_text: matically in the catch h.
The fire-arm may also be loaded from the cartridge
pouch, that is to say, it may be used as a so called single loader.
If the loading should be effected with the holder the spring lever o is laid
towards the right hand; then the fire arm being shut, the nearly horizontal breech
handle keeps the flap i shut, and on opening the arm by turning the chamber from
right to left allows it to spring up and eject a cartridge into the cartridge chamber
of the breech. At the same time on drawing back the chamber the extractor A
(Fig. 1) placed above at the shutting knob draws the empty shell of the preceding
cartridge so far back out of the cartridge chamber until its edge strikes against the
small stud B projecting into the breech, by which means it is struck over and
ejected from the breech of the arm. Upon the chamber being again pushed forward
the cartridge freshly ejected in the cartridge chamber through the flap is carried
into its place in the usual way, and on turning the chamber from left to right the
flap i is again shut by the chamber handle when the same functions may commence
over again.
"
The removal of the holder from the arm is also effected by the pressure of a
hand.
The arm charged with the holder contains 12 cartridges inclusive of one in the
cartridge chamber, which may be fired off in rapid succession, as each time a
cartridge is loaded the arm has merely to be quickly opened and closed again
without removing the hand from the chamber knob.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of the Invention communicated
to me as aforesaid, and in what manner the same is or may be performed, I would
have it understood that I do not limit myself to the use of any particular material
or materials in the construction of my improved cartridge case or holder, nor
confine myself to the precise details herein before described and shown on the
Drawings, as such may be varied or modified while retaining all the essential parts
of this Invention, and that what
I claim as secured to me by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent
is,―
Firstly. The use of a removable cartridge case or holder of the above described
construction, which :—
a.) works independently of the shutting mechanism, and introduces the
cartridges automatically into the existing cartridge chamber of breech loading arms
with cylinder closure;
b.) which may attached to the arm as well as be separated from the same, and
wholly or partially filled, transported, and discharged as required, and by means
of which breech loading fire-arms with cylinder closure may be changed into
cartridge holder fire arms without the necessity of any important alterations.
Secondly. The exterior shape and cross-section of the holder, shown in the
Drawing, and which lies U shaped round the stock, or hangs down at the side of
the stock.
Thirdly. The method of fastening the holder to the arm, as before described, and
as is also shown on the Drawings.
Fourthly. The application of the flat coiled spiral spring.
Fifthly. The before described arrangement for the arrest of the spiral spring.
Sixthly. The construction and application of the flap in combination with the
hereinbefore described spring levers, serving to arrest and limit the movement of
the same, by means of which parts it is,-
a.) made possible to open the holder fully for the purpose of filling it with
cartridges
b.) to close the holder
c.) upon each closing and reopening by releasing the flap to carry a cartridge
out of the magazine or holder whilst the remainder are held back
.) to put the holder in and out of action independently of the number of
cartridges contained in the same, and without detriment to the complete usefulness

page_text: of the arm as a single loader, whatever may be the stage or gradation of the
number of cartridges filled in.
The whole substantially as hereinbefore set forth and shown on the accompanying
Sheet of Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Gedge, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fifth day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.