Improvements in Automatic and Similar Breech-loading Fire-arms.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Dec., 1896
Date of Application, 28th Dec., 1896
som 1897
Complete Specification Left, 28th Sept, 1897-Accepted, both Oct., F001
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Automatic and Similar Breech-loading Fire-arms.
We, HIRAM STEVENS MAXIM, of 18 Queen's Gate Place, in the County of
Middlesex, Mechanical Engineer, and LOUIS SILVERMAN, of Crayford Works,
Crayford in the County of Kent, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
P012
This invention relates to automatic or partly automatic fire-arms of the kind
in which a rectilinear reciprocating breech block is directly operated by the
pressure of the powder gases, to open the breech a recoil spring or springs return-
ng the said block to its closed position after each discharge of the firearm.
An important feature of our invention consists in so arranging the breach block
and firing pin that the rearward movement of the block in opening the breech
ceases before that of the firing pin, so that the continued movement of the latter
due to its momentum effects the "oocking" of the weapon. Another important
feature of our invention consists in arranging a catch or sear on the breech block
or the firing pin so that when the latter assumes its cocked position, it will be
there retained by the sear until released by the displacement of the sear when the
trigger is pulled to discharge the weapon.
According to one construction of our improved fire-arm the breech block slides
longitudinally in a suitable guideway formed in the body portion of the fire-arm
and is made hollow to surround the front end or nose of a comparatively long
firing pin. The outer end of this firing pin projects through the end of the afore
said body where it is provided with a knob or is otherwise formed to permit of its
being conveniently grasped by the hand of the user when it is desired to pull back
the firing pin to cock the weapon by hand. Near the front end or nose of the
firing pin is a shoulder against which one end of a spiral spring surrounding the
said firing pin abuts; the other end of such spring bearing against the rear end
of the body of the weapon. The aforesaid catch or sear is under the control of a
firing sear arranged on the trigger in such a manner that when the latter is pulled,
the catch is acted on to liberate the firing pin which accordingly flies forward
under the influence of its surrounding spring and thereby fires the weapon. The
firing sear on the trigger may be furthermore so constructed and arranged that
when once the trigger is pulled, the firing sear will be incapable of again releasing
the firing pin catch, until after the trigger has been allowed to resume its normal
position. A succession of rapid discharges is thus avoided.
The body portion of the weapon is provided with a cover which moves with the
breech-block so that each time the block retires, an opening in the upper part of
the body is uncovered to allow the empty cartridge case to be ejected. The rear
portion of the said cover may be held in place by a transverse pin passing through
a longitudinal slot or recess in the firing pin. This pin will also serve as a-stop
to limit the extent of rearward independent movement of the firing pin as it
performs its cocking movement. By removing this pin the said cover can be
readily detached.
!

page_text: For extracting and ejecting the empty cartridge case we may employ an
ordinary claw extractor arranged in a recess in the upper part of the front end of
the breech block and we may arrange diametrically opposite such extractor a pin
working loosely in an inclined hole whose inner end lies contiguous to the flange
of the cartridge when the latter is in the charge' chamber and the breech closed.
This pin is so arranged that its head will, when the breech block retires with an
empty cartridge case, strike against a projection on the body of the weapon and
thereby cause the inner end of said pin to project from the aforesaid hole and
forcibly strike the cartridge case, thereby throwing it out upwardly, through the
ejection opening in the body of the weapon.
The cartridges may be contained in a magazine provided with a spring lifter and
the weapon may be formed with a suitably shaped receptacle to receive said
magazine. A clip or other retaining device may be provided on the said receptacle
for keeping the magazine in place and for permitting its ready removal when
empty and replacement by a full one. The mouth of the magazine may be so
formed that the uppermost cartridge projects slightly therefrom but cannot
escape, until it has been pushed forward a certain distance by the breech block as
the latter advances to close the breech. The charge chamber of the barrel is so
formed that as the cartridge is pushed forward longitudinally by the advancing
breech block it is directed into the barrel.
According to a modified construction of our improved fire-arm, the firing pin
does not extend through the rear end of the body of the weapon as in the previously
described construction but is wholly contained within the body. It is made
somewhat shorter than the breech block so that when the said breech block com-
jletes its recoil there will be sufficient space left between the end of the body and
the rear end of the firing pin to permit of the latter performing a further rearward
movement in cocking. The movable cover referred to in the construction above.
described is dispensed with in this arrangement.
The breech block is provided with a depending portion or lock case wherein a
cocking lever and sear are arranged, these parts moving with the breech block.
The said cocking lever may be formed with a tail to be acted upon by a fixed
incline as the breech block recoils whereby the cocking of the firing pin may be
effected. In this case the cocking would be effected partly by the momentuin of
the recoiling firing pin and partly by the aforesaid incline."
Tho trigger may be provided with a projection so arranged that the tail of the
sear will be lifted thereby as the breech block returns to the firing position and so
release the firing pin. The firing of the weapon will thus take place automatically
long as the trigger is pulled and so long as there is ammunition within the
magazine.
An external crank arm may be provided for enabling the fire-arm to be worked
by hand, the said crank arm boing mounted on a shaft carrying a finger or arm
which engages with a suitably shaped recess in the breech, block.
Dated thin 99th dox of Decembar 1896
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Automatic and similar Breech-loading Fire-arms.
We, HIRAM STEVENS MAXIM, of 18 Queen's Gate Place, in the County of
Middlesex, Chevalier of the Legion of Honour, Civil and Mechanical Engineer,
and LOUIS SILVERMAN, of Crayford Works, Crayford, in the County of Kent,

page_text: 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:-
This invention relates to automatic or partly automatic fire-arms of the class
or kind in which a rectilinear reciprocating breech-block is directly operated by
the pressure of the powder gases to open the breech, a recoil spring or springs
returning the said block to its closed position after each discharge of the fire-arm.
According to one construction of our improved fire-arm, the breech block and
firing pin are so arranged that the backward movement of the block in opening the
breech ceases before that of the firing pin, so that the continued movement of
the latter due to its momentum effects the "cocking" of the weapon. For this
purpose the breech block is made hollow and contains the forward part of a com-
paratively, long firing pin, which at its outer extremity projects through the end of
the body portion or casing of the fire-arm, where it is provided with a knob or is
otherwise formed to permit of its being conveniently grasped by the hand of the
user when it is desired to pull back the firing pin to cock the weapon by hand.
Near the front or nose of the fixing pin is a shoulder against which one end of a
spiral spring surrounding the said firing pin abuts; the other end of such spring
bearing against the rear end of the body of the weapon. The breech block carries
a catch or sear which is under the control of a firing sear or pivotted piece arranged
on the trigger in such a manner that when the latter is pulled, the catch is acted
on to liberate the firing pin, which accordingly flies forward under the influence of
its surrounding spring and thereby discharges the weapon.
For extracting and ejecting the empty cartridge case we employ an ordinary
claw extractor, arranged in a recess in the upper part of the front end of the breech
block, and we arrange diametrically opposite such extractor an ejector pin working
loosely in an inclined hole whose inner end lies contiguous to the flange of the
cartridge when the latter is in the charge chamber and the breech is closed. This
pin is so arranged that its head will, when the breach block retires with an empty
cartridge case, strike against a projection on the body of the weapon and thereby
cause the inner end of said pin to project from the aforesaid hole and forcibly
atrike the cartridge case, thereby throwing it out upwardly, through the ejection-
opening in the body of the weapon.
According to a modified construction of our improved fire-arm, the firing pin does
not extend through the rear end of the body of the weapon as in the previously
described construction, but is wholly contained within the body, and is made some-
what shorter than the breech block, so that when the said breech block completes its
recoil there will be sufficient space left between the end of the body and the rear
end of the firing pin to permit the latter by virtue of its momentum to perform a
further rearward movement in cocking. The breech block is provided with a
depending portion or lock case wherein a
cocking lever and sear are arranged,
these parts moving with the breech block. The said cocking lever is formed with
a tail to be acted upon by a fixed incline as the breech block recoils, whereby the
cooking of the firing pin is effected.
In order that our said invention may be clearly understood and readily carried
into effect we will proceed to describe the same more fully with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which :-
Figure 1 is a side elevation,
Figure 2 a plan, and
Figure 3 a rear end view of a pistol constructed in accordance with the first
part of our invention.
Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional elevation shewing the position of the parts
immediately after pulling the trigger to discharge the pistol.
Figures 5 and 6 are similar views to Figure 4 the former shewing the position
of the parts after the discharge has taken place and the breech block has fully
."

page_text: recoiled, and the latter shewing the position of the parts when the breech block has
closed the breech and the pistol is ready for another discharge.
Figure 7 is a transverse section taken on the line 1. 1 of Figure 4.
Figure 8
Figures 8 and 9 are detail sections taken on the line 2. 2 of Figure 7 and drawn
to an enlarged scale, shewing the extracting and ejecting devices.
representing the breech block in its closed position and Figure 9 in its open
position.
Figure 10 is a side elevation, and
Figure 11 a longitudinal section, of a pistol constructed in accordance with the
second part of our invention.
Figure 12 is a transverse section on the line 3. 3. of Figure 11.
Figures 13 and 14 are longitudinal sectional views of a modification of the means
shewn in Figure 11 for cocking the firing pin, Figure 13 representing the firing
pin in its forward or fixed position and Figure 14 the said pin in its cocked position.
Figure 15 is a detail view of the cocking lever employed in this last mentioned
arrangement.
In all these figures like letters of reference indicate similar parts.
A is the body portion or casing enclosing the breech mechanism; B is the
barrel; C the breech block; D the firing pin; E the recoil spring; F the cartridge
magazine and G the trigger.
Referring more particularly to the pistol illustrated by Figures 1 to 9, the
body A thereof is tubular and formed with a hollow depending portion A' which
serves as the handle of the pistol and for the reception of the cartridge magazine F.
A spring clip A³ or similar retaining device is provided on the said handle for
permitting of the ready removal of the magazine when empty and its replacement
by a full one.
The breech block C is hollow for the greater portion of its length and is formed
externally with a longitudinal groove c (Figures 7, 8 and 9) into which fits a pro-
jection or feather a on the bady A, so that said block is capable of sliding longi-
tudinally in the body without turning angularly. The firing pin D is cylindrical
at the part where it is surrounded by the said hollow breech-block and is of such
a diameter that an aunular space is left within the block for the spiral spring. E.
The remaining portion of the said firing pin is rectangular or flat and the aper-
ture a in the rear end of the body A through which the said pin projects is of
similar shape, to permit of the pin's longitudinal movement without turning.
D is the knob with which the outer extremity of the firing pin is furnished to
enable said pin to be pulled backward when cocking the pistol by hand. The front
extremity of the firing pin is formed with a conical shoulder à terminating in a
firing needle d, the solid portion of the breech black being similarly formed to
permit of said needle reaching the detonator of the cartridge to explode the same
Immediately in rear of the said conical shoulder d is a collar d on the firing pin
between which and the rear end of the body A is located the spiral spring E.
At the front portion of the breech block is a cavity for the reception of the
catch or sear C' by which the firing pin is held in its cocked position. This catch
or sear is pivotally connected to the breech block by a pin c, and a spring c
normally tends to keep the end thereof pressed upwardly. As soon as the firing
pin is fully retracted, the said end of the catch will come in front of the collar d
on the firing pin and thereby keep the latter cocked until said catch is released by
the pulling of the trigger. For effecting this release, the trigger is furnished with
the firing sear or pivotted piece g which, under the influence of a spring g',
normally occupies the vertical position represented in Figure 4 with its nose
immediately below the aforesaid catch ready to trip the latter when the trigger is
pulled and thus permit the firing pin to fly forward to explode the cartridge. This
pivotted piece g is provided with a tail g which bears against the trigger by
the action of the said spring g' and is thereby restrained from turning beyond the
vertical position in a left hand direction, but is unrestrained from turning in the
opposite direction. By this construction, if after pulling the trigger to fire a shot,

page_text: it should still be held in its pulled back position, another discharge will not take
place, because as the block advances to close the breech the said pivotted piece g
will be pushed forward about its pivot pin g by the catch C and as the nose does
not pass beneath the said catch the firing pin will not be released. Immediately
however the trigger is allowed to return to its normal position by the action of its
spring g' the said pivotted piece will resume its vertical position under the
influence of its spring g', and will come beneath the said catch as represented in
Figure 4. The weapon can then be discharged again by pulling the trigger but a
rapid succession of discharges, without manipulating the trigger, is prevented.
By'
H is a cover with which the body of the pistol is provided; this cover moves with
the breech block so that each time the latter retires, an opening A³ in the upper
part of the body is uncovered to allow an empty cartridge case to be ejected us
hereinafter explained. The front end of the said cover is furnished with a bent
lug or hook which is adapted to fit into a correspondingly shaped recess in the
breech block as shewn in Figures 4 to 7 and the rear end of said cover is forked at h¹
to fit over the flat or rectangular portion of the firing pin. A transverse pin or
sorewh passes beneath the said firing pin and through a recess formed in the
under side thereof. This transverse pin or screw not only serves to keep the cover
in place but also serves as a stop to limit the extent of the independent rearward
movement of the firing pin which the latter performs in being cocked.
removing this pin or screw the rear end of said cover can be turned upward until
the bent lug or hook harrives in a position to permit of its escape from the recess
in the breech block and the consequent entire removal of the cover from the pistol.
I is the extractor (see Figures 8 and 9) consisting of a spring claw having its
end i screw threaded to engage with a screw threaded hole or recess c in the front
end of the breech block. Situated diametrically opposite to such extractor is the
ejector J which works in the inclined hole e' in the front end of the breech block.
This pin is formed with a head ; which, when a cartridge is in the charge chamber
of the pistol and the breech closed is caused to protrude into the aforesaid longi-
tudinal slot e in the breech block. Thus after the discharge of a cartridge and
during the rearward movement of the breech block, the head of such pin will
forcibly strike against the projection or feather a (Figure 9) whereby said pin
will be driven inwardly and will strike a sharp blow on the flange of the cartridge
case, with the result that the latter will be thrown out of the pistol in an upward
direction through the aforesaid ejection opening A³.
The mouth of the magazine is formed in the well known manner to prevent
the cartridges contained in the magazine from escaping by the direct upward
pressure of the spring lifter f' but permits of their being one by one pushed for-
ward by the breech block into the charge chamber as said block advances to close
the breech.
The working of this pistol is as follows:-Assuming the parts to be in the position
represented in Figure 6 that is to say the weapon being ready for a fresh discharge
the act of pulling the trigger will cause the nose of the sear g to press the spring
controlled end of the catch C¹ upwardly, and the end downwardly out of the path
of the collar on the firing pin. The firing pin will then immediately fly for-
ward under the influence of the spring E as represented in Figure 4, thus exploding
the cartridge in the charge chamber of the barrel. The recoil due to such
explosion will then drive both the breech block and the firing pin rearwardly at
the same velocity against the resistance of the spring E, until the said breech block
strikes the rear end of the body A. The breech block will thus be arrested in its
backward movement, but the firing pin will continue its movement by its momen-
tum until stopped by the pin or screw ha. Simultaneously with the completion of
this independent movement of the firing pin, the end of the catch will be
elevated by the action of the spring and will engage with the collar of the
firing pin, thus retaining the latter in its fully withdrawn or cocked position.
The parts will then be in the position represented in Figure 5, the extraction and
ejection of the empty cartridge case having been effected by the extractor I and

page_text: ejector pin J as hereinbefore described. The spring E will then re-act and carry
the breech block and firing pin forward to close the breech, the said block in this
movement pushing the uppermost cartridge in the magazine into the charge
chamber. The parts are thus brought into the position represented in Figure 6.
The pistol can then be discharged again upon pulling the trigger provided that, as
already explained above, the trigger has been previously released from its pulled
back position.
Referring now to Figures 10, 11 and 12 these figures illustrate a modified con-
struction of our pistol, wherein the cocking of the firing pin instead of being
.effected wholly by its momentum as in the previous construction is effected by a
cocking lever acting in conjunction with an incline as the breech block recoils.
The breech block C is, as in the former case, made hollow to receive the firing
pin D, but instead of the said firing pin being prolonged through the rear end of
the body A it is made short and also hollow to recieve one and of the recoil
spring E. The other end of said spring fits around and is supported by a hori-
zontal pin. A projecting inwardly from the rear end of the body A. The handle
or stock A is formed solid instead of hollow, the magazine F being located in a
chamber As provided for the purpose in front of the trigger. The said breech
block is provided with depending portions or wings CC between which is
'located the cooking lever C³. This cocking lever is mounted on a pivot pin C+.
and is provided with an arm C engaging with the firing pin. The said cocking
device is also provided with a tail C which occupies a position contiguous to the
fixed incline A. When recoil of the breech block takes place the spring E is
compressed and the said tail is acted upon by the fixed incline, the cocking lever is
thereby turned about its pivot and cocks the firing pin. The nose of the sear g
then engages with a notch C on the cocking lever and retains the latter and the
firing pin in their cocked position. After the breech block has regained its firing
position by the re-action of the aforesaid spring E, the firing pin cau be released
by pulling the trigger which trips the said sear by the projection G on the leaf
of the trigger acting on the prolongation g* of the sear. A is a buffer of wood or
leather for the wings of the breech block to strike against in their rearward
movement. An external crank arm C8 is arranged ou a short axle C carried by
one of the side plates of the pistol and the inner end of said axle is provided with
a finger or arm C whose free end engages with a notch C formed for its reception
in the breech block. By these means the weapon can be cocked by hand when
desired.
The above described modification can be varied as illustrated by Figures 13, 14
and 15, that is to say the cocking of the firing pin D is effected by a cooking
lever C of somewhat different construction from that employed in Figure 11. In
this case the said cocking lever is provided with trunnions C which are supported
in semi-circular recesses in the wall of the breech block, and the tail C is made
extremely short in comparison with the arm C. This arm is preferably forkel
to bridge over the firing pin and enters a transverse recess C's in the breech block.
The incline A which acts upon the tail C is modified in shape, that is to say it
is formed as a curve instead of as an inclined plane. The operation of the said
cocking lever is, however, analogous to that of the cocking lever shown in
Figure 11, that is to say when the recoil of the breech block occurs, it carries with
it the said cocking lever and consequently brings the short tail C against the
curve A The said tail is thus forced towards the right with the result that the
arm C³ is pressed in the opposite direction and cocks the firing pin as represented
in Figure 14, the firing pin being retained in this position by a sear similar to that
shown at Figures 4 to 6.
By reason of the greatly increased leverage obtained by this construction of
cocking lever a comparatively light recoil spring can be employed.
Although we have illustrated our invention as applied to a pistol we wish it to
be understood that we may equally well apply the same to fire-arms of other kinds.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to lie performed, we declare that what
we claim in an automatic or similar fire-arm is:-
1. The firing pin carried by the breech-block, and arranged substantially as
described to be cooked by its own momentum after the termination of the recoil
of the said block.
2. The spring catch or sear carried by the breech-block and acting in conjunc-
tion with the pivotted piece on the trigger, substantially as described and for the
purposes specified.
3. The combination, with the breech block and the firing pin, of a detachable
cover, substantially as described.
4. The combination with the breech block and the extractor, of an inclined
ejector pin acting in conjunction with a fixed projection substantially as described
with reference to Figures 8 and 9 of the accompanying drawings.
5. The modified construction of the firing pin and the means for cocking the
same during recoil by a cocking lever and incline, substantially as described.
6. The combination with the breech block of a finger or arm mounted on an
axle extending through the casing of the fire arm and provided with a crank
handle, substantially as described and for the purpose specified.
7. The construction and arrangement of the cocking lever substantially as
described with reference to Figures 13 to 15 of the accompanying drawings and
for the purpose specified.
8. An automatic pistol or other fire-arm embodying any or all of our improve-
ments substantially as described with reference to Figures 1 to 9 or Figures 10 to
12 of the accompanying drawings.
героеноск
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.