Year: 1887

page_text: I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firun of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 improvements in that class of magazine fire-arms in which
the barrel is open into the receiver at its rear end, and the magazine arranged beneath
the barrel also open into the receiver; and in which the breech-piece is hung in the
receiver at the rear, so as to swing upon its pivot up and down to open and close
the barrel; the breech-piece also serving as the carrier to receive the cartridge from
the magazine, and transfer it to a position in line with the barrel, from which it is
forced into the barrel prior to the final closing or rise of the breech-piece.
The object of the said invention is to provide a simple construction in which the
mechanisin of the arm, that is to say, the lock, carrier and the breech-picce are all
combined in a single structure.
In the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 represents a side view.
Figure 2 a top view, and
Figure 3 an under side view drawn to a reduced scale of a fire arm constructed
according to this invention.
Figure 4 is a sectional side view showing the breech-piece in the up or closed
position.
Figure 5 is a vertical central section through the breech-piece in its down or open
position.
Figure 6 is a horizontal section through the breech-piece illustrating the action of
the bar in cocking the hammer.

page_text: Figure 7 is a side view of the breech-piece detached, and reversed from that seen in
figure 4.
Figure 8 is a vertical section on the line a figure 5 looking rearward.
Figure 9 is a vertical section on the line y y of figure 4, looking forward.
Figure 10 is a longitudinal section through the magazine, showing the latch.
Figure 11 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating the movement of the breech-
piece and the lever in holding the cartridge on the breech-piece and ejecting the
shell.
Figure 12 is an inside view of the receiver, showing the bar and the slide for forcing
the cartridge to the barrel, and withdrawing the shell.
Figure 13 is a horizontal section through one side of the receiver, showing a top
view of the said slide.
A represents the receiver, to the forward end of which the barrel B is attached, and
beneath the barrel is the magazine C, both opening into the receiver at the rear; the
receiver is also constructed with a tang D at the rear upon the upper side, and provided
with a tang E below, by which the said receiver is secured to the stock, in the usual
manner.
Fis the breech-piece arranged in a vertical opening through the receiver, and hung
at the rear upon a pivot G near the top of the receiver, upon which pivot the breech-
piece may turn, as from the position seen in figure 4, to that seen in figure 5 and
return. The up and down movement is imparted to the breech-piece by means of
a handle I surrounding the magazine forward of the receiver, and movable in suitable
guides toward and from the receiver. From this handle a rod or bar I extends through
the forward end of the receiver, so as to work in a longitudinal groove J in the side of
the receiver, see figures 8 and 9, the inner side of the bar preferably being flush with
the side of the receiver in which it works.
A groove K L M is formed in the side of the breech-piece upon which the bar I is
arranged, and at the rear end of the bar I is a stud N, projecting inward, so as to work
in the said groove in the side of the breech-piece.
As the breech-piece is to act as the carrier, it is necessary that in its opening move-
ment it shall drop to a position so low as to permit the cartridge to pass from the
magazine onto its upper surface, as seen in figure 5; it follows that in its ascent when
it has been raised so far as to bring the cartridge which it has received from the
magazine into line with the barrel, it must rest, and then, after the cartridge has been
moved forward into the barrel that it must rise to its upper position in rear of the head
of the cartridge, so as to resist recoil in firing. To this end the forward portion K
of the groove in the side of the breceli-piece inclines upward from its forward end, so
that as the stud N, under the movement of the bar I, will act as a cam therein, and,
during the first part of the rear movement of the bar I, will work through the groove K,
and force the breech-piece downward, as seen in broken lines figure 4, to a position so
far below the barrel as to leave its rear end exposed, either for the insertion of a
cartridge, or the extraction of an empty shell. From the upper end of the portion K
of the groove the portion L is inclined downward when the breech-piece is in its
upper position, as seen in figure 4, and this inclination of the part I is such that
when the breech-piece. is dropped to the position below the barrel just described,
and, as seen in figure 4, the groove in that position is in line with the path of the
bar I, so that, as the bar continues its rear movement, the stud will work through
this straight part 1 of the groove without effect upon the breech-piece. At the
rear end of the groove the portion M is inclined upward and backward, so that
as the stud N arrives at the rear end of the straight portion I. of the groove, it will
enter the inclined pari M, and act thereon as a cam, in like manner as it did in the first
part L, so that in completing the rear movement of the bar 1, the breech-piece will be
forced to its extreme down position, as seen in figure 5. In this extreme down
position the magazine is opened at the rear, so as to permit the movement of the
column of cartridges therein, and so that the rear cartridge in the magazine shall be
forced onto the top of the breech-piece, as seen in figure 5, and in a position to be
transferred into line with the barrel. With the cartridge so standing on the breech-

page_text: piece, the handle is now moved forward, drawing the bar I with it. During the first
part of the movement the stud N works through the groove M, and, acting therein as
a cam, raises the breech-piece to the position indicated in broken lines figure 4, so that
the cartridge thereon will stand in line with the barrel. Standing in that position the
breech-piece rests, while the handle and bar continue their forward movement, tho
stud N passing through the straight portion L of the groove in the breech-piece with-
out effect thereon. During this movement of the stud through the longitudinal or
straight part of the groove, the cartridge is transferred to the barrel, as here-
after described, and, then the sind, arriving at the forward end of the part L of the
groove, enters the forward incline: part K, and, continuing its movement, raises the
breech-piece into its up or closed position as seen in figure 4. In the backward or
opening movement of the handle and bar I, the breech-piece is thus first dropped to a
position slightly below the barrel, and there rests, while the shell in the barrel is drawn
from the barrel onto the breech-piece and removed; then during the last part of the
opening movement of the handle, the breech-piece is further dropped to a position
below the magazine, so as to receive the cartridge, then on the return of the handle
and its bar, the first part of the movement raises the breech-piece to bring the
cartridge thereon into line with the barrel, and there rests, while the movement of the
handle continues and the cartridge is carried from the top of the breech-piece into the
barrel and then in the last part of the forward movement of the handle, the breech-
piece is raised to its fully closed position. The breech-piece thus serves both as a
breech-piece and a carrier.
When the breech-piece is in its fully closed position, its underside stands above the
open rear end of the magazine, as seen in figure 9, and also in broken lines figure 5, so
that that end of the magazine is exposed at the rear when the breech-piece is closed.
In this condition the magazine is charged, the cartridges being successively introduced
to the magazine beneath the breech-piece.
To hold the column of cartridges in the magazine a spring latch O is arranged at
the mouth of the magazine, over the nose 1', of which the heads of the cartridges will
pass as they are successively forced into the magazine, the latch springing over the
head of the last cartridge inserted, as seen in figure 10, so as to support the column
against the action of the spring. To release the column so that the rear cartridge may
pass onto the breech-piece when in the position to receive it, the latch is constructed
with an inward projection R in the path of the breech-piece in its descent; the breech-
piece striking the projection It forces the nose P away from the head of the cartridge,
leaving the cartridge free to move rearward under the action of the magazine spring
against the end of the descending breech-piece. As the breech-piece arrives at its
down position, the rear cartridge is free from the action of the latch, so that the
column moving rearward, the rear cartridge is forced onto the top of the breech-piece,
as seen in figure 5, the next cartridge in the column being stopped by the nose P of
the latch, as seen in figure 5. As the breech-piece rises, its action upon the latch will
be the same as in the descent, but the breech-piece passes above the latch, so as to leave
it free before the breech-piece is finally closed, and as the breech-piece so passes the
latch, its forward end bears against the head of the rear cartridge, so as to force it into
the magazine forward of the latch, in order that the latch may engage the rear
cartridge before the breech-piece reaches its extreme up position.
To remove the cartridge from the breech-piece into the barrel, a slide S is arranged
in a longitudinal groove T in the side of the receiver above the bar I, see figures 8 and 12.
The slide is constructed with a finger U extending downward from the rear end, in
rear of the rear end of the bar I, so that the bar I in its rear movement will force the
slide S from the position seen in broken lines figure 12, to the rear position, also seen
in that figure. The bar I is constructed with an upward projection W, and the slide S
with a corresponding notch a with which the projection W may engage, as seen in
figure 12, so that in the forward movement of the bar I the slide will be moved with it.
Upon the inside of the slide S is an inwardly projecting shoulder, which when the
recch-piece is in its extreme open position, stands in rear of the head of the cartridge
on the breech-piece, as seen in figure 13, so that as the bar I moves forward, taking

page_text: with it the slide S, the shoulder b, striking the rear end of the cartridge, will force it
forward into the barrel, as indicated in broken lines figure 12.
The introduction of the cartridge to the barrel must be completed before
the breech-piece commences its final rising or closing movement, the shoulder b
therefore stands in advance of the stud N, as seen in figure 12. In order
that the slide carrying the shoulder may stop its advance movement when the
cartridge has been fully inserted, it is permitted a certain amount of up and
down rocking movement at its rear end. The forward end of the slide corresponds
to the width of the groove T, but the rear end upon its under side rides upon the end
of the slide. At the rear end the slide S is constructed with an upward projection d
which in the movement of the slide will ride against the upper surface of the groove T,
but when in its extreme forward position, this projection d stands beneath a corre-
sponding notch e in the upper side of the groove. The connection between the slide
and the bar I is such that an up and down movement is permissible to the rear end
of the slide when free, that is, when the projection d comes below the notch e. The
slide S therefore moves forward with the bar I from its rear position in figure 12, to
its extreme forward position, at which time the projection d stands beneath the
notch e, then, as the further advance of the slide is prevented, because of the shoulder b
coming against the rear end of the cartridge, or the rear end of the barrel, as the case
may be, the continued forward movement of the bar I will force the rear end of the
slide upward, causing the projection d to enter the notch e above, as in broken lines
figure 12. At this time the projection W will escape from the notch a in the slide,
leaving the slide at rest, and the bar free to pass on for its final closing movement.
In this movement the projection W of the bar works on the under side of the slide S
so as to hold it in its up position, where it will remain until, on the return of the bar.
the projection W again comes into line with the notch a, when the rear end of the
slide will fall and engage the bar so as to move with it, such fall of the slide being
forced by the incline at the rear end of the projection d, working as a cam against
the end of the notch e, so that from the time of such engagement of the slide and bar,
the slide will be forced to move rearward in positive engagement with the bar.
To extract the cartridge a spring extractor-hook is arranged upon the slide S,
see figure 12, its nose standing forward of the shoulder b, so as to leave space for
the flange of the cartridge between the two. As seen in figure 13, the nose of
the extractor is bevelled forward, so as to ride over the flange of the cartridge, in the
usual manner of extractor hooks, and so that standing in position in rear of the
cartridge head, the forward movement of the slide will force the nose of the extractor-
hook over the flange of the cartridge and bring the shoulder against the cartridge,
then on the return of the slide S the extractor will engage the flange of the cartridge,
and cause it to move rearward with the slide, onto the top of the breech-piece.
The extracting movement as well as the inserting, occurs during the passage of the
stud N through the longitudinal portion L of the groove in the side of the breech-
piece, that is, while the breech-piece is at rest midway between its up and down
position therefore, there being a cartridge or exploded shell in the barrel when the
breech-piece is closed, the breech-piece is dropped to its intermediate position, and
then the shell is drawn from the barrel above the breech-piece, from which it must
he removed before the breech-piece descends to receive a cartridge from the magazine.
This removal may be made by hand, but that it may be automatically done, I hang
a lever
g upon one side of the breech-piece, the pivot of the lever being at the rear,
the free end forward. Upon this lever there is an inwardly projecting finger i,
which when the breech-piece is up, lies in a recess in the top of the breech-piece, as
seen in figure 2, so that as the cartridge is drawn from the barrel onto the breech-
piece, it will stand upon that inwardly projecting finger. As the breech-piece com-
mences its descent, the rear end of the lever g, below its pivot, strikes a shoulder or
stud in the side of the receiver, as seen in figure 11, which airesis the further
descent of the lever with the breech-piece, and, as the breech-piece descends, causes
the lever to turn upon its pivot and raise its forward end. The finger beneath the
shell, then on the breech-piece, imparts a throw to the shell, as indicated in figure 11,

page_text: sufficient to eject the shell, and while the lever g with its finger is so rising, as seen
in figure 5, the breech-piece passes to its lowest position to receive a cartridge from
the imagazine. This cartridge passes onto the breech-piece beneath the finger i, as
seen in figure 5, then, as the breech-piece rises, a spring m, see figure 7, causes the
lever g to turn downward, and bring its finger i with a yielding pressure upon the
upper surface of the cartridge, to hold it upon the breech-piece and prevent its dis-
placement in the quick ascent of the breech-piece, so that when the breech-piece is
raised to the midway position, with the cartridge in line with the barrel, the finger i
As the cartridge
of the lever still rests upon the cartridge, but in a yielding manner.
is moved forward, as before described, it will readily pass from beneath the finger to
its place in the barrel, and then the spring m will force the lever g to its down
or home position before the breech-piece commences its final upward or closing
movement. Thus the lever serves the double purpose of holding a cartridge
upon the breech-piece during its transfer from the magazine to a position in rear of
the barrel, and, as an ejector for the exploded shell drawn from the barrel onto the
breech-piece.
The hammer consists of a spindle » arranged in a longitudinal recess in the
breech-piece, its forward end forming a firing pin s adapted to pass through a corre-
sponding opening in the breech-piece, as seen in figure 6. The said spindle is
provided with a spring arranged to force the haminer forward to the striking
position when free, and is constructed with a lateral projection we extending so far
through the side of the breech-piece as to stand in the path of the stud N on the
bar I, so that as the bar moves rearward, as indicated in broken lines figure 6, the
stud N will strike the lateral projection w, and then, in its continued movement, will
force the hammer to its full cocked position, as indicated in broken lines figure 6.
When the hammer has reached its cocked position, it is engaged by the nose of a
scar 2 hung in the breech-piece, as seen in figure 5, the tail 3 of the sear extending
downward from the pivot, and being provided with a spring 4 which is adapted to
force the scar into yielding engagement with the hammer, so as to hold the hammer in
its full cocked position. The sear swings with the breech-piece in its opening and
closing movement. In the closing movement the tail 3 comes into the path of the
trigger 5 hung in the receiver below, as seen in figure 4, so that the pull of the trigger
will turn the sear and release the hammer to permit it to fly forward under the action
of its spring, to strike the primer. But because the sear is hung in the breech-piece
and moves with it, it follows that in the first part of the opening movement of the
breech-piece the scar is taken out of the path of the trigger, and also that the hammer
cannot be released until the breech-piece is substantially closed, so as to bring the tail B
of the sear into possible engagement with the trigger.
As a protection against accidental release of the hammer when cocked, a stop is
provided to set against the tail of the sear when the breech-piece is closed, and this
stop is best arranged in the form of a two-armed lever 67, hung upon a pivot 8 in
rear of the tail of the sear, as seen in figure 4. The arm 6 extends up through the
tang D, and is provided with a suitable handle 9 by which the lever may be turned
upon its pivot, the said handle working through a slot 10 in the tang. When moved
forward, as seen in figure 4, the lower arm 7, stands below the bearing point 11 on
the scar, so that in that condition the sear is free for the action of the trigger, but
when the lever 6, 7, is thrown to the rear, then the arm 7, is raised into a position in
rear of the bearing point 11, on the tail of the sear, so as to hold it in its engaged
position with the hammer and prevent possible movement of the sear from such
engagement while the lever stands in that position. The operator seeing the lever in
its forward position, knows that the sear is free for the action of the trigger, but
when drawn to the rear, he knows that the sear is locked, and that discharge is
impossible. The arm 6, of the lever is provided with a spring 12 to hold it in either
of its two positions.
When the lever 6, 7, is in the position of locking the sear, as described, it also
securely locks the breech-piece in its closed position, for the reason that so long as the
arm 7, stands in rear of the tail of the sear, the breech-piece cannot be turned down-

page_text: ward, but when turned out of the path of the tail of the sear, as seen in figure 4, then
not only is the sear free, but the breech-piece is also free.
It may be desirable to provide means for automatically engaging the breech-piece
with the bar I when the breech-piece is closed, so as to prevent accidental displacement
of the breech-piece. This is effectively done by the introduction of a spring caich 13
in the groove in the breech-piece in line with the stud N when the breech-piece is in
its closed position, as seen in figure 9. The end of the spring catch is of conical
shape, and the stud N has a corresponding recess upon its inner end, so that as the
bar approaches its extreme forward movement, and the breech-piece its extreme up
position, the point of the spring catch is forced inward by coming in contact with the
stud N on the bar, so as to permit the stud N to pass to its home position, then the
spring catch is forced outward into engagement with the stud N, so as to yieldingly
hold the breech-piece in its up or closed position.
The peculiar construction of the breech-piece and its connection with the handle
forward, whereby the up and down movement is imparted to the breech-piece and the
intermediate rest, may be employed in arms of this class in which the hammer is
otherwise arranged, that, is, in which there is the common sliding firing-pin adapted
to be struck by the hammer at the rear a common and too well known arrangement
to require illustration or description.
The arrangement of the hammer and its sear in the breech-piece, so as to swing up
and down with it, may be employed in arms in which the breech-piece is arranged to
swing up and down in like manner, but without the intermediate rest, and is thus
adapted to breech-loading fire-arms this modification is too apparent to require
illustration.
The slide S whereby the cartridge is forced into the barrel, and the extractor engaged
therewith arranged to be disconnected with the reciprocating rod before the rod
completes its extreme forward movement, may be employed in arms of this class in
which the longitudinal movement of the bar is otherwise communicated to the breech-
piece so as to produce its up and down swinging movement.
I am aware that the arrangement of a breech-piece hung in the receiver in rear of
the barrel, so as to swing downward and backward in opening to a position below the
mouth of the magazine to receive a cartridge from the magazine upon its upper-
surface, and the said breech-piece arranged to rest at a point midway between its
extreme open and closed positions while the cartridge is in line with the barrel, so
that the cartridge may be inoved from the breech-piece into the barrel is not new, and
therefore I do not claim broadly such an arrangement of breech-piece.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me by my foreign
correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
First. In a magazine fire-arm, the combination of a barrel and a magazine beneath
the barrel, both opening into the receiver at the rear; a breech-piece hung in the
receiver in rear of the barrel, so as to swing downward and backward in opening to a
position below the magazine; a sliding guided handle forward of the receiver, and a
bar extending therefrom into the receiver, so as to work in a path parallel with the
side of the breech-piece, the breech-piece being constructed with a longitudinal groove
terminating at its forward end in a downward and forward incline, and at its rear end
in an upward and rearward incline, and the said bar provided with a sind adapted to
work in said groove, substantially as described whereby in the rear and forward
movement of said slide the said stud operates to drop and raise the breech-piece but
hold it at a position of rest midway between its down and up positions, substantially
as described.
Second. In a magazine fire-arm in which the magazine is arranged beneath the
barrel, and both the barrel and magazine open into the receiver at the rear, a breech-
piece hung in the receiver in rear of the barrel and arranged to swing downward and
upward in its opening and closing movements; a guided handle arranged beneath the
barrel forward of the receiver, a bar extending from said handle into the receiver and

page_text: in connection with the breech-piece, whereby under the reciprocating movement of
the handle the opening and closing movement is imparted to the breech-piece; and a
slide S arranged in a groove T in the side of the receiver parallel with the said bar
and constructed with a shoulder the said bar and slide being constructed one with a
notch a and the other with a corresponding projection W, the said slide also being
constructed with an upward projection d and the receiver with a notch e in the side of
the groove corresponding to the said projection d on the slide when the slide is in its
forward position, substantially as, and for the purpose, described.
Third. In a magazine fire-arm in which the magazine is arranged beneath the barrel,
and both barrel and magazine open into the receiver at the rear, a breech-piece hung
in the receiver in rear of the barrel and arranged to swing downward and upward in
its opening and closing movement; a guided handle arranged beneath the barrel
forward of the receiver; a bar extending from said handle into the receiver and
in connection with the breech-piece, whereby under the reciprocating movement
of the handle, the opening and closing movement is imparted to the breech-piece;
a slide S arranged in a groove T in the side of the receiver parallel with the said
bar an extractor hook on said slide, the said bar and slide being constructed the
one with a notch a and the other with a corresponding projection W, the said
slide being also constructed with an upward projection d and the receiver with
a notch e in the side of the groove corresponding to the said projection of the
slide when the slide is in its forward position, substantially as, and for the purpose,
described.
Fourth. In a magazine fire-arm having the magazine arranged beneath the barrel
and both the barrel and magazine opening into the receiver at the rear, the breechi-
piece hung in the receiver in rear of the barrel so as to swing downward and backward
in opening to a position below the magazine and so that the rear cartridge in the
magazine may pass onto the upper side of the breech-piece; a reciprocating handle
forward of the receiver; a bar extending therefrom into the receiver, and arranged to
work in a corresponding groove in the side of the breech-piece, whereby the up and
down swinging movement is imparted to said breech-piece, the said groove being con-
structed of an inclined shape at its forward and rear ends, the intermediate portion
being longitudinal to permit a rest of the breech-piece mid-way of its up and down
position; a lever g hung on one side of the breech-piece upon a pivot below the pivot
upon which the breech-piece is hung, the said lever being constructed with a finger i
extending inward onto the upper face of the breech-piece; a spring m between the
said breech-piece and lever and a shoulder in the receiver in rear of said lever, and
at a point below the pivot on which the lever is hung, substantially as, and for the
purpose, described.
Fifth. In a fire-arm in which the breech-piece is hung in the receiver in rear of the
barrel, so as to swing downward and upward in opening and closing a reciprocating
handle forward of the receiver; a bar extending therefrom into the receiver, so as to
receive the reciprocating movement of the handle, the said bar being arranged to
impart said opening and closing movements to the breech piece, a sliding haminer and
its main spring arranged in said breech-piece, with a lateral extension from the hammer
into the path of said bar whereby the rear movement of the bar will impart a forced
rear movement of the hammer to its cocked position; a sear hung in said breech-
piece, and arranged to engage the hammer when at full cock; and a trigger by which
the said sear may be discharged, substantially as described.
Sixth. In a fire-arm in which the breech-piece is hung in the receiver in rear of the
barrel, so as to swing downward and upward in opening and closing, a reciprocating
handle forward of the receiver; a bar extending therefrom into the receiver, so as to
receive the reciprocating movement of the handle, the said bar being arranged to
impart said opening and closing movements to the breech-piece; a sliding hammer
and its main spring arranged in said breech-picce, with a lateral extension from the
hammer into the path of said bar, whereby the rear movement of the bar will impart
a forced rear movement of the hammer to its cocked position; a sear hung in said
breech-piece, and arranged to engage the hammer when at full cock, the said scar being

page_text: constructed with a tail at the rear of its pivot; and a stop arranged in the receiver,
movable into or from the path of the tail of the sear, substantially as described.
Seventh. In a fire-arm in which the barrel is open into the receiver at the rear, a
breech-piece hung in rear of the barrel, so as to swing downward and upward in its
opening and closing movements; a sliding handle arranged beneath the barrel
forward of the receiver; a bar extending from the said handle into the receiver, the
breech-piece being constructed with a groove in its side through which a stud on said
bar will work, and whereby under the backward and forward movement of the handle
the opening and closing movement is imparted to the breech-piece; and a spring catch
between said breech-piece and bar, adapted to interlock the bar and breech-piece when
the breech-piece is in its closed position, substantially as described.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.