Improvements in Breech Loading Fire Arms and Cartridge Magazines to be Used therewith.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Jan., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 26th Oct., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 26th Jan.. 1889
Improvements in Breech Loading Fire Arms and Cartridge
Magazines to be Used therewith.
I, GUSTAVUS, Baron DE OVERBECK, of 23 Ryder Street, Saint James', in the County
of Middlesex (a communication to me from abroad by Franz Fortelka of Vienna) do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-—
To close the breech I use as in other breech loading rifles a bolt which lies lengthwise
in a chamber that forms a continuation of the barrel.
The bolt has locking studs projecting from two opposite sides-these when the breech
is closed enter recesses in the sides of the chamber.
To open the breech the bolt has a partial turn given to it and is then drawn
backwards.
The upper part of the front end of the chamber is cut away for cartridges to be
inserted or ejected.
•
The bolt has the above movements given to it by a sliding piece which can be moved
to and fro along a slot cut lengthwise along the top of the chamber.
The slide has a stud projecting downwards from it which enters a screw groove cut
in the sides of the bolt. When the slide is drawn back the stud moving along the
screw groove first turns the bolt and when the stud comes to the end of the groove it
draws the bolt backwards. The reverse operations take place on the closing of the
breech.
The slide is moved backwards and forwards by a handle which projects sidewise
from its rear end.
The bolt is pivoted at its front end to a bolt-head which can slide to and fro along a
longitudinal dovetail guide at the front end of the slide-and at its rear end turns in a
circular recess in the rear end of the slide.
The slide is furnished with a cover plate which when the breech
opening through which cartridges are inserted and ejected.
closed covers the
A striking pin passes longitudinally through the bolt from its front end to a hollow
recess formed in its rear end-this hollow is open at bottom to permit of the rear end
of the striking pin being struck by a hammer."

page_text: The hammer and other parts of the gun lock are carried by the trigger plate.
Each time that the breech is opened the hammer is pressed back to full cock first by
the end of the recess in the bolt and afterwards by one of the locking studs of the bolt
which passes over it. A safety catch is provided to prevent the hammer falling when
the breech is open.
The locking stud comes against the tail end of the catch and turns its front end into
position to lock the hammer-and it keeps the hammer locked until the bolt is again
moved forward to close the breech.
In place of the breech mechanism being arranged so that it is opened or closed
by a simple backward or forward movement it may be made so that a turning
movement has in addition to be given to it to lock it when it is closing the
breech.
To enable the fire arm to be fed with cartridges from a magazine a slot is formed
through the underside of the front portion of the chamber and is continued downwards
through the wooden stock-the slot is of sufficient size for a cartridge to be passed
up through it.
The opening through the stock is lined with a metallic lining piece.
This lining piece is made to extend forward beyond the opening in the bottom of
the chamber to form a guide for a sliding cover or shutter which shutter can either be
slidden into position to close the opening or slidden forward to open it. The shutter
is of a depth to close the opening into the chamber at the same time that it closes the
hottom of the corresponding passage through the bottom of the lining piece.
The shutter is provided with a spring catch to retain it in its open or closed
position.
The catch is released by a thumb piece which turns a distance when pressed on and
by an arm extending from it presses the catch back the shutter can then be readily
pushed along its guides.
The lining serves to secure the attachable magazine in place.
The magazine is inserted into place from below-the front end is first inserted into
the opening through the lining and a lug upon it made to enter a recess-then the
hinder part is pushed up into place and a spring catch which it carries locks it in
position.
The cartridges which lie one above another in the magazine are pressed upwards by
jointed lever arms acted on by springs forming a Z shaped spring lifting apparatus
and the upper edges of the sides of the magazine are bent inwards to prevent the
cartridges from being pressed out from the top. The upper part of the front and back
ends of the magazine are hollowed out semi-circularly in order to allow the uppermost
cartridge to be pressed endwise from the magazine by the sliding breech bolt of the
gun as it is moved forwards to close the breech.
The spring lifting apparatus is carried by the lower part of the magazine and
this part of the magazine together with the greater part of one of its side plates can
be turned on a horizontal hinge at the top of this part of the side plate so as to open
the magazine at the bottom and allow of cartridges being filled into it.
Before opening the magazine the jointed lever arms and springs above mentioned
have to be pressed downwards into its lower part.
To effect this the side plate which carries the lower part of the magazine has an axis
passing through it on which are two lever arms one on the inside and the other on the
outside. The inside arm has a pin projecting out from its end to engage with or come
above the uppermost part of the Z shaped lifting spring.
By turning the outside lever arm the lifting spring can be forced downwards by
this pin into the lower part of the magazine.
When the spring has so been compressed the pin is caused to enter a notch or recess
in the top of the spring and securely retain the spring in its compressed position. The
magazine can then be opened and filled.
The out side lever arm also serves as an indicator to shew by its position the number
of cartridges there may at any time be in the magazine.
The charging of the magazine may be effected in two ways-either with loose

page_text: cartridges by pressing then downwards into the magazine from the top or by inserting
into it from below a metal carton filled with cartridges which when empty will fall
out of itself when the bottom of the magazine is opened and can then be replaced by
a full one.
The rifle can also be loaded with single cartridges in the ordinary way even when
the magazine is attached-to allow of this it is only necessary to leave the lifting
levers held down by the lever arm above mentioned.
If desired the bottom of the magazine might be fixed or retained in other ways than
that above described.
To hold the cartridges down when the rifle is being used as a single loader a vertical
axis may be carried by the hinder wall of the magazine and have an arm extending
from it which by turning the axis can be brought into a position to stop the rise of the
cartridges.

page_text: Improvements in Breech Loading Fire Arms and Cartridge
Magazines to be used therewith.
I, GUSTAVUS Baron DE OVERBECK of 23 Ryder Street Saint James' in the County
of Middlesex (a communication to me from abroad by Franz Fortelka of Vienna
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:
To close the breech I use as in other breech loading rifles a bolt which lies
lengthwise in a chamber that forms a continuation of the barrel.
The bolt has locking studs projecting from two opposite sides. These when the
breech is closed enter recesses in the sides of the chamber.
To open the breech the bolt has a partial turn given to it and is then drawn
backwards.
The upper part of the front end of the chamber is cut away for cartridges to be
inserted or ejected.
The bolt has the above movements given to it by a sliding piece which can be moved
to and fro along a slet cut lengthwise along the top of the chamber.
The slide has a stud projecting downwards from it which enters a screw groove cut
in the sides of the bolt. When the slide is drawn back the stud moving along the
screw groove first turns the-bolt and when the stud comes to the end of the groove it
draws the bolt backwards. The reverse operation takes place on the closing of the
breech.
The slide is moved backwards, and forwards by a handle which projects sidewise
from its rear end.
The bolt is pivoted at its front end to a bolt head which can slide to and fro along
a longitudinal dovetail guide at the front end of the slide-and at its rear end turns
in a circular recess in the rear end of the slide.
The slide is furnished with a cover plate which when the breech is closed covers the
opening through which cartridges are inserted and ejected.
A striking pin passes longitudinally through the bolt from its front end to a hollow
recess formed in its rear end-this hollow is open at bottom to permit of the rear end
of the striking pin being struck by a hammer.
The hammer and other parts of the gun lock are carried by the trigger plate.
Each time that the breech is opened the hammer is pressed back to full cock first
by the end of the recess in the bolt and afterwards by one of the locking studs of
the bolt which passes over it. A safety catch is provided to prevent the hammer
falling when the breech is open.
The locking stud comes against the tail end of the catch and turns its front end
into position to lock the hammer and it keeps the hammer locked until the bolt is
again moved forward to close the breech.
In place of the breech mechanism being arranged so that it is opened or closed by
a simple backward or forward movement it may be made so that a turning movement
has in addition to be given to it to lock it when it is closing the breech as in the
ordinary bolt rifles.

page_text: To enable the firearm to be fed with cartridges from a magazine a slot is formed
through the underside of the front portion of the chamber and is continued downwards.
through the wooden stock. The slot is of sufficient size for a cartridge to be passed
up through it.
The opening through the stock is lined with a metallic lining piece.
This lining piece is made to extend forward beyond the opening in the bottom of
the chamber to form a guide for a sliding cover or shutter which shutter can either
be slidden into position to close the opening or slidden forward to open it. The
shutter is of a depth to close the opening into the chamber at the same time that it
closes the bottom of the corresponding passage through the bottom of the lining
piece.
The shutter is provided with a spring catch to retain it in its open or closed
position.
The catch is released by a thumb piece which turns a short distance when pressed
on and by an arm extending from it presses the catch back and the shutter can then
be readily pushed along its guides.
The lining serves to secure the attachable magazine in place.
The magazine is inserted into place from below, the front end is first inserted into
the opening through the lining and a lug upon it is made to enter a recess-then the
hinder part is pushed up into place and a spring catch which it carries locks it in
position.
The cartridges which lie one above another in the magazine are pressed upwards by
jointed lever arms acted on by springs forming a Z shaped spring lifting apparatus
and the upper edges of the sides of the magazine are bent inwards to prevent the
cartridges from being pressed out from the top. The upper part of the front and
back ends of the magazine are hollowed out semi-circularly in order to allow the
uppermost cartridge to be pressed endwise from the magazine by the sliding breech
bolt of the gun as it is moved forwards to close the breech.
The spring lifting apparatus is carried by the lower part of the magazine and this
part of the magazine together with the greater part of one of its side plates can be
turned on a horizontal hinge at the top of this part of the side plate so as to open the
magazine at the bottom and allow of cartridges being filled into it.
Before opening the magazine the jointed lover arms and springs above mentioned
have to be pressed downwards into its lower part.
To effect this the side plate which carries the lower part of the magazine has
an axis passing through it on which are two lever arms one on the inside and
the other on the outside. The inside arm has a pin projecting out from its end
to engage with or come above the uppermost part of the Z shaped lifting spring.
By turning the outside lever arm the lifting spring can be forced downwards by this
pin into the lower part of the magazine.
When the spring has so been compressed the pin is caused to enter a notch or
recess in the top of the spring and securely retain the spring in its compressed
position. The magazine can then be opened and filled.
The outside lever arm also serves as an indicator to shew by its position the number
of cartridges there may at any time be in the magazine.
The charging of the magazine may be effected in two ways-either with loose
cartridges by pressing them downwards into the magazine from the top or by inserting
into it from below a metal carton filled with cartridges which when empty will fall
out of itself when the bottom of the magazine is opened and can then be replaced
by a full one.
The rifle can also be loaded with single cartridges in the ordinary way even when
the magazine is attached to allow of this it is only necessary to leave the lifting
levers held down by the lever arm above mentioned.
If desired the bottom of the magazine might be fixed or retained in other ways
than that above described.
To hold the cartridges down when the rifle is being used as a single loader a
vertical axis may be carried by the hinder wall of the magazine and have an arm

page_text: extending from it which by turning the axis can be brought into a position to
stop the rise of the cartridges.
In order that my said invention may be fully understood and readily carried into
effect I will proceed to describe the drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figures 1 show the cylindrical bolt with the bolt head.
Figures 2 show the slide and cover.
Figure 2 shows the bolt together with the slide and cover.
Figures 3 show the chamber in which the bolt works.
Figure 4 is a side elevation of the gun with the breech closed.
Figures 5 show the limiting screw.
Figures 6 show the trigger guard and lock and the attachment of the trigger guard
to the gun.
Figures 7 show the spring extracter.
Figure 8 shows the firing pin.
Figures 9 show the hammer.
Figures 10 show the trigger and sear.
Figure 11 shows the main spring.
Figures 12 show the lining piece and the opening into which the magazine is fitted
and also the shutter.
Figure 13 shows an elevation of the same parts and the magazine is indicated by
dotted lines.
Figures 14 show a bolt of modified form.
Figure 15 is a rear elevation showing this bolt in place.
Figures 16 show the magazine and parts thereof.
Figure 17 is a longitudinal section of the breech end of the gun.
With reference to the annexed drawings-the invention may be further described
as follows:-
:-
The breech of this rifle is composed of a cylindrical bolt K (figure 1 in four
views) with two locking studs a and b figure 1 which is turned or revolved in the
chamber by means of the locking piece S, figures 2 and 2ª. For this purpose the
locking piece has a stud or tooth Z (figure 2) which works in the screw shaped
groove N (figure 1) of the breech bolt K, figure 1, and on pulling backward turns
or rotates the latter so far as to allow of the two locking-studs a and b being
withdrawn from the two hollows C, D, in the chamber, figure 3, into which they
lock, whereupon the breech bolt can be drawn backwards, during which movement
the groove figure 3, E, and the groove G in the chamber serve as guides for the
breech bolt.
The limitation of the rearward movement of the bolt is accomplished by the
stopping-screw (figures 3, 4, 5, 6, H) against which the lower locking stud rests when
the breech is completely open.
The locking piece S figure 2 is attached by semi-circular checks or collars
(figures 2 and 2 L) to the breech bolt in such a manner that it is movable back-
wards and forwards and is guided in its movement by the dovetail groove figure 2 X
in which travels the guiding stud or feather figure 1, J, of the breech-bolt-head-piece,
figure 1, V.
The cartridge extractor, figure 7, P, is similarly constructed to that of the Gras
rifle and is situated in the breech bolt head piece, figure 1, P.
The locking piece is furnished with the cover plate (figures 2 and 2ª, R,) which
is intended to prevent the entrance of sand, dust, &c., into the chamber through the
loading-space which when the breech is closed it entirely covers.
The breech bolt is bored out cylindrically (figure 1, 0) for the reception of striking
pin (figure 8, 0x,) with its thickened -part V. This cylindrical hollow is widened
out at the hinder or closed end of the breech bolt into a larger hollow of same
shape which has an opening Q. In this opening rests, when the breech is closed

page_text: and the gun has been fired the head of the hammer (figure 9, T,) which in this
position rests against the striking pin. When the breech-piece is drawn back and
the breech bolt has been rotated the hammer is pressed back by the end U, of
this opening which is rounded off while on the reverse movement of the breech
bolt the sloping edge (figure 1, U.) presses upon the head of the hammer and holds
it down until just when the breech is closed the trigger (figures 10 and 6, X',)
then springs into the rest or bent of the hammer.
The striking mechanism, figure 6, consisting of the hammer (figure 9, T.) the
striking spring figure 11, W, and the trigger (figure 10, X',) is entirely separate
from the breech and is attached to the chamber by means of the cross screw,
figure 6, I, and the fore-screw, figure 6, Y. The stop or safety catch, S, P,
figures 3, 4 and 6, is intended to prevent the falling of the hammer when
the breech is open. This is accomplished by the catch being carried back on
opening the breech by the lower locking stud (figure 6, S, P, A) in which position
its front end holds the head of the hammer firmly.
The ejecting pin ST figure 3, is screwed into the floor of the chamber and the
groove figure 1 NU is made in the breech bolt to allow it to pass over this pin. For
the purpose of the repeating action the floor of the chamber (figure 3, P, P,) is pierced
with an opening the size of the cartridge. Corresponding with this opening is one in
the shaft in which the lining (figures 12, 13,) is fitted an secured by means of the
guard screw (figure 6, Y) and the wood screw F, F. This lining serves to secure the
attachable magazine in place and to this end it is provided in the front wall with an
opening (figures 12, 13, OE) and in the rear wall with the rest R A. The under
edges of the lining are provided with slots or guides which serve to receive and guide
the sliding shutter, figures 12, 13, SS which closes the opening in the shaft. This
shutter SS consists of two plates which are connected by means of the vertical support ST
and run parallel one over the other and close the opening in the shaft and chamber
completely, so that it serves as a firm bed for cartridges in the chamber when the rifle
is used as a single loader and on the outside serves by means of its lower plate, which
is provided with the catch or stud G, to prevent the entrance of dust, sand, &c., into
the opening of the shaft. This shutter can be pushed backwards and forwards in the
lining by means of the catch G.
The catch G, figure 12, is provided with a spring tooth which snaps into a corre-
sponding rest in the lining as soon as the shutter is completely closed, whereby the
accidental opening of the shutter while firing is prevented. By pressing the thumb
against the catch it turns a little to one side, by which means the spring tooth Z
is pressed back, and the shutter can then be readily pushed forward along its
guides.
THE MAGAZINE.
ง
This consists of the cartridge box Px which is furnished at its upper and hinder end
with the two spring jaws L L. For the purpose of fastening the magazine into the
lining, figures 12, 13, the magazine box has the latch H* and the pressing spring F*
which is furnished with a cross knob or button: The magazine is fastened into the
shaft by placing the latch or bolt H in the corresponding opening in the lining,
(figure 12, 0, E) and pressing upwards the hinder end of the magazine, which causes
the pressing spring F to snap in behind the rest, figure 12, R A, on the rear wall of
the lining.
The magazine is detached by a reverse movement the pressing spring Fx being
pressed down by means of the pressing knob D F and the magazine being then drawn
out hinder end first from the lining, whereupon the latch H* comes out of its opening
or slot figure 13 0, E.
The floor and back wall of the magazine are movable upon the hinge C which
connects them to the magazine box, and on this hinder wall is fixed the lifting
mechanism Xx. This consists of the spoon Z*, the spring lever F H, and the two
Iv

page_text: .
In its extended position the lifting contrivance presents the form of a Z and can be
compressed by means of the compressor P H, till it lies flat on the floor of the
magazine.
The compressing-lever PH consists of the compressing arm furnished with the peg
or tooth and the compressor PH D. By moving the compressor through an angle
of 180° the tooth or peg of the compressor lever PH presses upon the spoon and
forces the whole lifting mechanism completely down in the course of its semi-circular
movement, and then snaps into the rest provided for it in the spoon and thus
prevents the accidental or automatic release of the lever and the springing up again of
the lifting contrivance.
In this position the floor of the magazine with the hinder wall R, can, when the
bolt or latch Ux is pushed back, he moved or turned sideways on the hinge C
whereby the loading opening O' is disclosed and freed.
The charging of the magazine can be managed in two ways, viz.:-
I. With single loose cartridges, by dropping one or several at a time into the
magazine box whereupon the floor of the magazine is closed, the bolt K pushed
forward and the peg of the compressing lever PH is lifted out of the rest.
II. By pushing into the magazine box, a metal carton filled with cartridges,
which, after emptying the magazine by firing, will, on opening the bottom of the
magazine, fall out of itself and can then be at once replaced by a full one.
For this purpose the hollow of the magazine is made larger by the thickness of
the metal sheet used for the carton, than the actual size of the cartridge.
In order to be able to use the rifle as a single loader when the charged
magazine is attached it is sufficient to leave the compressing lever PH in the
position in which it was placed before opening the magazine, i.e., with its peg
in the rest of the spoon, whereby the repeating mechanism is kept out of
operation.
As a variation of the above described magazine a magazine may be used which
is constructed as follows:-
The magazine box Px and the lifting contrivance are the same as before. The
floor and the hinder wall of the magazine on the other hand are in this case fixed
to the magazine box and the loading of this magazine is accomplished by putting
in the cartridges from above, i.e., each single cartridge is placed flat upon the
opening of the magazine and pressed down until it comes to rest below elastic
jaws which prevent its rising up again.
This magazine can also be loaded while the magazine is attached to the gun,
the cartridges being pressed into the magazine through the opening in the floor
of the chamber.
The fastening of this magazine is the same as before.
ANGULAR-BREECH-ACTION.
As a variation of the above described straight-pull breech action, the breech piece
shewn at figures 14 and 15 of the drawings is adapted to the same chamber.
With this breech action the turning of the breech bolt to the loft and right in
order to lock it is brought about by the direct turning of the bolt by means of
the handle B instead of by the locking piece as above described. The breech bolt
head piece V, the extractor, the closing mechanism, and the trigger, &c., are con-
structed like those in the straight pull breech piece-only that the cover plate R
is directly fastened to the head piece, while in the straight pull arrangement it is
fastened to the locking piece.
The hollows in the chamber for the reception of the two jaws or collars of the
locking piece are here omitted, being unnecessary, as is also the slot made in the
hinder end of the right hand wall of the chamber for the reception of the handle
of the locking piece.
Figures 14 shew the position of the locking-studs a, b, when the breech is
closed.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. The breech bolt which is provided with two locking feathers and the screw
shaped groove.
2. The locking piece with the cover plate and the stud Z which effects the
turning of the bolt in the chamber.
3. The limiting screw fastened to the tail of the chamber by which the back-
ward motion of the bolt is stopped.
4. The striking mechanism consisting of hammer striking spring and trigger and
attached to the trigger guard plate which is cocked by the backward movement of the
bolt by means of the lower locking feather in combination with the striking pin in
the breech bolt.
5. The safety catch fixed to the chamber tail piece which stops the movement
of the hammer in every position while the breech is open.
6. The double shutter or lining slide which entirely closes inside as well as out-
side the opening in the shaft where the magazine is attached.
7. The locking-catch or latch with its spring which is attached to the magazine
box and serves to fasten the magazine to the gun and makes it possible to attach
and detach the same by a single movement or action.
8. The openings or hollows in the lining of the opening in the shaft into which
catch the spring tooth of the sliding shutter and the latch of the magazine box
respectively.
9. The compressing lever of the magazine which by being turned through 180°
simultaneously depresses or compresses the magazine or lifting spring and acts as a
stop on the repeating action when the magazine is charged and attached to the
gun and also serves to indicate by its change of position during the use of the
magazine how many cartridges are left in the magazine.
10. The Z shaped magazine spring consisting of the spring-lever the spoon the
floor or bottom and the spoon-spring.
11. The contrivance or arrangement of the magazine so that the bottom can
when the magazine spring is compressed by the compressing lever be turned on a
hinge so that the loading-opening is uncovered and the magazine can be loaded
either with single cartridges or with a loaded-carton through this opening.
12. The two spring jaws on the upper edge of the magazine which prevent the
cartridges from springing out of the magazine before the time and at the same
time keep the uppermost cartridge in the magazine in the proper horizontal
position.
13. The locking-lever which secures the magazine floor or bottom to the magazine
box when closed. .
14. The arrangement of the magazine (as an alternative construction or variation)
by means of which it can be loaded directly from above through the opened
chamber.
15. The stop or check to the repeating action applied to this construction of the
magazine as described.
16. The construction of the breech bolt (as a variation) whereby the breech
action becomes angular instead of straight-pull the construction being similar to
the above save that the bolt is connected directly with the hand knob and has
no locking piece while it works by simply lifting and drawing back the handle,
the coverplate being fixed to the breech bolt-head instead of to the locking piece
as in the alternative arrangement.