IMPROVEMENTS IN
Year: 1883

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Owen Jones at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th October 1883.
OWEN JONES of 8 Southampton Buildings London,
MAGAZINE RIFLES AND OTHER GUNS
"
•
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
My invention relates to magazine or repeating fire-arms and guns provided with
one or a number of barrels, and has for its primary object to construct a tire-arın
with the magazine in the stock, in such a manner that the bullet of one cartridge
is prevented from coming into contact with the cap of another cartridge in their
passage from the magazine to the breech, whereby an accidental explosion of a
cartridge or damage to the bullets or projectiles is obviatel; and in which the
feeding, loading, extracting and ejecting, and if desired the firing of the gun, are
performed by the to and fro motion of a slide.
My said invention comprises the novel construction combination and arrangement
of parts as hereinafter described.
According to my said invention the magazine is arranged in the stock of the
gun, and consists of a single chamber which is closed on the top of the stock by a
door or lid. The said magazine may also if desired be provided with grooves to
receive the flanges of the cartridges and hold them in position.
The mechanism for feeding the cartridges from the magazine to the breech is
arranged as follows, that is to say;-Upon the underside of the stock is a bar;
this bar preferably extends from the magazine of which it forms the bottom, to the
barrel. Below the magazine and upon its upper side this bar is recessed, the rear
end of the said recess being deep enough to receive about half the head of a
cartridge. From its rear end the bottom of the said recess gradually inclines
upwards and towards the upper surface of the said bar.
Immediately in front of the said recess is a slot, into which a cartridge falls as
it is drawn forwards by the conveyer hereinafter described. At the forward lower
side of the said slot is a semi-circular rest in the form of a tube which is adapted
to support the bullet end of a cartridge until it is pushed forwards towards the
ID 1011

page_text: barrel. The said tube extends forwards into a second slot formed in the said bar.
At the front end of this second slot is pivotted the cartridge elevator which
receives the cartridges from the cartridge conveyer and delivers the same to the
front of the breech block ready to be pushed into the barrel. Upon one side of
the slide is a plate, having attached to it a bevelled block which bears upon the
upper surface of the said bar and acts as a guide for the slide in its to and fro
movements. In the front portion of the said aide plate is a cam groove which acts
upon the breech block as hereinafter described.
To the bevelled block and extending rearwardly therefrom is attached a spring
blade which is slightly curved to couform somewhat to the contour of the
cartridges. In the under or concave surface at the free end of this spring
blade is a notch, adapted to engage with the flange of a cartridge. This spring
blade is fixed at such a height upon the said bevelled block that its free end is
nearly level with the adjacent surfaces of the two lowermost cartridges in the
magazine. As the said blade therefore is drawn back by the slide it passes between
two cartridges, until the notch in its concave surface engages with the flange of
the lowest cartridge in the magazine. As soon as this takes place the slide is
again moved forward, the blade drawing a cartridge with it up the inclined
surface of the recess in which it was resting until the said cartridge drops into the
first slot on to the upper surface of the slide.
The said blade instead of springing over the flange of a cartridge may be pivotted
to the bevelled block and caused to engage with the flange of a cartridge by a
positive movement imparted to it by suitable mechanism.
The part of the slide on which the cartridge drops is cut or formed in such a
manner as to enable it to pass over the said semi-circular rest and through the
tube, and the forward part of the said slide is shaped to correspond with the lower
side of the said rest. As the slide carrying the spring blade moves back, after a
cartridge has been dropped into the first slot, to enable the said blade to fetch
another cartridge, the first cartridge drops from the portion of the slide on which
it was resting, so that the projectile lies on the said rest and the other portion of
the cartridge on the front portion of the slide. On the next forward motion of
the said slide the cartridge is pushed by the portion of the slide which passes
through the said tube into the second slot containing the elevator, which is acted
upon by a spring or other suitable device to raise the same into proper position for
the breech block to push the cartridge lying therein into the barrel on the next
forward movement of the said block.
Upon the top of the aforesaid bar moves the breech block which is connected to
the said slide in such a manner that when the breech is open the breech block lies
at a slight angle thereto. One advantage of this arrangement is that when a
cartridge has been pushed into the barrel the upward movement of the breech
block to close the breech will force the cartridge right "home" the breech block
acting as a lever. Another advantage is that it is possible to have a firm bearing
surface at the rear end of the breech block to receive the recoil. The breech block
is guided by means of lugs moving in grooves, which lugs also serve as pivots
upon which the said block oscillates. At one side of the said breech block and near
its free end is a pin which moves in the said cam groove in the side plate.
The breech block when in its raised position fills the breech chamber, its rear
end bearing against a solid portion of the stock, so that the breech block will be
firmly supported against the force of an explosion when a cartridge is fired. The
breech block is raised and held in this position by means of the aforesaid cain
groove in the plate and the bevelled block attached thereto. Instead of the said
cam groove and bevelled block, links or levers may be used for raising or lowering
the said block.
The cartridges are pushed into the barrel by the breech block; when the
cartridge is driven "home" or nearly so as the bevelled block continues to move
forward the inclined surface thereof bears upon the rear lower edge of the breech
block and raises the same. The bevelled block, after the breech block is completely

page_text: raised, moves forward for a short distance below the said breech block, whereby
any possibility of the latter moving during firing is obviated. The breech block
is drawn down after the gun is fired, by means of the cam groove acting on the
said pin on the side of the said breech block.
A firing pin passes through the breech block and is so arranged that an
accidental discharge of the gun thereby cannot take place. For this purpose the
said solid part of the stock, against which the breech block bears when closed,
carries a striking pin acted upon by the main spring, which is released by a trigger
arranged in any suitable position. The firing pin in the breech block is adapted
to be acted upon by the striking pin and the main spring. Only when the breech
is closed, should the main spring by any chance be released before the breech block
reaches its closed position no explosion would take place as the pin acted upon
directly by the main spring will not strike against the firing pin in the breech
block.
The gun is cocked by means of the bevelled block or breech block acting upon a
projection (extending through a slot in the bottom of the space in which the main
spring is located) in connection with the main spring; the trigger also may be
released, to fire the gun automatically, by the said bevelled block, or other suitable
device
The cartridges are preferably extracted by means of an extractor arranged in a.
similar manner to that of a "Martini-Henry "rifle. The said extractor may be
connected with the slide in any suitable manner in order to be operated thereby.
Instead of pivotting the cartridge elevator to the front end of the bar as
herein before described, it may be pivotted at the rear end of the said second slot
in which case the free end of the said elevator might be caused to operate the
extractor.
In order to eject the cartridges from the gun after they have been extracted I
arrange in the side of the breech chamber a door, this door is adapted to be opened
just before the slide reaches its extreme rearward position and the extractor is
caused to operate. The cartridge when extracted lies at the outside of the said
door; as soon as the slide is moved forward the said door is closed, whereby the
cartridge is pushed by it from the gun. This door may be hinged at either the
top, bottom or rear end, it only being necessary that the cartridge shall lie at its
outer side as it is withdrawn.
Instead of the arrangement herein before described for conveying the cartridges
from the magazine, I may use an endless band of suitable material, or a chain, the
said band or chain being provided with openings preferably corresponding in shape
to the longitudinal section of the cartridges.
I may arrange in combination with the mechanism for conveying the cartridges
from the magazine to the barrel a wheel provided with grooves adapated to receive
the cartridges from the cartridge conveyer and present the same to the barrel.
The said wheel may also be utilized for ejecting the empty shells after they have
been extracted.
I sometimes modify the construction of the magazine so that I can arrange
more than one column of cartridges therein. In this case each column of cartridges
may be in a separate chamber, or when two rows are used the cartridges may be
arranged in a single chamber, the said chamber having a width of about one and a
half times the diameter of a cartridge so that each cartridge is supported partially
by the one below it and partially by the wall of the magazine.
The lid of the magazine is hinged to the top edge of the magazine chamber,
and upon its inner side is secured a spring (or where several chambers are used a
spring may be arranged for each one thereof) in such a manner that when the lid
is thrown back the said spring or springs will be removed from the top of the
magazine, whereby the latter may be easily charged.
The said spring or springs serve the purpose of pressing upon the cartridges,
thereby preventing the displacement of the same and ensuring the proper downward
movement thereof.

page_text: The cartridges may be inserted into the magazine directly from the cardboard
coyers in which they are packed, it being found that a person using the gun can
charge the same almost as quickly in this manner as he can insert a single cartridge
into the breech.
The improved gun may however with suitable modifications be used as an
ordinary breech loader.
The springs on the lid of the magazine may be arranged in such a manner as,
when the magazine is empty, to release the catch of the lid, whereby the latter
will be thrown back, thus indicating that a fresh charge of cartridges is required.
I may however arrange any other suitable device for this purpose.
Parts of the mechanisu herein before described may be used to operate the
breech blocks hinged as in the "Martini-Henry" rifle, or hinged to work
transversely of the breech; or a vertically or transversely sliding block.
Although I prefer to use the mechanism herein before described in combination
with a magazine in the stock, yet I may, if desired, use the said mechanism in
combination with a detachable magazine.
It is obvious that many of the improvements above described may be applied to
machine-guns
I do not limit myself to, the precise construction hereinbefore described as I
may vary the details of the same without departing from the nature of my
invention.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Owen Jones in the Patent Office on the 17th April 1884.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
OWEN JONES, of 8 Southampton Buildings, London,
MAGAZINE RIFLES AND OTHER GUNS
"
My invention relates to magazine or repeating fire-arms having one or more
barrels, and its primary object is the construction of a fire-arm with the magazine
in the stock and with the transferring mechanism so arranged that the bullet of
one cartridge is prevented from coining into contact with the cap of another
cartridge, in the passage of the cartridges from the magazine to the breech;
therefore the accidental explosion of a cartridge will be impossible. Moreover the
feeding, loading, extracting and ejecting, and, if desired, the firing of the gun are
all performed by means of one piece which I term a slide and to which a to-and-
fro motion is imparted by the hand which, in using the gun, is nearest the shoulder,
as hereinafter set forth.
My said invention comprises the novel construction, combination and arrangement
of parts as hereinafter set forth with reference to the accompanying drawings,
which I will now proceed to describe.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section illustrating the application or adaptation of
my improvements to a rifle with a magazine in the stock, and showing the parts
in the position which they occupy immediately after the rifle is fired.
Figure 2 is a similar section, showing the parts in the position which they occupy
immediately after the extraction of a cartridge-shell from the barrel.
Figures 3, 4 and 5 shew a plan, side view and end view of the breech-block.
Figures 6 and 7 shew a front view and top view of the extractor.
Figures 8 to 16a shew other details of the said fire-arm.
Figure 17 is a longitudinal section shewing the adaptation of my improvements
to a fire-arm with a magazine at one side of the breech.
Figures 18 and 19 are a longitudinal section and a plan illustrating a modification
of parts of my invention.
•
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
A is the stock and B the barrel.
When the magazine is arranged in the stock of the gun I prefer that it should
consist of a single chamber a which is closed on the top of the stock by a door or
lid a. The said magazine may, if desired, be provided with grooves at its rear
end to receive and guide the flanges of the cartridges.
The mechanism for feeding or transferring the cartridges from the magazine to
the breech is arranged as follows, that is to say:-In the under side of the stock A
is fixed a guide-bar b, this bar preferably extends from the magazine a (of which
it forms the bottom) to the barrel B. The said bar has a recess or cavity c at its
upper side to receive the lowermost cartridge in the magazine, the rear end c¹ of
the said recess being deeper than the front end, so that the cartridge therein lies in
the position shewn in Figure 1.
In front of the said recess, a slot or aperture d is formed in the bar b, into which
slot each cartridge falls as it is drawn forward by the operating slide or cartridge-
conveyer e hereinafter described. This slide is provided with a handle or device e*
to be grasped by the hand. At the forward lower side of the said slot d, the bar b
is provided with a rest or support ƒ partly semi-circular and partly tubular. Its
semi-circular portion f¹ is adapted to support the ballet end of a cartridge as it
lies in the slot d as shewn in Figure 2. The said tubular portion extends forward
as far as the slot g formed in the said guide bar. At the front end of this slot g is

page_text: pivoted the cartridge-elevator h (shewn detached in Figures 8, 9 and 10) which
receives the cartridges from the aforesaid cartridge-conveyer and lifts the same in
front of the breech-block i, ready to be pushed thereby into the barrel as hereinafter
described. The bar b is slotted as shewn at b¹ to permit the movement of the
extractor hereinafter described. In some cases I dispense with the rest or support f
and use a second inclined groove or recess.
Upon one side of the part e' of the slide or cartridge-conveyer is a plate e³ having
attached to it an inclined or bevelled block e. This block bears upon the upper
surface of the guide-bar b and serves to guide the said cartridge-conveyer in its
to-and-fro movements. If desired a plate similar to the plate e' may be used on
each side of the slide e and block e. In the front portion of the plate e' is a
cam-groove e which acts upon the breech-block i as hereinafter described.
A spring blade jis attached to the bevelled block e³ and extends rearwardly
therefrom. This spring blade is slightly curved transversely to conform somewhat
to the contour of the cartridges. The said blade is preferably bevelled at its free
end to form a fine edge as shown at 1, so that, in its rearward movement, it will
pass freely between the lowest cartridge and the cartridge adjacent thereto in the
magazine; and it has a hook or shoulder at j adapted to engage with the flange
of the lowest cartridge and draw the same out of the magazine as the cartridge-
conveyer moves forward. This spring blade is fixed to the block in such a
position that its free end is level, or nearly so, with the upper surface of the
bottom cartridge in the magazine. As the said blade, therefore, is moved backward,
it passes as above stated between the bottom and the next adjacent cartridge until
the said shoulder engages with the flange of the lowest cartridge. Then the said
blade moving forward draws the said cartridge up the inclined surface of the
recess c on which it rests, until the said cartridge drops into the slot or aperture d
and upon the upper surface of the slide or cartridge-conveyer e The blade jis,
moreover, so arranged that it extends as far as the forward end of the magazine
when the slide e is in its foremost position and will, therefore, prevent the moving
forward of the cartridges left in the magazine.
The said blade instead of being arranged to spring over the flange of a cartridge
may be pivotted to the block e and caused to engage with the flange of a cartridge
by a positive movement imparted to it by suitable mechanism.
The part of the slide e on which the cartridge drops is cut or formed with a
portion capable of passing over the said semi-circular part f¹ of the rest f and
through the tubular portion thereof, and the forward lower part of the said slide e
is curved transversely to correspond with, and fit, the under side of the said rest.
As the slide e and spring blade ; move backward (after a cartridge has been
dropped into the first slot d) to enable the said blade to engage with another
cartridge in the magazine, the first cartridge drops from the portion of the slide e
on which it was resting, so that the projectile rests on the support fand the other
portion of the cartridge lies on the front portion of the slide e as shewn in Figure 2.
On the next forward motion of the cartridge conveyer or slide e the cartridge is
pushed by the portion e* of the said slide into the elevator h in the slot g. The
pusher or part e³ is made in the form of a tongue springing or projecting from the
solid metal of the slide e so that the lower part of the rest f will, when the slide e
is in its foremost position, lie between the said tongue and the lower part of the
said slide.
This elevator may be acted upon by a spring or other suitable device to raise the
same into the proper position for the breech-block to push the cartridge lying
therein into the barrel, on the next forward movement of the said block; but I
prefer to give it a positive motion by the means hereinafter described.
The breech-block i is connected to the cartridge-conveyer e and is arranged in
such a manner that, when the breech is open, the breech-block rests upon the top
of the guide-bar b at a slight angle to the axis of the barrel. The said breech-
block is guided by means of the lugs or pins i¹ which fit into, and are capable of
moving to and fro in, the grooves is formed in the breech shoe or body. These

page_text: lugs or pins also serve as pivots upon which the breech-block oscillates. At one
side of the said breech-block, and near its free end, is a pin which moves in the
cam-groove e' in the plate e*. When the pins arrive at the forward ends of the
grooves is, the further forward movement of the slide or cartridge-conveyer e causes
the cam-groove e to act upon the pin so as to raise the breech-block to close the
breech and lock the said breech-block in position by pushing the block e³ beneath
the same and by bringing the pin into the horizontal portion of the slot e*.
The breech-block, when in its raised position, fits the breech-chamber
longitudinally, its rear end bearing against a solid portion of the breech shoe or
body, so that the breech-block will be firmly supported against the force of the
explosion of a cartridge. One advantage of this arrangement is that when a
cartridge has been pushed into the barrel, the upward movement of the breech-
block to close the breech will force the cartridge right "home," the breech-block
acting as a lever. Another advantage is that a firm bearing surface can be
provided at the rear end of the breech-block to receive the recoil.
Instead of the said cam-groove e and bevelled block e³, one or more links may
be used for raising and lowering the breech-block, which links may be pivotted
to the breech-block and to the block e either at the centre or at one or both
sides.
When a cartridge is pushed into the barrel by the breech-block i, as the bevelled
block e continues to move forward, the inclined surface thereof bears upon the rear
lower end of the breech-block and assists in raising the said breech-block. The
bevelled-block, after the breech-block is completely raised, moves forward a
short distance, below the said breech-block, and thus prevents any downward
movement of the latter during firing. The breech-block is drawn down after the
gun is fired, by the cam-groove e acting on the pin on the side of the breech-
block i, or by the said link or links. k is the extractor which is hereinafter
described.
l
A firing pin passes through the breech-block i and is so arranged that the gun
can only be fired thereby when the breech is closed. For this purpose a striking
pin or hammer m is carried in the stock A and the said solid part of the breech
shoe or body against which the breech-block bears when the breech is closed.
This striker or hammer is acted upon by the main spring n and can be kept cocked
or be released by a trigger o arranged as shown. The firing pin is arranged to
be acted upon by the striking pin or hammer m and main spring n only when the
breech is closed, and, should the main spring by any chance be released before the
breech-block reaches its closed position, no explosion will take place, as the
striking pin or hammer m will not strike the firing pin.
The gun is cocked by the bevelled block e³ (or by the breech-block) acting upon
a projection m¹ on the striking pin or hammer, which projection extends through
a slot n' at the bottom of the space in which the main spring is located. The
striking pin or hammer being at an angle to the path of the block e, the projection
m² rises during the rearward movement of the striking pin, until the trigger o
(which is acted upon by a spring o¹) has engaged with the projection or shoulder m
on the said striking pin. By this time the projection m¹ has moved up out of the
path of the block e. The trigger may, if desired, be arranged to be released by
the said bevelled block or other suitable device to fire the gun automatically.
The cartridges are preferably extracted by means of an extractor arranged in a
similar manner to that of a Martini-Henry rifle. The said extractor may be
connected with the slide in any suitable manner so as to be operated thereby ; but
I prefer to arrange it as follows, that is to say:-The extractor k is pivotted at
the lower forward end of the breech shoe or body, in a similar manner to that of a
Martini-Henry rifle, and is arranged to be actuated by a lever p. This lever is
pivotted to the breech shoe or body and its short arm extends downward into the
path of an inclined projection 9 on the breech-block i. When the said projection
acts upon the short arm of the said lever, its long arm strikes the short arm of the
extractor and turns the same on its pivot as shown in Figure 2.
j

page_text: In some cases. I provide the following means for causing a positive movement
of the cartridge-elevator h, that is to say:-The said elevator is made with an
inclined face h¹ which is arranged to be acted upon by the forward end of the
projection g to depress the elevator. The said elevator also has two projections or
teeth arranged to be acted upon by the pins or studs on the extractor k to
raise the elevator h.
When the gun is to be used as a single loader, the plate on the under side of
the stock is turned on its pivot so as to limit the backward movement of the
cartridge-conveyer e and cause the same to be inactive as regards the feeding of
the cartridges from the magazine, and, when the said plate is thus turned, the
short arm of the lever p will not be acted upon by the surface q¹ of the projection q
and will, therefore, not depress the extractor k sufficiently to raise the elevator h.
By these means the gun may, if desired, be used as a single loader, while the
magazine is full of cartridges.
Instead of pivotting the cartridge-elevator to the front end of the guide-bar bas
herein before described, it may be pivotted at the rear end of the slot g in which
case the free end of the said elevator might be caused to operate the extractor.
In order to eject the cartridge-cases from the gun after they have been extracted,
I arrange in the top (or side) of the breech-chamber a door 8, this door is arranged
to be opened just before the cartridge-conveyer reaches its extreme rearward
position and the extractor k is caused to operate. The cartridge-case when
extracted is either thrown out of the gun or it lies at the outside of the said door
and as soon as the breech-block is moved forward it closes the said door and thus
ejects the said cartridge-case from the gun.
It will be readily understood by referring to Figures 1 and 2 that the cartridges,
as they are fed from the magazine to the breech, are always out of alignment with
each other and are, moreover, kept out of contact with each other, therefore one
cartridge cannot be exploded by impact of the succeeding cartridge; I thus obviate
or remove an element of danger in repeating fire-arms as ordinarily constructed
with a magazine in the stock.
Instead of the arrangement hereinbefore described for conveying the cartridges
from the magazine, I may use an endless band t of suitable material, as shewn in
Figures 18 and 19, or a chain. This band or chain is provided with openings,
preferably corresponding in shape with the longitudinal section of the cartridges,
and is passed around rollers u, one of which is grooved as shewn in Figure 19 to
permit the cartridges to pass over the same in their forward movement. The said
band or chain is, moreover, formed with slots t¹ into which the hook venters.
This hook is pivoted to the block e³ and acted upon by a spring v¹, so that the
band or chain will be moved forward with the said block. The cartridges rest
upon a support or guide u¹ arranged between the two portions of the belt or chain
and fixed to the sides of the guide-bar b*.
I may arrange, in combination with the mechanism for conveying the cartridges
from the magazine to the barrel, a wheel provided with grooves adapted to receive
the cartridges from the cartridge-conveyer and present the same to the barrel.
The said wheel may also be utilized for ejecting the empty shells after they have
been extracted.
I sometimes modify the construction of the magazine so that I can arrange more
than one column of cartridges therein. In this case each column of cartridges may
be in a separate chamber, or, when two rows are used, the cartridges may be
arranged in a single chamber, the said chamber having a width of about one and a
half times the diameter of a cartridge so that each cartridge is supported partially
by the one below and partially by the wall of the magazine.
The lid a¹ of the magazine is hinged to the magazine-chamber a, and upon its
inner side is secured a spring a² (or where several chambers are used a spring may
be arranged for each one thereof) in such a manner that, when the lid a¹ is opened,
the said spring or springs will be moved away from the top of the magazine so
that the latter may be easily charged.

page_text: The said spring or springs serve the purpose of pressing upon the cartridges and
thereby preventing the displacement of the same and ensuring their proper
downward movement.
The cartridges may be inserted into the magazine directly from cardboard or
paper covers or cases in which they may be packed.
The springs on the lid of the magazine may, if desired, be arranged in such a
manner that when the magazine is empty they will release the catch of the lid,
and the latter will be thrown back, thus indicating that a fresh charge of cartridges
is required. I may, however, arrange any other suitable device for this purpose.
The slide mechanism herein before described may be used to operate breech-blocks
binged as in the Martini-Henry rifle or hinged to work transversely of the breech,
or a vertically or transversely sliding block.
Although I prefer to use the mechanism hereinbefore described in combination
with a magazine in the stock, yet I may, if desired, use the said mechanism,
without the cartridge-conveyer and with or without the elevator, in combination
with a detachable magazine.
In Figure 17 I have shewn a fire-arm with a detachable magazine x at the side
of the breech body or shoe. In this fire-arm the block is connected to the
breech-block by a central link y. The cartridges pass from the magazine
through a slot or aperture in the side of the breech-shoe or body and are pushed
into the barrel by the breech-block which is operated by the handle or device ** ;
and the empty cartridge cases are extracted in a similar manner to that described
with reference to Figures 1 and 2. I sometimes form a recess or cavity in the
stock A to receive the magazine a when detached from the breech shoe or body,
It is obvious that some of the improvements above described may be applied to
machine guns; for example the breech-block arranged to slide forward and then
upward to close the breech.
I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein before described as
I may vary the details of the same without departing from the nature of my
invention.
Having thus fully described my said invention and the manner of performing
the same I wish it understood that I claim :-
First A magazine or repeating fire-arm so constructed that the several opera-
tions of loading, cocking and extracting are performed by the to and fro movement
of a slide or sliding piece arranged behind the barrel in such a position that in
using the gun the said piece is operated by the hand nearest the shoulder without
any lateral, rotary or angular movement.
Second-The guide-bar b arranged upon, or secured to, the gun substantially as
described and having in it suitable slots and inclines or inclined grooves (with or
without the tubular rest and guide) for holding, and ensuring the proper movement
of, the cartridges in their passage from the magazine to the barrel, as, and for the
purpose, specified.
Third The cartridge-conveyor or slide e adapted to move on the guide-bar b
and having the piece or tongue e for holding and moving the cartridges and a
suitable handle or device to be grasped by the hand, substantially as, and for the
purpose, set forth.
:-
Fourth A breech-block pivotted at the lower part of its front or barrel end
and adapted to be moved up and down at its rear or free end by the movement of
the inclined block and the link or links or by the inclined block and the cam-
groove or by equivalent mechanism and having an inclined or convex surface at its
rear end, which, when the said breech-block is raised, abuts against an inclined or
concave surface formed on the body or shoe of the gun.
Fifth The block e³ having its forward end inclined or curved and attached to
the cartridge-conveyor or to the operating handle, substantially as, and for the
purpose, set forth :-
Sixth-The arrangement of the block e³ in combination with the breech-block

page_text: to operate in such a manner that the latter will be securely locked or held in place
whilst the gun is being fired.
Seventh-A breech-block pivotted at its front or barrel end and adapted to be
raised and lowered at its rear end and to be moved to and fro in a path at the
back of, and inclining downwards from, the breech end of the barrel, substantially
as set forth.
:
Eighth The handle arranged to move to and fro in a straight path and to be
so moved by the hand nearest the shoulder and capable of imparting the necessary
movements to a breech-block working as herein described or to a breech-block
hinged and moving as in the Martini-Henry rifle or hinged and moving transversely
across the breech or moving vertically or transversely at the back of the breech-end
of the barrel.
Ninth A spring or pivotted blade attached to the inclined block and adapted
to convey or transfer the lowermost cartridge from the magazine in the stock to
the slot d in the guide-bar and to prevent the moving forward of the cartridges
left in the magazine, and, when the gun is used as a single loader, to work to aud
fro without taking a cartridge from the magazine.
Tenth-A cartridge-magazine in the butt or stock of a gun, having a lid or
door to which is attached a spring adapted to press on the cartridges to ensure
their downward movement, which spring, when the door is opened for the insertion
of cartridges, leaves the way clear and which is again compressed by closing the
door and thereby brought into action, as, and for the purpose, specified.
Eleventh The lever p arranged in combination with the extractor and the
cartridge-elevator, so that it will operate the same when actuated by the breech-
block, as above set forth.
Twelfth: The striker or hammer arranged in combination with the firing pin
as shown and adapted to be cocked by the backward movement of the inclined
block or the breech-block, substantially as described.
Thirteenth-In a magazine fire-arm, the employment of an endless belt or chain
for carrying the cartridges from the magazine to the rear end of the barrel or to
an elevating or equivalent device, which belt or chain is provided with slots or
apertures and arranged in combination with rollers one of which is grooved as
shown, and with a guide or support so that the cartridges which fall into the said
slots will move forward over the said guide or support and the grooved roller,
substantially as set forth.
Fourteenth-A magazine or repeating fire-arm consisting of the parts con-
structed and combined substantially as described with reference to either of the
forms or modifications shewn in the accompanying drawings, and operating as
above specified.
In witness whereof I the said Owen Jones have hereunto set my hand and
seal this seventeenth day of April in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty four.