Improvements in Revolvers, Magazine Pistols, and other Small-arms.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Aug., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 16th May, 1896-Accepted, 4th July, 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Revolvers, Magazine Pistols, and other
Small-arms.
I, GEORGE VINCENT FOSBERY, of 279 Vauxhall Bridge Road, in the County
of Middlesex, Colonel V.C. do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates more particularly to revolvers although it is also applicable
to magazine pistols and other small-arms.
According to my invention the revolving chamber, the barrel and the whole of
the firing mechanism excepting the trigger, trigger-guard and trigger spring, are
80 mounted upon the handle or stock of the revolver that on discharge they all
recoil and slide together on the said handle or stock and re-cock the hammer.
These recoiling or sliding parts, hereinafter referred to collectively as the sliding
portion of the fire-arm, are returned to their normal position by a spiral spring.
In carrying out my invention the handle or stock is formed with suitable guides
and sliding surfaces on which the aforesaid sliding portion moves. The before
mentioned spiral spring is arranged in such a manner that one end thereof bears
against the sliding portion and the other end against the stock, so that when the
sliding portion recoils the spiral spring becomes compressed and by its reaction
returns the parts to their firing position. The hammer is fitted onto a rotary axle
one end of which is prolonged to receive an arm or crank having an anti-friction
roller at its free end. Prior to recoil and before the hammer is re-cocked the
free end of this arm or crank lies immediately in front of a projection with
which the handle or stock is provided, so that when the discharge takes place
the free end of the said arnt or crank is pressed against the said projection by the
recoil, and the axle thereby partially revolved and the hammer set to full cock.
The trigger does not act directly upon the hammer but upon a spring controlled
sear that is pivoted to the sliding portion of the fire-arm and is interposed between
the leaf of the trigger and the hammer. The aforesaid sliding portion is formed
with an incline or stop which is so arranged that during the recoil and the return
movement of the sliding portion of the fire-arm it comes between the leaf of the
trigger and the said sear and thereby effectually prevents the trigger from being
pulled until the parts have resumed their firing positions.
When applying my invention to a magazine pistol the entire breech mechanism
is mounted on a plate or frame connected with the barrel, and the said plate and
barrel slide on suitable guide surfaces formed on the handle or stock in an analogous
manner to that already stated with respect to the revolver.
Dated this 16th day of August 1895.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Revolvers, Magazine Pistols, and other
Small-arms.
I, GEORGE VINCENT FOSBERY, of 279 Vauxhall Bridge Road, in the County
of Middlesex, Colonel V.C. 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 more particularly to that class of magazine pistols in
which the cartridges are contained in a revolving chambered cylinder which is
caused to successively bring the said cartridges in alignment with the barrel by the
actuation of the hammer. It is the chief object of the present invention to so
construct magazine pistols of this description that the discharge of one cartridge
will automatically cause the hammer to be cocked and a fresh cartridge to be
brought into position for firing, so that instead of the user having to exert a strong
pull on the trigger for effecting the movement of the entire mechanism as
heretofore, the pull on the trigger is merely required to release the hammer and
fire a cartridge.
According to my invention the revolving chambered cylinder, the barrel and the
whole of the breech mechanism, excepting the trigger, are so mounted on the
handle or stock of the pistol that on discharge they all recoil and slide together on
the said stock and re-cock the hammer by bringing a projection thereon against a
fixed piece firmly attached to some appropriate part of the stock. These
recoiling or sliding parts (hereinafter referred to collectively as the sliding
portion of the pistol) are returned to their normal position by the re-action of a
spring.
In order that my said invention may be more clearly understood and readily
carried into effect I will proceed to describe the same more fully with reference to
the accompanying drawings, in which
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a pistol constructed in accordance with my
invention and with a portion of the stock removed. In this view the sliding portion
is shewn in its forward position.
Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the said pistol but with the parts
in the position they occupy at the completion of the recoil movement of the
sliding portion.
Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view shewing the trigger and parts in
immediate proximity thereto in the position they occupy when the pistol is ready
for firing.
Figure 4 is a similar view shewing the parts in another position.
Figure 5 is a detail sectional view of a part hereinafter referred to.
For this
A is the revolving cylinder or magazine; B the barrel; C the hammer and
C' the main-spring, all of which parts are carried on a movable portion D that is
capable of sliding to and fro on the part Ex of the handle or stock E.
purpose the sliding portion is provided with a longitudinal dovetail recess D' into
which fits a correspondingly shaped fin or dovetail E on the portion Ex of the
stock. A longitudinal cavity is formed in 'each of these parts D' and E' for the
reception of the spiral spring F which bears at one end against a projection D³ on
the sliding portion D and at the other end against a projection E' on the portion Ex.
The rear part of the sliding portion D is furnished with a guide D' formed with
longitudinal slots through which guide pins D* carried by the stock E project.
As is usual with pistols of the "revolver" type the revolving cylinder A is
provided with a ratchet wheel A' with which a driving pawl G engages for turning
the said cylinder to bring a cartridge into firing position when a locking lever

page_text: or stop H is disengaged by the hammer as the latter commences its cocking
movement.
The hammer is fitted on a rotary axle cone end of which is prolonged to
receive an arm or lever c (Figure 1) whose free end normally lies adjacent to a
fixed stud or projection c³ carried by the stock and furnished with an anti-friction
roller c.
Each time the pistol is fired the shock of discharge causes the sliding portion D
to recoil on the stock and bring the arm or lever c against the aforesaid fixed
projection; this arm c¹ is therefore caused to turn the axle c whereby the hammer
is automatically cocked and operates in the ordinary manner the various parts of
the mechanism for bringing a fresh cartridge into firing position.
In order to prevent the firing of all of the cartridges in the cylinder in rapid
succession when the trigger is once pulled I so arrange the firing sear I relatively
to the trigger J that the latter cannot act upon the sear to release the hammer,
unless a resilient or spring stop K (see Figure 5) occupies a position between the
leaf on the trigger and the tail i of the sear as shewn in Figure 3. The afore-
said spring stop K is slotted at k (Fig. 5) and is held in place by a pin kl passing
through the slot so that the said stop although held securely in its place can
participate in both a vertical and a longitudinal movement.
When the hammer is cocked and the pistol ready for firing the aforesaid stop K
will occupy the position represented in Figure 3 and consequently if the trigger
be now pulled the stop will be raised and cause the sear I to release the hammer
and fire a cartridge. The sliding portion of the pistol will then recoil, fully
cocking the hammer as already stated, and will afterwards return to its firing
position under the action of the spring F. But if the trigger has not been
previously released by the operator, that is to say if it still occupies the position
represented in Figure 4, the stop K will collide with the shoulder of the leaf
of the trigger and will thereby be forced longitudinally into its recess, so as to
be incapable of coming between the trigger and the sear I (Figure 4); the trigger
cannot therefore reach the sear to operate it and consequently the pistol cannot be
discharged. Immediately however the trigger is released, the shoulder j¹ moves
out of the path of the stop K. and allows the latter to move forward under the
influence of its spring and to assume a position above the trigger as represented
in Figure 3. The pistol can therefore he fired when the trigger is next pulled.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I would state that I do
not claim broadly a small-arm in which the force of recoil is utilized for bringing
the parts into position for another discharge, but what I do claim is :-
1. In a magazine fire-arm of the class herein specified, the barrel and breech
mechanism arranged substantially as described to recoil on the stock after each
discharge and bring an arm or projection forming part of the hammer against a
fixed projection on the stock, whereby the hammer is cocked and the pistol prepared
for another discharge.
2. A device consisting of the combination with the trigger and the firing sear
of a piece arranged to enter between the said trigger and sear when the trigger
is released but otherwise incapable of assuming this position, for the purpose
specified.
3. A magazine or revolver fire-arm substantially as described with reference to
the accompanying drawings.
accompanying drawings.
■ Dated this 18th day of May 1896.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
Daten Gold 1 day of May To
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.