AN IMPROVED REVOLVING MAGAZINE FIREARM to be as follows:-
Year: 1885

page_text: I, GEORGE SHEPHERD, of Ivybridge, in the County of Devon, Army Pensioner
do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "AN IMPROVED REVOLVING
MAGAZINE FIREARM to be as follows:-
"
This invention relates to rifled or other firearms, having a magazine containing a
certain number of cartridges, which cartridges are fired in succession when required,
without the necessity for reloading the magazine until all the cartridges have been
fired.
It has for its object a novel method of constructing such firearm so that when
required the cartridges contained in the magazine are fired in succession auto-
matically, a single pull of the trigger being sufficient to set the firing apparatus in
operation.
Assuming my invention to be applied to a firearm having a rifled barrel, I take.
such barrel having a sufficient number of rifled grooves of any of the ordinary
well known kinds, and I attach it firmly to a wooden or other stock by means of a
strong frame.
In this frame, between the breech end of the barrel and the stock I form a
chamber consisting of a strong horizontal cylinder, of a diameter proportioned to the
size and number of the cartridges to be used. This chamber has a strong flat.
bottom and is open above, having a depth inside somewhat greater than the.
diameter of the cartridges to be used. It is provided with a very strong central.
vertical pivot or spindle, firmly fixed into the bottom, and it has an opening in front
into which fits the breech end of the barrel. Inside the chamber is arranged a,
strong circular disc of metal, of a diameter somewhat less than that of the interior,
of the chamber, so that a space is left between them all round, and the disc is also
provided with a central opening through which the central pin already described:
passes, a space being also left between them all round.
Between the central pin and the front of the central opening in the disc one or
more radial arms are fitted and are provided with very strong helical or other
springs by which the disc is always pressed firmly up against the opening into the
breech end of the barrel already described.
The upper side of the disc is provided with a sufficient number of radial recesses
open at their outer ends, into which a corresponding number of cartridges are
placed, the recesses being in such position that as the disc is turned round each
cartridge in succession is brought in line with the barrel. The lower part of the
edge of the disc has formed upon it a number of ratchet shaped teeth corresponding
in number with the number of cartridges in the disc, and fixed to the front of the
inside of the chamber is a strong catch or tooth against which the teeth strike and
prevent the disc from rotating.

page_text: Round the central vertical pin already described is arranged a very strong coiled
spring, one end of which is connected to the pin and the other end to the disc, in
such manner that when coiled up its tendency in uncoiling is to cause the disc
with its contained cartridges to rotate, such rotation being prevented by the catch
against which one of the ratchet teeth presses.
These teeth are arranged so that whenever one of them is held by the catch the
corresponding cartridge is in line with the rifle barrels.
Supposing that in this position the cartridge is fired by any means, the recoil of
the explosion as soon as the bullet has entered the barrel drives back the disc with
its contained cartridges against the force of the radial springs between it and the
central pin, until the ratchet tooth is freed from the catch, and the spiral spring
instantly causes the disc to begin to revolve, the radial springs pressing it forward
until the next tooth comes in contact with the catch, another cartridge being
then in line with the barrel.
If this cartridge be then fired, the same movements are repeated, and so on as
long as any cartridges remain unfired in the disc. Between the points of any two
of the ratchet teeth an intermediate tooth is arranged which holds the disc until it
is required to fire the ritle, for which latter purpose a key or trigger is arranged in
the bottom of the chamber by turning or pulling which the disc is drawn back
until the tooth is free from the catch, and the firing process then commences as
already described.
The upper end of the chamber is closed by a strong moveable cover, preferably
circular and fitting over the central pin and held down by catches or in two parts
hinged at their outer edge and meeting at their centre round the vertical pin by
which they can be fastened or unfastened.
By means of this cover, the chambers in the disc are filled with cartridges, and
the empty cases of the latter after being fired are removed.
An adjustable friction screw or lever, pressing upon the upper or lower side of
the revolving disc, is arranged so that by its varying pressure the speed of the disc
when set in revolution can be retarded as desired. Close fitting lateral guides are
arranged in the chamber to ensure the backward and forward movement of the disc
in the proper direction, by the action of the recoil and of the springs as described.
The breech end of the barrel may be arranged so as to enter for a short distance
into the mouth of each recess in the disc as the recesses come in line with it.
It is evident that if the improved rifle be arranged and loaded with cartridges as
described, it is only necessary to ensure that each such cartridge shall be fired as
soon as it is in position opposite the barrel, and the firearm will then continue to
act automatically until the whole of the cartridges have been discharged.
For this purpose, I prefer to use special cartridges provided at the side which
is placed uppermost in the recess with a small quantity of ordinary detonating
composition capable of being readily ignited by friction and communicating with
the interior of the cartridge.
Above the disc, inside the cover, is adjusted a small roughened plate or projection
in such a position that at the moment when the cartridge reaches the proper
position opposite the barrel, the detonating composition is rubbed and ignited.
Or, percussion caps may be used struck by a hammer or striker which is raised by
the revolution of the disc, and is released and brought down by a spring at the
moment when the cartridge is in the proper position for firing.
The radial springs are preferably arranged so that their pressure can be adjusted
and regulated by screws or nuts, and the strong internal spiral spring is wound up
by turning the disc round the reverse way.
Sights are fixed upon the firearm in the usual way.

page_text: "
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
"
I, GEORGE SHEPHEARD, of Ivybridge in the County of Devon, Army Pensioner
do hereby declare the nature of my invention for AN IMPROVED REVOLVING
MAGAZINE FIREARM and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement and
accompanying Drawing (that is to say) :-
This invention relates to rifled or other firearms, having a magazine containing a
certain number of cartridges, which cartridges are fired in succession when required;
without the necessity for reloading the magazine until all the cartridges have been
fired.
It has for its object a novel method of constructing such firearm so that when
required the cartridges contained in the magazine are fired in succession auto-
matically, a single pull of the trigger being sufficient to set the firing apparatus in
operation.
The accompanying drawing is in illustration of my invention, figure 1 being a
plan in section of a firearm having six cartridge chambers, figure 2 a longitudinal
section of the same, figures 3 and 4 horizontal sections of the cartridge holder.
Figures 5 and 6 are horizontal sections shewing a somewhat modified arrangement,
and figure 7 illustrates the general appearance of the firearm.
Assuming my invention to be applied to a firearm having a rifled barrel, I take
such barrel (as shewn at a in figures 1 and 2) having a sufficient number of rifled
grooves of any of the ordinary well known kinds, and I attach it firmly to a wooden
or other stock 6 by means of a strong frame.
In this frame, between the breech end of the barrel a and the stock b I form a
chamber c consisting of a strong horizontal cylinder, of a diameter proportioned to
the size and number of the cartridges to be used. This chamber has a strong flat
bottom c¹ and is open above, having a depth inside somewhat greater than the
diameter of the cartridges to be used. It is provided with a very strong central
vertical pivot or spindle d, firmly fitted into the bottom c', and it has an opening in
front into which fits the breech end of the barrel a. Inside the chamber is arranged
a strong circular disc e of metal, of a diameter somewhat less than that of the
interior of the chamber, so that a space is left between them all round (or, as shewn
in the drawing, having such space left between them at the back only), and the
disc e is also provided with a central opening e¹ through which the central pin a
already described passes, a space being also left between them all round.
Between the central pin d and the front of the central opening e' in the disc e
one or more radial arms are fitted and are provided with very strong helical or
other springs ff, by which the disc e is always pressed firmly up against the
opening into the breech end of the barrel already described.
The upper side of the disc e is provided with a sufficient number (six being
shewn in the drawing) of radial recesses e, e², e²; open at their outer ends into which
à corresponding number of cartridges g. are placed, the recesses being in such
position, that as the disc é is turned round each cartridge in succession is brought in
line with the barrel a. The lower part of the edge of the disc e has formed upon

page_text: it a number of ratchet shaped teeth g (shewn in figures 3 and 4) corresponding in
number with the number of cartridges in the disc e, and fixed to the front of the
inside of the chamber is a strong catch or tooth h (figure 4) against which the
teeth g strike and prevent the disc e from rotating.
Round the central vertical pin d already described is arranged a very strong
coiled spring i, one end of which is connected to the pin d and the other end to the
disc e, in such manner that when coiled up its tendency in uncoiling is to cause
the disc e with its contained cartridges to rotate, such rotation being prevented by
the catch h against which one of the ratchet teeth g presses.
These teeth are arranged so that whenever one of them is held by the catch the
corresponding cartridge is in line with the rifle barrel a.
Supposing that in this position the cartridge is fired by any means, the recoil of
the explosion as soon as the bullet has entered the barrel drives back the disc e
with its contained cartridges against the force of the radial springs f, f, between it
and the central pin d, until the ratchet tooth is freed from the catch b, and the spiral
spring i instantly causes the disc e to begin to revolve, the radial springs f,f,
pressing it forward until the next tooth comes in contact with the catch h, another
cartridge being then in line with the barrel..
If this cartridge be then fired, the same movements are repeated, and so on as
long as any cartridges remain unfired in the disc e. Between the points of any
two of the ratchet teeth an intermediate tooth is arranged as shewn at g' figure 4
which holds the disc e until it is required to fire the rifle, for which latter purpose
a key or trigger may be arranged in the bottom of the chamber by turning or
pulling which the disc is drawn back until the tooth is free from the catch, and the
firing process then commences as already described. Or a trigger k may be used
by which the disc e is prevented from turning until the trigger is pulled.
The upper end of the chamber c is closed by a strong moveable cover / fitting
over the central pin d and held down by catches m or made in two parts hinged
at their outer edge and meeting at their centre round the vertical pin d by which
they can be fastened or unfastened.
By means of this cover, the chambers in the disc e are filled with cartridges, and
the empty cases of the latter after being fired are removed.
An adjustable friction screw n or lever, pressing upon the upper or lower side of
the revolving disc e, is arranged so that by its varying pressure the speed of the
disc when set in revolution can be retarded as desired. Close fitting lateral guides
are formed by the sides of the chamber at o, o, to ensure the backward and
forward movement of the disc e in the proper direction, by the action of the recoil
and of the springs as described.
I sometimes arrange a lever below the chamber, by pressing which forward the
cartridge disc is forced backward so that it revolves clear of the barrel.
The cartridges may be arranged so that they enter a short distance into the
bore of the barrel, the teeth and catch being of sufficient depth to keep the
cartridges free from the barrel until exactly opposite to the latter, when the disc is
forced forward by the springs as described, and the cartridge enters the barrel.
This method of arrangement is shewn in figures 5 and 6 in which a¹ is the
breech end of the barrel a, which enters into recesses e³, e³, e3, at the outer end of
the cartridge chambers e², e², e².
In this mode of arrangement, when the disc e is forced back by the recoil of the
explosion, it is free from the end a¹, and revolves close to the latter until the next
cartridge chamber comes opposite to the barrel. Notches g, 9, 9, are shewn, instead
of ratchet teeth, in the edge of the disc e.
It is evident that if the improved rifle be arranged and loaded with cartridges as
described, it is only necessary to ensure that each such cartridge shall be fired as
soon as it is in position opposite the barrel, and the firearm will then continue to
act automatically until the whole of the cartridges have been discharged.
For this purpose, I prefer to use special cartridges provided at the point p on the
side which is placed uppermost in the recess with a small quantity of ordinary

page_text: detonating composition capable of being readily ignited by friction and communicating
with the interior of the cartridge.
Above the disc, inside the cover, is adjusted a small roughened plate or projection,
shewn at r figure 2 in the form of a screw, in such a position that at the moment
when the cartridge reaches the proper position opposite the barrel, the detonating
composition is rubbed and ignited.
Or, percussion caps or detonators may be used struck by a hammer or striker
which is raised by the revolution of the disc, and is released and brought down by
a spring at the moment when the cartridge is in the proper position for firing.
The radial springs are preferably arranged so that their pressure can be adjusted
and regulated by screws or nuts.
Sights are fixed upon the firearm in the usual way.
The central spiral spring i may be wound up when necessary either by turning
the disc e round backward, or by turning the pin d itself by means of a suitable
key or handle, a ratchet wheel and pall of the ordinary well known kind being
provided to prevent the spring from uncoiling.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. The combination of the chamber c, disc e, pin d, springs f, and i, notches or
teeth g, and catch h, all arranged and operating substantially as and for the purposes
described and shewn.
2. In combination with the chamber c and disc e, the pressure regulating screw
or its equivalent n and the firing screw or its equivalent r, substantially as and for
the purposes described and shewn.
3. In the cartridge disc e, the recesses e³ at the outer end of the cartridge
chambers e², for the purpose of receiving the breech end of the barrel, substantially
as described and shewn.
4. The general arrangement of the entire firearm.