IMPROVEMENTS IN MAGAZINE AND OTHER FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, &
"
Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
IMPROVEMENTS IN MAGAZINE AND OTHER FIRE-ARMS." A communication
from abroad by James P. Lee, of Ilion, New York, United States of America.
Sealed the 2nd December 1879, in pursuance of an Order of the Lord Chancellor,
and dated the 6th May 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th May 1879.
"
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. IMPROVEMENTS IN MAGAZINE AND OTHER FIRE-
ARMS." [A communication from abroad by James P. Lee, of Ilion, New York,
United States of America.]
These improvements, which embrace some features applicable to other fire-arms,
especially relate to a certain class of magazine guns, into which cartridges are
successively delivered into the receiver through a slot in the bottom or wall thereof
by a sidewise movement from a magazine detachably affixed to the gun and holding
a number of cartridges placed sidewise one upon another; and the said Invention
consists, first, in the combination with the magazine of a spring-catch, which serves
to secure the magazine to the gun immediately in front of the trigger-guard, and
which may be withdrawn to release the magazine and permit it to be thrown out
or to be removed from its seat in or upon the bottom of the receiver.
The second feature of my Invention consists in making the magazine deeper in
the rear than in front for the purpose of permitting such inclination in the position
of the cartridges that the flange of each superposed cartridge will bear upon the
body of the cartridge immediately beneath it.
Thirdly. I so construct the magazine that the outermost cartridge may be pushed
slightly forward, so that its point will enter a hemispherical cavity at the upper
end of the front wall of the magazine; and its base will abut against the ends of
two flanges projecting inwardly and upwardly from the rear portions of the opposite
side walls of the magazine, and will be partially embraced by narrower flanges im-
mediately in front of the wider flanges, against the ends of which the base of the
cartridge abuts. When occupying this position, in which it is maintained by the

page_text: upward thrust of the ejecting spring in the bottom of the magazine, the outermost
cartridge serves as a guard, which prevents the escape of cartridges from the
magazine; and the magazine filled with cartridges is hence adapted for safe and
convenient handling and transportation when detached from the gun.
The fourth feature of the said Invention consists in so combining a magazine, a
substantially such as herein described, with a bolt that the forward movement of
the bolt completes the disengagement of the outermost cartridge from the magazine
and thrusts it forward into the chamber, the operation being substantially as
follows: The under surface of the bolt depresses the base of the cartridge below
tbe under surface of the rear flanges, hence as the bolt is withdrawn the thrust of 1
the ejecting spring in the bottom of the magazine tilts the forward end of the
cartridge upward, the base of the cartridge being free to slide under the wider
flange in obedience to the backward movement resulting from the riding of the
point of the cartridge against the inwardly inclined upper portion of the cavity in
which it has been resting. When the bolt has been fully withdrawn the ejecting 1
spring pushes the base of the cartridge upward between the wider flanges and
When therefore
brings its upper portion into the path of movement of the bolt.
the bolt is pushed forward its forward end strikes against the upper part of the
base of the cartridge, which then occupies an inclined position with its point
As the bolt moves 2
bearing against the overhanging upper wall of the chamber.
forward the point of the cartridge enters the chamber, and its base as soon as it
has been pushed beyond the flanges at the rear end of the magazine is pressed
upward by the ejecting spring against the upper end of the curved wall of the
receiver on one side, and on the other side against an extractor which is secured to
and projects forward from the end of the bolt. The continued forward movement
of the bolt drives the cartridge into the chamber.
The fifth part of the said Invention consists in so modifying the construction of
the magazine that it enters into a different combination with the bolt, whereby by
the backward movement of the bolt the outermost cartridge is entirely released
from the magazine, and is permitted to be thrust bodily into the receiver in front
of the bolt by the action of the ejecting spring in the bottom of the magazine. In
this case the flanges in the rear end of the magazine for holding the base of the
cartridge down may be omitted, and the retention of the cartridges in the magazine
when detached from the gun may be provided for by forming a portion or portions
of the walls of the magazine into an inwardly curved spring tongue or tongues, a
which by partially embracing the outermost cartridge hold it down and prevent it
from being thrown out of the magazine by the ejecting spring. The tongue or
tongues are each provided with a backwardly inclined lip, which when the magazine
is inserted in the gun is engaged by a suitably inclined stationary guide, by the
action of which the tongues are sprung outward, so that they no longer act as
retaining devices for the cartridges in the magazine. The outermost cartridge is
therefore pressed bodily upward against the under surface of the bolt, and when
the bolt is withdrawn is thrust upward against the overhanging guard at the
former end of the receiver and against the curved side wall and the extractor at
the rear end.
The sixth branch of the said Invention embraces devices for adapting the gun
for use as a single loader. One of these devices is a curved sliding shield seated in
a transverse groove in the wall of the receiver, and capable of being moved across
the slot in the bottom of the receiver, and hence across the mouth of the magazine,
in which position it serves to prevent the ejection of cartridges from the magazine,
and also constitutes for the time being the bottom of the receiver. Instead of a
transversely moving curved shield I may use a straight shield provided with an
adjustable catch for engaging the under side of the bolt and adapted to slide longi-
tudinally across the bottom of the receiver when so engaged, and to remain at the
bottom of the receiver when disengaged from the bolt. I may also use a plate or
latch, which springs wholly or partially across the bottom of the receiver when the
magazine is detached.

page_text: The seventh feature of my Invention consists in substituting for the spring hook
ordinarily used as an extractor a rigid hook, the rear end of which is provided with
a transverse shoulder, and is loosely sealed in or upon the forward portion of the
bolt, and held in place by a spring which yields to allow the inclined end of the
extractor to ride over the flange of the cartridge, the extractor being easily detach-
able from the bolt when the latter is partially drawn back.
The eighth feature of my Invention relates to the mode of securing the spring
firing pin in the bolt, which consists in providing the shell of the hollow rear end
of the bolt with a slot extending longitudinally inward a short distance, then
bending laterally at an acute angle to afford a seat for a key projecting radially
from a loose sleeve on the firing pin. The bolt is bored centrally to receive the
firing pin, and is counter bored from the rear to admit a collar, which is fixed
upon the firing pin near its forward end, and a spiral spring, which surrounds the
firing pin and abuts at one end against the fixed collar, and at the other end against
the sleeve. The spiral spring, in addition to actuating the firing pin when the
trigger is pulled after the gun has been cocked, also serves to hold the firing pin in
the bolt by its constant pressure upon the sleeve when the latter has been so turned
that its radially projecting key is seated in the lateral portion of the slot.
A magazine constructed substantially according to the said Invention may if
desired be permanently affixed to the gun, and may be filled with cartridges
through the opening in the top of the receiver. And a magazine made according
to this Invention may be enlarged in capacity by being modified in construction, in
which case the magazine encircles the frame and delivers cartridges through an
opening in the side wall of the receiver; that is to say, the usual opening in the
top of the receiver is cut enough lower down on the right hand side to give room
for the entrance of the cartridges from a magazine of this description, and for the
empty shells to be thrown out as usual. In its general idea and mode of operation
the magazino encircling the frame is substantially the same as that herein before
described.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 2nd
December 1879.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MAGAZINE AND OTHER FIRE-
ARMS."
A communication from abroad by James P. Lee, of Ilion, New York,
United States of America.
These improvements, which embrace some features applicable to any fire arms of
the class commonly termed bolt-guns, especially relate to magazine-guns in which
cartridges are successively delivered into the receiver through a slot in the bottom
or wall thereof, by a sidewise movement from a magazine detachably affixed to the
gun, and holding a number of cartridges placed laterally one upon another. The
said Invention consists, first, in the combination with the magazine of a spring-
catch which serves to secure the said magazine to the gun immediately in front of
the trigger-guard, and which may be withdrawn to release the magazine and
permit it to be thrown out or to be removed from its seat in or upon the bottom of
the receiver.
Another feature of the said Invention consists in making the magazine deeper in
its rear than in its front portion, for the purpose of permitting such inclination in
the position of the cartridges that the flange of each superposed cartridge will bear
upon the body of the cartridge immedietely beneath it.
Furthermore, I so construct the magazine that the outermost cartridge may be
pushed slightly forward, so that its point will enter a hemispherical cavity at the
upper end of the front wall of the magazine, and its base will abut against the ends
of two flanges projecting inwardly and upwardly from the rear portions of the
opposite side walls of the magazine, and will be partially embraced by narrower
flanges immediately in front of the wider flanges, against the ends of which the
base of the cartridge abuts. When occupying this position, in which it is main-
tained by the upward thrust of the ejecting spring in the bottom of the magazine,
the outermost cartridge serves as a guard to prevent the escape of cartridges from
the magazine, and the said magazine filled with cartridges is hence adapted for safe
and convenient handling and transportation when detached from the gun.
The said Invention also consists in so combining a magazine, substantially such
as herein described with a bolt, that the forward movement of the bolt completes
the disengagement of the outermost cartridge from the said magazine and thrusts
it forward into the chamber, the operation being substantially as follows, that is to
Bay-The under surface of the bolt depresses the base of the cartridge below the
under surface of the rear flanges; hence as the said bolt is withdrawn the thrust of
the ejecting spring in the bottom of the magazine tilts the forward end of the
cartridge upward, the base of the cartridge being free to slide under the wider
flange in obedience to the backward movement resulting from the riding of the
point of the cartridge against the inwardly inclined upper portion of the cavity in
which it has been resting. When the bolt has been fully withdrawn, the ejecting
spring pushes the base of the cartridge upward between the wider flanges, and
brings its upper portion into the path of movement of the said bolt. When there-
fore the bolt pushed forward its forward end strikes the upper part of the base
of the cartridge, which then occupies an inclined position with its point bearing
against the overhanging upper wall of the chamber. As the bolt moves forward
the point of the cartridge enters the chamber, and its base, as soon as it has been
pushed beyond the flanges at the rear end of the magazine, is pressed upward by
the ejecting spring against the upper end of the curved wall of the receiver on ono
side, and on the other side against an extractor, which is secured to and projects
forward from the end of the bolt. The continued forward movement of the bolt
drives the cartridge into the said chamber.

page_text: The said Invention also consists in so modifying the construction of the magazine
that it enters into a different combination with the bolt, and by the backward
movement of the bolt the outermost cartridge is entirely released from the magazine,
and is permitted to be thrust bodily into the receiver in front of the bolt by the
action of the ejecting spring in the bottom of the said magazine. In this case the
flanges in the rear end of the magazine for holding the base of the cartridges down
may be omitted, and the retention of the cartridges in the said magazine when
detached from the gun may be provided for by forming a portion or portions of the
walls of the magazine into an inwardly curved spring tongue or tongues, which by
partially embracing the outermost cartridge hold it down and prevent its being
thrown out of the magazine by the ejecting spring. The said tongue or tongues are
each provided with a backwardly inclined lip, which when the magazine is inserted
in the gun, is engaged by a suitably inclined stationary guide, by the action of
which the tongues are sprung outward, so that they no longer act as retaining
devices for the cartridges in the magazine. The outermost cartridge is therefore
pressed bodily upward against the under surface of the bolt, and when the said bolt
is withdrawn is thrust upward against the overhanging guard at the forward end
of the receiver, and against the curved side wall and the extractor at the rear end
of the same.
The said Invention also comprises devices for adapting the gun for use as a "single
loader." One of these devices is a curved sliding shield seated in a transverse groove
in the wall of the receiver, and capable of being moved across the slot in the bottom
of the said receiver, and hence across the mouth of the magazine, in which position
it serves to prevent the ejection of cartridges from the magazine, and also consti-
tutes, for the time being, the bottom of the receiver.
Instead of a transversely moving curved shield I may use a straight shield
provided with an adjustable catch for engaging the underside of the bolt, and
adapted to slide longitudinally across the bottom of the aforesaid receiver when so
engaged, and to remain at the bottom of this receiver when disengaged from the
bolt. I may also use a plate or latch which springs wholly or partially across the
bottom of the said receiver when the magazine is detached.
The said Invention also consists in substituting for the spring hook ordinarily
used as an extractor a rigid hook, the rear end of which is provided with a trans-
verse shoulder, and is loosely seated in or upon the forward portion of the bolt, and
held in place by a spring which yields to allow the inclined end of the extractor to
ride over the flange of the cartridge, the said extractor being easily detachable from
the bolt when the latter is partially drawn back.
The said Invention further comprises a mode of securing a spring firing pin in
the bolt by providing the shell of the hollow rear end of the bolt with a slot
extending longitudinally inward a short distance, then bending laterally at an acute
angle to afford a seat for a key projecting radially from a loose sleeve on the said
firing pin. The bolt is bored centrally to receive this firing pin, and is counter-
bored from the rear to admit a collar, which is fixed upon the firing pin near its
forward end, and a spiral spring which surrounds the firing pin, and abuts at one
end against the fixed collar, and at the other end against the said sleeve. The said
spiral spring, in addition to actuating the firing pin when the trigger is pulled after
the gun has been cocked, also serves to hold the firing pin in the bolt by its constant
pressure upon the sleeve when the latter has been so turned that its radially pro-
jecting key is seated in the lateral portion of the slot.
The said Invention is illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, in which,―
Figure 1 is a side view, partly in section, of the breech portion of a gun
embodying these improvements.
Figure 2 is a top view of the aforesaid magazine; and,
Figure 3 is a side elevation of the same, provided with a recess to hold the point
of the outermost cartridge and with flanges of variable widths in the rear to hold
the base of the said outermost cartridge.

page_text: and of the magazine, modified in construction by the substitution of a spring
tongue in the rear end of the said magazine in place of the holding down
flanges.
Figure 5 is a transverse vertical section on the line x, x, Figure 4.
Figure 6 is a transverse vertical section through the centre of a magazine, which
is modified in construction by being made U-shaped in cross section, and which
delivers cartridges through a slot in the side wall of the receiver, instead of through
a slot in the bottom of the latter.
Figure 7 is a side view, partially in section, of a portion of the breech-bolt.
Figure 8 is an isometrical perspective view of the extractor detached from the
said breech-bolt.
Figure 9 is an isometrical perspective view of a magazine provided with retaining
devices consisting of inwardly curved spring-tongues in its sides.
Figure 10 is an isometrical perspective view of a cheap magazine made of a
metallic trough, having its ends bent upward, the one at an acute and the other at
an obtuse angle
Figure 11 is a central longitudinal section of the bolt and firing pin.
Figure 12 is a transverse section of the same through the line v, v, Figure 11,
shewing the method in which the firing pin is secured in the bolt.
Figure 13 is a vertical longitudinal section of the breech of a gun embodying these
improvements, in which the shield for closing the mouth of the magazine is operated
by the breech bolt.
Figure 14 is an isometrical perspective view of the shield shewn in section in
Figure 13.
Figure 15 is a central longitudinal section of a portion of the breech-bolt and
another form of shield plate adapted to be operated by the said breech-bolt.
Figure 16 is a transverse section of the same on the line y, y, Figure 15.
Figure 17 is a longitudinal section of a portion of the receiver of the said gun
on the line z, z, Figure 18, which is a transverse section taken through the line w, w,
Figure 17, shewing a spring latch for partially closing the slot in the bottom of
the receiver, when the magazine is removed.
Figure 19 is an isometrical perspective view of a portion of the guard shewing a
swinging shield hinged to one side of the said guard in position to be swung open
by the inner end of the magazine, and provided with a spring which closes it when
the said magazine is removed.
Figure 20 is a transverse section of a portion of the receiver and the upper edge
of the magazine shewing a screw stop for preventing the feeding of cartridges
into the said receiver and for pressing the outermost cartridge downward into the
magazine below the path of movement of the bolt.
The rear
It will be seen that the barrel A of the gun is fixed in the usual manner to the
frame or receiver B, and the gun is provided with a sliding breech-bolt C. This
breech-bolt, instead of having affixed to it a spring hook to act as an extractor, is
provided with a rigid extractor c of the form shewn in Figures 7 and 8.
portion of this extractor is concave and bears loosely upon the periphery of the bolt.
The rear end of the said extractor is provided with a transverse shoulder c¹ and is
loosely inserted in a slot cut in the under surface of a rib on the bolt, as shown in
Figure 7. The shoulder c¹ on the rear end of the extractor is loosely sented in a
transverse groove on the under surface of this said rib, and the extractor is thereby
caused to move with the bolt. The said extractor is held against the periphery of
the bolt with yielding pressure by means of a spring D, the outer end of which has
a shoulder & that bears upon the upper surface of the extractor, this spring being
secured in the top of the rib by means of the screw d'. The said spring is sufficiently
strong to hold the extractor in place but yields enough to allow the inclined
forward end of the extractor to slide over the flange of the shell when the breech
is closed. When the bolt is pushed forward the extractor is caught in a longitu-
dinal groove in the forward part of the wall of the receiver, and is thus held
stationary when the bolt is turned to lock or unlock it. The said extractor may

page_text: be removed from the bolt, when the latter is drawn partially back, by being
pushed around to the right nut of the recess in the rib, by the application of force
sufficient to overcome the friction of the spring D.
The wall or bottom of the said receiver has a alot cut through it of dimensions
sufficient to permit a cartridge to pass bodily into the receiver sidewise, as shown
in Figure 1. The receiver has the usual opening in the top, and immediately in
the rear of the chamber I provide an overhanging guard b which extends backward,
as shewn in Figures 1 and 4, sufficiently to catch the forward and of a cartridge
thrust upward from the mouth of the magazine into the said chamber. This over-
hanging guard is cut away on the right side, as shown at 6' in Figure 1, to permit
the forward end of the shell or cartridge to be tilted laterally out of the receiver
when withdrawn from the barrel or chamber by the breech-bolt. A transverse
recess is cut on the inner face of the wall of the receiver into which is fitted a
curved sliding shield E, as shewn in Figures 1, 4, and 5. This shield or plate is
capable of being so moved in its seat as to stand across the slot at the bottom of
the receiver, and thus close the mouth of the magazine, that is to say, the entrance
through which cartridges are fed from the magazine into the receiver. This closing
of the mouth of the said magazine adapts the gun for use as a "single loader." The
withdrawal of the slide E into the position shewn in Figure 5 removes it from its
position across the slot in the bottom of the receiver, and opens the path for the
entrance of cartridges from the magazine into the receiver B.
The magazine F is attached to the underside of the gun immediately in front of
the trigger-guard, as shewn in Figure 1, the mouth of the said magazine coinciding
in position with the slot in the bottom of the receiver as shewn.
The magazines which hold a number of cartridges placed sidewise one above
another are each provided with devices for retaining the outermost cartridge in the
mouth of the magazine when the latter is detached from the gun. The object of
these retaining devices is to adapt the magazines when filled with cartridges for
handling and transportation, so that a soldier may conveniently carry a number of
magazines for successive attachment to the gun, and be thereby amply supplied
with cartridges.
I make the said magazine slightly longer than the cartridges and make the rear
end of the said magazine deeper than the front end, so that the cartridges will lie
in the magazine in inclined positions and the flange of each superposed cartridge
will bear upon the body of the cartridge immediately beneath it, as shewn in
Figure 1.
One method of retaining the outermost cartridge in the mouth of the magazine
when the latter is detached from the gun is illustrated in Figures 1, 2, and 3 in
which it will be seen that in the upper end of the front wall of the magazine there
is a hemispherical or concave recess of for engaging the ball or front end of the
cartridge. The opposite side walls of the magazine at the rear end are provided
with inwardly and upwardly inclined flanges of variable widths.
The cartridges G in the magazine are all pressed upward by the action of the
ejecting spring g in the bottom of the magazine. When the point of the outermost
cartridge is engaged in the recess f in the upper end of the front wall of the said
magazine, the base of the cartridge abuts against the front edge of the wider
flanges gl and is partially embraced by the narrower flanges g². The rising of the
forward end of the cartridge is prevented by the inward inclination of the upper
part of the cavity in the front wall in which it rests, and it cannot recede sufficiently
to clear the inclined front wall because its base abuts against the end of the wider
flanges. The base is held upward between the narrower flanges by the force of the
ejecting spring 9, and the outermost cartridge is thus made to constitute a guard
which prevents the ejectment of the cartridges from the magazine when the latter
is detached from the gun.
When the said magazine has been attached to the gun, and it is desired to have
the cartridges successively fed into the receiver, the shield plate E being withdrawn,
it is only necessary to press the base of the outermost cartridge down slightly, so

page_text: that it can slide back under the wider flanges g'. If the bolt C is not withdrawn
the projecting upper edge of the cartridge-flange will be pressed downward suffi-
ciently by contact with the under surface of the bolt; the cartridge will thus be
left free to slide backward, and (as the bolt is withdrawn) to have its point tilted
upward by the action of the ejecting spring g in the bottom of the magazine, as
shown in Figure 1. In the position shewn in Figure 1 the base of the cartridge is
held down by the wider flanges g'. The cartridge flange, however, rises between
the flanges g into the path of the bolt, and hence when the said bolt is pushed
forward its forward end strikes the base of the cartridge, and thrusts it forward
into the chamber. As soon as the cartridge is pushed sufficiently forward to clear
the flanges g² the ejecting spring g throws the base of the cartridge upward against
the extractor c, and thereafter the cartridges in the magazine successively assume the
position in its mouth where they are submitted to the above described action of
the bolt.
It will thus be seen that in this organization of the magazine the forward move-
inent of the bolt completes the extrication of the outermost cartridge from said
magazine. The flanges for holding down the base of the cartridge may however be
dispensed with, and in place of them I may employ an inwardly curved spring
tongue or tongues, which will partially embrace the outermost cartridge, and hold
it against the pressure of the ejecting spring g. An illustration of this mode of
retaining the cartridges in the magazine when the same is detached from the gun is
shewn in Figure 4, wherein it will be seen that a spring tongue H is affixed to the
rear wall of the magazine, and is provided at its upper end with an inward projec-
tion h, which when the said magazine is detached springs inward and rides over the
base of the outermost cartridge. When however the magazine is attached to the
gun the backwardly projecting lip h' of the spring-tongue H is caught by the
stationary inclined guide I, and the tongue is thus rocked outward, releasing the
outermost cartridge, and permitting it to be thrust upward directly against
the under side of the bolt, and to be delivered bodily into the receiver when the
said bolt is withdrawn. When so delivered the point of the cartridge is stopped by
the overhanging guard at the rear of the chamber and its base is stopped by the
edge of the curved wall of the receiver and by the extractor.
Spring tongues of similar construction may be applied to the side walls of the
magazine, as illustrated in Figure 9, in which it will be seen that there is no recess
in the front wall of the magazine for receiving the point of the cartridge, but the
tongues are so located as to partially embrace the central portion of the cartridge,
and hence hold it against the force of the ejecting spring.
When a magazine of this construction is employed two stationary guides are
provided in the gun for engaging the two side tongues, and springing them outward
sufficiently to release the outermost cartridge, which is thus forced directly against
the bolt, so that in this case also the backward movement of the bolt permits the
completo delivery of the cartridge into the receiver.
The magazine, instead of being a box, may be made of a strip or strips of sheet
metal U-shaped in cross section, and suitably bent or fastened together to form
the bottom and ends of the magazine, as shewn in isometrical perspective in
Figure 10.
I prefer to adopt the cheapest form of construction for the magazines, because in
practice in the field when one magazine is exhausted it will be detached and thrown
away, and replaced by another magazine containing a fresh supply of cartridges.
In view of this fact it will be seen that it is very desirable that the magazines shall be
so constructed as to be capable of rapid attachment to and detachment from the gun.
The method adopted to secure the said magazine to the gun is illustrated in
Figures 1 and 4, in which it will be seen that the rear wall of the magazine is
provided with a bevelled projection or shoulder K, and a spring catch k is pivoted
in the frame in position to snap under the shoulder K when the magazine is pushed
home in its seat. Instead of the shoulder K an opening may be made in the wall
of the magazine to receive the catch k. The free end of the said catch projects

page_text: downward beneath the stock into the space immediately in front of the trigger in a
convenient position to be pressed back by the trigger-finger when it is desired to
release the magazine from the gun. Upon pressing back the catch k the magazine
may be easily pulled out, or if the bolt is not drawn back will be usually thrown
out by the pressure of the ejecting spring g against the under surface of the bolt.
A magazine constructed substantially as herein described may, if desired, be
permanently affixed to the gun, and may be filled with cartridges through the
opening in the top of the receiver.
The said magazine may be enlarged in capacity by being modified in construction
as shewn in Figure 6, in which case, as will be seen, the magazine encircles the
frame and delivers cartridges through an opening in the side wall of the receiver;
that is to say, the usual opening in the top of the receiver is made sufficiently low
down on the right hand side of the gun to afford space for the entrance of the
cartridges from a magazine of this description, and for the ejectment of the empty
shells as usual. In its general form and mode of operation the magazine encircling
the frame is substantially the same as that herein before described.
I provide in combination with my extractor c the usual stop o in the side wall of
the receiver for the head of the cartridge shell to strike against as it is thrown back,
so that it may be tilted sidewise out of the receiver.
By attaching the magazine as above described it does not materially increase the
weight of the arm, and as the said magazine is located centrally there is no change
in the balance of the arm resulting from variability in the quantity of cartridges
contained in the magazine.
Finally, as the bottom of the magazine does not project much below the trigger-
guard, and as its front end projects but slightly below the stock, it does not interfere
with the handling of the arm, and does not render the same clumsy.
The above described mode of applying the extractor to the bolt is applicable to
any bolt-gun. The same is true of the method of securing the firing pin in the gun,
illustrated in Figures 11 and 12, in which it will be seen that the firing pin Lhas
near its forward end a fixed collar or shoulder l, and is surrounded with a spiral
spring abutting against the said shoulder and against the loose sleeve l'; a pro-
jection from the periphery of this loose sleeve, which I have herein before spoken
of as a key, is seated in the backwardly inclined slot in the rear end of the firing
pin; a slot extends inward from the rear end of the firing pin a short distance,
and then extends laterally at an acute angle to form the seat for the key P.
I may adopt various modifications of devices for wholly or partially closing the
opening in the bottom of the receiver when it is desired to operate the gun as a
single loader.
One arrangement is illustrated in Figures 13 and 14, and comprises a shield M
adapted to slide longitudinally across the bottom of the receiver. The under side
of the bolt has a lug m projecting downward in a position to bear upon one side
against the shoulder m¹ formed by the offset at the rear end of the shield, and upon
the other side against the adjustable stop m² pivotted in the offset part of the shield.
The said shield is thus carried back and forth with the bolt unless the stop is de-
pressed. The depression of the said stop may be effected by pulling down the slide
piece m³, in which case the stop, by the action of the tail-spring mt, will be tilted
downward out of the path of the lug m, and the shield will not be withdrawn by
the backward movement of the bolt, and will hence remain in the position where it
closes the bottom of the receiver.
Figures 15 and 16 illustrate another mode of employing the longitudinal shield,
which in this case is pressed up into a recess N in the bottom of the bolt by the
upper end of the magazine. When the said magazine is detached and the bolt
pushed forward, a spring n dislodges the shield from the recess N in the bottom of
the bolt, and deposits it upon the bottom of the receiver.
A mode of partially closing the bottom of the said receiver is illustrated in
Figures 17 and 18, in which it will be seen that a spring O, triangular in cross
section, is fastened in a longitudinal groove in the side wall of the receiver in

page_text: position to be thrust backward by the edge of the said magazine when the latter is
attached to the gun, and to spring outward and partially close the bottom of the
receiver when the magazine is detached.
A device for closing the opening in the guard immediately beneath the opening
in the bottom of the receiver is illustrated in Figure 19. This device consists of a
swinging shield P hinged to one side of the guard in position to be swung upward
into a recess formed in the wood of the stock when the magazine is inserted, and
provided with a spring p, by the action of which the shield swings back across the
opening in the guard when the magazine is detached.
"
Figure 20 illustrates a mode of adapting the gun for employment as a single
loader" with magazine in reserve. This object is effected by the insertion of a
stem Q in an inclined position in the side wall of the receiver, the inner end of the
stem being formed into a cam q, which when the stem is partially rotated strikes
the outermost cartridge and presses it downward into the magazine below the path
of movement of the bolt, and stops the feeding of cartridges from the magazine into
the receiver. The outermost cartridge in the magazine is thus made to serve the
purpose of a bottom for the receiver when the gun is to be used as a "singlo
feeder."
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,―
First. A magazine attached to a gun immediately in front of the trigger-guard,
and adapted to contain a number of cartridges placed sidewise one upon another,
and provided with a bearing suitable for engagement with a spring catch secured
to the gun, and having its free end so exposed as to permit the application of force
sufficient to effect the withdrawal of the catch from engagement with the magazine,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Second. A magazine attached to the gun immediately in front of the trigger-
guard, and adapted to hold a number of cartridges placed sidewise one upon another,
and made deeper at its rear end than in front, substantially as and for the purpose
Bet forth.
Third. In a magazine adapted to hold a number of cartridges placed sidowise one
upon another, and adapted to be attached to the gun immediately in front of the
trigger-guard, a spring placed in the botton of the magazine, and tending to eject
cartridges therefrom, in combination with retaining devices operating to hold the
outermost cartridge in the mouth of the magazine when the latter is detached from
the gun, substantially as described.
Fourth. A magazine adapted to contain a number of cartridges placed sidewise
one upon another, and provided with an ejecting spring in its bottom and with
retaining devices for holding the outermost cartridge in the mouth of the magazine,
in combination with a gun provided with a slotted receiver and with instru-
mentalities for extricating or releasing the outermost cartridge from such retaining
devices when such magazine is attached to the gun, substantially as described.
Fifth. A magazine adapted to hold a number of cartridges placed sidewise one
upon another, and having a recess in its front wall to hold the point of the outer-
most cartridge, and notched flanges at its rear end to hold the base of the outermost
cartridge, in combination with the bolt of a bolt-gun, whereby the forward move-
ment of the said bolt effects the completion of the delivery of the cartridges
successively fed into the receiver from the magazine, substantially as described.
Sixth. A magazine detachably affixed to a gun immediately in front of the
trigger-guard, and adapted to contain a number of cartridges placed sidewise one
upon another, and provided with an ejecting spring at its bottom and with an
inwardly curved spring tongue or tongues, in combination with a stationary guide
or guides suitably located in the gun-frame to engage a lip or lips projecting back-
wardly from such tongue or tongues, whereby when the magazine is attached to the
gun the spring tongue or tongues will be thrown out sufficiently to release the

page_text: outermost cartridge from their embrace, substantially as and for the purpose
described.
Seventh. A magazine adapted to contain a number of cartridges placed side wise
one upon another, and provided with inwardly curved spring tongues, which when
the magazine is removed from the gun partially embrace the outerinost cartridge,
in combination with the bolt of a breech-loading arm and with suitably placed sta-
tionary guides in the gun-frame adapted to withdraw the spring tongues from
contact with the outermost cartridge when the magazine is attached to the gun,
whereby when the magazine is attached to the said gun the outermost cartridge is
thrust by the magazine spring directly against the under side of the bolt when
the breech is closed, and by the backward movement of the said bolt is wholly
released and permitted to be fed into the receiver by the magazine spring, substan-
tially as described.
Eighth. A magazine, substantially as described, provided with the recess ƒ in its
forward end, the inwardly projecting flanges g' and g² at its rear end, and the
ejecting spring g, as and for the purpose set forth.
Ninth. The curved shield E in combination with a receiver having an opening
through its bottom for the introduction of cartridges sidewise from a magazine
attached to the gun immediately in front of the trigger-guard, substantially as
described.
Tenth. The extractor c provided with the shoulder in combination with a bolt C
having a recess in its rib for the reception of the said shoulder, and the spring D
bearing upon and holding the extractor against the periphery of the bolt, substan-
tially as and for the purpose set forth.
Eleventh. The firing-pin L provided with the fixed collar and the spiral spring
and the loose sleeve, in combination with a bolt provided at its rear end with the
slots and, as and for the purpose set forth.
Twelfth. A shield for closing the opening in the bottom of the receiver, adapted
to have a reciprocating longitudinal movement across the bottom of the receiver
with the bolt by means of mechanism, substantially as described, and as shewn in
Figures 13 and 14 of the Drawings.
Thirteenth. A shield-plate for closing the bottom of the receiver, adapted to be
engaged by and moved back and forth with the bolt, substantially in the manner
described, and as shewn in Figures 15 and 16 of the Drawings.
Fourteenth. A spring for partially closing the opening in the bottom of the
receiver, constructed and operating substantially in the manner described, and as
shewn in Figures 17 and 18 of the Drawings.
Fifteenth. A swinging shield hinged to one side of the guard for the purpose of
closing the opening in the bottom of the receiver when the magazine is removed,
constructed and operating in the manner described, and as shewn in Figure 19 of
the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Second day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine