Improvements in Magazine Fire Arms.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Oct., 1891-Accepted, 7th Nov., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by EDWARD NICOLL, of Middlesbrough, Kentucky,
U.S.A., Lawyer.]
Improvements in Magazine Fire Arms.
I, HUGH DONALD FITZPATRICK, of 70 Wellington Street, Glasgow, Lanark-
shire, Registered Patent Agent 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:-
The main object of my present invention is to produce an arm of the lever type
which may without adjustment be used interchangeably as a single breech-loader or
as a magazine arm, and to the end named the invention consists essentially of a
fire-arm provided with a breech-block that is chambered to receive a number of
cartridges placed side by side one above the other and mounted to swing downward
in opening and upward in closing the breech, and which is controlled by a lever
mounted to swing beneath the receiver, there being provided a cartridge-feeding
mechanism and an automatic cut-out arranged in connection therewith, all as will be
hereinafter explained and specifically pointed out in the claims.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this
Specification, in which similar reference figures and letters indicate corresponding
parts in all the views.
Figure 1 is a side view of a portion of the arm, the receiver being shown in section
and the parts being represented as they appear after a cartridge has been fed forward
from the magazine and the breech-block moved to the firing position.
Figure 2 is a similar view, the parts, however, being represented as they appear
when the breech is open
Figure 3 is also a similar view, the parts in this case being represented as they
appear in an intermediate position, the position being that which the parts assume
when the cartridge is being fed forward.
Figure 4 is a sectional plan view taken on line IV-IV. of Figure 2.
Figure 5 is a similar view taken on line V.-V. of Fig. 1.
Figure 6 is a central longitudinal sectional view of the arm, the parts being
represented as they appear when in the firing position.
Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on line VII-VII. of Figure 1.
Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view taken on line VIII.-VIII. of Figure 6, three
cartridges only being shown in this view; and
Figure 9 is a detail view of a portion of the sear and a portion of the operating
lever.
In the drawings above referred to 10 represents the receiver, to which the stock Il
and the barrel 12 are connected in the usual manner. Within the receiver 10 there
is pivotally mounted a combined cartridge receptacle and breech-block 13, the
connection between the block and receiver being established by means of a pivot-
pin or bolt 14, that passes through the receiver and through an aperture in the
block located near the rear upper corner thereof.
The block 13 is hollowed to form a chamber A, of proper shape to receive a
number of superimposed cartridges B, such cartridges resting on a leaf or plate 15
that is supported by arms 16 and 17. The arm 16 is preferably made from a single
length of spring wire, the wire being centrally bent and its ends being held by
studs 18, while the body of the wire is coiled about a cross-pin or bar 19 in a
manner such that the arm will always tend to move in the direction of the arrow
shown in connection therewith in Figure 6. Although the arm above described
is my preferred form, I desire it to be distinctly understood that any proper

page_text: arrangement whereby the free end of the arm would always tend to move upward
could be substituted for the construction described.
The arm 17 is pivotally mounted at the point a and extends forward between the
side members of the arm 16, whereby as the arm 16 raises, the arm 17 will be
carried upward, and both ends of the plate 15 will be properly advanced toward
the upper part of the chamber A.
The chamber A is normally closed by a trap or cover 20, that is hinged to one of
the side walls of the breech-block, and this cover is held in its closed position by a
spring-latch 21, that is carried by the breech-block. The latch 21 may be arranged
in many ways, but I prefer such a latch as I have illustrated, viz., a latch having an
inclined face (see Figure 8) against which the cover strikes when lowered to its
closing position, and a spring shank c that extends, along the side of the breech-
block, the rear end of said shank being secured to said block.
To facilitate the opening of the trap or cover 20, I provide a spring-pressed
pin 22, which is housed within a proper chamber formed in the side wall of the
block 13, the pin being arranged to bear against the under side of the trap or cover,
as shown in Figure 8, so that when the latch 21 is moved from engagement with the
cover said cover will be thrown upward by the action of the spring-pressed pin.
In order that the block 13 may be readily moved from the position in which it is
shown in Figure 1 to the position in which it is shown in Figure 2 and conversely,
I provide an operating lever 23, formed with a bifurcated forward end and mounted
on studs 24 and 24%, that extend inward through the side walls of the receiver 10.
The members 9 and 9 of the bifurcated lever end pass upward and forward on each
side of the block 13 and are provided with lateral projections & d' (see Figure 5)
that extend inward and ride within cam grooves e, formed by flanges f and g that
are carried by the block 13, or the grooves could be made in the side faces of the
block, as will be readily understood. It will be noticed that the sections c¹ of the
grooves e are concentric with the axes of the studs 24 and 24, and consequently it
will be understood that while the projections d are passing through these
concentric sections the block 13 will remain stationary. At the time the block 13
is so held stationary an opening h in the forward end of the block will register with
the firing chamber i of the barrel 12, the parts being shown in this position in
Figure 3, and while this register lasts the feeding forward of the cartridge from the
chamber A to the chamber i takes place, the forward movement of the cartridge
being brought about by a mechanism which will now be specifically described.
In one side of the block 13 I form a slot 2 and a groove 3, in which there rides a
slide 25, provided with a spring clip 26, adapted to engage the rim of the upper
cartridge within the chamber A, the rear inner face k of the clip being inclined as
shown in Figure 4, in order that as the slide is moved to the rear the clip will pass
the cartridge flange and ultimately engage the same.
The slide 25 is provided with a projection l, which carries an anti-friction sleeve l',
and this sleeve rides between the members of a bifurcated lever 27, said lever being
pivotally connected to the block 13 by a stud m. The lever 27 is preferably made
in two sections, that are rigidly connected by a cross-piece n, which cross-piece is
at times engaged by a hook o formed at the end of an arm 28, that extends forward
from and is pivotally connected to the member 9 of the lever 23.
The arm 28 carries a stud or projection 4, that extends within an opening
formed in the rearwardly-extending arm 6 of an extractor 29, said extractor being
pivotally mounted at p, the arrangement being such that as the lever 23 is moved
from the position in which it is shown in Figure 1 to the position in which it is
shown in Figure 2 the rear end of the arm 6 of the extractor 29 will be drawn down
and the cartridge-shell will be moved to the rear from its position within the firing
chamber i, such shell being finally ejected by an ejector 30 that is pivotally mounted
at the opposite side of the receiver, the rearwardly-extending arm 7 of said ejector
being borne upon by a projection 7" formed upon the side of the breech-block, as
indicated by dotted lines in Figures 1 and 2. If while the parts are in the position

page_text: in which they are shown in Figure 2 a cartridge be placed by the hand in the firing
chamber i from above the breech-block, the vertical arm of the extractor 29 will be
carried forward and the arm 6 raised, whereby the hook o will be carried free from
the cross-piece n, and then when the lever 23 is moved upward the lever 27 will not
be carried forward, and consequently the slide 25 will remain at rest and no cartridge
will be fed forward from the magazine; but if a cartridge is not placed in the
chamber from above the breech-block, the extractor will remain in a position such
that the hook o will engage the cross-piece n, and then when the lever 23 is moved
upward to close the breech the arm 28 aud the lever 27 will be moved so that the
slide 25 will be advanced, and with it the upper cartridge in the chamber A.
From the description of the operation just given it will be seen that the gun may
be used interchangeably as a magazine arm or as a single loader without
adjustment; that is to say, if the arm be used as a single loader the mechanism
by which cartridges are fed forward from the magazine is automatically cut out
of action.
The firing-pin 40 is formed in sections 8 and 8 that are connected by a hinge
joint at g, the main section 8 of the pin 40 riding in a groover formed in the side
of the block 13, while the section 8 is arranged to pass through a diagonal
opening that leads inward and forward through the block 13. The rear end of
the firing-pin section 8 is connected to the sear 41 by a pins that rides in a slot s¹
formed in the sear, which sear is loosely mounted on the stud 24" and is borne upon
by a heavy spring 42. The sear 41 is formed with a shoulder t, against which a
projection t', formed in the arm 9* of the lever 23, is brought to bear when the
lever 23 is moved downward to open the breech, and consequently when the breech
is opened the sear is moved against the tension of its spring and the firing-pin is
withdrawn to the position in which it is shown in Figure 5, the sear at this time
being engaged by the trigger 44, as shown best in Figure 3. In order that the
trigger may be held in engagement with the sear I form the spring 42 with a
projection 42, which bears on a projection 44", that extends upward from the
trigger.
With such an arm as the one above described it is desirable that provision be
made for holding the cartridges against vertical displacement after they have been
placed within the magazine chamber, and to this end I form the block 13 with a
shoulder u (see Figure 6) against which the rim of the upper cartridge abuts; and
it is also desirable that the trap or cover 20 should always be closed when the
breech is open, and to this end I form such trap or cover with a flange 46, which
when the cover is open overlaps the side wall of the receiver, such wall being cut
away as shown at (see Figure 3) to receive the flange. From the above
description it will be understood that if the breech-block be lowered while the
cover 20 is open the cover flange 46 will strike against the receiver and the cover
will be thrown to its closing position.
To facilitate the introduction of a cartridge from above the breech-block, when the
arm is used as a single loader, I form the cover 20 with a concave upper face, as
shown in Figures 6 and 8.
"
The term "cartridge-feeding mechanism as employed in the claims refers to a
mechanism for transferring the cartridges from the magazine to the firing chamber.
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. A hollow breech-block constituting a magazine chamber.
2. A hollow breech-block provided with a trap or cover.
3. A hollow breech-block provided with a trap or cover and a latch arranged to
engage said trap or cover.
4. A hollow breech-block provided with a trap or cover that is formed with a
concave upper face.

page_text: 5. The combination with a breech-block, that is chambered to form a magazine
chamber, of a trap or cover hinged thereto, a latch carried by the breech-block and
arranged to engage the cover, and a spring-pressed pin that is arranged to throw
the cover towards its open position, substantially as described.
6. In a magazine fire-arm, the combination with the receiver of a hollow breech-
block, a cover hinged thereto and formed with a flange which overlaps the receiver
when the cover is in its open position, and a means for raising and lowering the
breech-block, substantially as described.
7. In a magazine fire-arm, the combination with the receiver, formed with a
recess, v, of a hollow breech-block, a cover hinged thereto and formed with a flange
which rests within the recesso when the cover is in its open position, and a means
for raising and lowering the breech-block, substantially as described.
8. In a magazine fire-arm, the combination with the receiver of a hollow breech-
block, provided with a cover, a cartridge-supporting mechanism, arranged within
the breech-block, and a cartridge-feeding mechanism, substantially as described.
9. In a magazine fire-arm, the combination with the receiver of a hollow breech-
block, formed to constitute a magazine chamber and provided with a cover, a spring-
pressed cartridge-supporting plate or leaf, and a cartridge-feeding mechanism,
substantially as described.
10. In a magazine fire-arm, the combination with the receiver of a hollow breech-
block, formed to constitute a magazine chamber, a means for raising and lowering
the same, a cover hinged thereto, a cartridge-supporting leaf, a spring-arm which
bears upon the leaf, and a pivotally-mounted arm which also bears upon the leaf and
is controlled by the spring arm, and a cartridge-feeding mechanism, substantially as
described.
11. In a magazine fire-arm, the combination with the receiver of a hollow breech-
block, mounted therein and formed to constitute a magazine chamber, a lever by
which said block is moved, a cover hinged to the block, a means for raising the
cartridges within the magazine chamber, a cartridge engaging clip, and a means for
reciprocating said clip, substantially as described.
12. In a magazine fire-arm, the combination with the receiver of a hollow breech-
block, constituting a magazine chamber, a lever by which the block is moved, a
cover hinged to the block, a spring-actuated cartridge-upholding leaf, a spring-
supported cartridge-engaging clip, a slide to which said clip is secured, and a means
for reciprocating the slide, substantially as described.
13. In a magazine fire-arm, the combination with the receiver of a hollow breech-
block, constituting a magazine chamber, a lever by which the block is moved, a
cover hinged to the block, a spring-actuated cartridge-upholding leaf, a spring-
supported cartridge-engaging clip, a slide to which said clip is secured, a lever that
engages the slide, and an arm that is carried by the breech-block operating lever
and is arranged to engage the slide lever, substantially as described.
14. In a magazine fire-arm, the combination with the receiver of a hollow breech-
block, constituting a magazine chamber, a lever by which the block is moved, a
cover hinged to the block, a spring-actuated cartridge-upholding leaf, a spring-
supported cartridge-engaging clip, a slide to which said clip is secured, a lever that
engages the slide, an arm which engages the slide lever and is carried by the breech-
block operating lever, and an extractor, formed with an opening that is eutered by a
projection carried by said arm, substantially as described.
15. In a magazine fire-arm, the combination with the receiver of a hollow breech-
block, constituting a magazine chamber, a lever by which the block is moved, a
cover hinged to the block, a spring-actuated cartridge-upholding leaf, a spring-
supported cartridge-engaging clip, a slide to which said clip is secured, a lever that
engages the slide, such lever being provided with a cross-piece n, an arm carried by
the breech-block operating lever and formed with a hook o that at times engages
the cross-piece n, and an extractor formed with an opening 5 that is entered by a
projection carried by the arm, substantially as described.

page_text: 16. A hollow breech-block, constituting a magazine chamber and formed with a
shoulder u, substantially as described.
17. In a magazine fire-arm, the combination with the receiver of a breech-block,
a sectional firing-pin mounted therein, a means for throwing the breech-block, a
means for withdrawing the firing-pin, a trigger, and connections between the firing-
pin and the trigger, substantially as described.
18. In a magazine fire-arm, the combination with the receiver of a breech-block,
formed with a groover and a diagonal opening r', a sectional firing-pin mounted in
said groove and arranged to enter the opening r¹, a block operating lever, a sear
controlled thereby, a spring arranged in connection with the sear, and a trigger,
substantially as described.
Ontaha 1001
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70, Wellington Street, Glasgow.