IMPROVEMENTS IN REPEATING PISTOLS AND SMALL ARMS, AND IN AMMUNITION FOR THE SAME.”
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Abraham Martin, of Store Street, Bedford Square, in
the County of Middlesex, Engineer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
REPEATING PISTOLS AND SMALL ARMS, AND IN AMMUNITION FOR THE SAME.”
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Abraham Martin at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th April 1880.
ABRAHAM MARTIN, of Store Street, Bedford Square, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN REPEATING PISTOLS AND SMALL ARMS, AND IN
AMMUNITION FOR THE SAME."
This Invention has for its object improvements in repeating pistols and small
arms and in ammunition for the same.
My repeating pistol has the barrels arranged in two vertical rows, say four in
cach row, or eight in all. They are formed all in one block, which is approximately
rectangular in transverso section. The barrel block is hinged underneath and at
the breech end to a breech plate, which forms the front of the frame or body of the
action. The barrels when they turn downwards on the hinge or joint expose their
open breech ends for the reception of the cartridges. When charged the barrels
are closed against the breech plate, and they are locked in position ready for firing
by a locking lever. The locking lever turns upon an axis which passes horizontally
through the upper part of the frame or body, and it retains the barrels by catching
over studs or projections upon the top of the barrel block. The studs or projections
are inclined at the back, and when after loading the barrels their muzzles are
raised (which requires merely a swing of the hand in which the pistol is held) the
studs lift the end of the locking lever and pass it freely. The locking lever is
provided with a spring which causes it to return immediately the studs have
passed its end, and the studs enter holes formed in the locking lever to receive
them. There is also a tooth or ridge formed on the under side of the locking lever,
which at the same time that the lever catches the studs enters a groove or recess
in the frame or body, and so tics it and the barrels very securely together. The
tail of the locking lever passes down through a slot formed in the top of the body,
and its end projects out again through the tang which serves to connect the stock
to the frame. A button is formed or attached on the rear end of the locking lever
-

page_text: in such a position as to be reached conveniently by the thumb of the hand in which
the pistol is held, and when this button is pressed down the opposite end of the
locking lever is raised. In this way the barrels are released when it is desired to
open the breech for reloading, and the weight of the barrels causes them to fall.
As the barrels descend an extractor throws out the empty cartridge cases, and the
barrels are left free ready to be reloaded.
The face of the breech plate is perforated to receive the strikers by which the
cartridges aro fired. There are eight of these strikers, one for each barrel, and their
positions are such that the pistol being loaded and closed for firing each striker
when thrown forward strikes upon the priming cap of a cartridge.
Around the stem of each striker for a portion of its length a spring is coiled.
This portion of the stem (its hinder end) is round, but the front part of the stem
(immediately behind the pin or point which passes through the perforation
in the breech plate) is square and somewhat larger than the round part on which
the spring is coiled, so a shoulder is formed. All these eight springs are held
compressed between two parallel plates fixed within the body or frame, and
the stems of the strikers pass through these plates. The holes in the front plate
are square, and the square portions of the strikers are able to pass back through
them. The strikers are operated by means of cam like teeth upon a vertical axis
placed between them. This axis also has a ratchet of eight teeth at its lower end,
and the trigger when pulled gives motion to it. The trigger is connected by a link
to a slide carrying a claw pin jointed to it. This claw engages with the teeth of
the ratchot, and for each movement of the trigger it turns the axis round one eighth
of a revolution. The axis being thus turned one of the cam like projections upon
it comes against a corresponding projection or shoulder formed upon one of the
strikers, and forces it back against the resistance of its coiled spring. As the
shoulders or projections from the strikers on which the cam like teeth act are
required to be all on one side of the axis, the strikers on one side of the axis are
provided with arms crossing over to the other side into position for the cam like teeth
to act upon them.
Each tooth as it moves round after pushing back the striker allows it to escape,
when the spring immediately throws the striker forward. The striker thus
violently thrown forward strikes the priming cap of one of the cartridges and
explodes it; the spring of the striker however does not follow it up to the end of
its travel, but is stopped by the plate which confines it at the moment when the
point of the striker is flush with the face of the breech plate. The momentum
acquired by the striker carries it forward beyond the face for the short distance
necessary to deliver the blow to the priming, but the striker is then free and is not
supported by the spring. The cam like projections are so set around the axis that
one of them acts at cach movement of the trigger upon its corresponding striker.
It thus requires eight movements of the trigger to complete the rotation of the
axis and the discharge of all the barrels, each barrel being fired in its turn. One
V spring serves both for the locking lever and as a trigger spring to throw the
trigger forward as soon as it is released by the finger. The extractor consists of a
piece inlaid at the breech end of the barrels as in pistols at present made; it is
worked by a lever which is free to turn on the joint pin connecting the barrels to
the body of the pistol. As the barrels fall in opening the breech a projection on
the lower end of this lever comes against a spring stop, and so the lever receives a
movement (relatively to the barrels), and forces the extractor forward throwing
the cartridge cases out of the barrels. As the movement of the barrels in opening
the breech is on the point of completion the spring stop is moved so as to
release the extractor lever, a spring then at once returns the extractor to its
place.
In order to facilitate the loading the eight cartridges forming a chargo are
combined together, and held in their proper relative positions by enclosing their
heads between two perforated plates of thin metal, which after the cartridges have
been inserted between them are rivetted together. The same method is applicable

page_text: for combining together the cartridges for charging revolvers and other repeating
fire arms.
In a similar way to that above described for the construction of
repeating pistols I also make repeating carbines, and hand or portable mitrailleuse,
the number of barrels being varied as occasion may require. Sometimes for small
pistols I employ only a single row of barrels; I then arrange the axis which actuates
the strikers at the side, or it may be at the back. For the locking lever I
substitute a strong spring catch engaging in a similar manner with a stud on the
top of the barrels. I apply in connection with the locking spring a safety stop
consisting of a turn button, which has to be turned before the locking spring can
be raised to free the barrels and permit the breech to be opened. The axis of this
turn button passes down in proximity to the strikers and serves as a stop,
preventing them projecting beyond the face of the breech plate except when the
turn button is so placed as to hold down the locking spring; when the turn button
is in this position a flat upon its axis permits the strikers to protrude to the
extent requisite to explode the priming of the cartridges.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, and of
an Order of the Lord Chancellor, filed by the said Abraham Martin in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 20th October 1880.
ABRAHAM MARTIN, of Store Street, Bedford Square, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN REPEATING PISTOLS AND SMALL ARMS, AND IN
AMMUNITION FOR THE SAME."
This Invention has for its object improvements in repeating pistols and small
arms, and in ammunition for the same.
My repeating pistol has the barrels arranged in two vertical rows, say four in
each row, or eight in all. They are formed all in one block, which is approximately
rectangular in transverse section. The barrel block is hinged underneath and at the
breech end to a breech plate, which forms the front of the frame or body of the
action. The barrels when they turn downwards on the hinge or joint expose their
open breech ends for the reception of the cartridges. When charged the barrels are
closed up against the breech plate, and they are locked in position ready for firing
by a locking lever. Tho locking lever turns upon an axis which passes horizontally
through the upper part of the frame or body, and it retains the barrels by catching
over studs or projections upon the top of the barrel block. The studs or projections
are inclined at the back, and when after loading the barrels their muzzles are
raised (which requires merely a swing of the hand in which the pistol is held), the
studs lift the end of the locking lever and pass it freely. The locking lever is
provided with a spring, which causes it to return immediately the studs have passed
its end, and the studs enter holes formed in the locking lever to receive them.
There is also a tooth or ridge formed on the under side of the locking lever,
which at the same time that the lever catches the studs enters a groove or recess
in the frame or body, and so ties it and the barrels very securely together. The
tail of the locking lever passes down through a slot formed in the top of the body,
and its end projects out again through the tang which serves to connect the stock
to the frame. A button is formed or attached on the rear end of the locking lever
in such a position as to be reached conveniently by the thumb of the hand in
which the pistol is held, and when this button is pressed down the opposite end of
the locking lever is raised. In this way the barrels are released when it is desired
to open the breech for reloading, and the weight of the barrels causes them to fall.
As the barrels descend au extractor throws out the empty cartridge cases, and the
barrels are left free ready to be reloaded.
The face of the breech plate is perforated to receive the strikers by which the
cartridges are fired. There are eight of these strikers, one for each barrel, and
their positions are such that the pistol being loarled and closed for firing each striker
when thrown forward strikes upon the priming cap of a cartridge.
Around the stem of each striker for a portion of its length a spring is coiled.
This portion of the stem (its hinder end) is round, but the front part of the stem
(immediately behind the pin or point which passes through the perforation in the
breech plate) is square and somewhat larger than the round part on which the
spring is coiled; so a shoulder is formed. All these eight springs are held com-
pressed between two parallel plates fixed within the body or frame, and the stems
of the strikers pass through these plates. The holes in the front plate are square,
and the square portions of the strikers are able to pass back through them. The
strikers are operated by means of cam like teeth upon a vertical axis placed between
them. This axis also has a ratchet of eight teeth at its lower end, and the trigger
when pulled gives motion to it. The trigger is connected by a link to a slide
carrying a claw pin jointed to it. This claw engages with the teeth of the ratchet,
and for each movement of the trigger it turns the axis round one eight of a

page_text: revolution. The axis being thus turned one of the cam like projections upon it
comes against a corresponding projection or shoulder formed upon one of the strikers
and forces it back against the resistance of its coiled spring. As the shoulders or
projections from the strikers on which the cam like teeth act are required to be all
on one side of the axis the strikers on one side of the axis are provided with arms,
crossing over to the other side into position for the cam like teeth to act upon
them.
Each tooth as it moves round after pushing back the striker allows it to escape,
when the spring immediately throws the atriker forward; the striker thus violently
thrown forward strikes the priming cap of one of the cartridges and explodes it.
The spring of the striker however does not follow it up to the end of its travel, but
is stopped by the plate which confines it at the moment when the point of the
striker is flush with the face of the breech plate. The momentum acquired by the
striker carries it forward beyond the face for the short distance necessary to deliver
the blow to the priming, but the striker is then free and is not supported by the
spring. The cam like projections are so set around the axis that one of them acts
at each movement of the trigger upon its corresponding striker. It thus requires
eight movements of the trigger to complete the rotation of the axis and the discharge
of all the barrels, each barrel being fired in its turn. One V spring serves both for
the locking lever and as a trigger spring to throw the trigger forward as soon as it
is released by the finger. The extractor consists of a piece inlaid at the breech end
of the barrels as in pistols at present made; it is worked by a lever which is free
to turn on the joint pin connecting the barrels to the body of the pistol. As the
barrels fall in opening the breech a projection on the lower end of this lever comes
against a spring stop, and so the lever receives a movement (relatively to the
barrels) and it forces the extractor forward, throwing the cartridge cases out of the
barrels. As the movement of the barrels in opening the breech is on the point of
completion the spring stop is moved so as to release the extractor lever; a spring
then at once returns the extractor to its place.
In order to facilitate the loading the eight cartridges forming a charge are com-
bined together and held in their proper relative positions by enclosing their heads
between two perforated plates of thin metal, or it might be other suitable material,
which after the cartridges have been inserted between them are rivetted or fastened
together. The same method is applicable for combining together the cartridges for
charging revolvers and other repeating fire arms. In a similar way to that above
described for the construction of repeating pistols I also make repeating carbines
or guns, and hand or portable mitrailleuse, the number of barrels being varied as
occasion may require. Sometimes for small pistols I employ only a single row of
barrels; I then arrange the axis which actuates the strikers at the side, or it may
be at the back. For the locking lever I substitute a strong spring catch, engaging
in a similar manner with a stud on the top of the barrels. I apply in connection
with the locking spring a safety stop consisting of a turn button, which has to be
turned before the locking spring can be raised to free the barrels and permit the
breech to be opened. The axis of this turn button passes down in proximity to
the strikers and sorves as a stop, preventing them projecting beyond the face of the
breech plate except when the turn button is so placed as to hold down the locking
spring. When the turn button is in this position a flat upon its axis permits
the strikers to protrude to the extent requisite to explode the priming of the
cartridges.
In order that my Invention may be fully understood I have in the Drawings
hereunto annexed shown examples of repeating pistols constructed as above
described.
Figures 1 to 13 show various views of a repeating pistol with two rows of
barrels; in the pistol shown there aro four barrels in each row.
Figure 1 is a side view, partly in section, of the pistol closed and ready for
firing.
Figure 2 is a plan view of the same; Figure 3 is a longitudinal section of the

page_text: pistol when open with the extractor in its outward position and just ready to be
drawn back by its spring; Figure 4 is a front view of the pistol when open; and
Figure 5 a front view when closed.
A are the barrels formed out of one block, or of several barrels soldered together;
this block is hinged at its breech end at B to the breech plate C, which forms the
front of the frame or body of the action; D is the locking lever by which the
barrels when closed up against the breech plate are secured; there are two holes in
the forward end of this lever which catch over two studs E that stand up from the
top of the barrels A. The lever turns on an axis at D'; the tail of the lever passes
down through a slot in the top of the body, and a thumb piece D' connected to its
end projects out through the tang. The tail of the lever is acted upon by a
spring F which tends to turn the lever into a position to lock and hold the barrels.
By pressing upon the thumb piece the forward end of the lever can be raised and
the barrels so released and set free to turn downwards on their hinge joint. D³ is
a tooth or projection across the underside of the forward end of the locking lever D
which enters a corresponding recess in the top of the frame or body, which thereby
forms an abutment to securely hold the barrels up to the breech plate when the
barrels are closed and locked by the lover. G, G, are the strikers by which the
cartridges are fired. The forward end of each striker passes through the breech
plate C, and its rear end through two plates H and 1, which form part of the
body.
The strikers are square where they pass through the front one of these plates
marked H, whilst the tail end of each striker is of less width and round, and is
surrounded by a strong coiled spring, the ends of which bear against the plates H
and I. When any one of the strikers is pressed back the rear end of the squaro
portion of the striker comes against the spring and presses it back, and when the
striker is free the spring throws it forward.
Instead of coiled springs flat springs might be used to throw the strikers
forward, the strikers in the same way being allowed to rebound after being thrown
forward.
Face views of the plates H and I are shewn at Figures 6 and 7, and a horizontal
section of the body in which the strikers and their springs can be seen clearly is
shown at Figure 8. K is the vertical axis by means of which the strikers are
drawn back in succession, one after the other. Upon it are cam like teeth ranged
spirally around it, as shewn, one to act upon each of the strikers. The strikers in
one row have a recess formed in each of them for one cam to enter and act in ; the
strikers in the other have projections G¹ formed upon them for the cams to act
against, as is shown more clearly at Figure 9, which show one of these strikers
separately.
At the lower end of the axis K is the ratchet wheel L by which a step by step
revolving motion is given to it. It is turned round one step each time the trigger
is pulled by reason of the trigger being connected by a link M to a small slide N
that carries a claw or pawl O to engage with the teeth of the ratchet wheel L, this
claw or pawl is pressed by a small coiled spring P, or it might be a flat spring
towards the ratchet wheel.
.
Separate views of the trigger and slide coupled to it are shown separately at
Figures 10 and 11 so as to show these parts clearly.
Separate views of the axis K are shewn at Figures 12.
Each time that the trigger is pulled, and the axis K thereby turned one step,
one of the strikers is drawn back by one or other of the cams on the axis, and
when this cam gets clear of the striker tho striker is thrown forward by its spring
and one of tho cartridges fired, as before explained.
After each time that the trigger is pulled back it is again pressed forward by
the spring F which also acts upon the locking lever. When the pistol is formed
with a small number only of barrels, say four or two, it is desirable, in order to
avoid too long a pull of the trigger that there should be twice as many teeth in
the ratchet wheel as there are barrels in the weapon; in this case the cams would

page_text: be so ranged around the axis K. that a half revolution of the axis would fire off
all the barrels, and two sets of cams would be used on opposite sides of the axis,
which as the axis was rotated would come into action alternately.
To reload the pistol when all the cartridges have been fired by successive pulls
upon the trigger the thumb piece D' is pressed inwards, the barrels are thereby
unlocked and drop into the position shewn at Figure 3. As the barrels turn down
the empty cartridge cases are expelled from the rear ends of the barrels by an
extractor plate R, which when the barrels were closed was lying in a recess at the
breech end of the barrels as usual. The extractor plate is moved outwards away
from the barrels so as to throw out the empty cartridge cases by a lever S which
is free to turn upon the pin of the binge joint by which the barrels are hinged to
the body. This lever lies in a recess in the barrel block and comes behind the
extractor plate. As the barrels turn downwards the lever S turns with them until
a projection in the lower end of the lever comes against a small pin standing up
from a spring T which is fixed to the underside of the body. The movement of the
lover S is thus arrested and the extractor plate is moved away from the rear ends
of the barrels into the position shown in Figure 3, thereby throwing out the empty
cartridge cases. Just at the end of the downward movement of the barrels a
projection A' on the under side of the barrel block comes against the spring T and
presses it back, thereby moving the pin stop out of the way of the projection upon
the lever S, so setting this lever free to turn. The extractor plate is then drawn
back into its recess at the rear end of the barrels by means of a coiled spring U
which acts upon the tail end of one of the guide rods that carry the extractor
plate, as shown at Figure 3. A fresh set of cartridges can then be inserted into the
rear ends of the barrels, and when the barrels have again been closed and locked
against the breech plate the pistol is loaded and again ready for firing. A faco
view of the breech ends of the barrels and of the extractor plato lying in a recess
in it is shown at Figure 13.
In place of the cams on the axis K being arranged to act against the strikers
near their forward end whilst the springs are around their rear ends the positions
of the springs and of the cam axis might be reversed.
Figures 14 and 15 show respectively a side view and plan of a similar pistol
having one row only of barrels; in this case, as before explained, the axis K is
enclosed within a projection on one side of the body, as shown, or into the body of
the pistol if there is room enough. In these Figures is also shown how a simple
spring catch may be used to lock the barrels. Vis the spring catch carried on the
top of the body, it locks over a stud on the top of the barrels, as before explained.
When the barrels are thus locked the spring catch is locked and prevented from
rising by a turn button W.
The axis x of this turn button passes down in proximity to the strikers and
prevents them from being moved forwards except when the turn button is so placed
as to lock the spring, The way in which this is effected is shown at Figure 16.
Repeating carbines, guns, and hand or portable mitrailleuse may, as before
stated, be constructed in a similar manner to that above described.
In the latter case the axis K for actuating the strikers might be revolved
continuously by a handle at its end instead of step by step.
Figures 17 to 20 show how I combine together a set of cartridges forming a
complete charge so as to expedite the loading of a pistol. Figure 17 shows a pair
of the cartridges; Figures 18 show a face view and edge view of a thin metal plate
through holes in which the front ends of the cartridges are inserted; Figures 19
show a face and edge view of another thin metal plate which is placed behind the
rear ends of the cartridges; the heads of the cartridges are thus held between the
two metal plates, as shown in the section, Figure 20, and the two metal plates aro
rivetted or otherwise connected together. For example, small strips cut in one
plate and made to stand up from it might be passed through holes in the other
plate and bo turned or rivetted over. The back plate has small holes formed in it
to allow the strikers of the pistol to pass through and fire the cartridges.

page_text: This same method of securing together a number of cartridges is, as before
stated, applicable also to charging revolvers and other repeating firo arms.
By combining the cartridges together in the above manner they are not held
rigidly, but are each capable of a slight independent movement and so can
readily adapt and adjust themselves to the barrels when being pushed forward into
them.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I would have it understood that I claim,―
First. The construction of pistols and other repeating fire arms, substantially as
herein before described.
Second. The means of locking the barrels to the body, substantially as herein
before described and shown at Figuro 3.
Third. The means of locking the barrels to the body, substantially as herein
before described and shown at Figure 2.
Fourth. The combination of mechanism for discharging in succession by repeated
pulls upon a trigger cartridges contained in a row or rows of barrels, substantially
as described.
Fifth. The employment of an axis having cam projections ranged equidistantly
around it for causing a series of strikers to act in succession and fire off cartridges
in a row or rows of barrels, substantially as described.
Sixth. The combination of mechanisin for throwing the strikers forward after
they have been moved back by the cams on the revolving axis, substantially as
described, whereby the strikers are left free to rebound after they have been thrown
forwards.
Seventh. Combining together a number of cartridges by enclosing their beads
between two plates, substantially in the manner herein before described so as to
facilitate the loading of repeating fire arins.
In witness whereof, I, the said Abraham Martin, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty.