IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING AND MAGAZINE FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Macaulay-Cruikshank of 135 Buchanan Street
Glasgow in the County of Lanark North Britain, Consulting Engineer and
Patent Agent. for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING
AND MAGAZINE FIRE-ARMS" Communicated to him from abroad by Martin
Vojtech Kacer, Cooper, and William John Kriz, Harness Maker both of
St. Louis State of Missouri in the United States of America
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George
Macaulay-Cruikshank
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th March 1883.
GEORGE MACAULAY-CRUIKSHANK of 135 Buchanan Street, Glasgow in the
County of Lanark, North Britain, Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent
IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH LOADING AND MAGAZINE FIRE ARMS. A communication
to me from abroad by Martin Vojtech Kacer, Cooper, and William John Kriz,
Harness Maker, both of St. Louis state of Missouri, in the United States of
America,
The improvements relate to that class of magazine Fire Arms in which the
cartridges are contained in a chamber in the stock and lifted into position for
firing by a spring and to that class of Breech Loaders having four or any desired
number of barrels and suitably arranged firing pins and other details to be herein-
after described.
The improvements consist in a cartridge case into which the cartridges are
introduced by forcing them in one at a time in an oblique position at the fore
end of the case, the breech-block having been first retracted as will presently be
described.
The fore end of the case is curved in such a manner as to throw up the end of
the last cartridge inserted, or the first in position for firing, and cause the end
thereof to enter the end of the bore.
The cartridge case is provided on either side, at the proper distance from the
top with a flange or rib which serves to engage and support the flange of the
cartridge and to support the horizontal arm of a follower block, which has hinged

page_text: to it a supplementary arm projecting downward and forward in an oblique
direction, provided on its lower end with an antifriction roller which runs along
the floor of the case. The back part of the horizontal arm of the follower-block
is bored out for the reception of the end of a spiral spring, which serves to carry
the said follower forward, the other end of said spring being anchored at the back
end of the case in any well known manner.
The cartridges fit close against the side walls of the case so that there can be
no lateral motion and are kept in close close contact by the action of the spring
follower so that there can be no longitudinal motion. Owing to this position of
the cartridges (being "central fire") nothing can at any time, touch the detonating
cap, so that there is no danger of the discharge of a cartridge in the stock by any
violent concussion.
The breech block is constructed with a longitudinal rib or flange on either side
engaging with corresponding grooves in the breech stock so as to be confined to a
strictly end wise movement, and contains within it an extractor which is constructed
as follows:-The breech-block is bored through from end to end, the central part
of the bore being of smaller diameter than the two ends. In the front enlarge-
ment of this bore is the cartridge extractor which consists of a spring catch having
its front face bevelled, which adapts it, when forced forward to slide up over the
flange of the cartridge and engage on the other side thereof in readiness for
extracting the shell when the breech-block is carried back, as hereinafter described.
A screw is inserted in the rear of the annular bore, whose head plays in the rear
enlargement and whose stem passes through the reduced portion and is secured
to the back end of the extractor. Surrounding this screw is a spiral spring whose
rear end bears against the head of the screw and whose fore end bears against the
annular shoulder at the fore end of the rear enlargement, said screw serving to
draw the extractor back until the fore end thereof is flush with the fore end of the
breech-block. This form of extractor is used only when the gun is used as a
magazine fire-arm. When it is used as a breech loading gun any well known
extractor may be employed.
The lever which operates the breech-block, or breech end of the barrels as the
case may be, forms, when in its closed or normal position, the trigger-guard and
inserted in
works on a pivot on the under side of the stock. A T-headed pin
the forward part of this operating lever and extends upward, its head working in
connection with an open mortise in the rear end of a connecting rod whose fore
end is hinged to the rear end of a sliding catch which engages with the securing
lugs on the under side of the barrels which catch is drawn back to free the barrels
(for opening the breech when the gun is used as a breech loader) by a downward
(and forward) movement of the operating lever. This movement of the connecting
rod and sliding catch follows only when the T-head of the pin is in its lower
position so as to bring its head into the mortise in the back end of the connecting
rod, so that the backward movement of the head will cause it to impinge against
the corners of the mortise in the connecting rod; whereas when the pin is in its
upper position the head thereof is lifted above the mortise and the neck of the
pin passes freely through a narrow inlet to the mortise without actuating the rod
and catch. Surrounding the connecting rod is a spiral spring whose fore end
bears against an annular collar on the said rod and whose rear end bears against
a shoulder formed by the rear end of the mortise in which it works. This spring
serves to hold the catch in contact with the lugs on the barrels.
The T-headed pin is adjusted in its several positions by a thumb nut working
on a screw-threaded portion thereof. The nut is provided with a flange which
turns in a groove in the operating lever so as to form a bearing therefor.
The T-headed pin is also provided on either side near its lower end, with lugs,
which, when said pin is in its upper position (and its head out of and above the
mortise of the connecting rod) engage with corresponding notches in the lower ends
of side levers, which work on the same pivot as the operating levers, thus con-
necting the two below their pivot, so that when the operating lever is moved.

page_text: forward the side levers will be moved backward; whereas when the head of the
pin is in a position to operate the sliding catch its lower position-it will fail
to move the side levers, by reason of the side lugs being disengaged with the notches
in the lower ends of said levers.
The side levers are connected at their upper ends through the medium of links
with the lower projections of angle arms which are fulcrumed to the breech-block
so that a movement of the side levers causes the breech-block to slide in its
bearings. The extractor in the breech-block has lugs at top which are engaged by
corners formed on the forward ends of the angle arms so that when the side levers
commence to move backward the angle-arms rock forward and the corners on the
fore ends engage with the lugs on the extractor and force it forward until it
engages with the flange of the cartridge. At the same time that the extractor is
being moved forward the rear ends of the angle arms are being thrown up to
disengage their catches from their recesses in the stock at the sides of the breech-
block.
When the angle-arms have reached this position they cease to turn on their
pivots and the continued backward movement of the side levers causes the breech-
block to move backward, the extractor drawing the shell out of the bore and
making way for the next cartridge to enter. The discharged shell is drawn back
over the cartridge beneath it until the flange of the one comes in contact with the
flange of the other; then the continued backward movement of the extractor tilts
up the shell and throws it out. The extractor is then drawn in by the spring until
it is flush with the end of the breech-block and the end of the next cartridge is
inserted in the bore and carried in place to be shoved home by the forward
movement of the breech-block; thus the old shell is extracted, by the extractor in
the breech block; a new cartridge fed forward in loading position, by the spring
follower and the hammer cocked, in readiness for firing, at every forward (and
downward) movement of the operating lever, and the cartridge shoved home and
the breech closed when the lever is returned.
The hammers are cocked by the downward (and forward) movement of the
operating lever, said lever having lugs on either side, which serve as journals for
the lower ends of lifting links whose upper ends are slotted to receive a pin
projecting from each of two tumbler blocks-one on either side-to which the
hammers are attached through the medium of outwardly projecting lugs The slots
in the upper ends of the lifting links are of such length as to afford sufficient lost
motion to allow the operating lever to be returned to its closed or normal position
without drawing down the hammers which are held in their cocked positions by
the engagement of the upper ends of the triggers with notches in the rear sides of
the tumbler-blocks, which engagement is effected by an ordinary spring
The main or firing springs are located in mortises on either side of the stock
forward of the hammers and their free ends connected to the tumbler-blocks in any
suitable manner.
The firing pin which is alone operated when the piece is used as a magazine fire
arm, passes through a small groove in the front corner of the breech-block.
These improvements are applicable to guns having any number of barrels or
bores.
The invention also relates to an improvement in the construction of guns having
four barrels, two shot and two rifle, the rifle barrels being located between the shot
barrels. The shot barrels are on a horizontal plane with each other and between
them is a broad web in which is formed the rifle barrels, one of which is vertically
above the other. In making the barrels it is preferred to use one piece of metal as
it gives a stronger cheaper, and lighter gun than it would were the barrels made of
separate pieces and secured together by soldering or otherwise
The beads or sights are placed accurately over the rifle barrels.
The extractor used in connection with this device is constructed of a single plate
being bored so as to register with all the bores, and is operated in any well known
manner

page_text: It is
There are four firing-pins secured within the stock, in customary manner.
preferred to fire one shot and one rifle barrel with each hammer each of which has
secured to its face a firing block which is vertically adjustable thereon, so that
when it is desired to fire a particular barrel the block is adjusted up or down so
that it will strike the firing pin of that barrel. It is preferred to secure the firing
blocks to the hammers by dove tailed joints, and prevent them from slipping off
the tenons of the dove-tails by stop screws or pins. Should there not be sufficient
friction in the joint for the purpose of holding the blocks in the positions to which
they may be set, a conical headed pin is inserted in a small bore in the face of each
hammer, which pin is held out into contact with the block by a spiral spring in the
bore behind it. When sufficient pressure is brought upon the block the pin will
retreat and allow the block to be moved up or down as desired.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said George Macaulay-Cruikshank in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 22nd August 1883.
GEORGE MACAULAY-CRUIKSHANK of 135 Buchanan Street, Glasgow in the
County of Lanark, North Britain, Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH LOADING AND MAGAZINE FIRE ARMS," A communi-
cation to me from abroad by Martin Vojtech Kacer, Cooper, and William John Kriz,
Harness Maker, both of St. Louis in the State of Missouri, one of the United
States of America.
The said Invention relates to that class of magazine fire arms in which the
cartridges are contained in a chamber in the stock and lifted into position for
insertion in the barrel one at a time.
The improvements consist in a cartridge case constructed to receive the cartridges
in an oblique position and to guide the foremost cartridge to the breech-bore of the
barrel, the cartridges being advanced by a spring follower with an anti-friction
wheel travelling the bottom of the cartridge case. The improvements also consist
in the breech-block and cartridge extractor and in mechanism for moving and
locking the former, and for moving the latter: as hereinafter described and in
means for converting the gun from a magazine gun to a breech loading gun and
vice versa and in separating the barrels by a broad web and locating within this
web two rifle barrels, one over the other, so as to be between the two shot-barrels,
and not therefore destroying the appearance of this form of fire-arm, as hereinafter
more fully described, and further in a peculiar construction of hammer especially
adapted to this form of fire arm and certain other details hereinafter more
particularly set forth and claimed.
And in order that the said Invention as communicated to me may be properly
understood I now proceed more particularly to set forth the system mode or manner
in or under which it is or may be used or carried out in practice reference being
had to the accompanying drawings on which.
Figure 1 Sheet 1 is a side elevation of the breech of a gun illustrating the
invention.
Figure 2 is a detail top view of the same.
Figure 3 is a vertical transverse section on the line 3-3 figure 1
Figure 4 is a detail horizontal section on the line 4-4 figure 3.
Figure 5 is a detail perspective view of the cartridge extractor.
Figure 6 is a detail section of the hammer with face-block up and Figure 7 is a
similar view with face-block down.
Figure 8 is a perspective view of the cartridge follower.
Figure 9 is a longitudinal section with operating parts in elevation and in
position for firing, and Figure 10 is a similar view with shell on point of extraction.
Figure 11 Sheet 2 is a vertical section on the line 11-11 figure 9.
Figure 12 is a detail perspective view of the operating lever.
Figure 13 is a detail perspective view of the lever connecting pin.
Figure 14 is a transverse section on the line 14-14 figure 10.
Figures 15 and 16 are detail perspective views showing respectively the head of
the connecting-pin out of and in engagement with the connecting rod operating the
sliding catch by which the breech end of the barrel is held down in the breech-
frame.
Figure 17 is a view of the breech end of the barrels illustrating the rifle barrels
located in the web between the shot barrels.
Figure 18 is a view of the muzzle end of the same,

page_text: Taking position.
Figure 20 is a top plan of the same.
Figure 21 is a section on the line 21-21 figure 19.
Figure 22 is a detail top view of one of the hammers, showing the manner of
securing the sliding firing-block thereto.
Figure. 23 is a horizontal section of a hammer on the line 23-23 figüre 24,
showing a means for securing the firing-block from vertical movement
Figure 24 is an enlarged detail side elevation of the hammer showing the sliding-
block.
The improvements are applicable to single barreled guns or pistols or to those
having more than one barrel.
זי
B is
Referring to Figures 1 to 16 inclusive, A is the stock of the fire-arm.
the breech-frame and C the breech-block, shown partly in elevation and partly
in perspective to exhibit parts of the extractor within. D is the barrel
hinged to the breech-frame at E and having at the under side lugs F, as
usual; entering imortises in the breech-frame and locked therein by a sliding
catch G. The barrel may have a single bore or any number of bores d, the improve-
ment being applicable to a single bore or more. H is a lever beneath the stock
working on a fulcrum pin at I and forming the trigger-guard when in the position
shown in figures 1 and 9. J is a T-headed pin which is inserted in the lever H
as shown, the headj projecting through an open mortise k, at the rear end of the
connecting-rod K as seen more particularly at figures 15 and 16. The fore end of
the said connecting rod is hinged to the rear end of the sliding-catch G. so as to
enable the drawing back of the catch to release the lugs F, by the forward (and
downward) movement of the lever H. This movement of the connecting-rod K and
sliding catch G, follows when the pin J is in its lower position; so as to bring the
head into the mortise k so that the backward movement of the head will cause
it to impinge upon the corners k²; whereas when the pin J is in its upper position
the head jis lifted above the mortise k and the neck ? passes freely through the
narrow mortise inlet k³, without actuating the connecting-rod K. The pin J is'
adjusted in position in the lever H by a thumb-nut L that works on a screw
threaded part of the pin, the nut having a flange that turns in a groove in the
lever H so as to forin a bearing for the nut.
M, M are side levers turning on the fulcrum-pin I and extending down upon
each side of the lever H. These levers are notched at the lower ends at m to
receive lugs figures 13 and 14 upon the sides of the pin J when the said pin is
in its upper position and thus the side levers M will be moved with the lever H
when the lever H does not move the slide-catch G; whereas when the pin J is in
position to move the catch G the lever H fails to move the side levers M, the lugs 3
being out of the notches m. K" (figures 9 and 10) is a spiral spring surrounding the
connecting rod K and bearing at the front end against a collar K of the rod so as
to force the rod and catch G forward the rear end of the spring bearing against a
part of the breech-frame, suitably prepared for it. The upper ends of the side-
levers M are connected by a link N to angle-arms O pivoted at P to the breech-
block C so that the movement of the side levers causes the breech-block to slide in
its bearings. The breech-block has side-ribs C figure 11 working in grooves in
the breech-stock so as to be confined to a strictly end wise movement, from its
forward position, as seen in figures 2 and 9, when it bears against the rear end of
the cartridge, to its rear position, as in figure 10, when it retreats to give room for
the removal of the shell from the barrel,
Qis the extractor made use of to remove the shell when the fire-arm is used as a
magazine gun. When the breech is opened by bending down' the barrel on the
pin E the extractor D' acts as usual.
The extractor Q figure 5 is inserted in a socket in the breech-block the con-
struction being as follows;-The breech-block is bored through from end to end,
the central part of the bore being, of smaller diameter than the two ends. In the

page_text: front part of the socket is the fore end of the extractor 9 which is made thin so as
to spring up over the flange of the cartridge R to engage the catch q¹ over the
flange R¹ of the same.. Q, figure 9 is a screw whose stem passes through the
reduced part of the socket and whose head works in the rear enlargement C³ of the
socket. S is a spiral spring surrounding the screw Q' whose rear end bears against
the head of the screw and whose fore end bears against the annular shoulder C³ at
the fore end of the enlargement C. The spring acts to draw the extractor
backward until its fore end q' is flush with the fore end of the breech-block. The
extractor has lugs at top that are engaged by the corners o¹ of the arms O
when the side levers M commence to move backward and the extractor is thrown
forward to engage over the flange of the shell. At the same time that the
corners o¹ are moving the extractor forward the rear ends are being thrown up to
disengage their catches o from the recesses in the breech-stock at the sides of the
breech-block C. When the arms O have reached this position they cease to turn
on the pivot P and the continued backward movement of the side levers causes the
breech-block to move backward, the extractor drawing the shell out of the bore d
and making way for the next cartridge to enter the bore. The discharged shell is
drawn backward over the cartridge beneath until the flange of the one comes in
contact with the flange of the other, then the continued backward movement of
the extractor tilts up the discharged shell and throws it out. The shell beneath is
prevented from following it by the insertion of its end into the bore d.
The cartridges R are inserted in an oblique position in the magazine or case T, the
case being curved in such a manner at the fore end t as to throw upward the end
of the first cartridge and cause it to enter the bore d. The cartridges fit the sides t'
of the case so that they are kept in line. They are pushed forward by a follower-
block U that is caused to advance by a spring V, behind it, and whose lower end
carries an anti-friction roller u running upon the bottom of the case.
In loading the magazine T the breech-block is thrown back and the cartridges
forced one at a time into the magazine at the front end, the cartridges pushing the
follower backward.
The hammer is cocked by the downward movement of the lever H, said lever
having a lug h to which is hinged the lower end of the lifting link W whose upper
end is slotted at w to receive a pin upon the front side of the tumbler block Y to
which the hammer Z is attached. The slot w is of such length that the lever H
can be returned to its upper and backward position without drawing down the
hammer, there being sufficient lost motion to allow the upward and downward
movement of the hammer when the lever H is folded up against the under side of
the stock. The hammer-face strikes the firing-pin a and the latter causes the
discharge of the cartridge as usual.
The triggers are shown at 6'. The firing-pin a which alone operates when the
fire-arm is used as a magazine gun or pistol passes through a milled groove c in
the front corner of the breech-block. It will be observed that owing to the
position of the cartridges in the magazine (the cartridges being "central fire") that
nothing can at any time touch the detonating cap, so that there is no danger of
the discharge of a cartridge in the stock by any violent concussion.
We prefer to make the sides of the magazine with ribs t¹ that will form a rest
for the flanges R' of the cartridges in case the follower U shall (from any cause).
cease to act.
Referring to figures 17 to 24 inclusive (Sheet 2);-A represents the stock of the
gun, to which the barrels are secured in any ordinary way. B, B are the shot
barrels and C, C the rifle barrels. The shot barrels are on a horizontal plane with
each other and between them is a broad web b in which are the rifle barrels, one
of which is vertically above the other. In making the barrels we prefer to use
one piece of metal as it gives a stronger, cheaper and lighter gun than it would
were the barrels made of separate pieces of metal secured together by soldering or
otherwise.
The beads or sights are placed accurately over the rifle barrels,

page_text: A suitable extractor D figure 17 which will engage with the rims of all four
cartridges, is provided and operated in any well known manner.
There are four firing-pins E figures 20 and 21 located in the breechi-block one
for each barrel. We prefer to fire one shot and one rifle barrel with each hammer,
as shown.
F, F are the hammers. They have secured to their faces firing-blocks G, G
which are vertically adjustable so that when it is desired to fire a particular barrel
the block is adjusted up or down so that it will strike the firing-pin of that
barrel.
We prefer to secure the blocks to the hammers by dove-tail joints, as shown,
and prevent them from slipping off the tenons of the dove-tail by stop screws or
pins H, H. I is a conical headed pin working in a small bore in the face of the
hammer to hold the block to its adjustment, should there not be sufficient friction,
for the purpose in the joint. The pin is held out into contact with the block by a
spiral spring J behind it. When sufficient pressure is brought upon the block the
pin will retreat and allow the block to be moved up or down as desired.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said Inven-
tion and the system mode or manner in or under which the same is or may be used
or carried out in practice as communicated to me by my Correspondents what is
considered to be novel and original and is therefore claimed as the Invention
secured to me by the herein before in part recited Letters Patent is
First. A cartridge magazine in a fire-arm constructed to hold the cartridges in
an oblique position and having an upwardly inclined front end t leading to the
bore d of the barrel substantially as hereinbefore described and shewn on the
annexed drawings.
Second. The combination of the cartridge magazine with a spring follower U
with antifriction wheel or roller u as and for the purposes set forth.
Third. A sliding breech-block with spring cartridge extractor contained therein
substantially as herein before described and shewn on the drawings hereunto
appended.
Fourth. The combination of the breech-block with lifting catches pivoted thereto
with the cartridge extractor having lugs constructed to receive the impingement of
the corners o¹ of the catches, in their opening movement substantially as and for
the purpose set forth.
Fifth. The combination of the hand-lever H with side levers M connected with
the breech-block and catch-pin J substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Sixth. The combination of the catch arm 0, operating substantially as set forth
with a lever H, levers M connected therewith and breech-block C.
Seventh. The combination with the levers H and M and the catch G and con-
necting rod K of the pin J constructed to connect the parts together as and for the
purpose set forth.
Eighth. The combination of levers H, and M, arm O with catches o' thereon,
breech-block C, connecting pin J, rod K and sliding catch G substantially as herein-
before described and shewn on the appended drawings.
Ninth. The combination with the levers H and M of the slotted lifting link W
connecting the lever H with the tumbler-block of the hammer.
Tenth. The combination of the lever H, pin J for the purpose set forth, rod K,
spring L, and sliding catch G, for the purpose set forth.
Eleventh. The combination of gun having two or more bores d opened by
throwing up the breech, and a magazine discharging into one bore and combined
with the cartridge operating device, substantially as herein before set forth
illustrated on the appended drawings.
and
Twelfth. A compound gun barrel made in one piece of metal with a broad web b
and rifle barrels located within the web between the shot barrels, substantially as
hereinbefore described and shewn on the drawings hereunto annexed.
A
Thirteenth. In a breech-loading fire-arm the combination of the shot barrels B, B,
rifle barrels C, C,, firing pins E, E, E, E, and the hammers F, F each having a

page_text: sliding block G vertically adjustable substantially as hereinbefore set forth and
illustrated on the appended drawings.
Fourteenth. The hammer F, block G, vertically adjustable thereon, catch I,
within the face of the hammer and spring J, adapted to press the catch to engage
with the block, in combination with the firing pins E, E, and suitable barrels
substantially as set forth.
Fifteenth. The compound fire-arm substantially as herein described and shewn
on the annexed drawings.
In Witness Whereof I the said George Macaulay-Cruikshank have hereunto set
my hand and seal this fourteenth day of August in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty three.
GEO. MACAULAY CRUIKSHANK (L.S.)