A New or Improved Magazine Pistol.
Year: 1893

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Magazine Pistol.
I, HUGO BORCHARDT, a citizen of the United States of America, at present
residing at 62 Konigsgrätzer Strasse, Berlin, in the Kingdom of Prussia and
Empire of Germany, Mechanical Engineer, 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 :-
This invention relates to breech-loading magazine pistols actuated by the recoil
consequent upon the discharge of a cartridge.
The object of the invention is to provide a repeating pistol furnished with a
magazine containing a number of cartridges, and enclosed in the butt, and which,
by the recoil consequent upon the discharge of a cartridge, opens the breech,
extracts and ejects the empty cartridge shell, cocks the firing-pin, presses a live
cartridge, which has ascended from the magazine, into the barrel, and closes the
breech, so that the arm is ready to be fired.
The recoil of the arm is employed directly for opening the breech by overcoming the
vis inertia of the parts, and the force of various springs, which are compressed or
extended and the recoil is thus utilised to perform several operations, so that the
force thereof is completely absorbed or counterbalanced, the hand holding the arm
sustaining little or no shock.
During the rearward traverse of the parts to their extreme position the cartridge
uppermost in the magazine rises into the path of the bolt.
After the force of the recoil is exhausted, the various springs exert their reacting
power pressing forward the bolt and with it the uppermost cartridge until the latter
is driven home into the barrel and the breech closed.
In this way the recoil is used indirectly for closing the breech.
The pistol is now again ready to be fired by pressing the trigger.
An important feature of this new pistol is that the butt projects downward at
about right angles to the direction of the barrel whereby it rests much firmer and
more comfortably in the hand than the old-fashioned arm with sloping or curved
butt and consequently as the hand and arm muscles are not strained unnaturally
the aiming is easier and more exact.
And this effect is still increased by the absence of any shock at the discharge,
and by the novel distribution of the weight of the arm as the barrel is counter-
balanced by the rear portion of the pistol which extends backward above the hand
about to the wrist more or less according to the size of the pistol.
And in order that the said invention may be more clearly understood and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed aided by the accompanying drawings, more fully
to describe the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a left side view of a pistol constructed according to the present
invention, and showing the breech closed.
Figure 1A is an end view thereof looking towards the muzzle.
Figure 2 is a plan thereof.
Figure 3 is an axial horizontal section showing the pistol in a closed and cocked
state, ready for discharge.
Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal section showing the same in a discharged
state.
AL
Lowing the nistal in a closed state

page_text: Figures 8 to 11 show the magazine in the butt in different views and sections.
Figures 12 represent separate views of the spring stud and some other parts.
The pistol consists of four main parts, namely the butt k forming, with the lock
case a, one piece, and the trigger guard, the barrel b guided by its fork shaped
prongs in the case a; the bolt c with firing pin d toggle joint, f¹ springs
and other details relating thereto and in addition to the above parts the trigger
arrangement cartridge-magazine safety device and the like.
The ammunition consists of metal shell cartridges with cap at the base which are
raised from a sheet metal magazine m in the butt k by a spring m³ with the upper-
most one in front of the breech bolt c as soon as the latter has attained its extreme
rearward position and which upper cartridge after being driven home into the
barrel band after the breech is closed, is exploded by a blow of the firing pin d
upon pulling the trigger.
The recoil created by the explosion forces back in the grooves of the lock case a
the barrel 6 together with the prongs of the fork bearing the moveable parts of
the lock.
On the end of the prongs of the fork h is provided a spindle 'formed with two
trunnions supporting the rear link of the toggle joint working between the prongs
of the fork and which trunnions are guided in two horizontal slots in the walls of
the lock case a (in Figure 1 shown in dotted lines) and limit the back motion of
the barrel b.
•
The slots are covered on the outsides of the case a by plates / protecting the
trunnions against lateral displacement.
The rear portion of the link f¹ is widened to fit between the walls of the case a
and is furnished with a number of anti friction rollers the duty of which will be
hereinafter explained.
The front end of the link f₁ is widened to form handles g extending on both
sides across the prongs h and which afford a grip for the fingers so that the
breech may be opened by hand.
The link is jointed to the rear end of the front link f of the toggle-joint
which link is jointed to the bolt c at its upper side and furnished on its left
side with the lever f³, Figure 6, projecting in front of the nose d' of the firing
pin d working within the bolt c.
The bolt cslides and is guided by two side ribs e engaging in grooves of
the prongs shown more particularly at Figure 7.
nose d¹
The left one of the said ribs c' is also grooved longitudinally to make room
for the sear of the trigger lever i so that the sear hits and stops the
of the advancing bolt c whereby the firing pin d is cocked.
The firing pin d, is with the exception of the nose d' cylindrical and hollow
and actuated by a spring contained within it the rear end of which bears against
a screw plug in the rear end of the bore of the bolt c.
The front of the latter is bored out so as to receive the cartridge base and
at the top it is furnished with a spring extractor with claw and at the lower
part it is provided with a slot into which enters the spring ejector / when the
bolt c reaches its extreme rearward position.
The lock case a is closed at its rear end with the exception of the openings
necessary for the springs no the shape of the rear wall the thrust piece a¹
being shown in Figures 3 to 6.
The screw p passing through two ears of the case a not only keeps the
protecting cap p¹ in its place between the walls of the case a but serves also as
a fulcrum for the main spring n.
The shorter arm of the spring n rests against the outside of the case a whilst
the longer one is continued in a bow to the link or shackle n' swinging in a
suitable socket of the hind link f¹ of the toggle joint to which it is fastened in
well known manner.
A second spring namely the buffer spring o is secured by a pin o¹ within the
lower rear part of the case a.

page_text: The front portion of this spring o is bent upwards and forked to allow the
spring n to enter the space between the prongs of the fork.
At the discharge of the pistol the barrel and the prongs of the fork
together with the trunnions h¹ are thrown back as already mentioned above
until the friction rollers f' of the link f' strike the thrust piece a' and are
compelled by the shape of the face thereof to descend.
By this action the centre joint of the toggle links and the bolt e slide back
until the position of the parts as shown at Figure 6 is arrived at.
During this operation the empty cartridge shell strikes the ejector and is
thereby ejected having previously been extracted from the breech of the barrel b
at the beginning of these movements.
The recoil and the momentum imparted thereby to the moveable parts over-
come the resistance of the firing pin spring and of the mainspring n so that
the buffer spring o against which the friction rollers ✓ come has little to do
in counterbalancing those backward working forces which have not been already
absorbed.
This is the reason why this new pistol imparts no shock of importance to the
hand of the operator.
When the recoil from the discharge and the momentum of the parts is absorbed
the reacting forces of the compressed or strained springs come into action.
The spring n again straightens out the toggle joint ff' which until then has
been supported by the spring o the bolt c presses the raised cartridge into the
barrel 6 which has been again advanced and the nose d' is held in its cocked
position by the sear of the trigger lever i.
These motions succeed one another so quickly that the eye cannot follow
them and are completed before the finger which has pulled the trigger 9 has time
to release it.
C
In order that the nose d¹ may be engaged by the sear of the trigger lever i by
the time the bolt closes the breech the trigger lever is furnished at its front
end with a pin adapted to be pressed back into an axial bore of the trigger lever i
but which is normally projected by means of a coiled spring within so that when
advanced it engages the bevelled end of the trigger arm q' in Figure 5.
The trigger army which is placed on the left side of the lock case a in front of
the butt kis guided in and by an arc shaped groove in the lock case a and is
retained in this groove by a cover made in one piece with the trigger 9 which
is pressed forward by a spring and with the counter trigger q³.
The one sided position of these parts is the reason for placing the two triggers
and 92 and also the trigger guard one sided notwithstanding that these parts could
be arranged also in a central plane.
The rear arm of the trigger lever i and consequently its sear are normally
pressed inwards by the spring i.
Figure 5 shows the pistol ready to be fired.
When the trigger is pulled the bevelled top end of the trigger arm q' slides
across the pin and presses this end of the trigger lever i inward; whereby the
other end causes the sear to release the nose d' of the firing pin d and the cartridge
is fired.
By the backward traverse of the barrel b and the prongs of the fork h the
trigger lever i mounted thereon is moved back and the pin is drawn back from
the trigger arm g' so that the sear of the trigger lever i is pressed inward by the
spring
с
The nose d' advancing with the bolt c is stopped by the sear of the trigger lever i
and the firing pin d becomes cocked.
At the same time the trigger lever i advances also and the pin comes against
the elevated trigger arm q' and is thereby pressed into its seat in the trigger
lever i.
Releasing the trigger 9 or pushing the counter trigger q* forward moves the

page_text: trigger arm q' downward whilst the pin
and the pistol is again ready to be fired.
springs forward into its normal position
The cartridges are contained in a suitable sheet metal magazine m inserted
from below into the hollow butt & and kept in its position by a spring stud r catching
into a corresponding recess m' at the upper end of the rib formed by the connection
of the walls of the magazine m.
A push with the thumb upon the stud head projecting on the left side of the lock
case a releases the magazine m so that it may be extracted from the butt k by
drawing it downward by means of side knobs m² or projections then it may be
replaced by another full one or refilled.
The cartridges are retained in the magazine against the pressure of the spring m³
Figure 11 which forces them upward by inwardly turned lips m* of the magazine
walls overlapping partially the hind portion of the uppermost cartridge Figures 8
and 9.
The back of the magazine is at its top cut away so that the advancing bolt c is
enabled to push the cartridge out of the lips m' and into the barrel b.
The spring stud r is actuated by the flat spring see Figures 12 which also
takes a bearing under the safety slide u and assists to render its motion steady and
smooth.
This safety slide u is guided by a corresponding groove milled in the outside of
the lock case a.
When the pistol is not secured against accidental discharge the top edge of the
safety slide u lies flush with that of the lock case a.
If it is desired to secure the pistol against accidental discharge the safety slide u
is pushed upward across the rear arm of the trigger-lever i behind a projection
therefrom whereby the sear is prevented from moving outward and whereby the
barrel with its fork h is made immoveable.
At the same time the trigger q becomes fixed as the trigger arm g¹ now engages
the immoveable pin within the trigger lever i.
The safety slide u as well as the spring stud is conveniently manipulated by the
thumb of the right hand whilst holding the pistol by the butt k.
The sight is mounted upon the top of the thrust piece a¹ of the lock case a and
the front sight v¹ upon the barrel near the muzzle by which arrangement it is
possible to obtain a very accurate aim.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
-
1. A magazine pistol which by the recoil of the discharge automatically opens
its breech extracts and ejects the empty cartridge shell cocks the firing pin pushes
a cartridge which has ascended from the magazine into the barrel and closes the
breech the parts being so arranged that the barrel together with the locking
mechanisms constitutes an actual pistol adapted to be fired in combination with a
support or handle the butt of which contains the cartridge magazine and supports
the barrel and the devices for opening and closing automatically the breech of the
arm substantially as shown and explained.
2. In a recoil magazine pistol of the character referred to in Claim 1 the breech
closing mechanism consisting of the toggle joint (ff¹) the front link (f) of which
is jointed to the breech bolt (c) and the rear link (1) of which furnished with
friction rollers (f) oscillates round a spindle or axis (1) the trunnions of which
slide in slots in the walls of the lock case a in combination with the fork (h) forming
one piece with the barrel (b) and guiding the breech bolt (c) with contained firing
pin (d) and with the lock case (a) carrying at one side the trigger lever (i) which
cocks and releases the firing pin (d) substantially as shown and described and for
the purposes explained.
3. In a recoil magazine pistol of the character referred to in Claim 1 the butt k

page_text: containing the cartridge magazine and the lock case (a) forming one piece with the
butt in combination with a barrel (b) and its fork (4) moving back and forth
between the walls of the lock case (a) together with the closing mechanisms whilst
the rear portion of the lock case (a) forms a thrust piece (a¹) by means of which
and of suitable springs (no) the said mechanisms open and close by the recoil of
the breech and in further combination with devices for firing (791) and securing (u)
the pistol against accidental discharge substantially as shown and described and
for the purposes set forth.
4. In a recoil magazine pistol of the character referred to in Claim 1 the toggle
joint (f) in combination with a thrust piece (a') situated behind the hand
substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.
5. In a recoil magazine pistol a cartridge magazine (m) inserted into the butt (k)
in combination with a spring stud (7) arranged in that part of the arm which is
grasped by the hand substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
6. In a recoil magazine pistol of the character referred to in Claim 1 a safety
device by which the sear of the trigger lever (i) is rendered immoveable by shifting
a safety slide (u) or its equivalent across the said sear so that the firing pin (d)
is prevented from advancing substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
7. In a recoil magazine pistol a safety slide (u) arranged on the side thereof in
combination with a trigger lever (i) carried by the moveable fork (/) which form
one piece with the barrel (b) and also in combination with the trigger arm (9') and
the trigger (1) carried by the immoveable lock case (a) of the pistol in order to
render immoveable whilst the slide (u) is in the safety position the firing pin (d) as
well as the barrel (6) with closing mechanisms and the trigger (9) substantially as
shown and described.
8. In a recoil magazine pistol the arrangement of a trigger arm (9') with
trigger (g) on or in the stationary portion thereof swinging round a pin or in a
groove round an imaginary centre in combination with a trigger lever (i) in or on
the moveable portion substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
9. In a recoil magazine pistol a spring pin (i) in the axial bore of the trigger
lever (i) in combination with the trigger arm (g') substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
10. In a recoil magazine pistol a main spring (n) carried by the rear part of the
lock case (a) in combination with the rear link (1) of the toggle joint and acting
to draw the latter simultaneously downward and forward substantially as and for
the purpose set forth.
11. In a recoil magazine pistol the thrust piece (a') of the lock case (a) in
combination with friction rollers (f) on the extreme rear end of the rear link (f')
of the toggle joint substantially as and for the purpose explained.
Dated this 6th day of October 1893.
WHITE & WOODINGTON,
27, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents.