BREECH LOADING FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1885

page_text: I, REUBEN S. CHAFFEE, of Springfield, in the County of Sangamon, and State
of Illinois, United States of America, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature
of my invention for BREECH LOADING FIRE-ARMS, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :—
I, REUBEN S. CHAFFEE, of Springfield, in the County of Sangamon, and State
of Illinois, United States of America, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature
of my invention for BREECH LOADING FIRE-ARMS, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:-
Figure 1. Is a side view of my gun, showing only the outline of the stock.
Figure 2. Is a plan view of the same.
Figure 3. Is a longitudinal section.
Figure 4. Is an inverted view of the magazine tube.
Figure 5. Is a side elevation of a portion of the magazine tube, and the loading
bars.
Figure 6. is a longitudinal section of the same.
Figures 7, 8, 9, and 10, are different views of the grooved plate, and its
attachments.
Figures 11, 12, 13, and 14, are detail views of the loading bars.
Figures 15, and 16, are sections of the receiver.
Figures 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, and 22, are views of the firing bolt, and its
attachments.
Figures 23, 24, 25, and 26, are detail views of the devices for connecting the
loading bars with the firing bolt.
Figures 27, and 28, are section of the stock and the magazine tube.
A, represents the stock of the gun, in which is placed in the usual manner, the
magazine tube B. This tube consists of a round upper portion, in which the
cartridges rest, and the rectangular lower portion into which the loading bars C, C¹¹,
and D, are placed. The central bar C, has a hook, or catch a', formed upon its
outer end, for the purpose of engaging with a similar hook b, formed upon the
cover C¹, for the lower end of the magazine tube. When this cover C₁, is open for
the purpose of filling the tube with cartridges, the hook b, upon the inner side of
the cover C¹, causes the central bar Ċ, an endwise movement, for the purpose of
depressing the other two bars C, D. When the cover C¹, is closed, all three of
the bars are forced upward, so that their lower edges project up into the round
portion of the magazine tube, as shown in figure 27, for the purpose of locking the
cartridges in place in the tube, and out of contact with each other, but when the
cover C, is open, the upper edges of the three bars are depressed so as to leave

page_text: .
the magazine tube, B, free to allow the cartridges to be freely poured into or
removed from the tube. Each of the bars C, D, have notches made in their
upper edges for the purpose of catching the flanges of the cartridges, and thus
holding the cartridges in place in the magazine tube, and out of contact with each
other, for the purpose of preventing accidental explosion, by one cartridge striking
against the other.
Each of the bars C, D, have suitable projections a, formed upon their inner
edges for the purpose of catching under the lower edge of the bar O, and forcing
the bar C, upward when the cover C¹, is closed. In order to enable the central
bar C, to depress the other two bars when the cover C¹, is opened, suitable
inclines C, are formed upon the lower edge of the bar C, and which inclines
catch over the projections a, on the bars C, D, and thus depress these two bars
when the bar C, is moved endwise by the cover. Also formed upon the bottom of
the bar C, are suitable stops D¹¹, which serve to limit the movement of the bar D,
which feeds the cartridges forward into the gun. The bar C, has simply a rising
and falling movement, whereas, the bar D, has not only a rising and falling movement,
but an endwise movement for the purpose of forcing the cartridges, one after the
other, into the breech of the gun. In order to force the bars upward, when they
are left free to move by the closing of the cover C¹, the pronged springs E, are
placed in the bottom of the magazine tube, and the prongs of these springs press
against the lower edges of the bars C, D, and force them upward. These springs
are each provided with a small pin, or projection E', which snaps into the small
opening made in the bottom of the magazine tube, for the purpose of holding the
springs in position. In order to remove one of the springs it is only necessary to
press upon the central portion of the spring, and the pin or projection E¹, becomes
detached, and then the springs can be forced endwise and removed. In order to
lift the cartridges upward, as they are forced beyond the end of the tube B, the
spring G, is used, which spring may be attached either to the inner end of the
central bar C, or to any other suitable part. This spring raises the rear ends of
the cartridges up sufficiently to allow the inner end of the firing bolt to catch upon
them, for the purpose of forcing the cartridges into the rear end of the receivin
chamber.
This
Pivoted to the front end of the bar D, is the connecting rod H, which has a
small projection or stud X, formed on its front end for the purpose of engaging
with the arm I, which forms a part of the cartridge extractor. The cartridge
extractor J, is removably attached to the front end of the firing bolt K. The
arm I, projects down outside of the receiver, for the purpose of engaging with the
arm H, on the front end of the loading bar D. Secured to the side of the receiver
is the plate F, which is provided on its inner side with the grooves Gu, H", in
which the projection M, on the outer side of the locking plate L, moves.
locking plate has a groove on its inner side which catches over the arm I, and
serves to lock the projection X, on the front end of the rod H, in the notch which
is formed in the front edge of the arm I, as shown. When the locking plate L, is
raised above the projection, on the front end of the rod H, as shown in dotted
lines in figure 26, the arm I, is released from the rod H, and hence does not move
the loading bar D, back and forth with the firing bolt. As soon as the arm I, and
the rod H, are disconnected, the cartridges are no longer fed forward from the
magazine, and then the gun is to be loaded by hand, like all other breech loaders.
The lower end of the arm I, which extends down between the side of the receiver,
and the grooved plate F", bas a notch in its front edge, which comes just opposite
the lower groove H", and it is at this point that the front end of the rod H, is
locked to the arm by the plate L. The locking plate L, has a rising and falling
movement at the front ends of the grooves G, H, and is moved from one groove
to the other by the pivoted thumb piece N. This thumb piece has a notch made
in its lower rear end, as shown in figures 9, and 10, for the purpose of catching
over the projection M, upon the locking plate. When the locking plate L, is raised
upward so that projection M, comes just opposite the groove G₁, the arm H

page_text: '
becomes disconnected from the arin I, so as to throw the magazine out of operation,
and then the locking plate moves freely back and forth with the arm I, without
producing any effect. When, however, the plate L, is depressed by the thumb
piece N, so as to bring the projection M, opposite the groove H, the plate L, again
locks the rod H, to the arm I, and the magazine is brought into operation again.
Applied to the outer side of the grooved plate F1, is a spring Z, which has a
projection upon its inner side which extends through the grooved plate F11, for the
purpose of bearing against the locking plate L, and holding it in any desired
position.
In the front end of the firing bolt K, is made a suitable recess in which the
cartridge extractor J, is placed, and this extractor is secured to the bolt by means
of the spring latch O, which is pivoted in a recess made in the top of the bolt, as
shown. This latch O, has its pivot passed through it to the rear of its center, and
pivoted in the rear end of the latch is a cam lever P, by means of which the
forward end of the lever can be locked down upon the extractor.
When the cam
is raised, the spring latch O, allows the extractor to be removed. By means of .
this latch, the extractor is secured to the forward end of the bolt, in such a manner
that while the extractor is carried back and forth with the bolt, the extractor does
not turn with it. By means of this construction, a solid extractor is produced,
and the latch which holds the extractor in place, acts as a spring to allow the
extractor to give sufficiently to catch over the flanges of the cartridges when used
as a single loader.
Secured to the outer side of the rear end of the receiver, on the opposite side
from the arm of the extractor, is a spring Q, the front end of which projects
through a slot made in the side of the receiver, as shown, and on the inner edge of
this spring, where it extends over the top of the lower portion of the receiver, is
'made a suitable shoulder Q1, against which the rear end of the cartridge strikes as
it is being drawn backward by the extractor. This spring serves a double function;
by projecting out over the top of the cartridge it prevents the cartridge from
rising upward in the lower part of the receiver, until the bolt is pushed forward,
and by snapping inward, when the bolt is being drawn backward, it throws the
shell out, clear of the receiver. This spring projects just sufficiently in the
way of the travel of the bolt, to be pushed back and forth as the bolt is moved
past it.
In the bottom of the receiver is made a chamber N¹, into which the cartridges
are forced as they first come from the magazine, and the front end of this chamber
is inclined upward so that as the rear end of the cartridge is being pushed forward
by the bolt, the front end of the cartridge rises upward so as to be pushed directly
into the chamber. The bolt K, has a firing pin passed through its center, in the
usual manner, and is provided with the handle P₁, for moving the bolt back' and
forth. In the rear end of the bolt are made two recesses Q1, R, the one being just
in the rear of the handle P', and the other slightly to one side of it. The thamb
piece S, which is secured to the rear end of the firing pin, has an arm T, projecting
forward, and which is provided with a spring U, for catching in these recesses R, Q
and uniting the bolt and the thumb piece together. Between this thumb piece and
the rear end of the bolt is placed a sleeve V, which has a stud or projection W,
extending outward from its upper side so as to catch in the slot that is made in the
arm T, and thus prevent the sleeve from turning around with the bolt. The sleeve
and the thumb piece turn together at all times. This sleeve V, fits over the rear
end of the bolt, which is shaped as shown in figure 20. While the sleeve is fitted
upon the end of this bolt, the spring U, in the arm which projects forward from the
thumb piece over the rear end of the bolt, catches in one of the two recesses; and.
thus binds the thumb piece and the sleeve to the bolt. By turning this thumb piece
so that its arm catches just behind the end of the handle, as already described, the
thumb piece is pushed backward so as to leave a space between the inner end of
the sleeve V, and in this space the trigger catches at half cock. When the thumb
piece is turned so that its spring catches in the other notch Q", the thumb piece,
÷
t

page_text: sleeve, and bolt are all in close connection with each other. When it is desired to
remove this thumb piece for the purpose of getting access to the firing bolt, which
is secured directly to this thumb piece, and projects forward directly through the
sleeve and bolt, it is only necessary to pull backward upon the thumb piece until
the front end of its spring is drawn out of the notch in which it is caught, and
then turn the thumb piece around just sufficiently to uncouple it from the rear end
of the bolt, and then the thumb piece, the sleeve, the firing pin, and its spring can
all be removed at once. By means of this construction, access can be had to the
firing pin at any time, without removing anything more than the thumb piece,
thus making the construction much cheaper and simpler, and enabling the firing pin
to be taken out without having to remove or take apart a considerable portion of
the gun.
In the under side of the thumb piece is formed a notch in which the trigger
catches, and this notch forms a safety catch. While the trigger is caught in this
notch the thumb piece is held back out of contact with the sleeve, and the firing
pin is drawn back so that its end does not project beyond the front end of the bolt
so as to come in contact with the cartridge. When the bolt is drawn back to full
cock, as shown in figure 19, the trigger catches against the front edge of the
thumb piece, in which position the spring around the firing bolt is compressed,
so that as soon as the trigger is pulled, the gun is fired. When the bolt has been
pushed forward, and the handle turned down behind the shoulder, and the thumb
piece is drawn back to the safety notch, or half cock, the front end of the spring U,
in the arm T, which projects forward from the thumb piece, catches in the notch in
the rear end of the bolt, slightly to one side of the handle, and as the arm, when
the trigger is pulled, flies forward, it forces the firing pin against the cartridge. It
will be noticed that as the rear end of the cartridge is raised upward by the
spring G, and the inclined shoulders Y, the cartridge will be held in, or almost in a
horizontal position. The rear end of the cartridge then projects upward just far
enough to be caught by the front end of the bolt. As the cartridge is moved for-
ward the inclined front end of the receiver and the shoulders Y, cause the cartridge
Where the cartridge is
to rise upward on a level with the bore of the gun.
presented to the bore, at an oblique line, the gun is more or less inclined to clog,
but where it is presented on a straight line to the bore, as here shown, clogging is
impossible.
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. In a breech loading fire arm, the combination of the firing bolt, an arm, or
other device, connected thereto, and carried back and forth with the bolt, the
magazine tube, and the loading bars placed therein, one of the loading bars being
provided with a connecting rod for connecting it to the arm, or device, on the firing
bolt, substantially as shown.
2. In a breech loading fire arm, the combination of the firing bolt, an arm, or
other device, connected thereto, the loading bars, the magazine tube, a connecting
rod attached to one of the loading bars, and a mechanism for connecting and
disconnecting the connecting rod and the arm, or other device, attached to the
firing bolt, substantially as described.
3. The combination in a breech loading fire arm, of an arm which is attached to
the firing bolt, a grooved plate, or casting, secured to the side of the gun opposite to
the firing bolt when in position, a vertically moving locking plate which is carried
back and forth on the arm which is attached to the firing bolt, a pivoted shifting
device for moving the locking plate, and the loading bars, one of which is provided
with a connecting rod, which is adapted to be connected to, and disconnected from
the firing bolt, substantially as shown.
4. In a breech loading fire arm, the combination of the grooved plate, or casting,
which is applied to the side of the receiver, an arm which is secured to the firing
bolt, so as to move back and forth therewith, and which arm has a groove or recess

page_text: in its front edge, a vertically moving locking plate, which is carried back and forth
with the arm, a shifting device for moving the locking plate, and the loading bars,
one of which is provided with a connecting rod which has a projection upon its
front end, and which connecting rod is adapted to be connected to and disconnected
from the arm that is secured to the firing bolt, substantially as described.
5. The combination of a magazine tube, provided with holes in its. lower edge,
with the loading bars C, C, D, which are placed therein, the springs E, having
their ends pronged as shown, and provided with the small projections E¹, which
snap into the holes or recesses formed in the lower edge of the magazine tube; the
prongs of the springs being made to bear against the bars C, D, for the purpose of
forcing them upward, substantially as set forth.
6. The combination of the magazine tube, with the loading bars C, C, D, the
bar C, being provided with the inclines C, and the stops D₁, and the bars C¹¹, D,
being provided with suitable projections a, which bear against the under side of the
bar C, with suitable means for moving the bar D, back and forth, and suitable
means for moving the central bar C, endwise, substantially as specified.
7. The combination of the firing bolt, the cartridge extractor J, the pivoted arm
or lever O, and the cam P, which is pivoted to the arm or lever for locking it down
in place, substantially as set forth.
8. The combination of the firing bolt, a cartridge extractor loosely attached
thereto, a holding device, or lever, pivoted in the bolt, and a means for locking the
lever or holding device down in place, substantially as specified.
9. The combination of the thumb piece S, having the firing bolt secured to it,
and provided with the arm or extension T, the spring U, the sleeve V, having the
the projection W, and the firing bolt, having its rear end to fit in the sleeve V,
and provided with the notches Q", R, substantially as specified.
10. In a breech loader, the receiver, having a slot cut through its rear end, with
a spring Q, having a shoulder formed upon it, to project through the slot, and act
both to hold the cartridge up and to eject the shell after the gun has been fired,
in combination with the firing bolt, substantially as shown.
11. In a breech loading fire arm, the receiver, provided with an incline at its
front end, and shoulders Y, at its rear end, in combination with the spring G, and
the firing bolt, whereby the cartridge is presented horizontally to the bore of the
gun, substantially as set forth.
DJ IL: BALL
Ch 1007