Improvements in Breechloading Small Arms.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Aug., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 24th June, 1893-Accepted, 29th July, 1893.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Breechloading Small Arms.
I THOMAS PERKES of 119 Jermyn Street St. James in the County of London
Gunmaker do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
-
1
This invention relates to improvements in the ejecting and lock mechanism of:
breech loading small arms and is applicable to cither hammer or hammerless double.
or single barrelled guns or other small fire arms turning on a hinge for loading
or unloading. In ejecting mechanism the spring is operated and compressed by the
knuckle of the gun or any moveable projection therein such as a rod slide, lever or
sliding main spring and the ejecting lever is made self cocking thus removing the
resistance to the closing of the gun found in ordinary ejecting small arms and
thereby facilitating the closing. In lock mechanism the spring. is operated by the
fore end the compression of the spring for firing being given by the fore end on
closing the gun and the expansion of its upper arm being allowed on opening such
expansion cocking the tumbler. In that part of my invention relating to ejector
mechanism, I so pivot or pin a V shaped spring in the fore end or other suitable:
part of the gun as to permit it to have a rocking or swinging motion, the rear or
turn end is towards the breech, and is suitably formed to engage with the knuckle
joint or other moveable projection therein such as a rod slide lever or sliding main-
spring. The ejecting lever is pivotted in front of the spring that is to say at the
muzzle end thereof and is suitably formed to engage with the free ends of the
spring. On opening the gun after being fired the turn end of the spring is rotated
upwards by contact with the knuckle joint or said moveable projection therein and
is thereby compressed until coming in contact with a suitable detent or catch it lifts
it out of a bent in the extraction leg and allows the spring by its expansion to
operate the ejecting lever. I do not confine myself to this particular form of
detent and withdrawal as others may be used. On closing the gun the projection
from the knuckle is gradually lowered and its resistance being at the same time
withdrawn from the turn end of the spring allows it to rotate downwards and the
upper arm of the spring to gradually expand and cock the ejecting lever. The
ejecting lever being thus self cocking there is none of the usual resistance to the
closing of the gun caused by the ejecting mechanism having to be cocked by
pressure on the extractor in closing the gun. The ejecting lever may either be
connected with the extractor leg and thereby on its cocking draw back the
extractor with it, or can be placed in front in the usual way and on cocking leave
the extractor free to return without resistance. The spring in my invention is'
always at rest until required for the purpose of ejecting whereas in ordinary
ejecting mechanism it is always in a state of compression when the gun is not being
tised.
In that part of my invention relating to lock mechanism the operation of the
spring is very similar to that hereinbefore described with reference to ejecting
mechanism. pivot or piu a V shaped mainspring with the turn end towards and
engaging with the fore end, the free ends of the spring engaging with the tumbler
which is suitably formed to receive them. On opening the gun the point of contact
on the fore end is gradually lowered the turn end of the spring following and
allowing the upper or pivotted arm to expand and cock the tumbler. On closing
the gun the point of contact on the fore end presses against the turn end of the
spring and by forcing it upwards gives it the necessary compression for firing. By
pivotting a main spring in this way and placing it in contact with the fore end I
greatly simplify the mechanism of a gun by dispensing with cocking rods levers
compressors and other devices for cocking the tumbler and compressing the spring.

page_text: The mainspring may be so arranged that it will operate the ejector spring by
means of a pivotted lever acting in combination with the two springs on opening
and closing the gun.
Instead of using a V shaped spring, I can use a flat one the rear end of which
is taken into a recess formed in the knuckle or in a moveable rod slide lever or
sliding mainspring therein. Or into a recess formed in the fore end as the case
may be, to give compression for ejecting on firing and to cause it to act as a lever
when required for cocking.
A V shaped spring can also be used in a similar way but in this case the upper
arm is shorter than that of the V shaped spring hereinbefore mentioned and does
not come in contact with the ejector,lever or tumbler.
1000
THOMAS PERKES.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Breechloading Small Arms.
I THOMAS PERKES of 119 Jermyn Street Saint James's in the County of
London Gunmaker 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 improvements in the ejecting and lock mechanism of
breechloading small arms and is applicable to either hammer or hammerless double
or single barrelled guns or other small fire-arms turning on a hinge for. loading or
unloading.
In ejecting mechanism the spring is operated and compressed by the knuckle of
the gun or any moveable projection therein such as a rod, slide lever, or sliding
main spring and the ejecting lever is made self cocking thus removing the resistance
to the closing of the gun found in ordinary ejecting small arms and thereby
facilitating the closing.
In lock mechanism the spring is operated by the fore-end, the compression of the
spring for firing being given by the fore-end on closing the gun and the expansion
of the spring being allowed on opening, such expansion operating to cock the
tumbler.
Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings show in longitudinal section the
ejecting and lock mechanism of a gun fitted with my improvements. Figure 1 shows
the gun closed with the ejecting mechanism at cock and the lock mechanism in the
fired position. Figure 2 shows the gun opened, the ejecting mechanism on the point
of being released, the ejecting spring being fully compressed and just ready to
completely withdraw the detent from the slot in the extractor leg." In the lock
mechanism, the hammer is at full cock and the main spring in position to be
compressed by the closing of the gun ready for firing.
Figure 3 shows the position of the parts in the ejecting mechanism when ejection
has taken place.
.
Figure 4 shows the main spring knuckle and a portion of the fore-end with the
recess and bearing surfaces in the fore-end for operating the turn end of the
main spring.
In the accompanying drawings similar letters refer to similar parts.
A is the extractor leg, A' the bent, B the ejecting lever, B1, B2, being the recess
therein to take the free ends of the spring. C is the spring pivotted at C², and
having a tongue or extension C, at the turn end. D is the detent taking into a
slot cut in the extractor. E is a rod working from and pivotted to the hammer,
and capable of operating the spring C on the fall of the hammer. F is the main
spring of the lock mechanism pivotted at F, G being the hammer and G1, G2,
the recess therein in which the free ends of the spring work. H is the fore end,
H', and H2, being bearing surfaces therein for operating the mainspring,

page_text: I will now proceed to describe with reference to the drawings and lettering the
operation of the various parts.
In that part of my invention relating to ejecting mechanism I pivot at C³, the
spring C, thereby permitting it to have a rocking or swinging motion.
The rear
or turn end is towards the breech, and is suitably formed to engage with the
knuckle joint or a moveable projection thereon. In the accompanying drawings a
spur C, is shown engaging with the rod E. The ejecting lever B is pivotted in
front of the spring that is to say at the muzzle end thereof and is formed with a
recess B1 B2 in which the free ends of the spring C engage. On opening the gun
after being fired, the turn end of the spring C is rotated upwards by the rod E,
which comes in contact with the spur C. This compresses the lower arm of the
spring on to B thereby giving the necessary force for ejection and causes the upper
or pivotted arm to be withdrawn downward from B' as shown in Figure 2.
Whilst this is taking place the cartridge is started in the ordinary way by one of
the various well known devices for extracting. I show in the accompanying
drawings a toe on the knuckle working in a slot cut in the extractor leg. After
extraction is finished I check the extractor leg by means of a pivotted detent D
working in a slot cut therein which abutting against A' holds the ejecting lever B
in the cocked position until required to eject as shown in Figure 2.
The lower arm
of the pivotted detent D is so formed as to come in contact with the turn end of
the spring C. As the spring C is being raised by the rod E, it gradually rotates
out of the slot in the extractor the detent D thereby allowing the lower arm of
the spring C at the required moment to expand and by its action on the ejecting
lever B, eject the cartridge case, as shown at Figure 3.
While the gun is opened and after ejection the spring C is held in the position
shown at Figure 3. On closing the gun the resistance of the rod E on the spur C¹
is withdrawn thus allowing the spring C to further expand and the upper or
pivotted arm working round the recess B¹ to rotate the ejecting lever B into the
cocked position. The detent D at the same time is returned by the action of a
spring into the slot cut into the extractor leg A, and the parts take the position
shown in Figure 1. If the gun be opened without firing the rod E being held in
the backward position is free to pass C and therefore does not operate the ejecting
mechanism.
The
The ejecting lever B being thus self-cocking there is none of the usual resistance
to the closing of the gun caused by the ejecting mechanism having to be cocked by
pressure from the face of the action on the extractor on closing the gun.
compression being given to the spring C on opening, there would be none of the
usual resistance on closing the gun even were the parts not so formed as to be self
cocking.
The spring C in my invention is always at rest until required for the purposes of
ejecting whereas in ordinary ejecting mechanism it is always in a state of
compression when the gun is not being used. Should there be any tendency in the
gun to close while reloading owing to the pressure of the ejecting springs this may
be checked by means of a bent in the spur in which the operating projection
(as rod E) may fall.
In that part of my invention relating to lock mechanism the operation of the
main spring F is very similar to that described with reference to ejecting mechanism..
I pivot at F the mainspring F having the turn end towards and engaging with
bearing surfaces H1, H2, formed on the fore-end H as shown at Figure 4, the free
ends of the spring engaging in a recess G1, G2, formed in the tumbler, G. On
opening the gun after being fired as at Figure 1, the bearing surface H' being
withdrawn from the turn end of the spring allows the spring to rock on its pivot,
the free ends to gradually expand and working in the recess at G' to cock the
tumbler G as shown at Figure 2, this operation being assisted if necessary by the
bearing surface H. On closing the gun the bearing surface Hi presses against
the turn end of the spring F and forcing it upwards compresses the lower arm on
to G2, thus giving it the necessary force for firing.

page_text: In double barrelled guns the parts would be in duplicate. A flat pivotted spring
may be used in lieu of the V shaped spring but I do not prefer it.
Having now 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 spring pivotied in one arm operated from the turn end and the free ends
engaging with a hammer or ejecting lever for the purpose and substantially as
herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. The combination of the ejecting mechanism B, B, B, C, C', C³, and D,
carried by the fore-end of the gun for the purpose and substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 24th day of June 1893.
THOMAS PERKES.