Improvements in and relating to Quick-firing Guns and other Fire-arms.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Mar.. 1887
Complete Left, 30th Dec., 1887
Complete Accepted, 9th Mar., 1888
Improvements in and relating to Quick-firing Guns and other
Fire-arms.
I
I. HIRAM STEVENS MAXIM, of 57P Hatton Garden, in the County of Middlesex,
Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
.:
My invention relates to guns of tho kind or class for which numerous patents have
already been granted to me and which are now well known as automatic guns. It
also relates to other. guns or fire-arms.
One object of my present invention is to utilize the dynamic force of the smoke or
gases which escape from the muzzle of the gun when fired, for counteracting or
diminishing the recoil of the gun.
For this purpose I employ a disc or plate of steel or other metal which is attached
to the muzzle of the gun and which has a hole formed in it, so that, when the gun is
fired, the projectile will pass through the said hole, whilst the smoke or gases escaping
from the muzzle of the gun will impinge against the said disc or plate. The forco
exerted by the said smoke or gases upon the disc or plate pulls the gun forward after
the recoil thereof has commenced and before such recoil has had time to take effect
upon the mounting or carriage. Therefore the recoil will to a great extent be
counteracted and the shock produced thereby diminished.
The said disc or plate may be flat, concave, convex or of other suitable shape. It
may be set at a right angle or at any other suitable angle to the axis of the barrel.
In some instances, the said disc or plate is attached to a sliding piece provided with
a spring which tends to hold the said plate and sliding piece in their normal. position.
When the gun is fired, the said plate and sliding piece will be moved forward while
the gun recoils, and the said spring will be compressed or extended. The said spring
by its reaction will then move the said plate and sliding piece back to their normal
position.
If desired I substitute for the said disc or plate any other suitable device which can
be acted upon by the smoke or gases as, and for the purpose, above specified.
Another object of my said invention is to simplify and improve the construction of
the gun or fire-arm.

page_text: The barrel and breech-mechanism of my improved gun or fire-arm are arranged to
slide longitudinally in a trame or support mounted upon trunnions. The barrel is
provided with one or more springs which are compressed or extended in the recoil
and then react to effect the return movement of the barrel. 1 prefer to connect the
barrel with a piston working in a cylinder attached to the outer frame. This cylinder
is closed at its forward end so that, in the 'recoil, a vacuum or partial vacuum will be
formed therein.
The breech-block is arranged to slide in a chamber or slot in the breech of the gun,
in a direction transverse to the axis of the barrel. The said block is locked to the
barrel during the recoil and during a portion of the return movement of the barrel.
A crank is connected with the breech-block and is provided with a projection which,
in the return movement of the barrel, strikes the end of an arm or pawl pivotted to
the outer frame. The crank is thereby turned and the breech-block operated to open
the breechi, and a spring is compressed.or extended. In this movement of the breech-
block, the empty cartridge-shell is extracted and ejected and the extractor or extractors
engage with the breech-block and hold the same back until a fresh cartridge is
inserted into the barrel by hand. The flange of this cartridge strikes the extractors
and disengages them from the breech-block. The said spring then reacts and effects
the return movement of the said block.
The crank has a small amount of lost motion and is arranged to cock the firing pin
or striker before operating the breech-block to open the breech, so that the said firing
pin or striker is drawn out of the cartridge-shell before the breech-block is moved.
Two sears are provided, one of which is automatically disengaged by the said crank
after it has operated the breech-block to close the breech. The other scar is either
provided with a lanyard for effecting its disengagement or it is connected with a
trigger.
In some instances a shoulder-piece or crutch is attached to the outer frame.
It is obvious that my improvements are applicable to guns or fire-arms of various
sizes. It is evident, moreover, that some of my improvements are applicable both to
automatic guns and to guns designed to be operated by hand.
Dated this 30th day of March 1887.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: 1, HIRAM STEVENS MAXIM, of 57 Hatton Garden, in the County of Middlesex,.
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 :-
My invention relates to guns of the kind or class for which numerous patents have
already been granted to me and which are now well known as automatic guns. It
also relates to other guns or fire-arms.
One object of my present invention is to utilize the dynamic force of the smoke or
gases which escape from the muzzle of a gun when fired, for counteracting or
diminishing the recoil of the gun.
For this purpose I employ a plate or disc of steel or other metal which is attached
to the gun in such a manner that it occupies a position in front of the muzzle thereof,
and which has a hole formed in it, so that, when the gun is fired, the projectile will.
pass through the said hole, whilst the smoke or gases escaping from the muzzle of the
gun will impinge against the said plate or disc. The force exerted by the said smoke
or gases upon the plate or disc will pull, or tend to pull, the gun forward before the
recoil thereof takes effect upon the mounting or carriage.
Therefore the recoil will
to a great extent be counteracted and the shock or concussion produced thereby
proportionately diminished.
Another object of my said invention is to simplify and improve the construction of
automatic guns as hereinafter described.
In the accompanying drawings, I have shown how my said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a plan, and
Figure 2 a side elevation of part of a gun constructed according to my present
invention.
Figure 3 is a horizontal central section, and
Figure 4 a vertical longitudinal central section of the said gun.
5
Figure is a transverse section on the line x, x, Figure 4.
Figure 6 is a transverse section on the line ',, Figure 3, drawn to an enlarged
scale, and
Figure 7 is a side elevation, also drawn to an enlarged scale, illustrating details of
construction.
Figure 8 is a rear elevation, and
Figure 9 a section on the line 2, ², Figure 8, both drawn to an enlarged scale,'
showing the extractor detached.

page_text: Figure 10 is a side elevation, partly in vertical longitudinal central section and
- drawn to a reduced scale, showing the said gun upon a cone-mounting.
Figures 11 and 12 are sectional elevations, also drawn to a reduced scale, showing
modifications of my said invention, and,
Figure 13 is a sectional elevation drawn to the same scale as Figures 10, 11
and 12, illustrating a further modification of my said invention.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
A is the gun-frame which is provided with trunnions A¹ whereby it may be
supported in a suitable carriage or mounting; B is the barrel; C the breech-block.
The barrel and breech-mechanism are arranged to slide longitudinally in the frame A.
The barrel is provided at the breech end thereof with a slotted extension B in which
the breech-block C is fitted to slide up and down as hereinafter described. The
breech-block is guided in its vertical-movement by projections C¹ formed thereon and
fitting into corresponding recesses B2 in the extension B¹ of the barrel.
A spring B³ is arranged in combination with the frame A and barrel B as herein-
after, more fully described, so that it will be compressed during the recoil and will
then react to effect the forward or return movement of the barrel and breech-block.
Dis a shaft which is supported in bearings B formed on the underside of the
barrel at the breech-end thereof. The frame A is formed with a slot A to permit the
shaft D to move freely with the barrel and breech-block during the to-and-fro
movement thereof. The shaft D is provided with a lever D₁ for opening the breech
by hand, and with a forked lever d in which is fixed a pin d' connecting the two arms
of the said forked lever and engaging in slots C in the breech-block 0, so that, when
the lever D is turned through an angle of about 60° in the direction indicated by the
arrow in Figure 2, the pin will move the breech-block downward and open the
breech. The slots Care shaped as shown in Figure 4, the forward part thereof being
concentric with the shaft D so that the lever d will have a small amount of lost motion
therein for the purpose hereinafter explained.
An arm is fixed on the shaft D and a stop-lever or pawl is pivoted at ₁ to the
frame A when the parts are in the position shown in Figure 4, the said lever or
pawl brests upon the said arm d. The short arm * of the lever bis acted upon by a
spring stud 2, which is enclosed in a casing 63 fornied on or attached to the frame A,
and which tends to turn the said lever about its pivot at the termination of the recoil,
so that, in the forward or return movement of the barrel, the arm d² will engage with
the rear end of the lever b and the shaft D will be partially rotated and the breech
thus automatically opened. A stop or projection is formed on the casing ³ to
limit the downward movement of the lever or pawl b. The forked lever d is,
moreover, provided with a stop d³ which will impinge against the projection B³ on
the barrel and thus limit the downward movement of the breech-block.
The arm on the shaft D is enclosed by a casing E which is secured to the barrel B
by screws passed through holes E in the casing E. The lever or pawl b works in
a slot or aperture E' formed in the casing E.
J
The shaft D is provided with a coiled spring done end whereof is attached to a
hook de on a bush or sleeve d³ secured on the shaft D so that it will rotate therewith.
The said spring is enclosed in a casing E2 secured to the casing E by means of
screws e passed through elongated slots e in lugs E³ formed on the said casing E2.
The casing E is provided with a plate e² having formed or fixed thereon a hook e to
which is attached the outer end of the coiled spring d. The slots are enlarged at
one end as shown, so that, to remove, the casing E, spring d and bush or sleeve d³, it
is only necessary to turn the said casing through a small angle in the direction
indicated by the arrow in Figure 7, and then draw the said casing away from the
casing E, the larger parts of the slots e passing easily over the heads of the
screws e.
It will be seen that the coiled spring will tend to move the casing E' in the
reverse direction to that indicated by the arrow, and thus keep the narrow parts of the
slots e in engagement with the screws e, the casing E3 and parts, connected therewith
will therefore be held firmly in position upon the casing E.

page_text: F is the firing pin or striker, which is arranged to slide longitudinally between
guides on the breech-block C, and is formed with a central slot and with
recesses on its under side. A spring bears against the rear end of the firing
pin so that it will be compressed when the said firing pin is cocked, and will
subsequently react to fire the gun when the said firing pin is released as hereinafter
described. A bent cocking lever g is pivoted at g to the breech-block and extends
downward through the slot f in the firing pin, its lower end bearing against the pin d¹
of the forked lever d.
is a scar which is pivoted at h¹ to the breech-block C, and is forked as shown in
Figure 3, the arms thereof being provided with shoulders 2 which, when the firing
pin is cocked, engage with the recesses f¹. Springs ³ are secured at one end to the
said sear and bear at their other ends upon projections c¹ on the breech-block, so that
they tend to press the shoulders 2 into the recesses f¹. A lever is formed integrally
with the said sear and is designed to be actuated by a trigger h³ connected with the
said lever *, as shewn in Figure 2; or the said lever may be actuated by a lanyard
attached to its lower end, or by other suitable means for the purpose of disengaging
the said sear from the firing pin.
To prevent the pulling of the trigger to fire the gun before the breecli-block is in
its firing position, a safety sear i is pivoted at to the breech-block and is acted upon
by a spring whereby it is caused to engage with the recess in the firing pin when
when the said firing pin is cocked. This sear is arranged to be released
automatically by means of the pin d¹ as hereinafter described.
J is a forked extractor each arm of which is formed with a lip adapted to engage
with one side of the flange of a cartridge in the barrel. The said extractor is pivoted
at J to the breech-end of the barrel and is provided with an arm J2 which projects
beneath the breech-block, so that, when the latter is moved down to open the breech,
the said block will act upon the said arm J2 and turn the extractor about its pivot J¹
to extract the empty cartridge shell from the barrel. The extractor J is provided with
projections adapted to engage with a recess C in the top of the breech-block for
the purpose of holding down the said block until released by the insertion of a
fresh cartridge as hereinafter described.
To provide for facilitating the pointing of the gun, a crutch or shoulder-piece Kis
attached to one end of a rod K', the other end of which is firmly secured to the
frame A. To prevent injury to the gunner by the empty cartridge-shell when ejected
from the gun by the extractors J, a guard-plate K2 is so attached to the rod K that
it may be adjusted thereon to any suitable position and secured by means of bolts or
otherwise.
L is a hydraulic cylinder which is secured to a strong bracket or lug A³ on
the frame A, and in which works a piston L' the rod L whereof works through
stuffing boxes at the ends of the said cylinder. This device constitutes a brake for
controlling the recoil of the gun and it return to the firing position. The piston-rod
is firmly secured at its rear end to the projection or lug B on the breech-end of the
barrel, and is provided at its forward end with a cap or collar L³ secured thereon by
means of locking nuts L. This cap or collar connects the said piston-rod with the
spiral spring 133, which surrounds the cylinder L and bears at its rear end against the
bracket or lug A³.
The cylinder L is provided with an aperture or passage to permit the introduction
into the same of water or other liquid. The bore of the said cylinder is taper from
the rear to the forward end thereof, that is to say, the forward end is made larger in
diameter than the rear end thereof. In the recoil, the liquid in the cylinder L will
be forced from the rear to the front of the piston through the space between the said
piston and the sides or. walls of the cylinder, thus diminishing the force of the
recoil.
..
M is the plate or disc for counteracting the recoil by the dynamic force of the
smoke or gases which escape from the muzzle of the gun. This plate or disc may be
flat, concave, convex or of other suitable shape. It may, moreover, be set either at a
right angle or.at.any other suitable angle to the axis of the barrel.

page_text: In Figure 10 the said plate or disc is shown attached to the gun by means of rods N
firmly secured in a ring or annular piece N', which is screwed tightly upon the
muzzle of the gun.. The said plate or disc is formed with a hole M' for the passage of
the projectiles through it.
The operation of my improved gun, when constructed as hereinbefore described, is
as follows, that is to say:The parts are shown in the positions which they occupy
when the gun has been fired and is about to recoil in the frame A.
The force and velocity of the recoil are regulated or controlled by the spring B³
and by the piston L' working in the hydraulic cylinder L, and also by the smoke and
gases which escape from the muzzle and impinge upon the plate or disc M. At the
termination of the recoil, the stop-lever or pawl 6 falls in front of the arm d², and, in
the forward or return movement of the gun, the arm d² strikes against the extremity
of the said lever or pawl, whereby the shaft D is turned upon or about its axis in the
direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 4. In the first part of this movement, no
motion is imparted to the breech-block, the pin d moving in the concentric part of
the slots C². In the continued movement of the shaft D, the firing pin is drawn back
by means of the lever g, the safety sear i being at the same time set free so that it
springs into the recesses 2 in the firing pin F; the sear also engages with the
recesses in the said firing pin which is thus retained in its cocked position. The
breech-block is then moved down and engages with the tail end J of the extractor, so
that the latter is actuated to extract and eject the empty cartridge-shell. The further
downward movement of the breech-block is prevented by the contact of the stop d³
with the projection B on the barrel, and the said block is held down by the
projections on the extractor J engaging in the recess C³ in the top of the said block.
The gun is now ready to receive another cartridge, the flange of which, upon the said
cartridge being forcibly inserted into the barrel by hand, strikes the lips of the
extractor J and thus releases the breech-block from the projections and forces the
said extractor into the recesses provided therefor in the breech-end of the barrel.
The coiled spring d then reacts upon the lever d, which raises the breech-block and
closes the breech. During the latter part of the upward movement of the breech-
block, the pin d¹ strikes the lower arm of the safety sear and disengages it from the
recess in the firing pin F. It is obvious that, at the termination of the forward or
return movement of the barrel and breech-block, the arm will be beneath the stop-
lever; the said arm, when partially rotated by the spring das above described, will,
therefore, raise the said stop-lever. The gun is now ready to be fired by hand by
means of the trigger or equivalent device.
In starting the gun when the breech is closed and there is no cartridge in the barrel,
it is necessary to open the breech by hand. This operation is effected by turning the
lever D through an angle of about 60° in the direction indicated by the arrow in
Figure 2.
The rods N to which the plate or disc M is attached are, in some instances, fitted to
slide in holes in the ring or annular piece N¹ fixed on the barrel, and are provided
with springs O as shown in Figure 11, so that the said plate or disc will yield when
the gun is fired and will afterwards resume its normal position. In other instances, as
shown for example in Figure 12, the rods N are fitted to slide in holes in the ring or
annular piece N₁ and are secured in another ring or annular piece P fitted to slide
longitudinally upon the barrel and acted upon by a spring O¹ surrounding the barrel
between the said rings or annular pieces.
In the modification of my invention shown in Figure 13, the cylinder L is firmly
attached to the barrel and moves therewith, and the piston-rod L is secured at its
rear end in a lug A* formed on the frame A. The spring B³ is placed between the
said cylinder and the lug A. In this modification, moreover, a piston Q is connected
by its rod Q to the ring or annular piece P and is arranged to work in the cylinder L.
The forward end of this cylinder is formed with a recess L' which is gradually con-
tracted towards the end of the cylinder. In the recoil, the liquid in the cylinder L is
pressed against the rear side of the piston Q and tends to drive the same forward, so
that, at the moment when the projectile passes, through the disc.M and the gases strike

page_text: the said disc, the latter is actually moving forward. In the latter part of the recoil
and of the forward movement of the piston Q, the said piston enters the recess I, and
the space around the said piston for the passage of liquid from one side to the other
side thereof is thus gradually reduced, and the movement of the parts arrested without
concussion.
F
If desired I substitute for the aforesaid plate or disc any other suitable device
which can be acted upon by the smoke or gases, as, and for the purpose, above
specified.
It will be seen that the gun above described operates automatically in respect of the
opening of the breech, the extraction of the empty cartridge-shell and the cocking of
the gun, that is to say, all the operations, with the exception of the insertion of the
cartridges into the barrel and the releasing of the firing pin or striker, are auto-
matically performed.
The employment of the stop-lever or pawl pivoted to the gun-frame is an
important feature of my invention. It is obvious that, if desired, the position of the
said stop-lever or pawl may be reversed and the parts so constructed and arranged
that the breech will be opened in the recoil instead of in the forward or return
movement of the gun.
It is obvious, moreover, that the spring for effecting the return of the gun to the
firing position after its recoil may be arranged otherwise than as above described, and
if desired two or more springs may be used for this purpose. Also that any other
brake or controlling device may be substituted for those above described.
It is evident that my present improvements are applicable to guns or fire-arms of
large or small calibre, and that some of my said improvements are applicable both to
automatic guns and to guns designed to be operated by hand.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed I wish it understood that I
claim;
First. The above described method of providing for counteracting or checking
the recoil of a gun by the dynamic force of the smoke or gases which escape from the
muzzle thereof.
Second. The combination, with a gun, of a disc or equivalent device attached
thereto in front of the muzzle thereof and having a hole for the passage of projectiles
through the same (with or without one or more springs), all substantially as, and for
the purposes, set forth.
Third. The employment, in a gun wherein the breech-block slides transversely to the
axis of the barrel to open and close the breech, of means whereby the said block will
be held or retained in its open position and will be released and moved into position to
close the breech when, but not until a cartridge is inserted in the barrel, as above
specified.
Fourth.. A gun arranged to recoil in a frame or other support and to store up
energy in its recoil for effecting its forward or return movement, and provided with a
transversely sliding breech-block and means whereby the movement of the said block
to open the breech and extract the empty cartridge-shell will be effected automatically
in the recoil or in the forward or return movement of the gun, and the said block
will then be held or retained in its open position, and will be moved into position
to close the breech when, but not until a cartridge is inserted in the barrel.
Fifth. The employment of a stop-lever or pawl pivoted to the gun-frame so that, in
the recoil or in the forward or return movement of the gun, it will engage with the
mechanism for moving the breech-block to open the breech, as above specified.
Sixth. The combination, with the transversely sliding breech-block C, of the
shaft D having the arm or projection d, the spring and the stop-lever or pawl b,
substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Seventh. The improved gun consisting of the parts constructed and combined

page_text: substantially as described with reference to Figures 1 to 10 of the drawings and oper-
ating, as and for the purpose, above specified.
Eighth. The modification of my invention in which a piston is connected with the
disc M or its equivalent and works in a brake-cylinder attached to the gun, substan-
tially as described with reference to Figure 13 of the drawings, for the purpose above
specified.
Dated this 29th day of December 18ðí.
HIRAM S: MAXIM.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London.
Agents for the Applicant.