An Improved Shooting Rest for Breech-loading Fire Arms.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Dec., 1892-Accepted, 18th Feb., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Shooting Rest for Breech-loading Fire Arms.
I, HUGO BORCHARDT, a citizen of the United States of America, at present
residing at 62 Konigsgratzerstrasse 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 :-
The object of my invention is to obtain a shooting rest or gun carriage, upon
which a breech-loading small arm can be fixed in such manner that the recoil of
the discharged fire arm operates upon suitable parts of the rest and effects the
opening of the breech mechanism of the arm, whilst the replacing of these suitable
parts into their normal position, causes the closing of such mechanism and the
discharge of the fire arm.
In this invention the recoil of the fire arm is utilized only for opening the breech,
for which purpose it is sufficient even in fire arms of very small calibre, whilst the
replacing of the fire arm into its former position, the closing of the breech
mechanism, and the firing is effected by hand."
A very rapid and well aimed fire can be obtained even with single breech loaders,
but the rapidity of the fire increases with the so called magazine guns or repeating
rifles.
The invention is best adapted for defence behind temporary or stationary fortifi-
cations, but may be used also in the open field and the rest is accordingly provided
with a stationary or portable under structure.
I will now proceed to describe my invention aided by the accompanying drawings
which represent the rest arranged upon a stationary under structure and in which,
Figures 1 and 3 are side elevations of a rest constructed according to my inven-
tion, and upon which a rifle of the "Mannlicher type is mounted, the cylindrical
bolt of which moves only in a straight line and showing the friction lock in its
closed and open positions respectively.
,,
Figure 2 is a plan of Figure 1 with the rifle removed.
Figure 4 is a side elevation of a rest upon which is mounted with its lock open a
rifle of the "Mauser" type, the cylindrical bolt of which has a combined motion.
Figure 5 is a plan of Figure 4.
Figure 6 is a front elevation of Figure 1.
Figures 7 and 8 show to an enlarged scale modified fastenings for the muzzle end
of the rifle.
In the several figures like parts are indicated by similar letters of reference.
The stationary under structure consists of a bed A upon which a slide plate B
can be moved to and fro, and fixed in any desired position.
Upon this slide B revolves a turn-table C supporting a frame F, which rocks
upon the trunnions e fixed to the turn-table C.
A method of fastening the vertically rocking frame I, is by means of the bar I
jointed at to the turn-table C, and sliding through a clamp G jointed to the
frame F; and a method of arresting and fixing the turn-table C is by means of a
screw-break D.
Between the side bars of the frame F, near to its ends two swinging arms K. L
are pivotally mounted upon the upper ends of which are carried the devices by
which the rifle or fire arm is secured.
Between these two swinging arms K L, a third arm O, also pivotally mounted
upon the frame F is connected at the upper end by a spring rod Q with the bolt
handle of the rifle,

page_text: An obliquely arranged bar P connects the lower part of the swinging arm O with
the upper part of the rear swinging arm L in such manner that the motion of the
latter transmits an increased and accelerated motion to the swinging arm O at its
upper end.
To the rear swinging arm L is clamped a lever arm T bearing a friction roller u
and which is actuated by a cam V on a shaft which is adapted to be rotated by
means of the hand crank W.
The lever arm T and the cam V are so proportioned that if the lock is opened,
as in Figure 3, the roller u is immediately above the cylindrical part of the cam V
and so that if the crank W is turned, the cam V lifts the lever arm T sufficiently
to advance the swinging arm L, and with it the rifle into its forward position, as
indicated in Figures 1 and 2.
The devices for securing the rifle to the rest, and the mechanisms for opening,
closing, and firing the same must necessarily be modified according to the con-
struction of the rifle, but in all cases they must accomplish the following purpose.
The spring rod Q if moved backward, should open the bolt, and move it into its
extreme backward position, whilst if moved forward it should close the breech.
The pulling of the trigger and the consequent firing of the rifle should be
accomplished either by that portion of the obliquely disposed bar P projecting
rearward, or by any other moving part which will effect the desired object in due
time.
In Figures 1, 2, 3, and 6, a rifle the cylindrical bolt of which moves only in a
straight line is shown mounted on the rest.
The front swinging arm K supports a swinging bifurcated block n, between the
prongs of which the strap swivel or shackle of the rifle fits, whilst a bell crank
lever or hook engages and presses down upon the swivel by means of a thumbscrew,
and thus secures the rifle to the forked block n.
The breech end of the rifle is placed with the gap between the trigger guard
and the magazine box over a clamping bolt m turning in a bearing on the swinging
arm L and the rifle is clamped to the bolt m by screw nuts provided with
handles.
The spring rod Q jointed to the upper end of the middle swinging arm is
guided by means of a slot and a stud secured to the swinging arm L and engaging
the slot, and it is forked at its rear end, and this fork fits loosely over the bolt
handle and gives motion thereto.
A finger S on a crank lever supported by the obliquely disposed bar P acts
upon the trigger and is capable of adjustment by a suitably arranged set screw.
After taking aim by regulating and fixing the turn-table and the frame F
and after placing a cartridge in the magazine of the rifle everything is in readiness
for firing.
The crank W is now turned quickly in the direction of the arrow (see Figures 1
and 3) and by means of the cam V and the lever arm T, the three swinging
arms L, O, and K are thrown forward; the spring rod Q consequently draws the
bolt of the rifle forward and closes the breech, whilst the finger S a little delayed
in its motion pulls the trigger and fires the rifle.
The recoil throws the discharged fire arm back, and the bolt is consequently
opened by the spring rod and the rifle remains with its breech in the open state
until a second rotation of the crank W repeats the above operations.
From the foregoing description it will be seen that the closing of the breech and
the firing are executed by the turning of the crank W the speed of rotation of
which may be varied according to the will of the operator, whilst the opening of
the breech is effected automatically by the recoil.
In Figures 4, 5, and 7 is shown a rifle of the well known "Mauser" type and
which has a compound motion of the bolt.
Figure 7 shows a method of fastening the muzzle end of the rifle in position upon
the fork n by means of a curved spring.
The fork of the spring rod Q is of a spiral curved form so that it will act at the

page_text: first portion of its back stroke to turn the handle of the bolt upward and on its
return stroke to turn it downward.
Figure 4 also shows a modified arrangement for pulling the trigger.
This is accomplished by means of a rod actuated at the lower end by a
cam upon the shaft of the crank W, and at its upper end jointed to
crank Y carrying the finger S.
a bell
Figure 8 shows a further modification of the device for securing the rifle to
the forward swinging arm K.
A bayonet stud on the underside of the strap or band is inserted in an undercut
groove in the block n and is there clamped by a screw actuated wedge.
It is evident that in putting the invention into practice many variations of the
details of construction different from those which are shown in the drawings may
be employed to accomplish the same purpose without departing from the peculiar
character of the invention.
For example, the rifle in lieu of being placed upon vertical swinging arms
could be mounted upon a sliding support, whilst the arrangements for adjusting the
rest in both directions can be modified in many different ways but such modifica-
tions would not eliminate the characteristic features of the invention.
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. An automatic shooting rest for breech loading small arms, such as rifles_and
the like adapted to permit a universal adjustment of, and support the rifle, and by
the movement thereof to actuate the mechanism for opening, closing, and firing the
same substantially as shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.
2. In a shooting rest of the character referred to in Claim 1, a cam or lever
actuated by hand for the purpose of closing the rifle after it has been opened
automatically by the recoil thereof, and simultaneously firing the same, substan-
tially as shown and described.
3. In a shooting rest of the character referred to in Claim 1, an adjustable
trigger finger S which may be actuated by a rotating crank W, or by other
suitable mechanism substantially as shown and described and for the purpose
stated.
Dated this 19th day of December 1892.
WHITE & WOODINGTON,
27, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents.