IMPROVEMENTS IN MAGAZINE FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MAGAZINE FIRE-ARMS." A communication from abroad
by Christopher M. Spencer, of Hartford, Connecticut, and Sylvester H. Roper,
of Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America, Mechanical Engineers.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th April 1882.
"
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent
Agents, Southampton Buildings, London. IMPROVEMENTS IN MAGAZINE FIRE-
ARMS." A communication from abroad by Christopher M. Spencer, of Hartford,
Connecticut, and Sylvester H. Roper, of Boston, Massachusetts, United States of
America, Mechanical Engineers.
The object of this Invention is to provide for the re-charging of a magazine
shot-gun, without requiring the gun to be taken down from the position in which
it has been fired.
I accomplish this result by means of a forked slide provided with a handle
which is arranged beneath the barrel in a convenient position to be grasped and
reciprocated by one hand while the gun is held against the shoulder by the other
hand, whereby the stock is grasped. One arm of this forked slide carries at its
end a laterally projecting pin upon which is a friction-roller that traverses a cam
groove provided with a spring tongue or swinging cam in the side of an oscillating
breech-block.
.
The oscillation of the breech-block is effected by the reciprocating friction-roller
or cam-pin, in conjunction with the main-spring of the lock, which, in addition
to its ordinary function of driving the hammer forward when the gun is fired, also
acts upon the breech-block with a constant upward pressure.
The rear wall of the receiver is curved concentrically with relation to the axis
of oscillation of the breech-block and affords a bearing for the rear end of the said
breech-block which serves to take up the recoil.

page_text: The friction-roller, hereinafter termed the cam-pin, during the latter part of
its backward movement strikes against, and throws backward, the hammer, and
thus cocks the gun.
The
A horizontal slot in the side wall of the receiver permits the inward projection
of the cam-pin, which operates the breech-block, and this slot is covered by
metallic plate which is screwed to the exterior of the wall of the receiver.
opposite wall of the said receiver is similarly slotted, and covered with a metallic
plate.
The other arm of the slide carries an oscillating catch, which, in its backward
movement, strikes against the edge of the plate covering the slot in the wall of the
receiver, and, being rocked or forced inward, catches the flange of the shell in the
chamber of the gun. By the continued backward movement of the said slide
the shell is extracted and deposited in the grooved top of the breech-block, the
breech-block having been thrown down from the firing position by the first
portion of the backward movement of the cam-pin carried by the other arm of
the slide.
The groove in the side wall of the breech-block is of such shape as to permit the
breech-block to be thrown upward by the main-spring when the cam-pin has
completed its backward movement.
The sudden upward movement by the breech-block throws out the empty shell
from the groove in its top, and one of the side walls of this groove is extended
upward, and curved slightly over the groove, so that the shell, in being thrown out
is given a sidewise direction. When the breech-block is thus thrown upward,
a carrier-cell in the lower part of the breech-block, containing a loaded shell, is
brought into alignment with the chamber of the gun, and during the first part
of the forward movement of the slide, the catch, which during the backward
movement has acted as an extractor, now catches upon (the flange of the loaded
shell and pushes the same forward into the chamber, thus acting as an inserter.
By the latter portion of the forward movement of the slide the breech-block is
rocked downward into its middle or central position, in which the firing pin is
brought into alignment with the primer. At the same time the mouth of the
carrier cell is brought to rest opposite the mouth of the magazine in position
to be supplied with a loaded shell therefrom by the action of the magazine spring.
It will be understood that while the devices which I employ may be modified in
various ways, the leading feature of this Invention, the prime mover of the
mechanism by which the desired results are accomplished, is the forked slide,
provided with a handle forward of the breech, in convenient, position to be grasped
by one hand and reciprocated in a path substantially parallel with the axial line
of the barrel, while the other hand grasps the stock and holds the gun against the
shoulder in firing position.
The accompanying Drawings represent portions of a magazine shot-gun
containing my improvements. In these Drawings,.
Figure 1 is a plan or top view of the receiver and the adjoining portions of the
barrel and stock of the gun, the breech-block being represented as in its central
or firing position.
Figure 2 is an elevation of the left-hand side of the receiver and other parts
upon which the slide which carries the cam-pin for controlling the movements of
the breech-block is located, the breech-block being represented in dotted lines as in
its central or firing position.
Figure 3 is a horizontal longitudinal section on the line v, v, Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a left-hand side view partly in vertical section, showing the
oscillating breech-block thrown downward into its lowest position by the first
portion of the backward movement of the slide.
Figure 5 is a view of the same side of the gun, partly in section, showing the
breech-block in its highest position, and the slide at the end of its backward
movement, and also showing the cam-pin in contact with the hammer, and the
hammer at full cock.

page_text: Figure 6 is.a longitudinal section of a portion of the handle and the magazine,
showing the spring stop-latch for holding the slide at the end of its forward
movement.
Figure 7 is a right-hand side elevation of the gun, partly in section, shewing
the breech-block in its highest position, and an empty shell in the act of being
ejected from the recess in the top of the breech-block.
Figure 8 is a transverse section on the line x, x, Figure 7.
Figure 9 is a transverse section on the line y, y. Figure 7.
Figure 10 is a front elevation of the breech-block, in its highest position,
showing the receiver in transverse vertical section on the line 2, 2, Figure 7.
The Drawings represent a single-barrelled shot-gun, the barrel A and the stock
B of which are secured, respectively, to the front and rear ends of the receiver C.
A tubular magazine D is arranged immediately beneath the barrel and has its
mouth inserted in the lower portion of the front end of the receiver.
An oscillating breech-block E which is constantly subjected to the upward
pressure of the main-spring F of the lock is caused to occupy three different
positions by the reciprocation of the arm G, whose forward end is affixed to the
yoke H, which is perforated and provided with the tubular handle H to admit the
tubular magazine D upon which the yoke and handle slide.
The oscillating breech-block occupies its central or firing position when the yoke
is fully extended forward, by reason of the fact that, at that time the cam-pin g
extending laterally inward from the end of the arm G occupies the groove E' in
the forward portion of the left hand side wall of the breech-block, as shown in
dotted lines in Figure 2, in which the gun is represented as being cocked, the
hammer I of the lock being shown, also in dotted lines as thrown backward.
In order to permit the extraction of the shell from the chamber of the gun, the
breech-block is thrown downward from its central position. This is effected by
the backward movement of the slide G, and the consequent engagement by the
cam-pin of the inclined upper edge of the switch cam e pivoted to the recessed side
wall of the breech-block. By the completion of the backward movement of the
said slide G the cam-pin g is carried beyond the rear end e¹, of the switch cam e,
and the oscillating breech-block is thus released to the expanding action of the
main-spring F, the upper leg of which is seated in the stirrup f pivoted to the tang
Es of the said breech-block. By the expanding action of this main-spring F, the
breech-block is thrown into its highest position, as represented in Figures 5, 7, 8,
and 10.
During the latter part of the backward movement of the slide, the cam pin
strikes against the shoulder i of the hammer and pushes the said hammer back,
and cocks the gun. During the forward movement of the slide the said cam-pin is
carried under the switch-cam and strikes against the iuclined part E² of the lower
wall of the recess in the side of the breech-block, and forces the said breech-block
downward into its central or firing position.
The switch-cam which yields in an upward direction as the cam-pin travels up
the incline E is brought back to its normal' position by means of the spring e²
affixed to the side wall of the breech-block, and bearing with its free end upon the
lower edge es of the slot et in the central part of the said switch-cam.
The stock of the gun is recessed in the usual manner to contain the bight f¹ of
the main-spring, the lower leg f2 of which is seated in the stirrup i', pivoted to the
hammer hub I and drives the hammer when the gun is fired. The bight of the
main-spring is provided with the recess f³ to admit the fixed hook. f, by which
the spring is held in its proper place.
The firing pin K is carried in the breech-block, and when the said breech-block
is in its middle or central position, the point % of the said firing pin occupies a
position opposite the centre of the cartridge in the chamber, while its head is in
position to receive the blow of the hammer.
When the breech-block occupies its central or firing position, a carrier cell L in
the lower part of the said breech-block is brought into position with its mouth

page_text: opposite the mouth d of the magazine, and by the action of the magazine spring a
cartridge from said magazine is forced backward into the said carrier cell.
To fill the magazine the oscillating breech-block is thrown upward to its highest
position and the cartridges are then introduced into the lower part of the receiver
and pushed forward into the said magazine. As the cartridges are successively
pushed into the magazine they are prevented from springing backward by means
of the spring lip 2 pivotted in the lower front edge of the breech-block. This spring
lip yields to allow the flanges of the cartridges to pass as they are pushed into the
magazine.
The side wall of the receiver is longitudinally slotted to allow the cam pin to
project inward and engage with the cam groove in the side wall of the breech-
block, and this slot and the rearward portion of the slide carrying the cam pin are
covered by the plate M, which is screwed to the wall of the receiver. The tang E³,
which projects backward from the central part of the rear end of the breech-
block, is transversely slotted near its end to receive the screw E' upon which the
breech-block swings. The rear end of the said breech-block bears upon the rear
wall C of the receiver, these bearing surfaces being concentrically curved with
relation to the axis of oscillation of the said breech-block. By this arrangement
of the parts the recoil is taken up by the rear wall C₁ of the receiver and does not
affect the screw E.
The rear end of the receiver is slotted vertically to admit the tang E³, and is
recessed upon the left hand side to admit the sliding cam-pin g and to provide space
for the swing of the hammer.
The right hand side of the tang Es near its point of junction with the rear end
of the breech block is provided with a downwardly-projecting slotted plate E³;
the slot N of which is concentrically curved with relation to the axis of
oscillation of the breech-block, and engages with a pin n inserted in the side wall c
which constitutes the inner boundary of the recess in the rear end of the receiver.
The said side wall c and the right hand side wall of the slot which admits the
tang Es are in the same plane. The pin n acts as a stop, which limits the extreme
range of oscillation of the breech block in either direction.
The hammer oscillates upon the shank of the screw 12, and is provided with the
arm I which projects downward into the forward portion of the space within the
trigger guard, and affords means for cocking the gun without the aid of the cam
pin g, and also shows by its position whether the gun is cocked or not.
The right hand side wall of the receiver is longitudinally slotted to admit the
reciprocating arm O, the forward end of which is affixed to the yoke H. A plate O¹
which is screwed upon the right hand side wall of the receiver covers the slot and
the rearward portion of the reciprocating arm 0. This arm is provided with a
longitudinal slot 02, in which is pivoted the catch o. A flat spring o' affixed to
the inner side of the said arm acts upon the tail end of the catch with a force
tending to throw its free end inward.
During the backward movement of the arm O after the cam-pin g has been
moved back a proper distance and has performed its preliminary work of rocking
the oscillating breech-block into its lowest position, the inclined upper edge o² of
the catch o is brought against the end of the plate O¹, and the catch is thereby
forced positively inward, so that the notch o³ upon its inner edge near the end is
caused to engage with the flange of the shell lying within the chamber a of the
gun. During the continuance of the backward movement of the arm the catch o
slides along the under surface of the plate O₁, and maintaining its hold upon the
flange extracts the shell from the chamber of the gun and deposits it in the groove P
formed in the top of the breech-block.
When the breech-block, by being released to the action of the main-spring is
caused to fly upward to its highest position, the shell lying in the groove Pis
thrown out. The left hand side wall of the groove P is extended upward and
partially over the groove in order to give to the shell when thus being thrown out
a sidewise direction. As the breech-block moves up to its highest position the

page_text: flange of the cartridge lying in the cell L is carried into the notch o³ of the catch o;
and by the first portion of the forward movement of the arm.O the cartridge is
pushed from the cell L into the chamber a of the gun.
The upper part of the mouth of the cell L is chamfered to form the inclined
bearing L, the object of which is twofold; thus if the base of the cartridge which
has been delivered from the cell into the chamber projects slightly from the
chamber, the inclined bearing L¹ in the downward movement of the breech-block.
acts as a cam, and drives the cartridge home in the chamber. Likewise when the
breech-block is in its central or firing position, and the cartridge has been delivered
from the magazine into the cell L, the base of the next following cartridge may project
more or less from the mouth of the magazine, according to any variation which
there may be in the length of the cartridge contained in the cell. In case there is
such projection, then during the downward movement of the breech-block from its
central position to its lowest position, the inclined surface L' again acting like a
cam rides across the base of the said cartridge projecting from the mouth of the
magazine and forces it forward, and thus prevents it from stopping the downward
movement of the breech block from its central position.
If desired the reciprocating yoke carrying the arms which operate the breech-
block and the extractor and inserter may be provided with a stop to hold it when
fully extended forward. A convenient device for this purpose is shown in Figure 6,
in which it will be seen that the magazine D upon which the yoke and handle
slide is provided with the slot or notch d¹, and that the handle H' is provided
with the longitudinal recess h in which is pivoted the oscillating spring latch h¹.
The nose 2 of the latch springs into the notch d', when the handle is fully
extended or moved forward, and prevents the backward movement of the said
handle.
When the gun is to be re-charged the exteriorly projecting end h³ of the latch h¹
is pressed inward by the hand grasping the handle, and the nose h² of the latch
being thus withdrawn from the slot d in the magazine the handle can then be
pulled backward.
It will be understood that instead of using the plates M and O¹ for covering the
slots in the side walls of the receiver the said side walls may be made thicker,
and grooves may be formed upon the inner faces thereof to receive the sliding
arms G and O.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondents and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,
First. The combination with a movable breech block, substantially such as is
herein described, of a forked slide provided with a handle adapted to be recipro-
cated in a path parallel with the axial line of the barrel, the two arms or handles
of such slide being provided the one with a cam-pin and the other with an
extractor and inserter, for the purposes specified.
Second. The cam-pin g and means for reciprocating the same across the wall of
the receiver in a path substantially parallel with the axial line of the barrel in
combination with the switch cam e pivoted to the side wall of the oscillating
breech block and the main-spring of the lock, substantially as above set forth and
for the purposes specified.
Third. The combination with a movable breech-block, substantially such as is
herein described, of the reciprocating yoke H carrying the arms for operating the
breech-block and the extractor and inserter, and provided with the bollow handle H¹
and means for guiding the same in a path parallel with and beneath the barrel of
the gun, as above set forth and for the purposes specified.
Fourth. The hollow handle H of the reciprocating yoke carrying the arms for
operating the breech block, and the extractor and inserter supported upon and
guided by the magazine D, substantially as set forth.
Fifth. The reciprocating yoke carrying the arms for operating the breech-block,
and the extractor and inserter in combination with the spring latch h¹, and a slot

page_text: notch or shoulder for engaging with the nose of the said latch, and stopping the
backward movement of the yoke when fully extended forward.
Sixth. The movable breech block containing the carrier cell, and the recipro-
cating arm carrying the extractor and inserter or catch o provided with the
notch o³ in combination with means for moving the said breech-block, and for
reciprocating the arm O and catch o, substantially in the manner set forth, whereby
one side of the notch o³ catches upon and extracts the shell from the chamber of
the gun during the backward movement of the arm O, and the opposite side of the
said notch o³ engages the base of a cartridge in the carrier cell, when by the move-
ment of the breech-block the said carrier cell is brought into alignment with the
chamber, and during the forward movement of the arm O inserts the cartridge into
the said chamber, all substantially as herein described.
Seventh. The top of the breech-block provided upon one side with the upwardly
and inwardly curved side wall for giving a sidewise direction to the shell when
being thrown out of the cavity P by the upward movement of the said breech-
block, substantially as described.
Eighth. A magazine gun consisting of the parts constructed, combined, and
operating substantially in the manner and for the purposes specified.
.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty_two.
DART TR