Improvements in Small Arms.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements in Small Arms.
We, GEORGE SAMUEL WHITE, of Umtata, in the Colony of the Cape of Good
Hope, Corporal Cape Mounted Riflemen, and WILLIAM SIMPSON, of Motherwell,
North Britain, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention relates to that class of fire-arm wherein the sliding of the barrel
in a longitudinal direction, is caused to effect the operation of loading, ejection
of spent cartridge case, and cocking of the hammer.
In such fire-arms, the movement of the barrel backwards is effected by the
recoil, but it may also be accomplished by hand. A spring is provided for returning
the barrel to its normal or firing position.
These fire-arms, which are often called automatic, are furnished with a bolt
for closing the breach end of the barrel. This bolt is carried backward by the
barrel, when it is moved in that direction by the recoil, or otherwise, but, instead
of accompanying the barrel in its forward movement, the bolt is caught and
retained while the ejection of the spent cartridge takes place, and a fresh cartridge
from an adjacent magazine is inserted. On the completion of these operations,
the bolt is again released, and is carried by a spring up against the breech, where
it is held by suitable locking mechanism until the hammer, cocked by the back-
ward movement of the barrel, falls on the trigger being pulled.
According to the present invention, these operations are effected by means of
a special construction and arrangement of parts constituting an action, which is
thought to possess advantages of reliability and convenience over previous
arrangements.
The construction and arrangement of parts will now be described : —
The forward end of the bolt carries a laterally reciprocating slide, one part of
which normally projects into the magazine, which is placed at the side of the arm,
while the other part rests opposite the breech. This slide has guides projecting
from its face, which engage with the flanges of the cartridge cases.
The bolt, of which this slide forms the front, has also a hinged portion or
lever of the bell-crank type, to the tail of which the bolt spring is attached.
The tendency of the spring is to pull the bolt forward, and to hold the lever
in close proximity to the main portion of the bolt, in which position the lever,
by means of attachments carried thereby, acts as a locking device for the bolt.
When, however, the barrel carries the bolt backward, a projection on the hinged
lever engaging with an incline moves the said lever outwards laterally, until a
notch is reached at the end of the incline, which notch engages the projection
and retains the bolt, now unlocked from the breech, while the barrel returns.
The disengagement of the bolt is effected by the slide, which, moving sideways
from right to left across the bolt, to present a new cartridge, trips the lever
projection out of the retaining notch, and thereby allows the bolt spring to pull
the bolt forward against the breech, into which the new cartridge is thrust.

page_text: The movement of the slide in this direction is effected by a rocking lever on
the side of the firearm opposite to the lever before mentioned, which rock lever,
as the barrel completes its forward movement under the influence of its spring,
is rocked, and caused to push over the slide, the latter carrying with it a cartridge
eviously taken from the bottom of the magazine, on the recoil. The same
sideway movement of the slide carries over the spent cartridge case, which is
left behind when the barrel advances, and allowed to fall from the rifle, when the
slide returns, under the impulse of the spring-actuated lever, at the moment of
locking the breech.
It will be observed that the slide, by its return movement, shifts the cartridges
along its face, so that the spent case is wiped out of the guides altogether, and
falls on the ground, while the fresh cartridge being inserted in the barrel by the
advanced bolt, takes up a new position in the slide, remote from the magazine,
into the bottom of which the slide is again inserted, to engage a cartridge for the
next reload.
In taking fresh cartridges from the bottom of the clip (which may contain any
desired number of cartridges), instead of from the top, as is usual, there is an
advantage gained, in so far that it is thus possible to replenish the magazine before
it is empty, and, further, gravity, in lieu of, or in addition to, a spring, is available
for feeding the cartridges into position for supplying the arm.
The hammer may be arranged as is usual in fire-arms of this description, but
it is preferred to employ a main-spring connected to the hammer, in front of below
its pivot, and to have a sear of bell-crank form engaging the nose of the hammer
when cocked. The sear is tripped by the teeth of a ratchet wheel, rotated one
tooth by each movement of the trigger, which depends from the wheel axle, and
is provided with a suitable pawl for working the ratchet.
Dated 12th day of April 1897
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicants.
We, GEORGE SAMUEL WHITE, of Umtata, in the Colony of the Cape of Good
Hope, Corporal Cape Mounted Riflemen, and WILLIAM SIMPSON, of Motherwell,
North Britain, Gentleman, 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 that class of fire-arm wherein the sliding of the barrel
in a longitudinal direction, is caused to effect the operation of loading, ejection
of spent cartridge case, and cocking of the hammer.
In such fire-arms, the movement of the barrel backwards is effected by the
recoil, but it may also be accomplished by hand. A spring is provided for returning
the barrel to its normal or firing position.
These fire-arms, which are often called automatic, are furnished with a bolt
for closing the breach end of the barrel. This bolt is carried backward by the
barrel when it is moved in that direction by the recoil, or otherwise, but instead
of accompanying the barrel in its forward movement, the bolt is caught and
retained while the ejection of the spent cartridge takes place, and a fresh cartridge
from an adjacent magazine is inserted. On the completion of these operations,
the bolt is again released, and is carried by a spring up against the breech, where

page_text: it is held by suitable locking mechanism, until the hammer cocked by the hack-
ward movement of the barrel, falls on the trigger being pulled.
According to the present invention, these operations are effected by means of
a special construction and arrangement of parts, constituting an action, which is
thought to possess advantages of reliability and convenience over previous
arrangements.
In the accompanying drawings, the present improvements in automatic rifles
ward movement of the barrel, falls on the trigger being pulled.
According to the present invention, these operations are effected by means of
a special construction and arrangement of parts, constituting an action, which is
thought to possess advantages of reliability and convenience over previous
arrangements.
In the accompanying drawings, the present improvements in automatic rifles
sho in various positions
Figs. 1, 2, and 3, are all plan views of the breech mechanism.
Fig. 4 is a side elevation;
Fig. 5 is a cross section on line 1-2, Fig. 4;
Figs. 6 and 7 are detached side and plan views of the bolt; and
Fig. 8 is an end view of a portion thereof.
Fig. 9 is a cross section on line 3-4, Fig. 4, and
Fig. 10 is a side elevation, detached, of the magazine.
Referring to these drawings, A is the barrel and B the spring usual in auto-
matic guns. C is the bolt, which is arranged to slide in line with the barrel and
is of a compound nature. This bolt has at its forward end a laterally reciprocating
slide c, one part of which normally projects into the magazine D, which is placed
at the side of the arm, while the other part rests opposite the breech. This
slide c has guides c* c* projecting from its face (see Fig. 5), which engage with
the flanges of the cartridge cases.
The bolt C, of which this slide c forms the front, has also a hinged portion or
lever E of the bell-crank type, to the tail e of which the bolt spring e¹ is attached.
The tendency of the spring el is to pull the bolt C forward, and to hold the
lever E in close proximity to the main portion of the bolt, in which position the
lever by means of attachments carried thereby, engaging with transverse
grooves e* acts as a locking device for the bolt (see Figs. 1 and 4).
When however the barrel A. carries the bolt Ċ backward, a projection e² on the
hinged lever E, engaging with a fixed incline f, moves the said lever outwards
laterally, until a notch f¹ is reached at the end of the incline f, which notch f¹
engages the projection e², and retains the bolt, now unlocked from the breech,
while the barrel returns (see Fig. 2 & 3).
The disengagement of the bolt from this position, as seen at Fig. 2, is effected
by the slide c, which, moving sideways from right to left across the bolt to the
position of Fig. 3, to present a new cartridge, trips the lever projection e out of
the retaining notch f₁, and thereby allows the bolt spring e¹ to pull the bolt C
forward against the breech, into which the new cartridge is thrust, as shewn at
Fig. 4.
The movement of the slide c in this direction is effected by the return move-
ment of a rocking lever G on the side of the fire-arm opposite to the lever E before
mentioned, which lever G being actuated outwards by its spring g, is returned
by the projection g¹ on the barrel, as the latter completes its forward movement,
under the influence of its spring, and is caused to push over the slide, the latter
carrying with it a cartridge previously taken from the bottom of the magazine
on the recoil. The same sideway movement of the slide carries over the spent
cartridge case, which is left behind when the barrel advances, and allowed to fall
from the rifle when the slide returns, under the impulse of the spring-actuated
lever E, at the moment of locking the breech.
It will be observed that the slide c, by its return movement, shifts the cartridges
along its face, so that the spent case is wiped out of the guides altogether and
falls on the ground, while the fresh cartridge being inserted in the barrel by the
advanced bolt, takes up a new position in the slide, remote from the magazine,
into the bottom of which the slide is again inserted, to engage a cartridge for the
next reload. Within the slide c is preferably arranged a spring c** (see Fig. 5),
which leans against the base of the cartridge, and presses the flange thereof
against the guides c* c*, and assists in maintaining a firm hold thereon.

page_text: The hammer may be arranged as is usual in fire-arms of this description, but
it is preferred to employ, as shown dotted in Fig. 4, a main spring / connected to
the hammer H in front of its pivot, and to have a sear I of bell-crank form
engaging the nose of the hammer when cocked. The sear is tripped by the teeth
of a ratchet wheel k; rotated one tooth by each movement of the trigger K,
which depends from the wheel axle, and is provided with a suitable pawl k¹ for
working the ratchet.
A safety bolt may be employed, which, in operation, takes the tension of the
main spring off the hammer H, and thereby prevents the gun from being fired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is: :―
1. The herein described means for closing the breech, of automatic fire-arms,
consisting of a sliding bolt, a transversely moving slide carried thereby, for con-
veying cartridges from the magazine to the barrel and ejecting the empty cases,
and a locking lever hinged to the bolt and operating as and for the purpose above
set forth.
2. The means for operating the transverse slide above described, consisting, on
the one side, of a rocking lever actuated by the forward movement of the barrel,
and on the other, of a hinged locking lever carried by the bolt, and propelled by
the bolt spring, in the manner set forth with reference to the drawing.
3. The application to the breech-closing bolt of an automatic fire-arm, of a
hinged lever to which is connected the bolt spring, and by which the bolt is
freed, retained, and locked, as described with reference to the drawings.
Dated this 31st day of January 1898.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: it is held by suitable locking mechanism, until the hammer, cocked by the back-
ward ovement of the barrel, falls on the trigger being pulled.
According to the present invention, these operations are effected by means of
a special construction and arrangement of parts, constituting an action, which is
thought to possess advantages of reliability and convenience over previous
arrangements.
In the accompanying drawings, the present improvements in automatic rifles
are shown in various positions.
UI the Dallel, fans on the trigger being punicu.
According to the present invention, these operations are effected by means of
a special construction and arrangement of parts, constituting an action, which is
thought to possess advantages of reliability and convenience over previous
arrangements.
In the accompanying drawings, the present improvements in automatic rifles
are shown in various positions.
Figs. 1, 2, and 3, are all plan views of the breech mechanism.
Fig. 4 is a side elevation;
Fig. 5 is a cross section on line 1-2, Fig. 4;
Figs. 6 and 7 are detached side and plan views of the bolt; and
Fig. 8 is an end view of a portion thereof.
Fig. 9 is a cross section on line 3-4, Fig. 4, and
. Fig. 10 is a side elevation, detached, of the magazine.
Referring to these drawings, A is the barrel and B the spring usual in auto-
matic guns. C is the bolt, which is arranged to slide in line with the barrel and
is of a compound nature. This bolt has at its forward end a laterally reciprocating
slide c, one part of which normally projects into the magazine D, which is placed
at the side of the arm, while the other part rests opposite the breech.
slide c has guides c*c* projecting from its face (see Fig. 5), which engage with
the flanges of the cartridge cases.
1
This
The bolt C, of which this slide c forms the front, has also a hinged portion or
lever E of the bell-crank type, to the tail e of which the bolt spring e¹ is attached.
The tendency of the spring el is to pull the bolt C forward, and to hold the
lever E in close proximity to the main portion of the bolt, in which position the
lever by means of attachments carried thereby, engaging with transverse
grooves e* acts as a locking device for the bolt (see Figs. 1 and 4).
When however the barrel A carries the bolt Ċ backward, a projection e² on the
hinged lever E, engaging with a fixed incline f, moves the said lever outwards
laterally, until a notch fl is reached at the end of the incline f, which notch fi
engages the projection e², and retains the bolt, now unlocked from the breech,
while the barrel returns (see Fig. 2 & 3).
The disengagement of the bolt from this position, as seen at Fig. 2, is effected
by the slide c, which, moving sideways from right to left across the bolt to the
position of Fig. 3, to present a new cartridge, trips the lever projection e2 out of
the retaining notch fl, and thereby allows the bolt spring e¹ to pull the bolt C
forward against the breech, into which the new cartridge is thrust, as shewn at
Fig. 4.
The movement of the slide c in this direction is effected by the return move-
ment of a rocking lever G on the side of the fire-arm opposite to the lever E before
mentioned, which lever G being actuated outwards by its spring 9, is returned
by the projection g' on the barrel, as the latter completes its forward movement,
under the influence of its spring, and is caused to push over the slide, the latter
carrying with it a cartridge previously taken from the bottom of the magazine
on the recoil. The same sideway movement of the slide carries over the spent
cartridge case, which is left behind when the barrel advances, and allowed to fall
from the rifle when the slide returns, under the impulse of the spring-actuated
lever E, at the moment of locking the breech.
It will be observed that the slide c, by its return movement, shifts the cartridges
along its face, so that the spent case is wiped out of the guides altogether and
falls on the ground, while the fresh cartridge being inserted in the barrel by the
advanced bolt, takes up a new position in the slide, remote from the magazine,
into the bottom of which the slide is again inserted, to engage a cartridge for the
next reload. Within the slide e is preferably arranged a spring c** (see Fig. 5),
which leans against the base of the cartridge, and presses the flange thereof
against the guides c* c*, and assists in maintaining a firm hold thereon.

page_text: The hammer may be arranged as is usual in fire-arms of this description, but
it is preferred to employ, as shown dotted in Fig. 4, a main spring / connected to
the hammer H in front of its pivot, and to have a sear I of bell-crank form
engaging the nose of the hammer when cocked. The sear is tripped by the teeth
of a ratchet wheel k; rotated one tooth by each movement of the trigger K,
which depends from the wheel axle, and is provided with a suitable pawl ¹ for
working the ratchet.
A safety bolt ¹ may be employed, which, in operation, takes the tension of the
main spring off the hammer H, and thereby prevents the gun from being fired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is: -
1. The herein described means for closing the breech, of automatic fire-arms
consisting of a sliding bolt, a transversely moving slide carried thereby, for cou
veying cartridges from the magazine to the barrel and ejecting the empty cases;
and a locking lever hinged to the bolt and operating as and for the purpose above
set forth.
2. The means for operating the transverse slide above described, consisting, on
the one side, of a rocking lever actuated by the forward movement of the barrel,
and on the other, of a hinged locking lever carried by the bolt, and propelled by
the bolt spring, in the manner set forth with reference to the drawing.
3. The application to the breech-closing bolt of an automatic fire-arm, of a
hinged lever to which is connected the bolt spring, and by which the bolt is
freed, retained, and locked, as described with reference to the drawings.
Dated this 21st day of Tom 1000