Year: 1887

page_text: I PETER JENSEN of 77 Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the
Institute of Patent Agents 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 magazine guns in which the magazine is
located in the rear stock. The main objects of the invention are to provide a gun adapted
to be used either as a magazine gun or as a single loader; which shall be simple in
construction, effective and reliable in operation, and easily manipulated. And to these
ends, the invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of parts
hereinafter particularly pointed out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings, which shall illustrate this invention and form a
part of this specification.
Fig. 1, represents a view of the rear stock and frame of my gun, the stock being
shown in section, and the side plate of the frame being removed to show the breech
mechanism, the latter being in position as when the breech is closed.
Fig. 2, represents a central longitudinal section through the frame, breech
mechanism, stock and magazine, the breech mechanism being in position as when the
breech open.
Fig. 3, is a side elevation of the frame and breech mechanism with the side plate of
the frame removed, the parts being in the same position as in fig. 1, the view being
taken from the opposite side.

page_text: Fig. 5, a plan of the breech block.
Fig. 6, is a side elevation of the breech-block cover or cartridge guide.
Fig. 7, is a plan view of the cover or cartridge guide.
Fig. 8, is a rear elevation of the upper end of the operating lever, looking from the
rear, showing also the dog for cocking the hammer.
Fig. 9, is a vertical transverse section through the frame, on the line, x-x, figs. 1,
and, 2, the view being taken from the rear.
Fig. 10, is a transverse section through the breech block and cover or guide at the
line, yy, fig. 2.
Fig. 11, is a similar section at the line, 2-, fig. 2.
Fig. 12, is a perspective view of the detent for holding the front cartridge between
the breech block and cover while the breech is open, and until the parts are brought
to the proper position in the closing movement to guide the cartridge into the chamber,
and,
Fig. 13, is a section on the line, -1, fig. 2.
The breech system to which I have applied my invention is substantially that known
as the "Martini-Henry," in which the breech block is hinged or pivoted at its rear
end in the frame of the arm, its front end swinging in a vertical plane to open and
close the breech.
Referring now by letter to the accompanying drawings:-A, designates the breech
block, and, B, the breech block cover or cartridge guide. The breech block is composed
of the body portion, a, and two side arms, a', a', which extend rearward from the body,
and which are perforated to receive the cross bolt which secures the breech-block in
the frame and upon which it swings in the usual manner. The body a, of the breech
block is bored out to receive the hammer, a³, which consists of a spring bolt, the rear
end of which projects beyond the body, a, and is slotted for the reception of a dog, c,
by which it is cocked, in a manner to be hereinafter explained.
The cover or cartridge guide, B, is of a length and width to fit the mortise in the
frame of the arm in which the breech block works. Its rear end through nearly half
its length has a sufficient vertical thickness to allow a channel to be formed there-
through for the passage of the cartridges as they escape from the magazine, the said
passage being in line with and forming a continuation of the magazine, when the parts
are in their normal positions, as when the breech is closed.
The rear end of the cover or guide, B, is cut away at the sides to allow it to enter
between the arms, a¹, a', of the breech block, and it is hung upon the same bolt or
pivot with the breech block, so as to swing therewith. It has, however, a limited
independent movement, as will be hereinafter explained in describing the operation
of the arm.
The top part of the cover overhangs the sides, as shown in figs. 10,
and, 11.
At the rear part of the vertical enlargement of the cover on both sides below the
pivot are lateral lugs, b, which form shoulders against which the arms, c¹, c¹, of the
lever, C, bear, when the latter is turned forward, whereby a pressure is exerted to
draw the cover and breech block down into the position indicated in fig. 2. Forward
of the lugs, b, and on both sides, are cavities or recesses, .6', which receive secondary.
arms, c, when the breech is opened..
These secondary arms, c², c², perform no function in the opening of the breech, their
purpose being to throw the cover up into position in advance of the breech-block,
which they do by bearing against the front walls of the recesses, b¹, of the cover, B.
The closing of the breech is effected by the arms, c³, c¹, which act against the rear face
of the breech block and force it into its fully closed position, and by passing under the
shoulder, as they act as braces to lock it in this position. In the fork of the lever, C,
between the arms, c³, c², and secured by the same bolt or pivot upon which the lever
turns, is a dog, c, the upper arm of which projects into a slot in the projecting stem of
the hammer, a², as shown in fig. 2, and the lower arm of which has a notch or detent
with which the trigger engages. When the lever, C, is turned forward to open the
breech, the dog, c, turns with it until the trigger engages the notch in its lower arm,

page_text: whereby it is retained in that position when the lever is returned and the breech
closed.
As soon as the breech block begins its closing movement it swings forward and
away from the dog, c, and as the hammer is held by the dog and cannot follow the
forward movement of the breech block it is drawn out and is held in that position
until the dog is released by the pull upon the trigger when the hammer is thrown
forward by its spring carrying with it the dog, c.
In order to increase the efficiency of the arm by facilitating the extraction of the
spent shell after firing, I provide two extractors,--or rather an extractor and an
ejector the office of the first being to start or loosen the shell, and of the other to
throw it out of the arm.
d, designates the extractor, and, d', the ejector.
As illustrated in the drawings, the extractor, d, is on the left hand side, and the
ejector on the right hand. The extractor is fulcrumed at, e, on a screw or pivot that
is inserted through the side of the frame. It has a long, rearwardly extending curved
arm which occupies the space between the side wall of the frame and the front end of
the breech block. When the breech is opened, the end of the curved arm is struck by
the overhanging side of the cover, B, whereby the extractor is turned upon its pivot
to start the shell, the force available for this purpose being proportional to the relative
lengths of the two arms, and the distance of the fulcrum from the chamber.
The ejector, d', has its fulcrum at, e¹, below that of the extractor, d. It has also a
rearwardly-extending curved arm which stands in the path of, and is struck by a
downwardly, extending arm, 62, at the front end of the cover, B. The vertical arm of
the ejector being much longer than the rearwardly extending curved arm, it follows
that when the latter is struck by the arm, 63, a quick blow is imparted to the shell,
which after the latter has been started and loosened, is sufficient to throw it entirely
out of the arm.
The cover, B, is longitudinally cut out or recessed along its side immediately under
the overhanging top for the reception of the bar, F, which lies flush with the side of
the cover.
It has its fulcrum at, f, and its rear end is pressed down by a spring, ^^,
which is seated in the recess in rear of the fulcrum f. At the rear end of the bar, F,
is a laterally projecting arm, f, which projects through an opening into the cartridge
passage formed through the enlarged rear end of the cover, B, as represented in
figure, 2. At the outer end of the arm, f, is a tooth or detent which engages the
flange of the front cartridge after it has entered between the breech block, A, and
cover, B, and retains it until the parts reach the proper position during the closing
movement to guide it into the chamber. The means for releasing the cartridge to
allow it to be fed forward into the chamber will now be described.
At the front end of the bar, F, is a tooth, f³, which during the upward movement
of the breech block and cover, is engaged and held by a similar tooth, d³, on the
vertical arm of the extractor d whereby the front end of the bar, F, is drawn down
relatively to the cover, B, and the detent is raised out of engagement with the flange
of the cartridge, when the latter is free to shoot forward into the chamber, its place
being taken by the next one in the column. The fulcrum, f, is so arranged that but
a slight movement of the cover, B, is necessary after the teeth, ³, d, become engaged
to release the cartridge, and as soon as this is effected, a cam on the front end of the
cover acts upon a similar cam on the extractor and presses the latter forward when
the bar, F, is returned by the spring, f", to its normal position relatively to the cover, B,
when the detent is in position to hold the cartridge which is then between the breech
block and the cover until the gun has been fired and the shell ejected, when it is
released and fed forward as already explained, and is succeeded by the next one in line.
Cartridges have been exploded in the magazine by the impact resulting from the
recoil of the arm in firing or from handling, and in order to avoid all liability of such
explosions it becomes necessary to provide means for holding the cartridges apart in
the magazine while the gun is being fired or manipulated, and for this purpose I have
devised the following instrumentalities, viz. :-
In a groove in the stock below the magazine, I locate a toothed bar, G, the teeth, g,

page_text: of which project into the magazine through suitable openings in its under side. These
teeth engage the flanges of the several cartridges in the magazine and hold them
against the forward movement, and they are so spaced that the cartridges are held
slightly apart to prevent the bullet of one cartridge from striking the cap or primer of
the preceding one. The bar, G, has both longitudinally reciprocating and vertical
movements relatively to the magazine, these movements being imparted by the following
means:
a
In the lower part of the stock, is a socket, H, which receives the rear end of the
operating lever, C. On the top of this socket, between suitable ears, h, is pivoted
bent or angular lever, h', the upper end of which is pressed forward by a spring, h³,
between the lower end and the socket plate.
This lever, h', extends into a notch, g¹, in the side of the bar G. When the breech is
closed and the end of the lever, C, is pressed into the socket, H, it strikes the under
side of the lever, h³, and turns its forward end upward and backward whereby the
bar, G, is raised against the pressure of springs, which are attached to the upper
side thereof, and press against the magazine tube to throw the bar down when released
by the withdrawal of the end of lever, C, from the socket, H, in the act of opening
the breech. This upward movement causes the teeth, g, to enter the magazine and
engage the flanges of the cartridges.
After this is effected, the continued movement of the lever h¹ carries the bar
backward, and by reason of the spacing of the teeth, as already described, slightly
separates the cartridges and holds them in this separated position till released by the
withdrawal of the lever, C.
the
As soon as the lever, C, is withdrawn, the spring, 2, rocks the lever, h', throwing
upper end forward, whereby the bar, G is also carried forward and is permitted to
be pressed down by its springs, g², to liberate the cartridges in the magazine in order
to allow them to be fed forward to charge the barrel.
In order that the last cartridge may be fed into the chamber I place an auxiliary
piston, I, in advance of the main piston in the magazine, which auxiliary piston is
smaller than the main piston in order that it may follow the cartridge between the
breech block and cover or guide, B. This auxiliary piston has a stem, i, which
projects through the main piston and is surrounded and pressed forward by a
light auxiliary spring, ', which surrounds the stem, i. When the magazine is filled
with cartridges, the auxiliary piston is pressed back its spring being lighter and weaker
than the spring of the main piston, but when the main piston reaches the end of the
magazine tube, where it is arrested by a stop, the spring, ², expands and throws the
small piston forward to drive the last cartridge into the chamber, the spring, ", being
of sufficient strength for this purpose.
As a means for retaining the end of the operating lever in the socket, H, I show an
annular spring, h³, which fits upon the outside of the socket and has at its centre a
projecting tooth or catch, *, which projects through an opening in the side of the
socket, (see fig. 13) and engages a notch in the end of the lever when the latter is
pressed home. The ends of the spring, h³, yield to allow the tooth or catch to be
pressed out when the lever enters or leaves the socket, and by their resiliency again
to draw it back when free to do so.
The magazine is charged through an opening in the lower part of the frame, which
opening is provided with a sliding door, J. It is charged when the breech is opened
as represented in fig. 2, by introducing the cartridges successively head foremost
through the charging opening into the channel between the breech-block and cover
and pressing them back till their flanges are caught by the detent. The last
cartridge inserted remains between the breech block and cover till released during the
closing movement of the parts, when it is pressed forward into the chamber of the gun,
as already explained.
The operation of the arm is as follows:-
:-
The magazine being charged and the breech block closed, as represented in fig. 1,
when the lever C is thrown down to oner the bunch
L
1

page_text: cartridges and leaves them free to be moved forward by the action of the spring piston
in the magazine. The breech being fully open, the spent shell (or the cartridge if the
gun has not been fired) is extracted. and thrown out. Then as the breech is being
closed the cartridge between the breech block and cover is released by the action of
the extractor upon the bar, F, and is pressed forward into the chamber. When the
breech is fully opened, the trigger falls into engagement with the dog, c, and holds the
latter. Then as the breech is being closed the hammer is drawn back and the arm is
cocked and ready for firing as soon as the breech is fully closed.
When a cartridge is inserted by hand, as in the case of a single loader, the extractor
is prèssed forward by the flange and the tooth, d, thereon is carried out of the path
of the tooth, 3, at the end of the bar, F, and the breech is closed without tripping the
detent and releasing the cartridge between the breech block and cover; the gun may
therefore be used as a single loader as long as, or whenevor desired, while the magazine
is held in reserve. To close the breech without charging the chamber, press the
extractor forward with the thumb or finger while the breech is being closed. This
enables the gun to be carried or put away in an unloaded and uncocked condition.
This specification describes the preferred construction and arrangement of elements
constituting my improvements.
It should be understood, however, that it is intended to embrace all modifications
and changes within the scope of the claims hereto appended.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim as the
invention communicated to me is :
1. The combination of a breech block and a hollow overlying cover or guide
to serve as a conduit or passage for cartridges from the magazine to the gun
chamber.
2. In a magazine fire arın, the combination of a breech block pivoted at its rear
end, and a hollow overlying cover to serve as a conduit for cartridges from the
magazine to the gun chamber.
3. In a magazine fire arm, the combination of a breech block pivoted at its rear
end, and an overlying cover or guide pivoted on the same pivot, and adapted to swing
with the breech block, the two parts forming a passage for the cartridge from the
magazine to the chamber, substantially as shown and described.
4. In a magazine fire arın, the combination of a breech-block, a hollow overlying
cover articulating at their rear end on the same axis, and an operating lever to impart
the opening and closing movements to said breech-block and to lock the same in its
closed position, substantially as described.
5. In a magazine fire arm, the combination of a breech block pivoted at its rear end,
an overlying cover or guide pivoted on the same pivot, and adapted to swing with the
breech-block, the two parts forming a passage from the magazine to the chamber, a
detent carried by the cover or guide and projecting into said passage, substantially as
described.
6. In a magazine fire arm, the combination of a breech-block pivoted at its rear end,
an overlying cover or guide hung on the same pivot, and adapted to swing with the
breech-block the two parts forming a passage from the magazine to the chamber, a
detent carried by the cover or guide and projecting into said passage, and means
substantially as described for operating said detent.
7. In a magazine fire arm, the combination of a breech block provided with
rearwardly-extending arms by which it is hung in the frame, and an overlying cover or
cartridge guide hung on the same pivot and having an enlarged rear portion which
extends between the arms of the breech-block and which has a passage through it
forming a continuation of the magazine.

page_text: 8. In a magazine fire arm, the combination of a breech block and an overlying
cover or cartridge guide hung on a common pivot, the cover having a passage through
its rear portion, and the adjacent sides of the breech block and cover being channeled
to form a continuous passage from the magazine to the chamber, substantially as
described.
9. In a magazine fire arm, the combination of a magazine, a detent for holding and
releasing cartridges in the magazine and means substantially as described for operating
the detent, whereby said detent is automatically tripped to release the cartridge when
the gun chamber is empty, and is not tripped when the arm is loaded.
10. In a magazine fire arm, the combination of a magazine, a detent for releasing
the cartridges therein, and means for tripping said detent by the closing of the breech
adapted to be thrown out of operative position by the insertion of a cartridge into the
chamber by hand, substantially as described.
11. In a magazine fire arm, the combination of the breech block pivoted at its
rear end, an overlying cover or cartridge guide hung on the same pivot and adapted
to swing with the breech block, the two parts forming a passage from the magazine to
the chamber, a detent carried by the cover and projecting into said passage, and a
shoulder or hook on the extractor to operate said detent, substantially as
described.
12. In a magazine fire arm, the combination of the breech block pivoted at its rear
end, an overlying cover or cartridge guide hung on the same pivot and adapted to
swing with the breech block, the two parts forming between them a passage from the
magazine to the chamber, a detent carried by the cover and projecting into said
passage, a shoulder or hook on the extractor to operate said detent, and a cam on the.
cover to disengage the extractor from the detent, substantially as shown and
described.
13. The combination with the pivoted and swinging breech block and a hammer
bolt carried thereby, of the guard lever having arms, c¹, c¹, to operate the breech
block, the dog, c, mounted between said arms on the same pivot with the lever and
engaging the hammer bolt, and a trigger for holding and releasing the dog,
substantially as shown and described.
14. In a breech loading fire arm, the combination of two pivoted extractors of
unequal leverage, and a rising and falling breech-block, substantially as shown and
described.
15. In a magazine fire arm, the combination of a breech block provided with
rearwardly-extending arms by which it is pivoted in the frame, an overlying cover
or cartridge guide pivoted on the same pivot and adapted to swing with the breech
block and having an enlargement which lies between and extends below the arms of
the breech block, and an operating lever having two pairs of arms, one pair engaging
lugs or shoulders on the sides of said enlargement to draw the parts down and open
the breech, and the other pair entering recesses in the sides and serving to raise the
parts, substantially as shown and described.
16. In a magazine fire arm, the combination with a magazine tube, of a toothed
holding bar capable of being moved towards the magazine to project its teeth into
the same and then draw back to engage and separate the cartridges therein, 4
substantially as and for the purpose described.
17. In a magazine fire arm, the combination with a magazine tube, of a toothed
holding bar capable of being moved towards the magazine to project its teeth into
the same, and then draw back to engage and separate the cartridges therein and
a pivoted lever for imparting said movements, substantially as shown and 5
described.
18. In a magazine fire arm, the combination with a magazine tube of a toothed
holding bar capable of being moved towards the magazine to project its teeth into

page_text: the same, and then draw back to engage and separate the cartridges therein a lever
pivoted in the stock to engage and actuate the holding bar, and a lever for actuating
the breech mechanism, the end of which engages and actuates the first named lever,
substantially as shown and described.
19. In a magazine fire arm, the combination with a slotted perforated magazine
tube, of a toothed holding bar capable of being moved towards and from the magazine
to project its teeth into the same, and then draw back to engage and separate the
cartridges therein, a pivoted lever for imparting said movements, and a spring to
actuate said lever in one direction and return the parts to normal position,
substantially as and for the purpose described.
20. In a fire arm, the combination of an operating lever a socket in the stock to
receive the end of said lever, and a catch to retain the same therein, said catch
consisting of a spring encircling said socket and having a tooth which projects thereinto
through its walls, substantially as shown and described.