IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CARTRIDGE CASES OR MAGAZINES
Year: 1884

page_text: I FREDERICK VON OPPEN of 14 Pall Mall in the County of Middlesex, Agent
for Colt's Firearms Company do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CARTRIDGE CASES OR MAGAZINES to be
as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of cartridge cases or
magazines for that. class of firearms in which the magazine is of box like shape
and arranged along side of and parallel with the opening in the receiver which is
to receive the cartridge from the magazine in front of the breech piece when in its
rear position and in which the cartridges pass from the magazine into the receiver
by their own gravity. In some patterns of this class of firearms the magazine is
attached to one side of the receiver with an opening from the magazine into the
receiver through which the cartridges successively fall by their own gravity. The
magazine is constructed with partitions extending alternately from either side with
space left at the opposite side, and so that the cartridges are separated from each
other by said partitions but yet permitted to pass from one division to the next
and so on until they arrive at the mouth. To charge the magazine it is necessarily;
detached from the receiver and the cartridges introduced therein one after another
until the magazine be filled or the required number introduced then the magazine,
is replaced This recharging of the magazine requires a considerable time and is a
source of inconvenience and annoyance to the person using the arm. Again,
projecting from the receiver as it necessarily does, it is exposed to accidents and
must be made very strong and heavy and becomes an expensive part of the arm
but however well it may be made it is liable to derangement by accidents due to
its exposed position.
The object of this invention is to overcome these difficulties by constructing a
magazine of this class which may be so. cheap as to permit of its being thrown

page_text: away when once exhausted or so that several such magazines may be readily
carried by the person ready for attachment to the arm.
In carrying out this invention a blank is first cut from any suitable light and
cheap sheet metal, say thin sheet iron, complete in a single piece. The magazine
must taper from the head end toward the point, corresponding to the taper, of the
cartridges for which purpose the blank is of segmental form and it has on opposite
sides and centrally of its length a flap or wing which is intended for the two ends
of the case. This seginental blank is marked off to represent the back, sides and
other portions of the case, the back or that side which is opposite the mouth being
the central portion between the two wings. These wings or ends have upon their
three unconnected sides extensions to form flanges which may be turned upon the
respective sides of the box and they are also each preferably provided with a
tongue from their extreme outer end and at opposite points.
From one side of the back (say the right hand, the blank is bent downwards to
represent the first part of the side. It is next turned inwards. to represent the
upper plate of a partition and backwards on itself for the upper plate of the
partition the remainder of the plate forms the remainder of that side of the box
and a connecting flange which is bent outward. From the opposite side of the
back the plate is bent in a like manner to form the opposite side, partition, bottom
and connecting flange of the case, the connecting flange being turned backward.
The width of the partitions is less than the width of the magazine so as to
permit the cartridges to fall between the edge of the partition and the opposite.
side., The upper surface of the two partitions is inclined downward and toward
the opposite side and 'they form a tortuous passage from-the extreme top to the
mouth at the bottom.
The respective parts of the sides and partitions are provided with tongues at
their extreme ends which when the parts are bent into shape correspond to slits in
the two ends and after the sides and partitions have been bent into shape the two
ends are bent into substantially right angles to the back and the tongues on the
partitions and sides are passed through their respective slits in the ends and are
there bent down, against the ends which secures the ends in their place and also
forms a support for the inner edge of the partitions..'
To retain the proper parallelism of the cartridges in the magazine, the partitions
and bottom are cut short at their broader end to a sufficient extent to form a slot
into which the flange of the cartridge will fit, and will be prevented from turning
out of its proper parallelism in its passage through the magazine.
The magazine is filled by inverting the magazine and introducing the cartridges,
one at a time, they falling by their own gravity until they reach the lowest or
extreme point and until the magazine is filled when tongues formed in the ends
may be turned inward at each side of the mouth and prevent the escape of the
cartridges.
The flanges are for the purpose of attaching the magazine to the arm that being
provided' with grooves to receive the same or the mouth side of the magazine may
be otherwise fitted for attachment.
1
When the magazine is to be applied to the arm, the tongues are bent outward so
as to uncover the mouth' and permit the cartridges to pass out.
The magazine thus constructed is inexpensive and when once it has been
discharged may be thrown away. The person using the arm may readily carry
with him several such ready charged magazines and attach them one after another
as required and thereby avoid the necessity of refilling and when one has been
discharged it may be thrown away, or, if preferred, retained to be refilled.
The blanks are cut out complete by suitable dies in the usual' manner of forming
sheet metal blanks ready to be bent into shape..
If a greater number of partitions are required, that is, a magazine which will
contain more cartridges; then the blank will be made accordingly, the partitions
D
9
1.f
1...

page_text: alternating the one extending from one side, the next from the opposite side and
Bо on.
While it is preferred to attach the tongues to the ends to be turned over the
mouth to retain the cartridges in the magazine, these may be dispensed with and
the flanges, one or both, or a portion of them, may be turned over the mouth, or
the securing tongue may be cut from the side next the flange and turned inward
over the cartridges so as to be readily turned outward automatically or otherwise
as the magazine is attached to the arm it only being essential to this part of
the invention that the magazine shall be provided with some means for retaining
the cartridges within the charged magazine.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
"
I FREDERICK VON OPPEN of 14 Pall Mall in the County of Middlesex Agent
for Colt's Firearms Company 'do hereby declare the nature of the invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CARTRIDGE CASES OR MAGAZINES 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 an improvement in magazines for that class of firearms
in which the magazine is of box-like shape and arranged alongside of and parallel
I with the opening in the receiver which is to receive the cartridge from the
magazine in front of the breech piece when in its rear position and in which the
cartridges pass from the magazine into the receiver. by their own gravity. In
some cases the magazine is attached at one side of the receiver with an opening
from the magazine into the receiver through which the cartridges successively fall
by their own gravity.
The magazine is constructed with partitions extending alternately from either
side with a space left at the opposite side and so that the cartridges are separated
from each other by said partitions but yet permitted to pass from one division to
the next.and so on until they arrive at the mouth."
To charge the magazine it is necessarily detached from the receiver and the
cartridges introduced therein one after another until the magazine be filled or the
required number introduced, then the magazine is replaced. This recharging of
the magazine requires a considerable time and is a source of inconvenience and
annoyance to the person using the arm. Again projecting from the receiver as it
necessarily does, it is exposed to accidents, and must be made very strong and
heavy and becomes an expensive part of the arm; but however well it may be
made it is liable to derangement by accidents due to its exposed position.
. The object of this invention is to overcome these difficulties by constructing a
magazine of this class which may be so cheap as to permit of its being thrown
away when once exhausted or so that several such magazines may be readily
carried by the person ready for attachment to the arm.
In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1. Sheet I is a perspective view looking
toward the mouth; Fig. 2 a transverse section of the magazine standing in the
position for delivering the cartridges; Fig. 3, a longitudinal section on line x x
of Fig. 2; Fig. 4, the blank as cut for forming the magazine complete in a single
piece dotted lines indicating the lines upon which the bends are to be made; Fig. 5
a longitudinal section through the mouth of the magazine showing the tongues b
as turned inward to retain the cartridges in the magazine & Fig. 6 is a modification
of the retaining tongue.
In Sheet II is shown a mode of attaching the magazine to a firearm.
In carrying out this invention the blank is first cut from any suitable light and
cheap sheet metal-say thin sheet iron-complete in a single piece, as seen in
Fig. 4. The magazine tapers from the head end toward the point corresponding

page_text: to the taper of the cartridges for which purpose the blank is of segmental form
with a flap or wing on opposite sides centrally of its length.
A represents the part which may be called the "back" that is, that side which
is opposite the mouth. This tapers from the head end toward the point end
according to the taper of the cartridges, as before stated
From the broader end of
the back A the one wing B extends, and from the other end of the back the other
wing C extends. These wings B C have upon their three unconnected sides
extensions a to form flanges which may be turned upon the respective sides of the.
box, as hereinafter described. They are also each preferably provided with a
tongue b from their extreme outer end and at opposite points. From one side of
the back A say the right hand-an extension is made which will form the
side D D¹ of the magazine, together with the partition E F and the connecting
flange H. The partition is formed by doubling the metal inward as seen in Fig. 2.
In Fig. 4 D represents the first part of the side and extending from the back A
downward to the first partition. E represents the upper plate of the partition and
F the under. These two parts E F are doubled the part E turned inward and the
part Foutward, the portion D' forming the remainder of that side of the box and
from this side the connecting-flange H is bent outward as seen in Fig. 2. Each of
these parts is contracted according to the taper of the cartridges and as shown.
From the opposite side of the back A a like extension is made to form the opposite
side partition, bottom, and connecting flange.
I represents that portion which forms part of the side and is turned downward
from the back A to the first partition L.
In Fig. 4 L M represent the two parts of the partition from that side which
is doubled, as described, for the partition upon the opposite side and as seen in
Fig. 2.
From the outer edge of the part M of the partition the remainder I of that side
is turned downward and from the lower edge of that side I the bottom N is turned
inward and terminates in a flange, P turned backward as seen in Fig. 2. The
width of the partitions L M and E F is so much less than the width of the
magazine as to permit the cartridges to fall between the edge of the partition and
the opposite side. The upper surface L & E of the two partitions is inclined
downward and toward the opposite side and they form a tortuous passage from the
extreme top to the mouth R at the bottom.
As shown in Fig. 2 and described the magazine is formed with the mouth Rat
the botton, as this is the working position of the magazine and in which position
the cartridges will roll by their own gravity down the partition L, fall on the
partition E, thence down, fall onto the bottom N and there roll to the mouth R for
delivery to the receiver.
The respective parts of the sides and partitions are provided with tongues d at
their extreme ends, and more or less in number, which, when the parts are bent
into shape, as seen in Fig. 2. correspond to slits e in the two ends B C and after
the sides and partitions have been bent into shape as seen in Fig. 2 the two ends
are bent into substantially right angles to the part A and so that the tongues on
the partitions and sides pass through their respective slits in the ends and are.
.there bent down as seen in Fig. 3 against the ends which secures the ends in their
places and also forms a support for the inner edge of the partitions there being a
tongue at the inner.edge of the partitions to pass through corresponding slits in the
.end of the box. This done.the flanges a around the ends are bent over onto the
) respective sides to close the joint.
To retain the proper parallelism of the cartridges in the magazine the partitions
are cut short at their broader end, as seen at E F and L M to a sufficient extent
to form a slot fat that end into which the flange of the cartridge will set as seen
in Fig. 3 and will be prevented from turning out of its proper parallelism in its
passage through the magazine. A like slot g in the under parts of the partitions
embraces the flange of the cartridge upon the upper or opposite side, and across
the larger end of the back or top a groove h is made by a depression in the

page_text: metal as seen in Fig. 4 and as also seen in Fig. 3, which aids in guiding the
cartridges on the up partition. At the bottom a like groove or slot is formed best
done by cutting the bottom short, as seen in Figs. 3 and 4. Thus constructed the
magazine is filled by inverting the magazine from the position seen in Fig. 2 and.
introducing the cartridges one at a time they falling by their own gravity until
they reach the lowest or extreme point or back (or the bottom) and until the
magazine is filled then the tongues b may be turned inward at each end of the
mouth as seen in Fig. 5 to prevent the escape of the cartridges. The flanges P
and H are for the purpose of attaching the magazine to the arm, that being
provided with grooves to receive the same; or the mouth side of the magazine
may be otherwise fitted for attachment.
When the magazine is to be applied to the arm the tongues bb are bent outward
so as to uncover the mouth and permit the cartridges to pass out.
When placed upon the side of the magazine and in order to introduce cartridges
to the chamber in the receiver the arm is turned to bring the magazine into the
position seen in Fig. 2 when the first cartridge of its own gravity falls into the
chamber and so on until all the cartridges have been transferred in succession.
The magazine thus constructed is inexpensive and when once it has been
discharged may be thrown away.
The person using the arm may readily carry with him several such ready-
charged magazines, and attach them one after another as required, and thereby
avoid the necessity af refilling, and when one has been discharged it may be thrown
away or if preferred retained to be refilled.
The blanks for the magazines may be simply cut as seen in Fig. 4 ready for
folding, shipped, put in the market, and sold in that condition to be folded by the
purchaser, thereby avoiding bulky transportation; or the merchant may buy the
blanks, set them up, fill them with cartridges and sell them thus charged.
The blanks are cut out complete by suitable dies in the usual manner of forming
sheet metal blanks ready to be bent into shape and secured in the set-up or
magazine shape.
If a greater number of partitions are required-that is, a magazine which will
contain more cartridges-then the blank will be made accordingly, the partitions,
alternating, the one extending from one side, the next from the opposite side and
80 on.
While it is preferred to attach the tongues b b to the ends to be turned over the
mouth to retain the cartridges in the magazine, these may be dispensed with and
the flanges HP one or both or a portion of them-say as indicated in the dotted
line Fig. 1-may be turned over the mouth; or the securing-tongue b may be cut
from the side D¹ next the flange H as indicated in Fig. 4 and this tongue (turned
inward over the cartridges as seen in Fig. 6) can be readily turned outward auto-
matically or otherwise as the magazine is attached to the arm it only being essential
to this part of my invention that the magazine shall be provided with some means
for retaining the cartridges within the charged magazine.
In Sheet II the magazine is shown as applied to a breech loading firearm. Fig. 7
being a longitudinal sectional elevation of a firearm with the magazine attached.
Fig. 8 a longitudinal central sectional side view showing. the breech piece in its
open condition and a cartridge as standing in the auxiliary chamber preparatory
to its entrance into the chamber of the barrel and Fig. 9 is a vertical cross section
illustrating the application of the magazine.
The class of breech loading fire arm shown is that in which the breech piece is
arranged at the rear of the barrel and in axial line therewith and so as to be
moved backward in opening and forward to close the breech and to which a case
containing several cartridges may be applied over an opening in the receiver so that
the cartridges will successively fall in front of the breech-pieco when in its rear
position and be forced into the cartridge chamber by the forward movement of the
breech piece the case, or magazine being adapted on the top of the receiver and

page_text: being readily attached to or removed from the receiver as occasion may require so
that the arm may be used either as a breech loader or as a magazine-repeater.
A is the receiver, to the forward end of which the barrel B is attached In the
receiver, in rear of the barrel the breech piece C is arranged in axial line with the
barrel and so as to move backward in opening the breech to the position seen in
Fig. 8 or forward to close the breech as seen in Fig. 7.
On the top of the receiver and immediately in rear of the barrel is an opening U
corresponding substantially in shape to the cartridge for which the arm is adapted.
and so that the cartridge may be introduced through-the opening U to a position
in front of the open breech piece as seen in Fig. 8.
Below this cartridge receiving chamber is an opening V downward entirely
through the receiver to permit of the escape of the cartridge shell which will thus
fall away from the arm.
In this instance the construction of the magazine is slightly modified thus. The
magazine is constructed with an outwardly projecting flange H at the forward
end of the mouth and a like projecting flange Pat the rear end of the mouth (see'
Fig. 7) The receiver is constructed with a horizontal groove i at the forward end
of the opening U and a similar groove k at the rear (see Fig. 8) these two grooves.
corresponding to the flanges H and P on the magazine and so that the magazine
may be passed in sidewise the flanges entering respectively the grooves i and k and
when in proper position the mouth of the magazine corresponds to the opening U
as seen in Figures 7 and 9.
The magazine is constructed at one side of the mouth with a spring tongue b
which when free turns inward as seen in dotted lines Fig. 9 and so as to serve as a
stop to prevent the cartridges in the magazine from escaping and so that the
magazine filled with cartridges may be transported without danger of cartridges
escaping It is necessary therefore as the magazine is applied to the arm to
remove or displace the tongue b in order that the cartridges may fall from tho
mouth into the auxiliary chamber in the receiver. To this end the receiver is
constructed with an upwardly projecting lug 1 (see Fig. 9) which stands in the.
path of the tongue b as the magazine is introduced from one side.
་
-1
The introduction of the magazine is effected as follows the flange of the forward
end is set into the groove i & the rear end is then turned to place in the groove k
In so doing the spring tongue b strikes against the lug land as the magazine
approaches its place the spring tongue is bent outward into a plane with that side
of the magazine as seen in Fig. 9 and a turn button m is used to secure the
opposite side of the mouth so that the mouth of the magazine is left entirely open;
for the escape of the cartridges and each cartridge will escape therefrom into the
auxiliary chamber below whenever that chamber is opened by the movement of
the breech piece The first advance or closing movement of the breech piece forces
the first cartridge into its chamber in the barrel. Then withdrawing it the-shell
or cartridge if it be not exploded will escape through the opening V below Then
the next cartridge from the magazine will fall into place and so on until all the
cartridges in the magazine have been discharged Then the magazine is removed
and a second filled magazine applied or the magazine removed may be refilled with
cartridges and replaced. •
In order that the next cartridge in the magazine may not interfere with the
previous cartridge which has fallen into the auxiliary chamber in its forward or
rear.movement a suitable check is provided which will hold back the column of
cartridges in the magazine until the breech-piece is fully open.
In this arrangement of the magazine because of the opening into the receiver
being directly in line with the breech piece the magazine will stand in the central
line of the barrel and would therefore be in line with the sights as usually arranged.
The sights are therefore arranged at one side of the central line so that the line of
sight is to the left of the magazine.
l
The tendency of the spring tongue b bearing against a lug on the receiver
would be to turn the magazine from its place over the receiver and this tendency

page_text: .
will be increased to a considerable extent by the shock in firing To prevent such
turning out of place of the magazine the turn button m hung in the side of the
mouth of the receiver opposite the lug is provided as seen in Fig. 8 which when
the breech piece is in its open position as seen in Fig. 8 will stand down flush with
the upper surface of the receiver at that point but in the closing movement of the
breech piece it will strike the turn button m and turn it up inside the mouth of
the magazine as seen in Figures 7 and 9 and so that when the breech piece is
closed the magazine is positively locked in its place on the arm and from which it
cannot be disengaged without first opening the breech piece The spring tongue b
prevents the escape from one side and the turn button m from the opposite side.
The tongue b is described as a spring tongue but it will be understood that if
the metal from which the magazine is made is inelastic the tongue will be simply
bent in over the mouth of the magazine so as to prevent the escape of the
cartridges from the magazine and then when the magazine is set upon the receiver
the tongue will be bent outward as shewn.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention (communicated to me from abroad) and in what manner the same is
to be performed I declare that what I claim is
1. A magazine for fire arms consisting of a case having a mouth at one side to
receive and deliver the cartridges partitions extending alternately from opposite
sides to form a tortuous passage through the magazine the back sides ends and
partitions made complete from a single piece of sheet metal substantially as
described.
2. A magazine for fire-arms consisting of a case constructed for attachment to
the arm with longitudinal alternate partitions extending over each other from
opposite sides the upper surface of the said partitions inclined from the side to
which they are attached downward toward the opposite side and toward the mouth
substantially as described thus forming floors upon which alternate series of
cartridges may roll in their descent to the mouth of the magazine.
3. A magazine for fire-arms consisting of a case constructed for attachment to
the arm with longitudinal partitions therein extending the first from one side and
the next from the opposite side the ends of the partitions constructed with a
transverse slot to receive the flange of the cartridges substantially as described.
4. The adaptation of a cartridge magazine constructed from a single blank as
above set forth to the receiver of a breech loading fire arm substantially as
described whereby the mouth of the magazine is held open for the exit of the
cartridge.