IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Harris Lake of the firm of Haseltine Lake
& Co Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London for an invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO FIRE-ARMS "
A communication
from abroad by Josef Schulhof, of Vienna, Austria.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Harris Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd May 1882.
"
HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co Patent Agents
Southampton Buildings, London "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO FIRE-
ARMS [A communication from abroad by Josef Schulhof, of Vienna, Austria.]
This Invention relates chiefly to magazine fire-arms, its principal object being to
provide a magazine or repeating rifle in which the breech-block is simple in con-
struction, safe, and will prevent escape of gas, and the safety of which does not
depend, as in other systems, upon the action of a spring, but is ensured by means
of a strong handle, and safety shoulder.
In fire-arms made in accordance with the said Invention the magazine is placed
in the stock and may contain from fifteen to. twenty five cartridges a number which
magazine rifles as hitherto constructed have not been capable of containing. By
placing the cartridges in the stock and in the small of the stock, the evils inherent
to most existing systems, of overweight and recoil, are obviated.
In most existing magazine rifles, the cartridges are brought into the loading
chamber by means of a spiral spring or a cartridge carrier, but by the present
invention this arrangement which is weak and uncertain in its operation has been
replaced by a strong rod, provided with spring teeth, and thus the great advantage
is obtained of doing away with the dangerous pressure of the projectiles upon the
cap-priming of the cartridges in front; and avoiding the deformation of the cartridges
and the explosions occasioned by such pressure. The guns hitherto made, in loading
and firing, must be brought from the firing position to the loading position but by
the present invention the gun does not require to be shifted from the firing position,
until the magazine is completely exhausted.

page_text: The trigger is not, as in existing systems arranged underneath, but is placed
above, and at one side upon the small of the stock, thereby avoiding the "deviation
of the shot," common to all guns, and increasing the accuracy of aim.
In guns hitherto constructed there is no arrangement which prevents the with-
drawal of the shot when the hammer or firing pin is cocked. In this system a
small arrangement is contrived which prevents entirely the withdrawal of the shot
when the firing pin is cocked, or in position for firing, which is a great safeguard
against accidents.
In none of the existing systems does the person using the fire-arm know when
his magazine is empty. This evil is remedied in the present invention by an
arrangement which shews exactly when the magazine is empty, which prevents the
useless handling that occurs with ordinary magazine fire-arins.
In the majority of existing magazine rifles, the magazines are charged by putting
into them one cartridge after another; moreover, it requires from 10 to 15 seconds
at least to fill in 8 cartridges; in the present system, the magazine is charged at
once with from 15 to 25 cartridges, and from 5 to 7 seconds are at most required
for the operation. This great advantage is obtained by means of what I term a
"quick charger" specially constructed for the purpose, which consists essentially of
a box made of card-board.
After the shot has been fired, the empty cartridge shell in the generality of guns,
is ejected from the cartridge chamber either by means of the cartridge extractor
alone, or else by means of an ejector which does not always work properly; in this
system, besides a well constructed retractor, there is an ejector-spring brought into
play, which operates effectively.
In existing systems when the magazine gets out of order, it must always be
taken to pieces, but in the present system it is only necessary to open a small
magazine door which shuts with a spring-catch, and the whole magazine lies open
to view; thus any derangement may at once be put right with but little loss
of time.
As regards weight, a rifle made in accordance with the said invention, with its
magazine fully charged, is not heavier than ordinary magazine rifles with their
magazines empty.
In all existing systems, only from 8 to 16 shots can be fired in a minute, but
with my improved magazine rifle it is possible to fire from 30 to 35 shots in quick
firing, and from 20 to 25 shots in steady firing per minute; a rapidity of fire
which has hitherto not yet be obtained by guns loaded with the usual cartridge.
The construction of my improved gun is simple, and its manufacture cheap ;
moreover any gun may easily, and at little cost, be transforined into a repeating gun
in accordance with the said invention.
In carrying the said invention into practice I provide a breech-chamber which
consists essentially in two side-pieces and a chamber for the admission of the barrel,
At tho
and at the rear it terminates in a tail-end for attachment to the stock.
upper part it is provided with a rectangular hole and it is bored longitudinally for
the admission of the breech-bolt, and the firing pin with which the said breech-bolt
is combined. On one side of the aforesaid chamber is a horizontal longitudinal slot,
which is designed to receive parts of the breech-bolt.
The front end of the said longitudinal slot has a cavity which serves to adinit
the sliding bar of the arrangement hereinafter described for throwing the repenting
mechanism out of gear. For the admission of part of the breech-bolt when the
breech is closed, this slot has also a sloping notch, and towards the rear end of the
chamber is the mouth of the said slot.
At the lower part of the same side of the aforesaid chamber is a vertical slot,
which corresponds with the said horizontal slot, and the purpose of which will be
hereinafter set forth. At the lower part, the said chamber is provided with an
opening of suitable size and shape to admit a cartridge and into this opening a
spoon-shaped cartridge feeder is capable of being moved. Further back the said
chamber is provided with a drilled shoulder, at the forward side of which the said

page_text: On
spoon-shaped cartridge feeder is hinged in any suitable manner; the said feeder is
continually pressed upward by means of a spring let into the said shoulder.
one side the said cartridge feeder has a projection which corresponds with a
warning or indicating pin. The drilled part of the aforesaid shoulder in which is
introduced a cartridge feeding tube serves for the passage of the cartridges; the
said shoulder is provided on one side with a groove designed to guide a transport
rail, and which groove is a continuation of a groove formed in the cartridge-feeding
tube. There is moreover in the said shoulder another cavity contrived for the
reception of a cartridge-ejector, which cavity ends in a short slot through which the
cartridge-ejector passes during its working, when the breech is opened, so as to
perform its functions.
At the lower side of the tail end of the breech-chamber is placed the trigger; this
trigger consists of a bent lever, whose horizontal arm is pivoted at its front end,
under the tail end of the breech-chamber upon a pin. The said arm is provided at
its centre with a longitudinal slot in which is placed the trigger heel which is made
to oscillate upon a small pin. The other arm of the said lever which carries a
finger-piece is conducted through an aperture in the tail end of the chamber in such
a manner that the finger-piece is placed in a suitable position on the small of the
stock. A spring is secured upon the tail end of the chamber and keeps the trigger
in its normal position; and the pressure exerted by this spring, according to
whether the loosening of the trigger-heel from the notch of the hair-trigger is
desired to be easy, or the reverse, may be regulated through the tightening or
loosening of a screw.
In order to prevent the trigger being moved accidentally, there is a slot in the
tail end of the breech-chamber into which is fitted a sliding pawl or stop which
may be operated by means of a sinall knob placed in front. By pushing the said
pawl or stop forward it engages under the horizontal arm of the trigger, and
prevents the latter from being pressed downward.
In order to change the gun into a common single shot rifle, a sliding catch is
placed on one side, at the forepart of the aforesaid longitudinal slot made in the
breech chamber, which catch is connected with one end of an arm, by means of a
screw, and by means of this catch the repeating mechanism may be put in or out
of gear, as will be hereinafter explained.
On one side of the breech-chamber
placed a pin which, by means of a spring,
is held down within the box in such a manner that it is level with the upper
surface of the breech-chamber. This pin when acted upon by the aforesaid spoon-
shaped cartridge feeder, shews by its protruding above the surface of the breech-
chamber, that the magazine has become empty.
The breech-bolt consists essentially of a hollow cylinder provided in front with
a tapered part which is drilled for the reception of the firing pin. On one side is
the bolt lever, and on another side is a projection for taking into a slot in the
breech chamber. On the tapered part of the breech-bolt is placed the bolt-head
which is cut out in front for the admission of the cartridge-collar, and is provided
above with a groove for the cartridge retractor and below with a groove for the
cartridge ejector. On one side the said bolt-head has a projection formed like that
on the breech-bolt in which projection there is a cavity or notch. The bolt-head
is held fast by means of a screw which serves to fasten the cartridge retractor,
through which it passes and thence into a notch contrived upon the tapered part
of the breech-bolt.
The firing pin lock consists essentially of a hair-trigger in which a notch is cut,
and which carries at its upper side a projection which is shaped to correspond to
the projection on the breech-bolt. Into this hair-trigger is screwed the firing pin
which is square at its rear, and which is provided with a nut. After the nut of
the breech-bolt has been fitted upon the square part of the said pin, a spiral spring
is placed upon the round part, and is slightly compressed and held in its position
by means of a nut. The firing pin-lock is then introduced into the breech-bolt,
and held fast by screwing up the nut of the breech-bolt.

page_text: The breech-bolt thus fitted is made to slide up the breech chamber in such a
position that the projection on the bolt-head comes opposite the open part or mouth
of the slot; the said projection is then depressed through an angle of 90°, and
engages into the aforesaid longitudinal slot." After a further sliding up of the
breech-bolt, it is turned downwards by means of the handle or lever through an
angle of 90°, whereby the said bandle comes into the longitudinal slot, close to and
behind the projection on the bolt-head. The breech-bolt is then pushed forward,
and the projection on the bolt engaged in the cavity provided for it, whereby a
complete closing of the breech is effected.
The cartridge magazine is in the stock and may be formed in three separate
compartments separated from one another by partitions, the first compartment
containing four, the second five and the third six cartridges, or other suitable
numbers. By making use of the whole stock, the first, second and third compart-
ments may be made capable of containing a larger number, and a fourth
compartment be contrived at the back part of the stock to contain seven more
cartridges, so that twenty-five cartridges may be enclosed in the stock, if desired.
The aperture designed for the admission of the cartridges is closed by means of
a cover provided with suitable hinges. Inside the cover is a spring which forces
the cover open after a catch has been disengaged.
Along the whole of the lower part of the stock, from the breech-chamber to the
heel of the stock, is a semi-circular metallic band or rail which serves for the
reception of the cartridge feeding tube, and is fastened by means of screws to the
stock, and thus to the breech chamber, one of which screws also serves to fasten
at the same time the spring for the cartridge-feeder. The said cartridge feeding
tube consists essentially in a closed tubular part in front and an open grooved
part at its rear. On one side the feeding tube has a groove which receives a
transport rail. The feeding tube is fastened to another rail by means of a screw,
or it may, together with the rail, be made of one single piece.
The cartridge transport rail is a flat steel band which is made to slide in a
groove of the feeding tube. Upon this rail are rivetted at equal distances six
springs which are made with teeth at their ends. These teeth have to perform
the transport of the cartridges, and are constantly pressed down into the interior
of the feeding tube through openings contrived for them in the transport-rail by
means of the pressure of the said springs, for which purpose the tubular part of
At the
the feeding tube is provided with a longitudinal slot on one side thereof.
front end of the transport-rail an arm is fastened by means of a screw, and a
spring rests against a pin on the transport-rail and exerts upon the said arm a
continuous upward pressure. The said arm is curved, and has at one end a round
head with which it engages in the square notch of the projection on the bolt-head
and is held therein by the pressure of the said spring.
On one side of the feeding tube are similar teeth to those already described
which are also provided with springs which also protrude into the interior of the
feeding tube, and which are designed to hold the cartridges, when the transport
rail is made to slide back, and the first named teeth do not act upon them.
the cartridges can always be pushed forward, but cannot retrograde.
Thus
Before the transport rail is slid into the groove of the feeding tube, the said
tube is fitted into the shoulder on the underside of the breech-chamber so that the
head of the aforesaid arm engages with the cavity in the bolt-head through the
aforesaid vertical slot. After placing the tube in the stock and fastening it by
means of screws to the breech-chamber in front and to the stock at the rear, the
aforesaid sliding bar is fitted into the cavity in the bolt-head and its connection
made with the head of the aforesaid arm.
The tubular part of the feeding tube has an enlargement into which the screw
securing the tail end of the breech-chamber is screwed, thus taking the place of a
breech-screw-pin.
The cartridge boxes are made to correspond to the shape of the magazine
hollowed out in the stock. They are likewise divided inside by partitions forming

page_text: divisions for the reception of the cartridges. The cardboard or other boxes are
closed below by a sliding bottom moving in a groove which has a bent rim for
more easily grasping it. This rim is stuck to the box by means of a paper strip,
or by other suitable means.
Instead of dividing the cartridge magazine by partitions, and loading it as above
described, the magazine may be constructed without these partitions, the cartridge
boxes made of cardboard or metallic plates, having then no slide they are so
arranged that one side can easily be torn off or removed.
The space between one of the transporting teeth and the adjacent one is so
regulated that the points of the projectiles cannot touch the priming of the cart-
ridges in front of them; and thus an explosion of a cartridge by a blow on the
feeding tube or magazine cannot take place, the cartridges in the magazine being
protected from mutual contact in the line of their axes by the aforesaid
partitions.
The whole breech, when not in use is protected by a dust cap made of steel
plate, consisting of a half tube which slides with its two edges in parallel grooves
contrived in the breech, chamber, and covers the whole lock-mechanism.
use, this casing is removed by sliding it out of the said grooves.
Before

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Henry Harris Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
2nd November 1882.
FIRE-
HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co. Patent Agents,
ΤΟ
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING
Southampton Buildings London
ARMS A communication from abroad by Josef Schulhof, of Vienna Austria
"
This invention relates chiefly to magazine fire-arms, its principal object being to
provide a magazine or repeating rifle having a breech-block which is simple in
construction, and will prevent the escape of gas, and the safety of which does not
depend, as in other systems, upon the action of a spring, but is ensured by means
of a strong handle and shoulder.
In fire-arms constructed in accordance with the said invention the magazine is
placed in the stock, and may contain from fifteen to twenty five cartridges, a
number which magazine rifles as hitherto constructed have not been capable of
containing. By placing the cartridges in the stock the evils, inherent in most
existing systems, of overweight and recoil are obviated.
In most existing magazine rifles, the cartridges are brought into the loading
chamber by means of a spiral spring or a carrier, but by the present invention this
arrangement, which is uncertain in its operation, is replaced by a strong rod,
provided with spring teeth, and thus the great advantage is obtained of avoiding
the dangerous pressure of the projectiles upon the cap-priming of the cartridges in
front, and the explosions occasioned by such pressure and preventing the deformation
of the cartridges.
The guns hitherto made, in loading, must be brought from the firing position,
but by the present invention the gun does not require to be shifted from the firing
position until the magazine is completely empty. The trigger moreover is placed
at one side upon the small of the stock, thereby avoiding the movement of the
gun in firing and the consequent deviation of the shot (which frequently occurs
Heretofore the
with ordinary guns), and thus increasing the accuracy of aim.
charge of a gun could be withdrawn after the hammer or firing pin was cocked,
but in my improved gun there is an arrangement which entirely prevents this,
thereby affording a great safe guard against accidents; there is also an arrangement
which indicates when the magazine is empty, thereby avoiding the useless handling
that is necessary with an ordinary magazine fire-arm. According to this invention
the inclined plane is dispensed with, the working parts generally running in
straight lines. By this improved construction the use of a large number of screws
is avoided, only five being used in the whole gun. In the majority of existing
magazine-rifles, the magazines are charged by putting into them one cartridge
after another, from ten to fifteen seconds at least being occupied in inserting eight
cartridges; by this invention the magazine is charged with from fifteen to twenty
four cartridges in from five to seven seconds. Heretofore after a shot was fired
from a gun, the empty cartridge shell was ejected either by means of a retractor
alone, or else by means of an ejector which is not always certain of action, in this
system besides a retractor there is an ejector-spring which operates effectively. In
existing systems, when the magazine gets out of order, it must always be taken to
pieces but in the present system it is only necessary to open a small door which
closes with a spring catch, and the whole magazine lies open to view; thus any
A. rifle made in accordance
derangement may be put right without loss of time.
with the said invention, with its magazine fully charged, is not heavier than an
ordinary magazine rifle with its magazine empty. Also on account of its slender

page_text: left in order to push away the stud 29a of the head-piece which is under
the prolongation of the breech-bolt ledge 26.
In the upper rear part of the shoulder B is arranged the trigger H. Figures 1, 7
and 9. The said trigger consists of a lever having two arms, one bent at right
angles vertically and the other horizontally, the horizontal arm 30 is provided
with a small slot in which is lodged the trigger-pin 31. The fore arm of the said
lever carries the hair trigger presser which lies on the right upper side of the bolt
neck. The spring 32 screwed on the tail end 23 of the breech (Figures 7, 8 and 9)
tends to hold the trigger in the position shewn in Figure 1.
In order to prevent the uncocking of the trigger there is at the extremity of the
tail end of the breech 23 a safety device V movable in a horizontal plane upon a
screw 33, the object of which device is to completely cover the trigger H and thus
prevent the accidental discharge of the gun. The safety catch V has screwed into
it a small pin 34 which engages in a corresponding groove on the tail end of the
breech and prevents the said safety catch from rotating through an angle of more
than ninety degrees in order that it should not interfere with the movement of the
breech-bolt J. A small spring 36 impinges against the head 37 of the axis 33 of
the safety catch. The said head has two flat faces at right angles to one another
which follow the motion of a square piece attached to the safety device V. By
means of this arrangement the safety catch covers the trigger when the breech is
open and exposes it when the breech is shut.
The breech-bolt which is located in the breech-chamber, consists of the actual
bolt J, the breech lever 39 and the bolt-head K which latter is hollowed out for
the reception of the cartridge flange. The breech-bolt J is a hollow cylinder
entirely open in front, and having a hole pierced at the back for the passage of the
firing pin L; through the whole of its external length extends the ledge 26 which
carries the lever 39. The striking pin or firing pin L which is in the rear of a
cylindrical shape and in front of a conical shape and tapers towards the firing point,
carries a collar 40 on which abuts the spiral spring 41. At its rear end the said
pin is provided with two small surfaces or grooves on which the cheeks of the
sliding plug 42 of the hair trigger M catch and thereby hold it fast thereon The
breech bolt head K is provided with a loose shoulder and also with a nose 29ª
which the catch 43 of the breech bolt ledge 20 encloses and thus forins a connection
between the bolt J and the head-piece K as soon as the breech is moved. The
breech bolt head piece K is also provided with another ledge 26a (Figures 4, 10, 12
and 13) which is secured in a cavity 45 in which the arrangement for throwing the
repeating mechanism out of gear is carried. The ledge 26" is of exactly equal
section with the breech ledge 20 of the breech bolt J (Figure 10) so that when the
breech is closed both the said ledges 26 and 26ª come together. The ledge 26°
cannot alter its horizontal position either when the breech bolt lever 39 is turned
up or down, or when it is moved to and fro, in consequence of the nose 29" coming
into contact with the left chamber wall of the breech and the ledge 26 upon the
horizontal surface of the right hand chamber wall 21 whilst the breech bolt itself
catches over the head piece and the nose 29 as soon as the breech bolt lever is
placed in an upright position, in which position alone it is possible to move the
breech bolt backwards or forwards. The breech bolt carries the breech lever 39 at
the rear part of the ledge 26, which ledge fills up the whole length of the chamber
slot with the exception of the length of the breech-bolt head ledge so that when
the closing of the breech takes place it lies directly against the butting or safety
plate 24 of the chamber. This ledge 26 of the breech bolt, has, as already stated,
in front, a prolongation 43 projecting over the end of the same, which is provided
with a slit, whose dimensions answer exactly to the dimensions of the nose 29* of
the head piece and thus form the catch 43 herein before mentioned. When the
unlocking of the breech is performed this catch projects over the nose of the head
piece and thereby forces the latter to move forwards and backwards with the
breech bolt. In order to permit the introduction of the breech bolt J together with
the head piece K into the chamber A a groove 29 is formed in the latter in which

page_text: the nose 29 of the head piece fits and can turn through an angle of ninety
degrees.
The head piece of the breech-bolt is so lodged in the breech chamber through the
opening that the ledge 26ª lies upon the right hand side chamber wall 21 and
the nose 29 against the left hand side chamber wall 20. When the said head
piece is pulled backwards then the nose 29ª comes into the slit 29 of the chamber
between the butting plate 24 and the left hand side chamber wall 20 it is then
turned through an angle of ninety degrees so that the nose 29° catches in the
groove 29 whilst the ledge 20a stands vertical; when the breech bolt is pushed in
from behind, its extended ledge 26 engages with the catch 43 over the head piece
and both the ledges 26 and 26° form together a prism Then the head piece is
again turned round ninety degrees on its way back so that the ledge 26ª again lies
between the right hand side wall 21 of the chamber, whilst the nose 29" comes out
of the groove 29 and places itself under the catch 43 of the breech bolt. Thereby
a connection is formed between the breech bolt and head piece which cannot be
broken accidentally; while, through the general limitations which the form of the
breech chamber presents to the breech bolt in all its motions no rotation either of
the bolt or of the head-piece which may bring about such disconnection can occur.
The head piece K carries in a groove which divides the nose 29a the cartridge
retractor 46 secured firmly therein by means of a small screw. A second groove 48
formed on the opposite side of the said head (which corresponds to the breadth of
the trigger pin 31 and extends over the head piece as well as over the whole length
of the breech-bolt and a part of the hair trigger) serves to hold the cartridge
ejector 49 which slides loosely in this groove and abuts against the trigger pin 31
when the breech is opened and the bolt drawn back and remains there whilst the
bolt J shifts further back until the bottom of the spent cartridge shell which is
withdrawn by the cartridge retractor 46 strikes against the said ejector 49 whereby
the cartridge shell receives a blow upon the lower side of the flange that throws it
off in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 2.
The cocking of the striking pin takes place automatically through the axial
rotation through an angle of ninety degrees of the breech bolt J (Figure 2) whereby
the incline B of the breech bolt J and the incline B' of the hair trigger M
(Figures 2, 10 and 11) come into action in such a manner that the incline of the
trigger M whose ledge 51 allows it to move in the direction of its length but
permits of no axial motion is pushed back by the incline of the breech bolt until
the rounded angle of the ledge 51 enters the corresponding indent of the breech
bolt and is held there through the cocking of the trigger-pin spring.
The cartridge magazine which is in the butt, in the present instance, is provided
with three separate chambers a b c hollowed out in it and separated from each
other by cross pieces y y the first of the three chambers contains 4 the second 5 and
the third 6 cartridges. By making use of the entire stock the contents of the first,
second and third chambers can be increased each by one cartridge and in the back
part of the butt a fourth chamber for 7 cartridges can be formed so that the
magazine may be made to contain 25 cartridges.
The said magazine is provided with a lid O (Figures 1 and 2) movable upon the
binge joint 52. Inside the lid there is a spring 53 which raises the said lid after
the catch lock 54 has been withdrawn.
Under the whole lower part of the stock from the breech A to the heel P rubs a
half-circular metallic band R (Figures 12 3 5 19 and 20) which serves to strengthen
the small of the stock the magazine and other parts, the said plate is fastened to
the breech and to the stock by means of the two screws 55 and 56.
The tube C for conducting the cartridges froin the magazine to the breech is
arranged with one end in the shoulder B of the breech A (Figures 1 and 2) the
other part lying upon the said curved metallic band R and being fastened to it by
the screw 57. The said conducting tube consists of a closed tubular part d and of
an open groove-like part e (Figures 14 18 19 and 20) on the right side the said
conducting tube C has a groove 58 which serves to receive the transport-rail F

page_text: Figure 14
On the left side are springs provided with teeth g (Figures 16 and 18)
which serve to keep in position the cartridges pushed forward after each movement
of the transport-rail. Upon the tubular part d of the conducting tube is a
protuberance into which is inserted the screw 59 (Figure 1) which passes from the
tail-end of the breech through the small of the stock and takes the place of the
breech screw pin.
The cartridge transport-rail F is a flat steel rail which runs in the groove 58 of
the cartridge conducting the tube. Upon it are rivetted at equal distances five
springs h provided with the teeth ii (Figures 14 15 and 17) The said teeth i i
which actually perform the transport of the cartridges are by the force of the
springs always passed into the inner path of the conducting tube-through the
open spaces formed for them in the transport-rail F for which purpose the tube
shaped part of the conducting tube is provided with a longitudinal side groove 60
(Figure 19). At the fore-end of the transport-rail the carrier E is attached, by
means of a pivot the said carrier is suspended at its fore part to the device y
When the transport-rail is placed in the groove 58 of the conducting tube C the
said tube placed in the stock and the carrier E suspended on the device G, the
whole is made fast by means of the screws 55, 56 and 57.
To actuate the gear shifting mechanism of the cartridge conducting tube a small
flat lever (Figure 4) is provided bent at the top at right angles to the other part,
the said bent part runs out in a horizontal-direction into a cylindrical pin vi
provided at its end with a screw thread the other part of the said lever projects
downwards into the vertical slit 27 (Figures 5 and 9) of the breech and is so
fastened at its lower end with the carrier E through the link hole v³ that the said
carrier is movable in a vertical plane upon its two end-pivots.
Over the pin v¹ is placed a small hollow knob C the internal construction of
which will be seen upon reference to Figure 4, which shows it in horizontal
section.
The nut b² is screwed upon the pin and a small spiral spring placed around
the said pin brings the hollow knob G back into position and holds it there after
it has been drawn out.
The breech is provided at S (Figures 467 and 8) with a short slot 28 which
extends as far as the horizontal slit 27 and forms, with it a right angle which
corresponds to the bent lever of the gear-shifter. At the same place in the outer
wall of the breech a cavity is formed of but little depth and of uniform shape
which serves to receive the base of the movable gear-shifter knob G.
In the ledge 26 of the breech-bolt head-piece K there is also a slot corresponding
with the slot S¹ so that when the breech bolt is in the forward position represented
in Figure 1, that is to say, when the breech is completely closed, these two short
slots correspond, and the movable gear-shifter knob G can be raised from the
circular cavity of the ledge 26" and shifted and placed in the slot at S in the breechi
wall, whereby the change from repeating loading from the magazine into single
hand loading is effected inasinuch as through the closing, that is to say the shifting
forward of the breech-bolt, the small lever v and the carrier E together with the
transport-rail, are no longer carried forward with it, and thus no cartridge is
brought from the magazine through the conducting tube, upon the feeding spoon.
In order that when the reciprocating apparatus is disconnected, that is to say
when the shifting knob G is in the cavity S of the breech wall, and the gun is to
be transformed into a single loader, the grooves and surfaces of the breech-bolt
head-piece should be protected from dust and sand, the ledge 26 of the head-piece
carries a small movable lid that can be shifted into two dove-tail grooves t
(Figure 13) the said lid, as soon as the gear shifting arrangement is disconnected, is
pushed down and thus covers the breech-ledge 26ª. When the connection is to be
re-established, the said lid rises until it reaches the limit of its upward movement
and thus frees the slit and the circular cavity for the gear shifting knob.
In the shoulder B of the breech, and held fast thereon by means of a pin 63, is
arranged the cartridge feeding spoon D. A spring 64, which is fastened to the

page_text: shoulder B under the rail R by means of the screw 55, exerts upon the said
feeding spoon D a constant upward pressure against the breech-bolt so that only
the weight of the cartridge which is fed to the spoon bears upon it; whereby as
soon as the breech-bolt is drawn back and the space over the cartridge lying on
the spoon is free, the said spoon assumes an inclined position as shown in Figure 2
and holds the cartridge in a position ready to be pushed forward into the breech-
chamber.
When all the cartridges are exhausted, the said spoon is pressed by the spring 64
against the breech-bolt, a projection 65 on the feeding spoon (Figures 4, 8 and 9)
then comes into contact with an indicator 66 and pushes it out from the side of
the breech, and the marksman is thereby made aware that the magazine is empty.
The cartridge boxes T are formed with divisions in the same manner as the
magazine in the stock. The said boxes are closed underneath by a lid sliding in
grooves V the said lid has a turned up edge u for facilitating the handling. The
said edge u is secured to the box by means of a strip of paper.
When the gun is not in use the breech is protected by a dust-cap made of steel
or the like which consists of a tube divided longitudinally and having both its
edges in parallel grooves formed on the sides of the said breech A.
When the gun is required for use the said cap is removed from the breech by
drawing it downwards.
The operation of the gun is as follows, that is to say -In loading the gun, the
lid O is opened by pressing upon the catch-lock 54 the said lid is then forced
upwards by means of the spring 53. Four loose cartridges I II III IV (Figures 1
and 2) are then introduced bullets foremost into the tube-shaped part d of the
conducting tube C and pushed forward until the first cartridge I lies upon the
feeding spoon D, the last cartridge IV (Figure 1) is prevented from sliding back
by the spring teeth g and the teeth i of the transport-rail. A box (full of
cartridges) whose edge u has first been loosened, is then turned with the lid V
downwards over the magazine, and the lid V entirely pulled away. The cartridges
then fall out of the box directly into the magazine, whereupon the box is taken
away and the lid O closed. Instead of introducing four cartridges beforehand, the
breech-bolt can be moved four times. In this way the magazine can be at once
charged directly from the magazine, which, when compared with other methods by
which the cartridges are introduced singly, effects a great saving of time.
By turning the breech-bolt lever upwards the breech is unlocked; the ledge 26
of the bolt which stood previously downwards is brought in front of the slot,
between the butting plate 24 and the left wall 20; the curved surface B at the
rear of the bolt comes into contact with the corresponding surface B' of the trigger,
and pushes the latter out, whereby the firing pin is drawn within the breech-bolt
and cocked as shewn in Figures 1 and 2 so that the danger of an accidental
striking of the priming of the cartridge on the quick introduction of a cartridge by
means of the bolt is obviated, inasmuch as the priming cannot be touched by the
firing pin.
As the breech is opened by drawing back the breech-bolt-lever 39 the first
cartridge which is on the feeding spoon D (Figure 2) is brought in front of the
loading chamber. At the same time the transport-rail F which is coupled with
the breech-bolt by means of the carrier E, is pushed downwards for the length of
one cartridge, the spring teeth i of the transport-rail slipping over the cartridges
which are in the conducting tube C the cartridge being prevented from slipping
back also by the spring teeth g upon the opposite side of the said tube. The last
tooth of the transport-rail is thus brought behind the flange of the bottom
cartridge 3 in division c (Figure 1) By the closing of the breech, the cartridge I
lying on the feeding spoon is pushed into the loading chamber. The trigger pin 31
of the trigger H catches in the bend of the hair trigger M whereby the said hair
trigger is held fast by the said trigger pin.
By forcibly thrusting forward the bolt J and turning downwards the bolt-
lever 39, the bolt ledge 26 is brought behind the butting plate 24 whereby a safe

page_text: closing of the breech is effected. The spring cartridge retractor 46 also slips over
the collor or flange of the cartridge and grasps it as shewn in Figure 1.
As the breech is closed the transport-rail F is moved forward the length of one
cartridge and as every tooth i stands behind a cartridge the whole column of
cartridges in the conducting tube, is pushed forward. The spring teeth gare
depressed each time the cartridges pass over them and snap behind them after they
have passed.
The space from one tooth i to the next is so arranged that the top of the
projectile of a cartridge can never touch the priming of the cartridge standing in
front of it and thus the explosion of a cartridge can never take place, whatever
shock there may be in the conducting tube or magazine for in the latter the
cartridges are prevented from coming into contact with one another in the plane
of their longitudinal axis by the divisions 3, Y.
Through the means above described, the cartridge II is brought under the breech
bolt upon the feeding spoon, that is to say into the place which (before the
opening of the breech) the cartridge I had occupied; the cartridge from the
chamber a brought forward; the cartridg 2 from the chamber b is brought under
the cartridges in the chamber a and the cartridge 3 from the chamber c is brought
under those in the chamber b. Into the place which the cartridge 3 occupied, the
cartridge 4 drops by its own weight and also those above it, as shown in Figure 1.
It is obvious that after each opening and closing of the breech, a cartridge is
taken out of the magazine and drawn on towards the loading chamber; and that
the last chamber c of the magazine is first emptied, In Figure 1 the cartridges are
numbered in order as they reach the conducting tube C.
In order to fire the cartridge I the trigger H is pressed, the lever 30 is thus
deflected, throwing at the same time the trigger pin 31 out of contact with the
hair trigger, whereby the latter is released and is forced forward together with the
striking pin by means of the spiral spring, the priming of the cartridge is thus
made to explode and the charge fired. In the next opening of the breech the
cartridge which has been grasped by the cartridge retractor 46 is drawn from the
loading chamber when the breech-bolt is drawn back; the cartridge ejector 49 also
slides back with the cartridge shell until it strikes against the firing pin 31 when
through the quick withdrawal of the breech-bolt J the cartridge shell receives at
its lowest edge opposite the cartridge retractor a blow which throws the said
cartridge shell away from the retractor in the direction shown by the arrow in
Figure 2.
The cartridge II is now brought by means of the feeding spoon D into position
before the loading chamber and is forced into the loading chamber, in the manner
herein before described. When the magazine is emptied the marksman is made
aware of the fact in the manner herein before described.
Having thus fully described the said invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent and the manner of performing the same I wish it understood
that I Claim, in a magazine gun-
First. The combination, with the breech-bolt, of an arrangement whereby the
cartridges in the divisions of a magazine in the stock are pushed forward successively
out of the said magazine through the small of the stock into the loading position,
by means of the sliding motion of the said breech-bolt in its operation of opening
and closing the breech, and are thrust into the breech chamber, substantially as
described.
Second-The breech-chamber open at the top and upon one side, the said
chamber being bored longitudinally for the reception of the breech-bolt, and having
the cartridge shaped opening in which the cartridge feeding spoon D moves, and
provided with a shoulder B for the reception of the said spoon and the cartridge
conducting tube, and having also a slot 27 and cavity 28 for the reception of the
carrier E and the gear-shifting device G, substantially as described.
:-
Third The breech-bolt having a head-piece which moves to and fro with
the said breech-bolt, in combination with the open chamber, whereby the said

page_text: head-piece does not alter its position during the necessary axial motion of the
breech-bolt when being opened, and the ledge of which breech-bolt, containing the
cavity for the gear-shifting device, is protected by a dust-cap, substantially as
described.
Fourth-
-The gear-shifting device provided with a movable knob and connected,
by means of a movable jointed piece, with the cartridge feeding mechanisın,
whereby the said mechanism can be shifted from the breech-bolt head-piece into
the cheek of the breech-chamber and back into the head-piece of the said
breech-bolt, substantially as described and for the purposes specified.
Fifth A trigger_consisting of the lever 30, in combination with the trigger-
pin 31, the presser H connected with the said lever 30 and arranged on the right
side at the back of the breech-bolt neck, and the spring 32 which throws the
lever 30 upwards, substantially as described.
Sixth The safety catch for the trigger-presser for the prevention of an
accidental discharge of the gun when loaded and ready for firing, consisting of a
cover capable of rotation upon a horizontal axis, which cover, when fixed, com-
pletely surrounds the upper and lower side of the said trigger presser and prevents
any motion thereof, substantially as described.
Seventh-The arrangement of the two inclined surfaces B, B', whereby, through
the axial rotation of the breech-bolt, the trigger and the firing pin are cocked in
consequence of the incline B₁ of the breech-bolt, during its rotation through an
angle of ninety degrees, pushing the incline B on the hair trigger of the tiring
pin so far back that the spiral spring is compressed, substantially as described.
Eighth The arrangement of the groove 48 in the breech-bolt-head and hair
trigger of the firing pin for the reception of the cartridge ejector 49, substantially
as described.
Ninth The firing pin L attached to the hair trigger M, substantially as
described.
Tenth The cartridge magazine in the stock divided into chambers (in which
the cartridges are so located with regard to each other that contact between the
projectile of one cartridge and the priming of another cartridge is rendered
impossible), in combination with the conducting tube and the transport-rail, on
which latter spring teeth are arranged at a distance from one another somewhat
greater than the length of a cartridge in order to render impossible the contact of
the point of the rear cartridge against the priming of the front one, substantially as
described.
Eleventh The transport-rail provided with spring and spring teeth i, in
combination with the breech-bolt, through the to-and-fro motion of which the
cartridges are brought from the magazine through the small of the stock and into
the loading chamber, substantially as described.
Twelfth The conducting tube C arranged in the lower and small part of the
stock and provided with a groove 58 in which the transport-rail slides, and with
the springs f having teeth g, substantially as described.
=
Thirteenth-The conducting tube having the springs with the teeth g, in
combination with the springs h and teeth i of the transport-rail, by means of which,
when the breech is opened and the movement of the transport-rail is effected, the
cartridges are prevented from being again drawn back, substantially as described.
Fourteenth The cartridge feeding spoon D arranged in the shoulder B of the
breech-chamber, and provided with a spring 64, whereby, as soon as the cartridge
fed to it by the transport-rail has reached the loading aperture, and the breech-
bolt J is thrown back, the said cartridge feeding spoon is placed in an oblique
position and thereby presents the cartridge in front of the loading chamber, in
order that, through the subsequent forward motion of the breech bolt, it shall be
thrust into the loading-chamber, substantially as described.
Fifteenth The indicator 66, which, when the ammunition contained in the
magazine has been entirely spent is pushed out of the breech-chamber by means of

page_text: the shoulder 65 on the feeding spoon D, which is raised by the spring 64 and
shows that the magazine is empty, substantially as described.
Sixteenth-The magazine arranged in the stock and provided with partitions,
the said magazine being closed by a lid O in such a manner that, on the opening
of the catch-lock, the said lid O is instantaneously raised by a spring, substantially
as described.
Seventeenth A cartridge box of shape corresponding to the magazine in the
gun-stock and divided into chambers by cross-pieces, in which chambers the
cartridges are arranged with their projectiles towards the smaller end of the said
box, and provided on one broad side with a sliding lid v through the withdrawal
of which the cartridges, when the box is held over the open magazine, fall into the
corresponding divisions of the latter, substantially as described.
Eighteenth-A dust-cap consisting of a half-tube, running in grooves formed in
the sides of the breech-chamber, which tube can be removed, substantially as
described.
In witness whereof I the said Henry Harris Lake have hereunto set my
hand and seal this second day of November in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two:
HENRY. H. LAKE. (L.S.)