Improvements in Breech-loading Small-arms.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 20th May, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 11th Jan., 1890-Accepted, 8th Mar., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Breech-loading Small-arms.
We WILLIAM PHILLIPSON, of 78 Weaman Street, Birmingham, Gun action manu-
facturer, and WILLIAM BAKER, of 10 Smith Street, Saint Georges, Birmingham, Gun
lock maker, both in the county of Warwick do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows :-
This invention relates to improvements in drop down breech loading small arms, and
has for its object primarily, an improved method of locking back the extractor leg or
slide, by means of vertical catch slides, carried in the lump upon the barrels ; also an
improved arrangement of parts, whereby the aforesaid vertical slides are thrown into
or out of action, and thereby constituting an automatic ejector or otherwise, also an
improved device for pushing back the ejecting springs, and further a catch arrangement
for keeping the ejector springs compressed when the fore end is removed, so as to
facilitate the replacing of the said fore end.
Upon the underside of the extractor leg or slide, we make a notch or recess, which,
when the extractor is closed, lies immediately above a vertical slideway, formed in the
first lump upon the barrels, at its radial junction with the action body.
In this slideway are two vertical slides, having toes or projections at their lower
front ends, a slot or recess being provided in the body at the aforesaid junction, for a
given height slotwise, to accommodate these toe parts. Pressure springs are further
provided, whereby the said vertical slides remain in their raised or lowered position,
without any tendency to move.
Again. On the trigger plate we place two levers, the front ends of which come
underneath the lower or toe end of the aforesaid vertical slides, while their other ends
are operated upon by the triggers, or other moving part in the fixing of the gun, so
as to press the said slides upwards into the notch or recess in the extractor legs, where
they remain until the gun is opened.
Upon the gun being opened the vertical slides are raised together as one with the
front lump upon the barrels, until their toe parts reach the upper part of their slot or
recess in the body, when their further advance is arrested, and by reason of the front
lump still rising, the said vertical slides are thereby drawn clear of the notch in the
extractor legs, and the cartridge case or cases ejected.
The two levers upon the trigger plate, are made capable of being thrown into or
out of action with the triggers or other moving part, so that they may become
automatic ejectors or otherwise at will. In order to do this we may carry the fulcrum
upon which the lever works, upon a sliding piece, so that if desired the rear end of
the lever may be slid clear of the said trigger or other moving part, and remain
inactive.
Or, the fulcrum may be fixed, and the rear end of the said two levers pushed
sideways clear of the triggers by a lever cam, or other equivalent device.
An important feature in this our invention is further, to provide an arrangement
whereby upon closing the gun breech, that part of the body near its joint, shall be
made to push back the ejector hammer and spring into its compressed position,
and so to obviate the pressing of the ejector backwards by means of the face of
the body.
This arrangement may be somewhat varied in detail, but generally we should
proceed as follows:-At a suitable part above the joint pin, and upon the body, we
provide a push lever, which is hinged at its one end, and extends thence forward until
its front end comes against the ejector hammer, so that immediately upon closing the
gun breech, the said push lever, commences to push backward the ejector hammer and
its spring, leaving the extractor leg free to be pressed back without any force. Or, if

page_text: preferred, the aforesaid push lever may press backward against a projection formed
upon the extractor leg itself.
Instead of this push piece being hinged, it may consist of a slide, carried in the fore
end, and protruding therefrom against the upper part of the joint of the body, when
the gun is opened, and its front end resting against the ejector hammer &c.; or such
slide may be part of the extractor leg or slide, or of the hammer itself, coming in
contact with a projection upon the action body as aforesaid, so that when the gun is
closed, the haminer is thrown back as before described.
Again, inasmuch as it is troublesome to replace the fore end when it has been
removed, by reason of the ejector springs having pushed forward the hammers, we
provide a catch arrangement, by which the said hammers are retained in their
compressed position. Below the said hammers, we provide a catch lever, hinged at
its one end, and having a portion of it extending upward and protruding through the
fore end or hammer spring box, in a push piece form.
A spring is also provided, which shall press upon the said catch lever, the rear end
of which latter engages with and retains the front of the ejector hammer, by means of
a projection upon the one, passing into a recess &c. upon the other.
Hence when the ejector hammer is pushed back, the catch lever by means of its
spring holds it back, but when the fore end is being placed upon the barrels, the
protruding push piece is thereby pressed down and the catch lever pushed from the
hammer leaving the latter free for work.
Dated thin 10th L 1000
CHARLES T. POWELL,
Applicants' Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Breech-loading Small-arms.
We, WILLIAM PHILLIPSON, of 78 Weaman Street, Birmingham, Gun Action
Manufacturer, and WILLIAM BAKER, of 10 Smith Street, Saint Georges, Birmingham,
Gun Lock Maker, both in the county of Warwick, 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 improvements in drop down breech loading small arms,
and has for its object primarily, an improved method of locking back the extractor leg
or slide, by means of vertical catch slides, carried in the lump upon the barrels; also
an improved arrangement of parts, whereby the aforesaid vertical slides are thrown
into or out of action, and thereby constituting an automatic ejector or otherwise, also
an improved device for pushing back the ejecting springs, and further a catch arrange-
ment for keeping the ejector springs compressed when the fore-end is removed, so as
to facilitate the replacing of the said fore-end.
In order to more clearly explain this our invention we have appended hereunto
illustrative sheets of drawings upon which are figures and letters of reference, and in
which :-
Fig. 1, is a part sectional elevation shewing the position of various parts of this our
invention when the gun is closed, and fired.
Fig. 2, shews the position of various parts when the gun is opened, and the cartridge
case ejected.
Fig. 3, is a view of the detached fore-end, shewing the method of locking back the
ejector hammers upon its removal from the barrels.
Fig. 4, is a plan view of the push back lever shown in Figs. 1 & 2.
Fig. 5, is a sectional plan of the lump upon the barrels at A-B, Fig. 2.
Fig. 6, is a plan view of the vertical slide lifting levers.
Fig. 7, shows modified method of pushing back the ejector hammers by means of a
slide instead of a lever.
In Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive, similar reference letters refer throughout the several views
to the same thing or part.

page_text: pusa
as appred
binged or pivoted ejector hammer; also modified arrangement of vertical slide lifting
levers.
Fig. 9, shows the position of ejector hammer, and the push back lever (of Fig. 8)
when the gun is opened.
Fig. 10, is a plan view of the lifting levers shown in Fig. 8, being acted upon by
the triggers.
Fig. 11, shows these lifting levers when thrown out of gear with the said triggers.
Fig. 12, shews a further modified arrangement of lifting lever acting upon the
vertical slides.
Fig. 13, is an inverted plan view of parts of the body of the gun with the bottom
covering plate removed shewing the lifting levers &c.
Fig. 14, is a cross sectional elevation at CD, Fig. 12, shewing the relative position
of vertical slides and the cross lifting levers.
Fig. 15 is a detail inverted plan view of the cross lever and the sear spring upon
which it is carried.
Fig. 16, is a detail side view of Fig. 15.
Fig. 17, is a detail view of the hammer (as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 12).
In Figs. 8 to 17, inclusive, similar reference letters refer throughout the several views
to the same thing or part.
In Figs. 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16;-Upon the underside of the
extractor, leg or slide a, we make a notch or recess b, which, when the extractor a, is
closed, as in Figs. 1, 8, & 12, lies immediately above a vertical slideway, formed in the
lump c, upon the barrels, at its radial junction with the action body. In this slideway
are two vertical slides d, d, having toes or projections e; at their lower front ends, a
slot or recess, being provided in the body at the aforesaid junction, for a given height
slotwise, to accommodate these toe parts. Pressure springs g, are further provided,
whereby the said vertical slides remain in their raised or lowered position, without any
tendency to move.
Again. On or near the trigger plate we place two levers h, h, the front ends of which
come underneath the lower or toe end of the aforesaid vertical slides d, while their
other ends may be operated upon by the triggers or other moving part when the gun
is fired, so as to press the said slides upwards into the notch or recess in the extractor
legs, where they remain until the gun is opened.
In Figs. 1, 2, & 6, these lovers are operated by the main spring i, (shown in dotted
lines Fig. 1) that is, when the gun is fired, the lower limb of the main spring depresses
the outer end of the lever h, and thus raises the vertical slides into the recesses b.
In Figs. 8, 10, & 11, these levers h¹, are shown as adapted to admit of operation
from the triggers j; where it will be still observed that upon pulling the said triggers
to fire the gun, the slides d, d, will be raised into the extractor leg as before.
In Figs. 12, to 16, inclusive, these vertical slides are operated from the hammer k,
by means of the levers h³, h. These levers are conveniently carried upon the under-
side of the sear spring 1, which is secured to the body by screw pin m.
firing of the gun, the tail end of the hammer k, strikes the levers h², 1, and thereby
raises the slides as before.
Upon the
Upon the gun being opened, the vertical slides are raised together, as one with the
lump c, upon the barrels, see Fig. 2, until their toe parts e, reach the upper part of
their slot or recess in the body, when their further advance is arrested, and by reason
of the lump c, still rising, the said vertical slides d, d, are thereby drawn clear of the
notch b, in the extractor legs a, and the cartridge case or cases are ejected.
The operating levers h, h, h, h¹, & 2, 3, are made capable of being thrown into or
out of action, so that the mechanism may thereby be made automatic ejecting, or
onejecting as may be desired, as follows
In Figs. 1, 2, & 6, the levers h, h, are carried by means of a slot n, upon a fulcrum
in o, and a sliding push piece p, engages also with them, so that by means of the
atter, the said levers may be drawn backwards from beneath the vertical slides, and so
cease to act thereon.

page_text: In Figs. 8, 10, & 11, the levers /', ', are carried upon a fixed tulerum pin o, and
between their rear ends, a cam turn block g, is provided, so that when it is required*
that the gun shall be in automatic ejecting action, the cam turn block y, is placed as
seen in Figs. S. & 10, but by turning it round as seen in Fig. 11, the rear ends of the
levers are opened clear of the operating triggers j, and thereby avoid their
action.
In Figs. 12, 13, 15, & 16, the lovers 2, h2, are thrown out of action with the lower
end of the vertical slides d, d, by means of the sliding push piece P₁, taking into the
recess », in the said levers, which latter slide along their fulcrum pin o², clear of the
slides d, d.
;
In either case when the levers are in action, the vertical slides d, d, are made
to engage with the extractor legs as before described, and hold it back until the gun is
part opened when being then withdrawn, the ejector springs and hammers expend
their force in ejecting the cartridge case. When however the levers are thrown out of
action, the vertical slides do not engage with the extractor leg, and therefore the
ejector springs and hammers commence to act immediately the gun is opened; the
front of the said leg sliding its way up the face of the body; but with necessarily such
a slow motion, as only to extract and not to eject the case.
An important feature in this our invention is further; provide an arrangement
whereby upon closing the gun breech, that part of the body near its joint, shall be
made to push back the ejector hammer and spring into its compressed position,
and so to obviate the pressing of the ejector backwards by means of the face of the
body.
This arrangement may be somewhat varied in detail, but generally we should
proceed as follows:-In Figs 1, 2, & 4, at a suitable part above the joint pin, and
upon the hody, we provide a push lever s, which is hinged at its one end, and extends
thence forward until its front end comes against the ejector hammer t, so that
immediately upon closing the gun breech, the said push levers, commences to push
backward the ejector hammer, and its spring u, leaving the extractor leg a, free to be
pressed back without any force.
In Figs. 8, & 9, this push lever s', is shown acting upon a pivoted or swinging
hammer t¹. A much longer stroke or push back motion can be obtained upon
a pivoted hammer, than upon a sliding hammer, by arranging that the front of the
levers, shall come in contact with the hammer at a point near its fulcrum or
pivot.
Instead of this push piece being hinged, it may consist of a slide 3, see Fig. 7,
carried in the fore end, and protruding therefrom against the upper part of the joint
of the body, when the gun is opened; and its front end resting against the ejector
hammer 2, so that when the gun is closed, the hammer is thrown back as before
described.
Upon the push back. lever s, is a projection v, (it may also be arranged of course
upon the push back lever s¹) which enters a slot formed in the extractor leg a,
(see Fig. 1). The purpose of this is, that should the case &c. have become wedged or
stuck fast; upon the gun being opened this projection v, shall compel the leg to move
forward until the ejector springs can act.
Again, inasmuch as it is troublesome to replace the fore end, when it has been
removed, by reason of the ejector springs having pushed forward the hammers, we
provide a catch arrangement, by which the said hammers are retained in their
compressed position. We provide a catch lever te, hinged at its one end, and having
a portion, extending upward and protruding through the fore end or hammer spring
box, in a push piece form.
A spring y, is also provided, which shall press upon the said catch lever, the other
end of which latter engages with and retains the front of the ejector hammer, by
means of a projection upon the former, passing into a recess &c. z, upon the latter.
Hence while the fore end is in its place upon the barrels, see Figs. 1, & 2
the projection, is pressed against the underside of the said barrels, which keeps the
bu
other and raised clear of the recess, end so the hammers are free to act;

page_text: immediately the fore end is removed the spring y, forces the lever w, into the recess =,
and retains the hammers in their pushed back position, as seen in Fig. 3.
It will also be readily seen that this arrangement of holding back the hammers, will
be applicable to swinging or pivoted hammers by reason of the lever w (as in Fig. 1)
taking into a recess =¹, seen in Figs. 8 & 9.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1st. The combination with the extractor leg or legs, of the slide or slides d, d,
constructed and operating substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in
the accompanying drawings.
2nd. The combination with the extractor leg or legs, of the lever or
levers, h, h, h, h¹, or h², h², or other similar levers, for operating a catch engaging
with the said extractor leg or legs; substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated upon the drawings.
3rd. Throwing the slides d, d, into and out of gear with the extractor leg by means
of the sliding push pieces p, p, and cam block 2, substantially as shown and described
and for the purposes specified.
4th. The combination with the ejector hammers of the push back levers s or s¹,
or slide u, constructed and operating substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated upon the drawings, and for the purpose specified.
5th. The employment upon the push lever s, or st, of the projection engaging with
the extractor leg or legs for forcing a release to a wedged or stuck fast case,
substantially as described and illustrated upon the drawings.
6th. The combination with the ejector hammer or hammers, of the catch lever w, or
its equivalent, by which, upon the removal of the fore end from the barrels the said
hammers are held back in their compressed position, substantially as described and
illustrated upon the drawings.
Dated this 10th day of lanuary 1806
CHARLES T. POWELL,
12, Cherry Street, Birmingham, Applicants' Agent.