Improvements in the Breech-mechanism of Automatic and other Fire-arms.
Year: 1897

page_text: DE BOITIVATION.
Improvements in the Breech-mechanism of Automatic and other
Fire-arms.
I, HUGH WILLIAM GABBETT-FAIRFAX, of 107, Lambeth Palace Road, London,
S.E., Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to breech-mechanism of the kind in which there is
employed a sliding breech-block provided with a rotative locking head having
screw threads or radial projections which engage with corresponding threads or
projections in the barrel when the breech is closed and an angular movement
of the said head takes place. This angular movement is imparted to the rotative
head by a radial arm which is actuated by a fixed incline and switch as the
sliding breech block reciprocates in the manner set forth in the Specification of
my prior Patent No. 18686 of the year 1895 or in the Specification of my later
application for Patent No. 17672 of the year 1896.
This
According to my present invention I may dispense with the aforesaid switch
and effect the movement of the radial arm in one direction by an incline on the
casing or other fixed portion of the weapon, and in the other direction by an
incline on the breech end of the barrel. The incline on the barrel may be formed
by means of an extension piece or cam thereon which is so arranged that the
breech block in closing the breech will freely pass alongside of the same.
extension piece or cam has a transverse or radial slot adjacent to the breech end
of the barrel, into which slot the radial arm on the breech block enters or
descends under the action of a spring to angularly turn the rotative head and
lock the block to the barrel. When the barrel recoils on discharge of the weapon
the said radial arm remains in this radial slot until acted upon by the incline
on the casing whereby it is lifted and the block disengaged from the barrel,
the latter returning to its firing position without the block as explained in the
earlier of my above cited prior specifications. When the breech block is
released to close the breech the said radial arm descends the incline on the
casing and is lifted to bring the rotative head in proper position to enter the
barrel again, by ascending the said incline on the barrel; the angular movement
of the head in the contrary direction, to lock the block to the barrel, taking place
when the spring' controlled radial arm reaches the said radial slot.

page_text: Improvements in the Breech-mechanism of Automatic and other
Fire-arms.
I, HUGH WILLIAM GABBETT-FAIRFAX, of 107, Lambeth Palace Road, London,
S.E., Civil Engineer, 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 breech-mechanism of the kind in which there is
employed a sliding breech-block provided with a rotative locking head having
screw threads or radial projections which engage with corresponding threads or
projections in the barrel when the breech is closed and an angular movement
imparted to the said head. This angular movement is effected by a radial arm
which I have heretofore arranged to be actuated by a fixed incline and switchi
as the sliding block reciprocates, in the manner set forth in the Specifications of
iny prior Patents No. 18686 of the year 1895 or No. 17672 of the year 1896.
According to my present invention I dispense with the aforesaid switch and
effect the movement of the radial arm in one direction by an incline on the
casing or other fixed portion of the fire arm and in the other direction by an
incline on the breech end of the barrel.
In order that my said invention may be clearly understood and readily carried
into effect I will proceed to describe the same more fully with reference to the
accompanying drawings in which :—
Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of an automatic pistol provided
with my improvement, the parts being in the position they occupy on firing
the pistol and immediately before the recoil movement of the barrel and breech
block takes place.
Figure is a similar view but shows the breech-block fully retracted and the
barrel on the point of regaining the firing position as it advances under the
action of its spring after recoil.
Figures 3 and 4 are transverse sectional views taken respectively on the
line 1, 1 of Figure 1 and 2, 2 of Figure 2.
2
Figure 5 is a sectional plan of the breech end of the pistol with the parts
in the position represented in Figure 2.
In all these figures like letters of reference indicate similar parts.
A is the barrel; B the breech block; B* the radial arm thereof; C the car-
tridge magazine; and D the hammer. All of these parts are similar to those
described and illustrated in my aforesaid prior Specification No. 18686 of 1895.
The barrel is formed at its breech end with an extension piece A* consisting
of a thin piece of metal having its rear portion formed with the incline a and also
having a vertical slot a¹. The thickness and shape of this extension piece A
is such that the breech block can freely slide alongside the same.
c is the
stationary incline, which, in the example. illustrated, is formed on the interior
of the movable cover or casing I of the pistol. The position of this incline is
such (see Figures 3, 4 and 5) that the extension piece A* can freely, slide past
it during the recoil and advance movements of the barrel. In Figure 1 of the
drawings the breech is shown closed with the radial arm B lying at the bottom
of the slot a¹ and pressing by the action of its spring upon the pin 2 to release
the safety sear F. This release is effected by the movement of the pivoted
lever as explained in my aforesaid prior Specification No. 18686 of 1895. The
pin is situated between the extension piece A and the casing I so as not to
interfere with the proper movement of said extension piece when the barrel

page_text: slides, and the length of the radial arm B is such that its free end will project
far enough through the slot a¹ to reach the pin f².
On firing the pistol the barrel and breech-block recoil together, the radial arm
lying at the bottom of the slot a¹ until it arrives at the incline c, by ascending
which it is lifted out of engagement with said slot. This movement of the said
arm unlocks the breech-block from the barrel by shifting the rotary head
angularly. On the return movement of the barrel, the breech block remains
behind, being held by the catch until released by the advancing barrel in
the manner set forth in the earlier of my said prior specifications. As the breech
block advances in closing the breech the radial arm first descends the incline c,
then ascends the incline a and finally enters the slot a¹ in which it descends
by the action of its spring, this last movement effecting the locking of the block
to the barrel. A similar series of operation takes place at each discharge of the
fire arm.
If desired the end of the said radial arm may project through a suitably shaped
slot in the casing I and be provided with a knob to permit of its being grasped
in the hand to open the breech manually instead of automatically.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is —
1. The combination with the radial arm on the breech block of two inclines,
one stationary and the other movable with the barrel substantially as and for
the purpose specified.
2. The combination with the sliding barrel of an extension piece formed with
an incline and a slot substantially as described and for the purposes specified.
3. A fire-arm provided with means for locking and unlocking the breech block
from the sliding barrel substantially as described with reference to the accom-
panying drawings.
1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.