Year: 1886

page_text: I HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 that class of fire-arms in which the
breech-piece is arranged to move backward and forward in axial line with the
barrel, and in which the breech-piece is locked, when in its closed position, by
imparting to it a partial rotation.
The object of the said invention is to adapt such a breech-piece to be operated
by a handle beneath the barrel and connected with the said breech-piece, so that
both the backward and forward and the rotative locking and unlocking movement
of the breech-piece is imparted by means of the backward and forward movement
of the said handle.
The invention consists, as one of its principal features, in a breech-piece arranged
in the receiver in rear of the barrel so as to move longitudinally therein in opening
and closing the barrel, and adapted to receive a rotative movement when in its
extreme closed position, whereby it may be locked or unlocked by bringing a
portion of the breech-piece into or taking it from a corresponding abutment in the
receiver; combined with a handle, arranged forward of the receiver beneath the
barrel with a connection therefrom to said breech-piece, whereby the backward
and forward movement of the said handle will impart the said rotative locking
and unlocking movement to the breech-piece, and also the longitudinal reciprocating
or opening and closing movement to the breech-piece.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 represents a sectional side view of the arm, showing the parts in the
closed or normal position.
Figure 2 is a similar view showing the parts in the extreme open position.
Figure 3 is a sectional side view of the reverse from Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a vertical central section on line x x of Figures 1 and 2, showing the
breech-piece in the locked position.

page_text: Figure 5 is a similar view showing the breech-piece as turned from the locked
position of Figure 4 to the unlocked position.
Figure 6 is a top view of the carrier, showing the rear end portion of the slide
as it is about to engage the carrier.
Figure 7 is an under-side view of the slide and the breech-piece, showing the
diagonal slot by which the slide is connected with the breech-piece.
Figure 7 is a rear end view of the breech-piece.
Figure 8 is a front end view of the carrier.
Figure 9 is a transverse section cutting close up to the rear end of the barrel,
and looking forward.
Figure 10 is a transverse section through the receiver and breech-piece when
the breech-piece is in the rear position, and cutting through the extractor and
finger.
A represents the receiver, to the forward end of which the barrel B is attached,
and which opens rearward into the receiver; C is the breech-piece, arranged in the
receiver in line with the barrel, so as to move backward in opening, and forward
in closing, in the axial line of the barrel; D is the hammer, in rear of the breech-
piece, hung upon a pivot E and provided with the usual main-spring F and
trigger G. The breech-piece is provided with the usual firing-pin H, not shown in
detail, but against which the hammer strikes to impart its blow to the head of the
cartridge, in the usual manner.
Beneath the barrel and parallel therewith, the magazine I is arranged, but so as
to leave a space between the magazine and barrel. Upon the magazine a handle J
is arranged, adapted to be readily moved backward and forward by the forward
hand in the use of the arm; the magazine opens into the receiver below the breech-
piece in the usual manner. From the handle J a slide K extends rearward between
the magazine and barrel and through a slot L in the receiver, as seen in Figures 1
and 9, the slide being in a plane parallel with the axis of the barrel so as to move
forward or back accordingly as the handle J is moved, being guided by the grooves
in the side of the receiver, as seen in Figure 9. This slide and handle are designed
to operate the mechanism of the arm.
The breech-piece C is constructed with a shoulder N near its rear end, which
rests against a fixed abutment O in the receiver, when the breech-piece is in the
closed position, as seen in Figures 3 and 4.
That the breech piece may escape from the shoulder so as to be moved rearward,
it is constructed with a longitudinal recess P below the shoulder, so that a partial
rotation of the breech-piece will take the shoulder above the abutment O, as seen
in Figure 5, and bring the recess P into line with the abutment, and so that the
breech-piece may be moved rearward into the open position as seen in Figure 2.
To impart such rotation to the breech-piece to disengage it from the abutment O,
the rear end of the slide K, which when the breech-piece is closed stands beneath
its forward end, is constructed with a diagonal slot Q, see Figure 7, into which a
stud R on the breech-piece extends, the stud standing at the rear end of the slot
when the slide is in its extreme forward position, so that on the first part of the
rear movement of the slide, as from the position in Figure 7 to that shown in
broken lines same Figure, the inclined slot Q working against the stud R on the
breech-piece, will cause the stud R to travel through the slot to its opposite end,
and in so doing will impart to the breech-piece sufficient rotation to take the
shoulder M above or away from the abutment O, thus leaving the breech-piece free
for rear movement. After the breech-piece has thus been turned and unlocked,
the continued rear movement of the slide K under the action of the handle J, will
force the breech-piece to its rear position, as seen in Figure 2, then on the return
of the slide K, the breech-piece will move forward with it to its closed position,
and having arrived at its closed position the inclined slot Q, during the last part
of the forward movement of the slide K will return the breech-piece to bring its
shoulder N into engagement with the abutment O, so as to hold the breech-piece
against recoil.

page_text: On one side of the breech-piece is the usual spring extractor hook S, see Figure 3,
and upon the opposite side is a finger T, adapted to bear against that side of the
cartridge, so that the head of the cartridge may be grasped between the extractor
and the finger T in the usual manner; but instead of making the finger T rigid as
is generally done, it is hung loosely to the breech-piece, so that a slight lateral
movement of it may be permitted at certain times.
The extractor and the finger T enter the cartridge chamber in the usual manner,
to grasp the flange of the cartridge; and that they may not interfere with the
rotation of the breech-piece, a corresponding recess is made in the rear end of the
barrel, within which the extractor and finger may move, to permit such rotation
of the breech-piece; these recesses are seen in Figure 9.
The outer surface of the finger T corresponds to the outer surface of the breech-
piece, so that it is held in such position during the movement of the breech-piece;
but at the extreme open position of the breech-piece a recess U is formed in the
side of the receiver see Figure 10 corresponding to the finger T in that position so
that when the finger arrives at the said recess, it is free for lateral movement.
Because of such freedom the grasp of the extractor upon the cartridge or case is
released, and the cartridge is free to be removed or ejected.
Below the breech-piece the carrier a is hung upon a pivot b at the rear, so as to
swing up and down, as from the position seen in Figure 1 to that seen in Figure 2.
When in its down position it is adapted to receive a cartridge from the magazine,
as seen in Figure 1, and in its up position to present that cartridge in line with
the barrel.
At the rear end of the carrier is an upwardly projecting arm d, which stands in
the path of the slide K in its rear movement, so that as the breech-piece approaches
its extreme rear position, the rear end of the slide will strike the arm d as indicated
in broken lines. Figure 1, and in completing the rear movement of the breech-piece,
as seen in Figure 2, the carrier will be raised to its up position.
The slide K is constructed with an opening e, see Figures 2 and 7, through which
the carrier may work. One side f of the carrier is loose, or hung to the body of the
carrier, so as to permit a lateral swinging movement, the forward end of the two
sides extending upwardly and forming inwardly overhauging fingers g adapted to
embrace the cartridge in the carrier. The side f of the carrier is hung upon the
same pivot b as the carrier pivot, and is secured at its front end by a screw h, but
as before stated, loosely hung, so as to permit the side f to swing inward, as
indicated in broken lines Figure 8, or stand in that position as seen in that figure.
It is in this out or free position that the side f stands when the carrier is down so
that the cartridges in the magazine may pass freely thereon. The side fis con-
structed with an upwardly projecting arm i similar to the arm d on the body of
the carrier. The rear end of the slide K is constructed with an inclined bearing
surface in line with the arm i on the side f, so that as the slide moves rearward,
and just before it reaches the arm d of the carrier, the incline will strike the
arm i, as seen in Figure 6, and under the continued movement of the slide, the
side will be turned inward, as seen in broken lines Figures 6 and 8, so that
the cartridge will be grasped between the forward portions of the two sides as
seen in Figure 8, then, as soon as the cartridge is grasped, the slide strikes the
arm d, as also seen in Figure 6 and raises the carrier with the cartridge so grasped
between the two sides of the carrier, that the cartridge cannot be thrown from the
carrier, even under the quickest possible upward movement.
In the use of the common cartridges such as used for sporting purposes, it is
desirable that they shall be presented in a position substantially in axial line with
the barrel, that is, without the inclination which would naturally follow from the
position of the cartridge on the carrier. To do this a device is provided which, as
the carrier rises, will raise the rear end of the cartridge faster than the movement
of the carrier.
This device consists of a lever m hung on the side of the carrier upon a pivot n,
with a projection o from its forward arm onto the bottom of the carrier, as seen in

page_text: Figure 6. Its rear arm is constructed with a slot r which works upon a stud s
fixed in the side of the receiver, so that when the carrier stands in its down position
the inward projection o lies upon the bottom of the receiver. The cartridge may
then readily pass from the magazine over the projection o and against an abutment
or stop t on the carrier, as seen in Figures 1 and 6, but as the carrier rises, the
stationary studs holds the rear arm of the lever, thereby causing the forward arm
to rise more rapidly than the carrier, and to such an extent that when in its up
position, as seen in Figure 2, it will have raised the rear end of the cartridge into
a position in substantially axial line with the barrel, and forward of the open
breech-piece, as seen in Figure 2. A spring u is applied to the carrier, its rear end
being fixed above the pivot,.say as in the armn d the forward end taking a bearing
in the lever m at its hub, and between its pivot and the fixed studs s; the tendency
of this spring is to force the lever m to its down position, but because its rear end
is fixed, the reaction of the spring is rearward against the arm d and therefore
tends to hold the carrier in its up position to the extent that the spring is
compressed by the turning of the lever m independently of the carrier, as indicated
in Figures 1 and 2. As the carrier returns to its down position, the lever m is also
returned, because of its engagement with the fixed stud in the receiver.
In the bottom of the receiver is an opening w see Figure 2, which is filled by the
bottom of the carrier, as seen in Figure 1, so that when the arm is in its closed
position, the bottom of the receiver is closed; but, when the carrier is raised, the
bottom of the receiver is open to the rear end of the magazine so that the magazine
may be charged through that opening w.
To provide a latch which will hold the column of cartridges in the magazine
during the movement of the carrier, and also serve as a latch to engage each
cartridge as it is introduced into the magazine, a lever 2 is hung in a slot in the
bottom of the carrier, upon a pivot 3, its forward arm extending toward the
magazine and its rear arm hung to the forward arm of the lever m, so that while
in the down position the lever 2. will stand entirely within the carrier. As the
carrier rises the lever m will raise the rear arm of the lever 2, and turn its forward
end downward in rear of the magazine so as to stand in rear of the column of
cartridges, and form a stop, as indicated in Figure 2. The spring of the carrier
permits the lever 2 to serve as a latch on the introduction of the cartridges, so that
the head striking the lever 2 will turn its nose inward until the cartridges passes
beyond it and then, under the action of the carrier spring will be returned into its
position in rear of the last entered cartridge.
To charge the magazine the parts are thrown to their open position, as seen in
Figure 2, and the cartridges introduced through the opening beneath the carrier.
To prevent the hammer from coming upon the firing pin until the breach piece
is in its closed position, the rear end of the breech-piece is constructed with a
diametrical groove or recess 4 see Figure 7* into which the nose of the hammer may
strike. The rear end of the firing pin stands in this recess as seen in Figure 7, so
that the hammer must enter the recess, in order to strike the firing pin. When the
breach-piece is in its closed position, the recess stands in the plane of the hammer,
but as the breach pipe is rotated, the recess is brought to a diagonal position, as
indicated in broken lines Figure 7, so that the hammer cannot enter the recess,
hence there is no liability of contact between the hammer and firing pin, excepting
when the breech-piece is in its extreme closed position, so as to bring the recess 4
into the plane of the nose of the hammer.
The hammer should be provided with a rebounding attachment, so that after it
has struck its blow, it may return so far as to take its nose out of the recess 4, and
so as to permit the opening movement of the breech piece. Such a rebounding
device is not shewn, as it is a common and well known mechanism, and not
essential to this invention.
The carrier is thrown down as the breech-piece advances by the forward end of
the breech-piece coming in contact with an incline on the carrier, in substantially
a well known manner,

page_text: The arrangement of the lever m in the carrier, to raise the rear end of the
cartridge may be applied to other magazine arms having a carrier which swings
upward and downward from a pivot at the rear, and in connection therewith.
The stop or latch lever 2 may be employed where the charging of the magazine
is made from below the carrier, and when the carrier is in the raised position, these
parts of the invention are therefore not to be understood as limited to any particular
devices for raising and lowering the breech-piece.
The arrangement of the slide between the magazine and barrel, so as to work
through a slot in the receiver between the magazine and barrel, in engagement with
the operative parts of the arm, may be employed in connection with various
mechanisms in this class of fire arms.
It will be understood that the locking devices of the breech-piece may be varied
to a considerable extent, and also that the connection between the handle and the
breech-piece may be made in various ways, and either inside or outside the
receiver; the invention therefore is not to be understood as limited to any
particular connection between the handle and breech-piece, whereby under the
sliding movement of the handle both the rotative and longituding reciprocating
movement is imparted to the breech-piece except as hereafter specified.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondents I declare that what I claim is :-
First In a fire-arm, the combination of a receiver; a barrel attached to and
opening into said receiver; a breech-piece arranged in said receiver, so as to work
backward and forward in a longitudinal line with the barrel in opening and
closing the breech, and adapted for partial rotative movement, the receiver and
breech-piece being provided the one with a shoulder, and the other with a corre-
sponding abutment against which said breech-piece may rest when in its extreme
closed position; and a handle arranged beneath the barrel forward of the receiver
and adapted to slide longitudinally backward and forward, with an extension from
said handle into connection with the breech-piece the said connection being adapted
to impart to the said breech-piece, under the backward and forward movement of
the said handle, the locking and unlocking rotation to the breech-piece and also the
longitudinal reciprocating or opening and closing movement to the breech-piece
substantially as described.
Second-In a fire-arm, the combination of a receiver; a barrel attached to and
opening into said receiver; a breech-piece arranged in said receiver to work
backward and forward in longitudinal line with the barrel, and adapted for partial
rotative movement, the receiver and breech-piece being provided the one with a
shoulder, and the other with a corresponding abutment against which said breech-
piece may rest when in its extreme closed position; and a handle arranged beneath
the barrel forward of the receiver, and adapted to slide longitudinally backward
and forward, an extension from said handle into the receiver, being connected with
the breech-piece inside the receiver, substantially as described, whereby the back
and forward movement of the said handle will impart the locking and unlocking
rotation to the breech-piece and also the longitudinal reciprocating or opening and
closing movement to the breech-piece.
Third: In a magazine fire-arm in which the magazine is arranged beneath the
barrel and the operative mechanism in the receiver in rear of the barrel, the
combination therewith of a handle surrounding the magazine, and movable back-
ward and forward; and the slide between the magazine and barrel, attached to
said handle and extending through an opening in the receiver between the
magazine and barrel, the said slide being arranged in connection with the operative
mechanism of the arm, substantially as described, whereby the forward and back
sliding movement of the handle and slide imparts corresponding movement to the
operative parts in the receiver.

page_text: Fourth-In a fire-arm, the combination of a receiver; a barrel attached to and
opening into said receiver; a breech-piece arranged in said receiver to work back-
ward and forward in a longitudinal line with the barrel, and adapted for partial
rotative movement, the said breech-piece being constructed with a shoulder N near
its rear end, and with a longitudinal recess P; a stationary abutment O in the
receiver; and a slide arranged beneath the barrel, and provided with a handle
whereby longitudinal reciprocating movement may be imparted to said slide; the
said slide extending through a slot in the receiver beneath the barrel, its rear end
being constructed with the diagonal slot Q, and the breech-piece provided with a
corresponding stud R to work in said slot Q, substantially as described.
Fifth In a magazine fire-arm having the magazine arranged beneath the
barrel, the combination there with of a slide K arranged between the barrel and
magazine, and adapted to work through a slot formed in the receiver between the
barrel and magazine, said slide being provided with a handle, whereby forward
and back reciprocating movement may be imparted to said slide; the breech-
piece C arranged to move backward and forward in axial line with the barrel, and
also adapted for partial rotation the said slide being constructed with a diagonal
slot and the breech-piece provided with a corresponding stud R arranged to
work in said slot; a shoulder N on the breech-piece a corresponding fixed
abutment O in the receiver against which said shoulder is brought or from which
it is removed by the rotation of the breech-piece and a carrier arranged beneath
the breech-piece, and adapted to move up and down to transfer a cartridge from the
magazine to the barrel, the said slide being constructed with an opening through
which said carrier will work when the breech-piece, is in the open position,
substantially as described.
Sixth-In a magazine fire-arm in which the magazine is arranged beneath the
barrel, the combination therewith of a breech-piece arranged in the receiver to be
moved backward and forward in axial line with the barrel; a slide K between the
barrel and magazine and adapted to work through a slot formed in the forward
end of the receiver backward and forward between the breech-piece and carrier,
said slide being provided with a handle surrounding the magazine and connected
with the breech-piece whereby said breech-piece will receive a backward and
forward movement from said slide and said slide being also constructed with an
opening e through which the carrier will move to transfer the cartridge from the
magazine to a position forward of the front face of the breech-piece; and a carrier
hung in the rear beneath the breech-piece and provided with an arm & extending
upward from its pivot, the said arm standing in the path of the rear end of said
slide so that said slide will engage therewith as the breech-piece approaches its
extreme open movement, substantially as described.
Seventh-In a magazine fire-arm in which the magazine is arranged beneath
the barrel, the combination there with of a breech-piece arranged in the receiver to
be moved backward and forward in the axial line of the barrel; a slide between
the magazine and barrel, and arranged to work through a slot in the receiver
between the magazine and barrel, the said slide being provided with a handle, and
connected to the breech-piece, whereby the forward and back movement of the
slide will be imparted to the breech piece; and a carrier hung at the rear beneath
the breech-piece, so as to swing upward and downward, the said carrier having
one of its sides f hung loosely to the body of the carrier, and the forward ends of
the two sides constructed with overhanging fingers g the body of the carrier being
constructed with an arm d extending up from its rear end into the path of the
slide K, the loose side f being also constructed with a similar arm i in the path of
the said slide K, but forward of the arm d, and the slide also constructed with an
incline adapted to engage the said arm i of the loose side of the carrier before
the rear end of the slide shall engage the arm d of the carrier, substantially, as,
and for the purpose, described.
Eighth-In a magazine fire-arm in which the magazine is arranged beneath the
barrel, the combination therewith of a breech-piece arranged to be moved backward

page_text: and forward in the axial line of the barrel, a carrier hung at the rear beneath
the barrel, and arranged for an up and down movement for the transfer of the
cartridge, the lever m hung to said carrier, one arm of which extends rearward of
a fixed stud s in the receiver, adapted to engage said rear arm in the up and down
movement of the carrier, the forward arm of the said lever m extending onto the
bottom of the receiver, and mechanism substantially such as described to impart
reciprocating movement to the breech-piece, and the up and down movement to
the carrier, substantially as described.
Ninth In a magazine fire-arm in which the magazine is arranged beneath the
barrel, the combination therewith of a breech-piece arranged to be moved back-
ward and forward in the axial line of the barrel; a carrier hung at the rear
beneath the breech-piece and arranged for up and down movement for the transfer
of the cartridge; the lever m hung to said carrier one arm of which extends
rearward of a fixed stud 8 in the receiver adapted to engage said rear arm in the
up and down movement of the carrier, the forward arm of the said lever m
extending onto the bottom of the receiver; mechanism substantially such as
described to impart reciprocating movement to the breech-piece, and the up and
down movement to the carrier, and the spring u, one end of which takes a bearing
on the carrier above the pivot, and the other end on said lever between its pivot
and the fixed stud in the receiver, substantially, as and for the purpose described.
Tenth In a magazine fire-arm in which the magazine is arranged beneath the
barrel, the combination therewith of a breech-piece arranged to be moved back-
ward and forward in the axial line of the barrel; a carrier hung at the rear
beneath the barrel, and arranged for up and down movement for the transfer of
the cartridge; the lever m hung to said carrier, one arm of which extending rear-
wards of a fixed stud 8 in the receiver adapted to engage said rear arm in the up
and down movement of the carrier, the forward arm of the said lever m extending
onto the bottom of the receiver; mechanism substantially such as described to
impart reciprocating movement to the breech piece, and the up and down move-
ment to the carrier; and the lever 2 hung in the carrier forward of said lever m
the rear arm of said lever being in slotted connection with the forward arm of
said lever m, and the forward arm of said lever 2 extending toward the magazine,
substantially as described.
Eleventh In a fire-arm in which the breech-piece is arranged to move back-
ward and forward in longitudinal line, with the barrel, and in which a partial
rotation is imparted to the breech-piece both prior to and after its opening move-
ment, the combination therewith of an extractor hook S on one side of the breech-
piece, and a finger T hung loosely on the opposite side of the breech piece, the said
finger being adapted to work against the surface of the receiver in the backward
and forward movement of the breech-piece, and the said receiver being constructed
with a recess U at the extreme rear movement of the breech piece into which the
said finger T may move laterally substantially as, and for the purpose, described.
DI 11
001
•
1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.