Improvements in Magazine and Repeating Firearms.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Nov., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 31st Aug., 1896-Accepted, 21st Nov., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Magazine and Repeating Firearms.
I, JOHN HENRY TOPHAM, of 7 South Corridor, Royal Exchange, Manchester,
in the County of Lancaster, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
It consists in certain modifications of my invention described in the Specifications
of my Patent No. 3762 of 1892, which chiefly relate to the magazine.
In my improved magazine the door is hinged upon one side of the magazine
in such a manner that when open it forms a hopper or incline into which the
cartridges can be readily dropped when the magazine is filled.
The magazine may be made sufficiently large to contain two rows of cartridges.
but I preferably employ one lifting lever pivoted at the front of the magazine
and furnished with a suitable tilter to insure the proper elevation of the last
cartridges.
The magazine is operated by means of a suitable sliding bar, to one end of which
is attached a suitable spring, (which slides over a suitable projection upon the
lifting lever at its pivoted end, raising or lowering the lifting lever according to
the side of the pivot the spring bears upon,) and having pivoted to its other end, a
suitable shorter lever, carrying a suitable pin, which runs in a suitable slot attached
to the magazine door, and having a suitable handle for use in operating the entire
device. Suitable spring or other catches operated by the movement of the sliding
bar, are used to retain the magazine door in place when closed.
I also fit a spring catch upon the handle of the bolt action of the piece, to
prevent the bolt from falling out of the shoe, when the piece is "grounded," and
fit a loose collar upon the front of the bolt to carry a projection to push the
cartridges into the firing chamber as they are fed up from the magazine, and also
in some cases to carry the extractor.
Dated this 20th day of November 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Magazine and Repeating Firearms.
1, JOHN HENRY TOPHAM, of 7 South Corridor, Royal Exchange, Manchester,
in the County of Lancaster, Patent Agent, 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 :-
It consists in certain modifications in my invention described in the Specifications
of my Patent No. 3762 of 1892, chiefly relating to the magazine.
In my improved magazine the door is hinged upon one side of the magazine, in
such a manner that when open it forms a hopper or incline into which the cartridges
can be readily dropped when the magazine is filled, and when closed automatically
presses the cartridges into proper position to be fed up to the breech.
The magazine may be made sufficiently large to contain two rows of cartridges,
but I preferably employ one lifting lever, pivoted to the front of the magazine and
furnished with a suitable tilter to ensure the proper elevation of the last cartridges.

page_text: The magazine is operated by means of a suitable sliding bar or lever, to the
front end of which is attached a suitable spring, which slides over a suitable
projection of the lifting lever at its pivoted end, raising or lowering the lifting
fever according to the side of the pivot the spring bears upon. To the other end
of the sliding lever is pivoted a suitable shorter lever carrying a suitable pin
which runs in a suitable slot attached to, or formed in the magazine door, and
having a suitable handle for operating the entire device.
Suitable spring or other catches, operated by the movement of the sliding lever
are used to retain the magazine door in place when closed.
I also fit a spring catch upon the handle of the bolt action of the piece to prevent
the bolt from falling out of the shoe when the piece is "grounded," and fit a loose
spring collar upon the front of the bolt to carry a projection to push the cartridges
into the firing chamber as they are fed up by the magazine and which also in some
cases may carry the extractor.
Referring to the drawings sent herewith:-
Fig. 1 is a side view, Fig. 2 a plan, Fig. 3 a back view, and Fig. 4 a longitudinal
section (on line A. B. see Fig. 2) of my improved magazine.
Fig. 5 is a view of the handle of the bolt action and part of the shoe showing
spring catch.
Figs. 6 and 7 are two views of the loose spring collar on the front of bolt.
In these figs. a indicates the door of the magazine, shown open in Figs. 2 and 3
forming a hopper for the reception of the cartridges, and closed in Fig. I when the
cartridges are pressed automatically into position for feeding up. 6 indicates the
lifting lever pivoted at c and furnished with the tilter d.
In use
e indicates the sliding bar or lever by which the magazine is operated, to which
is attached the spring which slides over projection 62 on lifter b, pressing the
lifter down when in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3 but raising the lifter b
when in position in Figs. 1 and 4. To sliding bar e is also pivoted at the
handle lever carrying pin i which slides in slot k in rim of door a.
the magazine is as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the lifter 6 pressing the cartridges
up to the breech level in succession, the door a being kept closed by spring
catch a 2 and plain catch a 3. To fill the magazine, the sliding bar e is slided back
by the handle 2, the first motion from m to sliding the spring f to the other side
of the pivot c thus depressing the lifter b to the bottom of the magazine, on arriving
at the motion of the sliding bar e ceases and the handle lever turns on the
pivot 9 pushing open by the sliding of pin i in slot k the door a of the magazine,
into the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The cartridges can then be readily
dropped into the hoppershaped opening formed by the open door a. The magazine
is then closed by pushing back the bar e and lever by the handle 2 into their
former position the closing of the door a pushing the cartridges straight.
The magazine can be held in reserve by leaving the handle 2 at the position 1,
when the gun can be used as a single loader, the magazine being at any time
brought into action by pushing the handle 2 to position m.
In Fig. 5, o indicates a catch upon bolt handle p. which takes in slot of
shoes to prevent the bolt from falling out of the shoe by its own weight when the
piece is heavily grounded. The pressure of the thumb on the catch at o 2 raises it
when the bolt is withdrawn in loading the piece.
In Fig. 6, t indicates the loose spring collar on end of bolt z carrying pusher u
and (in this case) extractor v, the projection & runs in a slot in the side of the shoe
and prevents the collar t turning with the bolt. The collar t is sprung upon the
bolt by opening at slot y.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1st. The combined apparatus, substantially as described and shown hereinbefore
and in the accompanying drawings for the nurnove set forth

page_text: 2nd. In a magazine, the combination of a sliding spring with a pivoted lifting
lever, substantially as described and shown herein before and in the accompanying
drawings, for the purposes set forth.
3rd. In a magazine, a hinged side door forming a hopper for the reception of
the cartridges when open, and automatically pressing them into position when
closed, substantially as described and shown hereinbefore and in the accompanying
drawings.
4th. In a straight bolt action, a spring catch to lock the bolt handle when home,
substantially as described and shown hereinbefore and in the accompanying
drawings.
5th. In a bolt action, a spring collar on the bolt to carry a pusher, and if
necessary the extractor, substantially as described and shown hereinbefore and in
the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 20th day of August 1806
JOHN HENRY TOPHAM.