AN IMPROVED MAGAZINE ATTACHMENT FOR BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of " AN IMPROVED
MAGAZINE ATTACHMENT FOR BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS." A. communication
from abroad by the Oesterreichische Waffenfabriks Gesellschaft, of Steyr, in
the Empire of Austria.
Scaled the 20th September 1878, and dated the 15th May 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th May 1878.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middle-
sex, Patent Agent. 'AN IMPROVED MAGAZINE ATTACHMENT FOR BREECH-LOADING
FIRE-ARMS." [A communication from abroad by the Oesterreichische Waffenfabriks
Gesellschaft, of Steyr, in the Empire of Austria.]
This Invention relates to a revolving magazine attachment applicable to breech-
loading fire-arms on the sliding bolt system, the distinguishing features as compared
with other revolving fire-arms consisting in the facility with which it may be
attached to the fire-arm when the repeating action is required, or removed there-
from when the fire-arm is to be used as a single barrel in the usual way, the
ordinary action of the gun, which is not interfered with in any way, being left com-
plete in itself, and entirely independent of the revolving magazine attachment, but
very slight alterations being required in the gun to adapt the magazine to it; the
Invention is consequently eminently suited for military use.
The construction and operations of the attachment are as follows:-A cylindro-
conical case provided with a hinged cover at the rear or larger end with a shoulder
or abutment along one side by which the magazine is attached by means of studs
and slots, and a spring latch to the left side of the breech shoe of the fire-arm along-
side the opening disclosed by drawing back the sliding bolt for-the introduction of
the cartridge, an opening of the shape of a cartridge being made in the shoulder
or abutment through which the cartridges are caused to pass from the magazine

page_text: into the barrel of the fire-arm, as hereafter described. Within this case is mounted
to revolve on a longitudinal axis a cartridge carrier consisting of two star-shaped
end plates and an intermediate grooved part, in the cavities of which and between
the carrier and the sides of the case six or more cartridges are lodged, and are carried
round by the carrier in its revolution, in order that they may be successively
transferred therefrom to the barrel of the gun. This is effected by the cartridge
striking against a curved guide or deflecting plate fixed within the magazine case
just above the opening for the exit of the cartridge. This plate prevents the car-
tridge being carried further round with the carrier, and thus ensures its delivery
through the said opening, the arms of the star-shaped plates of which the carrier is
composed being curved or rounded at the ends to facilitate this action.
The mechanism for revolving the carrier is as follows:-On the axis of the car-
tridge carrier there are two toothed pinions having each as many teeth as there are
cavities in the cartridge carrier. .These teeth are inclined obliquely in opposite
directions, those of the one pinion to those of the other, and the teeth of the one
are opposite the spaces of the other.
The pinions are separated by a slight interval, and a finger plays to and fro
between them, striking a tooth, first of one pinion, and then of the other, thereby
partially rotating the cartridge carrier, the inclination of the teeth being such that
if the cartridge carrier holds, say, 6 cartridges, it will be rotated 1/12 th of a revo-
lution each time the finger strikes a tooth of either pinion, or 1/6th of a revolution
altogether for a tooth of both pinions struck successively by the finger. This finger
is carried by a sliding bar fitted in a longitudinal groove in the shoulder or abut-
ment on the outside of the magazine case, the finger projecting through an opening
into the case, so as to act on the pinions on the carrier axis, as above mentioned.
This sliding bar has two lugs, one at each end, which project laterally in the path
of a nib between them on the front end of the sliding breech bolt, the distance
apart of these lugs being rather less than the course of the sliding breech bolt, so
that they will be struck by the nib on the latter just as it arrives near either end
of its course when drawn back or slid forwards for enclosing or closing the breech.
One of the lugs on the sliding bar is pivoted and held in position by a spring, so
that it may be turned out of the path of the nib on the sliding brooch bolt when it
is desired to use the gun as a single barrel, without, however, detaching the repeating
mechanism from the gun.
The action is as follows:-On drawing back the sliding bolt after firing, and
just before it reaches the end of its course, the nib on its head the lug at the
rear end of the sliding bar and moves it back with it, whereby the finger attached
to said bar strikes a tooth of the rearmost of the two pinions on the axes of the
cartridge carriers, and turns the latter a part of a revolution to the left.
By this movement the cartridge in the magazine nearest the opening in the side
is brought in contact with the guide or deflecting plate, and caused to pass out
through the opening, and fall into the breech chamber of the gun in the front of
the sliding breech bolt. On sliding the bolt forward the cartridge is driven into the
chamber of the barrel in the usual way, and just before the bolt arrives at the end
of its course the nib on its head strikes the foremost leg of the sliding bar, and so
causes the finger to strike the tooth of the front pinion and rotate the cartridge
carrier in the same direction, and to the same extent as before, so as to bring the
next succeeding cartridge into position to be transferred to the breech of the gun
on the next backward movement of the breech bolt.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 15th November 1878.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lance, in the County of Middle-
sex, Patent Agent. "AN IMPROVEd Magazine ATTACHMENT FOR BREECH-LOADING
FIRE-ARMS." A communication from abroad by the Oesterreichische Waffenfabriks
Gessellschaft, of Steyr, in the Empire of Austria.
This Invention relates to a revolving magazine attachment applicable to breech-
loading fire-arms on the sliding bolt system, the distinguishing features as compared
with repeating or revolving fire-arms generally being that it may be readily attached
to the fire-arm when the repeating action is required, or removed therefrom when
the fire-arm is to be used as a single loader; that the ordinary action of the gun
is not interfered with in any way, but is left complete in itself, and entirely inde-
pendent of the revolving magazine attachment, and that but very slight alterations
are required in the gun to adapt the magazine to it, so that it can easily be applied
to existing guns; the Invention is consequently eminently suited for military use.
In order that the Invention may be more readily understood I have illustrated
it in the accompanying Drawings, and I will proceed to describe it in detail with
reference thereto.
Figure 1 is a top view of the breech of a sliding bolt gun with the magazine
attachment in position thereon; Figures 2 and 3 are respectively front and rear end
views thereof, the cover of the magazino caso being open in the latter Figure.
Figures 4 and 5 are respectively a side elevation and plan of the breech, only the
magazine being removed to show the means of securing it thereto.
The following Figures are drawn to a larger scale:-Figures 6 and 7 are longi-
tudinal views of the magazine attachment separately, looking in the direction of
the arrows 6 and 7, Figure 8, respectively; Figure 8 is a cross section of the same
on line 1, 1, Figure 6, looking forwards, and shewing a cartridge in the act of
passing out.
Figure 9 is a longitudinal section of the casing with the cartridge carrier in
elevation therein, taken on line 2-2, Figure 7.
Figures 10, 10ª, are longitudinal views of the revolving cartridge carrier separately,
showing the successive movements of its rotation; Figure 11 is a front end view of
the same.
Figures 12, 13, and 14 show respectively top, under side, and end views of the
sliding bar carrying the finger which acts on the inclined teeth of said carrier to
rotate it.
The construction and operation of the attachment are as follows:-A is a cylindro-
conical case closed at the front end, and provided with the hinged cover a at the
rear or larger end, secured by a spring bolt, and with a shoulder or abutment A'
along one side adapted to fit against the left side of the breech shoe B of the fire-
arm over an opening B' made therein, and secured thereto by button-headed studs
b on B, fitting in corresponding slots b¹ in A¹, and locked in that position by a nib
on the end of a thumb lever or latch C closing the end of the foremost slot, as
shown in Figure 2. An opening D of the shape of a cartridge is made through the
shoulder or abutment A', through which the cartridges are caused to pass from the
magazine into the breech B, and thence into the barrel of the fire-arm on pushing
forward the sliding bolt, as hereafter described. Within this case A there is mounted
to revolve on a longitudinal axis e a cartridge carrier consisting of two star-shaped
end plates E, E, and an intermediate grooved boss E¹, in the cavities of which and
between the arms of the plates E and the sides of the case A six or more cartridges
are lodged, and are carried round by the carrier E, E', in its revolution in the
direction of the arrow 8, Figure 8, in order that they may be successively trans-
ferred therefrom to the barrel of the gun. This is effected by the cartridge striking

page_text: against curved guides, of which one, a', is fixed to the inside of the magazine case A
just above the opening D for the exit of the cartridge. This guide a', as the car-
tridges successively strike against it, prevents the cartridges being carried further
round with the carrier, and thus causes them to be delivered through the said
opening D, the arms of the star-shaped plates E being curved or rounded at the
ends, as shown in Figures 8 and 11, to facilitate this action.
The mechanism for revolving the carrier is as follows:-On the axis e of the
cartridge carrier there are fixed two toothed pinions e', e², having each as many
teeth as there are cavities in the cartridge carrier. These teeth are inclined obliquely
in opposite directions, those of the one pinion to those of the other, and the teeth of
one are alternate with (i.e., they are opposite the spaces between) those of the
other,
The pinions are separated by a slight interval, and the extremity of a finger f
plays to and fro between them, striking a tooth first of one pinion, and then of the
other, thereby partially rotating the cartridge carrier, the inclination of the teeth
being such that if the cartridge carrier holds, say, 6 cartridges, it will be rotated
1th of a revolution each time the finger strikes a tooth of either pinion, or
1th of a revolution altogether for a tooth of both pinions e¹, 3, struck successively
by the finger f. The extremity of the finger f has oppositely inclined faces or
angles, as shown in Figure 13. This finger f is carried by a sliding bar F, fittod
in a longitudinal groove in the shoulder or abutment A¹ on the outside of the
magazine case A, the finger f projecting through a longitudinal slot f' into the case
so as to act on the pinions e¹, e², on the carrier axis, as above mentioned. The
finger is curved like, and is in line with the guide a³, and it also serves as a
guide for the bullet end of the cartridge in the same way that a¹ is a guide for the
base end. The sliding bar F has two lugs F, F, one at each end, which project
laterally in the path of a nib g between them on the front end of the sliding breech
bolt G, the distance apart of these two lugs being rather loss than the course of
the. breech bolt G, so that they will be struck by the nib g just as the bolt G arrives
near either end of its course when drawn back or slid forward for unclosing or
closing the breech. The lug F, at the rear end of the sliding bar F, is pivoted
and held in position by a springh on the under side of bar F, so that it may be
turned out of the path of the nib g when it is desired to use the gun as a single
loader, without, however, detaching the repeating mechanism from the gun.
The latch C, by which the magazine is locked to the gun, is pivotted at c to the
front end of case A, and is by a spring c' (see Figures 15 and 16, which represent
the front end of the case A with the latch detached, and an under side view of
said latch) kept in the locked position.
It will be seen that the only alteration needed in the gun is to cut away the
left side at B' to correspond to the opening D, and to provide the studs b and
nib g.
The action is as follows:-On drawing back the sliding bolt G, and just before
it reaches the end of its course, the nib g on its head strikes the lug F, and moves
bar F back with it, whereby the finger fattached to said bar is moved from the full
line to the dotted line position, Figure 10, and caused to strike a tooth of the rear-
most pinion e¹, as shown, and continuing to move backwards to the full line
position, Figure 10ª, turns the cartridge carrier a part of a revolution to the left,
as shown.
By this movement the cartridge in the magazine nearest the opening D is brought
in contact with the guide a¹ and finger f, and caused to pass out through the opening
D, as shown in Figure 8, and fall into the breech chamber of the gun in front of
the sliding breech bolt G. On sliding the bolt G forward this cartridge is driven
into the chamber of the barrel in the usual way, and just before the bolt arrives at
the end of its course the nib g on its head strikes the foremost lug F of the sliding
bar F, and so causes the finger f to strike a tooth of the front pinion e³, as shown
by the dotted line position, Figure 10, and the said finger continuing to move for-
wards until it reaches the full line position, Figure 10, rotates the cartridge carrier

page_text: in the same direction and to the same extent as before, so as to bring the next suc-
ceeding cartridge into position to be transferred to the breech of the gun on the
next backward movement of the breech block.
Having described the nature of the said Invention and the manner of performing
the same,
I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the heroin-
before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
1st. The combination with a breech-loading fire-arm of a revolving cartridge
magazine attachment constructed and operating substantially as herein shown and
described, and contained in a case attached to the breech of the gun at one side,
as and for the purpose set forth.
2nd. In a cartridge magazine attachment for fire-arms the combination with the
revolving cartridge carrier of a pair of oppositely inclined toothed pinions on its
axis, and a finger acting thereon, substantially as shown and described.
3rd. The combination with the sliding breech bolt of a breech-loading fire-arm of
a longitudinally sliding bar having lugs in the path of a nib on the bolt to be
struck thereby, and carrying a finger to actuate the revolving cartridge carrier of a
magazine attachment, substantially as shown and described.
4th. In a cartridge magazine attachment for breech-loading fire-arms the employ-
ment in combination of a cartridge carrier having curved arms or radii, and
mounted to rotate on a longitudinal axis in a cylindrical casing, an opening in said
casing for the passage of the cartridges, and a fixed guide to cause them to pass out
through the said opening on the rotation of the carrier, substantially as shown
and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.