Improvements in Breech-loading and Magazine Fire-arms.
Year: 1886

page_text: Improvements in Breech-loading and Magazine Fire-arms.
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 par-
ticularly 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 be moved backward and forward in axial line with the
barrel, and in which the breech-piece is locked when in the closed position by
imparting to it a partial rotation.
The present invention, while having certain features in common with the
invention described in the specification filed with an application for Letters Patent
bearing the same date as this application, is to be understood as having for its
object greater facility for rapid firing, and the invention consists in the construction
hereinafter described.
That the invention may be clearly understood, a full description of the arm is
made, including the parts which it has in common with those in the specification
of the application above referred to.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 represents a side view of the receiver and adjacent portions of the arm.
Figure 2 is a top view of the same, parts broken away to illustrate the
construction.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional side view, showing the parts in their normal
or closed position.
Figure 4 is a similar view showing the parts in the fully open position.
Figure 5 is a transverse section showing the front face of the breech-piece, the
section cutting through the diagonal slot in the slide when the breech-piece is in
the closed position.
Figure 6 is a transverse section through the receiver cutting in front of the
carrier, and showing the carrier in the up position.
Figure 7 is a side view of the breech piece.
:

page_text: Figure 8 is a longitudinal section of the breech-piece, showing a side view of the
rear end of the breech-piece and of the firing pin.
Figure 9 is a top view of the rear end of the slide, shewing the diagonal slot.
Figure 10 is a transverse section through the upper part of the receiver, and
cutting through the locking projection of the firing-pin, and also showing the
interlocking of the breech-piece and carrier.
Figure 11 is a side view of the breech-piece and of the carrier as the breech-
piece commences its locking movement, broken lines indicating the breech-piece
in its locked position, as locking the carrier.
Figure 12 is a rear end view of the breech-piece.
Figure 13 is an under side view of the receiver, showing the carrier as the cover
to close the magazine charging opening.
Figure 14 is an underside view of the breech-piece.
Figure 15 is a modification of the rib and groove on the breech-piece.
A represents the receiver, to the forward end of which the barrel B is secured,
and below the barrel is the magazine C, substantially parallel with the barrel, and
preferably so as to leave a space between the two.
D is the breech-piece which is arranged in the receiver in longitudinal line with
the barrel, so as to be moved backward and forward to open and close the breech.
Between the magazine and barrel is a slide E, which works longitudinally through
the opening in the receiver, and in a position below the breech-piece. At the
forward end the slide is provided with a handle F which surrounds the magazine,
and by which the slide may be moved backward and forward, and the slide is
constructed with a diagonal slot G, at its rear end, in which a stud H, projecting
from the under side of the breech-piece, works, as seen in Figures 5 and 9, so that
under the first part of the rear movement of the slide E the diagonal slot G will
cause the stud H to traverse through the diagonal slot G, and thereby impart
rotation to the breech-piece, as indicated in broken lines Figure 5 and also as
the slide approaches its extreme forward or closing position it will cause the
stud H to return through the slot G, and correspondingly return the breech piece;
this rotative movement of the breech-piece produces the unlocking and locking
operation.
The breech-piece is constructed with a longitudinal rib I, on one, say the right
hand, side, and that side of the receiver is correspondingly open, so as to form a
rear shoulder J, see Figures 1 and 2, against which the rib I will abut when in its
closed position, the rib extending the length of the opening, so as to fill the space
in the receiver, as indicated in Figure 1.
In Figure 5 the rib I is shown in the locked position and stands flush with the
side of the receiver, but as the breech-piece is rotated, as before described, the rib I
rises, until it passes above the shoulder J and into line with an opening K rear-
ward through the receiver. When in that position, the breech piece may move
rearward, the rib passing through the opening K, and say to the extreme open
position, indicated in Figure 4, then as the breech-piece is returned under the
forward movement of the slide E, and as it arrives at its extreme forward or closed
position, the diagonal slot G in the slide E will impart the return or locking move-
ment to the breech-piece, so as to bring the rib I forward of the shoulder J. The
slide E is constructed with an opening L vertically through it, so that when it is
in the extreme rear position there is an opening through the top of the receiver
forward of the breech-piece, and down through the slide E into the part of the
receiver below where the carrier is arranged.
M represents the carrier, which is hung at the rear upon a pivot N, here
represented as the same pivot upon which the hammer O is hung. The carrier is
constructed with a shoulder P forward of its pivot, and distant from the forward
end of the recess in the receiver equal to the length of a cartridge, as seen in
Figure 3 so that as the cartridge passes from the magazine onto the carrier it will
abut against the shoulder P as a stop to arrest the column of cartridges, and as
seen in that Figure. The carrier is raised during the last part of the rear move-

page_text: ment of the breech-piece by the rear end of the slide striking against an upward
projecting arın R from the hub of the carrier, so that as the breech-piece reaches
its extreme open position, the carrier will have been raised from the closed position
seen in figure 3, to that seen in figure 4.
It is desirable that as the cartridge is raised it shall assume a position in axial
line with the barrel, as seen in figure 4; to do this various devices have been
applied to the carrier to raise the rear end of the cartridge faster than the forward
end. To obviate the complicated' mechanism necessary to so raise the cartridge,
the receiver is constructed with one side overhanging the breech-piece, or opening,
as indicated at S figures 2 and 6, so that the opening into the receiver is at one
side, as seen at T figure 6, and so that as the cartridge rises, its forward end will
strike beneath the overhang S. Then, as the carrier rises, it bears upon the under
side of the cartridge in rear of its forward end, hence the forward end resting under.
the overhang S, the rear end rises accordingly, and until the body of the cartridge
comes into line along the under side of the overhanging portion S. In that
position the cartridge is grasped between the forward end of the carrier and the
overhanging portion of the receiver above, and will be there held until the breech-
piece advances to force the cartridge forward into the barrel.
The carrier is provided with a spring U, see figures 3 and 4, which works against
a a cam W on the hub of the carrier, the tendency of the spring being to force the
carrier upward after it shall have arrived at the holding position just described,
and as seen in figure 4, making the pressure of the carrier upon the under side of
the cartridge somewhat yielding.
Through the under side of the receiver an opening Y is made, through which
cartridges may be inserted into the magazine, such charging of the magazine being
made while the carrier is in the raised position, as seen in figure 4.
In order that the column of cartridges may be held against the pressure of the
magazine spring, a dog a is hung in the forward end of the receiver, upon a pivot b
so that the said dog may swing up or down in the carrier, the nose d of the dog
extending forward of the forward end of the carrier, but so that when the carrier
is in the down position, as seen in figure 3, it is out of the path of the column of
cartridges, whereby the cartridges may pass freely from the magazine onto the
carrier. When one cartridge stands against the shoulder P, as seen in figure 3, the
head of the next cartridge in the magazine is in a position forward of the dog a,
so that as the carrier rises, the dog will come to the rear of the next cartridge in
the magazine next to the one which is upon the carrier, and serve as a stop to
arrest the column of cartridges. As the carrier approaches its up position, an arm e
which extends therefrom to one side, strikes a corresponding f in the side of the
receiver, as seen in figure 6, which causes the forward end of the dog to turn
downward, as seen in figure 4, and there rest against the rear end of the last
cartridge in the magazine, so as to serve as a stop for the column of cartridges.
The spring U before referred to, holds the carrier up, and the dog consequently
down, under the yielding pressure, therefore, when in the position seen in figure 4,
if a cartridge be introduced through the opening Y under the magazine, it first
strikes the nose of the dog a forward of the shoulder f which shoulder serves as a
fulcrum for the dog upon which it will turn as a lever, so that as the nose pressed
upward, as indicated in broken lines figure 4, its rear or pivot end will be corre-
spondingly turned downward, together with the carrier M, the spring U yielding
for such movement of the carrier. As soon as the cartridge has so far entered that
it may escape from the nose of the dog, the reaction of the spring U will reraise
the carrier, and throw the dog downward, it being understood that the arm e and
the shoulder f are between the pivot b and the forward end of nosed of the
dog, the arm e indicated in broken lines in figure 3, and the shoulder f against which
it strikes, also seen in the same figure; the dog therefore serves not only to hold
back the column of cartridges in the magazine, but also serves as a latch to facilitate
the charging of the magazine,

page_text: The overhanging top S of the receiver is recessed transversely, as at g, see figure 2,
near the rear end, and upon the same side of the receiver as the overhanging
portion an inwardly projecting shoulder i is formed, which is forward of the front
face of the breech-piece when it is at its extreme rear position so that as the
breech-piece moves rearward with the cartridge engaged therewith by the usual
extractor k, upon the side of the breech-piece opposite the projection i, and as the
breech-piece with the cartridge connected thereto approaches its rear position, the
side of the cartridge opposite the extractor will strike the shoulder i. Then as
the breech-piece completes its rear movement, the forward end of the cartridge will
be turned outward through the opening below the overhang S, and ejected from
the receiver, the recess g facilitating such ejection of the cartridge, by giving a
greater freedom at the rear end. This recess g also facilitates the introduction of
a cartridge directly into the barrel through the opening below the overhanging
portion as for a single loader, it making space for the thumb to reach the head of
the cartridge in such operation.
This
To prevent the cartridge from being thrown beyond the shoulder P on the
carrier, and also to support the cartridge during its rise, and prevent its escape
from the shoulder P a fixed abutment h is constructed in the receiver.
abutment extends upward through a slot in the carrier and corresponds to the
shoulder P, the abutment projecting so far above the carrier as to form a bearing
or rest for the cartridge during its rising movement, so that as the rear end passes
upward from the shoulder P on the carrier, it will still be supported by the
stationary abutment h the shoulder P on the carrier may thus be practically
dispensed with.
The carrier works upward through the opening L in the slide, and the carrier is
returned, as the breech-piece closes, by the rear end of the opening L coming upon
the upper side of the carrier, such movement turning the carrier down so far as to
permit the complete closing of the breech piece. As the breech-piece reaches its
extreme closed position, an upward projection from the arm R on the carrier,
stands in the path of a circumferential cam m on the breech-piece, see figure 11,
so that as the breech-piece is rotated to its home or locked position, seen in
figure 10, the cam m on the breech-piece is turned down in rear of the projection
on the arm R, and returns the carrier to its down position, and locks it in that
position until the breech-piece is again opened. The carrier in its down position
closes the opening in the bottom of the receiver, as seen in figure 3, and when the
parts are in the normal condition, this closing of the recess at the bottom of the
receiver is securely locked.
To prevent the accidental unlocking of the breech-piece when in its closed
position, so that if the hammer stands at full cock, as desirable for immediate use,
the breech-piece may not be displaced, a lock is provided for it by means of the
firing-pin. n represents the firing-pin, see figure 8, which is arranged longitudinally
through the breech-piece, and provided with a spring r as a resistance to cause a
retreating movement of the firing-pin, in the usual manner for such firing pins.
At the rear end of the breech-piece the firing-pin is provided with a lateral pro-
jections in line with a corresponding groove t in the receiver, into which groove
the projections stands when the breech-piece is in its closed position, the breech-
piece having its rotary movement independent of the firing-pin, that is, the
firing-pin is prevented from rotation during the locking and unlocking rotative
movement of the breech-piece.
The side of the breech-piece is constructed with a circumferential recess u into
which the projection & may turn in the unlocking movement of the breech-piece,
the spring of the firing pin having a tendency to force the projection against the
rear end of the recess u. At this rear end of the recess is a shoulder w, beneath
which the projections may be thrown when the breech-piece is in its locked
position, but when the hammer rests against the firing-pin, the power of the main-
pring is greater than that of the spring r, the firing-pin is then forced away from

page_text: the shoulder w, as indicated in broken lines figure 7 and as seen in figure 3.
When the hammer is drawn away from the breech-piece while the breech-piece is
locked, the spring r will force the firing-pin rearward, and force the projection 8
beneath the shoulder won the breech-piece, as seen in figure 7, thus locking the
breech-piece in its closed position so long as the firing-pin stands in its rear
position. By pressing the firing-pin forward, as indicated in broken lines figures 7
and 3, either by hand or by the hammer resting thereon, the shoulder w may
escape the projection 8, and thus permit the breech-piece to be rotated to unlock it.
Such rotation of the breech-piece will bring the shoulder w below the projection s
as indicated in figure 8, where the firing-pin will rest during the opening move-
ment, and until the breech-piece is again closed to bring the projection 8 into the
groove t then as the breech-piece is returned to its locking position, the inclined
back of the shoulder w will force the firing-pin forward, as indicated in broken
lines figure 7, until the projection may escape from the shoulder w and be thrown
rearward to relock the breech-piece.
The breech-piece is constructed with the usual groove upon its under side, as
seen in Figure 5, to permit it to pass over the nose of the hammer, the breech-piece
itself turning the hammer to the full cocked position during the first part of its
rear movement.
The locking rib is represented as working through an open groove in the receiver,
but this groove may be covered, as seen in Figure 15, that is to say, it need not
extend entirely through the receiver.
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 to work
backward and forward in longitudinal line with the barrel, and also adapted for
partial rotative movement, the said breech-piece being constructed with a radially
projecting rib I; the stationary shoulder J in the receiver the said receiver being
constructed with a groove from said shoulder rearward, through which the said
rib I may pass in the opening and closing movement of the breech-piece; 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 G, and the breech-piece provided with a corresponding
stud H to work in said slot, substantially as described.
Second In a magazine fire-arm having a longitudinally movable breech-piece
and a receiver constructed with an opening through one side into the receiver in
rear of the barrel, so as to leave an overhanging portion S over the recess in
the receiver, the combination therewith of a carrier hung at the rear beneath the
breech-piece so as to swing up and down in the transfer of cartridges from the
magazine, substantially as described, whereby as the carrier rises to transfer
a cartridge to a position forward of the front face of the breech-piece, the said
cartridge will be grasped between the said overhanging portion, above, and the
carrier below, and in longitudinal line with the breech-piece.
Third In a magazine fire-arm having a longitudinally movable breech-piece
and the receiver constructed with an opening through one side into the receiver in
rear of the barrel, so as to leave an overhanging portion S over the recess in
the receiver, the combination therewith of a carrier hung at the rear beneath the
breech-piece so as to swing up and down in the transfer of cartridges from the
magazine, the said overhanging portion being constructed with a transverse recess g
near its rear end, substantially as described.
Fourth In a magazine fire-arm in which the magazine is arranged beneath the
barrel, the combination therewith of a carrier hung in the receiver at the rear
beneath the breech-piece, and adapted to swing upward and downward for the

page_text: transfer of cartridges from the magazine; the dog a hung in the carrier, so as to
swing in a vertical plane, the said dog being constructed with an arm between its
forward or nose end and the pivot in the carrier; and a shoulder in the receiver
with which the said arm engages with the upward throw of the carrier, substan
tially as described, whereby as the carrier approaches its up position the forward
end or nose of the dog will be turned downward, substantially as, and for the
purpose described.
Fifth In a magazine fire-arm substantially such as described, the combination
with the cooperative parts thereof, of the carrier M, hung at the rear and adapted
to swing up and down in the transfer of a cartridge; and the fixed abutment h in
the receiver, forward of the pivot upon which the carrier is hung, and extending
up through the carrier, substantially as, and for the purpose, specified.
Sixth In a n.agazine fire-arm in which the magazine is arranged beneath the
barrel and opens into the receiver, the combination therewith of a breech-piece
arranged in said receiver to work backward and forward in longitudinal line with
the barrel, the said breech-piece being also adapted for partial rotative movement;
and a carrier arranged beneath the breech-piece and hung upon a pivot at the rear
the said carrier being adapted to swing up and down in the transfer of a cartridge
and constructed with an upward projection / from its hub, the breech piece being
also constructed with a corresponding cam m to engage said projection / on the
carrier when the breech piece is in its closed position, substantially as, and for the
purpose, described.
Seventh 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, the said breech-piece being
also adapted for partial rotative movement to lock or unlock the same when in its
closed position a firing pin arranged longitudinally through said breech-piece, and
constructed with a lateral projections the receiver being provided with a corre-
sponding groove into which the said projection will enter as the breech-piece
approaches its closed position and a spring on said firing-pin having a tendency to
force the firing pin rearward, the said breech-piece being constructed with a
shoulder w adapted to engage the said projections on the firing pin when the
breech-piece is in its locked position, substantially as described.
This onl
T.1. 1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.