IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH LOADING FIRE ARMS, AND IN CARTRIDGE BOXES TO BE USED IN CONNECTION THEREWITH
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Simon, of No. 7, St. Peter's Square, Manchester,
in the County of Lancaster, for an Invention of " IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH
LOADING FIRE ARMS, AND IN CARTRIDGE BOXES TO BE USED IN CONNECTION
THEREWITH." A communication from abroad by Frederick Vetterli, of No. 7,
Rue de l'Arcade, Paris, France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Simon at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd November 1881.
HENRY SIMON, of No. 7, St. Peter's Square, Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH LOADING FIRE ARMS, AND IN CARTRIDGE
BOXES TO BE USED IN CONNECTION THEREWITH." [A communication from abroad
by Frederick Vetterli, of No. 7, Rue de l'Arcade, Paris, France.]
This Invention relates to that construction of breech loading fire arms in which
the breech is closed by a sliding breech bolt, and it consists mainly in the appli-
cation to such fire arms of mechanism and devices whereby they are made to act
as repeating rifles, supplying the cartridges from a magazine formed in the front
part of the stock underneath the barrel, the Invention being not only applicable to
new fire arms, but also readily applicable to old ones. For this purpose a cylindrical
hole is bored through the stock which is closed at the front end by a hollow metal
cap screwed into a hole formed in the front metal strap of the stock. In the
hollow of this cap is a pin surrounded by the front end of a helical spring, whose
rear end carries a piston or shield which is made by the spring to bear against the
foremost cartridges in the magazine, and to force these towards the breech when
permitted to do so, as will be presently explained. At the rear end the magazine
opens into a chamber formed in the stock immediately beneath the breech extension
of the barrel, in which works the sliding breech bolt. This chamber is closed at
bottom by a plate that is held by means of a stud projecting down from the breech
extension, and passing through a hole in the said plate beneath which a sliding piu
passes through the stud.
The plate has a bracket projecting up into the said
chamber, to which bracket is pivotted the rear end of a cradle or carrier whose
front end can be moved up and down turning on the said pivot. In the lowered
=
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page_text: position the cradle or carrier faces the opening of the cartridge magazine, so that
the cartridges can be fed on to it therefrom, while when in the raised position the
cartridge can be fed from it into the breech chamber of the barrel.
The carrier is made to spring into and remain in either position by means of a
spring acting on a tail thercon after it has been moved somewhat in either
direction. For effecting the upward motion a stud on the underside of the sliding
breech bolt is made in the backward position to catch against a projection on the
tail of the carrier, which at the same time forms the stop for limiting the backward
motion of the breech bolt. For effecting the downward motion the carrier has at
its side a pin that can be turned in its socket, and that has a head projecting above
the carrier, so that when the breech bolt is slid forward into the closed position
and is turned partly round so as to lock it, a face thereon presses on the head of
the said pin and thus pushes the carrier down.
Or according to another arrangement employed, by preference a small lever or
arm is pivotted to the inner face of the breech checks of the stock so as to turn in
a vertical plane at the side of the carrier. The head of this lever projects over a
cam shaped boss on the side of the carrier, so, that when the breech bolt is turned
into the locking position a face thereon presses on the head of the lever, and this
in its turn presses on the boss of the carrier and causes it to descend.
When it is desired to put the repeating mechanism out of action the carrier is
left in the raised position, for which purpose the pin of the first arrangement or
the lever of the second one is turned in its socket into such a position that when
the breech bolt is turned over for locking, the head of the pin or lever enters a
recess in the before mentioned face, and is consequently not pushed down thereby.
Beneath the carrier also pivotted to a lug on the before mentioned plate is a
spring lever (consisting-of-a-rigid-bent-lever combined-with-a-spring), the rear-end-
of which engages in a notch on the underside of the carrier, so that when the
latter is in the lowered position with a cartridge upon it the front end of the lever
is raised, passing through a slot in the front end of the carrier, and butting against
the end of the front cartridge in the magazine so as to prevent this from being
protruded; as the carrier rises up with its cartridge the front end of the spring
lever descends, thereby liberating the cartridge in the magazine, which is then
pushed slightly forward by the magazine spring until it butts against the front
fice of the raised carrier. On the cartridge on the carrier being inserted into the
breech chamber of the barrel, the sliding forward and locking of the breech bolt
causes the carrier to descend again as described, whereupon the cartridge that was
butting against its face will be propelled on to it. During the descent of the
carrier it depresses the tail of the spring holding lever, but the front end of this
is prevented from rising by the partly projected cartridge in the magazine until
this has been pushed right forward on to the carrier, whereupon the lever will
spring up and butt against the next following cartridge, as described.
The chamber containing the carrier and other parts connected therewith is
enclosed on all four sides by a box like frame brazed to the breech extension of
the barrel, so that should by accident one of the cartridges explode while being
transferred to the breech chamber of the barrel, the effects of the explosion will be
entirely confined within the said frame, thus protecting the stock of the gun from
injury.
As before stated, the plate on which the carrier and holding lever are pivotted
is held in position by a sliding pin passing through a hole in the trigger guard aud
through the before mentioned stud that projects down through a hole in the plate.
When it is desired to lower the carrier inechanisin so as not to come in gear with
the breech bolt, and thus allow the latter to be withdrawn altogether from the
breech extension for cleansing purposes, this is effected by withdrawing the said
pin, whereupon the rear end of the plate with its mechanism can drop until it rests
upon the nose of a curved spring on the trigger guard. Upon pressing inwards this
spring the plate with its incchanism can drop out altogether from the stock. The
sliding pin has a flatspring tail that slides against the trigger plate, and when slid

page_text: forward into the locking position a head on the tail enters a notch on the trigger
guard and thus prevents the pin from shifting; it is slid backwards or forwards
by the hand by means of two small lateral projections.
The recoil of the gun tends to move the pin into the locked position, so that it
operates with perfect safety when firing.
In place of actuating the trigger and tumbler or detent by a blade spring as at
present, these parts are arranged and actuated as follows:-The detent is pivotted
to the one end of a small slotted arm, the other end of which is pivotted to the
underside of the tail piece of the breech extension against which it lies, and the
arm and detent are kept in the raised position by a helical spring bearing with its
lower end against the trigger plate, and with its upper end against the underside
of the detent. The trigger plate has a projecting pin over which the helical spring
fits, and the lower end of this pin is forined with a screw thread corresponding in
pitch to the pitch of the convolutions of the spring, so that when the latter is
placed upon the pin it is caused by giving it one or two turns to engage with the
screw thread thereof, and is thus securely held and prevented from tumbling off
and getting lost on removing the trigger plate for cleaning or repairs. The front
end of the trigger plate is secured by a strong screw to the before mentioned box
framing of the carrier chamber. The trigger is pivotted to the underside of the
before mentioned arm carrying the detent, and has a pin or projection passing
through the slot of the arm and bearing against the tail piece of the breech
extension, so that on pressing on the trigger for firing its pin or projection bears
against the said tail piece as a fulcrum, and the front end of the arm together with
the detent are thus drawn downwards against the action of the helical spring.
As before stated the cartridge magazine is formed simply by a cylindrical bore
in the stock instead of by a metal tube, the latter being liable to be indented and
thus put out of order.
The part of the stock beneath the breech end of the barrel is formed with a
shallow groove on either side, into which grooves the fingers of the hand holding
the gun can be inserted so as to hold the gun more securely and prevent the fingers
coming in contact with the heated barrel in rapid firing.
According to another modification, instead of having only one cartridge magazine
in the stock as described, two such magazines are provided, consisting of two
metal tubes fixed closely side by side, and pivotted at the front ends on a pin in
the stock, while the rear ends are free to be slid laterally in a correspondingly
widened bore in the stock so as alternately to bring each magazine in line with
the before described carrier. The movement of the tubular magazines for this
purpose is effected by means of a pin fixed to the underside thereof, and passing
down through a transverse slot in the stock, below which it is provided with a
button for moving the tubes and a plate for covering the slot.
For the convenience of rapidly charging the above described or other magazine
guns, or for firing with ordinary breech loaders, a light box, by preference of paste-
board, is employed containing a certain number of cartridges arranged vertically
with their bases upwards, and in rows of which some are by preference raised
above the others for convenience of drawing them out.
The box is closed by a cover secured by a strip of paper or tape cemented round
the joint, one end of the tape being left free so that it can be readily stripped off
when required for use. Round one side of the lower part of the box is fixed a
loose broad tape or band, sufficient space being left between it and the box for the
insertion of the fingers; thus when charging the gun the operator slips the band
over the fingers of the hand with which he holds the breech of the gun, and thus
at the same time holds the cartridge box at the side of the gun in the most con-
venient position for taking out the cartridges and inserting them in the magazine
with the other hand.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Henry Simon in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 17th April
1882.
HENRY SIMON, of No. 7, St. Peter's Square, Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH LOADING FIRE ARMS, AND IN CARTRIDGE
BOXES TO BE USED IN CONNECTION THEREWITH." A communication from abroad
by Frederick Vetterli, of No. 7, Rue de l'Arcade, Paris, France.
This Invention relates to the construction of breech loading fire arms, in which
the breech is closed by a sliding breech bolt, and it consists mainly in the
application to such fire arms of mechanism and devices, whereby they are made to
act as repeating rifles supplying the cartridges from a magazine formed in the front
part of the stock underneath the barrel, the Invention being not only applicable to
new fire arms, but also readily applicable to old ones. The various improvements
for this purpose will be readily understood on reference to the accompanying
Drawings. A cylindrical hole is bored through the fore end of the stock, as shewn
at Fige. 6, 7, 13 and 14, which hole constitutes the cartridge magazine, and which
is closed at the front end by the hollow metal cap k, Fig. 10, screwed into a hole
formed in the front metal strap of the stock, shewn in front elevation and
section at Fig. 11. The cap contains a pin ¹ surrounded by the front end of the
helical spring, which when_expanded_reaches_to_the_rear-end-of-the-magazine,
and is provided at its inner end with the piston or shield 3 (shewn at Figs. 4
and 7), that bears against the foremost cartridge in the magazine, and tends to
force the cartridges towards the breech when permitted to do so, as will be
presently explained. At the rear end the magazine opens into a chamber formed
in the stock, which is closed at bottom by a plate p carrying the repeating
mechanism, as shewn detached at Fig. 1; the plate p is held in position by means
of a stud f projecting down from the breech extension f and passing through a
hole in the said plate, beneath which a locking pin 2 passes through a hole in
the stud f', as shewn at Figs. 2, 24, 6, and 7. The plate has a bracket b to which
is pivotted the rear end of the cradle or carrier a, whose front end moves up
and down turning on the said pivot S, so as when in the lowered position, as
shewn at Fig. 6, to face the opening of the cartridge magazine in order to receive a
cartridge therefrom, and when in the raised position, as at Fig. 7, to face the breech
chamber of the gun so as to deliver the cartridge into the same. The carrier is
made to spring into and remain in either position by means of a spring e, shewn
detached at Fig. 5, acting with a small roller on a tail of the carrier, after it has
been moved somewhat in either direction. For effecting the upward motion a
stud on the underside of the sliding breech bolt, Figs. 6 and 7, is made in the
backward position to catch against a projection g on the tail of the carrier, which
at the same time forms a stop for limiting the backward motion of the breech bolt.
For effecting the downward motion the carrier has according to the arrangement
here shewn a pin c at its side, shewn detached at Fig. 3, that can be turned in its
socket, and that has a head projecting above the carrier, as shewn, so that when
the breech bolt is slid forward into the closed position, and is turned partly round
so as to lock it, a face thereon presses on the head of the pin, and thus pushes the
carrier down. Or according to another arrangement employed by preference, and
shewn at Figs. 15, 19, and 21 to 24, a small lever or arm e' is pivotted to the
inner face of the breech cheeks of the stock, so as to turn in a vertical plane at the
sides of the carrier, as shewn more plainly at Fig. 15. The head of this lever
projects over a cam shaped boss a¹ on the side of the carrier a, so that when the
breech bolt is turned into the locking position, as at Fig. 21, a face thereon presses

page_text: on the head of the lever, and this in its turn presses on the boss of the carrier and
causes it to descend, as shewn. When it is desired to put the repeating mechanism
out of action, the carrier is left in the raised position, for which purpose the pin c,
Figs. 6 and 7, or the lever c¹, Fig. 15, is turned in its socket into such a position
that when the breech bolt is turned over for locking, the head of the pin or lever
enters a recess 2 in the breech bolt, and is consequently not pushed down thereby.
Beneath the carrier a, also pivotted to the plate p, is the spring lever d, consisting of
a rigid bent lever, shewn detached at Fig. 1º, combined with a spring, also shewn
separate. The rear end of this lever engages with a projection on the underside of
the carrier, so that when the latter is in the lowered position and has received a
cartridge from the magazine, the front end of the lever d is raised, as shewn at
Fig. 6, passing through a slot in the front end of the carrier, and butting against
the end of the front cartridge in the magazine so as to prevent this from being
protruded. As the carrier rises up with its cartridge into the position shewn at
Fig. 7, the front end of lever d descends, thereby liberating the cartridge in the
magazine, which is then pushed slightly forward by the spring until it butts
against the front face of the raised carrier, as shewn. The cartridge on the carrier
having been inserted into the breech chamber, the sliding forward of the brecchi
bolt causes the carrier to descend again, as described, whereupon the cartridge that
was butting against its face will be propelled by the spring 2 on to it. During the
descent of the carrier it depresses the tail of the spring lever d, but the front end
of the spring is prevented from rising by the partly projected cartridge in the
magazine, as seen at Fig. 7, until this has been pushed right forward on to the
carrier, whereupon the lever will spring up into the position at Fig. 6, and butt
against the next following cartridge.
The chamber containing the carrier a and other parts connected therewith is by
preference enclosed on all four sides by a box-like frame, as shewn at f³, Figs. 15
to 20, of which Fig. 15 shews a side view; Figs. 16 and 17, cross sections on
lines X, X, Y, Y; Fig. 18, a plan of the underside; Fig. 19, a longitudinal section;
and Fig. 20, a plan of the top side. This frame is formed by brazing the sides f³ to
the breech extension of the barrel; its object is to confine within it the effects of
any explosion of a cartridge that may possibly occur while it is being transferred
from the magazine to the breech chamber of the barrel, and thus to protect the
stock of the gun from injury. The chamber is closed at bottom, as before
described, by the plate p held in position by the locking pin f passing through
the stud f¹.
When it is desired to lower the carrier mechanism so as not to come in gear with
the breech bolt, and thus allow the latter to be withdrawn altogether from the
breech extension for cleansing purposes, this is effected by withdrawing the pin f³,
whereupon the rear end of the plate p, with the mechanisin carried thereby, will drop
until it rests upon the nose of the curved spring i on the trigger guard, as shown
at Fig. 2. Upon pressing this spring inward the plate p with its attachments can
drop out altogether from the stock. The sliding pin f has a flat spring tail f
shewn more clearly in the detached views at Fig. 8, which tail slides against the
trigger plate v, Fig. 12, and when in the forward position a head on the tail enters
a notch on the trigger guard, as shewn at Figs. 2 and 0. Fig. 2 shews the pin
slid back; its movement is effected by the hand by means of the two lateral
projections f³, shewn in the plan at Fig. 8.
The recoil of the gun tends to move the pin f into the locked position, so that
it operates with perfect safety when firing.
In place of actuating the trigger and tumbler or detent by a blade spring, as at
present, these parts are constructed and arranged as shewn at Figs. 15 and 19, and
in detached detail at Figs. 25 to 29. The detent r (Fig. 26) is pivotted to the one
end of a small slotted arın (Fig. 25), the other end of which is pivotted at n to
the breech extension f, against the underside of which it lies, and the arm and
detent are kept in the raised position by the helical spring m (Fig. 28) bearing with
its lower end against the trigger plate q (Fig. 29), and with its upper end against

page_text: J
the underside of the detent r. The trigger plate q has a projecting pin q¹, over
which the helical spring fits, and the lower end of this pin is formed with a screw
thread corresponding in pitch to the pitch of the convolutions of the spring m, so
that when this latter is placed upon the pin it is caused, by giving it one or two
turns, to engage with the screw thread thereof, and is thus securely held, and
prevented from tumbling off and getting lost on removing the trigger plate for
cleaning or repairs. The front end of the trigger plate is secured by a strong screw
to the box fraining f³,
The trigger o is pivotted at o' to the arm 1, and has a pin t (Fig. 27) that passes
through the slot of the arm l, and bears against the underside of the breech
extension f, as shewn at Fig. 19, so that on pressing on the trigger for firing tho
pint acts as a fulcrum, causing the front end of the arm l, together with the detent r,
to be drawn down against the action of the helical spring m.
As before stated, the cartridge magazine is formed simply by a cylindrical bore
in the fore end of the stock, instead of by a metal tube, the latter being liable to
be indented and thus put out of order; also by dispensing with the metal tube the
gun is made lighter.
The part of the stock beneath the breech end of the barrel is formed with a
shallow groove on either side, as shewn at u, u, (Figs. 13 and 14) thus forming
fillets at u', u', below, by means of which the stock can be held more securely by
the fingers against the lateral strain caused by the opening and closing of the breech
bolt on firing, and obviating the necessity of holding the stock by its upper edge as
heretofore, whereby the fingers frequently come in contact with and are burnt by
the barrel when heated to a considerable degree in rapid firing.
According to another improvement, instead of having only one cartridge magazine
in the stock, as described, two-such-magazines-are-provided, so as-to-allow-of-double-
the number of rounds being fired before the gun requires to be recharged. For
this purpose the magazines are formed of two metal tubes fixed side by side, and
arranged as shewn at Figs. 32 to 39 of the Drawings. Figs. 30 and 31 shew cross
sections of the gun at X, Fig. 38, with the magazine tubes in opposite positions;
Fig. 32 shows a longitudinal section of the magazines; Fig. 34 shews a part side
view of the same, and Fig. 35 a plan; Figs. 33 and 36, end views; Fig. 37, a
detached view of the covering plate, and Figs. 38 and 39 shew respectively a side
clevation and underside plan of the breech end of the gun. The two tubes A, A',
are secured side by side, and are pivotted at their front end to a pin B screwed into
the stock, as shown at Fig. 34, while the rear ends are capable of being shifted
laterally in the widened bore of the stock so as to assume either of the two
opposite positions shewn at Figs. 30 and 31, and thus to bring alternately the one
or the other tube in the axial line of the gun, in which it is in position for delivering
a cartridge on to the before described carrier. The movement of the magazines for
this purpose is effected by means of a pin C screwed into a metal plate D fixed to
the tubes and passing through a transverse slot in the stock, outside of which it
carries a button C¹ and a plate D', which covers the slot completely when the pin
is moved into the middle position.
In loading the rifle the magazine A is first brought in the axial line, and is
charged with, say, 10 cartridges, after which the magazine A' is brought into the
axial line and is also charged with 10 cartridges, and lastly a cartridge is placed
upon the carrier, and another in the breech chamber of the gun.
When the gun
is not to be fired the magazines are brought into the central position so that no
cartridges can be delivered therefrom. On firing, the whole of the cartridges of
the one magazine are first fixed, after which the other magazine is brought into line
and its charge fired. By preference those of the magazine last loaded are fired off
first.
For the convenience of rapidly charging the above described or other magazine
guns, or for firing with ordinary breech loaders, the soldiers are provided with light
cases containing a certain number of cartridges, constructed and operated as shewn
at Figs. 40 to 47 of the Drawings, a number of these cases being placed in the

page_text: ordinary cartridge pouch. The outer casing E of the box is made of pasteboard,
and the perforated divisions F, through which the cartridges are put, are of wood.
To the one side of the casing is fixed a broad band G forming a loop, as shewn at
Figs. 44 and 46, through which three or more fingers of the left hand can bo
inserted so as to hold the box in the manner indicated at Fig. 47 when loading.
The casing is made sufficiently strong to enable it to be used repeatedly for gun
practice. It is provided with a cover H which, when the case has been filled, is
fixed by cecuting a band I round the case and the cover, one end of the band
being left unattached, as shewn at Fig. 40, so that when the soldier has fitted the
box on his left hand, as at Fig. 47, he can readily with the right hand strip off the
band I and remove the cover, which may be allowed to remain attached to the band
haning down. Figs. 40 and 44 show respectively elevation and plan of the caso
with the cover secured; Figs. 41 and 45 shew the same views with the band I
partly stripped off; Figs. 42 and 46 shew the same views with the cover removed,
and Fig. 43 shews a cross section of the box. The box is here shewn to contain 15
cartridges, the two outer rows being arranged at a higher level than the middle
row, in order that the cartridges may be more readily laid hold of, the bullets of
the cartridges being made to rest on wood blocks, as shewn.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent,
I claim,-
First. Arranging the repeating mechanism of repeating rifles, as herein described
with reference to Figs. 1 to 7 of the Drawings, so that it is held by a plate
independently of the stock of the gun, in order that it may be readily removeable
therefrom.
Second. The combination of the carrier a with the plate p, substantially as
described.
Third. The spring lever d operating in combination with the carrier a for
retaining the cartridges in the magazine, substantially as herein described.
Fourth. The stud f' operating in combination with the sliding pin f² for securing
the plate p in position, substantially as herein described.
Fifth. The sliding pin f2 operating in combination with the plate p and spring
catch on the trigger guard, whereby the repeating mechanism can either be
merely thrown out of gear with the breech bolt or be removed entirely.
Sixth. The use of the spring catch i on the trigger guard for retaining or releasing
the repeating mechanism."
Seventh. The arrangement of the pin c (Figs. 1, 3, 6, and 7) in combination
with the carrier a and breech bolt f for throwing the repeating mechanism in and
out of action.
Eighth. The arrangement of the lever c¹, Figs. 19, 21, 22, and 24, in combination
with the carrier a and breech bolt f, for throwing the repeating mechanism in and
out of action, substantially as herein described.
Ninth. The arrangement of the cap closing the end of the magazine and
operating in combination with the stud, spring, and piston or head ³,
substantially as herein described.
Tenth. Forming the cartridge magazine by means of a cylindrical bore in the
fore end, without metal lining, substantially as herein described.
Eleventh. Forming the chamber for the repeating mechanism of a metal frame or
box brazed to the breech extension of the gun, substantially as herein described
with reference to Figs. 15 to 19 of the Drawings.
Twelfth. The arrangement of the helical spring m in combination with the
pin q, detent r, and trigger o, substantially as herein described.
Thirteenth. Constructing the fore end of breech loading rifles with lateral grooves
for affording a more secure hold for the fingers, as herein described with reference
to Figs. 13 and 14 of the Drawings.
Fourteenth. The construction of cartridge case, herein described with reference to
Figs. 40 to 47 of the Drawings, for facilitating loading.

page_text: Fifteenth. The combination of the cartridge case E, the loop G for holding ou
the fingers, the cover H, and fixing band I, as herein described with reference to
Figs. 40 to 47 of the Drawings.
Sixteenth. The arrangement of double cartridge magazine, herein described with
reference to Figs. 30 to 39 of the Drawings.
Seventeenth. The combination with the hollow gunstock of the tubular cartridge
magazines A, A¹, pivotted at the front end of the pin B, and shifted laterally at
the rear end by the pin C, C¹, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Simon, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fifteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.