Improvements in Repeating Small Arms.
Year: 1889

page_text: ate of Application, 13th June, 1889-Accepted, 3rd Aug.,
1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Repeating Small Arms.
I, FERDINAND MANNLICHER, of No. 47 Wiednerhaupt strasse, Vienna, Austria,
Engineer, 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:-
The object of the present invention is to render the breech-bolt action generally
used with repeating fire arms capable of effectually resisting the most powerful
charges, and yet to make the same shorter and lighter than heretofore, while on the
other hand the repeating mechanism for the system of packet-charges used in modern
repeating fire arms is simplified as much as possible. The breech closure can be
either a straight-pull bolt closure or an ordinary bolt closure with combined action.
The several improvements included in this invention are shewn on the accompanying
drawings, as applied to a fire arm with straight-pull bolt closure, and to one the
closure of which is effected by a combined' motion (frictional closure).
Fig. 1 shews a part longitudinal section of a fire arm with straight-pull bolt closure
in the open position. Fig. 2 is a similar section with the bolt closed and the firing
action cocked.
Fig. 3 is a similar section of a fire arm with frictional closure with opened breech
bolt. Figs. 45 and 6 are sections on lines 4, 4, 5, 5, 6, 6 Fig. 1. Figs. 4× 5× 6* are
sections on lines 4*, 4*, 5*, 5*, 6*, 6*, Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a plan of the detached
breech bolt of the straight pull closure inechanism. Fig. 8 is a front view, Fig. 9 a
back view; Fig. 10 is a plan of the bolt head, Fig. II a front view; Fig. 12 is a
front view of the locking catch, Fig. 13 a side view of the same; Fig. 14 is a view
of the detached breech bolt of the frictional closure mechanism; Fig. 15 shews views
of the extractor, Fig. 16 is a back view of the closing mechanism, Figs. 17 and 18
shew a modification of the extractor, Figs. 19, 20, and 21 shew respectively a side
view, back view and plan of a filled cartridge box. Figs. 22, 23 and 24 shew various
modifications of the cartridge box.
His the breech-action casing, and K the breech-bolt head the front part of which
has two locking studs WW2 which, when the bolt is closed, as at Fig. 2, take into
corresponding recesses in the casing H, the back faces of which form the
abutments for the studs. For locking and unlocking, the bolt head is turned,
whereby the studs are brought into contact with and are removed from the abut-
ments 2.
The turning of the bolt-head is effected for this purpose either in the usual way by
forming the bolt head in one with the lever for working it, as at Fig. 3, or, in the case
of the straight-pull bolt Figs. 1 and 2, by placing the bolt head in a tubular part
formed or fixed on the lever, the head being formed with helical grooves S S Fig. 10
into which take studs on the part G, so that on drawing back the latter a certain
distance, the bolt-head K turns, for instance, through an angle of 900, after which it
does not turn any more, but is drawn back with the part G, the studs W1 W2 then
entering longitudinal grooves L L in the casing H.
The helical grooves SS are so placed that they do not become visible, even when
the part G is drawn right back, and they are thus preserved from dirt.
which
As shewn, the front part of the bolt head K is perfectly solid with the exception of
the central hole for the firing pin. The breech-bolt is guided by ribs
are formed either on the head K itself as at Fig. 3, or on the part G. if this is
used, as at Figs. 1 and 2, and which take into corresponding grooves
casing H.
in the
The guide ribs are preferably made of dovetail shape, as at Fig. 8, in order to
prevent motion in a lateral or vertical direction. If the ribs are formed on the

page_text: bolt-head itself (Fig. 3) the corresponding grooves 134 in the casing H must have
their one side wall suitably cut away in order to allow of the turning of the bolt-
head for effecting the locking and unlocking as at Fig. 5%; if on the other hand
they are on the part. G (Figs. 1 and 2) this is not necessary, as this part has no
turning movement; the part & may then have two long guide fillets L' L² which
work in grooves L L in the casing, the latter serving also for guiding the
studs WW².
The arrangement of the guide ribs on the breech-bolt allows of the breech-bolt
casing being shortened to such an extent that the bolt, when quite drawn back, only
engages to a very small extent with the end of the casing.
The bolt head carries the firing pin S and spring F.
The spring has its rear abutment against the head R, which is either screwed
into the end of the bolt head K as at Figs. 1 and 2, or which is secured in the rear
end of the breech-bolt by the screw mas at Fig. 3.,
At Figs. 1 and 2 the helical grooves S S are continued through the head R, as
shewn at Fig. 10, so that when the head K is placed in the part the head R
cannot become unscrewed.
M
At Fig. 3 this precaution is not necessary; the head of the screw m is in this case
cut out to an extent corresponding with the head R, as at Fig. 16, so that by turning
half round, the head R is set free. M is the nut screwed on the end of the firing
pin S and which carries the trigger stud n. The trigger Z has in this construction
of repeating fire arm, in addition to its usual functions the functions of holding the
breech bolt in the casing H, and of effecting the ejection of the cartridge case in
conjunction with the extractor.
In
For this purpose the trigger is provided with the scars which is pressed upwards
by the spring and which, on the closing of the breech bolt engages with the
trigger stud and cocks the spring F (Fig. 3), or which keeps the spring cocked
when this is already cocked by the opening of the breech as at Figs. 1 and 2.
the latter case, namely; the cocking of the spring is effected by the drawing back of
the lever piece G for unlocking the breech bolt, whereby it carries the firing pin
back with it while the holt head K only turns on its axis. After unlocking the
breech holt and on the farther withdrawal of the lever piece G, the bolt head cannot
move farther in the latter, and consequently the spring F remains cocked, and also
during the closing movement; on locking the breech bolt, the sear st engages with
and holds the trigger stud n, and consequently keeps the spring F cocked.
the
The trigger also has at its front end an ejector beak, the action of which will
be presently described, and which holds a limiting piece grin position in
casing H when the sliding bolt is open, such limiting piece being either arranged
at the rear end of the trigger as at Figs. 1 and 2 (where a stop surface H prevents
any unintentional downward motion) and placed before the guide fillets of the
sliding bolt as at Fig. 1, or it is arranged at the other end of the trigger and enters
a recess at the front end of the bolt head as at Fig. 3. If the sliding bolt is to be
removed, the limiting piece gr need only he pressed down by the trigger, whereupon
the bolt can be ready drawn out at the rear. The re-introduction of the holt is
effected in the same manner.
The extractor P at the front end of the breech bolt is so arranged that during the
locking and unlocking of the bolt it does not turn with the bolt head. For this
purpose in the arrangement at Figs. 1 and 2 the extractor is let with its tail
piece into the fillet I of the lever piece G. and partly by this means, and partly
by the guiding which it has in the groove L of the casing, (Figs. 4, 5, 6) its
rotation with the head K is prevented.
1
In the construction at Fig. 3 the extractor is let into the breech bolt by means of
a dovetail piece p¹ entering a corresponding groove p2 in the bolt (Figs. 14 and 15).
while a projection p on the rear arm p³ of the extractor is caused, by the elasticity
of the tail piece, to enter a recess in the bolt cylinder, when the bolt is unlocked.
When the bolt is locked, the projection * is pressed out of the recess 75, as the
guiding groove L in the casing I prevents the rotation of the extractor, whereupon

page_text: the projection springs into a second similar recess 7 in the breech bolt. A similar
construction of the extractor might also be used with the construction of gun shewn
at Fig. 1.
In order to allow the locking studs W W to pass on turning the breech bolt, the
extractor is bevelled off at the front end as shewn at Figs. 7, 14 and 15.
The front end of the bolt head K is formed dished or recessed as shewn at
Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 11, so that a raised rim Q is formed thereon which surrounds the
base of the cartridge, but which is cut away at the point that is presented to the
magazine of the gun when the breech bolt is open, so that the carrier can raise
the cartridge and press it into the space within the rim Q.
By this means multiple repeating is prevented as not more than one cartridge at
a time can be pushed forward by the breech bolt head.
The bolt head also has a notch fr (Figs. 10, 11,) which, in the construction at
Fig. 3 passes into the recess 7. Into this notch enters the ejector beak of the
trigger when the breech bolt is open (Figs. 2 and 3) and thus ejects the cartridge
case, which was withdrawn by the extractor, and is enclosed by the rim Q. In place
of this arrangement of the ejector the construction shewn at Figs. 17 and 18 can be
employed, in which an ejector pin P is arranged on the bolt head K opposite the
extractor in such manner that in the position shewn in full lines it forms an
abutment for the cartridge base, but on drawing back the breech bolt, it strikes against
a fixed stop whereby it is pushed forward into the dotted position and thus ejects the
cartridge case.
as
The nut M of the breech bolt may also be provided with a half-cock notch
shewn at. Fig. 3. If the breech bolt is closed and the lock is cocked it can be
placed at half-cock by pressing on the trigger with the forefinger and at the same time
holding back the nut M with the thumb so that it cannot spring forward; if then
the trigger and nut M are released, the half cock notch will catch into a notch on
the sear so that the trigger cannot then be depressed.. At the same time the limiting
piece with the ejector beak enters a recess (Fig. 14) in the bolt head, similar
to the recess, because the half-cock notch is twice as deep as the full cock notch n,
and consequently the breech bolt cannot be turned open as long as the lock has not
been placed on full cock by drawing back the nut of the firing pin.
Atu (Fig. 14) on the breech bolt is provided a small helical surface which, on
turning to open the bolt, pushes the firing pin-nut slightly back, so that, as shewn
at Fig. 3, the point of the firing pin cannot strike against the percussion cap if the
breech bolt is not properly closed.
It will be readily understood that the half-cock notch and the helical surface
may also be adapted to the construction shewn at Figs. 1 and 2.
In Figs. 1 and 2 another safety device is shewn, which can also be applied to
the construction at Fig. 3. It consists of a locking latch E (Figs. 12 and 13) which
is pivotted to the breech bolt lever and has a notch, so that in the normal position
of the locking latch, the firing pin-nut can move freely forward with the firing pin.
If however the latch E be turned into the position shewn in dotted lines at Fig. 9,
it prevents the forward motion of the firing pin; this position is however only
possible when the lock is on full cock.
With the above described construction of breech action any arrangement of
cartridge magazine can be employed; I prefer however to employ the arrangement
shewn at Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The cover of the magazine D is pushed with its one
end between the sides of the magazine and is held by a screw d. On the cover D
is also fixed the carrier spring Y which actuates the carrier L, this being made
either to rest loose upon the spring, (Figs. 1 & 2) and moving in guides in the
magazine, or it may be pivotted to the cover D (Fig. 3). On withdrawing the
screw the cover D and spring Y can be removed.
The cartridges are preferably of a cylindrical form previously used by me, in
which the base rim does not project beyond the circumference of the body of the
cartridge; they are contained in cartridge boxes or packages made of stamped sheet
metal as shewn at Figs. 19 and 21. The form of the boxes is thus made symmetrical,

page_text: and they can be introduced from both ends. The cross section of the boxes is
optional; Figs. 22 to 24 shew forms which I propose to employ.
The empty
cartridge boxes fall out through the bottom of the magazine, in the known manner;
as long as they contain cartridges they are held in the magazine by the latter; a
catch device on the front wall of the magazine prevents the ejection of the full boxes
by the carrier.
If however it be desired to push the cartridges out of a frame into the magazine
without introducing the frame into the magazine the construction of frame shewn in
Figs. 25, 26, 27, 28 and 29 may be used for holding the cartridges.
The frame has a circular curvature, the radius being smaller than that corresponding
to the conicity of the cartridges, as shewn at Fig. 29, so that when the cartridges
are pushed in it assumes the shape shewn in dotted lines, whereby it is made by
its spring-power to press the cartridges so firmly together, that the cartridges are
held securely therein, but that when the frame is placed upon the magazine they
can be pushed out of it into the magazine without material resistance. In order,
however, to allow the cartridges to turn somewhat in the frame, whereby the
expulsion thereof is facilitated, it is advisable to make the back of the frame dished
as shewn at Fig. 28. The cartridge bases then only bear at two points against the
frame, so that they can turn up and down somewhat.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is
1. A repeating firearm with breechbolt action in which the breechbolt is guided
in a longitudinal direction by ribs sliding in grooves 13 of the breech casing,
with or without ribs L L sliding in grooves L³ L, whereby a shortening of the
breechbolt and its casing is rendered possible, substantially as herein described.
2. A repeating firearm with breechbolt action, and locking by rotation of the
breech-bolt head K, and wherein the breech bolt is guided in its casing substantially
as described, in combination with an extractor P which is prevented from rotating
with the breechbolt head K by arranging it loose thereon and guiding it in the
casing and, if necessary, also in the lever-piece of the breechbolf, substantially as
herein described.
3. A repeating firearm with breechbolt action, the breech bolt being guided in
its casing substantially as herein described, in combination with a trigger serving as
ejector by being provided at its front arm with a beak a which on opening the
breechbolt enters a notch fr in the bolt head and presses against the cartridge
base, substantially as herein described.
4. A repeating firearm with breechbolt action, the breechbolt being guided in its
casing substantially as described, in combination with an ejector consisting of a
sliding pin arranged on the breech bolt head K opposite the extractor, which-pin
ordinarily serves as an abutment for the cartridge base, but which, on striking
against a fixed surface when the breech bolt is fully opened, effects the ejection of the
cartridge case, substantially as herein described.
5. A repeating firearm with breech bolt action, the breechbolt being guided in its
casing substantially as herein described, wherein the trigger prevents the withdrawal
of the breechbolt from its casing by being provided with a limiting piece gr which,
when the breechbolt is open comes in contact with its ribs or with a recess i
thereon, while on actuating the trigger so as to withdraw the limiting piece, the
breech bolt is free to be drawn out.
6. A repeating firearm with breechbolt action and with a cartridge magazine at
the bottom of the breech casing, the breech bolt being guided in its casing sub-
stantially as described, in combination with a lower magazine cover D carrying the
carrier spring Y and in some cases also the carrier L, and connected to the magazine
by a screw and by pins, so that on removing the screw d, the cover 1 together
with the spring Y can be removed, substantially as described.
7. A repeating firearm, with breech-bolt action, the breechbolt being guided in its

page_text: casing substantially as described in which the breechbolt head has its front face
recessed, leaving a circular rim Q which is cut away on the side facing the magazine,
whereby the cartridge base is enabled to be at once introduced from the magazine
into the recess of the breechbolt, substantially as and for the purpose herein described.
8. In a repeating firearm constructed substantially as herein described, the use of
boxes or frames for containing the cartridges to be used therewith, which boxes or
frames hold the packet of cartridges by their base rims, and are of curved or dished
cross section, while they have such a curvature in the direction of their length that
on introducing the cartridge bases they become more or less straightened and thus
hold the cartridges with a certain amount of spring action, but owing to the dished
form of the back surface, they allow of the ready removal of the cartridges into the
magazine substantially as herein described
Dated this 12th day of June 1889.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.