Improvements in Pocket Firearms.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Jan., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Oct., 1893-Accepted, 18th Nov., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pocket Firearms.
I ETIENNE MIMARD and PETRUS BLACHON both of 21 Boulevard Poissonnière
Paris in the Republic of France Engineers do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a firearm of the magazine or repeating type capable of
being conveniently carried in the pocket and discharged with one hand. This
weapon admits of successive shots being discharged with great rapidity, and
possesses great strength and simplicity of construction. It can be taken to pieces
and put together again without tools the parts being so constructed as to be capable
of being connected and disconnected with great facility.
The breech action is enclosed in a species of box capable of being opened on one
side by withdrawing a sliding side plate or cover. The barrel is screwed to this
box which contains a chamber for the moveable breech, a chamber for the trigger
action, and a chamber for the cartridges.
The two last mentioned chambers are separated by a vertical partition provided
with two studs on which are supported springs which constantly tend to thrust
back the moveable breech. The rear wall of the breech box is recessed to form a
passage for the moveable breech and its guides. The upper side of the box is
formed with an opening for the introduction of the cartridges and the ejection of
the empty cases. This opening can be closed by a sliding plate provided with a
projection or thumb piece which is formed with a notch constituting the back
sight. The box is also provided with sundry other notches, recesses, grooves and
devices connected with the action of the breech mechanism or with the operations
of putting the parts together and closing the breech as hereinafter explained. On
a horizontal spindle passing through the box there is a cam for actuating the sear
and a spring engages notches connected with this cam in such a manner as to
retain or steady it in either of the three positions into which it can be placed by
manipulating a lever arranged on the end of the spindle outside the box.
The movable breech piece sliding horizontally in guides in the upper part of
the box is formed by a block of suitable shape provided at the head or front
end with two claws acting as a cartridge extractor, the centre of this breech piece
is made hollow for the reception of the striker which is acted on by a mainspring
provided in a recess in the breech piece. The under side of the breech piece
is provided with a longitudinal slot in which the heel or dent of the striker slides
and the sides of this slot are provided with a notch and an incline acting on the
sear as hereinafter described.
The sides of the movable breech piece present recesses for the reception of an
ejector formed by two blade springs attached to one yoke piece rocking in a recess
formed in the upper part of the movable breech block.
The breech piece is rigidly connected to a plate at the back of the box supported
by tubular guides sliding in openings in the back of the box and containing springs
which tend to move the said plate and breech piece towards the rear.
The tubular guides or sockets are provided with projections bearing against the
rear end of the breech case and acting as stops which limit the backward movement
of the movable breech piece.
Upon the cam worked by the lever hereinbefore referred to there is placed a
collar or frame embracing the cam and guided by rods sliding in guides in the
breech box and being constantly pressed upwards by a spring and having a
reciprocating movement imparted to it by the rotation of the cam.
The upper

page_text: part of this collar acts as the nose of a sear and engages with the dent of the
striker whilst a part projecting above this nose is situated opposite to a notch in the
breech block and enables the sear to be pushed down by an incline provided on
the said block.
The ejector is provided in addition to the blade springs hereinbefore referred to
with a short arm carrying a pin projecting into a groove formed in the side of the
breech block.
The cartridge magazine is provided with a vertically sliding elevator pressed
upwards by a helical spring its upward movement being limited by a stop or
projection. A small projection is also provided for the purpose of preventing the
elevator from slipping out of the magazine. A slot in the side of the magazine
enables the position of the elevator to be seen from the exterior so as to indicate
the number of cartridges contained in the magazine.
The side of the breech box is closed by a plate sliding in dovetailed guides in
the upper and lower part of the box. This side plate is provided with a rocking
bolt or catch engaging with notches in the internal partitions of the box so as to be
capable of retaining the plate in position when it is partially pulled out and also
when it is completely closed. The tail of this catch is acted upon by one of the
notches in such a manner as to cause the catch to return automatically to the closed
position. A recess formed in the vertical rear plate receives the projecting part of
the catch and maintains the sliding side plate in the closed position when firing.
The lever connected with the cam is capable of being placed in three different
positions namely the position for unloading and taking the mechanism to pieces the
safety position and the firing position.
In the position for unloading and taking the lock to pieces the collar or frame
embracing the cam is in its lowest position so that the sear nose is situated out of the
path of the striker which consequently cannot be held back or cocked.
When the
parts are in this position the weapon can be unloaded and taken to pieces without
any difficulty or danger. In order to unload it it is simply necessary to grasp the
breech in the hand and press the palm against the sliding rear plate so as to force it
against the breech box. On removing the pressure the plate is moved back
automatically by the action of the springs. The forward movement enables the
movable breech to push into the barrel the cartridge situated between its front.
claws and enables the arms of the ejector to pass under the lower part of the rim of
the cartridge. The ejector is actuated by means of an arm which comes in contact
with the front extremity of a slot in the breech box. In the backward movement
of the rear plate the cartridge is drawn out by the claws and the ejector throws it
out through the opening when the aforesaid arm comes in contact with the rear end
of the slot.
In order to take the mechanism to pieces it is sufficient to release the catch and
draw back the sliding side plate so as to partially uncover the breech action after
which by again acting upon the catch the side plate can be drawn completely out
of the breech box. When this plate has been removed the whole of the parts
composing the breech action can be easily removed no tool being required for this.
operation.
P
When the parts are in position for firing the collar embracing the cam occupies
an intermediate position indicated so that the nose of the sear engages with the dent
of the striker. The latter is consequently held back and cocked when the moveable.
breech is pushied forwards by grasping the breech box in the hand-and-exerting
pressure upon the rear plate. Whilst this movement is taking place a cartridge is
pushed into the barrel and when the breech is completely closed the sear comes in
contact with the incline on the breech piece which depresses it so as to disengage.
the striker which is then forced forwards and strikes the cartridge with sufficient'
force to cause it to explode. The extraction and ejection of the empty cartridge
case are perfornied as hereinbefore described with reference to the unloading.
The ejected case is immediately replaced by a fresh cartridge pushed up from the
magazine by the action of the spring elevator.

page_text: In the position of safety the cam is turned so as to elevate the collar into its
highest position so that the sear engaging with a recess in the moveable breech
piece and locks the latter so that it cannot be moved by pressing upon the rear
plate.
To load the weapon a sliding plate is drawn back so as to expose the opening
over the magazine the cartridges are then introduced into the magazine point
foremost through this opening and the elevator is pressed down and compresses the
spring and the cartridges being retained by the arms of the ejector.
When the weapon is not in use the sliding plate covers the opening provided for
the introduction of the cartridges and prevents the introduction of foreign matter
into the breech action. With the same object the external moving parts are
preferably so arranged that the breech action is completely enclosed.
Dated this 3rd dow of January 1803
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London...
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pocket Firearms.
We, ETIENNE MIMARD and PETRUS BLACHON both of 21 Boulevard
Poissonnière, Paris, in the Republic of France, Engineers, 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 :—
This invention relates to a firearm of the magazine or repeating type capable of
being conveniently carried in the pocket and of being discharged with one hand.
This weapon admits of successive shots being discharged with great rapidity, and
possesses great strength combined with simplicity of construction. It can be
taken to pieces and put together again without the aid of special tools the parts
being so constructed as to be capable of being connected and disconnected with
great facility.
And in order that our said invention may be fully understood we shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to
the several figures on the annexed sheets of drawings the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the figures.
'
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents the barrel and the breech box
attached thereto in elevation the cover plate and principal parts of the breech
action being removed. Figures 1A and 1B represent the box in vertical section the
sections being taken on the lines 1-2 and 3-4 Figure 1 respectively. Figure 1º
represents the barrel and box in plan and Figure 1 represents the box in a
horizontal section taken on the line 5-6 Figure 1.
Figure 2 illustrates in vertical section a stock or thrust plate T hereinafter
described. Figure 2A represents the same plate in elevation viewed from the
interior and Figure 2B represents it in side elevation.
Figure 3 represents detached and in side elevation the breech piece or bolt of
the fire arm and Figure 3A represents this piece in front or end elevation. Figure 3B
represents the breech piece in side elevation viewed from the opposite side to the
elevation in Figure 3 and Figure 3C illustrates the piece in longitudinal section.
Figure 3 represents the breech in elevation viewed from the rear and Figure 3
represents it in plan.
Figure 4 illustrates the striker in side and end elevation.
Figure 5 represents the cartridge ejector in side and end elevation and Figure 5ª
represents this device in plan.
Figure 6 represents in side and rear elevation a frame employed for controlling
the movements of the striker as hereinafter described.
Figure 7 illustrates the cartridge elevator. in front and side elevation and

page_text: Figure 7 represents the same in plan.
connection with the cartridge elevator.
Figure 8 represents a spring employed in
Figure 9 illustrates in vertical section and in elevation a sliding side plate
employed to close the open side of the breech box.
Figure 10 represents in elevation and in plan a sliding cover plate employed for
closing the orifice through which the cartridges are introduced, and Figure 11
illustrates a cartridge.
Figure 12 illustrates in elevation a complete fire arm constructed according to
this invention and Figure 12ª represents the same in plan.
Figure 13 illustrates the arm viewed from the opposite side to the elevation in
Figure 12.
Figure 14 illustrates the arm with the sliding side or cover plate partially drawn
out so as to expose the breech action and Figure 15 represents the arm with the
said plate completely removed the breech action and magazine being exposed.
Figure 16 represents the arm and breech box in longitudinal section shewing
the parts in readiness for driving a cartridge into the breech and Figure 17
represents the breech action in elevation the sliding side plate being removed
shewing the parts in the position which they occupy at the moment of firing.
The breech action is enclosed in a box A Figures 1, 12 and 13 forming the
grip or handle of the firearm. This box is capable of being opened on one side by
withdrawing a sliding side plate or cover D, (Figures 9 and 14). The barrel B is
screwed to this box which contains a compartment or chamber a (Figure 1) for the
moveable breech piece or bolt, a compartment or chamber b for the breech action
and a compartment or chamber c acting as a magazine for the reception of the
cartridges.
The chambers b and c are separated by a vertical partition d provided with two
studs t and t¹ on which are supported springs R and R' (Figure 16) which tend to
thrust back the moveable breech piece C. The rear wall of the breech box is
recessed to form openings for the passage of the moveable breech piece C and its
guides. The upper side of the box is provided with an opening for the
introduction of the cartridges (one of which is illustrated separately in Figure 11)
and the ejection of the empty cases. This opening can be closed by a sliding
plate o provided with a projection or thumb piece o¹ which is formed with a notch
enabling it to act as a back sight. This plate is illustrated separately in Figure 10.
The box is also provided with sundry notches, recesses, grooves and other devices
connected with the breech action or with the operations of putting the parts
together and closing the breech box as hereinafter explained.
On a rotary
spindle e Figures 1, 14 and 13 passing through one side of the breech box there
is a came and a spring r engages with a notched disc e connected with this cam
in such a manner as to retain or steady it in either of the three positions into which
it can be placed by manipulating a lever p arranged on the end of the spindle
outside the box (Figure 13).
The moveable breech piece C sliding horizontally in guides in the upper part of
the box is formed by a bolt or block of angular shape as represented in Figures 3,
`3ª, 3º, 3º, 3º, and 3, provided at the head or front end with two claws c¹ c² acting
as a cartridge extractor. This breech piece is made hollow (Figures 3D and 16)
for the reception of a firing pin or striker P (Figures 4 and 16) which is acted on
by a main spring pl. The under side of the breech piece is provided with a
longitudinal slot c³ (Figure 3C) in which the dent p² of the striker slides and the
sides of this slot are provided with a notch (Figure 3B) and an incline acting
on the sear as hereinafter described.
The sides of the moveable breech piece present recesses c (Figures 3B and 3)
for the reception of an ejector illustrated separately in Figures 5, 5 formed by two
blade springs el and e² attached to one yoke piece or spindle e³ rocking in a recess c
(Figure 3) formed in the upper part of the moveable breech block (Figures 15
and 17).
The breech piece C is provided with a tube or socket C¹ for the reception of the

page_text: spring R (Figure 16) and is screwed to a thrust or stock plate T, (Figures 2, 24
and 2B), provided at its lower extremity with a tubular socket C engaging with
the spring R¹ (Figure 16).
The tubular guides or sockets C1 and C2 are provided with projections a¹ a'
bearing against the rear end of the breech case and acting as stops which limit the
backward movement of the moveable breech piece.
Upon the came worked by the lever p there is placed a collar or frame f
(Figure 6) guided above and below the cam by rods sliding in guides in the breech
box as represented in Figure 16 and being constantly pressed upwards by a
spring. The upper part of this frame acts as the nose of a sear and engages
with the dent p² of the striker whilst the part f' projecting above the nose fas
indicated in Figure 6 is situated opposite to the notch e (Figures 3 and 14) and
can be pushed down by the incline c³ (Figures 3B and 17).
The ejector, Figure 5, is provided, in addition to the spring. arms el e² with a
short arm or lever et carrying a pin projecting into a groove formed in the side
of the breech box (Figure 1) and serving to give motion to the ejector as herein-
after explained.
The cartridge magazine c in the fore part of the breech box is provided with a
vertically sliding elevator i Figures 7, 7A and 16 pressed upwards by a spring R³
(Figures 8 and 16) bearing against the bottom of the magazine the upward move-
ment of the elevator being limited by a projection k, Figures 1 and 16. Another
projection (Figures 1 and 17) prevents the elevator from slipping out of the
magazine. A slot in the side of the magazine enables the position of the elevator
to be seen from the exterior so as to indicate the number of cartridges contained in
the magazine.
One side of the breech box is closed by the plate D Figures 9 and 12 sliding in
dovetailed guides or grooves in the upper and lower part of the box the shape of
the plate D being made to correspond with the form of the box. This plate is
provided with a bolt or catch v pivoted at v and engaging with a notch m or a
notch n Figures 1 and 15 according as the plate is partially pulled out (Figure 14)
or completely closed (Figure 12). The tail of this catch is acted upon by the
notch m in such a manner as to cause the catch to return automatically to the
closed position and engage with the notch n. A recess t formed in the plate T
Figure 2 receives the projecting part of the catch and maintains the plate D in
the closed position when firing. The action of the parts is as follows:-
The cam lever p is capable of being placed in three different positions as
indicated partly by dotted lines in Figure 13 the position for unloading and taking
the mechanism to pieces being indicated in full lines at I. When the lever. is
placed in the vertical position indicated by the dotted lines at I'I the mechanism is
in the safety position, and when it is placed in the horizontal position indicated
at 1II the parts are in the position for firing.
In order to unload the weapon or take the lock to pieces the parts are placed in
the position indicated in Figure 14 cam e being rotated so as to bring the collar or
frame into its lowest position so that the sear nose f¹ is situated out of the path
of the dent p² on the striker P which consequently cannot be held back or cocked.
When the parts are in this position the weapon can be unloaded and taken to pieces
without danger or difficulty. In order to unload it, it is simply necessary to grasp
the breech in the hand pressing the palm against the thrust plate T afterwards
releasing the latter and allowing it to be moved back or returned to its original
position automatically by the action of the springs R and R¹. The forward move-
ment enables the movable breech piece C to push into the barrel B the cartridge
which is situated between its front claws el c³ (Figure 3) and enables the arms el e³
(Figure 5) of the ejector to pass under the lower part of the rim of the cartridge
as indicated in Figure 17. The ejector is actuated by means of the arm e which
comes in contact with the front extremity of the slot in the breech box. In the
backward movement of the plate T the cartridge is drawn out of the breech or
barrel by the claws c¹² and the ejector afterwards throws it out through the

page_text: opening O when the arm e comes in contact with the rear end of the slot g thereby
suddenly elevating the arms e¹ e².
In order to take the mechanism to pieces it is sufficient to release the catch:v
and draw back the sliding side plate D so as to partially uncover the breech action
as indicated in Figure 14, after which by again acting upon the catch it can be 5
disengaged from the notch m so as to enable the plate D to be drawn completely
out of the grooves in the breech box. When this plate has been removed the
whole of the parts composing the breech action can be taken out of the box. The
movable breech piece with the thrust or stock plate can be removed by drawing
them out at one side. The breech piece can then be unscrewed from the plate T 1
thereby releasing the striker' P. The ejector can be taken out in like manner and
the collar or frame embracing the cam e can be taken out with the same facility
as well as the cartridge elevator and its spring. R² no tool being required for any
of these operations.
When the parts are in position for firing the frame fembracing the cam occupies
an intermediate position indicated in Figure 16 so that the sear nose f1 may
engage with the dent p² of the striker. The latter is consequently held back
or cocked when the movable breech is pushed forwards by grasping the breech
box in the hand and exerting pressure upon the plate T. Whilst this movement is
taking place a cartridge is pushed into the barrel and when the breech is completely
closed the part 2 of the sear comes in contact with the incline on the breech
piece (Figure 17) which depresses it so as to disengage the striker which is
then forced forwards and strikes the cartridge with sufficient force. to cause it to
explode.
The extraction and ejection of the empty cartridge case are performed as herein-
before described with reference to the operation of unloading. The ejected case is
immediately replaced by a fresh cartridge pushed up from the magazine by the
action of the elevator i and spring R².
In the position of safety the cam is turned by the lever p so as to elevate the
frame into its highest position as indicated in Figure 15 so that the part f
engages with the recess in the movable breech piece and locks the latter
rendering it impossible to move it by pressing upon the rear plate T.
To load or charge the magazine the sliding plate o is simply drawn back so as to
expose the opening O (Figure 16) the cartridges are then introduced into the
magazine point foremost through this opening and the elevator i being pressed
down by the cartridges compresses the spring R2 and the cartridges are retained by
the arms of the ejector which now occupy their highest position.
When the weapon is not in use the sliding plate o may be drawn back so as to
close the opening O and prevent the introduction of foreign matter into the breech
action. With the same object the safety notch ct may be so arranged as to enable
it to retain the breech piece in the closed position so that no opening exists between
the plate T and the breech box.
We do not limit ourselves to the particular shape or dimensions indicated in the
drawings which may be modified according to circumstances without affecting the
principle of the invention. Any suitable metal may be employed in the construction
of this firearm.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what, manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. In pocket fire arms with repeating action the combination of a moveable
breech piece C comprising a striker, an extractor and an ejector with a moveable
spring thrust or stock plate T enabling the cartridges to be pushed into the
breech and to be extracted and ejected by simply compressing the breech box
of the weapon when grasped in the hand substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. In pocket fire arms with repeating action the combination of a moveable
breech piece C provided with a striker, an extractor and an ejector and a moveable

page_text: spring thrust or stock plate with a trigger action enabling the shot to be fired
directly the breech is closed the said combination being obtained by the aid of
the collar or frame f and incline c substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
3. In pocket fire arms with repeating action the combination of a moveable
breech piece
provided with a striker, an extractor and an ejector with a cam or
eccentric e and a lever p enabling the frame f to be actuated in such a manner as
to render it possible to perform the firing and to suspend the same or place the
weapon in the safety position being a position in which the weapon is capable
of being taken to pieces substantially as hereinbefore described with reference
to the accompanying drawings.
4. In pocket fire arms with repeating action the special arrangement of the
moveable breech piece C comprising a striker P, an extractor formed with
lateral claws cand e² and an ejector formed with spring arms e and e² capable
of yielding or deflecting and rising as hereinbefore explained, the said moveable
breech piece being attached to a moveable stock .plate T by the aid of which the
several movements necessary for working the fire arm are imparted to it substan-
tially as herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
5. In pocket fire arms with repeating action the special arrangement of the
moveable breech piece comprising a striker, an extractor, and an ejector and
attached to a moveable thrust or stock plate in combination with a breech box
forming the grip or handle of the weapon and provided with three compartments
one of the said compartments containing the moveable breech piece, the second
containing the sear or trigger mechanism and the third forming a cartridge
magazine, the said breech box being closed by a sliding plate or cover D and
provided at its upper part with an opening, capable of being closed by a sliding
plate, for the introduction and ejection of the cartridges substantially as hercin-
before described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
6. A pocket fire arm comprising a moveable breech piece C provided with a
striker P, extractor c¹ c², ejector e e², notch c and incline c; a moveable thrust or
stock plate T worked by springs R R¹, a trigger or sear action with a collar or
frame eccentric or cam e and lever p and a breech box A forming a grip or handle
and subdivided into three compartments viz.: one for the reception of the moveable
breech, the second for the trigger action and the third acting as a magazine for the
cartridges which are pushed up by an elevator.i acted on by a spring R'; the said
grip or handle being further provided with an opening O closed by a sliding plate o
and being closed at the side by a sliding plate or cover D all arranged and
operating substantially in the manner and for the purpose hereinbefore described
with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 3rd day of October 1893
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
Agents.