Improvements in Breech-loading Small-arms.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Dec., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Sept., 1891-Accepted, 14th Nov., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Breech-loading Small-arms.
THOMAS WILSON 49 Frederick Road Edgbaston Birmingham Gentleman do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates principally to improvements in magazine fire-arms and
consists firstly in so constructing and combining with the shoe and breech
mechanism of the fire-arm a channeled or grooved cylinder that the said channeled
or grooved cylinder shall form both a magazine and carrier for bringing the
reserve cartridges in exact line with the chamber of the rifle and at the same time
constitute a firm and smooth basis for the passage of the cartridge and the breech
bolt and also for the insertion of the tilting pin for ejecting the exploded cartridge
case from the breech on the withdrawal of the breech bolt. In carrying out this
part of my invention I proceed as follows. 1 construct a cylinder of steel or other
suitable metal, in the periphery of the said cylinder I form a series of longitudinal
channels or grooves corresponding with the number of cartridges the magazine is
intended to carry.
The length of the cylinder and the length and depth of its channels or grooves, I
make to correspond with the length and diameter of the cartridges to be carried, the
said channeled or grooved cylinder, revolves upon an axis, and between projections
formed on the underside of the said shoe or breech, the said shoe or breech being
opened or cut away on the underside so as to allow the channels or grooves in the
cylindrical magazine or carrier to be brought into exact line with the breech bolt and
chamber of the rifle, so that the magazine channel or groove forms practically a sort of
intermediate chamber for the smooth passage of the cartridge and the breech bolt
when pushed home in closing the rifle, the said breech bolt being securely locked
by a lug or lugs taking into a corresponding opening or openings in the shoe. The
rotating magazine or carrier is covered by a fixed external casing attached to the
lower side of the breech for the purpose of keeping the cartridges in the channels
or grooves of the magazine or carrier and protecting them from injury. I form or
fix in each channel or groove of the cylindrical magazine or carrier a step or tilting
pin against which the rim of the cartridge case comes in contact on its withdrawal
from the chamber of the rifle and is thereby tilted or thrown from the breech.
The exploded cartridge case is withdrawn from the rifle chamber by an extractor
attached to the breech bolt which on its withdrawal pulls out the cartridge case,
which being caught by the step or tilting pin is thrown from the breech, after
which by a slight movement (preferably by the left hand) the cylindrical magazine
or carrier is sufficiently rotated to bring into line with the rifle chamber another
magazine groove and cartridge which said cartridge on closing the breech bolt is
pushed into the rifle chamber and the breech bolt locked for firing as before, and
so on till the entire magazine is exhausted when the magazine may be reloaded or
the firing continued (if so desired) with single cartridges as the magazine and
breech arrangements of the rifle are at all times perfectly adapted and effective for
either magazine or single cartridge firing at the will of the user. The magazine or
carrier is reloaded through the opening in the upper side of the breech through
which said opening the exploded cartridge cases are also ejected after firing.
My invention consists secondly in constructing the closing or breech bolt of the
rifle of two diameters, that is to say, in making the rear end of the said closing bolt
of larger diameter than its front end by which means I secure greater strength and
solidity for the locking parts of the breech mechanism, and also greater rigidity
and firmness to the closing bolt while partially withdrawn from the breech.

page_text: My invention consists thirdly in constructing the body of the hammer-pin or
striker for exploding the cartridge with a projecting rib for the purpose of guiding
the said hammer-pin or striker and affording greater facilities for making the sear
bent or bents in the said hammer-pin or striker.
My invention consists fourthly in forming a step or wedge shaped projection on
the extreme end of the breech shoe so that on turning the bolt handle in opening
the breech the said handle is brought into contact with the said step or wedge
shaped projection, thereby giving to the breech bolt and extractor a slight back-
ward movement which loosens the case of the exploded cartridge and facilitates its
withdrawal from the rifle chamber.
Dated this 29th day of December 1890.
THOS. WILSON.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Breech-loading Small-arms.
I, THOMAS WILSON, of 49 Frederick Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham,
Gentleman, 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 improvements in magazine breech-loading small-arms,
and consists primarily in combining with the barrel, breech-shoe, and breech
mechanism of a rotatory, and chambered magazine, consisting of a pivotedly centred
cartridge carrier or cylinder, with open ended channels, running peripherally and
axially from end to end of the said carrier or cylinder, and forms both receptacles
for cartridges, and races for the traverse of the bolt, in pushing home the cartridges
into the chambers of the barrels.
In carrying out a hand-feed magazine, constructed according to one form of my
invention, I pivotly mount between the breech end of the barrel, and the breech-
shoe, a rotatory cylinder or carrier, having peripherally arranged, a series of open
ended and longitudinally directed channels or grooves, corresponding in number, to
the cartridges which the magazine is intended to carry. The said channels or
grooves, are of a size suitable for carrying the said cartridges, and for taking the
bolt of the breech mechanism of the arm.
The breech shoe wherein the bolt traverses, is open at its top, and provided with
a side
gap, for a lug on a rotatory part of the bolt, which interiorly carries the
striking pin, to engage with.
The magazine part, is circumferentially enclosed by a fixed cover, with a gap
upon its side, of about the length and breadth of a cartridge, for the entrances and
exit of cartridges and cartridge shells.
The cartridge cases are removed from the channels or grooves of the magazine
or carrier, by their rims tripping against studs, placed at the rear terminations of
them, whilst the said cartridges are withdrawn by an extractor, and the striking
pin withdrawn from their ends, prior to extraction, by a supplementary movement
created by an incline or helix of the rotary part of the bolt, impinging against a
bent block carried at the rear end of the said striker pin.
The magazine is rotated by hand, by the thumb and finger, passing inwardly
through holes made in the opposite sides of the cover.
In carrying out my invention in connection with an automatic-feed magazine
rifle, I give the necessary rotation to the magazine, by the bolt acting upon a lever,
whose motion is imparted to the magazine, through a slide or an equivalent,
pressing or impinging upon an incline of a ratchet annulus formed upon, or carried
by, an end of the said magazine. Or the necessary rotary motion for the bringing
of each channel or chamber of the magazine, linable with the axis of the barrel,
may be performed by a shoulder on the end of the bolt (when pulled fully back)
impinging against, and pressing down a stud or pin, passing through the framing of

page_text: the cover, or through the fore part of the breech shoc, in manner that the same
acts upon a ratchet wheel, hence the necessary rotation.
Or the said magazine may be rotated by a yielding arm, working in connection
with a ratchet annulus.
The rifle or arm may be employed for single firing if desired, by feeding the
cartridges into a single and presented groove of the magazine, which is unoperated
or remains quiescent.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents in longitudinal vertical
section, a magazine breech loading rifle, of the sliding bolt type, constructed and
arranged according to one form of my invention.
The said arm, which consists primarily in combining with the breech shoe and
breech mechanism, of the said bolt type, of a rotatory magazine, consisting of a
pivotedly centred chamber, having open ended channels, running axially and
peripherally from end to end of the same.
The said view also shows the said arm closed and cocked, ready for firing, and
with the cartridge placed home within the chamber of the barrel. The magazine
of the said arm, is hand operated, or in other words, has the necessary rotation
given to it, for bringing its channels or chambers, consecutively coincident with the
chamber of the barrel of the arm, as aforesaid.
Figure 2 represents the said arm open, and with the sliding breech bolt, drawn
back to its full extent, and through the intervention of which bolt, the spent case,
which is first started and then extracted from the chamber of the barrel, and sub-
sequently tilted, and flirted through the open side of the chamber of the magazine,
by the rim of the said cartridge, coming against an outstanding end of a pin or
stud, located at the bottom of the front part of the said chamber, and lying within
the path of the said rim, when the cartridge is extracted.
Figure 3 represents a transverse section of the said arm, through the dotted
lines A B Figure 1, and looking from right to left.
This said section, shows how the magazine is located within an encircling or
barrel cover, disposed between the end of the barrel of the arm, and the breech
shoe, and, how the chambers of the magazine, when coincident with the axial line
of the barrels, form, as it were, a continuation of the said shoe wherein the sliding
bolt traverses, for pushing home the cartridge, and extracting and tilting the
same.
Figure 4 represents a transverse section of the said arm, upon the dotted
lines CD Figure 1, and looking from right to left.
Figure 5 is a front end view of the magazine, showing the open ends of the
chambers, and the retaining sinkings, for holding the said magazine, in pre-
determined positions, on the same having imparted to it, one seventh of a rotation,
(or according to the number of chambers) which are simply troughed carriers, for
consecutively taking the cartridges into position, for being pushed home, anterior
to being fired.
Figure 6 is an elevation of the said magazine, showing its peripherally tapered
figure.
Figure 7 is a back end of the magazine, showing the tilting pins.
Figure 8 is a transverse section through the dotted lines H I Figure 1, looking
from left to right and showing the spring arm catch, with the acting end of it,
passing through the front wall of the cover or casing, and taking into one of
the sunken holes, for retaining the magazine in a predetermined position as
aforesaid.
Figure 9 represents a further cross section of the said arm and upon the dotted
lines J K looking from right to left.
Figure 10 is a longitudinal section of a part of the breech shoe and bolt, showing
the means for giving the initial withdrawal of the striking pin, which is performed
by the unlocking of the bolt, prior to its withdrawal.
Figure 11 represents the rear end of the shoe, and the middle part of the bolt,

page_text: showing the means or stop for preventing the said bolt from being fully withdrawn
from out of the chamber or race of the breech shoe.
Figure 12 shows a portion of the cover or encircling jacket of the magazine,
which has upon one, or upon its two opposite sides, holes or piercings, wherethrough
the thumb and finger of the user of the arm, inward pass, to partially rotate the
magazine, after each discharge, for bringing the next chamber of the magazine,
with its live cartridge, in line with the race of the breech shoe, and the chamber
of the barrel.
The same letters of reference, indicate corresponding parts in Figures 1 to 12.
a is the barrel of the arm, a² its chamber, and its breech end, with a recess or
cutaway part a, made within the top side of the entrance to the said chamber, in
order to admit of the slight rising of the hooked end of the extractor limb, as
hereinafter described, on the same passing over the edge of the rim of a cartridge
pushed home.
b is the breech shoe, having disposed between it, and the said barrel, a
magazine c, consisting of a pivotedly centred carrier, having open ended
chambers c², running axially and peripherally from end to end of the same, and
wherein the reserve cartridges are placed, and are brought consecutively in a line
with the chamber or bore of the arm, as the same are required, and which magazine
is mounted upon a central axis c³, having its bearings in the ends d², d³, of a
chamber enclosing cover d, which constitutes a covering up jacket for the said
chamber, and forms a framing means of connection between the breech end, and the
rear part or shoe and stock of the arm.
Each of the said chambers of the magazine, have disposed at the bottoms of their
extreme rear ends, tilting pins c, consisting of pins, with their exposed ends,
standing above the plane of the bottom of the chambers, so that as the spent
cartridge cases are drawn along the said chambers, by the extractor taking hold
of their heads, they are tilted, by the lower parts of their rims, coming in contact
with the pins, hence the sudden flirting from the chamber, through a side
opening d, of the cover d.
The other or front end of the magazine, has sinkings co, wherein spring catches e,
best seen in Figures 5 and 8, take, for holding the said chambers in predetermined
positions, consequent upon one or other of the chambers, coming linable with the
axis of the barrel or breech shoe.
The said spring catch, consists of a spring arm e², having at its end, a stud e³,
which takes into one or other of the seven sinkings c, on the latter coming opposite
the former.
The stud e of the spring arm of the said catch, works through a hole through
the back wall or end d², of the magazine cover d.
bis the shoe. of the arm, consisting of an open topped channel 62, 63, carried by
the neck or rear of the stock g, of the arm, and with a side gap 6, made within it,
wherein a lug 2, of a bolt h, takes, on the handle of the bolt, as hereinafter
described, being turned down, as represented in Figures 1 and 9.
This said shoe is in the same axial line as the barrel, and is adapted to carry
within its hollow interior, the said bolt h, of which its fore part ¹, is adapted to
traverse only, or without rotating, whilst the rear part is adapted to rotate
partially, for the purpose of taking the locking lug 2, of it, into and out of the
cross gap or cut away part 64, when the bolt is fully pushed home.
Thus, the bolt consists of a fore and tubular part h', with a head ³, fitted to take
within the entrance a³, to the chamber a", of the barrel a, while the rear consists of
an open bottomed rear part and hollow rear part *, having upon it a rotating sleeve
or tubular part h³, carrying a snug h², and a handle, so that on the bolt being
pushed home, the whole slides without rotation, when the turning down of the
handle h, as represented in Figure 9, turns the said sleeve, and takes the lug h²,
into the locking gap, hence the closing and locking of the bolt to the arm.
Working within the hollow interior of the said bolt, is a striking pin, with head

page_text: and nose end 2, and rear 3, taking into a bent block it, with bent i, formed within
the front of its fore part, and wherewith the nose j, of a sear), engages, and which
sear is liberated by the trigger blade 2, of a trigger k, while the said sear, which
is jointed at 3, is kept up to its work, by a spring (, whose free end takes its
bearing against an underside projection.
The part rotating sleeve of the bolt, has interiorly, an helix or incline h', which
impinges against the front is, of the bent block it, and gives the striker pin a slight
initial rear movement or rear action, prior to the withdrawal of the bolt, by the
sliding of the same, from out of the chamber of the magazine, and along the
channel or race of the shoe.
Encircling the striker pin, and disposed between a shoulder 7, of the head, and
a shoulder h, of the bolt, is a coiled spring m, which is compressed by the passing
home of the bolt into its locking position, while carried upon the fore part and
top side of the bolt, is an extractor limb P, with a hooked end ².
OPERATION.
Assuming the arm to be in the position as represented in Figure 2, and with
a cartridge within the chamber of the magazine, now presented to the chamber
of the barrel, the pushing home of the bolt h, and the turning of the rotating
end, with the lug 2, taking into the gap or side opening 6, made within the
shoe b, Torces the cartridge lying within the said magazine chamber, home into
the barrel chamber, and also takes the head of the bolt, home, into the entrance
of the said barrel chamber, compresses the spring m, while the striking pin is
retained by the nose end 2, of the sear j, engaging within the bent, of the bent
block. The handle he, is then turned down to bring the locking part h², into the
recess, of the standing breech.
The now pulling of the trigger k, turns the sear upon its joint centre j³, and takes
the nose end of it, out of the bent and clear of the block, when the striker
rod and block is urged forward by the releasing of the spring m, put under tension,
by the previous operation of closing the bolt, hence the discharge of the arm.
By now turning upwardly the handle h, so as to take its lug h2, from its locking
and holding position, the helix, carried by the turning part of it, impinges
against the front part is, of the bent block it, and by it, gives an initial rear action
to the striker rod i, 2, 3 and block it, thus taking the nose end of the said striker
rod, from out of the head of the cartridge n, so that no impediment shall be in the
way, as hereinafter described, of the spent cartridge case, being freely ejected.
This done, the extractor rod is slightly held back, and traverses rearwardly with
the bolt, on the same being withdrawn back by the handle.
This rearward traverse of the bolt, extracts the cartridge, and pulls the same
along the chamber of the magazine, until the lower edge of its rim, impinges or
strikes against the tilting pin c, which is within its path, and hence the tilting
of the cartridge and the throwing of the same clear of the chamber of the
magazine, through the side opening or slot d', made through the top of the
cover d.
To feed another cartridge, give the chamber one seventh of a rotation or turn,
by the passing of the thumb and finger inwardly through the side gaps or
piercings d, when the chamber is rotated to the desired extent, and is there held
in a positive position, and with the chamber and cartridge linable with the axis
of the barrel, by the catch e, engaging with a sinking c³, corresponding to the
magazine chamber thus presented.
The now pressing home of the bolt, traverses it through the chamber of the
magazine, and forces home the cartridge, with the extractor hooked end, having
snapped over its head, as before described.
The same process is repeated for each cartridge to be fed forward and passed
into the barrel.
The cartridges are introduced into their channels or respective carrying

page_text: chambers, by dropping the same through the side opening of the cover, while
the chamber is being rotated.
The bolt is prevented from being withdrawn from the breech shoe, by a stop
catch o², carried near the free end of a lifting spring o, which engages within a hole
or depression 10, formed within the collar ³, (see Figure 11).
Figure 13 represents a modification of the bolt part of my invention, and is
adapted for easing spent shells, which are tight within the barrel chamber, and
which is accomplished by giving a slight withdrawal movement of the said bolt,
during its rotation from its locked position, hence the initial withdrawal of the
cartridge case, prior to its withdrawal, by sliding by hand.
is the bolt, ³ the head part, h the rear part, and the rotating sleeve, with
handle hº.
The bore of the front inside part is wormed with a left hand thread at h¹, which
takes upon a like screwed rear part 40, of the fore part h, of the bolt.
i is the striking pin with bent blocks 2 at its rear.
"
By rotating the handle part, and with it the sleeve, the bolt, is initially with-
drawn, carrying with it, the extractor p, p², and striker pin i, which may be
differentially traversed, if necessary, to take the nose of a striker pin, from the
head of a spent cartridge case; prior to the extraction of the same.
Figure 14 represents a bolt action breech-loading magazine rifle, with an
automatic feed, constructed and arranged according to another form of my said
invention.
In this arrangement, the fully pulling out of the bolt, both ejects the spent
case, and brings a reserve cartridge in front of the chamber of the barrel, by
giving unto the magazine a seventh of a rotation, or an amount of rotation, equal
to the number of chambers or carrier recesses, which the said chamber has.
Figure 15 is a transverse section of the said arm upon the dotted lines L M
Figure 14, showing the disposition of the lever, through the intervention of
which, the magazine is rotated, by the forcible impingement inwards of a slide,
which is made to slide consecutively upon inclined planes, in the form of an
annulus.
Figure 16 shows an end view of the magazine, showing the carrier chambers,
formed peripherally within it.
Figure 17 is a topside plan of a portion of the bolt, with a cover plate, for
working the lever, for giving the necessary automatic feed to the magazine.
a is the barrel, a' the chamber of it, a³ the breech end, 6 the breech shoe,
and the magazine, having open ended carrying chambers c², mounted upon a
central axis c³, and enclosed by a cover d, with front and back ends d², d³, and
having a side opening or gap d', wherethrough cartridges are inwardly inserted for
supplying the magazine, and the spent cartridge shells outwardly thrown.
is the shoe, wherein the bolt h, works, and which bolt carries a plate ", with a
head or hooked end 2, which is adapted to impinge or come against the upper
end 92, of a lever 7, jointed at g', and having its lower arm 9³, coming against the
rear and enlarged end 72, of a slide r, whose fore end 3, is adapted to impinge
upon, one at time of a series of inclines c, annularly arranged, and carried on the
rear end of the magazine c.
Disposed between a shoulder of a recess cut within the back walls or back
slide d³, of a cover d, and enlarged end or head 72, of the slide, is a spring s, for
taking the said slide, back after each partial rotation of the magazine, which is
retained in its allotted position on its rotation, by the spring catch e, engaging with
sinkings c, as before referred to.
The lever is located and fitted within a slot or hollow part, cut within the side
of the solid of the metal of the shoe, or the casing of the magazine.
OPERATION.
Assuming that the norts to be in the nosition which thar respectively cume in

page_text: Figure 14, push home and lock the bolt, when the cartridge », is passed into the
chamber a2, of the barrel.
This done, the slide r, will press itself inwards, by the expanding of the spring,
and by so doing will tilt the upper part of the lever q, from right to left, and take
the end, of the slide r, clear of the magazine, or its ratchet annulus c.
After firing, the turning of the bolt by its handle, and the pulling back of the
same, removes the spent shell from the chamber, and draws the same rearwardly
along the carrier chamber, of the magazine, until the underside of its rim comes
against the tilting pin c, which tilts the spent shell, and flirts the same through the
opening d, in the side of the cover or casing d.
"",
The fully pulling home of the said bolt, causes the end 2, of the plate ",
carried by it, to impinge upon the arm q², of the lever and rock or turn the
same, and force outwardly in the direction, indicated by the arrow, the slide
which makes its end thrust itself forcibly against an incline c, thus impel, drive
forward, or rotate, to a seventh of a revolution, the magazine, which by so doing,
brings a further reserve cartridge, linable with the chamber of the barrel, when the
same operation is repeated as before, for the pushing of the cartridge home, and the
discharge of the arm.
Thus, we have an automatic feed, which is operated by the fully withdrawing
back of the bolt, while a positive affixing of the magazine in its proper relative
positions, is performed by means of the spring catch e.
Figure 18 represents the magazine portion of a hand feed magazine-rifle,
constructel and arranged according to a further form of my invention. Figure 19
is a cross section through the dotted lines N, O, and Figure 20 is a like section
through P, Q.
In this arrangement the magazine is turned by a yielding arm, for the bringing
of the carrying chambers of the magazine, linable with the barrel chamber.
a is the barrel, the breech shoe, c the magazine, pivotedly mounted as aforesaid,
t is a yielding arm centred upon the axis of the magazine, and carrying a stud t²,
whose end wipes over the inclined planes or ratchet teeth e, cut within or carried
by the magazine c.
d' is a slot cut within the front side of the covering d, of the magazine; u is a
coiled spring for taking the arm back to its normal position, after each chamber
rotation of the magazine.
OPERATION.
On the chamber requiring to be rotated to bring the reserve cartridge, into a
position linable with the barrel, depress the arm t, when the end t², being against
one of the shoulders of the ratchets, gives the magazine, a one seventh of a rotation,
and on the said arm being released, the end 2, is made to wipe over the next
incline, and be taken behind the next advancing shoulder, by the action of the
spring u.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
:
First In magazine breech-loading small-arms, disposing or employing in
connection with the breech end of a small arm, or between the breech end of a
barrel, and the breech shoe of the same, a pivotedly mounted and revolving
cylinder, carrier or drum, with longitudinal and circumferentially arranged open
ended channels, grooves, or open topped chambers or recesses corresponding in
number to the cartridges intended to be carried by the magazine, and which
channels or recesses, are adapted to come consecutively linable with and in front
of, the chamber of the barrel and breech shoe, or the barrel and breech shoe
respectively on the chamber being partially rotated or turned substantially as
described and set forth in Figures 1 to 12.
Secondly-In magazine breech-loading small-arms, the combination with a

page_text: magazine, as described in the preceding claim, of a circumferentially arranged
cover, case or jacket, with a side passage for the entrance and exit of cartridges
and cartridge shells, and with side openings, for the working of the said magazine,
by hand, substantially as described and set forth in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,
and 12.
:-
...
Thirdly In magazine breech-loading small-arms the combination with a
magazine cover as described, of a combined breech bolt, and striker, with its
accessory and cognate parts, as described and set forth in Figures 1 and 2.
Fourthly: In a magazine breech-loading small-arm, the construction, com-
bination, mounting and fitting of the parts of the said arm as described and set
forth in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4.
Fifthly In magazine breech-loading small-arms, the combination with a
magazine, as referred to in Claim one, or a magazine and cover, as referred to in
Claim two of magazine automatic operating means, consisting of a ratchet annulus,
carried on one end of the said magazine, and a jointed lever, with slide and cover
plate, of which the latter element is carried by bolt, and which parts are con-
structed, arranged, operate, and co-operate, in manner and for the purpose,
substantially as described and set forth in Figures 14, 15, 16 and 17.
Sixthly In a hand operated feed breech-loading magazine small-arm, the
combination with a magazine, or a magazine and cover as described, of a yielding
arm in connection with a ratchet annulus, and spring, and which parts are
arranged, combined and operate, substantially as, and for the purpose, as described
and set forth.
Dated this 14th dox of August 1801
THOMAS WILSON.
By Henry Skerrett,
6, Livery Street, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.
D