Repeating Rine.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 16th July, 1887
Complete Left, 11th May, 1888
Complete Accepted, 13th July, 1888
Repeating Rine.
We RAPHAEL CLAUDIUS ROMANEL of No. 1 Dunning Terrace Derby Road Ponders
End in the County of Middlesex Engineer, ALBERT HENRY WILLIAMS of 13 John
Street, Bedford Row, in the same County, Gentleman, and FREDERICK MARTIN of
Ossian Road, Stroud Green in the same County, Gentleman, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The Rifle is made in appearance to represent the Martini-Henri as near as possible
and no more of the action is visible and can easily be adopted by those who have been
accustomed to that weapon so that all military drill accoutrements &c. made for the
Martini-Henri will suit this Repeater.
BODY.
The body is a kind of box 6 in. long 3 in. deep and 14 in. wide slanted off on the
top at both ends. In the fore part is a hole tapped to fit the Martini-Henri or any
other barrel which is screwed in; at the back is a in. tapped hole into which the butt
pin is screwed which goes lengthwise through the butt and fastens the butt to the.
body; a cavity or recess is made in the small of the butt close to the body which
contains the Magazine, which is circular and fluted 3 in. long with a hole in the centre
through which the butt pins goes and upon which it revolves. It has six fluted recesses
round it each one to hold a cartridge and as each cartridge leaves it makes the sixth
part of a revolution and brings another cartridge in its place.
BLOCK.
The block, so called because it blocks the cartridge in the chamber in which it is'
exploded is a limb 3½ in. long 2 in. deep and 1 in. wide and works on an axle which
goes through the body 5 in. from the front and in. from the top; it has a hole through
it lengthwise large enough to admit and retain a loaded cartridge which is pushed into
it from the magazine behind.
STRIKER.
Under cartridge bed and in the same block is situated the striker which is a piece
of steel 3 in. long with a collar on it th of an inch thick and in. in diameter.
One quarter of an inch from the front or striking point the in. of the striking end
is in. thick the remaining portion in. thick; the striking end which strikes the cap
protrudes th of an inch through the face of the block when the spring is released but
is flush with the face when compressed. A spiral spring 1 in. long and in. in
diameter fits on the thick end of the striker. The spring and striker is placed in the

page_text: one morem. m the face of the block and both are kept in
their place by a slotted sleeve screwed in from the back. The thick part of the striker
has a slot in. wide in. long and in. from the end to correspond with the slot in
the sleeve in which the arm of the tumbler works to compress the spring when acted
on by the lever.
TUMBLER AND LEVER.
At the bottom or nearly central of the body is the tumbler and lever axle hole, both
working on the same axle. The lever is 1 in. wide and fits in the body with a slot in
the centre in. wide the tumbler working in this slot on the same axle. The tumbler
has two arms at nearly right angles one working in the striker, the other with the
trigger. Half around the right eye of the lever are four teeth or cogs which gear
with and work the quadrant.
QUADRANT.
The quadrant has two radi from the axle, the large end has a radius of 13 in. the
small end a radius of in. so that when the lever is worked the small end of the
quadrant moves in an arc of in. and the large end multiplied and in proportion to
the length of radius. The large end of the quadrant is cogged in the same ratio
as the small end and works a bar termed the feeder in. wide in. thick and 3 in.
long also cogged on the bottom edge to gear in the cogs or teeth of the quadrant with
a sliding motion from front to rear of the body.
FEEDER.
The Feeder has a claw at each end 34 in. apart in. over the length of a loaded
cartridge; the claws take the cartridge by the rim and pushes it forward when the
lever is worked. When the rifle is closed and the lever at rest the feeder is thrown
back to its full extent, one claw behind the cartridge in the magazine and one behind
the cartridge in the block so when the lever is pressed down the quadrant is thrown
forward making a quarter of a revolution on its own axle and the cogs on the feeder
gearing with it, the feeder is slided along its bed to the full extent forward; the front
claw pushing the cartridge through the block into the chamber of the barrel the back
claw bringing a cartridge, from the magazine close up behind the first one; so that as
soon as the first one is placed in the block and ready for the feeder, when it is brought
back which is done by bringing the lever to its bed, at the same time closing the rifle
and exploding the cartridge so when the lever is pressed down again everything is
repeated.
EXTRACTOR.
The extractor is composed of two pieces placed on one axle at the front bottoni
end of the body. Both are exactly alike with arms extending from the axle at an
angle of about 80 degrees. On the end of the body below the chamber of the barrel
are two fulcrums, one le in. above the other for the fork end of the extractor to work
on, the other end is under the block so that when the block is brought down on to it
it prizes the cartridge out of the chamber first one side and then the other in place of
having a dead pull, thus the reason for having the extractor in halves, the fulcrums
being one above the other allows both sides to work independently although
both together.
Should the repeating action not be required a stud on the right hand side of the
body pulled back and pressed down into a slot pulls the feeder from the quadrant
and holds it back..
When the repeating is required place the forefinger under the stud and press it
"upwards out of the stop slot and the feeder will spring forward on to the quadrant.
Dated this 16th day of July 1887.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Repeating Rifle.
We, RAPHAEL CLAUDIUS ROMANEL, of No. 1 Dunning Terrace, Derby Road,
Ponder's End, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, ALBERT HENRY WILLIAMS Of
13 John Street, Bedford Row, in the same County, Gentleman, and FREDERICK
MARTIN, of Ossian Road, Stroud Green, in the same County, 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 has for object the production of a magazine repeating rifle, which
may be used or manipulated by persons familiar with the Martini-Henry type of arm
without further instruction or drill. In such a rifle the breech is closed by a pivoted
block and the entire series of operations for opening and closing the breech, extracting
and expelling the cartridge and cocking the rifle are performed by the operation of one
hand lever only.
According to this invention there are employed in combination, block action breech
loading mechanism operated by a hand lever, a cartridge magazine, and means, operated
by the said lever, for transferring cartridges one at a time from the magazine to the
chamber of the rifle. Means are provided for throwing the magazine feeding mechanism
out of gear when necessary and enabling the rifle to be used as an ordinary Martini-
Henry rifle.
In some cases the stock of the improved rifle may be constructed to hold a number
of reserve cartridges the construction and arrangement being such that these reserve
cartridges may be readily transferred when desired to the cartridge magazine proper,
but the peculiar construction of the stock as hereinafter described with chambers for
containing the cartridges and isolating them from one another and with discs or plates
forms the subject matter of another application for Letters Patent bearing date the
10th day of May 1888 and numbered 6994 and is not claimed as part of the invention
the subject matter of the present application for Letters Patent but is described
herein because its use is advantageous in carrying out the present invention.
In order that the nature of this invention may be clearly understood reference is
made to the accompanying sheets of drawings which illustrate a block action magazine
repeating rifle according to this invention and in which
Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section through the lock frame or body and
contained lock mechanism, and the small of the stock which is made to contain a
cartridge magazine; it shows the breech block and adjacent parts of the lock mechanism
in the positions they would occupy immediately after the firing of a cartridge, and also
shows in elevation adjacent parts of the rifle barrel and stock.
Figure 2 is a similar view to Figure 1 but shows the small of the stock in elevation,
and the breech-block and adjacent parts in the positions they would occupy immediately
after the extraction of an empty cartridge case.
Figure 3 shews in side elevation partly in section the lock frame or body, the small
of the stock, and adjacent parts of the barrel and stock of the rifle, an outer side plate

page_text: normally attached to the said lock frame or body and small being removed in order to
show a quadrant which is hereinafter described.
Figure 4 is a side elevation partly in section of portion of the stock of the rifle which
is constructed to serve as a reserve magazine for additional cartridges.
Figures 5, 6, and 7 are transverse sections taken in the lines A B, CD and EF
respectively of figure 1.
Figures 8 and 9 are transverse sections taken in the lines G H, and I J of figures 1
and 4 respectively.
Figures 10 to 19 aro detail views hereinafter referred to.
1. is the lock frame or body provided with a screw threaded hole 2 at its forward
end for the attachment of the barrel 3, and with another similar hole 4 at its rear end
for the attachment of the stock pin or bolt 5 that secures the stock to the body. It is
also formed with an opening 6 through which cartridges are passed from the magazine
as hereinafter described. 7 is the breech block which holds or blocks a cartridge
within the barrel whilst it is being fired; it is journalled upon a pin 7" and is provided
with a striker or exploding pin 8 operated in a forward direction, when released for
firing, by a spiral spring 9, and in a backward direction by one arm 10 of a tumbler
lever which is fitted upon a squared part of the fulcrum pin 11, the construction and
operation of this firing mechanism being substantially similar to that employed in a
Martini-Henry rifle. The breech block is however provided with a hole 12 of sufficient
size to admit a cartridge (as shown in figure 1) which is pushed into it from the
magazine in the manner hereinafter described. 13 (figure 8) is a slot extending
through the side of the block 7 to the hole 12 for a purpose hereinafter mentioned.
14 is a hand lever mounted upon the fulcrum pin 11 which is arranged to work freely
in holes 15 formed in the sides of the body 1 and is provided with an indicator 16 of
the usual form. The lover 14 which is bifurcated at 17 (fig. 10) for the reception of
the tumbler lever, is provided with arms or cheeks 18 that act during the raising
of the lever against the lower side of the breech lock at 7 and thereby raise and hold
the same in the closed or firing position, as shown in figure 1; and which during the
lowering of the lever act against the tail 7° of the block and cause the same to fall as
shown in figure 2. The depression of the hand lever also causes the part 14 thereof to
act against and raise the tumbler lever arm 10", thereby causing the striker S to be drawn
within the block the said arm being caught and supported in the cocked attitude by the
sear 19. A safety device or stop may be provided as well understood, which may when
necessary be moved into a position to retain the sear in the position equivalent to half cock
and prevent the rifle being accidentally fired. The sear 19 which is formed with side
flanges 20 is pivoted at 21 to a plate 22 secured to the body 1 by a fulcrum pin 23 and
by side screws 23 ono of which is shewn in figure 3. The sear is pressed rearward by the
sear spring 24 and serves at certain times to retain the notched or toothed arm 10 of
the tumbler lever in the cocked position. 25 is the trigger; it is pivoted at 26 and
has jointed thereto a rod 27. 28 is a rod carried by the hand lever 14. This rod is
so arranged that when the hand lever is raised into the position shown in figure 1,
the forward end of the rod 27 which is wedge shaped will act against its rear end
which is correspondingly formed and force it forward against one of the side cheeks 20
of the sear 19 thereby releasing the tumbler lever and allowing the striker to explode
the cartridge previously inserted in the barrel chamber.
29 is a cartridge extractor journalled upon the pin 23 and bifurcated at cach-end
(fig. 10); it is preferably formed in two independent parts, operated one slightly
in advance of the other by the under surface of the breech block as indicated in figure 2.
By this means the rim of the cartridge case is first acted upon at one side and then on
the other before it is finally extracted and thrown backward over the grooved upper
surface of the breech block 7 in a similar manner to that which obtains with a Martini-
Henry rifle. 30 is a spring catch adapted to hold the hand lever 14 in the position
shown in Figure 1, but to yield and allow the said lever to be readily depressed when
necessary.
31 (figures 1, 11 and 12) is a five chambered cartridge magazine mounted to revolve
on the stock bolt 5. This magazine is arranged within a cylindrical casing 32

page_text: (Figures 1, 13 and 14) in the small of the stock. 33 is an opening formed through
the top of the small of the stock and the top of the cylindrical casing 32 (Figure 7).
It permits of the insertion of cartridges for charging the magazine 31 which for this
purpose is intermittently rotated by hand in order that each of its chambers may bo
successively brought beneath the opening to receive a cartridge. The opening 33 is
closed by a spring cover 34. 35 is a toothed wheel secured to the front end of the
cartridge magazine (Figures 1, 11 and 12) its teeth corresponding in number with
that of the chambers in the magazine. It is intermittently rotated in one direction and
brings each cartridge in succession into line with the opening 6 in the body 1. This
action is effected by means of a pin 36 secured to one end of a rod 37 the other end of
which is jointed to one arm 38 of a lever pivoted at 39. The other arm 40 of this
lever extends below the small of the stock and into the path of the hand lever 14, the
arrangement being such that when this lever is raised it acts against the lever arm 40
and causes the pin 36 which at this time rests against one of the teeth of the wheel 35,
to rise and rotate the magazine 31 through one-fifth of a revolution and bring a fresh
cartridge into the top position. 41 is a bent spring fixed at one end to a plate 41"
(Figures 16 and 17) secured within a recess in the underside of the small of the stock ;
its other end 41" acts upon the upper surface of the lever arm 40 so as to depress this
arm when the hand lever is depressed and thereby cause the other lever arm 38 to
move the pin 36 sufficiently far to the left (figure 5) to cause it, under the action of a
spring 42, to engage with a fresh tooth of the wheel 35. Thus it will be understood
that each time the land lever 14 is raised, it acts upon the lever 38-40 and rotates
the cartridge magazine 31 sufficiently to bring the next chamber into line with the
opening 6. 43 is a thumb piece adapted to be moved in a slot formed in the plate 11
until it comes below the end 41" of the spring 41. In this position it prevents the
spring acting against the lever arm 40 and in this way puts the mechanism for rotating
the cartridge magazine out of action.
It is advisable to arrange a
light spring to bear against the side or face of the
magazine, and to form on the latter, flats or indentations so that it may always stop
with one of its compartments accurately in line with the chamber 12.
44 (Figures 3, 18 & 19) is a feeder adapted to simultaneously transfer one cartridge
from the chamber 12 of the breech block 7 to the barrel chamber and to transfer
another cartridge from the magazine to the said chamber 12. It is formed of three
plates linked together as shown in Figures 18 & 19 to permit of its being bent in the
direction of its length in order that it may accommodate itself to the grooved ways 45
and 46 within which it works, and which are secured to the lock frame or body and
the small of the stock respectively, at an angle to each other. The two forward plates
are provided with pins 47 that project outward, the foremost plate being further provided
with a pivoted claw or projection 48 that extends through the slot 13 in the breech
block.
Against the short arm 48ª of the claw or projection bears a spring 49. The construc-
tion of the claw or projection is such that, (as shown) it can turn in a forward direction
against the action of the spring 49 but is prevented from turning in the opposite
direction when it is moving forward to force the cartridge into the barrel chamber
in consequence of its short arm coming into contact with the forward plate of the feeder.
This method of arranging the claw or projection permits of it being moved into the
position shewn in dotted lines in Figure 18 by a pin 48 in which position it will be
held by the side of the breech block, when this block is so raised that the slot 13 therein
does not coincide with the grooved way 45. During the return movement of
the feeder 44 the claw 48 will travel against the side of the breech block
until it has moved to the rear thereof when it will be forced by the spring 49 into the
position shown in full lines in figure 18 in which position it will be capable of
transferring another cartridge from the chamber 12 to the rifle chamber on the next
forward movement of the feeder. 50 is a block adapted to slide within a slot in the
rear plate of the feeder 44 against the action of a spring 51 encircling a pin 52 upon
which the block is mounted. This block 50 is provided with a pin 53 that projects
outward and with a claw or projecting arm 54. The end of this claw is adapted to

page_text: pass through the upper opening in the top of the magazine case 32 as indicated in
Figure 7 and take behind the rim of the cartridge located within that chamber of
the magazine 31 which for the time being occupies the uppermost position. When
the feeder again moves forward, the arm 54 will transfer the cartridge from the top
chamber of the magazine through the opening 6 to the chamber 12 within the breech
block. 55 is a quadrant for operating the feeder; it is pivoted at 56 to one side of
the body 1 and is formed near its circumference with three notches or slots 57
adapted to engage successively with the pin 53 and the pins 47 and move the
feeder 44 backward and forward. The quadrant is formed with a slot 58 into which
enters a pin 59 which is secured to one of the arms or checks 18 of the hand lever 14
and works in a curved slot formed in the adjacent side of the body 1.
The arrange
ment is such that when the hand lever 14 is depressed the pin 59 causes the quadrant
and feeder to move to the left as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 3, whilst when
the hand lever is raised a forward motion is given to these parts. This motion is very
rapid when the breech block chamber 12 is in line with the rifle barrel in order that
the cartridge may be transferred from one to the other without danger of its being
damaged. Those edges of the horns or flanges 18 that act against the part 7 of the
breech block are so formed that after they have raised the block into the position
in which its chamber 12 is in line with the chamber of the barrel 3, the block is
temporarily maintained in such position during the forward motion of the feeder, to
transfer a cartridge from the chamber to the barrel notwithstanding that the hand
lever continues to rise. This "dwell" of the block is obtained by forming a part of
its under surface concentric to the fulcrum pin 11 and so arranging this part that
after the horns or flanges 18 of the hand lever have raised the block so that its
chamber 12 is in line with the rifle chamber they move in contact with the concentric
part of the block and hold it stationary for a short time, after which they act against
the part 7 and completely raise the block into the position shown in figure 1. The
quadrant may be operated by toothed gearing as proposed in the provisional specification
of this invention, but it is preferred to operate it in the manner hereinbefore described
and shown in the drawings. In order that the quadrant may be put out of action to
stop the feeder it is preferably formed with a slot 60 through which its pivot pin
passes, and with a projection 61 against which a screw threaded bolt 62 carried by a
lug 55* on the body 1 can be caused to act to raise the quadrant. The quadrant is
also formed with a lateral slot 63 that communicates with the other slot 58, and has
pivoted to it a spring catch 64 which acts against the pivot pin 56 and normally keeps
this pin at the upper end of the slot 60. 64 is a stud against which the spring
catch 64 bears. With this arrangement when the quadrant is raised by the bolt 62
the pin 59 will be in such a position, as shown in dotted lines, that it will leave the
slot 8 when the hand lever is depressed after being fully lowered and will travel in
the slot 63 without imparting motion to the quadrant. 65 is an outer plate secured
to one side of the body and small of the stock and serving to protect the quadrant and
feeder from damage and dirt. When the feeder is thus put out of action, cartridges
may be supplied to the barrel chamber by hand in the manner ordinarily adopted
with Martini rifles.
By constructing magazine repeating rifles in the manner hereinbefore described
and shown the operations for feeding a cartridge to the chamber of the rifle, opening
and closing the breech releasing and expelling the empty cartridge case and cocking
the rifle are all performed by operating the hand-lever 14 only, thereby enabling such
rifles to be readily manipulated by those who are familiar with the use of a Martini
rifle without the necessity of being specially instructed or drilled.
In order to provide a number of reserve cartridges for use in an emergency the
stock of the rifle is formed (according to the invention the subject matter of application
for Patent No. 6994 of 1888) with four tubes (figures 4 and 9) extending its full.
length. Each of these tubes is divided into three chambers 66 by plates 67 which
are mounted to rotate upon the stock bolt 5. Twelve chambers are thus provided
each of a length and diameter adapted to receive a cartridge. Each of the plates 67
is formed with a notch 68 of sufficient size to admit of the passage therethrough of a

page_text: cartridge. The said plates extend into cavities 69 formed in the side of the stock,
in order that they may be rotated by hand. Each plate also carries four springs 70
which act against the rear ends of the cartridges and keep them closely in contact
with the plate 67 in front, thereby preventing them from being shaken about and
becoming damaged. Each cavity 69 is closed by a spring cover 71:
The rear chambers 66 are charged with cartridges from the rear through the butt
plate, by rotating the end plate 67 so as to bring the notch 68 thereof successively
into line with each chamber and inserting a cartridge into each, the plate being
finally left so that its notched part is opposite a solid part of the stock. By rotating
the next forward plate 67 and tilting the muzzle of the rifle downward the cartridges
may be transferred in succession to the next set of chambers and (by manipulating the
next plate 67) from these to the front set of chambers from which they may be
similarly transferred to the chambers or flutes in the cartridge magazine 31 by turning
the front plate 67. This front plate is in contact with a plate 72 formed with four
apertures for the passage of the cartridges to the magazine and with a solid part
opposite which the notched part of the front plate 67 normally rests. The inter-
mediate and rear sets of chambers 66 may be charged with cartridges in the manner
described and by providing the rims of the plates 67 with the numerals 1, 2, 3, 4, the
operator of the gun may readily determine the number of cartridges he has in reserve
within the stock.
By forming each of the notched plates or partitions 67 with a slot extending from
the notch 68 to the hole through which the stock bolt 5 passes, the width of the
slot being sufficient for the passage of the said bolt, and employing a spring that is
secured to the plate or partition and arranged to bear upon the stock bolt as
indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 9", either or all of the plates may be withdrawn
from its or their chamber or chambers and from the stock bolt and thereby permit
of the simultaneous removal or passage of the cartridges from one set of chambers
to another or to the cartridge magazine 31.
A magazine repeating rifle constructed in the manner hereinbefore described and
shown in the drawings is adapted to carry eighteen (18) rounds of ammunition,
viz, one in the barrel, five in the magazine 31, and twelve in the stock. Such rifles
may be used by cavalry artillery and infantry and for sporting purposes and may be
fired in any position.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed it is declared that what
is claimed is:-
1. In a repeating rifle the combination of a breech block substantially such as
described, a lever for operating the same, a cartridge magazine and a feeder for
transferring cartridges from the said magazine to the chamber of the barrel.
2. In a repeating rifle the improved construction of breech block with chamber or
passage through which cartridges can be caused to pass to the breech chamber of the
barrel substantially as described.
3. In a repeating rifle the combination and arrangement of a cartridge magazine,
block action mechanism, feeder, and hand lever, arranged in such a manner that the
entire series of operations for opening the breech, releasing and expelling a cartridge,
cocking the gun, transferring a cartridge from the magazine to the chamber of the
barrel, and closing the breech are performed by the hand of the operator on the said
lever.
4. In a repeating rifle the combination with a breech block of the kind described
having a chamber or passage within it to receive a cartridge, of a revolving cartridge
magazine, which (unless put out of action) is automatically partially rotated each time
the breech is closed, and a feeder which transfers the cartridges one at a time from
the magazine to the chamber in the breech block, substantially as described.
5. In a repeating rifle having a breech block of the kind described, operated by a
hand lever, a feeder which acts simultaneously upon two cartridges transferring one
from a chamber in the breech block into the chamber of the barrel, and transferring a

page_text: second from the magazine into the chamber of the breech block just vacated, sub-
stantially as described.
6. In a repeating rifle, the combination of a breech block substantially of the kind
described, formed with a chamber or passage extending therethrough adapted to
receive a cartridge, a striker or firing mechanism, a tumbler lever, a sear, a cartridge
extractor, a trigger adapted to operate the said sear and release the striker or firing
mechanism, a revolving cartridge magazine, a feeder for transferring cartridges from
the said magazine through the breech block to the chamber of the barrel, a quadrant
for actuating the said feeder, and a hand lever adapted to operate the said block,
cartridge extractor, cartridge magazine and quadrant substantially as hereinbefore
described for the purposes set forth.
7. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the improved magazine
repeating rifle (excluding the peculiar construction of the stock as aforesaid) con-
structed arranged and operating substantially as herein before described and shewn in
the drawings annexed.