IMPROVEMENTS IN MAGAZINE OR REPEATING FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Harris Lake, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake
"
& Co Patent Agents Southampton Buildings London for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MAGAZINE OR REPEATING FIRE-ARMS communicated to
him from abroad by The Spencer Arms Company (Incorporated) of the City
and State of New York United States of America
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Harris Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd July 1883.
"
HENRY HARRIS LAKE of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London "IMPROVEMENTS IN MAGAZINE OR REPEATING
FIRE-ARMS [A communication to him from abroad by The Spencer Arms
Company (Incorporated) of the City and State of New York United States of
America]
This improvement relates to the class of magazine guns in which the motion to
actuate the re-loading apparatus is derived froin a forked slide reciprocating in a
line parallel with the axial line of the barrel, which slide is operated by one hand,
while the other hand grasps the stock and holds it against the shoulder of the
person using the gun.
In former magazine guns, of this character, the breech-block rocked upon a
horizontal axis and a reciprocating slide was employed to rock the breech-block in
one direction and a spring to rock the breech-block in the opposite direction.
One feature of the improvement in the present case consists in employing a
breech-block rocking upon a vertical axis in a plane across the top of the receiver,
and in line with the barrel, and another feature consists in effecting the movements
of the breech-block in both directions by positive means.
In the loading operation, the first part of the backward excursion of the
reciprocating slide rocks the breech-block laterally outward, and the next part
extracts the empty shell from the chamber, and throws it out of the receiver and
by releasing a check permits a fresh cartridge to be thrust upward by the ejecting
spring of the cartridge box, the mouth of which is inserted in a slot in the bottom

page_text: of the receiver and in which box the cartridges are superposed sidewise; the last
portion of the backward movement of the slide sets the hammer at full cock.
The first portion of the forward excursion of the slide carries the uppermost
cartridge into the chamber and actuates the check for the holding back the other
cartridges in the box, and the latter portion of this excursion rocks the breech-block
into the position which it occupies when the gun is ready for firing.
The cartridge box is of the trapezoidal form heretofore employed for containing
cartridges superposed sidewise. It is detachable and is held in position in the
usual manner by a spring latch, the thumb piece of which projects into the space
within the trigger guard, in front of the trigger, so that in the act of detaching
the cartridge box the latter is grasped by the hand while the thumb presses upon
the latch thus releasing the latch and permitting the box to be detached, so that a
box containing a fresh supply of cartridges may be inserted in place.
Another feature of the improvement consists in arranging the spring latch
which catches and holds the slide at the conclusion of its forward excursion, upon
the right hand side of the hand piece in such a position that it can he pressed
inward by the fingers of the hand grasping the hand piece of the slide whenever
it is desired to perform the reloading operation. This inward pressure has the
effect to disengage the latch, and thus permit the slide to be pulled backward.
The breech-block has a firing pin inserted through it in the usual manner.
Another new feature consists in providing the forward end of the breech-block
with a hinged plate which, when the, breech block is in firing position, is forced
up against the base of the cartridge in the chamber by means of an excentric bar
seated transversely across the end of the breech-block, behind the hinged plate.
The rocking of this eccentric bar is done by means of a bifurcated crank lever, the
rocking back and forth of which is effected by an ear affixed to one of the arms of
the forked slide and projecting upward therefrom, and engaging a cam groove in
the under side of the breech-block. The rearward portion of this cam groove is
straight, and, when the breech-block is thrown out, occupies a position parallel
with the axial line of the barrel. This straight portion of the groove is sub-
stantially parallel with the inner side of the breech-block, but is inclined with
relation to the outer side.. The remaining portion of the cam groove curves
outward toward the outer side of the breech-block, and therefore as the slide is
pushed forward, the ear attached to the arm of the slide, by entering the curved
portion of the cam groove, rocks the breech-block inward, thus bringing the hinged
plate opposite to, and against, the base of the cartridge lying in the chamber.
The hinged plate is perforated to admit the end of the firing pin, which is by
the rocking inward of the breech-block brought into position to strike against the
centre of the cartridge in the chamber.
The car for operating the breech-block is located upon the upper edge and near
the rear end of the left hand arm of the forked slide.
Another function performed by the same arm of the slide is the operation of the
bell crank lever, which assists in starting the cartridge backward from the
chamber.
The short arm of this bell crank lever lies in a slot cut in the front wall of the
receiver, and forms a portion of the seat against which the inner side of the flange
of the cartridge in the chamber bears. The horizontal arm of the bell crank lever
is provided with an ear at its end, which projects upward a sufficient distance to
be struck by a pin projecting laterally from the inner side of the left hand arm of
the forked slide, as soon as the latter has moved back sufficiently far to throw the
breech-block out. The collision of this pin with the long arm of the bell crank lever
starts the cartridge out of the chamber, and at the same time an extractor, carried
by the right hand arm of the forked slide strikes against the under side of the flange
upon the opposite side of the shell, and co-operates in the operation of starting the
shell from the chamber, and thereafter carries back the shell until by the striking of
the outer side of the base of the shell against the shoulder formed upon the inner
side of the breech-block; near its rear end, the shell is tilted and thrown laterally

page_text: The
outward through an opening in the right hand side wall of the receiver.
extractor is pivotted at its forward end to the right hand arm of the forked slide.
At its rear end it is transversely notched.
As the slide moves backward the rear end of the extractor is at the proper time
rocked inward by the collision of its curved outer side with the end of a strong
spring affixed to a plate which covers the right hand side wall of the receiver.
The rocking in of the extractor brings the bottom of the notch opposite the
flange of the cartridge lying in the chamber. As soon as the empty shell has
been thrown out of the receiver, the magazine spring throws the uppermost
cartridge in the magazine upward, carrying its forward end against the top of the
receiver and carrying its rear end up sufficiently far to enable the rear shoulder of
the notched extractor to catch against its base, so that in the forward movement
of the forked slide the uppermost cartridge will be pushed forward into the chamber
of the gun.
2
In carrying the said invention into practice I provide a receiver which is closed
at the top, but is slotted at the bottom, to admit the mouth of a trapezoidal box,
for containing a supply of cartridges superposed sidewise. The upper portion of
the left hand side wall, of the receiver is slotted to allow space for the breech-
block, and the right hand side wall of the receiver is correspondingly slotted to
allow the empty shell to be thrown out of the receiver in the act of re-loading; and
also to allow access to the chamber for the purpose of permitting the insertion of
a cartridge into the chamber by hand if desired.
The stock, in the rear of the receiver, is suitably recessed to receive the usual'
lock mechanism, the hammer arm, of which is provided with an extension
which projects into the space within the trigger guard in front of the trigger,
for the purpose of enabling the hammer to be cocked by hand,
The cartridge box, is held in position by a spring latch, the thumb piece, of
which projects into the forward portion of the space within the trigger guard, in
front of the hammer arm.
The cartridges are held in the box by the usual stationary lips, bearing upon
the base of the uppermost cartridge and by a movable check, the inwardly turned
lip, of which is adapted to bear upon the shank of the uppermost cartridge.
The check is a tilting plate seated in a recess formed in the inner side of the
right hand wall of the receiver. Its upper edge bends inward forming a lip. Its
outer side is provided with an outwardly projecting ear, which projects into the
path of the right hand arm of a forked slide.
By the contact of the ear, with the inner side of the arin, the check is tilted
inward carrying the lip, partially across the mouth of the the cartridge box,
This contact continues and the resulting position of the check is maintained until
the arm, has so far progressed in its backward excursion as to have partially
withdrawn the empty shell from the chamber at which time a groove, formed'
longitudinally in the inner side of the arm, is brought opposite the ear, thus
discontinuing the bearing upon the ear and thereby releasing the check. By the
further backward movement of the arm, the empty shell is withdrawn from the
chamber and discharged from the receiver. The forward ends of the cartridges in
the magazine are then tilted upward by the action of the ejecting spring in the
bottom of the cartridge box or magazine. In rising the pressure of the shank of
the uppermost cartridge upon the edge of the lip, rocks tlie released check outward,
and the ear continues to project into the groove during the latter part of the
backward excursion of the arın, and during so much of its forward excursion as.
ensues before the base of the cartridge which is being inserted in the chamber.
has been pushed forward beyond the shank of the cartridge lying next underneath.
By the collision of the ear with the rear end wall of the groove the check is
rocked inward and is thereby made to hold the forward end of the next cartridge
down out of the way of the breech-block, so that the breech-block may be swung
inward to its firing position.
It will be understood that without departing from this part of the invention,

page_text: various means may be employed for automatically governing the operation of the
check, the essential characteristics of which operation are that the Check shall be
free to move outward soon after the commencement of the operation of extracting
the empty shell from the chamber, so that the magazine spring can throw up the
forward end of the uppermost cartridge, and that just before the conclusion of the
operation of inserting the fresh cartridge into the chamber, the check shall move
inward in order to hold the next cartridge down out of the path of the breech-
block.
In case it should be desired to prevent the feeding of cartridges from the
magazine there is provided a crank lever, the axis or hub of which projects
through a hole formed in the right hand side wall of the receiver, and bears upon
the edge of the check.
The outer side of the right hand wall of, the receiver is recessed to allow space
for the swing of the crank lever, and the crank lever is held in its seat by a
removable plate screwed upon the right hand side wall of the receiver.
The inner end of the hub of the crank lever is formed into a spiral cam, the
projecting portion of which, when the crank lever is turned forward, bears upon
the edge of the check and forces it inward. thus stopping the ejection of cartridges
from the magazine, while by turning the crank lever backward, the projecting
portion of the end of the hub is removed from the edge of the check and the latter
is thus left free to be acted upon alternately by the arm and the cartridges
successively ejected from the magazine as has been described.
The front wall of the receiver is vertically slotted from the mouth of the chamber
downward to receive the short arm of a bell crank lever. The upper end of the
short arm of this lever is made to form a portion of the seat against which bears
a portion of the inner edge of the flange of the cartridge inserted into the
chamber.
The horizontal arm of the bell crank lever is provided at its rear end with an
upwardly projecting ear for engagement by the instrumentality which, at the
proper time, rocks the horizontal arm downward and thus rocks the vertical arm
backward and assists in starting the cartridge shell from the chamber.
The operation of starting the shell out of the chamber is participated in by the
extractor which is pivoted to the right hand arm of the forked slide, the left hand
arm of which is provided near its inner end with an inwardly projecting pin. The
pin is the instrumentality for operating the bell crank lever in the manner and for
the purpose which has been described.
The right hand arm of the forked slide is slotted to receive the extractor.
The forward end of the shank of the extractor is secured to the arm by a vertical
pivot; the rear end of the shank of the extractor bends upward, and joins the
inwardly projecting horizontal plate, the inner face of which is provided with two
Jaws, the space between these jaws being the notch for receiving the flange of the
cartridge. The forward jaw is the extracting jaw, and to enable it to perform its
function the extractor is at the proper time so rocked inward that the jaws are
carried astride the flange of the shell lying in the chamber.
The rocking inward of the extractor is effected by the collision of the rounded
rear end of a plate with the forward end of a stiff flat spring which is screwed fast
to the outer side of a removable plate.
f
By the
The shell having been started from the chamber by the combined action of the
extractor and the bell crank lever is carried backward as the forked slide continues
its backward excursion until the flange of the shell strikes against a shoulder
formed near the rear end of the inner side wall of the breech block.
further backward movement of the extractor after this collision has taken place,
the shell is tilted sideways and thrown laterally out of the receiver. As soon as
the shell has been thus thrown out of the receiver the uppermost cartridge contained
in the magazine is thrown upward by the magazine spring so that its flange enters
the notch between the jaws and therefore when the forked slide is moved forward

page_text: the jaw carries forward the cartridge thus thrown upward from the magazine, and
pushes it into the chamber.
By the last part of the backward movement of the forked slide the pin is
carried against and pushes back the hammer arm, and thus sets the hammer at.full
cock.
The swinging of the breech-block is effected by the action of an ear, projecting
upward from the left hand arm, of the forked slide near its rear end.
The ear, engages a cam groove, formed in the underside of the breech-block.
The forward portion of this cam groove curves in ward from a point near the outer
side of the breech-block to a point near the inner side and then continues back-
ward in a straight line parallel with the inner side of the breech-block. This slot
is so shaped and located that when the ear, occupies its forward position the breech-
block is rocked inward so that the plate on its forward end bears against the base
of the cartridge in the chamber, and the firing pin is brought in line with the
centre thereof.
The plate, on the forward end of the breech-block swings upon a vertical axis.
When the forked slide is pulled back, the plate is free to bear upon its seat on the
end of the breech-block, but in the last portion of the motion of the ear, the plate,
is rocked outward by the turning of the cam, seated transversely in the end of the
breech-block beneath the plate.
This cam is rocked by means of a bifurcated. crank lever, one end of which is
secured to the end of the cam shaft.
The underside of the breech-block is recessed to allow space for the sway of the
crank-lever, and when the crank-lever is thrown forward both of its jaws, project
slightly across the cam groove.
By the first portion of the backward movement of the forked slide the rear end
of the ear, is brought into collision with the rear jaw, of the crank lever, and thus
rocks the crank lever backward until, by the action upon the cam shaft, of a flat
spring, secured to the inner side of the breech-block the bifurcated crank-lever is
swung so far back that the jaw, is carried clear of the cam groove.
In this position, however, the jaw of the bifurcated crank lever continues to
extend over the cam groove so that in the forward movement of the forked slide it
is in position to be engaged and carried forward by the ear.
.
The usual firing pin, is inserted longitudinally through the breech-block, and
the plate, is centrally perforated to admit the forward end, of the firing pin.
The axis upon which the breech-block swings is afforded by a vertical screw,
which is inserted through a hole in the top of the receiver and screwed into the
hub, of the breech-block.
The rear wall of the receiver is recessed to form a bearing for the hub of the
breech-block which is concentric with its axis.
In order to hold the forked slide stationary at the conclusion of its forward
excursion a hand piece, of the slide is longitudinally slotted near the top upon one
of its sides to admit the pivotted spring latch the rear end of which is adapted to
spring inward against the shoulder, formed in the bottom of the seat in which the
arm of the slide moves.
'
In this improvement the latch is arranged upon the right hand side of the hand'
piece, of the forked slide, in such position that it can be pressed inward by the
fingers, of the left hand which is the hand usually employed for grasping the hand
piece. Heretofore the latch has been arranged upon the opposite side of the hand
piece, and was intended to operated by the thumb of the left hand.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Henry Harris Lake in the Patent Office on the 23rd January
1884.
HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, "IMPROVEMENTS IN MAGAZINE OR REPEATING
FIRE-ARMS "A communication to me from abroad by the Spencer Arms Company
(Incorporated), of the City and State of New York, United States of America.
This invention relates to that class of magazine or repeating fire-arms in which
the reloading apparatus is actuated by means of a forked slide reciprocating in a
line parallel with the axis of the barrel, which slide is designed to be operated by
one hand of the person using the fire arm, while his other hand grasps the stock
and holds it against his shoulder.
'In magazine guns of this character as heretofore constructed, the breech-block
rocks upon a horizontal axis there being a reciprocating slide employed to move
the said breech-block in one direction and a spring to move it in the opposite
direction.
One feature of the present invention consists in employing a breech-block
fitted to turn or move to and fro upon a vertical axis or pivot in a plane- across
the top of the receiver and in line with the barrel, and another feature of the said
invention consists in effecting the movements of the breech-block in both directions
by positive means, all as hereinafter described.
In my improved fire-arm the first part of the backward movement of the
reciprocating slide moves the breech-block laterally outward'; the next part of such
movement extracts the empty shell from the chamber of the barrel and throws it
out of the receiver,, and, by releasing, a check, permits a fresh cartridge to be
thrust upward by the ejecting spring of the cartridge-box, in which box the
cartridges are superposed and the upper part of which is inserted in a slot in the
bottom of the receiver; the last part of the backward movement of the slide sets
the hammer at full cock..
The first part of the forward movement of the slide carries the uppermost
cartridge into the chamber and actuates the check for holding back the other
cartridges in the box, and the latter part of this movement brings the breech-block
into the position which it occupies when the gun is ready for firing.
The cartridge-box is of the trapezoidal form heretofore employed for containing
cartridges placed one above another. This box is detachable and is held in position
in the usual manner by a spring latch, 'the thumb-piece of which projects into the
space within the trigger-guard, in front of the trigger, so that, in the act of
detaching the cartridge-box, the latter is grasped by the hand while the thumb
presses upon the latch, thus releasing the latch and permitting the box to be
detached. Another box containing a fresh supply of cartridges may then be
inserted in the receiver.
Another feature of the said invention consists in arranging a spring-latch,
which catches and holds the slide at the conclusion of its forward movement,
upon the right hand side of the hand-piece in such a position that it can be pressed
inward by the fingers of the hand grasping the hand-piece of the slide, whenever
it is desired to perform the reloading operation. This inward pressure has the
effect of disengaging the said latch, and thus permitting the slide to be pulled
back.
The breech-block has a firing pin extending through it. in. the proper direction
to transmit the impact of the cock or hammer to the cartridge in the barrel-
chamber.

page_text: Another novel feature of the said invention consists in providing the forward end
of the breech-block with a hinged plate, which, when the said breech-block is in
the firing position, is forced up against the base of the cartridge in the barrel
chamber by means of an excentric or cam arranged transversely across the end of
the breech-block, behind the hinged plate. The oscillation of this excentric or cam
is effected by means of a bifurcated crank lever, the movement of which is caused
by an ear or piece fixed to one of the arms of the. forked slide and projecting upward
therefrom, and engaging in a cam-groove in the under side of the breech-block.
The rearward portion of this cam-groove is straight and, when the breech-block
is moved outward, occupies a position parallel with the axis of the barrel. This
straight portion of the groove is substantially parallel with the inner side of the
breech-block, but is inclined with relation to the outer side thereof. The remaining
portion of the cam-groove is curved towards the outer side of the breech-block, and,
therefore, as the slide is pushed forward, the ear attached to the arm of the slide,
by entering the curved portion of the cam-groove, moves the breech-block inward,
thus bringing the hinged plate opposite to, and against, the base of the cartridge
lying in the barrel-chamber.
The said hinged plate is perforated to permit the passage of the end of the firing
pin, which, by the inward movement of the breech-block, is brought into the proper
position to strike the centre of the cartridge in the barrel-chamber.
The ear for operating the breech-block is located upon the upper edge and near
the rear end of the left hand arm of the forked slide.
Another function performed by this arm of the slide is the operation of a bell-
crank-lever, which assists in starting the cartridges or cartridge shells from the
barrel-chamber. The short arm of this lever lies in a slot formed in the front wall
or side of the receiver, and forms a portion of the seat against which the inner
side of the flange of the cartridge in the chamber bears. The horizontal arm of
the said bell-crank-lever is provided with an ear at its end, which projects upward
a sufficient distance to be struck by a pin projecting laterally from the inner side
of the left hand arm of the-forked slide, as soon as the latter has moved back
sufficiently to turn the breech-block outward. The striking of the long arm of the
bell-crank-lever by this pin tends to start the cartridge or cartridge shell out of the
barrel-chamber, and at the same time an extractor carried by the right hand arm
of the forked slide engages with the opposite side of the flange of the shell, and
co-operates in the starting of the said shell from the chamber, and thereafter carries
back the shell until, by the striking of the outer side of the base of the shell
against the shoulder formed upon the inner side of the breech-block, near its rear
end, the shell is tilted and thrown out laterally through an opening in the right
hand side of the receiver. The said extractor is pivotted at its forward end to the
right hand arm of the forked slide. At its rear end it is transversely notched.
As the slide moves back ward, the rear end of the extractor is, at the proper
time, moved inward by the contact of its curved outer side with the end of a
strong spring fixed to a plate which covers the right hand side of the receiver.
The inward movement of the extractor brings the bottom of its notch opposite
the flange of the cartridge lying in the barrel-chamber. As soon as the empty
shell has been thrown out of the receiver, the magazine spring pushes the cartridges
in the magazine upward, carrying the forward end of the uppermost cartridge
against the top of the receiver and raising its rear end sufficiently to enable the
rear shoulder of the notched extractor to engage with its base or flange so that in
the forward movement of the forked slide the uppermost cartridge will be pushed.
forward into the chamber of the barrel.
The said invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which
Figure 1 is an elevation of the right hand side of the receiver and adjoining.
portions of the stock and barrel.
Figure 2 is a section on the line S, S, Figure 1, shewing the latch for holding the
reciprocating slide forward.
Figure 3 is a left hand side elevation, drawn to an enlarged scale,, partly in

page_text: section, shewing the latch for holding the magazine in place, and also: shewing the
bell crank-lever for starting the cartridge sliells from the chamber of the barrel.
Figure 4 is a transverse section of the receiver, and magazine on the line T; T,
Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a section on the line U, U, Figure 3, looking at the under side of the
breech-block; which is shewn in the position it occupies when swung or turned
outward.
Figure 6 is a similar view shewing the breech-block in the position it occupies
when the arm is ready for firing.
Figure 7 is a plan, partly in horizontal section, of the forward end of the breech-
block, shewing a hinged plate hereinafter described.
Figure 8 is a similar view shewing the hinged plate moved outward from its
seat by the turning of the cam-shaft upon which it bears.
.
1
Figure 9 is a front end view of the breech-block.
Figure 10 is a transverse vertical section on the line U, U',.Figure 3.
Figure 11 is a transverse vertical section on the line T, T, Figure 3, shewing the
breech-block swung outward.
Figure 12 is a central horizontal section of the barrel-chamber and the adjoining
portion of the receiver.
Figures 13 and 14 are horizontal sections of the right hand side of the receiver,
partly on the line V, V, Figure 1, but shewing some of the parts in different
positions.
.
Figure 15 is a side view of a part of the mechanism.
· Figure 16 is an elevation of the inner side of the rear portion of the left hand
arm of the actuating slide, and
Figure 17 is a plan or top view thereof
"
Figure 18 is an elevation of the inside of the rear portion, of the right hand arm
of the actuating slide, and
Figure 19 is a plan or top view thereof.
Figures 3 to 19 inclusive are drawn to an enlarged scale.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
A represents the receiver, B the barrel, and C the stock of the gun. The receiver
is closed at the top a but is slotted at the bottom a¹ to admit the upper end of the
trapezoidal box D for containing a supply of cartridges. The upper portion of the
left hand side a² of the receiver is slotted to permit the movement of the breech-
block E; and the right hand side a³ of the receiver is correspondingly slotted to
allow the empty cartridge cases or shells extracted from the barrel to be thrown
out of the receiver. in the act of reloading, and also to permit access to the
chamber b of the barrel for the purpose of inserting a cartridge therein by hand
if desired.
The stock, at the rear of the receiver, is suitably recessed to receive the usual
lock mechanism, the hammer arm F of which is provided with an extension Fl
projecting into the space within the trigger-guard, in front of the trigger, for the
purpose of enabling the hammer to be cocked by hand.
The cartridge box D is held in position by a spring-latch d, the thumb-piece d
of which projects into the forward portion of the space within the trigger-guard, in
front of the said extension F¹.
The cartridges are held in the box D by the usual stationary lips D¹ bearing
upon the base or flange of the uppermost cartridge, and by the movable check G,
the inwardly turned lip G¹of which is adapted to bear upon the shank or body of
.the uppermost cartridge. The check G consists of a pivotted plate situated in a
recess formed in the inner side of the right hand wall of the receiver. Its upper
èdge is bent inward to form the lip G¹. Its outer side is provided with an ear G²
which projects into the path of the right hand arm K' of the forked slide. By the
contact of the ear G2 with the inner side of the arm K', the check G is moved
inward so that the lip G¹ extends partially across. the mouth of the cartridge-box.
This.contact continues and the resulting position of the check is maintained -until

page_text: the arm K¹ has so far progressed in its backward movement as to have partially
withdrawn the empty shell from the chamber b. By this time a groove G formed
longitudinally in the inner side of the arm K' is brought opposite the ear G², which
enters the said groove when the check G is moved outward by the upward movement
of the cartridges in the magazine.
By the further backward movement of the arm K¹, the empty shell is withdrawn
from the chamber b and discharged from the receiver in the manner hereinafter
specified. The forward ends of the cartridges in the magazine are then raised by
the action of the ejecting spring D2 in the bottom of the cartridge-box or magazine.
In rising, the pressure of the shank or body of the uppermost cartridge upon the
edge of the lip G' moves the released check G outward, and the ear G² continues
to project into the groove G* during the latter part of the backward movement of
the arm K' and during so much of its forward movement as ensues before the base
or flange of the cartridge, which is being inserted in the chamber b, has been pushed
forward beyond the shank or body of the cartridge lying next underneath it. The
ear G is then acted upon by the inclined part or shoulder at the end of the groove
G* and the check G is moved inward and thereby made to hold the forward end of
the next cartridge down out of the way of the breech-block, so that the latter may
be swung inward to its firing position.
It will be understood that, without departing from the nature of the said
invention, various means may be employed for automatically governing the action
of the check G; the essential characteristics of this action are that the check shall
be free to move outward soon after the commencement of the operation of
extracting the empty shell from the chamber b so that the magazine spring can
throw up the forward end of the uppermost cartridge, and that just before the
conclusion of the operation of inserting the fresh cartridge into the said chamber,
the check shall move inward to hold the next cartridge down out of the path of
the breech-block..
In case it should be desired to prevent the feeding of cartridges from the
magazine, I provide the gun with the crank lever g, the axis or hub g¹ of which
projects through the hole gå formed in the right hand side of the receiver, and bears
upon the edge of the check G. The outer side of the right hand wall of the
receiver is recessed to permit the swing of the crank lever g and the said crank
lever is held in its seat by the removable plate A³ screwed upon the right hand side
of the receiver.
The inner end of the hub g¹ of the crank lever g is formed into a spiral cam, the
projecting portion of which, when the crank lever is turned forward, bears upon
the edge of the check G and forces it inward., thus preventing the ejection of
cartridges from the magazine; while, by turning the crank lever backward, the
said projecting portion is removed from the edge of the check G and the latter is
thus left free to be actuated alternately by the arm K¹ and the cartridges
successively ejected from the magazine, as above described.
The front wall at of the receiver is vertically slotted from the mouth of the
chamber b downward to receive the short arm h of the bell-crank-lever H. The
upper end of the short arm h of this lever forms a portion of the seat against which
bears the inner edge of the flange of the cartridge in the chamber b. The
horizontal arm h' of the bell-crank-lever H is provided at its rear end with the..
upwardly projecting ear h³, as shewn in Figure 3, to engage with a pink which, at,
the proper time, depresses the horizontal arm h¹ thus imparting a backward
movement to the vertical arm h and assisting to start the cartridge shell from the,
said chamber.
This operation of starting the shell out of the chamber 6 is participated in by
the extractor I which is pivotted to the right hand arm K' of the forked slide the
left hand arm K2 of which is provided near its inner end with the inwardly
projecting pin k.
The right hand arm K' of the forked slide is slotted to receive the extractor I,
as shewn in Figures 18 and 19. The forward end of the shank of the extractor is

page_text: secured to the arm K¹ by the vertical pivot ¹; the rear end of the shank of the
extractor is bent upward and carries the inwardly projecting horizontal plate ².
The inner face of this plate is provided with the two jaws 3, 4, the space between
these jaws being the notch for receiving the flange of the cartridge as shewn in
Figure 12. The forward jaw i³ is the extracting jaw, and, to enable it to perform
its function, the extractor I must, at the proper time, be so moved inward that the
said jaw will engage with the flange of the shell lying in the chamber b. This
inward movement of the extractor is caused by the impact of the rounded rear end
of the plate with the forward end of the stiff flat spring I which is fixed by
means of screws to the outer side of the removable plate A¹ (see figure 12).
The shell having been started from the chamber b by the combined action of the
extractor and the lever H. is carried backward, as the forked 'slide continues its
rearward movement, until the flange of the shell strikes the shoulder Is (Figures 1,
5 and 6) formed near the rear end of the inner side wall of the breech-block. By
the further backward movement of the extractor, the shell is tilted and thrown
laterally out of the receiver. As soon as the shell has been thus thrown out of the
receiver the uppermost cartridge contained in the magazine is pushed upward by
the spring D³, so that its flange enters the notch between the jaws is,
therefore, when the forked slide is moved forward, the jaw carries forward the
said cartridge and pushes it into the chamber b. By the last part of the backward
movement of the forked slide, the pin is carried against, and pushes back, the
hammer arm, and thus sets the hammer at full cock.
and
The movement of the breech-block is effected by the action of the ear
projecting upward from the left hand arm K² of the forked slide near its rear end.
The ear engages in the cam-groove El formed in the underside of the breech-
block (see figures 5 and 6). The forward portion of this cam-groove curves
inward as shewn from a point near the outer side of the breech-block to a point
near its inner side and then continues backward in a straight line parallel with the
inner side of the breech-block to its rear end. This groove is so shaped and located
that when the ear is pushed into its forward position, the breech-block is moved
inward, so that the plate e on its forward end bears against the base of the
cartridge in the chamber b and the firing pin is brought in line with the centre
thereof.
The plate e on the forward end of the breech-block is fitted to turn upon a
vertical axis. When the forked slide is pulled back, the said plate is free to bear
upon its seat on the end of the breech-block but by the termination of the motion
of the ear the plate e is moved outward by the turning of the cam e¹ seated
transversely in the end of the breech-block beneath the plate e. This cam is
oscillated by means of a bifurcated crank-lever e², one end of which is secured to
the end of the cam-shaft, and there is a flat spring e secured to the inner side of
the breech-block. The under side of the breech-block is recessed to permit the
movement of the crank-lever e² and when the said crank-lever is moved forward
both of its jaws es, et project slightly across the cam-groove E¹. By the first
portion of the backward movement of the forked slide, the rear end of the ear ¹ is
brought against the rear jaw e¹ of the crank-lever, and thus moves the crank-lever
backward until, by the action of the flat spring e5 upon the cam-shaft, the
bifurcated crank-lever is moved so far back that the jaw e¹ is carried clear of the
cam-groove E. In this position, however, the jaw e3 of the bifurcated crank-lever
continues to project across the cam-groove e¹ so that, in the forward movement
of the forked slide, it is in position to be engaged and carried forward by the
ear k¹
The usual firing pin J is inserted longitudinally in the breech-block, and the
plate e is centrally perforated to permit the passage of the forward end of the said
firing pin.
The axis upon which the breech-block swings or turns is constituted by the
vertical screw E2, which is inserted through a hole in the top of the receiver and
is fixed in the hub Es of the breech-block. The rear wall of the receiver is

page_text: recessed to form a bearing for the hub of the breech-block, which is concentric with
its axis.
In order to hold the forked slide stationary at the conclusion of its forward
movement, the hand-piece K³ of the slide is longitudinally slotted near the top, upon
one of its sides, to admit the pivotted spring latch L, the rear end of which is
adapted to spring inward against the shoulder formed in the bottom of the seat
in which the arm K¹ of the slide moves.
In the gun shewn, this latch is arranged upon the right hand side of the
hand-piece K³ of the forked slide, in such position that it can be pressed inward by
the fingers of the left hand, which is the hand usually employed for grasping the
hand-piece.
Having thus fully described the said invention as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondents, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it
understood that I claim :-In a magazine or repeating fire-arm
First. A breech-block fitted to turn or move to and fro upon a vertical axis and
provided with a suitably shaped cam-groove, arranged in combination with a pin or
ear projecting from a sliding arm having a band-piece by which it can be
reciprocated in a path parallel to the axis of the barrel, substantially as, and for
the purpose, set forth.
Second. The lever for starting or assisting to start, the cartridge shell from the
chamber of the barrel, arranged in combination with a pin or projection on the
longitudinally reciprocating arm by which the breech-block is operated, sub-
stantially as set forth.
Third. A breech-block fitted to oscillate or move to and fro laterally and
provided upon its forward end with a hinged plate, in combination with means for
moving the said plate forward and holding it firmly against the base of the
cartridge in the barrel-chamber, substantially as above specified.
Fourth. The spring latch L arranged substantially as above specified upon the
hand-piece K³ of the forked slide to enable the latch to be operated by the fingers
of the left hand when the latter is grasping the said hand-piece for the purpose of
operating the breech-mechanism.
Fifth. A laterally moving pivotted breech-block and means for actuating the
same, and a magazine for containing a supply of cartridges, in combination with a
movable magazine-check and means for automatically releasing the said check at
the proper time and afterwards moving it into the path along which the cartridges
are successively fed from the magazine, for the purpose of holding the uppermost
cartridge out of the way of the breech-block whilst the same is moving inward into
the firing position, all substantially as set forth.
Sixth. The check G provided with the ear G2, in combination with the sliding
arm K¹ provided at its inner side with the longitudinal groove G*, substantially as,
and for the purpose, set forth.
In witness whereof I the said Henry Harris Lake have hereunto set my hand
and seal this Twenty third day of January in the year of Our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty four.
HENRY, H. LAKE (L.S.)