Improvements in Magazine and other Fire-arms.
Year: 1886

page_text: Improvements in Magazine and other Fire-arms.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be par-
ticularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:―
This invention relates to improvements in that class of arms in which the
breech-piece is adapted to swing rearward and downward in opening the breech
for the introduction of a cartridge to the barrel, or its removal therefrom; and in
which the breech-piece is actuated by means of a lever beneath the receiver, which
lever forms the trigger-guard. While the improvements are specially adapted to
magazine fire-arms, having a magazine arranged longitudinally beneath the barrel,
opening into the receiver below the barrel, parts of the invention are applicable to
single breech-loaders.
The said invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of
parts forming a complete arm, as hereinafter described.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is a sectional side view, showing the mechanism in the normal or closed
condition.
Figure 2 is a top view of the same, complete.
Figure 3 is a vertical section on the line xx looking rearward.
Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing the parts in the extreme open
position.
Figure 5 is a transverse section on the line y y Figure 4 looking forward.
Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the receiver, showing a side view of
the breech-piece and carrier as in the opening movement.***
Figure 7 is a longitudinal section cutting through the opening for charging the
magazine, and showing a top view of the carrier.
Figure 8 is a transverse section through the carrier and receiver, on the line z
of Figure 7 looking rearward.
Figure 9 is a sectional side view, showing the parts as in the position of the first
part of the opening movement, under the action of a slot and before the turning
upon the pivot commences.

page_text: A is the receiver, which is constructed with a tang B, extending from the upper
surface at the rear and a similar tang C below, for the purpose of securing the
receiver to the stock, a common construction in this class of arms. At the forward
end of the receiver the barrel D is secured in the usual manner, opening into the
receiver at the rear, the receiver in rear of the barrel being constructed with a
vertical opening through it, in which the operative mechanism of the arm is
arranged.
E is the breech-piece, formed as a part of the trigger-guard lever F, and is hung
upon a pivot a in the lower part, of the receiver, so that under the movement of
the lever the breech-piece is turned backward and downward, as from the position
in Figure 1, to that in Figure 4. At the pivot a the breech-piece is constructed
with a slot b to form the bearing upon the pivot, so that a certain extent of radial
movement is imparted to the breech-piece, combined with its rotative movement.
The back of the breech-piece is segment shaped, as seen in Figure 6, and on this
segmental portion a shoulder d is formed, which when the breech-piece is in its
closed position rests against a corresponding shoulder e in the receiver, the said
shoulder being seen in broken lines Figure 1; these shoulders form the resistance
to support the breech-piece in its closed position against. the recoil of the charge.
When the breech piece is in its closed position, with the shoulder engaged, as seen
in broken lines Figure 1, the lever below is drawn up to its place against the
receiver, bringing the lower end of the slot b substantially against the pivot, the
slot then extending diagonally upward and rearward from the pivot, as indicated
in Figure 1.
In the first movement preparatory to opening the breech-piece the lever is
turned downward, as indicated in Figure 9, the slot permitting such movement
without material movement of the breech-piece, until the upper end of the slot
comes to a bearing upon the pivot, as seen in that Figure. This first preliminary
movement of the lever takes the shoulder d down, and away from the shoulder e in
the receiver so as to release the breech-piece from its supporting engagement;
then, continuing the movement of the lever, the breech-piece may be turned
rearward to its full open position, as indicated in Figure 4, the lever turning
upon the pivot in such movement.
In the rear portion of the breech-piece a vertical recess is made, in which the
hammer G is set; the hammer being hung upon the same pivot a as the lever and
breech-piece, so that in the opening movement of the lever and breech-piece, the
hammer will turn upon the same pivot as the breech-piece. The nose of the
hammer is adapted to abut against the forward end of the recess or striking face in
the breech-piece, and bear toward the forward face of the breech-piece.
In the breech-piece the main spring H is arranged, which is of substantially
usual form, and adapted to bear the nose of the hammer with force toward its
striking point on the breech-piece. The trigger I is hung upon a pivot J near the
top of the receiver, and in rear of the hammer; the back of the hammer is in the
form of a segment, of which its pivot is the centre. Upon the front face of
the trigger is a notch f, and upon the back of the hammer is a shoulder h, so that
as the hammer is turned backward, the shoulder h on the hammer will engage the
notch in the trigger, and be there caught under the influence of the trigger
spring K, as indicated in broken lines Figure 1; the hammer may be brought to
this position while the breech-piece is closed, and discharged by the pull of the
trigger in the usual manner.
In the breech-piece, forward of the striking face of the hammer, the firing pin L
is arranged longitudinally through that portion of the breech-piece, so that the face
of the hammer may strike the rear end of the firing-pin and force it forward to
deliver the blow of the hammer, in the usual manner of communicating the blow
of the hammer through the breech-piece to the cartridge in the barrel.
As the breech-piece is thrown wide open for the introduction of the cartridge to
the barrel, the hammer moves with it beyond the point of engagement with the
trigger, as seen in Figure 4, and after the cartridge has been introduced to the

page_text: barrel the breech-piece is returned to its closed position.
In such return the
shoulder on the hammer will engage the notch f of the trigger, before the breech-
piece has fully closed, and will be retained by the trigger in that cocked position,
unless the operator prefers the hammer to follow the breech-piece; in that case he
pulls the trigger out of the path of the hammer, so that the hammer may continue
its closing movement with the breech piece.
On the front face of the hammer is a notch m, immediately below the point
where the face of the hammer strikes the rear end of the firing-pin. In the first
part of the opening movement of the breech-piece, as indicated in Figure 9, the
striking face of the breech-piece drops to such an extent as to bring the rear end
of the pin to the notch m on the face of the hammer, so that the force of the
hammer upon the firing-pin is removed before the actual rear movement of the
parts commences, and this non-contact of the hammer and firing pin is maintained
to its extreme rear position, as indicated in Figure 4. From this it follows that in
the closing movement of the breech-piece the hammer and firing pin will retain
the same relative position, until the breech-piece is closed, as seen in Figure 9, and
the locking movement of the breech-piece commences. The final locking move-
ment of the breech-piece raises the striking face of the breech-piece, so as to bring
the rear end of the firing pin into striking contact with the face of the hammer, as
seen in Figure 1.
Upon the under side of the breech-piece proper the extractor is arranged. This
consists of a lever n, hung by a longitudinal slot o to a fixed pivot r in the breech-
piece, see Figure 1. The lever projects beyond the front face of the breech-piece,
and terminates in the usual hook shape.
In rear of the extractor lever, and in a line below the pivot, a spring spindle s is
provided to bear forward against the rear end of the lever n, to hold it in its
extreme forward position, so that when the breech-piece is in its closed position, as
indicated in Figure 1, the hooked portion of the extractor is forward of the front
face of the flange of the cartridge.
The spring spindle s permits the extractor to turn upon its pivot, so that as a
cartridge or shell is being withdrawn from the barrel, the extractor still maintains
its engagement with the shell; the hook portion following in the straight or
longitudinal line of the outwardly removing shell, as seen in Figure 6, while the
breech-piece follows the segmental path.
The extractor is arranged at one side of the centre, as indicated in broken lines
Figure 2, first, that it may not interfere with the movement of the firing-pin, and
second, that in the closing movement of the breech-piece the nose of the extractor
may be out of line of the primer of a cartridge, so that by no possibility can the
primer be struck by the extractor.
The invention is thus far described without reference to the magazine appliances,
and to this extent the mechanism of the arm is adapted to a single breech-loader.
Beneath the barrel the magazine. M is arranged in the usual longitudinal
position, opening into the receiver, directly below the rear open end of the barrel.
In the receiver and below the breech-piece, the carrier N is arranged. The said
carrier extends rearward, and is hung upon a pivot t. Its rear end is bifurcated
60 as to permit the swinging part of the lever and breech-piece to work through it,
as seen in Figure 3. Near the forward end of the carrier, wings P R are arranged,
one upon one side, and the other upon the opposite side, and adapted to receive a
cartridge from the magazine between them; the two wings are curved upon the
inner side. One wing R is laterally movable toward and from the other, as
indicated in broken lines Figure 8.. In order that it may be so moved, that side
of the carrier is formed in a separate piece S, see Figure 5, but corresponding to
the opposite side of the carrier, and it is hung near its forward end to the carrier,
upon a stud u, see Figures 7 and 8, so that the wing R may be rocked latterally
toward and from the other wing P, as indicated in broken lines Figure 8. When
in the extreme down position the wings stand separated, as seen in Figure 8, so
that a cartridge may pass from the magazine between them.. Upon the upper face

page_text: of the carrier, at its forward end and between the wings, a two-armed lever T, U
is hung in a longitudinal position, upon a pivot w so that it may swing in a
vertical plane. When the carrier is in its down position, as seen in Figure 1, the
upper surface of this lever T, U stands flush with the bottom of the carrier, as
seen in Figures 1 and 8, and in line with the bottom surface of the magazine, the
rear arm U of the lever taking a bearing upon the carrier below. The forward
end of the arm T of the lever is turned outward toward the side of the receiver as
at 2 Figure 7. Above the magazine at that side of the receiver is an inwardly
projecting stud 3, see Figure 7, and the broken lines Figure 4, so that as the
carrier is turned from the position seen in Figure 1, to that seen in Figure 4, the
arm 2 from the lever will strike the said stud, arresting the further movement of
that end of the lever, thereby causing the rear end to turn upward, as seen in
Figure 4, which movement raises the rear end of the cartridge, as indicated in
broken lines Figure 4, and brings it into nearly longitudinal line with the bore of
the barrel
Upon the under side of the breech piece a shoulder 4 is formed, against which a
cartridge passing from the magazine onto the carrier will strike, before the
cartridge shall have passed entirely from the magazine, so that the cartridge so
standing will hold the first cartridge at some considerable distance forward of the rear
end of the magazine, as indicated in Figure 1; but as the breech-piece commences
its opening movement, the shoulder 4 moves rearward, as indicated in Figure 6, so
as to permit the cartridge to have passed entirely onto the carrier. During the
time the cartridge has been thus completing its movement onto the carrier, the
carrier has been raised, so as to take the forward end of the carrier to a point
above the bottom of the magazine, as indicated in Figure 6, so that that portion of
the carrier will serve as a stop for the said next cartridge, the carrier is thus
moved by a cam surface 5, formed upon the hub of the lever or breech-piece which
strikes a corresponding surface 6 on the carrier, immediately after the unlocking
movement of the breech-piece, see Figure 5, and then in the first part of the
opening movement of the breech-piece the said cam surface raises the carrier from
the position seen in Figure 1, to that seen in Figure 6. The carrier will stand in
this position until the breech-piece approaches its extreme rear or open position,
and as the breech-piece approaches its extreme rear position, shoulders 7 8 on the
breech piece strike the ends 9, 10 of the carrier which project rearward beyond the
pivots on which the carrier turns, and thereby force the carrier to its up or
delivery position, as seen in Figure 4; then the breech piece is closed and in its
closing movement strikes the rear end of the cartridge and carries it forward
through the carrier into its place in the barrel. In the closing movement of the
breech-piece shoulders 11 and 12 on the sides of the breech-piece strike the under
side of the rear portion of the carrier, and bring it to its down position, as seen in
Figure 1.
To give to the wing R of the carrier its rocking movement before referred to, the
shoulder 8 on the breech-piece which strikes that arm of the receiver, is inclined
downward and outward, as seen in Figure 5, and the upper edge of the arm S of
the wing is correspondingly. inclined, as seen in the same Figure, so that as the
shoulders come onto the respective arms or sides of the carrier in rear of the pivot,
the inclined shoulder 8 on the carrier, striking the corresponding incline on the
arm S of the wing R, will cause that arm to rock upon its pivots transversely, and
move inward, as indicated in broken lines figure 8. The two arms of the carrier
at the rear are hung upon like pivots, the one t as before described, and the arm S
upon a pivot 13. As this rocking movement of the wing occurs during the
upward movement of the breech-piece, the wing swings over the cartridge to
embrace it to such an extent as to prevent it being thrown outward by the
upward movement or momentum of the carrier, but not so as to interfere with the
transfer of the cartridge from the carrier to the barrel.
To charge the magazine the opening 14 is made in the side of the receiver, see
Figure 4, and in that opening a cover 15 is hung, see figure 7, provided with a

page_text: spring 16, so that the cover may turn inward, the breech-piece being recessed as
indicated in figure 7, to permit such inward, movement of the cover, so as to open
a passage through the carrier to the magazine, as indicated in figure 7.
As an additional lock for the breech-piece in its closed position, or rather as a
device to temporarily hold the breech-piece in its closed position, I make the main-
spring of ▼ shape, one arm being hung upon the pivot of the hammer and the
other arm bearing directly against the hammer. The spring extends within the
breech-piece to the rear, and near its rear end a fixed pin, stud, or shoulder 17 is
arranged within the breech-piece, which pin stud or shoulder when the breech-
piece is in its closed position, lies beneath the rear end of the main spring.
In the first movement of the breech-piece the stud 17 passes below the end of
the main spring, so as to escape therefrom, as seen in figure 4, but as the breech-
piece is returned, and in the final closing movement due to the inclined slot b, the
stud 17 will be again brought into the rear of the spring, and there serve as a stop
to offer a slight resistance to the opening movement of the breech-piece.
While it is preferred to employ the lever T, U in the bottom of the carrier as a
means to elevate the rear end of the cartridge, this is not essential to the
successful working of the arm and may be omitted. The wing R may also be
made as a rigid part of the carrier, the same as the wing P, the two arms from the
wings or parts of the carrier extending rearward, and both being hung alike
upon pivots, but the locking movement is preferred as a protection against the
accidental displacement of the cartridge.
In illustrating the invention the means employed for imparting the opening and
closing movement to the breech-piece is a lever forming an integral part of the
breech-piece, but the invention is not to be understood as limited to such device,
as other devices may be applied to impart the opening and closing movement to
the breech-piece.
I am aware that an arm has been constructed with a breech-piece hung to turn
upon a pivot swinging backward and downward in opening, with a lever attached
thereto for such movement; and that the breech-piece has been locked by con-
structing the breech-piece with a alot to adapt the breech-piece to work upon a
pivot so that the bearing surface of the breech-piece may be brought against a
corresponding bearing on the receiver to resist recoil, and therefore such construction
is not claimed broadly.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in. what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me by my foreign Correspondents I declare that what I claim is :-
First. In a fire-arm, the combination of the barrel open at its rear end; a
breech-piece hung in the receiver in rear of said barrel, upon an axis at right
angles to the barrel, and so as to swing downward and backward in opening;
mechanism substantially such as described to impart opening and closing movement
to said breech-piece, the said breech-piece being constructed with a slot inclined
upward and backward from its pivot when the breech-piece is in its closed
position, the breech-piece being also constructed with a shoulder, and the receiver
being provided with a corresponding shoulder against which said shoulder on the
breech-piece will abut when the breech-piece is in its closed position to resist recoil,
substantially as described.
Second. In a fire-arm, the combination of the barrel open at its rear end; a
breech-piece hung in the receiver in rear of said barrel, upon an axis at right
angles to the barrel, and so as to swing downward and backward in opening; and
a lever extending from said breech-piece below the receiver and serving as a handle
by which the breech-piece may be opened and closed, the breech-piece being
constructed with a slot inclined upward and backward from its pivot, when the
breech-piece is in its closed position, the breech-piece being also constructed with a
shoulder d, and the receiver being provided with a corresponding shoulder e against

page_text: which said shoulder d will abut when the breech-piece is in its closed position to
resist recoil, substantially as described.
Third. The combination of the barrel, open at its rear end; a breech-piece hung
upon a pivot in the receiver in rear of the barrel, so as to swing backward and
downward in opening, the said breech-piece being constructed with a lever
extending beneath the receiver, and by which the breech-piece may be turned upon
its pivot, the breech-piece being also constructed with a slot at the pivot, inclined
upward and rearward when the breech-piece is in its closed position, and also with
a shoulder d, and the receiver with a corresponding shoulder e against which the
said shoulder d will abut when the breech-piece is in its closed position to resist
recoil; a hammer hung within the breech-piece, and upon the same pivot as the
breech-piece; a main-spring also arranged within the said breech-piece, and
adapted to bear said hammer upon the striking face of the breech-piece; with a
firing-pin extending longitudinally through the breech-piece from its striking face
forward; and a trigger hung in rear of the hammer, and adapted to engage a
shoulder thereon when the hammer is in the cocked position, substantially as
described.
Fourth. The combination of the barrel open at its rear end; a breech-piece hung
in rear of the barrel, adapted to swing backward and downward in an opening,
and constructed with a lever extending beneath the receiver, by which the breech-
piece may be turned upon its pivot; a hammer hung within the breech-piece, upon
the same pivot as the breech-piece; a main spring adapted to bear the said hammer
against the striking face of the breech-piece; a trigger arranged to engage the
hammer in its cocked position; a firing-pin extending longitudinally through the
breech-piece from the striking face forward; and the extractor lever n hung in
the breech-piece and adapted to swing in a vertical plane, with a spring arranged
to bear the nose of the extractor upward and toward the barrel, substantially as
described..
Fifth. The combination of a barrel open at its rear end; a breech-piece hung
upon the pivot in rear of the barrel, and arranged to swing backward and
downward in an opening, and constructed with a lever extending therefrom
beneath the receiver and by which it may be turned upon its pivot, said breech-
piece being also constructed with a slot at the pivot, inclined upward and rearward
therefrom when the breech-piece is in its closed position, the breech-piece being
also constructed with a shoulder adapted to engage a corresponding shoulder in the
receiver when the breech-piece is in its closed position; a hammer hung within
the breech-piece, and upon the same pivot as the breech-piece; the main spring
adapted to force said hammer against the striking face of the breech-piece; a
firing-pin extending longitudinally through the breech-piece, extending from its
striking face forward, the said hammer being constructed with a notch below its
striking point upon the firing-pin; and a trigger arranged to engage the hammer
when in its cocked position, substantially as described.
Sixth. In a fire-arm, the combination of the barrel open at the rear; a magazine
beneath the barrel open also to the rear; a breech-piece hung in the receiver at the
rear of the barrel and below the magazine, and adapted to swing backward and
downward in an opening, said breech-piece being constructed with an arm
extending below the receiver, and by which it may be turned upon its pivot; a
hammer arranged in said breech-piece and hung upon the same pivot as the breech-
piece; a main-spring adapted to force said hammer against the striking face of the
breech-piece; a firing-pin extending longitudinally through the breech-piece from
its striking face forward; a trigger arranged to engage the hammer in its cocked
position; and a carrier hung in the receiver to move upward and downward to
deliver a cartridge from the magazine to a position forward of the front face of the
open breech-piece, substantially as described.
Seventh. In a fire-arm, the combination of the barrel open at the rear; a
magazine beneath the barrel open also to the rear; a breech-piece hung in the
'