Improved Apparatus for Adapting Small Arms for Miniature Ammunition Practice.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Apr., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 6th Jan., 1893-Accepted, 11th Feb., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Adapting Small Arms for Miniature
Ammunition Practice.
We, ROBERT RAMSBOTTOM, of Market Street, Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Sportsman's Outfitter, and JOHN HENRY FENRING of Market Street,
Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Gunsmith, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to auxiliary cartridge chambers hereinafter termed
"blocks" applied to rifles for target practice or rifle instruction within a limited
range, such blocks having the size and form of cartridges externally, and through
bores of a comparatively small calibre, the boring being by preference excentrically
to the block so that the bullet from a miniature cartridge inserted therein shall
leave the barrel of the arm as near the centre of the barrel as possible.
In auxiliary blocks hitherto used the extraction of the miniature cartridge case
after firing has been effected by means of a small ramrod or hand extractor, the
block being first ejected upon opening the breech by the ejector mechanism.
The object of this invention is to make the operation of extraction of the
cartridge case after firing automatic upon opening the breech of the arm, and
without the block itself being ejected by the ordinary ejector.
Our invention consists in fitting the auxiliary block with an ejector to expel the
miniature cartridge upon opening the breech, and in forming the rim of the block,
equivalent to the rim of the full size cartridge case, in such manner that the ordinary
ejector of the arm shall operate without expelling the said block.
In carrying out my invention we purpose to form and fit the ejector somewhat in
the following manner; a deep recess is formed at the breech end of the block
partly cutting away the bore; the ejector consists of a grooved piece formed to st
and slide in the recess, the groove in the piece corresponding somewhat to the bore
of that portion of the block cut away; a helical spring is fitted in the recess to
protrude the sliding piece from the block when the breech is opened and a pin or
its equivalent to keep the ejector in position.
In order to prevent the ejector from expelling the auxiliary block, we cut away
that portion of the rim thereof upon which the ejector acts.
Dated this 5th dox of Anril 1899
R. J. URQUHART,
Agent for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Adapting Small Arms for Miniature
Ammunition Practice.
We, ROBERT RAMSBOTTOM of Market Street, Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Sportsman's Outfitter, and JOHN HENRY FENRING of Market Street,
Manchester in the County of Lancaster, Gunsmith, 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 :-
Our invention relates to auxiliary cartridge chambers hereinafter termed blocks;
which are applied to rifles for adapting them for target practice, or rifle instruction
with miniature ammunition, the object of this invention being chiefly to make the
operation of the miniature cartridge case extractor after firing, automatic in action
upon opening the breech of the arm, instead of said cartridge being extracted by
hand; and without the block aforesaid being itself ejected by the ejection or
extractor mechanism for ejecting ordinary cartridge cases.

page_text: The manner in which our invention may be carried out is set forth in the
following statement reference being had to the accompanying sheet of drawings.
Figure 1 represents a section of the breech shewing the auxiliary cartridge block
in position.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the. block..
Figure 3 an end.view and Figure 4 a cross section of the same, along line of
Figure 2.
Figures 5 and 6 and 7 are three views of the miniature cartridge extractor of the
block.
t
The auxiliary block is here shewn as more particularly adapted for the Martini-
Henry pattern of rifle, but in a slightly modified form is applicable to other patterns.
of small arms.
Referring to the several views in the drawings A indicates the auxiliary cartridge
block, shewn in position in the breech chamber in Figure 1 and in section in
Figure 2. B represents the extractor which is indicated by dotted lines in Figure 1
as pushed home by the breech block N. The beaded edge of the block A is cut
away at a for the purpose of allowing the claw of the extractor O to pass freely
without ejecting the block A in the manner of a cartridge shell when the breech is
open. The block A consists of a metal cylinder having a through bore a³ and a
chamber in which the miniature cartridge extractor B slides, a portion of the
division web being cut away at a to allow the claw 6 of the extractor B to sink
into the block as shewn by dotted lines B Figure 1. The extractor B bears
against a helical spring C placed into the chamber b and a pin d prevents the
extractor B from turning and from being ejected from the chamber b.
Upon opening the breech of the rifle the extractor B springs out to the position
shewn on Figure 2 the nose n of the breech block N of the pattern shewn, falling
below to permit the extractor O to act with ordinary cartridge upon the rim of the
cartridge shell and eject it. By cutting away the rim of the block A at a, the
extractor O fails to eject the block as it would eject a cartridge shell. The block A
therefore remains in the breech chamber, but the extractor B of the said block acts
upon the rim of the miniature cartridge shell inserted into the bore a² and ejects it.
When a cartridge is placed in the block A it rests in the hollow 6ª of the extractor B
and upon closing the breech N of the arm is pushed home with the extractor B into
the position indicated at B Figure 1.
In applying our auxiliary block to any suitable pattern of rifle we may modify
the form of extractor B so that the closing of the breech shall effectively press in
the extractor, and upon opening the same shall allow free play for the extractor to
eject the miniature cartridge shell.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. The arrangement and the application to rifles of an auxiliary cartridge
chamber for miniature cartridges adapted to fit into the breech chamber of the arm
and fitted with a self-acting extractor for ejecting the miniature cartridges and with
means or devices for preventing the extractor of the arm from acting upon said
auxiliary chamber substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2. An auxiliary cartridge chamber for miniature ammunition practice constructed
and arranged substantially as described and indicated herein before and by the
drawings.
Dated this 5th day of December 1899
R. J. URQUHART,
57, Barton Arcade, Manchester, and 5, Clayton Square, Liverpool,
Consulting Engineer and Patent. Agent...