Improvements in or relating to Repeating Fire-arms.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Nov., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 9th Aug., 1893-Accepted, 4th Nov., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Repeating Fire-arms.
I, Alfred CHAPMAN, Colour-Sergeant of the Leicestershire Regiment, located
at Glen Parva Barracks, Wigston, in the County of Leicester, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to repeating fire arms and is particularly applicable to
the type of fire-arm known as the Lee-Metford' which is characterised by a
longitudinal movement of the breech bolt in the direction of the axis of the barrel
and often designated as 'bolt action' guns.
The chief object of this invention is to dispense with the magazine as at present
used in connection with the fire-arms named and to provide an improved arrange-
ment for feeding the cartridges to the chamber of a gun by means of which a much
larger number of cartridges can be stored or carried than any of the present forms
of magazine permit of.
According to my invention the supply of cartridges is movably supported and
carried by a belt passing through a slot or opening in the underside of the
firearm.
The movement of the cartridge carrying belt is effected by means of a spring
cylinder operated by a hand-knob and provided with studs or suitable catches
fixed at convenient angles thereto to engage the cartridges from whence they are
removed by the extractor for delivery to the chamber in the barrel, by the action
of the breech bolt as is well understood.
The extractor for removing the cartridges from the top of the cylinder mentioned
may be connected to or operated by a spring controlled platform which when
depressed is level with the cartridge on the top of the cylinder and when raised
by the action of the spring thereunder is in a line or nearly so with the chamber in
the barrel.
The spring cylinder may be provided with suitable gearing so as to modify or
decrease the strain or tension thereon caused by the weight of the belt.
Dated this 9th day of November 1892
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Repeating Fire-arms.
I ALFRED CHAPMAN lately Colour Sergeant of the Leicestershire Regiment,
located at Glen Parva Barracks Wigston in the County of Leicester, but now
Commissionaire of 54 Fleet Street, in the City and County of London do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
=
This invention relates to repeating fire arms and is particularly applicable
to the type of fire arm known as the "Lee Metford" which is characterized by a
longitudinal movement of the breech bolt in the direction of the barrel, and often
designated as bolt action guns.
The chief object of this invention is to dispense with the magazine as at present
used in connection with the fire armis named and to provide an improved arrange-
ment for feeding the cartridges to the chamber of a gun by means of which a

page_text: much larger number of cartridges can be stored or carried than any of the present
forms of magazine permit of.
According to my invention the supply of cartridges is moveably supported and
carried by a belt passing through a slot or opening in the underside of the
fire arm.
The movement of the cartridge carrying belt is effected by means of a spring
cylinder or spindle with discs at each end thereof operated by a hand knob, or
ratchet and pawl mechanism provided with studs or suitable catches fixed at
convenient angles thereto to engage the cartridges from whence they are removed
by the extractor for delivery to the chamber in the barrel, by the action of the
breech bolt as is well understood.
The extractor for removing the cartridges from the top of the cylinder mentioned
may be connected to or operated by a spring actuated platform which when
depressed is level with the cartridge on the top of the cylinder, and when raised
by the action of the spring thereunder, is in a line or nearly so with the chamber
in the barrel.
The spring cylinder may be provided with suitable gearing so as to modify or
decrease the strain or tension thereon caused by the weight of the belt.
And in order that my invention may be fully understood, and carried into
practical effect, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the
accompanying drawings, of which,-
Fig. 1 is a part sectional side elevation of the breech of a Lee Metford rifle
fitted with my improved mechanism.
Fig. 2 a sectional elevation on line a-x (Fig. 1).
Fig. 3 a side elevation of the cartridge carrier.
Figs. 4 & 6 end elevations of the cartridge carrier, and Fig. 5, section thereof
on line y-y (Fig. 3).
Fig. 7 side elevation of the cartridge raising platform.
Fig. 8 back, front, and side elevation of the attachment to the bolt head for
extracting the cartridge from the cartridge belt, and Fig. 9 a plan thereof.
The carrier a which may be in the form of a cylinder or of a spindle, with discs
mounted on the ends thereof as shown (Figs. 1 & 2) is mounted in suitable bearings
below the breech of the rifle, and has secured on one end thereof, a four toothed
ratchet wheel b, with which engages a spring actuated pawl c hinged to the ring d,
which ring is connected by a rod d¹ to a lever e. Against this lever presses a
spring so that a projection on its free end normally projects into that part of the
rifle breech in which the bolt a slides.
As therefore the bolt g is forced home, the free end of the lever e is pressed
outwards, so bringing the ring d and the pawl c into the position shown in dotted
lines, but on the bolt g being again withdrawn the lever e is forced into its
original position again by the spring f, and as a consequence the carrier a is given
a quarter turn.
Over this carrier a runs the belt h, shown in dotted lines, made of any suitably
flexible material, in loops on which are placed the cartridges, so that at each
complete operation of the bolt g, said belt is moved by the aid of spikes a¹ on the
carrier sufficiently to bring a fresh cartridge, whose ends have in the mean-time
become inserted in recesses in discs a², at each end of the carrier, into the upper-
most position shewn in Fig. 1., where it is extracted.
This is effected by claws hinged or pivotted to a projection on the underside
of the bolt g gripping the rim of the cartridge when the bolt is forced home and
consequently withdrawing said cartridge as the bolt is again slid outward.
The cartridge is so brought on to a spring actuated platform k which platform,
when the bolt y is in its innermost position, is held in the position shown in full
lines, but upon the withdrawal of said bolt, said platform is tilted, as shown in
dotted line, by the spring / sufficiently to raise the cartridge into such a position
that upon the bolt being again forced home, a projection thereon catches the end
of the cartridge and forces it into the breech of the rifle...

page_text: The operation of withdrawing the empty cartridge cases is effected by the
mechanism as now is used in the Lee Metford magazine-rifle, or other suitable
mechanism may be employed if desired.
Although I have described my improved mechanism as applied to a rifle of the
Lee Metford type, it will be perfectly understood that it may be adapted to most
other rifles in which the cartridge is forced into the breech by a sliding bolt.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1st. In repeating fire arms, the carrier a operated substantially as and for the
purposes herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2nd. In repeating fire arms the attachment j, substantially as and for the purpose
herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
3rd. In repeating fire arms the platform k substantially as and for the purpose
herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
4th. In repeating fire arms the combination of the carrier a attachment; and
platform k substantially as and the purpose hereinbefore described and illustrated
in the accompanying drawings.
5th. In repeating rifles, a cartridge belt substantially as and for the purpose
herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this Eighth day of August One thousand eight hundred and ninety-
ALFRED CHAPMAN.

page_text: The operation of withdrawing the empty cartridge cases is effected by the
mechanism as now is used in the Lee Metford magazine-rifle, or other suitable
mechanism may be employed if desired.
Although I have described my improved mechanism as applied to a rifle of the
Lee Metford type, it will be perfectly understood that it may be adapted to most
other rifles in which the cartridge is forced into the breech by a sliding bolt.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1st. In repeating fire arms, the carrier a operated substantially as and for the
purposes herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2nd. In repeating fire arms the attachment j, substantially as and for the purpose
herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
3rd. In repeating fire arms the platform k substantially as and for the purpose
herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
4th. In repeating fire arms the combination of the carrier a attachment; and
platform k substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described and illustrated
in the accompanying drawings. /
5th. In repeating rifles, a cartridge belt substantially as and for the purpose
hereinbefore described an illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this Eighth day of August One thousand eight hundred and ninety-
threa
ALFRED CHAPMAN.