Improvements in Automatic Fire-arms.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 27th May, 1897-Accepted, 27th May, 1898
CUMI LEIM DIMUITICALIUN,
Improvements in Automatic Fire-arms.
We, JEAN BAPTISTE CLAIR, BENOIT CLAIR, and VICTOR CLAIR, all of 10, Rue du
Chateau d'Eau, Paris, in the Republic of France, Gunmakers, 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 consists of an improved repeating rifle constructed in such a
manner that the repeating mechanism may be set in operation at will either by
hand or automatically by means of a re-loading mechanism and by utilizing for
the purpose the pressure of the gun powder gases which have been compressed
when the rifle was last fired. The invention applies equally well to rifles used
in the army and to sporting rifles, and in order that it may be clearly understood
we will now describe it in detail assuming it to be applied to a sporting gun,
with reference to the accompanying drawing in which
Figure 1 is a longitudinal elevation of the left-hand side of a sporting rifle
constructed in accordance with our invention, the left-hand plate of the stock being
supposed to have been removed and a portion of the left-hand cheek of the breech-
case being broken away so as to disclose the left side of the automatic re-loading
mechanism the position of which is that which it occupies when the breech is
closed.
Figure 2 is an axial longitudinal section of the same turned round so that the
position of its ends is reversed in order to exhibit the right hand side of the same
mechanism in elevation.
Figure 3 is a plan-view of the same, the barrel being omitted so as to uncover
the said mechanism which is supposed to be in the position it occupies when the
breech is open.
Figures 4 to 10 are cross sections of the rifle on the lines A B, C D, E F, GH,
I J, K L, and M N of Figure 2 respectively.
Figure 11 is an enlarged section of a portion of Fig. 2.
To the rear end of. the barrel 1 there is screwed the breech case 2, the external
shape of which is indicated in Figure 1. To the lower edge of the breech case 2
is fitted and secured by screws the trigger-guard 3.
Between these two parts the butt-end handle 4 is embedded, within which is
located the tubular cartridge-magazine 5. Below the barrel 1, parallel to its
axis and intermediate between the two side-plates 6 and 7, there is arranged the
automatic reloading mechanism the frame 8 of which has its rear end connected
with the breech case.
Within the breech-case 2 there is adapted to slide longitudinally a bolt 9
(Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 11) containing the firing pin, the stem 11 of which is
enveloped in the helical spring 12 of the actual striker or hammer, while its
rear end carries the cock 13. Upon the upper side of the bolt 9 there is placed
the extractor terminating in a claw 14, which is fitted in front with a bevelled
stud 15 and is allowed a certain amount of "play" or displacement within its
chamber, so that it may perform a slight longitudinal movement on the bolt 9.

page_text: Along the lower edges, ahead of the bolt 9 there are furthermore secured by screws
two small flat-springs 16-16 (Figures 2, 6 and 11) parallel to each other and
adapted to engage with the flange of the cartridge 17 (Figures 2 and 11) at its
lower part. Motion is imparted to the bolt 9 backwards or forwards by either
pulling or pushing the operating knob or key 18 the stem or shank of which,
being held in its recess by a flat and hooked spring 19 (Figures 4 and 11) moves
within an elongated aperture 20 provided in the right hand wall of the breech
case 2.
Within the trigger guard 3 there is placed the trigger releasing mechanism
(Figures 2 and 11) consisting of the trigger proper 21 pivotted at 22 and out-
wardly protected from shocks by the bridge 23; the lever 24 pivotted at 25; the
sear-finger 26 pivotted to the lower end of the sear; and the sear itself, 27,
pivotted at 28. The sear 27 and sear-finger 26 are placed upon the inner surface
of the left hand cheek 29 of the breech case, and the complete mechanism con-
stantly tends to resume the position represented in Figure 2 under the action of
a V-shaped spring the apex whereof is secured by means of a screw 30 to the
lower wall of the trigger-guard 3, the upper arm 31 of this spring by its rounded
end exercises a pressure upon the short arm of the lever 24, the lower arm 32,
which is likewise rounded off, presses upon the upper undulated surface of the
"safety" device 33. This device consists of a small steel plate cut to the outline
shown in Figures 2 and 11 and provided with two side-grooves in which there engage
the edges of a rectangular aperture 34, formed in the lower plane surface of the
trigger guard. When by operating the milled head or knob 35 with the finger
the safety device is made to slide up to the forward end of its stroke the heel-
piece 36 terminating it takes up its position underneath and in contact with the
extremity of the short arm of the lever 24 and by preventing the same from
moving downwards locks the whole mechanism in position so that the weapon
cannot go off. But when the safety device 33 is pushed back into the position
indicated in Figures 2 and 11 the end of the lever 24 is thereby released and the
mechanism may be set in operation by pressing upon the trigger 21. Whichever
of the two positions just described the safety device 33 may be placed in, it is
retained there by the pressure of the arm 32 of the V-shaped spring the end of
which engages in one or the other of two notches provided in the upper surface
of the safety device 33.
The cartridges 37-37 are placed in the tubular magazine 5 extending through
the butt 4 and reaching to the end of such butt. At the bottom of this magazine
tube there is placed a coiled spring which constantly tends to repel a plug or
piston, whereon the file of cartridges rest, towards the opposite end of the tube.
These devices (viz. the coiled spring and piston) being constructed in a manner
well known are omitted from the drawings.
The tubular magazine 5 opens at or near the central part of the breech case 2
where it terminates in a piece which I call "the portal." The portal constituting
the inlet orifice of the tubular magazine 5 is formed of a ring 38 (Figures 1, 2,
3, 5 and 11) from the inner surfaces of which there protrudes through an aperture
provided for the purpose the beak or nose 39 of a tappet 40 pivotted at 41
(Figure 3) which a small flat spring tends to maintain in the position shown
in dotted lines in Figure 3. The said ring 38 is furthermore provided with stops
which the empty cartridge case 17 is to strike against when it is pulled back by
the extractor 14, and a piece or click 41* (Figure 5) pivotted at 42 is retained in
the position shown in the said figure by the action of a bent spring 43 secured
on to the portal 38. At its upper end the click or part 41* terminates in a nose 44
projecting from the inner surface of the portal 38. The lower end of the said
pawl has a bevelled tail piece 45 appended to it, which occupies an intermediate
position between a pushing or thrust knob 46 and the free end of the lever 24.
Ahead of the portal 38 between the two plane lateral cheeks 47 and 29 of the
breech case 2 there is situated the cartridge elevator. This device (as shown- in
Figures 1, 2, 3 and 6) consists of a block 49 capable of sliding vertically and

page_text: parallel to itself upon a guide 50 of T-shaped section, arranged on the inner
surface of the left hand cheek 29 of the breech-case 2, with which it is connected
by means of a slide-way 51 of corresponding shape. Within the elevator block
or trough 49 there is formed a chamber with an inner surface of cylindrical shape,
the upper wall of which is slotted; the slot being sufficiently wide to afford a
passage for the reduced front part 52 (Figures 2, 3, and 6) of the bolt 9. This
chamber is provided for the reception of the cartridge to be raised, which is
retained by a flat spring 48 (Figure 3) which presses it against its walls; the
vertical movement of the elevating trough being effected in such a manner that
when it reaches the lower end of its stroke, the said chamber will be just in front
of the portal 38, whereas when it is at the upper end of its movement, that chamber
will be exactly in a line with the firing chamber. By such means the cartridge
on being engaged as it leaves the magazine tube 5 is at the end of the upward
stroke of the elevator trough 49 brought to the requisite position for being thrust
into the firing chamber by the bolt 9. The vertical reciprocating movement
which is necessary to attain this result is imparted to the trough or cartridge
elevator 49 by the following mechanism; In the left hand side wall of the trough
there is provided a mortice or recess 53 (Figure 1) wherein engages and is adapted
to slide longitudinally the rounded end of the long arm 54 of the bell-crank lever
pivotted to the fixed pivot 55, the short arm 56 of which is joined by a pivot-
pin 57 to a link or chain 58 (Figures 1, 2, 3 and 8) which in its turn is jointed
to a block or slide 59 adapted to move parallel to the axis of the barrel 1 along a
guide 60 and provided on its right hand side with a projection or nose 61, the
whole of this lever system is arranged on the left hand side of the weapon, and
through its agency any longitudinal movement that the slide 59 may perform on
its guide is converted into a transverse vertical movement of the cartridge elevator
or trough 49. This longitudinal movement of the slide 59 is produced in the
manner hereinafter described. The automatic re-charging mechanism is con-
structed as follows:-
At the front part of the fire-arm, below and parallel to the axis of the barrel 1
there is arranged a cylinder 62 closed in front by a screw-plug 63 and communi-
cating with the bore of the barrel through a gas-inlet opening or port 64 situated
near its extremity. Within the cylinder 62 there is adapted to move a driving
piston 65 provided with an oil reservoir, located in its rod, and a lubricator.
Between this driving piston 65 and the bottom 66 of the cylinder 62 there is
compressed a spiral spring 67 coiled round the piston rod 68 and constantly
tending to move such rod and the piston itself towards the forward end of their
stroke. The piston rod 68 is loosely passed through the bottom 66 of the cylinder
and terminates in a flat head 69 whereon is pivotted a square plate 71 pivoted
at 70 and provided on one side with a hook 72, while the other side is extended,
as at 73, such extension being provided on its inner surface with a bevel faced
notch and passing through another notch formed for its reception in the bottom 66
of the cylinder 62. When the piston 65 is released and consequently situated
at the forward end of its stroke the said square plate 71, hook 72 and extension 73
of their own accord take up the position shown in full lines in Figures 2 and 3,
owing to the fact that by the tension of the coiled spring 67 the front edge of
the plate 7i is pressed against the bottom 66 of the cylinder. When the piston
rod 68 recedes towards the butt end of the gun, the plate 71 and hook 72, carried
along by such rod, will slide between the two flanges 74-75 extending along
the frame 8 which connects the bottom 66 of the cylinder 62 with the breech
case 2. The flange 74 on the right forms one piece extending without a break
all along the said frame 8 between the slide 59 and the bottom 66 of the cylin-
der 62, the left flange 75, however, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, is slotted or
notched from the point 76 to the said bottom 66 of the cylinder 62, offering a
rectangular opening which enables the hook 72, when it has come to the forward
end of its stroke, to turn upon its pivot-screw 70 by moving away from the
flange 74 of the frame 8; the said hook 72 being effectually precluded from

page_text: turning on its pivot as long as it is not at the forward end of its stroke, for if it
showed any tendency to do so it would strike against the flange 75. In the
frame 8 there is provided a double slide-way 77, 77 (Figures 2 and 3) along which
a slide 78 is adapted to move; from the upper surface of which slide there projects
a stud 79 having two inclined faces 80 and 81 so as to present the same outline
as the inner surface of the hook 72 which is adapted to engage with the said
stud 79 under circumstances which will be hereinafter specified.
The slide 78 is connected by a link 82 (Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 and 9) to the
operating key and knob 18 of the bolt 9. This link 82 is provided in the contre
(Figure 2) with an enlargement of extended heel-piece 83 the lower surface of
which is adapted to rub against the head of the piece 84, movable on a pivot 85,
projecting from the breech case 2 and prevent the rearward movement of the
slide 59.
The rifle thus constructed operates in the following manner: -
In order to insert the cartridges into the tubular magazine 5, the knob 46
(Figure 5) is pressed, whereby the pawl or click 41* will be swung round on its
pivot 42 and will cause the nose or beak 44 of the said pawl to resume its position
within its recess, and uncover the magazine entrance 5. Meantime the cartridges
are introduced through the aperture 86 (Figures 2, 7 and 8) into the trough 49,
in passing through which they will by means of their flanges raise a small mov-
able tappet 40 (Figures 3 and 5), which immediately afterwards will drop under
the action of its spring and thus retain the cartridge in the magazine 5. Each
cartridge thus inserted is consequently retained in position by its own flange
instead of being held by its end according to the usual practice; which important
arrangement enables cartridges of every description to be used. indiscriminately.
When the knob 46 is released, the pawl 41* under the influence of its spring 43
resumes its original position and its beak 44 retains in the trough the cartridge
last inserted, i.e. the one heading the file.
Instead of pressing the knob 46 in loading, the spring controlled pawl may be
moved on its pivot by the lever 24, by acting upon the trigger so as to ensure a
free passage for the cartridges on their way into the magazine.
Supposing now the magazine tube 5 has been filled with cartridges in the manner
just stated, while the firing chamber is still empty and the breech closed. In
this position of the parts, the hook 72 will be situated at the forward end of its
path, as will also be the slide 78; these two pieces being hooked together, by
the hook 72 engaging with the stud 79. To load the rifle, the breech is opened
by moving the bolt 9 back to the rearward end of its stroke, which is effected
by pulling the operating knob or key 18. At the very start of this movement,
the slide 78, which is moved by the link 82 connected to the said knob, will recede
simultaneously with it, and in so doing will become disengaged from the hook 72,
which will rise along the incline 81 of the stud 79 and turn on its pivot 70, so
that, the moment it is unhooked, it may resume its original position under the
influence of the pulling action of the coiled spring 67, as previously explained.
Owing to this release, the piston 65 and its rod 68 remain in place and do not
participate in the rearward motion of the slide 28. At the same time as this
release is effected, the extended heel 83 of the link 82, rubs against the piece 84,
and prevents the rearward movement of this piece and the slide 59. At the end
of the rearward stroke of the bolt 9 the slide 78 strikes the front surface of the
slide 59 and moves the same backward so as to cause the beak 61 of the said slide
to move the piece 84 back into its vertical position. The rearward movement thus
imparted to the slide 59 is transmitted, in the manner above described through
the link 58 to the bell-crank lever 56, 54, the effect being to raise the trough 49,
together with the cartridge it contains, to the top of its stroke and into line with
the barrel 1; the next following cartridge being held back in the magazine by
the nose 39 of the tappet 40. It will be understood that the moment the trough
has been raised in the manner stated, the flange of the cartridge it contains will
be no longer retained by the nose of the said tappet 40 and that consequently

page_text: such cartridge may subsequently be readily forced into the firing chamber by the
bolt 9 when the breech is closed.
The breech is now closed by means of the knob 18 which is pushed for the
purpose to the front ends of its stroke. The forward edge of the bolt 9 meets the
rear-end of the cartridge contained in the trough 49 and forces such cartridge
into the firing chamber where the claw 14 of the extractor and the hooks termi-
nating the small springs 16, 16, immediately engage its flange. The mechanism
is so timed that, just when the cartridge leaves the trough 49, the edge of the
heel 83. of the link 82, in its forward movement, will strike against the head of
the piece 84 and cause it to resume the positions represented in Figure 2. As
the piece 8+ swings upon its pivot 85 it acts upon the beak or nose of the slide 59
with which it was already in contact and pushes such slide towards the muzzle
of the gun. This movement of the slide is as before explained converted into a
downward movement of the arm 54 of the bell-crank lever 54, 56, which brings
the trough 49 down to the lower end of its stroke, the walls of which trough pass
over the plane surfaces of the reduced front part 52 of the bolt 9.
The trough 49 is thus in readiness to receive the next cartridge which at the
moment is retained in the magazine tube 5 by the beak 44 of the pawl 41*, but
which may advance in the trough (under the impulse of the compressed coiled
spring at the bottom of the said magazine tube) as soon as the gun has been fired,
as will be hereinafter explained.
Just before the bolt 9 comes to the end of its forward stroke, the sear-beak 27
projecting from the bottom of breech-case 2 engages with part 13 connected with
the shank or stem 11 of the firing pin and thereby locks such firing pin in its
cocked position. The bolt continues to move along and as it reaches the end of
its path is kept from returning by the pawl arrangement which under the action
of its spring becomes firmly propped against the front edge of the abutting or
arresting plate. It will besides be observed in this connection that at the end
of the forward stroke of the bolt 9 the slide 78, under the impulse of the link 82,
has come into engagement with the hook 72 by means of its stud 79; the beak
or nose of such hook having moved up along the incline 80, prior to resuming
its normal position shown in full lines in Figure 3.
The rifle is now in the "cocked" position and in readiness for firing unless
it be locked against firing, which is effected by pushing forward the heel 36 of
the safety device 33, as before stated.
Supposing however, that this has not been done and that the trigger 21 is
pressed for firing; the lever 24 will then swing round on its pivot 25 and its
long arm will push the finger 26 of the sear 27 in the upward direction. The
sear will accordingly turn on its pivot 28; its beak will release the part 13 of the
striking pin 10, and the latter, under the impulse of its spring 12, will strike
the priming of the cartridge 17, thereby firing the gun. In the meantime the end
of the long arm of the lever 24 has raised the short arm of the pawl 41* (Figures 2
and 5), the beak 44 of which pawl, by moving out of the way, has allowed a fresh
cartridge to enter the trough or elevator 49 under the impulse of the coiled spring
compressed at the bottom of the magazine tube 5.
Directly the bullet or charge of shot has moved past the aperture or port 64
the gunpowder gases, compressed in the barrel, pass into the cylinder and repel
the piston 65 as far as the rear end of its path. As the rifle is being fired the
extension 73 (Figure 3) by rubbing with its inward edge against the bottom 66
of the cylinder 62 ensures the maintenance of the engagement of the hook 72
with the stud 79 of the slide 78, until the hook 72 has past the point 76 where
the notch of the flange 75 terminates.
The rearward movement of the piston 65 is transmitted to the bolt 9 through
the medium of the rod 68 of the piston 65, of the head 69, the slide 78 and the
link 82, and the breech mechanism operates in a manner identical with that
described above in when the breech is opened by hand. At the same time the
bolt 9, in receding causes the empty cartridge-case to be extracted; which cart-

page_text: ridge-case, on having been taken hold of by the claw 14 of the extractor, and
by it brought to the end of its journey, will strike the lower part of its flange
against the stops of the portal, 38 with the result that it will be as it were tripped
up and thus ejected from the gun; for it has already been observed that the said
extractor has the peculiar property of being capable of performing a slight move-
ment on the bolt 9. Owing to this arrangement, when the breech opens, the said
bolt 9 engages the extractor through the forward incline of the stud 15 (Figure 2),
so that the said extractor cannot rise, being removed along in the rearward direc-
tion by the bolt 9; nor can it therefore escape from contact with the flange of
the cartridge 17, which is then sustained below by the springs 16, which springs
do not come into operation unless it is desired to lock the mechanism in position.
The mechanism is so timed that just before the slide 78 and bolt '9, connected
by the link 82 come to a stop at the forward end of their joint movement, the
bullet may leave the barrel, thereby allowing the compressed gases, evolved by
the explosion of the charge, to escape from the muzzle of the gun.
And very
shortly after this has happened, viz. the moment the slide 78 and bolt 9 have,
by their momentum, reached the rearward end of their stroke, the coiled spring 67,
which was compressed during their return or recoil, will cause the piston 65, the
rod 68 of the same and the hook 72 to advance once more to their initial positions.
And inasmuch as the said hook 72 may not then disengage itself from the stud 79,
owing to the action of the flange 75 which prevents it from turning on its screw
pivot 70, the slide 78 and also consequently the bolt 9 are, together with the
piston 65, again moved to the forward end of their path or stroke, with sufficient
force to close the breech; the dimensions and the initial tension of the spring 67
being suitably adjusted to attain this end. The operation is as above described,
viz. just as though the breech were closed by hand; and the rifle is once again
ready for firing; for the mechanism 21, 24, 26, 27 of the trigger and its springs
are so arranged that the sear 27 shall always return to its place where it must
engage with the part 13 of the percussion device, even though the marksman's
finger may be on the trigger at the time. This is owing to the relative position
of the axes, the arrangement of the several parts forming the trigger mechanism,
and the operation of the springs. It will be seen that it is essential to set the
sear 27 in operation whenever it is desired to release the percussion device or
striking pin 10, so that the discharge of the firearm cannot take place unless it is
required so to do. It is only necessary, therefore, to operate the trigger 21 to enable
the gun to be discharged as many times in succession as the proper movement
is repeated, provided there is an adequate supply of cartridges in the magazine.
From the foregoing remarks it will be understood that, when the rifle is opened
by hand, the bolt 9 becomes independent of the driving piston 65; it remaining
exposed in all positions. When, however, the fire-arm acts by means of the gases
arising from the explosion of the charge, it opens and closes of its own accord,
automatically. The release of the link 82 and piston 65 enables the weapon to be
readily opened and generally to be handled as an ordinary repeating rifle. This
feature is one of paramount importance, and, in fact, indispensible. Besides,
the opening of the bolt 9 under the action of the gases occurs when the projectile
has already left the barrel; as, where this is not so, rearward "spurting" might
set in to the danger of the marksman; in addition to which the range would
thereby be materially shortened, or, practically reduced to nil. It will also be
noted that a reservoir is specially provided, as a part of the cylinder 62, for the
purpose of checking or keeping under control, the action exercised by the gases
upon the said piston, so as to permit the bullet to leave the barrel before the
said gases have had time to effect the withdrawal of the bolt 9, lest that should
also result in rearward discharges. The said reservoir may be at will enlarged
or reduced in size or volume so as to suit circumstances and fulfil the require-
ments of each case.
Should the marksman at any time be desirous of emptying the magazine wholly
or partially, all he need do is to raise the small tappet 40, when the cartridges

page_text: contained in the magazine tube 5 will at once yield to the pressure of the helical
spring concealed within the butt or stock and be thus ejected from the magazine.
This method of emptying and charging the magazine is of great advantage as it
relieves the marksman from any necessity of handling the firearm itself during
these magazine charging and discharging operations.
If preferred this rifle may be used in the same way as an ordinary repeating
rifle, it being only necessary to first render the automatic loading mechanism
inoperative. To effect this it is sufficient either to disconnect the link 82 which
joins the slide 78 to the bolt 9, or to remove the screw-plug 63 which closes the
forward end of the cylinder 62, so that the gases produced by the explosion may
freely escape outside instead of forcing back the driving piston 65.
In a word, this rifle presents the advantage of being equally well adapted for
use either as a non-repeating rifle (when the tubular magazine must be left empty,
the successive cartridges being inserted into the firing chamber singly, by hand);
or as an ordinary repeating rifle (in which case a supply of cartridges should be
placed in the tube and the automatic re-loading mechanism secured in the position
of rest, as above set forth), or as a combined repeating and automatically loading
rifle, when the re-loading mechanism is left in its operative position as has been
fully described above.
In the above description we have assumed our invention to have been applied
to a sporting gun, but it will readily be understood that the same construction
may be fitted, without any material alteration, to army rifles of every desirable
bore.
Our self-loading mechanism, in particular may be applied to that class of army
and sporting rifles known as "central magazine rifles," where the cartridges are
placed one above the other in a central magazine situated above the bolt and
actuated by a spring controlled cartridge feeder. To this end it would only be
necessary to do away with the tubular magazine 5 the portal 38 with its acces-
sories, and cartridge-raising apparatus made up of the slide 59, link 58, bell crank
lever 54, 56, and trough 49; the cartridge being in that case raised automatically
as they are required, viz.: one at a time whenever the rifle is fired, by the cart-
ridge elevator provided in the magazine.
We do not limit ourselves to the particular type of construction hercinabove
described and shown in the drawing which illustrates an example only of how
the invention may be carried out.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:-
(1) An automatic re-loading mechanism for sporting or other guns of any
bore with tubular magazine; such mechanism being formed by the combination
of a "driving" cylinder 62 closed at its forward end by a screw plug 63, and
communicating with the interior of the barrel 1 through a port or channel 64
provided for the passage of gases; a piston 65 repelled by a spring 67 and adapted
to move within the said cylinder, the rod 68 of such piston terminating in a
head 69 which carries a pivotted hook 72, movable along a flange 75 of the frame
work: a slide 78, movable along the said frame and capable of engaging with
the said hook by means of a stud 79 having inclined or bevelled faces; a link 82
connecting the said slide 78 to the knob or key 18 of the bolt 9 and provided
with an extended piece 83; a piece such as 84 capable of swinging on a pivot as
a result of the action thereon of the link 82; a slide or runner 59 adapted to
move in the longitudinal direction and provided with a beak or nose 61 capable
of coming into contact with the said piece 84; a link 58 which serves to connect
the said slide or runner 59 to the short arm of a bell-crank lever such as 54, 56;
the movable bell-crank lever 54, 56 the long arm 54 of which serves to raise or
lower the trough or cartridge-elevator 49; the said trough or cartridge elevator 49
capable of moving vertically along a slide way 50 provided for the purpose on

page_text: the inner wall of the breech case and provided at its upper part with a slot affording
a passage for the bolt 9, all substantially as and for the purpose specified.
(2) An automatic re-loading mechanism for sporting or other guns of any
bore, with central magazines and cartridge elevators fitted thereto; such mechanism
being formed by the combination of a driving cylinder 62 closed at its forward
end by a screw plug 63 and communicating with the interior of the barrel 1
through a gas escape port or channel 64; a piston 65 repelled by a spring 67 and
adapted to move within the said cylinder,--the rod 68 of such piston terminating
in a head 69 provided with pivotted hook 72 adapted to move along a flange 75
of the frame-a slide 78 adapted to move along the said frame and capable of
engaging with the said hook by means of a stud 79 having bevelled surfaces or
inclines; and a link 82 connecting the said slide 78 to the key or knob 18 of the
bolt; substantially as and for the purpose specified.
(3) A tubular magazine for sporting and other repeating rifles of any borc,
consisting of a tube 5 which contains a plug or piston sustaining the pushing
action of a spring and serving to move the cartridge; such tube terminating at
its open end in a portal 38 which serves for the admission of cartridges and for
retaining them within the magazine tube 5; the said portal being formed by a
ring provided with the following accessory parts:-(a) stops against which is
adapted to strike the empty cartridge case as it is with-drawn by the extractor;
(b) a spring controlled tappet 40 movable on a pivot 41, the beak or nose 39 of
which tappet retains the cartridges by their flange within the magazine tube 5;
(c) a spring controlled pawl 41* movable on a pivot 42, the beak or nose 44 of
which retains the cartridges by their bottoms so as to prevent them from returning
from the trough 19 into the tubular magazine 5, the said pawl being capable of
displacement in spite of the resistance of its repelling spring 43 and of being
operated either by hand-by pressing upon a pushing knob 46,-or by a lever 24
forming part of the trigger mechanism-when such trigger is pressed; sub-
stantially as and for the purpose specified.
(4) A safety device for trigger mechanism of any construction, consisting of a
steel plate 33 the front part of which is provided with a milled head or knob 35
enabling it to be slid longitudinally in an aperture provided for the purpose in
the lower wall of the trigger guard, while its rearward end has a heel-piece 36
appended to it, which is adapted to secure the trigger against motion; the said
safety device being retained in the position to which it has been moved by the
pressure of the lower arm of the trigger spring 31, 32; substantially as and for
the purpose specified.
(5) In combination with the safety device referred to in the 4th Claim, trigger
mechanism applicable to firearms of any type or construction adapted to be closed
by bolts, and consisting of the trigger proper 21 mounted on a pivot 22; a lever 24,
mounted on a pivot 25; a sear finger 26, pivotted to the lower end of the sear 27;
and a sear 27 movable on its pivot 28; all of which parts are subjected to the
action of a V-shaped trigger-spring, the upper arm 31 of which presses against
the short arm of the lever 24, while its lower arm 32 presses upon the safety
device 33; substantially as and for the purpose specified with reference to
Figures 1, 2, 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 1st day of Anril 1898.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.