Improvements in Breech-loading Small Arms.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 25th June, 1898-Accepted, 10th Sept., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Breech-loading Small Arms.
I, JOHN WILLIAM MACKENZIE, of the Firm of Wheatley & Mackenzie, Engineers
and Patent Agents, of 40, Chancery Lane, in the County of London, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention, which has been communicated to me from
abroad by George Lincoln l'utnam and Charles Henry Farmer, both of No. 1144,
Broadway, in the City of New York, County and State of New York, United
States of America, and both Mechanicians, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
The invention relates to that class of magazine breech-loading guns known as
"bolt-guns"; and more particularly to such guns in which the breech-bolt and
its actuator are capable of a generally reciprocatory movement in the receiver,
and the said actuator is operated by a grip capable of reciprocation on the exterior
of the gun by a "straight-pull" movement, and in which the bolt carries a spring-
impelled firing-pin.
In guns of this class it is regarded as important for their effective use in firing
from the magazine that the gun should be capable of being continuously main-
tained at the shoulder and the "line of sight" preserved during the successive
discharges of the entire magazine-reserve of cartridges; and the primary object
of the invention is to provide a gun in the manipulation of the operative mechan-
ism of which the physical effort demanded shall be so minimized that any necessity
to remove the gun from the shoulder in order to effect such manipulation is
obviated.
A further object of the invention is to provide a gun in which the magazine-
mechanism and the firing-mechanism are simultaneously fixedly adjustable to
hold the magazine out of use and enable the firing of a cartridge in the firing-
chamber to be effected only by a vibration of the trigger, or to hold the magazine
in use and enable the firing of the gun to be automatically effected by the trigger
in the manipulation of the operative mechanism to open and close the breech;
whereby the gun may be optionally used as a simple breech-loader, to fire cart-
ridges, loaded singly from the belt, by a distinct manipulation of the trigger,
or as a magazine-repeater, to successively fire the cartridges held in the magazine,
by the manipulation only of the breech-bolt actuator-devices; and whereby the
adjustment of the gun from "single" to "magazine" fire may be effected while
the gun-mechanism is in any position it may properly assume during its operation.
A further object of the invention is to provide means to facilitate the extraction
of cartridge-shells from the firing-chamber; whereby a multiple of the effort
exerted upon the operative-mechanism for this purpose will be exerted upon the
seated shell, and consequently the minimizing of effort demanded in the manipula-
tion of the gun be promoted.
A further object of the invention is to provide a grip for the operation of the
reciprocatory breech-bolt-actuator, which is capable of manipulation in a "straight-
pull" movement on the receiver in a manner most convenient for the execution
of effort while the gun is at the shoulder to effect such movement of said grip,
and in effecting such movement of which the liability to simultaneously manipu-

page_text: late the firing-trigger is minimized, and also in effecting a throw of which in
the direction to open the breech the liability to initiate such throw until a deter-
minate interval of time elapses after the gun is fired is likewise minimized;
whereby the liability to fire the gun convulsively," or to encounter the danger
of "hang-fires," is practically obviated.
<
A further object of the invention is to provide means by which when a movement
of the breech-bolt in either direction, to open or close the breech, is initiated, it
must be pursued and completed before any movement of said bolt in the reverse
direction can be made; whereby the liability that the bolt, as in a reciprocation
thereof, will, in its breech-closing movement, engage and force to or into the
firing-chamber a live cartridge before, in its breech-opening movement, it has
effected the extraction and ejection of the spent-shell, will be avoided and conse-
quently the double-loading" of the gun be prevented.
And a further object of the invention is to provide means to visually indicate
by a distinct signal on the exterior of the gun, the adjustment of the gun mechan-
ism for either "magazine or single fire; whereby the use of the magazine
"
"
in firing may be detectible, as by an officer in command.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the receiver of a gun containing the invention
and illustrating the preferable form of grip and the visual appearance of the
magazine when the gun is adjusted for use as a simple breech-loader;
Figure 2 is a similar view of the magazine, in detail, illustrating its visual
appearance when the gun is adjusted for "magazine" fire;
Figure 3 is a vertical cross-section on the line y, y, Figure 1, through the under-
side of the receiver, looking rearwardly, and showing the preferable form of grip;
Figure 4 is a horizontal section, enlarged, through the magazine, on line t,t,
Figure 1, looking downwardly;
Figure 5 is a vertical cross-section on the line y³, y², Figure 1, looking forwardly,
and illustrating a modified form of grip;
"
Figure 6 is a vertical, longitudinal, central section through the receiver and
showing the several parts of the mechanism in position when the magazine is
adjusted to be out of use and the gun is adapted for use as a breech-loader in
single" firing, and is cocked;
Figure 7 is a vertical cross-section on the line z, z, Figure 6, through the receiver,
looking forwardly, towards the firing-chamber;
Figure 8 is a perspective view, in detail, of the preferable form of the auxilliary
cartridge-shell extractor;
Figure 9 is a sectional view similar to that of Figure 6, but showing the
mechanism in position immediately after the gun is fired;
Figure 10 is a side elevation of the breech-bolt;
Figure 11 is a plan of the same;
Figure 12 is a front elevation of the same;
Figure 13 is a rear end elevation of the same;
Figure 14 is a sectional view similar to that of Figure 6, but showing the
mechanism in position after the grip has been initially manipulated to unlock
the breech-bolt and said bolt is ready to be thrown in the receiver by a further
pull on the grip;
Figure 15 is a forward-face elevation of the grip and its connected breech-bolt-
actuator and showing, in cross-section, detached, the ways for the same;
Figure 16 is a plan of the parts shown in Figure 15;
Figure 17 is a sectional view similar to that of Figure 6, but showing the
mechanism in position when the breech-bolt has been thrown in the receiver to
the limit of its breech-opening movement, the spent shell has been extracted
and ejected, and the bolt is ready to be thown to close the breech and to effect
the seating of a fresh cartridge in the firing-chamber, and to cock the gun; thus
bringing the mechanism into the position illustrated in Figure 6.
Figure 18 is a side elevation, in detail, of the breech-bolt-actuator and its
grip and attached devices;

page_text: Figure 19 is a longitudinal central section, in detail, taken vertically through
the actuator and grip shown in Figure 18;
Figure 20 is a vertical, longitudinal, central section through the actuator and
grip, the same being shown at the limit of forward movement on their ways;
Figure 21 is a similar view of the same, shown during an interval of rearward
movement on the ways;
Figure 22 is a similar view of the same, shown at the limit of rearward move-
ment on the ways;
Figure 23 is a similar view of the same, shown during an interval of forward
movement on the ways;
Figure 24 is a vertical cross-section on the line 21, 21, Figure 21, through the
actuator and its ways, the grip being omitted;
Figure 25 is an enlarged vertical, longitudinal, sectional view of the magazine
and receiver, showing the several parts in position when the devices common to
and adapted to control the magazine and firing-mechanism are fixed to adjust
the magazine out of use and to permit the gun to be used as a simple breech-loader
and to be fired by the distinct manipulation of the trigger, the gun being shown
cocked;
Figure 26 is a plan, partly in section, taken on the line y¹, y¹, Figure 25,
looking downwardly, and showing a form and arrangement of sear which may
be employed as part of the firing-mechanism, together with devices common to
said sear and the magazine-mechanism which may be used to control and adjust
the same in accordance with the invention;
Figure 27 is a side elevation of the same parts viewed from the reverse side
thereof to that illustrated in Figure 25;
Figure 28 is an enlarged, vertical cross-section on the line,, Figure 25,
through the trigger-engaging arm of the sear shown in Figure 27 and the secr
engaging arm of the trigger employed in connection therewith;
Figure 29 is a sectional view similar to that of Figure 25, but showing the
parts in position when the magazine and firing mechanisms are simultaneously
adjusted to bring the magazine into use in firing and to permit the automatic
firing of the gun to be effected by the operation of the breech-bolt-actuator; the
gun being shown about to be fired by the conclusion of a movement of said
actuator in the direction to seat the bolt in the breech;
Figure 30 is a plan, partly in section on the line ¹, a, Figure 29, looking
downwardly, showing the sear and trigger in the same relative positions as those
indicated in Figure 29; and
Figure 31 is an enlarged perspective view, in detail, of the form of sear and
the trigger-nose illustrated in the preceding figures.
In the gun illustrated in the drawings, A is the receiver, A¹ the firing-chamber,
and B the breech-bolt provided with the spring-impelled firing-pin P, and with
devices, such as the usual ones shown at 6 and 61, for gripping the rim of and
tending to extract the cartridge-shell from the firing-chamber when the bolt is
thrown to open the breach, while a usual form of shell-ejector is shown at b³,
operated by a wing or wings on the underside of the forward end of the bolt in
the well known manner. The bolt B has vertical movement in the receiver to
engage and disengage the lock-shoulder a on the receiver by the shoulder
on the bolt; and also has rectilinear reciprocatory movement to open and close
the breech, in which latter movement it is guided by ways a¹ and a² on the
receiver, engaged respectively by trunnions 6 on the forward end of the bolt and
by the upper side of the rearward end of the bolt itself. The breech-bolt-actuator
is composed of a frame (which reciprocates in the rearward part of the receiver
on ways C located therein below the bolt in its play, and is guided by shoulders a
on the receiver parallel to said ways. The ways C may be detachably seated in
the receiver by means of trunnions on their forward ends renovably fitting in
sockets in the stock, and a catch in the butt, adapted to engage or disengage
the rearward end of the ways, as plainly shown in Figure 9. The breech-bolt may

page_text: be directly engaged at its rearward end to the actuator C, as, for example, by a
depending tail-piece, B¹, which is bifurcated to permit the play therein of the
firing-pin, and which tail-piece B¹ enters and plays in a slot in the upward
part of said frame C, and has on its outward sides the laterally projecting trunnions b
and lugs 68, adapted to respectively engage and traverse the under and upper
faces of the rectilinear top c of said frame which is parallel to the ways C¹ thereof,
and to similarly engage and traverse the under and upper faces of the downwardly
and forwardly inclined portion c¹ of the frame. A forward upright portion c³,
and a rearward and rearwardly inclined portion of the frame, slotted to permit
the play therein of further parts of the mechanism, sustain the described upward
portions of said frame and rigidly unite them to the base c thereof, said base
being seated on and adapted to traverse the ways C, and slotted to permit the
play of the trigger T, which is fulcrumed in said base at t. The trigger is
adapted to vibrate in one direction, as downwardly, against its controlling-spring,
and to be stopped in its reverse vibration, under the stress of said spring, against
a shoulder on said frame-base and thus rigidly held in normal position. The
rectilinear portion c of the frame-top is of a length to permit the trunnions 67 to
rest at the rearward end thereof when said frame is at the limit of its forward
movement on its ways and the breech-bolt is seated in the breech, and to permit
a slight movement of said frame rearwardly or forwardly on said ways, respec-
tively before and after the trunnions 67 and lugs 68 on the bolt-tail pass to engage-
ment with or disengagement from the inclined portion c¹ of the frame, so that,
during such slight movement thereof, the unlocking and locking, respectively,
in position on said ways, of the frame, relatively to the receiver, as hereinafter
described, may be effected before and after the breech-bolt is respectively unseated
from or seated in the breech. By means of the actuator-frame C constructed as
described, and the breech-bolt formed as set forth, and having the stated engage-
ment with said frame, when, during the rearward throw of the frame on its ways,
the trunnions 7 and lugs 68 pass from the top c of the frame to engagement with
the inclined portion c¹ thereof, their downward traverse of said inclined portion,
the same being of suitable length for the purpose, will operate to tilt the rearward
end of the bolt downwardly and disengage the bolt-shoulder 62 from the lock-
shoulder a, and bring the upper side of the rearward end of the bolt to its
guides a in the receiver, as shown in Figure 14; while the trunnions 67 will then
engage the front of the frame and the lugs will enter notches 610, shown
plainly on the frame in Figures 20 to 23 and 25 and 29, so that the further rear-
ward throw of the frame and the early and major portion of the succeeding for-
ward throw thereof will, as illustrated in Figure 17, respectively draw the bolt
rearwardly and thrust it forwardly in the receiver, whereupon, during the latter
part of the forward throw of said frame, the said trunnions 67 and lugs 68 will
pass to and reversely or upwardly traverse the inclined-portion c¹ of the frame,
thus operating to tilt the rearward end of the bolt upwardly to engage its
shoulder 62 to the lock-shoulder, a; and the said engagement of the bolt by its
rearward end to its actuator, will give an effective leverage to force a cartridge,
impelled by the forward end of the bolt, to its seat in the firing-chamber.
Furthermore, in the gun illustrated, M is the magazine attached to and having
an opening, usually immediately below the breech, into the receiver, and adapted
to receive a charge of several cartridges, m, held in a known form of clip m¹,
plainly shown in Figures 25 and 29, the upper and under edges of the sides of
which clip somewhat overlap the exposed surfaces of the top and bottom cart-
tridges seated therein, and which clip is capable of movement in the magazine
towards and from the opening therefrom into the receiver, so that the cartridge
immediately adjacent to such opening may be held in or out of the range of the
breech-bolt in its breech-closing movement. A spring m³ acts, as through a
lever m³ which engages the bottom cartridge in the clip, to successively maintain
the cartridges immediately adjacent to said receiver opening and, by the described

page_text: engagement of the upper edges of the clip-sides with the cartridges thus main-
tained, to sustain the clip and its contained cartridges so that the cartridge
immediately adjacent to said receiver-opening will be held in the range of the
breech-bolt in its said breech-closing movement.
While the hereinafter described devices comprised in the invention are specially
applicable to and may be effectively employed in a gun containing the specific
mechanism herein before described and adapted to operate as herein before set
forth, they are capable of effective employment in magazine breech-loading bolt-
guns generally, either in the forms herein shown and described as preferable, or
in such modified forms as will not vary from the essential features of the inven-
tion; and hence the employment of the invention is not limited to a gun contain-
ing the specific mechanism herein before described, nor the features of the inven-
tion to the specific devices for embodying the same herein set forth.
A feature of the invention consists in a grip for the reciprocatory breech-bolt-
actuator C composed of a rigid projection thereon extending to and having play
on the exterior of the receiver, to reciprocate said actuator, and transversely
slotted adjacently to its junction with said actuator, and provided with an exten-
sion reaching from and beyond the outward portion thereof, opposite to its junc-
tion with said actuator in the direction below or laterally of the receiver;
whereby an operating grip for the breech-bolt-actuator may be constituted which
may also form a guard for the trigger, and which may be conveniently operated
in a "straight-pull" movement by an easy and natural flexion of the elbow of one
arm while the gun is held to the shoulder by the other, and during which opera-
tion of the grip the liability that a finger will manipulate the trigger is minimized.
In embodying this feature of the invention the projection 1) is preferably
formed rigidly on the underside of and in the same piece with the frame C, to
extend to and have play in a longitudinal slot in the underside of the receiver;
and in the portion thereof adjacent to its junction with said frame the wide
transverse slot d is formed to constitute therein the guard for the trigger T
carried by the actuator C; and on the outward portion of said projection 1)
opposite to its junction with said frame C, the rigid extension is formed
reaching from and beyond said outward portion of said projection either in the
direction below the receiver, as illustrated generally in the drawings, or in the
direction laterally, and preferably to the right, of the receiver, as illustrated in
Figure 5. It is believed to be desirable to have said extension d' reach, as
described, in the direction below the receiver, and to give to said united pro-
jection and extension the respective front and rear concave gripping-faces d
and and to have said faces most widely divergent from each other at the junction
of said projection with said actuator, convergent towards each other on said
projection and divergent from each other on said extension, the outward or lower
end d of which may be given a flattened curve, as shown. The said extension d'
may advantageously be centrally slotted transversely, so that the grip consisting
of said projection and extension will be in the form of a skeleton frame having
the described contour with a cross-piece about midway of its length constituting
the underside of the trigger-guard.
It is evident that the projection D and its extension d', constructed as set forth,
will constitute an operating-grip for the reciprocatory breech-bolt-actuator C,
which may be conveniently grasped and manipulated by one hand and with an
easy motion of the arm in a "straight-pull" movement, while the gun is at the
shoulder, and which also comprises and constitutes a guard for the trigger.
The described grip is preferably provided with a locking-device adapted to
engage the receiver when the actuator and grip are thrown to the limit of their
movement in the receiver in the direction to seat the breech-bolt in the breech,
and so lock the parts in position, and adapted to be manipulated simultaneously
with the grip, in the application of effort to the front face thereof in effecting
a reverse throw of the actuator and grip, to release said device from engagement
with the receiver and so permit such reverse throw and the opening of the breech.

page_text: This device may consist of a spring-actuated lever D₁ fulcrumed, as in a slotted
recess d³, in the upper part of the front side of the grip, with a trigger arm de
protruding somewhat beyond said side of the grip and a catch-arm & actuated
by the spring 8 to engage a notch in the underside of each of the ways C¹ on
the receiver, when the grip is at the limit of movement in the direction to close
the breech.
Now, when the described grip is manipulated for a forward throw from the
position shown in Figure 17 to that shown in Figure 6, it is evident that the effort
applied to the grip for this purpose while the gun is at the shoulder, will most
naturally be exerted by pressure of the ball of the thumb fitting to and upon the
rear concave face of the grip, and that consequently the fingers of the hand,
which may reach over the front face of the grip, will naturally be relaxed, so
that no pressure will be thereby, and more particularly by the index-finger, exerted
upon the arm de of the lever D¹; whereby when the grip reaches the limit of
its said throw, the arm of the lever D¹ will be free to automatically engage the
lock-notch c. When the grip is then manipulated to be thrown rearwardly from
the position shown in Figure 9 to those successively shown in Figures 14 and 17,
it is evident that, the gun being at the shoulder, the fingers of the hand on the
grip will naturally grasp and exert pressure upon the face thereof with the
initial effect of vibrating the lever D¹, by the pressure of the index-finger upon
the arm thereof, thereby unlocking the catch & from the notch c5; and with the
further effect of pulling the released grip rearwardly by an easy and natural
flexion of the arm at the elbow, with the arm in a position which is convenient
to the exertion of such muscular effort. It is furthermore evident that, in using
the gun as a simple breech-loader, when the grip is manipulated to throw it
forward to close the breech, the hand will be in such position on the grip that
it would be awkward and inconvenient, if not almost impossible, for a finger of
said hand to be inserted in the trigger-guard and press the trigger so as to fire
the gun the instant the grip is locked forward; but that the easiest, most naturai
and hence probable position of said hand during and at the conclusion of said
forward throw of the grip will be such that when the grip is locked forward, the
ball of the thumb will first be relaxed from the rear face of the grip and then
the index-finger of the same hand deliberately inserted in the trigger-guard to
pull the trigger. It is likewise evident that, in using the gun continuously at
the shoulder as a magazine-repeater, when the forward throw of the grip operates,
the instant after it is locked forward, as hereinafter described, to fire the gun,
pressure must be exerted by the fingers upon the arm of the locking-lever D₁
before the grip can be thrown rearwardly; thus necessitating a complete reversal
of the muscular effort of the hand on the grip at each forward and rearward throw
thereof. It is therefore apparent that the "convulsive" or non-predetermined
firing of the gun is prevented; and also that, owing to the unavoidable lapse of
an appreciable moment of time between the instant the trigger is pulled and
that at which the arm of the lever D' is depressed, in "single" firing, owing
to the necessity of withdrawing the finger from the trigger-guard and placing it
on the front face of the grip; or to the similar lapse of time between the instant
the forward throw of the grip operates to automatically fire the gun and that at
which the said arm do is depressed, in "magazine" firing, owing to the necessity
of relaxing the ball of the thumb from the face d³ of the grip and closing the
fingers of the hand upon the front face thereof; there will, in either case, a
sufficient space of time elapse to permit a cartridge, the explosion of which may
be retarded in the firing-chamber, to explode before the breech-bolt is moved to
open the breech; whereby the danger from "hang-fire" is avoided.
A further feature of the invention consists in a lever having arms of different
lengths, fulcrumed in the receiver, with the short arm adapted to engage the
breech-bolt provided with devices to grip a cartridge-shell seated in the firing-
chamber, and with its long arm adapted to be engaged by the breech-bolt-actuator,

page_text: to vibrate said lever, during the initial part of the operation of said actuator to
retract the breech-bolt from the firing-chamber.
This lever is preferably constituted in the form shown at E, Figure 8, as a
bell-crank, desirably double, fulcrumed at e, as in a recess a', in the upper part of
the receiver immediately above the rearward portion of the breech-bolt when the
latter is in the breech. This lever has the short arm or arms e¹ and the long arm
or arms e. The double bell-crank, as shown, is believed to be preferable, as the
lever thus operates more effectively on the breech-bolt. The axis e³ of said double
lever desirably reaches across the receiver and one of the two short arms e¹, when
the bolt is in the breech, depends upon each side thereof immediately forward of
and in contact engagement with a pin or stud 6 on each side of the bolt; while
one of the two long arms e depends to the lower part of the receiver between each
of the receiver side-walls and the sides of the frame C, and lies in the path of
a pin or stud projecting from each of said sides of said frame when said frame
is thrown rearwardly on its ways. A spring acts to hold the lever with its
arms e¹ in contact with the pins 69, and to vibrate it upwardly and rearwardly in
the receiver when such contact-engagement is interrupted.
It is evident that, after the gun is fired and when the bolt-actuator-frame
is moved rearwardly from the position shown in Figure 9 to that shown in
Figure 14, to unlock the bolt from the shoulder a, the short arms e¹ of the lever E,
the same being of a suitable length for the purpose, will have the described
contact-engagement on their rearward sides near their free ends with the pins
on the bolt, while the pins on frame C will have established contact-engagement
with the forward sides near their free ends of the long arms of said lever; and
that, during the initial part of the further rearward throw of the frame C, the
pins c6 will act to vibrate the lever E rearwardly until they pass under the said
ends of and thus escape from engagement with said long arms, the same being
of suitable length for this purpose; thereby causing the short arms e¹ thereof to
act upon the bolt B to retract it from the firing-chamber with a multiple of the
force applied to the grip of the actuator C, so that in the extraction of cartridge-
shells, gripped by the devices and b¹ of the bolt, from the firing-chamber, the
force demanded to be exerted upon the grip to start a swelled or jammed shell
will be minimized, enabling the gun to be maintained at the shoulder and the
line of sight" preserved, in niagazine firing.
When the contact-engagement of the pins 69 with the arms e¹ of the lever E is
interrupted during the throw of the frame C and the bolt to their rearward limit,
the said lever will be vibrated rearwardly by its spring e, as shown in Figure 17,
so that the arms will be above the path of the frame-pins during a forward
throw of the frame and bolt, while the arms & will lie in the path of and be
engaged by the bolt-pins 6, thereby forwardly vibrating the said lever E and
restoring it to the position shown in Figure 6 at the conclusion of said throw
and when the gun is cocked ready to again be fired.
In order that the breech-bolt may be unseated from the breech and thrown
rearwardly in the receiver by the frame C, without encountering upon said frame
and hence upon the grip the tension of the spring which impels the firing-pin;
and in order that the effort to collapse said spring in cocking the gun, shall be
encountered by said frame and grip only during the final and a minor portion
of the return or forward throw thereof, and after gathering momentum during
the early and major portion of such throw; a further feature of the invention
consists in the tail-piece of said firing-pin having the forwardly open and rear-
wardly extending recess opposite to and adapted to receive the cross-piece c' of
the frame C, which cross-piece is constituted by the formation of the slot in the
upward portions and e¹ of said frame, in which the bolt-tail B₁ has play, as
described, and of the slot in the front portion of the frame. Below said
recess the pin-tail may have the depending sear-engaging extremity. The
depth of said recess should be such as to permit the free rearward play therein
of the cross-piece c' during the rearward movement of the frame from the position

page_text: shown in Figure 9, after the gun has been fired, to that shown in Figure 14, and
while the bolt is being thereby unseated from the breech and tilted downwardly
preparatory to its rearward throw, and then to permit the said cross-piece to have
such contact-engagement with the bottom or rearward side of said recess as to
retract the pin P in the bolt until the forward end or firing point thereof is flush
with the front face of the bolt, as in Figure 14, and to maintain the pin in said
position in the bolt during a forward throw from the position in Figure 17, and
while acting to insert a cartridge in the firing-chamber, and until the pin-tail is
engaged by the sear in cocking the gun; the said retraction of the
pin in the bolt serving to prevent contact between its firing-point and the primer
of the cartridge and the consequent liability to accidentally fire the same during
the closing of the breech. In constructing said pin-tail for the purposes stated,
it will be found desirable to form said tail with the rearwardly extending trilateral
frame, the interior of which constitutes the described recess r and the lower
side of which is preferably narrowed and carries or forms at its forward end the
sear-engaging extremity 3, as shown in Figures 10 and 11.
It is further evident that by means of the described pin-tail the grip is so
relieved from the stress of the impelling-spring of the firing-pin during its recipro-
cation to operate the breech-bolt, that the minimizing of effort demanded to be
exerted upon the grip in operating the gun is conduced.
A further feature of the invention consists in a ratchet-device interposed between
the operative-mechanism of the gun (comprising the movable breech-bolt which
operates to open and close the breech and eject spent shells and reload the firing-
chamber, and the breech-bolt-actuator,) and the receiver, and adapted to be in
engagement during the intervals of movement of said operative-mechanism, and
to be released from engagement only when said mechanism is at the limit of
movement in either direction, to open or close the breech; whereby when a
movement of said mechanism in either said direction is begun it must be pursued
and completed before a reverse movement can be begun.
In carrying out this feature a rack, as at 1', is preferably located on the ways C¹,
and a pawl F, operating desirably by gravity is pivoted on the actuator C, as in
a slot, in the rearward side thereof, and adapted in length to engage, in
inclined position, said rack, as shown in Figures 20 to 24, and recessed from its
lower edge to permit it to play over the trigger T fulcrumed below it, as shown
in Figure 24. The rack is of such length or duration on the ways that said
pawl will be in the described engagement with it during the time the frame C is
in position on the ways, as shown in Figures 21 and 23, otherwise than at the
limit of its movement in either direction thereon. Recesses f and f¹ are formed
of such a depth and so adjacent to the respective ends of the rack as to enable the
pawl to enter them and assume a vertical position at the limit of movement in
either direction of said frame, as shown in Figures 20 and 22.
It is evident that, when the actuator C and the breech-bolt, impelled by the
grip, begin a rearward throw, the engagement of the pawl with the rack, as
shown in Figure 21, will preclude any reverse movement of said actuator and
bolt until they have passed to the limit of said movement on the ways; that
then the pawl will enter the recesses f¹, as shown in Figure 22, and will, upon the
reverse throw of the actuator and bolt, reversely engage the rack, as shown in
Figure 23 and that a rearward throw of the parts cannot be made until the
same have passed to the limit of a forward throw and the pawl enters the
recesses f, as shown in Figure 20; and it is apparent that by means of
the described devices the interruption of the complete throw of the operative-
mechanism in either direction, and the opportunity for the breech-bolt to engage
a cartridge before ejecting a spent shell, and the consequent liability to thereby
"double-load" the firing-chamber, in operating the gun, are prevented.
A further feature of the invention consists in the combination with the maga-
zine-mechanism which is adapted to successively sustain the cartridges in the
magazine at the opening thereof into the receiver, to be successively engaged and

page_text: seated in the firing-chamber by the breech-bolt in its breech-closing movement,
and the breech-bolt-actuator carrying the firing-trigger, together with a support
having play in the receiver and to which the sear is fulcrumed, of fixedly
adjustable controlling-devices common to said magazine-mechanism and said
sear-support and adapted to simultaneously adjust and maintain said magazine-
mechanism to hold the cartridge which is immediately adjacent in the magazine
to the receiver-opening thereof out of the range of the breech-bolt in its breech-
closing movement, and the said sear-support to present the sear to the trigger for
a firing-vibration of the former by a vibration of the latter; or to hold said.
cartridge in said range of the breech-bolt, and the sear-support to present said
sear to the trigger for a firing-vibration of the former by the automatic engage-
ment thereof by the latter in the throw of the breech-bolt-actuator in a breech-
closing movement.
In carrying out this feature of the invention in the described gun, it is prefer-
able to constitute the support for the sear S, of a plate s adapted to project into
and have vertical play in the slot in the front portion of the actuator-frame
carrying the trigger; and to constitute the fixedly adjustable controlling-devices
common to said magazine-mechanism and said sear-supporting plate, of an
arms, a slide working vertically in the magazine-case, and to which slide
said arm rigidly connects said plate, while said slide engages the clip m', as by
a hook seating in a notch or slot m in said clip, and is adapted to be locked to
the magazine-case, against the stress of the spring m³, at the limit of its movement
in the direction to lower said clip in the magazine, as by a spring-actuated
lever N vibratory on the outward face of a plate N1, into a flanged recess n¹ on
the inward face of which the flanged head of a stud son said slide, and extend-
ing through and playing in a motion-limiting slot m³ in the magazine-case,
engages, said lever having a detent-arm n which normally reaches through said
plate and engages a lock-notch me in said magazine-case. Furthermore, the
plate Nis movable on the magazine-case, as vertically in ways n³, to permit a
play thereof, when released, over said magazine-case, while the slide plays
upwardly in said case under the stress of spring m³ and permits the upward move-
ment of the clip in the magazine.
In carrying out this feature of the invention a sear S is preferably employed
which is provided with arms, as and, adapted to respectively engage the
firing-pin, as by its tail, and the arm t* of the trigger T, and which arms are
desirably curved or bent laterally, as shown, to permit the free play of the pin-
tail over them in firing or cocking the gun, and which sear is fulcrumed on its
supports to vibrate thereon, against its controlling-spring s', in the direction at
an angle to the plane in which the arms of the sear and the arm of the trigger
lie when in position for engagement, as, for example, at right angles to said plane
and laterally of the receiver, as shown; and the arm t' of said trigger is given
the engagement-face to, preferably at its free end, beveled at an angle to said
plane, as, for example, vertically of said arm diagonally from an upper to the
opposite lower edge thereof, as shown in Figure 31; and the arm of the wear
is given an engagement-end s8, beveled at an angle to said plane, as, for example,
laterally from one side edge, at its extremity, to the opposite side edge, as shown
in Figure 31.
It is evident that when the described trigger overlaps the sear vertically, at
the limit of its forward movement in the receiver with the actuator C, and the
sear-supports is adjusted downwardly in the receiver for this purpose, as shown
in Figure 25, a vibration of the trigger will, by the sidewise engagement of its
ara with the arms of the sear, and the consequent traverse of beveled end t
by said sear-arm, vibrate the sear; or, that when, as shown in Figure 29, the
described trigger approaches the sear, in a forward throw of the actuator C and
rigidly supported therein, as herein before set forth, the endwise engagement of its
arm with the arm of the sear, and the consequent traverse by said trigger of
the beveled end of said sear-arm, will also vibrate the sear; and that such
B

page_text: vibration of the sear will, in either case, effect the disengagement of the arm sã
of the sear from the tail of the firing-pin, thereby firing the gun.
In further carrying out this feature of the invention there is desirably pro-
vided a motion-interrupter or stop for the controlling-devices which are common
to the sear-support and the magazine-clip, and preferably located on
the
actuator C; as, for example, a stud clo fixed on the inward side of the slotted
front of the actuator, and adapted to reach over the sear-support s, or a pro-
jection thereon, at a distance above the same less than the distance between
the trigger-arm and sear-arm 80, when said supports and slides are locked in
position shown in Figure 25, with said trigger in normal position in the actuator
and its arm overlapping sidewise the sear-arm 86.
Now, it is evident that, when the several parts are in the positions shown in
Figures 1, 6, 9 and 25, with the breech closed and the gun either cocked or just
fired, and the slide is unlocked from the magazine-case by a manipulation of
the lever N, the spring m³ will act to raise the clip m¹ and its cartridges, and
consequently the slides and sear-support s, until such movement is interrupted
by the encounter of the projections with the stud c10; and that, in case the gun
is cocked, it may be deliberately fired by the usual vibration of the trigger; its
accidental discharge being prevented by the described interruption of the move-
ment of the sear-support before the arm of the sear is brought to vibratory
engagement with the arm of the trigger; and that, as soon as the grip is
manipulated to initiate a rearward throw of the actuator and bolt, the stud c¹o will
be withdrawn from contact with the support s, as shown in Figure 29, so that the
described magazine-clip and sear-support may pass to the limit of their upward
movement in the receiver, as defined by the slots m³ in the magazine-case; the
length of said slots being such as will permit the slide to rise under the tension
of the spring m² until the clip m² is in position to successively present its cart-
ridges in the range of the breech-bolt in its breech-closing movement, and until
the support s is simultaneously in position to present the end 8 of the arm so of the
sear in the path of the arm of the trigger, when said trigger is in normal
position on the actuator and the actuator is about to complete a forward throw,
as shown in Figure 29.
It is furthermore evident that, when the gun is cocked and the described adjust-
ment of the sear from its lowered to its elevated position in the receiver takes
place, as set forth, the described sear being vibratory only at an angle to the plane
in which its support moves in effecting said adjustment, such being laterally,
only, of the receiver in the gun shown, will preserve its engagement, by its arm,
with the tail of the firing-pin, and hence that the accidental discharge of the
gun by an escape of said sear-arm from said pin-tail, during said operation of
adjustment, will be avoided.
It is also evident that when the breech-bolt is unseated from the breech, as
indicated in Figures 14 and 17, the described adjustment of the magazine-clip
and the sear-support from their lowered to their elevated position may be freely
and uninterruptedly effected by the described release of their common controlling-
devices from their locked lowered position.
It is furthermore evident that while the magazine-clip and said sear are main-
tained in the described elevated position, and the actuator with the bolt is thrown
forward, the stud 10 may pass under the projection on said plates, and thus
be no impediment to the completion of such throw; and also, that the magazine-
clip and sear may be readjusted from their raised to their lowered position at any
time when the actuator C is thrown rearwardly sufficiently to permit the stud co
to pass to the rear of the support-projection, by drawing the plate N', as by
a grasp with the hand, downwardly until the arm n of lever N locks in the
notch mf.
It is therefore apparent that while, by means of the described controlling-devices
common to the magazine-mechanism and the firing-mechanism, the magazine-clip
and the sear may be simultaneously adjusted and maintained in position in the

page_text: gun so that the magazine will be out of use and the firing-mechanism can be
operated only by a distinct manipulation of the trigger, the said clip and sear
may be simultaneously adjusted and maintained in position in the gun to bring
the magazine into use and to effect the operation of the firing-mechanism by
the automatic engagement of the trigger with the sear to successively fire the
gun at each throw of the actuator in the direction to seat the breech-bolt in the
breech.
The further feature of the invention consists in the combination with a plate
which is movable on the exterior of the gun synchronously with the movement
of the magazine-mechanism therein to adjust the magazine in or out of use in
firing, of an area on the exterior of the gun, having a color different to that of"
either the surrounding surface of the gun or the external face of said plate, and
located to be covered and concealed by the said plate when the same is at the limit
of its said movement with said magazine-mechanism, when the latter adjusts the
magazine in or out of use.
In carrying out this feature of the invention it is desirable to employ the
plate N', which has movement, as vertically, over the exterior face of the magazine-
case, as set forth, synchronously with the movement of the slide 2 of said common
controlling-devices of the clip and sear; and the plate is preferably composed
of two wings or sections, as shown in Figure 4, united by a section arranged
to extend around the rearward end of the magazine, and with each wing to reach
over one of the opposite side faces thereof. The slide s may then be given similar
flanged studs on its opposite sides playing in similar slots m³ in the magazine-
case with their heads seated to play in recesses n¹ in the internal faces of each
side-wing of said plate N', as shown in Figure 4.
In further carrying out this feature it is desirable to give to the external face
of the plate N¹ the same color, such as steel-blue, as the exterior of the magazine,
and to give to an area, as at Na, on each outward side of said magazine, a different
and preferably vivid color, such as red, yellow or white, and which area is adapted
in extent and located, as shown in Figure 2, to be covered and concealed by the
plate-wings when said plate is at the limit of its downward movement, as shown
in Figure 1, and to be uncovered and exposed by said wings when said plate is
at the limit of its upward movement over the magazine-case, synchronously with
the movement upward and downward, respectively, of the slide of the magazine
and sear controlling-devices, as shown in Figure 2.
By means of this feature of the invention it is evident that the adjustment of
the gun, whether for use as a simple breech-loader or as a magazine-repeater,
will be visually indicated by a distinct signal on the exterior of the gun, readily
recognizable, as by an officer in command of soldiers; and it is believed that
the unauthorized use of the magazine, in action, being thus casily detectible,
such use will be deterred, so that, when an emergency arises which demands
the use of the magazine, the reserve of cartridges therein will be complete and
intact.
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:―
1. In a breech-loading gun in which the breech-bolt is reciprocated in the
receiver to open and close the breech and is provided with devices to grip a
cartridge-shell seated in the firing-chamber, the combination with said breech-
bolt and the breech-bolt-actuator, of a lever having arms of different lengths,
fulcrumed in the receiver, with its short arm adapted to engage the breech-bolt
and its long arm adapted to be engaged by the breech-bolt-actuator, to vibrate
said lever, during the initial part of a throw of said actuator to retract the breech-
bolt from the firing-chamber; whereby a multiple of the effort exerted to throw
said actuator will be exerted upon the breech-bolt, as and for the purpose specified.
2. In a breech-loading gun in which the breech-bolt is reciprocated in the

page_text: receiver to open and close the breech and is provided with devices to grip a
cartridge-shell seated in the firing-chamber, and in which the breech-bolt-actuator
has reciprocatory movement, the combination with said bolt and actuator, of a
lever, fulcrumed in the receiver, and having arms of different lengths, with its
short arm adapted to engage said bolt and its long arm adapted to be engaged by
said actuator, during the initial part of a throw of the latter in the direction to
retract the bolt from the firing-chamber; whereby the actuator in its said throw
will vibrate said lever against said bolt; substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
3. In a breech-loading gun in which the breech-bolt reciprocates in the receiver
to open and close the breech, and is provided with devices to grip a cartridge-
shell seated in the firing-chamber, and in which the bolt is directly engaged at
its rearward end by the breech-bolt-actuator, the combination with said bolt and
actuator, of a lever, fulcrumed in the receiver and having a short arm adapted
to engage said bolt and a long arm adapted to be engaged by said actuator, to
vibrate said lever, during the initial part of a throw of said actuator to retract
said bolt from the firing-chamber; substantially as and for the purpose specified.
4. In a breech-loading gun in which the breech-bolt reciprocates in the receiver
to open and close the breech and has devices to grip a cartridge-shell in the firing-
chamber, and in which the said bolt is actuated by a frame, with which it is
engaged, located rearwardly of and below said bolt in the receiver and recipro-
catory on ways therein, the combination therewith, of a bell-crank lever, fulcrumed
in the receiver above the bolt, and having a short arm adapted to engage said
bolt, and a long arm adapted to be engaged by said frame, to vibrate said lever,
during the initial part of a movement of the frame on its ways in the direction
to retract the bolt from the firing-chamber; substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
5. In a breech-loading gun in which the breech-bolt is reciprocated to open and
close the breech and has devices to grip a cartridge-shell in the firing-chamber,
and in which the breech-bolt-actuator reciprocates on ways in the receiver rear-
wardly of and below said bolt, the combination therewith, of a double bell-crank
lever fulcrumed in the receiver above the breech-bolt and having corresponding
short arms adapted to severally engage said bolt on each side thereof, and corre-
sponding long arms adapted to be severally engaged by said actuator at each side
thereof, to vibrate said lever, during the initial part of a throw of said actuator
on its ways in the direction to retract the bolt from the firing-chamber; substan-
tially as and for the purpose specified.
6. In a breech-loading gun in which the breech-bolt is reciprocated in the
receiver to open and close the breech and has devices to grip. a cartridge-shell
in the firing-chamber, and in which the breech-bolt is actuated by a frame recipro-
catory on ways in the receiver rearwardly of and below said bolt, the combination
therewith, of a spring-actuated lever, fulcrumed in the receiver above said bolt,
and provided with arms of different lengths, and adapted to have the shorter of
said arms held in engagement with said bolt, and the longer of said arms engagable
by said frame, to vibrate said lever to exert effort upon said bolt, during the initial
part of a throw of said frame on its ways in the direction to retract said bolt from
the firing-chamber, and to have the longer of said arms escape said frame and the
shorter ones engagable by said bolt, to reversely vibrate said lever, during a reverse
throw of said frame; substantially as and for the purpose specified.
7. In a breech-loading gun in which the breech-bolt is reciprocatory in the
receiver to open and close the breech and has devices to grip a cartridge-shell in
the firing-chamber, and in which the bolt is actuated by a frame which is recipro-
catory in the receiver rearwardly of and below said bolt, the combination therewith,
of a spring-actuated lever, fulcrumed in the receiver above said bolt, and having
arms of different lengths, the shorter of which are adapted to have contact-engage-
ment, near their free ends, with pins located on said bolt, to the rearward of said
shorter arms, when the bolt is seated in the breech, and the longer of which

page_text: are adapted to reach to the rearward of and be engagable, near their face ends,
by pins on said frame; substantially as and for the purpose specified.
8. In a breech-loading gun, the combination with the breech-bolt, reciprocatory
in the receiver and adapted to grin a cartridge-shell in the firing-chamber, a
frame reciprocatory on ways in the receiver, and having a rectilinear top and
downwardly inclined forward portion, slotted to receive the breech-bolt tail pro-
vided with lateral projections adapted to engage and traverse said top and inclined
portion of the frame, and an operative-grip on said frame,, projecting at and
having play in a longitudinal slot in the underside of the receiver, of a spring-
actuated lever, fulcrumed in the receiver, and having arms of different lengths,
the shorter of which is adapted to engage said bolt, and the longer of which is
adapted to be engaged by said frame, during the early portion of a further rear-
ward throw of the frame, after the downward traverse of the inclined portion of
said frame by said bolt-tail projections, during the initial portion of said throw
of said frame, and the shorter of which arms is adapted to be engaged by the
bolt, during the latter portion of a reverse throw of said frame, immediately
before the upward traverse of said inclined portion thereof by said bolt-tail
projections, during the final portion of said throw of the frame; substantially
as and for the purpose specified.
9. In a breech-loading gun in which the breech-bolt-actuator is reciprocatory
in the receiver, the combination therewith, of a rigid projection thereon extending
to and having play on the exterior of the receiver, to reciprocate said actuator,
and transversely slotted adjacently to its junction with said actuator, and pro
vided with a rigid extension reaching from and beyond the outward portion of
said projection opposite to its junction with said actuator; whereby an operating-
grip for said breech-bolt-actuator may be constituted which also forms a guard
for the trigger, and which may be conveniently operated by an easy and natural
flexion of the elbow of an arm, while the gun is at the shoulder, and during which
operation of said grip the liability that a finger will manipulate the trigger is
minimized, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
10. In a breech-loading gun in which the breech-bolt-actuator reciprocates in
the receiver, the combination therewith, of a rigid projection thereon, extending
to and having play on the underside of the receiver, and transversely slotted
adjacently to its junction with said actuator, and provided with a rigid extension
reaching, from and beyond the outward portion thereof opposite to its junction
with said actuator, in the direction below the receiver; whereby a grip, operative
by a straight-pull" movement, to reciprocate the breech-bolt-actuator, may be
constituted on the underside of the receiver, and which may also form the trigger-
guard substantially as and for the purpose specified.
11. In a breech-loading gun in which the breech-bolt-actuator has reciprocatory
movement in the receiver, the combination therewith, of a rigid projection thereon,
extending to and having play on the underside of the receiver, and transversely
slotted adacently to its junction with said actuator, and provided with a rigid
extension reaching from and beyond the outward portion of said projection,
opposite to its junction with said actuator, in the direction below the receiver, and
having front and rear concave faces; whereby a grip to operate the breech-bolt-
actuator and serving also as a trigger-guard, may be constituted on the underside
of the receiver with manipulation faces for convenient engagement by the hand
in operating said grip; substantially as and for the purpose specified.
12. In a breech-loading gun in which the breech-bolt-actuator reciprocates in
the receiver to effect the opening and closing of the breech, the combination
therewith, of a rigid projection thereon extending to and having play on the
exterior of the receiver and transversely slotted adjacently to its junction with said
actuator, and provided with an extension reaching from and beyond the outward
portion thereof, opposite to its junction with said actuator, to constitute with said
slotted portion an operating-grip for said actuator, together with a locking-lever
pivoted in said projection and adapted to lock to said receiver when the actuator

page_text: is at the limit of its throw therein in the direction to close the breech; substan-
tially as and for the purpose specified.
1.3. In a breech-loading gun in which the breech-bolt is reciprocated in the
receiver to open and close the breech and is directly engaged at its rearward end
by an actuating frame reciprocatory in said receiver, the combination therewith,
of a rigid projection on said frame extending to and having play on the exterior
of the receiver and transversely slotted adjacently to its junction with said frame,
to constitute a trigger-guard, and provided with an extension reaching from and
beyond the outward portion thereof opposite to its junction with said frame, to
constitute with said slotted portion an operating-grip for said frame; substantially
as and for the the purpose specified.
14. In a breech-loading gun in which the breech-bolt reciprocates in the receiver
to open and close the breech, and in which the breech-bolt-actuator correspond-
ingly reciprocates on ways in said receiver, the combination with said actuator,
of a rigid projection thereon extending to and having play on the underside of
the receiver, and transversely slotted adjacently to its junction with said actuator,
and provided with a rigid extension reaching from and beyond the outward
portion of said projection, opposite to the junction thereof with said actuator,
in the direction below the receiver, said projection and its extension having front
and rear concave faces, and a spring-actuated lever pivoted in the upper part of
said front concave face and having a catch-arm adapted to enter a lock-notch
on the actuator-ways when said actuator is at the limit of a breech-closing throw
thereon, and a trigger-arm adapted to protaude beyond said front concave face
and to play in a recess therein; substantially as and for the purpose specified.
15. In a breech-loading gun in which the breech-bolt-actuator reciprocates in
the receiver, the combination therewith, of a frame rigidly projecting therefrom
to and having play on the underside of the receiver and having front and rear
exteriorly concave sides which are most widely divergent from each other at the
junction of said frame with said actuator, and are convergent towards each other
to about midway of the projection of said frame from said actuator, and thenco
divergent to the outer end of said frame, together with a cross-piece extending
between said front and rear sides of said frame at about midway of said projec-
tion thereof; substantially as and for the purpose specified.
16. In a breech-loading gun in which the reciprocatory breech-bolt is provided
with a spring-impelled firing-pin and is actuated by a slotted frame adapted to
engage the rearward end of said bolt and to reciprocate on ways in the receiver,
the combination with said firing-pin, of a tail-piece adapted to play in said
slotted frame and to engage the sear in a breech-closing throw of the bolt, and
provided with a rearwardly extending recess on its forward side adapted to receive
and permit the rearward play therein of the upper forward part of said slotted
frame during a rearward throw thereof, and an engagement of said part of said
frame with the rearward side of said recess during a forward throw of said
frame; substantially as and for the purpose specified.
17. In a breech-loading gun in which the reciprocatory breech-bolt carries a
spring-impelled firing-pin and is actuated by a slotted frame engaging the rear-
ward end of said bolt and reciprocatory on ways in the receiver, the combination
with said firing-pin, of a tail-piece composed of a trilateral frame adapted to
play in said slotted frame and to permit the entrance and rearward play therein
of the upper forward part of said slotted frame. during a rearward throw thereof
and an engagement of the rearward side of said trilateral frame with said part of
said slotted frame during the early and major portion of a forward throw thereof,
and having an extremity adapted to engage the sear during the latter and minor
portion of said forward throw of the said slotted frame; substantially as and for
the purpose specified.
18. In a breech-loading gun, the combination with the operative-mechanism,
comprising the breech-bolt and breech-bolt-actuator, having operative movement
in the receiver, of a ratchet-device interposed between said operative mechanism

page_text: and the receiver, and adapted to be in engagement during the entire of each
interval of movement of said operative mechanism in either direction, to open or
close the breech, and to be disengaged only when said operative-mechanism is at
the limit of said movement in either direction; whereby, when either such move-
ment of the operative-mechanism is begun it must be pursued and completed
before a reverse movement can be effected; substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
19. In a breech-loading gun, the combination with the breech-bolt-actuator,
operative within the receiver, of a ratchet-device interposed between said actuator
and the receiver and adapted to be in engagement during the entire of each
interval of movement of the actuator in either direction, to throw the bolt to
open or close the breech, and to be disengaged only when said actuator is at the
limit of movement in either said direction; substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
20. In a breech-loading gun in which the breech-bolt reciprocates in the
receiver to open or close the breech and to extract and eject spent-shells and seat
cartridges in the firing-chamber, and in which a frame, reciprocatory on ways in
the receiver, engages and actuates said breech-bolt, the combination therewith,
of a ratchet-device interposed between said frame and its ways and adapted to be
engaged during the entire of each interval of movement of said frame in either
direction on said ways and to be disengaged only when said frame is at the limit
of its movement in either said direction on said ways; substantially as and for the
purpose specified.
21. In a breech-loading gun, the combination with the breech-bolt, recipro-
catory in the receiver, to open and close the breech, and a frame
engaging and actuating said bolt and reciprocatory от ways in the
receiver, of a rack on said ways, and a pawl pivoted on said frame and
adapted to engage said rack on said ways, in an inclined position relatively
thereto, during the entire of each interval of movement of said frame
on said ways, the said ways being provided with recesses adjacent therein to the
respective ends of said rack and adapted to receive the pawl and permit it to
engage the rack in a reversely inclined position during the next ensuing interval
of movement of said frame on said ways; substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
22. In the firing-mechanism of a breech-loading gun, comprising a spring-
impelled firing-pin, the combination with a vibratory trigger, of a sear provided
with arms to respectively engage said firing-pin and said trigger, and fulcrumed
to vibrate, to release its firing-pin-engaging arm from such engagement, in a
direction at an angle to the plane in which the trigger-engaging arm of said sear
and the sear-engaging arm of said trigger lie when in position for an engagement
of the former by the latter, the said sear-engaging arm of the trigger having an
engagement-face beveled at an angle to said plane; whereby a vibration of the
trigger to sidewise engagement of its sear-engaging arm with said trigger-engaging
arm of the sear will cause the latter to traverse the beveled engagement-face of
the former and thereby vibrate the sear; substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
23. In the firing-mechanism of a breech-loading gun, comprising a spring-
impelled firing-pin and a trigger adapted to be rigidly supported and adapted to
reciprocate in the receiver in the direction in which its sear-engaging arm pro-
jects, the combination therewith, of a sear, provided with arms to respectively
engage said firing-pin and said sear-engaging arm of said trigger, and fulcrume
to vibrate, to release its firing-pin-engaging arm from such engagement, in a
direction at an angle to the plane in which the trigger-engaging arm thereof and
said sear-engaging arm of the trigger lie when in position for an engagement of
the former by the latter, and the said trigger-engaging arm of said sear has an
engagement-end beveled at an angle to said plane; whereby a throw of said
trigger to endwise engagement of its sear-engaging arm with the trigger-engaging

page_text: arm of the sear will cause the former to traverse the beveled engagement-end of
the latter and thereby vibrate the sear; substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
24. In the firing-mechanism of a breech-loading gun, comprising a spring-
impelled firing-pin and a trigger adapted to vibrate and to be rigidly supported
and have reciprocatory movement in the direction in which its sear-engaging arm
projects, and to have its said sear-engaging arm overlap the trigger-engaging
arm of the sear when said trigger is at the limit of its movement in the direction
towards said sear, of a sear, fulcrumed on a support having fixed adjustability in
the direction parallel to the plane in which the said trigger-engaging arm of the
sear and the said sear-engaging arm of the trigger lie when in position for engage-
ment of the former by the latter, and vibratory in the direction at right-angles
to said plane to release its firing-pin-engaging arm from such engagement, said
sear-engaging arm of the trigger and said trigger-engaging arm of the sear
having, respectively, an engagement-face and an engagement-end which are
severally vertically and laterally beveled at an angle to the aforesaid plane; sub-
stantially as and for the purpose specified.
25. In a magazine breech-loading gun, comprising a magazine-mechanism
adapted to successively sustain the cartridges in the magazine at the opening
thereof into the receiver and in or out of the range of the breech-bolt in its breech-
closing movement, a breech-bolt reciprocatory in the receiver and adapted to
engage a magazine-cartridge in its said range and seat same in the firing-chamber
in its said movement, a reciprocatory breech-bolt-actuator carrying the trigger,
and a sear fulcrumed on a support having play in the receiver relatively to the
trigger, the combination with said magazine-mechanism and said sear-support,
of fixedly adjustable controlling-devices common thereto and adapted to simul-
taneously adjust and maintain said magazine-mechanism to hold the cartridges
in the magazine out of the range of the breech-bolt in its breech-closing movement,
and the said sear-support to present the sear to the trigger for a firing-vibration
of the former by a vibration of the latter after the conclusion of the throw of
the breech-bolt-actuator in said breech-closing movement; or to hold the cartridge
immediately adjacent to the receiver-opening of the magazine in said range of said
breech-bolt, and to present said sear to the trigger for a firing-vibration of the
former by the engagement therewith of the latter at the conclusion of the move-
ment of said trigger with the breech-bolt-actuator in the said breech-closing
throw thereof; whereby the gun may be adjusted for use as a simple breech-
loader and fired by a distinct manipulation of the trigger, or for use as a magazine-
repeater and automatically successively fired by the operation of the breech-bolt-
actuator; substantially as and for the purpose specified.
20. In a magazine breech-loading gun, comprising a magazine-mechanism
adapted to successively sustain the cartridges in the magazine at the opening
thereof into the receiver and in or out of the range of the breech-bolt in its breech-
closing throw, a breech-bolt reciprocatory in the receiver and adapted to engage
a cartridge in its said range and seat the same in the firing-chamber in its said
movement, a reciprocatory breech-bolt-actuator carrying the trigger, and a sear
fulcrumed on a support having vertical play in the receiver, said trigger and sear
being adapted to effect a firing-vibration of the latter by either a sidewise or
endwise engagement therewith of the former, the combination with said magazine-
mechanism and said sear-support, of fixedly adjustable controlling-devices common
thereto and adapted to simultaneously adjust and maintain said magazine-
mechanism to hold the cartridges in the magazine out of the range of the breech-
bolt in its breech-closing throw and the said sear-support to present the sear
to the trigger sidewise thereof at the conclusion of the throw of the breech-bolt-
actuator in said breech-closing movement; or to hold the cartridge immediately
adiacent to the receiver-opening of the magazine in said range of the breech-bolt.
and to present said sear to the trigger endwise thereof at said conclusion of said
throw of the breech-bolt-actuator; whereby, when said adjustment is such as to

page_text: present the trigger and sear sidewise of each other a vibration of the former by
a distinct manipulation thereof will vibrate the latter, and when said adjustment
is such as to present the sear and trigger endwise, the encounter of the former
by the latter in the movement thereof with the breech-bolt-actuator will vibrate
said sear; substantially as and for the purpose specified.
27. In a magazine breech-loading gun, comprising a magazine-mechanism
adapted to sustain the cartridges in the magazine at the opening thereof into the
receiver and in or out of the range of the breech-bolt in its breech-closing throw,
a breech-bolt reciprocatory in the receiver and adapted to engage a cartridge in
its said range and seat the same in the firing-chamber in its said throw, a
reciprocatory breech-bolt-actuator carrying a trigger which is vibratory from a
rigidly supported normal position therein, and a sear fulcrumed on a support
having vertical play in the receiver, said trigger and sear being adapted to effect
a firing-vibration of the latter by either a sidewise engagement therewith of the
former by a vibration thereof, or an endwise engagement of said sear by the
trigger in normal position, the combination with said magazine-mechanism and
said sear-support, of fixedly adjustable controlling-devices common thereto and
adapted to simultaneously adjust and maintain said magazine-mechanism to hold
the cartridge immediately adjacent to the receiver-opening of the magazine out
of said range of the breech-bolt, and the said sear-support to present the sear to
the trigger sidewise thereof; or to hold said cartridge in said range of the breech-
bolt and to present the sear to the trigger endwise thereof; substantially as and
for the purpose specified.
28. In a magazine breech-loading gun having a magazine-mechanism comprising
a clip to hold the cartridges in the magazine and moveable therein towards and
from, and adapted to be sustained in normal position at the limit of its play
towards, the opening of said magazine into the receiver, said magazine-mechanism
being adapted to successively sustain the cartridges in said clip, when in normal
position, in the range of the breech-bolt in its breech-closing throw, a breech-bolt
reciprocatory in the receiver and adapted to engage a cartridge in its said range
and seat the same in the firing-chamber in its said throw, a reciprocatory breech-
bolt-actuator carrying the trigger which is vibratory from a rigidly supported
normal position therein, and a sear fulcrumed on a support vertically movable in
the receiver, said trigger and sear being adapted to effect a firing-vibration of the
latter by either a sidewise engagement therewith of the former by a vibration
thereof, or an endwise engagement of said sear by the trigger in normal position,
the combination with the magazine and sear-support, of a slide reciprocatory in
the magazine and adapted to engage said clip and lock it to the magazine at the
limit of its play therein from the receiver-opening thereof, and an arm rigidly
connecting said slide and said sear-support; whereby, when the clip is in said
locked position in the magazine, the sear may be presented sidewise, to the trigger,
and, when the clip is released to normal position in the magazine, the sear may
be presented end wise to said trigger; substantially as and for the purpose specified.
29. In a magazine breech-loading gun, in which the magazine is adapted to
receive and permit the play therein towards and from the opening thereof into
the receiver of a clip to hold the cartridges in said magazine, and in which a
spring commonly acts to sustain the clip in normal position at the limit of its
play towards said opening and to successively sustain the cartridges in the clip
in the range of the breech-bolt in its breech-closing throw, the combination with
said magazine, of a slide reciprocatory therein and adapted to engage said clip,
and an arm carried by said slide and adapted to reach into the receiver and therein
support a fulcrum-plate for the sear, together with a locking-device carried by
said slide and adapted to detachably lock the same to the magazine against the tension
of said spring when at the limit of its movement to retract the clip in the magazine
from said receiver-opening thereof; whereby, when said slide is thus locked or
is released to permit said clip to assume normal position in the magazine, the said

page_text: fulcrum-plate for the sear will be simultaneously moved in the receiver; substan-
tially as and for the purpose specified.
are
30. In a magazine breech-loading gun, in which the magazine is adapted to
receive and permit the play therein towards and from the opening thereof into
the receiver of a clip to hold the cartridges in said magazine, and in which a
spring commonly acts to sustain the clip in normal position at the limit of its
play towards said opening and to successively sustain the cartridges in the clip
in the range of the breech-bolt in its breech-closing throw, the combination with
said magazine, of a slide reciprocatory therein and adapted to engage said clip,
an arm carried by said slide and adapted to reach into the receiver and therein
support a fulcrum-plate for the sear, a flanged stud on said slide reaching through
and playing in a motion-limiting slot in the magazine, a plate movable on the
magazine and adapted to engage the flange of said stud, and a spring-actuated
lever on said plate having an arm adapted to engage a lock-notch in the magazine
when said slide and plate are at the limit of movement to retract said clip from the
receiver-opening of the magazine; substantially as and for the purpose specified.
31. In a magazine breech-loading gun in which the trigger and sear
adapted to effect a firing-vibration of the latter by either a sidewise or endwise
engagement therewith of the former, and in which the trigger is carried by and is
vibratory from a rigidly supported position in the breech-bolt-actuator, which is
reciprocatory in the receiver, and in which the sear is fulcrumed on a support
which is adjustable in the receiver from the position in which it presents the
sear to the trigger sidewise thereof to that in which it presents said sear to said
trigger endwise thereof, the combination with said sear-support, of a stop movably
mounted in the receiver and adapted to engage said support before said trigger,
brought to sidewise presentation to said sear by said breech-bolt-actuator,
encounters said sear, when said sear-support is moved in the direction from the
position in which it presents said sear sidewise to that in which it presents the
same endwise to said trigger, and to disengage said support when the trigger is
withdrawn by said breech-bolt-actuator from said sidewise presentation to said
sear; whereby the movement of said sear-support in the direction to adjust it
for an endwise from a sidewise presentation of the sear to the trigger will be
interrupted and a firing-vibration of the sear prevented while the gun is cocked,
and may be completed when the breech is opened; substantially as and for the
purpose specified.
32. In a magazine breech-loading gun in which the trigger and sear are
adapted to effect a firing-vibration of the latter by either a sidewise or endwise
engagement therewith of the former, and in which the trigger is carried by and is
vibratory from a rigidly supported position in the breech-bolt-actuator which is
reciprocatory in the receiver, and in which the sear is fulcrumed on a spring-
actuated support normally in position in the receiver to present said sear to the
trigger endwise thereof and fixedly adjustable therein, against the tension of its
spring, in position to present said sear to said trigger sidewise thereof, the com-
bination with said sear-support, of a stop movably mounted in the receiver and
adapted to engage said support before said trigger, brought to sidewise presenta-
tion to said sear by the breech-bolt-actuator, encounters said sear, when said
support is released to the action of its spring from its said fixedly adjusted
position; substantially as and for the purpose specified.
are
33. In a magazine breech-loading gun in which the trigger and sear
adapted to effect a firing-vibration of the latter by either a sidewise or endwise
engagement therewith of the former, and in which the trigger is carried by and is
vibratory from a rigidly supported position in the breech-bolt-actuator which is
reciprocatory in the receiver, and in which the sear is fulcrumed on a support
adjustable in the receiver from the position to present the sear to the trigger side-
wise thereof to the position to present the same to the trigger endwise thereof,
the combination with the breech-bolt-actuator, of a stop fixed therein and
movable therewith, and adapted to engage and interrupt the movement of said

page_text: support before said trigger, brought to sidewise presentation to said sear by said
breech-bolt-actuator, encounters said sear, when said sear support is moved in
the direction from the position to present said sear sidewise to that to present the
same endwise to said trigger, and to disengage said support when said breech-bolt-
actuator withdraws the trigger from said presentation; substantially as and for
the purpose specified.
34. In a magazine breech-loading gun in which the trigger and sear are
adapted to effect a firing-vibration of the latter by either a sidewise or endwise
engagement therewith of the former, and in which the trigger is carried by and is
vibratory from a rigidly supported position in a frame actuating the breech-bolt
and reciprocatory on ways in the receiver, and in which the sear is fulcrumed on
a support adapted to project into a slot in said frame, and rigidly
connected by an arm to a reciprocatory slide playing in and adapted
to be detachably locked to the magazine, against the tension of al
spring therein, at the limit of its movement to adjust said sear-support in said
slotted frame to present said sear to said trigger sidewise thereof, the combination
with said frame, of a stud located thereon at a distance from said sear-support less
than that between said sear and trigger when the latter is brought to sidewise
presentation to the former by said frame, and adapted to project in the path of
movement of said support in the direction to adjust the same to present the sear
endwise to the trigger by the release of the slide from its lock to the magazine,
and to escape said support in the reciprocation of said frame; substantially as and
for the purpose specified.
35. In a magazine breech-loading gun in which the magazine-mechanism is
adapted to adjust the magazine in or out of use in firing, the combination there-
with, of a plate which is synchronously movable on the exterior of the gun with
the magazine-mechanism in the latter's movements to adjust the magazine,
together with an area on the exterior of the gun having a color different to that
of either the surrounding surface of the gun or the external surface of said plate,
and located to be covered and concealed by said plate when the same is at the
limit of its movement on the gun with said magazine-mechanism when the latter
adjusts the magazine either in or out of use; substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
36. In a magazine breech-loading gun in which the magazine-mechanism is
adapted to adjust the magazine in or out of use in firing, the combination there-
with, of a plate which is synchronously movable on the exterior of the gun with
the magazine mechanism in the latter's movements to adjust the magazine, and the
color of the external face of which is the same as that of the surrounding surface
of the gun, together with an area on the exterior of the gun having a different
color and located to be covered and concealed by said plate when the same is at
the limit of its said movement with said magazine-mechanism when the latter
adjusts the magazine out of use, and to be uncovered and exposed when said plate
is at the limit of its said movement with said magazine-mechanism when the
latter adjusts the magazine in use; substantially as and for the purpose specified.
37. In a magazine breech-loading gun in which the magazine-mechanism is
adapted to adjust the magazine in or out of use in firing, the combination with
the magazine-case, of a plate movably mounted on the exterior of each side-face
thereof and externally of the same color as that of said case, and connected to the
magazine-mechanism to move synchronously therewith in the adjustment thereby
of the magazine in or out of use, together with an area on the exterior of each
said side of said magazine-case having a color different to that of said case and
said plates, and located to be simultaneously covered and concealed or uncovered
and exposed by said plates in their said movements with said magazine-mechanism
in adjusting the magazine respectively in and out of use; substantially as and
for the purpose specified.
38. In a magazine breech-loading gun in which the cartridges are held in a
clip which is movable in the magazine-case towards and from the opening thereof

page_text: into the receiver, and in which a spring acts to sustain said clip at the limit of its
movement towards said opening, the combination with said magazine-case, of a
plate movably mounted on the exterior thereof, and a slide having play in said case
and adapted to commonly engage said clip and said plate and to be detachably
locked to said case against the tension of said spring to hold said clip at its limit
of movement from said receiver-opening, together with an area on said magazine-
case of a different color to that of said plate and adapted in extent to be covered
and concealed by said plate when the same is in said locked position on said
magazine-case; substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Dated this 25th day of Tune 1808
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.