Improvements in and relating to Automatio and other Guns or Fire-arms.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date Application, 1st June, 1886.
Complete Left, 1st Mar., 1887.
Complete Accepted; 1st June, 1887.
Improvements in and relating to Automatio and other Guns
or Fire-arms.
I, HIRAM STEVENS MAXIM, of 57P Hatton Garden, in the County of Middlesex,
Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates chiefly to that class of guns for which numerous patents have
already been granted to me and which are now well known as automatic guns.
My said invention comprises improvements which are applicable to machine or
battery guns, and partly to large and heavy guns or ordnance and to military rifles,
sporting guns and other small-arms.
Parts of my said invention relate more particularly to guns of the class wherein a
sliding frame carrying the barrel and parts of the breech-mechanism is arranged to
recoil in an outer frame or support, as described in the specification of Letters Patent
granted to me and dated 29th January A.D. 1885, No. 1307. But, according to my
present improvements, I dispense with the crank-shaft and the means for operating
the same, described in the said specification, and greatly simplify the construction and
operation of the gun.
One feature of my present invention is the provision of means whereby, when the
breech is closed, the breech-block will be securely locked or held in the inner frame
until the said frame and parts carried thereby have terminated, or nearly terminated,
their recoil or backward movement, and will then be automatically disengaged from
the said frame.
In some instances, the gun is so constructed that the inner frame and parts carried
thereby will recoil in the outer frame through a distance slightly greater than the
length of a cartridge, and the breech-block will then be held back, during the forward
or return movement of the barrel and inner frame, which movement is effected by
means of a spring or springs. The opening of the breech and the extraction of the
empty cartridge-shell are effected in this forward or return movement. Moreover, I
provide means whereby, when the barrel and inner frame have terminated, or nearly

page_text: terminated, their forward or return movement, the breech-block will be released and
permitted to move forward under the action of a spring or springs.
For feeding the gun with cartridges, I use either a vertical feeder or hopper, or a
wheel formed with longitudinal grooves or channels, or a cartridge-belt, or other
suitable device whereby the cartridges will be fed successively into such a position
that, while a cartridge is being fired, the succeeding cartridge, that is to say, the
cartridge which is to be transferred from the magazine, in the recoil, as hereinafter
described, will lie in front of, and either above, below, or at one side of the breech-end
of the barrel. The barrel is provided with a shoulder or projection, or a rod or
plunger, or other suitable device, which, when the barrel recoils, pushes a cartridge
from the magazine back into a chamber or cavity in the gun. When the barrel moves
forward away from the breech-block, the said cartridge falls, or is pushed by a spring
or springs or other suitable device, into position in line with the barrel, so that the
breech-block, in its forward movement, will thrust the said cartridge into the
barrel.
In large and heavy guns, the inner frame is arranged to recoil through a short
distance with the breech-block and to impart to the said block sufficient momentum
to cause it to move backward independently of the barrel and inner frame far enough
to permit the introduction of a cartridge between the said block and the barrel. In
this case a shoulder or projection on an extension of the breech-block transfers the
cartridges from the magazine into such a position that they will fall, or be pushed, in
front of the breech-block. I sometimes arrange hydraulic or pneumatic apparatus
between the inner frame and the breech-block as, and for the purpose, hereinafter set
forth,
In some instances, I so construct a gun with two or more barrels that the force
created by the explosion in either of the said barrels will be utilized to effect the
operations of extracting the empty cartridge-shell, inserting a fresh cartridge, and
firing the same, that is to say, I arrange two or more independent automatic guns in
a single frame or support. In other instances, I so construct a gun with two or more
barrels that the release of the hammer for effecting the discharge of a cartridge in
either of the said barrels will be performed by force created by the explosion of a
cartridge in another of the said barrels. For example, the force created by the
explosion in the first barrel will release the hammer of the second barrel, the force
created by the explosion in the second barrel will release the hammer of the third
barrel, and so on the force created by the explosion in the last barrel releasing the
hammer of the first barrel. For a gun with ten or more barrels, or where great
rapidity of firing is desired, I prefer to so construct the gun that the action of the
hammer of one barrel, in firing, will effect the release of the hammer of the succeeding
barrel, and the interval of time between the successive shots will be very small.
If each gun is arranged to operate independently of the other guns mounted in the
same frame, the firing of the said guns will not take place with uniform velocity, by
reason of differences in the quality and quantity of the powder contained in the
cartridges, and from various other causes. But, by making the firing of one gun
dependent upon the action of the breech-mechanism of another gun, I ensure a
constant, or approximately constant, and rapid fire.
According to one form or modification of my invention, the gun is constructed as
follows, that is to say :-The breech-block is fitted to slide to and fro in the inner
frame, and carries a bar or strut which is hinged or pivotted to the said block. This
bar is formed with a shoulder or projection which is adapted to engage with a shoulder
on the inner frame, when the breech is closed, and thus lock or secure the breech-
block in the said frame and support the said block against the force of the explosion
in the barrel. The rear end of this pivotted bar or strut is taper or wedge-shaped,
and an arm or projection is formed or fixed on the rear end of the outer frame, so
that, when the inner frame and parts carried thereby, have nearly terminated their
recoil, the said bar will strike the said arm or projection and will thereby be dis-
engaged from the shoulder on the inner frame. Suitable springs are provided for

page_text: effecting the forward or return movements of the barrel and inner frame and of the
breech-block.
A bent lever is pivotted to the outer frame and has a hook at one end to engage
with another hook on the aforesaid pivotted bar for the purpose of holding back the
breech-block while the barrel and inner frame are moving forward. The inner frame
is connected with a sliding bar provided with two projections, which, in the to-and-
fro movement of the said frame, alternately act upon the said bent lever to cause its
engagement with, or disengage it from, the said pivotted bar. The said sliding bar is
preferably extended through the rear end of the outer frame to permit the backward
inovement of the inner frame by hand, when necessary.
The extractor is carried by, and pivotted to, the breech-block, and is arranged to be
held firmly in engagement with the head or flange of a cartridge-shell while the latter
is being extracted from the barrel. This extraction is effected by the moving forward
of the barrel and inner frame while the breech-block is held back by the aforesaid
hooked lever, that is to say, the cartridge-shell is held stationary with the breech-
block, while the barrel is moved forward and thus drawn off the said shell. The
empty shells fall, or are ejected, through an aperture provided for the purpose in the
gun-frame.
A vertical hopper or feeder is arranged above the barrel with its rear end a short
distance. in front of the breech-end thereof. When the gun is ready for firing, the
lowermost cartridge in the said feeder rests upon the top of the barrel behind a pro-
jection thereon. In the recoil of the barrel, the said cartridge is moved backward. by
the said projection into a chamber provided with springs which press downward upon
the said cartridge, so that, when the barrel and inner frame have moved forward and
have extracted the empty shell, the said cartridge is forced down by the said springs,
into position in front of the breech-block, whereby the said cartridge is pushed into
the barrel.
The firing pin is fitted to slide to and fro in a longitudinal aperture or passage in
the breech-block. The hammer is pivotted to the outer frame and is acted upon by a
spring attached to the said frame. The said hammer is arranged to be cocked by the
inner frame in its recoil and is preferably so arranged that it cannot act upon the
firing pin until the pivotted bar is in engagement with the shoulder on the inner frame,
and, when it has operated to fire the gun, will prevent the disengagement of the said
pivotted bar from the said shoulder.
There are two sears, both of which are pivotted to the outer frame, and are acted
upon by a split or divided spring which tends to hold them in engagement with the
bent of the hammer. One of the said sears is extended so that it will be automatically
released by the breech-block at the termination of its forward movement. The other.
scar is a bent lever, one arm of which extends beneath an excentric arranged to be
operated by hand by means of a lever or other suitable device to disengage the said
sear from the bent of the hammer.
To provide for effecting the forward or return movement of the inner frame and of
the breech-block, I. sometimes arrange two springs in a tube or tubular chamber.
beneath the barrel. One of these springs is connected with the barrel or with the
inner frame, and is so arranged that it will be compressed in the recoil of the barrel
and inner frame, and will subsequently react to effect the forward or return movement
of the said barrel and inner frame. The other spring is connected with the breech-
block, and is so arranged that it will be extended in the recoil of the said block and
will subsequently react to effect the forward or return movement of the said block. Or
I use two springs, one within the other, arranged in the rear part of the gun-stock,
which springs can be removed or withdrawn through the heel-plate or otherwise.
To more effectually ensure the extraction of the empty cartridge-shells from the
barrel, I prefer to employ a strong spring which is attached to the rear end of the outer
frame. This spring is compressed, in the recoil of the inner frame and parts carried
thereby, and subsequently reacts with considerable force to effect, or assist in effecting,
the forward or return movement of the barrel and inner frame, while the breech-block

page_text: is held back as above described. The said spring, moreover, serves as a buffer or
cushion for diminishing the concussion due to the recoil.
When I employ a grooved wheel for feeding cartridges into position in front of the
breech-block, I prefer that this wheel should be fitted to rotate upon the barrel and
that these parts should be so constructed that the barrel is free to move to and fro
in the said wheel. In this case, I provide means whereby the barrel, in its to-and-fro
movement, will impart intermittent rotary motion to the feed-wheel, and I attach to the
top of the barrel a rod or plunger which, when the barrel recoils, will move backward
the cartridge in the uppermost groove of the said feed-wheel and push the said
cartridge into a chamber or cavity in the gun, so that, when the barrel moves forward;
the said cartridge will fall in front of the breech-block.
When two or more of my improved guns are arranged side by side in a single frame,
I provide means whereby the starting of all of the said guns can be effected by the
simple movement of a lever, handle or trigger, in one or the other direction. In some
instances, I employ, for this purpose, a rod or bar which is formed with a spiral or
helical surface or projection, so that, when turned in either direction, it will act suc-
cessively upon the sears of the several guns to release them from the corresponding
hammers, commencing at one or the other side of the series or row of guns. This
rod or bar is, moreover, so arranged, that by turning it through a small angle, one or
two of the said guns can be started without starting the other guns.
When in one
position, this rod or bar permits all of the sears to engage with the corresponding.
hammers. When in another position, it holds all of the said sears out of engagement
with the hammers. The said rod or bar may be provided with a lever or other
suitable device for operating it; but I prefer to provide the following means for
effecting this object, that is to say:-A bevel pinion is fixed upon the said rod or bar
and gears with another bevel pinion fixed on a spindle, which extends towards the:
rear of the gun. This spindle is arranged within a tubular casing and is provided.
with a suitable handle. The said handle can be used for pointing or training the
gun and for holding it in any desired position while firing. Moreover, by turning
this handle in one or the other direction, the said rod or bar can be turned for the
purpose above specified. I thus provide for facilitating the rapid working of the gun.
I sometimes provide the said handle with a bolt or catch for locking it in any desired
position. I prefer to arrange this bolt or catch in combination with a lever extending
parallel with that part of the said handle which is to be grasped by the hand, and
provided with a spring which tends to push it outward from the said handle, so that,
by grasping the said handle and lever tightly, or relaxing the grasp thereon, the said
bolt or catch can be withdrawn from, or permitted to engage in, a hole or notch in
the gun-frame.
I sometimes provide for the automatic spreading or dispersal of the bullets, when
the gun is mounted upon a pivot or swivel. For this purpose, I make the swivelling
part of the gun-mounting with an extension or tail-piece and provide the same with a
spring on each side of the said extension or tail-piece. Two adjusting screws are
fixed in the stationary part of the gun-mounting and bear against the free ends of
these springs. The said springs tend to hold the said extension or tail-piece in a
central position between the said screws. When either of the outer barrels is
discharged, the recoil turns the gun in one or the other direction on its pivot and
compresses one or the other of the said springs, which then reacts and moves the gun
in the reverse direction. By adjusting the aforesaid screws, the angle through which
the gun is thus moved can be regulated. When it is desired to keep the gun
stationary, the said screws are caused to press the ends of the springs tightly against
the said extension or tail-piece.
I sometimes arrange a tubular magazine beneath the barrel and provide a series of
pawls which are pivotted to the barrel, so that, in each recoil of the latter, the said
pawls will move the cartridges in the magazine towards the breech of the gun through
à distance equal, or about equal, to the length of a cartridge. To effectually ensure the
proper working of this device, I prefer to arrange the said pawls alternately on either

page_text: side of the axis of the barrel. Retaining pawls or other suitable means are provided
for preventing any forward movement of the cartridges in the magazine.
According to another modification of my invention, instead of providing the breech-
block with a pivotted bar or strut, as above described, I provide for locking the said
block in the inner frame by so arranging it therein that it is free to turn upon or
about its forward end as a pivot or fulcrum, and providing it with a shoulder or
projection which is adapted to engage with a shoulder on the inner frame. I some-
times make the trigger and sear in one piece and so construct the gun that a catch
or hook on the trigger will hold back the breech-block during the forward or return
movement of the barrel and inner frame. The trigger is, moreover, provided with a
shoulder or projection, against which a projection on the inner frame will strike, when
the said frame has nearly terminated its recoil, and thus ensure the engagement of
the said catch or hook with the breech-block. When the trigger is thus engaged
with the breech-block, it is held in position by a spring catch pivotted to the shoe or
body of the gun. By pressing upon this catch, the trigger can be released; it will
then be disengaged from the breech-block by the action of a spring, the sear,
at the same time, engaging with the bent of the hammer. The breech-block is then
moved forward by its spring or springs. The hammer is cocked by the inner frame
in its recoil. I sometimes provide the trigger with two finger-pieces, so that, if the
said spring should not act properly to disengage the trigger from the breech-block,
this disengagement can be positively effected by hand. As the trigger, after being
pulled to fire the gun, must be released to permit its disengagement from the breech-
block, it is obvious that successive shots cannot be fired by only once pulling the
trigger. The magazine is placed either at the top or at one or the other side of the
gun, or beneath the same as in the "Lee" rifle. If the said spring catch is held out
of engagement with the trigger, the gun can be repeatedly fired by alternately pulling
and releasing the trigger, but, if the trigger is pulled and the said catch is permitted
to engage therewith, the breech will be kept open until the said catch is disengaged
from the trigger.
When the magazine is arranged at either side of the gun, I sometimes provide the
means hereinafter described for feeding or transferring the cartridges successively.
from the magazine into position in front of the breech-block, that is to say-A lever
is pivotted at the forward end of the magazine, upon a pin or bolt, which is passed
through an elongated slot in the said lever. This slot extends at right angles to the
axis of the barrel. The said lever is provided with a tail-piece against which presses
a spring, which tends to hold the said lever in such a position that it is clear of the
cartridges in the magazine but is ready to act, upon the lowermost cartridge therein
to transfer it therefrom. The said lever has a projection which is acted upon by a
shoulder on the barrel or on the inner frame, in the forward or return movement of
the latter, to turn the said lever on its pivot, and thereby transfer the lowermost
cartridge in the magazine into position in front of the breech-block. The lever then
holds up the remaining cartridges in the magazine until turned in the. reverse
direction. The said lever is provided with a projection which, as soon as the said
lever has thus transferred a cartridge from the magazine, will strike against the
inner frame so that the lever will thereby be pushed outward on its pivot, and its
spring will cause it to resume its normal position. I thus provide for ensuring that
the cartridges in the magazine shall have ample time to descend before the said lever
is again operated to transfer a cartridge from the said magazine.
In applying my present improvements to cannon or large guns, in which a heavy
charge of powder is required and the cartridges must be very long, I make the breech-
block very short in order to economize space and to lighten the gun. I prefer to
make the said block of a length about equal to two calibres. I make tho said block
with an extension at its forward end provided with a shoulder or projection, which, in
the recoil or backward movement of the said block, transfers a cartridge from the
magazine into such a position that it will fall in front of the breech-block when the
barrel and inner frame have terminated their forward movement.

page_text: For locking the breech-block to the barrel and inner frame, I provide two semi-
cylindrical pins or shafts which can be turned on their axes either so that they
project into recesses in the inner frame and efficiently support the breech-block against
the explosion in the barrel, or so that they are clear of the said frame and the breech-
block is free to move backward independently of the barrel and inner frame. These
pins or shafts are arranged in combination with racks and pinions or other suitable
means whereby the said pins or shafts will be partially rotated, in the recoil of the
inner frame, for the purpose of unlocking the breech-block. They are, moreover,
provided with springs for moving them back into their locking position.
I provide a handle for the purpose of opening the breech by hand. This handle is
so arranged, in combination with the said pins or shafts, that, by pulling the said
handle, the unlocking will first be effected, and then the breech-block will be
drawn back.
The breech-block is, in some instances, moved backward by the momentum
imparted thereto by the recoil of the barrel and inner frame. In other instances,
I employ hydraulic or pneumatic apparatus so constructed that a large piston
connected with the barrel and inner frame and having a short stroke or movement
acts, through the medium of water or air, upon a smaller piston connected with the
breech-block and having a long stroke or movement.
I sometimes mount a cannon constructed according to my present invention
upon a mounting having a cylindrical part in which is a rectangular box for
holding a belt of cartridges, so that the said cartridges are well protected and space is
economized.
According to another part of my invention, I provide means, whereby the gun,
when not firing, will be held in any position to which it may be adjusted, and the
turning of the same upon its trunnions will be prevented irrespectively of the position,
for the time being, of its centre of gravity. For this purpose I combine, with the
shoulder-piece or crutch, means whereby, when no pressure is exerted upon the said
shoulder-piece, the gun will be firmly locked or secured against vertical movement,
but, when pressure is applied to the said shoulder-piece, the gun is free to be elevated
or depressed.
When a large or heavy gun is constructed as above described, it is necessary that
the breech-end thereof, should he made in one piece instead of being composed of a
series of rings or cylinders shrunk one upon another, because,' by reason of the
peculiar formation of the breech, such rings or cylinders would not be capable of
resisting the lateral stress tending to spread the two sides of the breech or force
them outward. I therefore make my guns in one piece and to ensure their having
the same molecular condition as that which exists in a built-up gun, I make my guns
in the following manner, that is to say I take a tough forging of steel and roughly
bore the same to nearly the required calibre. I then place it in a furnace, preferably
in a vertical position, and heat it by means of gas or other fuel until the whole mass
is sufficiently hot to be tempered. The fire is then muffled, and the inside of the gun
is cooled with either water or oil, while the cooling of the outside thereof is prevented
by the heat applied thereto. In this manner, the inner part, being cooled first, is
hardened and the outer portion, when cooled, shrinks or contracts upon the inner
portion. Therefore the outer portion is in a high state of tension and the inner
portion in a high state of compression, and the condition of the steel is such as is
required to withstand the greatest amount of internal pressure. Before finishing the
barrel, I load the same with a proof charge which will subject it to a much higher
pressure than it will require to withstand in actual use, and I explode the said charge,
thereby subjecting the barrel to an internal pressure sufficient to slightly stretch or
expand the same. I then bore out the barrel until its internal diameter is about one-
half of an inch larger than the hore required, and I form therein a series of longi-
tudinal grooves or channels extending throughout its length. Into the barrel thus
formed, I insert a rifled tube of hardened steel about one quarter of an inch in
thickness, and provided with longitudinal ribs or projections which fit into the grooves

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Automatic and other Guns.
or Fire-arms.
I, HIRAM STEVENS MAXIM, of 57º, Hatton Garden, in the County of Middlesex,
Mechanical Engineer, 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 :-
My invention relates to machine or battery guns, to large and heavy guns or
ordnance and to military rifles, sporting guns and other fire-arms, and is chiefly
designed to improve the construction and increase the efficiency of guns or fire-arms
of the kind or class for which numerous patents have already been granted to me and
which are now well known as automatic guns.
Certain of my present improvements relate more particularly to the class of guns or
fire-arms wherein the barrel and breech-mechanism are arranged to recoil in an outer
frame or support as described in the specifications of former Letters Patent granted to
me and dated 29th January A.D. 1885, No. 1307, and 8th July A.D. 1885, No. 8281.
And, by these improvements, I am enabled to dispense with the crank-shaft and the
means for operating the same described in the said former specifications, and to
greatly simplify the construction and operation of the
gun.
I have heretofore constructed guns of this class in such a manner that, when the
gun is fired, the breech-block (which during the firing is securely locked to the barrel)
recoils with the barrel and, in such recoil, is automatically unlocked or disengaged
therefrom and has imparted to it an accelerating impulse whereby it is moved away
from the barrel for the purpose of extracting the empty cartridge-shell and permitting
the introduction of a fresh cartridge between the said block and the barrel.
A novel and peculiar feature of iny present invention is the construction of a gun or
fire-arm of this class in such a manner that the barrel and breech-block will recoil
together, and, when the barrel has terminated its recoil or backward movement, the
extraction of the empty cartridge shell and the opening of the breech to permit the
introduction of a fresh cartridge between the breech-block and the barrel, will be
effected by the forward or return-movement of the barrel while the breech-block is held
back, or by the movement of the barrel and breech-block in opposite directions as
hereinafter set forth.
In some instances, I so construct the gun that the discharge of a cartridge in the
barrel will cause the recoil of the barrel and breech-block in the outer frame or
support through a distance slightly greater than the length of a cartridge, and the
breech-block will then be automatically unlocked from the barrel and held back while
the barrel is moved forward away from the same and drawn off the empty cartridge-
shell, leaving the said shell held by an extractor or extractors on the breech-block;
and I provide means whereby, when the barrel has terminated, or nearly terminated,

page_text: or channels in the barrel. This tube can be readily removed when it becomes worn,
and a new tube substituted therefor.
When I construct a pistol according to my present improvements, I prefer to
provide a tubular magazine above the barrel, as I thus avoid or diminish the deviation
of the line of fire due to the kick or recoil of the pistol, by distributing the weight
more equally than heretofore, that is to say, by placing a considerable portion of the
weight above the axis of the barrel.
For loading or filling this magazine with cartridges, I prefer to employ a tubular
holder of about the same length as the said magazine. This holder is provided with
a spiral spring which is compressed by the-insertion of cartridges into the holder, and
with a catch, which engages with the cartridge last inserted in the said holder and
thus retains the cartridges therein. The said holder can be easily carried in the
pocket or elsewhere upon the person. When the magazine is to be filled, the end of
the said holder is applied to the end of the said magazine and the catch is withdrawn.
The spring in the holder, by its reaction, then pushes the cartridges from the
holder into the magazine. The said catch is either withdrawn by hand, or it is
so arranged that it will be withdrawn by the act of applying the holder to the
magazine.
By mounting two or more of my automatic guns in, a single, frame so that
they will operate independently of each other as above described; I obtain the
advantage over machine-guns worked by hand, that, whereas, in such machine-
guns, if a cartridge is jammed in one barrel, the. whole of the barrels are rendered
inoperative, in my improved arrangement, the jamming of a cartridge in one gun
of the series does not affect the action of the other guns thereof, which will
continue to work as usual.
Some of my present improvements are applicable to guns designed to be worked
by hand.
By my present improvements I am enabled to so.construct the breech-mechanism,
that it will be very light, and will occupy a small space, consequently I can
make a multiple barrel machine or battery gun which will compare favourably,
with respect to both size and weight, with the machine-guns heretofore used.
Moreover, I can make an automatic rifle so small and light that it can, without
inconvenience, be used in place of an ordinary rifle.
Dated this 1st day of June 1886.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: its forward or return movement and the next succeeding cartridge has been introduced
between the same and the breech-block, the said block will be released and permitted
to move forward under the action of a spring or springs. In other instances,
I construct the gun in such a manner that the discharge of a cartridge.in the barrel
will cause the recoil of the barrel and breech-block through a distance less than the
length of a cartridge and the breech-block will then be automatically unlocked from
the barrel, and the said block and barrel moved in opposite directions, thereby
effecting the extraction of the empty cartridge-shell and permitting the introduction
between them of the next succeeding cartridge.
In large and heavy guns; I prefer to so arrange the parts that the barrel, in
recoiling a short distance with the breech-block, will impart thereto sufficient
momentum to cause it, when unlocked from the barrel, to continue its backward
movement while the barrel is moving forward.
I sometimes arrange, in combination with the barrel and breech-block, hydraulic or
pneumatic apparatus or hydraulic and pneumatic apparatus whereby the barrel, in its
forward or return movement, will impart backward motion to the breech-block for the
purposes of extracting the empty cartridge-shell and opening the breech to permit the
introduction of a fresh cartridge between the said block and the barrel; or whereby
the barrel, in its recoil, will store up energy to be used in effecting the backward
movement of the breech-block for the purposes above specified."
Another feature of my present invention is the employment of means whereby the
release of the breech-block from the devices which hold it in its rearmost position will
be effected, when, but not until, a cartridge falls or is introduced between the barrel
and breech-block in position to be thrust into the barrel by the said block in its
forward or return movement.
For feeding or supplying the gun with cartridges, 1 use a vertical feeder or hopper,
or a wheel formed with longitudinal grooves or channels, or a cartridge-belt or other
suitable magazine. I prefer to so arrange the said magazine that, while one cartridge
is being fired, the next succeeding cartridge in the magazine will occupy a position
either above, below, or at one side of the barrel and immediately in front of the
breech-end thereof; and I provide a hook, shoulder or equivalent device either on the
barrel or on the breech-block, which, in the recoil, draws a cartridge backward out of
the magazine, so that, when the barrel returns to the firing position, the said cartridge
will fall or be pushed by a spring or springs into position between the barrel and
breech-block.
Another feature of my present invention is the combination of two or more
automatic guns arranged in a common frame or support and constructed substantially
as herein described so that they will operate independently of each other. As,
however, the firing of the guns, when operating independently of each other, will not
take place with uniform rapidity by reason of differences in the quality and quantity
of the powder contained in the cartridges, and various other causes, I prefer to make
the firing of one gun dependent upon the action of the breech-mechanism of another
gun, that is to say, to so construct a gun with two or more barrels that the release of
the hammer for effecting the discharge of a cartridge in either of the said barrels will
be performed by force created by the explosion of a cartridge in another of the said
barrels. For example, the force created by the explosion in the first barrel will
release the hammer of the second barrel, the force created by the explosion in the
second barrel will release the hammer of the third barrel, and so on, the force created
by the explosion in the last barrel releasing the hammer of the first barrel. For a
gun with ten or more barrels, or where great rapidity of firing is desired, I prefer to
so construct the gun that the action of the hammer of one barrel in firing will effect
the release of the hammer of the next succeeding barrel, and the interval of time
between the successive shots will be very small. I thus ensure a constant, or
approximately constant, and rapid fire.
My said invention, moreover, comprises various other improvements hereinafter
lescribed.

page_text: In the accompanying drawings :-
Figure 1 is a plan, partly in horizontal section, of a machine-gun having five
barrels and constructed according to my present invention.
Figure 2 is a section on the line, x, Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a transverse section on the line a¹, a¹, Figure 2, drawn to an enlarged
scale.
•
9
Figure is a transverse section on the line a³, 2, Figure 2, also drawn to an
enlarged scale.
Figure 5 is a plan, partly in horizontal section, and
Figure 6 a side elevation, showing a portion of the said gun.
Figures 5 to 14 inclusive are drawn to an enlarged scale.
Figure 7 is a rear elevation showing parts of the gun detached.
Figure 8 is an elevation, partly in section on the line a,, Figure 5; showing
details of construction.
Figure 9 is a plan of a trigger-rod or shaft hereinafter described.
Figure 10 is a transverse section through the said rod on the line y, y, Figure 9,
showing also, in side elevation, a sear hereinafter described.
Figures 11, 12, 13 and 14 are transverse sections on the lines y¹-y¹, y²—y², y³—y³,
and yy, Figure 9, respectively.
Figures 15 and 16 show, in side elevation and partly in vertical longitudinal central
section, another form or modification of my improved gun.
Figure 17 is a transverse section on the line a, a, Figure 15.
Figure 18 is a side elevation, partly in vertical section, showing details of
construction.
Figure 18 is a plan, partly in horizontal section, and
Figure 18" a vertical longitudinal section, showing a modified form of my multi-
barrel gun.
Figure 19 is a vertical longitudinal central section of a sporting gun constructed
according to my present invention.
Figure 20 is a side elevation of the barrel of the said gun detached.
Figure 21 is an underside view of the said barrel.
Figure 22 is a transverse section on the line,, Figure 19.
Figure 23 is a similar section through the barrel only.
Figure 24 is a vertical longitudinal central section of a device hereinafter described
for filling a tubular magazine with cartridges.
Figure 25 is a plan, partly in horizontal section, and
Figure 26 a vertical longitudinal central section of a military rifle with my present
improvements applied thereto.
Figure 27 is a side elevation, partly in vertical longitudinal central section, showing
the forward part of the said rifle.
Figure 28 is a transverse section on the line z, z, Figure 27.
Figures 28 to 35 inclusive are drawn to an enlarged scale.
Figure 29 is a plan showing a lever hereinafter described for transferring the
cartridges from the magazine into the gun.
Figures 30, 31, 32 and 33 are transverse sections on the lines 1, 2, 23–23,
Figure 26, respectively.
Figure 34 is a vertical longitudinal central section of the breech-block detached.
Figure 35 is a vertical longitudinal central section of the inner frame detached.
Figure 36 is a plan of a rifle constructed according to my invention and designed
to be used with cartridges such as that hereinafter described, some of the parts being
removed.
Figure 37 is a vertical longitudinal central section of the said rifle.
Figures 38, 39 and 40 are transverse sections respectively on the lines y-y°, y'—y'
and y-y, Figure 37.
Figures 41, 42 and 43 are different views hereinafter described, showing the
breech-block detached...

page_text: Figure 44 is a vertical longitudinal central section of the inner frame detached.
Figure 45 is a transverse section on the line y-y, Figure 37.
Figure 46 is a longitudinal central section, drawn to an enlarged scale, of a cartridgo
hereinafter described, showing also part of the barrel of a gun in which the said
cartridge is inserted.
Figure 47 is a plan of a shell-gun constructed according to my present improve-
ments.
Figure 48 is a vertical section thereof partly through the centro of the gun and
partly through one of the buffers hereinafter described.
Figure 49 is a transverse section on the line, a, Figure 47, drawn to an enlarged
scale.
Figure 50 is a horizontal section of part of the said gun on the line 7, 7, Figure 48;
drawn to a still further enlarged scale.
Figures 51 and 52 are plans, and
Figure 53 is a vertical longitudinal central section, drawn to the same scale as
Figure 50, showing details of construction.
Figure 54 is a horizontal section on the line 8, 8, Figure 49, showing the mean
for locking the breech-block to the barrel.
Figure 55 is a vertical longitudinal central section, illustrating means for holding
back and releasing the breech-block of the said shell-gun as hereinafter described.
Figure 56 is a rear elevation of the said breech-block.
Figure 57 is a front elevation of a portion of the same.
Figures 58 and 59 are vertical longitudinal central sections illustrating pneumatic
apparatus hereinafter described.
Figure 60 is a vertical longitudinal central section of a pistol constructed according
to my present improvements.
Figure 61 is a side elevation, partly in vertical longitudinal central section, showing
one of my guns supported upon a cylindrical mounting.
Figure 62 is a plan of the said mounting partly in horizontal section.
Figure 63 is a section on the line y-y, Figure 59.
Figure 64 is a side elevation showing one of my guns supported upon a cone-
mounting.
Figure 65 is a plan of the said mounting partly in horizontal section.
Figure 66 is a rear elevation of the said mounting.
Referring to Figures 1 to 14 of the drawings, A is a strong metal frame, which
is provided with trunnions A' and is designed to be supported upon a tripod or
other suitable mounting or carriage. B, B are the barrels, which have formed
thereon, or firmly attached thereto, metal frames B', and which are fitted to slide
longitudinally to and fro, with the said frames, in or between suitable guides formed
on, or attached to, the frame A. C, C are the breech-blocks which are fitted to
slide to and fro in the inner frames B. Each barrel has its breech-mechanism
arranged to operate independently of that of any of the other barrels, in other
words, there are five automatic guns arranged side by side in a common frame or
support and operating independently of each other. As these guns are similarly
constructed, I will hereinafter describe one of them.
The breech-block C has a bar or strut C₁ hinged or pivotted thereto as at C³,
Figures 2 and 3. This bar or strut is formed with a shoulder or projection (³ which
is adapted to engage with a shoulder B on the inner frame B', when the breech is
closed, and thus lock or secure the breech-block in the said frame, and support the
said block against the force of the explosion of a cartridge in the barrel. The rear
end C* of this pivotted bar is taper or wedge-shaped, and is hooked as shown. An
arm or projection A2 is formed or fixed on the rear end of the frame A, so that, when
the inner frame B₁ and parts carried thereby have nearly terminated their recoil, the
underside of the hook C of the bar C¹ will strike the arm or projection A2, and the
said bar will thus be lifted out of engagement with the shoulder B2 on the frame B'.
In some instances, a roller suitably supported is used instead of this arm or projection.
D is a spiral spring, which is arranged within a chamber A³ formed in the frame A.

page_text: A bar D¹ is fitted to slide longitudinally to and fro between suitable guides above the
chamber A3, and is provided with an arm D2 which works in a slot A' in the top of
the said chamber. The bar D' is also provided with a shoulder or projection D³, with
which the breech-block C engages, so that the said bar is drawn back with the said
block. The spring D is thus compressed by the breech-block, in its backward
movement, and then reacts to effect the forward movement of the said block.
D is a bar, which is fitted to slide between guides formed on the frame A, and is
connected with the inner frame B', as shown in Figure 2, the said bar will, therefore,
move to and fro with the said frame. The bar D is provided with eyes D outside
the frame A, so that a suitable handle can be connected therewith to draw back the
frame B¹ and barrel B by hand when necessary. The said bar is, moreover, provided
with shoulders or projections 16, D' for the purpose hereinafter specified.
E is a spiral spring which is arranged within a tube or chamber A³ attached to the
underside of the frame A. This spring is connected, at its forward end, to the
frame A by means of a hook E¹ and, at its rear end, to a plunger E2 fitted to slide in
the said tube or chamber A'. This plunger is connected with the inner frame B¹ by
means of a rod E³ coupled to the said plunger and provided with a hook E' which
engages with the said frame B¹. When the said frame recoils, the spring E is
extended, the said spring then reacts to effect, or assist in effecting, the return
movement of the said frame and parts carried thereby. To prevent or diminish the
shock produced by the recoil of the said frame and parts carried thereby, I provide a
spring E, which, in the latter part of such recoil, will be compressed between the
plunger E and the rear end of the chamber A. This spring, moreover, by its
reaction, assists in effecting the return movement of the barrel Band frame B' while
the breech-block is held back as hereinafter set forth, and thus effectually ensures
the starting of the empty cartridge-shells from the barrel, in the manner hereinafter
described.
The rod E³ is provided with a hook E and may be disengaged from the frame 13
and coupled to the rear end of the chamber A5, to permit the drawing back of the
said frame by hand.
F is a bent lever, which is pivotted at F' to the frame A and is formed with a
hook F adapted to engage with the hook C of the pivotted bar or strut C¹ for the
purpose of holding back the breech-block during the forward or return movement of
the barrel and inner frame. In the to-and-fro movement of the frame B¹, the
shoulders or projections D', D' on the sliding bar D act alternately upon the bent
lever Fio cause its engagement with, and disengage it from, the said pivotted
bar C¹.
G is the extractor, which is carried by, and pivotted to, the breech-block C. The
extraction of the empty cartridge-shells is effected by the moving forward of the
barrel and inner frame while the breech-block is held back by the hooked lever F,
that is to say, the cartridge-shell is held stationary with the breech-block while the
barrel is moved forward and thus drawn off the said shell. The empty shells fall
through apertures provided for the purpose in the frames A and B¹. The extractor
is so constructed and arranged that, when the frame 13¹ and parts carried thereby are
in their rearmost position, the enlargement G¹ of the said extractor will be in contact
with the part A of the frame A and the extractor will thereby be held firmly in
engagement with the head or flange of a cartridge-shell while the said shell is being
started from the barrel.
The said extractor is reduced in thickness at G to form a spring, which bears upon
a shoulder at the rear end of the breech-block; the hooked end of the extractor can,
therefore, be readily moved over the flange of a cartridge in the barrel and will then
be held in engagement therewith by the said spring.
H is the firing pin; E' is the hammer, which is pivotted at H2 to the frame A
His the main spring, which is attached in any convenient manner to the said
frame.
I, I are two sears, which are pivotted upon a pin or rod 12 fixed in the outer
frame, and are acted upon by springs 13 which tend to hold them in engagement

page_text: with the bent H of the hammer H', when the hammer is cocked. The sear I extends
downward and is arranged to be automatically disengaged from the hammer by means
of a projection C³ on the breech-block at the termination of the forward movement
of the said block. The sear I is a bent lever, one arm of which extends beneath
the trigger-rod I, and which is disengaged from the hammer by hand by means of the
said trigger-rod as hereinafter described. The hammer is cocked in the recoil of the
inner frame B by the aid of a projection C upon the breech-block. The said hammer
is formed with cams H6, one on each side thereof, so that, before it can act upon the
firing pin H, it must depress the pivotted bar C and thus ensure the engagement of
the shoulder C³ thereof with the shoulder B2 on the inner frame, and, when the said
hammer has operated to fire the gun, it will prevent the disengagement of the said
pivotted bar from the inner frame, until the hammer is again cocked. I thus ensure
the proper closing of the breech before the gun is fired.
Jis a vertical hopper, feeder or magazine, which is arranged above the barrel B.
with its rear end a short distance in front of the breech-end of the barrel, when the
latter is in its firing position. The lowermost cartridge in the said magazine rests
upon the top of the barrel behind a projection B³ thereon. When the barrel recoils,
the said cartridge is moved backward by the said projection into a chamber A in the
frame A. To the top of this chamber within the same are secured springs As, which
press downward upon the cartridge thus introduced into the chamber." When the
barrel and inner frame have moved forward and the empty shell has been extracted,
the said cartridge is forced down in front of the breech-block by the springs A and
is supported upon the frame B', so that the said block, in its forward movement, will
push the said cartridge into the barrel.
.
The mechanism above described operates as follows, that is to say-The parts
are shown in Figure 2 in the positions which they occupy when the firing pin has
been struck by the hammer and the projectile is about to move forward in the barrel.
The explosion of the cartridge causes the recoil of the barrel B and the inner frame B¹
and parts carried thereby. In this recoil, the projection 13 pushes the lowermost
cartridge in the magazine backward into the chamber A7, the spring D is compressed
and the spring E is extended as above described, the hammer is cocked and is held
in its cocked position by the sears I, I', or only by the sear 1, according to the
position of the trigger-rod I, as hereinafter described. The pivotted bar then
comes in contact with the arm or projection A² on the frame A and is thereby
disengaged from the shoulder B2 of the frame B₁ moreover the bar D is moved
backward until its projection D strikes the lever F and causes the same to engage
with the pivotted bar C and hold back the breech-block. In the latter portion of the
backward movement of the frame B and parts carried thereby, the spring E' is
compressed. By the reaction of the springs E, E' considerable force is exerted to
move forward the frame B¹ and barrel B, while the breech-block is held back by
the hooked lever F. The barrel is thus forcibly drawn from the empty cartridge-
shell, which is held back by the extractor G.
As soon as the barrel is clear of the cartridge-shell, the latter drops out of the
gun through apertures provided for the purpose in the frames A, B, and the cartridge
in the chamber A' is pushed down by the springs AB into position to be thrust into
the barrel. When the frame B₁ has terminated, or nearly terminated, its forward
movement, the shoulder or projection De on the sliding bar D strikes the lever F and
disengages the same from the pivotted bar C. The spring D then reacts and effects
the forward or return movement of the breech-block. When the breech-block has
thrust the cartridge into the barrel and closed the breech, the projection C³ on the
said block strikes the sear I and disengages it from the hammer.
If the sear is
held by the trigger-rod I out of engagement with the hammer, as shown in Figure 2,
the hammer, when released from the sear I as above described, will immediately act
upon the firing pin and the gun will continue firing so long as it is supplied with
ammunition. If, however, the trigger-rod 1 is so placed that the sear I will engage
with the hammer when cocked, the said trigger-rod must be turned in order to again
fire the gun.

page_text: When two or more guns are arranged side by side in a single frame, as shown, for
example, in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, I prefer to provide means whereby the starting of
all of the said guns can be effected by a simple movement of a lever or handle in one
or the other direction. In the gun shown in the said Figures, I use, for this purpose,
the trigger-rod 1. This rod and the means for operating the same are illustrated in
Figures 5 to 14. The said trigger-rod is formed with spiral working surfaces' 15, 1º,
so that, when turned in either direction, it will act successively upon the sears I¹ of
the several guns, to release them from the corresponding hammers, commencing at
one or the other side of the series or row of guns, according to the direction in which
the said rod is turned. Moreover, by turning the said rod through a small angle, one
or more of. the said guns can be started whilst the other guns are left out of action.
It will be seen that, by adjusting this trigger-rod to the position shown in Figure 10,
all of the sears I may be permitted to engage with the hammers. Moreover, when
the said trigger-rod occupies such a position that its periphery bears against all of the
sears I¹, the said sears will be held out of engagement with the hammers. The said
trigger-rod may be provided with an ordinary lever or handle or other suitable
device for operating it; but, when it is applied to a machine-gun, such as that shown
in Figures 1 to 4, I prefer to employ, in combination with the said trigger-rod, the
devices shown in Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8, in which K is a bevel pinion which is fixed
upon the trigger-rod I and is geared with another bevel pinion K fixed on a
spindle K³. This spindle is fitted with a capability of rotation in a tubular casing K³
firmly attached to the frame A, and is provided with a suitable handle K. By
turning this handle in one or the other direction, the trigger-rod I can be adjusted
for the purposes above specified. The said handle can, moreover, be used for pointing
or training the gun and for holding it in any desired position while firing; a similar
handle being provided upon the opposite side of the frame A, if desired, so that the
gun can be adjusted by both hands. By these means, the rapid working of the gun is
greatly facilitated.
I sometimes provide the handle K with a bolt or catch K for locking it in any
desired position. This bolt or catch is fitted to slide in holes in the back and front
parts of the handle K³, and is acted upon by a spring Ke (inserted in a hole or cavity
in the said handle) whereby it is caused to enter one or other of the holes K' in a
segment Ks formed or fixed on the tubular casing K³. When the handle K is
grasped by the hand, one of the fingers is to be passed through a ring or annular
piece K forming part of the said bolt or catch, so that the said bolt or catch can be
withdrawn from the bole K' (into which it has been pushed by its spring) to permit
the turning of the said handle. When the handle is in its central position, the bolt or
catch enters the central hole K' in the segment K³, and retains the said handle in
this position, the trigger-rod 1 will then be in the position shown in Figure 10 and
all the scars I will be free to engage with the hammers.
I sometimes provide the following means for moving the handle K* back to its
central position after it has been turned in one or the other direction, that is to
say I fit upon the spindle K² two arms K, which are coupled to the plungers K¹.
These plungers are fitted to slide in cylinders K3 which are pivotted at their lower
ends to an enlargement K" of the casing K³. Spiral springs K" are placed in the
cylinders K13 and tend to push the plungers K upward and thus hold the parts in
the positions shown in Figure 8. The spindle K² is provided with a stud K16 which
engages with shoulders K" on the arms K. When the handle. K* is turned in
in one or the other direction, the corresponding spring K is compressed, and,
when the said handle is released, the said spring, by its reaction, moves the same
back to its central position. The bolt or catch K³ may, if desired, be dispensed
with, when these devices are employed. The parts are, in some instances, so
constructed and arranged that, by turning the handle K in one direction, all the
barrels can be discharged simultaneously, and, by turning it in the reverse direction,
successive shots can be fired.
I sometimes employ, in a gun of the kind or class above referred to, a wheel
provided with longitudinal grooves or channels and a belt or band passed over or

page_text: around the said wheel, as described in the specification of former Letters Patent
granted to me and dated 16th July A.D. 1883, No. 3493, for feeding the cartridges
successively into such a position that they may, in the recoil of the barrel, be moved
back into a chamber in the outer frame or support as above described. A novel
feature of my present invention is the employment of a wheel of this kind fitted to
rotate upon the barrel, the parts of the gun being so constructed that, in the operation
of the gun, the barrel moves to and fro in the said wheel. In Figures 15 to 18,
L is a feed-wheel fitted to rotate upon the barrel B, which is capable of to-and-fro
movement in the said wheel. L' is a band or belt containing cartridges, which is
used in combination with the said feed-wheel. L² is a ratchet-wheel, which is formed
or fixed on the feed-wheel L. A pawl L³ is pivotted to a pawl-carrier L* fitted to
slide up and down between guides on the frame A. This pawl is acted upon by a
spring L, whereby it is caused to engage with the said ratchet-wheel. Le is a bent
lever, which is pivotted at L' to the frame A and is coupled to the pawl-carrier L by
means of a pin or bolt L³ passing through an elongated slot in the said lever, as
shown, and which is operated as hereinafter described. L' is a spring, which is
attached to the frame A and acts upon the lever L in such a manner that it tends to
keep the pawl-carrier at the top of its stroke, and effects the upward or return
movement of the said carrier. A retaining pawl L is pivotted to the frame A and
engages with the ratchet-wheel L. Two spring plates G³ are attached to the
breech-block C, one on each side thereof. Each of these plates is provided with two
projections G, G. The projections G are adapted to spring over, and engage
with, the flange of a cartridge in the barrel, to effect the extraction of the empty
cartridge-shell. The projections G' are adapted to spring over, and engage with,
the flange of a cartridge in the uppermost groove of the wheel L to draw back the
said cartridge into the chamber A. A projection A is formed on the frame A, so
that, in the partial rotation of the feed-wheel to bring a cartridge into position over
the barrel, the said cartridge will strike the said projection and thus be prevented
from moving past its central position. The other parts of the gun shown in
Figures 15 to 18 are constructed and arranged like those of the several guns shown
in Figures 1 to 4, with the following exceptions viz-the spring E is not enclosed in
a chamber or casing, and, instead of being attached to the inner frame B' as above
described, the said spring is attached, at its rear end, to a lug formed on a ring B
which is fixed upon the barrel B. This ring B has a projection B which, in the
recoil of the barrel, operates the lever L and pawl-carrier L' for the purpose of
imparting the required intermittent movement to the feed-wheel L³.
In Figures 18 and 18b, I have shown a multi-barrel gun wherein, after the gun
is started, each barrel will be fired by force created by the explosion of a cartridge in
the next preceding barrel. In this modification of my invention, the barrel which is
to be first fired is provided with three sears I, 1', 1'; each of the other barrels is
provided with two sears I, I¹. Each sear I is arranged to be disengaged from the
hammer by a projection C³ on the corresponding breech-block, therefore each
cartridge must be driven home before it can be fired. Each sear l' is arranged to
be disengaged by means of a projection B on the next succeeding barrel or on the
inner frame B formed on or attached to the said barrel. The trigger-rod I has
fixed thereon a series of cams 18 which are arranged to act upon the scars I¹
respectively as hereinafter described. Each cam 18 is provided with a tooth 1º and
has arranged in combination therewith a pawl v, which is coupled to a lever v¹
pivotted at to the frame A, and which is acted upon by a spring whereby it is
caused to engage with the said tooth I'. For the sake of clearness in the drawing,
some of the cams 1ª are omitted, only two of the said cams being shown in
Figure 18.
The parts are shown in the positions which they occupy when the sear I of the
first barrel has been released by the corresponding cam I and the said barrel has
been thus fired and is about to recoil with the breech-block. In the recoil, a
projection B on the barrel strikes the lever and turns the same upon or about its

page_text: pivot, thereby moving the said lever and the pawl into the position indicated by
dotted lines in Figure 18, so that the said pawl is caused by its spring to engage
with the tooth IP. In the forward or return movement of the barrel, the projection B25
strikes the said lever and, through the medium of the said lever and the pawl v;
partially rotates the trigger-rod I, thereby moving the cam 18 away from the sear I¹
and permitting the said sear to engage with the hammer, the said hammer having
been cocked by the breech-block in its reooil as herein before described. By the said
partial rotation of the trigger-rod, the cam Is of the next succeeding or second barrel
is caused to disengage the corresponding sear I from the haminer, so that the second
barrel is fired. The third barrel will be fired in like manner by means of the
projection B25 on the second barrel, the cams 18 being so arranged upon the
trigger-rod that, in each partial rotation of the said rod, one or other of the sears I'
will be disengaged from the corresponding hammer, and, in each complete rotation
of the said rod, all of the barrels will be fired in succession. The sear I is designed
to be disengaged from the hammer of the first barrel, or moved into engagement
therewith by hand for the purpose of starting and stopping the firing of the gun.
By disengaging the sear I' and continuously rotating the trigger-rod I by means
of a crank handle 110, the barrels may be discharged in rapid succession by hand.
Or, if desired, one or more shots may be fired by partially rotating the said rod by
hand.
It is obvious that the arrangement shown in Figures 18 and 18 may be adopted in
guns having any desired number of barrels.
In the modification of my invention shown in Figures 19 to 23, which illustrate my
improvements as applied to a sporting gun, a tubular magazine J is arranged beneath
the barrel, and a series of spring pawls J₁ are attached to the barrel, so that, in cach
recoil of the latter, the said pawls will move the cartridges in the magazine towards
the breech of the gun through a distance equal, or about equal to the length of a
cartridge. The said cartridges are thus pushed successively into the chamber A7,
whence they are raised by the springs A³, as required, into position in front of the
breech-block. To effectually ensure the proper working of this device, I prefer to
arrange the pawls J alternately on either side of the axis of the barrel, as shown more
clearly in Figure 21. These pawls project through apertures J' in the magazine J.
Retaining pawls or projections J³ are provided for preventing forward movement of
the cartridges in the magazine.
For the purpose of charging or filling this or any similar magazine with cartridges,
I prefer to employ a tubular holder J, Figure 24, of about the same length as tho
said magazine. This holder is provided with a spiral spring J³, which is compressed
by the insertion of cartridges into the holder. It is, moreover, provided, at its
open end, with a spring catch J, which engages with the cartridge last inserted into
the said holder and thus retains the cartridges therein. The said holder can be easily
carried in the pocket or elsewhere upon the person. When the magazine is to be
filled, the open end of the said holder is applied to the forward end of the magazine,
and the said catch J is withdrawn; the spring J5 then reacts and pushes the
cartridges from the holder into the magazine. The said catch is either arranged to
be withdrawn by hand, or it is so arranged that it will be withdrawn by the act of
applying the holder to the magazine.
In the gun shown in Figure 19, the inner frame B is an extension of the barrel B.
It is connected by links B with a hollow or tubular plunger E7 fitted to slide to and
fro in a tubular chamber in the stock A*, in which chamber is placed the spring E
for effecting the forward or return movement of the barrel and inner frame. The
spring D for effecting the forward or return movement of the breech-block is placed
in the said hollow plunger E', and bears, at its lower end, against the said plunger,
and, at its upper end, against a shoulder or flange upon a rod D³ fitted to slide in the
said plunger. The rod D³ is connected with the breech-block by means of links D
coupled, at one end, to the pivotted bar or strut C¹ and, at the other end, to the
rod D. The spring E is, in this case, made considerably stronger than the spring D,

page_text: so that, after the recoil, the spring D will be compressed by the spring E through
the medium of the plunger E in the forward movement of the barrel and inner frame.
A sear I is pivotted at I to the outer frame A and is acted upon by a spring 1³,
wherchy it is caused to engage with the bent H₁ of the hammer. This sear extends
upward, so that, when the breech-block has nearly terminated its forward movement,
a projection C on the said block will strike the said sear and disengage it from the
hammer.
M is the trigger, which is pivotted at M³ to the outer frame A and is acted
upon by a spring M2, whereby it is caused to engage with the shoulder or bent H³ of
the hammer and is held in engagement therewith until the gun is fired. The trigger
is made with a projection or extension M³, which, when the trigger is pulled to fire
the gun, is moved up into position to engage with the hook C of the bar C, on the
depression of the said bar by the arm A, and thus hold back the breech-block while
the barrel is moving forward. The spring M2 also serves to disengage the projection
or extension M³ of the trigger from the hook C when the trigger is released.
E is a buffer of leather, india-rubber or other suitable material for diminishing
the shock produced by the recoil of the inner frame and parts carried thereby.
In the modification of my invention illustrated in Figures 25 to 35, the breech-
block, instead of being provided with a pivotted bar or strut as hereinbefore
described, is so arranged in the inner frame B¹ that it is free to move vertically
therein upon or about its forward end as a pivot or fulcrum; it has a shoulder or
projection C, which is adapted to engage with the shoulder B on the inner frame B¹
to lock the said block to the barrel when the breech is closed. The rear end of the
breech-block has an inclined upper surface C7 and two hooks or projections C on its
underside. An arm A2 is pivotted at its rear end to the frame A and is pressed down
by a spring A**, so that, when the barrel and other parts have nearly terminated
their recoil, the inclined surface of the breech-block will strike the underside
of the said arm A, and the breech-block will thereby be moved downward
and disengaged from the shoulder B2 on the frame B The breech-block is
then held back as hereinafter described while the barrel and inner frame move
forward.
The spring D is arranged within a chamber A beneath the barrel, and is attached,
at its forward end, to a stop A° fixed within the said chamber, and, at its rear end, to
a rod D. This rod is coupled to an extension C of the breech-block C, so that,
in the recoil of the barrel and other parts, the said spring will be extended and will
be kept extended so long as the breech-block is held back. As soon as the breech-
block is released, the said spring will react to effect the forward or return movement
thereof.
The spring E is also arranged within the said chamber A³, and presses, at its rear
end, against the stop A and, at its forward end, against a plunger Es fitted to slide in
the said chamber. This plunger is firmly secured to the barrel B by means of the
ring or annular piece E. In the recoil of the barrel and other parts, the spring E
is compressed the said spring then reacts to effect, or assist in effecting, the return
movement of the barrel and the inner frame and parts carried thereby. To diminish
the shock produced by the recoil of the said inner frame and parts carried thereby,
I provide a supplementary spring E, which is firmly attached to the frame A, and
extends upward, so that, in the latter part of such recoil, the inner frame will strike
the said spring and compress the same. The said spring, by its reaction, assists in
effecting the forward or return movement of the barrel and inner frame, while the
breech-block is held back, and thus effectually ensures the starting of the empty
cartridge-shells from the barrel as above specified.
The empty shells are ejected by projections B7 on the inner frame B¹, which pro-
jections slide in grooves C in the breech-block, and which, in the latter part of the forward
movement of the said frame, strike the base of the cartridge-shell and throw the said
shell upward out of the gun through apertures provided for the purpose in the
frames A and B¹.

page_text: The hammer is cocked, in the recoil of the inner frame B¹, by means of the inclined
surfaces B8 on the said frame. The said frame is, moreover, provided with pro-
jections B, which, in the latter part of the backward movement, of the said frame, are
brought under projections M³ on the trigger, thus ensuring the engagement of the
said projections with the hooks C of the breech-block and holding them in engage-
ment therewith until the barrel has been moved forward through a sufficient distance
to start it from the empty cartridge-shell. By these means, I provide for preventing
the return of the barrel and breech-block together, which might otherwise occur if the
trigger were released while an empty cartridge-shell was firmly held in the barrel.
The breech-block is, moreover, provided with surfaces which hold down the
hammer until the said block is moved forward to close the breech.
N is a hooked lever, which is pivotted at N to the frame A and is adapted to
engage with an extension M* of the trigger, after the latter has been pulled to fire the
gun, and thus hold the said trigger so that its projections M³ are in position to engage
with the hooks C of the breech-block. A spring M³ is attached to the trigger M and
bears against a shoulder N2 on the hooked lever N; this spring tends to hold the
said hooked lever in engagement with the trigger, and, when the said hooked lever
is disengaged from the trigger, the said spring turns the trigger upon or about its
pivot, thereby causing the extension M of the trigger (which forms the sear) to
engage with the bent H of the hammer, and disengaging the projections M³ from
the hooks C. The trigger is made with two finger-pieces so that, should the spring M
fail to cause the release of the breech-block, this operation can be positively effected
by force applied to the forward finger-piece. The upper end of the hooked lever N
extends through an opening in the top of the gun; so that pressure can be applied
to the said lever by the thumb to disengage it from the arm M of the trigger. The
hammer is released to fire the gun by pulling the rear finger-piece of the trigger and
thus disengaging the sear Me from the bent of the hammer. From the foregoing
description, it will be seen that, in this modification of my invention, the sear engages
with the bent of the hammer when the trigger is released from the hooked lever N
to permit the forward movement of the breech-block; and that, when the trigger is
pulled to fire the gun, the projections M³ are raised into position to engage with the
hooks of the breech-block.
A cam He is formed on each side of the boss or hub of the hammer H¹, so that,
when the hammer is released by the pulling of the trigger, the said cams will act upon
the surfaces C10 of the breech-block and will thus force the rear end thereof upward
and lock it in the inner frame, before the hammer strikes the firing pin.
The magazine J is secured to the side of the gun, in which an aperture is formed
to permit the transfer of the cartridges from the said magazine into the loading
position. O is a lever, which is pivotted, at the forward end of the magazine, upon
a pin or bolt O secured in the said magazine and passed through an elongated
slot O' in the said lever. This slot extends at right angles to the axis of the barrel.
The long arm of the said lever extends rearward within the magazine. The said
lever is provided with a tail-piece 03 against which presses a spring O' attached to
the magazine. This spring tends to hold the said lever in such a position that its
long arin is clear of the cartridges in the magazine, but is ready to act upon the
lowermost cartridge. therein to-transfer it therefrom. The said lever has a projec-
tion which is acted-upon by a-shoulder B10 on-the-inner frame B', in the forward or
return movement of the latter the said lever is thus turned on its pivot and transfers
the lowermost cartridge from the magazine into position in front of the breech-block,
so that it will be thrust into the barrel by the said block in the forward movement.
The lever then holds up the remaining cartridges in the magazine until turned in the
reverse direction as hereinafter described. The said lever is provided with a projection 0,
which, as soon as the said lever has thus transferred a cartridge from the magazine,
will strike against the inner frame B', so that the lever will thereby be pushed outward
on its pivot O¹ and its spring O* will cause it to resume the position shown in
Figure 25. I thus provide for ensuring that the cartridges in the magazine shall
.

page_text: have ample time to descend by gravity before the said lever is again operated to
transfer a cartridge from the said magazine.
The operation of the gun shown in Figures 25, 26 and 27 is as follows, viz. :-The
parts are shown in the positions which they occupy when the trigger has just been
pulled to fire the gun, the breech-block being shown in the position which it occupies
when it has been moved upward by the cams H6, and while the hammer strikes the
firing pin. When a cartridge is exploded in the barrel, the said barrel, the inner
frame B and parts carried thereby recoil and cock the hammer, which is held back by
the surfaces or projections C on the breech-block until the said block is disengaged from
the projections M³ and the sear Me has engaged with the bent of the hammer as herein-
after described. In the latter part of the recoil, the breech-block strikes the arm A²
and is thereby unlocked from the inner frame, and the projections B come under the
projections M³, which engage with the hooks C of the breech-block and hold back
the said block while the barrel and inner frame are moved forward by the reaction of
the springs E, E. In this forward movement, the barrel is drawn off the empty
cartridge-shell; the projections B7 on the inner frame then strike the base of the said
shell and eject the same from the gun; the shoulder B on the inner frame strikes
the projection O of the lever O and thereby transfers a cartridge from the magazine
into position in front of the breech-block. The said lever is then caused to assume
the position shown in Figure 25 by the striking of its projection 0 against the inner
frame, thus permitting the column of cartridges in the magazine to descend, so that
another cartridge is brought into position to be transferred from the magazine into the
gun.
By pushing the hooked lever N inward at its upper end, the trigger M may be
released so that its spring M will turn it upon or about its pivot and thus disengage the
projections M³ from the hooks C and cause the sear M to engage with the bent of
the hammer; the breech-block, being thereby released, is then moved forward by the
reaction of its spring D, and pushes the cartridge into the barrel; and the gun is
again ready for firing.
As the trigger, after being pulled to fire the gun, must be released to permit the
disengagement of the projections M³ from the hooks C, it is obvious that successivé
shots cannot be fired by only once pulling the trigger.
In the modification of my invention illustrated in Figures 36 to 45, I employ,
in combination with the trigger M, (which is constructed and arranged substantially
as described with reference to Figure 26) a catch M, which is pivotted
at MB to the frame A. The spring M is attached to this catch and bears against the
arm M6 of the trigger M, so that it tends to push the said arm upward and the said
catch downward. The catch M is made with a shoulder M adapted to engage with
a corresponding shoulder on the trigger and hold the latter in such a position that
the arm M³ will engage with the shoulder C of the breech-block, when the latter
arrives at its rearmost position. The catch M' extends downward into the space within
the trigger-guard, so that it may be raised, by the finger used for pulling the trigger,
in order to release the said trigger and perimit its movement by the springs M² and
the consequent disengagement of the arm ³ from the breech-block and engagement
of the arm M with the bent H' of the hammer. The said catch is preferably so
formed that, when pushed upward by the finger, it will press against the arm Me and
thus ensure a positive movement of the trigger. The finger-piece of the trigger M
is formed with two curved recesses M10, M, in either of which the finger may be
placed to pull the trigger. If the finger is placed in the recess M, a single shot
may be fired by pulling the trigger; the breech-block will then recoil and engage
with the arm M³ and the trigger will be held back by the catch M until the latter is
raised. If, however, the finger is placed in the recess M", the catch M' can be held
up by the said finger, or can be raised thereby immediately after each discharge, so
that two or more successive shots may be fired without removing the finger from the
trigger.
The trigger M is provided with projections M12 whereby, when the barrel and other
parts recoil, the trigger will be held back by the underside of the inuer frame acting

page_text: upon the said projections M, until the barrel and inner frame have terminated, or
nearly terminated, their forward or return movement. The arm M³ is thus held in
engagement with the breech-block. The breech-block is pivotted to the inner frame
substantially as described with reference to Figure 26 and is coupled directly to the
rod by the links D°.
A spring A² is firmly attached to the frame A and is arranged to act upon the
part of the breech-block and thus press the said block downward and unlock it from
the barrel, at the termination of the recoil. The gun has a tubular magazine J
beneath and parallel to the barrel. A har J' is fitted to slide longitudinally in suitable
guides in the bottom of the said magazine. This bar is provided with spring pawls J¹
whereby the cartridges are fed rearwardly along the magazine. The said bar is con-
nected with a ring or collar Js fitted to slide upon the magazine J. A sleeve or
tubular piece J' is fitted with a capability of rotation upon the barrel and is provided
with a stud or projection J10 which extends into a notch or hole in the ring J³, so
that it will, in the to-and-fro movement of the barrel, impart the requisite movement
to the sliding bar J' for the purpose of feeding the cartridges successively into the
chamber A'.
To provide for disconnecting the sliding bar J' from the barrel when desired, I
make the sleeve or tubular piece J with a handle J" whereby it can be turned into
the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 45, to disengage the stud J10 from the
ring J. A spring J2 is attached to the ring Jo and passes through a hole or slot in
the said ring. This spring is adapted to enter a hole or notch in the magazine J,
when the handle J is in the position shewn in dotted lines, and thus prevent move-
ment of the slide J' and hold the ring J8 in position for the stud J10 to engage there-
with when the said handle is turned into the position indicated by full lines in
Figure 45. When the said handle is turned into this position, the stud J10 pushes the
spring Jout of the notch in the magazine and thus releases the ring JB and
slide J7.
Springs J3 are attached to the outer sides of the chamber A' and extend at each
end through apertures therein. The forward ends of these springs are made with
notches J to engage with the flange of the rearmost cartridge in the magazine; the
said springs are also provided with inclined projections J15. When the slide J' has
moved a short distance backward, a projection J16 thereon, acting upon the projec-
tions Js, forces the forward ends of the springs J13 outward, thus disengaging them
from the cartridge-flange. The rearmost pawl J then engages with the said flange and
pushes the cartridge into the chamber A7, wherein it is retained by the rear ends of
the springs J until the barrel has terminated its forward or return movement.
cartridge is then pushed upward by the springs As into position in line with the
barrel.
The
After the
The empty cartridge-shells are ejected from the gun through an aperture A in
the side of the frame A. The extractor G is pivotted to the breech-block C at one
side thereof. The other side of the said block is formed with a groove or channel C¹³,
into which extends a stud or projection B13 on the inner frame B¹.
barrel and other parts have recoiled and the barrel and inner frame have performed a
part of their forward or return movement, the projection B13 strikes the base of the
Cartridge-shell and thus throws the said shell out through the aperture A".
The springs E and E' are, in this modification, arranged in line with each other,
the spring E being made much thicker and stronger than the spring E, so that, in
the recoil, the spring E will be fully compressed before the compression of the
spring E commences. The springs, in this case, surround the harrel B.
The gun illustrated in Figures 36 to 45 is designed to be used with cartridge such
as that shown in Figure 46, which is an improved form of cartridge of the kind
described in the specification of former Letters Patent granted to me and dated 14th
February 1885, No. 2090.
? is the cartridge shell or case, and q is the projectile. is the powder-chamber,
which is longer than, and nearly twice as large in diameter as, the projectile. The
said projectile is so arranged that it is entirely within the shell or case p and is

page_text: surrounded by the powder therein. The shell or case is made with a ring or
annular piece pl in front of the chamber r, which fits and encircles the projectile at
the base of the conical part thereof.
q
To prevent the passage of gas between the projectile and the ring or annular
piece pl, I place paraffine wax or other suitable substance around the projectile at the
forward end of the cartridge, as at 3. I also cover or coat the surface of the projectile
with this substance, as at s, and thus diminish the friction between the powder and
the surface of the projectile.
I prefer to place, at the rear of the projectile, a disc, diaphragm, or sheet t of paper
previously soaked in a solution of alum or of tungstate of soda, or a disc or sheet of
metal or other suitable material. The central portion of this disc or sheet of paper or
other material must be driven forward a short distance with the projectile before the
powder in the said annular space can be ignited. In some cases, use, instead of the
said disc or sheet t, a ring or annular piece of paper or other material, the hole in
which is of the same diameter as the projectile.
Two rings or annular blocks or pieces u, u of very hard compressed gunpowder
are fitted in the space between the cylindrical part of the shell or case p and the
projectile. These blocks are of different grades or qualities of powder, the block u
being of powder which will burn more rapidly than that of which the block is
composed.
ין
u2 is a block of comparatively slow-burning gun-powder. This block fits the rear
part of the chamber and is formed with a central conical hole or cavity u³. The
said block is so placed that the small end of the hole or cavity u³ is next the cap or
priming of the cartridge, therefore, when the gun is fired, the said block will be
ignited at the centre of its rear end and will burn outward and forward. I prefer to
place an annular piece of paper soaked in a solution of alum or tungstate of soda
between the two annular blocks u, u', so that the block u cannot be ignited until the
base of the projectile has passed through the piece t¹.
In applying my present improvements to cannon or large guns, in which a heavy
charge of powder is required and the cartridges must be of great length, I make the
breech-block very short, preferably of a length about equal to two calibres.
I am thus
enabled to make the breech-end of the gun proportionately shorter than those above
described and thus lighten the gun; moreover I reduce the weight of the breech-
block and thus avoid or diminish any difficulty that might be experienced in working
or handling the gun by reason of the changes in the position of its centre of
gravity.
In Figures 47 to 54, I have shown a shell-gun, wherein the inner frame B¹ is merely
a forked extension of the barrel, and the breech-block is fitted to slide between
guides A10 within the frame A. The barrel is connected, at its rear end, with hydraulic
Buffers P for counteracting its recoil, and with a spring E for effecting its return
movement. The breech-block Chas firmly connected with its upper end a frame Q
fitted to slide to and fro in the guides A10 and formed with an aperture Q¹ for the
reception of a cartridge as shown. The magazine may consist of a vertical hopper or
feeder;
it is to be placed above the frame Q, so that the lowermost cartridge in the
said magazine will drop into the said frame, and, in the recoil or backward movement
of the breech-block, the said frame will transfer the said cartridge from the magazine
into such a position that it will fall in front of the breech-block at the termination of
the rearward movement thereof. Two springs Dare provided for effecting the forward
or return movement of the breech-block. These springs are enclosed within the sides
of the frame Q.
To provide for locking the breech-block to the barrel, two bolts, rods or shafts R, R¹
are fitted with a capability of rotation, or partial rotation, in the breech-block C.
These bolts or rods are made with semi-cylindrical portions, the flat sides of which,
when the breech-block is unlocked from the barrel. are flush with the sides of the
breech-block, so that the said block is free to move backward away from the barrel.
When the said bolts or rods are turned upon or about their axes as hereinafter
described, the semi-cylindrical portions project into notches, recesses or cavities in the

page_text: inner frame or extension B¹, as shown in Figure 54, and efficiently support the breech-
block against the force of the explosion in the barrel. These bolts or rods have fixed
thereon pinions R' which are geared with each other. The bolt or rod R. has fixed
on its lower end an arm R³ formed with an inclined surface R+, which, in the recoil
of the barrel and breech-block, strikes an inclined shoulder or projection A" on the
frame A, whereby the said bolts or rods are partially rotated to unlock the breech-
block from the barrel. The bolt or rod R is, moreover, provided with an arm R³, and
a spring R is firmly attached to the frame A in such a position that, when the
breech-block is driven home, the said spring will act upon the arm R³ and move the
said bolts or rods back in their locking position.
S is a slide which is provided with a handle $1, for opening the breech by hand.
This slide is arranged above the breech-block between the guides A1. It is provided
with racks S2 which are geared with the pinions R². The said slide is, moreover,
connected with the breech-block by means of a bolt S³, which is fitted to slide to and
fro in a hole in the breech-block, so that the said slide can move a short distance
backward independently of the said block. Therefore, by pulling the handle S¹
backward, the breech-block will first be unlocked from the barrel and will then be
drawn back to open the breech.
The hammer H is pivotted upon a vertical axis or pivot H2 and is acted upon by a
spiral spring H³ surrounding the said pivot. The sear I is arranged to be acted upon
by an arm or lever R' fixed on the bolt or rod R¹, so that, when the said bolt or rod
is turned to lock the breech-block to the barrel, the said sear will be automatically
disengaged from the bent H of the hammer, which is formed in a disc H fixed on
the pivot H². The sear l' is arranged in combination with a trigger M and sliding
bar M, whereby it may be disengaged from the hammer by hand to fire the gun.
The gun illustrated in Figures 47 to 54 may, if desired, be advantageously adapted
to be worked by hand.
In the gun shown in these Figures, the breech-block, when unlocked from the
barrel, continues to move backward by reason of the momentum imparted to it by
the barrel in its recoil.
In some instances, I employ hydraulic or pneumatic apparatus, or hydraulic and
pneumatic apparatus, whereby the barrel, in its forward or return movement, will
effect the backward movement of the breech-block when unlocked from the barrel,
and will thus open the breech and extract the empty cartridge-shell; or whereby the
barrel, in its recoil, will store up energy to be used for effecting such backward
movement of the breech-block. For example, I connect the barrel with one or more
pistons of large diameter having a short stroke or movement and working in cylinders
which communicate with one or more cylinders of smaller diameter having pistons or
rams arranged to work therein and connected with the breech-block. The said smaller
pistons or rams have a long stroke or movement, that is to say, the length of the
stroke or movement of the smaller pistons is equal to the distance through which the
breech-block moves backward away from the barrel, whilst the stroke or movement of
the larger pistons is equal to that of the barrel. I sometime use hydraulic apparatus
wherein suitable valves are arranged in combination with the cylinders, and which is
so constructed that, when the breech-block is unlocked from the barrel and the barrel
moves forward, the larger piston connected with the barrel will act through the medium
of the fluid in the cylinders upon the pistons connected with the breech-block and will
thereby move the said block backward.
In Figure 58, I have shown pneumatic apparatus whereby the barrel, in its recoil,
will store up energy to be utilized in moving back the breech-block when the latter is
unlocked from the barrel. B1 is a piston which works in a cylinder B" and is
⚫ connected with the barrel by the rod 18. The cylinder B is firmly attached to the
outer frame of the gun; it is open at its forward end and has connected with its rear
end a smaller cylinder B¹. C1 is a piston which works in a smaller cylinder B19
and which is connected with the breecli-block by the rod 17. In the recoil of the
-barrel and breech-block, the air in the cylinder B is compressed by the piston B! ;
as soon as the breech-block is unlocked from the barrel, the said air expands and,

page_text: acting upon the piston C", drives the said block backward away from the barrel, thus
extracting the empty cartridge-shell and permitting the introduction of a fresh
cartridge between the barrel and the breech-block. A hole B is formed in the
cylinder B to permit the entrance of air into the same when the piston B10 is at the
forward end of its stroke or movement. The forward or return movement of
the barrel and that of the breech-block are effected by means of springs as hereinbefore
described.
A
In Figure 59, I have shown apparatus somewhat similar to that shown in Figure 58,
whereby the barrel, in its recoil, stores up energy to be used for effecting its forward
or return movement, and, in such forward or return movement, imparts backward
motion to the breech-block. In this case, the cylinder B is closed at both ends, and
the cylinder B19 communicates with the forward end of the said cylinder B
valve B is provided in the forward end of the cylinder B and is arranged to be
operated by one arm of a lever B2 pivotted at 123 to the said cylinder. A rod 1324
is fitted to slide in a suitable stuffing-box in the forward end of the cylinder B17 and
is arranged to act upon the other arm of the lever B as hereinafter described. In the
recoil of the barrel and breech-block, the air behind the piston B is compressed and
air is drawn into the space in front of the said piston through the valve B. The air
behind the said piston then expands and effects the forward movement of the barrel.
In this forward movement, the valve B" is first closed. by the pressure of the air on
the inner side thereof, and then the air in front of the piston B is compressed, and,
by its expansive force, drives the piston C and the breech-block backward. The
forward or return movement of the said block is effected by means of a spring or
springs. When the barrel has nearly terminated its forward movement, the piston B
strikes the rod B2, and, through the medium of the said rod and the lever B²²,
opens
the valve B21, thus avoiding the resistance to the forward or return movement of the
breech-block which would otherwise be caused by the compression of the air in the
cylinders during such movement..
The construction of the gun in the manner above described so that, when the
breech-block is unlocked from the barrel, the said block and barrel will be moved in
opposite directions is very advantageous, for the following reasons, viz. :-the
movement of the barrel is considerably diminished and the rapidity of firing
proportionately increased, the extraction of the empty cartridge-shell being effected
partly by the withdrawal of the same from the barrel by the breech-block in its
rearward movement, and partly by the removal of the barrel in its forward movement
from the said shell; moreover, in order to permit the introduction of a cartridge
between the barrel and the breech-block, the said block only requires to move back
away from the barrel through a distance equal to the length of a cartridge minus the
length of the stroke or movement of the barrel, or, in other words, minus the distance
through which the barrel recoils.
Any suitable means are provided, if necessary, for retaining the breech-block in its
rearmost position while a cartridge falls in front thereof, and then releasing the said
block to permit its forward movement. I sometimes employ, for this purpose, the
devices shown in Figures 55, 56, and 57, that is to say-A bar or catch C₁ is
pivotted at C to the breech-block and is formed with a hook C. This bar or catch
is acted upon by a spring (which tends to push it downward. At the termination
of the backward movement of the breech-block, the hooked end of this bar passes
through an aperture A in the rear end of the frame A and engages with the said
frame, thus holding back the breech-block until released as hereinafter described.
bar T is fitted to slide to and fro in a transverse slot in a pin or shaft T' fitted
with a capability of rotation in the breech-block; the said bar is thus pivotted to the
breech-block and works in a space or cavity (18 within the same. A pin T is passed
through the said bar to prevent its withdrawal from the breech-block, and a spring T³
is firmly secured to the said bar and presses against the lower wall of the cavity in
the breech-block, so that it tends to push the said bar against the upper wall thereof.
A bar T is secured to the frame A in such a manner that it is free to slide up and
down. This bar serves as a connection between the bars and T.
When the gun
A

page_text: is ready for firing, and during the greater portion of the rearward movement of the
breech-block, the forward end of the bar T is flush with the front surface of the
breech-block, therefore, when a cartridge-shell is extracted from the barrel, the said
bar will permit the said shell to fall from the gun. In the latter part of the rearward
movement of the breech-block, the rear end of the bar T strikes the rear end of the
frame A. and the said bar is thus pushed forward into the position shown in Figure 55,
at the same time that the hook (engages with the said frame. When the cartridge
transferred from the magazine, in the backward movement of the breech-block, falls
in front of the said block, its head or base strikes the forward end of the bar T,
thereby turning the said bar on its pivot, so that its rear end pushes the sliding
bar T upward against the bar C₁; the hook C is thereby disengaged from the
frame A and the breech-block thus released and permitted to move forward.
To provide for supporting the forward ends of the cartridges when they fall into
the loading position, I employ a bent bar U (Figure 48) which is fitted to slide
longitudinally in suitable guides beneath the barrel. The rear end of this bar extends
upward and forms part of the seating for the flange of a cartridge in the barrel. A
spiral spring U is placed upon the said bar and bears, at one end, against a lug Ala
on the frame A and, at its other end, against a shoulder U2 on the bar U. When the
breech-block is unlocked from the barrel and moves away from the same, the
spring U forces the bar U backward so that the forward end of the cartridge drawn
out of the magazine by the frame Q in the rearward movement of the breech-block,
will fall upon the rear end of the said bar. The breech-block, in its forward
movement, pushes the flange of the cartridge against the bar U and thus compresses
the spring and moves the said bar forward until it comes against the breech-end
of the barrel. The said bar is, therefore, thrust by the spring into position to
support a cartridge and is replaced by the breech-block in its forward or return
movement.
In Figure 60, I have shewn my present improvements applied to a pistol. A tubular
magazine J is provided, which is arranged above instead of beneath the barrel in
order to distribute the weight more equally than heretofore by placing a considerable
portion of the weight above the axis of the barrel. I thus diminish the liability
to deviation of the bullet in its flight by reason of the kick or recoil of the pistol.
The magazine is firmly attached to the frame A, and is provided with spring
retaining pawls J³. The pawls J for feeding the cartridges successively into the
chamber A as above described with reference to Figures 19 to 23 are attached to a
bar J which is firmly secured to the barrel B. The breech-block is arranged to turn
vertically upon or about its forward end as above described with reference to
Figures 25 to 35 and Figures 36 to 45. It is coupled by means of links D³ with a
rod or plunger D8 fitted to slide to and fro in the stock or butt A and acted upon by
the spring D inserted therein. The frame B' is extended upward as at B, and the
spring E is fitted within a chamber A5 behind, and in line with, the chamber A7. In
the rear part of the chamber A is arranged a strong supplementary spring E³. This
spring bears, at its rear end, against one end of the chamber A, and, at its forward
end, against a plunger E2 fitting into the spring E and extending forward within the
same, so that, when the barrel and inner frame have recoiled a certain distance, the
extension B of the said frame, will strike the plunger E2 and, in the further
backward movement of the barrel and inner frame, the spring E' will be compressed,
as, and for the purposes, above specified.
The breech-block C, the hammer H2 and the trigger M are all arranged relatively
to each other in a manner somewhat similar to that above described with reference to
Figures 19 to 23 and Figures 25 to 35. The hammer is made with a cam-surface H
which, when the hammer is released to fire the pistol, acts upon the underside of the
breech-block and locks the said block to the barrel before the hammer strikes the
firing pin. A novel feature of the pistol shown in Figure 60 is the construction
and arrangement of the trigger-guard V in such a manner that it will serve also
as the main-spring. The said trigger-guard is firmly attached at its end V¹ to the
frame A, and its free end bears against the hammer H¹.

page_text: I sometimes mount a machine-gun or a small cannon upon a mounting having a
cylindrical base in which is formed or fixed a rectangular box for holding a belt
or band of cartridges, so that the said cartridges are well protected and space is
economized.
In Figures 61 to 63, I have shown a gun-mounting of this description, a is the
cylindrical base of the said mounting, bis the box for containing the cartridge-belt,
which box is formed in one piece with the upper part a¹ of the said mounting,
and is suitably supported and secured in the part a thereof. The box b is formed
with an aperture & through which the cartridge-belt passes as it is fed to the gun.
According to another part of my invention, I provide means whereby the gun,
when not in use for firing, will be held in any position to which it may be adjusted,
so that the turning of the same upon its trunnions will be prevented whatever
position its centre of gravity may, for the time being, occupy relatively to the
trunnions. For this purpose, I combine, with a shoulder-piece or crutch or equivalent
device, means whereby, when no pressure is exerted upon the said shoulder-piece or
crutch, the gun will be firmly locked or secured against, vertical movement, but, when
pressure is applied to the said shoulder-piece or its equivalent, the gun may be freely
clevated or depressed as required.
In Figure 61, c is a tube or hollow rod, which is passed through a ring or annular
piece c¹ fixed on the left hand side of the frame A, and the end of which is inserted in
a socket c also fixed on the said frame. A block is secured in the forward end of
this tube, and a spring catch e is pivotted to the said block and is adapted to enter a
hole in the socket and to engage with the end of the said socket, as shown.
A rod is arranged within this tube and has, at its forward end, a head or
enlargement, which is fitted to slide in the said tube. A curved arm g is pivotted
at g² to the part a¹ of the gun-mounting and is passed through a hole or slot in the
tube c and between the block d and the head f. The said tube has a plate h firmly
attached to its rear end, and upon this plate the shoulder-piece or crutch i is fitted to
slide towards and away from the gun. Two lovers are pivotted to the plate h within
the said shoulder-piece or crutch. The short arms of these levers fit between two
shoulders on the rear end of the rod f. The long arms of the said levers are actod
upon by springs which are secured to the plate h and which tend to push the
crutch backward and to push the rod forward, so that the army is, under normal
conditions, tightly held between the head and the block d, and the turning of the
gun upon its trunnions is prevented. When the gunner applies pressure with his
shoulder to the said shoulder-piece or crutch, it is moved forward or towards the gun,
the springs are compressed or straightened, and the levers are turned on their
pivots. The rod is thus drawn outward and the arm g released so that the gun is
free to turn upon its truunions. When the pressure is removed from the said
shoulder-piece or crutch, the springs k, by their reaction, again lock the gun firmly in
any position to which it may have been adjusted.
When a large and heavy gun is constructed as above described with reference to
Figures 47 to 54, it is necessary that the barrel and its extension B' should be made
in one solid piece, instead of being composed of a series of rings or cylinders shrunk
one upon another; because, by reason of the removal or cutting away of the metal to
form the forked extension B', the said extension, if made of such rings or cylinders,
would not be capable of resisting the lateral stress tending to spread or force outward
the two sides thereof. I, therefore, make the entire barrel in one piece, and to ensure
its having the same molecular condition as that which exists in a built-up gun, I make
the said barrel in the following manner, that is to say:-I take tough forging of
steel and roughly bore the same to nearly the required calibre. I then place the
partially made barrel thus produced in a furnace, preferably in a vertical position,
and heat it by means of gas or other fuel until the whole mass is sufficiently hot to
be tempered. The fire is then muffled and the inside of the barrel is cooled with
either water or oil, whilst the heat of the furnace prevents the cooling of the outside
thereof or permits the gradual cooling of the same. In this manner, the inner part,
being cooled first, is hardened and the outer portion, when cooled, shrinks or contracts
D

page_text: upon the inner portion. Therefore the outer portion of the barrel is in a high state
of tension and the inner portion in a high state of compression, and the condition of the
steel is such as is required to withstand very high internal pressure. Before finishing
the barrel, I load the same with a proof-charge, which, by its explosion, will subject
the barrel to a much higher pressure than it will require to withstand in actual use,
and will give a permanent set to the metal, and I explode the said charge, thereby
slightly stretching or expanding the barrel." If the barrel is to be provided with a
removable lining, I then bore it out until its internal diameter is about one half of an
inch larger than the bore required, and I form in it a series of longitudinal grooves or
channels extending throughout its length; into the barrel thus formed, I insert a
rifled tube of hardened steel about one quarter of an inch in thickness and provided
with longitudinal ribs or projections which fit into the said grooves or channels in the
barrel. This tube or lining can be readily removed when it becomes worn, and a new
tube substituted therefor.
I sometimes employ, in combination with a gun having two or more barrels, means
for automatically effecting the spreading or dispersal of the projectiles discharged
from the said barrels. For this purpose, I mount the gun upon a pivot or swivel and
employ devices whereby, when either of the outer barrels is discharged, the recoil
will turn the gun in one or the other direction upon its pivot. I sometimes use
devices such as those shown in Figures 64 to 66, in which is the lower part or base
of a conc-mounting, and m is the swivelling part thereof, which is provided with the
bearings m' for the trunnions of the gun. The swivelling part m of the gun-mounting
is made with an extension or tail-piece m² and the base is provided with two stops
which are secured to the said base by bolts provided with nuts 1³. These nuts are
fitted to slide in an annular groove in the base 1, which groove is T-shaped in
transverse section, so that, by slackening the said bolts, the said stops can be adjusted
for the purpose hereinafter described. Each stop has a spring n attached thereto.
When either of the outer barrels is discharged, the recoil, as above stated, turns
the gun in one or the other direction on its pivot until the tail-piece or extension m²
strikes one or other of the springs n. The said spring is thus compressed, and then,
by its reaction, moves the gun in the reverse direction. By adjusting the stops /', the
angle through which the gun is thus moved can be regulated. "When it is desired to
keep the gun stationary, the said stops are so adjusted that both springs are tightly
pressed against the extension or tail-piece m².
By mounting two or more of my automatic guns in a single frame so that they
will operate independently of each other as above described, I obtain the advantage
over machine-guns worked by hand, that, whereas, in such machine-guns, if a
cartridge is jammed in one barrel, the whole of the barrels are rendered inoperative;
in my improved arrangement, the jamming of a cartridge in one gun of the
series does not affect the action of the other guns thereof, which will continue to work
as usual.
Some of my present improvements are applicable to guns designed to be worked
by hand.
By my present improvements, I am enabled to so construct the breech-mechanism
that it will be very light and will occupy a small space, consequently I can make a
multiple-barrel machine or battery gun which will compare favorably, in respect of
both size and weight, with the machine-guns heretofore used: Moreover I can make
an automatic rifle so small and light that it can, without inconvenience, be used in
place of an ordinary rifle:
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I wish it understood that I do not
claim broadly or irrespectively of my improvements as herein set forth the cooling of
a gun-barrel from the interior in the tempering of the same as I am aware that this
method of cooling has been adopted in the case of cast metal guns, but I claim:
First. A gun or fire-arm wherein the breech-block is locked to the barrel and
recoils therewith when the arm is discharged, and wherein provision is made for

page_text: automatically unlocking the said block at the termination of the recoil, holding it
back while the barrel is moved forward, and then releasing the said block and
effecting its forward or return movement, for the purposes above specified.
Second. A gun or fire-arm wherein the barrel and breech-block are locked together
and recoil when the arm is discharged and are then automatically unlocked and
moved in opposite directions, for the purposes above specified.
Third. The employment of hydraulic or pneumatic apparatus or hydraulic and
pneumatic apparatus whereby, when the barrel and breech-block have recoiled, the
continued backward movement of the said block will be effected by the barrel in its
forward or return movement, or by energy stored up during such recoil, for the
purposes above specified.
Fourth. The provision of means whereby the breech-block, when it has terminated
its backward movement, will be held or retained in its rearmost position and will be
automatically released when, but not until, a cartridge falls or is introduced in front
thereof, for the purposes above specified.
Fifth. The combination of two or more automatic guns arranged in a common
frame or support and constructed substantially as above described, so that the operation
of each of the said guns will be effected by force created either by the explosion of a
cartridge therein, or by the explosion of a cartridge in the other or one of the
other guns.
Sixth. The provision of a shoulder, projection or equivalent device on the barrel,
whereby, in each recoil, a cartridge will be transferred from the magazine into such a
position that, when the barrel returns to the firing position, the said cartridge may,
by a transverse movement thereof, be brought into line with the barrel, as above
specified.
Seventh. The combination, with the breech-block, of the bar or strut pivotted
thereto and adapted to engage with the barrel or with a frame formed or fixed
thereon, and means for disengaging the said bar or strut at the termination of the
recoil, and for holding back the said block during the forward movement of the
barrel and then releasing it, all substantially as, and for the purposes, set forth.
Eighth. The combination of parts comprising the bar or strut C pivotted to the
breech-block and adapted to engage with the inner frame B', the arm or projection A²
on the outer frame, the hooked bent lever F and the sliding bar D₁ connected with
the said inner frame and provided with the shoulders or projections D, D', and with
or without the eyes Do, all substantially as, and for the purposes, set forth.
Ninth. The combination, with the hammer, of one or more cams or equivalent
devices whereby the said hammer, before it strikes the firing-pin, will effect the
locking of the breech-block to the barrel.
Tenth. The combination, with a sliding barrel and a spring or springs for effecting
the forward or return movement thereof, of one or more auxiliary or supplementary
springs, for the purposes above specified.
Eleventh. The combination of parts comprising the spring E and the auxiliary or
supplementary spring E, substantially as described with reference to either of the
forms or modifications shown in the accompanying drawings, whereby I provide for
diminishing the shock produced by the recoil and for effecting the forward or return
movement of the barrel and ensuring the starting of the empty cartridge-shell there-
from, as above specified.
Twelfth. The combination, with the breech-block, of the spring D and the sliding
bar Dhaving the extension D, substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Thirteenth. The combination, with the cartridge magazine or feeder and the sliding
barrel provided with a shoulder or projection for transferring the cartridges there-
from, of the chamber A' and the springs As, all substantially as, and for the purposes,
set forth.
Fourteenth. The combination of parts comprising the hammer H', the sear I, the
projection on the breech-block for disengaging the said sear from the hammer,
the 'scar l' and the trigger-rod or its equivalent whereby the said sear I may be

page_text: disengaged from the hammer by hand, all substantially as described with reference to
Figure 2 or to Figure 15 of the drawings, for the purposes specified.
Fifteenth. In an automatic gun having two or more barrels, the employment of a
trigger-rod or equivalent device common to all of the said barrels and arranged to
operate as, and for the purposes, above specified.
Sixteenth. The combination, with the trigger-rod I, of the shaft K2, the bevel
pinions K, K, the handle K (with or without the spring catch K³), the arms K10,
the plungers K, the springs K, and the oscillating cylinders K¹³, all substantially
as, and for the purposes, set forth.
Seventeenth. The combination of parts comprising the projection or enlargement G
on the extractor and the part A of the outer frame, substantially as described with
reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, whereby, the said extractor is held in
engagement with the flange of an empty cartridge-shell during the extraction thereof,
as above specified.
Eighteenth. The combination, with a sliding barrel, of a feed-wheel fitted to rotate
thereon, and means for operating the said feed-wheel in the to-and-fro movement of
the barrel, for the purpose above specified.
Nineteenth. The combination of parts comprising the sliding barrel provided with
the projection B12, the breech-block provided with the extractors G, G³, the feed-
wheel L, the ratchet wheel L², the pawl L³, the pawl-carrier L, the lever L, and the
retaining pawl L, all substantially as described with reference to Figures 15 to 18 of
the drawings, for the purposes above specified.
Twentieth. The combination of parts comprising the breech-block (with or without
the bar or strut C¹), the rod D³, and the links D which connect the said rod with the
breech-block or with the said bar or strut, all substantially as described with reference
to Figure 19, or to Figure 37, or to Figure 60 of the drawings, for the purposes
above specified.
Twenty first. The employment, in a gun or fire-arm, of a trigger which, when the
arm is discharged and the breech-block moved backward, will engage with the said
block and hold the same back, for the purpose above specified.
Twenty second. The combination of parts comprising the breech-block (with or
without the bar or strut), the arm or projection A, the hammer H' and the trigger M,
substantially as described with reference to Figure 19, or to Figure 26, or to
Figures 36 and 37, or to Figure 60 of the drawings, for the purposes above
specified.
Twenty third. The employment, in a gun or fire-arm, of a trigger-guard which is
so constructed and arranged that it will serve also as the main-spring, substantially
as described with reference to Figure 60 of the drawings.
Twenty fourth. The provision of projections on the inner frame whereby, when the
barrel and breech-block have recoiled, the trigger will be held in engagement with
the said block or with the bar or strut pivotted thereto until the barrel has been
drawn off, or started from, the empty cartridge-shell, as above specified.
Twenty fifth. The combination, with the barrel, of a tubular magazine arranged
parallel thereto, and means (substantially as described with reference to Figures 19
to 23, or to Figures 36 to 45, or to Figure 60 of the drawings) whereby the said
barrel, in its recoil, will move the cartridges in the said magazine backward, for the
purpose above specified.
Twenty sixth. A device for filling a tubular magazine with cartridges, consisting of
a tubular holder, a spiral spring enclosed therein and a spring catch at the open end
thereof, substantially as described with reference to Figure 24 of the drawings.
Twenty seventh. The combination, with the barrel and a tubular magazine arranged
parallel thereto, of a sliding bar provided with pawls for intermittently moving
backward the cartridges in the said magazine, and means for connecting the said bar
with, and disconnecting it from, the barrel, for the purposes above specified.
Twenty eighth. The employment of pneumatic apparatus whereby the barrel, in its
recoil, will store up energy to be used for effecting its forward or return movement;

page_text: and, in such return movement, will effect the backward movement of the breech-
block, for the purposes above specified.
Twenty ninth. The employment of a breech-block which is provided with a
shoulder adapted to engage with a shoulder on the barrel or on a frame formed or -
fixed thereon, and which may be turned upon or about its forward end, substantially
as described with reference to Figures 25 to 35, or to Figures 36 to 45, or to
Figure 60 of the drawings, for the purposes above specified.
Thirtieth. The combination, with the trigger, of a hooked lever or equivalent
device for holding the said trigger in engagement with the breech-block or with a
bar or strut pivotted thereto, substantially as described with reference to Figure 26
or to Figure 37 of the drawings, for the purposes above specified.
Thirty first. The combination of parts comprising the trigger having the two
curved recesses, and the lever or catch M, substantially as described with reference
to Figure 37 of the drawings, whereby I provide for firing single shots or successive
shots as desired.
Thirty second. The combination, with the magazine attached to the side of the gun,
of the hent lever arranged to be operated by the barrel or by the inner frame,
substantially as described with reference to Figures 25 to 35 of the drawings, for the
purposes specified.
Thirty third. The combination of parts comprising the projections B on the inner
frame B arranged to slide in grooves C in the breech-block substantially as described
with reference to Figures 25 to 35 of the drawings, whereby I provide for ejecting
the empty cartridge-shells as above specified.
Thirty fourth. The employment of bolts or rods fitted with a capability of rotation,
or partial rotation, in the breech-block for locking the said block to the barrel, and
means for turning the said bolts or rods to unlock or disengage the said block from
the barrel, for the purposes above specified.
Thirty fifth. The combination, with the breech-block and the bolts or rods for
locking the said block to the barrel, of the pinions connecting the said bolts or rods,
the arms formed or fixed thereon, and inclined surfaces or projections on the outer
frame for operating the said bolts or rods in the to-and-fro movement of the said
block, substantially as described with reference to Figures 47 to 54 of the drawings,
for the purposes above specified.
Thirty sixth. The combination, with devices for locking the breech-block to the
barrel, of a handle so connected with the said devices that, when pulled backward, it
will first operate the said devices to unlock the breech-block from the barrel and will
then draw the said block away from the barrel, for the purposes above specified.
Thirty seventh: The combination of parts comprising the hammer H', the vertical
shaft or pivot EL2, the spiral spring H³, the disc or cam H', the sear I, and the
spring I substantially as described with reference to Figures 47 to 54 of the
drawings for the purposes above specified.
Thirty eighth. The combination, with the breech-block, of a frame which is attached
thereto and extends over the barrel and beneath the cartridge hopper or feeder when
the breech is closed, and which is formed with an aperture for the reception of a
cartridge, substantially as described with reference to Figures 47 to 54 of the
drawings, for the purpose above specified.
Thirty ninth. The combination, with the barrel, of a bent rod or bar or equivalent
device, which, when the breech-block moves away from the barrel, is pushed backward
by a spring so that it will support a cartridge in line with the barrel, and which is
replaced by the said block in its forward or return movement.
Fortieth. The combination, with the breech-block and a device for holding the said
block at the rear end of its stroke or movement, of means whereby, when a cartridge
falls into position in line with the barrel, it will operate the said device to release the
said block and permit its forward movement, substantially as described with reference
to Figures 55, 56 and 57 of the drawings.
Forty first. The improved gun or fire-arm consisting of the parts constructed and

page_text: combined substantially as described with reference to either of the forms or modifica-
tions shown in the accompanying drawings and operating as above set forth.
Forty second. The combination, with a cylindrical base forming part of a gun-
mounting, of a box forined or fixed in the said base for containing a belt or band of
cartridges and provided with an aperture through which the said belt or band passes
as it is fed to the gun, substantially as, and for the purposes, set forth.
Forty third. The combination, with a gun mounted upon trunnions and provided
with a shoulder-piece or crutch or equivalent device, of means which, whilst permitting
the elevation or depression of the gun when pressure is applied to the said shoulder-
piece or its equivalent, will prevent the turning of the said gun upon its trunnions
when such pressure is removed.
Forty fourth. The manufacture of a gun-barrel by boring a solid steel forging and
then ensuring the requisite molecular condition of the same by cooling or tempering
it internally while its exterior is kept hot or is allowed to cool gradually, substantially
as above set forth.
Forty fifth. The improved method of manufacturing a gun-barrel, consisting in
boring a steel forging and cooling or tempering the saine, substantially as described,
then subjecting it to the action of a proof charge sufficient to give a permanent set to
the material of which it is composed and then rifling it, as above set forth.
Forty sixth. A gun-barrel consisting of an outer portion provided internally with
longitudinal grooves or channels and a rifled inner portion inserted therein and
provided with ribs or projections which fit into the said grooves or channels.
Forty seventh. The manufacture of a gun-barrel by boring a steel forging until its
internal diameter is larger than the finished bore, then forming therein a series of
longitudinal grooves or channels, and then inserting therein a rifled tube of hardened
steel provided with ribs or projections which fit into the said grooves or channels,
substantially as set forth.
Forty eighth. The combination, with an automatic gun having two or more barrels,
of the means substantially as described or other suitable means for automatically
effecting the spreading or dispersal of the bullets, while firing, as above specified.
Dated this 19th day of February 1887.|
HIRAM STEVENS MAXIM.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Applicant.