Improvements in Repeating or Magazine Small-arms.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Aug., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 21st May, 1894-Accepted, 21st Aug., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Repeating or Magazine Small-arms.
A communication from CLAIR FRÈRES, of St. Etienne (Rue de Lyon), in the
Republic of France.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
:―
The repeating action of the fire-arm or gun constructed according to this invention
is entirely automatic and is due to the action of the gas developed in the interior
of the gun from the previous shot.
The fire arm constructed according to this invention comprises :-
1. A breech casing on which is mounted the barrel and most of the moving
parts and is provided with a frame plate on which slides the bolt. A slot in the
breech casing allows of the moving of the knob by which the breech may be opened
by hand and which is hereinafter referred to as the "bolt knob."
2. A guard to which is connected the trigger and the device for retaining the
cartridge in the carrier. The trigger and its springs are arranged in such a manner
as to force the bolt which retains the firing pin always back to its original position
even if the finger should be kept on the trigger.
The parts adapted to retain the cartridge in the carrier are arranged so that one
piece is raised by a lever so as to engage behind the cartridge and prevent the
latter from moving back when the gun is fired.
These parts are operated by means of the trigger.
3. A bolt with the bolt knob fitted therein which latter is adapted to be removed
from the rifle so as to prevent the latter from being fired. The cartridge
extractor has a slight movement on or in relation to the bolt and is provided at
one end with a suitable hook for gripping the cartridge. On opening the breech
the bolt engages the extractor by means of an undercut and prevents the
latter from moving up and releasing the rim of the spent cartridge while being
pulled back by the action of the bolt, the spent cartridge being held in its upper
position by means of a strong spring which only acts when the trigger is being
pulled.
4. A yoke in front of the magazine tube provided with a movable tappet serving
as a means for retaining the cartridges in the magazine. The yoke is moreover
provided with stops against which the spent cartridge strikes on being extracted
by the extractor.
5. A carrier provided with a tail piece which obstructs the magazine when said
carrier is in its uppermost position so as to prevent the cartridges from falling out.
A fresh cartridge is pushed into the carrier after the latter has returned to its lowest
position, the cartridge being kept in position by means of the before mentioned tappet
instead of in front as is the usual practice. The advantage of the new arrangement
is that cartridges of any length may be used.
6. A cranked or bent lever and spring appertaining to it. The said lever noves
the carrier with its longer arm and receives its own movement through the shorter
arm.
7. A rod for connecting the charging knob to the plunger. The said connecting
rod is provided with two shoulders to engage with and strike alternately in one or
other direction against the lever which operates the cartridge carrier each time the
bolt in the breech is moved either by hand through the bolt knob or through the
action of the gases.

page_text: 8. A magazine tube in which are kept the cartridges which are pressed towards
the carrier by means of a spiral spring.
10. A chamber connected to the barrel by means of a sleeve or socket so as to
regulate the action of the gases against the plunger and to allow the projectile to
escape from the barrel before the gases from the explosion have had time to open
the breech as otherwise the rifle would let the gases escape at the rear end of the
barrel.
11. A cylinder in which moves the before mentioned plunger which is provided
with a tail piece or rod to engage with a strong spiral spring for the purpose of
closing the gun. The plunger is connected to the bolt through the medium of a
connecting rod in such a manner as to open or close the breech by the respective
movement of the plunger towards the front or rear of the gun.
The cartridges for filling the magazine are introduced through an opening in the
stock. The cartridges in passing through the carrier lift up the before mentioned
tappet by means of the rings the tappet falling immediately behind the rims and
thus preventing the cartridges from slipping out again. If it is desired to empty
the magazine it is only required to lift up the tappet when the spiral spring will
push the cartridges out. This method of filling or emptying the magazine has the
great advantage of the gun itself not requiring to be manipulated in any way during
the operation.
In first loading the rifle the breech is opened by hand and one of the cartridges
from the magazine is allowed to pass into the barrel whereupon the rifle is ready
for firing. If the latter is not intended to be discharged at once it is only necessary
to adjust the safety device so as to engage part of the trigger while when the safety
device is not so adjusted the rifle or gun can be fired by pressing on the trigger when
the shots succeed each other as often as the trigger is depressed and according to
the number of cartridges in the magazine.
The operation is as follows:-
At the moment the shot has left the rifle there is a considerable pressure
of gas in the barrel, which pressure extends into the gas chamber as soon as
the projectile has passed beyond the orifice which opens the said reservoir.
The pressure in the gas chamber acts on the plunger to which the connecting
rod is secured and tends thereby to open the bolt which of course must not
bappen till after the projectile has been ejected from the barrel as otherwise
the gases would escape through the breech to the danger of the operator and
at the same time considerably reduce if not altogether spoil the range or effect of
the shot.
From experiments it has been found that a barrel measuring 30 cm from the
gas chamber's admission orifice to the mouth of the barrel answers very well and
opens the breech only after the bullet has left the barrel. The barrel experimented
with has been shortened several times for further experiments and found to give
similar results combined with regular action. On cutting however the barrel down
to 08 cm the breech would no longer open and it was found that the charge bad
to be increased in order to cause the automatic opening of the breech of the rifle
or gun.
The results obtained from the experiments seem paradoxical: with a barrel-
length of 0.30 beyond the hole the pressure of the gases ought to have the time
and the power to open the bolt and yet it does not happen, while on the other hand
a barrel 008 cm only operated the bolt on the charge being increased.
Under these conditions it will be difficult to establish an absolute theory of
the working of the rifle or gun constructed according to this invention. It may be
that a counter pressure is produced through the sudden ejection of the projectile
from the mouth of the barrel which may cause either a sudden eruption in the air
in the barrel or a counter pressure of the air on the gases inside the barrel and
thereby produce the opening of the breech. These theoretical reasonings however
have really nothing to do with the action of the rifle.
If desired pistols may be constructed on the principle before described and may

page_text: have a magazine in the form of a helical tube with one end attached to the butt or
handle of the pistol and the other having a plug which may be removed when it is
necessary to fill the magazine.
Dated this 21st day of August 1893.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
London, Nottingham, Liverpool, Manchester, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Repeating or Magazine Small-arms.
A communication from CLAIR FRÈRES, of Rue de Lyon, S. Etienne, in the
Republic of France, Manufacturers of Small Fire-arms.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
Chartered Patent Agent, 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 :-
The repeating action of the fire-arm or gun constructed according to this
invention is entirely automatic and is due to the action of the gas developed in the
interior of the gun from the previous shot.
This invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying
drawings in which ;-
The
Figure 1 represents a sectional elevation of the rifle the parts being shown in the
position corresponding to that which they occupy at the moment when the hammer
or firing pin strikes the cartridge with which the rifle has been loaded.
magazine of the rifle shown in Figure 1 is adapted to contain cartridges.
Figures 2, 3 and 4 represent various views in plan and sections of the breech
block and of the bolt.
Figure 5 represents a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 1 through the neck of the
stock and cartridge magazine.
Figure 6 shows the trigger, connecting rod, bolt and striker in elevation while
the breech and the cartridge magazine are shown in section taken on line 6-6 of
Fig. 1.
Figure 7 is a section on line 7-7 of Fig. 1, through the breech-block showing
the knob or handle for operating the bolt and providing a means for connecting the
latter to the convecting rod, the safety device or stop at the left for the trigger,
the bent lever at the right for operating the cartridge carrier and the extractor
connected to the bolt.
Figure 8 is a section on line 8-8 of Fig. 1 showing the yoke placed in front of
the magazine, the cartridges being retained in the magazine by means of a small
movable tappet shown at the left and two other tappets or stops which serve for
extracting the spent cartridges.
Figure 9 indicates a section on line 9-9 of Fig. 1 through the breech, bolt, and
connecting rod and cartridge carrier in its lowest position, a cartridge shown in
section being inserted in the carrier..
Figures 10, 11, 12, 13 are sections taken respectively on lines 10-10, 11-11,
12-12 and 13-13 of Fig. 1, through the breech, the connecting rod and through
the cartridge carrier which latter is shown in its uppermost position.
Figure 14 is a section on line 14-14 of Fig. 1 through the barrel, and cylinder
and the plunger to which one end of the connecting rod is attached.
Figure 15 is a section on line 15-15 of Fig. 1 through the sleeve or socket
through which the barrel communicates with the extreme end of the cylinder in
which the plunger works.
Figures 5 to 15 (inclusive) are drawn to a larger scale than Figures 1 to 4
inclusive.

page_text: The improved rifle comprises
1. A breech casing A on which is mounted the barrel K and most of the moving
parts provided with a frame plate on which slides the bolt C. A slot in the breech
casing allows of the moving of the knob D (Fig. 7) by which the breech may be
opened by hand and which is hereinafter referred to as the "bolt knob."
2. A guard B to which is connected the trigger-and the device for retaining the
cartridge in the carrier. The trigger a bed and its springs e f are arranged in
such a manner as to force the bolt d (Fig. 6) which retains the firing pin
(Figure 1) always back to its original position even if the finger should be kept on
the trigger.
The parts ghi adapted to retain the cartridge in the carrier are arranged so
that one piece i is raised by a lever so as to engage behind the cartridge and
prevent the latter from moving back when the gun is fired.
These parts are operated by means of the trigger.
3. A bolt C with the bolt knob D fitted therein which latter is adapted to be
removed from the rifle so as to prevent the latter from being fired. The cartridge
extractor m has a slight movement on or in relation to the bolt and is provided at
one end with a suitable hook for gripping the cartridge. On opening the breech
the bolt engages the extractor by means of an undercut and prevents the latter
from moving up and releasing the rim of the spent cartridge while being pulled
back by the action of the bolt. C, the spent cartridge being held in its upper
position by means of a strong spring which only acts when the trigger is being
pulled.
f
i.
.
4. A yoke E (Fig. 8) in front of the magazine tube provided with a movable
tappet (Figs. 1, 3 and 8) serving as a means for retaining the cartridges in the
F
magazine. The yoke is moreover provided with stops against which the spent
cartridge strikes on being retracted by the extractor m.
5. A carrier G Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 11 provided with a tail-piece which obstructs
the magazine when said carrier is in its uppermost position so as to prevent the
cartridges from falling out. A fresh cartridge is pushed into the carrier after
the latter has returned to its lowest position, the cartridge being kept in position
by means of the beforementioned tappet F instead of in front as is the usual
practice. The advantage of the new arrangement is that cartridges of any length
may be used.
6. A cranked or bent lever H Figs. 1, 2, 7 and 8 and spring appertaining to.it.
The said lever moves the carrier with. its longer arm and receives its own movement
through the shorter arm.
7. A rod I (see sectional views 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and Figure 1) for
connecting the charging knob to the plunger. The said connecting rod is provided
with two shoulders 1 and 2 to engage with and strike alternately in one or other
direction against the lever which operates the cartridge carrier each time the bolt
in the breech is moved either by hand through the bolt kuoh D or through the
action of the gases.
8. A magazine tube J in which are kept the cartridges which are pressed towards
the carrier by means of a helical spring.
10. A chamber R connected to the barrel by means of a sleeve or socket L so as
to regulate the action of the gases against the plunger N and to allow the projectile
to escape from the barrel before the gases from the explosion have had time to
open the breech as otherwise the rifle would let the gases escape at the rear end of
the barrel.
11. A cylinder M in which moves the, before mentioned plunger N which is
provided with a tail-piece or rod to engage with a strong helical spring O for the
purpose of closing the gun. The plungen is connected to the bolt through the
medium of the connecting rod I in such a manner as to open or close the breech by
the respective movement of the plunger towards the front or rear of the gun.
The cartridges for filling the magazine are introduced through an opening F
in the stock. The cartridges in passing through the carrier press back the before

page_text: mentioned tappet F by means of the rims, the tappet falling immediately behind
the rims and thus preventing the cartridges from slipping out again. If it is
desired to empty the magazine it is only required to release the tappet F when the
spiral spring will push the cartridges out. This method of filling or emptying the
magazine has the great advantage of the gun itself not requiring to be manipulated.
in any way during the operation.
In first loading the rifle the breech is opened by hand and one of the cartridges
from the magazine is allowed to pass into the barrel whereupon the rifle is ready
for firing. If the latter is not intended to be discharged at once it is only necessary
to adjust the safety device n Figs. 1 and 7 so as to engage part of the trigger
arm d, while, when the safety device is not so adjusted the rifle or gun can be fired
by pressing on the trigger when the shots succeed each other as often as the trigger
is depressed and according to the number of cartridges in the magazine.
the
The operation is as follows ;-
At the moment the shot has left the rifle there is a considerable pressure of gas
in the barrel, which pressure extends into the gas chamber R as soon as the projectile
has passed beyond the orifice which opens into the said reservoir. The pressure in
gas chamber acts on the plunger N to which the connecting rod I is connected
and tends thereby to open the bolt C which of course must not happen till after the
projectile has been ejected from the barrel as otherwise the gases would escape
through the breech to the danger of the operator and at the same time considerably
reduce if not altogether spoil the range or effect of the shot.
From experiments it has been found that a barrel measuring 30 c/m from the
gas chamber's admission orifice a* to the mouth of the barrel answers very well
and opens the breech only after the bullet has left the barrel. The barrel
experimented with has been shortened several times for further experiments and
found to give similar results combined with regular action. On cutting however
the barrel down to '08 c/m the breech would no longer open and it was found that
the charge had to be increased in order to cause the automatic opening of the
breech of the rifle or gun.
The results obtained from these experiments seem paradoxical: with a barrel-
length of 0.30 c/m beyond the hole a* the pressure of the gases ought to have the
time and the power to open the bolt and yet it does not happen, while on the
other hand a barrel of 0.08 c/m only operated the bolt on the charge being
increased.
Under these conditions it will be difficult to establish an absolute theory of the
working of the rifle or gun constructed according to this invention. It may be
that a counter pressure is produced through the sudden ejection of the projectile
from the mouth of the barrel which may cause either a sudden irruption in the air
in the barrel or a counter pressure of the air on the gases inside the barrel and
thereby produce the opening of the breech. These theoretical reasonings however
have really nothing to do with the action of the rifle.
If desired as shown in Figure 16 pistols may be constructed on the principle before
described and may have a magazine in the form of a helical tube with one end
attached to the butt or handle of the pistol and the other having a plug which may
be removed when it is necessary to fill the magazine; or the magazine may be
filled by the cartridges being introduced through the end adjacent to the breech
as in the before described example.
The principle embodied in the before described small arms may also be applied
to Gatling or larger guns, cannon or the like.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion as communicated to me by my foreign correspondents, and in what manner
the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is ;-
1. The method of loading or charging the improved rifle or small arm by causing
the pressure of the gases through the medium of a hole in the barrel and intermediate
mechanism to open the breech substantially as described.

page_text: 2. The mechanism for automatically opening the breech substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
3. The adoption of this method to Gatling guns cannons and other fire arms.
4. The application of this method to pistols the cartridges being inserted in the
handle and if desired a helical extension thereof substantially as described and
illustrated in Figure 16 of the accompanying drawings.
5. The combination with the cylinder M of a suitable lubricator substantially as
indicated in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.
6. The combination and arrangement of parts constructing the complete fire
arm substantially as described and illustrated in Figure 1 of the accompanying
drawings.
7. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete pistol
substantially as described and illustrated in Figure 16 of the accompanying]
drawings.
Dated this 21st dor of Mo 1801
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.