Improvements in Repeating Breech-loading Small Arms.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Repeating Breech-loading Small Arms.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of the Firm of A. M. & Wm. Clark, of 53,
Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of
Patent Agents, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communication
to me by Willis Harvey Ostrander, of 24, Maverick Square, Boston, in the
County of Suffolk, and State of Massachusetts, United States of America,
Inventor) to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in repeating breech-loading guns,
particularly shot guns, the invention being an improvement upon the arm for
which previous Letters Patent of the United Kingdom were granted, Num-
bered 6841 of 1890 and 11205 of 1894 respectively.
The object of the invention is to improve particularly upon the locking or
bolt devices and parts designed to operate the extracting mechanism, and to
provide a means whereby the bolting device will also act as a safety device, pre-
venting the triggers being operated when the barrels are opened. Another
object of the invention is to provide a means whereby the latch plates of the
extracting devices will be operated from the hammer, and to provide for
operating the lock in the safety device by the sears in such manner that the
sear of the hammer not in operation will be automatically locked, rendering it
impossible to press both triggers at once. A further object of the invention
is to provide the frame with offsets which serve to take up the force of the main
spring to a predetermined extent so that the firing pins will not be called upon
to sustain the full force of the said spring as is customary. A further object
of the invention is to provide a simple means whereby by the return move-
ment of the barrels the extractors will be positively placed in a position to act
for any one barrel fired, or for both barrels if the barrels are fired one directly
after the other.
The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the
several parts as will be hereinafter fully set forth.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this
specification in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding
parts in all the figures. Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section through
the improved gun, taken on the line 1-1 of Figure 3; Figure 2 is a vertical
longitudinal section on the line 2-2 of Figure 4; Figure 3 is a plan view of that
portion of the gun shewn in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a transverse section on the
line 44 of Figure 2; Figure 5 is a transverse section taken on the line 5-5
of Figure 2; Figure 6 is a transverse section taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 7;
Figure 7 is a longitudinal vertical section taken on the line 7-7 of Figure 6;
Figure 8 is a vertical longitudinal section taken on the line 88 of Figure 3,
shewing the right-hand trigger ready to fire; Figure 9 is a horizontal section
on the line 9--9 of Figure 1; Figure 10 is a vertical section on the line 10-10
of Figure 1; Figure 11 is a bottom plan view of the horizontal rack and the

page_text: cranks operating the latches for the shifting plates; Figure 12 is a perspective
view of the left-hand shifting plate; Figure 13 is a perspective view of the
right-hand shifting plate; Figure 14 is a rear view of the barrels; Figure 15
is an outer side elevation of that portion of the gun shewn in Figure 1; Figure 16
is a plan view of the sears and the safety mechanism operating in connection
therewith.
In carrying out the invention the barrels A are provided in the space between
their rear ends, with a vertical groove 20, rounded off in a forwardly direction
at the bottom as shewn at 20" (Figures 1 and 14) and in the upper portion of
the vertical groove 20, a pin 21 is secured while at the top portion of the groove
a lock 22 is formed which extends horizontally from the upper portion of the
barrel and in the bottom web between the barrels a longitudinal groove 23 is
produced, having its side walls under-cut and the groove 23 is provided at a
point in its length, or between. its ends, with a longitudinal recess 24 as shewn
in Figure 1.
B represents the frame of the gun, which is adapted for attachment to the
stock, and B is the front extension of the frame, known as the fore end, upon
which the pair of barrels A are adapted to slide forward and backward. The
barrels when closed. are adapted to strike against a standing breech 25 and
this standing breech is the full width of the frame at its front, and is preferably
wider than the said frame; and in the frame extension a receptacle is formed,
open at its top and divided into two magazine chambers by a longitudinal par-
tition 26 (Figure 9) extending from the rear end of the frame extension or fore
end to the standing breech, and each magazine chamber is preferably provided
with a drop door 29 (Figure 6) forming the major portion of its outer side,
suitable latches being provided for the door as shewn in Figure. 15.
The two magazine chambers are designated respectively as 27 and 28
and both of them are shewn in Figures 6 and 9. A longitudinal
slot 31 is made in the partition 26 dividing the magazine cham-
bers and this slot extends into the frame chamber in which the firing and
other mechanism is located, and the forward end of the slot 31 is in direct
communication with a slot 32 produced in the bottom of the said frame ex-
tension or fore end, as is likewise shewn in Figure 1. The lower portion of the
slot 31 in the partition 26 is reduced in size and is closed by a slide 37 which
is located in the bottom of the magazine section of the gun. A
limiting bar 33 is held to slide in the upper portion of the slot 31 in the
partition 26 and immediately below the limiting bar 33 a releasing bar 34 is
held to slide in the said slot, but the releasing bar extends rearwardly beyond
the end of the limiting bar and is attached to a trigger 46 located within the
usual trigger guard 47. The narrower portion of the slot 31 is designated by
the reference numeral 35 which appears in Figure 1. The forward end of the
releasing bar has ribs 36 (Figure 10) formed upon its sides, adapted to enter
grooves in the side walls of the reduced section 35 of the slot 31 so that the
releasing bar will move at all times in a position parallel to a
central line drawn longitudinally through the barrels. The forward
head end of
is
the releasing bar 34 bifurcated as shewn in
Figure 10, to receive the outwardly curved extremity of an arm 38 which will
be drawn rearward when the releasing bar is taken in a like direction; and
the said arm 38 is made to pass upward through a longitudinal slot produced
in the limiting bar 33 as is also shewn in Figure 10. The upper end of this
arm 38 is secured to a rock shaft 40 journalled in the upper portion of the slot 32
in the fore end of the frame extension at the rear end of the said slot. The shaft 40
is provided with a series of teeth 41 and these teeth are adapted for engagement
with teeth formed upon the inner vertical edge of a lock latch 42 which lock
latch is provided with a forwardly extending arm pivoted by means of a pin 43
in the slot 32 of the fore end as is also shewn in Figure 1. The lock latch has
guided movement in the fore end and is adapted to normally extend upward
or

page_text: beyond the top of the fore end and enter the enlarged portion 24 in the bottom
channel of the barrels. The lower portion of the lock latch is bifurcated and
the forward lower portion of the latch is provided with a pin 44 supporting
ordinarily a roller as shewn in dotted lines in Figure 1, and this roller engages
with a shoulder 45 in the limiting bar when the barrels are closed against
the standing breech. When the latch 42 is drawn downward to permit the barrels
to be carried forward, the roller is brought in engagement with the under edge
of the limiting bar; therefore the latch is prevented from returning rearward
to its normal position. and the roller may consequently be termed a stop. When
the barrels are closed the roller is brought in front of the shoulder 45 and the
latch is free to be forced into position into the barrels.
A lug 48 or its equivalent is secured upon the upper face of the releasing
bar and a spring 49 is located between this lug and a portion of the bottom of
the frame chamber C as is also shewn in Figure 1. The forward end of the
limiting bar is reduced. the reduced portion extending from the shoulder 45
and is capable of being sprung upward and terminates at its forward end in a
head block 51. This head block is held to slide in a slot 52 made in the fore
end or frame extension and is controlled by a lever 53 having a cam head 53" and
a spring 54 located within the slot 52 and secured at one of its ends, has its free
end passed between the cam head of the lever 53 and the bottom of the head
block 51. When the lever 53 is carried upward to the substantially horizontal
position shewn in Figure 1, the forward end of the limiting bar is forced upward
within the slot 24 in the bottom of the barrels and is held in that position.
When, however, the lever is carried to a position at an angle to the fore end,
the head block of the limiting bar will drop downward so as to be entirely
removed from the barrel slot 24. It will be understood that the upper face of
the fore end is provided with the ordinary dove-tail rib to enter the dove-tail
channel 23 in the lower web between the barrels.
When the lock latch is in its upper position shewn in Figure 1, it will be
impossible to open the barrels; but by pulling the trigger 46 rearward, or in
the direction of the stock, the releasing bar 34 will be carried in the same direc-
tion and by means of its connection with the lock latch will draw the latter
downward out from the deep slot 24 in the bottom of the barrels, enabling the
barrels to be carried forward and rearward the required distance, the outward
movement of the barrels being limited by the inner end of the deep barrel
slot 24 engaging with the inner face of the head block 51 on the limiting bar
when that bar has been carried as far as determined in a forwardly direction,
the bar taking the forwardly direction for a purpose to be hereinafter set forth.
When it is desired to entirely remove the barrels from the fore end or frame
0 extension, the lever 53 is first carried downward at an angle to the fore
end enabling the head block 51 to leave the deep slot 24 in the barrels. The
trigger 46 is next drawn rearward and the barrels may be slid without inter-
A spring 55 serves to normally hold
ruption from off the frame of the gun.
the lock latch in its upper position, the said spring being secured at one end to
5 a fixed support and having an upward bearing at its other end 56 in the
latch, see Figure 1.
At the centre of the standing breech a rib 57 (see Fig. 6) is formed, constituting
an upward continuation of the partition 26 of the magazine chambers. In the
top central portion of the standing breech a horizontal recess 58 is made, to
50 receive the lug 22 extending rearwardly from the top of the barrel, and an
indicator rod is held to slide vertically in suitable openings in the standing
breech at each side of the rib 57 and the magazine partition 26, the said rods
being designated as 59 and 60; and each indicator rod at its upper end is pro-
vided with a recess 58ª at its inner face, to form a continuation of the recess 58
65 in the standing breech. The lug 22 of the barrel extends over the indicator rods
and not only prevents them from rising while the barrels are closed against the
breech but also ensures the indicators being carried down flush with the top of the

page_text: frame. The front sides of the indicator rods are exposed at the front of the stand-
ing breech and each rod is provided at its lower end with a carriage 61 shaped
to receive the head of a cartridge while the lower rear face of each indicator rod
is exposed at the back of the standing breech as shewn in Figure 7, and has teeth 60"
produced in its rear exposed face forming a rack surface on each indicator.
Just above the rack surface of each indicator a recess 61 is produced, and when
an indicator is carried upward above the frame of the gun the recess 61° therein
will be brought in register with the rear member 63 of an angular stop pin 62
one of which pins is provided for each indicator rod. The forward member 63ª
of each pin extends horizontally alongside of the outer side face of an indicator
rod, as shewn in Figures 6 and 7, the other member extending along the back
portion of the rod; and the rearward member 63% is normally pressed outward
by a spring 64 shewn particularly in Figure 7, located in an opening in the
standing breech corresponding in shape to that of the stop pin which it receives.
The end of the stop pin that extends to the front of the standing breech, as
shewn in Figure 6, is provided with an angular head which when the indicator to
which the stop pin belongs is in its lower position is flush with the front face of
the standing breech; but when the indicator is in its upper position the head of
the stop pin extends outward beyond the said front face of the standing breech.
At each side of the upper portion of the standing breech an under cut rib 65
is located which stops short of the top of the breech and the inner edge of
each rib 65 is substantially flush with the near vertical side wall of a magazine
chamber. An angular latch 66 is located about centrally between the top and
bottom of the standing breech within each magazine chamber and the said latch,
as shewn in Figure 2, is normally pressed outward by a spring 67 and when
the barrels are closed on the breech the latches 66 are forced rearwards.
The cartridges are loaded into the magazine 'chambers through the drop doors
of the same and the loaded cartridge which is contained in the bottom of the
chamber and which is supported by a carriage of an indicator rod, serves to
force outward or extract the cartridge which is fired and which is located in the
upper portion of this chamber. When a cartridge is first placed in the chamber
it is placed therein when the barrels are closed and as the barrels are opened,
through a means to be hereinafter described, the indicators are raised and will
carry the loaded cartridge upward entering the rim portions of the cartridge
heads in the under-cut sections of the ribs 65 on the standing breech and as
the cartridges pass the latches 66 the said latches are forced rearward but as
soon as the rim of a cartridge has cleared a latch, the latch will be forced out-
ward by its spring and will support the bottom portion of the cartridge
rim while at the same time the stop pin's 62 in the upper portion of the standing
breech will have been forced outward by their springs when the indicators have
been fully raised and their heads serve to limit the upward movement of the
cartridge so that the cartridge is held in place while the barrels are being
closed and in such manner as to insure the cartridge entering the barrels.
After the cartridge in one of the barrels has been fired and the barrels are
open, the mechanism is such that only the indicator belonging to the barrel
that has been fired will be elevated. At the opening of the barrels both cartridges
will be held in position at their heads by the under-cut rib 65 and the latches 66;
but since only one of the indicators has been carried upward carrying with it
only one shell, the empty shell will be expelled being forced out by the loaded
shell carried upward by the rising indicator and as the empty shell leaves
the holding devices on the standing breech the head of the filled shell will enter
to an engagement with the said devices and when the barrels are closed both
cartridges will be in position to enter the said barrels. A third cartridge is
then placed in the magazine chamber from which the cartridge was taken for
the barrels. Under this arrangement it will be observed that two cartridges
may always be held in reserve and that either one or both may be brought in
position for loading as required.

page_text: from
rear end
same.
An orifice 68 is made in the upper portion of the central rib 5 of the stand-
ing breech being so placed as to receive the pin 21 in the rear end of the barrels
when the barrels are closed, as illustrated in Figure 1; and below the orifice 68
will extend
in
an opening 69 is made the standing breech which
the front to
as
the back
shewn in Figure 9, the
of the opening 69 being wider than the other portions of the
A releasing pin 70 is held to slide in the opening 69 of the standing
breech and when the barrels are open the pin 70 will extend beyond the front
face of the breech. Between the ends of the pin a head 71 is formed which may
be, and usually is, rectangular and at the bottom portion of the said head,
below the under surface of the pin, a wedge extension 72 is produced and
the enlarged portion of the opening 69 in which the releasing pin is mainly
located is of such shape as to receive the head 71 together with its wedge ex-
tension. The rear end of the pin is held to slide loosely in a socket 73 formed
in a block which is attached to the inner face of the top of the frame B as
shewn in Figure 1, while a spring 74 baving a bearing at one end against a
projection on the pin and having a bearing at its opposite end against the for-
ward end of the socket 73 serves to force the pin 70 forward when the barrels are
opened, carrying the wedge 72.
It has been stated that the opening of the barrels causes the indicators of
the empty barrel or barrels to rise. This is accomplished primarily through the
medium of a rack bar 75 which is pivotally connected with, and is moved by,
the limiting bar 33 and a driving pinion 76 which meshes with the teeth of
the rack bar together with shifting pinions 77 and 78 driven from 'the pinion 76
and engaging with the rack surfaces of the indicators or indicating rods 59
and 60 shewn in Figures 5 and 7. The driving pinion 76 is fixedly secured
to the spindle 79 journalled in the sides of the frame B. The pinions 77 and 78
are loosely mounted on said spindle and each shifting pinion is provided with an
inner clutch face arranged for engagement with a clutch surface upon the driving
pinion. Such an arrangement may be made as illustrated in Figure 5 in which
a key 80 of the driving pinion extends beyond both sides thereof and is adapted
to enter recesses 81 made in the shifting pinions. The right-hand shifting
pinion engages with the rack surface on the right-hand indicator and the left-hand
shifting pinion engages with the rack surface of the left-hand indicator. Each shift-
ing pinion is provided at its outer face with a sleeve 82 having a flange at its outer
edge as is also shewn in Figure 5 and springs 83 engage with the bearings for
the spindle and against one end of the sleeve of each shifting pinion coiling
around the spindle as shewn in Figure 5 the tendency of the springs being
to force the shifting pinions to an engagement with the driving pinion 76.
In connection with the shifting pinions two shifting plates D and D¹ (Figs. 12
and 13) are employed, one being adapted for the right-hand shifting pinion and
the other for the left-hand shifting pinion. These plates are mounted to slide one over
the other and both upon the rear face of the standing breech immediately
below the shifting pin 70. Each of these plates is provided with two slots 84
one near each end, which loosely receive screws 85 entered into the standing
breech. The front or right-hand shifting plate D is provided at its right-hand
end with an angular or L-shaped projection 86 the horizontal member whereof
is carried rearward and a lug 87 is projected downward from the inner end
of the horizontal member and enters an annular channel in the sleeve of the
right-hand pinion 77, the channel having for its outer boundary the flange 82
of the said sleeve. The right-hand shifting plate, as shewn in Figure 13, is also
provided in its upper edge with two recesses 88 and 89, one being lower than
the other and the uppermost recess 89 is is at the right-hand end of the plate,
the lower recess 88 which is at the centre of the plate being adapted to receive
the wedge 72 (Fig. 1) of the shifting pin. The left-hand or rear shifting
plate D (Fig. 12) is like in construction to the plate D but the position of
its recesses and projections is reversed with the exception of the lower recess 90

page_text: which is in the centre of the plate at the top and the upper recess 91 is near the
left-hand side of the plate. An angular projection 92 corresponding to the pro-
jection 86 of the plate D is at the left hand end and its horizontal member
extends rearwardly. From the horizontal member a lug 93 is downwardly
projected, adapted to engage with the left-hand shifting pinion 78 in like manner
as the lug 87 of the plate D engages with the right-hand shifting pinion.
As heretofore stated, the two plates are mounted to slide one upon the other and
the horizontal members of their angular projections 86 and 92 serve as sup-
ports, the right-hand plate at its left-hand end sliding upon the horizontal
member of the projection from the left-hand shifting plate while the right-hand
end of the left-hand shifting plate slides upon the horizontal member at the
right-hand end of the right-hand shifting plate.
SO
to. the
A bifurcated pillar 94 is secured at its upper end to the top; part of the
frame and the bifurcated members of the pillar extend downward within a
predetermined distance of the bottom of the frame, as illustrated in Figure 4,
where they are connected by a horizontal plate 95 and, as shewn in Figure 11, this
extend
plate is of such length and shaped that it wili
rear face of the stationary breech and may be securely attached to the same.
At the lower portion of the pillar upon each side, a vertical rib 96 (Figure 2)
is formed and a corresponding rib 97 faces the forward portion of the rib 96 its
construction being duplicated upon both members of the pillar. In this manner
a slide-way is formed upon each outer side face of the pillar for the lower
portion of the latches designated respectively as 98 and 98ª (Figure 5) two latches
The latch 98" is
being illustrated, one in Figure 1 and the other in Figure 2.
provided with a head 99 and the latch 98 is provided with a head 99", and these
heads are adapted to extend over that portion of the two shifting plates at which
the upper recesses are formed, the head 99ª of the right-hand latch extending
over the recess 89 of the right-hand shifting plate and the head 99 of the left
hand latch 98 extending over the recess 91 in the left-hand shifting plate and these
heads at times are adapted to enter the recesses over which they are located. Each
latch 98 and 98ª where it passes between its guides, is provided upon its
outer face with a horizontal boss or projection 100 and springs 100
and
pillar 94
downward pressure upon
A crank arm 101
the projections or bosses 100 as illustrated in Figure 2.
is located in front of the right-hand latch 98 at a point below the same and
this crank arm is attached to a shaft 102 which is journalled in the rear
portion of the bottom plate of the pillar 94 and the said shaft extends
through to the left-hand side of the frame where a second crank arm 103 is
secured to the shaft and this second crank arm 103 is located immediately below
the left-hand latch 98", and is capable of raising the same when the right-hand
crank arm is elevated.
are
secured to the
exert
At a point below the left-hand latch 98", yet out of the vertical plane thereof, a
crank arm 104 is located, secured to a shaft 105 which extends through the
forward portion of the bottom plate of the pillars in the direction of the right-hand
side of the frame at which point a second crank arm 106 is secured to the
shaft 105 located beneath the right-hand latch 98, being capable of raising
the same when the opposing crank arm 104 is elevated. The disposition of
these crank arms and their shafts is clearly shewn in Figure 11.
A hammer 107 is pivoted by means of pins 111 to the inner face of the side
portions of the frame B. and as illustrated in Figure 8 each hammer upon its
inner side is provided at the top with a shoulder 108 extending longitudinally
of the same and at the bottom upon its inner side, yet above the pivot, a trans-
verse shoulder 109 is formed. When a hammer is in the cocked or firing
position shewn in Figure 8 the upper shoulder will be vertical and the
lower shoulder 109 horizontal and also upon the inner face of each of the
hammers, below the pivot 111, a pin 110 is located. Each hammer is further
provided at the rear lower portion with a shoulder 112 which when the hammer

page_text: is in a cocked position is engaged by the nose of a sear 113, a sear being pro-
vided for each hammer; and each sear at its free end is provided with an in-
wardly extending horizontal flange 114. The rear end of each sear is subjected
to the downward pressure of a spring 115 secured in the socket 116 formed
upon or attached to a side of the frame and the main spring 117 is likewise
secured in this socket and bears against a crank arm 118 attached to the rear
lower portion of a hammer at the rear of its pivot as illustrated in Figure 8.
A shaft 119 (Figure 2) is journalled in the pillar 94 and between the mem-
bers of the pillar a toothed segment 119, is secured to the said shaft, the said
segment engaging with the rack surface of the rack bar 75 operated by the
movement of the barrels; and at each, outer end of the said shaft 119 a crank
arm 119 is secured, terminating in a head 120. preferably circular in cross
section and provided with a pulley or a loose ring in order that friction may be
reduced to a minimum when the head is brought in contact with a given surface.
The heads 120 of the crank arm 119b, operated by the segment 119", are
adapted to engage with the shoulders 108 on the hammers 107 and the off-
sets 100 on the latches 98 and 98 are adapted for engagement with the lower
horizontal shoulders 109 on the hammers, as illustrated in Figure 8. Two
firing triggers 121 and 122 are provided, one for each barrel, the heels 124
whereof are held in a lower position by springs 123 and the heels of the triggers
when the latter are drawn rearward, trip the sears by engaging with their
flanges and release the hammers. The hammers are cocked when the barrels
are opened as the rack 75 will then have a forward travel and will rock the
segment 119 downward carrying the hammer raising cranks 119b rearward
causing their heads 120 to engage with the upper shoulders 108 of the hammers,
forcing the latter to a locking engagement with their sears as illustrated
in Figure 8; and
when the barrels are closed the hammer cranks
are carried forward to the position shewn in Figure 2, out of the.
way of the hammers in their passage to the firing pin. When the
barrels are closed, the trip pin 70 is forced rearward, carrying
the wedge 72 into the lower recesses 88 and 90 of the two shifting plates, spread-
ing them apart. When the hammers are cocked, the pins 110 on the hammers
will lift the latch-operating cranks 101 and 104 causing the latches 98 and 98
to be lifted from the shifting plates. When for example the right-hand barrel
is fired, the lower shoulder 109 of the right-hand hammer will enter under the
offset 100 of the right-hand latch 98 and maintain that latch in its elevated
position but the pin 110 of the right-hand hammer will have released the right-
hand crank 101 of the shaft 102 permitting the left-hand crank 103 on the same
shaft to drop from beneath the left-hand latch 98, whereupon the spring con-
nected with this latch will force said latch downward into the upper recess 91
of the left-hand or rear shifting plate D¹, holding said plate stationary and
preventing the left-hand pinion 78 from clutch engagement with the central or fixed
pinion 76. When the barrels are opened, the front or right-hand shifting plate D¹
being free to slide will offer no resistance to the spring on the right-hand
pinion 77 in its effort to force the same to a coupling engagement with the
central or driving pinion 76, especially so since at the opening of the barrels
the wedge is automatically withdrawn from the shifting plates by its controlling
spring. The result. therefore is that as the barrels are drawn from the breech
the right-hand pinion 77 will be revolved by the driving pinion 76 and the
right-hand indicator and its carriage will be raised to eject the empty case and
place a loaded one in position. to enter the right-hand barrel when the barrels
are closed; meanwhile the left-hand indicator and shell in the left-hand barrel
are not disturbed.
The frame B is provided with the usual tangs 125 which are secured to the
stock 127 and the triggers 121 and 122 are provided with forwardly extending
lips 126 sufficiently elevated from the bottom of the frame to permit the
releasing bar 34 to slide under the said lips when the bar is drawn rearward

page_text: to admit of the opening of the barrels; and when the releasing bar 34 is just
beneath the lips of the triggers it will be utterly impossible to operate the said
triggers; therefore the gun cannot be fired by any possibility while the barrels
are opened.
The safety device shewn and designated as E may be of any approved con-
struction and comprises a plate 128 held to slide upon the upper tang of the
frame and a bar 129 located beneath the said tang and. connected with the outer
plate, the said bar being provided with a spring 130 at its lower end, having an
offset 140 adapted to enter recesses 141 in the bottom of the upper tang of the
frame so as to hold the safety plate in position to lock the triggers or in a
position to permit the triggers to be operated. Ears 142 are projected from the
inner bar 129, and between these ears the squared head 143 of a safety pin 144
is pivoted, springs 132 bearing upon the said head; and the safety pin terminates
in a transversely-located foot 145. which when the device is carried to the safety
position will be immediately over the heels of the trigger, preventing the said heels
being raised. The improvement in the safety device consists in a means auto-
matically controlled, whereby both of the triggers cannot be pulled at the
same time and this improvement consists of a horizontal yoke 145 (Fig. 2)
attached to a shank 146 which is pivoted to a block 147 attached to the bottom
tang of the frame. The fork has a laterally rocking motion and its members
extend over the flanges of the sears 113. Neither sear can be raised sufficiently
far to release the hammers when both triggers are pulled at the same time, their
upward movement being limited by the safety fork 145; but when one trigger
is pulled the sear to be operated by that trigger is free to rise because the
opposite member of the fork will be rocked downward over the sear of the other
trigger and close thereto, permitting the chamber of the fork which is over the
sear of the trigger pulled to rise.
The firing pins 148 may be of any approved pattern and are preferably spring-
controlled, having movement in openings 149 provided for them in the standing
breech. Below the head of each firing pin a stop block 150 is formed upon
each side of the frame B, as shewn in Figure 8, the position of the safety blocks
being such that when the hammers strike the firing pins and force them in-
sufficiently to explode the cartridges the heads of the hammers will rest against
the said stop blocks, thus preventing the force or strain of the main springs 117
being brought to bear upon and thus sustained by the firing pins, adding
greatly to the lifetime of the gun.
Pins 151 are projected downward from the top of the frame as also shewn in
Figure 8, serving to prevent the firing pins from leaving their position in the
frame and in the standing breech.
Dated thin 95th 1
A A
1 1000
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
Chartered Patent Agents, 53, Chancery Lane, London.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Repeating Breech-loading Small Arms.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of the Firm of A. M. & Wm. Clark, of 53,
Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Chartered Institute of
Patent Agents, do hereby declare the nature of this invention. (a communication
to me by Willis Harvey Ostrander, of 24, Maverick Square, Boston, in the
County of Suffolk, and State of Massachusetts, United States of America,

page_text: Inventor), 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 improvements in repeating breech-loading guns,
particularly shot guns, the invention being an improvement upon the arm for
which former Letters Patent were granted in the United Kingdom, Num
bered 6840 of 1891 and 11205 of 1894 respectively.
The object of the invention is to improve particularly upon the locking or
bolt devices and parts designed to operate the extracting mechanism, and to
provide a means whereby the bolting device will also act as a safety device, pre-
venting the triggers being operated when the barrels are opened. Another
object of the invention is to provide a means whereby the latch plates of the
extracting devices will be operated from the hammer, and to provide for
operating the lock in the safety device by the scars in such manner that the
sear of the hammer not in operation will be automatically locked, rendering it
impossible to press both triggers at once. A further object of the invention
is to provide the frame with offsets which serve to take up the force of the main
spring to a predetermined extent, so that the firing pins will not be called upon
to sustain the full force of the said spring, as is customary. A further object
of the invention is to provide a simple means whereby upon the return move-
ment of the barrels the extractors will be positively placed in a position to act
for any one barrel fired, or for both barrels if the barrels are fired one directly
after the other.
The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the
several parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth and pointed out in the claims.
Reference is to be had to the drawings filed with the Provisional Specification
& also to the accompanying drawings in which similar characters of reference
indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section through the improved gun, taken
on the line 1-1 of Figure 3;
.
Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section on the line 2-2 of Figure 4.
Figure 3 is a plan view of that portion of the gun shown in Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a transverse section on the line 41 of Figure 2;
Figure 5 is a transverse section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2;
Figure 6 is a transverse section taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 7.
--
Figure 7 is a longitudinal vertical section taken on the line 7-7 of Figure 6;
Figure 8 is a vertical longitudinal section taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 3,
showing the right-hand trigger ready to fire;
Figure 9 is a horizontal section on the line 9-9 of Figure 1;.
Figure 10 is a vertical section on the line 10-10 of Figure 1;
Figure 11 is a bottom plan view of the horizontal rack and the cranks
operating the latches for the shifting plates;
Figure 12 is a perspective view of the left-hand shifting plate;
Figure 13 is a perspective view of the right-hand shifting plate;
Figure 14 is a rear view of the barrels;
Figure 15 is an outer side elevation of that portion of the gun shown in
Figure 1;
Figure 16 is a plan view of the sears and the safety mechanism operating in
connection therewith;
Figure 17 is a detail view of a portion of the frame showing a stop pin in
plan view; and
Figure 18 is a detail perspective view of a stop pin, both of these latter figures
being drawn to a larger scale.
In carrying out the invention the barrels A are provided in the space between
their rear ends, with a. vertical groove 20, rounded off in a forwardly direction
at the bottom, as shown at 20 (Figures 1 and 14) and in the upper portion of
the vertical groove 20, a pin 21 is secured, while at the top portion of the groove

page_text: a lock 22 is formed, which extends horizontally from the upper portion of the
barrel, and in the bottom web between the barrels a longitudinal groove 23 is
produced, having its side walls under-cut, and the groove 23 is provided at a
point in its length, or between its ends, with a longitudinal recess 24, as shown
in Figure 1.
B represents the frame of the gun, which is adapted for attachment to the
stock, and B is the front extension of the frame, known as the fore end, upon
which the pair of barrels A are adapted to slide forward and backward. The
barrels, when closed, are adapted to strike against a standing breech 25, and
this standing breech is the full width of the frame at its front, and is preferably
wider than the said frame; and in the frame extension, a receptacle is formed,
open at its top and divided into two magazine chambers by a longitudinal par-
tition 26 (Figure 9) extending from the rear end of the frame extension or fore
end to the standing breech, and each magazine chamber is preferably provided
with a drop door 29 (Figure 6) forming the major portion of its outer side,
suitable latches being provided for the door, as shown in Figure 15.
The two magazine chambers are designated respectively as 27 and 28,
and both of them are shown in Figures 6 and 9.
A longitudinal slot 31 is made in the partition 26 dividing the magazine cham-
bers, and this slot extends into the frame chamber C in which the firing and
other mechanism is located, and the forward end of the slot 31 is in direct
communication with a slot 32, produced in the bottom of the said frame ex-
tension or fore end, as is likewise shown in Figure 1. The lower portion of the
slot 31 in the partition 26 is reduced in size, and is closed by a slide 37, which
is located in the bottom of the magazine section of the gun.
A limiting bar 33 is held to slide in the upper portion of the slot 31 in the
partition 26, and immediately below the limiting bar 33 a releasing bar 34 is
held to slide in the said slot, but the releasing bar extends rearwardly beyond
the end of the limiting bar, and is attached to a trigger 46, located within the
usual trigger guard 47. The narrower portion of the slot 31 is designated by
the reference numeral 35, which appears in Figure 1. The forward end of the
releasing bar has ribs 36 (Figure 10) formed upon its sides, adapted to enter
grooves in the side walls of the reduced section 35 of the slot 31, so that the
releasing bar will move at all times in a position parallel to a
central line drawn longitudinally through the barrels.
The forward or head end of the releasing bar 34 is bifurcated, as shown in
Figure 10, to receive the outwardly curved extremity of an arm 38, which will
be drawn rearward when the releasing bar is taken in a like direction; and
the said arm 38 is made to pass upward through a longitudinal slot produced
in the limiting bar 33, as is also shown in Figure 10. The upper end of this
arm 38 is secured to a rock shaft 40, journaled in the upper portion of the slot 32
in the fore end of frame extension at the rear end of the said slot. The shaft 40
is provided with a series of teeth 41, and these teeth are adapted for engagement
with teeth formed upon the inner vertical edge of a lock latch 42, which lock
latch is provided with a forwardly extending arm, pivoted by means of a pin 43.
in the slot 32 of the fore end, as is also shown in Figure 1. The lock latch has
guided movement in the fore end, and is adapted to normally extend upward
beyond the top of the fore end and enter the enlarged portion 24 in the bottom
channel of the barrels. The lower portion of the lock latch 42 is bifurcated
and the forward lower portion of the latch is provided with a pin 44, sup-
porting ordinarily a roller, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1, and this roller
engages with a shoulder 45 in the limiting bar when the barrels are closed against
the standing breech.
When the latch 42 is drawn downward to permit the barrels to
be carried forward, the roller is brought in engagement with the under edge
of the limiting bar; therefore the latch is prevented from returning rearward
to its normal position, and the roller may consequently be termed a stop. When

page_text: the barrels are closed the roller is brought in front of the shoulder 45, and the
latch is free to be forced into position into the barrels.
A lug 48, or its equivalent, is secured upon the upper face of the releasing
bar, and a spring 49 is located between this lug and a portion of the bottom of
the frame chamber C, as is also shown in Figure 1. The forward end of the
limiting bar is reduced, the reduced portion extending from the shoulder 45,
and is capable of being sprung upward, and terminates at its forward end in a
head block 51. This head block is held to slide in a slot 52 made in the fore
end or frame extension, and is controlled by a lever 53 having a cam head 53", and
a spring 54, located within the slot 52 and secured at one of its ends, has its free
end passed between the cam head of the lever 53 and the bottom of the head
block 51. When the lever 53 is carried upward to the substantially horizontal
position shown in Figure 1, the forward end of the limiting bar is forced upward
within the slot 24 in the bottom of the barrels, and is held in that position.
When however, the lever is carried to a position at an angle to the fore end,
the head block of the limiting bar will drop downward, so as to be entirely
removed from the barrel slot 24. It will be understood that the upper face of
the fore end is provided with the ordinary dove-tail rib to enter the dove-tail
channel 23 in the lower web between the barrels.
When the lock latch is in its upper position shown in Figure 1, it will be
impossible to open the barrels; but by pulling the trigger 46 rearward, or in
direction of the stock, the releasing bar 34 will be carried in the same direc-
tion, and by means of its connection with the lock latch, will draw the latter
downward out from the deep slot 24 in the bottom of the barrels, enabling the
barrels to be carried forward and rearward the required distance, the outward
movement of the barrels being limited by the inner end of the deep barrel
slot 24 engaging with the inner face of the head block 51 on the limiting bar
when that bar has been carried as far as determined in a forwardly direction,
the bar taking the forwardly direction for a purpose to be hereinafter set forth.
When it is desired to entirely remove the barrels from the fore end or frame
extension, the lever 53 is first carried downward at an angle to the fore
end, enabling the head block 51 to leave the deep slot 24 in the barrels. The
trigger 46 is next drawn rearward, and the barrels may be slid without inter-
ruption from off the frame of the gun. A spring 55 serves to normally hold
the lock latch in its upper position, the said spring being secured at one end to
a fixed support and having an upward bearing at its other end 56 in the
latch, see Figure 1.
At the centre of the standing breech a rib 57 (Figure 6) is formed, constituting
an upward continuation of the partition 26 of the magazine chambers. In the
top central portion of the standing breech a horizontal recess 58 is made, to
receive the lug 22 extending rearwardly from the top of the barrel, and an
indicator rod is held to slide vertically in suitable openings in the standing
breech at each side of the rib 57 and the magazine partition 26, the said rods
being designated as 59 and 60; and each indicator rod at its upper end is pro-
vided with a recess 58 at its inner face, to form a continuation of the recess 58
in the standing breech. The lug 22 of the barrel extends over the indicator rods
and not only prevents them from rising while the barrels are closed against the
breech, but also insures the indicators being carried down flush with the top of the
frame.
:
The front sides of the indicator rods are exposed at the front of the stand-
ing breech, and each rod is provided at its lower end with a carriage 61, shaped
to receive the head of a cartridge, while the lower rear face of each indicator rod
is exposed at the back of the standing breech as shown in Figure 7, and has teeth 60ª
produced in its rear exposed face, forming a rack surface on each indicator.
Just above the rack surface of each indicator a recess 61" is produced, and when
an indicator is carried upward above the frame of the gun, the recess 61ª therein
will be brought in registry with the rear member 63ª of an angular stop pin 62,

page_text: one of which pins is provided for each indicator rod. The forward member 63
of each pin extends horizontally alongside of the outer side face of an indicator
rod, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, the other member extending along the back
portion of the rod; and the rearward member 63" is normally pressed outward
by a spring 64, shown particularly in Figure 7, located in an opening in the
standing breech corresponding in shape to that of the stop pin which it receives.
The end of the stop pin that extends to the front of the standing breech, as
shown in Figure 6, is provided with an angular head, which when the indicator to
which the stop pin belongs is in its lower position, is flush with the front face of
the standing breech; but when the indicator is in its upper position the head of
the stop più extends outward beyond the said front face of the standing breech.
At each side of the upper portion of the standing breech an under cut rib 65
is located, which stops short of the top of the breech, and the inner edge of
each rib 65 is substantially flush with the near vertical side wall of a magazine
chamber. An angular latch 66 is located about centrally between the top and
bottom of the standing breech within each magazine chamber, and the said latch,
as shown in Figure 2, is normally pressed outward by a spring 67, and when
the barrels are closed on the breech the latches 66 are forced rearward.
The cartridges are loaded into the magazine chambers through the drop doors
of the same, and the loaded cartridge, which is contained in the bottom of the
chamber and which is supported by a carriage of an indicator rod, serves to
force outward or eject the cartridge which is fired, and which is located in the
upper portion of this chamber. When a cartridge is first placed in the chamber
it is placed therein when the barrels are closed, and as the barrels are opened,
through a means to be hereinafter described, the indicators are raised and will
carry the loaded cartridge upward, entering the rim portions of the cartridge
heads in the under-cut sections of the ribs 65 on the standing breech, and as
the cartridges pass the latches 66 the said latches are forced rearward, but as
soon as the rim of a cartridge has cleared a latch, the latch will be forced out-
ward by its spring, and will support the bottom portion of the cartridge
rim, while at the same time the stop pins 62 in the upper portion of the standing
breech will have been forced outward by their springs when the indicators have
been fully raised, and their heads serve to limit the upward movement of the
cartridge, so that the cartridge is held in place while the barrels are being
closed, and in such manner as to insure the cartridge entering the barrels.
After the cartridge in one of the barrels has been fired and the barrels are
open, the mechanism is such that only the indicator belonging to the barrel
that has been fired will be elevated. At the opening of the barrels both cartridges
will be held in position at their heads by the under-cut rib 65 and the latches 66;
but since only one of the indicators has been carried upward carrying with it
only one shell, the empty shell will be expelled, being forced out by the loaded
shell carried upward by the rising indicator, and as the empty shell leaves
the holding devices on the standing breech the head of the filled shell will enter
to an engagement with the said devices, and when the barrels are closed both
cartridges will be in position to enter the said barrels: A third cartridge is
then placed in the magazine chamber from which the cartridge was taken for
the barrels. Under this arrangement it will be observed that two cartridges
may always be held in reserve, and that either one or both may be brought in
position for loading as required.
An orifice 68 is made in the upper portion of the central rib 57 of the stand-
ing breech, being so placed as to receive the pin 21 in the rear end of the barrels
when the barrels are closed, as illustrated in Figure 1; and below the orifice 68
an opening 69 is made in the standing breech, which will extend
from the front to the back, as shown in Figure 9, the rear end
of the opening 69 being wider than the other portions of the same.
A releasing pin 70 is held to slide in the opening 69 of the standing
breech, and when the barrels are open the pin 70 will extend beyond the front

page_text: face of the breech. Between the ends of the pin a head 71 is formed, which may
be and usually is rectangular, and at the bottom portion of the said head,
below the under surface of the pin, a wedge extension 72 is produced, and
the enlarged portion of the opening 69 in which the releasing pin is mainly
located is of such shape as to receive the head 71 together with its wedge ex-
tension. The rear end of the pin is held to slide loosely in a socket 73, formed
in a block which is attached to the inner face of the top of the frame B, as
shown in Figure 1, while a spring 74, having a bearing at one end against a
projection on the pin and having a bearing at its opposite end against the for-
ward end of the socket 73, serves to force the pin 70 forward when the barrels are
opened, carrying the wedge 72.
It has been stated that the opening of the barrels causes the 'indicators of
the empty barrel or barrels to rise. This is accomplished primarily through the
medium of a rack bar 75, which is pivotally connected with and is moved by
the limiting bar 33, and a driving pinion 76, which meshes with the teeth of
the rack bar, together with shifting pinions 77 and 78, driven from the pinion 76
and engaging with the rack surfaces of the indicators or indicating rods 59
and 60, shown in Figures 5 and 7. The driving pinion 76 is 'fixedly secured
to the spindle 79 journaled in the sides of the frame B. The pinions 77 and 78
are loosely mounted on said spindle, and each shifting pinion is provided with an
inner clutch face, arranged for engagement with a clutch surface upon the driving
pinion.
Such an arrangement may be made as illustrated in Figure 5, in which
a key 80 of the driving pinion extends beyond both sides thereof, and is adapted
to enter recesses 81 made in the shifting pinions. The right-hand shifting
pinion engages with the rack surface on the right-hand indicator, and the left-hand
shifting pinion engages with the rack surface of the left-hand indicator. Each shift-
ing pinion is provided at its outer face with a sleeve 82 having a flange at its outer
edge, as, is also shown in Figure 5, and springs 83 engage with the bearings for
the spindle and against one end of the sleeve of each shifting pinion, coiling
around the spindle, as shown in Figure 5, the tendency of the springs being
to force the shifting pinions to an engagement with the driving pinion 76.
In connection with the shifting pinions two shifting plates D and D' (Figs. 12
and 13) are employed, one being adapted for the right-hand shifting pinion and
the other for the left-hand pinion. These plates are mounted to slide one over
the other, and both upon the rear face of the standing breech immediately
below the shifting pin 70. Each of these plates is provided with two slots 84,
one near each end, which loosely receive screws 85 entered into the standing
breech. The front or right-hand shifting plate D is provided at its right-hand
end with an angular or L-shaped projection 86, the horizontal member whereof
is carried rearward, and a lug 87 is projected downward from the inner end
of the horizontal member, and enters an annular channel in the sleeve of the
right-hand pinion 77, the channel having for its outer boundary the flange 82
of the said sleeve.
The right-hand shifting plate, as shown in Figure 13, is also provided in its
upper edge with two recesses 88 and 89, one being lower than the other, and the
uppermost recess 89 is at the right-hand end of the plate, the lower recess 88,
which is at the center of the plate, being adapted to receive the wedge 72
(Figure 1) of the shifting pin.
The left-hand or rear shifting plate D¹ (Figure 12) is like in construction to
the plate D, but the position of its recesses and projections is reversed with
the exception of the lower recess 90, which is in the center of the plate at the
top, and the upper recess 91 is near the left-hand side of the plate. An angular
projection 92, corresponding to the projection 86 of the plate D, is at the left
From the horizontal
hand end, and its horizontal member extends rearwardly.
member a lug 93 is downwardly projected, adapted to engage with the left-hand

page_text: shifting pinion 78 in like manner as the lug 87 of the plate D engages with the
right-hand shifting pinion.
As heretofore stated, the two plates are mounted to slide one upon the other, and
the horizontal members of their angular projections 86 and 92, serve as sup-
ports, the right-hand plate at its left-hand end sliding upon the horizontal
member of the projection from the left-hand shifting plate, while the right-hand
end of the left-hand shifting plate slides upon the horizontal member at the
right-hand end of the right-hand shifting plate.
A bifurcated pillar 94 is secured at its upper end to the top part of the
frame, and the bifurcated members of the pillar extend downward within a
predetermined distance of the bottom of the frame, as illustrated in Figure 4,
where they are connected by a horizontal plate 95, and as shown in Figure 11, this
plate is of such length and so shaped that it will extend to the
rear face of the stationary breech and may be securely attached to the same.
At the lower portion of the pillar, upon each side, a vertical rib 96 (Figure 2)
is formed, and a corresponding rib 97 faces, the forward portion of the rib 96, its
construction being duplicated upon both members of the pillar. In this manner
a slide-way is formed upon each outer side face of the pillar for the lower
portion of the latches designated respectively as 98 and 98" (Figure 5) two latches
being illustrated, one in Figure 1 and the other in Figure 2. The latch 98" is
provided with a head 99, and the latch 98 is provided with a head 99ª, and these
heads are adapted to extend over that portion of the two shifting plates at which
the upper recesses are formed, the head 99 of the right-hand latch extending
over the recess 89 of the right-hand shifting plate, and the head 99 of the left-
hand latch 98 extending over the recess 91 in the left-hand shifting plate, and
these heads at times are adapted to enter the recesses over which they and located.
Each latch 98 and 98 where it passes between its guides, is provided upon its
outer face with a horizontal boss or projection 100, and springs 100°
are secured to the pillar 94, and exert downward pressure upon
the projections or bosses 100, as illustrated in Figure 2.
A crank arm 101 is located in front of the right-hand latch 98 at a point below
the same, and this crank arm is attached to a shaft 102, which is journaled in
the rear portion of the bottom plate of the pillar 94, and the said shaft extends
through to the left-hand side of the frame, where a second crank arm 103, is
secured to the shaft, and this second crank arm 103 is located immediately below
the left-hand latch 98", and is capable of raising the same when the right-hand
crank arm is elevated.
.
At a point below the left-hand latch 98ª, yet out of the vertical plane thereof, a
crank arm 104 is located, secured to a shaft 105, which extends through the
forward portion of the bottom plate of the pillars in direction of the right-hand
side of the frame, at which point a second crank arm 106 is secured to the
shaft 105, located beneath the right-hand latch 98, being capable of raising
the same when the opposing crank arm 104 is elevated. The disposition of
these crank arms and their shafts is clearly shown in Figure 11.
A hammer 107 is pivoted by means of pins 111 to the inner face of the side
portions of the frame B, and as illustrated in Figure 8, each hammer upon its
inner side is provided at the top with a shoulder 108, extending longitudinally
of the same, and at the bottom, upon its inner side yet above the pivot, a trans-
verse shoulder 109 is formed. When a hammer is in the cocked or firing
position, shown in Figure 8, the upper shoulder 108 will be vertical and the
lower shoulder 109 horizontal; and also upon the inner face of each of the
hammers, below the pivot 111, a pin 110 is located. Each hammer is further
provided at the rear lower portion with a shoulder 112, which when the hammer
is in a cocked position is engaged by the nose of a sear 113, a sear being pro-
vided for each hammer; and each sear at its free end, is provided with an in-
wardly extending horizontal flange 114. The rear end of each sear is subjected

page_text: to the downward pressure of a spring 115, secured in the socket 116 formed
upon or attached to a side of the frame, and the main spring 117 is likewise
secured in this socket and bears against a crank arm 118 attached to the rear
lower portion of a hammer at the rear of its pivot, as illustrated in Figure 8.
A shaft 119 (Figure 2) is journaled in the pillar 94, and between the mem-
bers of the pillar a toothed segment 119" is secured to the said shaft, the said
segment engaging with the rack surface of the rack bar 75 operated by the
movement of the barrels; and at each outer end of the said shaft 119 a crank
arm 119b is secured, terminating in a head 120, preferably circular in cross
section and provided with a pulley or a loose ring, in order that friction may be
reduced to a minimum when the head is brought in contact with a given surface.
The heads 120 of the crank arms 119 operated by the segment 119" are
adapted to engage with the shoulders 108 on the hammers 107, and the off-
sets 100 on the latches 98 and 98" are adapted for engagement with the lower
horizontal shoulders 109 on the hammers, as illustrated in Figure 8. Two
firing triggers 121 and 122 are provided, one for each barrel, the heels 124
whereof are held in a lower position by springs 123, and the heels of the triggers,
when the latter are drawn rearward, trip the sears by engaging with their
flanges, and release the hammers. The hammers are cocked when the barrels
are opened, as the rack 75 will then have a forward travel and will rock the
segment 119 downward carrying the hammer raising cranks 119b rearward,
causing their heads 120 to engage with the upper shoulders 108 of the hammers,
forcing the latter to a locking engagement with their sears, as illustrated
in Figure 8; and when the barrels are closed the hammer cranks
carried forward to the position shown in Figure 2, out of the
way of the hammers in their passage to the firing pin.
are
When the barrels are closed the trip pin 70 is forced rearward, carrying
the wedge 72 into the lower recesses 88 and 90 of the two shifting plates, spread-
ing them apart. When the hammers are cocked the pins 110 on the hammers
will lift the latch-operating cranks 101 and 104, causing the latches 98 and 98"
to be lifted from the shifting plates. When, for example, the right-hand barrel
is fired, the lower shoulder 109 of the right-hand hammer will enter under the
offset 100 of the right-hand latch 98, and maintain that latch in its elevated
position, but the pin 110 of the right-hand hammer will have released the right-
hand crank 101 of the shaft 102, permitting the left-hand crank 103 on the same
shaft to drop from beneath the left-hand latch 98, whereupon the spring con-
nected with this latch will force said latch downward into the upper recess 91
of the left-hand or rear shifting plate D¹, holding said plate stationary and
preventing the left-hand pinion 78 from clutch engagement with the central or fixed
pinion 76.
When the barrels are opened, the front or right-hand shifting plate D
being free to slide will offer no resistance to the spring on the right-hand
pinion 77 in its effort to force the same to a coupling engagement with the
central or driving pinion 76, especially so since at the opening of the barrels
the wedge is automatically withdrawn from the shifting plates by its controlling
spring. The result, therefore, is that as the barrels are drawn from the breech
the right-hand pinion 77 will be revolved by the driving pinion 76, and the
right-hand indicator and its carriage will be raised to eject the empty case and
place a loaded one in position to enter the right-hand barrel when the barrels
are closed; meanwhile, the left-hand indicator and shell in the left-hand barrel
are not disturbed.
The frame B is provided with the usual tangs 125, which are secured to the
stock 127, and the triggers 121 and 122 are provided with forwardly extending
lips 126, sufficiently elevated from the bottom of the frame to permit the
releasing bar 34 to slide under the said lips when the bar is drawn rearward
to admit of the opening of the barrels; and when the releasing bar 34 is just

page_text: beneath the lips of the triggers it will be utterly impossible to operate the said
triggers; therefore the gun cannot be fired by any possibility while the barrels
are opened.
The safety device shown, and designated as E, may be of any approved con-
struction, and comprises a plate 128, held to slide upon the upper tang of the
frame, and a bar 129 located beneath the said tang and 'connected with the outer
plate, the said bar being provided with a spring 130 at its lower end, having an
offset 140 adapted to enter recesses 141- in the bottom of the upper tang of the
frame, so as to hold the safety plate in position to lock the triggers, or in a
position to permit the triggers to be operated. Ears 142 are projected from the
inner bar 129, and between these ears the squared head 143 of a safety pin 144
is pivoted, springs 132 bearing upon the said head; and the safety pin terminates
in a transversely-located_foot 145, which when the device is carried to the safety
position will be immediately over the heels of the triggers preventing the said heels
being raised.
The improvement in the safety device consists in a means auto-
matically controlled, whereby both of the triggers cannot be pulled at the
same time, and this improvement consists of a horizontal yoke 145 (Figure 2)
attached to a shank 146, which is pivoted to a block 147 attached to the bottom
tang of the frame. The fork has a laterally rocking motion and its members
extend over the flanges of the sears 113.
Neither sear can be raised sufficiently far to release the hammers when both
triggers are pulled at the same time, their upward movement being limited by
the safety fork 145; but when one trigger is pulled the sear to be operated
by that trigger is free to rise because the opposite member of the fork will be
rocked downward over the sear of the other trigger and close thereto, permitting
the member of the fork which is over the sear of the trigger pulled to rise.
The firing pins 148 may be of any approved pattern, and are preferably spring
controlled, having movement in openings 149 provided for them in the standing
breech. Below the head of each firing pin a stop block 150 is formed upon
each side of the frame B, as shown in Figure 8, the position of the safety blocks
being such that when the hammers strike the firing pins and force them in-
sufficiently to explode the cartridges, the heads of the hammers will rest against
the said stop blocks, thus preventing the force or strain of the main springs 117
being brought to bear upon and thus sustained by the firing pins, adding
greatly to the life time of the gun.
Pins 151 are projected downward from the top of the frame, as also shown in
Figure 8, serving to prevent the firing pins from leaving their position in the
frame and in the standing breech.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. In a gun, the combination, with the firing triggers provided with extensions
within the frame of the gun, of a barrel releasing bar having sliding movement
beneath the trigger extensions, the said bar when the barrels are locked being
clear of the trigger extensions, permitting the triggers to have free movement,
but wherein when the barrels are opened the said bar will intervene the trigger ex-
tensions and the bottom of the frame, preventing the triggers being drawn,
substantially as described.
2. In a gun, the combination, with indicators, having movement in the breech
and having rack: surfaces, the indicators being provided with ejecting carriers,
a rack moving barrels 'for opening the rack, a driving pinion engaging with the
said rack, and shifting pinions adapted for driving connections with the driving
pinion and arranged for engagement with the rack surfaces of the indicators, of
shifting plates having sliding movement one upon the other, controlling the
movement of the shifting pinions, latches controlling the movement of the

page_text: shifting
plates, tension devices exerting downward ⚫tension on. the
said latches, and crank arms arranged to elevate the latches, being operated
by the forward movement of the hammers of the gun, as and for the purpose
set forth.
3. In a gun, the combination, with indicators having movement in the breech
and having rack surfaces, the indicators being provided with ejecting carriers,
a rack moving barrels for operating the rack, a driving pinion connected with
the aforesaid rack, and shifting pinions adapted for driving connections with the
driving pinion and arranged for engagement with the rack surfaces of the indi-
cators, of shifting plates having sliding movement one upon the other, controlling
the movement of the shifting pinions, latches controlling the movement of the
shifting plates, tension devices exerting downward tension on the said latches,
crank arms arranged to elevate the latches, being operated by the forward move-
ment of the hammers of the gun, and a spring-controlled wedge operated by
the closing movement of the barrels and arranged when the barrels are closed
to laterally separate the said shifting plates, as and for the purpose set forth.
4. In a gun the combination, with a rack and moving barrels for operating
the rack, of a segment meshing with the said rack, crank arms connected with
the said segment, and hammers provided with shoulders for engagement by the
crank arms, the relation of the crank arms to the shoulders of the hammers
being such that at the forward movement of the barrels the hammers will be
carried to a cocked position, as and for the purpose specified.
5. In a gun, the combination, with a frame, sliding barrels, the hammers and
ejecting devices, of a driving pinion operated by the movement of the barrels,
a shifting pinion at each side of the driving pinion, arranged for clutch engage-
ment therewith, shifting plates connected with the shifting pinions, a wedge
having its movement controlled by the movement of the barrels, which wedge
engages with the shifting plates, normally holding the shifting pinions from
the driving pinion, latches arranged for engagement one with each shifting
plate, cranks connected with the latches, and projections upon the hammers
arranged to engage with the cranks and lift the latches when the hammers are
cocked, shoulders located on the hammers above the projections, and offsets upon
the latches for engagement by said shoulders on the hammers when the said
hammers have been thrown in firing, as and for the purpose set forth.
6. In a gun, the combination, with the frame sliding barrels, the hammers
and ejecting devices, of a driving pinion operated by the movement of the
barrels, a shifting pinion at each side of the driving pinion, arranged for clutch
engagement therewith. shifting plates connected with the shifting
pinions, a wedge having its movement controlled by the movement
of the barrels, the wedge being arranged for engagement with the
shifting plates, normally holding the plates from connection with the driv-
ing pinion, tension-controlled latches arranged one for engagement with each
shifting plate, offsets secured upon the latches, having a crank arm at each end,
one crank arm of each shaft being in lifting engagement with a latch, the other
crank arm having free movement near the opposite latch, projections upon the
hammers, adapted to engage with the free crank arms, and shoulders upon the
hammers, arranged for sustaining engagement with the offsets on the latches,
as and for the purpose set forth.
7. In a gun, the combination, with a frame, barrels held to slide to and from
the frame, ejecting devices, and a driving pinion operated by the movement of
the barrels, of a shifting pinion at each side of the driving pinion, arranged
for clutch engagement therewith, shifting plates connected with the shifting
pinions, a wedge having its movement controlled from the barrels, being arranged
for engagement with the shifting plates, normally holding them disconnected
from the driving pinion, tension-controlled latches arranged for engagement
with each shifting plate, offsets secured upon the latches, shafts journaled below

page_text: the latches, having a crank arm at each end, one crank arm being in lifting
engagement with each of the latches, the other crank arm having free move-
ment near the opposite latch, hammers for the gun, each provided with a pin
and a shoulder, said pins being in lifting engagement with the free crank arms
when the hammers are cocked, the arrangement of the crank arms, offsets upon
the latches, the pins and shoulders upon the hammers being such that when
the right-hand barrel is fired the shoulder of the right-hand hammer will hold the
right-hand latch elevated, the pin upon the right-hand hammer at the same
time releasing the lifting crank from its lifting engagement with the left-hand
latch, substantially as described.
8. In a gun, the combination, with ejecting devices, a driving pinion, sliding
barrels, operating said pinion, a shifting pinion at each side of the driving
pinion, and shifting plates connected with the shifting pinion, of latches having
offsets, lifting cranks for the latches, hammers provided with shoulders and
projections, the projections serving to hold the latches raised when the hammers
are cocked, the shoulder of a hammer being adapted when the hammer is tripped
to hold the latch raised at the same side of the frame at which the hammer is
located, the pin of the tripped hammer at the same time releasing the latch of
the opposite or cocked hammer, substantially as described.
9. In a gun, the combination, with a frame, barrels mounted to slide on the
fore end of the frame, a limiting bar, a rack connected with the limiting bar
and operated by the movement of the barrels, a releasing bar, a trigger connected
therewith, and guide projections upon the releasing bar, causing said bar to
move parallel with the movement of the barrels, of an arm operated by the
releasing bar, said arms being passed at one end through the limiting bar and
provided at its opposite end with teeth, a lock latch pivoted in the fore end of
the frame, adapted for engagement with the barrels and having teeth arranged
for engagement with the teeth of the said arm, a stop carried by the latch,
adapted for engagement with the limiting bar, a flexible extension for the
forward end of the limiting bar, a head block upon said extension adapted to
enter a slot in the fore end and a slot between the barrels, a spring arranged
to engage with the head, and a lever having a cam head arranged to engage with
said spring and maintain said head block in engagement with the barrels, as
and for the purpose specified.
10. The combination, with the trigger of a gun having forward extensions,
of a releasing bar for the barrels of the gun, which releasing bar at its releasing
movement passes under the trigger extensions, as and for the purpose set forth.
11. The combination, with the triggers of a gun having forward extensions,
of a releasing bar for the barrels of said gun, a limiting bar for the barrels co-
operating with the releasing bar, the rear portion of said releasing bar when
carried rearward to a position releasing the barrels being arranged to pass.
beneath the extensions of the triggers, preventing the triggers from being
operated, as and for the purpose specified.
12. In a gun, the combination, with the sears, of a rocking lock extending
over said sears, preventing the two triggers from being simultaneously thrown,
the said rocking lock being operated by the elevation of the sears in firing,
sliding barrels, a releasing bar for the barrels, triggers having their forward
inner ends extending beyond their pivots, beneath which inner forwardly ex-
tending ends of the triggers the releasing bar is carried when the barrels are
released by said bar, as and for the purpose specified.
13. In a gun, the combination, with the sears, each sear being provided
with an inwardly extending flange, of a forked locking device mounted to rock
in the frame of the gun, the members of the aforesaid fork extending over the
flanges of the sears, whereby either of the sears may be raised, one after the other,
but wherein both sears can not be elevated at one and the same time, thereby
preventing both barrels of the gun from being simultaneously discharged, a

page_text: sliding safety plate, and an arm projecting from said plate, terminating in a foot
of a width for engagement with the flanges of both sears, as and for the purpose
set forth.
ated this 18th day of June
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
Chartered Patent Agents, 63, Chancery Lane, London.