Improvements in Breech-loading Small-arms.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Apr., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 10th Feb., 1890-Accepted, 15th Mar., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Breech-loading Small-arms.
1 JOB Cox of 23 Clarendon Street, Aston, in the county of Warwick Gun action
maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in the mechanism of the gun lock actions of
breech loading drop down fire arms, and has for its object an improved arrangement
in connection with the treble grip action releasing spindle, and its upper collar or
shoulder; with the cocking mechanism, ejecting mechanism and also with a device
for preventing the triggers being drawn when the breech is open.
In constructing the bolt releasing spindle, at the upper end of which is a collar or
shoulder, which, when in its normal (working) position covers or holds down the
"treble grip," and when turned round a certain distance, by means of the spindle top
lever, an opening, or cut away portion, in the said collar permits the unlocking of the
said treble grip.
I proceed as follows:-I make the said collar or shoulder separate from the spindle,
and screw thread the upper end of the said spindle and tap the collar to suit,
so that the external surface of the collar is plain, but screws on to the spindle as a
screw nut.
The upper end of the spindle is provided as usual with a square part which takes
into the square hole of the spindle top lever, the said lever also embedding itself into
the upper portion of the collar as is usual, and extending therefrom along the top of
the strap teriminating with a thumb piece.
Thus when the said lever is pushed around in order to unlock the drop down breech,
the spindle, and the collar, turn around as one piece, there being no rising or falling
motion, due to any external screw thread upon the collar.
Again, in the cocking mechanism, I arrange that when such breech has been
opened, and the gun charged, that upon again closing and locking the breech, an
improved automatic action shall take place, to cock the hammer of the said gun.
In describing these my improvements, I will assume their application to a double
barrelled gun, but of course they may be applied nevertheless to a single barrelled
gun.
This part of my improvement also admits of variation in the precise method of
carrying it out, but generally I should proceed somewhat thus:-Upon the underside
of the action body, near the fore end, I make provision to receive a central slide,
having an arm upon each side, extending to and acting upon, intermediate
depressing levers, which are fulcrumed in the said body, and lie below the main
spring.
These levers extend on and rest underneath the hammer in such a manner, that
when the breech is closed, that part of the fore end which encircles the breech
joint, shall push forward the aforesaid central slide, and thereby cause the extended
portion of the said lever, to press upon the tail of the said hammers, and bring them
into their cocked position, ready for firing.
Instead however of providing these arms upon the said central slide, I may dispense
with the latter, and form such arms upon the intermediate depressing levers them-
selves, such arms meeting midway in the centre of the action body, and further
provide upon the aforesaid encircling portion of the fore end, an extension, which shall
engage with, and push forward upon their fulcrum, these depressing levers, with the
same result, as before described.
Or, these arms instead of being rigidly a part of these intermediate levers, may be
made in the form of sliding rods or protruding pegs, that is, a hole is made sideways

page_text: in the said lever, in which slides the said peg or rod, the latter being of such a length,
that it may be pushed back into the said hole, clear of the lump upon the underside of
the barrels.
A second hole is made in the said lever, from the rear part, which communicates
with the back end of this said hole, so that a rod may be placed therein, which, when
the fore end is in position, shall force the cross pin outwards, so that it may come in
contact with the aforesaid lump, and be thereby operated upon in the manner of the
rigid arms.
When however, the fore end is removed in order to take the gun to pieces, the
removal of the said fore end permits the withdrawal of the rear peg or rod to such an
extent, that the cross peg or sliding arm may be readily pressed back into the hole
clear out of the way.
Further, I arrange that when the breech is opened, a projecting peg upon the
upper side of the main springs, shall operato upon slides carried upon the underside of
the barrels, or they may be carried in the block which also carries the kickers and
kicker springs, these said slides in their turn lifting the spring or lever catch,
which releases the said kickers, the latter acting upon the ejectors in the ordinary
manner.
These kickers &c., I carry in or upon a block or box, which I embed in between
the two barrels, and above the fore end. Hitherto they have been carried upon or in
connection with the said fore ond, but I make them, and carry them, so as to be inde-
pendent of and separate from the said fore-end.
The hole or passage in which the said kicker slides, together with its spring, is made
from the muzzle end of the block, leaving the other end solid except where the
extractor legs come in contact therewith. "Carried on the underside of this block,
(or at its side) is a catch lever and a spring, or what is preferable, a catch lever
spring, its one end being secured to the said block, while at its other end is a catch
which takes into a recess in the kicker; and further having upon it a projection or its
equivalent, with which a suitable projection or cam surface provided upon the afore-
named slide, comes in contact, so that when the said slide is pushed forward at the
opening of the breech, the forward motion of the slide causes the catch piece to be
lifted, and the kicker to be released. Motion as before intimated, is imparted to
the slide by reason of a peg upon the main spring, which passes or protrudes
through the upper part of the action body, at that part; and engaging with the said
slide.
Or, if preferred, instead of placing the peg upon the main spring, I may provide a
rocking lever, situated below the said spring, and in the spring recess, the one end of
which lever shall so protrude through the action body, and engage with the slides as
aforesaid, the motion of the said rocking lever, being due to the longitudinal motion
of the main spring.
In the case of fire arms having outside hammers, I should provide this protruding
peg which acts upon the slides, by means of a lever, in the side of the action body,
upon the one end of which is formed the said peg, while its other end extends just
beyond the face of the body, so that when the tumbler or its equivalent shall be
brought into the position of the gun having been fired, it shall engage with and bring
down the said extending end of the said lever, and thereby raising the peg at its other
end into working position.
I further provide that upon turning round the lever upon the spindle, to release the
treble grip, a part of such spindle shall act camwise upon a sliding bolt, situated
underneath the strap, which in its turn shall act upon an upright bolt, which latter
sball thereby be depressed and held upon the trigger and also upon the sear
preventing the possibility of trigger action while the gun is open. Also that the
horizontal bolt near its rear end extends to the upperside of the strap, there
terminating in a thumb push piece, so that when upon opening the gun, the
horizontal bolt has been forced along, it may be pushed back when the gun is again
closed.

page_text: This upright bolt is carried in a tubular box, its upper end being bevilled or other-
wise suitably shaped, so that when the end of the horizontal bolt shall come in contact
therewith, the said upright bolt shall be pressed down upon the trigger and sear, nor
can it be raised until the horizontal bolt, be pushed back as described.
Dated this 9th day of April 1889
CHARLES T. POWELL,
Applicant's Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Breech-loading Small-arms.
1, JOB Cox of 23 Clarendon Street, Aston, in the county of Warwick, Gun Action
Maker, 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 :-
This invention relates to improvements in the mechanism of the gun lock actions of
breech loading drop down small arms, and has for its object an improved arrangement,
in connection with the treble grip action releasing spindle, and its upper collar or
shoulder; with the cocking mechanism; ejecting mechanism; and also with a device for
preventing the triggers being drawn, when the breech is open, und in order that my
said invention may be particularly described and ascertained, reference is hereby made
to the accompanying drawings in which similar letters of reference indicate similar or
corresponding parts throughout the several views.
Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, illustrate my said improvements connected with the treble
grip action releasing spindle, Figs. 3, 4 and 5 being enlarged detail views of some of
the parts.
In constructing the bolt releasing spindle, at the upper end of which is a collar or
shoulder, which, when in its normal (working) position, covers or holds down the
"treble grip" and when turned round a certain distance by means of the spindle top
lever, an opening, or cutaway portion in the said collar, permits the unlocking of the
said treble grip.
I proceed as follows:-I make the said collar or shoulder a, separate from the
spindle b, and screwthread the upper end of the said spindle, and tap the collar a, to
suit, so that the external surface of the collar a, is plain, but screws on to the spindle
as a screw nut.
The upper end of the spindle is provided as usual with a square part c, which takes
into the square hole of the spindle top lever d, the said lever also embedding itself
into the upper portion of the collar as is usual, and extending therefrom along the
top of the strap e, terminating with a thumb piece f.
Thus, when the said lover d is pushed around in order to unlock the drop down
breech, the spindle b, and the collar a, turn around as one piece, there being no rising
or falling motion, due to any external screwthread upon the collar, as in those at
present in use.
Again. In the cocking mechanism, of the gun, I arrange that when such breech
is being opened, an improved automatic action shall take place, to cock the hammer
of the said gun.
This part of my invention is illustrated upon the drawings in Figs. 7, 8, 9, 10,
and 11. In describing these my improvements, I will assume their application to
a double barrelled gun, but of course they may be applied nevertheless to a single
barrelled gun.
This part of my improvements also admits of variation in the precise method of
carrying it out, but generally I should proceed somewhat thus :-Upon the underside
of the action body, near the fore end g, I make provision to receive a central slide h,
having an arm i, upon each side, extending to and acting upon intermediate depressing
levers j, which are fulcrumed at k, in the said body, and lie below the main spring 1.
These levers extend on and rest underneath the hammer m, in such a manner, that
when the breech is being opened, that part of the fore end at n, which encircles the

page_text: breech joint, shall push forward the aforesaid central slide h, and thereby cause the
extended portion of the said lever j, to press upon the tail of the said hammers,
and bring them into their cocked position, ready for firing, as seen in Fig. 8.
Instead however of providing these arms upon the said central slide, I may dispense
with the slide, and form such arms upon the intermediate depressing levers themselves,
as seen at, in Fig. 10; such arms meeting midway in the centre of the action body
as seen in Fig. 11, which latter is an inverted view of Fig. 10; and further provide
upon the aforesaid encircling portion of the fore end g, the extension n, which shall
engage with, and push forward upon their fulcrum, these depressing levers j', with
the same result, as before described in reference to Figs. 7, 8, and 9.
That part of my invention which relates to the ejecting mechanism is illustrated in
Figs. 12 to 17 inclusive, and which I carry out as follows:-
The kickers o, and kicker springs p, spring catchy, and lever slider, I carry in a
box 8, which is secured to the underside of the barrels, by means of the lip t, taking
into a recess formed in the fore part of the barrels against which it butts, and the
rear end then secured by pin u, or other equivalent device.
A recess, slot, or opening
is made in the fore end g, to accommodate the said box s, as seen in Figs. 12, 13 & 17.
Fig. 17, is a cross section at line A-B of Fig. 12.
The hole or passage e, in which the said kicker slides, together with its spring, is
made from the nozzle end of the block, leaving the other end solid except where the
extractor legs w, come in contact therewith. Carried on the underside of this block,
(or at its side) is a spring catch lever q, its one end being secured to the said block
at x, while at its other end is a catch which takes into a recess y, in the
kicker.
At the front end of this spring catch lever q, is a projection z, which is acted upon
by the lever slide r, in the following manner :-In Fig. 12, the gun is shown closed
and fired, and the catch lever q, holds the kickers o back, but upon opening the gun
however, as seen in Fig. 13, and upon the cocking of the hammer as explained in
reference to Figs. 7, & 8, &c.—The lever a', the tail end of which is lifted by the
peg 6, upon the hammer m, forces forward the slide lever r, until its front end
engages upon the front end of the catch lever q, as seen in Fig. 14. As the gun
further opens the part c¹, or its equivalent upon the action body joint, resists the lever r,
and thereby causes its front end to lift the catch lever g, clear of the kickers, which
are then free to the action of the spring p, for ejecting the case. In this latter
operation however, the said kicker strikes against the projection d', as seen in Figs. 13
& 14, and brings it back into its position, clear of the spring lever catch.
In Figs. 1, 2, 3, & 6, I have illustrated that part of my invention which relates to
the safety arrangement for preventing the accidental firing of the gun where the breech
is opened &c., in which I provide that upon turning round the lever d, upon the spindle
to release the treble grip, a part of such spindle at e¹, shall act camwise upon a sliding
horizontal bolt, situated underneath the strap e, which in its turn shall act upon an
upright bolt g', which latter shall thereby be depressed and held upon the trigger 1,
and also upon the sear i¹, preventing the possibility of trigger action while the gun
is open, as seen in Fig. 2. Also that the horizontal bolt f, near its rear end extends
to the upperside of the strap e, there terminating in a thumb push piece, so that
upon opening the gun, and the horizontal bolt fi, has been forced along, it may be
pushed back, thereby by hand when the gun is again closed.
This upright bolt g¹, is carried in a tubular box, its upper end being bevilled or
otherwise suitably shaped, so that when the end of the horizontal bolt f, shall come
in contact therewith, the said upright bolt g¹, shall be pressed down upon the
trigger and sear, nor can it be raised until the horizontal bolt, be pushed back as
described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1st. The constructional arrangement of the treble grip action releasing spindle, and

page_text: its upper collar or shoulder; substantially as herein described and illustrated upon
the drawings in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive.
2nd. Cocking the hammer of small arms of the kind illustrated, by means of the
lever j, in combination with the forked slide h, the latter being acted upon by the
fore end, arranged and operating substantially as herein described and illustrated upon
the drawings in Figs. 7, 8, and 9.
3rd. The modified combination of the levers j³, having arms thereto, with the fore
end n, for cocking the hammer of the gun, arranged and oporating substantially as
described and illustrated upon the drawings in Figs. 10 & 11.
4th. Carrying the kickers o, and springs p, in a box, separate from the barrels,
and from the fore-end, substantially as described and illustrated upon the drawings in
Figs. 12, 13, 15, 16, and 17.
5th. The combination with the kickers o, of the catch lever q, slide liner, and lever a¹,
constructed and operating substantially as described and illustrated upon the drawings
in Figs. 12-to 16 inclusive, and for the purposes specified.
6th. The combination with the horizontal slide f¹, which is actuated by the grip
spindle collar o¹, of the vertical bolt g', which acts upon the triggers h¹, and sears i,
the whole arranged and operating substantially as described, and shown upon the
drawings in Figs. 1 & 2.
Dated this 8th day of February 1890.
CHARLES T. POWELL,
12, Cherry Street, Birmingham, Applicant's Agent.