UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANDREW BURGESS, OF OWEGO, NEW YORK.

MAGAZINE FIRE-ARM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 235,204, dated December 7, 1880.

Application filed October 23, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW BURGESS, of
Owego, in the county of Tioga and State of
New York, have invented a new and useful
Improvement in Magazine Fire-Arms, which
improvement is set forth in the following
specification, reference being had to the ac-
companying drawings.

This invention relates, principally, to im-
provements on my patent of April 1, 1879,
and numbered 213,865, but in part may be
applied to other systems and breech-loaders.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1
represents a sectional side elevation of the
breech mechanism of the arm. Figs. 2 and
3 show modifications of the ejector; Fig. 4, a
carrier provided with the lever-arm H, as op-
erated by a spring. Fig. 5 shows carrier with
same arm operated positively, and also a means
for partly raising the carrier; and Figs. 6 and
7 show the application of smooth-bored muz-
zles to rifled barrels.

Similar letters of reference indicate corre-
sponding parts.

A is the frame of the arm; B, the bolt; C,
the carrier; D, the barrel; e, the ejector; F,
the firing-pin; H, the lever-arm to hold the
cartridge on the carrier; L, the operating-lever;
L', the lever-link; M, the magazine; m, the
smooth prolongation of a rifled barrel; s, the
stop to partly raise the carrier, and T the load-
ing-trap.

To the vibrating carrier C, I pivot the lever-
arm H, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. When the
carrier is down, as shown in Fig. 1, the arm
H is raised (relatively to the carrier) by the
bottom of the frame or a projection therein, so
that loading-trap T may be pressed in between
said arm and the carrier to charge the maga-
zine.

In Fig. 4, where a spring is used to close
down the long arm of the lever H, I arrange
the pin s'' in the bottom of the frame, to hold
said arm up when the carrier is down by com-
ing in contact with the short arm h, and by
forming a notch or depression therein, as shown
in Fig. 4. The abutment thus formed bears
against the pin s'' to lock the lever and carrier
in that position, so that the spring shall not
raise the carrier.

In Figs. 1 and 5 I leave out the spring and

use a pin, s, which projects from the inside of
the frame and engages the short arm of the
lever H to close it down upon the cartridge,
as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, when the
carrier rises.

The lever-arm H may be hung in the frame
and the operating pin or projection carried by
the carrier, so as to act substantially in the
same manner. I prefer to pivot the arm H so
loosely as to allow a little lateral movement
and form a depression inside of the frame just
above the trap T, that the forward part of the
lever-arm can so far enter said depression
when the carrier is down as to give free pas-
sage to the closing-bolt.

The carrier has an upward-projecting side,
C', Fig. 4, opposite the lever-arm H, so that
when lever H is depressed, as shown in dotted
lines in Fig. 5, the cartridge will be clasped
by said arm against the side C', that it may
not fly out when the carrier rises, and when
the bolt moving forward starts the cartridge
partly into the barrel the carrier falls, so that
the side C' moves below the cartridge and al-
lows said cartridge to swing so far laterally
that it can be forced past the arm H by the
closing-bolt.

It being sometimes desirable to use short
and long cartridges in the same gun, I con-
struct it to take long ones, and then provide
it with adjustable means for raising the carrier
a little before the extreme opening of the
breech, so that when short cartridges are used,
when one passes entirely onto the carrier from
the magazine the next forward cartridge will
be stopped by the face of the carrier, that it
may not hinder the carrier from rising when
the bolt reaches its backward limit.

In Fig. 5, S' is a projection on the lever L,
that may be adjusted to strike the shoulder x
on the carrier to raise it so far as to prevent
the next cartridge from interfering with the
raising of the carrier.

To allow the forward movement (relatively
to the bolt) of the ejector to cease before the
bolt reaches the extreme of its rearward move-
ment, I set the ejector e, as shown in Fig. 1,
at an angle in the bolt, so that when it shall
be forced forward by stop e' to eject the shell
it becomes so far depressed as to allow said
stop to pass over it.

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235.204

Fig. 2 shows a modification, in which the short arm of the pivoted lever-ejector is adapted to be turned by the stop *e'*, when said stop may fall into the depression near the pivot, so there may be a slight backward movement of the bolt after the ejector shall have fully acted.

Fig. 3 shows another modification of lever-ejector, which, being operated upon through a slot in the extractor, swings from over the firing-pin.

I prefer to make the stop or stud *e'* with a spring, so that it is held up by the bolt when closed, as in Fig. 1; but as the bolt moves backward and said stud stops the ejector it falls from the ledge *b* of the bolt to give the ejector a quick impulse forward.

To prevent the objectionable friction of the firing-pin and bolt on the nose of the hammer as they ride over after having cocked it, I place a fly in the firing-pin, Fig. 1, so that when the hammer is forced back by the bolt and firing-pin the lower point of said fly, projecting below the firing-pin in the backward movement of the bolt, completes the cocking of the hammer, and when the bolt passes back the hammer will be held at full-cock, so that the nose of the hammer shall not bear against the firing-pin or bolt as they ride over it, and when the bolt moves forward the fly *f* turns back and upward to move easily over the hammer. The fly *f* may consist of a slide instead of being pivoted, as here shown, or it may be attached to the bolt or nose of hammer and produce the same result.

To prevent the extreme scattering of shot when they are fired from a rifled gun, I make a portion of the muzzle smooth by boring out the lands, and thereby enlarging it, as in Fig. 7, or use a detachable muzzle, as shown in Fig. 6. These smooth muzzles concentrate the shot, especially when the extreme muzzle is slightly contracted or choked; and when rifle-bullet are used, as they do not touch the walls of the smooth part of the muzzle, the accuracy of the arm as a rifle is unimpaired.

This false muzzle, enlarged and applied to the muzzles of those barrels in which many

small rifled bores are grouped in one barrel, to be fired simultaneously, prevents the great dispersion caused by the "windage" of the different charges against each other as they leave the muzzle.

I do not, in this application, claim the fly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, nor the application of a smooth-bore muzzle to a rifle-barrel, but reserve the right to make separate application for these features hereafter.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is—

1. In a magazine fire-arm, a carrier, a lever-arm, H, pivoted thereto, and a feeding-trap, T, in the side of the frame, combined for operation in the manner described.

2. A carrier having an arm or lever, H, pivoted thereto, substantially as described, in combination with a pin or projection in the frame, which engages with a vertical shoulder of said arm and turns it down to grasp the body of the cartridge as the carrier rises.

3. A reciprocating bolt having an ejector set therein at an angle, a stop projecting into the frame to operate said ejector, arranged and combined substantially as shown and described, so as to allow the free ultimate rearward movement of the bolt after the ejector shall have fully operated, substantially as specified.

4. A bolt having the ledge *b*, the spring ejector stop *e'*, in combination with an ejector, so that the stop *e'* first starts the ejector positively and then falling from the ledge *b* springs the ejector forward, substantially as described.

5. A pivoted carrier and a removable stop or shoulder on the movable breech mechanism, to engage with the carrier and slightly raise it, so as to serve as a magazine-stop before its final movement to elevate the cartridge, substantially as described.

ANDREW BURGESS.

Witnesses:

GEO. R. COOLEY,

EDGAR A. ROBINSON.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK W. TIESING, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

MAGAZINE FIRE-ARM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 226,809, dated April 20, 1880.

Application filed February 14, 1880.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK W. TIESING, of New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new Improvement in Magazine Fire-Arms; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in—

Figure 1, side view; Fig. 2, longitudinal section, all the parts in their normal condition; Fig. 3, longitudinal section, the parts in the condition for introducing the cartridge in the chamber of the barrel; Figs. 4 and 5, detached views; Fig. 6, modification.

This invention relates to an improvement in that class of magazine fire-arms in which the magazine is arranged longitudinally beneath the barrel, with a carrier in the rear to transfer the cartridges from the magazine to the barrel, and in which the breech-piece is a longitudinally-sliding bolt, and of the character known as "bolt-guns," parts of the invention being applicable to that class of breech-loading arms in which the longitudinally-sliding bolt is employed; and the invention consists in the construction, as hereinafter described, and particularly recited in the claims.

A represents the frame or receiver within which the operative mechanism of the arm is arranged; B, the barrel, and C the magazine, attached to the forward end of the receiver in the usual manner for this class of arms; D, the bolt or breech-piece, arranged to slide longitudinally through the receiver to open and close the breech, and provided with a longitudinally-movable firing-pin, a, to which the blow of the hammer is imparted in any known and convenient manner, not necessary to be described in this specification. Through the breech-piece a vertical mortise, E, is made, in which the locking-lever F is hung upon a pivot, b, and so that when in its closed position, as seen in Fig. 2, a projection or shoulder, d, stands in front of a corresponding shoulder, e, in the receiver to aid in the resistance to recoil.

H is the lever hung below upon a pivot, f, which also serves as a trigger-guard, and is

operated in the usual manner for such levers in this class of fire-arms. The shorter or inner arm, L, of the lever abuts against the lever F, as at g, which holds the lever up to place, and also serves to resist recoil.

The lever F extends back to the rear of the arm L of the lever H, and so that when the lever is turned, as for the purpose of opening the breech, it strikes the lever at the rear, as at l, the operation of which is, first, to move the arm L away from the bearing at g, and then strike the extension of the lever F, turn that from its locking engagement with the receiver, as indicated in broken lines, Fig. 2. This leaves the breech-piece free. Then, the continued movement of the lever H, being against the lever F, forces the breech-piece backward and to its open position, as seen in Fig. 3, the locking-shoulder d passing back just below the upper surface of the receiver-chamber, it being understood that the chamber of the receiver is closed at the top. When the lever H is returned the arm L presses forward against the lever F, as seen in Fig. 3, moving the breech-piece to its closed position, then turns the lever up to its locking position, and the arm L again coming against the bearing g to lock the parts in their closed position.

The firing-pin is made to extend around the lever F, as seen in Fig. 4, and so that the rear end of the lever, as at n, will rest against a shoulder, m, on the firing-pin when the firing-pin is at its extreme forward position.

The rear end, n, of the lever F is made of cam shape, so that in the first movement of the lever F in releasing the breech-piece it will throw back or withdraw the firing-pin, as indicated in broken lines, Fig. 2, and hence prevent the firing-pin from being forced forward to strike the primer until the lever is in its completely-locked position.

So far this construction is applicable to breech-loading arms without the magazine.

G is the carrier, hung at the rear upon a pivot, p, in similar manner to carriers on other arms, and arranged so that in its normal condition its forward end will lie in rear of the head of the rear cartridge in the magazine, as seen in Fig. 2, so as to prevent the rearward movement of the column of cartridges in the usual manner.

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226,809

A projection, *r*, from the lever F rests in a depression or recess, *s*, in the carrier when all the parts are at rest, as seen in Fig. 2; but in turning the lever F for unlocking the breech, as before described, the projection *r*, passing out from the recess *s* in the carrier, depresses the carrier, as seen in broken lines, Fig. 2, sufficiently to permit the head of the rear cartridge to pass on to the carrier and strike an arm, *t*, on the forward end of the lever F, as seen in broken lines, Fig. 2. From this point the cartridge follows against the arm *t* until the breech-piece is opened; then the upper end of the arm L strikes an arm, N, on the carrier G, as seen in Fig. 3, and turns the carrier upward to bring the cartridge into position forward of the breech-piece, and so that when the breech-piece is advanced it will force the cartridge from the carrier into the chamber of the barrel in the usual manner, and when it has been inserted and the breech-piece closed the projection *r* on the lever F strikes an incline, *u*, on the carrier, (see Fig. 2,) and in the locking movement forces the carrier down to its place, as seen in Fig. 2, the projection *r* passing over and into the recess *s* in the carrier, as before described.

The carrier is provided with a spring, *w*, below, which serves to press the carrier upward against the projection *r* of the lever F, and also with a spring, *x*, at the pivot, which will hold it in its raised position in the usual manner.

The spring *w* may be otherwise arranged, or it may be dispensed with entirely, and the spring *x* made to serve the purpose of that spring, as well as to hold the carrier up. The breech-piece is provided with a spring extracting-hook, *a*', on one side, and on the opposite side there is a stud, *b*', stationary on the frame at the point where the head of the shell or cartridge will strike it, as seen in Fig. 5, just before the breech-piece completes its extreme rear movement, and so that by striking this stud the forward end of the cartridge will be turned outward and be discharged through an opening, R, in the side of the receiver.

The magazine is charged through an opening, T, in the side of the receiver, below the opening R, as seen in Fig. 1, and provided with a cover to close the opening, in substantially the usual manner for side-charging magazines, the carrier serving as a latch to engage the cartridges as they are successively introduced in the usual manner.

Instead of the lever F locking by the shoulder *d*, it may be made, as in Fig. 6, to lock at the rear end, or the locking of the lever with the frame may be dispensed with entirely.

I am aware that a lever has been hinged to the breech-piece so as to lock the breech-piece by engaging with a shoulder in the receiver.

I am also aware that the trigger-guard lever has been arranged to lock the breech-piece. I therefore do not wish to be understood as broadly claiming such locking of the breech-piece.

### I claim—

1. The combination, in a breech-loading fire-arm, of the longitudinally-movable breech-piece, the lever F, pivoted in the breech-piece so as to swing in the same plane with the lever H, which is pivoted in the frame, and the arm L, the said lever F constructed with a bearing, *g*, to rest against the arm L of the lever H, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. The combination, in a breech-loading fire-arm, of the longitudinally-movable breech-piece, the lever F, pivoted in the breech-piece so as to swing in the same plane with the lever H, which is pivoted in the frame, and the arm L, the said lever F constructed with a bearing, *g*, to rest against the arm L of the lever H, and a shoulder on said lever F to lock against a stationary bearing on the receiver, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. The combination, in a breech-loading fire-arm, of the longitudinally-movable breech-piece, the lever F, pivoted in the breech-piece so as to swing in a vertical plane with the lever H and arm L, the said lever F constructed with a bearing, *g*, to rest against the arm L of the lever H, a longitudinally-movable firing-pin in said breech-piece with cam *n* on said lever F, and shoulder *m* on the firing-pin, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. The combination, in a magazine fire-arm, of the longitudinally-movable breech-piece, the lever F, pivoted in the breech-piece so as to swing in a vertical plane with the lever H and arm L, the said lever F constructed with a bearing, *g*, to rest against the arm L of the lever H, with carrier G, hung below the breech-piece, and projection *r* on said lever F, with recess *s* and shoulder *u* on the carrier, substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. The combination, in a magazine fire-arm, of the longitudinally-movable breech-piece, the lever F, pivoted in the breech-piece so as to swing in a vertical plane with the lever H and arm L, the said lever F constructed with a bearing, *g*, to rest against the arm L of the lever H, with carrier G hung below the breech-piece, a projection, *r*, on said lever F, with recess *s* and shoulder *u* on the carrier, and arm *t* on the forward end of the lever F, substantially as and for the purpose described.

FRANK W. TIESING.

Witnesses:

JOHN E. EARLE,

JOS. C. EARLE.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MAGAZINE FIRE-ARM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 238,988, dated March 15, 1881.

Application filed April 16, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Figure 1, a sectional side view; Fig. 2, a horizontal section, looking up; Fig. 3, a detached view, looking toward the magazine.

This invention relates to an improvement in that class of magazine fire-arms in which the magazine is arranged beneath the barrel and charged through an opening in the side, the object being to provide a stop for the column of cartridges, independent of the carrier, as they are thrown to the rear, when the rearmost one has been removed; and the invention consists in the construction, as hereinafter described, and particularly recited in the claims.

A represents the barrel, attached to the receiver B in the usual manner; C, the magazine, also arranged in the usual manner; D, the trigger-guard lever, hung upon a pivot, a, so that by its movement it opens and closes the breech, as in common construction.

E is the carrier, hung at the rear upon a pivot, e, and so as to be raised up and lowered by the movement of the lever, substantially in the usual manner, and so as to transfer the cartridges successively from the magazine to a position in front of the breech-piece. The operation of this part is too well known to require further description.

F is the opening through the side of the receiver, (see Fig. 2,) through which the magazine is charged. The cover G is attached to or forms a part of a spring, H, extending back and secured to the receiver, as at f, operating to guide the cartridges to the magazine and close the opening in the usual manner.

L is a spring attached longitudinally at the side of the magazine, as at l, and so that the rear or free end, m, will extend into the magazine, and so as to bear upon the rearmost cartridge, N, lying therein, holding it to the oppo-

site side of the magazine in position to engage the stop t, as hereinafter described.

P is a spring attached to the under side of the carrier, as at r, and extending longitudinally forward, so that its forward end projects slightly beyond the end of the carrier E, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2, the depth of the spring, or its position, being such, as shown in Fig. 1, that when the carrier is up and in position for charging the magazine, the end of the spring will partially cover the rear end of the magazine, and so that the rearmost of the column of cartridges will abut against the end of said spring, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2.

As the cover G is depressed for the insertion of cartridges into the magazine, as seen in broken lines, Fig. 2, it presses the forward end of the spring P to the opposite side, and so that the cartridges are freely entered into the magazine, and when so entered the cover automatically closes, and at the same time the spring P returns to its position and against the head of the rearmost cartridge, as seen in Fig. 2, so as to prevent the cartridges from being thrown to the rear beneath the carrier.

Along the side of the carrier is a lever, R, hung to the receiver on a pivot, as at s, one arm extending forward to a point in front of the forward end of the carrier, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2, and turned inward so as to overlap the edge of the magazine, as at t, Fig. 2. Its other arm extends toward the upper arm, T, of the lever D. The arm T is constructed with a shoulder, u, so that when the breech-piece is closed and the carrier up it will have forced the rear arm of the lever R downward and turned its forward end upward, as seen in Fig. 1, and above and free from the rear opening of the magazine, as seen in Fig. 3; and when the lever D is turned an opposite shoulder, w, will engage the rear arm of the lever R and turn the forward end downward, as at 2, Fig. 3, so as to overlap the magazine and come in forward of the flange of the last or rearmost cartridge in the magazine, as seen in Fig. 2. Then when the carrier drops, which is subsequent to the movement of the lever R, the rearmost cartridge is forced onto the carrier, the next one in the column striking the end t of the lever R, so as to arrest the column, and in-

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238,988

dependent of the carrier. Then when the lever D is returned, and just before it finishes the movement, the rear arm of the lever R is struck by the shoulder *u* and raised, so as to take the projection *t* from in rear of the column and permit the rearmost cartridge to strike the spring P on the carrier, or the end of the carrier itself.

If it be desired to hold the cartridges in the magazine in reserve, it is done by preventing the return of the trigger-guard lever to its complete closed position, and this is accomplished by turning the stud I, as seen in Fig. 1, while the lever is down, and so that when it is returned it will strike the said stud and prevent its complete closing, it being understood that the breech-piece is completely closed before the lever D arrives at this point. This stopping of the lever prevents the shoulder *u* from striking the rear arm of the lever R, and consequently it will remain in its down position and hold the column back until the stud I has been returned. The lever R is held by riding on a concentric surface on the lever D below the shoulder *w*. In this condition the arm is used as a common breech.

I do not broadly claim a spring on one side of the magazine and a stop on the other to ar-

rest the column of cartridges; neither do I broadly claim a movable check for the column 30 of cartridges.

I claim—

1. In a magazine fire-arm having the magazine arranged beneath the barrel, the combination of the spring L on the side of the magazine next the charging-opening, a stop on the opposite side, riveted to the receiver, independent of the carrier, and mechanism, substantially such as described, to move the said stop from its position in rear of the flange of the rearmost cartridge in the magazine and return it in front of the flange of the said rearmost cartridge before the said cartridge passes on to the said carrier, substantially as described.

2. In a magazine fire-arm having the magazine arranged beneath the barrel, the combination of the carrier and the trigger-guard lever with the lever R, the projection *t* at its forward end, and the shoulders on the arm of the lever D, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

FRANK W. TIESING.

Witnesses:

JOHN E. EARLE,
JOS. O. EARLE.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELI WHITNEY, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

CARTRIDGE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 243,334, dated June 21, 1881.

Application filed April 11, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELI WHITNEY, of New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new Improvement in Cartridges; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawing constitutes part of this specification, and represents, in sectional side view, a cartridge embodying my invention.

This invention relates to an improvement in cartridges, designed with special reference to cartridges used in magazine-arms.

Center-fire cartridges are now almost universally used in magazine-arms. As they lie in the magazine heads to points, accidental explosions not infrequently occur, because of the primer of the forward cartridge being brought into sudden forcible contact with the ball of the cartridge next in rear.

Various mechanical devices have been applied to the magazine to prevent the possible contact of one cartridge with the next in rear of it, but as yet with no great success.

The object of this invention is to construct a cartridge so that no explosion can occur from the contact of the primer of one cartridge with the point of the one next in rear; and it consists in constructing the bullet with a cushion at its point of such flexible or elastic material that no forcible or exploding blow can be produced by it on the primer of the next cartridge.

A represents the metal shell, and B the bul-

let, combined into a cartridge in the usual manner. The bullet is made with a cavity in the center of its forward end, and into this cavity a cushion, a, is introduced, made from 40 india-rubber, soft leather, or other flexible or elastic material, so as to project slightly from the end of the ball, as shown. This cushion is the only part of one cartridge which can possibly come in contact with the primer of the next cartridge while in the magazine. Because of its flexible or elastic character, nothing approximating an explosive blow can be imparted to the primer by it; hence all possible danger of explosion of the cartridge in the magazine is avoided. The cushion only needs to enter the bullet a sufficient distance to retain it in position, and not so as to in any practicable degree lighten the forward end of the bullet; hence the cushion in no way interferes with the progress of the bullet through the air, it maintaining its axial position as well with the cushion as without.

I do not wish to be understood to broadly claim providing a cartridge with a cushion to protect its primer, as such, I am aware, is not new.

I claim—

A cartridge having the forward end of the bullet provided with an elastic or flexible cushion at the center, and so as to project therefrom, substantially as described.

ELI WHITNEY.

Witnesses:

JOHN E. EARLE,
L. D. ROGERS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MAGAZINE FIRE-ARM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 247,452, dated September 20, 1881.

Application filed July 30, 1881. (No model.)

*To all whom it may concern:*

Be it known that I, ELI WHITNEY, of New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented new Improvements in Magazine Fire-Arms; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in—

Figure 1, a sectional side view; Fig. 2, a detached view.

This invention relates to an improvement in that class of magazine fire-arms in which a longitudinally-movable breech piece or bolt is operated by a lever extended below the receiver to form the trigger-guard, and in which the carrier is operated by the same lever to transfer the cartridges from the magazine to a position in front of the rear open end of the barrel for their insertion into the barrel when the breech-piece is closed, the object being to lock the breech-piece by the upper end of the lever in a movement of said lever after the breech-piece shall have been closed by said lever; and the invention consists in the construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter described, and particularly recited in the claims.

A represents the receiver; B, the breech piece or bolt, arranged to move longitudinally backward and forward in line with the barrel C. The lever is hung upon a pivot, a, one arm extending downward to form the trigger-guard D, the other arm, E, up into the receiver, the general arrangement of these parts being well known.

To connect the arm E with the breech-piece so that as the lower part, D, is turned downward it will draw back the breech-piece to open the barrel, a link, F, is pivoted by one end to the lever E, as at b, and by the other end to the breech-piece, as at d'. The openings in the link through which the pivots pass are elongated, so as to allow the upper arm of the lever to move upward, as to the position seen in broken lines, Fig. 1, before the link will take its bearing on the two pivots, b d. From that point the rear movement of the upper arm of the lever will draw the breech-piece backward to open the breech in returning to close the breech-piece. The upper arm of the lever will be re-

quired to move forward somewhat before it will engage with the breech-piece, because of the elongated slots in the link, but so soon as the link gets its bearing between the two pivots then the breech-piece will move with the lever until nearly closed. Then the extreme end e of the the upper arm, E, of the lever, which is of cam shape relatively to the pivot a, is forced down in rear of a corresponding seat, f, on the breech, which forces the breech-piece home and brings the upper arm, E, of the lever into a position to resist the recoil of explosion, the slots in the link permitting the lever to so move down and force the breech-piece home independently of the said link. The strut-like character of the lever E gives to the breech-piece the firmest possible support.

In order to withdraw the firing-pin, so as to prevent its forcibly striking the primer of the cartridge when the breech-piece is closed, a recess is made in the under side of the breech-piece, into which the upper end of the lever will pass in its forced movement. That end of the lever is forked in the plane of its movement, as at h. The firing-pin, which is of the usual form and arrangement, is reduced in width corresponding to the recess h in the end of the lever, and so as to form a shoulder, i, against which the end of the lever will strike, as seen in Fig. 1, before it begins to move the breech-piece, and hence will force the firing-pin to the rear until the lever makes such engagement with the breech that the firing-pin and breech-piece both move together. While this movement withdraws the firing-pin, it also prevents the firing-pin from being forced forward until after the breech-piece is closed, so that the firing-pin cannot project to come in contact with the primer until after the breech-piece is closed against the cartridge-head.

This arrangement of parts, while specially adapted to magazine-arms, may be employed in breech-loading arms which are not provided with a magazine.

In the illustration, H is a carrier, hung upon a pivot, t, at the rear, and so as to be operated in the turning of the lever to raise the cartridge and present it forward of the breech-piece in the usual manner.

I do not wish to be understood as broadly claiming a lever for moving the breech-piece by means of a link, or to lock the breech-piece

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247,452

in its closed position; neither do I wish to be
understood as broadly claiming the retraction
of the firing-pin by the movement of the lever
which operates the breech-piece, as such I am
aware is not new; but

What I do claim is—

1. In a breech-loading fire-arm, substantially such as described, the combination of a longitudinally-movable breech-piece, a lever hung in the receiver below the breech-piece, one arm extending downward to form the trigger-guard, the other arm extending upward into the receiver, a link hung by one end to a pivot in the lever and by the other end to a pivot on the breech-piece, the openings in the link through which the pivots pass elongated, so as to permit the lever to move to a certain extent without moving the breech-piece, the end of said lever cam-shaped, and the breech-piece constructed with a corresponding seat, $f$, onto which the said cam-shaped end of the lever passes after the breech-piece is closed, substantially as described.

2. In a breech-loading fire-arm, substantially

such as described, the combination of a longitudinally-movable breech-piece, a lever hung in the receiver below the breech-piece, one arm extending downward to form the trigger-guard, the other arm extending upward into the receiver, a link hung by one end to a pivot in the lever and by the other end to a pivot on the breech-piece, the openings in the link through which the pivots pass elongated, so as to permit the lever to move to a certain extent without moving the breech-piece, the end of said lever cam-shaped, and the breech-piece constructed with a corresponding seat, $f$, onto which the said cam-shaped end of the lever passes after the breech-piece is closed, a firing-pin constructed with a shoulder, $i$, the upper end of the lever constructed with a recess, $h$, to pass onto the firing-pin and engage said shoulder, substantially as described.

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ELI WHITNEY.

Witnesses:

JOHN E. EARLE,
L. D. ROGERS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

C. WILLIAM SCHARF, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE
WHITNEY ARMS COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

MAGAZINE-GUN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 249,406, dated November 8, 1881.

*To all whom it may concern:*

Be it known that I, C. Wm. SCHARF, of New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new Improvement in Magazine Fire-Arms; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in—

This invention relates to an improvement in that class of magazine fire-arms in which the breech-piece is arranged to move longitudinally back and forth toward and from the rear open end of the barrel, caused so to move by means of a cam-like lever hung directly to the breech-piece, and which extends down through the receiver to form the trigger-guard below, the object of the invention being, principally, to withdraw the firing-pin in the rear movement of the breech-piece, and so that when the breech-piece is returned the firing-pin will not be brought in forcible contact with the primer until struck by the hammer; also, to provide the breech-piece with an ejector which will forcibly eject the exploded shell after it has been withdrawn from the chamber of the barrel, or the cartridge if it be not exploded; and the invention consists in the construction and combination of parts, as hereinafter described, and particularly recited in the claims.

A represents the receiver, to the forward end of which the barrel B is attached; C, the breech-piece, arranged to move in suitable guides by means of a lever, D, hung to the breech-piece upon a pivot, a, the said lever extending backward, so as to take a bearing at the rear end of the opening in the receiver to resist recoil, thence extending downward through the receiver to form the trigger-guard E. The under or forward side of the lever within the receiver is curved, as shown, so that in turning down the lever that point connected with the breech-piece at the pivot a moves backward in a line substantially the axial line of the barrel, and so as to draw with it the breech-piece in a well-known manner, known as the "Burgess arm."

F is the carrier, hung upon a pivot, b, the forward end in its normal condition standing in line with the opening G from the magazine, so as at the proper time to receive a cartridge therefrom, to be transferred to a position in line with the barrel. The spring d bears against a projection, e, below the pivot of the carrier, the spring provided with notches, into which the projection e will fall as it approaches its up or down position, so as to be held in either of its two positions until power is applied, as hereinafter described, to turn the carrier from one position to the other. The breech-piece is drawn back by turning the lever from the position seen in Fig. 1 to the position seen in broken lines same figure. As it approaches the last part of its rear movement, a stud f, on the side of the lever D, near the pivot a, strikes an arm, h, extending upward from the carrier in the rear of the pivot, which depresses that end of the receiver and raises the forward end into line with the barrel, so as to present the cartridges received from the magazine forward of the breech-piece. The carrier will remain in this position until the breech-piece is moved so far forward as to have entered the cartridge into its chamber, and as the breech-piece approaches the barrel, and the locking part of the lever comes into its horizontal position, a stud, i, on the side of the lever strikes the arm h of the carrier on the rear side and turns the carrier back to its place of rest below the breech-piece. The spring d and the notches at its bearing-points hold the carrier in either of its two positions.

m is the firing-pin proper; but to communicate the force of the hammer to that pin an intermediate pin, n, is arranged through the supporting part of the lever, and which is but a continuation of the firing-pin, extended so far to the rear in the lever D that the nose of the hammer H will strike the rear end when thrown down, and thereby throw it forward against the firing-pin proper, m, to communicate the blow of the hammer to the primer. In Fig. 2 the firing-pin and its withdrawing mechanism is shown in horizontal section.

r is a bell-crank lever, hung in a horizontal position in the breech-piece on a pivot, s, one arm in connection with the firing-pin, the other

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MAGAZINE FIRE-ARM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 273,654, dated March 6, 1883.

Application filed November 4, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELI WHITNEY, of New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new Improvement in Magazine Fire-Arms; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in—

Figure 1, a perspective view from the under side; Fig. 2, a sectional side view; Fig. 3, a front end view of the carrier.

This invention relates to an improvement in that class of magazine fire-arms in which a vertically-moving carrier is employed to transfer the cartridges from the magazine to a position in front of the barrel, where they are forced from the carrier by a longitudinally-moving breech-piece, which passes through the carrier when in its upward position, and then the carrier returns to its downward position, with its opening in line with the magazine to receive a new cartridge, and such as commonly known as the "Smith & Wesson system," the object of my invention being to facilitate the charging of the magazine; and the invention consists in constructing the carrier so that when in its raised position its lower surface is in a plane below the upper line of the magazine, the front portion of the lower surface cut off, a trap hinged to the carrier so as to complete the surface, yet permit the forward portion to be turned upward and away so as to expose the entire mouth of the magazine for the insertion of cartridges, and when a cartridge has been fully inserted the trap will spring down in rear of the cartridge, so as to hold it in the magazine, the said trap constructed with a tongue at its forward end, extending up into the carrier, so as to close the forward end of the space between the trap and the carrier, as more fully hereinafter described.

A represents the barrel; B, the magazine; C, the carrier, which is moved in a vertical recess, D, in the frame from its down position, with its opening in front of the magazine, bringing the same opening into line with the barrel, substantially as in the Smith & Wesson gun, and too well known to require detailed description.

As seen in Fig. 2, the plane of the bottom of the carrier, when in its raised position, is in a line below the extreme upper surface of the magazine. At its forward end it is cut away so as to leave the front end of the carrier itself free from the magazine. In the cut-away space *a* of the carrier a trap, *b*, is hinged to the carrier, as at *d*, at a point back from the front end, about midway of the length of the carrier, and which extends forward flush with the front end of the carrier, the hinge shroudered, as at *e*, so as to arrest the trap in its outward movement when it arrives at a position in the plane with the bottom of the carrier, as seen in Fig. 2. Between the carrier and the trap a suitable spring, *f*, is arranged, the tendency of which is to force the trap outward and hold it in the same plane with the bottom of the carrier, but yet permit the trap to be depressed. The front end of the trap partially covers the rear end of the magazine when the carrier is raised, as seen in Fig. 2, but when the trap is depressed, as seen in broken lines in that figure, then the mouth of the magazine is exposed.

The cartridges are inserted into the magazine by first throwing up the carrier, as in Fig. 2, then introducing the point of the cartridge toward the mouth of the magazine, and pressing it downward will cause the trap to give way before the pressure and permit the cartridge to enter the magazine, into which it is forced by the operator until its head is beyond the front end of the trap. Thus the trap will spring outward and serve as a latch to hold the cartridge in the magazine. Each successive cartridge is introduced in like manner, the latch or trap bearing against the head of the last inserted cartridge.

The forward end of the trap is constructed with a tongue, *h*, curved backward on a circle of which the hinging-point *d* is the center, and works in a corresponding guide or recess in the forward end of the breech-piece as the trap is moved up or down, and which tongue serves to close the front end of the recess between the trap and breech-block and prevent any foreign substance from entering that recess to interfere with the operation of the trap. The tongue may be constructed with projections on each side, as seen in Fig. 3, which will serve as stops to arrest the trap when it is thrown to