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mer being provided with a spring or other device suitably arranged for projecting it suddenly forward at the proper time.

A ring, $w^2$, depends from the hammer $w'$ at or near its center, such ring encircling the magazine *p*, over which it freely slides, and operating in connection with a tipping-lever, *y*, pivoted at about its middle to the lower part of the receiver and below the magazine, as shown at *z* in the drawings, the said ring $w^2$ and lever *y* serving the same purpose as the tumbler and sear of an ordinary fire-arm lock—that is to say, as the hammer $w'$ is retracted, by means hereinafter described, to its farthest extent, the rear end of the lever *y* is forced upward in front of the ring by a spring, $d'$, suitably applied to such lever, and operates to set or cock the hammer $w'$, which is released or discharged by a trigger, $e'$, constructed and applied as in ordinary fire-arms, and by pulling which the inner end of the bolt or sear *y* is elevated and its rear depressed and removed from contact with the ring or tumbler $w^2$, thus allowing the spring to act, and force the hammer forward against the firing-pin.

The retraction or rearward movement of the hammer is effected by the bar $g^2$, which, during the rearward movement of the breech-block, abuts against a shoulder, $f'$, of the hammer $w'$, the bar $g^2$ passing by the forward end of the hammer without actuating it, the object of this being to compensate for the greater distance traveled by the firing-pin in comparison with that required to cock the hammer.

The device for extracting the spent or exploded shell of the cartridge consists simply of a hook or catch-bar, $l'$, pivoted to one side of the forward end of the movable breech *e*, as shown in Fig. 6, the hooked end being forced inward and in front of the flange of the cartridge-case by an inclined groove, $m'$, cut in the breech end of the barrel, or the cartridge-chamber thereof, as shown in Fig. 2, and also in Fig. 7, which is a horizontal section of the rear end of the barrel. As the breech is retracted the hook $l'$ seizes the exploded shell and draws it backward, the shell being discharged from the arm by any suitable device through a lateral opening, $m^2$, made in the receiver, this opening $m^2$ being closed by a gate, $n'$, affixed to the side of the breech-block and moving with it. It will be seen that, as the forward end of the breech turns upon its upper corner as a fulcrum, when its rear end is elevated it becomes a powerful lever to start the cartridge-shell a short distance in withdrawing it from the barrel.

The device for locking the trigger against accidental or premature explosion of the charge consists of a sliding plate, *o*, affixed to the lower part of the breech-chamber and upon one side of the sear *y*, as represented. The plate *o* is provided with a knob, $p'$, which extends through a slot made in the under part of the frame. Upon pushing forward

the knob $p'$ the rear end of the plate *o*, or a right-angular bend, $q'$, thereof, will pass below the rear end of the sear *y* and lock the trigger, so as to prevent explosion of the charge.

Preparatory to operating the arm the magazine is supplied with a plurality of cartridges, which are inserted therein by passing them, in succession, through the opening $m^2$ in the side of the frame, and dropping them into the front end of the magazine *p*, the breech-piece being drawn back for the purpose.

The operation of the arm is as follows: When the operator desires to introduce a cartridge into the barrel, he seizes the handle *g* and draws it back till it is released from the stop *a'*, when he slightly elevates the handle and rear end of the breech-piece, or sufficiently so to raise the latter from contact with the abutment *f*. Then he draws the whole back to the extreme rearward position, the hammer by this movement being cocked, as before explained. At this point the forward cartridge of the series is forced forward by the spring, as before described, or other device for actuating them, and lies in position, with the upper portion of its flange in front of the breech-block. The operator then pushes the breech-piece forward till it strikes against the cartridge and forces it up the inclined planes *rr* and *s* and into the barrel, a slight downward pressure being exerted upon the handle, which has the effect of depressing the rear end of the breech-piece into its chamber. The shoulder *m* of the hook, by the same movement, is brought forward into place below the stop *a'*, and locks the breech-piece securely in place against the barrel, and closes the rear end thereof. As the breech-piece reaches its position against the end of the barrel, the hook $l'$, by the action of the inclined groove $m'$, is forced in front of and so as to impinge against the flange of the cartridge. The trigger is then pulled and the hold of the sear *y* upon the angular thimble $w^2$ removed, which allows the hammers $w'$ to be forced forward by the action of its spring, and explode the charge by striking the firing-pin and driving it against such cartridge, the firing-pin serving the purpose, during the forward movement as well as rearward movement of the breech-piece, of keeping the next succeeding cartridge of the series in its proper place within its trough. On drawing back the breech-piece a second time, the hook $l'$ seizes the empty shell and withdraws it from the barrel, the shell being retracted until its flange strikes against a stud properly situated within the frame, when it is deflected through the passage or orifice $m^2$, before mentioned, and expelled from the arm.

The arm above described may be converted into a breech by the employment of a spring or pin disposed so as to press upon the foremost cartridge and retain it within its trough while the breech-piece moves over it, the cartridge also serving to support a car-

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tridge while being inserted within the barrel by a person's hand, such cartridge being introduced through the orifice in the side of the receiver.

By the device of a divided firing-pin the arm is also capable of conversion to the use of a center-fire cartridge, and may be constructed with equal facility for either a central or rim fire cartridge.

In order to prevent possibility of premature explosion of the charge by the firing-pin coming in contact with the fulminate of the cartridge in the act of pushing the breech-block forward into place, I form in the upper surface of the rear end of the firing-pin a short notch, $l^2$, and I secure to the lower part of the bar $h$ of the handle $g$ a pin, $m^3$, which extends into this notch, and so disposed therewith that upon drawing back the bar $h$ the pin $m^3$, acting upon the firing-pin, retracts it a short distance within the breech-piece, and so that it shall not touch the cartridge, as the breech is forced into place against the barrel, until it is struck by the hammer.

I would remark that in place of the exact form and arrangement of the breech-piece with respect to the receiver and the barrel, as shown in the accompanying drawings, I have contemplated forming it in the shape of a round bolt, and having a coupling arrangement between it and the rear end of the chamber $d$ similar to that of many hose-couplings now in use—that is, the rear end of the breech piece or bolt has a projecting ring turned upon it, this ring having two quadrantal openings cut from its opposite sides, the opening in the end of the breech-chamber being formed to correspond to the shape of this notched ring. As the breech is forced forward into its place against the barrel it is given a quarter of a revolution, which locks or couples it to the receiver of the arm.

I claim as my invention, and desire to se-

cure by Letters Patent of the United States,
as follows:

1. In a magazine fire-arm, the combination, substantially as described, of the following elements: first, a barrel open at the breech; second, a breech-piece arranged to be moved longitudinally to and from said barrel to close or open the said breech; third, a magazine below said breech-piece in rear of and opening toward said barrel, said parts being arranged so that drawing back the breech-piece opens the mouth of the magazine to permit the introduction of cartridges thereto through the space occupied by the breech-piece in its closed condition.

2. In a magazine fire-arm, the combination, substantially as described, of the following elements: first, a barrel open at the breech; second, a breech-piece arranged to be moved longitudinally to and from said barrel to close or open the said breech; third, a magazine below said breech-piece in rear of, inclined, and opening toward said barrel; fourth, a spring in said magazine, the said parts arranged and operating so that when the breech is opened the foremost cartridge will be forced forward and upward by said spring into a position in front of said breech-piece when the breech-piece is moved forward to close the breech.

3. In combination with the firing-pin $t$ and bolt $g^2$, arranged in the bolt, as described, the exploding-bolt $u$, in manner as explained.

4. The lock of the arm, as composed of the bolt $w'$, the annular tumbler $w^2$, and the lever or sear $y$, the bolt being provided with a suitable spring, and both tumbler and sear operating in connection with the firing-pin $t$ and trigger $e'$, in manner as before described.

E. LEWIS STURTEVANT,

Assignee of Cyrus W. Baldwin.

Witnesses:

GEO. HEATON,

O. B. MOWRY.