Автор: Browning M.J.  

Теги: weapons   military affairs   patent  

Год: 1931

Текст
                    J. M. BROWNING.
Breech-Loading Fire-Arm.
No. 220,271.
Patented Oct. 7, 1879.

United States Patent Office _•_________ JOHN M. BROWNING, OF OGDEN CITY, UTAH TERRITORY. IMPROVEMENT IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS. Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 220,271, dated October 7, 1879.; application filed May 18, 1879. To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, John M. Browning, of Ogden City, Utah Territory, have invented an Improvement in Breech-Loading Fire-Arms, of which the following is a specification. My invention relates to breech-loading fire- arms, and consists in certain details of con- struction, hereinafter fully described and par- ticularly indicated in the claims, whereby the operating parts are greatly simplified and ren- dered more durable and certain in their oper- ation. In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a per- spective view of the breech and a part of the stock of my improved gun. Fig. 2'represents a longitudinal vertical section of Fig. 1, some of the parts being shown in side elevation. Fig. 3 is a side elevation, the case being partly broken away to show the interior mechanism. Fig. 4 is w top view, some of ’the parts being broken away to show the position of the car- tridge in place and the retractor. My invention relates particularly to that .class of breech-loading fire-arms in which the breech is closed by a vertically-sliding block operated, by the gnard-lever, and carrying the hammer With it in its motion 'up and down. The breeeli-block a slides vertically within the breech-piece, to which it fits closely, and against which it bears both in front and rear, so that when it is raised it effectually and se- curely closes the breech of the'gnn. This breech-piece is moved by the guard-lever Ъ, to which it is connected by the link c, within the slot in the interior of the block. The guard- lever Ъ is pivoted to the breech-frame at d, -slightly in front of the breech - block. The guard is also formed with lugs e e, adapted to fit into the slotted breech-block and to receive between them the link c, to which they are. connected by a pin at a point within the slot when the guard is brought into a position for firing. The guard-lever is also so constructed that when it is brought into the position last specified it effectually closes the opening through which the block and the hammer move when the lever is depressed, as in open- ing the breech. The hammer f is pivoted to the block at g, within the slot of said block. The tail of the hammer extends -through the slot and rests, when the block is raised, under the end of the spring h, which is secured to the barrel, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The breech-piece is slotted to the rear suffi- ciently to give space for the hammer when at fnll-cock. The hammer is constructed with an offset at i, against which the dog fc bears, when the breech-block is raised, to close the breech. This dog is pivoted at I, and is pro- vided with an arm, m, andspring n, the latter bearing against the shell in the breech-frame, so as to keep the arm m pressed down against the trigger o. The pressure of the spring n keeps the end of the dog fc against the rear edge of the hammer, whether the breech-block be raised, as shown in Fig. 2, or lowered, as shown in Fig. 3. ' When the guard Ъ is de- pressed for the purpose of opening the breech of the gun, by means of the links e it draws down the breech-block, carrying with it the hammer /, the hammer being thrown forward in its passage, and the tail of it dropping from contact with the spring h. When the lever is elevated its return movement lifts the breech- block, and with it the hammer; but as the dog 1c comes in contact with the offset i the rear part of the hammer is arrested in its move- ment and held in place while the forward part continues to rise, being carried upward by the continued movement of the lever Ъ, sb that the hammer is thrown back by the completion of the movement and held at full-cock, rest- ing over the point and on the breech-piece, while in the latter part of the movement the tail of the hammer has come in contact with the spring h, and lifted it sufficiently to bring the strain of the spring npon the tail of the hammer, so as to give, a snitable blow upon the firing-pin. The breech-block is supported when the guard-lever is closed by means of the links and lugs e e, the pivot-pin which connects the said link and lugs being carried into line with the other link-pin and pivot of the guard-lever, or slightly past the dead-point, so as to se- curely lock the block in closed position. The firing-pin is of the ordinary construc- tion, and is represented at p. Ti c retractor is shown at q. It is pivoted at the lower left-
г 220,271 hand corner in a slot in the breech-piece, and rests in a recess ent in one side of the breech- block. The shape of the retractor is shown in Fig. 3. At the lower end it has an offset, r, which projects into a groove in the lower part of the breech-block. A projection, s, on the breech-block extending across the upper end of this lower slot strikes the offset r upon the lower end of the retractor when the block is near the limit of its downward motion, and throws the upper end of the retractor back, thus ejecting the empty shell. A stnd project- ing inwardly upon the retractor, as shown at Л Fig. 4, rests beneath the flange of the shell, so as to obtain a suitable hold and allow the retractor in its motion to throw out the shell. The retractor extends upward through its re- cess in the breech-piece, and the upper end of it is flush with the surface of the latter. This effectually closes the slot in the breech-block against the admission of dirt or anything which might clog the block. The breech-block is bevpled atin order to push home the car- tridge in case it should happen not to be suffi- ciently pushed forward into its place when the block rises. I am aware that a breech-block carrying a hammer pivoted upon the block and cocked by upward motion of the said block, in con- nection with the trigger, is not new. "What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is— 1. In“a breech-loading fire-arm, the combi- nation of the slotted breech-block and of the hammer pivoted within the slot with the spring in front of the block, projecting be tween the lugs e e of the gnard-lever and bear- ing upon the tail of the hammer, and with the link c, connecting the block and guard- lever, as set forth. ' 2. The combination of the slotted breech- block, the lugs e e, the link c, and the ham- mer f, pivoted at g, and extending between the lugs c, to bear against the spring h, as and for the purposes set forth. 3. The dog 7c, provided with the arm m, nest- ing on the trigger'^ and with the spring n, op- erating in connection with the rear of the hammer and the offset i, and with the breech- block and spring //, as and for the purpose set forth. In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. JOHN M. BEOWNING. Witnesses: Jonathan Browning, 0. F. Middlet'on.
J. M. & M. S. BROWNING. CARTRIDGE LOADING IMPLEMENT. (No Model.) IS PETER5. Pliolo utlrognpher Washmbtoi D C
United States Patent Office. JOHN M. BEOWNING AND MATTHEW S. BEOWNING, OE OGDEN, UTAH TEEEITOEY. CARTRIDGE-LOADING IMPLEMENT. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 247,881, dated October 4, 1881. Application filed August 2,1881 (No model.) To all whom it may concern: Be it known that we, John M. Browning and Matthew S. Browning, of Ogden, in the county of Weber and Territory of Utah, 5 have invented a new and useful Improvement in Cartridge-Loading Implements; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same. Our invention is a combined reloading-tool io for gun-cartridges. The object of the invention is to provide in a single tool all the appliances necessary for use in the loading or reloading of cartridges, and in the steps necessary for the preparation 15 of the shell for reloading. Our invention consists, therefore, first, of a combined tool which includes, by reason of its peculiar construction, mechanism for seating the ball, for decapping any kind of shell using 20 a cap, mechanism for capping the shell, a ball- mold, and a wad-punch. It consists,further, in an improved construc- tion of ball-seating device; and, finally, in com- , bining, with this improved form of bullet-seat- 25 ing device, the various other devices above specified. In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 shows a side elevation of our improved tool. Fig. 2 shows a central longitudinal section of 30 the same, taken iu the plane of the handles. Fig. 3 represents the tool as open for seating the bullet. Fig. 4 shows detached view of spindle. In the drawings, A В represent the two main 35 parts of the tool. These have similar handles, a a, and they are connected together by a piv- otal bolt, which passes through lugs b b on the part A, and the disk c on the part B, which disk fits snngly between said lugs. 40 In connection with the parts already named, we will first describe that part of the device which is adapted to seat the bullet and to re- move the cap when the shell has a single fire- vent. 45 The cylindrical body of the part A is bored out or otherwise formed with an axial circular chamber in length equal to the length of the cartridge to be loaded with the ball inserted, and of a size of bore adapted to receive such 50 cartridge. A shoulder, d, is formed on the disk shaped head of the part B, arranged to overhang and press upon the inserted car- tridge when the handles a a are open. The position of this shoulder oroffsetis soarranged that the ball may be dropped into the bottom 55 of the chamber in A and the shell placed upon it, or the ball may be slightly entered in the shell and both together placed in the chamber, when the handles are closed; and then, the handles being opened, the shonlder d will force 60 the shell down upon the ball, firmly seating the same. In order to retract the cartridge or shell, a second shoulder or offset, c, is pro- vided below the one first named, and adapted - to come up under the rim or flange of the shell, 65 when the handles are closing, and to draw it partly out from the chamber. This construc- tion is sufficient for seating the ball, and by reason of the axial chamber the construction is in a very compact and safe form. This con- 70 struetion, however, may also be used iu con- nection with another device for removing the caps from shells which have been fired, when such shells are made with a central vent. For this purpose a spindle, /, (shown detached in 75 Fig. 4,) is made of a length equal to, or slightly greater than, the length of the chamber, and is provided with a pin, g, adapted to enter the central perforation in the head of the cartridge. This spindle is dropped into the chamber. The 80 empty shell is placed upon it and pressed down by the opening of the handles, in the same manner as forcing the shell upon the ball. As the shell is forced down the pin g enters the vent and pushes off the cap. A small recess, 85 1, is made in the face of the shoulder or off- set d, to allow the cap to rise. For cartridges which have more than one fire-vent we have provided another device in the same tool. This consists of an awl, i,hav- 90 ing a threaded shank, which screws through the flanged side of the part B. Its point pro- jects opposite a rounded seat, k, on the part A, near the inner edge of said seat, as shown more clearly iu Fig. 1. In order to remove a 95 cap by this device the head of the shell is laid in the seat, the face thereof being presented in an inclined position toward the point of the awl. The handles are then closed, which brings the awl into the hammer-dent in the cap, and 100
2 347, SSI the parts being held in that position the cap is removed by raising the mnzzle of the shell. The wad-cutting device is shown at I m. m is a perforation through the part B, in (pref- 5 erably) the center, and in the plane in which thehandlesopen. Its diameter is equal to that of the wads to be ent. Directly opposite this, and placed so as to enter it when the handles are closed, is a stud, Z, having a plain face and ro sharp edge, so that when pasteboard or other suitable material is placed upon the inner plain face, o, of the part B,over the opening m, and the handles closed, the stud I forces the disk out of the board into the perforation, thus per- 15 forming the operation of cutting the wad. In the same part В is another similar perforation, p, made larger to receive the cartridge which is to be capped. A small stud, q, set in the part A so as to come against the cap in the 20 center of the shell, when in place, is provided for pressing on the cap. These devices for cut- ting the wad and setting the cap we are aware are not new in themselves, but are only new in their relation to the general construction of 25 the tool, whereby they are combined to form one tool of an improved and more convenient shape. Another old feature, but in the same manner newly combined, is the ball-mold r, formed in _4°-the two sides A and B, near the pivoted ends. The cover consists of the piece s, pivoted on the part A, to which it is fitted and held in po- sition within suitable limits by means of a pin, 2, projecting into a curved slot, 3,iu the piece 35 s. Thisslotallowssnfficientmovement,sothat when the pin is at one end the hole 4 is di- rectly over the ball-mold, but when the piece 8 is moved to the other side the cover cuts off the neck of the ball and leaves it ready for in- 40 sertion into the shell. The pin 2 may be a prolongation of the pivotal pin which holds the two parts together. It will be seen, therefore, that all the neces- sary parts are combined in this one tool. The centralperforation does away with projections, 45 brings the parts into the least possible space, and renders it possible to make the tool serve for the shortest or longest cartridges without any difference in its outside shape. The main parts of the tool may all be cast, 50 and are very easily fitted, so that the tool may be cheaply made, and combines in itself all that is necessary for the general purpose for which it is intended. Having thus described our invention, what 55 we claim is— 1. A tool for seating balls, consisting of the part A, having an axial chamber, in combina- tion with a part, B, pivoted to the part A by means of the head fitted between lugs on said 60 part A, the said head being provided with a shoulder, d, adapted to force the shell into the chamber by the opening of the two parts, sub- stantially as described. 2. The combination of the part A, axially 65 chambered, the part B, pivoted thereto, as shown, and provided with a shoulder, d, and a retractiug-shoulder, e, substantially as de- scribed. 3. The combined tool consisting of the parts 70 A and B, the former having an axial chamber and the latter device shonlders, as described, operated in connection therewith, and both formed with the described ball-mold, capping, wad-cutting, and cap-removing devices. 75 In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. JOHN M. BROWNING. MATTHEW S. BROWNING. Witnesses: Robert Middleton, 0. F. Middleton.
J. M. & M. S. BROWNING. MAGAZINE FIRE ARM.
United States Patent Office^ JOHN M. BROWNING AND MATTHEW S. BROWNING, OF OGDEN CITY, UTAH TERRITORY. MAGAZINE FIRE-ARM. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 261,667, dated July 25, 1882, Application filed March 20,1SS2. (No model.-) Io all whom it may concern: Be it known that we, John M. Browning and Matthew S. Browning, of Ogden City, in the county of Weber and Territory of Utah, 5 have invented anew and useful Improvement in Magazine Fire-Arms; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same. Our invention relates to improvements in io that class of breech-loading fire-arms in which the cartridges are contained in a magazine lo- cated beneath the barrel, are fed separately to a vibrating carrier operated by a longitudinally- sliding bolt, and are raised by the carrier to a 15 position opposite the chamber of the gun and forced into thechamber by the forward move- ment of the bolt. Our invention consists mainly in improved devices for charging the magazine through the 20 receiver; further, in the peculiar construction of the bolt, and generally in improved details of construction, now to be morefully described. In the drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal central section. Fig. 2 is a top view with the 25 bolt removed; Fig. 3, a bottom view of the bolt; Fig. 4, a side view of the same; Fig. 5, a section of the bolt on line x x; Fig. 6, a side and top view of the carrier; Fig. 7, a section of the bolt-head; Fig. 8, a modification of the 30 carrier. In these drawings, the stock of the gun is represented by A, the barrel by B, and the magazine by G. The latter is inclosed within that portion of the stock which partially sur- 35 rounds the barrel, and is a metallic tube of any desired length, provided with the usual spring aud follower for pressing the cartridge con- stantly backward in thedirectionofthereceiver. D is the receiver, which is slotted longitudi- 40 nallyfrom top to bottom a sufficient distance to permit the necessary movement of the carrier in conveying a cartridge from the magazine to the chamber. The carrier E is pivoted on a transverse pin, 45 1, secured in the walls of the frame, and ex- tends forward, as usual, to the mouth of the magazine. It is provided with a rearward pro- jection, 2, which extends np through a slot in the bolt-groove. Forged solid with or secured to this carrier at a point just forward of thf 50 bolt-groove is a block, 3, which is more par- ticularly illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. In the top of the block is a rounded inclined groove, c, extending down in the direction of the magazine when the carrier is in position. 55 The walls of the slotted receiver from the block just described to the chamber and mag- azine are formed with intersecting grooves a b, so that thebody and head of a cartridge may be inserted at a point justforward of the block; 60 but beyond this the diameter of the slot is re- duced by means of the tongue or portion of wall between the grooves, and will not admit the head. This construction aud that of the grooved block 3 are for the purpose of facilitat- 65 ing the charging the magazine directly from the rear, dispensing with the necessity for a spring-carrier, and constituting a marked im- provement upon the method of charging from the side or bottom, as usually practiced. 70 In charging the magazine the bullet of the first cartridge is placed in the groove c in the block 3 and pushed forward, The carrier is forced down to its lowest position, and the cartridge, guided by the walls of the receiver, 75 is introduced onto the carrier, the follower acting as soon as the head of the cartridge is pressed down to the carrier to force the car- tridge back against the block 3, where it is se- curely held. The next cartridge is pressed 80 down the incline against the first, and forces it forward into the magazine. Under ordinary circumstances, with a receiver having vertical sides, this would not be practicable, since the following cartridge would pry up the leading 85 one, and by passing under it throw it ont of the receiver. It will be seen, however, by ref- erence to Fig. 1, that the groove a extends forward from the block 3 to the magazine, against the upper edge of which the head of 90 the leading cartridge will come in contact as it is pushed forward and prevent any upward movement. Practically an angular groove or way of the diameter of a cartridge-head is formed in*the 95 wall of the receiver, extending from the maga- zine back to the block 3, forming the path of discharge. Successive cartridges are forced
2 261,66? into the magazine in this manner, the last car- tridge remaining on the carrier held firmly be- tween the preceding cartridge and the block 3. By the pecnliar form of the receiver we are 5 enabled to dispense with clamps, fingers, or other devices for holding the cartridge upon the carrier. s Immediately above the block 3 are projec- tions 5 5 on the walls of the receiver, against io which the head of the cartridge strikes when the forward end is thrown np for insertion into the chamber, and by which the head is .held in position to receive the impact of the bolt G. The bolt-groove F is cylindrical in shape and 15 contains two slots, 6 and 7, as shown in Big. 2, the forward, 6, to permit the vertical arm of the carrier to project into the path of the bolt, and the rear slot, 7, to permit the dog or trig- ger to project through in order to engage with 20 the hammer or cocking-piece. The bolt is represented as a whole by G. Tt is constructed in three parts—thecocking-piece Ы, having the central stem and firing-pin at- tached, the locking-sleeve I, adapted to rotate 25 on the central sleeve, and having the usual lever-handle, and the bolt-head J, which fits over the forward end of the firing-pin, and is bored out centrally to permit the pin to work. The usual stiffcoil-spring surrounds the central 30 pin for forcing the firing-pin forward. The stem or firing-pin is flattened on one side. The extractor 9 is secured in a groove in the side of the bolt-head, and projects forward of said head, and is provided with the usual hook 35 for grasping the flange of the cartridge. It may happen sometimes that by the burst- ing of the cap the firing-pin is forced violently back against the spring, by which there is dan- ger of breaking the latter. We avoid this 40 danger in either of two ways—in one by mak- ing an offset, 10, on the firing-pin, which, should the latter be forced back, would strike the end of the extractor 9, which projects through the shell of the bolt-head, forming a stop; bnt we 45 prefer to nse the device illustrated separately in Fig. 7. Here the rear end of the extractor does not project into the interior of the bolt- head, but the bore of such head is cylindrical and unobstructed throughout. The forward 50 end of the firing-pin is flattened, as shown, and it is provided with an offset in which the pin slides. A screw-thread is tapped through the shell of the bolt-head, and a screw-stop pro- vided against which the offset bears if the pin 55 should be forced back with nndue violence, th ns preventing too great compression of the spring. We also drill a small vent-hole, 11, in the shell of the bolt-head, to permit the gases generated by the bursting of the cap to 60-escape. In arms of this class, so far as we are aware, the carrier has been depressed by the end pro- jecting into the bolt-groove being struck by the bolt as it moves forward. 65 As an improved construction, we form the locking-sleeve with a longitudinal slot, as shown in Fig. 5, by which the bolt is allowed to slide freely over the projecting end of the carrier on the forward movement. A cam, 12, is formed on the locking sleeve, 70 (shown in Fig. 5,) which is brought to bear on the projection 2 of the carrier when the lock- ing-sleeve is turned down. The sleeve turns against the incline 13 on the frame, and the combined rotary and forward motion of the 75 sleeve depresses the forward end of the car- rier in position to receive a cartridge from the magazine. The cocking-piece is provided with a deep half-cock notch, 14, which catches the dog when 80 pulled back slightly, and prevents any for- ward movement of the bolt. When the piece is at half-cock the sleeve of the bolt is also locked in a closed position by the projection 15 on the trigger locking with 85 - the groove or recess 16 on the locking-sleeve, until the bolt is drawn back to full-cock. Therefore the bolt can have no forward and the sleeve no rotary movement. Instead of the ordinary trigger-spring bolted 90 to the frame:behind the trigger and pressing the latter constantly forward, we have devised an improved constrnction, (shown at M, Fig. 1.) The spring here serves the double purpose of actuating the trigger and steadying the 95 rear end of the carrier, whether elevated or depressed. It is centrally bolted to the frame npon one side of the central slot, and its rear free end bears constantly upon the horizontal1 arm of the trigger. The forward free end 100 bears npon the periphery of the rounded end of the carrier, which is provided with depres- sions 30’40. The pressure of the spring in either of the depressions, according to whether the carrier is elevated or depressed, is suffi- 105 cient to hold such carrier steady and to pre- vent any possibility of the movement of the carrier except at the proper time. It is not sufficient, however, to impede free movement of the carrier, since the spring yields readily no to the back-pressure of the bolt on the pro- jecting rear end of the carrier. In Fig. 8 is illustrated a modified form of carrier. Here the block 3, formerly described as secured to the carrier, is attached to or 115 forms an integral partof the frame, the groove being formed in the same way, and the head of the cartridge bearing against it in the same manner. In the operation of the device the maga- 120 zine is loaded as before described, the last car- tridge remaining on the carrier. The bolt is drawn back, the projection on the front strik- ing the projection 2, tilting the carrier on the pivot-pin, and raising the forward end. The 125 front eud of the cartridge strikes the frame above the chamber, while the head tips back under the projections 5 5 above the block 3, and the entire cartridge is thus held in po- sition to receive the impact of the bolt. The 130 bolt is pushed forward, forcing the cartridge on the carrier into the chamber, while the ex-
‘.>61,66? tracting-hook grasps ihe flange. The locking- sleeve is turned down, the earns acting on the projection 2, depressing the carrier, and an- other cartridge is forced onto the carrier 5 against the shoulder 3. The rotary movement of the locking-sleeve_.cocks the piece, which is now ready to be fired. When fired the lock- ing-sleeve is turned up and the bolt withdrawn, the extractor carrying the cartridge, which is io thrown out of the chamber by the extractor pressing the head against the side of the re- ceiver. At the same time another cartridge has been elevated, and the gun is ready for re- loading. 15 This arm possesses the merit of simplicity both in construction and action, of accessibility for cleaning and repairing purposes, and is re- liable, efficient, and easily operated. Having thus described our invention, what 20 we claim is— 1. In a magazine-gun, the combination, with the magazine closed except at the rear end thereof, aud having the spring-follower, of the receiver D, the carrier pivoted in the bottom 25 of such receiver, and the grooved block 3, against which the head of each cartridge is forced by the magazine-spring in position to be acted on hy the succeeding cartridge. 2. The combination, in a magazine-gun, of the receiver D, the magazine situated below 30 the barrel, and having the spring, the pivoted carrier, and the block 3, mounted thereon and having an inclined groove, whereby each car- tridge is pressed back against such block and may be forced into the magazine by means of 35 the succeeding cartridge. 3. : The combination of the pivoted carrier, the block 3, having inclined groove, and the receiver having grooves a in its walls above the carrier when at its lowest position, where- 40 by an angular way is formed for the insertion of cartridges into the magazine from above, substantially as described. 4. In a magazine-gun, the combination of the pivoted carrier having the projection 2, the 45 locking-sleeve having longitudinal groove,the cam 12, and the incline 13 on the frame. In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. JOHN M.- BROWNING. MATTHEW S. BROWNING. Witnesses: C. F.-Middleton, O. R. Child.
(No Model.) 2 Sheets—Sheet 1. J. M. & M. S. BROWNING-. MAGAZINE GUN.
2 Sheets—Sheet 2. (No Model.) J. M. & M. s. BROWNING. MAGAZINE GUN. No. 282,839. Patented Aug. 7, 1883.
United States Patent Office» JOHN M. BROWNING AND MATTHEW S. BROWNING-, OF OGDEN, UTAH TERRITORY. ^AGAZiNE-GUN. SPECIFICATION forming part of Иййега Patent No. -282,839, dated August 7, 1883. Application nlei! September 13, 1882. (No model. '; To all whom it may concern,: Be it. known thatwe, Jno. M. Browning and M. S. Browning, of Ogden, in the county of Weber and Territory of Utah, have invented 5 a new and useful Improvement in Magazine- Guns; and we do hereby that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same. Our invention relates to improvements in magazine fire-arms; and the object of the in- io vention is to render the arm more certain in operation and effective in use by decreasing he number of working parts, and thereby greatly simplifying the action of the gun. The invention pertains to that class of re- 15 peating-rifi.es in which the magazine is located beneath the barrel, from which the cartridges are expelled by a spring-follower into the re- ceiver and upon a carrier, by which they are elevated to a position opposite the chamber 20 of the gnu, into which they are driven by a breech-block and lever operating from the under side of the gun, and which serves also as a trigger-guard. The invention consists, first, in the peculiar 25 manner of connecting the breech-block to the receiver, by which it is given a combined slid- ing and pivotal motion: further, in the com- bination of such a breech-block and the pe- culiar extractor; further, in the manner of 30 attaching the carrier to the receiver; and, gen- erally, in the peculiar construction ami ar- rangement of the various parts and in the va- rious operative combinations of such parts, all fully hereinafter explained. 35 In the drawings, Figure 1 represents in part a central longitudinal section, with some of the parts in side elevation. Fig. 2 represents the carrier in plan. Fig. 3 represents, in sec- tion and side elevation, the opposite side from 40 that shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a similar view, with the breech-block in full lines; Figs. 5, (>, and 7, separate views of the breech-block. Д represents the stock.’ and В the barrel, both of ordinary form and construction. 45 C is a magazine-tube, rigidly secured below the barrel of the gun, the rear part being in- closed by the stock, as usual in arms of this class. The magazine is provided with the or- dinary spring-follower, and preferably extends to the muzzle of the gun, thus being adapted 50 to hold a large number of cartridges. 1 D represents the receiver, which is “slotted vertically from top to bottom, and communi- cates with the magazine at its lower forward encl, and above with the chamber of the gun. 55 The receiver is provided on one side with a slot, 1, extending for almost its entire length, which slot is on a line with the chamber of the gun. A similar slot. 2, is formed in the opposite side of the receiver. ' 60 The magazine is loaded by means of a spring- trap, 3, in the side wall thereof, the cartridges being forced through snch trap and into the magazine, each cartridge being impelled for- ward by the succeeding cartridge until the 65 magazine is full. E represents the carrier, which is shown separately in Fig. 2. This carrier is of angu- lar shape, and is provided at its forward end with a concave rest or support, the forward 70. end of which is hr cluse proximity when the carrier is depressed to the month of the maga- zine, and on which the cartridge rests when expelled therefrom. The rear arm of the car- rier -1 fits snugly in a slot, 5, in the side wall 75 of the receiver, and such arm is provided with a round stud. (>, which enters a perfora- tion in the side will, by which the carrier is held in operative position. The upper end of the slot 5, in which, the carrier is placed, 80 communicates with the slot 2, before mem tioned, and the rear arm of the carrier ex- tends up to a point opposite the termination of such slot 2, the slot 5 being extended back a short distance, in order to give play to the 85 carrier when moved, as hereinafter described. E represents as a whole the combined breech- • block and lever, which is shown separately in Fig. 5. This lever is of a peculiar shape, as sho wn, the upper end, which is nearly st raight, 90 being adapted to close the receiver when the arm is ready to be fired. The lever is bent as indicated at S, and extends downward through the receiver and behind the rear end of the carrier, terminating in an ordinary trig- 95 ger-guard and handle, 9, and having shoulder’s • 10 10, which bear against the plane face 11 on the receiver, a spring friction-stud, 12, having
2 aroundcd.en!?,bein£ •>« .feteecfi-block Ifta »!<•— against the inner w i1! breech-block is gnit pin, 13, which is in,' n'„l । in the side of the гем г a corresponding hoi" , block. The end of through the hole an 1 the slot 2,while its otl, । the block, enters ara, The extractor is consists of a plate, 15, c. < it will fit snugly in the having at its forward e engage with the flange > 1 x < chamber. A springTll; tractor, and bears agair i« and tends to throw 11 :ard oi' ths aii > 'lock, slides in ic u I 1 11 f _ I. J, ho t 'hat t < i\er, >. ’ :o i ic ’ i r< t! i i 111 ll< W0V 1 i ill fl c gage with-the cartrnl,r i <tv i л the extractor and bie< i ’ >< i ’ ,c ню < together by the pin moved the extractsi locating movement in ver has both a sliding olal movement on fl < of the block is a not' n 'notch the block is b> thepurposehereinaf1 г < block is bored out the firing-pin 20. h > .strong 'spring, and is tndinally in such bore The hammer I is pi voted upon a pin, 19, and operates ju connection with the Irigger ,T, pivoted upon a pin, 21., both pro vided with the usual springs. In addition to the usual half-cock notch, I employ a safety-catch, which holds the hammer locked a slight distance from the firing-pin. Upon the hammer is a projection, 22, which, when such hammer is at the safety-catch just described, engages with a notch, 23, in the rear end of the breech-block and locks such block rigidly io a closed, posi- tion. The lower opening of die receiver is closed by means of a bottom plate, K, provided at its forward end with, a projection, which enters a notch in the adjacent wall of the receiver, and at its rear end with, projecting lugs, through which is passed a pin, 27. The awn of the le- ver works in contact with the rear end of th is bottom plate, it being curved for thabprtrpos.e. as shown. In the operation of this arm the breech-block is thrust down, the pin 13 strik- ing the rear arm. of the cardri ’nd throwing the forward end up. The ne is then loaded through the spring n »t , nd at the same time a. cartridge may 1 < Л in. the chamber of the gun from above 1 j < breech- block is now closed and the piei ’ vmled, and at the same time the carrier is forced down to hell, and as the lever is pressed down ’ 1 i jiactor moves directly back in the carrying the shell with it. At the e another cartridge has been gradu- 70 J 11 к ced by the magazine-spring upon the ( < I nr After, the cartridge is drawn from iber, the flange is released by the ex- ши the notch 17 in the forward end o&k seizes the flange and draws the 75 ! ebac-k. Atthispointtbepin 13strikes c i 1 arm of the carrier, throwing its for- i end up, not only placing the cartridge i last taken from the magazine in position to be i forced info the chamber, but also throwing the 80 । exploded cartridge completely out of the re- ; The loaded cartridge is prevented ; from following it by its bullet Striking against I the upper wall of the receiver, in the rear of 1 11 umber, while its head conies in contact 85 1 л 1’><5 forward end of the breech-block. li । ' tier is held in its elevated position ’ <<' *h< succeeding cartridge being forced _ 1 - t if the magazine is empty, by the ’ ’' • ver. The breech-block is then 90 1 i 1 1 fresh cartridge driven into the hen t he gun is ready to be fired, seen that the gun can be used with Ly as a single-loader, since when >.4 in its elevated position the car- 95 ' и id tie. simply dropped upon thecar- above and then forced into the cham- j.t r losing the breech-block. 1 It will be noticed that the working parts of j this gun, setting aside the magazine, hammer, 100 j and trigger, are only three in number—hame- 1 ly, the breech-blockj carrier, and extractor. All springs are dispensed, with. Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Let- 105 tors Patent, is— * r' i magazine-gun, the combination of a ’'w. i-i r r chamber communicating both with Ji ; i, •, t/.inc and the barrel, cartridge carry - ii’", . 1 'xtracting devices, and a solid breech- no block 0 nd lover, formed in one piece, and hav- ing a combined sliding and piyptal movement in the receiver, such breech-block having a plane smooth upper surface, adapted, whenthe breech is closed, to be flush with the upper 115 edge of the walls of the receiver and form the i top and closing plate thereof. I 2. The receiver I), hal ing the slots 1, 2, and j -5, in combination with thb breech-block, the I extract or, the pin 13, connecting such breech- 120. i block and extractor and. projecting into the • • said slot 2, and the vibrating carrier E, mount- i cd in the said slot 5, and having its rear end projecting up opposite the said slot 2, in po- sition to be struck by the pin 7 when the breech- 125 block is drawn down. 3. The receiver having the communicating slots .2 5, in combination with the carrier hav- ) :ing the turned rear edge adapted to be se- cured within such slot 5, to operate in connee- 130 tion. with the described breech-block. I 4. In combination with the slotted receiver, its lowest position in line with the magazine. After firing, the gun is placed either at half or full cock and the. lever forced down. The extractor has grasped the flange <5f the ex-
the breech-block, the yibraang carrier, and the extractor, arranged substantialiy as de- scribed. the yin 13. passing through the rtaid breech-block and pivoting it про;! the ex- 5 tractor, and projecting into the she 2, to oper- ate in connection v.’illi the Vibnifiug wrier. In testimony •.’.•hereof we have signed our ! muiics to this spediication in the presence o< 4,’ЦЧ/ ;StlJ iScHb! 11‘Д \\ ] t ncsscs. XOiiN hl. BROWNING. 3IATTHEW S. BKOWKfNG. Witnesses: Ik W. Г'-ГГЛИАМ', ЛТЛ’ЯА. kgfXTNGER.
3 Sheets—Sheet 1. (No Model.) J. M. & M. S. BROWNING. MAGAZINE FIRE ARM. No. 306,577. Patented Oct. 14, 1884.
(No Model.) 3 Sheets—Sheet 2. J. M. & M. S. BROWNING. MAGAZINE FIRE ARM. No. 306,577. Patented Oct. 14, 1884.
3 Sheets—Sheet 3. (No Model.) J. M. & M. S. BROWNING. MAGAZINE FIRE ARM. No. 306,577. Patented Oct. 14, 1884.
United States Patent Office. JOHN M. BROW! rNG AND MATTHEW S. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH TER- RITORY, ASSIGNORS TO THE WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS COMPANY, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT. MAGAZINE FIRE-ARM. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 306,577, dated October 14,1884. ‘ Application filed May 26,1884. (No model.1 To all whom it may concern: Be it known that we, John M. Browning and Matthew S. Browning, of Ogden, in the county of Weber, Utah Territory, have in- 5 vented a new Improvement in Magazine Fire- Arms; and we do hereby deelare the following, when taken in connection with accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact deserip- io tion of the same, and which said drawings con- stitute part of this specification, and repre- sent, in— Figure 1, a top view of that portion of the arm which embodies our invention; Fig. 2, a 15 longitudinal sectional side view of the same, showing the parts in their closed or normal position; Fig. 3, a vertical section on line x x of Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a sectional side view showing the parts as in position of the open breech; 2Э Fig. 5, a horizontal section through the receiv- er, showing the spring W with the inwardly- projecting lugs ZZ; Fig. 6, a sectional side view illustratingthe closing movement of the breech- piece; Fig. 7, a longitudinal section through the 23 breech-piece, showing the lever, itsactioh upon the firing-pin and the ejector; Fig. 8,aseetional side view of the receiver, showingthe arrange- ment of the slide in closing the magazine- opening; Fig. 9, a vertical central section on 30 Вое у у; Fig. 10, a vertical central section on line z z, looking toward the barrel and maga- zine, and also showing the relation of the spring W to the magazine; Figs. 11,12, and 13, modifications. 35 ’ This invention relates to an improvement in ' that class of breech-loading fire-arms in which the breech-piece is arranged to be moved back and forth in an axial line with the barrel and operated by a lever in connection therewith, 40 which extends below the receiver to form the trigger-gnard,.adapted specially to magazine fire-arms, but applicable to single breech-load- ers, the object of the invention being princi- pally to make a dead-lock for the breech-piece 45 when in its closed position; and the invention consists in the construction, as hereinafter de- scribed, and more particularly recited in the claims. A is the frame of receiver, of usual construc- tion; B, the barrel; 0, the magazine in their 50 usual relation to each other and to the re- ceiver; D, the breech-piece, arranged to be moved longitudinally from the rear end of the barrel to open and toward it to close the breech; E, the hammer, hung upon a pivot, a,' 55 at^the, rear of the breech-piece, and so as to strike the firing-pin F, which is arranged lon- gitudinally through the breech-piece in sub- stantially the usual manner; G, the trigger- gnard lever which forms the trigger-guard, 60 and also serves as a means for operating the mechanism of the arm. It is hung to the breech- piece upon a pivot, b. near the forward end. From that point the lever extends downward and rearward through an opening in the bottom 65 of the receiver. H H are two bolts arranged in vertical guides in the receiver, near its rear end, and so as to be moved up and down in the said guides. Near the rear end of the breech- piece D, and upon opposite sides, are recesses 70 d, which, when the breech-piece is in its closed position, correspond, respectively, to the po- sition of the vertical bolts H II, and as seen in Fig. 1, so that while the bolts are guided in vertical movement by the receiver they in- 75 terlock with the breech - piece when in its closed position. These bolts extend down- ward, and to their lower end the lever G is hung by a pivot, e, as seen in Fig. 3. This pivot extends through a slot,/, in the lever 80 G, the slot, as seen in Fig. 2, extending from the pivot rearward and downward when the parts are in the closed position. To open the breech-piece it is therefore necessary to first withdraw the bolts H. To do this the le- 85 ver G is turned downward, swinging upon its pivot & in the breech-piece, as indicated in broken lines, Fig. 2. In this movement the bolts H are drawn downward, the slot / in the lever working over the pivot e until the rear 90 end of that slot is reached, as also seen in broken lines, Fig. 2. At this time the upper ends of the bolts have been drawn downward from their supporting position in the breech- piece, as seen in Fig. 2, but have not as yet 95 passed entirely from or below the breech-piece. The forward side of the recesses in the breech- piece from the point where the end of thebolt
306,577 now stands are inclined fot'wdrd, aS Seen at g, Fig. 2. Continuing the downward move- ment of the lever Gfrom the position seen in broken lines, Fig. 2, the bolts will continue 5 their downward vertical movement; but at the same time the breech-piece, because of the in- clines g, may pass over the ends of the bolts H to the extreme rear position, as seen in Fig. 4, which is the extreme open position of the io breeeh-piece. In this open position it will be observed that the slot f in the lever stands nearly in a vertical position. To return or close the breech-piece, the lever G is returned, swingiug upon the pivot e. The 15 breech-piece will move forward withoutmove- ment of the bolts until it arrives at the posi- tion seen in Fig. 6, when the rear end of the slot f comes against the pivot e. At this time the breech-piece is near, but has not quite 20 reached, its closed position. From this point the bolts must begin their ascent, and in such ascent they ride upon the incline g from the position seen in Fig. 6 until the breech-piece is completely closed. Then the slot/ actslike 25 a cam npon the pivot e to raise the bolts into their extreme locked position, as seen in Fig. 2, at which time the lever G has arrived at its place of rest. To withdraw the firing-pin and hold it so as 30 to prevent possible accident, the upper end of the lever G in rear of its pivot is constructed with a cam, Л, which stands in a recess iri the firing-pin and overhangs a corresponding in- clined shoulder on the firing-pin, as seen in 35 Fig. 7, but which, when the breech-piece is in its closed and locked position, permits the firing-pin to be moved into its extreme for- ward or firing position under the blow of the ' hammer; but as the lever G is turned in its 40 first movement to draw down the bolts H, aud before the breech-piece commences its rear movement, the cam h acts upon the' shoulder i on the firing-pin and throws it rearward, as indicated in broken lines, Fig. 2. Because 45 of arranging the cam on the lever in rear of its pivot, it will be observed that the move- ment of the firing-pin is produced by the'down- ward movement of the cam, and through a very small space, and because of this cam action co of the lever the movement of the firing-pin ' is produced during the short portion of the movement of the lever in which the bolts are withdrawn. The rear end of the firing-piii, bearing against the hammer, imparts to the 55 hammer a rear movement (also indicated in broken lines)in advance of the breech-piece, and so that the firing-pin becomes directly the instrument by which the hammer is thrown < backward to its cocked position, and after it. 60 arrives at that cocked position, as seen in Fig. 4, then the breech-piece passes freely over it, the under side of the breech-piece being re- cessed for this purpose, and as seen in Figs. 2 and 4. The head of the lever retains a con- 65 stant bearing against the firing-pin from the time it is thrown rearward until the breech- piece is returned to its closed position, and does not permit the forward movement of the firing pin until the bolts have been raised into their locked position, as seen'in Fig. 2; hence 70 it is impossible for the firing-pin to strike the primer under the blow of the hammer or oth- erwise nntil the breech-piece is completely locked and all the parts in proper condition for firing. 75 The breech-piece is provided with the usual spring extractor-hook, L, above the firing-pin, and upon the lower side of the firing-pin is the usual shoulder, I, upon which the flange of the cartridge will rest, as seen in Fig. 7. 80 m is the ejector, which is arranged at the for- ward end of the firing-pin, and is in the form of a spindle parallel with the firing - pin. Around the spindle is a helical or other suit- able spring,-n. This spring extends from a 85 a, shoulder near the forward end of the ejector rearward toward the head of the lever G, and so that when the parts are in their closed po- sition the spring is relaxed. The head of the lever G forward of the pivot forms a cam, 0, 90 which bears against the spring n, and so that if the forward movement of the ejector be re- sisted as the lever G is turned the spring will be compressed, as seen in broken lines, Fig. 7. The ejector stands flush with the front face 95 of the breech-piece when in its closed posi- tion, and against the head of the cartridge P, the cartridge being held by the spring ex- tractor-hook L upon the shoulder I below. Kow, if in this condition the breech-piece be 100 drawn rearward, the shell retains its position . with its head against the front face of the breech-piece during such rear movement by the action of the hook L, and because of the shell standing within the cartridge-chamber 105 in the barrel. During the rear movement of the breech-piece and the cartridge or shell thereto attached the spring n is compressed under the action of the cam 0 on the lever G, thereby constantly increasing the bearing of no the ejector against the head of the cartridge, until in the rear movement of the breech- piece the forward end of the cartridge es- capes from the cartridge-chamber. Then the action of the spring nforces the ejector for- 115 ward,throwing the lower side of the head from the shoulder I, the forward end of the shell upward, and so as to eject the shell or car- tridge, as the case may be, from the arm. As the movement of the ejector is only produced 120 by the compression of the spring, and not a positive movement from the cam 0, the ejector N returns as the breech-piece is closed against the head of the cartridge, and whether or not the cam 0 has relieved the spring from its 125 pressure. The magazine is charged th rough a side open - ing, B, in the receiver^ This opening is pro- vided with a cover, S, arranged to slide longi- tudinally in grooves r, (see Figs. 9 and 10,) 130 forward to open the receiver for the insertion and rearward to close it. To make the closing automatic, holes t Are bored into the forward end of the receiver rearward and parallel with
306,579 3 the grooves г >*, and so that the grooves open into those holes, as seen in Figs. 8, 9, and 10. On the upper and lower side of the slide S is an ear, w, which extends into the holes or 5 grooves t. These holes form substantially what may be called ‘ ‘grooves, ’ ’ but broader than the grooves r—that is to say, the groove in each side of the opening is .contracted froih the in- side outward, and into the enlarged portion io from the forward end a helical spring, w, is introduced against the ears u, and then at the forward end of the receiver a plug, T, is in- ' troduced (may be in the form of a screw, as shown,) against that end of the springs, com- 15 pressing the springs forcibly against the ears u, and so that as the slide S is moved forward the springs w will be compressed, and so that their reaction, when free, will force the slide to retnrn to. its closed position. The slide is 20 moved forward by the insertion of the point of the cartridge pressed against it in the usual manner of charging magazines through a side or similar opening. By this construction the cover-closing springs, as well as the guide jor 25 the cover, are entirely within the receiver, and in rear of the front end of it, and so that there is no opening from the receiver into the forearm, as must be the case where the spring of the cover is applied npon a spindle or 30 otherwise forward of the front end of the re- ceiver. • As a latch to hold the cartridges in the mag- azine, a spring, W, is applied upon the opposite side of the receiver, but, above the center of 35 the magazine, as seen in Fig. 10. This spring overhangs the passage from the magazine onto the carrier, and serves also as a continuation of the magazine-tube for the control of the car- tridge, and to hold it upon the carrier until it 40 has entirely passed from the magazine, as seen in broken lines, Fig. 5. Before the cartridge has passed entirely from the magazine onto the carrier Y, as seen in broken lines, Fig. 4, the head end has passed beneath lugs Z Z, one 45 on each side the receiver above the carrier, but forward of the front face of the breech- pieee in its open position, as seen in Fig. 4, these lugs Z Z indicated in broken lines, Fig. 1. As the carrier ascends, as seen in broken 50 lines, Fig. 4, in the last part of the rear move- ment of the breech-piece, it raises the cartridge into a position in front of the breech-piece, the point end of the cartridge freely passing the spring W, and when raised the breech-piece is 55 moved forward, forcing the cartridge from the carrier into the chamber, the head passing from under the lugs Z. The spring W and the lugs together serve to prevent the cartridge, from being accidentally thrown or removed 60 from the receiver while the breech-piece is open and before the carrier begins to rise, and from that time the lugs Z Z serve to prevent this accidental removal of the cartridge until it be fairly entered into the chamber. 65 So far as the spring W serves as a latch to retain the cartridge in the magazine, it per- forms its office substantially as does a similar spring in previous arms. It is thrown out of its latching position in the movement of the parts of the arm, so as to permit the last car- 70 tridge in the magazine to start rearward in time to escape therefrom to pass onto the car- rier, substantially as in previous arms, and does not require particular description. While we prefer to make the slot in the lever 75 upon the pivot which connects the bolts to the lever, the slot may be at the pivot in the breech-piece, as seen in Fig. 11. In this case the downward or opening movement of the lever performs its office npon the bolts to give 80 them a downward movement in advance of the breech-piece, the slot at the forward end of the lever riding back upon the pivot b in the breech-piece until the forward end of the slot comes in contact with that pivot, which is at 85 the time the bolts have arrived to such a posi- tion that the incline on the forward edge of the recess in the breech-piece may pass over their upper ends, and as seen in broken lines, Fig. 11. From that time the breech-piece 90 moves rearward with the lever. In» the re- turning or closing movement the breech-piece is moved forward under the influence of the lever, say, to the position seen in Fig. 12. At that time it is beyond the influence of the 95 lever because of the position of the slot with relation to the pivot b. At this time the lever tnrns upon that pivot b and throws the bolts up- ward. Their noses, striking upon the inclines at the for ward side of the recess in the breech- 100 piece, act to force the breech-piece from that point forward into its closed position, and un- til the bolts can rise into the recesses to their extreme locked position, the essential feature of this part of our invention being a direct 105 connection of the bolts to the lever and the lever to the breech-piece, such connections'be- ing ni'ade by means of a slot at one pivot or the other, whereby the bolts are thrown into their extreme locked position after the breech- 110 piece is closed. We have not described the carrier or de- vices for transferring the cartridges from the magazine to a position in front of the face of the open breech-piece, so that they may be 115 transferred to the barrel in the forward move- ment of the breech-piece, as this mechanism constitutes no part of this present invention. Any of the numerous devices or carriers for this purpose may be employed. 120 We have illustrated and prefer two bolts, one upon each side of the breech-piece; but it will be readily seen that one bolt will ac- complish the object of the invention. Instead of making the incline g on the 125 breech-piece, it may be made on the front face of the bolt, as seen in Fig. 13, and accomplish the same object, it only being essential to this part of our invention that there shall be an incline in front of the nose of the bolts, where- 130 by they may impart'the closing movement to the breech-piece. While we represent' in the illustration the invention as applied to magazine fire-arms, we
’4 306,577 do not wish to be understood as limiting it to 1 such ar^is, as parts are applicable to single | breech-loaders. We do not claim, broadly, a vertically-mov- 5 ing locking-bolt to engage the breech-piece in its closed position, as such, we are aware., is not new; but we are not aware that a vertically- moving locking-bolt has been directly and positively hung to the lever and the lever di- ip rectly hung to the breech-piece, which con- struction is the essential feature of this part of our invention. We claim— . 1. In a fire-arm substantially such as de- 15 scribed, the combination of thelongitudinally- movable breech-piece, the trigger-guard lever extending up into the receiver and forward, hurfgtothe breech-piece, a vertically-movable bolt or bolts arranged in guides in the re- 20 ceiver, the breech-piece constructed with a recess corresponding to said bolt or bolts and with which said bolt or bolts will engage, the said bolts hung by a pivot directly to said le- ver in rear of and below the connection of the 25 lever with the breech-piece, one of said con- nections slotted, whereby the descent of the bolts is made during the first part of the move-, mentof said lever and before the breech-piece commences its opening movement, and said 30 bolts raised into their locking position after the breech-piece is closed, substantially as de- scribed. 2. In a fire-arm substantially such as de- scribed, the combination of a longitudinally- 35 movable breech-piece, the trigger-guard lever extending: upward into the receiver and for- ward, hung to the breech-piece, a bolt or bolts arranged in.vertical guides in the receiver and in rear of the point of connection between 40 said lever and the breech piece, the said bolts hung by a pivot to said lever, the connection at one of the pivots slotted to permit the move- ment of the bolts with the lever before the breech-piece commences its opening move- 45 ment, and to return said bolts in advance of the complete closing of the breech-piece, an incline in front of the nose of the bolts, where- by the last part of the closing movement of the breech-piece is made by the ascent of the 50 bolts, substantially as described. 3. In a fire-arm substantially such as de- scribed, the combination of a longitudinally- movable breech-piece, the trigger-guard lever extending up into the receiver and forward, 55 hinged directly to the breech-piece, the hinged end of the lever constructed with a cam, Л, projecting rearward therefrom, the firing-pin F, constructed with; a shoulder, i, inclining downward and forward corresponding to the cam Л on the lever, said cam overhanging the 60 said shoulder, substantially as described, , 4. In a fire-arm substantially such as de- scribed, the combination of the longitudinally: movable bolt D. the trigger-guard lever G, ex- tending up into the receiver and forward, hung 65 to the breech-piece by a pivot, b, the vertical bolt or bolts H, hung directly to said lever be- low and in rear of the pivot b, the said lever constructed with a cam, h, and the firing-pin constructed with a shoulder, i, corresponding 70 to said cam Л, substantially as and for the pur- pose described. 5. In a fire-arm substantially such as de- scribed, the combination of the longitudinally- movable breech-bolt D, the trigger-guard le- 75 ver G, extending up into the receiver, hung to the breech-piece, and constructed with a cam, 0, forward of and below the pivot by which it is hung to the breech-piece, an Rect- or, m, arranged below the firing-pin and par- 8c allel therewith, and a spring, n, one end rest- ing against said cam 0, the other end against the ejector, and whereby the movement of said ejector is produced through said spring, sub- stantially as described. 85 6. Inamagazine fire-arm, the receiver, con- structed with the opening R to the magazine, the cover 8, arranged to move longitudinally in grooves or guides r in each edge of the open- ing in the receiver* the said grooves opening 90 into an enlargement, t, and the cover con- structed with ears « at or near its rear end, extending into said enlargement, with springs w arranged in said enlarged parts of the groove, one end supported near the forward 95 end of the receiver as resistance, the other end bearing rearward against the said ears on the cover, substantially as described. 7. In a magazine fire-arm, the combination of the longitudinally-movable breech-piece, a ico carrier arranged to receive a cartridge from the magazine and raise it to a position be- tween the front face of the open breech-piece and the cartridge-chamber, the spring W, ar- - ranged longitudinally in the receiver to over- 105 hang the cartridge at the month of the maga- zine, and lugs Z Z on the sides of the receiver, projecting inward above the earner and for- ward of the front face of the breech-piece in its open position, substantially as described. JOHN M. BROWNING. MATTHEW S. BROWNING. Witnesses: ObsojtRisee, 1). W. Felshaw.
(No Model.) J. M. & M. S. BROWNING. PETERS. Ptiolo LitKographor, Waihingidn. D
United States Patent Office, JOHN M. BROWNING AND MATTHEW S. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH TERRITORY. MAGAZINE-GUN. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 312,183, dated February 10,18S5. Application filed Vlarch G, 1884. Renewed December 13, 188-1. (No model.) 5 ю 15 20 2 5 Зо 35 4о 45 To all whom it may concern : Be it known that we, John M. Browning and Matthew S. Browning, of Ogden, in the Territory of Utah, have invented a new and use- ful Improvement in Magazine-Guns; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same. Our invention relates to breech-loading fire- arms, and is mainly applicable only to maga- zine-arms. The improvement relates more particularly, first, to the operating-lever, which is made to serve the purpose of locking the breech-clos- ing bolt, and, secondly, to the carrier, by means of which the cartridges are raised into line with the bore of the barrel. The leading features of the invention and the subordinate details are fully described hereinafter, aud are specifically indicated in the claims. In the drawings. Figure 1 represents a ver- tical longitudinal section of the receiver and breech-closing bolt, with part of the magazine and barrel, the contained and contiguous parts being in side elevation. Fig. 2 shows the same- view with the, parts in different positions. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the carrier. The first feature of the invention is the slid- ing block on which the operating trigger-guard lever is pivoted, which serves to move the bolt and to lock it in place. This lever is shown at b V, the former noting the upper part, or that within the receiver, and the lat- ter that outside or below the receiver. The upper encl of this lever is pivoted to the bolt A by a pin, c, so as to turn on the pin when the lever is raised from the position of Fig. 1 to that of Fig. 2. It is pivoted closely to the bolt, so that there is no movement upon the pin except that of turning. The firing- pin 1 passes through the bolt above the pivot c, the forward end being reduced to leave a shoulder, 2, which bears against the bottom of a recess within the lever. The lever is piv- oted upon a sliding block or swivel, d, this block being equal in width to that of the lever. The block is bored, as shown at e, to receive a spring, and at its forward end is slotted transversely to receive a pin, /, set in the walls of the receiver. The spring bears against the 50 pin /, and tends to push the block to the rear. The lever is formed with the shoulder i be- hind its pivot, said shoulder being preferably made npon a curve struck from the pivot c. When the lever is in position shown in Fig. 1, 55 this shoulder bears against a corresponding- seat in the rear part of the receiver, and be- ing pressed rearward by the spring, locks the bolt securely in its place. The firing-pin, when the lever is in position shown in Fig. 1, 60 rests in its advanced position with the shoul- der 2 against the bottom of the socket or cav- . ity. The first effect of the forward movement of the lower part of the lever is to start back the firing-pin. and the lever holds this slightly 65 retracted until the bolt is returned to its seat in the breech. The pivoting-block d is pressed forward when the upper part begins to move backward, and the shoulder i of the lever drops from its seat, thus unlocking the bolt. 70 Further movement of the lever throws back the bolt to the position shown in Fig. 2, at the same time cocking the piece. By this con- struction great force is applied to the bolt with a minimum of friction. 75 The carrier is of special and improved form. It is shown in side elevation in Figs. 1 and 2, and in plan view in Fig. 3. It is pivoted at Ji in the chamber of the receiver, and its for- ward end is adapted to swing up from the po- 80 sition shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 2. It is made in two parts, as shown in Fig. 3, the part m constituting onesideand the part n the other side. These parts are connected by a bolt, Z, which is fixed to one part and is 85 loose in the other. Each part is provided with an upwardly-projecting ear, A:, the upper parts of which ears incline slightly inward to hold the cartridge. The rear ends of the sides are inclined also slightly inward, as shown at go 0 0. The two sides are pivoted separately, each turning upon a small stud set into the walls, and the pivoting is sufficiently loose to allow the forward ends of the carrier to be slightly spread or narrowed. The lever moves 95 in the space M in the rear part of the carrier, between the sides, and as it reaches the in- clines о 0 on the rear ends of the two parts of
9 312,183 5 io i5 20 25 30 35 the carrier it presses them apart, and thus causes the front ends to approach each other to grip the cartridge. As soon as the lever A is returned to carry forward the cartridge and close the breech it leaves the inclines о о, and thus permits the front ends of the carrier to spread and release the cartridge. The forward end is adapted, when spread, to receive the cartridge, and when closed to retain the car- tridge by means of the inward inclination of the ears 1c. The rear ends of the carrier ex- tend upward,and are provided with shoulders 4, which are struck by projections 5 on the front ends of the bolt when the bolt is in the latter part of the movement to the rear, and after it has pressed between the inclines о о, to cause the carriers to grip the cartridge. This throws up the front of the carrier end in the ordinary manner. An ordinary retractor, 3, serves to draw back the empty shell. The ejector consists of the stud 6, which fits in a hole bored in one side of the bolt, in which it is held by a pin. It has free but limited move- ment, and just before the bolt reaches its rear- most limit the end of this stud strikes against the shoulder 4 and is thrown forward into po- sition shown in Fig. 2. As the forward end of the shell has at that time cleared the bar- rel, it is thrown out by the projecting end of the stud. At the same the projection 5 has caused the forward end of the carrier to rise with the cartridge received from the magazine. It is held up by pressure of the magazine- spring against its forward end. Luring the rise of the carrier the cartridge is gripped se- curely by the inward movement of the walls, caused by the rearward movement of the part b of the lever pressing between the inclines о o, as heretofore explained. This gripping takes place just before the rise of the carrier. 40 The reverse movement of the carrier, w’hich brings forward the bolt and drives the car- tridge to its seat, at the same time throws down the carrier, ready for another cartridge. The last part of the movement of the lever locks 45 the bolt in place and lets the end of the firing- pin rest upon the cartridge. We claim as onr invention— 1. In a breech-loading fire-arm, and in com- bination, a bolt for closing the breech, and a 50 lever connected to the bolt and pivoted on a sliding block provided with a spring, said le- ver having a seat in the receiver, whereby it locks the bolt, all substantially as described. 2. In a breech-loading fire-arm, and in com- 55 bination with a horizontally-moving breech- closing bolt and operating-lever pivoted there- to. a carrier composed of two parts pivoted separately,for vertical and slight lateral move- ment, the front ends of which parts are pro- 60 vided with ears adapted to grip the car- tridge, and the rear ends formed with inclines adapted to the lever which is located between the two parts, all substantially as described. In testimony whereof we have signed our 65 names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. JOHN M. BEOWNING. MATTHEW S. BROWNING. Witnesses: D. Johnson, D. W. Felshaw.
3 Sheets—Sheet 1 iNo Model.) J. M. & M. S. BB.OWNING MAGAZINE GUN No. 324,296. Patented Aug. 11, 1885.
(No Model.) 3 Sheets—Sheet S J. M. & M. S. BROWNING. MAGAZINE GUN. No. 324,296. Patented Aug. 11, 1885.
3 Sheets—Sheet 3. No Model.) J. M. & M. S. BROWNING. MAGAZINE GUN. No. 324,296. Patented Aug. 11, 1885. /'/ГХУг/сГ
United States Patent Office. JOHN M. BROWNING AND MATTHEW S. BROWNING, OF OGDEN CITY, UTAH TERRITORY, ASSIGNORS TO THE WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS COM PANY, OF NEW HAVEN; CONNECTICUT. MAGAZINE-GUN. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 324,296, dated August 11, lt}85. Application filed Marell 5, 1883. (No model J To all whom it may concern: Be it known that we, John M. Browning and Matthew S. Browning, of Ogden City, in the county of Weber and Territory of Utah, 5 have invented a new and useful Improvement in Magazine-Guns; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same. Our invention relates to that class of brecch- io loading fire-arms in which the breech piece or bolt is arranged to move back and forth in an axial line with the bore of the barrel, and is operated by a finger-lever extending below the receiver and forming the trigger-guard. 15 The main part of the invention is adapted especially to magazine-guns, but is also appli- cable to single loaders. In connection with this main part we have also shown subordinate features, all as hereinafter fully explained. 20 The principal part of the arm is the device for locking the bolt when the breech is closed, the object of this being to provide an inde- structible dead lock for the bolt. The second feature consists of an improved construction 25 of ejeclor. The third feature relates to the construction of the carrier, and the subordi- nate lealiires are explained hereinafter. In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 shows a central longitudinal vertical section jo of the receiver and bolt of the arm with its ad- jacent parts, and witl^ the working parts in side elevation, the figure showing the breech closed. Fig. 2 shows a like section with the working parts in side elevation and with the 35 breech open.. Fig. 3 is a top view of the re- ceiver and bolt with its adjacent parts. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the carrier. Fig. 5 is a sec- tional cut on line x z, looking from point 1, Fig. J. Fig. (> is a side view with the wall of 40 the reeei ver taken away, showing the extractor and the improved carrier for cutting otf the cartridges in the magazine or stopping the one next to the one coming into the carrier at any point, desired. Fig. 7 is a detail plan view of 45 the extractor shown in Fig. 6. In these drawings, the receiver A with its bottom plate, 6, and the magazine e and bar- rel d are shown in their usual relation to each other. The bolt В is arranged to be moved I longitudinally from the rear end of the barrel, 50 in order to open, and toward it to close, the breech. The bolt slides in guiding-grooves in the usual manner. The upper part of the bolt is chambered out to receive the locking-block f. This locking-piece, in connection with the 55 lever, locks the bolt in position to close the breech. The main part of the locking piece is narrow, as shown in plan view, and/is en- larged at the forward end, the chamber in the bolt being formed accurately to receive it. 60 The piece is pivoted at its rear end within the bolt by a pivot, g. The front end of the lock- ing piece is formed on a enrve struck from this pivot <7, and the front wall of the chamber in. the bolt has a corresponding curve, so that the 65 locking-piece fits accurately against it when said piece is down in locking position.. The wide side of the forward end of the locking-' piece extends laterally below the bolt and fits accurately into a rec-css, i, cut into the walls 70 of the receiver on the arc of a circle struck from the same, pivoty. This recess in the wait extends down to or near to the lateral guiding- grooves of the bolt, and when the locking- piece is down the lateral wings or extension^ 75 of its forward end extend down near to thfs groove. The forward end of the locking-piece has sufficient upward movement to cause the lateral extensions to clear the lateral recess. The lacking piece is pivoted to the lever J 8q. by a pin, ?. The lower part of the locking- piece is made thin, and extends between the split end of the lever. The pin passes snugly through the end of the lever and through a slot in the locking-piece, this slot being long 85 enough to provide for the necessary lost mo- tion in the operation of the parts. The lever J is pivoted at к in the receiver. Its front end fits against the bolt on an arc. of a circle formed from the joint-pin k, and the rear of 90 the lever is also formed on an arc of t he circle struck from the same pin and bears against a corresponds ugly-shaped portion of the abut- ment of the bottom plate. The parts arc so adjusted to each other that 95 as soon as the bolt is brought to itsscatin the breech the lateral extensions of the end of the locking-piece are in line with the recess i, and
2 324,296 5 io '5 20 25 3° 35 4° 45 50 55 6o 65 Fig. 2. Another pin//', is placed in the fin- ger-lever in such position that when the lever is thrown back the front end of pin q' will 70 press against the rear end of the pin q. The latter pin is set in the bolt so as.to project from its face to one side of its center. The pin </" isprovided with a spring, as at 5, which keeps it pressed outward against the pin in 75 the bolt, and this pressure beingexerted upon the shell or cartridge head near its edge will force the shell to one side and slightly under the overhanging flange of the receiver, and thus hold it down until the carrier begins to 80 rise, the spring while exerting this pressure being slightly compressed. When this latter action takes place, the shell or cartridge will be drawn from under the side of the receiver and lifted up slightly. The spring ejector-pin 85 I q" will then exert its whole force, and its rear end will also strike against the hammer, as shown in Fig. 2, and the shell will be thrown from the piece. During this action the shell is held in the usual manner by the extractor 90 upon its upper edge. Our improved carrier is designed not only to clamp the cartridge, but also,in connection with the special construction of the beveled shoulder и upon the side of the bolt, it is de- 95 signed to stop the next cartridge in from of the one moving upon the carrier, and to pre- vent it from following the first upon the car- rier. Otherwise it would lock the currier and prevent it from rising. This is liable to happen ico where a cartridge is used of too little length. The carrier is composed of two parts, r and s. These are pivoted to the receiver by two short screws passing through their rear ends. The rear ends also extend upward and have 105 shoulders, as shown at e, these shonlders being arranged to be struck by the shonlders c' on the forward end of the bolt in the usual manner. The sides are also provided with upwardly-extending wings 2, adapted to grip nc- the cartridge when the sides are brought to- gether. The rear end of the part s also ex- tends back and up, as shown at v, entering slightly into a recess in the under side of the bolt. This recess termi nates at the front in a 115 beveled shoulder, w, which is intermediate be- tween the shoulder c' on the bolt and the pro- jection v on the carrier. The shoulder n acts upon the projection v to elevate the carrier sufficiently to block the entrance thereto, and 120 the shoulder o' in the continued movement of the bolt acts upon the projection c to elevate the carrier and cartridge carried thereby to the.bore of the gun. The distance between и and v is of course less than that between F 125 and c, in order to give the Successive move- ments to the earner. A screw-pin, 3, passing through the sidepieces diagonally,is made fast to the part s, and fits loosely into the part r. The forward ends may be fitted to each other 130 by inclined faces, as shown at 1. The part r is slotted where it is pivoted to the receiver, as shown in Fig. 2. The upwardly extension I on the part r is farther forward when the car- further moi ement of the lever brings down the locking-piece with these extensions in the recess i. At the same time the rounded bear- ings ou the lever fit against the abutment in the bolt and the bottom plate so that the bolt is securely locked in place by an indestructi- ble lock. In order to hold the breech closed, a, spring may be applied in various ways. We have shown a convenient form in Fig. 1, for which the locking-piece is bored longitudinally from the rear and a spring, u', inserted, the hole be- ing stopped by a plug, r. The front end of the spring bears against the bottom of the hole and the rear end against a pin, w. The pin passes through the bolt and through the locking-piece, the hole in the locking-piece being elongated to allow the necessary move- ment of the locking-piece. The elongated hole may be grooved and the arc of a circles! ruck from the point fj, ami as the front eml of the piece is raised the spring is compressed by lhe movement of the piece on the pin w, the spring thus having the effect to hold the front end of the locking-piece continually down, and with it the. lever to which it is connected. The hammer m is arranged tostrike the pin •n, contained in the locking-piece, and adapt- ed to slide with a limited movement in said piece, with its front end projecting, when pressed forward, slightly beyond the front end of the piece. When the* locking piece is down in position, which, as before explained, occurs when the breech is closed, the pin n is in line with the firing-pin о in the front end of the bolt,-and it is only when the parts are in this position, as shown in Fig. 1, that the blow of the hammer can be transmitted to the. car- tridge. The bolt is adapted to be used with any or- dinary extractor—for example, as that shown in Fig. 1; but we have devised an improved form which we purpose to use with this gun. This form is shown in Figs. 6 and 7. The front end of the bolt is bored out to receive the shank a of- the extractor. This bore is slightly inclined, the lower part being a little forward of the upper part, which causes the extractor to hug more closely to the shell when the bolt is drawn back. .The hole fitted to the reduced end of the ejoetor-shank is preferably first formed by goring a smaller hole, which is then enlarged from both ends, leaving a shonlder or rib, e. The shank is formed with a slot, d', adapted to receive the firing pin and to permit the necessary vertical niovement of the extractor. The extractor is drawn down by means of a spring,/;', the upper ends of which rest against tlie shoulder c and the lower against a nnt, which gives it a proper tension. The plan view, Fig. 7, shows the relation of the ejector and firing-pin. An ejector-pin, q, is set in the front end of the bolt in an inclined position, and has suit- able niovement, so that it mayr advance be- yond the face of the locking-bolt, as shown in |
ricr is down than the part «, so that when the I bolt moves back it strikes the shoulder on the [ part r first, and the part .shaving nolongitudi- | nal movement on its pivot the part r is car- i 5 ried back, and by reason of the inclination of the pin 3 the forward ends arc brought to- gether, clamping the cartridge on the carrier; but this clamp will be released as soon as the bolt begins to move forward. ic In the operation of the gun,when thebvceeh bolt is drawn back the incline и is caused to strike against the rear upper end of the car- rier, moving the forward end up sligh tly,so as to obstruct the passage of the next eartridge 15 upon the carrier. It is held in this position until the projection on the holtstrikesthe pro- jection on the carrier and throws the carrier up, bringing the cartridge into line with [he bore of the gun. 20 The operation of the gun is as follows; Sup- pose there is a cartridge in the barrel and the magazine is loaded and breech closed, the breech is opened by pressing thclever forward juthe usual manner. The first effect of this 25 movement is to raise the front end of the lock- ing-piece and this unlocks the bolt. The lever through the locking-piece carries the bolt back, the extractor being engaged with the flange of the eartridge and drawing it back, 30 at the same time sliding back on the carrier from the magazine. The hammer has been forced back to full cock and caught by the trigger. When near the limit of the back- ward movement of the bolt.theshoulder on its 35 front end strikes the upward extension of the part r of the carrier and slides saidpart "back- ward,causing the carrier to grip the cartridge, holding it firmly. Further movement of the bolt causes it to strike the shoulder on the 40 part e, and the whole carrier is raised till the forward end of the cartridge is in line with the bore of the barrel. At the same time the ejector-pins have come into line with each 'other, and are pressed forward by striking 45 against the hammer, so that the forward pin is forced out, thus throwing out the shell or cartridge. The movement of the lever being reversed, it first opens the carrier by releas- ing the partr. Continued movement causes 50 the bolt to for > the cartridge from the carrier into the barrel, and then throw down the car- rier. to receive Another cartridge from the magazine. Finally,it draws the locking-piece into place. Thisleaves thejfirin'g-pins in line,. 55 and the gun is ready to fire, It will lie observed that the gun cannot be discharged until the breech is closed and locked, as the pins do not come into line until the locking has been effected. 60 We claim as our invention— 1. In a magazine-gun, the combination, with a sliding bolt, of a chamber therein, a lock-- ing-piece fitting within said chamber and pivoted to the belt at the rear end thereof, 65 lateral extensions on said locking-piece adapt- ed to fit into recesses in the sides of the re- ceiver, and an operating-lever to which the said locking-piece is pivoted, substantially as described. 2. In a magazine-gun, the combination, with 70 a sliding bolt, of a chamber in the top thereof, a locking-piece pivoted within said chamber to the bolt, lateral extensions on the forward end of the locking-piece adapted to corre- sponding recesses in the walls of the receiver, 75 and an opera! ingle ver connected to said lock- ing piece by a pin and slot connection, sub- stantially as described. 3. In a magazine-gun, and in combination with the recessed side walls of the receiver 80 and the sliding bolt having a chamber there- in, the locking-piece f, pivoted within the said chamber at the rear end thereof and having lateral extensions on its forward end adapted to the recesses of the receiver, the 85 operating-lever pivoted to the said locking- picce at the forward end thereof, and aspring contained in said locking - piece adapted to keep the forward end down, and through it the lever, substantially as described. 90 4, In combination with the sliding bolt, the firing pin made in two parts, one of said parts being carried in the forward end of the said bolt, the locking-piece fitted to a recess in the sliding bolt and carrying the other part of the 95 firing-pin, and the operating-lever, all the parts being constructed and arranged where- by the section n of the pin is moved out of alignment with the section 0 when the breech begins to open, and is in alignment therewith rco when the breech is fully closed, substantially as described. 5. In a magazine gun, the combination,with a sliding bolt, operating-lever, and extractor, of the ejector-pins g r/, one of said pins being 105 carried in the sliding bolt and the other in the operating-lever, and adapted to operate in connection with each other in the manner de- scribed. 6. In a magazine-gun, the combination, with no a sliding bolt and operating-lever, of a two- part carrier provided with extensions on the upper rear portion thereof adapted to be struck by shoulders on the bolt, and exten- sions on the upper front portion thereof adapt- 115 ed to grasp the cartridge, one part of said car- rier beingpivoted on a pin; projecting through the wall of the receiver and passing through a slot in the rear thereof, and the other] part beingpivoted on a similar pinto turn With* 120 .out sliding, all substantially as described. 7. In a magazine-gun, tlic combination,with a sliding bolt and operating-lever, of the|two-/ part carrier r s, the diagonal screw or pi n 3, " and the extensions 2 in the upper front por- 125 tion of said carrier, whereby, when the bolt is retracted, the part r of the carrier is moved longitudinally and laterally on the pin 3 to- ward the part e to grasp the cartridge, allsub- stantially as described. 130 8. Ina magazine-gun, the combination, with Я eliding block and operating-lever, of a two- part carrier, one of said parts being provided with a rear extension, r, projecting upward
4 324.296 in Io a recess in the bolt, the said recess ter- minating in a shoulder, u, which is adapted to strike anddepressthcextension v toslightly raise the forward end of the carrier to arrest 5 the eartridge next to that on the carrier, and the projection c', on the forward end of the bolt, adapted in the continued movement of the bolt to act upon the projection c above the pivotal point of the carrier to elevate the to said carrier and present the cartridge to the bore of the gun. 9. In a magazine-gun, the combination, with a sliding bolt, of an extractor having a shank fitted to a recess extending downward through 15 the end of the bolt and aspringonsaid shank, substantially as described. 10. In a magazine-gun, tire combination, with a sliding bolt, of an extractor, a shank extending at an angle thereto and fitted to an inclined hole in the bolt end, and a spring 20 on said shank, substantially as described. In testimony whereof we have signed onr • names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. ’ j JOHN M. BROWNING. MATTHEW S. BROWNING. Witnesses: Louis Farr, D. W. Fei.shaw.
•No Model.) 2 Sheets—Sheet 1 J. M. & M. S. BROWNING. MAGAZINE FIRE ARM.
2 Sheets—Sheet 2. No Model.) J. M. & M. S. BROWNING. MAGAZINE FIRE ARM.
United States Patent Office. JOHN M. BROWNING AND MATTHEW S. BROWNING, OF OGDEN CITY, UTAH TERRITORY, ASSIGNORS TO THE WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS COM- PANY, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT. MAGAZiNE FIRE-ARM. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 324,297, dated August 11, 1885. Application filed May 2G. 1885. (No model.) To all whom it may concern: Be it known that we, John M. Browning and Matthew S. Browning, of Ogden City, in the county of Weber and Territory of 5 Utah, have invented a new and useful Im- provement in Magazine-Guns; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same. Our invention relates to breech-loading and i о magazi ue fire-arms, a part thereof being adapt- ed to be used without the magazine. The first part of the invention relates to the firing pin, and has for its object to provide a simple mechanism impossible to-explode the 15 cartridge until the breeoh is closed. The object of the second part is to provide an improved ejector mechanism, and of the third part to improve the carrier mechanism. In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is 20 a central longitudinal section through the chamber of the pieceand the breech-bolt, the breech being closed. Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing the parts in the position when the breech is open. Fig. 3 is a top view.of the 25 carrier. Fig. 4 isa transverse section through the carrier and the walls of the receiver. Fig. 5 represents* the face of the bolt. We first proceed to describe the improved firing-pin and its connections. 30 In these drawings, A represents the breech- bolt in line with the bore of the gun. It is operated bjr means of a lever, 2, pivoted to a swivel, 3, and $0 the bolt by a pivot, 14. The end of the lever bearing upon the bolt is 35 rounded and bears against the seat in the bolt in which it turns. It abuts with a like seat against the swivel,, and the swivel is pivoted upon an' abutment in the rear part of the chamber. The firing-pin 1. is placed within 40 the bolt, which is bored out to receive it. The pin is made small from its forward end back to the shoulder 11, and the enlarged part in rear of this shoulder is provided with a notch, 12, on its under side. The small portion of 45 the firing-pin is flattened on its sides and passes through the lipper part of the lever 2 and also through the upper part of the safety- lever 7, hereinafter explained, both of which arc slotted to receive the pin. The safety. locking-lever 7 is. pivoted at its forward end 50 to the bolt by a pivot, 13, its-rear end being slightly upturned and fitted to the notch 12 in the enlarged part of the firing pin. It has also an upward extension, 16, forming a shoul- der a little in rear of the pivot 13. A spring, 55 8, is placed upon the firing-pin, its rear end bearing upon the shoulder 11 and its front end upon the projection 16. The front end of the safety-lever 7 is struck by the lever 2 in the latter part of the movement of said lever to 60 close the breech, and the latter part of said movement, moves tile safety-lever sufficiently to throw the lower end out of the notch 12. From the above description it will be clear that when the lower end of the lever 2 is pressed 65 down to open the breech it will drop away from the forward end of the safety-lever 7, and the spring 8, pressing a little above the path of the safety-lever, will tend to th row the rear endupwardagaiustthefiring-pin. Now, when 70 the hammer is drawn back the spiral spring 8, by pressing upon the. shoulder 11 of the firing-pin, will press the firing-pin back, and as soon as the notch 12 passes the rear end of the safety-lever this end will snapnp into the 75 notch 12. This movement is sufficient to draw the front end of the firing-pin into the bolt, away from the cartridge, and it will be appar- ent that the gun could not be fired in the po- sition shown and described until the breech 80 is again closed and the lever2 brought up into . position in contact with the forward end of the safety-lever. Our improved ejector is shown at 20. It is located in the forward end of the bolt ou one 85 side of the center thereof, sufficiently to avoid the firing-pin. Its rear cud extends down- ward and backward diagonally to the bottom of the bolt. Its lipper end, 21, is bent up- ward past the center of the bolt, and lies in a 9c recess in the face of the bolt. The lower end projects slightly, so as to be in proper posi- tion to be struck by shoulder 22 on the for- ward end of the lever when the said lever is moved and the breech-bolt is forced to its 95 rearward limit, and thus the.rear end of the ejector is pressed upward and forward. The head of the cartridge being held by the upper
2 324,29? edge, this pushing forward of the ejector throws the shell out. The hammer is of ordinary construction. (Indicated at 5.) 5 The trigger 4 is located in the slotted rear end of the swivel, and is pivoted upon the same pin. The carrier is composed of two parts, as shown more clearly in Figs. 3 and 4. These io two parts, except at the forward end, have comparatively thin sides, chamfered on the outside from near the upper to the lower edge, as shown in Fig. 4. Thefront partof theside pieces are thicker, as shown atp <?, theformer 15 being shorter, and the latter extends across the front of the former the entire width of the carrier. These parts are connected by a pin, r, formed upon or set into one of the pieces and projecting loosely into the other. The 20 parts are fitted to each,other so as to allow them to rock slightly upon the pin r, to cause the forward edges to advance toward and recede from each other. The carrier is piv- oted in the receiver by a pin, 0, passing 25 loosely through the sides of the carrier, so as not to interfere with the above-described movement of the sides, the pin being set in the walls of the receiver. Thus the car- rier swings upon this pin vertically, and the 30 sides rock slightly also. Upon the lower rear partof the carrier sides are small inclined pro- jections 1t, of such positionand of such shape, as shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 4, that when the lever is in the position shown in Fig. 2, be- 35 tween the sides of the carrier, it will bear against the projections tt, and thus throw out the lower sides of the carrier. This tips in the upper forward sides and causes the carrier to grip the cartridge. Tire forward end of the 40 carrier is adapted to'receive the cartridge, be- ing hollow, as shown iu Fig. 3, and provided with beveled ears ss, which damp.the car- tridge. The upper end of the lever 2 in its forward position passes between these ears 45 and separates the npper sides and ears, ready to receive another cartridge. The sides of the carrier at their rear ends are provided with upward projections 17 17, and adapted to be struck by the shonlders 9 and 10 on the under 50 side of thesliding bolt A. The position of the shoulder 9 is such that they strike the projec- tion 17 as the breech-block, approaches its rearmost limit, and the projections 10 are adapted to throw down the carrier as the bolt .55 closes the breech. The novelty Of this construction.consists in the lateral rocking of the sides of the carrier. In the operation of the arm the magazine is loaded at the side through an ordinary spring- 60 trap. A cartridge or shell being in the cham- ber, suppose the lower end of the lever to be thrown forward. The first effect of this move- ment will be to slide the bolt backward and begin to force the hammer to the full-cock 65 notch. At the same time the forward portion of (lie lever drops away from the safety lever 7, and the spring 8 then begins to exert its force. The first action of the spring is to press the firing-pin to its rearward limit of movement, thereby drawing the forward end 70 of said pin even with or slightly within the face of the bolt, and by this movement, also, the notch 12 passes the rear end of the safety- lever, which, through the spring acting’upon the shoulder 1G, is forced into the notch, as 75 shown in Fig. 2. A further movement of the lever forces the hammer to the full-cock notch and carries the breech-bolt back until the car- tridge or shell is drawn from the barrel. The ejector is then struck by the shoulder 22 on 80 the lever as the upper end of the latter turns, and is forced quickly outward, which has the effect of ejecting the shell or cartridge from the chamber. The same movement of the le- ver has also spread the lower edges of the car- 85 rier sides and caused the ears s to grip the cartridge, which has been forced back by the magazine-spring onto the carrier. The last part of the backward movement of the bolt also, by means of the shoulders 9 and 17 on 90 the bolt and carrier, respectively, forces up the forward end of the carrier and presents the cartridge to the bore of the barrel. The return movement of the lever slides the bolt forward and at the same time relieves the 95 pressure from the ejectdr-pin, which .is then' free to drop back into its place flush with the face of the bolt. The face of the bolt then strikes the head of the cartridge (the firing- pili being still held within the bolt by the юс safety-lever) and pushes it into the bore of the barrel, while the lever spreads the sides of, the carrier. The last part of this' return move- ment throws down the carrier by the means before described and brings the forward por- 105 tion of the lever 2 to bear upon the safety- lever 7, thereby forcing its rear end from the notch 12 and leaving the firing-pin free to be acted upon by the hammer. In the bottom plate of Fig. 1 we show a de- no vice which we term a “safety-valve,” It can be arranged in different ways and in any part or piece of the gun best suited for it. Some- times the head of a cartridge blows off in firing,. and if the end of the bolt does not fit exactly 115 against the barrel there is a great escape of gas into the breech,which is liable to swell or burst the receiver and disable the gun. By this arrangement, no matter how much gas escapes into the breech, this valve opens aud 120 allows it to escape without injury to the arm. The following is a description: In Fig. 1 is shown a valve, 23, swinging on the pin 30. It is arranged to swing outward. At 15 is rep- resented a spiral spring arranged to hold the 125 valve closed. The bottom plate is cut through into theinterior. It is evident that when there is any gas-pressure on the inside the valve will be blown open, and when-the pressure is gone the spring will close it again. 130 We claim as bur invention— 1. The combi nation, in a brcech-loading fire- arm, of thesliding bolt, a firing-pin having an enlarged rear end and shoulder, 11, said pin be
324,297 3 5 ic 15 20 25 30 i ng fi tted to the longi tud i nal bore of the breech- bolt, a lever, 7, pivoted to the bolt and hav- ing an upward extension, the rear end being adapted to a notch in the firing-pin and the forward end being in the line of movement of and operated by the lever 2, and a spring in the firing-pin having one end bearing upon the shoulder of the pin and the other end bearing on the upward projection of the lever 7, where- by the rear end of the lever is elevated, all substantially as described. 2. Theeombination, in a breech-loading fire- arm, of the breech-bolt having a longitudinal bore, the firing-pin borne therein, having an enlarged rear end and flattened front end, the safety-lever pivoted to the bolt and fitted to a notch in the firing-pin, thespringin thefiring- pin, the slotted upward extension of the lever, through which the firing-pin passes and upon which the spring bears, and the slotted upper end of the lever 2, all substantially as described. 3. In a magazine fire-arm, a carrier com- posed of two side pieces loosely pivoted at their rear ends upon a pin and pivoted to each other at their front ends to permitlateral rock- ing motion, in combination with inclined pro- jections on the inner lower surfaces ofsaid side pieces, at the rear thereof, and the operating- lever, the said lever spreading the upper part of the sides in advancing and closing the same in retracting the bolt, substantially as de- scribed. 4. Ina magazine fire-arm of substantially, the form described, a carrier composed of two parts having the rear projections, 1t, the ears 35 s s, at the forward upper part, adapted to the lever,whereby the parts may be spread, the front thicker portions formed to grip the car- tridge, one overlapping the other, and thelon- gitudinal pivot r, connecting the two parte 40 and permitting a rocking motion, all substan- tially as described. 5. In a breech-loading fire-arm, a safety spring-valve in the bottom of the receiver, consisting of a valve, 23, pivoted upon a pin,- 45 30, and having a rear projection adapted to receive the pressure of the spring 15, fitted in a cavity in the receiver, whereby the said valve is kept normally closed, but is adapted to open outward when the pressure from within ex- 50 ceeds the pressure of the spring. In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. JOHN M. BROWNING. MATTHEW S. BROWNING. Witnesses: Geo. B. Dougr.ass, D. AV. Felsiiaw.
4 Sheets—Sheet 1. (No Model.) J. M. & M. 8. BROWNING-. MAGAZINE EIRE ABM. No. 336,287. Patented Feb. 16, 1886.
4 Sheets—Sheet 2. (No Model.) No. 336,287 J. M. & M. 8. BROWNING. MAGAZINE FIRE ARM. Patented Feb. 16, 1886.
4 Sheets—Sheet 3. (No Model.) J. M. & M. 8. BROWNING. MAGAZINE FIRE ARM. No. 336,287. Patented Feb. 16, 1886.
(No Model.) 4 Sheets—Sheet 4. J. M. & M. 8. BROWNING. MAGAZINE FIRE ARM. No. 336.287. Patented Feb. 16, 1886.
United States Patent Office. JOHN M. BEOWNING AND MATTHEW S. BEOWNING, OF OGDEN CITY, UTAH TEEEITOEY, ASS1GNOES TO THE WINCHESTEE EEPEATING AEMS COM- PANY, . OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT. MAGAZINE FIRE-ARM. ' SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 336,287, dated February 16, 1886. Application filed June 15,1885. Serial No. 168,738. (No model.)- To all whom it may concern: Be it known that we, John M. Browning and Matthew. S. Browning, of Ogden City, in the county of Weber and Territory of Utah, 5 have invented a new Improvement in Maga- . zine Fire-Arms; and we do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with ac- companying four sheets of drawings, and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a io 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 showing the ...meehanism in the normal or closed condition; 15 Fig. 2, a top view of the same complete; Fig. 3, a vertical section on line ж ж, looking rearward; Fig. 4, the same as Fig. 1, showing the parts in the extreme bpen position; Fig. 5, a trans- verse section on line у у of Fig. 4, looking for- 2o ward; Fig. 6, a longitudinal sectional view of the receiver, showing a side view of the breech- piece and carrier as in the opening movement; Fig. 7, a longitudinal section cntting through the opening for charging the magazine, and 25 showing a top view of the carrier; Fig.8,atrans- verse section through the carrier and receiver on line z z of Fig. 7, looking rearward; Fig. 9; a sectional side view showing the parts as in the position of the first part of the opening 30 movement, under the action of the slot & and before.the turning upon the pivot commences. This invention relates to an improvement in that cldss of arms in which the breech-piece is adapted to swing rearward and downward in 35 opening the breech for the introduction of a car- tridge to the barrel, or its removal-therefrom, and in Which the breech-piece is actuated by means of a lever beneath the receiver, and which lever forms the trigger-guard, and while 40 the improvement is specially adapted to maga- zine fire-arms having a magazine arranged longitudinally beneath the barrel, opening into the receiver below the barrel, parts of-the invention Э(ге applicable to single breech-load- 45 ers; and the invention consists in theconstruc- tion, arrangement, and Combination of parts, making •a complete organized arm, as herein- after described, and more particularly' recited in the claims. A is the receiver, which is constructed with 50 a tang, B, extending from the npper surface at the rear, and a similar tang, 0, beloW, for the purpose of securing the receiver to the stock—a common construction in this class of arm '. At the forward end of the receiver the 55 barrel Dis secured in the usual manner, open- ing into the receiver at the rear, the receiver in rear of the barrel constructed with a verti- cal opening through it, in which the operative mechanism of the arm is arranged. 60 E is the breech-piece, formed as a part of the trigger-guard lever F,.and is hung upon a pivot, a, in the lower part of the receiver, so that under the movement of the lever the breech-piece is turned backward and down- 65 ward, as from the position in Fig. 1 to that in Fig. 4. At the pivot a the breech-piece is constructed with a slot, &, to form the bearing upon the pivot, and so that a certain extent of radial movement is imparted to the breech- 70 piece, combined with its rotative movement. The. back of the breech-piece is segment- shaped, as seen in Fig. 6, and on this segmental portion a shoulder, d, is formed, which, When the breech-piece is in its closed position, rests 75 against a corresponding shoulder, e, in the re-. ceiver, (the shoulder seen in broken lines, Fig, 1,) these shoulders forming the resistance to support the breech-piece in its closed posi- tion against the recoil of the charge. When. 80 the breech-piece is in its closed position, with the shoulder engaged, as seen in broken lines, \ Figs 1, the lever below is drawn up to its place. against the receiver, bringing the lower end of the slot & substantially against the pivot,'the 85' slot then extending diagonally upward and rearward from the pivot,as indicated in Fig. 1. In the first movement,preparatory to opening the bree6h-piece, the lever is turned down- ward, as indicated in Fig. 9, the slot permit- 90 ting such movement without material move- ment of the breech-piece, and until the upper end of the slot comes to a bearing upon the pivot, as seen in that figure. This first pre- liminary movement of the lever takes the 95 shoulder d d®wn and away from the shoulder e in the receiver, and so as to release the breech- piece from its supporting engagement; then;
9 336,287 continuing the movement of the lever, the breech-piece may be turned rearward to its full open position, as indicated in Fig. 4, the lever turning upon the pivot in such move- 5 ment. Iii the rear portion of the breech-piece a vertical recess is made, in which the hamtaer . G is set, the hammer hung upon the same pivot, a, as the lever and breech-piece, and so that in the opening movement of the lever and io breech-piece the hammer will turn upon the same pivot as the breech-piece. /The nose of the hammer is adapted to abut against the for- ward end of the recess or strikipg-face in the breech-piece and bear toward the forward 15 face of the breech-piece. In the breech-piece the main spring H m arranged, which is of substantially usual form, and adapted to bear о the nose of the hammer with force toward its striking-point on the breech-piece. The trig- го ger I is hung upon a pivot, J, near the top of the receiver and in rear of the hammer. The back of the hammer is 6f segment shape, of which its pivot is the center. Upon the front face of the trigger is a notch, f, and upon the 25 back of the hammer is a shoulder, h, and so that-as the hammer is turned backward the shoulder h on the hammer will engage the notch f in the trigger and be there caught nnder the influence of the trigger-spring K, 30 as indicated in broken lines, Fig. 1. The ham- mer may be brought to this position while the breech-piece is closed, and discharged by the pull of the trigger in the usual manner. In the breech-piece, forward of the striking-face 35 of the hammer, the firing-pin L is arranged longitudinally through that portion of the breech-piece, and so that the face of the ham- mer may strike the rear end of the firing-pin and force it forward to deliver the blow of the 40 hammer, in the usual manner of communi- cating the blow of the hammer through the breech-piece to the cartridge in the barrel. As the breech-piece is thrown wide open for the introduction of the cartridge to the barrel, 45 the hammer moves with it beyond the point of engagement with the trigger, as seen in Fig. 4, and after the cartridge has been intro- duced to the barrel the breech^piece is returned to its closed position, and in Such return the .50 shoulder h, on the hammer will engage the notch/of the trigger before the breech-piece has fully closed, and will be retained by the trigger in that cocked position unless the op- erator prefers the hammer to follow the breeeh- 55 piece. In that case he pulls the trigger out of the path of the hammer, and so that the ham- mer may continue its closing movement with the breech-piece. On the front face of the ham- mer is a notch, m, immediatelyfeplow the point 60 where the face of the hammer strikes the rear end of the firing-pin. In the first part of the opening movement of the breech - piece, as indicated in Fig. 9, the striking-face of the breech-piece drops to such an extent as to 65 bring the rear end of the pin to the notch m on the face of the hammer, so that the force of the hammer upon the firing-pin is removed before the actual rear movement of the parts commences, and this non-contact of the ham- mer and firing-pin is maintained to its extreme 70 rear position, as indicated in Fig. 4. From this it follows that in the closing movement of the breech-piece the hammer and firing- pin will retain the same relative position until the breech-piece is closed, as seen in Fig. 9, 75 and the locking movement of the breech-piece commences. The final locking movement of -the breech-piece raises the striking-face of. the breech-piece, so as to bring the rear end of the firing-pin into striking contact with the go face of the hammer, as seen in Fig. 1. Upon the. under side of the breech-piece proper the extractor is arranged. This con- sists of a lever, n, hung by a longitudinal slot, 0, to a’fixed pivot, r, in the breech-piece, 85 (See Fig. 1.) The lever projects beyond the front face of the breech-piece and terminates in the usual hook shape. In rear of the ex- tractor-lever, and in a line below the pivot, a spring-spindle, s, is provided to bear forward 90 against the rear end of the lever n, to hold it in its extreme forward position, and so that when the breech-piece is in its closed position, as indicated in Fig. 1, the hooked portion of the extractor is forward of the front face of 95 the flange of the cartridge. The spring-spin- dle s permits the extractor to turn upon its pivot, so that as a cartridge or shell is being r withdrawn from the barrel the extractor still . Maintains its engagement with the shell, the юо '(hook portion following in tlje straight or lon- gitudinal line of the ontwardly-moving shell, as seen in Fig. 6, while the breech-piece fob lo ws the segmental path. The extractor is.ar- ranged at one side of the center, as indicated 105 in broken lines, Fig. 2, first, that it may not interfere with the movement of the firing- pin, and, second, that in the closing movement of the breech-piece Jhe nose of the extractor maybe out of line of the primer of a cartridge, no so thatjjyno possibility can the primer be struck by the extractor/ We have thus fiair described the invention , without reference to the magazine appliances, and to this extent the mechanism of the arm 115 is adapted to a single breech-loader. Beneath the barrel the mjagazine M is arranged in the usual longitudinal position, opening into the receiver directly below the rear open end of the barrel. In the receiver, and below the 120 breech-piece,the carrier N is arranged. It ex- tends rearward and is hung upon a pivot, t; ' Its'rear end is bifurcated, so as to permit the , swinging part of the lever and breech-piece to work through it, as seen in Fig. 31 Near 125. the forward end of the carrier wings P R are arranged—one upon one side and the other upon the opposite side—adapted to receive a cartridge from the magazine between them.’ 1 The two wings are curved upon the inner side. .130 The one wing, R, is laterally movable toward and from the other, as indicated in broken lines, Fig. 8. That it may be so moved, that side of the carrier is formed in a separate
336,287 piece, S, (see Fig. 5,) but corresponding th the opposite side of the carrier, and it is hung near its forward end to the carrier upon a stud, w, (see Figs. 7 and 8,) and so that the 5 wing R may be rocked laterally toward and from the other wing.P, as indicated iu broken lines, Fig. 8. When- in the extreme down po- sition, the wings stand separated, as seen in Fig. 8, and so that a cartridge may pass from jo the magazine between them. Upon the up- per fticeof the carrier, at it£ forward end and between the-wirigs,, a two armed lever, T IT, is hung in a longitudinal position, npon a pivot, w, and so that it may swing in a verti- 15 cal plane. When the carrier is in its down po- sition, as seen in Fig. 1, the upper surface of this lever T U stands flush with the bottom of the carrier, as seen in Figs. 1 and 8, and iu line with the bottom surface of the magazine, 20 the rear arm, U, of the lever taking a bear- ing upon the carrier below. The forward end of the arm T of the lever is turned outwrard toward the side of the receiver, as at 2' Fig. 7. Above the magazine at that side of the re- 25 ceiver is an inwardly-projecting stud, 3, (see , Fig. 7, and in broken lines, Fig. 4,) arid so that as the carrier is turned from the position seen in Fig. 1 to that seen in Fig. 4 the arm 2 from the lever will strike the said stud, ar- 30 resting the further movement, of that end of the lever, thereby causing the rear end to 'turn upward, as seen in Fig. 4, which will raise the rear £nd of the cartridge, as indi- cated in broken lines, Fig. 4, and bring it 35 into nearly longitudinal line with the bore of the barrel. Uponthe-under side of the breech- piece a shoulder, 4, is formed, against which a shell passing from the magazine onto the car- rier will strike before the cartridge shall have 40 passed entirely from the magazine, and so that the cartridge so standing will hold the first cartridge at some considerable distance forward of the rear end of the magazine, as in- dicated in Fig. 1; but as the breech-piece 45 commences its opening movement theshoulder 4 moves rearward, as indicated in Fig. 6, so as to permit the cartridge to have passed en- tirely onto the carrier; but during the time the cartridge has been thus completing its 50 movement onto the carrier the carrier has been raised, so as to take the forward end of the carrier to a point above the bottom of the magazine, as indicated in Fig. 6, so that that portion of the carrier will serve as a stop for 55 the said next cartridge, and the carrier is thus moved by a cam-surface, 5, formed npon the hub of the lever or breech piece, which strikes a corresponding surface, 6, on the carrier im- mediately after the unlocking movement of 60 the breech piece, (see. Fig. 5,) and then in the first part of the opening movement of the breech-piece the said Cam-surface raises the carrier from the position seen in Fig. 1 to that seen in Fig. 6. In that position the carrier 65 will stand until the: breech-piece approaches its extreme rear or open position, and as the breech-piece approaches its extreme rear po- | sition shonlders 7 8 on the breech-piece strike the ends 9 10 of the carrier, which project rearward beyond the pivots on which the car- 70 rier trims, and thereby force the carrier to its up or delivery position, as seen in Fig. 4. Then the breech-piece is closed, and in its closing movement strikes the rear end of the cartridge and carries it forward through the 75 carrier into its place in the barrel, and in the closing movement of the breech-piece shoul- ders 11 and 12 on the sides of the breech- piece strike the under side of the rear portion of the carrier and bring it to its .down posi- 80 tion, as seen in Fig. 1. To give to the wing В of the receiver its rocking movement, be- fore referred to, the shoulder 8 on the breech- piece, which strikes that arm of the receiver, is inclined downward and outward, as seen in 85 Fig. 5, and the upper edge of the arm S of the wing is correspondingly inelined, as seen in same figure, and so that as the shoulders come onto the respective arms or sides of the car- rier in rear of the pivot the inclined shoulder 90 8 on the carrier, striking the corresponding incline on the arm S of the wing B, will cause that arm to rock upon its pivots transversely and move inward, as indicated in broken lines, Fig. 8. The two arms of the carrier at 95 the rear are hung upon like pivots, the one, T, as before described, and the arm S upon a pivot, 13. As this rocking movement of the wing occurs during the upward movement of the breech-piece, the wing swings over the ioo cartridge to embrace it to such an--extent as to prevent it being thrown outward by the upward movement or momentum of the car- rier, but not so as to interfere with the trans- fer of the cartridge from the carrier to the 105 barrel. To charge, the magazine, the opening 14 is - made in the side of the receiver; (see Fig. 7,) and in that opening a cover, 15, is hnng, (see Fig. 4,) provided with a spring, 16, so that rxo the cover may turn inward, the breech piece being recessed, as indicated in Fig. 7, to per- mit such inward movement of the cover, so as to open a passage through the carrier to the magazine, as indicated in Fig. 7. 115 As an additional lock for the breech-piece in its closed position, or,rather,as a device to temporarily hold the breech-piece in its closed position, we make the mainspring of V shape, one arm hung upon the pivot of the hammer, гго the other arm bearing directly against the . hammer, the spring extending within the breech piece to the rear, and near its rear end we arrange within the breech-piece a fixed pin, stnd, or shoulder, 17, and which, wheu 125 the breech-piece is in its closed position, lies beneath the rear end of the mainspring, bnt . : in the first movement of the breech-piece the stud 17 passes below the end of the mainspring, and so as to escape therefrom, as seen in Fig. Г3Э 4; but as the breech-piece is returned, and in the final closing movement due to the inclined slot b, the stud 17 will be again brought into the rear of the spring, and there serve as a stop '
4 336,287 to offer a slight resistance to the opening move- ment of the breech-piece. ' While we prefer to employ the lever T U in the bottom of the carrier as a means to elevate 5 the rear end of the cartridge, this is not essen- tial to the successful working of the arm, and may be omitted. The wing R may also be made as a rigid part of the carrier, the same as the wing P, the two arms from the wings or io parts of the carrier extending rearward and both hung alike upon pivots; bnt we prefer the locking movement as a protection against the accidental displacement of the cartridge. We are aware that an arm has been eon- 15 structed with a breech-piece hung to turn up- on a pivot swinging backward and downward in opening, with a lever attached thereto for such movement, and that the breech-piece has been locked by constructing the breech-piece 20 with a slot to adapt the breech-piece to work upon a pivot, so that-the bearing-surface of the breech-piece may be brought against a corre- sponding bearing on the receiver to resist re- coil, and therefore do not claim, broadly, such 25 construction. We claim— 1. In a fire-arm, the combination of the bar- rel open at its rear end, a breech piece hung in the receiver in rear of said barrel, npon an 30 axis at right angles to the barrel, and so as to swing downward and backward in opening, and a lever extending from said breeeh-piece below the receiver as a handle by which the breech-piece may be opened and closed, the 35 breech-piece constructed with a slot inclined upward and backward from its pivot when the . breech-piece is in its closed condition, the breech-piece also constructed with a shoulder, ' d, and the receiver with a corresponding shoul- 40 der, e, against which said shoulder d will abut, when the breech-piece is in its closed position, to resist recoil, substantially as described. 2. The combination of the barrel open at its rear end, a breech-piece hung upon a pivot 45 in the receiver in rear of the barrel and so as to swing backward and downward in open- ing, the said breeeh-piece constructed with a lever extending beneath the receiver, and by , which the breech-piece may be turned upon 50 its pivot, the breech-piece also constructed with a slot at the pivot, inclined upward and rearward when the breech-piece is in its closed position, and also cohstrncted with a shoul- der, d, and the receiver with a corresponding 55 shoulder, e, against which said shoulder d will abut, when the breech - piece is in its closed position, to resist recoil, a hammer hung with- in the breech piece and npon the same pivot as the breeeh-piece, a mainspring also ar- 60 ranged within the said breech - piece and adapted to bear said hammer upon the strik- ing-face of the breech-piece, with a firing pin extending-longitudinally through the breech- piece from its striking-face forward, and a trig- 65 ger hung in rear of the hammer and adapted to engage a shoulder thereon when the hammer is in the cocked position, substantially as de- scribed. 3. The combination of the barrel open at its rear end, a breech;piece hung in rear of 70 the barrel adapted to swing backward and downward in opening, constructed with a lever extending beneath the receiver,by which the breech-piece may be turned upon its pivot, a hammer hung within the breech-piece upon 75 the same pivot as the breech-piece, a main- spring adapted to bear the said hammer against the striking-face of the breeeh-piece, a trigger arranged to engage the hammer in its cocked position, a firing-pin extending Ion- 80 gitudinally through the breech-piece from the striking-face forward,and theextractor-levern, hung in the breech-piece and adapted to swing in a vertical plane, v’ith a spring arranged to bear the nose of theextractor upward and to- 85 ward the barrel, substantially as described. 4. The combination of a barrel open at its rear end, a breech-piece hung npon the pivot in».rear of the barrel and arranged to swing backward and downward in opening, con- 90 structed with a lever extending therefrom be- neath the receiver, and by which it may be turned upon its pivot, said breeeh-piece also constructed with a slot at the pivot, inclined upward and rearward therefrom when the 95 breech-piece is in its closed position, the breech-piece also constructed with a shoulder adapted to engage a corresponding shoulder in the receiver when the breech-piece is in its closed position, a hammer hung within the 10 breech-piece and upon the same pivot as the breech-piece, the mainspring adapted to force said hammer against the striking-face of the breech-piece, a firing-pin extending longitudi- nally through the breech-piece, extending 105 from its striking-face forward, the hammer constructed with a notch below its striking- • point upon the firing-pin, and a trigger ar- ranged to engage the hammer when in its cocked position, substantially as described. - no 5. In a fire-arm, the combination Of the bar- rel open at the rear, a magazine beneath the barrel, open also to the rear, a breech-piece hnng/in the receiver at the rear of the barrel and below the magazine, adapted to swing 115 backward and downward in opening, said breech-piece constructed with an arm extend- ing below the receiver, and by which it may be turned upon its pivot, a hammer ar- ranged in said breech-piece and hung upon 120 the same pivot as the breech-piece, a main- spring adapted to force said hammer against the striking-face of the breech-piece, a firing- pin extending longitudinally through the breech-piece from its striking-face forward, a 125 trigger arranged to engage the hammer in its cocked position, and a carrier hung in the re- ceiver to move upward and downward to de- liver a cartridge from the magazine to a po- sition forward of the front face of the open 130 breech-piece, substantially as described. 6. In a fire-arm, the combination of the bar-
336,287 rel open at the rear, a magazine beneath the barrel, open also to the rear, a breech-piece hang in the receiver at the rear of the barrel and below the magazine, adapted to swing 5 backward and downward in opening, said breech‘piece constructed with an arm extend- ing below the receiver, and by which it may be turned Upon its pivot, the breech-piece also constructed with a slot inclined from the pivot io upward and rearward, dud also constructed with a locking-shoulder arranged to engage a corresponding shdulder on the receiver when the breech-piece is in its closed position, a hainmef arranged in said breech-piece and 15 hung upon the same pivot as the breech-piece, a mainspring adapted tp force said hammer against the striking-face of the breech-piece, a firing-pin extending longitudinally through the breech -piece from its striking-face for- 20 ward, a trigger arranged to engage the ham- mer injts cocked position,, and a carrier hung in the Receiver to move upward and down- ward tb deliver a cartridge from the magazine to a position forward of the front face of the 25 open breech-piece, substantially as described. 7. The combination of the barrel D, maga- zine N, breech-piecc E, hung below the barrel upon a pivot, a, the breech-piece constructed with a lever, F, extending downward beneath 30 the receiver, hammer G, hung within the breech-piece and upon the same pivot as the breech-piece, a mainspring adapted to bear the hammer against the striking-face 'of the ' breech-piece, a firing-pin extending longitu- 35 dinally through the breech-piece, a trigger arranged to engage the hammer when in its cocked position, the spring-extractor lever n, hung upon the under side of the breech-piece, the carrier hung at the rear, its two sides at 4c the forward end turned upward tb form wings P R, and the lever T U, hung in the bottom of the carrier at its forward end, the forward arm, T, of the lever constructed with atrans- - verse projection, 2, and a fixed stnd, 3, in the 45 receiver, against which the forward arm of said lever will strike as the carrier complbtes its forward movement, and so as to tnrn said, lever on its pivot to elevate the rear end of the cartridge, substantially as and for the pur- ee pose described. 8. The combination of the barrel D, maga- zine N, breech piece E, hung upon a pivot, a, and adapted to swing backward and down- ward in opening, the breech-piece constructed 55/ with d'lever, F, extending below the receiver, a hammer, G, hung within the breech-piece and upon the same pivot as the breech-piece, a mainspring arranged to force said hammer against the striking-face of the breech-piece, a firing-pin extending longitudinally through 60 the brcech-piece from its striking-face for- ward, a trigger arranged' t<7 engage the ham- mer when in its eocked position, a carrier hung at the rear and so as tb swing upward and downward within the receiver, the car- 65 rier provided at its forward end with wings PR, one of said wings fixed to the carrier, the other hung upon pivots and adapted to rock transversely toward the other wing, the breech - piece constructed with an inclined 70 . shoulder, 8, and the arm of said wing R con- structed with a corresponding incline, where- bjT the inward-rocking movement of the wing is imparted as the breech-piece approaches its extreme open position, substantially as de- 75 scribed. 9. The combination of a barrel open at the rear, a breech piece hung in the receiver be- low the barrel and arranged to swing back- vrard arid downward in ripening, and eon- 80 structed with a lever extending beneath the receiver, by which the breech-piece may be turned, upon its pivot, the said breech-piece also constructed with a slot at the pivot in- clined upward and backward when the breech- 85: piece is in its closed position, a locking shoul- der, d, on said breech-piece, corresponding shoulder, e, on the receiver, a hammer hung in the breech-piece and npon the same pivot as the breech-piece, a V-shaped mainspring ar- 90 ranged in said breech-piece, one arm sup- ported upon the pivot of the hammer, the other arm bearing directly upon the hammer, and a stud, 17, in the breech-piece adapted to bear against the heel of the mainspring 95 when the breech-pieeeisin its closed position, with a trigger arranged to engage the ham- ' < mer when in its cocked position, substantially as described. 10. In a magazine fire-arm, the combination too of the breech-piece and trigger-guard lever, through which movement is imparted to said breech-piece, a carrier arranged to receive a cartridge from the magazine and present it to the barrel above, the hub of said lever con- 105 structed with a cam-surface, 5, and the under side of the carrier constructed with a corre- sponding bearing-surfaee, 6, substantially as described, and whereby in the first part of the opening movement of the lever said cam-sur- no face raises the carrier to fortn a stop at the month of the magazine. JOHN M. BROWNING. MATTHEW S. BROWNING-. Witnesses: G. AV. Felsiiaw, Geo. B. Douglass.
(£Го Modei,) 2 Sheets—Sheet 1. J. M. & M. S. BROWNING-, MAGAZINE FIRE ARM. No. 345,881, Patented July 20, 1886,
(No Model.) J. M. & M. S. BROWNING. 2 Sheets—Sheet 2. MAGAZINE FIRE ARM. No. 345,881. Patented July 20, 1886.
United States Patent OfficEo JOHN M. BEOWNING AND MATTHEW S. BROWNING, OF OGDEN CITY, UTAH TERRITORY. MAGAZINE FIRE-ARM. SPECIFICATION fosming part of Letters Patent No. 345,881, dated July 20, 1886, Application filed December 28, 1885. Serial No. 180.852. (Ko model.». To oil -whom it ifbay concern: Be it known that we, John M. Browning and Matthew 8. Browning, of Ogden City, in the county of Weber and Territory of Utah, j have invented a new Improvement in Maga- zine Fire-Arms; and we do hereby declare the folio ving,when taken in connection with ac- conipanying drawings and the letters of ref- erence marked .thereon, to be a full, clear, -and io exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in— Figure 1, a sectional side view of the arm, showing the parts in the closed or normal con- 15 dition; Fig. 2, the same, showing the parts in the extremfi.npcr, position; Fig. 3, a sectional side view of the reverse from Fig. 1; Fig. 4, a vertical central section cutting on line x x of Figs. 1 and 2, showing the breech-piece in the 20 locked position; Fig. 5, the same, showing the breech-piece as turned from the locked, posi- tion of Fig. 4 to the unlocked position; Fig. (>, a top view of the carrier, showing the rear end portion of the slide/Kas it is about toen- 25 gage the carrier; Fig. 7, an under side view of the slide, lhe breech-piece showing the di- agonal slot by which theslideis contacted with the breech-piece; Fig. V, a .rear end view of the breech-piece; Fig. 8, a front end view of 30 the carrier; Fig. 9, a transverse section cut- ting close up to the rear end of the barrel and looking forward; Fig. 10, a transverse section through the. receiver and breech-piece when the breech piece is in the. rear position, and 35 cutting through the extractor and finger. This invention relates to an improvement in that class of breech-loading anti magazine fire- arms in which the breech-piece is arranged to be moved backward and forward in a lon- 40 gitndinal line with the barrel, commonly known as ‘’'bolt-guns,” the object of the invention be- ing the construction of an arm which will be specially adapted for the use of shot-shells, and by which rapid firing may be permitted, 45 and while specially relating to magazine fire- arms,parts of the invention are applicable to single breech-loaders; and the invention con- sists in the construction and combination of parts, as hereinafter described and part icular- 50 ly recited in the claims. A represents the reeei ver, to the forward end of which the barrel В is attached, and which opens rearward into the reeei ver; C,the breeeh- pieee, arranged in the receiver in line with the barrel, and so as to move backward in 55 opening and forward in closing in the axial line of the barrel; D, the hammer in rear of the breech-piece, hung upon a pivot, E, and provided with the usual mainspring,F,and trig- ger G. The breech-piece is provided with the 60 usual firing-pin, H, (not shown in detail,) but against which the hammer strikes to impart its.blow to the head of the cartridge in the usual manner. Beneath the barrel and parallel therewith 65 the magazine I is arranged, but so as to leave 'a space between the magazine and barrel. Upon the magazine a handle, J, is arranged, adapted to be readily moved backward and forward by the forward hand in the use of the 70 arm. The magazine opens into the receiver below the breech-piece in the usual manner.. From the handle J a slide, K, extends rear- ward between the magazine and barrel, and through a slot, L, in the receiver, as seen in 75 Figs. 1 and 9, the slide being in a plane par- allel with the axis of the barrel, and so as to move forward or back accordingly as the han- dle J is moved, guided by the grooves in the side of the receiver, as seen in Fig. 9. This 80 slide and handle are designed to operate'the mechanism of the arm. The breech-piece C is constructed with a shoulder, N, near its rear end, which rests against a fixed abutment, O, in the receiver 85 when the breech-piece is in thcclosed position, as seen in Figs. 3 and 4. That.the breech-piece inay escape from the shoulder so as to be moved rearward, it is constructed with a longitudinal recess, Г, be- 9c low the shoulder, and so that a partial rota- tion of the breech-piece will take the shoul- der above the abutment O, as seen in Fig. 5, and bring the recess P into line with the abut- ment-, and so that the brecch-piece may be 95 moved,rearward into the open position, as seen in Fig, 2. To impart such rotation to the breech -piece to disengage it from the abut- ment О the rear end of the slide K, which, when the breech-piece is closed, stands be- 100
345,881 neath its forward end, is constructed with a diagonal slot, Q, (see Fig. 7,) into which a stud, I?, on the brecch-piece extends, the stud standing at the rear end of the slot when the 5 slide is in its extreme forward position, and so that on the first part of the rear movement of the slide, as from the position in Fig. 7 to that shown in broken lines, same figure, the inclined slot Q, working against the stud E on jo the breech-piece,will cause the stud R to travel through the slot to its opposite end, and in So doing will impart to the breech-piece suffi- cient rotation.to take the shoulder M above ' or away from the abutment O, thus leaving 15 thebreech-piecefreefor rear movement. After the breech-piece has thus been turned and un- locked the continued rear movement of the. slide К under the action of the handle J will force the breech-piece to its rear position, as 2 г seen in Fig. 2. Then on the return of the slide E the breech-piece will move forward with it to its closed position, and. having arrived at its closed position the inclined slot Q, during the last part of the forward movement of' the 25 slide K, will return the .breech-piece to bring its shoulder I'T into engagement with the abut- ment O, and so as to hold'the breech-piece against recoil. On one side of the breech- piece is the usual spring exl ractor-hook, S, 30 (see Fig. 3,) and upon the opposite side is a finger, T, adapted to bear against that side of the cartridge, and so that the head of the cartridge may be grasped between the ex- tractor and the finger T in the usual manner; 35 but instead of making the finger T rigid, as is generally done. I hang it loosely to the brecch- p iece, so that a si ight lateral movement of it may be permitted at certain times. The extractor and the finger Tenter the cartridge-chamber in 40 the usual mannerto grasp the ilange of the car- tridge, and that they may not interfere with the rotation of the breech-piccc a corresponding recess is made in the rear end of the barrel, within which the extractor and finger may 45 move to permit such rotation of the breech- piece. These recesses are seen in Fig. 9. The outer surface of the finger-T corresponds to the outer surface of the breech-piece, and so that it is held in such position during the 5c niovement of the breech-piece; but at the ex- treme open position of the brecch-piecc a re- cess, U, is formed in the side of the re- ceiver. (sec Fig. 10,) corresponding to the fin- ger T’ in that position, niiii so unit when Inc 55 finger arrives at the said recess it is free for lateral movement, and because of such free- dom the grasp of the extractor upon the car- tridge or case is released and the cartridge is free to be removed or ejected. Below the Co brecch-piecc the carrier n is hung upon a pivot, b, at the rear, and so as to swing up and down, as from the position seen in Fig. 1 to that seen in Fig. 2. When in its down posi- tion, it is adapted to receive a cartridge from 65 the magazine, as seen in Fig. I., and in its up position to present that cartridge in line with the barrel. At the rear end of the carrier is an upwardly-projecting arm, d, which stands in the path of the slid&K in its rear move- ment, and so that as the breech-piece ap- 70 proaches its extreme rear position the rear end of the slide will strike the arm d. as indicated ,in broken lines,-Fig. 1, and in completing the rear movement of the breech-piece, as seen in Fig. 2, the carrier will be raised to its np 75 position. The slide К is constructed with an opening, e, (see Figs. 2 and 7,) through which the carrier may work. Oneside,/, of the car- rier is loose, or hung to the body of the car- rier, so as to permit a lateral swinging move- go ment. The forward end of the two sides extend upward and form inwardly-overhanging fin- gers g, adapted to embrace the cartridge in the carrier. The side/ of the carrier is hung upon the same, pivot b as the carriei fivot, 85 and. is secured at its front end by a sere v h, but, as before'stated, loosely hnng, so as to .permit the side/to swing inward, as indicated in broken lines, Fig. 8, or stand in that posi- tion, as seen in that figure. It is in this out or free position that the side/stands when the carrier is down, and so that the cartridge in the magazine may pass freely thereon. The side/is constructed with-an upwardly-pro- jecting arm, i, similar to the arm d on the 95 body of the carrier. The rear end of the slide К is constructed with an inclined bearing-sur- face, ?, in line with the arm i on the side /, and so that as the slide moves rearward, and just before it roaches the arm d of the carrier, joc the incline I will strike the arm i, as seen in Fig. 6, and under the continued movement of the slide the side/ will be turned inward, as seen iu broken lines, Figs. 6 and 8, and so that the cartridge will be grasped between the 105 forward portions of the two sides, as seen in Fig. 8. Thenassoon as the cartridge isgrasped the slide strikes the arm d, as also seen in Fig. G, and raises the carrier, with the car- tridge so grasped between the two sides of the r tc carrier that the cartridge cannot be thrown from the carrier, even under the quickest possible upward movement. In the use of the common cartridges, such as used for sporting purposes, it is desirable r 15 that they shall be presented in a position sub- stantially in axial line with the barrel—that is, without the inclination which would naturally follow from the position of the cartridge on the carrier. To do this I provide a device, 12c which,-ua the ««/лиг riaes, will raise tire fescr end of the cartridge faster than the movement of the carrier. This device consists of alever, m, hung on the side of the carrier upon a pivot, n, with a projection, o, from its forward arm 125 onto the bottom ofthe carrier, as seen in Fig. 6. Its rear arm is constructed with a slot, r, which works upon a stud, s,'fixed in the side of the receiver, and so that when the carrier stands in its down position the inward pro- 130 jeetion,o,lics upon the bottom of the receiver, and so that the cartridge may readily pass from the magazine over the projection 0, and against an abutment or stop, t, on the carrier,
345,881 3 as seen in Fig. 1; but as the carrier rises the stationary stud s holds the rear arm of the le- ver, thereby causing the forward arm to rise more rapidly than the carrier, and to such an 5 extent that when in its up position, as seen in Fig. 2, it will have raised the rear end of the cartridge into a position in substantially axial line, with the barrel and forward of the open breeeh-piece, as seen in Fig. 2. A spring, w, io is applied to the carrier, its rear end being- fixed above the pivot, say as in the arm d, the- forward end taking a bearing in the lever m at its hub and between its pivot and the fixed stud s. The tendency of this spring is to force 15 the lever m to its down position; but because its rear end is fixed, the reaction of the spring is rearward against the arm d, and therefore tends to hold the carrier in its up position to the extent that the spring is compressed by 20 the turning of the lover m independent of the carrier, and as indicated in Figs. 1. and 2. As the carrier returns to its down position the lever m is also returned because of its engage- ment with the fixed stud in die receiver. In 25 the.bottom of the receiver is an opening, w, (see Fig. 2,) which is filled by the bottom of the carrier, as seen in Fig. 1, so that when the arm is in its closed position the bottom of the receiver is closed; but when the carrier is jO raised the bottom of the receiver is open to the rear end of the magazine, and so that the magazine, may be charged through that open- ingw. To p 10 vi<1 e a latch wh ich w i 11 hold th e col u ш n 35 of cartridges in the magazine during the move- ment of the carrier, and also serve as a latch to engage each cartridge as it is introduced into the magazine, I hang a lever, 2, in a slot in the bottom of the carrier upon a pivot, 3, its 40 forward arm extending toward the magazine, and its rear arm hung to the forward arm of -the lever m, and so that while in the down po- sition the lever 2 will stand entirely within the carrier. As the carrier rises, the lever m 45 will raise the reaj: arm of the lever 2 and turn its forward end downward in rear of the mag- azine, and so as to stand in rear of the column of cartridges and form a stop, as indicated in Fig. 2. The spring of the carrier permits the 50 lever 2 to serve as a latch on the introduction of the cartridges, so that the head striking the lever 2 will turn its noseinward until the car- tridge passes beyond it,then under the action of the carrier-spring will be returned into its 55 position in rear of the last-entered cartridge. To charge the magazine, the parts are thrown to their open position, asseen in Fig. 2, and the cartridges introduced through the opening beneath the carrier. Co -To prevent the hammer from coming upon thefiring-pin until the breech-piece is in its closed position, I construct the rear end of the breech-piece with a diametrical groove or re- cess 4, (see Fig. 7J,) and into which the nose 65 of the hammer may strike. The rear end of the firing-pin stands in this recess, as seen in J?ig. 7, and so that the hammer must enter the recess in order to strike thefiring-pin. When the breech-piece is in its closed position, the recess stands in the plane of the hammer; but 70 as the brcech-piec ' is rotated, the recess is brought to a diagonal position, as indicated in broken lines, Fig. 7!‘, and so that the ham- mer cannot enter the recess; hence there is no liability of contact between the hammer and 75 firing-pin, excepting when the brecch-pieec is in its extreme closed position, so as to bring the recess I into the plane of the nose of the hammer. The hammer should be provided with a re- 80 bounding attachment, so that after it has struck its blow it may return so far as to take its nose out of the recess 4, and so as to per- mit the opening movement of the breech-piece. Such a rebounding device is not shown, as it 85 is a common and well-known mechanism, and not essential to this invention. A carrier having one side loose, so as to be turned inward or outward to open or close the carrier upon the cartridge, is shown in an- 9c otberapplication. We thereforedo not claim, broadly, in this application such a construc- tion of carrier. The carrier is thrown down as the breech piece advances by the forward end of the breeeh-pieee coming in contact with 95 an incline on the carrier, in substantially a well-known manner. The arrangement of the lever ш in the car- rier to raise the rear end of the cartridge may be applied to other magazine-arms having a 100 carrier which swings upward and downward -from a pivotal the rear and in connection therewith. The stop or latch lever 2 may be.einployed where the charging of the magazine is made 105 from below the carrier and when the carrier is in the raised position. We therefore do not wish to be understood as limiting these pgrts of our invention to any particular devices for- raising and lowering the breech-piece. 1 10 The arrangement of the slide between the magaziiieand barrel, and so as to work through a slot in the receiver between the magazine and barrel, in engagement with the operative parts of the arm, may be employed incounec- 115 t.ion with various mechanisms in this class of fire-arms. It will be understood that we do not claiin, broadly, an arm in whicha slide extends from the handle forward of the receiver backward 120 to engage the. mechanism of the arm, as such, we arc aware, is notour invention; but we are not aware that a slide has been arranged be- tween the barrel and magazine—that is,below the barrel and above the magazine—its for- 125 ward end connected to the handle and extend- ing rearward through a slot in the receiver between the magazine and barrel, the essen- tial feature in onr invention. Neither do we claim,broadly,a magazine arm having the car- 132 tier actuated by a slide or extension from a handle forward of the receiver. We claim— 1. In a magazine fire-aym ig which the mag-
4 345 azine is arranged beneath the barrel and the operative mechanism in the receiver in rear of the barrel, the combination therewith of a handle surrounding the magazine,and movable 5 backward and forward, and the slide between . the magazine and barrel attached to said han- dle and extending through an opening in the receiver between the magazine and barrel, the said slide in connection with the operative io mechanism of the arm, substantially as de- scribed, and whereby the forward and back sliding movement of the handle and slide im- parts corresponding movement to the oper- ative parts in the receiver. 15 2. In a fire-arm, the combination of a re- ceiver, a barrel attached to and opening into said receiver, a breech-piece arranged in said receiver to work backward and forward' in a longitudinal line with the barrel, the said 2c breech-piece also adapted for partial rotative movement, and constructed with a shoulder, N, near its rear end, and with a longitudinal recess, P, a stationary abutment, O, in the receiver, a slide arranged beneath the barrel. 25 and provided with a handle, whereby longi- tudinal reciprocating movement may be im- parted to said slide, the said'slide extended through a slot in the receiver beneath the bar- rel, its rear end constructed with the diagonal 30 slot Q, and the breech-piece provided with a corresponding stud, R, to work in said slot Q, substantially as described. 3. In a magazine fire-arm having the maga- zine arranged beneath the barrel, the combi 11a- 35 tion therewith of a slide, K, arranged between _ the barrel and magazine and adapted to work through a slot formed in the receiver between the barrel and magazine, said slide provided with a handle, whereby forward aud back re- 40 ciprocating movement may be imparted to saidslide, thebrccch-pieceC,arranged to move backward and forward in axial line with the barrel, and also adapted for partial rotation, the said slide constructed with a diagonal slot, 45 Q, and the breech-piece provided with a cor- responding stud, R, arranged to work in said slot, a shoulder, N, on the breech-piece, cor- responding fixed abutment О in the receiver, against which said shoulder is brought or from 50 which it is removed by the rotation of the breech-piece, and a carrier arranged beneath the breech-piece and adapted to move up and down to transform cartridge from the magazine to the barrel, the said slide constructed withan 55 opening through which said carrier will work when the breech-piece is in the open position, \ substantially as described. . 4. In a magazine fire-arm in which the mag- azine is arranged beneath the barrel, the com- 60 bi nation therewith <ff a breech-piece arranged in the receiver to be moved back and forward in axial line with the barrel, and a si ide, K, be- tween the barrel and magazine, and adapted to work through a slot formed in the forward 65 end of the receiver backward and forward be- tween the breech-piece and carrier, said slide provided with a handle surrounding the mag- ',881 azine, the saidslide connected with the breech- piece, whereby said breech-piece will receive a back and forward movement from said slide, 70 and the said slide constructed with an open- ing, e, through which the carrier will move to transfer the cartridge from the magazine to a position forward of thefrontfaceofthe breech- piece with a carrier hung in the rear beneath 75 the breeeh-piece, provided with an arm, d, extending upward from its pivot, the said arm standing in the path of the rear end of said slide, and with which said slide will engage as the breech-piece approaches its extreme go open movement, substantially as described. 5. In a magazine fire-arm in which the magazine is arranged beneath the barrel, the combination therewith of a breech-piece ar- ranged in the receiver to be moved backward 85 and forward in the axial line of the barrel, a slide between the magazine and barrel and arranged to work through a slot in the re- ceiver between the magazine and barrel, and the slide provided with a handle, the said 90 slide connected to the breech-piece, whereby the forward and back movement of the slide will be imparted to the breech-piece, and a car- rier hung at the rear, beneath the breech-piece, and so as to swing upward and downward, the 95 said carrier having one of its sides f hung loosely to the body of the carrier, and the for- ward ends of the two sides constructed with overhanging fingers g, the body of the carrier constructed with an arm, d, extending up from too its rear end into the path of the slide K, the loose side/, also constructed with a similar arm, i, in the path of the said slide K, butfor- ward of the arm d, the said slide constructed with an incline, adapted to engage the said 105 arm i of the loose side of the carrier before the rear end of the slide shall engage the arm d of the carrier, substantially as and for the pur- pose described. 6. In a magazine fire-arm in which the no magazine is arranged beneath the barrel, the combination therewith of a breech-piece ar- ranged to be moved backward and forward in the axial line of the barrel, a carrier hung at the rear beneath the barrel and arranged for 115 up-and-down movement for the transfer of the cartridge, the lever »»,, hung to said' carrier, onearm extending rearward,and a fixed stud,s, iu the receiver, adapted to engage said rear arm in thc up-and-down movementof the cai 1 rier, the forward arm of the said lever ш ex- tending onto the bottom of the receiver, with mechanism, substantially such as described, to impart reciprocating movement to the breech-picce and the up-and-down movement 125 to the carrier, substantially as described. 7. In a magazine fire-arm in which the magazine is arranged beneath the barrel, the combination therewith of a breech-piecc ar- ranged to be moved backward and forward in 130 the axial line of the barrel, a carrier hung at the rear beneath the breech - piece and ar- ranged for up-and-down movement for the transfer of the cartridge, the lever m, hung to
345,981 said carrier, one arm extending rearward, and a fixed stud, s, in Hie receiver, adapted to en- gage said rear arm in the up-and-down move- ment of the carrier, the forward arm of the 5 said Sever m extending onto the bottom of the receiver, with mechanism, substantially such as described, to impart reciprocating move- ment to the breech-piece and the up-and- down. movement to the carrier, with thespring io », one end of which takes a bearing on the car- rier above the pivot, the other end on said le- ver betweenits pivotand the fixed stud in the receiver, substantially as and for the purpose describct]. 15 8. In a magazine fire-arm in which the magazine is arranged beneath the barrel, the combination therewith of a breech-piece ar- ranged to be moved backward and forward in the axial line of the barrel, a carrier hung at so the rear beneath the barrel and arranged for up-and-down movement for the transferof the cartridge, the lever яг, hung to said carrier, one arm extending rearward, and afixedstud, s, in the receiver, adapted to engage said rear 25 arm in the up-and-down movement of tliecar- rier, the forward arm of the said lever m ex- tending onto the bottom of the receiver, with mechanism, substantially such as described, to impart reciprocating movement to the breech- piece and the npand-down movement to the 30 carrier,and the lever 2,hung in the carrier for- ward of said lever m, the rear arm of said le- ver 2 in slotted connection with the forward arm of said lever -m, the forward arm of said lever 2 extending toward the magazine, sub- 33 Stantially as described. 9. In a fire-arm in which the breech-piece is arranged to move backward and forward in longitudinal line with the barrel, and in which a partial rotation is imparted to the breech- 40 piece both priorto and afteritsopcinnginove- ment, the combination therewith of an ex- tractor-hook', S, bn one side of the breeeh- piece, and a finger, T, .hung loosely on the opposite side of the breech-piece, thesaid fin- 45 ger adapted to work against the surface of the receiver in the backward and forward move- ment of the breeeh-piece,-the receiver con- structed with a recess, U, at the extreme rear movement of the breeeh-piece, into which the 50 said fingerT may move laterally, substantially as and for the purpose described. JOHN M. BROWNING. MATTHEW S. BROWNING. Witnesses: D. W. Felsiiaw, W. L. Thompson.
(No Model.) 4 Sbeete—aneet I. J. M. & M. 8. BROWNING. MAGAZINE FIRE ARM. No. 345,882. Patented July 20, 1886.
|’Яо Model.) 4 Sneets—Sheet 2. J. M. & M. 8. BROWNING. MAGAZINE FIRE ARM.
(No Model.) 4 Sheets—Sheet 3. J. M. & M. 8. BROWNING. MAGAZINE ПНЕ ARM.
(No Model.) 4 Sheets—Sheet 4 J. M. & M. 8. BROWNING. MAGAZINE FIRE ARM. No. 345,882. Patented July 20, 1886.
United States Patent Office., JOHN M. BROWNING AND MATTHEW S. BROWNING, OF OGDEN CITY, UTAH TERRITORY, ASSIGNORS TO THE WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS COM- PANY, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT. MAGAZINE FIRE-ARM. SPECIFICATION forming part cf Letters Patent No. 345,882, dated July 20,1886. Application filed May 3,18f6. Serial No. 200,901. (No model.) To all whom it may concern: Be it known that we, John M. Browning and Matthew S. Browning, of Ogden City, in the country of Weber, and Territory of Utah, 5 have invented a new Improvement in Magazine Fire-Arms; and we do hereby declare the fol- lowing, when taken in connection with accom- panying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact io description of the same, and which said draw- ings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in— Figure 1 a side view of the receiver and ad- jacent portions of the arm; Fig. 2, a top view 15 of the same, parts broken away to illustrate the construction; Fig. 3, a longitudinal sectional side view showing the parts in their normal or closed position; Fig. 4, the same, showing the parts in the fnlly open position; Fig. 5, atrans- ac verse section showing front face of the breech- piece, the section cutting through the diagonal slot in the slide when the breech-piece isjn the closed position; Fig. 6, a transverse section throngh the reeei ver cutting in front of the car- 25 rier, and showing the carrier in the up posi- tion; Fig. 7, a side view of the breech-piece, Fig. 8, a longitudinal section of the breech-piece showing a side view of the rear end of the breech-piece and of the firing-pin; Fig. 9, atop 30 view of the rear end of the slide E, showing the diagonal slot; Fig. 10, a transverse section through the upper part of the receiver, and cutting through the locking-projection s of the firing-pin, and also showing the interlocking 35 of the breech-piece and carrier; Fig. 11, a side view of the breech-piece and of the carrier as the breech-piece commences its locking move- ment, broken lines indicating the breech-piece in its locked position, as locking the carrier; 40 Fig. 12, a rear end view of the breech-piece; Fig. 13, an under side view of the receiver, showing the carrier as the cover to close the magazine-charging opening; Fig. 14, an un- der side view of the breech-piece; Fig. 15, a 45 modification of the rib and groove on the breech-piece. This invention relates to an improvement in that class of fire-arms in which the breech- piece is arranged to be movedback ward andfbr- ward in axial line with the barrel, andin which co the breech-piece is locked when in the closed position by imparting to it a partial rotation, and is an improvement upon the arm for which" we have heretofore filed application for Letters Patent, Serial No. 186,852, the object of the 55 invention being to simplify the construction, somewhat, with a view to rapid firing; and the invention consists in the construction herein- after described,-and particularly recited in the claims. , 60 ' A represents the receiver, to the forward end of which the barrel В is secured, and be: low the bartelTSThe magazine C, substantially parallel with the barrel, and preferably-so as to leave a space between И19 two, as in our 65 application before referred to. D is the breech-piece, which is arranged in the receiver in longitudinal line with the bar- rel, and so as to be moved backward and for- ward to open and close the breech. 70 Between the magazine and barrel is a slide, E,.which works longitudinally through the opening in the receiver and in a position be-' low the breech-piece. At its forward end the slide is provided with a.handle, F, which sur- 75 rounds the magazine, and by which the slide may be moved backward and forward, as in our previous application; and as in that ap- plication the slide is constructed with a diago- nal slot, G, at its rear end, in which a stud, H, 80 ^projecting from the under side of the breech- piece, works, as seen in Figs. 5 and 9, and sub- stantially as in our previous patent, and so that tinder the first part of the rear movement of-the slide E the diagonal slot G will cause 85 the stnd H to traverse through the diagonal slot G, and thereby impart rotation.to the breech-piece, as indicated in broken lines, Fig.-5, and also as the slide approaches its extreme forward or closing position it will 90 cause the stud H to retprn through the slot G and correspondingly return the breech-piece. This rotative movement of the breech-piece produces the unlocking and locking operation. The breech-piece is constructed with a Ion- 95 gitudinal rib, I,, on one, say, the right-hand,
й 345,882 side, and that side of the receiver is corre- spondingly open, so as to form a rear shoul- der, J, (see Figs. 1 and 2,) against which the rib I will abut when in its closed position, the 5 rib extending the length of the opening and so as to fill the space in the receiver, as indi- cated in Fig. 1. In Fig. 5 the rib I is shown in the locked, position, and stands flush with the side, of the io receiver; but as the breech-piece is rotated, as before described, the rib I rises until it. passes above the shoulder J and into line with an opening, K, rearward through the receiver, and so that when in that position the breech- 15 piece may move rearward, the rib passing through the opening K, and, say, to the. ex- treme open position i ndicated in Fig. 4. Then as the breech-piece is returned under the for- ward movement of the slide E; and as it ar- 20 rives atits extreme forward or closed position, the’ diagonal slot G in the slide E will, impart the return or locking movement to the breech- piece, and so as to bring the rib I forward of the shonlder J. 25 The slide E is constructed with an opening, L, vertically through it, so that when it is in the extreme rear position there is an opening through the top of the receiver forward, of the breech-piece and down through the slide 30 Ё iiito the part of the receiver below, where the Carrier is arranged, as in our previous ap- plication. 'M represents the carrier, which is hung at the rear upon a pivot, K, here represented as 35 the same pivot upon which the hammer О is hung. Thecarrier is constructed with a shoul- der, P, forward of its pivot,, and distant from the forward end of the recess in the receiver equal to the length of a cartridge, as seen in 40 Fig. 3, and so that as the cartridge passes from the magazine onto the carrier it will abnt against the shoulder P as a stop to arrest the column of cartridges, and as seen in that fig- ure. The carrier is raised during the last part 45 of the rear movement of the breech-piece by the rear end of the slide striking against an upward-projecting arm, R, from the hub of the carrier, and so that as the breech-piece reaches its extreme open position the carrier 50 will have been raised from the closed position . seen in Fig. 3 to that seen in Fig. 4. It is desirable that as the cartridge is raised it shall assume a position in a,xial line with the barrel, as seen in Fig. 4. To do this, various 55 devices have been applied to the carrier to raise the rear end of the cartridge faster than the forward end. To obviate the complicated mechanism nec- essary to so raise the cartridge, we construct 60 the receiver with one side overhanging the breeeh-piece or opening, as indicated at S, Figs. 2 and 6, and so that the opening into the receiver is at one side, as seen at T, Fig. 6, and so that as the cartridge rises its forward end 65 will strike beneath the overhang S, and then as the carrier rises it bears upon the under side of the cartridge in rear of its forward end; hence the forward end resting under the over- hang S, the rear end rises accordingly, and until the body of the eartridge comes iuto line 7c along the nnder side of the overhanging por- tion S, and in that position the cartridge is grasped between the'forward end of the car- rier and the overhanging poition of the re- ceiver above, and will be there held until the 75 breech-piece advances to force the cartridge forward intojhe barrel. The carrier is pro- vided with a’ spring, U, (see Figs. 3 and 4,) which works against a earn, W, on the hub of the carrier, the tendency of the spring being 80 to force the carrier upward after it shall have arrived at the holding position just described, and as seen in Fig. 4, making the pressure of the carrier upon the nnder side of the cartridge somewhat yielding. 85 Through the under side of the receiver, an opening, Y, is made, through which cartridges may be inserted into the magazine, such charg- ing.ofthe magazine being made while the car- rier is in the raised position, as seen in Fig. 90 4; and that the column of cartridges may be held against the pressure of the magazine- spring we hang a dog, a, in the forward end of the receiver upon a pivot, b, and so that the dog may swing np or down in the carrier, 95 the nose d of the dog extending forward of the forward end of the carrier, but so that when the carrier is in the down position, as seen in Fig. 3, it is out of the path of the col- umn of cartridges, and so that the cartridges к о may pass freely from the magazine onto the carrier; out when one cartridge stands against the shoulder P, as seen in Fig. 3, the head of the next cartridge in the magazine is in a position forward of the dog a,’and so that as 105 the carrier rises the dog will come to the rear of the next cartridge in the magazine next to • the one which is upon the carrier, and serve as a«,stop to arrest the column of cartridges, As the carrier approaches its up position, an 1 ic arm, e, which extends therefrom to one side, strikes a corresponding shoulder,/, in the side of the receiver, as seen iu Fig. 6, which causes the forward end of the dog to turn downward, as seen id Fig. 4, and there rest against the 115 rear end of the last cartridge in the magazine, and so as to serve as a stop for the column of cartridges. The spring U, before referred to, holds the carrier up and the dog consequently down, undertheyieldingpressure. Therefore, 120 when n the position seen in Fig. 4, if a car- tridge be introduced through thebpening Y, under the magazine, it first strikes the nose of the dog a, forward of the shonlder /, and that shoulder serves as a fulcrum for the dog, 125 and npon which it will turn as a lever, and so that as the nose is pressed upward, as indi- cated in broken lines, Fig. 4, its rear or pivot end will be correspondingly turned down- ward, together with the carrier M, the spring 130 U yielding for such movement of the carrier, and so that so soon as the cartridge has so far entered that it may escape from the nose of the dog, then the reaction of the spring/! will
345,882 3 re-raise the carrier and throw the dog down- ward, it being understood that the arm e and the shoulder/are between the pivot b and the forward end or rijose d of the dog—the arm e 5 indicated in broken lines in Fig. 3, and the shoulder/, against which it strikes, also seen in the same figure. The dog therefore serves not only to hold back the column of cartridges in the magazine, but also serves as a latch to io facilitate the charging of the magazine. The overhanging top S of the receiver is recessed- transversely, as git g. (See Fig. 2.) Near the rear end and npon the same side of the re- ceiver as the overhang ah inwardly-project- 15 ing shoulder, i. is formed, which is forward of the front face of the breech-piece when it is at its extreme rear position, aud so that as the breech - piece moves rearward with the cartridge engaged therewith, by the usual ex- 20 tractor, k, upon the side of the breech - piece opposite the projection г, and as the breech- piece, with the cartridge connected thereto, ap proaches its rear position, the side of the cartridge opposite the extractor will strike 25 the shoulder г, and then as the breech-piece completes its rear movement the forward end of. the cartridge will be turned outward through the opening below the overhang S and ejected from the receiver, the recess g Jo facilitating such ejection of the cartridge by giving a greater freedom at the rear end. This recess g also facilitates the introduction of a cartridge directly into the barrel through the opening below the overhang, as for a single 35 loader, it making space for the thumb to reach the head of the cartridge in such operation. To prevent the cartridge from being thrown beyond the shoulder P on the carrier, and also to support the cartridge during its rise, and 40 prevent its escape from the shoulder P, we construct a fixed abutment, h, in the receiver, which extends upward through a slot in the carrier, and corresponding to the shoulder P, the abutment projecting so far above the car- 45 rier as to form a bearing or rest for the car- tridge during its rising movement, and so that as the rear end passes upward from the shoul- der P on the carrier it will still be supported by the stationary abutment /1, so that practi- se callythe shoulder P on the carrier may be dis- pensed with. The carrier works upward through the opening L in the slide, and the- carrier is returned as the breech-pieee.closes by the rear end of the opening L coming npon 55 the upper side of the carrier, such movement turning the carrier down so far as to permit the complete closingof the breech-piece. Then as the breech piece reaches.its extreme closed position, an upward projection, I, from the 60 arm B. on the carrier, stands in the path of a circumferential cam, иг, on the breech-piece, (see Fig. 11,) and so that as the breech-piece is rotated to its home or locked position,tseen in Fig. 10,) the cam m on the breech-piece is 65 turned down iu rear of the projection I on the arm R, and returns the carrier to its down position, and locks it in that position until the breech piece is again opened. The carrier in its down position closes the opening in the bottom of the receiver, as seen in Fig. 3; and 7c when the parts are in the normal condition this closing of the recess at the bottom of the receiver is securely locked. To prevent the accidental unlocking of the breech-piece when in its closed position, and 75 so that if the hammer stands at full-cock, as desirable fooimmediate use, the breech-piece may not lie displaced, we provide a lock for it by means of the firing-pin. n represents the firing-pin, (see Fig. 8,) whieh is arranged Ion- 80 gitudinally through the breech piece, and pro- vided with a spring, r, as a resistance to cause a retreating movement of the firing-pin, in the usual manner for such firing-pins. At the rear end of the breech-piece the firing-pin is 85 provided with a lateral projection, s, in line with a corresponding groove, t, in the receiver, into which groove theprojections stands when the breeeh-piece is in its closed position, the breech piece having its rotary niovement in- 90 dependent of the firing pin—that is,the firing- pin is prevented from rotation during the lock- ing and unlocking rotative movement of the breech-piece. The side of the breech-piece is constructed with a circumferential recess, 95 u, into which the projection s may turn in the unlocking movement of the breech-piece, the spring r of the firing-pin having a tend- ency to foree the projection against the rear end of the recess u; and at,this rear end io< of the recess и is a shoulder, w, beneath which the projection s may be thrown when the breech-pieeeis in its locked position, but when the hammer rests against-the firing-pin the power of the main spring is greater than that 105 of the spring г-, then the firing-pin is forced forward away from theshoulder ю, as indicated, in broken lines, Fig. 7, and as seen in Fig. 3; but when the hammer is drawn away from the breeeh-piece while the breech-piece is locked, no the spring r will force the firing pin rearward and force the projection s beneath the shoul- der w ou the breech pieee, as seen in Fig. 7, thus locking the breech piece in its closed po- sition so loug as the firing pin stands in its 115 rear position; but by pressing the firing-pin forward, as indicated in broken lines, Figs. 7 and 3, either by hand or by the hammer rest- ing thereon, the shoulder w may escape the projection s, and thus permit the breech-piece 120 to be rotated to unlock it, and in such rotation of the breech-piece it will bring the shoulder w below the projection s, as indicated in Fig. 8, where the firing-pin will rest during the opening niovement and until the breech-piece 125 is again closed to bring the projection s into the groove t; and then as the breeeh-piece is returned to its locking position the inclined back of the shoulder w will foree the firing- pin forward, as indicated in broken lines, Fig. 130 7, and until the projection may escape from the shoulder tv and be thrown rearward to re- lock the breech-pieee. The breech-piece is constructed with the
4 345,882 usual groove upon its under side, as seen in Fig. 5, to permit it to pass over the nose of the hammer, the breech-piece itself turning the hammer to the full-cocked position dnring 5 the first part of its rear movement. We have represented the locking-rib as working through an open groove in the re- ceiver; but this groove may be covered, as seen in Fig. 15—that is to say, need not extend io entirely through the receiver. We claim— 1. In a fire arm, the combination of a re- ceiver, a barrel attached to and opening into said receiver, a breech-piece arranged in said 15 receiver to work backward and forward in longitudinal line with the barrel, said breech- piece also adapted for partial rotative move- ment and constructed- with a radially-project- ing rib, I, the stationary shoulder J in the re- 20 ceiver, and the receiver 'constructed with a groove from said shoulder rearward, through which the said rib J may pass iu the opening and closing movement of the breech-piece, a slide arranged beneath the barrel and pro- 25 vided with a hapdle, whereby longitudinal re- ciprocating movement may be imparted to said slide, the-said slide extending through a ' slot in the receiver beneath the barrel, its rear end constructed with the diagonal slot G, and 30 the breech-piece provided with a correspond- ing stud, H, to work in said slot, substantially as described. 2. In a magazine fire arm having a longi- tudinally movable breech-piece, the receiver 35 constructed with an opening through one side into the receive^ in rear of the barrel, and so as to leave ah overhang, 8, over the recess in the receiver, the combination there- with of a carrier hung at the rear beneath the 4c breech-piece, and so_as to swing up and down in the transfer of cartridges from the maga- zine, substantially as described, and whereby as the carrier rises to transfer a cartridge to a position forward of the,flout face of the 45 breech-piece the said cartridge will be grasped between the said overhang above and the car- rier below and in longitudinal line with the breech-piece. 3. In g magazine fire arm having a longi- 50 tndinally-movable breech-piece, the'receiver constructed with an opening through one side into the receiver in rear of the barrel, and'so as to leave an overhang, 8, over the recess in the receiver, the combination therewith of a 55 carrier hung at the rear beneath the breech- piece, and so as to swing up and down in the transfer of cartridges from the magazine, the said overhang constructed with a transverse recess,.g, near its rear end, substantially as 60 described. - 4. In a magazine fire-arm in which the maga- zine is arranged beneath the barrel, the com- bination therewith of a carrier? hung in the re- ceiver at the rear beneath the breech - pi ce and adapted to swing upward and downward 65 for the transfer of cartridges from the maga- zine, the dog a, hung in the carrier and so as to swing in a vertical plane, the said dog con- structed with an arm between its forward or nose end and the pivot in the carrier, a shoul- 70 der in the receiver with which the' said arm engages in the upward throw of the carrier, substantially as described, and whereby as the carrier approaches its up position the forward end or nose of the said dog will be turned 75 downward, substantially as and for the pur- pose described, 5. In a magazine fire arm,substantially such as described, the combination, with the co-op- erative parts thereof, of the carrier M, hung at 8c the rear and adapted to swing up and down in the transfer of a cartridge, the fixed abutment h in the receiver, forward of the pivot upon which the carrier is hung and extending up through the carrier, substantially as and for 85 the purpose described. 6. In a magazine fire-arm in which the maga- zine is arranged beneath the barrel and open- ing into the receiver, the combination there- with of a breech-piece arranged in said re- 90 ceiver to work backward and forward in lon- gitudinal line with the barrel, the said breech- piece also adapted for partial rotative move- ment, a carrier arranged beneath the breech- piece and hung upon a pivot at the rear .and 95 adapted to swing up and down in the transfer of a cartridge, the carrier constructed with an upward projection, I, from its hub, and the breech-piece constructed with a correspond- ing cam,m, to engage skid projection I on the no . carrier when the breech piece is in its closed position, substantially as and for the purpose described. " t 7. In a fire-arm, the combination of a re- ceiver, a barrel attached to and opening into 105 said receiver, a breech-piece arranged in said receiver to work backward and forward in a longitudinal line with the barrel, the said breech-piece also adapted for partial rotative movement to lock or unlock the same when in 110 its closed position, a firing-pin arranged lon- gitudinally through said breech-piece and con- structed with a lateral projection, s, and the re- ceiver with a corresponding groove into wlffeh the said projection wall enter as the breech- 115 piece approaches its closed position, a spring bn said firing pin having a tendency to force the firing-pin rearward, the breech-pieee con- structed with a shoulder, w, adapted to engage the said projection s oh the firing-pin when 120 the breech-piece is in its locked position, sub- stantially as described. JOHN M. BROWNING. MATTHEW 8. BROWNING. Witnesses: James PingeeE,. H. 8. Young. -
(Wo Model.) J. M. & M. 8. BROWNING. BREECH LOADING FIRE ARM. No. 346,021. Patented July 20, 1886.
United States Patent Office. ЮПХ M. BROWNING AND MATTHEW S. BROWNING. OF OGDEN CITY, ITT ATI TERRITORY, ASSIGNORS TO THE WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS COM- PANY, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT. BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARM. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 346,021, dated July 20, 1866. Application tiled January 2, 1996. Serial No. 187,351. (No model.) To all whom it may 'concern: Be it known that we, John M. Browning and Matthew S. Browning, of Ogden City, in the county of Weber and Territory of Utah, 5 have invented a new Improvement in Breech- Loading Fire-Arms; and we do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with accompanying drawings, and thelettersof ref- erence marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and io exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in— Figure 1, a side.view, a portion of the frame broken away, showing a side view of the 15 breech-piece and the extractor, the breech»’ piece inthdclosed position; Fig. 2, the breeeh- piece and extractor as in the open position, the extractor engaged with the flange of the shell; Fig. 3, a horizontal longitudinal section 20 through the breech-piece, showing a top view of the extractor; Fig. 4, the same as Fig. 3, showing a modification of the extractor. This invention relates to an improvement in that class of breech-loading fire-arms in 25 which the breech-piece ishunginthereceiver in rear of and below the barrel, and so as to swing backward and downward in opening in substantially a circular path, and is specially adapted to the construction of breech-piece 30 shown and described in our application for Let- ters Patent, Serial No. 1G8,738. In this class of arms we find it desirable to arrange the ex- tractor npon the side of the breech-piece in- stead of making the extractor separate from 35 and operated by the brcech-piece. as in the more general construction of this class of arms. In so doing it is necessary that the extractor Shall engage the cartridge in substantially the plane of its axis when the breech-piece is in its zio closed position, and to retain its hold in that position while the breeeh-piece is turned back- ward; hence it is necessary that the extractor shall be hung to the breech - piece so as to swing in a vertical plane, that it may retain 15 its hold upon the flange of the cartridge until it be fully withdrawn from its place iu the barrel. A lateral movement of the extractor is also necessary,in order that it may ride over the flange of the Cartridge and fall in front of it as the breeeh-piece approaches its closed 50 position. The object of onr invention is a simple con- struction of extractor which shall possess the two necessary movements; and it consists in -an extractor-hook hung’upon the side of the 55 breech-piece, so as to swing up and down in a vertical plane, the pivot of the extractor also permitting a lateral swinging movement, com- bined with a single spring arranged!» return the said extractor from either its vertical Co movement or its lateral movement or place of rest, and as more fully hereinafter described. It will be unnecessary for ust to give any- thing more than a general description Of the arm. • 65 A represents the receiver, to the forward end of which the barrel В is attached in the usual mariner. C represents the breech-piece, hung npon a pivot, D, below the barrel, and so that it may 70 -swing backward and downward in opening. The breech-piece at the pivot is constructed ’ with a slot, as shown in broken lines, the said slot inclining upward and backward when the breech-piece is in the closed posi tion. ' 75 Upon the upper side or back of the breech- piece is a shonlder, E, which engages a cor- responding abutment when in its closed posi- tion, but from which it is dropped in the first part of the opening movement,because of 80 the slot in the breech-piece at the pivot, that slot passing down over the pivot until it comes to a bearing upon its upper side, and at which time the shoulder E is free from the abutment F, and the breech-piece then is. turned back- 85 ward, as if hung upon the pivot in that posi- tion. When the breech-piece is returned, and as it arrives at its closed position, the slot in the breech-piece at the pivot permits the brcech-piece to rise and bring the shoulder 90 into engagement with the abutment to resist recoil. [ G is the extractor-hook, arranged in a_ re cess, H, in the side of the breeeh-piece. Its nose projects beyond the front fade of the 95 breech-piece, and is of usual form. It is constructed with atrunnion, a, which extends inward into a corresponding recess in the
2 346,021 side of the breeeh-piece, and so that the ex- tractor may swing in a vertical plane, as from the position seen in Fig. 1 to that seen in Fig. 2, and return. 5 In rear of the extractor is a spring-follower, b, arranged to bear against the rear end of the extractor. The end of the follower is adapted to bear against a flat shonlder, e, on the rear end. of the extractor when the extractor io is in its up or normal position, as seen in Fig. 1, the spring - follower thus tending to hold the extractor in that position, but yield for the extractor to be turned, from the posi- tion seen in Fig. 1 to that seen in Fig. 2, and 15 so that when the extractor is free in that turned position the spring-follower will return it to its normal position. In order that the extractor may have-a lat- , oral movement'to permit it to pass over the 2o flsinge of the cartridge and bring its hook in front of the flange, the inner end of the trun- nion is constructed of hook shape,/, to engage a corresponding shoulder in the breech-piece, and this hook-connection is inside the bearing- 25 line of the follower, so that while the ex- tractor may be turned outward 011 the hook as a pivot, the follower, bearing against the rear end of the extractor a'nd outside this pivot-point, will tend to return the extractor; 30 hence when the breech-piece is closed the ex- tractor may turn outward to pass over the flange. Then the spring will force it inward to engage the flange of the cartridge, and when the breech-piece is opened the extractor, re- 35 taining its hold upon the cartridge, will turn on its pivot until the shell is fully withdrawn, as seen in Fig. 2.t Then, the shell being ejected or otherwise removed, the extractor returns under the action of the spring to its normal 4c position. Thus the single spring acts upon the extractor both to facilitate its engagement with the flange of the cartridge,and to permit it to retain its hold upon the flange until the breech-piece is so far opened that the shell 45 may be readily removed. Upon the side of the breech-piece opposite the extractor we apply the usual projecting finger ff, against which the extractor rill hear the flange of the cartridge, in order to retain it in its grasp during the withdrawing move- 50 meat. While we prefer the hook like connection between the trunnion on the extractor and the breech-piece to permit the lateral movement, and whereby we dispense with a pivot upon 55 which the trunnion will turn, a pivot may be employed, as seen in Fig. 4,- and so as to per- mit the lateral, movement, as indicated in broken lines in that figure. We claim— .60 1. lu a fire - arm substantially such as de- scribed, the combination of the brecch-piece. hung upon an axis below the barrel and adapted to swing backward and downward from the barrel in opening, an extractor-hook 65 hnng in the side of the brecch-piece and ar- ranged npon a pivot to swing in a vertical plane, and also adapted to swing laterally— that is, in a plane at right angles to the said vertical plane—with a spring-follower in rear 70 of said extractor, adapted to hold the sirid ex- tractor in its normal position, but yield to both the vertical and lateral movement of the extractor, substantially as described. 2. Ina breech-loading fire-arm, the coin- 75 bination of a brecch-piece arranged to swing backward and downward in opening, the ex- tractor G, arranged one side of the breech - piece, the said extractor constructed with -a trunnion, a, extending inward into a corre- S • spending recess in the side of the brecch-piece., and also constructed with a hook-like forward projection,/, upon the inner end of the trun- nion, to engage a corresponding shoulder in the recess in the brecch-piece, and a spring- 85 follower arranged to bear against the rear end of the extractor, substantially as and for the purpose described. JOHN M. BROWNING. MATTHEW S. BROWNING. Witnesses: W. L. Thompson, D. W. Felshaw.
(No Model.) 4 Sheets—Sheet 1. J. M. & M. S. BROWNING. MAGAZINE FIRE ARM. No. 356,271. Patented Jan. 18, 1887.
(No Model.) 4 Sheets—Sheet 2. J. M. & M. 8. BROWNING. MAGAZINE FIRE ARM. No. 356,271. Patented Jan. 18, 1887.
(No Model.) 4 Sheets—Sheet 3. No. 356,271. J. M. & M. S. BROWNING. MAGAZINE FIRE ARM. Patented Jan. 18, 1887.
;No Model.) 4 Sheets—Sheet 4. J. M. & M. S. BROWNING. MAGAZINE FIRE AKM. No. 356,271. Patented Jan. 18, 1887.
United States Patent Office. JOHN M. BROWNING AND MATTHEW S. BROWNING, OF OGDEN CITY, UTAH TERRITORY, ASSIGNORS TO THE WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS COM- PANY, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT. . MAGAZINE FIRE-ARM. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 356,271, dated January 18, 18,67. Application filed September 6, 1886. Serial Ko. 212,822. (No model.) To all whom lb may concern: Be it known that we, John M. Bkowning and Matthew S. Bbowning, of Ogden City, in the count y of Weber and Territory of Utab, 5 have invented a new Magazine Fire-Arm; and we do hereby - declare the following, when taken in connection with accompanying draw- ings and the letters of -reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact descrip- io tion of the same, and which said drawings con- stitute part of this specification, and represent, in— Figure 1, a side view, Fig. 2 a top view, and Fig. 3 an under side view on a reduced scale; 15 Fig. 4, asectionalside view showing the breeeh- piece in the up or closed position; Fig. 5, a vertical central section through the breech- pieee in its down or open position; Fig. 6, a horizontal section through the breech - piece 20 illustrating the action of the bar in cocking the hammer; Fig. 7, a side view of the breech- , piece detached, and reversed from that seen in Fig.' 4; Fig. 8, a vertical section on line r x of Fig. 5, looking rearward; Fig. 9, a vertiealsec- 25 tion on line ц ij of Fig. 4, looking forward; Fig. 10, a longitudinal section through the magazine, showing the latch; Fig. 11, a longi- tudinal sectional view illustrating the move- ment of the breeeh-piece and the lever ,G, as 30 in holding the cartridge bn the, brecch-piecc and ejecting the shell; Fig. 12, an inside view of the receiver, showing the bar and the slide for forcing the cartridge to the barrel and withdrawing the shell; Fig. 13, a horizontal 35 section, through the one side of the receiver, showing a top view of the said slide. This invention relates to an improvement in that class of magazine fire-arms in which the barrel is open into the receiver at its rear end, 40 and the magazine arranged beneath the barrel, also ppen into the receiver, and in which the breech-piece is hung in the receiver at the rear, and soas to swing upon its pivot up and down to open and close the barrel, the breech- 45 piece also serving as the carrier to receive the cartridge from the magazine and transfer it to a position in line with the barrel, from which it is forced into the barrel prior to the final closing or rise of the breech piece, the object being a simple construction, and in which the 50 mechanism of the arm—that is to say, the lock, carrier, and the breech-piece—are all combined in a single structure. A represents the receiver, to the forward end of which the barrel В is attached, and be- 55 neath.the barrel is the magazine C, both open- ing into the receiver at the rear, the receiver also' constructed with a tang, D, at the rear npon the upper side, and provided with a tang, E, below, by which the receiver is secured to 60 the stock in the usual manner. F, the breech-piece,, is arranged in a verti- cal opening through the receiver and hung at the rear npon a pivot, G, near the top of the receiver, and upon which the breech-piece may 65 turn, as from the position seen in Fig.'4 to that seen iu Fig. 5, and return. The up-and-down movement is imparted to the breech-pieee by means of a handle, H, sur- rounding the magazine forward of the receiver 70 and movable in suitable guides toward and from the receiver. From this handle a rod or bar, I, extends through the forward end of the receiver and so ns to work in a longitudi- nal groove, J, in the side of the receiver, (see 75 Figs. 7 and 8,) the inner side of the bar pref- erably being flush with the side of the receiver in which it works. A groove, К L M, is formed in the side of the bfeeeh-pic.ee npon which the bar I is arranged, and at the rear 80 end of the bar I is a stud, N, projecting in- ward and so as to work in the said groove in the side of the breech-pieee. As the breech- piece is to act as the carrier, it is necessary that in its opening movement it shall drop to 85 a position so low as to permit the cartridge to pass from the magazine onto its upper sur- face, as seen in Fig. 5; and because the breeeh- piece is to act as a carrier it follows that in its ascent it must rest when it has been raised so 90 far as to bring the cartridge which it has re- ceived from the magazine into line '..’ith the barrel, and then, after the cartridge has been moved forward into the barrel, the breech- pieee must rise to its up position in rear of 95 the head of the cartridge, and so as to resist
2 356,271 recoil in firing. To this end the forward por- tion, K, of the groove in the side of the breech- piece inclines upward from its forward end, and so that the stnd N, under the movement j of the bar I, will act as a cam therein,and dur- ing the first part of the rear movement of the bar I it will work through the groove К and force the breeeh-piece downward, as seen in broken lines, Fig. 4, to a position so far below io the barrel as to leave, its rear end exposed, either for the insertion of a cartridge or the extraction of an exploded shell. From the upper end of the portion К of the groove the portion L is inclined downward when the 15 breeeh-piece is in its up position, as seen in Fig. 4, and this inclination of the part L is such that when the breech-piece is dropped to the position below the barrel just described, and as seen in Fig. 4, the groove in that posi-. 20 tion is in line with the path of the bar I, and so that, the bar continuing its rear movement, the stud will work through this straight part L of the groove without effect upon the breech- piece. At the rear end of the groove thepor- 25 tion M is inclined upward and backward, so that as the stnd N arrives at the rear end of the straight portion -L of the groove it will enter the inclined part M and act thereon as 9 cam, in like manner as it did in the first part, 30 L, and so that in completing the rear move- ment of the bar I the breech - piece will be forced to its extreme down position, as seen in Fig, 5, and in that extreme down position the magazine is opened at the rear, so as to permit 35 the movement of the column of cartridges therein, and so that the rear cartridge in the magazine will be forced onto the top of the breech-piece, as seen in Fig. 5, and in a posi- tion to be transferred into line with the bar- 40 rel. With the cartridge so standing on the breeeh-piece, the handle is now moved forward, drawing the bar I with it, and during the first part of the movement the stud N works for- ward through the groove M, and, acting therein 45 as a cam, raises*the breeeh-piece to the posi- tion indicated in broken lines, Fig. 4, and so that the cartridge thereon will stand in line with the barrel, and standing in that position the breech-piece rests, while the handle and 50 bar continues its forward movement, the stud N passing through the straight portion L of the groove in the breeeh-piece without effect thereon; and during this movement of the stud through the longitudinal or straight part Lof 55 the groove the cartridge is transferred to the barrel, as hereinafter described, and then the stud, arriving at the forward end of the part L of the groove, enters the forward inclined part K, and, continuing, its movement, raises the 60 breech-piece into its np or closed position, as seen in Fig. 4. Thus in the backward or open- ing movement of the handle and bar I the breech - piece is first dropped to a position slightly below the barrel, and there rests, while 65 the shell in the barrel maybe drawn from the barrel onto the breeeh-piece and removed. Then during the last part of the opening move- ment of the handle the breeeh-piece is further dropped to a position below the magazine, and so as to receive the cartridge. Then on the 70 return of the handle and its bar I the first part of the movement raises the breech-piece to bring the cartridge thereon into line with the barrel, and there rests, while the movement of the handle continues, and the cartridge is car- 75 tied from the top of the breech piece into the barrel, and then in the last part of the forward . movement of the handle the breech-piece is raised to its fully-closed position. Thus' the breech-piece serves both as a breech-piece and 8c a carrier. When the breech-piece is in its fully-closed position, its under side stands, above the open rear end of the magazine, as seen in Fig. 9, and also seen in broken lines, Fig. 5, and so that that end of the magazine is 85 exposed at the rear when the breeeh-piece is closed; and in this condition the magazine is charged, the cartridges being successively in- troduced to the magazine beneath the breech- piece. 90 To hold the column of cartridges in the magazine, a spring-latch, O, is arranged at the mouth of the magazine, over the nose P of which the heads of the cartridgeswill passas they are successively forced into the maga- 95 zine, and the latch spring over the head of the last cartridge inserted, as seen in Fig. 10, so as to support the column against the action of the spring; but to release the column, So that the rear cartridge may pass onto the breech- too piece when in the position to receive it, the latch is constructed with an inward projec- tion, R, iu the path of the breech-piece in its descent. Thebreech-piecestrikingtheprojec- tion R forces the nose P away from the head of 105 the cartridge, leaving the cartridge free to move rearward nnder the action of the maga- zine-spring against the end of the descending breech-piece, and then as the breech-piece ar- rives at its down position the rear cartridge is no free from the action of the latch, and so that, the column moving rearward,the rear cartridge is forced onto the top of the breech-piece, as seen in Fig. 5, the next cartridge in the column being stopped by the nose P of the latch, as 115 seen in Fig. 5. Then as the breeeh-piece r ises its action upon the latch will be the same as in the descent, but the breeeh-piece passes above the latch, so as to leave it free before the breech-piece is finally closed, and as the 120 breech-piece so passes the latch its forward end bears against the head of the rear car- tridge, so as to force it into the magazine for- ward'of the latch, that the latch may engage the rear cartridge before the breech - piece < 25 reaches its extreme up position. To remove the cartridge from the breech- piece into the barrel, a slide, S, is arranged in a longitudinal groove, T, in the side of the re- ceiver above the bar I.' (See Figs. 8 and 12.) 130 The slide is constructed with a finger, U, ex- ' tending downward from the rear end, in rear of the rear-end of the bar I, and so that the bar I in its rear movement will force the slide
356,271 3 S from the position seen in broken lines, Fig. 12, to the rear position, also seen in that figure. The bar I is constructed with an upward pro- jection, W, and the slide Swith a correspond- 5 ing notch, a, with which the projection W may ' engage, as seen in Fig. 12, and so that in the forward movement of the bar I the slide will be moved with it. Upon the inside of the slide S is an inwardly-pl-ojeeting shoulder, &, io and which, when the brfeeeh-piece is in itsex- treme open position, stands in rear of the head of the cartridge on the breech-piece, as seen in Fig. 13, and so that as the bar I moves for- ward, taking with it the slide S, the shoulder 15 6, striking the rear end of the cartridge, will force it forward into the barrel, as indicated in broken lines, Fig. 12. The introduction of the cartridge to the bar- rel must beeompleted before the breech-piece 20 commences its final rising or closing move- ment. The sbonlder b therefore stands in ad- vance of the stud K, as seen in Fig. 12; and that the slide carrying the shoulder b may stop its advance movement when the cartridge has 25 been fully inserted, it is permitted a certain amount of up and down rocking movement at its rear end. The forward end of the slide cor- - responds to the width of the groove T, but the rear end upon its under side rides upon the 30 end of the slide. At the rear end the slide S is constructed with an upward projection, d, which in the movement of the slide will ride against the upper surface of the groove T; but when in its extreme forward position this pro- 35 jection d stands beneath a corresponding notch, e, in the upper side of the groove. The con- nection between the slide and the bar T is sueh that an np and-down movementis permissible to the rear end of the slide when free—that is, 40 when the projection d conies below the note!; e. The slide S therefore moves forward with the bar I from its rear position in Fig. 12 to its extreme forward position, at. which time the projection d stauds beneath the notch e. 45 Then, as the further advance of the slide is pre- vented, because of the shoulder b coming against the rear end of the cartridge, or the rear end of the barrel, as the case may be, the continued forward movement of the bar I will 50 force the rear end of the slide upward, caus- ing the projection d to enter the notch eabove, as in broken lines, Fig. 12, at which time the projection W will escape from the notch e in the slide, leaving the slide at rest and the bar 55 free to pass on for its final closing movement. In this movement the projection W of the bar works on the under side of the slide S, so as to hold it in its up position, and where it will remain nntil on the return of the bar the pro- • 60 jection AV again comes into line with the notch a, when the rear end of the slide will fall and engage the bar, so as to move with it, such fall of the slide being forced by the incline at the rear end of the projection d, working as a cam 65 against the rear end of the notch e, so that from the time of such engagement of the slide and bar the slide will be forced to move rear- ward in positive engagement with the bar. To extract the cartridge a spring extractor- hook, f, is arranged upon the slide S, (see Fig. 70 12) its nose standing forward of the shoulder &, and so as to leave space for the flange of the cartridge between the two, as seen in Fig. 13. The nose of the extractor is beveled forward, so as to ride over the flange of the cartridge 75 in the usual manner of extractomhooks, and so that standing in position in rear of the car- tridge-head the forward movement of the slide will force the nose of the extractor-hook over the flange of the cartridge and bring the shoul- 80 dcrZ, against the cartridge. Then on the return of the slide S the extractor will engage the flange of the cartridge and cause it to move rearward with the slide onto the top of the breech-piece. . 85 The extracting movement, as well as the in setting, occurs during the passage of the stud N through the longitudinal portion Lof the groove in the side of the breech-piece—that is, while the breeeh-piece is iit rest midway 9c between its up and down position. Therefore, there being a cartridge or exploded shell in the barrel when the1 breech piece is clos^, the breech-piece is dropped to its intermediate po- sition, and then the shell is drawn from the 95 barrel above the breech-piece, from which it, must be removed before the breech-piece de- scends to receive a cartridge from the maga- zine. This removal may be made by hand; but that it may be automa'ically done I hang rco a lever, y, upon one side of the breech-piece, the pivot 7i of the lever being at the rear, the free end forward. From this lever there is an inwardly-projecting finger, 1, which,when the breech-piece is up, lies in a recess in the top 105 of the breech-piece, as seen in Fig. 2, and sp that as the cartridge is drawn from the barrel onto the breeeh-piece it will stand upon that in- wardly-projecting finger. Then as the breech- piece commences its descent the rear end of no the lever G below its pivot strikes a shoulder or stud, I, in the side of the receiver, as seen iu Fig. 11, which arrests the further descent of the lever y, with the breech-piece, and as the breech-piece descends causes the lever to 115 turn upon its pivot and raise its forward end, and the finger i, beneath the shell, then on the breech-piece, imparts a throw to the shell, as indicated in Fig. 11, sufficient to eject the shell; and while the lever <7 with its finger is 120 so rising, as seen in Fig. 5, the breeeh-piece passes to its lowest position, to receive a car- tridge from the magazine, and this cartridge passes onto the breech-piece beneath the fin- ger Z, as seen in Fig.. 5. Then as the breech- 125 piece rises a spring, m, (see Fig. 7,) causes the lever у to turn downward and bring its finger i with a yielding pressure upon the up- per surface of the cartridge, and so as to hold it upon the breech-piece and prevent its dis- 130 placement in the quick ascent of the breech- piece, so that when the breech-piece is raised
4 356,271 to the midway position, with the cartridge in line with the barrel, the finger г of the lever . still rests npon the cartridge, but yieldingly, so that as the cartridge is moved forward, as 5 before described, it will readily pass from be- ^eath’the finger to its place in the battel, and then the spring m will force the lever g to its down or home position before the breech-piece „commences its final npward or closing moye- ic ment. Thus the lever ^serves the double pur- pose of holding a cartiidge upon the breech-7 piece during its transfer from the magazine to a position in rear of the barrel and as an ejector for the exploded shell drawn from the 15 barrel onto the breeeh-piece. The hammer isarranged in the breech-piece, and consists of a spindle, n, arranged in alon- gitudinal recess, r, in the breech-piece; its forward end forming a firing pin, s, adapted 20 to pass through a con-responding opening, i, in the breech-piece, as seen in Fig, 6,. and the spindle is provided with a spring, u, arranged to force the hammer forward to the striking position when free. Thespindleisconstrncted 25 with a lateral projection, w, so far through the side of the breeeh-piece as to stand in thepath of the studN on the bar I, and so that as the bar niov<ft rearward, as indicated in broken lines, Fig. 6, the stud N will strike the lateral pro- 30 jection w, and then in its continued movement, will force the hammer to its fiill-cockedijposi- tion, as indicated in broken lines, Fig. 6. When the hammer has reached its cocked.po- sition, it is engaged by the nose of a sear, 2, 35 hung in the breech-piece, as seen in Fig. 5. The tail 3 of the sear extends downward from the pivot, and is provided with a spring, 4, which is adapted to force.the sear into yield- ing engagement with the hammer, and so as 40 to hold the hammer in its full-cocked position. The scar swings with the breeeh-piece in its opening and closing movement. In the clos- ing movement the tail 3eoniesinto the path of the trigger 5, hung in the receiver below, as 45 Seen in Fig. 4, and sb that the pull of the trig- ger will turn the searand release the hammer, to per mit it to fly forward .under the action of its spring to strike the primer; but because the sear is hung in the breech-piece and moves 50 with it, it follows-that in the, first part of the opening movement of the breech-piece the searistaken out of the path of the trigger, and also that the hammer cannot be released until the breech-pieee is substantially closed, and so 55 as to bring the tail 3 of the sear into possible engagement with the trigger. As a protection against accidental release of the hammer when cocked, we provide astop to set against the tail of the scar when thebreech- 60 piece is closed, and this stop is best arranged in the form of a two-armed lever, 6. 7, hung npon a pivot, 8, in rear of the tail of the scar, as seen in Fig. 4. The arm 6. extends up through the tangD, and'is provided with a 65 suitable handle, 9, by which the lever maybe turned upon its pivot, the said handle work- ing through a slot, 10, in the tang. When moved forward, as seen in Fig. 9, the lower arm, 7, stands below the bearing-point 11 on the sear, and so that in that condition the sear 70 is free for the action of the trigger; but when the lever 6 7 is thrown to the rear then the arm 7 is raised into a position in rear of the bearing-point 11 on the tail of the sear, and so as to hold it in its engaged position with the 75 hammer, and prevent possible movement of the sear from such engagement while the lever stands in that position. The operator seeing the lever in its forward position knows that the sear is free for the action of the trigger, 80 but when drawn to the rear he knows that the sear islpcked and that discharge is impossible. The arm 6 of the lever is provided with a spring, 12, to hold it in either of its two po- sitions. When the lever 6 7 is in the position 85 of locking the sear, as described, it also se- curely locks the breeeh-piece in its closed po- sition, for the reason that so long as the arm 7 stands in rear of thetail of the sear the breeeh- piece cannot be turned downward; but when 90 turned out of the path of the tail of the sear, as seen in Fig. 4, then not ouly is the sear free, but the breeeh-piece is also free. It may be desirable to provide means for au- tomatically engagingthe breech-piece with the 95 bar I when the breeeh-piece is closed, so as to prevent accidental displacement of the breech- piece. This is effectively done by the intro- duction of a spring-catch. 13, in the groove in the breech-piece inline with thestud N when 101 the breech-piece is in its closed position; and, as seen in Fig. 9, the end of the spring-catch is of conical shape, and the stud N has a cor- responding recess upon its inner end, so that as the bar approaches its extreme forward 105 movement and the breech-pieee its extreme np position the point of the spring-catch is forced inward by coming in contact with the stud N on .the bar, and so as to permit the stud N to pass to its home position. Then the 1 :o spring-catch is forced outward into engage- ment with the stud N, so as to yieldingly hold the breech-piece in its np or closed position. The peculiar construction of the breech- piece and its connection with the handle for- 115 ward, whereby the up and down swinging movement is imparted to the breech-piece and tlie intermediate rest, maybe employedin arms of this class in which the hammer is; otherwise arranged—that is, in which there is 120 the common sliding firing-pin adapted to be struck by the hammer at the rear—a common and too well-known arrangement to require- illustratiori or description. The arrangement of the hammer and its sear 125 in the breech-pieee, and so as to swing up and down with it, maybe employed in arms in which the breech-piece isarranged to swing up and down iii like manner, bnt without the intermediate test, and is thus adapted to 130 breech-loading fire-arms^ This modification is too apparent to require illustration.
356,271 5 The slide S, whereby the cartridge is forced into the barrel and the extractor engaged therewith, arranged to be disconnected from the reciprocating rod before the rod completes 5 its extreme forward movement) may be em- ployed in arms of this class, in which the lon- gitudinal movement of the bar is otherwise communicated to the breech-piece, so as to produce its up and down swinging movement, io We are aware that the arrangement of a breech-pieee hnng in the receiver in rear of the barrel, so as to swing downward and back- ward in opening to a position below the month of the magazine to receive a cartridge from 15 the magazine upon its upper surface, and the said breeeh-piece arranged to restat a point midway between its extreme open and closed positions while the cartridge is in line with J the barrel, and so that the cartridge may be 20 moved from the breech-piece into the barrel, is notnew, and therefore do not claim, broadly, such an arrangement of breeeh-piece; but What we do claim is— 1. In a magazine Arc arm, the combination 25 of a barrel, a magazine beneath the barrel, both open into the receiver at the rear, a breech-piece hnng in the receiver in rear of the barrel and so as to swing downward and backward in opening to a position below the 30 magazine, a sliding guided handle forward of thereceiver,andabarextendingtherefrominto the receiver and so as to work in a path par- allel with the side of the breech-pieee, the breech-piece constructed with a-longitndinal 35.groove terminating at its forward end in a downward and forward incline, and at its rear end terminating in an upward and rearward' incline, the said bar provided wilh a stud adapted to work in said groove, substantially 40 as described, and whereby in the rear and for- ward movement of said slide the said stnd op- erates to drop and raise the breech-piece, but hold it at a position ‘of rest midway between its down and oppositions, substantially asde- 45 scribed. 2. In a magazine fire arm in which the maga- zine is arranged beneath the barrel and both the barrel and magazine open into the receiver at the rear, a breeeh-piece hnng in the.re- 50 ceiver in rear of the barrel and arranged to swing downward and upward in its opening and closing movements, a guided handle ar- ranged beneath the barrel forward of the re- ceiver, a bar extending from said handle into 55 the receiver andin connection with the breech- pieee, w’hereby nnder the reciprocating move- ment of the handle the opening and closing movement is imparted to the breech-pieee, a slide, 8, arranged in a groove, T, in the side of 60 the receiver parallel with the said bar, the said slide constructed with a shoulder, Z>, and the said bar and slide, the one constructed with a notch, a, and the other with a corresponding projection, W, the said slide also constructed 65 with an npward projection, d,and the receiver with a notch, e, in the side of the groove cor- responding to the said projection d on the slide, when the slide is in its forward position, sub- stantially as and for the purpose described. 3. In a magazine fire-arm in which the maga- 70 zine is arranged beneath the barrel and both the barrel and magazine open into the receiver at the rear, a brcech-piece hung in the re- ceiver in rear of the bariel and arranged to swing downward and Upward in its opening 75 and closing movement, a guided handle ar- ranged beneath the barrel forward of the re- ceiver, a bar extending from said handle into the receiver andin connection with the breech- piece, wЪereby, under the reciprocating move- 80 ment of the handle, the opening and closing movement is imparted to the breech-pieee, a slide, 8, arranged in a groove, T, in the side of the receiver parallel with the said bar, an ex- tractor-hook on said slide, and the said bar and 85 slide, the one constructed with a notch, a, and the other with a corresponding projection, W, the said slide also constructed with an upward projection, d, and the receiver with a notch,e, in the side of the groove corresponding to the 96 said projection d of the slide, when the slide is in its forward position, substantially as and for the purpose described. 4. In a magazine fire arm having the maga- zine arranged beneath the barrel and both 95 the barrel and magazine opening into the re- ceiver at the rear, the breech-piece hung in the receiver in rear of the barrel and so as to swing downward and backward in opening to a position below the magazine, and so that the iqo rear cartridge in the magazine may pass onto the upper side of the breech-piece, a recipro- cating handle forward of the receiver, a bar extending therefrom into the receiver arid ar- ranged to work in a corresponding groove in 105 the side of the breech-piece, whereby the up and down swinging movement is imparted to said breech-piece, the said groove being con- structed of an inclined shape at its forward and rear ends, the intermediate portion being rm longitudinal to permit a rest of the breech- piece midway of its up and down position, a lever, g, hung on one side of the breech-piece npon a pivot below the pivot upon which the breSch-pieceishung, the said lever constructed 115 with a finger, i, extending inward onto the npper face of the brecch-picee, a spring, m, between the said breech-piece and lever, and a shoulder, ?, in the receiver in rear of said le- ver and at a point below the pivot on which 120 the lever is hung, substantially as and for the purpose described. 5. In a fire-arm in which the breech-piece is hung in the receiver in rear of the barrel, so as to swing downward and npward in opening 125 and closing, a reciprocating handle forward of the receiver, a bar extending therefrom into the receiver and so as to receive the recipro- cating movement of the handle, the said bar arranged to impart said opening and closing 130 movements to the breech-piece, a sliding ham- mer and itsmainspring arranged in said breech-
6 356,271 piece, with a lateral extension from the ham- mer into the path of said bar, and whereby the rear movement of the bar will impart a forced rear movement of the hammer to its 5 cocked position, andasearhungin said breech- piece and arranged to engage the hammer when at full-cock with a trigger by which the said sear may be discharged, substantially as described. io 6. In a fire-arm in which the breeeh-piece is hung in the receiver in rear of the barrel, so as to swing downward and upward in open- ing and closing, a reciprocating handle for-*' ward of the receiver, a bar extending there- 15 from into the receiver and so as tcrreceive the reciprocating movement of the handle, the- said bar arranged to impart said opening and closing movements to the breeeh-piece, a slid- ing hammer and its mainspring arranged in, 20 said breech-piece, with a lateral extension from the hammer into the path of said bar, and whereby the rear movement of the bar will impart a forced rear movement of the hammer to its cocked position, a sear hung in said 25 breech-piece and arranged to engage the ham- mer when at full-cock,thesaid sear constructed with a tail at the rear of its pivot, and a stop arranged in the receiver movable into or from the path of the tail of the sear, substantially as described. 30 7. In a fire-arm in which the barrel is open into the receiver at the rear, a breech-piece hung in rear of the barrel, so as to swing down- ward and upward in its opening and closing movements, a sliding handle arranged beneath 35 the barrel forward of, the receiver, a bar ex- tending from the said handle into the receiver, the breech-piece constructed with a groove in its side, through which a stud on said bar will work, and whereby, under the backward and 40 forward movement of the handle, the opening and closing movement is imparted to the breeeh-piece, and a spring-catch between said breech-piece and bar adapted to interlock the bar and breech-piece when the breech-piece is 45 in its closed position, substantially as de- scribed. JOHN M. BROWNING. MATTHEW S. BROWNING. Witnesses: Miles G. Jones, Caleb Parry.
(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. M. & M. S. BROWNING. BREEDS LOADING FIRE ARM. No. 359,917. Patented Mar. 22, 1887. N. PETERS, Pooto-Uthographor. Washinglon. D. C.
(No Model.) 3 Sheets—Sheet 2. J. M. & M. S. BROWNING. BREECH LOADING FIRE ARM. Patented Mar. 22, 1887. No. 359,917.
(No Model.) 3 Sheets—Sheet 3. J. M. & M. S. BROWNING. BREECH LOADING FIRE ARM. No. 359,917. Patented Mar. 22, 1887. N PF.TCRS Phclo IHbau'Wher D C
United States Patent Office^ JOHN M. BROWNING AND MATTHEW S. BROWNING, OF OGDEN CITY, UTAH TERRITORY, ASSIGNORS TO THE WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS COM- PANY, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT. BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARM. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 359,917, dated March 22, 18S7. Application filed September 6, 1886. Serial No. 212,823. (No model.) To all whom it may concern: Be it known that we, John M. Browning and Matthew S.Browning, of Ogden City, in the county of Weber, Territory of Utah, have 5 invented a new Improvement in Breech-Load- ing Fire-Arms; and we do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with ac- companying drawings and the letters of refer- ence marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and io exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in— Figurel, a side view of the arm, the forward portion of the barrel and the rear portion of 15 the stock broken away; Fig. 2, a top view of thesame; Fig. 3, alongitudinal section through the receiver and barrel, showing side view of the mechanism of the arm in the closed posi- tion; Fig. 4, an under side view looking up, the 20 fore end removed; Fig. 5, alongitudinal central section through the receiver and through the breech-piece, showing the parts in the open position; Fig. 6, a vertical section on line ж ж of Fig. 3, looking forward; Fig. 7, asection online 25 у у of Fig. 3, looking forward; Fig. 8, a perspec- tive view of the breech-block detached, look- ing from the right. This invention relates to an improvement in that class of breech-loading fire-arms in which 30 the breech-block is arranged in a vertical re- cess in the receiver at the rear of the barrel, aud so as to. move downward in opening and upward in closing, actuated bj’ a lever beneath the barrel, the object of the invention being 35 to bring the entire mechanism of the arm into a compact form and simple in construction. A represents the receiver, to the forward end of which the barrel В is secured, and from the rear end a tang, 0, extends from the up- 40 per side, and a corresponding tang, D, below, by which the receiver is secured to the stock. In the receiver at the rear of the barrel is a vertical recess, E, in which the breech-block F is arranged to slide up and down. When 45 in its up position, as seen in Fig. 3, it fills the space in rear of the barrel and closes the rear end to resist recoil; but when thrown down, as in Fig. 5, the cartridge-chamber in the barrel is open to the rear for the insertion of the car- 50 tridge, substantially as in arms of this char- acter. On a pivot, G, in the receiver,forward of the breech-block, the lever H is hung, said lever extending downward and rearward to form a trigger-guard, as well as a handle for the con- 55 venient manipulation of the lever. Upon the same pivot,G,thehammer I is hung, it extend- ing backward through an opening, J, in the breeeh-piece,as seen in Figs. 5 and 6, and so that when the breech-piece is closed the nose of the 60 hammer may strike the firing-pin K, arranged in the breech-piece, and which at that time is in line with the primer of the cartridge, as indicated in Fig. 3. The hub of the lever H is divided, as seen 65 in Fig. 4, and between the two parts L L of the hub of the lever (see Fig. 4) the ham- mer I stands, and as also seen in Fig. 7. From each of the parts L L of the hub of the lever H an arm, М, extends upward when the lever 70 H is in its closed position, and so as to bear against the top of the opening N in the breech- piece, as seen in Fig. 3, and so as to act as a brace to hold the breech-piece in its up or closed position. As the lever is turned down- 75 ward to open the breech-piece, the arm M passes rearward and downward from the bear- ing against the top of the opening or shoulder N, and, working through the opening in the breech-piece, the arm К strikes the shoulders 80 О below in the opening in the breech-block, and then under the continued downward or opening movement of the lever II the arms so in contact with the shoulders О in the breech- piece force the breech-piece to its down or 85 open position, as seen in Fig. 5. In one side of the breech-piece is a vertical groove, P, (see Fig. 6,) indicated in broken lines, Fig. 5, and which works upon a stud, R, fixed in the side of the receiver, this stud per- 90 uniting the free up-and-down movement of the breech - piece; but as the breech-piece ap- proaches its extreme opening movement it comes to a bearing upon the stud R, as indi- cated in Fig. 5, and then, as the shoulder О is 95 in rear of the stud R, the action of the arm bear- ing upon the shoulder О is to turn the breech- block rearward upon the stud as its pivot; and that the breech-block may be so turned to the rear, the receiver is constructed with a recess, iou S, upon the rear side of the breech-pieee open- ing below the line of the barrel, so that as the
9 359,917 breech-piece approaches its open position the arm of the lever, acting upon the shoulder O, will turn it rearward into the recess and away from the frontsurface of the breech-block open- 5 ing, and so that it stands in an inclined posi- tion from the rear end of the barrel, as seen in Fig. 5. The upper end of the recess S is inclined, as at T, and so that as the lever H is returned to io close the breech-block the first part of the movement will bring the npper rear side of the breeeh-piece against the inclined surface T, which will act as a cam upon the breech- piece, tending to throw it forward as it rises 15 into the position seen in broken lines, Fig. 5, and bring it into line with the opening in the breech-piece above. This backward and for- ward movement of the breech-piece is de- signed to prevent conflict between the breeeh- 20 piece and the rear end of the cartridge in its closing movement should the cartridge not be completely inserted. The rear move- ment of the breech-piece takes its front face to the rear of the plane in which the cartridge 25 stands when in the barrel. If, therefore, the cartridge should not be fully entered—say as seen in Fig. 5—the breech-block, as it com- mences its rise and moves forward, will strike the rear end of the cartridge and force it to 30 its home position in the barrel and out of the path of the rising breech-piece, as indicated in broken lines, Fig. 5. To insure this action of the breech-piece, the upper forward edge of the breech-piece is inclined downward and for- 35 ward, as at U, so that that inclined surface will first strike the cartridge-head and act as a cam thereon in connection with the forward movement of the breech-piece. The breeeh- piece rises under the action of the arms M 40 coming against the upper surface, N, of the opening in the breech-piece, and the rise is continued until the lever is brought to its ex- treme closed position, with the arms M stand- ing as a brace to hold the breech-block closed. 45 As the breech-piece descends, the upper side of the opening through which the hammer ex- tends strikes upon the forward surface of the hammer in rear of the pivot and forces the breech-block backward and downward withit 50 to its extreme cocked position, where it is caught by the nose V of the trigger W engag- inga corresponding shoulder, a, on the ham- mer under the action of the trigger-spring b. The shoulder a is formed on a rear extension 55 from the hammer, and this extension is also provided with a half-cock notch, d. The mainspring e is fixed to the under side of the barrel, and is covered by the fore end, <7, the said fore end being constructed with a recess, 60 /, to form the spring-chamber, as seen in Fig. 3. The free end of the mainspring works upon an arm, Л, which extends forward from the hub of the hammer beneath the spring, and so that as the hammer is thrown back- 65 ward this arm h raises the mainspring, as seen in Fig. 5, and so that when free the reaction of the mainspring is imparted to the hammer to give to it the necessary force to impart its blow. From one of the parts L of the hub of thele- 70 ver an arm, i, corresponding to the arm Ziofthe hammer, extends forward and lies beneath the mainspring, substantially as does the arm h of the hammer. From the other part L of the hub a like arm, I, extends forward beneath a 75 second spring, m, corresponding to and made a part of the mainspring, so that the two lie in the same plane, as seen in Fig. 4, the two springs m and e being made from a single piece, with a slit to separate them from the 8э rear end to a point through the forward end, but yet maintaining their union at the forward end, so that they are practically in one single piece, bnt yet so that either part m or e may act independent of- the other. 85 In the opening movement of the lever the two arms i and I act together and alike—the one, i, upon the mainspring and the other, Z, upon its spring m—and both will be raised, as seen in Fig; 3. This movement takes the 90 power of the mainspring from the hammer and leaves it free to fall backward under the downward movement of the breech-piece. As the arms г I reach their extreme open position, as seen in Fig. 5, the point of bearing of the 95 springs em comesslightly rearward ofthepivot on whieh the.lever is hung; hence in that posi- tion the tendency of the springs is to hold the le- ver and thebreech-pieceiu their open position; but so soon as the lever H has turned toward 100 its closed position so far as to bring the bear- ing-points between the springs and the arms i I forward of the pivot G, then the tendency of the springs is to assist the closing move- ment of the lever and breech-piece, and when 105 fully closed, as seen in Fig. 3, to hold the lever and breech-piece in the closed position. In the opening movement of the lever both the springs e and m are raised, as before de- scribed, the arm h of the hammer following no such opening movement, aS seen in Fig. 5, until the hammer is brought to the cocked po- sition and there held by the trigger. If, now, the lever H be returned to close the breech- block, the mainspring e will rest upon the arm 1 u h of the hammer and the arm i of the lever II will pass on free from the spring e; but the spring m will act npon the other arm, I, and to the extent of its force produce the result in the closing movement before described. 120 To eject the cartridge we hang an ejector- lever, n, upon the same pivot, G, upon which thehammerand lever Hare hung. Thislever extends up in the side of the receiver, its nose r turned inward (see Fig. 7) into a position 125 forward of the front face of the flange of the cartridge when fully seated in the barrel. This lever has a movement from the position seen in broken lines, Fig. 5, to the open position in that figure, which movement is sufficient to 130 start and eject the cartridge. To impart this movement to the ejector-lever n it is eon-
359,917 3 5 ю 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 structed with an arm, s, at its hub, extending rearward, and which stands in the path of a shoulder, t, on the breeeh-piece. (See Fig. 8.) This construction of the ejector is one common and well known in connection with arms of this character. The quick movement of the breech-pieee during the last part of its extreme opening movement and under the action of the mainspring gives a correspondingly quick throw to the ejector, sufficient to eject the car- tridge-shell from the arm, and as usual iuthis class of ejectors. We have shown and described two arms, M, as extending up from the hub of the actuating- lever, one each side of the hammer, and we prefer to employ the two, as being stronger than a single one; yet one may be omitted. The hammer commences its rear movement by the action of the breech-piece in its descent, and such rear movement of the hammer com- mences immediately as the breech-piece be- gins its descent, the breech-block acting like a cam upon the hammer; hence it follows that the hammer can only reach the flring-pin when the breech-piece is fully closed, for until so fully closed it stands in the path of the ham- mer. The hanging of the hammer forward of the breech-block and extending it through the breech-block therefore constitutes a material element of safety in the use of the arm. By the construction which we have illus- trated and described the mechanism of the arm is brought into a very small space and the weight of the arm correspondingly reduced. The power of the mainspring being removed from the hammer by the action of the lever H reduces to a very considerable extent the power required in the opening movement of the breech-piece. The arm is therefore easily op- erated, and is not only simple and cheap in construction, bnt effective and secure in opera- tion. We claim— 1. In a breech-loading fire-arm, the combi- nation of a vertically-reciprocating breech- block, a lever hung upon a pivot in the re- ceiver, forward of the breech-block, one arm of said lever extending from the hub of the lever and forming the trigger-guard and han- dle, the second arm extending from the hub into a recess in the breech-block, the top of said recess in the breech-block forming a shoul- der, against which the said second arm may bear when the breech-block is closed, and so as to support the breech-block in its closed position, the breech-block also constructed with a shoulder below the said bearing shoul- der, against which said second arm may strike in the opening movement of the lever to im- part the downward movement to the breech- block, the said breech-block constructed with a vertical groove in one side, and the receiver provided with a corresponding stud, and over which said stud the said groove in the breech- block will work in the descent of the breech- block, the receiver constructed with a recess in the rear face of the opening iu the receiver through which the breech-block works, the said recess being below the line of the barrel, and the said recess permitting a rearward tip- 70 ping movement of the breech-block at its ex- treme open position, substantially as and for the purpose described. 2. In a breech-loading fire-arm, the combi- nation of a vertically-reciprocating breech- 75 block, a lever hnng upon a pivot forward of . said breech-block, one arm of the said lever forming the trigger-guard and handle by which the lever is worked, the other arm extending from the hub into an opening in the breech- 80 block, and adapted to bear against the top of said opening in the closing movement of the breech-block and to serve as a brace against the top of said opening when the breech-piece is in its closed position, the said breech-block 85 also constructed with a shoulder below the top of said opening, against which said second arm of the lever will strike in the opening- movement to impart the descent to the breech- block, a hammer hung upon the same pivot as 90 the lever, forward of the breech-block, and ex- tending rearward through an opening in the breech-block, with a mainspring forward of the pivot upon which the hammer is hung and arranged to bear upon the hammer forward of 95 the pivot, and the trigger hnng in rear of said breech-block, adapted to engage said hammer in its cocked position, substantially as de- scribed. 3. In a breech-loading fire arm, the combi- nation of a vertically-reciprocating breech- block, a lever hung upon a pivot forward of said breech-block, one arm of said lever form- ing the trigger-guard and handle by which the said lever is operated, the hub of said lever- divided, a hammer hung upon the same pivot as the lever and between the two parts of the hub, the said hammer extending rearward through an opening in the breech-block, a trigger adapted to engage said hammer in its cocked position, a second arm extending from the hub of said lever into said opening in the breech-block, adapted to work therein to im- part the up-and-down movementto thebreech- block as thesaidlever is turuednpon its pivot, the said second arm arranged to bear upon the top of the opening in the breech-block as a brace when in its closed position, the said two parts of the hub of the lever constructed each with an arm extending forward, and the ham- mer also constructed with a like arm extend- ing forward, a mainspring arranged to bear upon one of the said forward arms of the lever and upon the forward arm of the hammer, and a second spring acting independent of the main- spring and arranged to bear upon the other arm forward of the lever, substantially as de- scribed. JOHN M. BROWNING. MATTHEW S. BROWNING. Witnesses: Miles L. Jones, Caleb Parry.
(Model.) 6 Sheets—Sheet 1 J. M. & M. S. BROWNING. MAGAZINE FIRE ARM. No. 367,336. Patented July 26,. 1887.
(Model.) 5 Sheets—Sheet 2 J. M. & M. S. BROWNING. MAGAZINE FIRE ARM.
(Model.) 6 Sheets—Sheet 3 J. M. & M. 8. BROWNING. MAGAZINE FIRE ARM. No. 367,336. Patented July 26, 1887.
(Model.) 5 Sheets—Sheet 4 J. M. & M. S. BROWNING. MAGAZINE FIRE ARM. No. 367,336. Patented July 26, 1887.
(Model.) 5 Sheets—Sheet 5 J. M. & M. S. BROWNING. MAGAZINE FIRE ARM. No. 367,336. Patented July 26, 1887.
United States Patent Office. JOHN M. BROWNING AND MATTHEW S. BROWNINGrOF OGDEN CITY, UTAH TERRITORY. MAGAZINE FIRE-ARM. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 367,336, dated July 26, 1887, Application filed July 15, 18FG. Serial No. 207,733. (Model.) To all whom it may concerjb: Be it known that we, John M. Browning and Matthew S. Browning, of Ogden City, in the county of Weber and Territory of Utah, 5 have invented a new Improvement in Magazine Fire-Arms; and we do hereby declare the fol- lowing, when taken in connection with accom- panying five sheets of drawings and the let- ters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, 10 clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in— Figure 1, a side view of the arm complete, broken at both ends; Fig. 2, atop view of the 15 same; Fig. 3, a’sectional view through the re- ceiver and barrel, showing a side view of the mechanism of the arm, the parts in the closed or normal condition; Fig. 4, the same as Fig. 3, illustrating the first part of the opening 2C movement in which the breech-pieee is un- locked; Fig. 5, a longitudinal central section through thebreech-pieee; Fig. 6, the same as Fig. 3, showing the breech-pieee as approach- ing its extreme rear position with the carrier 25 down, the hammer mechanism omitted; Fig. 7, the same as Fig. 3, showing the parts iu the fully-open position of the breech-piece; Fig. 8, a reverse side view of the breech-piece from that shown in previous figures; Fig. 9, an un- 3c der side view of the breech-piece, looking up- ward; Fig. 10, the same section as Fig. 3, showing the breech-pieee returned and just be- fore it reaches its extreme closed position; Fig. 11, an inside view of the receiver in the 35 reverse position from that shown in the pre- ceding figures; Fig. 12, a longitudinal section through the receiver, showing an under side view of the breech-pieee with its slide or link . connection; Fig. 13, a transverse section show- 40 ing front end view of the breech -piece; Fig. 14, a transverse section on line xx of Fig. 3, look- ing forward; Fig. 15, a transverse section on line у У, looking forward; Fig. 16, a perspec- tive view of the carrier detached; Fig. 17, a 45 longitudinal section through the carrier on line гг of Fig. 18, looking down; Fig. 18, a transverse section of the carrier on line я: я: of Fig. 17; Fig. 19, a transverse section of the carrier on line у у of Fig. 17. 5.: Thisinvention relates to an improvement in that class of magazine fire-arms in which the magazine is arranged longitudinally beneath the barrel and opens into the receiver at the rear below the barrel, and in which the breech- piece is arranged to move longitudinally rear- 55 ward from the barrel in opening the breech and forward in closing, parts of the invention being applicable to single breech-loaders, the. object of the invention being a simple con- struction, and in which may be combined the 60 advantages of both a longitudinally-movablo and a downward and backward swinging brecch-piece; and theinvention consists, prin- cipally, in a breech-piece hung in thereceiver npon trunnions near its forward end, the said 65 trunnions working in longitudinal grooves in the receiver and forming pivots npon which the breech-piece maybe turned to raise or drop the rear end, and so as to permit the brecch-piece after its rear end has dropped 70 from an abutment on the receiver to pass rear- ward within the receiver to open the breech- piece, and forward to return, and when re- turned its rear end raised to the locked posi- tion, combined with mechanism for imparting 75 opening and closing movement to the breech- piece,and in details of construction, more fully hereinafter described, and particularly recited in thb claims. A is the receiver, which is provided with the 8c nsual tang, B, above and, C, below for attach- ment to the stock. At the forward end the barrel D is attached, opening into the receiver in the usual manner, and beneath the barrel is the nsual magazine, E. 85 F is the breech-pieee, arranged in the re- ceiver so that its forward end may abut against the rear end of the barrel to close the breech, as seen in Fig. 3, the breech-piece extending rearward and its rear end adapted to' rest 90 against an abutment, G, in the receiver when the breech-piece is in its closed position. Near the forward end of the breech-piece it is pro- vided with a laterally-projecting trunnion, H, preferably one npon each side, as seen in Fig. 95 13, and in the corresponding sides of the re- ceiver a groove, I, is formed, inclined down- ward and backward, as seen in Figs. 6 and 11, and so that as the breeeh-piece is moved rear- wTard the trunnions will follow the said grooves 100
2 367,336 I and be supported thereby. At the rear end the grooves I turn downward, as seen at J, Fig. 11. Beneath the barrel, and forward of the re- 5 ceiver,is a handle, K, suitably guided and so as to be grasped by the hand, and moved lon- gitudinally toward and from, the receiver. From this handle a rod, L, extends rearward through the forward end of the receiver, and io to the rear end of the rod a link, M, is Jiung, asatN, (seeFigs. 3 and 4,)andsothatthe link, while movable longitudinally with the rod L, is also adapted for an up-and-down swinging movement. The rod L .works in a groove, O, 15. longitudinally upon the inside of the receiver, ' as indicated in Figs. 11 and-12. Near the rear end of the link,and upon the inner side, is a stud, P, which extends and works in a groove, R, in the side of the breech - zo piece near its rear end, as seen in Fig. 3, the groove R inclined rearward; and upward,and at its rear end turns upward to form a recess, Q, at nearly right angles to the axis of the breech-piece. On the outer side of the link 25 M is a similar stud, S, which enters and works in agroove, T,in the side of the receiver, (see Fig. ll,)which groove inclines downward and backward and serves as a support and guidefor the rear end of the link M. When the breech- 30 piece is in its closed position and the link, in its extreme forward position, as seen in Fig. 3, the stud P stands in the lower part of the groove R and supports the breeeh-piece in its np or closed position and against the abut- 35 ment G. If,now,a rear movement be imparted to the handle, the link M will be correspond- ingly moved, and as the stud P works in the upward and rearwardly inclined groove R in the breech-piece it follows that the rear end 40 of the-breech-piece mnst.bedrawn downward; as the link cannot rise; hence in the first part of the rear movement of the link in opening, as from the position in Fig. 3 to that seen in Fig. 4, the stud P will operate in the groove 45 R and turn the rear end of the breech-piece downward, as seen in Fig. 4, and until it can escape from the abutmentG. The forward end of the breech-piece is, however, supported by its trunnions H in the grooves in the sides of 50 the receiver,so that this first movement of the breech-piece is simply downward at the rear and without substantial longitudinal move- ments As the stud P on the link reaches the rear 55 end of the groove R, as seen in broken lines, .Fig. 4, the rear end of the breech-piece drops to bring the recess Q onto the stud P, and so as to bring the rear end of the breech-piece so far below the abutment G that the breech- 60 piece may now pass rearward. Therefore the continued rear movement of the handle will throw the breech-piece toward its rear posi- tion, the breech-piece passing below the tang B, as seen in Fig. 6, the trunnions H on the 65 breech-piece working through the grooves T, and until they reach the bend or downward turn J, that positiou being seen in Fig. 6. Still continuing the rear movemeut, the trunnions H follow into the downward turn J of the grooves I to the position seen in Fig. 7, there- 70 by dropping the forward end of the breeeh- piece so that its upper forward end is below the axial line of the barrel, as seen iu Fig. 7, and which is the wide-open position for the brecch-pieee. On the return or forward move- 75 ment of the handle the link will also move forward, and because the stnd P rests in the recess Q of the groove R the breech-piece will be correspondingly moved forward. Its for- ward trunnions, H, ride up the inclined part 80. J of the grooves I to the position seen in Fig. 6, and then continue in the grooves I nntil they reach the forward position seen in Fig. 4, where the brcech-piece comes against the rear end of the barrel, and which is the position to 85 begin the locking movement of the breech- piece. As the breech-piece can advance no farther forward, its lower edge at the front rests against the barrel as a pivot, upon which its rear end may now rise, and the forward go movement of the link continued, the stud P, working in the groove of the breech-piece, passes to its extreme forward position,’(seen in Fig. 3,) which last movement forces the rear end of the breeeh-piece up forward of the abut- 95 ment G, and so as to rest and be supported thereby against recoil. To facilitate thelocking or rising movement of the breech-piece, or, rather, to relieve the wear of the stud on the link which works in 10c the groove in the receiver, the groove T is made parallel with the inner surface of the . lower tang, and the link is constructed with a downward extension, U, to ride thereon, as seen in Fig. 4. 105 The shells by explosion frequently expand in the cartridge-chamber to a considerable ex- tent, or from other cause stick, so as to re- quire a very considerable power to start them, and this power must be exerted through the no handle which operates the breech-piece. To increase the leverage between the handle and the shell to be extracted, or the power of the hand le over the breech-piece, and whereby the starting of the cartridge will be facilitated, we 115 construct the breech-piece with a downward and rearwardly curved shoulder, W, upon one side near its rear end, as seen in Fig. 8, and which, when the breech-piece is closed stands above a stationary stud, X, in the receiver, as 120 seen in Fig. 12, and so that as the rear end of the breech-piece falls below the abutment G in its opening movement, as indicated in Fig. 4, this cam like shoulder on the breeeh-pieec will ride over the stud, and because of its cam 125 shape, in passing over the s:rd stud, a forced rear movement will be imparted to the breech- • piece to a slight extent, but sufficient to start the cartridge. This cam action to give a start rearward to the breeeh-piece in its de- 130 scent is produced by a very slight exertion npon the handle, much less than would be re-
367,336 3 quired to produce the start directly from the handle, and because of the aid afforded by the said cam-shaped shoulder oq the.breech-piece and the stationary stud on the receiver in giv- 5' ing the initial start to the breech piece the wearing strain npon the studs of the link M and the groove in the breech-pieee is to a very considerable extent relieved. In the lower part of the receiver upon a io pivot, a, the hammer Ъ is hung, to which the mainspring d is hung in the usual manner, the hammer being adapted to turn down ward and backward in cocking, anil so that a notch, e, on the hub of the hammer may engage the 15 trigger/, as seen la Fig- 7, and as indicated in broken lines, Fig. 3‘. The hammer extends up beneath the breech-piece, and its head end en- ters into a recess, g, upon the under side of the breech-pieee, as seen in Fig. 5, and as also го seen in broken lines, Fig. 3, and so that the head of the hammer may strike the rear end of the firing-pin A to produce the explosion. From the hub of the hammer a finger-piece, i, extends downward forward of the trigger, by 25 means of which the hammer may be turned to full cock, as indicated in broken lines, Fig. 3. . This arrangement brings the hammer entirely within the receiver and unexposed. As the breech-pieee is moved rearward in opening, as 3c before described, it bears against the head end of the hammer, and so that in its rear move- ment it will turn the hammer to full-cock to engage the trigger, as seen in Fig. 7, where the hammer will remain when the breech-piece is 35 returned nntil it be discharged. To prevent the possibility of the release of the hammer until the breech-pieee is in its fully-closed position, a locking-dog, Z, is hung in the receiver forward of the hammer upon a 40 pivot, m, the dog extending forward, its nose n rearward toward the hub of the hammer,and so as to engage a corresponding shoulder, r, on the hub of the hammer when the hammer is cocked, as seen in Figs. 7 and 10; but when 45 the breech-piece is in the closed position the tail end of the dog rests againstthedownward projection t on the hub of the link’ M, and so as to hold the nose of the dog ont of the path of the shoulder r on the hammer, as seen in 50 Fig. 3, so that when the breech-piece is in the closed and locked position the hammer is free to be cocked or. discharged; but as the link moves rearward, and before the breech-piece -has moved from its abutment, the projection 55 t escapes from the tail of the dog, as seen in Fig. 10, so as to permit the hose of the dog under the action of the dog-spring и to drop onto the hub of the hammer. Then so soon as the breech-piece has moved so far rearward as 60 to bring the hammer to full-cock, as seen in Fig. 7, the hammer is engaged by the-dog and' will there be held until itbe disengaged by the link, and this disengagement cannot occur un- til the projection t reaches the taijof the dog, 65 as seen in Fig. 10, and after the locking of the breech-piece has commenced, and the unlock- ing of thedog is not completed until the breech- pieee reaches its extreme locked position, as seen in Fig. 3, and is in position for the action of the hammer. 70 So far the construction described is applica- ble alike to single br,eeeh-loaders as well as to magazine-arms. As a magazine-arm the carrier 2 is hung iri the receiver at the rear, beneath the breech- 75 piece upon a pivotj-8, and so as to swing up- ward and downward. In its downward posi- tion, as seen in Fig. 3, it stands in rear of the magazine, and so that a cartridge may pass therefrom onto the carrier, as sfcen in Fig. 6. , 80 On the carrier in rear of its pivot is an up- . ward projection, 4, against which a shonlder, 5, on the breech-piece (see Fig. 5) is adapted to bear as the breech-pieee approaches its closed position, as seen in Fig. 6, and so that 85 as the breech-piece completes its rear move- ment, as from Fig. 6 to Fig. 7, the carrier is raised to present the cartridge received from the magazine forward of the front face of the breech-piece, as seen in Fig. 7, and so that as 90 the breech-piece is next moved forward it will force the cartridge forward into the barrel, and as the breech-pieCe thus moves forward it will strike an upward projection, 6, on the carrier and force the carrier to its down posj- 95 tion. At the forward end of the carrier it is constructed with a downward projection, 7, which serves as a guard or stop to prevent the next cartridge in the magazine from pass- ing rearward until the carrier shall have 100 reached its down position. The Construction of the carrier may be any Of the known con- structions adapted to swung upward and down- ward and to be so moved as the breech-piece moves rearward and forward. 405 To prevent the cartridge from being forced. from the carrier in its upward movement, w’e construct it, as seen in Fig. 16, with a wing, 16, upon one side—say the left-hand side—ex- tending from its rear end forward, the wing no having au inward overhang, 17, upon its up- per edge, as seen in Fig. 18, the forward edge of the wing inclined ontward nearly to a sharp edge, as indicated in Fig. 17, and with an in- ward projection near the forward end to form 115 a recess, 18, at the rear, and upon the oppo- site side at the rear end is a shorter wing, 19, its forward edge inclined outward to nearly a sharp edge, as seen in Fig. 17. The upwtird projection 6, by which the carrier is de- 120 pressed, is forward of the wing 19, and so as to leave a space, 20, between the wing 19’ and the projection 6 opposite the inward projec- tion near the forward end of the wingyo. . The distance between the inside of the wing 125 16 at its inwardly,-projecting forward end and the inside plane of the wing 19 and pro- jection 6 upon the opposite side is less than the diameter of the head of the cartridge; but the space between the wing 16 in rear of the 130 said inward projection and the inside plane of the opposite wing,19,-is greater than the diameter of the head of the cartridge. As the cartridge passes onto the carrier its
4 367,336 beat! on one side arrives at the forward end of the wing 16, and because of the inclined edge of that wing it is forced to the apposite side, bringing the head into the reccss 20, and, still 5 moving rearward, the opposite side of the head now strikes the forward inclined edge of the wing 19, which forces the cartridge to the op- posite side, bringing the rear end of the car- tridge into the recess IS beneath the overhang io 17, and the head of the cartridge comes to p rest at the rear end of the carrier. Thus the Cartridge is brought beneath the overhang, and so that as the carrier rises the overhang will prevent the cartridge from being thrown 15 npward from it, and as the breech-piece moves forward to transfer the cartridge to the barrel the head end of the cartridge makes the sairie movement to pass bcyoild the inwardly-pro- jecting surface of the wing 16 as it did to pass 20 onto the carrier, and so that it readily escapes from the grasp of the carrier. Upon the top of the brcech:piecc the ex- tractor-hook 8 is arranged, and beneath it, on the breech-piecc, is a shoulder, 9, so that as 25 the hook engages the upper edge of the ear- tridge-head, as seen in Fig. 3, the lower edge of the cartridge will rest on the shoulder^ as in the usual construction of extractors; but be- cause the brcech-piece during the first part of 30 its opening movement turns downward at the rear and as npon a pivot at its forward end, so that the npper face of the breech-piece turns away from the cartridge, while the lower edge bears against it, it is necessary to provide the 35 extractor with a longitudinal movement, that it may yield to this first movement of the breech-piece. To this end it is adapted to slide longitudinally on the brcech-piece, rest- ing in a groove in the breech-piece, with a pin, 40 10, in the brecch-piece through a longitudinal slot, 11, in the extractor, (see Fig. 5,) and be- neath the rear portion of the extractor-hook is a spring, 12, against one end of which a shoul- der, 13, on the extractor bears, the other end 45 of thespring resting against a shoulder or stud, 14, in the breech-pieee, and so that as the ex- tractor moves forward, as indicated in broken lines, the spring will be compressed; but when released the spring will return it to its normal 50 position. This arrangement permits the ex- tractor to yield in the turning of the breech- piece, as from the position in Figi 3 to that seen in Fig. 4, and so that it will maintain its hold npon the cartridge-head, and as it or the 55 shell is drawn from the barrel it will follow the breech-picee, the forward end of the shell being supported in the barrel nntil it can es- cape at-the rear end of the barrel. Then the reaction of the extractor-spring will tend to f,o give the cartridge a quick upward turn and sufficient to eject it from the arm, so that the extractor itself becomes the ejector. By dropping the forward end of the brecch- piece, nsdescrihod, by means of the downward- 65 inclined portion <T of the grooves I, it will be observed, as seen in Fig. 7, that the barrel is open to the rear and clear over the abutment G, so that the person using tho arm may, as the breech-pieee is drawn to its open position, look directly through the barrel withont tak- 70 ing the arm from the shoulder, and thus at each discharge a clear inspection of the barrel is af- forded. This also greatly facilitates the clean- ing of the barrel from the breech end. The magazine is charged by an opening 75 through the side of the receiver, dosed by a' spring-cover, 15, (see Figs. 6 and 7,) this cover being free to open when the carrier is in its raised position, as seen iu Fig. 7, the carrier itself serving as a latch to engage each car- 80 tridge as it is introduced. • We have represented the breech-piece as moved by a handle forward of the receiver be- neath the barrel; but it may be otherwise op- erated—as, for illustration, by means of a le- 85 ver beneath, as seen in Fig. 16, the link hung to the upper arm of the trigger-guard lever, and so that, turning the lever downward and forward in the usual manner of this class of levers, substantially the same movement will 90 be imparted to the link as would be by the handle; consequently the operative parts of the arm move in the same manner. We there- fore do not wish to be understood as limiting our invention to either of the known means 9; for imparting the longitudinal reciprocating movement to the breech-piece. Throughout the specification we have indi- cated the sliding pieceM, which communicates both the swinging and reciprocating move- 100 ment to the breech-piecc, as a link, because of its being hung to the rodL at the forward end and making connection with the brcech-piece at its rear end; but, it being guided in the re- ceiver, it may be consideredas a slide, having 105 a stud-and-groove connection with the breech- pieee at its rear end, the slide receiving a lon- gitudinal reciprocating movement, which com- municates both the np-and-dow'n swinging movement and the longitudinal reciprocating no movement to the breech-piece. While we prefer to arrange the hammer, as described, beneath the breech - piece, and so that it will be concealed, it will be understood that the hammer may be hnng—say upon the 115 side of the receiver—to strike a firing-pin lon- gitudinally through the breech-piece, as in many known arms—a construction too well known to require illustration. We claim— 120 1. In a fire-arm havinga barrel opening into the receiver at its rear end, a longitudinal breech-piece arranged in the receiver in rear of said barrel, the receiver constructed with an abutment to support the rear end of the 125 breech-piece when in its closed position, the breech-piece hung npon trunnions at its for- ward end in longitudinal guides in thereceiver, the said trunnions forming'pivots upon which the brecch-piccc may swing up -or down to 130 bring its rear end against or take it from said abutment, thesaid longitudinal guides permit- ting the longitudinal reciprocating movement of the breech-piece in opening and closing, a
367,336 5 slide longitudinally guided in the receiver and in stud-aud-groove connection with the said breech-piece at its rear end, with mechanism, substantially such as described, to impart lon- 5 gitudinal movement to said slide, substantially as specified, and whereby under the first part of the rear movement of thesaid slide adown- ward-swinging movement is imparted to the rear end of the breech-piece to release it from io the abutment and then the longitudinal rear movement continued to bring the breech piece to its extreme open position, and on the^ re- turn movement of the slide the breeeh-piece is first brought to its forward position and then Г5 raised at the rear end to bring it against its abutment in the receiver. 2. In afire armhaving abarrelopeninginto the receiver at its rear end, a longitudinal breech-piece arranged'in the receiver in rear so of said barrel, and the receiver constructed with an abutment to support the rear end of the breech-piece, the breech-piece hung upon trunnions at its forward end in longitudinal guides in the receiver, thesaid trunnions form- 25 ing pivots upon which the breech-piece may swing up or down to bring its rear end against or take it from said abutment, said longitudi- nal guides permitting the longitudinal move- ment of the breech-piece in opening and clos- 30 ing, and the said guides for the trunnions in-' clined downward at their rear end, and where- by the forward end of the breeeh-piece is dropped.as it approaches its extreme open po- sition, a slide longitudinally guided in the re- 35 ceiver and in connection with thesaidbreech- - piece at its rear end, with mechanism, sub- stantially such as described, to impart longi- tudinal reciprocating movement to saidslide, substantially as specified. 4° 3. In afire-arm having the barrel opening into the receiver at the breech, the combination therewith of a breech-piece arranged longi- tudinally in the receiyer in rear of the barrel, the breech-piece constructed with a laterally- 45 projecting trunnion upon one or both sides near its forward end, and the receiver with corre- sponding longitudinal grooves in which said trunnions work and rest to support the said breech-piece, a slide arranged in the receiver 5° to work in a plane parallel with the plane of the breech-piece, its rear end constructed with a laterally-projecting stud and the receiver with a corresponding groove in which said stud may work as a guide for the slide, the 55 slide being adapted to move longitudinally with the breeeh-piece, the breech-piece con- structed with a rearward and upwardly in- clined groove, the said slide also constructed with a laterally - projecting stud to work in б э said inclined groove in the breech - piece, , the receiver also constructed with an abut- ment at the rear of the breech-piece, against which the rear end of the breech - piece is adapted to rest when in its closed position, 65 with mechanism, substantially such as de- scribed, to impart a back and forward move- ment to said link, substantially as specified, .and whereby under the first part of the rear movement of the link the rear end of the breech-piece will be thrown downward and 70 away from its abutment and then in the con- tinned movement of the said link will pass rearward beneath the upper tang of the re- ceiver to its fully-open position. 4. In afire-arm having a barrel opening into 75 the receiver at its rear end, a longitudinal breech-piece in the receiver in rear of the bar- rel, with an abutment in the receiver at the rear of the breech-piece tosupport said breeeh- piece in its closed position, the said breeCft- Sb piece hung at its forward end npon trunnions, the said trunnions permitting an up and-down swinging movement to the rear end of the breeeh-piece, and the said trunnions arranged in guides to permit longitudinal niovement of 85 the breech-piece, a hammer hung in the re- ceiver below the breech-piece, its nose adapted to strike into a recess upon the under side of the breech-piece, with a longitudinal firing-pin . in the breech-piece, its rear end in said recess 90 and in the path of the said hammer when the breech-piece is in its closed position, with mechanism, substantially such as described, to impart the up-and-down swinging move- ment to the rear end of the breech-piece and 95 its longitudinal opening and closing move- ment, substantially as described. 5. In a fire arm having a barrel opening into the receiver at the rear, the combination of the, breech-piece F, hung upon trunnions at 100 its forward end, the said trunnions resting in corresponding longitudinal grooves in the re- ceiver, the said breeeh-piece also constructed with a groove, B, upon its side near the rear end inclined upward and backward, the. re- 105 ceiver constrncted with an abutment,G,against which the rear end of -the said breeeh-piece is adapted to bea'r, a link, M, having a stud, S, upon its outer side, the receiver constructed with a corresponding groove, T, as a guide for r 10 the movement of said link, the said link also provided with a stud, P, adapted to work in said inclined groove В in the breech-piece, a longitudinally-sliding handle forward of the receiver, and a rod extending therefrom into 115 connection with said link, substantially as de- scribed. 6. In a fire arm having a barrel opening into the receiver at the rear end, the breech-piece F, hung upon trunnions at its.forward end, 120 working in corresponding longitudinal guides in. the receiver, an abutment, G, at the rear end, against which said breech-piece bears in its closed position, a link, M, arranged for lon- gitudinal movement in the receiver and in con- 125 nection with said breech-piece near its rear end, and adapted to impart an up-and-down swinging movement to the rear end of the breech piece, and also a longitudinal recipro- cating movement to the breech-piece, a ham- 139 mer hung beneath the' breech-piece, a firing- pin in the breech-piece, which the said hammer is adapted to strike, the dog ?, hung forward of 1 the hammer, its nose n adapted to engage a cor-
с 367,336 responding shoulder on the hub of the ham- mer, the tail of the dog extending forward be- neath the link M, and the said link constructed with a projection, t, adapted to bear upon the 5 tail of the said dog when the breech-pieee is in its closed position, with mechanism, substan- tially sueh as described, to impart longitudinal movement to said link, substantially as de- scribed, and whereby the nose of the dog will io be taken out of the path of the hammer as tha breech-pieee comes to its locked position, sub! stantially as described. 7. In a magazine fire arm in which, the mag- azine is arranged beneath the barrel, both the 15 barrel and magazine opening into the receiver at the rear, the combination therewith of a breech-pieee hung upon trunnions near its for- ward end, the said trunnions arranged in lon- gitudinal guides in the receiver, the receiver 20 constructed with an abutment in rear of the breech-piece and against which the rear end of the breech-piece is adapted to abut when in its closed position, a longitudinally guided and reciproeatingslide in thereceiverparallel with 25 the breech-piece, provided with a stud and the breech-pieee with a corresponding upward and rearwardly inclined groove near its rear end, mechanism, substantially such as described, to impart the said longitudinal reciprocating 30 movement to said slide, a carrier hung beneath the breech-piece, and adapted to swing up and down for the transfer of a cartridge from the magazine to the barrel, substantially as de- scribed. 35 8. In a magazine fire arm-having the maga- zine arranged beneath the barrel and both the barrel and magazine opening into the re- ceiver at the rear, the longitudinal breech- piece arranged in the receiver in the rear of 40 said barrel, the receiver constructed with an abutment to support the rear end of the breech- piece when in its closed position, the breeeh- piece hung upon trunnions at its forward end in longitudinal guides in the receiver, the 45 said trunnions forming pivots upon which the breech-piece may swing up or down to bring its rear end against or take it from said abut- ment, the said longitudinal guides permitting the longitudinal reciprocating movement of 50 the breech-pieee for opening and closing, a slide longitudinally guided in the receiver and instud-and-grooveconneetion with saidbreech- piece at its rear end, mechanism, substantially such as described, to impart longitudinal movc- 55 ment to said slide, and a carrier hung at the rear beneath said breech-pieee and adapted to swing up and down in the transfer of a cartridge from the magazine, the said carrier constructed with an upward projection in rear 60 of its pivot in the path of the breech-piece in its opening movement, and also constructed with a projection forward of its pivot in the path of the breech-pieee in its closing move- ment, substantially as described. 65 9. In a magazine fire arm in which the maga- zine is arranged beneath the barrel and both the barrel and magazine opening into the, re- ceiver at the rear, the combination therewith of the longitudinal breech-piece F, the re- ceiver constructed with an abutment, G, at the 70 rear, against which the breech-pieee may bear in its closed position, the sliding handle К be- neath the barrel, the rod L, extending from the handle into the receiver, the link MJ its forward end hung to said rod and its rear end 75 instud-and-grooveconneetiopwithsaidbreech- piece, the hammer Z>,hung beneath the breech- piece and extending upward, adapted to enter a recess in the under side of the breech-pieee, a firing-pin iu said breech-piece, the rear end 80 of which extends into said recess and against which the hammer may strike, the hammer constructed with a finger-piece, I, extending through into the trigger-guard, and with a carrier beneath the breech-piecc, arranged to 85 swing up and down in.the transfer of a car- tridge from the magazine to the.barrel, all sub- stantially as described. 10. Inainagazinefire-armin which the maga- zine is arranged beneath the barrel and both 90 the barrel and magazine open into the receiver at the rear, a carrier hung in the receiver at the rear and adapted to swing up and down in the transfer of a cartridge from the maga- zine to the barrel, the said carrier constructed 95 with a wing, 19, upon one side at its rear end, and an upward projection, 6, forward of said wing, leaving a recess, 20, between said wing and projection, the forward edge of the said wing inelinedyoutw’ard, with a wing, 16, upon too the opposite side at the rear end and extend- ing forward to a point opposite said recess20, the said wing having an inward overhang at the top, and with an inward projection at its forward end, so as to form a recess, 18, at the 105 rear, the extreme forward edge of the said wing inclined outward, substantially as and ‘ for the purpose described. 11. In a fire-arm in which the barrel is open into the receiver at the rear, and having a rio longitudinal breech-piece arranged to abnt against a shoulder iii the receiver at the rear, and in which the first movement of the breech- piece in opening is downward at the rear to escape from, the abutment and then longitndi 115 nally rearward, the combination therewith of an extractor arranged on the top of the breech- piece and guided for longitudinal movement, a spring the action of which is to force the said hook rearward, but yield to permit its for- 120 ward longitudinal movement, and the brecch- piece constructed with a shonlder on its face below said hook, and upon which the lower edge of the head of the cartridge may rest while the upper edge is engaged by said hook, 125 substantially as described. JOTIN M. BROWNING. MzVrTTIEW S. BROWNING. Witnesses: TI. W. Rrxu, A. S. Melweu.
(Ko Model.) 5 Sheets—Sheet 1. J. M. & M. S. BROWNING. MAGAZINE FIRE ARM. No. 376,576. Patented Jan. 17, 1888
(No Model.) 6 Sheets—Sheet 2. J. M. & M. S. BROWNING. MAGAZINE FIRE ARM. No. 376,576. Patented Jan, 17, 1888.
(No Model.) 6 Sheets—Sheet 3. J. M. & M. S. BROWNING. MAGAZINE FIRE ARM. No. 376,576. Patented Jan. 17, 1888.
(No Model.) 6 Sheets—Sheet 4. J. M. & M. S. BROWNING. MAGAZINE FIRE ARM. No. 376,576. Patented Jan. 17, 1888.
(No Model.) 6 Sheets—Sheet 5. J. M. & M. S. BROWNING. MAGAZINE FIRE ARM. No. 376,576. Patented Jan. 17, 1888.
United States Patent Office. JOHN M. BROWNING AND MATTHEW S. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH TER- RITORY, ASSIGNORS TO THE WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS COMPANY, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT. MAGAZINE FIRE-ARM. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 376,576, dated January 17,1888. .Application filed Kovember2l,-18@7. S. rial Ko. 255,710. (No model.) To all whom it may concern: Be it known that we, John M. Browning and Matthew S. Browning, of Ogden, in the county of Weber and Territory of Utah, 5 have invented a new Improvement in Maga- zine Fire-Arms; and we do hereby declare the following, when taken iu connection with ac- companying drawings and the letters of refer- ence marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and io exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in— Figure 1, a right-hand side view of the arm complete; Fig. 2, a-top view of the same; Fig. 15 3, a sectional side view looking from the left- hand side, showing the parts in their normal position; Fig. 4, the same as Fig. 3,-showing the breech-piece as justcommeneing its open- ing movement; Fig. 5, a sectional view from 20 the right hand side,showing theparts in their closed position, with the hammer cocked; Fig. 6, a partial horizontal sectionshowingtheslot through the carrier and the corresponding groove in the receiver; Fig. 7, a front end 25 view of the extractor-block and trans verse sec- tion of the receiver and carrier, the position of the extractor-block being in rear of its nor- mal position; Fig. 8, a transverse section of the carrier detached; Fig. 9, a sectional side 30 view from the right, showing the breech-pieee .approaching its extreme open position, and before the carrier commences itsdescent; Fig. 10, the same as Fig. 9, but with the breech- piece in its extreme open position and the car- 35 rier down; Fig. 11, a transverse section on line x x of Fig. 3; Fig. 12, a transverse section on line у у of Fig. 3. This invention relates to an improvement in that class of magazine fire-arms in which the 40 magazine, is arranged longitudinally beneath the barrel, and so as to open into the receiver below thebarrel,and particularly to that class in which the breech-pieee is adapted to be op- erated byahandle extending downward there- 45 from beneath the receiver, and which forms substantially the trigger-guard, the handle it- self in this case being made substantially a partof thebreech-pieee, parts of the invention being applicable to single-loaders. The object of the invention is a simple con- 50 struction iu which the lock mechanism maybe arranged entirely within the breeeh-piece and the hammer automatically forced to its full- cock position under the niovement of the breech - piece. Under this construction the 55 breech-pieee,carrying the entire lock mechan- ism, is hnng to the receiver by a link, the for- ward end of the link being hung npon a.pivot in the breech-pieee and extending to the rear. The link is hung npon a pivot in tl^e frame or 60 receiver,and sothatin the opening'movement of the breech - piece the link causes the rear end of the breech-piece to drop, whilethefor- ward end is gnided longitudinally ih the те- i ceiver, by which operation the opening move- 65 I ment of the breech - piece is produced in a length substantially nogreater than the length of the breech-piece itself, the lock mechanism . being also arranged in the breeeh-piece. The swinging movement of the link is adapted to 70 act as a cam to throw the hammer to the full- cock position, where it is engaged by a sear, also hung in the breeeh-piece. Combined with the breech-piece is a carrier, which is adapted to Ьё thrown down as the breech - piece ap- 75 proaches its extreme open position, so as to receive a cartridge from the magazine, and then as the breech-piece commences its forward or closing movement the carrier is thrown up- ward to bring the cartridge to a position in 80 rear of'the barrel and forward of the advanc- ing breeeh-piece. In the illustrations, A represeijs the re- ceiver, to the forward end of which the barrel В is attached in the nsual manner, with the 85 magazine C below it, both the magazine and the barrel opening into a recess in the receiver at the rear, also in the usual manner, the rear end of the breech-piece being adapted to be secured to the stock D in any suitable manner. 9c (Here represented as by a shank, E, which ex- tends rearward from the receiver into the stock.) F represents the breech-piece, which is of a length corresponding to the opening in the re- 95 ceiver in rear of the barrel, its forward end adapted to close the rear end of the barrel and its rear end to rest against the rear end of the
2 376,576 recess in the receiver, as at G. The breech- pieee is extended downward through the open- ing below the receiver and terminates in a handle, H, forming, also, the trigger-guard I, 5 the breech-piece, handle, and trigger-guard be- ing preferably made in one piece. J represents a link which is hung upon a pivot, K, in the receiver at the rear of the breeeh-piece, as seen in Figs. 3 and 4. The io link extends forward upon one side of the breech-pieee and terminates at its forward end in a transverse trunnion, L, which extends through acorrespondingopeninginthebreech- piece, and as seen in Fig. 11. Whenthebreech- 15 piece is in the closed position, the said link stands in the position of a brace, as represented in Fig. 3, tending to support the breech-piece, the breech-piece, however, taking a firm bear- ing at the rear against the rear end .of the open- 20 ing in the receiver, as at G, which is in sub- stantially a direct line with the barrel, so that the force of resistance will come at the said point ,G. In the receiver on one side of the breech- 25 .piece is a longitudinal groove, M, (see Figs. 6 and 7,) and at the forward end of the breech- piece on that side is a stud, N, which extends into and so as to work longitudinally in the said groove Mas the breech-piece moves back- 30 ward and forward. To open the breeeh-piece, the handle is turned downward, the breeeh-piecebeing per- mitted to swing downward npon the stud N as its center of motion. At the same time the 35 link J, being connected to both the receiver and to the breech-piece, causes the rear end of the'breech-piece to drop, the breech-piece turning upon the trunnion L of the link and forms a pivot, npon whieh the breech-piece 40 also turns, and so that the stud N, following in the groove M of the receiver, will cause the forward end of the breech-piece to move longi- tudinally rearward, while the rear end will be forced downward through its connection with 45 the link, the breech-piece turning upon the trunnion of the link in so doing, and until the breeeh-piece reaches its wide-open position, (iudicated in Fig. 10,) at which time, owing to the combined action of the link and the longi- 50 tudinal groove in the receiver, the breech- pieee has assumed substantially a vertical po- sition. Then, as the handle is drawn rearward to close the breech-piece, the forward end re- turns, guided by its stnd N in the groove M. 55 At the same time the rear end swings upward nnder the influence of the.link, until finally it is brought to its closed position. (Indicated in Fig. 5.) The point of connection between the link 60 and the breech-piece is above the point of con- nection between the link and the receiver. Consequently the fi rst part of the openi ng m 0 ve- mentof the breeeh-piece, as from the position in Fig. 3 to tlu/t seen in Fig. 4, is simply to 65 give it a downward movement on its.stud N as the center of motion, and this movement takes the rear cud of* the brcech-piece below the recoil-bearing surface G in the receiver, . and as indicated in Fig. 4. From that bear- ing-surface downward the rear end of the re- 70 ceiver recedes to a sufficient extent to permit the movement of the breech-piece described, and as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4; but it will be observed that the length of the opening in the receiver for the breeeh-piece is no greater 75 than the length of the breech-piece, and that the entire opening movement of the breech- piece takes the breech-piece from the barrel to an extent nearly the length of the breeeh- piece itself, which permits the employment of 80 the maximum length of cartridge and with- out an increased length of receiver, thus per- mitting a construction of a short receiver adapted to the longest cartridge, and whereby the weight of the arm is materially reduced 85 over what is necessary in the ordinary con- struction witha longitudinally-inovingbreech- piece. The hammer О is of tubular shape, and is arranged in a corresponding longitudinal re- 90 cess, P, in the breech-piece, the hammer be- ing constructed with a shoulder, R, near its forward end, and from that shoulder the for- wardend is reduced to form the striking-point, which passes through a corresponding open- 95 ing in the forward end of the breech-piece, the shoulder R, when the hammer is in the ex- treme forward position, being adapted to beat upon a shonlder, S, in the breech-piece, and es indicated in Fig. 3. roo Within the tnbular hammer a helical or other suitable spring, T, is arranged, its for- ward end bearing against the forward closed end of the hammer, and at the rear end the spring bears against a seat in the breech-piece. 105 In this case the seat is represented as a slid- ing latch, ТГ, which is adapted to aid in hold- ing the breech-pieee iu its closed position. The tendency of the spring, is to force the hammer forward, and under the arrangement 110 shown the same spring serves to throw the lateh U rearward through the rear end of the breech-piece.' This latch is supported so as to permit only a limited amount of longitudi- nal movement, by means of a pin, V, in the n, receiver, through a slot in the latch, and as indicated in Fig. 5. The outer end of the latch U is of double-bevel shape, its nose adapted to engage a notch, W, in the receiver On the re- coil-surface G, and as seen in Fig. 5; and thus 120 engaged, under the action of the mainspring, this latch serves to hold the breeeh-piece in its closed position, but yet, because of its double-bevel shape, permits the opening force applied to the lever to force the latch inward 125 against the -mainspring, so that the breeeh- piece may.escape from its closed position, and then on the retnrn of the brecch-piece the bevel-nose permits the latch to ride into its recess to again secure the breech-pieee. 130 The hammer upon its nnder side is con- structed with a shoulder, a, (see Fig. 5,) which is the engaging-shoulder or full-cock notch. (See Figs. 9 and 10.)
376,576 3 trigger, so that it may be readily forced for- ward or drawn rearward by the same finger. This trigger-locking device is provided as a safeguard against accidents. 70 The breech-piece is provided with an ex- tractor. This consists of a block, r, hung upon the side of the breech-piece upon a pivot, s. (See Figs. 1 and 2.) This block is upon the side, of the receiver opposite the groove. On 75 the extractor side of the breech-block the re- ceiver is cut down so -as to form a straight lon- gitudinal guide, f, which is parallel with the groove m upon the opposite side, and this block r rides npon the guide t in the opening So and closing movement of the breecH-piece, so as to maintain its longitudinal or parallel po- sition irrespective of the rotative movement of the breech-piece. At the forward end of the block r, as seen in S5 Fig. 6, the extractor-hook и is arranged. This hook is in the form of a bolt adapted to slide transversely in the block r and under the ac- tion of a spring, w, the tendency of which is to force tlie nose of the extractor-hook inward, 90 the forward end of the extractor-hook being beveled, so as to ride over the flange of the cartridge as the breech-piece approaches its closed position, and in the usual manner of ex- tractor-hooks; butasthchookpresentssubstan- 95 tially a square or right angular surface upon its rear side it engages the flange of the car- tridge, as seen in Fig. 6, andso that the breech- piece, in itsopenihg movement, will drawthe exploded shell or cartridge, if it be not ex- 100 ploded, in the usual manner of extractors,and because of the extractor being longitudinally guided it maintains its hold npon the car- tridge or shell throughout its movement. The ejection of the cartridge is through the 105 right hand side of the frame and over the guid- ing-surface on which the slide r rides, this opening being clearly seen in Figs. 1, 2, and6. A shoulder, 2, is provided at a point sta- tionary with relation to the rearward-moving no breech-piece and upon the side of the breech- piece opposite the extractor, this shoulder be- ing at a point forward of the extreme rear po- sition of the extractor, and so that as the breech- piece approaches its extreme rear movement, 115 as indicated in Fig. 6, the flange of the car- tridge or shell will strike the said shoulder 2, as indicated in broken lines, Fig. 2, opposite the extractor, and then, as the extractor com- pletes its rear movement, the shell or cartridge 120 being arrested by said shoulder 2, and still under the influence of the extractor-hook,will cause the cartridge or shell to turn outward, as indicated in broken lines, Fig. 6, and be ejected from the arm. 125 So far the invention is applicable alike to both magazine and single loaders. As a magazine arm the carrier 3 is hung upon a pivot, 4, at the rear, and upon the grooved side of the receiver the carrier is con- 130 structed with alongitudinalslot,5, correspond- ing from its forward end to near its extreme Ъ represents the sear, which is hung upon a pivot, Л, eccentrically on the trunnion L of the link J, and in the trunnion a spring, e, is ar- ranged, the tendency of which is to bear the 5 sear toward the hammer while the breeeh- piece is in the open position; but after engage- ment of the sear with the hammer, and in the closing movement of the breech - piece, the spring is carried away from the sear, as indi- io cated in Fig. 5, the engagement between the hammer and the sear being suffieieutly strong to retain that engagement without the aid of the spring. The free end of the sear is adapted to engage the shoulder a of the hammer when 15 permitted so to do. From the sear a finger,/, extends downward, and is arranged so that it maybe engaged by a shoulder, g, on the trig- ger h, thesaid trigger being hungin the breech- piece upon a pivot, i, and as seen in Fig. 5. 26 When the parts are in the normal position, the hammer fotward and free, the shoulder a of the hammer stands forward of the nose of the scar, as indicated in Fig. 3; but as the breeeh-piece is turned to its extreme open po- 25 sition, as seen in Fig. 10, the rotative move- ment of the trunnion in one direction and of the breech-piece in the opposite direction causes the nose of the sear to come to a posi- tion forward of the shoulder a on the hammer, jO and as clearly indicated in Fig. 10. Then, as tlie closing movement of the breech-piece is commenced, the nose of the sear engages the shonlder a of the hammer, as seen in Fig. 9, and from this point to the closing movement 35 the hammer and sear will retain their engage- ment, the result of which is that the hammer will be forced to the rear to the extent that the shonlder « stands forward of the nose of the sear in its normal condition, and conse- 40 quently the hammer will be brought to fnll- cock, as seen in Fig. 5, in which condition the finger f of the sear is in a position to be en- gaged by the trigger when it is pulled, and by a pull npon the trigger the sear will be drawn 15 down out of engagement with the hammer, as indicated in broken lines, Fig. 5, leaving the hammer free* t<i be thrown forward under the action of its mainspring. Because of this ar- rangement of the sear and trigger, it will be 50 observed that the finger of the sear is forw'ard of and out of the reach of the trigger until the breech piece is brought to its closed position. To loek the trigger, so as to prevent its pos- sible engagement with the sear in the full- 55 cock position, I arrange a sliding dog, Z, iu the trigger, forward of its pivot,with a downward projection,.»!, therefrom through the trigger into the trigger-guard, and so that the dog may be thrown forward onto a corresponding 6c keeper, n, as indicated in broken lines, Fig. 5, and thus the pull of the trigger will be impos- sible; but if the dvg I be drawn rearward, as indicated in Fig. 5/then the trigger will be free, and may operate the sear when in the 65 fully-closed position. • Theprojedtionwiisin a position forward of thefingerbearingupontfifc-
4 376,576 rear end with the groove M in the receiver, and so that in the normal position the carrier stands up and in line-with the barrel, tbeslot 5 of the carrier being in line with the groove 5 M in the receiver, as indicated in Fig. 3, and so that the stud N on the breech-piece works through the slot 5 in the groove M. The slot 5 at its ar end turns obliquely upward, as at 6, Figs. 3 and 4, and so that as the breech- io piece approaches its extreme rear movement its.stud N will apt'upon this oblique portion 6 of the slot 5, and thereby impart the down- ward or dropping movement to the carrier, and so as to bring it into position to receive 15 the cartridge from the magazine, as indicated in Fig. 10, and so that when the carrier is in its down position a cartridge will be forced from the magazine onto the carrier in the usual man- ner for magazine-arms. Then, as the breech- es piece commences its forward movement, the stud N, working through the oblique portion 6 of the slot 5, forces the carrier upward, as indicated in Fig. 9, and so that the cartridge will stand in direct line with the barrel. Then 25 as the breech-pieee moves forward it strikes the rear end of the cartridge and forces the cartridge forward into its,place in the barrel. To arrest the cartridge when it has completely passed onto the carrier, the shoulder 2 is formed 30 on the carrier, as seen in Fig. 10. This is the same shoulder which serves to aid in the eject- ment of the cartridge, as before described. To prevent the cartridge from being thrown from the carrier in its sudden transfer from the maga-' 35 zine or in the sudden movement of the car- rier, an overhanging finger, 7, is formed on the carrier, as indicated in Fig. 12; and be- cause of the ejection of the cartridge from the side of the arm the opposite side of the re- |O ceiver may be constructed to overhang the breech:piece and recess in the receiver, and as indicated in Figs. 2, 7, and 8. The magazine is charged from the under side, and when the parts are in the normal 45 condition. To do this, a chute is formed by a portion, 8, of the under side of the breech- piece, and a continuation, 9, thereof formed as a part of the carrier. (See Figs. 3, 5, and 12.) These parts, when in the closed position, as 5c seen in Fig. 3, form, with the sides of the re- ceiver, a groove or recess to conduct the car- tridges directly into the rear end of^the maga- zine. To hold the cartridges as they are thus introduced, a latch, 10, is hung in the part 9 55 of the carrier, as seen in Fig.. 5, which will yield, as indicated in. broken lines, for the passage of the cartridge into the magazin but will drop in rear of the head of the c. - fridge under the action of the latch-spring 11. 60 We claim— 1. The combination of a receiver having a vertical recess therein, a barrel at the forward end of the receiver opening into said recess, a breeeh-piece in length corresponding to said 65 recess in the receiver and adapted to rest in its closed position against the rear end of the said recess in the receiver to resist recoil, the said breech-piece provided with an extension therefrom beneath the receiver by which the said breech-piece maybe moved, the receiver 7; constructed with a longitudinal groove in one side of said recess, and the breech-piece pro- vided with a stud near its forward end adapted to work in said longitudinal groove, with a link hung by one end to the receiver in rear 7; of the breech-piece and hung by the other end to the breech-piece near its rear end, substan- tially as described. 2. In a fire-arm having the barrel opening into the receiver at the rear, a breech-piece 8c arranged in said receiver, the said receiver constructed upon its inner side with a longi- tudinal groove, and the breech-piece provided with a stud projecting therefrom adapted to work In said groove, the breech-piece also 8; adapted to take a bearing at the rear end of the recess in the receiver, a link, one end piv- oted to the receiver in rear of the brcech-piece, the other end of the link constructed with a transverse trunnion arranged in a correspond- g< ing recess in the breech-pieee, a hammer ar- ranged longitudinally in the breech-piece above the said trunnion and provided with a mainspring, a sear in the receiver hung eccen- trically to the axis of said trunnion, the ham- g; met constructed with a shoulder correspond- ing to the nose of the said sear, the nose of the said sear being adapted to engage the shoulder on the hammer in theclosing movementof the breech-piece, with a trigger arranged to en- ic gage said sear when the breech piece is in the closed position, substantially as described. 3. The combination of a receiver, a barrel opening at the rear into said receiver, a breech • piece arranged in said receiver and adapted rc to swing in a vertical plane in opening and closing, the receiver constructed with a lon- gitudinal groove in one side, the breech-piece provided with a stud corresponding to and adapted to work in said longitudinal groove, n thejsaid breech-piece adapted at its rear end to take a bearing on the receiver, a link hung by one end to the receiver in rear of the breech- piece, the other end of the jink .hung to the breech piece and so that the breech-piecejnay 11 turn thereon in its opening and closing move- ment, a .double-bevel spring-latch in said breech-piece, and corresponding notch in the receiver, through which said latch is adapted to engage when the breech-piece is iu the 12 closed position, substantially as described. 4, The combination of a receiver, a barrel opening at.the rear into said receiver, a breeeh- piece arranged in said receiver and adapted tc swing in a vertical plane iu opening and rs closing, the receiver constructed with a longi- tudinal groove in one side, the breech-piecc provided with a stud corresponding to and adapted to work in said longitudinal groove, the said breech-piece adapted at its rear end . to take a bearing in the receiver, a link hung by one end to the receiver in -rear of the breech-piece, the other-end of the link hung to the breech-piece'and so that the breech-
376,576 piece may turn thereon in its opening and closing movement, a tubular hammer arranged in a corresponding longitudinal recess in said breech-piece, a double-bevel latch arranged in 5 the breech-piece in rear of said hammer, the recess in the receiver being constructed with a notch corresponding to thenoseofthesaid latch, and a spring within said tubular hammer, the rear end of said spring resting against said io latch and the other end against the hammer, substantially as described, and wherebjr said spring serves the double purpose of main- spring for the hammer and a spring for said latch. 15 5. The combination of a receiver, a barrel opening at the rear into said receiver, a breech - piece’arranged in said receiver and adapted to swing in a vertical plane iu opening and closing, the receiver constructed with a longi- 20 tudinal groove in one side, the breeeh-piece provided with a stud corresponding to and adapted to work in said longitudinal groove, said breech-piece adapted at its rear end to take a bearing iu the receiver, a link hung by 25 one end to the receiver in rear of the breech- piece, the other end constructed with a trans- verse trunnion working in a corresponding re- cess in the breech-pieee and upon which -the said breech-piece swings in its opening and 30 closing movement, a tubular hammer arranged in a corresponding longitudinal recess in said breech-piece, a mainspring arranged within said tubular hammer, supported at its rear end, and at its1 forward end adapted to bear 35 against the hammer, a searhnng eccentrically npon the trunnion of the said link,, the ham- mer constructed with a shoulder with which the nose of the said sear is adapted to engage, the sear constructed with a finger extending 40 downward therefrom, and a trigger hnng in the breech-piece and constructed with a shoulder adapted to engage the said finger of the sear, substantially as described. 6. The combination of a receiver, a barrel 45 opening at the rear into said receiver, a . breech-piece arranged in said receiver and adapted to swing in a vertical plane in open- ing and closing, the receiver constructed with a longitudinal groove in one side, the breech- 50 piece provided with a stud corresponding to and adapted to work in said longitudinal groove, said breech-piece adapted at its rear end to take a bearing in the receiver, a link hung by one end to the receiver in rear of the 55 breech-piece, the other end constructed with a transverse trunuion working in a correspond- ing recess in the breech-piece and npon which the said breech-piece swings in its opening and closing movement, a tubular hammer ar- 60 ranged in a corresponding longitudinal recess iu said breech-piece, a mainspring arranged within said tabular hammer, supported at its rear end, and at its forward end adapted to bear against the hammer, a sear hung eccen- 65 trically to the trunnion of the said link, the hammer constructed with a shoulder with which the nose of the said sear is adapted to engage, a trigger, arranged in the breech- piece and adapted to engage said sear when the breeeh-piece is iu the closed position, with 7c a sliding dog arranged in the trigger forward of its pivot, and a corresponding bearing for the dog in the breech piece forward of the trigger, substantially as and for the purpose described. 75 7. The combination of a receiver having a vertical recess therein, a barrel at the forward end of the receiver opening into said recess, a breech piece in length corresponding to said recess in the receiver and adapted to rest in 80 its closed position against the rear end of the said recess in the receiver to resist recoil, the said breech-piece provided with an extension therefrom beneath the receiver by which the said breeeh-piece may be moved, the receiver 85 constructed with a longitudinal groove in one side of said recess, and the breech-piece pro- vided with a stud near its forward end, adapted to work in said longitudinal groove, with a link hung by one end to the receiver in 90 rearof the breeeh-piece aud hung by the other end to the breech-pieee near its rear end, the receiver constructed with an opening through its side opposite the said groove, and the said opening forming a longitudinal bearing-sur- 95 face parallel with the said groove, a bl de к piv- oted to said breech-piece near its forward end and adapted to work upon said parallel sur- face as its guide, with a spring-extractor hook arranged in said block,and an ejector-shoulder 100 opposed to said extractor as the said extractor approaches its extreme rear position, substan- tially as described. 8. The combination of the receiver having a vertical recesstherein adapted to receive the 105 breech -piece, a barrel openi ng into the receiver at the rear, a magazine beneath the barrel also opening into the receiver at the rear, a breech piece in length corresponding to said recess in the receiver and adapted to rest in no its closed position against the rear end of the said recess iu the receiver to resist recoil, the said breech-piece provided with an extension therefrom beneath the receiver by which the said breech-piece may be moved, the receiver 115 constructed with a longitudinal groove in the said recess, and the breech pjece provided with a stud in its forward end adapted to work in said longitudinal groove, with a link hung by one end to the receiver in rear of the breech- 120 piece and hung by the other end to the breech- piece near its rear end, a carrier hung in the receiver and so as to swing in a plane parallel with the plane of movement of the breech- piece, said carrier constructed with a longi- 125 tudinal slot corresponding to the groove in the receiver and through which the said stud on the breech-piece extends, the said slot in the carrier constructed with an oblique termi- nation, at its rear end, substantially as de- 130 scribed. 9. The combination of the receiver having a vertical recess therein adapted to receive the breech-piece, abarrel openinginto the receiver
6 376,576 at the rear, a magazine beneath the barrel also opening into the receiver at the rear, a breech-piece in length corresponding to said recess in the receiver and adapted to rest in 5 its closed position against the rear end of the said recess in the receiver to resist recoil, the said breech-piece provided with an extension therefrom beneath the receiver by which the said breech-piece may be moved, the receiver io constructed with a longitudinal groove in the said recess,and the breech-pieceprovided with a stnd in its forward end adapted to work in said longitudinal groove, with a link hung by one end to the receiver in rear of the breech- 15 piece and hung by the other end to the breech- piece near its rear end, a carrier hung in the receiver and so as to swing in a plaue parallel with the plane of movement of the breech- piece, said carrier constructed with a longi- 2c tudinal slot corresponding to the groove in the receiver and through which the said stud 011 the breech-piece extends, the said slot in the carrier constructed with an oblique termi- nation at its rear end, the under- side of said 25 carrier provided with a downward projection at its forward end, the under surface of which corresponds to the opening into the rear end of the magazine when the carrier is in its up position,and the under surface of the breech- 30 piece constructed to correspond with the said projection and as a continuation thereof, sub- stantially as described, and whereby the under face of the said extension of the carrier and of the breech-piece forms a guide for the intro- 35 duction of cartridges to the magazine, sub- stantially as described. 10. The combination of a receiver having a vertical recess therein adapted to receive the breech-piece, a barrel opening into the receiver 40 at the rear, a magazine beneath the barrel also opening into the receiverat the rear, a breech- piece iu length corresponding to said recess in the receiver and adapted to rest in the closed position against the rear end of thesaid recess 45 in the receiver to resist recoil, the said breech- piece provided with an extension therefrom beneath the receiver by which the said breech- piece may be moved, the receiver constructed with a longitudinal groove in said recess, and 50 the breech-piece provided with a stud near its forward end'adapted to work in said longi- tudinal groove, with a link hung byione end to the receiver in rear of the breech-piece and hung by the other end to the breech-piece near 55 its rear end, a carrier hung in the receiver and so as to swing in a plane parallel with the plane of movement of the breech-piece, said carrier constructed with a longitudinal slot correspondiug to the groove in the receiver and through which thesaidstudon thebreech- 60 piece extends, the said slot in the carrier con- structed with an oblique termination at its rear end, the under side of said carrier pro- vided with a downward projection, the under surface of which corresponds to the opening 65 into the rear end of the magazine when the carrier is in its up position, and a spring-latch hung in said projection adapted to engage the heads of the cartridges as they pass into the magazine, substantially as described. 70 11. The combination of a receiver having a vertical recess therein adapted to receive the breech-piece, a barrel .opening into the re- ceiver at the rear, a magazine beneath the bar- rel, also opening into the receiver at the rear, 75 a breech-piece in length corresponding to said recess in the receiver and adapted to rest in its closed position against the rear end of the said recess in the receiver to resist recoil, the said breech-piece provided with an extension 80 therefrom beneath the receiver by which fho said breech-piece may be moved, the receiver constructed with a longitudinal groove in said recess, and the breech-piece provided with, a stnd near its forward end adapted to work in 85 said longitudinal groove, with a link hung by one end to the receiver in rear of the breech- piece and hung by the other end to the,breech- piece near its rear end, a carrier hung in the receiver and so as to swing in a plane parallel co with the plane of movement of the breech- piece, said carrier constructed with a longitudi- nal slot corresponding to the groove in the re- ceiver and through which the said stnd on the breech-piece extends, the said slot in the car- 95 rier constructed with an oblique termination at its rear end, the receiver constructed with an opening upon the side opposite said groove for the ejection of cartridges, the breech-piece provided with an extractor upon thesideoppo- 100 site said groove, and the carrier provided with an ejector-shoulder opposed to the extractor on the breech-piece as the said extractor ap- proaches its extreme rear position, substan- tially as described. JOHN M. BROWNING. MATTHEW S. BROWNING. Witnesses to J. M. Browning: Labs P. Madren, G. W. Payne. Witnesses to Matthew S'. Browning: - 1>'S. J. Allen, Miles L. Jones.
(No Model.) 2 Sheets—Sheet 1. J. M. & M. S. BROWNING. MAGAZINE-FIRE ARM.
(No Model.) 2 Sheets—Sheet 2. J. M. & M. S. BROWNING-. MAGAZINE FIRE ARM. No. 385,238. Patented June 26, 1888.
United States Patent Office. JOHN M. BROWNING AND MATTHEW S. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH TERRITORY. MAGAZINE FIRE-ARM. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 385,238, dated June 26,1888. .Application died December 13,1887. Serial Ko. 257,760. (No model.) To all whom it may concern: Be it known that we, John M. Broavning and Matthew S. Browning, of Ogden, in the county of Weber and Territory of Utah, have 5 inventeda new Improvement in Magazine Fire- Arms; and we do hereby declare tlie following, when taken in connection with accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon'; to be a fall, clear, and exact descrip- jo tion of the same, and which said drawings con- stitute part of this specification, and represent, in— I FigurQ 1, a sectional side view of the arm; Fig. 2, altop view of the same; Fig. 3, an un- 15 der side iview of the brcech-piece; Fig. 4, a transverse section on line x x of Fig. 1, look- ing1 toward the rear; Fig. 5, a transverse sec- tion on iinie у у, rooking forward; Fig. G, a longitudinal section of the receiver, showing 20 the inner surface of one side; Fig. 7, a sec- tional side view showing the parts.as in the position of.the breeeh-piece wide open; Fig. 8, a modification. This invention relates to an improvement in 25 that class of magazine fire-arms in which the ' magazine is,arranged beneath the barrel, and the barrel aiid magazine both opening into the receiver at the rear, the breech-piece being adapted to slide in substantially a longitudi- 30 nal path toward and from the barrel in opening, and in which the brcech-piece is operated by a handle sliding longitudinally beneath the barrel, there beipg a rod extending from the said handle inti? connection with the median ' 35 ism of the arm, 'so that the back and forward movement of the handle imparts opening and closing niovcmen'tito the breech-piece, as well as the operative movements to the other parts of the arm, the object of the invention being 40 asimple construction of the arm, and whereby a magazine fire-arm may be produced at a very small cost. A represents the receiver, to the forward end of which the barrel В is attached, with the 45 magazine 0 beneath it, both, the barrel and the magazine opening into thereceiver at the rear, and the receiver provided with the usual tangs, D D, by which it may be secured to the stock. E represents the brecch-pie'ce, which nor- 50 mally stands in the receiver in longitudinal line with the barrel and so as to close the rear end of the barrel; but the breeeh-piece is adapted for a limited amount of up-and-down movement at its forward end independent of the longitudinal movement. 55 On each side the breech -piece, at its forward end, projecting cheeks F are formed, (see Fig. 2,) which are adapted to set into correspond- ing recesses G in the side of the receiver when the breech-piece is in the closed position, and 6o thus engaging the receiver support the breech- piece against the recoil of explosion. It is necessary to raise the breech-piece to take the cheeks F F from their respective recesses be- fore the rear movement of the breech-piece 6r, commences. On each side of the breech-piece is a,rib, H IT, (see Figs. 3 and 4,) which work in corre- sponding grooves I in the respective sides of thereceiver. (See Figs. 4 and 6;) These ribs 70 II incline upward from their forward end to- ward the rear when the breech-piece is in the closed position, or the inclination is such that when the breech-piece is raised, as indicated in broken lines, Fig. 1, then the ribs H come 75 into substantially a direct longitudinal line with the barrel. The grooves I in the breech- piece are deeper than the depth of the ribs, as seen in Fig. 4, so that there is considerable vertical play for the ribs II on the breech- 80 piece; but at the rear end of the groove I and at its upper edge the opening to the rear through the receiver is in depth substantially that of the ribs II and as at J. (See Fig. 6.) The rear end of the breech-piece when in its 85 closed position substantially closes the open- ing into the receiver at the rear, and the rear end of the ribs II rests in the contracted por- tion J of the grooves, these contracted portions J serving, in connection with the ribs IT, as a 90 pivot upon which the breech piece may re- ceive an up and-down swinging movement, as from the position seen in Fig. 1 to that indi- cated in broken lines, same figure. From the breeeh-piece, at its forward end, is 95 a downward projection, K, in which is a cam slot or groove, L. This groove inclines down- ward and rearward from thefor ward end of the breech-pigee, as clearly seen in Fig. 1. M represents the handle, which is arranged too
385,238 to slide backward and forward beneath the barrel in the-nsual manner. From the handle a bar, N, extends through tbeforwa.rd end of the receiver and carries a transversely-pro- 5 jeering stud, O, which works in the cam-groove L of the breech-piece, and so that when the die is in the forward position, as seen, in t, the stud О stands in the forward and cstend of the groove L, and consequently so as &ne handie M moves to the rear its first ac- tion is through the stud О in the groove L, which action serves to raise the breech-piece, as indicated in broken lines, Fig. 1, and until the locking projections F have risen from their respective'recesses G in the receiver. At that time the stud О has reached the lower and’ rear end of the groove L, as represented in broken lines, Fig. 1, and the breech-piece in rising has brought the upper surface of the so rib against the upper surface of the groove I in the receiver, so that the continued move- ment of the handle rearward will cause the brcech-piece to slide to the rear guided by its ribs and through the contracted portion J of the groove untii the breech piece reaches the extreme open position, as indicated in Fig. 7. Daring the rear movement of tk-o breech- pieee the projections F ride upon the upper surface of the sides of the receiver, as indi- 30 catcd in Fig. 7, and so that they prevent any vertical movement of the brcech-piece during its travel forward, and back. As the handle is returned or drawn forward, the breeeh- piece correspondingly moves forward until it 35 reaches its forward position, and so that the projections F may escape from the upper edges of the receiver at the recesses G. Then the stud О of the handle-bar returns through the groove L and draws the breech-piece to its 40 fully-closed position, where it is held against recoil by the projections F in the recesses G. P represents the hammer, which is hung npon a pivot, R, in the usual manner, and so that it may strike the rear end of the firing- 45 pili, which is arranged in the brecch-piece in the usual manner and as indicated in broken lines, Fig. 3. The rear end of the breech- piece is recessed to permit the hammer to reach the firing-pin. As the breeeh-piece is •50 moved rearward, it forces the hammer io the rear, as indicated in Fig. 7. and so that it will be caught by the trigger upon the fall-cock notch and held ready for firing in the usual manner for the hammer of this class of fire- 55 arms. S represents the carrier, which is hung at the rear npon a pivot, preferably the same pivot, R, upon which the hammer is hung. At its forward end, when in the down posi- o tion, it stands in line with the magazine, and so that the cartridge may pass from the maga- zine onto the carrier in the usual шацпег. At the rear end of the carrier is an upwardly- projecting finger, T, the upper cud of which 65 stands within a groove, U, formed on the un- derside of the breeeh-piece. The forward end of that groove terminates to form a shoulder, V, at a point adapted to strike the fingerTof the carrier as the breech-piece approaches its extreme rear position, and so that as the 7c. breech-piece completes its rear movement it will raise the carrier, as seen in Fig. 7, with the cartridge thereon, and so that the rear end of the cartridge will stand in the path of the downward projection К from the breech-pieee: 75 hence when the breeeh-piece is again moved forward it will strike the rear end of the car- tridge and force it into the barrel, in the usual manner. At the same time the projection К will ride on the surface.of the carrier and re- 80 turn it to the down position when the breech- piece has reached its closed position, as indi- cated in Fig. 1. The carrier is provided with an overhang- ing finger, W, beneath which the cartridge 85 passes as it comes from the magazine Onto the carrier. This projecting finger is in a central ' position, as seen in Fig. 4, and as it overhangs the cartridge it prevents the cartridge from being thrown upward as the carrier is suddenly 90 raised. The extractor a is a spring-extractor, but is arranged upon the side of the breech-piece, as indicated in Fig. 7, and as also indicated in Fig. 5, and stands at a point below the car- 95 tridge-head when thebreeeh-piece is in the closed position; but as the breech-piece rises the extractor comes to a position forward of the front face of the flange of the cartridge, and so that as the breech-pieee moves rear- too ward it will draw the shell with it, and then as the breech-piece approaches its extreme rear position the carrier rises and the finger AV strikes the shell held by the extractor and ejects it from the arm. 105 The magazine is charged when the breech- piece is in the open position and the carrier raised, as seen in Fig. 7, and to hold the col- umn of cartridges in the magazine as they are introduced, and also while the carrier is in the 110 raised position, we introduce a spring-dog, 5, in the forward end of the carrier, which will be depressed as the cartridges pass into the magazine, so as to allow the head to escape into the magazine. Then the dog will return 115 and engage the head of the cartridge, as rep- resented in Fig. 7, and this dog holds the col- umn of cartridges while the carrier is raised. The peculiar construction of the breeeh- piece which we have described, together with 120 the handle, is adapted to single-loaders, and we do not wish to be. understood as limiting this part of the invention to the necessary presence of a carrier and other parts to consti- tute a magazine arm. 125 We have represented and prefer to make the grooves for the guiding of the breech-piece in the receiver and the ribs on the breech-piece; but it will be understood that this order may be reversed and the ribs formed on the sides 130 of the receiver, with corresponding recesses or grooves in tho sides of the brecch-piecc, as in- dicated in Fig. 8. We wish it, therefore, to be understood that such reversal in the ar-
383,238 rangement of the ribs and grooves is but a substantial equivalent. for the ribs on the breech-pieee and the grooves in the receiver, and that when reciting the construction as the 5 latter form we thereby include the above- mentioned equivalents. We claim— 1. In a fire-arm in which the barrel opens into the receiver at the rear, the combination io therewith of a breech-piece arranged longi- , tudinally in rear of the barrel and constructed with laterally-projecting ribs upon its sides, and the receiver with corresponding grooves, the said grooves being deeper than the depth 15 of the ribs, so as to allow a certain amount of vertical movement to the breech-piece, the ' said grooves contracting at their rear end to about the depth of the ribs and the said con- tracting portions opening through the re- 20 ceiver at the rear, the breech-piece constructed with one or more lateral projections upon its . sides adapted to engage corresponding recesses in the sides of the receiver, and the breech- piece also constructed with a downward pro- 25 jection at its forward end, and the said pro- jection constructed with a downward and rear- wardly inclined groove, a handle arranged for-, ward of the receiver and adapted for longi- tudinal reciprocating movement, with a bar 30 extending from said handle into the receiver, and with a stud thereon adapted to work iu the said groove of the breech piece, substan- tially as described. 2. The combination, in a fire arm, of a 55 barrel opening into the receiver at the rear, a breech-piece arranged longitudinally in the receiver in rear of the barrel and constructed with laterally-projecting ribs upon its sides, the receiver constructed with corresponding 40 longitudinal grooves upon its inner surface, the said grooves in the receiver being deeper than the’ ribs on the breech-pieee, the said grooves extending rearward and opening through the rear end of the receiver, the depth 45 of the rear end being substantially the depth of the sdid ribs, the said breech-piece con- structed with one or more lateral projections, and the receiver with corresponding recesses, with which said projections are adapted to 50 engage when the breech-pieee is in the closed position, and the breech-pieee also constructed with a cam-shaped groove, a handle forward of the barrel, and a bar extending therefrom into the receiver, adapted to engage the said 5 s cam-shaped groove, and an extractor-hook on the side of the carrier adapted to engage the head of a cartridge in the barrel as the breeeh- piece rises, substantially as described. 3. In a magazine fire-arm, the combination of a barrel, a magazine beneath the barrel, 6d both magazine and barrel opening into the re- ceiver at the rear, the breech-piece E,arranged longitudinally in the receiver in rear of the barrel, constructed with longitudinal ribs H upon its sides, and the receiver with corre- 65 spending longitudinal grooves I, the breech- piece constructed with one or more lateral pro- jections, F, and the receiver with correspond- ing recesses G, the said breech piece con- structed with a cam shaped groove, L, near its 7c forward dnd, a handle beneath the barrel ar- ranged for longitudinal movement, a bar, N, extending from said barrel into the receiver and into engagement with said cam-groove L, a carrier, S, hung in the receiver beneath the 75 barrel, with an upward projection, T, there- from, the brecch-piece constructed with a shoulder, V, adapted to engage said finger as the breech-piece approaches its extreme open position, substantially as and for the purpose 80 described.’ 4. In a magazine fire-arm, the combination of the breech-piece E, constructed with one or more lateral projections, aud the receiver with corresponding recesses, with which said 85 projections on the breech-piece are adapted to engage, the breech-pieee also constructed with longitudinal ribs H upon its sides, and the re- ceiver with longitudinal grooves I, in which said ribs are adapted to work, the breech-piece 90 also constructed with a cam-shaped groove, L,. a handle, beneath the barrel forward of the re- ceiver arranged for longitudinal reciprocating movement, a bar extending from said handle into the receiver and into engagement with 95 said cam-groove L, a carrier, 8, hung in the receiver beneath the brecch-piece with an up- ward projection therefrom, and the breech- pieee provided with a shoulder adapted to en- gage said finger as the breech-piece approaches ice its extreme open position, the breech-piece also provided with an extractor, a, npon its side, and the carrier constructed with an over- hanging finger, W, substantially as and for the purpose described. JOHN M. BROWNING. MATTHEW 8. BROWNING. Witnesses as to John M.. Browning: Lars P. Madsen, . Lester D. Puckett. Witnesses to signature of MatthewS. Brown- ing: Th os. F. Emmett, Geo. E. Browning.
(No Model.) 3 Sheets—Sheet 1. J. M. & M. S. BROWNING-. MAGAZINE FIRE ARM. No. 409,599. Patented Aug. 20, 1889.
(No Model.) 3 Sheets—Sheet 2, J. M. & M. S. BROWNING-. MAGAZINE FIRE ARM. Patented Aug. 20, 1889. No. 409,599.
(No Model.) 3 Sheets—Sheet 3. J. M. & M. S. BEOWNING-. MAGAZINE FIRE ARM. No. 409,599. Patented Aug. 20, 1889.
United States Patent Office. JOHN M. BROWNING AND MATTHEW S. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH TERRITORY. MAGAZINE FIRE-ARM. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 409,509, dated August 20,1889. - Application filed May 21,1888. Renewed January 8, 1889. . Serial Ko. 295,806. (Kp model.) To all whom it may concern: Be it known that we, John M. Browning and Matthew S.- Browning, of Ogden, in the county of Weber and Territory of Utah, 5 have invented new Improvements in Maga- zine Fire-Arms; and we 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, io and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specifi- cation, and represent, in— Figure 1, a longitudinal sectional side view’ of the arm, showing the parts in the closed 15 position; Fig. 2, top view of the receiver, por- tion broken away to illustrate the locking de- vice for the breech-piece; Fig. 3, longitudinal section showing the parts in the “position of the breech-pieee open; Fig. 4, transverse see- 20 tion on line xx of Fig. 3, looking forward; Fig. 5, transverse section on line у у of Fig. 3, looking forward; Fig. 6, transverse section on line z z of Fig. 3, looking forward; Fig. 7, under side view of the breech-piece; Fig. 8, 25 horizontal section illustrating the operation of the magazine-stop; Fig. 9, side view from the right-hand or opening side of the arm, portions broken away for convenience of il- lustration; Fig. 10, transverse section directly 30 forward of the front face of the breeeh-piece closed, looking rearward; Fig. 11, horizontal section through the extractor-block, in the closed position; Wig. 12, the same section as Fig. 11, in the open position. 35 This invention relates to an improvement in that class.of fire-arms in which the barrel is open into the receiver at its rear end, and having a breech-pieee arranged to slidelongi- tudinally backward and forward in line with 40 the barrel, the said breeeh-piece being oper- ated by a handle beneath the barrel, forward of the receiver, and in connection with the mechanism of the arm, so that by moving the handle backward and forward the breeeh- 45 piece is correspondingly open and closed, a well-known class of arms, adapted more espe- cially to arms in which a magazine is pro- vided beneath the barrel, opening also into the receiver at the rear onto a carrier, which 50 under the opening movement of the breeeh- piece presents the cartridge forward-of the front face of the breech-piece, so that the breech'-piece in returning will force the. car- tridge into the barrel and-return the carrier to receive a second cartridge, and so on. 55 The object Of our present invention is to make the breech-pieee its own lock, when in the closed position, to resist recoil; and it con- sists in arranging the breech-piece in guides, so as to move longitudinally backward and 60 forward in the receiver, but at the same time hung upon a pivot at the rear, so that the forward end of the breech-piece may be thrown to the right and left in a horizontal plane, the breech-piece constructed with a laterally-pro- 65 j’ecting shoulder which, when in the dosed position, will engage a corresponding shoulder in the receive^’, and so that the said shoulder on the breech-piece, resting against the sta- tionary shoulder in the receiver, serves to re- 70 sist recoil. The horizontal swinging move- mentimparted to the breech-piece correspond- ingly disengages or engages said shoulders, accordingly as the movement is opening or closing, and combined with mechanism where- 75 by the said lateral swinging moveinent is im- parted to the said breeeh-piece before it com- mences its rear movement to unlock the breech-piece, and the said lateral movement returned after the breech-piece reaches its 80 forward position to bring it into the locked position, as more fully hereinafter described. A represents the receiver, which is provided at the forward end with the usual barrel В, opening into the receiver at the rear, and be- 85 neath.the barrel is the usual magazine C, also opening to the rear. D is the breech-piece, Which is arranged in longitudinal line with the. barrel and so as to slide backward and forward longitudinally in 90 the receiver, as usual in this ’ class of fire- arms, and,so that the breeeh-piece, when in its extreme forward position, closes the rear, end of the barrel and supports the cartridge against recoil, or when withdrawn permits 95 the introduction of a cartridge or removal of an exploded shell. Beneath the barrel and . forward of the receiver the sliding handle E is arranged, so as to be guided in a longitudi- nal path backward and forward toward the joo receiver iif the usual manner for the handle in arms of this class. From the handle a bar
2 409,599 F extends into the receiver, and'so as to slide backward and forward with the handle, the handle serving as a means for operating the mechanism of the arm. 5 The breech-piece is constructed with a lat- eral. projection G on its left-hand side, (see Figs. 4,5, and 7*,) which,when the breeeh-piece is closed, rests in a corresponding recess in the side of the frame, the said recess forming io shoulder H, (see Fig. 3,) with which the shoulder of the said projection G engages, and so as to support the breech-piece in the closed position against the force of the recoil. This lateral locking of the breech-piece necessitates a lateral swinging or vibratory movement of the breech-piece to disengage it from its locked position before it can be opened. To impart such lateral swinging movement a di- agonal groove I is formed Upon the under го side of the breech-pieee, at its forward, end, as shen in Fig. 7. The bar F carries a block J, made fast to its rear end, and from which a stud К extends into the said groove I in the forward end of the breech-piece, as seen in 25 Fig.4, and shown in broken lines, Figs. 1 and 3. The stud К receives only a longitudinal movement from the bar, and under such lon- gitudinal movement the stud works irthe groove I as a cam, so that the breech-piece 30 being in the closed position the first part of. the rear movement of the handle operates throngh the said stud and groove to throw the breeeh-piece to the right, as represented in Fig. 2,’so far as to take the projection G away 35 from the shoulder II and thereby unlock the . breech-piece. To. support the breeeh-piece so that it may receive thislateral vibratory move- ment a stationary stud L is formed on the re- ceiver at the rear and extends up into a cor- 40 ’responding longitudinal groove M on the un- der side of the breech-pieee, (see Figs. 6 and 7, and also indicated in broken lines, Fig. 2.) This stud engagement with the brecch-piece at the rear forms a' pivot upon which the 45 breech-piece may swing to the right and re- turn. When the breech-pieee is thrown to the extreme unlocked position through the combined action of the stud К and the diag- onal groove I, the groove M is brought into a 50 direct longitudinal line, as indicated in Fig. 2,so that when thebreeeh-piecehasbeen thus thrown to the right the stud К comes to a bearing at’the rear'end- of the groove ! and . there engages' the breech-piece, so that the. 55 continued rear movement of the handle will impart such rear movement to the breech- piece, the breech-piece then sliding rearward until it reaches the extreme open position, as indicated in Fig. 3. In such rear movement 60 the projection G rides upon the inside of the ^receiver. Now, if the handle.E be returned— that is, moved forward—the engagement be- tween the groove I and the bar will cause the breech-piece to move forward with it until it 65 reaches the closed position indicated in broken . lines, Fig. 2, At this point the projection G on the’.breach piee?, having arrived at a po- sition forward of the shoulder II, leaves the breech-piece free for a return lateral move- ment, which is imparted by the return of the 70 stud К through the groove I, and so that the last part of the forward movement of the handle imparts the lateral swinging move- ment to the breech-piece and brings the lock- ing-projection G into engagement with the 75 shoulder H of the receiver, and the breech- pieee is firmly held in its closed position to enable it to resist recoil. The right-hand side of the receiver is left open to permit the back and forward movement of -the breech-pieee, 80 as indicated in Figs. 2, 4, 5, and 6. The re-:, ceiver from the left-hand side, however, ex- tends over the breech-piece sufficient to form a guide and support for the breech-pieee. The opening on the right-hand side permits 85 the introduction of cartridges to the barrel when the breeeh-piece- is open. The breech-piece is provided with the usual firing-pin N, which -extends longitudinally through it, and below the breech-piece a ham- 90 mer О is hung upon a pivot P, in the usual manner, and so that as the breech-piece is thrown rearward the hammer is thrown to the full-cocked position, as seen in Fig. 3, and engaged by'the trigger R, in the usual man- 95 ner for such hammers. These firing devices, being common and well known,do not require specific description. In the receiver, beneath the breeeh-piece, a carrier.8 is hung, (here represented as upon 100 the same pivot as . the hammer,) so as to swing up and down, as from the position in Fig. 1 to that seen in Fig. 3. The carrier is caused to move up by means of a shoulder T, on the under side, of the breech-piece, which 105 engages a projection IT from the hnb of the carrier as the breech-pieee approaches its ex- . treme rear position, as seen in Fig. 3, and so that’in the completion of the rear movement ’. of the breech-piece the'carrier is raised, as 110 represented in Fig. 3, to take a cartridge which ft may halve received from the maga^ zine to a position forward of the front face of’ the open breech-pieee. Then, as the breech- piece returns, a should er V at the rear engages 115 the reverse side of the projection IT on the car- rier and returns it to tha down position, as represented in Fig. 1.- This operation of the" carrier is common in this class of fire-arms, On,the under side of the breech-piece a stop 120 a is formed, against which the head of a .car- tridge passing from the magazine onto the carrier will strike before a .cartridge has passed entirely from the magazine, as repre- sented in Fig. 1. Then, as the breech-piece 125 commences its opening movement that rear cartridge, under the action of the magazine-' spring, will follow the breech-pieee until it arrives at its proper position on the carrier, . as indicated in broken .’lines, Fig. 1. This 130 stopping of the rearmost cartridge before it - arrives at its position on the carrier is done in order to provide ia stop for- the coin nth (fit cartridges in the magazine that the carrier as'
409,599 3 it rises or drops may not interfere with the next cartridge in the magazine. Upon the inside mf the receiver and below the bar F a magazine stop-spring b is ar- 5 ranged. It is made stationary at its rear end, but its forward end is free, as seen in Fig. 8, so that when free its forward end projects into the receiver and in rear of the mag- azine, as indicated in broken lines, Fig. 8, so io as to form a stop for the rearmost cartridge in the magazine. The spring is- constructed with an upwardly-projecting finger d, which stands in the path'of the lower edge e of the block J, formed upon, or attached to the bar 15 F,‘and so that when the breech-piece is in the extreme closed position this downward pro- jection e of the block J will stand inside the finger ’d, as represented in Figs. 1, 4, and 8, and hold the spring out of line with the mag- 20 azine, as seen in Fig. 8, so that when the breech-piece is fully closed -the stop is with- drawn and the column of cartridges in the '"igazine is free to move rearward, the rear- most cartridge then passing onto the carrier 25 against the stop a, as before described. In the first part of the rear movement of the bar F the projection e of the block J passes from the finger d and leaves the spring free to fly inward^ as seen in broken lines, Fig. 8, into 30 position to stop the. next cartridge in the magazine. It arrives at this position while the swinging movement is being imparted to the breeeh-piece and before the breech-piece commences its rear movement; hence, as the 35 rearmost cartridge passes onto the carrier, as before described, the spring-stop b stands in the path of the next cartridge, so as • to arrest its rear movement, as represented in Fig. 8. The forward end of tlie projection e 40 and the corresponding edge of the finger d are inclined, so that the projection e as it moves forward operates as a cam tb force the spring-, stop outward. To provide an extractor upon, the breeeh- 45 piece which will engage the head of the car? tridge in the magazine, so as to withdraw the shell or cartridge if it be riot exploded when the breech-piece is next moved rearward, it is necessary to provide an extractor which 50 will adapt itself to the lateral swinging move- ment of the breeeh-piece—that is to say, as the cartridge is to be thrown out through the side opening in the receiver the extractor must be of such a character as will permit 55 the lateral movement of the brcech-piece and yet retain its hold of the cartridge in connec- tion with the breeeh-piece. To do this we arrange a block f transversely across the front face of the breech-piece. (See Figs. 9 60 and 10.) This block stands substantially be- low the point of the firing-pin, as seen in Fig. 10, and is guided by and so free in the breech- piece that the said block being held to pre- vent its lateral movement, the breech-piece 65 will move thereon without imparting move- ment to the said block—say as from tlie po- sition seen in Fig. 11 to that indicated in broken lines, same figure. To the block/ the extractor-hook g is hung, so as to swing in a horizontal plane upon a pivot A, and a 70 spring i is provided in the block, (see Fig. 11,) the tendency of which is to hold the hook in the engaging position but yet allow it to swing so that its hooked nose may pass oyer the head of the cartridge when the breech- 75 piece is closed and engage the cartridge in substantially the same manner as do other hinged or spring extractor-hooks. To prevent the block f from moving later- ally with the bre.ech-piece a -downwardly- 80 projecting finger I isformed upon the block/, which extends down into a corresponding re- cess m in the bar F,as seen in Figs. 9 and 10, so that the block/is held against inovement in a lateral direction but yet is free to move. 85 longitudinally with the breech-piece, the re- cess m in the bar being of sufficient length to permit the opening or closing movemerit of the breech-piece, as indicated in Fig. 9. On the block / at the end opposite the extractor- 90 hook, a stationary projecting stud n is formed opposed to the extractor-hook in the usual manner, so that the cartridge-head will be held between the extractor-hook and the projection n; consequently when the breech- 95 piece is moved rearward the extractor will hold the shell by the head and draw it rear- ward, and as the breech-pieee approaches its extreme rear position a shoulder or projec- tion r upon the inside of the receiver, and in 100 the'path of the flange of the cartridge on the side of the projecting stud n, resists the fur- ther rear moveipent of that side of the car- tridge and consequently turns the shell out- ward, as indicated in Fig. 12, so that it is 105 ejected through the opening in the side of the receiver in the usual manner for ejecting cartridge-shells. It will be understood that any of the known firingdevices may be substituted for the ham- no mer and firing-pin which we have illustrated, arid that also other known carriers may be substituted for the carrier which we have il- lustrated, the carrier and firing devices not being material to our present invention. 115 We claim— 1. In a fire-arm in which the barrel opens into the receiver at the rear, the Combination of a breech-pieee arranged in the receiver in longitudinal line with the barrel and so as to 120 move longitudinally backward and forward in opening arid closing, ahandle beneath the barrel, forward of the receiver, with a bar ex- tending therefrom into the receiver beneath the breech-piece, the said breech-piece upon' 125 its under side at the forward ehd constructed with a diagonal groove, and the said, bar pro- vided with a corresponding stud entering said groove, the said breeeh-piece supported upon a pivot stationary in the receiver at its rear, 130 the breech-piece constructed with a lateral projection at its forward end upon one side, and the receiver with a corresponding shoul- der with which said projection is adapted to
4 409,599 engage when the breeeh-piece is closed, the said receiver constructed with its side oppo- site said shoulder open, substantially as de- scribed, and whereby under the first part of 5 the rear movement of said handle the breech- pieee receives a lateral movement to disen- gage it from said shoulder, thou by the con- tinued rear'movement of said handle receives its opening movement, and on the forward io movement of the said handle the breech-piece receives, its closing movement, and finder the last part of the forward movement of said handle the breech-piece is returned laterally to engage the breech-piece with the said. 15 shoulder in the receiver, substantially as de-' scribed, j , , 2. In a fire-arm having the barrel open into the receiver at the rear, the breech-piece D', arranged in the. receiver and so as to move 20 backward and forward in longitudinal line With the barrel, the breech-piece constructed with a lateral projection G upon one side at its forward end, a stationary stud L in the receiver below the breech-piece at the rear, 25 the breeeh-piece constructed with agroove M upon its under side corresponding to said stud L, the. said stud L forming a pivot upon which the breeeh-piece may swing laterally when in its closed position, the receiver con- 30 structed with the shoulder. IT, corresponding to the said projection G on the breeeh-piece. when the breech-piece is. in the closed posi- tion, a handle E, beneath the barrel and mov- able longitudinally toward and from the re- 35 ceiver, a bar F, extending from said handle’ into the receiver below the breech-piece, the breech-piece-constructed with.a diagonal groove I upon its. nnder side at its forward end, the said bar provided with an upwardly- 40 projecting stud К working in said groove I, the receiver open upon its side opposite the said projection G, a i block/, arranged in a transverse groove in the forward end of the breech-piece, but the said block held against 45 transverse movement, an extractor-hook on said block adapted to engage the hea,d of the. cartridge whefi the breech-piece is closed, sub- stantially as described. 3. In a fire-arm having the barrel open into the receiver at the rear, with a magazine be-: 50 low it opening also into the receiver at thp rear, the combination therewith of the breech- piece D, arranged to move longitudinally to- ward and from the rear end of the barrel, a stationary pivot in the receiver below the 55 breech-piece at the rear, the breech-piece constructed with a longitudinal groove cor- responding to said, stud, said stud serving as a pivot upon which said breech-picee may swing laterally when in its closed position, 60 the breech-piece constructed with a lateral projection upon one side and the receiver with a corresponding shoulder on the same side with which said projection on the breech- piece is adapted to engage when the breech- 65 piece is in its closed position,/the receiver open upon the side opposite the "said projec- tion on the breech-picce, the handle beneath the barrel and. arranged to move longitudi- nally toward and from the receiver, a bar F, 70 extending from the said handle into the re- ceiver beneath the breeeh-piece, the breech- pieee constructed with a diagonal groove I, and the bar provided, with a Corresponding stud K, adapted to work in said diagonal 75 groove I and so as to impart a lateral mover mentto said breech-piece before the opening movement of the breech-pieco commences, and also a return of said lateral movement . after the breeeh-piece closes to correspond- 80 ingly disengage and. engage the projection of. the breeeh-piece with the shoulder in the re- ceiver, a spring-stop b in the receiver below the said bar F, and a cam-like projection e on the said bar adapted to engage a corre- 85 spending projection d on the said spring-stop when the breech-piece is in the closed posi- tion, substantially as and for the purpose de- scribed. 70IIN M. BROWNING. , MATTHEW S. BROWNING. Witnesses: John E. Ramsden, Miles L. Jones.
('No Model.) 2 Sheets—Sheet i. J. M. & M. S. BROWNING-. MAGAZINE FIRE ARM. No. 409,600. Patented Aug. 20, 1889.
fNo Model.) 2 Sheets—Sheet 2. J. M. & M. S. BROWNING-. MAGAZINE FIRE ARM. No. 409,600. Patented Aug. 20, 1889.
United States Patent Office. JOHN M. BROWNING AND. MATTHEW S. • BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH TERRITORY. MAGAZINE FIRE-ARM. . SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 409,600, dated August 20, 1889. ' Application file! May 21, 1888. Benewed January 8, 1889. Serial No, 295,807, (No model.) To all whom it may concern: Be it known that we, John M. Browning and Matthew S. Browning, of Ogden, in the. county of Weber and Territory of Utah, have 5 invented a new Improvement in Magazine Fire-Arms; and we do hereby declare the fol- lowing, when taken in connection with the ac- companying drawings and the letters of ref- erence marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and io exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in— Figure 1, a sectional side view showing the parts in the closed or normal position ; Fig. 15 2, a top view of the same; Fig. 3, a longitudi- • nal section illustrating the breech-piece as in the unlocked position; Fig. 4, a longitudinal section showing the parts ifFthe extreme open position; Fig. 5, a section on line ж x of Fig. го 1, looking forward; Fig. G, a transverse sec- tion on line у у; Fig. 7, a top view of the sear and trigger; Figs. 8 and 9, modifications. This invention relates to an improvement in that class of fire-arms in which the breeeh- 25 piece is in the form of a.bolt and adapted to move longitudinally backward and forward substantially in line with the barrel, parts of the invention being applicable alike to sin- gle-loaders and magazine-arms. 30 The object of the invention is, principally, to produce a positive locking-resistance for the breech-piece against recoil by the engage- ment of the breech-piece itself with the re- . ceiver, thereby avoiding the employment of 35 hinged dogs or braces—as in many of this class of arms—the result of which is that the mechanism is very greatly simplified and the Cost of construction correspondingly roil need; and the invention consists in a breech-piece 40 arranged to move longitudinally backward and forward in opening and closing 1he rear end of the barrel, the breech-pieee constructed with one or more upwardly-projecting shoul- ders adapted to engage corresponding shoul- 45 ders in the frame when the breech-pieee is in its closed position, and the breech - piece adapted to receive a downward movement sufficient to disengage the breeeh-piece from the receiver before the breech-pieee com- 50 mences its rear movement, and in other de- tails of construction, as hereinafter described, and particularly recited in the claims. A represents the receiver, to the forward end of which the barrel В is attached in the usual manner and opening into the receiver 55 at the rear. Below the barrel is the usual magazine C, also opening into the receiver at the rear, in the usual manner. D represents the breech-piece, which is ar- ranged longitudinally in the receiver, so as to 60 extend through the rear of the receiver, so that the breech-piece may receive a longi- tudinal backward and forward movement, At the forward end the breech-piecc is con- structed with an upward projection E, so 65 as to form a shoulder a upon the rear side of the-projection. The receiver extends over the breech ^piecc^ so as to form a shoulder b in rear of the shoulder a on the breech- piece when the. breeeh-piece is in the closed 70 position, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2. The receiver is open on the right-hand side of the breech-pieee, the extension of the receiver over the breech-piccc, as seen in Fig. 2, par- tially covering the brcech-piece, but so as to 75 leave an opening F on the right-hand side, as seen in Figs. 2 and 5. About midway of the breeeh-piece, on its upper side, a second shoulder d is formed, and the rear end of the opening of the receiver forms a correspond- ?o .ing shoulder e, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2, with which the shoulder d on the breech-pieee is adapted to engage when the breech-pieee is in the closed position, as seen i'n Fig. 1. The brcech-piece is operated by means of 85 a handle G, arranged beneath the barrel and forward of the receiver, and from which han- dle a bar 11 extends rearward into there- ceiver, the rear end of the bar having a block I made fast to it, which block carries an in- 90 wardly-projecting stud J, which works in a corresponding groove К in the side of the brcech-piece, as seen in Figs. 1 and 5. The groove К inclines rearward and upward, so as to make a cam-shaped groove with relation 95 to the brcech-piece in which the groove is formed. As the bar II moves rearward it op- .. crates in the inclined-shaped groove К in the breech-pjece, and correspondingly forces the breech - piece downward, as indicated in 100
409,600 broken lines, Fig. 1, and as also seen in Fig. 3. This downward movement of the breeeh- piece must occur before its rearward move- ment commences, and as the downward move- 5 inent is completed the stud J comes to a bear- ing at the rear end of the groove K, as seen in broken lines, Fig. 1. The downward move- ment of the breech-piece thus imparted takes the projections or locking-shoulders a and d io below their corresponding shoulders Ъ and e in the receiver, as seen in Figs. 1 and 3, which leaves the breech-piece free to move rearward. After the breech-piece has been thus jlroppeii a continued, rear movement of 15 the bar H will correspondingly force the breeeh-piece rearward. To guide the breeeh- piece in its rearward movement, a groove L is formed longitudinally on the left-hand side of the breeeh-piece. (See Figs. 1 and 6.) This 20 groove is substantially parallel with the un- der side of the breech-piece, and into it a sta- tionary stud M in the side of the receiver . extends, so that as the breech-piece moves ' rearward the stud serves as a guide for such 25 rear movement, and also supports the breech- piece rearwardly. When the breech-pieee is dropped, this groove comes into line substan- tially parallel with the axis of the barrel, and so that the breech-piece may be thrown to its 30 extreme rear movement, or open, as repre- sented in Fig. 4. Then, as the breeeh-piece is returned the groove L works over the stud M, as before, until the breech-piece reaches its extreme forward position. Then fhe'stud J 35 of the bar II reacts through the groove K, and imparts to the breech-pieee an upward movement to bring the locking-shoulders of the breech-pieee into engagement with the corresponding locking - shoulder of the re- 40 ceiver. In this upward movement of the breech-pieee it turns upon the stud M as a pivot. The forward end of the breech-piece is pro- vided with a spring extractor-hook f upon the 45 side of the opening in the receiver, Which ex- tractor is of the usual form, and the breech- piece is also provided with a stationary stud upon the opposite side, (not shown,) and such as is eommonly employed in connection with 50 the spring-extractor. A recess is formed in the receiver forward to permit the up-and-down movement of the extractor and its stud, (not necessary to be' shown,) so as to allow the vertical play neees- 55 sary in the up-and-down movement of the breech-picee, but so that the cartridge is en- gaged by the extractor, in the usual manner, that the exploded shell, or. cartridge if it be not exploded, may be withdrawn from the 60 barrel in the rear or opening movement of the brcech-piece, and as the breech-piece ap- proaches its extreme rear position a station- ary ejector-,stud in. the receiver, (indicated >n broken lines, Fig. 2,) on the side of the re- 65 ceiver opposite the opening, meets the head of. the cartridge-shell, so as to stop the roar movement of the shell on that side, while the extractor-hook is engaged with the oppo- site side, and because of such stopping by the stud the continued rear movement of the 70 breech-pieee and extractor-hook imparts a lateral swinging movement of the shell to the right sufficient to eject the shell from the re- ceiver. This is a common expedient for eject- ing the shell through the side of the receiver 75 in this class of arms. Longitudinally through the breech-pieee the hammer N is arranged. The hammer is of tubular shape, terminating at its forward end in a striking-point O, as seen in Fig. 3, 80 so that the hammer may slide longitudi- nally in the breeeh-piece, and through a cor- responding slot P in the hammer a pin Q is inserted, which remains stationary while the slot permits the requisite amount of move- 85 meat to the hammer. Forward of this pin Q in the hammer a spiral spring R, is arranged, which bears forward against the closed end of the hammer and rearward against the pin Q, and so that as the hammer is drawn rear- 90 ward the spring will be compressed, and- then the reaction of the spring will impart the striking movement to the hammer.. The ham- mer is provided with a thumb- piece S, by which it may be drawn rearward. 95 In the receiver beneath the hammer, and upon a pivot T, the sear U is hung, supported by a spring V below it, so as to bear its nose upward toward the hammer, and the hammer is constructed with the usual half and full 100 cock notches g h, so that as the hammer is drawn to the full-cock position, as seen in Fig. 3, the sear will engage the hammer and hold it in that position. The rear movement of the breech-pieee under the action of the Г05 handle takes the notches of the hammer to the rear of the nose of the sear, as seen in Fig. 4, and then as the breech-pieee is moved forward, and when the full-cock notch h reaches the nose of the sear, it engages there- no with, as seen in Fig. 3, so that the hammer will be held in the full-eoek notch, while the breeeh-piece continues its forward movement and is brought to the locked position. Thus, under the closing movement of the breech- 1Г5 piece, the hammer is left at full-cock. A trigger is arranged by which the sear may be disengaged from the hammer, so as to permit the hammer to fly forward and im- part its blow. Under the best arrangement 120 the trigger i is hung upon the same pivot T as the sear, but at one side of the sear, as seen in Fig. 7, so as to swing in a plane parallel with the, sear. The forward end I of the trigger is arranged to engage a corre- 125 spending shoulder m on the sear, as seen in Fig. 1, this shoulder being inclined upward and forward, so that a pull upon the trigger brings the shoulders I m into engagement, as seen in Fig. 1, so that a continued pull. 130 of the trigger will draw the scar downward and out of engagement with the hammer, as indicated in Fig. 1; but as the trigger stands in the pulled position, as seen in Fig. 1,. the
409,600 3 • sear is free for a .urther, downward move- ment, as indicated in broken lines, Fig. 1, and will receive such downward movement as the breech-pieee drops, as also indicated 5 in broken lines, Fig. 1. Therefore, if the trigger be held in the pulled position, as seen in Fig. 1, and the breech-pieee be then opened under the dropping movement of the breech-piece, the sear will be pressed down- io ward, as indicated in broken lines, Fig. 1. Then, as the opening movement of the breech- pieee continues the sear will still be held downward. until in the return of the breeeh- piece the’; full-cock notch of the hammer 15 comes to the nose of the sear; then the sear will rise and engage that full-cock notch, as seen in Fig. 3. Now,’if the trigger be held in its rearward position, as seen in Fig. 3, and the brecch-piece be raised to the locked 20 position, such rise of the brecch-piece will take the full-cock notch h above and out of engagement with the sear, as indicated in broken lines, Fig. 3, there leaving the ham- mer free to fly forward; but if the trigger be 25 left free the engagement of the sear and hammer will continue while the breeeh-piece is being brought to the locked position, and then the pull npon the trigger will discharge the hammer. Under this arrangement, and for 30 rapid firing, the trigger is held in the pulled position, as seen in Figs. 1 and 3. Then the opening and closing movement of the breech- piece engages the hammer with the sear, as before described, and the final locking of the j5 breech-piece will discharge the hammer, so that the movement of the handle which oper- ates the breech-pieee produces the discharge of the hammer, as the locking of the breech- piece is completed, but such release of the 40 hammer cannot occur until the brecch-piece is substantiallj7 looked. Because of this ar- rangement the trigger-finger has nothing to do except to hold the trigger in the pulled position, the discharge of the hammer being 45 produced under the locking movement of the breeeh-piece. If, however, such rapid firing is not desirable, the trigger may be left free and the hammer held at cock until such time as discharge is desirable. 50 Д carrier n is hung in the receiver beneath the breeeh-piece upon a pivot 0, so as to swing in a vertical plane, and is of substantially the usual construction. The breeeh-piece is constructed withashoul- 55 der r, which is adapted to engage a corre- sponding upward projection s from the. car- rier as' the breeeh-piece approaches its ex- treme орёп position, and so that a cartridge having passed onto the carrier from the mifga- 6e zine, as indicated in Fig. 3, the carrier will be raised as the brecch-piece approaches its extreme rear movement, as seen in Fig. 4, and correspondingly raise the cartridge to a posi- tion forward of the front face of the brcech- 65 piece. As the cartridge rises it strikes the overhang!ng port ion of. the receiver, so that it is thereby brought into a direct line, between the breech-picce and barrel, as seen in Fig. 4, and so that as the breech-pieee next moves forward it will force the cartridge into the 70 barrel in the usual manner for this class of arms. ' The magazine is charged when the breech- pieee is in the open position. The forward end of the carrier is provided with a hinged 75 dog t, hung therein sobs to swing in a verti- cal plane, as from the position Fig. 3 to that in Fig. 4, it being forced so to do by the stud or shoulder и in the side of the receiver, against which the forward end of the dog 80 strikes as the carrier reaches its extreme up position and so that the nose of the dog is turned down below the upper side of the mouth of the magazine. The dog then stands in a position to resist the rear movement of 85 the column of cartridges in the magazine, to prevent their escape after 1he carrier has risen. As the carrier descends the dog is re- turned, as seen in Fig. 3, and so as to leave the rearmost.cartridge in the magazine free 90 to pass on to the carrier. At the lower side of the magazine a spring w is arranged, the tendency of which is to hold the cartridge up against the upper side of the mouth of the magazine, as seen in Fig. 95 i.' Thisspring is for the purpose of charging the magazine, and it yields for the passage of a cartridge into the magazine until the car- tridge-head can escape the nose of the dog i, as indicated in broken lines, Fig. 4. Then the 100 cartridge, being free, is forced upward by the spring and the dog holds that cartridge and the column in advance of it until the next cartridge is inserted, and so 011 until the maga- zine is fully charged. The dog also serves to Г05 aid in raising the rear end of the cartridge. Its tail у extends in rear of its pivot and con- sequently rises as the nose of the dog is turned downward, and this rising of the tail of the dog tends to force up the rear end of no the cartridge, as seen in Fig. 4. We have represented the groove К as formed in the breeeh-piece and the stud J on the bar II; but this order may be reversed and the groove formed as substantially a part 115 of the slide, andthe stud on the breech-piece, as indicated in Fig. 8, and accomplish the same result in substantially the same way. In case it is not desirable that the sear should have the independent movement 120 which we have described, whereby the most rapid firing may be produced, the sear and trigger may be made integral, as represented in Fig. j. It wili be understood thatthe common Ion- 125 gitudinal firing-pin and hammer may be ar- ranged as a well-known substitute for the longitudinal hammer in the breech-pieee. This substitution is too -well known’to re- . quire illustration or particular description. 130 We claim— I. In a fire-arm havingthebarrel openinto the receiver at the rear, the combination therewith of a longitudinally-reciprocating
4 400,600 breech-piece constructed with one or more upwardly-projecting shoulders and the re-' ceiver with one or more corresponding shoul- ders, with which said shoulder onthebreeeh- 5 piece will engage when the.breeeh-piece is in the fully-closed position, the said br.eeeh- pieee also hung at its rear end, whereby a vertical swinging movement may be imparted to said breeeh-piece, a handle beneath the io barrel forward of the receiver, with a bar ex- tending therefrom into the receiver, the rear end of the bar within the receiver, and the breech-piece constructed the one with a cam- shaped groove and the other with corrcspond- 15 ing stud, substantially as described, and whereby under the first part of the rear movement of said handle and bar the forward end of the said breech-pieee will be dropped, and then under the last part of the forward 20 movement of said bar the forward end of the breech-piece will be raised to respect- ively engage and disengage the shoulder of the breeeli-pieee and receiver. 2. In a fire-arm having.a,barrel open into 25 the receiver at the rear, the combination therewith of a longitudinally-reciprocating breech-pieee constructed with one or more upwardly-projecting shoulders, and the re- ceiver with one or more corresponding shoul- 30 dors, with which the said shoulder on the breech- piece will engage when the breeeh- piece is in the fully-closed position, the said breeeh-piece also hung.at its rear end, where- by a vertical swinging movement may be im- 35 parted to said breeeh-pieec, a handle beneath the barrel forward of the receiver, with a bar extending therefrom into the receiver, the rear end of the bar within the receiver, and the breech-pieee constructed the one with a 40 cam-shaped groove and the other with a cor- responding stud, a hammer extending longi- tudinally through the breech-piece provided with one or more engaging-notches, a sear hung in the receiver below the hammer and so as to swing in a vertical plane, the nose of 45 the said sear adapted to'engage a correspond- ing notch on the hamitieJr As the breech-piece' approaches its closed position, anti a trigger, substantially as described. 3. In a fire-arm having the barrel open into 50 the receiver at the rear, the combination therewith of a longitudinally-reciprocating bl’ceeh-picee constructed with one or more upwardly-projecting shoulders, and the re- ceiver with one or more corresponding shoul- 55 dors, with which said shoulder on the breech- piece will engage when the breeeh-piece is in the fully-closed position, the said breech-' piece also hung at its rear end, whereby a vertical swinging movement may be imparted 6c to said breeeh-pieee, a handle beneath the barrel forward of the receiver, with a bar ex- tending therefrom into the receiver, the rear end of the bar within the receiver, and the breech-pieee constructed the one with a cam- 65 shaped groove and the other with correspond- ing stud, a hammer extending longitudinally through the breech-pieee provided with one or more engaging-notches, a sear IT, hung in the receiver and so as to swing in a vertical 70 plane, and adapted to engage a correspond- ing notch on the hammer as the breeeh-piece is moved forward, a trigger hung to swing in a plane parallel with the sear, the said trig- ger and sear constructed with corresponding 75 shoulders I m, adapted to engage each other but leave the sear free for downward move- ment independent of the trigger, substantially as and for the purpose described. JOHN M. BROWNING. MATTHEW S. BROWNING. Witnesses: John E. Ramsden, Miles L. Jones.
(No Model.) 4 Sheets—Sheet 1. J. M. & M. S. BROWNING- MAGAZINE FIRE ARM. No. 421,663. Patented Feb. 18, 1890. N. PETERS. Photo-Lrthographer. Wa«hington. O.-C.
(No Model.) 4 Sheets—Sheet 2. J. M. & M. S. BROWNING-. MAGAZINE FIRE ARM. No. 421,663. Patented Feb. 18, 1890. N. .PETERS, Photo-Uthographor, Washington. О. C.
(No Model.) 4 Sheets—Sheet 3. No. 421,663. J. M. & M. 8. BROWNING. MAGAZINE FIRE ARM. Patented Feb. 18, 1890. N. PETERS. PhcAcrWhographer, WatHngion. D. C.
(Ko Model.) 4 Sheets—Sheet 4. J. M. & M. S. BROWNING-. MAGAZINE FIRE ARM. No. 421,663. Patented Feb. 18, 1890. N. PETERS. Pholo-Lithographer. Wathingtan. D. C.
United States Patent -Office. JOHN M. BROWNING AND MATTHEW S. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH TER- RITORY, ASSIGNORS TO THE WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS COMPANY, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT. MAGAZINE FIRE-ARM. SPECIFICATION forming' part of Letters Patent No. 421,663, dated February 18, 1890. Application filed June 4,1889. Serial No. 313,052. (No model.) To all whom it may concern: Be it known that we, John M. Browning and Matthew S. Browning, of Ogden, in the county of Weber and Territory of Utah, have . 5 invented a new Improvement in Magazine Fire-Arms; and we do hereby declare the fol- lowing, when taken in connection with accom- panying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact io description of the same, and which said draw- ings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in— Figure 1, a side view, parts in vertical sec- tion, showing the mechanism as in the normal 15 or breech-closed position; Fig. 2, same view showing the parts as the breeeh-piece open and as preparatory to the return movement; Fig. 3, a similar view showing the parts as in the position after the breeeh-piece has com- 20 meneed its closing movement and brought the carrier to its raised position; Fig. 4,atop view showing the breech-pieee in its open po- sition to illustrate the eartridge-guards; Fig. 5, a longitudinal vertical section of the breeeh- 25 piece, showing the trigger and sear in side view; Fig. 6, a horizontal central section through the breech-piece and receiver in the plane of the hammer; Figs. 7 and 8, horizon- tal sections through the receiver in the plane 30 of the engaging-pin S, toillustrate the opera- tion of the said pin; Fig. 9, a transverse sec- tion cutting on line x x of Fig. 1, looking- rearward ; Fig. 10, a transverse section on line у у, Fig. 1, looking rearward; Fig. 11, a hori- 35 zontal longitudinal section on line x x of Fig. =—10; Fig. 12, a partial transverse section online z z of Fig. 1; Fig. 13, a partial longitudinal section illustrating the latch for holding the column of cartridges in the magazine; Fig. 40 14, a horizontal section cutting above the latch and showing the latch as in the engag- ing position. This invention relates to an improvement in that class of magazine fire-arms in which 45 the magazine is arranged beneath the barrel, both the barrel and magazine open into the receiver at the rear, and having a breeeh- piece arranged to slide backward and for- I ward longitudinally, actuated by a sliding handle arranged forward of the receiver and 50 : beneath the barrel, and having a carrier ^adapted to receive a cartridge from the maga- zine, transfer it to a position forward of the front face of the open breech-pieee, and so that a return of the breech-piece will force 55 • the cartridge from the carrier to its place in the barrel, the object of the invention being a simple construction, which will adapt the ;arm for shot and sporting purposes, yet ap- plicable to rifles; and the invention consists 60 '.in the construction as hereinafter described, and particularly recited in the claims. A represents the receiver, of substantially rusual form, and having a chamber therein open through top and bottom for the oper- 65 alive mechanism. To the forward end of the receiver the barrel В is secured, and the maga- zine C beneath the barrel, both the barrel and imagazine opening into the ehambeivin the ireceiver at the rear in the usual manner for 70 .this class of arms. D represents the breeeh-piece, which is ar- ranged to slide longitudinally backward and forward in the receiver from the closed posi- tion seen in Fig. 1 to the open position seen 75. in Fig. 2 and return. E represents a slide, which is arranged in one side of the receiver between that side and the' breech-pieee, (see Figs. 8 and 9,) the breech-pieee being recessed therefor, as shown 80 in those figures, an,d the slide is constructed with a longitudinal rib F on its outer side, •which works in a corresponding longitudinal •groove G in the receiver, and so that the said rib and groove serve as a guide for the Ion- 85 gitudinal movement of the slide. A longi- tudinal reciprocating movement is imparted to the said slide from a handle H beneath the barrel, suitably guided, a bar I extending from the said handle through the forward 90 end of the receiver into connection with the slide, as at J. (See Fig. 1.) Connection is made between the slide and the breech-piece by means of a stud on the one and correspond- ing groove on the other. As represented, the 95 stud К is on the slide F, (see Fig. 9,) and ex-
2 421,663 tends into a longitudinal groove M in the breech-piece. (See Figs. 2 and 9.) Because of this groove-connection between the slide and the breech-pieee a longitudinal move- 5 ment is permitted to the slide without effect at that point upon the breech-piece. The ob- ject of this independent movement of the slide is to give to the breech-pieee its locking and unlocking movement, the length of the to groove being only sufficient for this purpose, and so that the slide may move rearward a certain distance before the breeeh-piece com- mences its rear movement. When the breech-piece is in the fully-closed 15 position, as seen in Fig. 1, its rear end N stands behind a stationary abutment О in the receiver to serve as a resistance for the breech-piece against recoil of the explosion. It is therefore necessary to raise the breeeh- 20 piece from this locked position before it can commence its rear movement. To accom- plish this unlocking movement a groove P is formed in the side of the breech-pieee, be- tween it and the slide E. (See Fig. 1.) This 25 groove inclines downward and backward. Its inclination is to the extent required for the rising movement, and its length corresponds substantially to the length of the groove M at the forward end. On the slide E is a stud R, 30 which extends into and works in the said in- clined groove P, as seen in Figs. 1 and 10, substantially as does the stud К in the groove M at the forward end, thus making a con- nection between the breech-pieee and its 35 slide both at the rear and forward end. When in the fully-closed position, the studs К and R stand at the forward end of their respect- ive grooves, the breech-pieee in the locked position. 40 To open the breech-piece the handle H is moved rearward, which imparts a correspond- ing rearward movement to the slide E. The stud R works in the inclined groove P, while the stud К slides in its longitudinal groove 45 M. The inclination of the groove P operates as a cam with the stud R, and so that the said rear movement of the slide imparts a rising movement to the rear end of the breech-pieee, as seen in broken lines, Fig. 1, sufficient to 50 carry the breech-piece entirely above its abut- ment O. The stud К at the forward endserves as a pivot upon which the breech-piece may thus swing upward at the rear. As soon as the breeeh-piece has been thus raised, and as seen 55 in broken lines, Fig. 1, one or both the studs К R will have reached the rear end of their respective grooves and so as to make positive engagement with .the breech-piece, and be- cause of such engagement the continued rear 60 movement of the handle will impart to the slide and the breech-pieee together a rear movement until the breech-pieee reaches its fully-open position, as seen in Fig. 2. On the return of the handle a corresponding forward 65 movement will be imparted to the breeeh- piece; but without some provision to the con- trary the stud R in its inclined groove P would have a tendency to at once force the breech- piece downward, and so as to produce a con- siderable friction between the parts while the 70 breech-pieee was advancing to its closed posi- tion, where it could be locked. It is desirable to avoid such frictional resistance to the clos- ing movement of the breech-pieee. To ac- complish this result we interlock the slide 75 and breeeh-piece after the breech-piece shall. have been raised from its locked position. To thus interlock the breech-pieee and slide a transverse pin S is arranged through the slide, , preferably in a diagonal position, inclined in- 80 ward and forward, as seen in Fig. 7. In the side of the receiver a longitudinal groove T is formed, into which the pin S may extend when the breeeh-piece is in the closed position, as seen in Fig. 3, the groove extending rear- 85 ward to substantially the extent required for the rear movement of the slide in unlocking the breeeh-piece. The rear end IT of the said groove T is inclined rearward and inward, as seen in Fig. 7. In the breeeh-piece, in a posi- 9c tion corresponding to the said incline IT, a notch V is formed of a depth corresponding to the depth of the groove T. Consequently as the slide E moves rearward, as represented in broken lines, Fig. 7, the pin S rides in its 95 groove T independent of the breech-pieee until it reaches the incline IT, where the lon- gitudinal movement of the slide causes the pin S to ride up over the incline IT, which forces the pin S into the notch V, as seen in ico broken lines, Fig. 7. Such entering of the pin S into the groove V of the breech-pieee inter- locks the breeeh-piece and slide substantially independent of the studs between the slide and breech-piece, before described, and as the pin 105 S has now passed from the groove T it will ride on the inner surface of the receiver to its rear position—say as seen in Fig. 8. Then as the handle and slide are returned the pin S re- tains its engagement with the breech-piece no and causes the breeeh-piece to positively move with the slide without applying any material force to the inclined groove tending to force the rear end of the breech downward, and this operation will continue until the breech- 115 piece approaches its forward position, and when the pin S reaches the groove, as seen in broken lines, Fig. 8, then the pin is free to slide outward into its groove, as seen in broken lines, Fig. 8, and so as to escape from its notch, 12c at which point the breech-piece has reached its fully-closed position. Then the continued forward movement of the handle will carry the pin to the forward end of its groove inde- pendent of the breeeh-piece, as seen in Fig. 7. 125 To facilitate the return of the pin S into its slotas the breeeh-piece approaches its forward position, and avoid the employment of springs, the pin is arranged in a position inclined in- ward and forward, as before mentioned. This 130 gives to the back of the pin an inclined posi- tion, so that the notch in the breeeh-piece will operate thereon as a cam, tending to force the stud outward. Preferably the forward surface
421,663 3 of the inner end of the pin is beveled back- ward, to facilitate its entrance into the notch in the breech-pieee. The hammer a is in the form of a tubular 5 spindle, arranged longitudinally through the breech-piece, terminating1 at its forward end in a firing-piii b and at its rear end in a cook- ing-finger d, so that the hammer may be pulled rearward into the cocked position by hand, io if desired. The mainspring e is arranged within the hammer, its forward end bearing against the hammer and its rear end against a stud f, stationary in the breeeh-piece and extending diametrically through longitudinal 15 grooves g in the hammer, and so that as the hammer is drawn rearward the spring will be compressed to react when the hammer is free, so as to drive the hammer forward, a common construction in this class of arms. In the 20 breech-piece, beneath the hammer, a two- armed sear h is hung upon a pivot i, the for- ward end terminating in a nose Z, adapted to engage the eoeking-notch m in the hammer. When the hammer is drawn to the full-cock 25 position, as indicated in Tig. 5, a half-cock notch may be provided, if desired. A sear- spring n is provided, the tendency of which is to force and yieldingly hold the nose of the dog into the notch of the hammer. In the 30 frame below the breech-piece the trigger r is hung upon a pivots, the finger-piece t extend- ing through the lower side of the receiver into the guard in the usual manner. The upper - arm и extends up to a position to engage the 35 sear when the breech-pieee is in the closed position, as seen in Fig. 5, so that a pull upon the trigger will throw the sear out of engage- ment with the hammer. In the rear move- ment of the breech-pieee the sear passes with 40 the breech-pieee to the rear of the trigger. To make the hammer self-cocking, the ham- in er is provided at its forward end with a verti- cal recess w, forming a shoulder 2. (See Figs. 5,6, and 9.) This shoulder 2 stands immedi- 45 ately in rear of the stud К when the parts are in their fully-closed position; hence as the slide commences its rear movement and be- fore the breeeh-piece is interlocked the en- gagement of the stud К with the hammer 50 causes it to moverearward with the slide, as indicated in broken lines, Fig. 5, to a position to be engaged with the sear, as also seen in broken lines, Fig. 5, so that the hammer is brought to the locked position before the 55 breeeh-piece is fully released, and as the trigger cannot reach the sear until after the breeeh-piece has been brought to its closed and locked position aeeidental firing in the act of closing the breeeh-piece, because of 6c bringing the firing-pin into contact with the primer, is impossible. This construction also permits very rapid firing, because the trigger can be held in the pulled position so that as the rear end of the breeeh-piece drops to its 65 locked position the sear will strike the trig- ger and release the hammer, so that the completion of the locking movement of the breech-pieee will release the hammer. Conse- quently the rapidity of firing is only limited to the rapidity with which the handle may be 70 moved from its extreme forward to rear posi- tion, and return. In the receiver, beneath the breeeh-piece and upon a pivot 3, a carrier 4 is hung so as to swing up and down from the position seen 7 5 in Fig. 1 to that seen in Fig. 3. In the down position the rear cartridge from the maga- zine may pass onto the carrier, and then as the carrier rises after the breech-piece is open the said cartridge will be brought into 80 a position forward of the front face of the breech-piece, as 'seen in Fig. 3, and so that as the breech-pieee next advances it will foree the cartridge from the carrier into its place in the barrel. 85 The breech - piece moves rearward to a greater extent than that required for the car- tridge to be inserted, as seen in Fig. 2, thus giving to the breech-pieee an over motion. This over motion of the breech-pieee we 90 utilize as a means for raising the carrier. On the under side of the breech-piece is a down- ward projection 5. (See Figs. 2 and 9.) In this downward projection 5 is a transverse spring-stud 6, the spring 7 serving to foree 95 and yieldingly hold the stud outward. Near the rear end of the carrier is a vertical lon- gitudinal flange 8, (see Figs. 2,9, and 10,) and in this flange is a downwardly and forwardly inclined groove 9, Fig. 2, and the surface of the 102 carrier, immediately forward of the upper end of this groove, is inclined, as at 10, Figs. 10 and 11, and so that as the breeeh-piece reaches its extreme rear position the said stud will ride over this incline 10 and spring into the groove^ 105 9, as represented in Fig. 2. This inclined groove 9 opens at its lower end into a longi- tudinal groove 11 in the carrier, which ex- tends forward to about the position of the rear end of the cartridge, which may lie upon the no carrier, as seen in Fig. 2, the groove 11 opening at its forward end. After the stud 6 has thus engaged the inclined groove 9 on the carrier, the first part of the forward movement of the breech-piece will cause the 115 said stud to operate as a cam upon the in- clined groove 9 in the carrier, and thereby raise the carrier, as from the position in Fig. 2 to that seen in Fig. 3, and this rising will be completed, as seen in Fig. 3, as the car- 12c tridge has been raised to its proper position forward of the front face of the breech-pieee. From this position the forward movement of the breech-piece will cause the cartridge to enter the barrel, and the stud G will pass out 125 at the forward end of the groove 11, the said groove 11 in the up position of the carrier standing in substantially a direct longitudi- nal line with the barrel, and so that the car- rier will be supported in this position during 130 the entering movement of the cartridge. As the stud G escapes from the groove 11, the carrier is free to return, and it may be re- turned by the rear end of the breech-piece
4 421,663 striking upon the top of the flange 8 of the carrier, when the breeeh-pieee is dropped to its locked position. To prevent the sudden rise of the carrier 5 from giving the cartridge an impulse which will throw it too far upward, a rearward-pro- jecting finger 12 is formed in the receiver, immediately above the opening into the bar- rel, as seen in Figs. 3 and 4, which extends io sufficiently far rearward to serve as a guard to prevent such over movement of the car- tridge. The breech-piece D at its forward end is constructed with a recess 13, (see Fig. 4,) corresponding to this finger 12, so that as 15 the breech-piece comes to its closed position the said recess will pass onto and inclose the finger 12, and rearward on the sides of the re- ceiver inwardly-projecting ribs or projections 13' are preferably employed, to prevent the 20 rise of the rear end of the cartridge, these projections being above the head of the car- tridge and projecting inward, so that the space between the said projections is less than the diameter of the head. 25 The breech-piece is provided with an ex- tractor-hook 14, which may be a common spring-extractor, adapted to engage the flange of the cartridge and so that in the rear move- ment of the breeeh-piece the cartridge or the 30 exploded shell will "be withdrawn from the barrel. To insure the ejection of the withdrawn shell or cartridge, as the case may be, we pro- vide an automatic ejector, which shall oper- 35 ate as the breeeh-piece reaches its rear posi- tion to give to the cartridge an ejecting move- ment sufficient to throw it from the arm. This ejector is in the form of a lever 15, hung in the carrier upon a transverse pivot 16, and so 40 as to swing in a vertical plane. The ejector- lever 15 is hung near the rear end of the car- rier, but forward of the carrier-pivot. From the hub of the lever 15 a finger 17 extends upward into the path of a shoulder 18 on the 45 breeeh-piece, and so that as the breeeh-pieee approaches its extreme rear position the shoulder 18 will engage the finger 17 and throw the ejector up from the position seen in Fig. 1 to that seen in Fig. 2. The forward 50 end of the lever 15 forms a nose 19, forward of thefront face of the breeeh-pieee,and which as it rises will strike the under side of the cartridge or shell and give to it an impulse to throw it upward, as indicated in broken 55 lines, Fig. 2. Then as the breeeh-piece com- mences its forward movement the ejector-lever will return, and may be forced so to do by constructing the rear end of the breeeh-piece so as to engage the finger 17 during the drop- 60 ping movement of the breeeh-piece, as repre- sented in Fig. 1. To charge the magazine we make use of the carrier as a trap. The undersurface of the carrier eloses the 65 opening through the bottom of the receiver, and in the carrier, near its rear encl, we arrange a vertical spring 20, between the carrier and the rear encl of the breeeh-piece, and so that when the breeeh-piece is closed this spring will bear upon the breech-pieee between it 70 and the carrier, and so as to yieldingly hold the carrier in its down position, but yet so as ' to permit the carrier to be pressed inward so far as to open the rear end of the magazine, as seen in Fig. 3, the carrier being recessed, 75 as indicated in broken lines, Fig. 1, below the downward projection on the breeeh-piece, and so as to permit sueh inward movement of the carrier while the breech-pieee is closed, the intention being to charge the magazine 80 while the parts are in their closed or normal position. A spring-latch 21 is arranged in the side of the receiver to engage the suc- cessive cartridges as they are so entered and prevent their rear movement, as seen in Figs. 85 13 and 14. This is a common device for this purpose. The slide is provided with a cam 22, which will throw this latch out of engage- ment with the cartridges when the breech- pieee comes to its closed position, as seen in go Fig. 13; but after the breeeh-pieee has com- menced its rear movement and the rear car- tridge in the magazine has started onto the carrier and passed the nose of the latch 21 the latch is released to come again into 95 the path of the heads of .the cartridges, and so that the head of the next cartridge will be stopped by said latch, while the rearmost cartridge will pass completely onto the car- rier, as usual in this class of arms. 100 The carrier itself will serve as a trap to hold the column of cartridges as they are suc- cessively introduced into the barrel. The breeeh-pieee and the devices for oper- ating it, which we have fully described, are 105 applicable to other arrangements of carriers or to single breech-loading fire-arms. We claim— 1. In a fire-arm in which the barrel opens into the receiver at the rear, the combination no therewith of a breeeh-pieee arranged longi- tudinally in the receiver at the rear of the barrel, a handle beneath the barrel forward of the receiver, a longitudinally-guided slide in the receiver at the side of the breeeh-piece, 115 a connection between said handle and slide, whereby the longitudinally-reciprocating movement of the handle will be imparted to said slide, the receiver constructed with an abutment at the rear of the breeeh-piece and 120 forward of which the rear end of the breeeh- piece will stand in its closed position, the side of the breech-pieee adjacent to said slide con- structed with a longitudinal groove at the forward end, and the slide provided with a 125 stud to work in said groove, whereby a limit- ed longitudinal movement may be imparted to the slide independent of the breech-piece, the breeeh-pieee constructed with a down- ward and rearwardly inclined groove at its 130 rear end upon the side adjacent to said slide, and the slide provided with a stud to work in said inclined groove, substantially as de- scribed.
421,663 5 5 IO т5 20 25 30 35 40 45 5° 55 60 б5 2. In a fire-arm in which the barrel opens into the receiver at the rear, the combina- tion therewith of a breech-pieee arranged longitudinally in the receiver at the rear of the barrel, a handle beneath the barrel for- ward of the receiver, a longitudinally-guided slide in the receiver at the side of the breeeh- piece, a connection between said handle and slide, whereby the longitudinally-reciprocat- ing movement of the handle will be imparted to said slide, the receiver constructed with an abutment at the rear of the breech-pieee and forward of which the rear end of the breeeh- piece will stand in its closed position, the side of the breeeh-piece adjacent to said slide con- structed at its rear end with a downward and rearwardly inclined groove and the said slide with a corresponding stud, the breech- pieee at the forward end constructed with a longitudinal groove and the slide with a cor- responding stud, whereby limited longitudi- nal movement is permitted to said slide in- dependent of the breech-pieee, a transverse loose pin through said slide near its forward end, the side of the receiver in the path of said pin constructed with a longitudinal groove-dying out at a point corresponding to the termination of the said independent movement of the slide, and at that point the breech-piece constructed with a notch, with which the said pin may engage, substantially as described. 3. In a fire-arm in which the barrel opens into the receiver at the rear, the combination therewith of a breech-piece arranged longi- tudinally in the receiver at the rear of the barrel, a handle beneath the barrel forward of the receiver, a longitudinally-guided slide in the receiver at the side of the breech-pieee, a connection between said handle and slide, whereby the longitudinal reciprocating move- ment of the handle will be imparted to said slide, the receiver constructed with an abut- ment at the rear of the breech-piece and for- ward of which the rear end of the breeeh- piece will stand in its closed position, the side of the breeeh-pieceadjacent to saidslidecon- structed with a downward and rearwardly in- clined groove near the rear end of the breech- piece, and the slide provided with a stud to work in said groove, the forward end of the breeeh-piece and slide engaged to permit a limited amount of longitudinal movement to said slide independent of the breech-piece, a hammer arranged longitudinally in said breeeh-piece, a two-armed sear hung iu the breech-piece below the hammer, the nose of the sear adapted to engage a corresponding- notch in the hammer when the hammer is brought to the cocked position, and a trigger hung in the receiver and adapted to disengage said sear when the breech - piece is in the closed position, substantially as described. 4. In a fire-arm in which the barrel opens into the receiver at the rear, the combination therewith of a breeeh-piece arranged longi- tudinally in the receiver at the rear of the barrel, a handle beneath the barrel forward of the receiver, a longitudinally-guided slide in the receiver at the side of tlie breeeh-piece, 70 a connection between said handle and slide, whereby the longitudinal reciprocating move- ment of the handle will be imparted to said slide, the receiver constructed with an abut- ment at the rear of the breeeh-piece and for- 75 ward of which the rear end of the breech- pieee will stand in its closed position, the side of the breeeh-piece adjacent to said slide con- structed with a downward and rearwardly in- clined groove near the rear end of the breech- 80 piece, and the slide provided with a stud to work in said groove, the forward end of the breeeh-piece and slide engaged to permit a limited amount of longitudinal movement to said slide independent of the breech-pieee, a 85 hammer arranged longitudinally in said breeeh-piece, the hammer constructed with a shoulder near its forward end, and a stud ex- tendingfromthesaidslidein ward and adapted to engage said shoulder of the hammer, with 90 a sear hung in the breech-pieee to engage the hammer at full-cock, with a trigger huug in the receiver adapted to disengage said sear when the breeeh-piece is in the closed posi- tion. - 95 5. In a magazine fire-arm in which the magazine is arranged beneath the barrel, and the barrel and the magazine both opening into the receiver at the rear, a breech-piece arranged longitudinally in the receiver at the 100 rear of the barrel, a longitudinally-recipro- cating handle beneath the barrel forward of the receiver, a longitudinally-guided slide ar- ranged in the receiver beside the breeeh- piece, a connection between said handle and 105 said slide, whereby said slide may partake of the reciprocating movement of the handle, the receiver constructed with an abutment in rear of the breech-pieee and against which the rear end of the breech-pieee rests when no the breech-pieee is in the closed position, the breeeh-piece constructed with a rearward and downwardly inclined slot at its rear end and on the side adjacent to the said slide, the said slide provided with a stud to work in said 115 groove, the breech-piece hung to the slide at the forward end and so as to permit a limited amount of longitudinal movement of said slide independent of said breech-piece, a car- rier hung in the receiver below the barrel, 120 the said carrier constructed with a downward and forwardly inclined groove 9, opening into a longitudinal groove 11, w'ith a spring- stud 6 in said breech-piece adapted to en- gage said inclined groove as the breech-piece 125' approaches its extreme rear position, sub- stantially as and for the purpose described. 6. In a magazine fire-arm in which the magazine is arranged beneath the barrel, and the barrel and the magazine both opening 130 into the receiver at the rear, a breech-piece arranged longitudinally in the receiver at the rear of the barrel, a longitudinally-recipro- cating handle beneath the barrel forward of
6 421 the receiver, a longitudinally-guided slide ar- ranged in the receiver beside the breeeh- piece, a connection between said handle and said slide, whereby said slide may partake of 5 the reciprocating movement of the handle, the receiver constructed with an abutment in rear of the breech-pieee and' against which the rear end of the breech-piece rests when the breeeh-piece is in the closed position, the io breech-pieee constructed with a rearward arid downwardly inclined slot at its rear end and on the side adjacent to the said slide, the said slide provided with a stud to work in said groove, the breech-pieee hung to the slide at 15 the forward end and so as to permit a limited amount of longitudinal movement of said slide independent of said breech-piece, a car- ,663 Her hung in the receiver beneath the breech- pieee and so as to swing upward and down- ward, the breech-pieee adapted to engage the 20 carrier during the last part of its opening movement and so as to impart rising move- ment to said carrier, and ejector-lever 15, hung in said carrier, the ejector-lever con- structed with an upwardly-projeeting Anger 25 17 in the path of a corresponding shoulder on the breech-pieee, and the forward end of said ejector terminating in a nose 19, substan- tially as and for the purpose described. JOHN M. BROWNING. MATTHEW S. BROWNING. Witnesses: R. C. McEwan, Geo. E. Browning.
(No Model.) 7 Sheets—Sheet 1. J. M. & M. S. BROWNING-. MAGAZINE FIRE ARM. No. 428,887. Patented May 27, 1890. THE NORRIS PETEPS CO., PHOTO-L1THO., WASHINGTON, О. C.
7 Sheets—Sheet 2. (No Model.) J. M. & M. 8. BROWNING-. MAGAZINE FIRE ARM. No. 428,887. Patented May 27, 1890. THE НООЯК PETt'.l CO., PHOTO-ViTHO. WASHINGTON, o. e.
(Ko Model.) 7 Sheets—Sheet 3. J. M. & M. S. BROWNING-. MAGAZINE FIRE ARM. No. 428,887. Patented May 27, 1890. THE NOflHiS PETERS CO., РНОТОЧ1ТНО , WASHINGTON, О. C.
(No Model.) 7 Sheets—Sheet 4. J. M. & M. S. BEOWNING-. MAGAZINE FIRE ARM. No. 428,887. Patented May 27, 1890. THE Nonnis rtTEAS CO., PHOTOOTHO., WASHINGTON, 0. c.
(Ro Model.) 7 Sheets—Sheet 5. J. M. & M. S. BROWNING-. MAGAZINE FIRE ARM. No. 428,887. Patented May 27, 1890. THE NORFrlS PETERS CO., PHOTO-LtTHO., WASHINGTON, D. C.
(No Model.) 7 Sheets—Sheet 6. J. M. & M. S. BROWNING-. MAGAZINE FIRE ARM. No. 428,887. Patented May 27, 1890. THE psreni CO., PHOTO-tiTHC. WASM.4OTOH, Q. C.
(No Model.) 7 Sheets—Sheet 7. J. M. & M. S. BROWNING-. MAGAZINE FIRE ARM. No. 428,887. Patented May 27, 1890. THE NORRIS PETERS CO.. PHOTO-UTHQ., WASHINGTON, D. C.
United States Patent Office. JOHN M. BROWNING AND MATTHEW S. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH TERRITORY, ASSIGNORS TO THE WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS COMPANY, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT. MAGAZINE FIRE-ARM. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 428,887, dated May 27, 1890. Application filed November 18,1889. Serial No. 330,643. (No model.) To all whom it may concern: Be it known that we, JohnM. Browning and Matthew S. Browning, of Ogden, in the county of Weber and Territory of Utah, have 5 invented a new Magazine Fire-Arm; and we do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with accompanying drawings and the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact descrip- io tion of the same, and which said drawings con- stitute part of this specification, and represent, in— Figure 1, a side view of the arm with the parts in the closed or normal position; Fig. 15 2, a top view of the same; Fig. 3, a longitudi- nal sectional view with the parts in the closed or normal position, showing the magazine in side view looking from the left; Fig. 4, a ver- tical central section cutting on line ж x of 20 Fig. 3, looking forward; Fig. 5, a longitudi- nal section cutting centrally through the magazine and breech-piece, with the parts in the normal position except the cover V, which is represented as open; Fig. 6, a vertical een- 25 tral section online у у of Fig. 5,looking rear- ward, showing a face or front view of the breech-pieee and magazine; Fig. 7, a vertical section cutting on line z z of Fig. 3; Fig. 8, the same view as Fig. 3, but representing the 30 magazine and breech-piece as approaching the extreme open position; Fig. 9, the same as Fig. 8, with the breeeh-pieee in the wide- open position; Fig. 10, the same as Fig. 9, showing the breech-piece and magazine as in 35 the return-movement, the hammer just en- gaging the cock-noteh; Fig. 11, a longitudi- nal section through a portion of the receiver, showing an inside view looking from the left and representing the stop s, also the longi- 40 tudinal groove J, in which the magazine-pivot works; Fig. 12, a longitudinal section the same as Fig. 5, showing the parts in the nor- mal position, except that the hammer is in the cocked position; Fig. 13, a horizontal lon- 45 gitudinal section through the receiver, rep- resenting a top view of the breeeh-piece in the closed position; Fig. 14, a longitudinal section through the receiver, cutting on line ж ж of Fig. 8, representing the arm/of the 50 magazine-lever as just engaging the stop s; Fig. 15, the same section through one side of the receiver as that shown in Fig. 14, but representing the stop s as thrown out of the path of the said lever; Fig. 16, a detached view illustrating the operation of the lever / 55 g on the eartridge-head as the magazine is ap- proaching its closed position; Figs. 17 and 18, detached views illustrating modifications. This invention relates to improvements in magazine fire-arms, the object being to com- 60 bine with a backward and downward swing- ing breeeh-piece a magazine as substantially a part of said breech-pieee and so as to swing therewith, and whereby the cartridges nor- mally standing in a vertical position in the 65 magazine will by the opening swinging move- ment of the breeeh-piece be brought into a longitudinal position and so as topresent the upper cartridge in the magazine into such re- lation to the open rear end of the barrel that 70 in the return or closing movement of the breeeh-piece and magazine the said upper cartridge will be forced forward from the magazine into the barrel, and so that the breech-piece when closed will rest against 75 the head of the cartridge so inserted to resist the recoil of explosion, parts of the inven- tion being applicable to single breech-loading fire-arms. The invention consists in the construction 80 and combination of mechanism fully herein- after described, and particularly recited in th e claims. A represents the receiver, which in general shape and size does not differ materially from 85 other well-known arms. It is constructed with a recess open from the under side upward. To the forward end of the receiver the bar- rel В is attached and opens into the receiver in the usual manner. To the rear end of the 90 receiver the stock C is secured by means of a tang D or by any of the usual devices. The receiver is constructed partially closed over the recess, as clearly seen in several figures, the opening E for removal of the exploded 95 shell being on one side (represented as the right-hand side) and in line with the barrel, so that an exploded shell or cartridge if it be not exploded may be ejected through the said opening E, as in other arms in which the 100
2 428,887 5 10 15 20 25 .3° 35 4° 45 5° 55 □ о 65 ejeeting-opening is at the side; but, as will hereinafter appear, the ejeeting-opening may be at the top. The said ejeeting-opening, as usual in this class of arms, may be employed for introducing single cartridges directly to the barrel when it is desired to use the arm as a single loader. F represents the breeeh-piece, arranged in the receiver, and which in its normal or closed position closes the rear end of the barrel, as seen in Fig. 3, and so as to support the car- tridge in the barrel against recoil, as seen in Fig. 5. The breech-pieee extends rearward, and in its closed position rests against the rear end of the recess in the receiver, as seen in Figs. 3 and 5, so as to be firmly supported at the time of explosion. The breech-piece is of a depth required to contain the maga- zine, and extends down through the open bottom of the receiver, and terminates in oris provided with a handle G, which is also pref- erably adapted to form the trigger-guard II. The breech-pieee is hung in the receiver upon a trunnion I near its top and forward end. This trunnion rests in a longitudinal groove J, (see Fig. C,) the said groove being- opposite the side or ejecting opening. The said trunnion forms an axis upon which the breech may swing in a vertical plane. The groove J, in which the trunnion rests, permits the trunnion to slide backward and forward, and so that in the opening movement of the breeeh-piece it first swings downward at the rear, as seen in Fig. 10, turning on the trun- nion I as its axis of motion, and, the opening swinging movement continuing, the forward end of the breech - piece slides rearward, guided by the trunnion I in the groove J, until the full-open position is reached, as seen in Fig. 9, and so that the forward end of the breech-pieee in such full-opening move- ment is brought to the top, as from the posi- tion seen in Fig. 3 to that seen in Fig. 9. To make the said rear movement of the breeeh- piece positive, one side of the breech-piece is constructed with a recess K, and into which recess a stationary studLprojects from theeor- responding inside of the receiver. This stud is best made as a screw introduced through the side of the receiver, as seen in Fig, 1. The edge of the recess К from the point M to the point N is curved, as seen in Figs. 3, 9, and 10, so as to work as a cam upon the station- ary stud L in the opening movement of the breech-piece, andso that in such opening move- ment the downward and forward movement of the rear end of the breech-piece will force the forward end to move rearward and at tlie same time turn upward, as before described, and as from the position of Fig. 3 to that of Fig. 9. In such opening movement of the breech-piece it works against the rear end of the recess in the receiver, as represented in Fig. 10, which serves to hold the breeeh-piece to a bearing against the stud L, and so that when the breech-pieee reaches the extreme open position, as seen in Fig. 9, the top of the breech-piece rests against the vertical rear end of the recess in the receiver. On the return of the breech-piece the rear end of 70 the recess in the receiver, the stationary stud L, and the longitudinal groove J serve to gov- ern such return or closing movement, so that the breech-piece when fully closed is brought again to its normal position, as seen in Fig. 3. 75 In the opening and closing movement of the breech-pieee, as described, the operator grasps the lever G and gives to it a downward and forward movement to open the breech and a return movement to close the breech, 80 substantially as in other arms in which the mechanism of the arm is operated by the trigger-guard lever. The breech-piece is constructed with a chamber O, opening from its forward end 85 (see Fig. IS) the depth of the chamber from top to bottom, corresponding substantially to the length of the cartridges to be employed in the arm, and the length of the chamber from front to rear is as great as it eonven- 90 iently maybe made. This chamber formsthc magazine to contain the cartridges used in the arm, as seen in Fig. 5. P represents the follower in the magazine, and is arranged to move freely backward and 95 forward, as from the position in Fig. 12 to that seen in Fig. 5 and return. Within the magazine is a suitable spring Q, supported at its rear end as a resistance, its forward end yieldingly bearing against too the follower, as seen in Fig. 12, the tendency of the spring being to force tlie follower for- ward. On each side the magazine-chamber and near the bottom is a longitudinal groove R, 105 (see Figs. 7 and 12,) in which corresponding trunnion-like projections S on tlie follower ' run, and which, while preventing- displace- ment of the follower, permit a limited rocking movement of the follower, as indicated by no the broken lines, Fig. 12, and so that the fol- lower may adapt itself to the varying planes required for it to properly bear upon the col- umn of cartridges in the magazine, as indi- cated in Fig. 5. 115 The upper part of the forward end of the magazine-chamber is closed to form an abut- ment T, against which the follower P will bear when in its extreme forward position, as seen in Fig. 12, the open space below the 120 abutment T leaving the follower exposed. The.forward end of the recess in the re- ceiver extends beyond the forward end of the magazine, so as to leave an opening U into the said recess from the under side and for- 125 ward of the magazine, as seen in Figs. 5 and 12. This opening or space is required to per- mit the lower forward end of the magazine portion of the breeeh-piece to advance in the opening movement, as seen in Figs. 8 and 10, 130 and also permits tho charging- of the maga- zine when the parts are in the closed position, as represented in broken lines, Fig. 12. To close this otherwise open space, a cover V is
428,887 3 hinged to the receiver, as at W, and so as to swing forward from the position seen in Fig. 3 to that seen in Fig. 12 to open said space for the insertion of cartridges into the maga- 5 zine. The said cover V is provided with a spring a, which bears against a shoulder b on the cover when in the closed position, as seen in Fig. 3, and so as to hold the cover in such closed position, but so as to permit it to yield io to the opening and closing movement of the breech-piece and automatically follow the breech-piece in such opening and closing movements, as indicated by broken lines, Fig. 10; but when the cover is thrown wide open, 15 as seen in Fig. 12, for the introduction of car- tridges to the magazine, then the spring a es- capes from the shoulder b and rides upon the periphery of the hub of the cover, and so as to operate to hold the cover in such wide-open 20 position, in order that it may not obstruct the charging-passage into the magazine. The width of the magazine-chamber corre- sponds .substantially to the diameter of the cartridges under the heads, and as seen in 25 Figs. 4 and 12; but on each side and near the top of the chamber longitudinal grooves care formed, into which the heads of the cartridges may pass, as seen in Figs. 4 and 5, and so that the cartridges in the magazine are practically 30 suspended bj7 their heads, as seen in Figs. 4 and 5. The magazine is charged while the breech- pieee and magazine are in the closed position. The cover V is thrown open, as seen in Fig. 35 12, and a cartridge introduced head first into the open space forward of the magazine and against the follower P, sufficient backward foree being applied to the cartridge against the follower to cause the follower to fall back, 40 so that the head of the cartridge may pass up into the magazine in rear of the abutment T, as represented in broken lines, Fig. 12, and until the head of the cartridge reaches the grooves c, and so that the cartridge may pass 45 into the magazine. Then successive car- tridges are in like manner introduced until the magazine is completely charged, as seen in Fig. 5. The follower, receding, compresses the magazine-spring P as the cartridges are 50 successively introduced. In order to permit the heads of the car- tridges to pass up into the grooves c, the sides of the magazine-chamber are recessed at the forward end, as at d, (see Figs. 12 and 6,) the 55 recesses opening forward below the abutment and extending up into the grooves c. The cartridges being arranged in the maga- zine as described, and as illustrated in Fig. 5, it will be observed that they stand vertically 60 when the magazine is in its closed or normal position, and that under the swinging or os- cillatory movement of the magazine in the opening movement, when the extreme open position is reached, as seen in Fig. 9, the ear- 65 fridges then stand in a longitudinal position, the forward or last-introduced cartridge in the magazine then being uppermost. This is the position for the transfer of the then up- permost cartridge into its place in the barrel. The opening through the forward end of the 70 magazine extends onto the bottom, and so as to leave an opening e through the bottom of the magazine directly below the last cartridge introduced, and as seen in Fig. 5. To auto- matically transfer the cartridges from the 75 magazine to the barrel, the recess К in the side of the magazine extends forward, andin this recess a two-armed or L-shaped lever/p is hung upon a pivot h, as seen in Fig. 3; but so that the said lever may swing in a verti- 80 cal plane in said recess. The arm g extends downward, and at its lower end is provided with an outwardly-projecting stud or shoul- der i, which when the parts are in the closed position rests against the lower edge of the 85 receiver, as represented in Figs. 1 and 3, and which is the normal position of the said le- ver. The other arm f, when in this normal position, extends forward, and it is divided to form two elastic fingers к 1. These fingers 90 at their extreme end are constructed with in- wardly-projecting shoulders m n, respect- ively, (see Fig. 7,) which extend through an opening into the magazine, as seen in Figs. 3 and 7, this opening being preferably of seg- 95 ment shape, of which the axis of the lever is the eenter, and so that in the swinging move- ment of the lever, as from the position seen in Fig. 3 to that seen in Fig. 9, the shonlders work through this slot 7). The back of the 100 respective shoulders m n is beveled, so that they may operate as latches. These shoul- ders in the closed or normal position stand in line with the grooves in the magazine and so as to practically form a forward continuation 105 of that groove, the shoulders working through the downward extension d of the groove c. As each cartridge is inserted into the maga- zine, as before described, its head will strike the beveled back of the shoulder m and force no the finger к laterally, as also indicated in broken lines, Fig. 7, until the head rnay pass above the shoulder m. Then the head of the eartridge stands within the grasp of the two shoulders m n, and as seen in Fig. 7, from 115 whence it will pass into the groove c when the next cartridgeis inserted. This finger к with its shoulder m therefore acts as a latch to catch each cartridge as it is inserted into the magazine, the shoulder n being in a position 120 to bear against the rear end or head of the cartridge. As represented in Figs. 3 and 7, a cartridge stands within the grasp or between the shoul- ders m n of the lever/g. The recess in the 125 side of the magazine in which the lever/p is ar- ranged isopen atthetop attheforwardend,as at r, so that the upper side of the arm / is ex- posed through the said opening /', and in the receiver in the path of the said opening r is a 130 studs,andsothatasthebreech-piece isopened at the proper time the arm/of the lever will strike the said stud s, as represented in Fig. 8, the stud s being shown in broken lines.
4 428,887 Up to this point the lever f g turns with the magazine; but at this point the further rear- ward movement of the lever fg is prevented, but the magazine eontinuesitsopeningmove- 5 ment. Consequently the shoulder n of the arm/of the said lever operates against the head of the cartridge, and so as to give to the cartridge substantially a forward movement from the magazine toward the barrel, or, to rather, holds the cartridge so that the maga- zine may move away from it, and, as seen in Fig. 9, this movement of the cartridge from the magazine takes the head end from the abutment T and into the opening through 15 the forward or then upper end of the maga- zine, and so that the cartridge thus advanced will be forced upward by the magazine-spring into line with the barrel, as represented in broken lines, Fig. 9, and so that the head 20 end of the cartridge will then stand forward of the abutment T, as seen in broken lines, said Fig. 9. As the magazine is returned from this wide-open position, the abutment T strikes the rear end of the eartridge-rest, as 25 before described, and so as to force it for- ward into the barrel until, when the maga- zine and breech-piece reach the closed posi- tion, as seen in Fig. 12, the cartridge is in its place in the barrel ready for firing. On the 30 return or closing movement of the magazine the lever f g will move with the magazine un- til the shoulder i of the arm g strikes the re- ceiver, as indicated in broken lines, Fig. 10. Then,the further movement of the said lever 35 being prevented, the magazine will continue its movement until completely closed, which brings the lever and magazine into the same relation as that first described, and as repre- sented in Fig. 3. In thus returning the lever 40 to its normal position the beveled back of the shoulder of the finger I will strike the under side of the head of the next cartridge of the column, as represented in Fig. 16, and will ride over the head of the cartridge until it 45 may escape and pass over the head, as seen in Fig. 7, ready to engage the said next car- tridge on the next opening movement of the magazine. To firmly hold the lever/(/when the parts 50 are in their closed position, as seen in Fig. 3, the shape of the recess in the side of the mag- azine in winch the lever works is such that at one point, as at 2, the said edge bears against the lever, so as to hold the stud i firmly to its 55 bearing on the edge of the receiver. It is frequently desirable to hold the car- tridges in reserve in the magazine and so that the arm may be used as a single breech-loader. To this end the stud or shoulder s, which 60 gives to the cartridges their initial forward movement toward the barrel, as before de- scribed, is constructed so as to be thrown out of the path of the swinging lever/g, and so that when the lever escapes the said stud or 65 shoulder s the lever will not be operated upon or the forward cartridge moved from its position in the magazine. The construction whereby the stud s is thus made movable is illustrated in Figs. 14 and 15. The stud is made a part of an elastic slide 3, arranged in 70 a recess 4 in the receiver, and so that a lim- ited amount of longitudinal movement may be imparted to the said slide and the stud s, which it carries. Through that side of the receiver a longitudinal slot 5 is formed, 75 through which a finger-piece 6 extends into connection with the said slide 3, this finger- piece being upon the outside of the receiver, as seen in Fig. 1, and in a convenient posi- tion to be worked by the operator. The rear 80 end of the recess 4 terminates in an inward incline 7, upon which that end of the slide 3 may work, and so that the slide being thrown rearward, as from the position in Fig. 15 to that in Fig. 14, the stud will be thrown out- 85 ward into the path of the arm / of the lever, and so that that arm will strike the stud, as represented in Fig. 14, and be arrested to produce the forward movement of the car- tridge, as before described; but if „the said 90 slide be thrown forward, as represented in Fig. 15, the stud springs into the recess 4 and so as to stand out of the path of the said le- ver / and thereby prevent the stopping of the said lever or effect upon the cartridge in 95 the magazine. Whenever, therefore, the op- erator desires to hold the cartridges in the magazine and work the arm as a single-loader, he throws the finger-piece forward to the po- sition seen in Fig. 15, or if he desires to use 100 the cartridges in the magazine he moves the finger-piece to the position seen in Fig. 14. The hammer 8 is in the form of a longitudi- nal spindle arranged in a longitudinal open- ing through the breech-piece above the maga- 105 zine, and as clearly seen in Fig. 5. At its forward end it is provided with a striking- point 9, adapted to reach the primer of the cartridge when in the extreme forward posi- tion shown in Fig. 5. The hammer is also no preferably constructed with a shoulder 10, which will bear against a corresponding shoulder 11 on the breech-pieee when it is in its extreme forward position. To make the hammer self-eoeking, the re- 115 cess in which it is arranged is constructed so as to permit a rocking . movement of the breech-pieee in a vertical plane. To produce this rocking movement the bottom of the hammer-recess in the breeeh-piece is inclined 120 forward and backward from the point 12 mid- way of the length of said passage. The ham- mer is constructed with a longitudinal recess 13, opening from the rear end of the hammer, in which recess the mainspring 14 is arranged, 125 the spring being preferably a spiral spring, its forward end resting against the forward end of the said recess 13 and its rear end seated upon a lever 15, which enters the rear end of the breech-piece. This lever is hung upon a 130 pivot 1G, stationary in the breech-piece, the lever being constructed with a longitudinal slot 17 to work over the said pivot 16, the le- ver extending to the rear of the pivot.
428,887 5 IO т5 20 25 3° 35 4° 45 5° 55 6o 65 Above the hammer-recess in the receiver a stationary shoulder 18 is made at a point dis- tant from the rear end of the barrel, accord- ing to the length of stroke required for the hammer. The rear end of the lever 15 is rounded, as seen in Fig. 5, and so that when the breech-pieee is in the closed position the said rounded end may extend rearward over and so as to rest upon a corresponding sur- face 19 in the upper side of the receiver, the mainspring forcing the said lever 15 to its rear position, and so that the said' lever tak- ing its bearing upon the seat 19 of the receiver, as seen in Fig. 5, serves as a resistance to pre- vent the accidental downward movement of the breeeh-piece and magazine, but yet will yield to a force applied to the magazine-han- dle. The rounded end escaping from the said seat 19 will ride down upon the rear end of the magazine-recess in the receiver. The tendency of the mainspring bearing against the end of the lever 15 is to throw the rear end of the breech-pieee downward and the forward end upward, as seen in Fig. 10, so that when free from other influence the for- ward end of the hammer stands iu the raised position, as seen in Fig. 10. A stop 20 is formed in the forward end of the breechqoieee, of V shape, and so that a corresponding V- shaped recess in the end of the breech-pieee may pass onto the said stop 20 when the ham- mer is free so to do, and as seen in Fig. 10. This stop prevents tlie escape of the forward end of the hammer from the breeeh-pieee or its rising to too great an extent. In throwing the breech-pieee to the open position the hammer moves with it, as seen in Fig. 8; but on the return of the breeeh- piece, as seen in Fig. 10, the forward end 21 of the breech-piece will strike the shoulder 18 on tlie receiver, and the further forward move- ment of the hammer will be accordingly ar- rested. The breech-piece continuing its clos- ing movement while the hammer is so held leaves the hammer at the cocked position, as seen in Fig. 12, the shoulder 18 forming the cock-notch for the hammer. To discharge the hammer, the trigger 22 is hung upon a pivot 23 at the rear of the maga- zine, the finger-piece of the trigger extending down so as to be operated in the usual manner. An arm 24 of the trigger extends above the pivot, and against this arm the' magazine- spring bears, so that the said spring may also serve as a trigger-spring; but any suitable spring may be applied to the trigger. To the trigger, upon a pivot 25 in rear of the trigger- pivot, a dog26 is hung, which extends up into the hammer-recess, and so that its upper end will stand below the hammer when in the cocked position, as represented in Fig. 12. Consequently the pull upon the trigger, as indicated in broken lines, Fig. 12, will im- part a rising movement to the dog 2G, which will throw the rear end of the hammer up- ward, as represented in broken lines, Fig. 12. The hammer working over the high point 12 in the hammer-recess as a fulcrum, the for- ward end of the hammer will be throwm down- ward and so as to escape from the coek-notch 70 IS, as also seen in broken lines, Fig. 12, and when the hammer so escapes its mainspring will force it forward to deliver its blow, as represented in Fig. 5. To lock the arm against accidental firing, a 75 sliding bolt 27 is arranged in the receiver in rear of the magazine-recess, and so that it may be forced forward over a corresponding shoulder 28 in the dog 26, as seen in Fig. 5, thus preventing the possible ascent of the 80 said dog to produce disengagement of the hammer; but when the bolt is withdrawn, as seen in Fig. 12, the dog is free to be operated bj7 a pull of the trigger. As before described, the bolt is provided with an exposed thumb- 85 piece 29 at its rear end, by which the oper- ator may conveniently work it. The breech-piece is provided with an ex- tractor-hook 30 in the side of the breeeh-piece on which is the discharge-opening, as seen in 90 Fig. 13, and as seen in that figure the re- ceiver is provided with a shoulder 31, against which the head of the cartridge will strike as it or the shell is retracted and as the breeeh- piece approaches its extreme rear position, 95 and so that the cartridge-shell will be ejected through the side, as indicated in broken lines, Fig. 13. This, however, is a common extract- ing device for which other known extractors may be substituted. 100 While we prefer to make the magazine as an integral part of the breeeh-piece, or so that the breeeh-piece will swing backward and downward with the magazine, the maga- zine may be made separate from the breech- 105 piece and the breeeh-piece arranged to move longitudinally backward, as' usual for sneh breech-pieces, the magazine being hung to the breeeh-pieee near its forward end, as seen inFig.17. Inthiseasethebreech-pieceforms no the longitudinal guide w’hich controls the longitudinal movement of the pivot on which the magazine swings, and in such arrange- ment the hammer may be of usual construc- tion and arrangement, not necessary to be 115 shown; but in such arrangement the advan- tages of the swinging magazine are retained. The arrangement of the hammer which we have described may be employed in fire-arms in which the breech-piece is constructed to 120 swing backward and downward in the man- ner which we have described for the breeeh- piece in this construction, and so that the rocking movement of the hammer may serve to catch or disengage it from the cock-notch. 125 We have represented the magazine as op- erated by a handle beneath the receiver; but it will be understood that it may be other- wise operated, as in the case of a longitudi- nally-moving breeeh-piece, and as illustrated 130 , in Fig. 18, in which the magazine is repre- sented as hung to a breech-pieee constructed to be operated by a radially-projecting han- 1 die, after the manner of what are commonly
6 428,887 called “bolt-guns.” The invention is there- fore not to be understood as limited to the specific construction of all the parts, as de- scribed. 5 We claim— 1. In a fire-arm in which the barrel opens at its rear end intc a recess in the receiver, the combination therewith of a magazine hung upon a pivot in said recess and so as io to swing in a vertical plane downward and backward in opening, the pivot npon which the magazine swings arranged to move longi- tudinally backward in theopening movement of the magazine and forward in the closing 15 movement of the magazine, whereby the verti- calposition of the magazine in the closed posi- tion is brought into substantially ahorizontal position when the magazine is open, the maga- zine constructed open at its forward end for 2o the introduction or removal of the cartridges, substantially as described, and whereby the forward cartridge in the magazine is presen ted to the open end of the barrel forward of the open brcech-piece when the magazine is in 25 the said open position and transferred from the magazine to the barrel as the breech- pieee and magazine are brought to the closed position. 2. In a fire-arni in which the barrel opens 30 at its rear end into a recess in the receiver, the combination therewith of a magazine hung upon a pivot in said reccss and so as to swing in a vertical plane, the said magazine extending through the bottom of the said re- 35 cess in the receiver and provided with a han- dle below, by which swinging movement may be imparted to the magazine, the pivot upon which the magazine swings arranged to move longitudinally backward as the magazine is 40 turned toward the open position and returned as the magazine is closed, the said magazine open at its forward end for the introduction or removal of cartridges, the said forward end in the closed position becoming the upper end 45 of the magazine when the magazine is in the open position, substantially as described, and whereby the forward cartridge in the maga- zine is presented forward of the open breech- pieee when the magazine is in the open posi- 50 tion and transferred from the magazine to the barrel as the breech-pieee and magazine are brought to the closed position. 3. In a fire-arm in which the barrel opens at the rear into a recess in the receiver, the 55 combination therewith of a breeeh-piece hung upon pivots in said receiver and so as to swing downward and backward in opening, the said pivots arranged for rear longitudinal movement in opening and for return longi- 60 tudinal movement in the closing of the breech- pieee, the breeeh-piece constructed with a chamber below it for the magazine to receive and carry several cartridges, the magazine and breech-pieee provided with a handle by 65 which the opening and closing swinging move- ment may be imparted thereto, the magazine open at its forward end for the introduction or removal of the cartridges, substantially as described. i. In a fire-arm in which the barrel opens 70 at the rear end into a recess in the receiver, the combination therewith of a magazinehung upon pivots in the receiver, so as to swing in a vertical plane backward and downwar . in opening, the said pivots arranged for longi- 75 tudinal backward and forward movement in the receiver respectively in the opening and closing movement of the magazine, the maga- zine open at its forward end for the reception or removal of eartridgesand constructed with 80 an abutment T at its forward end, closing the upper portion of said open forward end, a lever f cj, hung upon a pivot It, in a recess in the sideof said magazine, one arm/of the said lever divided to form two elastic fingers, 85 each finger provided with a shoulder, respect- ively, m n, the said shoulders working through an openinginto the inside of the magazine and adapted to engage the flange of the foremost cartridge in the magazine, and a stop in the 90 receiver in the path of said lever during the opening movement and adapted to arrest the swinging movement of the lever as the maga- zine approaches its wide-open position, the said lever also adapted to engage a station- 95 ary bearing upon the receiver as the maga- zine approaches its closed position, the maga- zine provided with a handle below, by which the opening and closing movement is im- parted, the breeeh-piece being adapted to 100 open and close with the said magazine, sub- stantially as described. 5. In a fire-arm in which the barrel opens into a recess in the receiver at the rear, a magazine hung upon pivots in said rocess and 105 so as to swing in a vertical plane downward and backward in opening, the said pivots ar- ranged to move longitudinally backward in the opening movement and forward in the closing movement, whereby the vertical posi- no tion of the breech-pieee in the closed position is brought into substantially a horizontal po- sition when open, the magazine constructed . open at its forward end, with an abutment T across the said opening at the upper end, the 115 magazine also constructed witli longitudinal grooves c upon its sides near the top, adapted to engage the flanges of the cartridges, and the said sides of the magazine constructed with a recess d, opening from said grooves 120 forward to a point below said abutment T, the lever/g, hung upon a pivot h in a recess in one side of the magazine, the arm / of the said lever constructed with a projection into the magazine, forming a spring-latch adapted 125 to engage the head of the foremost cartridge in the magazine, a stop in the receiver in the path of said lever in the open ag movement and so as to arrest the movement of the said lever as the magazine approaches its extreme 130 opening movement, and a stationary stop on the receiver adapted to engage said lever as
428,887 7 5 ю i5 20 25 3° 35 4° 45 5° 55 the magazine approaches its elosing move- ment, substantially as and for the purpose described. 6. Tn a fire-arm in which the barrel opens at the rear end into a recess in the receiver, a breeeh-piece arranged in said recess and hung upon a pivot therein so as to swing in a vertical plane, the said pivot arranged to receive a rear longitudinal movement as the breeeh-piece opens, and a like forward longi- tudinal movement as the breech-pieceis closed, the breeeh-piece constructed with a chamber below forming a magazine adapted to receive several cartridges, the magazine open at its forward end for the introduction and removal of cartridges and provided with a handle by which the said swinging movement may be imparted, the breeeh-piece constructed with a longitudinal recess, a hammer arranged in said longitudinal recess of the breech-pieee so as to move longitudinally therein, a mainspring for said hammer, said hammer adapted to receive a vertical rocking movement, the receiver con- structed with a stationary shoulder 18 above said hammer, and with which the said ham- mer is adapted to engage as the breech-pieee approaches its closed position, and so as to hold the hammer at the cocked position, with a trigger and a connection therefrom to the hammer when in the cocked position, and whereby said hammer may be disengaged from said cocked position, substantially as described. 7. In a fire-arm in which the barrel opens at the rear into a recess in the receiver, a magazine hung upon pivots in said recess and so as to swing in a vertical plane, the said pivots arranged in guides so as to move longitudinally rearward, as the magazine opens and forward as the magazine closes, and whereby in the opening movement of the magazine it is brought from a vertical posi- tion to substantially a horizontal position, the magazine open at its forward end for the in- sertion and removal of cartridges, the recess in the receiver extending forward of the maga- zine when the magazine is in the closed posi- tion, a cover hinged to the receiver forward of the magazine and adapted to open and close the said opening into the receiver at the forward end, the said cover provided with a spring adapted to yieldingly hold it in the closed position, with mechanism, substan- tially such as described, to successively trans- fer the cartridges from the magazine to the barrel during the closing or forward swing- ing movement of the magazine, substantially as described. 8. In a fire-arm in which the barrel opens at the rear into a recess in the receiver, the 6o combination therewith of a breech-piece hung upon pivots in the receiver so as to swing in a vertical plane, the said pivots arranged in guides to move rearward as the breech-piece opens and forward as the breech-piece closes, 65 the breeeh-piece extending through the bot- tom of the receiver and provided with a han- dle by which it may be operated, the breeeh- pieee also constructed with a longitudinal opening through it in line with the barrel 70 when in the closed position, a hammer ar- ranged in said recess, the said recess con- structed with a rocking bearing for the ham- mer and wdiereby a vertical rocking move- ment may be imparted to said hammer, a 75 mainspring arranged in a recess in said ham- mer, a stationary shoulder in the receiver which the hammer is adapted to engage as the breeeh-pieee approaches its closed posi- tion and so as to arrest the forward move- 80 ment of the hammer, a trigger arranged in the breeeh-piece, and a dog in connection with said trigger adapted to engage said hammer when the said hammer stands arrested by said shoulder, substantially as' described, and 85 whereby under the pull of the trigger the hammer may be disengaged from said shonl- der. 9. In a fire-arm in which the barrel opens at the rear into a recess in the receiver, the 90 combination therewith of a magazine hung in the recess in the said receiver and adapted to receive a swinging movement in a vertical plane and at the same time a longitudinal rear movement in opening and corresponding 95 forward movement in closing, the lever f g, hung in a recess in the side of the said maga- zine, the arm /of the said lever constructed with shoulders working through an opening in the side of the receiver into the magazine 100 and adapted to engage the flange of a car- tridge therein; a longitudinal slide 3, arranged in the receiver and carrying a stop s,the said slide provided with a finger-piece bjT which longitudinal movement may be imparted to 105 it, the receiver constructed with an incline in the path of movement of said lever, substan- tially as described, and whereby said stop may be thrown into or out of lhe path of said lever. JOHN M. BROWNING. MATTHEW S. BROWNING. Witnesses: M. L. Jones, John E. Ramsden.
(No Model.) 2 Sheets—Sheet 1. J. M. & M. S. BROWNING. BREECH LOADING GUN. THE NOfifllS PbTEOS CO., PHOTO-LITHd.. WASHINGTON, D. C.
(No Model.) 2 Sheets—Sheet 2. J. M. & M. S. BROWNING. BREECH LOADING GUN. THE NORRlS PETERS CO , PHOTO-LlTHO., WASHINGTON, О. C.
United States Patent Office. JOHN M. BROWNING AND MATTHEW S. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH TER- RITORY, ASSIGNORS TO THE WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS COMPANY, • OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT. BREECH-LOADING GUN. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 436,965, dated September 23, 1890. Application filed January 20, 1890. Serial No. 337:440. (No model.) To all whom it may concern,:. Be it known that we, John M. Browning and Matthew S. Browning, of Ogden, in the county of Weber and Territory of Utah, have 5 invented a new Improvement in Magazine Fire-Arms; and we do hereby declare the fol- lowing, tvhen taken in connection with accom- panying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact io description of the same, and which said draw- ings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in— Figure 1, a longitudinal section of the re- ceiver, showing side view of the mechanism of 15 the arm, the parts in the normal position; Fig. 2, the same as Fig. 1, showing the parts as with the breeeh-pieee in its rear position and the carrier raised; Fig. 3, a top view of the receiver portion of the arm, illustrating 20 the interlocking of the breech-piece with the receiver; Fig. 4, a detached view showing longitudinal section of the carrier in its down position; Fig. 5, a transverse section on line ж ж of Fig. 1, looking rearward; Fig. 6, a trans- 25 verse section on line у у of Fig. 1, looking to the rear; Fig. 7, a sectional side view look- ing from the side opposite that of Fig. 1, showing the parts in the extreme open posi- tion; Fig. 8, the same as Fig. 7, showing the 30 breech - piece as approaching its extreme closed position; Fig. 9, an insideview of the receiver, showing the groove in which the breech-piece works; Fig. 10,a horizontal lon- gitudinal section cutting on line z z of Fig. 7; 35 Fig. 11, a top view of the carrier detached, representing the recesses through which the forward end of the extractor-hook may work; Fig. 12, the same view as Fig. 8, showing the parts in the extreme down or closed position; 40 Fig. 13, a transverse section on line ж ж .of Fig. 1, looking forward. This invention relates to an improvement in that class of magazine fire-arms iu which the magazine is arranged below the barrel, 45 the magazine opening into a recess in the re- ceiver at the rear, the breeeh-pieee and op- erative mechanism being arranged in the receiver in rear of the barrel and magazine, the present invention being an improvement upon the fire-arm for which Letters Patent 50 No. 385,238 were granted to us June 20, 1888, the object of the invention being to construct the carrier with a longitudinal chamber open- ing from its forward end, into which cham- ber a cartridge may pass from the magazine 55 when the carrier is in the down position and then as the carrier is raised be presented into line with the barrel and so that the cartridge may be transferred from the said chamber, the said chamber substantially inclosing the 60 cartridge, the invention being particularly adapted to the smaller caliber of arms and with w-hieh it is desired to produce rapid fir- ing. The invention also improves the arm in other details of construction; and it con- 65 sists in the construction as hereinafter de- scribed, and particularly recited in the claims. A represents the receiver, to the forward end of which the barrel В is attached and open at the rear into the receiver. C is the 7c magazine, arranged below the barrel and par- allel therewith and opening at the rear into the receiver, as usual in this class of arms. The receiver is provided with the usual tangs D, bj- which it may be secured to the stock. 75 E represents the breeeh-pieee, which nor- mally stands in the receiver in longitudinal line with the barrel and so as to close the rear end of the barrel; but the breech-piece is adapted fora limited amonntof up-and-down 80 movement at its forward end independent, of its longitudinal movement. On each side of the breech-pieee at its forward end pro- jecting lugsF are formed, which are adapted to set into corresponding recesses G in the 85 sides of the receiver when the breeeh-piece is in the closed position and as seen in Fig. 3, and thus, engaging the receiver, the breech- piece is supported against recoil. Because of thus interlocking the breech-piece with the 90 receiver it is necessary to raise the breech- pieee at its forward end to take the lugs F F from their respective recesses before the rear movement of the breech-piece commences. On each side of the breech-piece is a rib II, 95 (see Figs. 1 and 6,) which work in correspond- ing grooves I in the respective sides of the re- ceiver. (See Figs. G and 9.) The ribs H in-.
s 436,£65 cline upward from their forward, end toward the rear when the breeeh-pieee is in the closed position, and the inclination is such that when the breech-sieee is raised, as indicated in 5 broken lines, Fig. 1, the ribs Ы come into sub- stantially a direct longitudinal line with the barrel. The grooves I in the receiver are deeper than the depth of the ribs, as seen in Fig. 9, io so that there is considerable vertical play for the ribs II of the breech-piece; but at the rear end of the groove I and at its upper edge the opening to the rear through the rear end of the receiver is in depth substantially the same as 15 that of the ribs H and as at J, Fig. 9. The rear end of the breeeh-piece when in its closed position substantially closes the opening into the receiver at the rear, and the rear end of the ribs H rest in the contracted portion J of го the grooves, these contracted portions J serv- ing, in connection with the ribs II, as a pivot upon which the breech-piece may receive an up-and-down swinging movement asfromthe position seen in Fig. 1 to that in broken lines, 25 same figure. From the breeeh-piece at its forward end is a downward projection K, in which is a cam slot or groove L. This groove inclines down- ward and rearward, as seen in Fig. 1. 30 M represents the handle, which is arranged to slide backward and forward beneath the barrel in the usual manner for this class of operating-handles. From the handle abarN extends through the forward end of the re- 35 ceiver and carries a transversely-projecting stud O, which works in the cam-groove L of the breeeh-pieee, so that when the handle is in the forward position, as seen in Fig. 1, the stud О stands in the forward or highest 40 end of the groove L. Consequently when the handle moves to the rear its first action is through the stud О in the groove L, which action serves to raise the breeeh-piece, as indicated in broken lines, Fig. 1, until the 45 locking lugs or projections F have been raised clear from their respective recesses G in the receiver. In this rise of the forward end of the breech-pieee it turns upon the ribs II, resting in the narrower portions J of the slots, 50 as upon a pivot. When the stud О has reached the low’er and rear end of the groove L, as represented in broken lines, Fig. 1, the lugs F are above the upper edge of the re- ceiver and clear from their locking-recesses, 55 and the ribs II are brought up against the upper side of the grooves I in the receiver. Now the continued rear movement of the handle will cause the breeeh-pieee to slide to the rear, guided by its ribs against the upper 60 side of the grooves I, and through the con- ’ tracted portion J of the grooves until the breech-piece reaches the extreme open posi- tion, as indicated in Fig. 2. During the rear movement of the breech-piece the lugs ride 65 upon the upper surface of the sides of the receiver, as indicated in Fig. 2, so that the said projections or lugs resting upon the up- per edge of the receiver and the ribs II against the upper side of the grooves I the . breeeh-pieee is supported against either up 70 or down vertical movement. As the handle is returned or drawn forward, the breech- piece correspondingly moves forward until it reaches its extreme forward position, and so that the lugs F may escape from the upper 75 edge of the receiver at the recesses G. Then the stud О of the handle-bar returns through the groove L and draws the breeeh-pieee to its fully-closed position, where it is held against recoil by the lugs F in the recesses G. 80 P represents the hammer, which is hung upon a pivot R in the usual manner and so that it may strike the rear end of the firing- pin, which is arranged in the breeeh-piece in the usual manner, and as indicated in broken 85 lines, Fig. 1. The rear end of the breech- piece is recessed to permit the hammer to reach the firing-pin. As the breeeh-piece is moved rearward, it forces the hammer to the rear, as seen in Fig. 2, so that it will be 90 caught by the trigger upon the full-cock notch and held ready for firing in the usual - manner for the hammer of this class of fire- arms. S represents the carrier, which is hung at 95 the rear upon a pivot, preferably the same pivot R upon which the hammer is hung. The carrier extends forward, and so that when in its down position, as seen in Figs. 1 and 4, its forward end stands in rear of the mouth of 100 the magazine and the top of the carrier above the top of the mouth of the magazine. In the forward end of the carrier is a longitudi- nal chamber T, open at its forward end and of a size and shape to contain a cartridge, as 105 U, Fig. 4. This chamber entirely incloses the cartridge except at the forward or open end. The magazine is provided with the usual spring, the tendenej7 of which is to force the column of cartridges rearward, and so that no the rear cartridge, as U, may pass into the chamber in the carrier. Near the hub of the carrier is an upwardly-projecting finger V, the upper end of which stands at the rear and in the'path of a corresponding shoulder 115 W on the breech-piece, so that as the breech- piece approaches its extreme rear position it will, because of such engagement with the finger V, raise the carrier to its up position, as seen in Fig. 2. 120 It is necessary that the chamber contain- ing the cartridge shall be in substantially direct axial line with the barrel when in the up position, as seen in Fig. 7, to facilitate the transfer of the'cartridge from the carrier to 125 the barrel, and as the chamber in the carrier is closed upon its upper side, so that the car- rier must remain in its up position until the cartridge in the chamber has been forced so far forward and into the barrel as to escape 130 the forward end of the carrier, and as the forward movement of the cartridge must be produced by the forward movement of the breeeh-piece, it is therefore necessary .that
436,005 3 the carrier shall remain up and in line with the barrel while the breeeh-piece is advanc- ing to its forward position that the device provided in connection with the breech-piece, 5 as hereinafter described, may transfer the cartridge from the chamber in the carrier to the barrel. To this end the forward or cham- bered portion of the carrier is made thinner than the breeeh-piece, and the breech-piece io is constructed with a longitudinal groove X upon its under side, corresponding to the width of the carrier. The sides of the groove X in the carrier form two cheeks Y Y, as seen in Figs. 5 and 10, between which the cham- 15 bered portion of the carrier stands when in the down position, so that when the car- rier is raised, as seen in Fig. 2, the breech- piece, then being open, the groove in the breech-pieee permits it to move forward over 20 the carrier to nearly its extreme forward po- sition, while the carrier remains in the up position, as indicated in broken lines, Fig. 7, so that the forward movement of the breech- pieee may be utilized to force the cartridge 25 from the chamber in the carrier into the barrel. ’ To transfer the cartridge from the chamber in the carrier to the barrel, the breech-pieee has combined with it a spring-hook a. This 30 hook is arranged in a groove in the outside of one of the cheeks Y of the breeeh-piece, the diagonal slot-L being formed in the other' cheek of the breech-pieee. This hook is hung in the breech-pieee so as to move backward 35 and forward with it. The forward end of this hook projects laterally inward through the groove, as seen in Fig. 10, and on that side of the carrier is a longitudinal slot b, opening into the cartridge-chamber, and in 40 which slot the inwardly-projecting end of the hook a.may work; but the forward end of the carrier is recessed, as at e, Fig. 11, so as to permit the hook to move up and down with the breech-pieee independent of the carrier, 45 and so that when the breech-pieee is raised preparatory to its rear movement, as before described, the hook will pass up above the' top of the carrier, and then with it the breech- piece will move rearward over the top of the 50 carrier. Then as the breech-piece approaches its extreme rear position and raises the car- rier, as before described, the recess d in the side of the carrier permits the carrier to pass up to a position to bring the hook into line 55 with the slot b inside the carrier. The slots or recesses d e extend from the top of the car- rier down into the said slot b. The spring- hook a is the usual cartridge-extracting hook; but in addition to the shoulder/, to engage 5o on the forward side of the cartridge-head for the purpose of extracting it, it is constructed with an inwardly-projecting shoulder </, pref- erably of somewhat greater extent than the shoulder/, and which shoulder g is adapted 65 to engage the rear side of the head of the cartridge, as seen in Fig. 10, when the carrier is in the raised position. Now as the breech- piece is moved forward, the end of the hook works longitudinally through the slot b in the carrier, and the shoulder g bears against the 70 rear side of the head of the cartridge and forces the cartridge forward with the breech- pieee and until the end of the hook may pass into the recess e at the front end of the car- rier. At this point the hook is free from the 75 carrier, so that the carrier may be thrown to its down position. The hook also serves to retain the carrier in its up position until the cartridge shall have properly entered the .barrel. The carrier is returned by the de- 80 scent of the breech-piece, the breeeh-piece bearing upon the upper forward portion of the carrier, and this contact of the breeeh- piece with the carrier may be sufficient to throw the carrier to its extreme down posi- 85 tion; butas the up-and-down movement of the carrier under the construction shown is some- what greater than the up-and-down movement of the breech-pieee this contact between the breeeh-piece and carrier may not throw 9c the carrier to its extreme down position, and as it is desirable that the carrier shall reach its extreme down position at the time that the breech-pieee reaches its extreme closed position, in order to the proper delivery of a 95 cartridge from the magazine into the carrier, we provide means to give to the carrier an accelerated movement as it approaches its down position, and so as not only to insure the carrier reaching its extreme down posi- 100 tion, but to securely hold it in that position until the movement of the breech-piece may release it. This accelerated movement is pro- duced by a lever 7i, arranged at one side of the carrier and hinged by its rear end to the 103 carrier, as at i, its forward end adapted to rest upon a stationary shoulder It in the side of the receiver, and this lever h stands in the path of the lower edge Z of one cheek Y of the breech-piece. (See Fig. 7.) When the 110 breech-pieee has been advanced, as seen in Fig. 8, and as its depression commences, the top of the groove X in the breech-pieee strikes the top of the carrier and forces it down ward with the breeeh-piece, as seen in Fig. 8, un- 115 til the edge Z of that side of the breeeh-piece strikes the top of the lever 7л, as seen in Fig. 8. At this time the breeeh-pieee has nearly reached its down position, but the carrier is a considerable distance above its down posi- 120 tion. The breech-piece strikes the lever Ziata point between its hinge i and the stationary shoulder It. Consequently thebreeeh-piece op- erates upon the lever as a leverof the second order. The niovement of the carrier being with 125 the hinged end i of the lever, the carrier de- scends proportion ately faster than the breech- pieee. this accelerated movement of the car- rier bringing it to its extreme down position when the breech-piece has reached its ex- 130 treme down position, as seen in Fig. 12, and the breeeh-pieee bearing upon the said lever h holds the carrier in that extreme down posi- tion to receive a cartridge from the magazine.
4 436,065 5 to J5 20 25 3° 35 40 45 5° 55 60 65 The descent of the breech-piece takes the ex- tracting-hook out of range of the head of the cartridge which has been thus forced into the barrel; but as the breech-piece rises, as indicated in broken lines in Fig. 1, the ex- tractor-hook rises with it 'and passes up for- ward of the front face of the cartridge-head, so that when the breech-piece has reached its up position the extractor has engaged the cartridge-head, so that upon the rear move- ment of the breech-piece the cartridge or ex- ploded shell will be withdrawn from the bar- rel above the top of the carrier, and then as the carrier rises the shell will be thrown up- ward, outward, and ejected from the arm. In the forward end of the receiver a recess 3 is formed in the plane of the extractor- hook, as seen in Fig. 13, in which the pro- jecting end of the hook may work in the up- and-down movement of the breech-piece de- scribed. To stop the column of cartridges in the magazine as the rearmost cartridge passes into the carrier and so as to prevent a possi- ble clogging between the carrier and the magazine, a cheek consisting of a two-armed lever n 0 is hung upon a fulcrum p in a ver- tical groove in the carrier opening from the chamber T downward, as seen in Figs. 4 and 5. The forward arm or nose n of this check is beveled upward and backward, and when the carrier is in its down position, as seen in Fig. 4, this nose n stands immediately at the rear of the column of cartridges, so that the cartridge r in the magazine at the rear may strike this beveled nose. The power of the spring of the magazine upon the column of cartridges forces them rearward. The rear- most cartridge, bearing against the beveled nose n of the cheek, operates upon it as a cam, turns the nose downward, as seen in broken lines, Fig. 4, and correspondingly throws the other arm or tail 0 of the check up into the cartridge-chamber, as also seen in Fig. 4. This permits the cartridge to freely enter the chamber T in the carrier; but in so doing its head end strikes the tail 0 and so as to turn the tail downward, again raising the nose n, as seen in Fig. 4, U rep- resenting the cartridge so inserted in the carrier, so that the nose will strike the head of the next cartridge r in the column and prevent its further rear movement to- ward the carrier. When the carrier is in the up position for the delivery of the car- tridge to the barrel, the cartridge, passing for- ward out of the magazine, readily depresses the nose n, which brings the cheek again to its normal position and allows the free es- cape of the cartridge into the barrel. As soon therefore as a cartridge has entered the car- rier from the magazine, the eheck is brought into operation against the next cartridge in the magazine to stop the column; but as the cheek moves with the carrier it of course passes up and away from the mouth of the magazine when the carrier ascends. To still support the column of cartridges and pre- vent the rear movement of the column until the carrier shall again descend, a stop s is 70 formed on the forward end of the carrier be- low the check, as seen in Fig. 4, and which, when the carrier is in the up position, will bear against the rearmost cartridge in the magazine and prevent the rear movement of 75 the column. By beveling the nose of the check, so that the head of the cartridge pass- ing into the carrier acts thereon as a cam to turn the check, the magazine-spring is there- by utilized as the force or power which auto- 80 matically opens the passage from the maga- zine into the chamber in the carrier and the magazine-spring operates upon the tail of the eheck through the cartridge, which if forces into the chamber in the carrier to raise the 85 nose of the check to stop the next cartridge in the column, and thereby avoiding the em- ployment of an independent spring, as re- quired for such cheeks in previous construc- tions. 90 As the arm is designed for extreme rapid firing, it is desirable to prevent the accidental discharge of the hammer until all the parts of the arm are in proper position for firing. The trigger t is hung upon a fulcrum и in 95 the usual manner, and is constructed with a shoulder to engage the hammer, as seen in Fig. 2, and at its upper end is an exten- sion w. On the carrier is a pin or shoulder' 2, which moves with the carrier, so that 100 when the carrier is in the up position this shoulder 2 comes forward of and so as to bear against the projection w of the trigger, the trigger then being engaged with the ham- mer and so that under these conditions the 105 shoulder 2 resists the pull of the trigger; but as the carrier is brought to its down position the shoulder 2 passes from the projection w, as seen in Fig. 1, so as to leave the trig- ger free to be pulled, as indicated in broken no lines, Fig. 1. Thus the pull of the trigger un- til all the parts are in proper position for firing is positively prevented. We have represented the projection of the breeeh-pieee to work through the slot in the. 115 carrier for the transfer of the cartridge to the barrel as a part of the extracting-hook; but it will be understood that this inward projection may be a stationary part of the breech-pieee independent of the extractor. 120 A sufficient illustration of this modification is to suppose the projection g, Fig. 10, to be a stationary part of the breeeh-pieee and in- dependent of the extractor. From the foregoing it will be understood 125 that we do not in this application claim, broadly, anything shown or described in our before-mentioned patent; but What we do claim is— 1. In a magazine fire-arm in which the 130 breech-piece is arranged to slide backward and forward longitudinally and adapted to swing up and down at its forward end, as upon a pivot at the rear, the combination there-
436,065 5 5 10 г5 20 25 3«> 35 40 45 5° 55 бо with of a carrier hung at the rear below the breech-pieee and so as to swing' in a vertical plane, the carrier constructed with a chamber opening from its forward end toward the mag- azine and barrel, the said chamber adapted to receive a cartridge from the magazine and the chambered portion of the carrier nar- rower than the width of the breech-pieee, the breech-pieee constructed with a longitudinal groove upon its under side corresponding to the said chambered portion of the carrier, the said groove in the breeeh-piece forming cheeks upon opposite sides of the carrier, the cham- bered portion of the carrier constructed with a longitudinal slot, and the breech-piece pro- vided with, a projection through said slot into said chamber, adapted under the forward movement of the breeeh-piece to transfer a cartridge from the said chamber into the bar- rel, substantially as described. 2. In a magazine fire-arm in which the breech-piece is arranged to slide backward and forward longitudinally and adapted to swing up and down at its forward end, as upon a pivot at the rear, the combination therewith of a carrier hung at the rear below the breech-piece and so as to swing in a ver- tical plane, the carrier constructed with a chamber opening from its forward end to- ward the magazine and barrel, the said cham- ber adapted to receive a cartridge from the magazine and the chambered portion of tlie carrier narrower than the width of the breech- piece, the breech-pieee constructed with a longitudinal groove upon its under side and corresponding to the said chambered portion of the carrier, one of the sides of the breeeh- piece extending down as a cheek upon one side of said chambered portion of the carrier and said chambered portion of the carrier constructed with a longitudinal slot in that side, and a spring extractor-hook arranged in that cheek of the breeeh-pieee, its forward end adapted to extend into and work through said longitudinal slot in the carrier and con- structed with a shoulder upon its inner end in rear of the nose of the extractor, said shoulder adapted to engage the rear end of a cartridge in the chamber of the carrier, substantially as and for the purpose described. 3. In a magazine fire-arm in which the magazine is arranged below the barrel and in which the breeeh-piece is adapted to move backward and forward to open and close the rear end of the barrel, the magazine being provided with a spring to operate upon the column of cartridges to force them rearward, the combination therewith of a carrier ar- ranged to move up and down in a vertical plane, the said carrier constructed with a longitudinal chamber opening from its for- ward end and adapted to receive a cartridge from the magazine when the carrier is in the down position, and a two-armed cheek hung in the said carrier and so as to swing in a plane 65 parallel with the chamber, the end of the for- ward arm of the said cheek beveled upward and backward, the other arm forming a tail which may extend into the rear portion of the said chamber, substantially as described, 70 whereby under the action of the magazine- spring the rearmost cartridge in the maga- zine as it passes into the carrier imparts a swinging movement to the said check to bring its nose at the rear of the next car- 75 fridge in the magazine and so as to serve as a stop for the column of cartridges, substan- tially as described. 4. In a magazine fire-arm in which the breech-piece is arranged to slide backward 80 and forward longitudinally and adapted to swing up and down at its forward end as upon a pivot at the rear, the combination therewith of a carrier hung at the rear below the breech-piece and so as to swing in a ver- 85 tieal plane, the carrier constructed with a chamber opening from its forward end to- ward the magazine and barrel, the said cham- ber adapted to receive a cartridge from the magazine, a lever h, hung by its rear end to 90 the carrier and extending forward, adapted to bear upon a stationary shoulder fc in the re- ceiver, and the breech-pieee constructed with a bearing-surface adapted to engage said shoulder к between its pivot and said station- 95 ary shoulder к as the breeeh-piece approaches its extreme down position, substantially as and for the purpose described. 5. In a magazine fire-arm in which the magazine is arranged below the barrel and 100 opening into tlie receiver at the rear, the combination therewith of a breech-pieee adapted to open and close the rear end of the barrel, a carrier hung at the rear and so as to swing in a vertical plane, a hammer, and a 105 trigger adapted to engage said hammer in the cocked position, the carrier constructed with a shoulder 2 and the trigger constructed with a corresponding projection w in the path of the said shoulder 2 of the carrier, and with no which said shoulder 2 is adapted to engage as the carrier rises, but escape therefrom as the carrier descends, substantially as and for the purpose described. JOHN M. BROWNING. MATTHEW S. BROWNING. Witnesses: E. H. Dunsmore, F. AV. Chamber.
(No Model.) 4 Sheets—Sheet 1. J. M. & M. S. BROWNING-. MAGAZINE No. 441,390. GUN. Patented Nov. 25, 1890. THE NURRlS PETERS CO., PHOTO-LiTHO., WASHINGTON, D. C.
(No Model.) 4 Sheets—Sheet 2. J. M. & M. S. BROWNING-. MAGAZINE GEN. No. 441,390. Patented Nov. 25, 1890. THE KORRiS PETERS CO., PHOTO-UTHO., WASHINOTON, О. C.
(No Model.) 4 Sheets—Sheet 3. J, M. & M. 8. BROWNING-. MAGAZINE GUN. No. 441,390. Patented Nov. 25, 1890. Trti". HOABiS t-LTHnS CO,, FHOT041TKO., WASHINGTON», О. C.
4 Sheets—Sheet 4. (No Model.) No. 441,390. J. M. & M. S. BROWNING-. MAGAZINE GUN. Patented Nov. 25, 1890. THE ГЮЙЯ15 PETERS CO., PHOTO-LlTHO., WASHINGTON, О. C.
United States Patent Office. JOHN M. BROWNING AND MATTHEW S. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH TER- RITORY, ASSIGNORS TO THE WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS COMPANY, OF NEW ПЛVEN, CONNECTICUT. MAGAZINE-GUN. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 441,390, dated November 25, 1890. Application filed June 30,1890. Serial No. 357,207. (No model.) To all whom it may concern: Be it known that we, John M. Browning and Matthew S. Browning, of Ogden, in the county of Weber and Territory of Utah, S have invented a new Improvement in Maga- zine Fire-Arms; and we do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with ac- companying drawings and the letters of ref- erence marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and t о exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute partof this specification, and represent, in— Figure 1, a side view of the arm, the stock and forward portions broken away for con- 15 venience of illustration; Fig. 2, a top view of the same; Fig. 3, a longitudinal section show- ing side view of the breech-piece and carrier; Fig. 3a, a detached sectional view showing- side view of the dog to illustrate its engage- 20 ment and disengagement with the sliding bar; Fig. 4, the same as Fig. 3, showing the breech- pieee closed, but the carrier dropped from the interlocking position; Fig. 5, a longitudi- nal section cutting through the carrier, show- 25 ing side view of the lock mechanism and of the breech-piece, and the breech-pieee as ap- proaching its extreme rear position; Fig. 6, a side view representing the parts in the same position as in Fig. 4, showing a side view of 30 the carrier; Fig. 7, the same as Fig. 6, show- ing the breech-pieee in its extreme rear posi- tion and the carrier in its down position to receive a cartridge from the magazine; Fig. 8, a transverse section on line ж ж of Fig. 3. 35 This invention relates to an improvement in that class of magazine fire-arms in which the breech-piece is arranged to move longi- tudinally backward and forward in opening and closing the breeeh-piece, and in which 40 the carrier is arranged below the breech-piece, adapted to rise and fall to take a cartridge from the magazine, present it forward of the front face of the open breech-piece, so that forward movement of the breeeh-pieee will 45 force the'cartridge from the carrier into the barrel and the carrier return for a second cartridge. In the more general construction of this class of arms the breech-pieee is locked by mechanism independent of the carrier. The object of our invention is to adapt the 50 carrier to serve also as the locking device to hold the breech-pieee against recoil; and the invention consists, principally, in combining, witli a longitudinalIjT-inovable breech-piece, a carrier arranged below the breech-piece 55 and so as to move up and down in the re- ceiver, adapted in its down position to receive a cartridge from the magazine, and in its up position to engage a shoulder on the breech- piece, as a brace to resist recoil, and the in- 60 termediate position of the carrier being such that the cartridge which the carrier shall re- ceive from the magazine will be presented forward of the open breech-pieee, so that the next forward movement of the breeeh-piece 65 will force the cartridge from the carrier into the barrel, and as more fully hereinafter de- scribed. A represents the receiver, to the forward end of which the barrel В is secured, and be- 70 low the barrel is the magazine C, both ar- ranged to open into the receiver at the rear, the magazine provided with the usual maga- zine-spring (not shown) operating to succes- sively force the cartridges in the magazine 75 rearward when free so to do. The receiver is constructed with a side opening, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2, for the escape of the exploded shells or cartridge if it be not exploded. D represents the breech-pieee, which is ar- 80 ranged in the receiver to slide longitudinally backward and forward, so as to close the breech in its forward position, and in the rear position to open the breech for the in- sertion of a fresh cartridge, as usual in this 85 class of arms. The breech-piece is guided in the receiver by means of ribs EE on opposite sides of the breeeh-piece working in corre- sponding longitudinal grooves in the receiver, as seen in Fig. 8. 90 F represents the carrier, which, as illus- trated, is hung upon a pivot G at the rear, and so as to swing up and down in the re- ceiver, and beneath the breeeh-piece, as from the closed position seen in Fig. 3 to the wide- 95 open position seen in Fig. 7, and return. The breech-pieee is constructed with a shoulder II upon its under side and near its
2 441,360 forward end, and the forward end of the car- rier is constructed with a corresponding sur- face I, adapted to bear against the shoulder H of the breeeh-piece when the parts are in 5 the normal or closed position, as seen in Fig. 3. The bearing-points thus formed between the breech-piece and the carrier are substan- tially in line with the pivot on which the carrier is hung,-and so that the carrier forms io a strong locking-brace against the breech- piece when in its closed position and so as to resist recoil. To unlock the breech-pieee, so that it may be opened, the carrier is forced, downward i5 from its breech-supporting position so far that the shoulder of the breech-pieee may escape and pass over the carrier when the rear move- ment of the breech-piece may be made, and as the breech-piece is again brought to the 2o closed position the carrier is returned. The best mechanism for operating the car- rier and breech-pieee is by means of a handle J, arranged forward of the receiver and so as to slide longitudinally, the handle being pro- 25 vided with a bar K, extending longitudinally rearward through the forward end of the re- ceiver and working in a groove upon the in- side of the receiver, as seen in Fig. 8. The carrier F is constructed with a groove 30 L on its side next the bar K, as seen in Figs. 6 and 7. This groove L is substantially par- allel with the plane of the upper side of the carrier, and at its forward end is curved downward, as at M, Figs. G and 7, and at its 35 rear end the groove has an upward turn N, as also seen in the same figures. The bar К is provided with a stud 0, which works in thesaid groove and so that in the longitudinal move- ment of the carrier the said stud will work 40 from end to end of this groove and impart a movement to the carrier corresponding to the shape of the groove. As represented in Fig. 3, the carrier is in the up or locked position, and in which position the stud 0 of the bar 45 К standsin the lower end of the downwardly- curved portion M of the groove in the carrier, which serves to hold the carrier in the up or locking position. Now if the bar К be moved rearward the stud О acts upon that curved 50 portion M of the groove in the carrier as a cam and operates to force the carrier down to the position seen in Fig. 4, and also seen in broken lines, Fig. 7. This brings the stud О into the straight portion of the groove L, and 55 at this time the carrier is dropped so far be- low the breech-piece as to permit the breech- piece to escape the carrier, and the groove L then stands in a direct longitudinal position— that is, substantially parallel with the path 60 of movement of the breech - piece, as seen iu Figs. 4 and 5. The bar К continuing its rear movement, the stud О reaches the up- turned portion N of the groove, when the car- rier practically escapes the control of the bar 65 K, and at this point the shoulder H of the breech-piece will strike a corresponding point on the carrier, as seen in Fig. 7, and force the carrier to its down position, the upturned por- tion N of the groove dropping onto the stud O. This brings the carrier to its extreme 70 down position, as seen in Fig. 7, where it is adapted to receive a cartridge from the maga- zine. Immediately after the carrier has escaped from its locking of the breech-piece the breeeh-piece is forced rearward and so 75 that it may throw the carrier down, as before described, and so that the cartridge may pass from the magazine onto the carrier and for- ward of the breech-piece. Now the forward movement of the bar К commences, and during 80 the first part of such movement the stud 0 acts in the upturned portion N of the carrier-groove as a cam and forces the earrierfrom the extreme down, position of Fig. 7 into the level or in- termediate position seen in Fig. 6, the stud 85 0 being represented in broken lines as just entering the rear end of the straight portion of the groove in the carrier. This movement will bring the cartridge into a position for- ward of the front face of the breech-piece. 90 Then the forward movement of the breech- piece commences moving with the bar K,and the stud 0 travels through the straight part of the groove L, as the breech-piece moves forward, so that the carrier rests while the 95 breeeh-pieee is so moving forward and until the breech-piece has reached its extreme for- ward or closed position, as seen in Fig. 4. Then the stud О passes info the downwardly-curved portion M of the groove, and operates therein 100 as a cam to raise the carrier into the locking position^ as seen in Fig. 3. To operate the breeeh-pieee, a vertically- swinging dog P is hung to the breeeh-piece upon a pivot R. (See Figs. 7 and 3a.) This 105 dog works in the same plane as the bar K. The rear end of the bar К is constructed with a nose S upon its upper side, which normally stands below the dog and near its pivot, as seen in Fig. 3. The dog is now in the raised no position, as seen in Fig. 3a, it working be- neath a longitudinal rib T in the side of the receiver, the rib having a recess LT at its for- ward end, into which the dog may rise and stand, as seen in Fig. 3% when the breech- 115 piece is iu the closed position. As the bar К is forced rearward to produce the first downward or unlocking movement of the car- rier, it moves rearward from the position seen in broken lines, Fig. 3a, to that shown in 120 full lines, same figure, without engagement with the dog, and when the bar К has reached this position the carrier has been thrown down out of engagement with the breech- piece. At this point the dog is constructed 125 with a notch V, corresponding to the nose S of the bar K, and so that the dog may then drop upon the bar, and so as to escape the recess U in the rib T. The nose W of the dog stands in rear of the rear end of the bar 130 K, and so as to now be engaged by that rear end, as seen in Fig. 3a. From this point the rear movement of the bar К will, because of its connection with the dog P, cause the
441,380 3 5 to i5 20 25 3° 35 4° 45 5° 55 60 6 5 breeeh-piece.to move rearward with it to the extreme open position, the rib T serving to hold the dog and bar in engagement through such rear movement, and this engagement of the dog and bar continues until on the return of the bar К the breeeh-piece reaches its fully-closed position, and the dog arrives at the recess U in the rib, so that it may escape from its engagement with the bar К and per- mit the completing of the forward movement of the bar К to bring the carrier into the locking position, as before described. The breech-pieee is provided with the usual firing-pin,as represented in broken lines,Fig.7, which may be struck by the hammer, arranged in the usual manner for this class of fire-arms; but we prefer to arrange the lock mechanism in the carrier itself. This arrangement of the lock mechanism is represented in Figs. 4 and 5. The carrier is constructed with a vertical longitudinal recess a, forming a lock-cham- ber. The hammer Ъ is hung in this recess upon a transverse pivot c, and so that when the carrier is in the locking position, as seen in Fig. 4, the nose of the hammer may strike the firing-pin and stand iu rear of the breech- piece. In the recess a of the carrier the main- spring d is arranged to operate upon the ham- mer in the usual manner of operating main- springs in other constructions of locks. The sear e is also hung in the carrier upon a trans- verse pivot f and adapted to engage a lock- ing-notch g on the hammer in the usual man- ner, as seen in Fig. 5. The trigger h is hung in the receiver upon a pivot i below the car- rier. The unlocking movement of the car- rier, as seen in Fig. 4, leaves the hammer still against the rear end of the breech-piece, and so that as the breech-piece is moved rearward it operates against the face of the hammer, forcing the hammer rearward into its cocked position, as from the position in Fig. 4 to that seen in Fig. 5, where the hammer will be en- gaged by the sear e, as seen in Fig. 5. Then as the breech-piece returns and the carrier is brought to the locked position the hammer remains in the cocked position, from which it may be disengaged by the usual pull of the trigger, or the hammer may be operated by hand for release or cocking, as usual in locks of this class. The breeeh-piece is provided with-the usual cartridge-retractor, (not necessary to be par- ticularly described,) the extracting devices being arranged with reference to the position of the discharge-opening through the receiver in the usual manner for arranging such ex- tracting devices. This opening may be a side opening, as shown, or anjT of the usual con- structions. While preferring the longitudinally-sliding handle and its connecting-bar as a means for operating the breech-pieee and carrier, it will be understood that any of the known mech- anisms for operating the breeeh-piece and carrier may be substituted therefor. The advantages of arranging the lock mech- anism in the carrier, whereby the simple re- moval of the carrier will take the entire lock mechanism from the arm, are too apparent to 70 require to be particularly set forth. The magazine is charged, when the parts are in the closed or normal position, through the under side of the receiver, and the receiver is provided with a spring-latch n, Fig. 8, to 75 engage the rear end of the cartridges as they are successively passed into the magagine—a common arrangement, not necessary to be particularly described. The underside of the breech-piece is recessed, as seen in Fig. 8, so 80 as to form a chute to properly conduct the cartridges into the magazine. Other known forms of carrier may be sub- stituted for that shown, the essential feature of the carrier being that it shall first receive 85 an unlocking movement to disengage the breeeh-piece and that in rising after it has received the cartridge from the magazine it shall come to a position to present that car- tridge in line with the barrel, and after the 90 forward movement of the breech-pieee has transferred the cartridge from the carrier the carrier will receive a final upward breech-lock- ing movement. We claim— 95 1. In a magazine fire-arm in which the maga- zine is arranged beneath the barrel and both the barrel and magazine open into the receiver at the rear, the combination therewith of a longitudinally-movable breech - piece, a car- 100 rier arranged below the breech-piece, the breeeh-pieee constructed with a shoulder, and the carrier with a corresponding bearing-sur- face with mechanism, substantially such as described, to impart to the carrier an up- 105 and-down movement and so as to bring the said bearing-surface of the carrier against the said shoulder of the breeeh-pieee when the breeeh-pieee is in its forward or closed posi- tion. no 2. In a magazine fire-arm in which the maga- zine is arranged below the barrel and both barrel and magazine opening into the receiver at the rear, the combination therewith of a longitudinally-movable breech-piece, a car- 115 rier hung at the rear and extending forward below the breech-piece so as to swing in a vertical plane, the breech-piece constructed with a shoulder and the carrier with a corre- sponding bearing-surface adapted to engage 120 said shoulder on the breech-piece when the breeeh-piece is in the closed position, mech- anism, substantially such as described, to im- part a downward-swinging movement to the carrier to disengage the breech-piece and then 125 force the breech-piece to its rear position and bring the carrier to its extreme down position to receive a cartridge from the magazine, the said mechanism operating to return the car- rier to a position below the path of the breech- 130 piece to bring the cartridge thereon into line with the barrel forward of the front face of the breech-piece and there rest while the brecch-piece moves forward to force the car-
4 441,390 tridge into the barrel, and finally to raise the carrier' into the locking position after the breeeh-piece shall have reached its extreme forward position, substantially as described. 5 3. In a magazine fire-arm substantially such as described, the combination therewith of a longitudinally-movable breech-piece D, a dog P, hung to said breech-pieee and so as to swing in a vertical plane, the receiver con- io structed with a rib T, beneath which said dog may move in the forward - and - back travel of the breech-piece, the said rib constructed with a recess U, corresponding to the extreme forward position of said dog, a carrier F, hung 15 at the rear below the breech-piece and so as to swing in a vertical plane, the carrier con- structed with a longitudinal groove L on its side, curved downward at the forward end and turned upward at the rear end, the breech- 20 piece constructed with a shoulder and the carrier with a corresponding surface adapted to engage said shoulder of the breech-piece when the breech-piece is in the said forward position, and a longitudinally-sliding bar K, 25 working through the forward end of the re- ceiver and provided with a handle forward oj 'the receiver, the said bar provided with a stud adapted to work in said groove, and also adapt- ed to engage said dog after the carrier shall 30 have been forced out of its locking position, and so as to impart rear and forward move- ment to the breech-piece and be disengaged from said dog when in the forward movement the breech-piece reaches its closed position, 35 substantially as described. 4. In a magazine fire-arm substantially such as described, the combination of a lon- gitudinally-movable breech-piece, a carrier I hung at the rear below the breech-piece and so as to swing in a vertical plane, the carrier 4< constructed with a longitudinal groove in its side, the said groove turned downward at its forward end and upward at its rear end, the breech-pieee constructed with a shoulder, and the carrier with a corresponding bearing-sur- 45 face adapted to engage said shoulder on the breech-pieee when the carrier is in the closed position, a longitudinally-sliding bar working through the forward end of the receiver, and provided with a handle forward of the re- 50 ceiver, the bar also provided with a stud adapted to work in said groove of the carrier, and mechanism, substantially such as de- scribed, between the breech-pieee and the said bar, whereby the said bar will engage 55 the breech-piece when the carrier has been dropped to unlock the breeeh-pieee and to escape from the connection with the breech- piece when the breeeh-piece has reached its extreme forward position, substantially as de- 60 scribed. 5. In a magazine fire-arm substantially such as described, the combination of a lon- gitudinally-movable breech-piece, a carrier hung below the breech-.piece and so as to 65 swing in a vertical plane, the carrier con- structed with a recess forming a lock-cham- ber, with the hammer and lock mechanism arranged in the said chamber of the carrier, substantially as described. JOHN M. BROWNING, MATTHEW S. BROWNING. Witnesses: J. A. Browning, W. G. Child.
(No Model.) J. M. No. 465,339. 5 Sheets—Sheet 1. . & M. S. BROWNING. MAGAZINE GUN. Patented Deo. 15, 1891. THE NORRIS PETERS CO.. PHOTO-LtTHO., WASHINGTON. D. C.
(No Model.) No. 465,339. 5 Sheets—Sheet 2. J. M. & M. S. BROWNING. MAGAZINE GUN. Patented Deo. 15, 1891. THE MORRIS PETERS CO., PHOTO-L1THO., WASHINOTON,
(No Model.) 5 Sheets—Sheet 3. J. M. & M. S. BROWNING. MAGAZINE "GUN. No. 465,339. Patented Dec. 15, 1891. THE NOURIS PETERS CO., FHOTO4JTHO., WASHINGTON, О. C.
(No Model.) 5 Sheets—Sheet 4. J. M. & M. S. BROWNING. MAGAZINE GUN. ' No. 465,339. Patented Deo. 15, 1891. THE NORRIS PETERS CO.. PHOTO-LITHO., WASHINGTON. О. C.
(No Model.) No. 465,339. „ 5 Sheets—Sheet 5. J. M. & M. 8. BROWNING. MAGAZINE GUN. Patented Deo. 15, 1891. тне НОНП15 РЕТЕЯЗ CO.. PHOTO-IITHO.. WASHINGTON, o. c.
United States Patent Office. JOHN M. BROWNING AND MATTHEW S. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH TERRITORY, ASSIGNORS TO THE WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS COM- PANY, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT- MAGAZINE-GUN. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 465,339, dated December 15, 1891. Application filed August 3,1891. Serial No. 401,573. (No model.) To all whom it may concern: Be it known that we, John M. Browning and Matthew S. Browning, of Ogden, in the county of Weber and Territory of Utah,have 5 invented a new Improvement in Magazine Fire-Arms; and we do herebj7 declare the fol- lowing, when taken in connection with accom- panying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact io description of the same, which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and rep- resent, in— Figure 1, a side view of the arm, the for- warcTand rear portions broken away; Fig. 2, 15 a perspective view of the magazine detached, looking from the rear; Fig. 3, a top.or plan view of that portion of the arm illustrated in Fig. 1; Fig. 4, a longitudinal sectional side view representing the parts in the closed or 20 normal position; Fig. 5, a longitudinal section through the magazine,, cutting on line у у of Fig. 4; Fig-. 6, the same section as Fig. 4, show- ing the parts as the breeeh-pieee approaches its open position; Fig. 7, a longitudinal see- 25 tion through the magazine, showing a car- tridge therein; Fig. 7a, a transverse section on line ж x of Fig. 4; Fig. 8, the same section as Fig. 6, showing the parts as in the position of the breeeh-piece in its extreme rear posi- 30 tion; Fig. 9, a section of the parts of Fig. 8, showing the breech-pieee as it has commenced its advance and started the cartridge into the barrel, so that its head may escape front the ribs r; Fig. 9“, a transverse section on line z 35 z of Fig. 4, looking rearward; Fig. 10, a lon- gitudinal section showing the breeeh-piece in the closed position and the firing-pin as en- gaged with the sear in the cocked position; Fig. 11, a top view of the receiver, showing 40 the breech-piece in the rear position and also showing a top view.of the ribs r r and the stops s; Fig. 12, a transverse section on line ж ж of Fig\ 8, looking rearward; Fig. 13, a transverse section on line ж ж of Fig. 6. 45 This invention relates to an improvement in that class of magazine fire-arms in which the breeeh-piece is arranged to reciprocate longitudinally in the receiver at the rear of the barrel to produce its opening and closing 50 movement, and in which the magazine is ar- ranged to receive cartridges substantial!}7 parallel with each other, the cartridges being forced by a spring, so as to be successively presented for removal from the magazine, in contradistinction to a magazine arranged Ion- 55 gitudinally under the barrel and in which the cartridges are arranged heads to points or in longitudinal line, the object being primarily to insure the positive movement of a cartridge from the magazine, as the breech-piece opens, 60 into a position to be forced by the closing breech-piece into its place in the barrel, and at the same time to make the supply of car- tridges to the arm simple, so as to facilitate rapid firing; and the invention consists in the 65 construction as hereinafter described, and particularly recited in the claims. A represents the receiver, to the forward end of which the barrel В is secured in the usual manner, the barrel opening into the re- 70 ceiver at the rear. C represents a longitudinally-reciprocating breech-piece arranged in the receiver and suit- ably guided in line with the barrel, so as to move backward and forward in opening and 75 closing, as usual in this class of breech-pieces. The breech-pieee is arranged to be operated by means of a trigger-guard lever D. This lever extends upward into the receiver, hav- ing an arm E, which is hung by a pivot F to 80 the breeeh-piece. In-suitable and substan- tially vertical guides in the rear of the pivot a pair of locking-bolts G G are arranged, one at eacli side of the breech-pieee, as seen in Figs. 3 and 4, the breech-pieee being con- 85 strneted with notches H, corresponding to the said bolts, and in which the bolts stand when the breeeh-pieee is closed and the parts in their normal position. These bolts extend downward and are. connected to the lever D 90 by studs I on the inside of the bolt extending into corresponding slots J in the lever, as seen in Fig. 7Ll, and so that as the lever is turned downward, as from the position seen in Fig. 1 to that in broken lines same figure, 95 the bolts will be drawn down accordingly. The bolts G G serve to lock the breech- — piece in the closed position to resist recoil. The bolts, being partially in the receiver and partially in the breech-piece, interlock the 100
о 465,330 5 to 15 20 25 30 35 40 15 5° 55 60 65 breech-piece with the receiver iu the strong- est possible manner. The slot J permits the lever D to swing upon its pivot F without effect upon the breeeh-pieee, so long as the- studs may play in the slots J; but when the studs come to a bearing at the rear end of the slots J, as rep- resented in broken lines, Fig. 4, the slots and bolts become so engaged that the lever must also turn on the studs I as a pivot between the bolts and the lever. The result of this is that a further downward movement of the le- ver D will draw the bolts downward entirely out of engagement with the breech-piece, but at the same time the upper or breech-pieee end of the lever will correspondingly recede, as represented in Fig. 6, and finally to the wide-open position represented in Fig. 8, the slots J in the lever permitting a play of the studs of the bolts, so that the upper or breech- piece end of the lever will move freely in the same longitudinal line of the breech-piece, turning upon its pivot F in so doing. On the return of the lever the breech-pieee is first forced forward to its closed posi tion, it reaehi ng such closed position before the lever reaches its up position, and so that in the completion of the closing movement of the lever D the bolts G will be brought home into firm en- gagement with the breeeh-pieee. Longitudinally in the breech-piece the fir- ing-pin К is arranged. This is a spindle pro- vided with a mainspringL, arranged between the rear end of the firing-pin and a shoulder M, stationary in the breeeh-pieee, as seen in Figs. 6 and 10, the spring tending to force the firing-pin forward, that its point may strike the primer of the cartridge, as usual in this class of firing-pins. The firing-pin moves rearward with the breech-piece in its opening movement, as seen in Fig. G. , To the arm E of the lever D and near its pivot F the sear X is hung upon the rear or upper side of the arm E and upon a pivot O, so that it may swing in a plane parallel with the plane of the path of movement of the le- ver D. The sear is provided with a spring P, the tendency of which is to force the nose of the sear rearward or upward from the arm E. The nose Q of the sear is constructed so that it may engage the coeking-shonlder R of the firing-pin; but in the rear movement of the breeeh-piece the firing-pin retreats in advance of the sear and so that in the open position of the breech-piece the shoulder R will stand at the rear of the nose Q of the sear, as seen in Fig. 8. As the lever D is turned to produce the closing movement of the breech-piece and as the breech-piece ap- proaches its closed position, the shoulder R will engage the nose of the sear, and as this closing movement is completed the sear acts, in connection with the lever as a toggle, to hold or force the firing-pin to its cocked po- sition, where it will be held by the sear, as represented in Fig. 10. The trigger S is hung upon a pivot T in the lever and so that it partakes of the swinging movement of the lever. From the trigger a finger U extends upward and forward to the 7c searand so as to bear npon its nose end, as represented in Figs. 4 and 10, and so that a pull of the trigger will depress the sear, as indicated in broken lines, Fig. 10, so as to re- lease the firing-pin and permit it to fly for- 75 ward under the action of its mainspring L. The sear-spring P is fixed by one end to the trigger, so that it operates both as a sear and trigger spring, as represented in Fig. 10; bnt itwillbe understoodthatindependentsprings 80 may be employed. V represents the magazine. It is of box character of a length somewhat greater than the length of a cartridge and of a depth cor- responding to the number of cartridges which 85 it is required to contain. The magazine is made detachable from the arm and is adapted to be arranged forward of the rear end of the barrel, instead of in rear of that point, as usually arranged. The magazine is con- 90 slructed from sheet metal and is closed upon all sides, the metal being folded and its edges, joined. At the rear end and at the upper side an opening W is made sufficient to per- mit the introduction of cartridges into the 95 magazine or to permit their removal there- from. The width of the magazine corre- sponds substantially to the diameter of the heads of the cartridges to be introduced there- in. At the rear end the magazine is con- roo structed with grooves X upon opposite sides. (See Fig. 5.) These grooves are best pro- duced by making corresponding depressions Y upon the outside of the case, forming a rib upon the inside and parallel with the rear end 105 Z of the magazine, and so that the ribs upon the inside serve to arrest the entrance of car- tridges so soon as the head shall have passed within the plane of the inside of the rear end Z of the magazine, the grooves X being in iro width somewhat greater than the thickness of the projecting heads or rims of the car- tridges. As the first cartridge is inserted it drops into the magazine, the rim passing down into the grooves X. The next cartridge fol- 115 lows in like manner. In the magazine a spring-follower is ar- ranged upon which the cartridges introduced will rest, the follower yielding as success- ive cartridges are introduced until the maga- 120 zine is properly filled, the spring tending to force the cartridges upward, so that one car- tridge will always stand with its head at the rear opening W, as seen in Figs. 2 and 4. To construct the spring-follower so that it will 125 occupy substantially no space in the maga- zine so far as depth is concerned, the follower is made from wire bent at one end to form a coiled spring a. (See Figs. 4 and 5.) This coil is in the plane of the sides of the maga- 130 zine and is secured thereto at one side near the forward end, but yet so as to allow the free working of the spring. The follower’ Ъ is attached to or preferably made as apart of
465,339 3 this spring, the wire continuing from the spring rearward and bent so as to cross the magazine that it may take a bearing upon the lowermost cartridge, as represented in Fig. 4. 5 The follower lies close against the side of the cartridge from the spring to the bend and occupies so little space that it does not inter- fere with the cartridges, the cartridges pass- ing freely between the spring and the oppo- io site side of the magazine. The follower is compressed as successive cartridges are in- troduced until the magazine is filled, as seen in Fig. 4. Thus it will be seen that the space required for the follower when arranged be- 15 low the cartridges is in this case occupied by cartridges. Consequent!}7 a magazine of the same size will receive a proportionately larger number of cartridges than when the follower is arranged entirely below the cartridges, as го in the usual construction. The spring-follower is of sufficient force to support the column of cartridges which may be arranged therein, so that as the uppermost cartridge is withdrawn the column will rise 25 to present the second cartridge in place of the first, with .its head at the opening W., and so on until the last cartridge is in like man- ner presented. Below the barrel an opening is made corre- 30 spending in shape to the upper portion of the magazine and into which that portion of the magazine may be inserted, as seen in Fig. 4. The rear npper end of the magazine projects into the receiver to a slight extent beyond the 35 rear end of the barrel; but the body of the cartridges is forward of that point. The open- ing W at the rear end of the magazine is pre- sented into the receiver below the breech- pieee. The magazine is held in its position 40 by means of a suitable shoulder c at one end of the frame engaging a corresponding shoul- der in the receiver and a spring-latch cl at the opposite end adapted to engage a correspond- ing shoulder e on that end of the receiver. 45 Preferablj7 the latch is arranged forward, as shown in Fig. 4, and also preferably the rear shoulder c of the magazine is engaged with a spring-shoulder f, arranged in the receiver. The spring-latch is withdrawn by means of a 50 finger-pieee g projecting therefrom, as clearly-, shown, and so that one magazine may be read- ily removed from the gun and another intro- duced in its place, so that the person using the arm may have at hand several magazines 55 to be interchanged as the cartridges from one magazine are exhausted. To withdraw the first cartridge from the magazine the breeeh-piece is constructed with a shoulder h upon its under side, which as the 60 breech-pieee comes to its closed position will pass forward of the head of the first cartridge presented at the opening W in the magazine, and as seen in Fig. 4, the spring of the maga- zine yielding for the depression of the rear 65 end of that cartridge, so that the shoulder may pass over it, and so that as the breech- piece is next drawn rearward in the opening movement it will, because of the engagement of the shoulder 7i, take the cartridge with it, drawing it from the magazine, as seen in Fig. 70 6. The carrier i is arranged in the receiver below the breeeh-piece. It is hung at its rear end upon a pivot k. stationary in the receiver, (see Figs. 4 and 6;) but the carrier is con- structed with a vertical slot I at the pivot, so 75 as to allow a vertical play of the carrier upon its pivot. The carrier extends forward from its pivot toward the magazine and is provided with a spring m between its two ends, the spring taking a bearing in a notch n in the 80 carrier, and so that the carrier may swing on the end of the spring at the notch, as upon a pivot, such swinging movement beingin a ver- tical plane. The arm E of the lever D works through a slot in the carrier, as seen in Fig. 85 9a, and so' that in the closed position the arm will bear upon the carrier near its forward end to depress it into the position seen in Fig. 4, and because of this bearing of the arm E of the lever D upon the forward end of the 9c carrier when the lever is first depressed, as rep- resented in broken lines, Fig. 4, it will corre- spondingly depress the forward end of the carrier and bring it to a point below the head of the cartridge then presented at the open- 95 ing of the magazine, and so that in the rear movement of the breech-piece the cartridge will be drawn from the magazine onto the upper side of the carrier, and so soon as the cartridge has passed from the magazine then too the spring m of the carrier reacts and forces the forward end of the carrier upward, so as to correspondingly raise the forward end of the cartridge to a position above the maga- zine, the next cartridge following in the maga- 105 zine to take the place of the one so with- drawn. On each side of the receiverand at the rear end of the breech-piece opening a longitudi- nal rib r is formed. (See Figs. 11, 12, and no 13.) The position of these ribs is such that the head of the cartridge as it is drawn rear- ward by the breeeh-piece will pass below those ribs, and as seen in Fig. 6, and as the forward end of the cartridge rises it will turn 115 upon the forward portion of the breeeh-piece as a fulcrum, forcing the rear or head end downward, together with the rear end of the carrier, ami so that the breech-piece may es- cape from the head of the cartridge, as rep- 120 resented in Fig. 6, the slot in the carrier per- mitting this depression of its rear end. Then as the breech-piece completes its rear move- ment, as seen in Fig. 8, the spring m, react- ing upon the carrier, will bring the forward 125 end of the carrier up against stops s on the sides of the receiver near the barrel and as seen in Fig. 8. The rear end of the carrier also rises, as seen in Fig. 8, to bring the head of the cartridge against the stops r at the 130 rear and into a position, so that the head of the cartridge will be struck by the breech- .piece when it next advances. When the breeeh-piece is next moved forward, it will
4 465,330 strike the head of the cartridge, force it for- ward below the ribs r, as seen in Fig. 9, and so as to enter the forward end of the car- tridge into the barrel, this movement con- 5 tinning until the head passes forward of the ribs r. This first advance movement of the cartridge causes a depression of the carrier against its spring, as represented in Fig. 9; but so soon as the cartridge-head has passed io beyond the control of the ribs r, then the spring m of the carrier reacts and forces the carrier upward, as seen in Fig. 9, which gives to the cartridge a sudden upward movement to bring it into a position forward of the front 15 face of the breech-pieee, as represented in broken lines, Fig. 9. The breeeh-piece then continuing its movement forces the cartridge into the barrel, the breech - piece engaging the next cartridge in the magazine, and the 20 carrier being depressed to receive the sec- ond cartridge, as before described. The breech-piece is provided with the usual ex- tractor-hook (here represented at t, Fig. 12) on one side of the breech-pieee, with a corre- 25 spending shoulder и on the opposite side, and so thatas the breech-piece is withdrawn the ex- ploded shell orcartridge, if it be not exploded, will be drawn rearward, and the next rising cartridge will eject the exploded shell or car- 30 tridge, if it be not exploded, from the receiver in the usual manner. As here represented, one side of the receiver is open, as at v, Figs. 12 and 13; but the position of the opening is immaterial, it only being necessary that the 35 extracting devices shall be arranged in rela- tion thereto, as usual in fire-arms. By this arrangement of the box-magazine forward cf the opening in the receiver the cartridges are taken therefrom by the retreating breech- 40 piece and do not, therefore, depend upon a spring or gravity to bring them into a posi- . tion for introduction to the barrel, and the gun is therefore capable of the most rapid firing. 45 The construction of the magazine, as before described, brings the magazine into the most compact possible form, it being substantially 110 larger than the space required for the num- ber of cartridges it is adapted to contain, and 50 no additional devices are necessary to retain. the cartridges in the magazine until required for use. Consequently there is no opening to be made into the magazine for the escape of the cartridges. It has simply to be set into 55 place and the cartridges are ready to be de- livered therefrom. The construction of the magazine, so far as the follower and its spring are concerned, is applicable to this class of magazines gener- 5o ally, irrespective of the mechanism of the arm, the advantages being, as before stated, an,in- creased number of cartridges for the same size of magazine. The magazine constructed with all sides 65 closed and with the rear opening may be em- ployed with arms of other construction than that which wre have described, it only being essential that such arms shall be provided with some means for withdrawing the car- tridges from the magazine. Such arrange- 70 ment is too apparent to require illustration We therefore do not wish to be understood as limiting the construction of the magazine to the particular mechanism of the arm which we have described. 75 While it is preferred to make the magazine removable for obvious reasons, it will be un- derstood that it may be made a permanent part of the arm and the cartridges introduced thereto—as, for illustration, from the rear end 80 of the magazine—through an opening indi- cated by broken lines at w, Fig. 4. The arrangement of the carrier upon its spring and so as to coaet with the operating- lever to receive a cartridge from the maga- 85 zine and present it forward of the front face of the breech-pieee may be employed in that class of magazine-guns in which the maga- zine is arranged longitudinally beneath the barrel, so that cartridges stand in longitudi- 90 nal line. The upper cartridge in Fig. 4 may be understood as representing the rearmost cartridge in such a magazine. We therefore do not wish to be understood as limiting the construction and arrangement of the carrier 95 to the necessary employment of a magazine of the peculiar construction which we have described. We do not claim, broadly, the vertical lock- ing-bolts in connection with the swinging le- ico ver pivoted to the breeeh-piece, whereby the breech-piece is unlocked in the opening move- ment of the lever and before the opening movement of the breech-piece commences and locked in the closing movement of the 105 lever after the breech-piece has reached its closed position, as such a combination of ele- ments is found in Letters Patent No. 306,577, granted for our invention October 14,1884. We claim— no 1. In a magazine fire-arm, the combination of a longitudinally - reciprocating breech- piece, a trigger-guard lever having an arm extending up into the receiver and pivoted to the breech-piece near its forward end, a car- 115 tier arranged below the breech-piece and ex- tending rearward at the sides of said lever, hung bjr slotted connection at its rear end to a stationary pivot in the receiver, the said le- ver adapted to bear upon the upper side of 120 the carrier forward of the pivot, a spring upon the under side of the receiver and ar- ranged to bear upward thereon between the two ends of the carrier, the receiver con- structed with ribs above the carrier and for- 125 ward of the breeeh-piece when in its open po- sition, and the receiver also constructed with stops near the barrel and above the forward end of the carrier, substantially as described. 2. The combination, in a fire-arm, of a Ion- 130 gitudinally - reciprocating breech - piece, a trigger-guard lever having an arm extending upward and forward into the receiver and pivoted to the breech-piece near its forward
465. end, one or more vertically-movable bolts ar- ranged in the receiver and adapted to engage the breech-piecc in its closed position, said bolts in slotted connection with the said le- 5 ver in rear of its pivot end, a longitudinallj7- movable firing-pin arranged in the breech- pieee, a sear hnng in the lever near its pivot end and extending rearward, provided with a spring adapted to force the nose of the sear io into engagement with the cocking-shoulder of the firing-pin, and a trigger also hung in the said lever, wTith a finger extending up- ward and adapted to bear upon the said sear to turn it from its engagement with the firing- 15 pin, substantially as described. 3. A magazine fire-arm having a longitudi- nally-reciprocating breech-piece, the combi- nation therewith of a box-magazine adapted to contain several cartridges, one above an- 20 other, the said magazine-arranged in the re- ceiver forward of the rear end of the barrel, the said magazine opening rearwardly into the receiver in rear of the rear end of the barrel, the said breech-pieee being adapted to engage 25 the head of a cartridge presented to the re- ceiver through said opening and withdraw the said cartridge therefrom in the opening move- ment of the breeeh-pieee, with mechanism, substantially such as described, to receive the 30 said cartridge so drawn from the magazine and present the same forward of the front end of the breech-piece, substantially as de- scribed. 4. In a magazine fire-arm having a longi- 35 tudinally-reciprocatin g breech-pieee, the com- bination therewith of a removable box-maga- zine substantially closed upon all sides, but open at the rear end at the upper edge, the receiver constructed with a recess at its for- 40 ward end and below the barrel corresponding to and adapted to receive that portion of the magazine in which the said opening is formed, the said recess opening rearward into the re- ceiver and so as to present the head of a car- ,330 5 tridge through the opening in the magazine 45 rearwardly into the receiver, the said maga- zine being adapted to be removably inter- locked with the receiver, and mechanism, sub- stantially such as described, adapted to en- gage the head of the cartridge presented 50 through the said opening in the magazine and withdraw the said cartridge in the opening movement of the breech-pieee, substantially as described. 5. A box-magazine for fire=arms, having a 55 spring-follower hung upon one side of the magazine and so as to swing in the plane of the magazine, the follower extending along the side of the magazine, to which it is hung and turned transversely across, so as to stand 60 below the column of cartridges in the maga- zine, while the cartridges themselves may pass down between the said follower and the opposite side of the magazine, substantially as described. 65 6. A box-magazine for fire-arms, closed upon all sides, but constructed with an opening at the rear end and at the upper edge of the magazine, the two sides of the magazine con- structed with an inwardly-projecting rib form- 70 ing a vertical groove upon the inside of the magazine at the rear end and with which grooves the said opening communicates, com- bined with a spring-follower adapted to sup- port the column of cartridges and successively 75 force them toward said opening and so as to successively present the heads of the car- tridges to the said opening, substantially as described. In testimony whereof we have signed this 80 specification in the presence of two subscrib- ing witnesses. JOHN M. BROWNING. MATTHEW S. BROWNING.' Witnesses: W. G. Wbight, T. F. Browning,
(No Model.) 4 Sheets—Sheet 1. J. M. & M. 8. BROWNING-. MAGAZINE EIRE ARM. No. 465,340. Patented Deo. 15, 1891. THE NORRIS fETERS CO.. PHOTO-LiTHO., WASHINGTON, D. C.
(No Model.) 4 Sheets—Sheet 2. J. M. & M. S. BROWNING. MAGAZINE FIRE ARM. No. 465,340. Patented Deo. 15, 1891. THE NORAiS PETERS CO., PHOTO-LITHO., WASHINGTON, О. C.
(No Model.) 4 Sheets—Sheet 3. J. M. &• M. S. BROWNING. MAGAZINE FINE ABM. No. 465,340. Patented Deo. 15, 1891. i THE NORRIS PETERS CO., PHOTO-IITHO., WASHINGTON, О. C.
;No Model.) 4 Sheets—Sheet-4. J. M. & M. S. BROWNING. MAGAZINE FIBE ABM. No. 465,340. Patented Deo. 15, 1891. THE NORRIS PETERS CO., PHOTO-tITHO.. WASHINGTON, D. C.
United States Patent Office. JOHN M. BROWNING AND MATTHEW S. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH TERRITORY, ASSIGNORS TO THE WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS COMPANY, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT. MAGAZINE FIRE-ARM. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 465,340, dated December 15, 1891. Application filed August 3,1891. Serial No. 401,574. (No model,) To all whom it may concern: Be it known that we, John M. Browning and Matthew S. Browning, of Ogden, in the county of Weber and Territory of Utah, have 5 invented a new Improvement in Magazine Fire-Arms; and we do hereby declare the fol- lowing, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, io and exact description of the same, which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in— Figure 1, a side view of the gun complete and in the dosed position; Fig. 2, a top view of 15 the same; Fig. 3, a side view of the gun, show- ing the receiver in the open position; Fig. 4, a longitudinal central section showing the mechanism of the arm in side view, the parts being in the closed position; Fig. 5, a longitudi- 20 nal central section of the forward part of the receiver, barrel, and magazine, showing side view of the rear portion of the arm, the parts in the closed position; Fig. 6, the same as Fig. 5, but representing the parts in the open po- 25 sition; Fig. 7, the same as Fig. 6, showing the parts after they have been reclosed, leaving the hammer at full-eock; Fig. 8, a top view of the forward part of the receiver, the rear part withdrawn; Fig. 9, asection online## of 30 Fig. 3, looking forward; Fig. 10, a section on line ж ж of Fig. 7, looking rearward; Fig. 11, a section on line у у of Fig. 7, looking forward; Fig. 12, a top view of the latch H. This invention relates to an improvement 35 in that class of fire-arms in which the receiver is constructed in two parts, the rear part at- tached to the stock and the forward part car- rying the barrel attached at its forward end, the two parts arranged to slide one upon'the 40 other,sothatholdingthestockinonehandand grasping the barrel with the other hand the two parts majT be separated to open the breech for the introduction of the charge into the barrel, and then returned to close the breech. 45 While the invention is specially adapted to magazine-guns,parts of the invention may be advantageously employed in single-loaders. The object of the invention is a simple con- struction. and whereby as a magazine-arm 50 rapid firing maybe produced without remov- ing the gun from the shoulder; and the in- vention consists in the construction, as here- inafter described, and particularly recited in the claims. A represents the rear part of the receiver, 55 wdiich is secured to the stdck В by means of tongues С C, as usual, for the attachment of the receiver to the stock. D represents the forward part of the re- ceiver, to which the barrel E is attached in 60 the usual manner. The part D of the receiver is constructed with a vertical slot opening through itfrom top tobottom andalso opening at the rear end. The part A is constructed in shape corresponding to the depth and 65 width of said slot in the part D and with shoulders near its rear end, against which the corresponding ends of the part D at each side the said slot will come to a bearing when the parts are in the closed position, as seen in 7c Fig. 1, and so that in that position the re- ceiver will appear substantially the same as other receivers -when made in a single piece, the part A being adapted to slide longitudi- nally within the part D. Theonepartiscon- 75 structed with longitudinal grooves and the other with corresponding longitudinal ribs as guides to support the two parts in their proper relative position to each other, and yet permit the parts to slide freely longitudi- 8c nally backward and forward. These parts are shown in Fig. 9, and, as there represented, the part A is constructed with longitudinal ribs F F on each side and the part D with corresponding grooves G, and so that grasp- 85 ing the stock with one hand and holding it against the shoulder the other hand may be applied to the barrel, and a forward and back movement imparted to the barrel will move the barrel and the forward part of the re- 90 eeiver forward, while the rear part of the re- ceiver is held stationary with the stock. The barrel opens into the receiver at the rear in the usual manner, and so that as the barrel and the forward part of the receiver are moved 95- forward, as before described, the rear end of the barrel will be opened, as seen in Figs. 3 and 6, for the introduction of the cartridge or the removal of the exploded shell, or car- tridge, if it be not exploded, and then as the: 100
2 465,340 barrel with the forward part of the receiver are returned the breech will be closed, as seen in Fig. 4. The part A of the receiver is constructed 5 so as to abut against the rear end of the bar- rel when in a closed position, as seen in Fig. 4, so as to support the cartridge and resist explosion in like manner as does the longi- tudinally-reciprocating breech-piece in the to usual construction of arms i, representing that part of A which forms the breech-pieee. In the one part a spring-latch is provided, which will interlock with the other part when the two parts are in the closed position, and 15 so as to securely hold the parts together that the explosion of the cartridge may not sepa- rate the two. As here represented, the interlocking of the two parts is made by a spring-lateh H, hung 2o in the lower side of the part A upon a pivot I, and so as to swing in a vertical plane. The latch extending rearward is provided with a spring J, the tendency of which is to force the latch upward. 25 In the part D of the receiver a shoulder К is formed, (see Figs. 4 and 7,) against which the nose of the latch II will rise and stand when the parts are in the closed position, th us preventing the possibility of the. separation 30 of the two parts so long as the latch II shall remain in engagement with the shoulder K. The spring J operates so as to bring the latch into its locking position so soon as the parts are brought to the closed position, and the 35 latch is yieldingly held in that position by this spring. In the part A of the receiver the hammer L is arranged longitudinally through it, it ex- tending forward, so as to strike the head of 40 the cartridge. As here represented, the for- ward end M of the flring-pin is arranged to strike the rim of the cartridge, the construc- tion shown being adapted to rim-fire car- tridges; but it will be understood that the 45 point of the firing-pin will be arranged ac- cording to the point of the cartridge which is to be struck. A suitable mainspring is pro- vided for the hammer, here represented as a spiral spring within the part A around the 50 hammer, adapted to bear against the shoul- der N on the part A, the other end of the spring bearing forward against a correspond- ing shoulder О on the hammer, and as usual in similar hammers in other constructions of 55 arms. In the forward part D of the receiver and in a position below the hammer the sear Q is hung npon a pivot R and so as to swing in a vertical plane. The sear therefore moves 60 backward and forward with the forward part D of the receiver. The sear extends rear- ward over the shoulder К and is provided with a spring S, the tendency of which is to force the sear upward, so that its nose may 65 engage the notch T on the hammer when the hammer is brought to the cocked position, as seen in Fig. 7. The trigger IT is hung in the part A of the receiver upon a pivot V, and foward of the pivot a dog W is hung to the trigger, the dog extending upward, and so 70 that a pull upon the trigger will draw the dog downward. The noseX of the dog is adapted to engage a corresponding shoulder Y on the sear when the sear has engaged the hammer in the cocked position and as seen in Fig. 7, 75 and so that a pull upon the trigger will im- part a downward pull upon the sear to disen- gage the hammer to permit it to fly forward and impart its blow to the cartridge. The tail of the latch II is constructed with a Ion- 80 gitndinal slot Z, (see Fig. 12,) and the trigger is arranged to work through this slot, as seen in Fig. 11, the trigger being constructed with a shoulder a above the tail of the latch, and so that after the trigger shall have been pulled 85 so far as to take the sear from engagement with the hammer the shoulder a will then come to a bearing on the tail, and so that a further pull upon the trigger will draw the latch down out of engagement with the shoul- 90 der K, as seen in broken lines, Fig. 4, and so that the trigger beiug held in this position the barrel with its part of the receiver may be drawn forward, as represented in Figs. 3 and 6, for the introduction of a cartridge, and 95 then the barrel with its part of the receiver being returned and the trigger left free the latch will swing into engagement with the shoulder K, and so as to hold the parts in the closed position. In the opening movement 100 the sear passes forward of the coeking-shonl- der T of the hammer, as seen in Fig. 6, the sear-spring throwing the sear upward, aud so that as the parts are again brought to the closed position the sear will strike the shoul- 105 der T, force the hammer rearward into the cocked position, as seen in Fig. 7, and thus hold the hammer fully cocked when the parts are brought to the closed position, and so that a pull upon the trigger, as before, will first no release the hammer, permitting it to impart itsblow, and then a continued pull of the trig- ger will release the two parts for their sepa- ration, as before, to open the breech for re- . charging and the hammer recoeked as the 115 parts are again brought to their closed posi- ' tion. Forward of the barrel and beneath the re- ceiver the magazine Ъ is arranged, opening into the receiver at the rear, as usual in this 120 arrangement of magazines, the magazine be- ing provided with a spring and follower c, as usual, so that the column of cartridges in the magazine will be forced rearward and success- ively delivered into the -receiver at the rear, 125 the magazine moving with the barrel and the forward part D of the- receiver. Iu the forward part D of the receiver the carrier cl is arranged, preferably hung upon the same pivot R as the sear, and so as to 130 swing in a vertical plane. The carrier at its forward end is of U shape, the lower portion e of the recess in the carrier (see Fig. 10) un- dercut, or of somewhat larger diameter than
465,340 3 the width between the two sides above this undercut portion e. In the down position this part e of the carrier stands in line with the magazine, as seen in Tig. 4, and so that 5 said part e forms a chamber, into which a cartridge may be forced from the magazine when the parts stand in the closed position, as seen in Fig. 4. The carrier, being hung in the forward partD of the receiver, moves for- io ward and backward with it in the opening and closing movement. The carrier is con- structed with an upward projection/in rear of its pivot R, and which projection in the opening movement engages a corresponding 15 shoulder g on the part A of the receiver, as seen iu Fig. 6, and so that after such engage- ment, and in the completion of the forward movement of the part D of the receiver, the carrier will be thrown up into the raised posi- 20 tion, as seen in Fig. 6, and so as to bring the eartridge-chamber of the carrier substantially into line with the barrel, and so that as the parts are again brought to the closed position the forward end of the part A of the receiver 25 will pass through the carrier, strike the rear end of the cartridge, and foree it into the barrel. The upper sides of. the carrier are adapted to pass up into corresponding grooves h h in the part A and each side of the face 30 i, which practically forms the breeeh-piece. (See Fig. 10.) These grooves are represented in broken lines, Figs. 5 and 6. As the parts approach their closed position, the rear end of the grooves 7г will strike a corresponding 35 shoulder It on the carrier, and as the parts complete their closing movement will cause the carrier to return to its down position, as seen in Fig. 5, ready to receive a second car- tridge from the magazine. 40 When the parts are separated, as seen in Fig. 6, the carrier is in the up position and the rear end of the magazine is exposed, so that it may be charged through the under side of the receiver, a downward projection I 45 on the carrier forming a stop against which the heads of the cartridges will bear, so as to prevent the escape of the column of car- tridges. This stop 7 passes below the open- ing in the magazine when the carrier is in 50 the down position, so that the cartridges may pass freely into the magazine; but as the car- rier rises it covers the rear end of the maga- zine sufficient to prevent the escape of car- tridges from the magazine. 55 To prevent the accidental separation of the two parts the part A is constructed with a shoulder m, which stands in the path of a tail n, formed on the sear, and so that as the parts reach the open position the tail m of 60 the sear will strike the said shoulder, as seen in Fig. 6. If it is desired to entirely separate the parts—that is, so that one may be drawn entirely away from the other—the rear end of the sear is exposed in rear of the part D 65 of the receiver, as seen in Fig. 3, and by press- ing the rear end of the sear down with the finger the tail will be raised, as indicated in broken lines, Fig. 6, so as to disconnect it from the shoulder n. Then the part D may be drawn forward from the part A, so as to com- 70 pletely separate the two parts. In Fig.4, op represent two transverse con- nections between the two sides of the carrier, which are employed simply, as a connection between the two sides. 75 The part A is provided with an extractor- hook r, arranged in relation to the breeeh- pieee portion i of the part A, as usual in breech-loading fire-arms, and opposite the ex- ' tractor-hook is a corresponding shoulder s to 80 support the opposite edge of the head of the cartridge, so that the withdrawal of the shell may be insured and the shell held until the open position is reached, when the rising car- rierwill operate as an ejector for the shell, as 85 usual in magazine fire-arms. We claim— 1. In a fire-arm in which the receiver is made in two parts arranged to slide longi- tudinally the one upon the other, the rear 90 part made fast to the stock and the forward part having a barrel attached thereto open- ing into the receiver at the rear, the combi- nation therewith of a hammer arranged in the rear part of the receiver, a sear hung in 95 the forward part of the receiver and so as to move longitudinally therewith, the sear arranged to swing in a vertical plane and adapted to engage a shoulder on the hammer as the parts are brought to the closed posi- 100 tion and whereby the hammer is cocked, a trigger hung in the rear part of the receiver, and a dog hung to the trigger forward of its pivot and adapted to engage the nose of the sear, whereby the pull of the trigger will dis- 105 engage the sear from the hammer, substan- tially as described. 2. In a fire-arm in which the receiver is made in two parts arranged to slide longitudi- nally the one upon the other, the rear part no attached to the stock and the other part car- rying the barrel at its forward end, the barrel opening into the receiver at the rear, the com- bination therewith of a spring-latch hung in the rear part of the receiver, the forward part 115 of the receiver constructed with a' shoulder ’ with which the said latch is adapted to en- gage when the parts are in the closed posi- tion, a trigger hung in the rear part of the re- ceiver, a dog hung to said trigger forward of its 120 pivot, and a sear adapted to engage the ham- mer in thefull-eock position, the said dog ar- ranged to.engage said sear and detach it from the hammer upon the pull of the trigger and the said dog constructed with a shoulder ar- 125 ranged to engage the said latch after the sear has been so disengaged, substantially as de- scribed, whereby upon the pull of the trigger the hammer is first released and then the latch drawn out of engagement between the two 130 parts. 3. In a fire-arm in which the receiver is
4 465,340 constructed in two parts, the rear part at- tached to the stock and the forward part car- rying the barrel opening into the receiver at the rear, the said parts being adapted to 5 slide longitudinally the one upon the other, a spring-latch hung in the rear part, the for- ward part constructed with a corresponding shoulder with which said latch may engage when the parts are in the closed position, a ro trigger hung in the said rear part, and a con- nection, substantially such as described, be- tween said trigger and said latch, whereby the pull upon the trigger will disengage the latch from said shoulder so as to permit the 15 opening movement of the receiver, substan- tially as described. 4. In a fire-arm in which the receiver is constructed in two parts, the rear part at- tached to the stock, the forward part carry- 20 ing the barrel, the two parts arranged to slide longitudinally the one upon the other, the combination therewith of a hammer arranged in the rear part of the receiver, a sear hung in the forward part of the receiver and so as 25 to move therewith, the sear being adapted to engage the hammer as the parts are brought to the closed position and take the hammer to full-cock, the sear constructed with a tail extending forward of its pivot, and the rear 30 part of the receiver constructed with a corre- sponding shoulder with which the said tail is adapted to engage when the parts are in their open position, substantially as described, and whereby the accidental separation of the 35 parts of the receiver is prevented. 5. In a fire - arm in which the receiver is constructed in two parts, the one part at- tached to the stock and the other part carry- ing the barrel at its forward end, the barrel 40 opening into the receiver at the rear and the two parts adapted to slide longitudinally the one upon the other, a magazine arranged be- neath the barrel and opening in to the receiver at the rear, the combination therewith of a 15 carrier hung in the forward part of the re- ceiver and so as to swing in a vertical plane, the rear part constructed with shoulders adapted to engage the carrier both in the opening and closing movement and so as to 50 impart the up-and-down movement to the car- rier, and the carrier constructed with a down- ward projection at its forward end, adapted to cover the mouth of the magazine when the carrier is raised, substantially as described. 6. In a fire-arm in which the receiver is 55 made in two parts, the rear part attached to the stock, the forward part carrying the bar- rel opening into the receiver at the rear, the two parts arranged to slide longitudinally the one upon the other, the combination therewith 60 of a magazine beneath the barrel opening into the 'receiver at the rear, the rear part con- structed to form a breeeh-pieee, so as to close the rear end of the barrel, a carrier hung in the forward part of the receiver below the breech- 65 piece portion of the said rear part and so as to swing in a vertical plane, the carrier of U shape at its forward end and undercut to form a eartridge-chamber opening upward, the breech-pieee portion of the said rear part 70 constructed with grooves into which the sides of the carrier may stand when in the up posi- tion and so that in the closing movement the breech-piece portion will pass through said carrier, and the breeeh-piece and carrier con- 75 structed with corresponding shoulders, sub- stantially as described, whereby the opening and closing movement will produce the cor- responding up-and-down movement of the carrier. 80 7. In a fire-arm in which the receiver is made in two parts, the rear part attached to the stock, the forward part carrying the bar- rel opening into the receiver at the rear, the forward part constructed with a longitudinal 85 slot opening vertically to the top and the bot- tom and also open at the rear end, the rear part constructed of a shape corresponding to the said slot in the forward part and so as to slide longitudinally therein, and the one part 90 constructed with longitudinal grooves and the other part with corresponding longitudinal ribs as guides for the longitudinal movement of the said parts, substantially as described. In testimony whereof we have signed this 95 specification in the presence of two subscrib- ing witnesses. JOHN M. BROWNING. MATTHEW S. BROWNING. Witnesses: W. G. Wright, E. A. Ensign.
(No Model.) J. M. & M. 8. BROWNING. AUTOMATIC MAGAZINE GUN. ' No. 471,782.. Patented Mar. 29, 1892.
United States Patent Office, JOHN M. BROWNING AND MATTHEW S. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH TERRITORY. AUTOMATIC MAGAZINE-GUN. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 471,782, dated March 29, 1892. Application-filed January 6,1800. Serial No. 336,051. (Ko model,) To all whom it may concern: Be it known that we, John M. Browning and Matthew S. Browning, of Ogden,in tho county of Weber and Territory of Utah, have 5 invented a new Improvement in Magazine- Gnus: and we do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereoe, to.be a full, clear, and exact descrip- io tion of the same, and which said drawings con- stitute part of this specification, and represent, in— Figure 1, a side view of a fire-arm'with the invention applied; Fig. 2, a longitudinal sec- S5 tion of the muzzle-end portion of the barrel with the invention applied; Fig. 3, a front end view of the same; Fig. 4, a modification.. This invention relates to an improvement in the construction of guns whereby the fir- го ihg of ths gun after the first discharge may be made automatic so long as cartridges shall be supplied. The invention is applicable to machine-guns and also to fire-arms. 25 The invention is designed to employ the gases generated in the discharge as a means for opening the breech, cocking the hammer, ejecting the cartridge-shell, introducing a new. cartridge, and then reclosin g the breech, and in jo such reclosing to release the hammer for the discharge of the cartridge so introduced, suc- cessive cartridges following each other in the diseharge-SQ long as the supply is maintained; and it consists -in the construction and com- 35 bination of mechanism, as hereinafter de- scribed, and particularly recited in the claim; In illustrating the invention we show it as applied to a fire-arm. A represents, the stock; B, the barrel; C, the magazine; D, the receiver, within which is the bro-sen mechanism of the arm. This mech- anism. may be any of the many known con- structions whereby the breeeh-piece is opened, the hammer cocked, th® cartridge transferred 45 from, the magazine to a position forward of ths breech-piece, and so that thereturn of the breech-piece will force the cartridge into the barrel. This mechanism is not shown, it be- ing too well known to require illustration. 50 E represents a lever, which is hung upon a pivot F in the receiver and by the backward and forward swinging movementof which the breech mechanism is operated in the usual manner. This lever may be understood as the usual trigger-guard, lever,by the forward 55 movement of which, as in broken lines, the , breeeh-piece is thrown to. the open position and oh the return the breech-piece is closed. G represents a cap arranged over the for- ward or muzzle end of the barrel. This cap 60 has through its cqnter and normally in line with the barrel an opening H, through which the bullet will freely pass.- The cap is best concave upon the inside, and so as to present toward the barrel an area substantially as 65 large as the area of the end of the barrel. The concave shape forms a chamber between the end of .the barrel and the cap, so as to expose the large area of the cap to the bore of the barrel. In the preferred arrangement this cap □ is formed as a part of a lever I, hung upon a fulcrum J to an.arm K, which extends down from the forward end of the barrel, and so that the cap may swing on the pivot J in a vertical plane, as from the position seen in 75 Fig. 1 to that seen in broken lines, same figure. L represents a connecting-rod, which is hung’ by one end to the lever E, and, extending for- ward, its other end is hung to the cap-lever I, so as to make connection between the said le- 80 ver and the operating-lever. A spring, as M, is provided, the tendency of which is to force and yieldingly hold the cap in its closed po- sition. This spring, as here represented, is a flat spring secured by one- end to the arm K, 85 and, extending downward, bears upon an ex- tension or short arm N of the lever-I below the pivot, and so that this arm N of the lever op- erates as a camagainst the spring to compress the spring when the cap is thrown open, as 90 seen in broken lines,- Fig. 1, and then the-re- action of the spring will return the cap.- 0 represents the trigger, which is adapted to be pulled by hand in the usual manner, but extends into a position in rear of or so as to 95 stand in the path of movement of the lever E, and so that its the lever E approaches its ex- treme rear position, as seen in Fig. 1, it will bear upon the trigger O, so as to impart a pulling movement to the trigger, This com- 10c pletes the construction. In using tho gun the magazine is charged
471,782 2 in the usual manner and the operating-lever E moved by hand to introduce the. first car- tridge into the barrel; Then the trigger is. pulled to discharge that first cartridge.' Upon 5 the discharge of that cartridge the bullet passes out through the opening H in the cap G. The gases immediately following operate upon the large inner surface of the cap G. with a force sufficient to throw the cap away from a the end of the barrel, as represented in broken lines, Fig. 1, and against the power , of the spring M. This movement of the cap draws the operating-lever E forward, as also seen in broken lines, Fig. 1, and produces the open- 15 ing movement of the breech-piece and cocks the hammer; but instantly the spring M re- acts and forces the cap back to its “closed po- sition, returning the operating-lever E,'where- by the second cartridge is inserted into the 20 barrel, the breech-piece closed, and as the le- ver E completes its rear movement it strikes the trigger and discharges the hammer, where- upon that second cartridge is fired with the same result as the first. Thus after the fir- ing of the. first cartridge by hand subsequent cartridges, will be fired automatically so long as a supply is, maintained. We claim— In a gun the barrel of which is open, at the breech and having mechanism for opening 30 and closing the breech, cocking the hammer, and supplying cartridges, thereto, the combi- nation therewith of a cap G over the muzzle end of the barrel, thesaid cap Constructed with an opening through it in line with the bore 35 of the barrel and through which the bullet may pass, the cap presenting upon its inner surface an area larger than the bore of the barrel, the said cap forming substantially a part of a lever I, extending radially from said 40 cap and hung upon a fulcrum J to an arm K, projecting from the barrel, and a connecting- rod hung by one end to the operating mechan- ismof thearm andextendingforward,its other end hung to said lever I with a spring, the 45 tendency of which is to yieldingly hold the said cap npon the end of the barrel, substan- tially as and for the purpose described. JOHN M. BROWNING. MATTHEW S. BROWNING. Witnesses; John E. Ramsden, M. S. Jones.
(No Model.) 5 Sheets—Sheet 1. J. M. & M. S. BROWNING-. MACHINE QUN. No. 471,783. Patented Mar. 29, 1892. THU bOHRlS PETERS CO., PHOTO-LITHO., WA6H|hGT0H. D. C.
(No Model.) 5 Sheets—Sheet 2. J. M. & M. S. BROWNING-. MACHINE GUN. No. 471,783. Patented Mar. 29, 1892. THE NORRIS PETERS CO., РНОТвЧГГНО.»WASHINGTON, О. C.
(No Model.) 5 Sheets—Sheet 3. J. M. & M. 8. BROWNING. MACHINE GUN. No. 471,783. Patented Mar. 29, 1892. THE НОЯЯГ5 ₽£T£AS CO., PHOTO-LITHO., WASHiAton, О. C.
(No Model.) J. M. & M. S. BROWNING. MACHINE GUN. 5 Sheets—Sheet 4. No. 471,783. Patented Mar. 29, 1892. THE КОЯЯ18 РЕТЕМ CO.. ЯИОТО-11ТНО.. WASHINGTON, О. C.
(No Model.) No. 471,783. _ 5 Sheets—Sheet 5. J. M. & M. S. BROWNING. MACHINE GUN. Patented Mar. 29, 1892. THE NOftRiS PETERS CO., PHOTO-LITHO., WASHINGTON,
United States Patent Office JOHN M. BROWNING AND MATTHEW S. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH TERRITORY. MACHINE-GUN. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 471,783, dated March 29, 1892. Application filed August 3,1891. Serial Ko, 401,575. (Ko model.) To all whom it may conc&rn: Be it known that we, John M. Browning and Matthew S. Browning, of Ogden, in the county of Weber and Territory of Utah, have 5 invented a new Improvement in Machine- Guns; and we do hereby declare the follow- ing, when taken in connection with accom- panying drawings and the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, io and exact description of the same,and which said drawings constitute part of this specifi- cation, and represent, in— Figure 1, a side view of the gun looking from the left; Fig. 2, a top or plan view; Fig. 15 3, a side view looking from the right; Fig. 4, a front end view; Fig. 5, a longitudinal cen- tral section looking from the left, showing parts in side view, all in the closed position; Fig. 6, an under side view looking upward, 20 showing the arrangement of the reacting spring and also the mainspring of the ham- mer; Fig. 7, a longitudinal section of the for- ward portion of the gun, showing the lever E in the open position; Fig. 8, a rear portion 25 in longitudinal section, showing the breech- pieee as open and the hammer as cocked; Fig. 9, a longitudinal section illustrating the discharge of the hammer; Fig. 10, a top view of the rear portion in partial section to illus- 30 tratethe means forholding the hammer in the cocked position and releasing it therefrom; Fig. 11, an inside view of the feeding mech- anism for the supply of cartridges; Fig. 12, a vertical transverse section cutting on line ж® 35 of Fig. 11; Fig. 13, a vertical transverse sec- tion cutting on line у у of Fig. 11; Fig. 14, an under side view of the slide J; Fig. 15, a hori- zontal section cutting on line x x of Fig. 12, showing the breeeh-piece in the closed posi- 40 tion and as engaged with the cartridge on the carrier; Fig. 16, the same section as Fig. 15, showing the breech-piece in the open position and as having withdrawn the cartridge from the receiver preparatory to its transfer to a 45 position forward of the breeeh-pieee; Fig. 17, a front end view of the breech-piece detached; Fig. 18, a longitudinal section through the projection of the breech-pieee on line x x of . Fig. 17. 50 This invention relates to an improvement in that class of machine-guns which are auto- matically operated by means of the gas pro- duced by explosion as it escapes from the muzzle, the invention having for its object a combination of mechanism whereby the car- 55 tridges will be successively presented, intro- duced into the barrel, the primer struck for explosion, the exploded shell withdrawn, a second cartridge introduced, and that in its turn exploded, such operations being auto- 60 matic after the explosion of the first cartridge takes place; and the invention consists in the combination of mechanism, as hereinafter de- scribed, and particularly recited in the claims. A represents the receiver, to the forward 65 end of which the barrel В is attached in the usual manner for attaching barrels to there- ceiver of fire-arms or other guns. At the for- ward end of the barrel a bracket C is arranged stationary with the barrel, and to this bracket, 70 upon a pivot D, a lever E is hung so as to swing upon the said pivot in the plane of the barrel. At its upper end the lever terminates in a cap or disk F forward of the front end of the barrel, and through this disk is an open- 75 ing G, corresponding to the bore of the bar- rel, the inner face of this disk being exposed at the forward end of the barrel, as seen in Fig. 5, and it is preferably arranged a short distance from the end of the barrel, as seen 80 in that figure, so as to form a chamber H be- tween the end of the barrel and the disk, into which the gases may flow as they pass from the barrel and so as to strike the disk around the opening G, and preferably the bracket 85 forms a sleeve around the barrel, which will close the sides of the chamber H, as seen in Fig. 5, thus forming an inclosed chamber be- tween the disk and the end of the barrel. The opening G through the disk should be 90 somewhat larger than the bore of the barrel, so that as the bullet escapes from the barrel it may pass freely through the opening G. The force of the gases under explosion will operate upon the disk end of the lever around 95 the opening G and so as to impart to that le- ver a forward and downward swinging move- ment, as represented in Fig. 7, the lever to be returned after the explosion to its normal po- sition, as seen in Fig. 5 and as hereinafter de- 100 scribed. At the rear end of the barrel the breech-
2 471,783 5 ю 15 20 25 3° 33 40 45 5° 55 60 б5 piece I is arranged in longitudinal guides in the receiver, so as to move backward and for- ward, as from the position seen in Fig. 5 to that seen in Fig. 8 and return, and in similar manner to the operation of the longitudinally- reciprocating breech-pieces in fire-arms. In the receiver below the barrel and breech- pieee a longitudinal slide J is arranged, guided in the receiver so as to receive a longitudinally- reciprocating movement. The slide J is con- nected to the lever E by a rod K, hung by one end to a pivot L on the lever E and at the other end by a pivot M to the slide J. Consequently as the lever E is thrown for- ward, as from the position in Fig. 5 to that seen in Fig. 7, it will draw with it the con- necting-rod К and the slide J from the posi- tion seen in Fig. 5 to that seen in Fig. 8. The breech-piece is connected to the slide J, so that as the slide J moves forward the breech-piece will move rearward. This move- ment is accomplished by means of a toggle- joint, one link N of which is hung to the breech-piece, the other end of the link N be- ing hung to the other link О of the toggle, and the link О hung upon a stationary pivot P in the receiver. The link О has an arm Q pro- jecting from its hub,which is constructed with a slot R, the said arm extending into a slot S in the slide J, a pin T being passed through the slide and through the slot R, so as to con- nect the arm Q with the slide S, so that when the slide moves forward from the position seen in Fig. 5 to that seen in Fig. 7 it will corre- spondingly turn the arm Q and accordingly double the link, as represented in Fig. 8. This operation of the link withdraws the breech- pieee from its closed position, Fig. 5, to the open position seen in Fig. 8. Then as the slide is returned it will produce the reverse movement and bring the breech-pieee to its closed position, the joints of the toggle com- ing into line between its fixed pivot P and the pivot between the toggle and the breeeh- piece, so that the toggle serves as a resistance to the breech-piece under explosion. In the receiver below the rear end of the barrel and upon a pivot II the hammer V is hung, its nose being adapted to strike the primer of the cartridge. The hammer is con- structed with a tail W, which, when in the closed position, extends down through a slot X in the slide J, and so that as the slide moves forward the rear end of the slot will strike the back of the tail, and, forcing it forward, will turn the hammer away from the rear end of the barrel and into the cocked position, as seen in Fig. 8, the tail of the hammer passing from the slot onto the upper side of the slide, so that the hammer will be held in the cocked position until the proper time for firing. The mainspring for the hammer, as here repre- sented, is a spiral spring Y, arranged upon a rod Z, hung by one end to the hammer, as ata, the other end passing through a stationary guide band so as to slide therein, the spring Y being arranged between the stationary guide b and a collar c on the rod Z. Hence as the hammer is brought to the cocked position it will compress the spring, as seen in Fig. 8, 70 the spring being held in the compressed con- dition until the hammer is again released. As arranged, the pivot between the rod and the hammer passes above the central line of the hammer-pivot as the hammer is brought 75 to the cocked position, as seen in Fig. 8. Con- sequently the tendency of the spring in this position is to hold the hammer in the cocked position; but as the slide is returned the forward end d of the slot will strike the tail 80 of the hammer on its forward side and oper- ate as a cam to turn the tail downward into the slot X, as seen in Fig. 9, and when the tail is thus engaged with the slot the hammer continues its turning movement until the ae- 85 tion of the spring is brought below the pivot, as seen in Fig. 9. Then the spring is free to throw the hammer forward to impart its blow. The slot X is of a length considerably greater than the width of the tail of the hammer, as 90 seen in Figs. 7 and 8, and so as to allow the free movement of the hammer, which, when the hammer has been turned sufficiently to bring the spring into action, will leave the ham mcrf rec to fly forward and impart its blow, 95 as seen in Fig. 5, thus making the operation of the hammer automatic under the recipro- cating movement of the slide J. The breeeh-pieee is provided with the usual extraetiug-hook e, which, when the breech- too piece is closed, will engage the flange of the cartridge which has been inserted into the bar- rel and so that upon the opening movement of the breech-piece the cartridge-shell will be withdrawn, or the cartridge, if it be not ex- 105 ploded. To eject the exploded shell (or cartridge, if it be not exploded) and so as to surely make way for the next cartridge, the arm Q of the link О is constructed with a finger/project- no ing therefrom, and which as the breech-pieee approaches its open position, as seen in Fig. 8, will strike the shell or cartridge, as the case may be, which is engaged with the extractor and so as to give to the shell or cartridge an 115 upward ejecting force sufficient to throw it from the gun and make way for the next car- tridge. At one side of the receiver, here represented as the right-hand side, the mechanism for the 120 supplyof cartridges is applied. Thisconsists of a pair of sprocket-wheels g g, hung upon an axle h and forming a carrier in a position so far forward of the rear end of the barrel as to bring cartridges which may be carried 125 by the said sprocket-wheels or carrier into a position that the plane of the rear end of the head of the cartridge will be substantially in the plane of the rear end of the barrel, as seen in Fig. 2, the axis of the sprocket- 130 wheels being substantially parallel with the axis of the barrel. An intermittent rotation is imparted to the sprocket-wheels g through the reciprocating movement of the slide J.
471,783 3 This is accomplished by arranging a ratchet- wheel i on the axis of the sprocket-wheels g g. (See Figs. 11 and 5 in broken lines.) Adjacent to the ratchet-wheel i a lever к is 5 hung upon a pivot Z, so as to swing in a plane parallel with the plane of the barrel and of the axis of the sprocket-wheels. This lever extends down, its lower end being in engage- ment with the slide J through a corresponding io notch or slot in the slide (represented inbroken lines, Fig. 5) and so that the forward and back movement of the slide J will impart a corre- sponding vibratory movement to the lever k. The lever к carries a spring-pawl m, hung to 15 it, which is adapted to engage corresponding- notches or teeth on the ratchet-wheel i, and so that as the lever swings forward, as from the position seen in Fig. 5 to that seen in Fig. 8, which is the opening movement of the 20 breech-piece, the pawl will retreat without action upon its ratchet; but in the return of the slide to bring the breech-piece to its closed position the lever fcwill also be returned, and such return movement will cause the pawl m 25 to engage the ratchet and impart thereto a rotation toward the barrel, the sprocket-wheels receiving the same rotation. One of the spaces or recesses in the sprocket-wheels when the sprocket-wheel is at rest lies in substantially 30 the horizontal plane of the bore of the bar- rel, as seen in Fig. 13. The sprocket-wheels are adapted to receive a succession of car- tridges, as will be hereinafter described, and so that in the rotation of the sprocket-wheels 35 these cartridges will be successively present- ed into the position just described and, as seen in Fig. 13, presenting the foremost car- tridge into a plane substantially in the plane of the bore of the barrel and with the head 40 of that cartridge in the plane of the rear end of the barrel, as before described. The breech-piece I projects through the side of the receiver toward the sprocket- wheels, as seen at n, Figs. 16 and 17, and in 45 line with the cartridge p, which then stands in the sprocket-wheel. This projection n of the breech-piece is provided with a hook r upon its under side, like the extractor-hook e of the breech-piece, as seen in Figs. 17 and 50 18, and which as the breech-piece is brought forward to its closed position will engage the. head of the cartridge then standing in line in the sprocket-wheel, as seen in Figs. 15 and 18. Then as the breech-piece is moved rear- 55 ward to its open position, the hook r of the pro- jection n, having engaged the cartridge p in the sprocket-wheels, will draw that cartridge from the sprocket-wheels rearward and into aposition at onesideof the open breech-piece, 60 as seen in Fig. 16, but in the plane of the bar- rel, thus bringing the cartridge into a posi- tion to be moved into the receiver forward of the front face of the breech-piece and in line with the barrel. To transfer the cartridge 65 thus presented at the side of the receiver-in to its place forward of the breech-piece, a lever s is hung upon a pivot t on that side of the receiver and so as to vibrate in a vertical transverse plane. The lever is of T shape, the upper part or cross и of the T normally stand- 70 ing out side of the cartridge p as it is presented at the side of the receiver, as seen in Fig. 12. This lever at the proper time receives an in- ward swinging movement, as indicated in broken lines, Fig. 12, which will force the car- 75 tridge p from the position it occupied as it was withdrawn from the sprocket-wheels into a position forward of the front face of the breech-piece, as indicated in broken lines, Fig. 16, and so that as the breech-piece next moves 80 forward it will force the cartridge so presented into the barrel, and on the retreat of the breech- • piece the exploded cartidge-shell will be with- drawn and ejected, as before described, while a second cartridge will be drawn rearward 85 from the sprocket-wheels ready to be intro- duced at the rear of the barrel in place of the exploded shell or the previous cartridge, if it be not exploded. The vibratory movement of the lever s is 90 imparted by means of the slide J. The lever s is constructed with an inwardly-projecting arm v, (see Fig. 12,) and in the end of this arm is a spring-stud w, normally standing out- ward, but adapted to yield so as to be forced 95 inward. The slide J is constructed with a downwardly-projecting cam 2, (see Figs. 8 and 14, also seen in broken lines, Fig. 11,) which normally stands at the rear of the lever s, as seen in Fig. 5. The face of the cam 2 ico next the stud го is beveled or inclinedinward and backward, as seen in Fig. 14, and so that as the slide moves forward this beveled sur- face will strike upon the stud w and force it inward without effect upon the lever s; but 105 the back of the cam 2 is inclined rearward and upward. Hence in the return of the slide the cam will strike upon the top of the stud, as seen in Fig. 11, without tendency to force the stud inward, and the incline of the cam will no consequently turn the lever s, as seen in Fig. 11, giving it a sudden inward movement suf- ficient to throw the cartridge into its place forward of the breeeh-piece, as before de- scribed. The operation of thecam2 istimed 115 so that the cartridge is transferred by the le- ver 8 before the breeeh-pieee has practically commenced its forward movement and imme- diately after the ejection of the previously-ex- ploded shell or cartridge,as the case maybe. 120 The cartridges are supplied to the sprock- et-wheels by any suitable device which will present the cartridges to the wheels with suf- ficient rapidity. As here represented, this is done by means of a strap or band having a 125 series of pockets 3, each adapted to receive a cartridge and so that successive cartridges will form a chain adapted to be engaged by the sprocket-wheels, as represented in Fig. 3. The chain being made continuous, the supply 130 of cartridges will be continuous. The sprock- et-wheels are provided with a guard 4 to re- tain the cartridges in their proper position in the wheels, so that the rotation of the wheels
-4 471,783 5 IO 15 20 25 3° 35 4° 45 5° 55 60 б5 may successive!}7 present them into proper position for the transfer to the barrel. A spring-stopisprovidedforthesprocket-wheels, which will arrest them, so as to prevent over- motion in their intermittent rotation. This stop is represented in Fig. 11 and is best made as a spring-stop 5, which will yieldingly engage the sprocket-wheel, but permit its being turned under the application of force thereto, as described—a common expedient in pawl-and-ratchet mechanisms. The bracket C is connected to the receiver by means of longitudinal bars 6 6, (see Figs. 1, 2, and 6,) the rod 7c working between these bars 6. The lever E is thrown outward by the force of the gases. To automatically re- turn the lever after it has thus been thrown outward, a suitable spring is provided, which will be compressed or extended, as the ease' may be, in the opening movement of the le- ver and so that the reaction of the spring will force the lever to its closed position. As here represented, this spring is a spiral spring 7, arranged npon a stationary rod 8, secured to the bracket at the front and extending loosely through an ear 9 on the slide J, one encl of the spring bearing against the forward end of the slide, as seen in Figs. 5 and 6, the other end of the spring bearing against a collar 10 on the rod 8 and so that as the slide is moved forward under the operation of the gases through the lever E, as before described, the spring will be compressed, so that its reaction may return the slide and the lever to the closed position ready for the next explosion. As the opening movement of the lever E throws the breech-piece to the open position, cocks the hammer, and presents a new car- tridge forward of the breech-pieee, as before described, the return of the leverE underthe action of its spring brings the breech-piece to the closed position, forces the next cartridge into the barrel, and releases the hammer to explode that cartridge after it shall have been properly introduced into the barrel and there supported by the breech-piece. The fir- ing of that cartridge repeats the action of the lever E and brings the parts to the open po- sition. Thus continuing, the cartridges are successively exploded, and with a rapidity limited only to the action of the gases in opening the breech - piece and the action of the spring in returning the same, continuous and rapid firing being thereby made practi- cable. As a cushion to easily arrest the open- ing movement of the parts under the action of the gases, a spring 11 is arranged below the lever E and so that as the lever reaches its open position it may strike the said spring as a yielding resistance to easily arrest the opening movement of the lever. Some means is necessary to retain the ham- mer at full-cock when the breech-piece is in the closed position in order to the firing of the first cartridge, and it is also desirable that the operation of the machine may be arrested, notwithstanding cartridges are ready to be introduced. These objects are here repre- sented as accomplished by a single instru- mentality. This consists of a lever 12, ar- 70 ranged upon the side of the receiver, with a headed stud 13 through it into the receiver as a support for the lever and the lever ex- tended rearward of this stud to form a han- dle 14. The lever is adapted to a lateral 75 movement under the application of force to the handle, so as to turn the forward end of the lever outward, as seen in Fig. 10. The lever at its forward end is turned inward to form a nose 15, which, when the lever is in its 80 inward position, will stand in the path of the hammer and so that the hammer being cocked the nose of the lever will serve to hold it in that cocked position and thus prevent firing. Between the head of the stud 13 and the lever 85 a spring 16 is introduced, tending to yield- ingly hold the lever in its inward position. Before the operation of the gun commences the hammer is brought to the cocked position and engaged by the lever 12. Then a cartridge 90 being in the barrel and the breech-piece closed, the hammer is released by pressing the han- dle 14 of the lever 12 inward, so as to draw the nose of the lever from before the ham- mer. Then the hammer will fly forward and 95 explode the cartridge. From that time the firing will continue so long as the cartridges are supplied and the lever 12 is held in that out or disengaged position; but when the le- ver is released, so as to permit it to again 100 move inward forward of the hammer, it will in the next operation catch the hammer in the cocked position, and thus interrupt the action of the gun until the hammer is again released. 105 While representing the cartridges as sup- plied by means of a chain-like series of pock- ets, they may be otherwise supplied to the sprocket or feed wheels—as, for illustration, by means of a hopper, as represented in broken no lines, Fig. 13, the hopper being adapted to re- ceive a mass of cartridges, the mouth of the hopper opening to the wheels or carrier, so that when at rest a cartridge may pass from the hopper into the carrier. 115 It will be understood that the machine is to be supported upon a suitable frame or stock, it not being necessary to illustrate such support in order to the full understanding of the invention. 120 What we claim, and desire to secure by Let- ters Patent, is— 1. The combination, with a gun-barrel at- tached to a receiver and opening rearward therein, of a lever arranged near the forward 125 end of the barrel and so as to swing in a plane parallel with the bore of the barrel, the lever at its free end forming a cap forward of the front end of the barrel, with an opening through it corresponding to the bore of the bar- 130 rel, a breech-piece arranged upon longitudi- nal guides in the receiver at the rear of the barrel and so as to receive reciprocating move- ment, a toggle-joint the forward link of whieli
471,783 is hung to the breeeh-piece and the rear link hung upon a stationary pivot in the receiver, the said other link constructed with an arm having a longitudinal slot therein, a slide ar- 5 ranged to reciprocate longitudinally in the receiver below the breeeh-pieee and toggle, the said slotted arm of the link hung upon a pivot in the said slide, a rod connecting the said slide with the said lever, whereby the io said slide partakes of the opening movement of the said lever, and a spring opposed to such opening movement of the lever, with a ham- mer arranged to be brought to the cocked po- sition in the opening movement of the breech- 15 piece and released as the breech-pieee closes, substantially as described. 2. The combination of a gun-barrel, a re- ceiver into which the barrel opens at the rear, a lever hung near the forward end of the bar- 20 rel and so as to swing in a plane parallel with the plane of the barrel, the free end of the le- ver forming a cap forward of the front end of the barrel, with an opening through it corre- sponding to the bore of the barrel, a longi- 25 tudinally-reeiproeating slide arranged in the receiver, a rod connecting said slide with the lever, a spring opposed to the opening move- ment of the said lever, a reciprocating breech- piece arranged in the receiver and connected 30 with said slide, whereby the opening and clos- ing movement of the said lever will impart corresponding opening and closing movement to the breech-piece, and a hammer hung in the receiver below the barrel, its nose adapted to 35 strike the cartridge in the barrel, the hammer constructed with a tail extending through a slot provided for it in the said slide, the two ends of the said slot forming cams against the corresponding rear and front sides of the said 40 hammer-tail, with a mainspring for the ham- mer, substantially as described. 3. The combination of a barrel, a receiver at the rear of the barrel into which the rear end of the barrel opens, a longitudinally-re- 45 ciproeating breech-piece arranged in said re- ceiver at the rear of the barrel, and an intermit- tently-rotating carrier arranged at one side of the barrel, but forward of the rear end of the barrel, said carrier being adapted to receive 50 a succession of cartridges parallel with the barrel, the said breech-piece provided with an extractor adapted to engage a cartridge in the barrel and constructed with a projection upon the carrier side, the said projection carrying 55 a hook or catch adapted to engage the head of a cartridge on the carrier when the breeeh- pieee is in the closed position and whereby in the rear movement of the breech-piece a cartridge willbe drawn from said carrier rear- 60 ward, with mechanism substantially such as described to throw7 said rearwardly-drawn car- tridge into a position forward of the front face of the breech-pieee and in line with the bar- rel, and mechanism, substantially such asde- 65 scribed, at the forward end of the barrel and in connection with the said breech-piece, sub- stantially as specified, and whereby the ex- plosion of the gases operating through said mechanism at the forward end of the barrel will impart reciprocating movement to the 70 breech-piece. 4. Ina gnii having a barrel opening into a receiver at the rear and a longitudinally-re- ciprocating breeeh-piece in said receiver, with mechanism at the forward end of the 75 barrel in connection with said breech-pieee, whereby the gases from the explosion will cause said mechanism at the forward end of the barrel to produce the reciprocating move- ment of the said breech-pieee, the eombina- 80 tion therewith of an intermittently-rotating carrier arranged at one side of the barrel, the axis of the carrier being substantially paral- lel with the axis of the barrel, said carrier constructed with recesses in its periphery 85 adapted to receive cartridges and successively present the same in line with the barrel, but forward of the rear end of the barrel, the breeeh-piece constructed with an extension upon the carrier side, the said extension pro- 90 vided with a hook adapted to engage the head of a cartridge presented thereto by the car- rier when the breeeh-piece is in its closed po- sition and so that in the rear movement of the breeeh-piece the cartridge so engaged will 95 be drawn rearward from the carrier into a position in rear of but at one side of the bar- rel, a lever arranged to swing in a plane trans- verse to the axis of the barrel, the free end of the lever normally outside the cartridge 100 so withdrawn from the carrier, and mechan- ism substantially such as described to im- part an inward movement to said lever,where- by the said lever is transferred to a position forward of the front face of the open breech- 105 piece and in line with the barrel, substan- tially as specified. 5. The combination of the barrel, a receiver at the rear of the barrel and into which the barrel opens, a lever E, hung near the for- no ward end of the barrel and so as to swing in a plane parallel with the plane of the bar- rel, the free end of the lever forming a cap forward of the front end of the barrel, said cap havingan opening through it correspond- 115 ing to the bore of the barrel, a longitudinally- reciprocating slide J, arranged in the receiver, connected by a rod К to the lever, so as to partake of the opening movement of the said lever, a spring to return said lever and slide 120 after the opening movement, a longitudinally- reciprocating breech-piece arranged in the receiver at the rear of the barrel and in con- nection with said slide, so that the opening and closing movement of the said lever will /25 be correspondingly imparted to the breech- piece, the said slide constructed with a slot X, a hammer hung upon a stationary pivot in the receiver between the barrel and the said slide, the hammer constructed with a tailW, 130 extending into said slot X in the slide, and a mainspring for the hammer, connected to the hammer below its pivot and so as to pass above the hammer-pivot when in the full-eocked
6 471,783 position, the forward end of the said slot X in the slide.arranged to strike the forward side of the tail as the slide moves rearward and thereby start the hammer for its striking 5 movement, so as to bring the active point of the spring below the central line of the pivot, substantially as and for the purpose described. 6. The combination of a barrel, a receiver into which the barrel opens at the rear, alon- io gitudinally - reciprocating breech-pieee ar- ranged in the said receiver at the rear of the barrel, a toggle-joint, one link К of which is hung to the breech-piece, the other link О hung upon a stationary pivot in the receiver 15 at the rear, the longitudinally-reciprocating slide J, arranged below the said stationary pivot of the links, mechanism substantially such as described at the forward end of the barrel, whereby under the influence of the 20 explosion longitudinally-reciprocating move- ment is imparted to said slide, and alink O, con- structed with a slotted rearwardly-extending arm into a slot in the said slide, with a pivot in said slot of the slide through the slot in the 25 said arm, the said arm constructed with a fin- ger f, projecting therefrom, substantially as and for the purpose described. 7. The combination of a receiver, a barrel attached to and opening at the rear into 30 said receiver, a longitudinally-reciprocating breech-piece arranged in the said receiver at the rear of the barrel, a toggle-joint, one link N of which is hung to the breech-piece, the other link О hung upon a stationary pivot in 35 the receiver at the rear, a longitudinally-re- ciprocating slide J, the link О in connection with said slide, whereby the reciprocating movement of the said slide J will impart swinging vibratory movement to said link and 40 consequent reciprocating movement to said breech-piece, a hammer hung npon a station- ary pivot in the receiver below the barrel, the hammer constructed with a projection there- from extending into connection with said 45 slide and whereby reciprocating movement of the slide will impart to the hammer the cock- ing and discharge movement, the hammer be- ing provided with a mainspring, and mechan- ism at the forward end of the barrel in con- 50 nection with said slide, substantially as de- scribed, and whereby the explosion of the gases will produce said reciprocating move- ment of the said slide. 8. The combination of a receiver, a barrel opening into the receiver at the rear, a lever 55 E, hung upon a bracket at the forward end of the barrel and so as to swing in the plane of the barrel, the bracket forming a eapfoward of the front end of the barrel, with an open- ing through it corresponding to the bore of 60 the barrel, a cushioned spring against which the said lever may strike in the opening move- ment, breech mechanism in the receiver sub- stantially such as described, and a connection therefrom to said lever, substantially as de- 65 scribed, and whereby the swinging movement of said lever will impart corresponding move- ment to the breech mechanism. 9. A gun having a barrel opening into a receiver at the rear and a longitudinally-re- 70 eiproeating breech-piece in said receiver, with mechanism to impart such reciprocating movement to said breech-pieee, the combina- tion therewith of an intermittently-rotating carrier arranged at one side of the barrel, the 75 axis of the carrier being substantially paral- lel with the axis of the barrel, said carrier constructed with recesses in its periphery adapted to receive cartridges and successively present them in line with but forward of the 80 rear end of the barrel, the breeeh-piece con- structed with an extension npon the carrier side, the said extension provided with a hook adapted to engage the head of a cartridge pre- sented thereto when the breech-pieee is in its 85 closed position, so that in the rear movement of the breeeh-pieee the cartridge so engaged will be drawn rearward from the carrier into a position in rear of but at one side of the barrel, with mechanism substantially such as 90 described to throw said rearwardly-drawn car- tridge into a position forward of the front face of the breech-pieee and in line with the bar- rel, substantially as described. In testimony whereof we have signed this 95 specification in the presence of two subscrib- ing witnesses. JOHN M. BROWNING. MATTHEW S. BROWNING. Witnesses: W. G. Wright, J. H. Emmett.
(No Model.) J. M. & M. S. BROWNING-. MACHINE GUN. No. 471,784. Patented Mar. 29, 1892. tke norris perens co., photo-litmo.. washinoton. d. c.
United States Patent Office. JOHN M. BROWNING AND MATTHEW S. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH TERRITORY. MACHINE-GUN. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 471,784, dated March 29,1892. Applioation filed August 3,1891, Serial No, 401,576. (No model.) To all whom it may concern: Be it known that we, John M. Browning and Matthew S. Browning, of Ogden, in the county of Weber and Territory of Utah, have 5 invented a new Improvement in Machine- Guns; and we do hereby declare the follow- ing, when taken in connection with accompa- nying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact io description of the same, and which said draw- ings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in— Figure l,a longitudinal sectional side view of a gun-barrel, illustrating the mechanism for 15 automatic firing; Fig. 2, a transverse section cutting on line ж x of Fig. 1; Fig. 3, an under side view looking upward, showing the wheel C in transverse section and the bracket in partial section. 20 This invention relates to an improvement in that class of machine-guns in which the firing is-made automatic by means of gases escaping from the muzzle of the gun, the ob- ject of the invention being to employ a wheel 25 with blades upon which the gases may act to impart rotation to the wheel, the rotation of the wheel being utilized to operate the mech- anism of the gnu, and also so that the blades of the wheel may serve as a fan to produce a 30 blast for the cooling of the gun-barrel. The invention consists principally in the arrangement of a wheel carrying blades, the path of the blades in rotation being in line with the muzzle of the gun, and the wheel 35 adapted to revolve upon an axle at right an- gles to the axis of the barrel, the blades hav- ing an opening through them corresponding to the muzzle of the gun for the passage of the bullet, the blades surrounding the said 40 opening being adapted to receive the action of the gases escaping from the muzzle of the gun, whereby rotation may be imparted to said wheel, and the said wheel in connection with the mechanism of the arm, whereby its 45 rotation will operate the said mechanism. The invention also consists in combining with such a wheel a conductor in line with the revolution of the said blades, and so that the said blades may operate as a fan to throw 50 a blastof air into the said tube, the said tube conducting the blast of air so thrown into it into a jacket surrounding the barrel, and whereby a blast of air is constantly circulated around the barrel when the gun is in oper- ation, and as more fully hereinafter described. 55 A represents the barrel of the gun. We do not illustrate the breech mechanism, as the invention may be applied to any of the known mechanisms for guns or arms which may be operated by a reciprocating move- 60 ment too well known to require description or illustration. Forward of the barrel and upon an axis В a wheel C is arranged. The axis is supported in suitable bearings, here represented as a 65 bracket attached to the forward end of the barrel and forming arms D D, in which the axis В takes its bearing. The periphery of the wheel is grooved, so as to form an annu- lar recess E around the wheel. In this re- 70 cess a series of blades F F are arranged trans- versely across the groove or recess in the wheel. The axis of the wheel is arranged relatively to the axis of the barrel, so that the groove of the wheel is in line with the barrel 75 and so that the blades will travel in a path to successively bring the blades forward of the bore of the barrel. The blades are each con- structed with a notch or opening G, which corresponds to the bore of the barrel, these 80 notches open at the upper edge of the blades and so as to leave a clear way from the bar- rel forward through the blades as they re- volve, and so that the ball as it leaves the barrel may not come in contact with either 85 of the said blades. The annular groove E of the wheel is considerably larger than the notch G of the blades, so as to expose the sur- face of the blades around the recess G within the groove. As the gases escape from the 90 barrel they enter the groove of tire wheel and strike the blade then exposed, the force of the gases thereby causing the wheel to re- volve, each successive blade catching the force as it presents itself before the barrel. 95 The axis or arbor В of the wheel C carries a pinion H, which works into a gear-wheel I, here represented as supported upon the same bracket as the wheel G, and so that the rota- tion of the wheel C will impart corresponding 100 rotation to the gear I. The gear I serves to communicate the rotation of the wheel C to
2 471,784 the mechanism of the arm. As here repre- sented, this is done by means of a erank-pin J on the wheel I, from which a connecting- rod. К extends to the mechanism of the arm, 5 and so that the revolution of the wheel I will impart corresponding reciprocating move- ment to the rod K, which will produce the opening and closing movement of the breech- piece and cocking and discharging of the io hammer. The revolution of the wheel C will be very rapid, more rapid than would be nat- urally required to produce the operation of the mechanism, and it is not desirable to check this rapid revolution to any consider- 15 able extent, for the reason that it is purposed to employ this rapid revolution for cooling the barrel, as will be hereinafter described. For these reasons the pinion H is made much smaller that the gear I, so that the revolution 20 of the gear I will be proportionately slower than the revolution of the wheel C; but it will be understood that the proportionate speed of the wheels may be varied, and is im- material to the invention, and it will also be 25 understood that the connection between the wheel C and the mechanism will be adapted to the particular mechanism which may be employed, the illustration of the connecting- rod and crank being sufficient for the clear 30 understanding of the invention. The firing will be very rapid. Consequently the wheel C will maintain substantially a continuous revolution so long as cartridges are supplied to the barrel. 35 To utilize the blast for cooling the barrel, a tubular conductor L is arranged tangentially to the wheel C and upon the side of the wheel opposite the barrel, the tube opening toward the wheel, as seen in Fig. 3, and so that as 40 the wheel C rotates the blades will foree air into the tube L in like manner asair is thrown by revolving fans. Around the barrel a jacket M is arranged, so as to leave a space or chamber N between the jacket and the bar- 45 rel, This jacket opens forward near the muz- zle, may be as at O, Fig. 1, and into the cham- ber N at the rear the conductor L leads, as seen in Fig. 1, so that the blast of air pro- duced by the revolving wheel C will be forced 50 into the chamber N around the barrel, the air escaping forward, and thus will maintain a constant circulation of cool air around the barrel during the operation of the gun, which will tend to prevent the heating of the bar- 55 rel from rapid firing. To facilitate the drawing of air into the groove in the wheel C forward of the blades, the sides of the groove are constructed with openings P between successive blades. In 60 case the blast or cooling is not required the groove on the periphery of the wheel may be omitted, the periphery of the wheel being pro- vided only with the series of blades; but we prefer to employ the groove, as the groove it- 65 self serves to confine the gases and the action thereof more directly upon the blades than would be the case were the sides open between the blades for the free escape of gases. We claim— 1. In combination with the barrel of a gun, 70 a wheel arranged upon an axis at the forward end of the barrel, the said axis being at right angles to the axis of the barrel, the wheel constructed with a series of blades upon its periphery, said blades moving in a path cen- 75 tral with the line of the barrel, and the blades constructed with an opening through them corresponding to the bore of the barrel, the said opening through the blades extending through the outer edge of the blades, with 80 mechanism, substantially such as described, between said wheel and the mechanism of the gun, substantially as specified, and whereby the rotation of said wheel will impart oper- ative movement to said mechanism. 85 2. In combination with the barrel of a gun, a wheel arranged upon an axis at the forward end of the barrel, the axis of the wheel being at right angles to the axis of the barrel, the wheel constructed with an annular groove on 90 its periphery, the wheel having a series of blades arranged transversely across said groove and so that as the wheel revolves the said blades will be successively presented in line with the barrel, the blades constructed 05 with an opening corresponding to the boro of the barrel, the said opening of the blades ex- tending through the outer edge of the blades, with mechanism, substantially such as de- scribed, adapted to connect said wheel with 10c the breech mechanism of the gun, substan- tially as described. 3. In combination with the barrel of a gun, a wheel arranged upon an axis at the forward end of the barrel, the axis of the wheel being 105 at right angles to the axis of the barrel, the wheel constructed with a series of substan- tially radial blades on the periphery, the plane of the blades being transversely across the periphery and so that the said blades in no revolving will be successively presented in line with the barrel, the blades constructed with an opening corresponding to the bore of the barrel, mechanism, substantially such as described, adapted to connect the said wheel 115 with the breech mechanism of the gun and with a jacket around the barrel, forming an air-chamber between said jacket and barrel, with a conductor opening forward toward the blades of said wheel and leading therefrom 12c into said jacket, substantially as described, and whereby the revolution of the said wheel produces blast through the said conductor and into said chamber around the barrel. In testimony whereof we have signed this 125 specification in the presence of two subscrib- ing witnesses. JOHN M. BROWNING. MATTHEW S. BROWNING. Witnesses: C. J. Brown, John E. Ramsden.
(No Model.) 4 Sheets—Sheet 1. J. M. & M. 8. BROWNING. BREECH LOADING FIREARM. No. 486,272. Patented Nov. 15, 1892. THE NORRIS PETERS CO. PhOTO-LiTHO., WASHINGTON. О. C.
(No Model ) 4 Sheets—Sheet 2. J. M. & M. 8. BROWNING-. BREEOH LOADING FIREARM. No. 486,272. Patented Nov. 15, 1892. THE NORRiS PETERS CO, PHOTO-LITHO.. WASHINGTON. 0. c.
(No Model.) 4 Sheets—Sheet 3. J. M. & M. S. BROWNING-. BREECH LOADING FIREARM No. 486,272. Patented Nov. 15, 1892. THE NORRiS PETEiTS CO. PHOTO-UTHO.. WASHINGTON, a c.

United States Patent Office. JOHN M. BROWNING AND MATTHEW S. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH TER- RITORY, ASSIGNORS TO THE WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS COMPANY, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT. BREECH-LOADING FIREARM. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 486,272, dated November 15, 1892. Application filed June 6,1802. Serial No. 435,704. (No model.) To all whom it may concern: Be it known that we, John M. Browning and Matthew S. Browning, of Ogden, in the county of Weber and Territory of Utah, have 5 invented a new Improvement in Firearms; and we do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection withaeeompanyingdraw- ings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact deserip- to tion of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and rep- resent, in— Figure 1, a side view of the arm complete, but shortened at the front and rear; Fig. 2, a 15 top view of the same; Fig. 3, an under side view of the same; Fig. 4, a longitudinal sec- tional view cutting through the stock, showing the receiverin side view; Fig. 5, alongitudinal sectional side view showing the mechanism 20 in position, the breech-pieee closed, and the parts locked; Fig. 6, a side view of the maga- zine detached; Fig. 7, a rear view of the same; Fig. 8, a sectional side view, enlarged, show- ing the hammer as in the cocked position 25 with the breeeh-piece closed; Fig. 9, a verti- cal section on line x x of Fig. 8, looking for- ward; Fig. 10, a transverse section on line?/ у of Fig. 8; Fig. 11, the same as Fig. 8, but showing the parts as in the extreme open po- 30 sition. This invention relates to an improvement in that class of firearms in which the breeeh- piece is arranged to move longitudinally backward and forward in opening and clos- 35 ing through the instrumentality of a lever forming the trigger-guard, and in which a hammer is arranged in the receiver at the rear of the breech-piece, adapted to operate upon a firing-pin which extends through the 40 breeeh-piece, and with special reference to that class of magazine-firearms in which the magazine is removable from the arm and adapted to contain several cartridges, one above another, nearly parallel with each 45 other, and so that the said magazine, with the cartridges, may be introduced into the re- ceiver to a position below the breeeh-piece, and so that, the breeeh-pieee being open, the column of cartridges will be raised to bring the uppermost cartridge forward of the front 50 face of the breech-pieee, and so that when the breeeh-pieee is returned it will force the uppermost cartridge into the cartridge-cham- ber in the barrel, parts of the invention be- ing applicable to single breech-loaders as well 55 as to magazine-arms. The invention has for its object to lock the mechanism of the arm in its closed or normal position and to lock the hammer in a position slightly withdrawn from the firing-pin, and 60 also to lock the magazine or cartridge-holder securely in the receiver; and the invention consists in the construction as hereinafter de- scribed, and particularly recited in the claims. A represents the receiver, within which 65 the mechanism is arranged, and, as shown, the receiver is constructed of a width nar- rower than the width of the stock, and so as to be introduced into a mortise prepared for it in the stock, the stock being continuous 70 from butt to fore-end. The barrel is attached to the forward end of the receiver and opens at its rear end into the receiver in the usual manner of breech-loading arms. В represents thebreeeh-piece, which is pro- 75 vided near its forward end on each side with lateralty-projecting trunnions C, which are adapted to run in corresponding longitudinal grooves D upon the inside of the receiver, (see Figs. 9 and 11,) so that the forward end 80 of the breech-pieee is guided in substantially a longitudinal line, while its rear end is free to rise and fall. E represents the lever below the receiver and which forms the trigger-guard. Its in- 85 ner end is constructed with an arm F, which extends forward and is hung to the breech- piece near its rear end by a pivot G. II represents the link or strut, which ishung by its rear end upon a pivot I at the rear end 90 of the receiver and extending forward is hinged at its forward end to the lever E by a pivot J, the pivots G, I, and J being substan- tially in line with each other when the parts are in the closed position, as seen in Fig. 5. 95 When the parts are in the closed position, as seen in Figs. 5 and 8, the rear end of the breech-piece abuts against a corresponding
8 486,873 shoulder К in the receiver, which forms an abutment to supportthe breech-piece against the action of recoil. In opening the breech-piece the first part 5 of the downward movement of the trigger- guard lever, as indicated in broken lines, Fig. 5, draws down the rear end of the breeeh- pieceuntil it may escape theabutment K. The link or strut H also turns downward upon its io fixed pivot I, and this downward movement of the trigger-guard lever is then continued, which produces the rear movement of the breech-piece to its full open position, as seen in Fig. 11. In the receiver in rear of the 15 breech-piece the hammer L is arranged. This hammer is in the form of a sliding spin- dle, its forward end adapted to strike the fir- ing-pin M, which is arranged longitudinally in.the breech-piece. The hammer is provided 20 with a spring N at the rear, which is com- pressed as the hammer moves rearward and so that by its reaction it will throw the ham- mer forward to impart its blow to the rear end of the firing-pin. The hammer is ar- 25 ranged in the grip part of the receiver and therefore stands in a position inclined down- ward and rearward from the breech-piece, as clearly seen in Fig. 5. As here represented, the hammer is provided with a thumb-piece 30 O, by which it may be forced backward by hand should occasion require; but in the usual workingof thearmthe rearend of the breech- piece drops below the forward part of the hammer, and so that as it moves rearward it 35 will at the proper time strike a shoulder P on the under side of the hammer and so that as the breech-piece continues its rear movement to the wide-open position it will force the ham- mer to full-cock, as seen in Fig. 11, where a 40 notch Q on the hammer will engage the nose R of the sear S, as seen in Fig. 11, the sear-spring, asshowninFig. 8,forcingthesearintothenotch when it is presented thereto. This movement of the hammer compresses the spring aeeord- 45 ingly. Upon the return of the trigger-guard lever the breeeh-pieee moves forward, and when it reaches its extreme forward or closed position the final closing movement of the trigger-guard lever will raise the rear end of 50 the breech-piece to bring it forward of the shoulder K, as seen in Fig. 8. In a vertical mortise T through the link or strut II the trigger U is hung upon a pivot V, and when the parts are in the closed posi- 55 tion, as seen in Fig. 8, the trigger stands di- rectly under the tail W of the sear S and so that, the hammer being engaged by the nose R of the sear, as seen in Fig. 8, a pull upon the trigger will act upon the tail AV of the 60 sear so as to force the nose R of the sear out of engagement with the hammer to liberate the hammer, so that it may fly forward to im- part its blow to the firing-pin. From the sear is a downwardly-projecting 65 dog X, which extends through the mortise T in the link H and is constructed with a shoul- der Y upon its rear side, and this shoulder Y of the dog X is adapted to engage a corre- sponding shoulder Z in the trigger-guard le- ver when the dog is free so to do, as seen 70 in Fig. 5. Such engagement of the dog with the trigger-guard lever locks the mechanism of the arm in the closed position and from which it cannot escape so long as the dog is thus engaged. The relation of the dog X to 75 the nose R of the sear S is such that when the sear is engaged with the hammer, as seen in Fig. 8, the dog is forced out of engagement with the lever E and so that that lever is free to operate upon the under side of the ham- 80 mer and will ride upon the nose of the sear, so that it will be impossible for the dog to en- gage the lever E unless a special provision is made for it so to do. To permit the dog to interlock with the lever E, the hammer is con- 85 strueted near its rear end with a notch a deeper than the cock-notch Q, as seen in Fig. 5, and this notch a is in such a position with relation to the sear that the said notch a may engage the sear when the hammer is 90 slightly withdrawn from the firing-pin, as seen in Fig. 5, and because this notch a is deeper than the cock-notch Q the sear is per- mitted to rise to so much greater extent than the cock-notch permits it to do that the dog 95 turns rearward so much farther than it would do at the cock-notch that it will engage the lever E, as seen in Fig. 5. The notch a is preferably undercut, so as to make a hook engagement with the sear to prevent the sear 100 from being withdrawn from that notch by a direct pull upon the trigger. The hammer is therefore locked in a slightly-retracted posi- tion, and engaging the sear as it does it pre- vents the possible accidental disengagement 105 of the dog from the lever. In the ordinary use of the arm when the trigger is pulled to release the hammer from full-cock the hammer flies forward so as to strike the firing-pin, and this forward move- no ment takes the notch a to aposition forward of the nose of the sear, as seen in broken lines, Fig. 5, so that when the hammer is in that ex- treme forward position the lever is unlocked and ready for operation, the locking of the 115 breeeh-pieee in its closed position only being permissible when the hammer is slightly re- treated. Such retreating of the hammer will be produced by hand, it being impossible when the parts are locked as described to produce the 120 rear movement of the hammer through the instrumentality of the trigger-guard lever; but when the hammer is in the extreme for- ward position, as seen in broken lines, Fig. 8, the arm may be operated the same as if there 125 were no locking device. To retain the parts in their closed position when not thus posi- tively locked, a spring-stud 2 is arranged transverselj7 in the lever E and so as to pro- ject at one side, as seen in Fig. 10, this spring- 130 stud being adapted to engage the inner sur- face of the receiver when the lever is in the
486,272 5 ю i5 20 25 3° 35 40 45 5° 55 бо б5 closed position and so as to offer a slight re- sistance to the manipulation of the lever, but not sufficient to interfere with its operation. The arrangement of the sear and trigger with the locking arrangement for the lever may be employed in arms in which a similar lever is used, wherein the lever is hung npon a stationary pivot in the receiver instead of connected with the receiver by a link—as, for illustration, the lever of the well-known Win- chester repeating-arm—provided, of course, that the reciprocating hammer be employed, and, as a further illustration, in Fig. 8 the link T may be supposed to be a stationary part of the receiver with the pivot J, on which the lever swings stationary in the receiver, the connection between the lever and the breech- piece being such, as is well understood, that the forward-swinging movement of the lever will impart a rearward movement to the breech-piece, and such rearward movement of the breech-piece will impart a correspond- ing rearward-sliding movement to the ham- mer. In such construction the operation of the trigger, sear, and dog with the correspond- ing notches of the hammer will be the same as already described. The magazine consists of a case composed of a back b with two sides c, distant from each other corresponding to the diameter of the cartridges and of their heads, a groove being formed in the sides, so that the heads of the cartridges may lie therein, and the flange of each cartridge stands at the rear of the flange of the next cartridge above, as seen in Fig. 6. The two sides are short and the front end of the magazine open, so that the cartridges may project therefrom, as seen in Fig. 6. This magazine itself constitutes the subject of an independent application. The receiver is adapted for the introduction of the magazine into the arm when the breech- piece is in the open position, as seen in Fig. 11, and so that when the breech-piece is in that position the magazine may be introduced through the opening in the top into the re- ceiver and forced down into the receiver upon a spring-follower cl, as seen in Fig. 11, so as to depress that follower, but so that the fol- lower may bear against the lower cartridge in the column with a tendency to raise the column, and so that as the upper cartridge is thrown forward out of the magazine the col- umn will rise to present the next cartridge, and so on until all the cartridges are removed. The position of the upper cartridge in the magazine is, as seen in Fig. 11, so that its up- per edge stands forward of the front face of the open breech-piece, and so that as the breech-piece next moves forward it will force the upper cartridge forward into its place in the magazine. The magazine, as will be seen from the fore- going, is of U shape in transverse section, its open side forward. As one magazine is ex- hausted, it becomes necessary to introduce a second, and that one magazine may operate to force the preceding magazine from the re- receiver. The receiver is constructed with a U-shaped opening e through its under side, 70 (see Figs. 3, 8, and 9,) which corresponds in position to the magazine when in place, and so that, one magazine having been exhausted, the second magazine with cartridges intro- duced will strike the upper end of the preced- 75 ing magazine and force it downward through the opening e in the bottom of the receiver, the pressure of the spring-follower being suf- ficientto support the cartridges and the maga- zine in their proper position so long as there 80 are any cartridges in the magazine. To lock the magazine in its place in the re- ceiver and hold it against the upward force produced by the follower upon the cartridges, a magazine-locking dog/is hung in the re- 85 ceiver upon a pivot <7 at the rear of the maga- zine-recess. This dog is provided with a spring h, the tendency of which is to force the nose of the dog forward. The tail of the dog above the pivot is adapted to rest upon a stop or 90 shoulder i in the receiver when the nose of the dog is in the forward or locking position, and so as to prevent the nose of the dog from flying farther forward when the magazine is absent. 95 The back of the magazine is constructed with a notch 1c, and so that as the magazine is forced downward to its place the nose of the dog will in due time engage the notch 1c of the magazine, as seen in Fig. 8, and lock the 100 magazine against upward movement, but leave the magazine free to be forced down- ward, the notch escaping from the dog as the magazine moves downward when the next magazine is inserted. 105 We claim— 1. In a firearm in which the barrel opens into the receiver at the rear, the combination therewith of a longitudinally-reciprocating brcech-piece arranged in the receiver, the no breech-piece provided with trunnions near its forward end and upon opposite sides, the re- ceiver constructed with longitudinal grooves in which said trunnions may run, the breech- piece at the rear end free to swing up and 115 down, a lever extending through the bottom of the receiver and rearward, an arm of the lever extending forward and hung to the breech-piece near its rear end, a link hung in the receiverat the rear of the breeeh-piece and 120 so as to swing in a plane parallel with the plane of the lever, the link extending forward and hung to the receiver between the pivot which connects the lever to the breech-piece and the pivot by which the link is hung to the 125 receiver, and the receiver constructed with a shoulder at the rear of the breech-piece and against which the breech-piece will abut when in the closed position, substantially as described, and whereby in the first part of the 130 opening movement of the said lever the rear end of the breech-piece will be drawn down and away from its abutment on the receiver. 2. In a firearm in which the barrel opens
4 486,872 into the receiver at the rear, the combination therewith of a longitudinally-reciprocating breech-pieee, a lever extending through the bottom of the receiver, an arm at its forward 5 end hung to the rear end of the breech-pieee, a link hung upon a pivot in the receiver and extending forward, hung to the said lever be- tween the pivot which connects the lever with the breeeh-pieee and the pivot by which the io link is hung to the receiver, a hammer ar- ranged in the receiver in rear of the breech- pieee and adapted to slide longitudinally, the breeeh-pieee being adapted in its rear move- ment to force the hammer to its eoeked position, 15 asear bung tothe receiver below the hammer, its nose adapted to engage the eock-noteh of the hammer, and a trigger hung in a mortise in the said link, the tail of the sear adapted to engage the trigger when the parts are in the 20 closed position, substantially as described. 3. In a firearm in which the barrel opens into the receiver at the rear, the combination therewith of a longitudinally - reciprocating breech-piece, a swinging lever adapted toim- 25 part reciprocating movement to said breech- piece, a reciprocating hammer in rear of the breech-piece, a sear hung in the receiver be- low the hammer, its nose adapted to engage the full-cock notch of the hammer, a trigger 30 hung below the sear, the tail of the sear adapted to engage the trigger, so that a pull of the trigger will release the hammer, the hammer constructed with a notch in rear of the full-cock notch, but deeper than the full- 35 cock notch, and the sear constructed with a downwardly-projecting dog adapted to make hooked engagement with the lever, the depth of the full-cock notch being such as to pre- vent such engagement of the dog and lever, 40 while the deeper notch will permit the nose of the sear to rise to such an extent as to cause the engagement of the dog with the lever, substantially as described. 4. In a firearm in which the barrel opens 45 into the receiver at the rear, a longitudinal breech-piece arranged in the receiver in rear of the barrel, the breech-pieee constructed with trunnions upon opposite sides at its forward end, the receiver constructed with longitudi- nal grooves in which the said trunnions are 50 adapted to run, while the breech-pieee at the rear is adapted for up-and-down movement, the receiver constructed with a shoulder at the rear against which the rear end of the breech-piece may abut when in the closed 55 position, a lever through the bottom of the receiver, having an arm extending forward and hung to the breech-piece near its rear end, a link hung at the rear upon a pivot in the receiver, the link extending forward, hung 60 to the said lever between the connection of the lever with the breech-piece and the pivot on which the link is hung, the said link con- structed with a vertical mortise, a trigger hung upon a pivot in said mortise, a longitudinally- 65 reciprocating hammer above said link, a sear hung upon a pivot between said link and ham- mer, its nose adapted to engage the full-cock notch in the hammer and the tail of the sear adapted to engage the trigger, so that a pull 70 upon the trigger will turn the sear from the full-cock notch, the sear constructed with a downwardly-projecting dog through the mor- tise in the link, the lever and dog constructed with corresponding notches to adapt them to 75 engage with each other, and the hammer con- structed with a notch in rear of and deeper than the full-cock notch, the depth of the full- cock notch being such as to prevent the dog from turning into engagement with the lever, 80 but the increased depth of the notch at the rear being such as to permit such engagement between the notch and lever, substantially as described. In testimony whereof we have signed this 85 specification in the presence of two subscrib- ing witnesses. JOHN M. BROWNING. MATTHEW S. BROWNING. Witnesses: John E. Ramsden, R. C. McEwan.
(No Model.) 4 Sheets—Sheet 1. J. M. & M. S. BROWNING. BREECH LOADING FIREARM. No. 486,273. Patented Nov. 15, 1892.
4 Sheets—Sheet 2. (No Model.) J. M. & M. 8. BROWNING. BREECH LOADING FIREARM. No. 486,273. Patented Nov. 15, 1892.
4 Sheets—Sheet ,3. J. M. & M. ,8. BROWNING. BREECH LOADING FIREARM.
4 Sheets—Sheet 4. (No Model.) J. M. & M. 8. BROWNING. BREECH LOADING FIREARM. No. 486,273. Patented Nov. 15, 1892.
United States Patent Office. JOHN M. BROWNING AND MATTHEW S. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH TER- RITORY, ASSIGNORS TO THE WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS COMPANY, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT. BREECH-LOADINQ FIREARM. SPECIFICATION forming' part of Letters Patent No. 486,273, dated November 15, 1892. Application filed June 27,1892. Serial No. 438,105.. (No model.) To all whom it may concern: Be it known that we, John M. Browning and Matthew S. Browning, of Ogden, in the county of Weberand Territory of Utah, have 5 invented a new Improvement in Firearms; and we do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with accompanyingdraw- ings and the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact io description of the same, and which said draw- ings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in— Figure 1, a side view of the arm complete; Fig. 2, a top view of the same; Fig. 3, a lon- 15 gitudinal sectional side view of the arm com- plete, all the parts in the closed or normal po- sition; Fig- 4, a transverse section cuttingon line x x of Fig. 1; Fig. 5, a longitudinal cen- tral section showing the mechanism of the 20 arm in the closed position and with the re- movable magazine and cartridges in place, the hammer at full-cock; Fig. 6, a side view of the arm complete, showing the receiver and stock portions separated, so as to1 bring the 25 breech-piece ihto the open position; Fig. 7, a transverse section on line у у looking for- ward; Fig. 8, the same as Fig. 5, showing the parts in the open position and as having just received a charged magazine preparatory to 30 the closing movement; Fig. 9, a transverse section on line x x of Fig. 5 looking rear- ward and showing front end view of the breech-piece; Fig. 10, a longitudinal vertical central section cutting through the forward 35 part of the breech-piece to illustrate the op- eration of the extractor; Fig. 11, a horizontal longitudinal section cutting on line x x of Fig. 10; Fig. 12, a longitudinal section cut- ting through the spindle and guide in the 40 stock, showing the parts in the position when the head on the tail of the hammer comes to a bearing on the guide; Fig. 13, the same, showing the parts in the extreme advanced position when the hammer has reached its 45 full-cocked position; Fig. 14, a modification in the arrangement of the cushioning-spring. This invention relates to an improvement in that class of firearms in which the breech is opened by a forward sliding movement of 50 the barrel, and particularly to magazine-arms in -which the receiver is constructed with a chamber or recess below the breech-piece, adapted to receive a removable magazine or cartridge-holder carrying several cartridges, the receiver being adapted for the introdne- 55 tion of the holder with its cartridges through the top when the breeeh-piece isopen, and so that after thecartridges have been discharged from the holder the holder may be forced down through an opening in the bottom of 60 the receiver by the introduction of the next holder, parts of the invention being applica- ble to single breech-loaders; and the inven- tion consists in the construction as hereinaf- ter described, and particularly recited in the 65 claims. A represents the receiver, to the forward end of which the barrel В is attached in the usual manner and so as to open into the re- ceiver at the rear. The receiver is detached 70 from the stock and so that the receiver with the barrel which it. carries may be drawn for- ward from the position seen in Fig. 1 to that seen in Fig, 6 or from that seen in Fig. 5 to that seen in Fig. 8, the two.latter figures rep- 75 resenting the parts enlarged from Figs. 1 and 6. The forward end of the stock C is pro- vided with a plate D, against which the rear end of the receiver A abuts when the receiver is in, the rear position, as seen in Figs. 1 and 80 2. The receiver is constructed with a spindle E, projecting from its rear end and down- wardly inclined according to the downward inclination of the stock. This spindle is made tubular, and within the stock is a tube 85 F, opening through the plate D at the forward end and corresponding to the spindle E, and so that the spindle E may slide longitudinally therein as a guide for the forward and back- ward movement of the receiver and barrel, 90 and as from the position seen in Fig. 3 to that seen in Fig. 6 or from that seen in Fig. 5 to that seen in Fig. 8. G represents the breech-piece, which is ar- ranged longitudinally in the receiver and so 95 as to be free longitudinally; but the breech- pjece G stands between the two sides of the receiver and so as to all' w the receiver to move forward and back to take, the barrel away from the forward end of the breech- 100
2 486,273 piece.. From the plate D is an upward and forwardly projecting arm H, which is con- structed with an upward and forwardly in- clined slot J. (See Fig. 5.) The rear end of 5 the breech-piece is slotted correspondiug to the arm H, and into which slot thearmH ex tends when the parts are in the closed posi- tion, as seen in Fig. 2, and through the breech - piece and through the slot J in the arm H is io a pin K, which forms a connection between the breeeh-pieee and the arm H, so that the slot limits the forward and backward move- ment of the breeeh-pieee. In the normal or closed position of the parts the pin К stands 15 at the lower end of the slot J, as seen in Fig. 5, and so that a forward movement imparted to the breech-piece will cause the pin К to ride forward and upward in the slot J and so as to raise the rear end of the breech-piece as 20 it is thus moved forward, and as indicated in broken lines, Fig. 1. Thebreech-pieceisalso shown in this relation to the slot in Fig. 8. In the receiver below the breech - piece a shoulder L is formed, (see Fig. 3, there repre- 25 sented as at the forward end of the spindle,) and the breeeh-pieee is constructed with a corresponding shoulder M, so that when the breech-piece is in the closed position, as seen in Fig. 3, the shoulder M of the breech-piece 30 abuts against the shoulder L on the receiver and so that the breech-piece is locked in its closed position, so as to resist recoil. The barrel is provided with any suitable handle by which it may be moved forward 35 and backward or it may be simply grasped by the left hand while the stock is held against the shoulder. The stock being held and the barrel moved forward, the receiver, spindle, and breech-piece will all move to- 40 gether, because the shoulder L of the re- ceiver engages the shoulder M of the breech- piece; but in the forward movement of the breeeh-pieee its rear end will rise because of the movement of the pin К in the slot J, as 45 before described, and so as to cause the shoul- der M of the breeeh-pieee to rise above the shoulder L of the receiver by the time the pin К has reached the upper end of the slot in the. arm II and so that the breech-piece be- 50 ing there arrested the shoulder L of the re- ceiver may pass forward under the breech- piece,leaving the breech-piece stationary with the stock and with its rear end in the raised position, the rear end of the breech-piece rest- 55 ingupon the upper side of thespindle, as seen in Figs. 6 and 8. When the barrel is re- turned, the breech-piece still remains with its rear end in the up position and rides upon the upper side of the spindle until the re- 60 ceiver is returned so far as to take theshonl- der L to the rear of the shoulder M of the breech-piece. Then as the barrel or forward end of the receiver strikes the forward end of the breech-piece the completion of the clos- 65 ing movement will force the breech-piece rearward, and its rear end will be drawn down because of the inclination of the slot J until the shoulder M of the breech-piece has passed down forward of the shoulder L of the receiver in the fully-closed position of the 70 breech-piece and so as to lock the breech piece in that closed position against recoil. The breech - piece fits closely between the sides of the receiver and upon the arm II, so that the connection between the breech- 75 piece, the stock, and the receiver supports the receiver and stock against any tendency to turn laterally upon the spindle as an axis. To support the breech-piece at its forward end and maintain it in its proper relation to 80 the barrel, the receiver is constructed with a longitudinal groove N" (see Figs. 8 and 9) upon its inside, and the breech-piece is con- structed near its forward end with correspond- ing trunnions O, (see Figs. 6 and 9,) which 85 are adapted to run in grooves N, so as to guide the forward end of the breech-piece in a lon- gitudinal line and yet permit the vertical swinging movement of the breech-piece, which is required as the receiver is drawn forward 90 and as before described. Within the breech- piece the firing-pin P is arranged extending from the forward end of the breech-piece through to the rear end, as seen in Figs. 5 and 7. 95 Q represents the hammer, arranged in the tubular spindle E. The tail R of the hammer (see Fig. 3) extends rearward through the end of the spindle and through theend of thetube F, and within the spindle a spiral spring S is 100 arranged aroundthetailof thehammer,adapt- ed to bear forward against a shoulder T on the hammer, the rear end of the spring rest- ing upon a collar U, loose on the tail of the hammer, and between the collar U and the 105 end V of the spindle a short heavy spiral spring W is introduced, for the purpose to be hereinafter explained. As the hammer is forced rearward the spring S will be compressed in order that the no reaction of the spring may force the hammer forward. The nose of the hammer stands in such position with relation to the firing-pin that when the parts are in the closed posi- tion, as seen in Fig. 3, the hammer may strike 115 the rear end of the firing-pin, as usual in the arrangement of hammers in other arms. The hammer being supported in thespindle would naturally move backward and forward with it, and this condition is taken advantage of 120 as a means for cocking the hammer, and this is accomplished by means of the sear X, hung upon a pivot Y near the end of the receiver and below the hammer, as seen in Fig. 3. The sear is provided with a spring, as here- 125 inafter described, the tendency of which is to force the nose or rear end of the sear up- ward against the hammer. The rear end of the tail of the hammer is provided with a head a of larger diameter than the opening 130 through the end b of the tnbe F, through which the tail of the hammer passes, and the length of the tail of the hammer is such that the head a will strike the end bof the tube F
486,273 3 5 ю i5 20 25 3° 35 4о 45 5° 55 бо 65 before the receiver shall have reached its ex- treme forward position, and as represented in Fig. 12, thereby arresting the forward move- ment or advance of the hammer with the re- ceiver, and so that when the hammer is so arrested the receiver will continue its forward movement and compress the hammer-spring, as seen in Fig. 13, until the sear X may swing up under the action of its spring to a position forward of the hammer or a shonlder there- on, as seen in Fig. 13. Then when the re- ceiver returns, as in the closing movement, the sear being engaged with the hammer, as seen in Fig. 13, holds the hammer in the cocked position while the closing movement of the breech-piece is completed and until the engagement of the sear with the hammer shall be released. The trigger c is hung upon a pivot d in the frame and in rear of the sear, so that the nose e of the trigger will extend over a finger f, projecting rearwardly from the sear, and so that a pull upon the trigger will depress the sear, as indicated in broken lines, Fig. 5, to release the hammer, so that it may be thrown forward under the reaction of its spring and so that the hammer will strike the rear end of the firing-pin to communicate the blow of the hammer to the cartridge. The tail R of the hammer is constructed with a shoulder g forward of the front face of the collar U, which is loose on the tail R, and so that the front face of the collar may abut against that shoulder. The distance be- tween the front face of the collar U and the shoulder g on the tail R of the hammer cor- responds to the extent of compression required for the mainspring in the cocking of the ham- mer. Hence when in the forward movement of the receiver from the stock the head a of the tail of the hammer comes against the end b of the tube F in the stock, as seen in Fig. 12, the further forward movement of the spin- dle is arrested, as before described. Then as the tubular spindle E advances with the re- ceiver its closed rear end V, acting through the spring W, which is stronger than the mainsprings of the collar U, forces the col- lar U forward, compressing the mainspring on the tail of the hammer until the collar U reaches the shoulder g on the tail of the ham- mer, as seen in Fig. 13, and this engagement between the collar U and the shoulder g oc- curs when tlie sear is advanced so far beyond the end of the hammer that it may spring up and engage the hammer, as seen in Fig. 13, this being substantially the completion of the forward movement of the receiver from the stock. It will be seen that were no provis- ion to the contrary made the collar U would come against the shoulder g with a blow which would produce a considerable shock and might be objectionable in rapid working of the arm. 'Го overcome the sudden arrest of the for- ward movement of the receiver, a cushion is provided between the stock and the receiver, and this cushion; as here represented, is the stronger spring W, which is arranged between the closed end V of the tubular spindle E and the collar U, as seen in Figs. 12 and 13. 70 Consequently when the forward movement is completed—that is to say, when the collar U has reached the shoulder g on the spindle, which would produce a dead-stop because of the head a of the tail of the hammer stand- 75 ing against the closed end b of the sleeve F^- the end V of the spindle E receives the force or shock upon the spring W against the col- lar U, and this spring, yielding under such shock, produces an easy cushion or arrest of 80 the forward movement of the receiver as that forward movement is completed, the yielding being indicated by broken lines, Fig. 13. This arrangement of the spring produces a simple and effective cushion, but the cushioning may 85 be otherwise produced—as, for illustration, as seen in Fig. 14, the head b' of the tube F may be made longitudinally loose in the tube and a stationary collar b" arranged in the tube forward of the headb', with a stronger spring 90 W' between the head b' and the stationary collar b", and so that when the head a' of the tail of the hammer is brought against the head b' at the completion of the forward movement the spring W' will yield to pro- 95 duce the cushion, as first described for the spring W. To provide a lock to secure the parts in the closed position as well as to prevent the ac- cidental discharge of the hammer, a dog too h, arranged in the trigger-gnard, is hung upon a pivot i and so as to swing np and down, the lever being constructed of a con- venient shape for manipulation by the trig- ger-finger, the nose к of the dog being adapted 105 to enter a corresponding recess I in the un- der side of the finger / when the sear is en- gaged with the hammer, as seen in Fig. 5, and so that the nose к will abut against the shoulder or rear end m of the recess I in the no sear, and as seen in Fig. 5. When thus en- gaged, as the sear is hung in the receiver while the dog is hung in the stock portion of the arm, the separation of the two parts is impossible, and, further than this, the en- 115 gagement of the dog with the sear is such that the sear cannot yield under the pull of the trigger. Consequently the hammer is posi- tively locked in the cocked position as well as the parts positively locked in the closed 120 position, and from which locked position they may be released by throwing the dog down, as seen in broken lines, Fig. 5. On one side of the breech-piece, at its for- ward end, a longitudinal slide n is arranged in 125 thegrooveo. (SeeFigs. 10and 11.) Thisslide terminates at its forward end in a hook-shaped nose p, adapted to engage the head of the car- tridge, so as to operate as an extractor for the cartridge-shell. Thisslide is permitted a cer- 130 tain amount of longitudinal movement. From the groove 0, in which the slide is arranged, an opening r is made into the inside of the brcech-piece, the brecch-picce being chain-
4 486,873 bered or recessed upon its under side, as seen in Fig. 7. On the inside of the slide n are two projections sand/, which extend through the slot r into the inside of the breech-piece, 5 and on the inside of the breech-piece a finger и is hung upon a pivot v and so as to swing in a horizontal plane. This finger stands be- tween the two projections s and t, as seen in Fig. 10. From the hub of the finger is a rear- io ward projection x, upon which a spring у bears. This spring rests upon a stud z in the breech-piece, (see Fig. 5,) and the breech-piece is also provided with another stnd 2 at the rear upon the upper side of the spring, as 15 also seen in Fig. 5. Thetendencyofthespring is to hold the finger w in a position to bring the extractor-slide n to its rear position, as seen in Fig. 10, but so that the spring yield- ing the extractor-slide may be drawn forward, 20 as indicated in broken lines, Figs. 10 and 11. The projection s is of hook shape, as seen in Fig. 11, so as to embrace the finger w. The engaging surfaces of the finger and the pro- jection s are beveled, so as to give them a 25 cam shape,.whereby the extractor-slide may be permitted a lateral movement, as seen in broken lines, Fig. 11, which adapts it to ride over the head of the cartridge, the spring of the finger yielding for such movement, and 30 reacts, so as to bring the slide back to its nor- mal position when the nose of the extractor shall have passed the flange of the cartridge. As the breech-piece starts in its rear move- ment the extractor-hook is engaged with the 35 cartridge, and the strength of the spring у is such that if there be little resistance for the withdrawal of the cartridge from the shell that cartridge or shell will retreat with the breech-piece; but should the cartridge or shell 40 stick in its chamber the finger w yields and so as to retreat to a certain extent, leaving the extractor engaged with the cartridge and until the forward end3 of the slot r shall come against the projection t on the slide, (see 45 broken lines, Fig. 10,) when a positive en- gagement will be made between the breech- pieee and the slide, and this engagement will- come in the form of a blow upon the extractor, which will give to the cartridge or shell asud- 50 den start, sufficient to relieve it from the stick in its chamber. The projection t is made of hook shape upon its forward surface, so that engagement between the breech-piece and the extractor- 55 slide will be positive and prevent an outward swing of the'extractor-slide, so as to possibly escape from the head of the cartridge or shell. The finger w also serves as a means for retract- ing the firing-pin. The firing-pin is con- 60 structed with a laterally-projecting stud 4, (see Fig. 11, and also seen in Fig. 5,) which strikes the finger just before the nose of the firing-pin may reach the head of the cartridge and so as to normally hold the firing-pin with 65 its nose so far to the rear of the front face of the breech-pieee as to prevent its possible contact with the primer, and as seen in Fig. 5; but as the finger yields the force of the blow of the hammer upon the finger will cause the finger to yield, as indicated in broken lines, 70 Fig. 5, and permit the nose of the hammer to strike the cartridge, and then the reaction of the finger will instantly withdraw the fir- ing-pin. The spring у also serves as a means for yieldingly interlocking the receiver with 75 the stock. The arm H of the stock is con- structed with a notch upon its nnder side, forming a shoulder 5, and the rear end of the spring у is turned upward, so as to form a shoulder 6 to interlock with the shoulder 5 80 when the parts are closed, as seen in Fig. 5, and so as to yieldingly hold the two parts to- gether that they may not readily open. The spring, however, yields to a force applied to separate the parts, and as indicated inbroken 85 ' lines, Fig. 5. The receiver below the breech-piece is con- structed with a chamber 7, adapted to re- ceive several cartridges one upon another, they lying substantially parallel with each 90 other with their heads at the rear, and in the chamber a spring-follower is arranged of any suitable character to operate to raise the cartridges as they are successively transferred by the breech-piece to the barrel, it being un- 95 derstood that as the breech-piece is opened the cartridges rise, so as to bring the upper- most cartridge into position with its head for- ward of the front face of the breech-piece, so that when the breech-piece returns it will too strike the head of the uppermost cartridge and force it forward into the barrel. Fol- lowers and chambers for this arrangement of cartridges are too well known to require de- tailed description. 105 The arm of this invention is specialty adapted for the employment of a cartridge holderor magazine which is adapted to receive the cartridges and so that the holder with the cartridges as a magazine may be introduced no into the top of the receiver when the breech- piece is in the open position, and the car- tridge holder or magazine with the cartridges thus introduced will take its place in the chamber of the arm and so that the spring- 115 follower may raise the cartridges as they are required. The holder here shown is of that character which is open at the front and con- siderably shorter than the length of the car- tridges, the rear end of the cartridges being 120 inclosed between the two,sides of the holder or magazine and so as to stand free therein, that the follower may act upon the cartridges to raise them. This is now a well-known character of magazine and does not require 125 particular description, further than to say that 8 represents the cartridge-holder, which may be in any of the usual forms and is adapted to be introduced through the top of the receiver when the breech-piece is open 130 and so that the holder after the cartridges are removed may pass down through a corre- sponding opening 9 in the bottom of the re- ceiver and so that a second holder with its
486,373 3 5 го т5 20 25 3° 35 40 45 5° 55 бо б5 cartridges being introduced the said second holder will force the preceding holder down- ward, outward, and from the receiver. As the force applied to the cartridges is up- ward, it is necessary that the holder or maga- zine shall be held against such upward force. To accomplish this object, a spring-latch is arranged in rear of the holder 8, the nose 10 of which is adapted to engage a correspond- ing notch or shoulder 11 on the rear of the magazine, as seen in Fig. 5, and so that as the magazine reaches its home position in the re- ceiver the latch will automatically engage the magazine; but the nose of the latch is adapted to escape from the magazine upon a down- ward pressure on the magazine, tending to force it downward from the receiver. The latch as here constructed consists of a V-shaped or two-branch spring, 12 represent- ing one branch and 13 the other. The one branch 12 is pierced at its upper end, so as to set over a rearwardly-projecting stud 14 on the receiver. The other branch 13 bears rear- wardly against the sear and so as to operate as a sear-spring. At the junction of the two branches 12 and 13 below the nose 10 of the latch is attached or formed, the tendency of the spring being to force that latch forward, but yield to a rearward pressure on the nose of the latch. The spring thus arranged serves both as a sear-spring and as a latch for the magazine. It will be understood that while this arm is particularly adapted for the em- ployment of the peculiar construction of magazine which has been described other forms of magazines, removable or otherwise, may be employed. In another application, Serial No. 423,999, similar mechanism, so far as the separation of the receiver from the stock, the breech-piece, firing-pin, and hammer are concerned, is illus- trated and described. Therefore no claim is made in this application upon the parts or construction shown and described in said ap- plication further than as hereinafter particu- larly recited. Cartridge-extractors for breech-loading fire- arms have heretofore been made wherein the extractor hook or slide was permitted a lim- ited amount of longitudinal movement inde- pendent of the breech-piece, whereby a blow- like force could be applied to the extractor to start a cartridge or shell from the barrel. We do not therefore claim, broadly, such an ar- rangement of cartridge-extractor; bnt the pe- eliar mechanism herein described for operat- ing the extractor may be employed in breech- loading firearms in which ether mechanism for operating the breech-piece is employed than that herein described. The mechanism described for imparting the retreating movement to the firing-pin may be employedin other constructions of firearms in which the breech-piece is arranged for longi- tudinal reciprocating movement. We claim— 1, In a firearm in which the receiver car- rying the barrel is movable longitudinally toward and from the rear or stock portion of the arm to open and close the breach, the 70 combination therewith of a spring between the two parts, the said spring being adapted to form a cushion at the termination of the opening movement of the two parts, sub- stantially as described. . . 75 2. In a firearm in which the receiver is constructed with a tubular spindle extending from its rear end and the stock constructed with a guide within it to receive said spindle and within which the said spindle may slide 80 in the opening and closing movement, the combination therewith of a hammer arranged within said spindle, the tail of the hammer extending through the rear end of the guide in which the spindle moves, the tail of the 85 hammer constructed with a head upon its rear end adapted at a predetermined time to strike the rear end of the said guide and form a stop for the hammer, a collar loose on the tail of the hammer within thespindle, 9c the hammer constructed with a shoulder for- ward of said collar, a mainspring around the spindle of the hammer and between the said collar and shoulder on the hammer, the tail of the hammer also constructed with a second 95 shoulder between the said collar and spring- bearing shoulder, a second spring arranged around the tail of the hammer and in rear of said collar, the forward end of the spring resting against the said collar and the rearof 100 the spring against a shoulder or bearing sta- tionary in the spindle, the said second spring being of greater strength than that of the mainspring, and a sear hung in the receiver and adapted to engage the said hammer at 105 the cocked position, substantially as de- scribed. 3. In a firearm, the combination of a longi- tudinally-reciprocating breech-piece, a slide arranged to move longitudinally in the breech- 110 piece and extending forward terminates in a hook adapted to engage with the eartridge- head, a spring-finger hung within the breech- piece, a projection from the said slide, ex- tending through a slot in the breech-piece 115 and adapted to engage with said finger, the engaging surfaces of the said finger and pro- jection inclined so as toproduce a cam action, and a stop on the slide to limit its longitudi- nal movement, substantially as described. 120 4. In a firearm, the combination of a longi- tudinally-reciprocating breech-piece, a longi- tudinal firing-pin arranged within said breech-piece, and a spring-finger hung within the breech-piece and adapted to swing in a 125 plane with thepathof movementof thefiring- pin, the firing-pin constructed with a stud pro- jecting into the path of movement of said finger and which stud is adapted to engage said finger before the firing-pin reaches its 130 extreme forward movement, substantially as and for the purpose described. 5. In a firearm in which the receiver, with the barrel it carries, is movable toward and
6 486,273 from the stock to produce the opening and closing movement of the breech, the combi- nation therewith of a breech-piece arranged longitudinally in the receiver, an arm pro- 5 jecting forward from the stock and con- structed with an upward and forwardly in- clined slot, the breech-pieee constructed to embrace the said arm and provided with a pin extending through said slot in the said io arm, the breech-piece longitudinally guided in the receiver at its forward end, a spring in the breech-piece, adapted to work beneath the said arm, the arm, and the said spring, the one constructed with a notch and the 15 other with a corresponding shoulder, whereby a latching engagement will be made between the breech-piece and the said arm when the parts are in the. closed position, substan- tially as described. 20 6. In a firearm, the combination of a longi- tudinally-movable hammer, a sear hung for- ward of said hammer and extending rear- ward, adapted to engage said hammer in the cocked position, the sear constructed with a 25 shoulder m in rear of the pivot on which it is hung, and a dog 7г, hung in the trigger- guard and so as to swing vertically, the nose of the dog adapted to engage said sear only when the sear has engaged the hammer in 30 the cocked position, substantially as and for the purpose described. 7. In a firearm in which the receiver and the barrel it carries are movable longitudi- nally forward and backward toward and from 35 the stock portion of the arm to open and close the breech-piece, the combination there- with of a longitndinally-movable hammer ar- ranged tomovebackwardandforward with the receiver, a sear hung in thereceiver forward of 40 the hammer andextending rearward, adapted to engage the hammer in the cocked position, a dog h, hung in the stock portion of the arm and so as to swing in a vertical plane, the sear constructed with a shoulder m, and the nose of the dog adapted to engage said shoulder 45 of the sear when the parts are in the closed position and the hammer held by the sear in the cocked position, substantially as and for the purpose described. 8. In a firearm, the combination of a re- 50 ceiver, a longitudinally-reciprocating breech- piece, a chamber in the receiver beneath the hammer andopen at the top when the breech- piece is in’the open position, the said cham- ber also having an opening through the bot- 55 tom, and the said chamber adapted to re- ceive a removable cartridge holder or maga- zine when the breech-piece is in the open po- sition, the said opening in the bottom of the receiver adapted for the escape of the said 60 holder,asear hunginthe receiver and extend- ing rearward from the said chamber, adapted to engage the hammer at full - cock with a V-shaped spring attached by one arm to the receiver aud extending downward, the other 65 arm of the spring bearing upon the sear with a tendency to force it into its engaging posi- tion, andthe downwardly-projectingportionof the spring provided with a nose adapted to en- gage the said holder or magazine and so as to 70 prevent the forward movement of said holder or magazine, substantially as described. In testimony whereof we have signed this specification in the presence of two subscrib- ing witnesses. JOHN M. BROWNING. MATTHEW S. BROWNING. Witnesses: E. A. Ensign, John E. Ramsden.
(No Model.) No. 486,274. J. M. BROWNING. MAGAZINE GUN. Patented Nov. 15, 1892.
United States Patent Office. JOHN M. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH TERRITORY, ASSIGNOR TO THE WIN- CHESTER REPEATING ARMS COMPANY, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT. MAGAZINE-GUN. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 486,274, dated November 16, 1892. Application filed Augnst 15,1892. Serial No. 443,081. (NomodeD To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, John M. Browning, of Ogden, in thecountyof Weber and Territory of Utah, have invented a new Improvement 5 in Magazine-Guns; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with ac- companying drawings and the letters of ref- erence marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said io drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in— Figure 1, a side view of so much of the arm as is necessary to illustrate the invention, the fore-end being, represented in longitudinal 15 section; Fig. 2, an underside viewbf the same, showing the parts in the position of the maga- zine open; Fig. 3, a transverse section of the two tubes, representing the outer tube as turned to the locking position; Fig. 4,an under 20 side view of the rear end of the magazine en- larged, showing the parts in the closed and locked position, broken lines representing the unlocked position; Fig. 0, the same as Fig. 4, representing the outer tube as near its closed 25 position; Fig. 6, a longitudinal section through the outer tube, showing under side view of the inner tube, the outer tube in its forward or open position, and showing the forward lock- notch; Fig. 7, a longitudinal section of the 30 magazine and outer tube, the parts in the closed position. This invention relates to an improvement in that class of magazine-firearms in nyhich the magazine is arranged beneath the barrel 35 and so that both the magazine and the barrel open into the receiver at the rear, and particu- larly to that class of such arms in which the magazine consists of a stationary tube below the barrel and having an outer tube inclosing 40 it and adapted to move telescopically thereon, so that the outer tube may be moved forward or backward on the inner or magazine tube, the magazine-tube being constructed with a longitudinal slot and the outer tube connected 45 through the said slot with the follower in the inner tnbe, and so that as the outer tube is drawn forward the follower will also be drawn forward, the magazine-tube being constructed with an opening forward corresponding in 50 shape to the longitudinal central section of the cartridges for which the magazine is adapted, and which opening is exposed when the outer tube is drawn forward, and so that when the outer tube is so drawn forward cartridges may be inserted through thesaid opening into the 55 magazine-tube and then the outer tube re- turned, so as to bring the follower to bear on .the columu of cartridges in the magazine, so . ’ that the said cartridges may beforced rearward into the receiver to be transferred to the bar- 60 rel, the object of the invention being to lock the outer tube in either or both its closed or open positions; and the invention consists in the construction of the parts, as hereinafter described, and particularly recited in the 65 claims. A represents the barrel, beneath which the magazine-tube В is arranged. The tube is - secured to the receiver at the rear and ex- tends forward independent of the barrel. 70 C represents the outer tube, which is adapted to slide telescopically on the tube B, as from the position in Fig. 1 to that seen in Fig. 2 and return. The outer tube is sup- ported by a band D, secured to the barrel for- 75 ward, as seen in Fig. 1, the inner tube being held firm at its rear end, and the outer tnbe, supported on the said inner tube and working through the band D,serves, also, to support the outer end of the inner or magazine tube. The 80 inner or magazine tube is constructed with a longitudinal slot E, which is closed by the outer tnbe C when that tube C is in its rear position, as seen in Fig. 1. The magazine is provided with. the usual follower F and also 85 with a magazine-spring G, as seen in Fig. 7. Preferably the outer end of the magazine-tube is open and so that the spring may extend into the outer tube and be supported against the closed end of the outer tube, as seen in 90 Fig. 7. The outer tube C at its inner end is constructed with an inward projection, here represented as a screw H, which extends through the slot E in the magazine and in rear of the shonlder I on the follower and so 95 that as the outer tube is drawn forward the oute^ tube will engage the follower and cause it to move forward with it, but yet the fol- lower is free and independent of the outer tube when the outer tube is in the closed po- 100
2 486,274 sition, and so that after the magazine has been charged with cartridges and the outer tube is forced home it will compress the- magazine- spring upon the follower, so that the spring mayoperate through the follower to move the cartridges rearward as they are successively taken from the magazine. To lock the outer tube in its closed position, the outer tube is» adapted to turn upon the inner tube, and^ the inner tube is constructed at its rear end with a transverse notch a, which corresponds to the projection H from the outer tube when that outer tube is in the closed position or corresponds to some other projection-on the outer tube when in thabposition, and so tha,t when the outer tube is brought to its rear or closed position a slight rotation will bring the said projection into the notch a, and thereby lock the outer tube in such closed position. When it is desired to open the magazine, a return rotation is given to the outer tube C to disengage it from the notch a, and thus disengaged the outer tube is free to be drawn forward. To lock the outer, tube in its withdrawn or open position, a similar notch b is formed in the slot of the inner tube, (see Fig. 6,) with which the same or other projection of the inner tube is adapted to engage by a like rotation of the । outer tube and so that the outer tube will be securely locked in its open position and from which it may be disengaged by a return rotation of the outer tube to permit the outer tube to be returned to its closed position. By these locking devices the outer tube is firmly held in either position. The outer locking is specially desirable when the outer end of the magazine-spring is supported within the mag- azine-tube, which causes the spring to be com- > pressed as the outer tube is drawn forward. Either locking device may be used without the other; but both are desirable. From the foregoing it will be understood that I do not claim, broadly, a magazine-gun ; having the magazine-tube 'Stationary, with a tube surrounding the said stationary maga- zine-tribe and moving longitudinally thereon, said outer tube adapted to move forward and carry with it the follower in the magazine- з tube, and the magazine-tube constructed with an opening through which cartridges may be inserted into it, as such,I am aware,.waskriown Jong prior to my invention; but What I do claim as my invention is— ; 1. In a magazine-firearm, the combination of a magazine-tube beneath the barrel, se- cured at its rear end in a stationary position, combined with a second tube inclosing said magazine-tube and adapted to move longi- э tudinally thereon, the magazine-tube con- structed with a longitudinal slot and an open- ing near its forward end, through which car- tridges may be introd need to the said mag- azine-tnbe, a follower and aspring within said magazine-tube, the said outer tube adapted 65 to engage said follower through the said lon- gitudinal slot, and whereby the forward lon- gitudinal movement of the said outer tube will impart corresponding longitudinal move- ment to the said follower, and the said outer 70 tube adapted to engage with the inner tube in its rear position through a rotative move- ment of said outer tube, substantially as and for the purpose described. 2. In a magazine-firearm, the combination 75 of a magazine-tube beneath the barrel, se- cured at its rear end in a stationary position, combined with a second tube inclosing said magazine-tube and adapted to move longi- tudinally thereon, the magazine-tube eon- So structed with a longitudinal slot andan open- ing near its forward end, through which car- tridges maybe introduced into the said mag- azine-tube, a follower and a spring within said magazine-tube, the said outer tube adapted 85 to engage said follower through the said lon- gitudinal slot, and whereby the forward lon- gitudinal movement of the said outer tube will impart corresponding longitudinal move- ment to the said follower, and the said outer 90 tube adapted to engage with the inner tube in its forward or open position by a rotative movement of said outer tube, substantially as and for the purpose described. 3. In a magazine-firearm, the combination 95 of a magazine-tube beneath the barrel, se- cured at its rear end in a stationary position, combined with a second tube inclosing said magazine-tube and adapted to move longi- tudinally thereon, the magazine-tube eon- 100 structed with a longitudinal slot and an open- ing near its forward end, through which car- tridges may be introduced into the said mag- azine-tube, a follower and a spring within said magazine-tube, the said outer tube adapted 105 to engage said follower through the said lon- gitudinal slot, and whereby the forward lon- gitudinal moveinent of’ the said outer tube will impart corresponding lorigitudinalmove- ment to the said follower, and the said outer no tube adapted to engage with the inner tube in both its rear or closed and in its forward or open position by a rotative movement of said outer tube, substantially as and for the pur- pose described. 115 In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscrib- ing witnesses. JOHN M. BROWNING. Witnesses: Fred C. Earle, II. E. Cole. '
'No Model,- 3 Sheets—Sheet 1. J. M. & M. S. BROWNING. • MAGAZINE FIREARM. No. 487,659 Patented Dec. 6, 1892.
Nо Model. > 3 Sheets—Sheet 2. J. M. & M. S. BROWNING. MAGAZINE FIREARM. No. 487,659 Patented Deo. 6, 1892.
No Model. 3 Sheets—Sheet 3. J. M. & M. S. MAGAZINE BROWNING. FIREARM. No. 487,659 Patented Deo. 6, 1892.
United States Patent Office. JOHN M. BROWNING AND MATTHEW S. BROWNING,.OF OGDEN, UTAH TER- RITORY, ASSIGNORS TO THE WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS COMPANY, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT. MAGAZINE-FIREARM. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 487,659, dated December 6,1892. Application filed March 7,1892. Serial Ko. 423,999. (Ko model.) To all whom it may concern: Be it known that we, John M. Browning and Matthew S. Browning, of Ogden, in the county of Weber and Territory of Utah, 5 have invented a new Improvement in Maga- zine-Firearms; and we do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with ac- companying drawingsand the letters and fig- ures of reference marked thereon, to be a full, io clear, and exact description of the same,and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in— Figure 1, a longitudinal sectionalside view of the receiver, showing portions of the bar- 15 rel and stock, with the mechanism in side view in partial section, the parts in the closed position; Fig. 2, a transverse section through the receiver and breech piece cutting on line xx.of Fig. 1; Fig. 2a, a section cutting on line 20 у у of Fig. 1, looking rearward; Fig. 3, the same as Fig. 1 on a reduced scale, showing the stock complete; Fig. 3a, a transverse sec- tion on line x x of Fig. 3, looking rearward; Fig. 4, a top view of the receiver and por- 25 tions of the stock and barrel; Fig. 5, an un- der side view at the junctionof thestoek and receiver, the guard broken away to show the dog which locks the receiver in its closed po- sition, the same dog also serving to lock the 30 sear; Fig. 6, the same as Fig. 3, but showing the parts in the open position; Fig. 7, a trans- verse section cutting on line ж a: of Fig. 1; Fig. 8, an inside view of the. receiver, show- ing the breech-piece in longitudinal section 35 and looking from the right; Fig. 9, a trans- verse section cutting on line ж ж of Fig. 8; Fig. 10, a longitudinal section of the receiver, showing a top view of the latch as in engage- ment with the cartridge-head in the maga- 40 zine; Fig. 11, the same as Fig. 10, showing the latch as disengaged from the canridge; Fig. 12, a rear end of the tubular guide in the stock, showing the head of the hammer-tail as in the position for detaching the parts; 45 Fig. 13, the same as Fig. 12, showing the head engaged to prevent the detachment of the parts. This invention relates to an improvement in that class of firearms in which the breech is opened by a forward sliding movement of 50 the barrel, and,wh ile the invention is specially adapted to magazine-firearms, it is also ap- plicable to single-loaders, the object of the in- vention being the construction of an arm .which may be readily operated from theshoul- 55 der for rapid firing. The invention consists in the construction and combination of mechanism, as hereinaf- ter described, and particularly, recited in the the claims. 6< A represents the receiver, to the forward end of which the barrel В is attached in the usual manner and so as to open into the re- ceiver at the rear. C represents a magazine arranged beneath 6; the barrel, also opening into the receiver at the rear. Instead of the receiver being attached di- rectly to the stock, as in the more general con- struction of firearms, the receiver is detached 71 from the stock, and so that the receiver, with the barrel, may be drawn forward from the position seen in Fig. 1 to that seen in Fig. 3 and returned. The forward end of the stock D is provided with a plate E, against which 7 the rear end of the receiver may abut, as seen in Fig. 4, when the receiver is in the rear po- sition. The receiver is constructed with a spindle F, projecting from its rear end and down- 8 wardly inclined according to the downward inclination of thestoek. Thisspindleis made tubular, and within the stock is a tube G, opening through the plate E at the forward end and corresponding to the spindle F, and 8 so that thespindle F may slide longitudinally therein as a guide for the forward and back movement of the receiver and barrel. H represents the breech-piece, which is ar- ranged longitudinally in the receiver and so 9 as to be free longitudinally; but the breech- piece H stands between the two sides of the receiver, and so as to allow the receiver to move forward and back to take the barrel away from the forward end of the breech- g piece. From the plate E is an upwardly and forwardly projecting arm I, which is con- structed with an upwardly and forwardly in-
487,669 slot J, The rear end of the breeeh- is slotted corresponding to the arm I, s seen in Fig. 4, so as to embrace the and slide thereon, and through the i-piece and the slot J in the arm I is a , which forms a connection between the i-piece and'the arm I, so that the slot the forward-and-back movement of the i-piece. In the normal or closed posi- le pin К stands at the lower end o"f the and so that a forward movement im- l to the breech-piece will cause the pin ide forward and upward in the slot J, » as to raise the rear end bf the breech- es it is thus moved forward and as from >sition seen in Fig. 3 to that seen in he receiver, below the breech-piece, a ler L is formed. This appears in Fig. 3 forward end of the spindle, and the i-piece is constructed with a correspond- oulder M, and so that when the breech- is in the closed position, as seen in Figs. 3, the shoulder of the breech-piece abuts it the shoulder L of the receiver, and so he breech-piece is locked in its closed >n, so as to resist recoil. barrel is provided with any suitable 3 by which it may be moved forward ickward. (Not shown.) The stock bo- ld and the barrel moved forward, the sr, spindle, and breech-piece will all together, because the shoulder L en- the shoulder M of the breech-piece; but forward movement of the breech-piece ;r end will rise, because of the move- >f the pin К in the slot J, as before de- 1, and so as to take the shoulder M of eech-piece above the shoulder Lof the er by the time the pin К has reached per end of the slot in the arm J, and so. he breeeh-piece being there arrested, aulder L of the receiver may pass for- leaving the breech-piece stationary and s rear end in the raised position, the id of the breech-pieee resting upon the side of the spindle, as seen in Fig. 6. the barrel is returned, the breech- till remains with its rear end in the ition and rides upon the upper side of ndle until the receiver has returned so to take the shoulder L to the rear of rnlder M of the breech-piece. Then as irrel or forward end of the receiver the forward end of the breeeh-piece force the breech-piece rearward, and r end will be drawn down because of lination of the slot J until the shoul- has passed down forward of the shoul- )f the receiver in the fully-closed po- >f the breech-piece, and so as to lock eech-piece in that closed position ; recoil. The breech-piece fits closely n the sides of the receiver and npon in I, so that that connection between ech-piece, the stock, and the receiver ts the receiver and stock against any tendency to turn laterally upon the spindle as an axis. The breech-piece is provided at its forward end with extracting-hooks to en- 70 gage the head of the cartridge-shell, so as to withdraw it when the breech is opened. The receiver has an opening N atoneside, as seen in Fig. 2, through which the shell may be ejected and also through which a cartridge 75 may be inserted when the arm is used as a single-loader, a common construction of re- ceiver. To support the breech-piece at its forward end and maintain it in its proper relation to 80 the barrel, a longitudinal groove О is made in one side of the receiver, and on that side the extractor-hook P or other suitable pro- jection extends into this groove. The groove is shown in Fig. 8 and is of a length suffi- 85 cient only to permit the required forward movement of the receiver, the projection from the extractor or breech-piece into the groove working freely therein, and so as to permit the natural rising movement of the 90 forward end of the breech-piece, while the rear end is held as before described, such ris- ing movement being due to the inclination of the spindle with relation to the barrel. Within the breech-piece the firing-pin Q is 95 arranged, extending from the forward end of the breech-piece through to the rear end, as seen in Fig. 1. R represents the hammer, arranged in the tubular spindle F. The tail S of the hammer 100 extends rearward through the end of the spin- dle and through the end of the tube G, and within the spindle a spiral spring T is ar- ranged around the tail of the hammer, adapted' to bear forward against a shoulder U on the 105 hammer and against a corresponding shoul- der V at the rear end of the spindle, and so that as the hammer is forced rearward the spring will be compressed that the reaction of the spring may force the hammer forward, rio The nose of the hammer stands in such posi- tion with relation to the firing-pin that when the parts are in the closed position the ham- mer may strike the rear end of the firing-pin, as usual in the arrangement of hammers in 115 other arms. Naturally the hammer will move backward and forward with the spindle, and this condition is taken advantage of as a means for cocking the hammer, and this is produced by means of a sear W, hung upon 120 a pivot X at the rear end of the receiverand below the hammer, as seen in Fig. 3. The sear is provided with a spring Y, the tendency of which is to force the nose or rear end of the sear upward against the hammer. 125 The rear end of the tail of the hammer is provided with a head Z of larger diameter than the opening through the end of the tube G, and the length of the tail of the hammer is such that the head Z will strike the end of 130 the tube G before the receiver shall have reached its extreme forward position, and, as seen in Fig. 6, thereby arresting the forward movement or advance of the hammer with
487,669 3 5 ю i5 20 25 3° 35 40 45 5° 55 60 65 the receiver, and so that when the hammer is so arrested the receiver will continue its for- ward movement and compress the spring and the sear W may swing up forward of the ham- mer or theshoulder thereon, as seen in Fig. 6. Then when the receiver returns, asin the clos- ing movement, the sear, being engaged with the hammer, as seen in Fig. 1, holds the ham- mer in the cocked position until the sear is released. A trigger a is arranged in the usual man- ner and so that a pull npon the trigger will disengage the sear from the hammer, as indi- cated in broken lines in Fig. 1, and thus leave the hammer free to be thrown forward by the force of its spring, and in which forward movement the hammer will strike the firing- pin Q and communicate its blow to the primer of the cartridge. In order to conveniently detach the barrel and receiver from the stock, the rear end of the tnbe G is constructed with an elongated opening b, (see Fig. 12,) and the head Z of the tail of the hammer is of a shape correspond- ing to the opening b, (see Fig. 13,) but nor- mally stands at an angle to the said opening b. If, therefore, the receiver and spindle be turned to bring the head Z into line with the opening b, then the head of the tail of the hammer may freely pass through,so as to per- mit the spindle to be withdrawn, and then when returned after the head of the tail of the hammer has passed through the opening b in the rear end of the guide-tube G the re- ceiver is turned into its proper plane with the stock, which brings the head of the tail of the hammer across theopening in the tube, so astoagain interlock thehaihmerwith thetube. To permit the separation of the receiver from the stock, the pin К through the breech- piece is first removed, so as to disconnect the breech-piece from the stock. Then the parts are readily separated. To engage the stock with the receiver, so as to prevent their accidental separation, a spring-bolt d is arranged (see Fig. 3) in the stock, with a beveled or rounded nose adapted to engage a corresponding notch in the spin- dle when the parts are in the closed position, but so as to yield to a force applied to draw the spindle from its home position. As a further lock to hold the receiver and stock in their closed position a dog e is hung in the stock or guard, as upon a pivot f, the nose g of which is adapted to engage the receiver, as seen in Fig. 5, and also to engage the sear when in the cocked position, as seen in broken lines, Fig. 1. The dog is provided with a spring-bolt h, working over a corresponding cam i, here represented as in the guard, to yieldingly hold it in either its engaged or dis- engaged position, and the tail of the dog ex- tends into the guard and terminates in a fin- ger-piece I, by which it may be conveniently operated by the same finger which pulls the trigger. As thus far described the arm is applicable to single-loading purposes. As a magazine-arm a carrier m is arranged in the receiver, below the breech-piece, and 70 hung upon a pivot n at the fear, so as to swing in a vertical plane, as,from the down position in Fig. 1 to that seen^jn Fig. 6. In the down position the carrier stands at the rear of the magazine_C, and so that the rearmost car- 75 tridge in the magazine may pass onto the car- rier in the usual manner, and then as the car- rier rises that cartridge will be presented be- tween the forward end of the open breech- piece and the rear end of the barrel, so that as 80 the parts are closed the cartridge maybe forced from the carrier into the barrel, as usual in magazine-firearms. The carrier at its rear end is provided with an upward extension u, by which it may be operated by coming in con- 85 tact with the breech-piece at the extreme movements, as usual in this class of carriers, and so that as the breeeh-piece approaches its extreme rear position, as seen in Fig. 6, the carrier will be raised, and then as the 96 parts are closed the projection и will strike the breeeh-piece and be returned to its down position. To yieldingly hold the carrier in its down position, and so that it may serve as a trap or 95 cover for the opening through the bottom of the receiver for the introduction of cartridges to the magazine, the carrier is provided with a spring p, which being engaged by the breech-. piece in its closed position, as seen in Fig. 1, 100 will yieldingly hold the carrier in its down position, but so that the carrier may be turned inward for the introduction of cartridges into the magazine. As here represented the spring p is employed in connection withan L-shaped 105 lever q. (See Fig. 7.) This lever is hung to the carrier by its downwardly-projecting arm upon a pivot r and so as to swing in a hori- zontal vertical plane. The other arm of the lever extends across and bearsupon thespring no p. This lever is constructed with a nose s, which as the carrier rises is adapted to en- gage a corresponding notch t in the receiver, and so as to yieldingly hold the carrier in the up position during the transfer of acartridge 115 from the carrier to the barrel, the nose of the lever easily passing from its engagement with the receiver under the force of the closing movement, so as to release the carrier for its descent. 120 The breech-piece is provided with a spring- latch u' upon its under side, which engages the rear end of the last-inserted cartridge in the magazine, so as to normally hold the col- umn of cartridges in the magazine, the latch 125 yielding as each cartridge is inserted into the magazine, but so as to engage each successive cartridge, a common device in this class of arms. As the parts separate, the rearmost cartridge follows the latch u' until the car- 130 tridge reaches its position on the carrier. To prevent the rear movement of the col-
•4 487,669 пшп of cartridges after the carrier has risen for the transfer of a cartridge to the barrel, a latch v (see Figs. 8, 9, 10, and 11) is provided in a recess in the side of the receiver, the 5 nose w of the latch being adapted to extend inward, so as to engage the head, of a car-' bridge, as seen in Fig. 10, but to be withdrawn therefrom, so as to leave the head of the car- tridge free, as seen in Fig. 11. The latch is to hung in the receiver upon a pivot x, so as to swing laterally, and extends longitudinally in the receiver. The latch is provided with a rearwardly- projecting tail y, and combined with thelatch 15 is a spring z, the tendency of which is to force the latch into the engaging position. (Seen in Fig. 10.) At the rear end the tail of thelatch is constructed with a beveled shoulder 2, and the breech-piece is constructed with a corre- 20 spending cam-shaped surface 3, and which cam-surface 3 as the breech-piece approaches its closed position will engage the shoulder 2 of the tail of the latch, and so as to force that tail inward and correspondingly turn the 25 nose outward, as seen in Fig. 11, and so that the rearmost cartridge in the magazine may escape and pass onto the carrier. Then as the receiver is drawn forward from the breech- piece the cam 3 of the carrier escapes from 30 the shonlder 2 of the latch, when the nose of the latch will be forced inward by its spring, so as to engage the head of the next car- tridge, as seen in Fig. 10, which engagement will occur before the said rearmost cartridge 35 shall have reached its rear position on the carrier. For the convenience of rapid firing the tail 4 of the sear, with which the trigger engages, is beveled upon its rear end, as at 5, and so 40 that should the trigger be held in the drawn position when the receiver is returned to the closed position the beveled end 5 will pass below the trigger, as seen in Fig. 3, so as to draw the sear out of engagemen t with the ham- 45 mer. Thus the act of bringing the parts to the closed position will operate automatically todischarge the hammer, it only being neces- sary that the operator shall hold the trigger in the drawn position or that it be held in ;o that position by some suitable device. Then the firing becomes practically automatic, and consequently limited only to the rapidity with Which the barrel and receiver may be moved backward and forward while the operator ;5 holds the gun to the shoulder. While preferring the mechanism described to be arranged in the receiver, it will be evi- dent that various known mechanisms may be arranged in the receiver, so that the receiver, .0 with its guiding-spindle, may operate in the forward movement of the receiver to produce the opening movement of the breech-piece and in theclosing movementof thereceiver to produce the closing movementof the breech- 5 piece. It is also evident that other known arrangements of ham mers may be substituted for the one described. Such modifications are too well known to require particular refer- ence or illustration. The invention is there- fore not to be understood as limited to the 70 specific construction of parts, except as here- inafter particularly recited. We claim— 1. In a firearm, the combination of a re- ceiver carrying the barrel at the forward end, 75 opening at the rear into the receiver, the re- ceiver constructed with a spindle extending from its rear end into the stock, the stock provided with a suitable guide within which the said spindle may slide, substantially as So described, aud whereby the receiver and bar- rel are adapted to be moved forward from the stock in opening and toward the stock in closing. 2. In a firearm, the combination of a re- 85 ceiver carrying the barrel at its forward end, opening at the rear into the receiver, the re- ceiver constructed with a spindle extending longitudinally rearward into the stock, the stock provided with a suitable guide for said 90 spindle, a breech-piece arranged longitudi- nally in the receiver, and an arm projecting forwardly from the stock and constrncted with an upwardly and forwardly inclined slot, the breech-piece constructed to embrace said arm 95 and provided with a pin extending through said slot in the said arm and the breech-piece provided near its forward end with longitudi- nal gnides in the receiver, substantially as described. 100 3. In a firearm, the combination of a re- ceiver carrying the barrel at its forward end, opening at the rear iuto the receiver, the re- ceiver constructed with a rearwardly and lon- gitudinally projecting~spindle extending into 105 the stock, the stock provided with a suitable guide for said spindle to permit thelongitudi- nal movementof the receiver and spindle, the said spindle tubular, a hammer arranged lon- gitudinally in the said spindle, provided with rio a spring, a stop to limit the forward move- ment of the hammer in the spindle, and a sear hung in the receiver and adapted to engage the hammer in the closing movement of the parts, substantially as described. 115 4. In a firearm, the combination of a re- ceiver, a barrel at the forward end of the re- ceiver, opening at the rear into the receiver, the receiver constructed with a spindle ex- tending rearward into the stock, the stock 120 provided with a longitudinal guide for said spindle,andabreech-piecearranged longitudi- nally in said receiver, the breeeh-pieee adapted for an upward-and-downward movement at its rear end, the stock constructed with an 125 arm projecting from its forward end, and said arm constructed with an upwardly and for- wardly inclined slot, the breech-piece embrac- ing the said arm and having a pin through said slot, whereby in the forward movement 130 of the receiver an upward and forward move- ment is imparted to the rear end of the breech- piece, the breech-piece constructed with a shoulder at its rear end and the receiver with
487,669 5 a corresponding shoulder, the said two shoul- ders adapted to engage as the parts are brought to the closed position, substantially as described. 5 5. In a firearm, the combination of a re- ceiverhaving a barrel attached at its forward end, opening at the rearintothe,receiver,the receiver constructed with a spindle extend- ing from its rear end longitudinally into the io stock, the stock provided with a guide to re- ceive aud permit the longitudinal movement of said spindle, and whereby the receiverand barrel may be moved forward from the stock, and a breech-piece arranged in the receiver 15 and adapted to be opened as the receiver is moved forward, with a hammer arranged in said spindle and a sear adapted to engage said hammer, substantially as described. 6. The combination of a receiver having a го barrel attached at its forward end, opening at the rear into the receiver, the receiver con- structed with a spindle extending from its rear end into the stock, the stock provided with a suitable guide for the back -and- for- 25 ward movement of said receiverand spindle, and a spring-dog hung upon the stock and adapted to engage the said receiver in the closed position, substantially as described. 7. In a firearm, the combination of a re- 30 ceiver having a barrel at its forward end, opening at the rear into the receiver, the re- ceiver constructed with a spindle extending from its rear end longitudinally into the stock, the stock provided with a guide for the back- 35 and-forward movement of said receiver and its spindle, the spindle made tubular, a ham- mer arranged in said spindle and adapted for a limited extent of forward movement less than that of the receiver, a sear hung 40 in the receiver and moving therewith and adapted to engage the hammer as the re- ceiver is returned to the closed position, and so as to bring the hammer to full cock, and a dog hung in the stock and adapted to engage 45 said sear in the rear or closed position and while the sear is in engagement with the hammer, substantially as described. 8. The combination, in a firearm, of the re- ceiver having a barrel at its forward end, 50 opening at its rear end into the receiver, a spindle extending from the rear end of the receiver longitudinally into the stock, the stock provided with a guide for the spindle, and so as to permit a forward-and-back move- 55 mentof the receiver and spindle, and a spring-’ bolt in the stock adapted to engage the said spindle when the parts are in the closed po- sition, substantially as described. 9. In a firearm, the combination of a re- 60 ceiver having a barrel attached at its for- ward end and opening at its rear end into the receiver, the receiver constructed with a spin- dle extending from its rear end into the stock, the stock provided with a tubular guide with- 65 in which said spindle may move forward and backward in the opening-and-closing move- ment of the receiver, and a hammer arranged longitudinally in thesaid spindle,withaspring within the spindle adapted to force the ham- mer forward, the tail of the hammer extend- 70 ing through the rear end. of the guide within which the spindle slides and provided at its rear end with an elongated head, the end of the guide through which the tail of the ham- mer extends constructed with an elongated 75 slot corresponding J,n shape to the head of the tail of the hammer, but the said slot and head normally in angular positions with re- lation to each other, substantially as and for the purpose described. 80 10. In a firearm, the combination of a re- ceiver carrying a barrel at its forward end, opening at the rear into the receiver, the re- ceiver adapted for longitudinal forward-and- back movement with the barrel from and to- 85 ward the stock, and a breech-piece arranged longitudinally in said receiver and provided with longitudinal guides at its forward end, the rear end of the receiver connected with the stock by an upwardly and forwardly in- 90 dined slot, whereby in the first part of the forward movement of the receiver the rear end of the breech-piece will rise, the breech- piece constructed with a shoulder at its rear end and the receiver with a corresponding 95 shonlder, the said shoulders adapted to en- gage as the parts are returned to the closed position, substantially as described. 11. Iu a firearm, the. combination of a re- ceiver carrying a barrel at the forward end, 100 opening at the rear into the receiver, the re- ceiver adapted for longitudinal movement from and toward the stock in opening and closing, a breech-piece arranged longitudi- nally in the receiver and longitudinally 105 guided therein at its forward end and at its rear end connected to the stock by an up- wardly an d for ward 1 у i ncl i ned slot, whereby i n the first part of the forward movement of the receiver the rear end of the breech-piece Will no be raised, a magazine beneath the barrel, opening at the rear into the receiver, a car- rier hung below the breech-piece in the re- ceiver, adapted to swing up and down for the transfer of a cartridge from the magazine to 115 the barrel, and a spring between the breech- piece and the carrier adapted to yieldingly hold the carrier in the closed position, sub- stantially as described. 12. In a firearm, the combination of a re- .120 ceiver carrying a barrel at the forward end, opening at the rear into the receiver, the re- ceiver adapted for longitudinal movement from and toward the stock in opening and closing, a breech-piece arranged longitudi- 125 nally in the receiver and longitudinally guided therein at its forward end and at its rear end connected to thestock by an upwardly and forwardly inclined slot, whereby in the first part of the forward movement of there- 130 ceiver the rear end of the breech-piece will be raised, a magazine -beneath the barrel, opening at the rear into the receiver, a carrier hung below the breech-piece in the receiver,
и 487,650 adapted to swing up and down for the trans- feror a cartridge from the magazine to thebar- rel, and an L-shaped lever q, hung to the car- rier and so as to swing in a plane at substan- tially right angles to the carrier, one arm of the lever extending across the carrier, with a spring between the carrier and the said arm, the said lever on its pivot side constructed with a nose s and the receiver with a corre-, spending notch ^substantially as and forthg, purpose described. 13. In a firearm, the combination of a re- ceiver provided with a barrel af its forward end, opening at the rear into the receiver, and with a magazine below the barrel, also open- ing at the rear into the receiver, the receiver adapted for longitudinal movement from and toward the stock in opening and closing, a breech-piece arranged longitudinally in the receiver, hung by its rear end to an upwardly and forwardly inclined slot at the forward end of the stock, and whereby an upward and forward movement is produced upon the reech-pieee in the first part of the opening movement and a corresponding rearward and 25 downward movement to the said rear part of the breeeh-piece in the last part of the closing movement of the receiver, a lever v, hung in the side of the receiver aud constructed with a nose w, adapted to engage the head of a 30 cartridge, and a suitable spring the tendency of which is to force the said nose into engage- ment with the cartridge, the lever extending at the rear of the pivot and constructed with a cam-shaped projection 2 at its rear end, the 35 breech-piece toward its rear end construct- ed with a corresponding cam-shaped surface 3, substantially as and for the purpose de- scribed. In testimony whereof we have signed this 40 specification in the presence of two subscrib- ing witnesses. JOHN M. BROWNING. MATTHEW S. BROWNING. Witnesses. John E. Ramsden, . Frank Browning.
(No Model.) J. M. & M. S. BROWNING. HOLDER FOR О ARTRIDGE PAGES. No. 487,660. Patented Deo. 6, 1892.
United States Patent Office. JOHN M. BROWNING AND MATTHEW S. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH TER- RITORY, ASSIGNORS TO THE WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS COMPANY, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT. HOLDER FOR CARTRIDGE-PACKS. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 487,660, dated December 6,1892. Application filed March 22, 1892. Serial No. 425,991. (No model.) To all whom it may concern: Be it known that we, John M. Browning and Matthew S. Browning, of Ogden, in the county of Weberand Territory of Utah, have 5 invented a new Improvement in Holders for Cartridge-Packs; and we do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with accompanying drawings and the letters of ref- erence marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and io exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in— Figure 1, a side view of the pack complete; Fig. 2, a top view of the pack complete; Fig. 15 3, a rear view of the pack complete; Fig. 4, a front end view of the holder, the cartridges removed; Fig. 5, the blank from which the holder is made; Fig. 6, a horizontal longitudi- nal section cutting on line x x of Fig. 3; Fig. го 7, a transverse section cutting on line x x of Fig. 2. This invention relates to an improvement in what is commonly called a “cartridge- pack”—that is to say, several cartridges ar- 25 ranged in a holder, and which holder, with the cartridges it contains,is adapted to beset into an arm constructed to receive it, and so that for the time being the holder forms a magazine to contain the cartridges, from 30 which they will be automatically and suc- cessively taken from the pack in the closing movement of. the breech-piece, and then as one pack is exhausted the holder is removed and a new pack introduced, thus enabling 35 the person using the arm to provide himself with several packs all in proper condition to be at once inserted into the arm,and thereby avoid the difficulty of introducing the car- tridges successively into a magazine—the ob- 40 ject of the invention being a simple and cheap construction of the holder, which may be read- ily introduced and removed from the arm and conveniently recharged with cartridges; and the invention consists in the construction of 45 the holder as hereinafter described, and par- ticularly recited in the claim. The holder for this pack is made from a blank of sheet metal of the shape seen in Fig. 4. The central portion A between the broken lines forms the back, the said broken lines 50 indicating where the portions outside those lines are to be bent from the part A and so as to form the two sides В C, as seen in Fig. G. The width of the back A corresponds to the external diameter of the heads of the car- 55 tridges. The upper ends of the two sides in- cline downward from their forward edges to- ward the back, as seen at D D in Fig. 4; but adjacent to the back the two sides extend to the upper end of the back, as at E E. These 60 portions E E at the upper end are turned in- ward, as seen in Figs. 2 and 7, so as to over- hang a cartridge near its head, as seen in Fig. 2, which will prevent the cartridge from rising above that point; but the open top 65 permits a portion of the head of the upper- most cartridge to be exposed at the rear, as seen in Fig. 3. The two sides at the forward edge and at the termination of the inclines D I) are also turned inward, as seen in Fig. 5, 70 so as to overhang the cartridge-shell and pre- vent its accidental rising from the holder; but the downward and rearward inclination of the two sides toward the projections E E makes the opening through the top at the base of 75 the inclines broader than the diameter of the head of the cartridge. At the bottom the two sides are constructed with projections F F, (see Fig. 4,) which when the sides are bent into their position with relation to each other 80 are bent under and so as to meet and form a bar G across the bottom of the holder and somewhat forward of the back of the holder, as seen in Fig. 1. The two sides are also con- structed with a vertical rib II on the inside 85 near the back, which ribs extend from the bottom upward, but terminate in a position below the uppermost cartridge of the pack. The ribs are produced by making a de- pression upon the outside inward, as seen in 90 Fig. 6. One side of the holder is constructed with a notch or hole, forming a notch I, as a means for engaging the holder with a spring- dog in the arm when the pack is set in place, and so that the pack will be firmly held. 95 The cartridges are introduced one after an- other at the upper end of the holder, the first cartridge being forced inward until the head
487,свэ is in a position against the back and so that the flange of the head may pass down into the holder between the back and the ribs II and as indicated by broken lines in Fig. 2, and so on, cartridges being successively in- troduced nntil the holder is filled, the holder in the illustration being adapted for five car- tridges. The cartridges stand in the holder inclined upward and forward from the back of the holder. In use the pack is arranged in the arm with the breech-piece open, and then the breech- piece, forced forward to the closed position, will strike the head of the uppermost car- tridge and force that cartridge forward, and in such forward movement the head of the cartridge after it escapes from the inwardly- turned projections E E rises through the opening and strikes the inclines D and rides np those inclines, the overhanging forward part of the inclines yielding to permit the body of the cartridge to escape, and so that the cartridge gradually rises, as indicated in broken lines, Fig. 1, bringing it rapidly into a position forward of the front face of the breech-piece and into line with the bar- rel. The lower ends of the two sides incline upward and are turned inward, as seen at J J, Fig. 5, and so as to embrace the lowermost cartridge in the pack, as seen in Fig. 1, and so that between the turned-in upper ends and the turned-in lower ends the cartridges are held close together in the pack. While we prefer to make the upper edges with the inclines D D, so as to cause the car- tridges to rise rapidly as they advance from the holder, the inclines may be omitted. From the foregoing it will be understood that we do not claim, broadly, a.holder for cartridges adapted to receive the cartridges, but of a length shorter than the full length of the cartridges, and so that only the rear portion of the cartridges is inclosed by the holder. Neither do we claim snch a holder when adapted to be introduced into a firearm 45 as a magazine, as such devices, we are aware, are not new. We claim— The herein-described holder for cartridge- packs, consisting of the back A, the two sides 50 В C, projectingtherefrom,the two sides turned inward at the bottom to support the cartridges from below, the rear portion E E of the sides at the top turned inward, so as to overhang the rear portion of the cartridges contained 55 in the holder, the upper edges of the two sides inclined downward from the forward ends to the said overhanging rear portion of the two sides and the forward part of the said inclined portions turned inward to overhang 6c the upper cartridge in the pack,and whereby the opening in the top of the holder imme- diately forward of I he rear overhanging por- tions E E is of a width corresponding to the diameter of a cartridge-head, the said in- 65 dined portions turned inward, so as to pro- duce a gradual contraction of that opening forward, and whereby as a cartridge is forced forward from the holder its head will escape forward of the projections E E and ride up 70 the said inclines to raise the rear end of the cartridge, substantially as and for the pur- pose described. In testimony whereof we have signed this specification in the presence of two snbscrib- 75 ing witnesses. JOHN M. BROWNING. MATTHEW S. BROWNING. Witnesses: R. C. McEwan, E. A. Ensign.
(No Model.) 5 Sheets—Sheet 1. J, M._ & M. S. BROWNING. MAGAZINE FIREARM. No. 492,459. Patented Feb. 28, 1893.
(No Model.) 5 Sheets—Sheet 2. J. M. & M. S. BROWNING-. MAGAZINE FIREARM. No. 492,459. Patented Feb. 28, 1893.
(No Model.) 5 Sheets—Sheet 3. J. M. & M. S. BROWNING-. MAGAZINE FIREARM. No. 492,459. Patented Feb. 28, 1893.
(No Model.) 6 Sheets—Sheet 4. J. M. & M. S. BROWNING. MAGAZINE FIREARM. No. 492,459. Patented Feb. 28, 1893.
(No Model.) 5 Sheets—Sheet 5. J. M. & M. S. BROWNING. MAGAZINE FIREARM- No. 492,459. Patented Feb. 28, 1893.
United States Patent Office. JOHN M. BROWNING AND MATTHEW S. BROWNIN^, OF OGDEN, UTAH TERRITORY, ASSIGNORS TO TIIE WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS COM- PANY, OF NEW HAVEN; CONNECTICUT. MAGAZINE-FIREARM. J SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 492,469, dated February 28,1893. Application filed March 22,1892. Serial Mo. 426,9921 (No modeD To all whom it may concern: Be it known that we, John M. Browning and Matthew S. Browning, of Ogden, in the county of Weber and Territory of Utah, 5 have invented a new Improvement in Maga- zine-Firearms; and we do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with ac- companying drawings and the letters of ref- erence marked thereon, to be full, clear, and to exact description of thesame,and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in— Figure 1, a sectional side viewshowing the mechanism in the normal position. Fig. 2, a 15 side view of a pack of cartridges adapted to be employed in the arm. Fig. 3, a top view of the pack. Fig. 4, a rear view of the pack. Fig. 5, the same view as Fig. 1, but showing the parts in the position of the breech-piece open, 20 the hammercocked, and the pack introduced. Fig. G, an under side view of the arm. Fig. 7, the same as Fig. 5„.with the parts returned to the positibn'of the breech-pieee closed, hammer cocked, and the first cartridge of the 25 pack transferred from the pack into the bar- rel. Fig. 8, a top view, the breech-piece closed. F ig. 9, a top view of the breeeh-piece open. Fig. 9a, a top view of the follower, its fi nger and op- erating lever removed. Fig. 10, a section on 30 linea:—irof Fig. 1 looking rearward. Fig. 11,a transverse section on line у—у of Fig. 5. Fig. 12, a transverse section on line z—z of Fig. 1, looking forward. Fig. 13, a sectional side view of the lower tang piece of the receiver which 35 carries the lock mechanism and the guide for thehammer. Fig. 14, alongitudinal section of the lower tang-piece with the lock mechan- ism detached. Fig. 15, a top view of the same. Fig. 16, a side view of the operating lever, parts 40 broken away to show the opening through the lever for the discharge of the cartridge holder. This invention relates to an improvement in that class of repeating-arms which are adapted for the employment of what are com- 45 monly called “cartridge-packs,” that is to say, in which the cart ridges to be nsed in the arm are arranged in a holder detachable from the arm, but so that the holder with the car- tridges it carries, may be introduced into the arm, and then the cartridges automatically 50 transferred directly from the pack into the arm, the holder part of the pack form ing prac- tically the magazine for the time being, one pack being discharged, the holder is with- drawn and a new pack is introduced. 55 The object of the invention is a simple, practical construction of arm, which will per- mit the use of removable holders containing several cartridges, and whereby a person sup- plied with several such packs of cartridges, 60 in using the arm, may readily remove the holder after one pack is exhausted, and in- troduce a new pack, and the invention con- sists in the construction and combination of mechanisms as hereinafter described and par- 65 ticularly recited in the claims. In Figs. 2, 3, and 4, a pack of peculiar con- struction and specially adapted for the arm of this invention, is illustrated. The holder for this pack is made from a blank of sheet- 70 metal, bent to form a back A, and two sides В В, the space between the two sides corre- sponding substantially to the shape of the rear portion of a cartridge, and the holder is of a length corresponding to the number of 75 cartridges which the pack is to contain, here represented as for five cartridges. The two sides are connected across the bottom by a bar C, and at the top the holder is open, so that the uppermost cartridge is exposed, leav- 80 ing a portion of its head above the upper end at the back. At the top the two sides are in- clined downward and rearward, as seen in Fig. 2,and are bent inward so as to overhang the cartridges in the pack, as seen in Fig. 3. 85 The two sides are constructed with vertical internal ribs near the back, and substantially parallel therewith, the ribs terminating in a point near the top of the holder. The sev- eral cartridges are successively introduced 90 through the upper part of the holder, and so as to bring the hdad of the cartridges between the rib and the back of the holder, the bot- tom of the holder brings the cartridges into an inclined position, and the last cartridge 95 introduced is embraced by the turned in up- per ends of the holder, all the heads except that of the upper cartridge being supported
402,450 to bear against the nose R, of the dog when the dog is raised, as seen in Fig. 1, but when the dog is turned down, its nose is taken out of. the path of the breech-piece, and so that the breech-piece may move reafward over the •dog, as represented in Fig. 5, then when the i’breech-piece is returned, as in Fig. 1, the dog is raised to bring its nose against the rear end S, of the breech-piece, and so as to lock the breech-pieee in its closed position, and sup- port the breech-piece against the recoil of ex- plosion. To operate the dog for the opening and clos- ing movement of the breech-piece, the lever is constructed with a second finger T, and the dog is constructed with a corresponding notch U, with which the said finger T, engages,like a tooth of one gear with the teeth of another gear. When the parts are in the closed posi- tion, the finger T, stands engaged with the notch U, in the dog, and holds the dog in the closed or locking position, but when the lever is turned down for the opening movement, its first operation is to turn the dog downward and out of the path of the breech-piece, and this operation occurs before the finger N,shall have come to a bearing in the recess O, upon the breech-piece, and so that the dog being outof the way of the breech-piece, thebreeeh- piece may be thrown to its wide open posi- tion, as seen in Fig. 5, then as the lever is re- turned, the finger T in due time engages with the notch IT, of the dog, and so that after the breech-piece shall have been fully closed by the operation of the finger N, the dog will be brought to its home position to lock the breech-piece, as seen in Fig. 1. The lock mechanism of the arm is hung in that part V, of the receiver which carries the lower tang G, and as seen in Figs. 13 and 14. This part V,sets between the two sides of the receiver, as seen in Fig. 10 where it is remov- ably secured. The dog P, is recessed or bi- furcated in its lower part, as also seen in Fig. 10,so as to span the upper portion of this part V, of the receiver. In the part V, of the re- ceiver, the hammer W, is hung npon a pivot X, the hammer being provided with the usual main-spring Y and with a sear and trigger by which the hammer may be held at full cock. The dog is recessed to receive the hammer, and so as to permit the movement of the ham- mer independent of the dog. The rear move- ment of the breech-piece throws the hammer into the full cock position, as seen in Fig. 5, where it is caught and remains until the breech-piece is closed and the trigger pulled. As a protection against accidental discharge of the hammer, the sear a, is hung upon the same pivot b, as the trigger c the tail a, of the sear extends to the rear of the pivot b, and through the tail d, over the trigger, is a pine, which projects at each side below and into the path of the dog P. The face P', of the dog below the lever-engaging notch, is substan- tially concentric with its pivot, and distant between the rib and the back, the upper car- tridge operates as a wedge or key to confine all the cartridges in place. The pack is placed in the arm, and as the breech-piece moves for- ward, to close the barrel, it strikes the rear end of the uppermost cartridge, and forces it forward from the holder, and in such forward movement of the cartridge the flange of the head strikes the inclined upper edges of the two sides, and causes that end to rise, as seen . in broken lines Fig. 2, and so as to take the cartridge upward and forward of the advanc- ing breeeh-piece. This brief description of the pack will be sufficient, so far as the arm itself is concerned, the pack constituting the subject of an independent application filed in even date herewith. D, represents the receiver, to the forward end of which the barrel E, is secured, and opening at the rear into the receiver in the usual manner; at the rear end the receiver is provided with the usual upper tang F, by which the receiver is secured to the stock, the lower tang G, being detachable from the re- ceiver, and as hereinafter described. The breech-piece H, is arranged to move longitudi- nally backward and forward in the receiver, and is constructed with guides I, upon its sides, which run in longitudinal grooves J, in the sides of the receiver; the breech-piecC car- ries a longitudinal firing-pin K, extending through to the rear, to adapt it to be struck by the hammer, iu the usual manner, and as seen in Fig. 7. In the receiver below the breech-piece is a space, corresponding in shape and extent to the pack of cartridges to be in- troduced. In the lower part of the receiver a lever L, is hung, upon a pivot M, the said lever form- ing the trigger-guard, and terminating in a handle by which the lever may be turned backward and forward as usual in that class of fire-arms in which the mechanism is oper- ated by a lever below the receiver. The le- ver extends forward from the pivot at one side of the receiver, and terminates in a finger N, sea Fig. 1, which normally stands below, but near the forward end of the breech-piece. The breeeh-piece near its forward end, and on thesamesideas thefinger N, is constructed with a vertical recess O, into which the finger N, will pass when the lever is turned down- ward, and so that the finger N, will engage the recess O, in the breeeh-piece, and by con- tinued movement of the lever will throw the breech-piece into its rear position, as seen in Fig. 5, and the return of the lever will corre- sponding! у ret u rn th e breech-piece to its closed position. In the receiver at the rear of- the breech- piece, a dog P is hung, upon a pivot Q, and so as to swing in a vortical plane, the dog be- ing provided with a firm seat at tire rear it ex- tends forward from the pivot, and terminates in a nose R, at the rear of the breeeh-piece, the end S, of the breech-piece being adapted 7° 75 8o 85 90 95 ICO IO5 no [I5 I2C 125 13°
492,469 from its pivot corresponding to the distance between the pivot of the dog and the pin or projection e,from the sear, and so that that face P', when the hammer is in the cocked po- 5 sition and the dog in the unlocked or down position, will bear upon the pin e, after the hammer is brought to the cocked position, and as seen in Fig. 5, the dog thus operates as a bearing to prevent the tail of the sear ro from rising under a pull of the trigger, but after the breech-piece has been brought to the closed position, and the dog to the locked po- sition, the dog has escaped from over the pro- jecting ends of the pin, as seen in Fig. l,and 15 so as to leave the sear free to be operated by the trigger to disengage the hammer; this ar- rangement insures the locking of the ham- mer in the cocked position until after the dog has practically locked the breech-piece in the го closed position. The part V, of the receiver extends forward on one side, as at f, Fig. 13, and on that side of the receiver opposite* the forward projec- tion of the lever which carries.the finger N, 25 and as seen in Figs. 15 and 14,/, represent- ing the forward projection of the part V. Upon the inside of this projection/, is a ver- tical recess <7, which corresponds in shape to one side of the holder of the cartridge-pack; 30 the recess is nearly vertical, as seen in broken lines Fig. 1, pref erably inclining slightly for- ward, as represented in broken lines Fig. 1, so that when the breech-piece is open, as seen in Fig. 5, the recess will be exposed through 35 the top of the receiver, and so that a pack of cartridges introduced, and the holder enter- ing the recess g, will be gnided and support- ed in its proper relative position to the mech- anism of the arm, and as represented in Fig. 5. 40 The pack standing in the arm as seen in Fig. 5, brings the head of the upper cartridge for- ward of the front face of the breech-piece, and so that as the breech-piece moves forward, it will strike the head of that uppermost car- 45 tridge, and cause that cartridge to advance from the holder and into the barrel, the con- tinued forward movementof the breech-piece forces the cartridge to its home position in the barrel, and as presented in Fig. 7, then as the 50 breech-piece is withdrawn, the extractor-hook /1 with which it is provided, will withdraw the exploded shell, or cartridge if it be not ex- ploded, and So as to permit the ejection of the shell or cartridge if it be not exploded, in the 55 usnal manner, and so that the breech-piece may return free for the introduction of the next cartridge. To raise the cartridges of the pack as one cartridge is removed so as to bring the next 60 cartridge into its place forward of the breech- piece, a follower 'i, is hung upon a pivot fc, near the forward end of the reqeiver, and so as to swing in a vertical plane within the car- tridge space in the receiver, as from the posi- 65 tion in Fig. 1, downward to the position seen in Fig. 5, and return. At its pivot end the follower is forked, as seen in Fig. 9a, and be- tween its two branches a lever Z, is hung upon the same pivot k, as the follower, this lever extends forward between the two branches 70 of the follower. On the hub of the lever, and forward of the pivot a shoulder m, is formed, against which a spring n, bears, as seen in Fig. 1, the tendency of which is to hold the lever in the up position, but to yield for 75 the depression of the lever, as seen in Fig. 7. Near the rear end of the follower, and upon a pivot о in rear of the rear end of the lever Z, the fingerp, ishung, so as to swing in a vertical plane; this finger extends for- 80 ward over the lever Z, and so that that lever under the action of its spring, may bear up- ward upon the said finger with a tendency to turn the forward end of the finger upward, as seen in Fig. 1, but so as to permit the finger 85 pto be turned down onto the follower, as seen in Fig. 7. The finger p, is preferably made of concavo-convex shape in transverse sec- tion, as seen in Fig. 12. Normally the fol- lower and its parts stand in the up position, 90 as seen in Fig. 1, the parts being held in this up position by the action of the spring n, through the lever I, the forward pressure of the lever being transmitted to the follower i, through the finger p. As the pack is intro- 95 dnced, it strikes the finger p, at its forward end, and the rear end of the follower, and presses the parts downward until the follower and its parts are in the extreme down posi- tion, as seen in Fig. 5, where the lowermost 100 cartridge rests upon the rear end of the fol- lower and upon the finger. The tendency of the spring of the lever bearing against the under side of the finger p, is now to force the parts upward and against the cartridges in io; the pack with a power sufficient to raise the several cartridges.’ As the uppermost car- tridge of the pack is transferred to the bar- rel, the rear end of the follower raises the rear end of the cartridges, while the finger raises no the forward end, and serves to hold them in position so thatthe next lower cartridge guides the forward movementof the upper cartridge until finally the last cartridge will be guided by the finger in its movement into the barrel. 115 To secure the holder when in its proper place in the arm, a spring r, see Fig. 11, is arranged in the recess g, in which the holder is set, the nose s, of the spring being adapted to engage a corresponding notch t, in the 120 holder. As the holder is pressed down into its place, the spring makes the engagement, then after the cartridges have been removed from the holder, a downward pressure upon the upper end of the holder will force it out 125 through the bottom of the receiver, (the spring т yielding forthat purpose,) back of the pivot on which the lever is hung, this discharge of the holder being made when the parts are in the open position, as seen in Fig. 5. 130 While preferring the mechanism illustrated and described for operating the breeeh-pieee,
4 492,459 it will be evident that other known mechan- isms or constructions of longitudinal recip- rocating breech-pieee may be substituted therefor, such being too apparent to require 5 illustration. We claim— / 1. In a fire-arm the combination of a re- ceiver carrying the barrel at its forward end, a longitudinal reciprocatipgbreech-pieCe, the io receiver constructed with a recess below the breech-piece adapted to receive a pack of car- tridges, mechanism substantially such as de- scribed to impart reciprocating movement to said breech - piece, the breech-piece being 15 adapted to engage the uppermost cartridge of the pack, and in its forward movement to transfer that cartridge from the holder to the barrel, a follower i, hung in thejeceiver for- ward .of the recess, and extending rearward 20 below the cartridges of the pack, a lever Z, hung upon the same pivot as the follower, and extending forward through the follower, a finger p, hung at the rear end of the fol- . lower, and at the rear of the rear end of said 25 lever, so that the rear end of said lever is adapted to bear upon the under side of said finger, with a spring operating upon said le- ver, having a tendency to raise the said lever, fingerj and follower, substantially as and for 30 the purpose described. 2. In a fire-arm adapted to be loaded at the breech, and provided with a longitudinally re- ciprocating breech-piece, with mechanism for imparting reciprocating movement thereto, 35 the combination therewith of a dog hung in the receiver at the rear of the breech-piece, and so as to swing downward and backward in. opening; -the said dog in its upward posi- tion being adapted to bear against the end of 40 the closed breech-piece; the said dog con- structed with a recess from its forward side rearward; a hammer hung in the receiver upon a pivot, forward of the said dog, the . hammer being adapted to work through the 45 said recess in the.dog, and turn upon itsown pivot independent of the dog, substantially as described. 3. In a fire-arm, the combination of a re- ceiver carrying a barrel at its forward end and 50 opening at its rear into the receiver, a longi- tudinally reciprocating breech-piece, a. lever hnng in the receiver below the breech-piece, the said lever constructed with a finger for- ward of its pivot, the breech-piece constructed with a recess with which said finger is adapt- 55 ed to engage, and a dog hung in the receiver at the rear of the breech-piece and so as to swing in a vertical plane, the nose of the dog adapted to engage the rear end of the breech- piece when in its closed position, the said le- 60 ver constructed with a second finger adapted to engage said dog to impart to it said swing- ing-movement, substantially as described, and whereby the first part of the opening move- ment of the said lever will disengage the dog 65 from the breech-piece and before the first fin- ger of the lever engages the breech-piece, and in the closing movement of the breech-piece the said lever engages the dog after its finger has ceased to act upon the breech-piece, and 70 so as to turn the said dog into engagement with the breech-pieee after it is closed, sub- stantially as described. 4. In a fire-arm, the combination of a lon- gitudinally reciprocating breech-piece, a dog 75 hung in the receiver at the rear of the breech- piece, and so as to swing in a vertical plane, the nose of the dog adapted to engage the breech-piece when in the closed position, mechanism substantially such as described 8c to impart the locking and' unlocking move- ment to said dog, a hammer hung in the re- ceiver and so as to swing in a plane parallel with the plane of the dog, a sear hung in the receiver below the dog, and adapted to en- 85 gage the hammer in the cocked position, the sear constructed with a projection e, and the dog constructed with a bearing surface P' adapted to bear upon said projection eof the sear when the dog is in the unlocked position, co but to escape therefrom as the dog is brought into its locking position, substantially as and for the purpose described. In testimony whereof we have signed this specification in the presence of two subscrib- 95 ing witnesses. JOHN M. BROWNING. MATTHEW S. BROWNING. Witnesses: R. C. McEwan, E. A. Ensign.
3 Sheets—Sheet 1. (No Model.) J. M. BROWNING. MAGAZINE FIREARM. No. 499,005. PatentedJune 6, 1893. THE NORRlb PETERS CO, PHOTO-UTHO , WASHINGTON. D C
(No Model.) 3 Sheets—Sheet 2. J. M. BROWNING. MAGAZINE FIREARM. No. 499,005. Patented June 6, 1893. •THE NORR1S PETERS CO., PHOTO-LlTHO., WASHINGTON, <> C.
(No Model.) 3 Sheets—Sheet 3. J. M. BROWNING. MAGAZINE FIREARM. No. 499,005. Patented June 6, 1893. THE NORRIS PETERS CO.. PHOTO-UTHO, WASHINGTON, О. C
United States Patent Office. JOHN M. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH TERRITORY, ASSIGNOR TO THE WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS COMPANY, OF NEW HAVEN, CON- NECTICUT. MAGAZINE-FIREARM. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 499,005, dated June 6,1893. Application filed September 19, 1892. Serial No, 446,245, (No model.) To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, John M. Browning, of Ogden, in thecountyof Weber and Territory of Utah, have invented a new Improvement 5 in Magazine-Firearms; and I dohereby declare the following, when taken in connection with accompanying drawings and the letters of ref- erence marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said to drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in— Figure 1, a longitudinal section of a maga- zine-fire-arm embodying this invention, with the parts in closed or normal position; Fig. 2, 15 a longitudinal section of the receiver, barrel and magazine, with the magazine removed to show face view of one of the ribs; Fig. 3, the same as Fig. 1, showing the parts in the po- sition of the breech open; Fig. 4, the same as 20 inFig.3, showing the position of thecartridge as it advances into the barrel, under the ac- tion of the advancing breech-piece; Fig. 5, a top view of the receiver, the magazine re- moved to show top view of the ribs; Fig. 6, 25 a transverse section, cutting on line x—x of Fig. 3;Fig. 7, a transverse section, cutting on line x—x, of Fig. 5; Fig. 8, the same as Fig. 1, representing the parts as approaching the rear or opening movement to illustrate the 30 operation of the lever to raise the carrier; Fig. 9, the same as Fig. 8, showing the parts as they approach the closed position to illus- trate the operation of the lever to depress the carrier; Fig.lO,atransversesection cuttingon 35 line x—x of Fig. 8; Fig. 11, a transverse sec- tion cutting on line x—x of Fig. 9; Fig. 12, a longitudinal section cutting on line y—y of Fig. 8, looking down. This invention relates to that class of maga- 40 zine fire-arms, in which the magazine is ar- ranged beneath the barrel, the barrel and the magazine both opening toward the rear into the receiver, and in which the breech-piece is arranged to move longitudinally backward 45 and forward, and with a carrier hung below the breech-piece, and so as to swing on its pivot up and down, its free end toward the magazine, and so that a cartridge passes from the magazine onto the carrier, to be raised by 50 the carrier when the breeeh-piece is opened, so as to bring the point of the cartridge at the rear of the barrel, and present the head of the cartridge forward of the front face of the open breech-piece, in order that in the closing movement of the breech-piece, the 55 breech-piece will force the cartridge from the carrier forward into the barrel. Parts of the invention relate particularly to arms of this class in which the longitudinally reciprocat- ing breech-piece is operated by means of a 60 lever, which is hinged by its upper end to the breech-piece, and extends downward through the receiver to form a handle by which the lever may be turned, combined with a verti- cally moving bolt, which locks the breech-pieee 65 ' in the closed position, but in connection with the said lever, so that in the first part of the downward or opening movement of the lever, the said bolt is withdrawn from engagement with the breech-piece, and the pivot of engage- 70 ment between the lever and bolt then serves as a fulcrum upon which the lever will turn to throw the breech-piece to itsopen position,and so that in the return of the lever the breech- piece will be first thrown to its closed posi- 75 tion, and then in the last part of the closing movement of the lever the bolt will be brought into engagement with the breech-piece so as to support it against recoil. This particular arrangement of bolt, lever and breech-piece, 80 is shown and described in LettersPatent No. 306,577, granted.to J. M. Browning and M. S. Browning, October 14,1884. In arms of this class having the carrier hung at the rear and so as to swing upward at its forward end, the 85 carrier necessarily presents the cartridge in an inclined position to the line of the barrel; that is, while the point of the cartridge is in line with the barrel, the head-end will be down considerably below the line of the barrel; 90 hence, it is necessary that the rear end of the cartridge shall rise as it advances into the barrel, in order to bring it into direct axial line with the barrel. The object of the first part of the inven- 95 tion is a simple adaptation of the lever to op- erate as a cam upon the carrier to impart to the carrier the up and down swinging move- ment. The object of the second part of the inven- 100
й 499,005 tion is to raise the rear end of the cartridge rapidly, so that immediately after the point of the cartridge is inserted into the barrel, the rear end will be raised into a line sub- 5 stantially with the barrel, and forward of the front face of the breech-piece, and the inven- tion consists in the construction as hereinaf- ter described and particularly recited in the claims. io A, represents the receiver, to the forward end of which the barrel B, is attached, in the usual manner, and opens into the receiverat the rear. Below the barrel B, the magazine C, is arranged, also in the usual manner, it 15 opening into the receiver at the rear. The magazine is adapted to be charged with a se- ries of cartridges, in the usual manner, so that the rear ends of the cartridges will be presented toward the receiver, and so that 20 they will be successively forced rearward as for transfer to the barrel. D, .represents the breech - piece, which is adapted to receive a longitudinalreciprocat- ing movement to open and close the rear end 25 of the barrel. As here represented the breech- piece is operated by means of a lever a, which extends through the under side of the re- ceiver, and terminates in a suitable handle form, by which the lever may be swung in a 30 vertical plane. The lever extends into the re- ceiver, and is hinged by a pivot b, directly to the breech-piece. c, represents the vertically sliding bolt for locking the breech-piece; in the closed posi- 35 tion this bolt stands in rear of a shoulder d in the breech-piece, the same as in the patent before referred to, and as in that patent a pair of such bolts may be employed if desired. The lever is connected to the bolt by means 40 of a stud e, in the bolt, which extends into a slot/, iu the lever, and so that when the parts are in the closed position, as seen in Fig. 1, the stud of the bolt stands at the rear of the slot /. In the first part of the opening movement 45 of the lever, the lever turns upon the pivot Ъ, in the breech-piece as a fulcrum, and the slot /, of the lever operates upon the stud e,of the bolt as a cam, and so as to draw that bolt down out of engagement with the breech- 50 piece, as seen in broken lines Fig. 1, and after the bolt is so drawn down, then the stud e, in the slot/, operates as the fulcrum for the move- ment of the lever, so that the upper end of the lever will be thrown rearward, and cor- 55 respondingly move the breech-piece to the open position seen in Fig. 8. Then when the lever is returned, the breech-piece will be forced to the closed position, and then in the completion of the closing movement of the 60 lever, the bolt will be thrown intotheposition of locking the breech-piece. The arrange- ment and operation of the lever, breech-piece and bolt, are the same as that shown in the patent before referred to. 65 In the receiver below the breech-piece, the carrier E, is hung, upon a pivot F, and so as to swing up and down as from the position in Fig. 8 to that seen in Fig. 9. Normally the carrier stands in the down position, its for- ward end toward the magazine, and its upper 70 surface in line with the magazine, so that the rearmost cartridge of the magazine may pass onto the carrier, as represented in Fig. 1, G, representing the cartridge so standing on the carrier. The upward movement is /5 imparted to the carrier by means of a cam g, projecting from the forward side of the lever, and which, at the proper time, is adapted to strike the under side of the carrier forward of the pivot upon which the carrier is hung. 80 In the forward swinging movement of the le- ver, and during the last part of such forward movement and as the breech-piece approaches its extreme rear position, the cam g, strikes the corresponding point on the carrier for- 85 ward of its pivot, and so that in the comple- tion of the forward swinging movement of the lever the cam g, will cause the carrier to rise, as represented in broken lines Fig. 8, thus giving to the carrier a positive upward 90 movement. Then as the lever returns, the cam g, passes away from the under side of the carrier, leaving the carrier in the raised position, and until the breech-piece ap- proaches its closed position, as seen in Fig. 9, 95 at which time a bearing point h on the lever above the projection g, will strike a corre- sponding point i, on the carrier, as seen in Fig. 9, and force the carrier to the down po- sition; while the final movement of thebreech- 100 piece is being completed, and before the last part of the closing movement of the lever commences to operate to throw the bolt: into engagement with the breech-piece, and as rep- resented in broken lines Fig. 9. The carrier 105 is provided with a spring-bolt 7г, projecting laterally from one side, and which is adapted to engage a corresponding notch I, in the in- side of the receiver when the breech-piece is in the down position, and as seen in Fig. 10, no or to escape therefrom when the carrier is 'raised and engage a similar notch m-above when the carrier is in the-up position as seen jin Fig. 11; this latch serves to hold the Car- Tier in the two positions after the lever, shall 115 have moved out of engagement therewith. .When the carrier is in the raised position as (seen in Fig. 3, the cartridge G, stands in an ^inclined' position with relation to the axis of the barrel, or so as to present the forward 120 (end of the cartridge substantially in rear of the open end of thebarrel; while the rear end of the cartridge will have been raised so far as to stand with its upper portion forward of the face of the breech-piece, or some part of 125 the breech-pihce, in order that as the breeeh- pieee is advanced while the carrier and car- tridge are in this position, the advancing breeeh-pieee will impart a forward movement to the cartridge, as from the-position seen in 130 Fig. 3, to that seen in broken lines in the same figure. In this position it will be observed that the point of the cartridge has entered the barrel, but yet the rear end of the car-
499,005 tridge is far below the axial line of the bar- rel; consequently as the cartridge isadvanced it must rise to get into line with the barrel, and in absence of other provision to the con- 5 trary,this rise of the rear of the cartridge will depend upon the movement of the forward end of the cartridge in the cartridge chamber in the barrel. To produce the rising of the rear end of the cartridge to bring it into line io with the barrel, without thus depending upon the movement of the cartridge in the cartridge chamber, the receiver is constructed with a longitudinal rib I, on each side, which stands, above the cartridge when the receiver is in 15 the down position, the distance between the faces of the two ribs being greater than that of the diameter of the cartridge, as seen in Fig. 7. These ribs are in position so that as the cartridge is raised by the carrier to the 20 position seen in Fig. 3, the head will strike the under side or over-hanging portion J, of the ribs, and thus be prevented from throw- ing upward under the momentum which will be given to the cartridge by the rising of the 25 carrier; but this position of the cartridge -- brings it forward of a portion of the open breech-piece, so that when the breech-piece is moved forward, it will strike the head of the cartridge as seen in Fig. 3, and then as 30 the breech-piece advances, it will move the cartridge forward beneath the over-hanging portions J, of the ribs, to the position seen in broken lines, Fig. 3. At this point, there is an opening K, upward through the ribs, of a 35 width equal to, or somewhat greater than the diameter of the head of the cartridge. The forward sides of these openings or recesses, K, in the ribs, are inclined upward and forward as seen at L, Fig. 2, and so that as the car- 40 tridge is carried so far forward as to bring its head into the recesses K, the cartridge will have passed beyond the control of the over- hanging portions J, of the ribs, and so that it may rise through the openings K, and as the 45 breech-piece continues its forward movement, the flange of the cartridge strikes the inclined forward surfacesof the recesses K, in the ribs, and which incline operates as a cam upon the advancing cartridge, to cause the rear end of 30 the advancing cartridge to rise rapidly, as in- dicated in Fig. 4. Forward of the recesses K, in the ribs, the space between the ribs is such as to permit the body of the cartridge to pass freely up between them, bnt is less than the 55 diameter of the head of the cartridge, and so that after the head of the cartridge has passed by the inclines L, the head will be supported on the upper side of the ribs, and in substan- tially axial line with the barrel, as represented 60 in the upper position, Fig. 4. By the employment of the recesses K, hav- ing the inclined forward surfaces L, over which the cartridges rise, the rear end of the cartridge is brought up to this axial position 65 by a very slight longitudinal movement of the cartridge, much more rapidly than could be produced where the entrance of the car- tridge into the barrel itself is depended upon to produce this rise of the rear end of the car- tridge, and very much of the friction which 70 is occasioned by the advance movement of the cartridge under the action of the advanc- ing breech-piece, where dependence is had solely upon the engagement of the cartridge with the barrels to raise the rear end of the 75 cartridge, is avoided, and consequently less liability of the blocking of the cartridge un- der rapid firing. While the arrangement of the lever and its construction with the cam upon its forward 80 side to strike the under side of the carrier forward of its pivot, and so as to raise the car- rier in the opening movement of the lever, are specially applicable to the particular arm shown and described, it will be clear to those 8^ skilled in the construction and use of fire- arms, and without illustration, that the lock- ing of the breech-piece by means of the ver- tically movable bolt, is not essential to such construction and operation of the lever, as 90 other breech locking devices may be em- ployed. While the devices shown and described for raising the rear end of the cartridge as it ad- vances toward the barrel, are specially appli- 95 cable to the mechanism described for operat- ing the breech-piece and carrier, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that the same cartridge elevating devices may be em- ployed in connection with a vertically swing- 100 ing carrier,with other breech and carrier oper- ating mechanism. This part of the invention is therefore not to be understood as limited to any particular mechanism for operating the breech-piece or carrier. 1C5 I am aware that overhanging ribs in the carrier, to prevent the cartridge from being thrown upward under the momentum im- parted to it by the raising of the carrier, are very old, and I do not claim broadly such no ribs, but What I do claim as my invention is— 1. In a magazine fire-arm in which the maga- zine is arranged below the barrel, and both the barrel and magazine open into the receiverat 115. the rear, the combination therewith of a car- rier hung upon a pivot at the rear, and so as to swing in a vertical plane, a lever hinged by one end to the breech-piece and extending downward and rearward through the receiver 120 to form a handle below, said lever being adapted in such swinging movement to im- part longitudinal movement to the breech- piece, the lever constructed with a cam upon its forward side adapted to engage the carrier 125 forward of its pivot during the last part of the forward or opening movement of the lever, substantially as described. 2. In a magazine fire-arm in which the maga- zine is arranged below the barrel and both the 130 barrel and magazine open into the receiver at the rear, the combination therewith of a car- rier hung in the receiver upon a pivot at the rear and so as to swing in a vertical plane, a
4 49Й,00б longitudinally reciprocating breeeh-piece, a lever hinged by on e end to the breech piece and extending downward and rearward through the receiver to form a handle below, a verti- 5 cally movable bolt arranged in the receiver, and adapted to engage the breeeh-piece in its closed position, the said lever hinged tb the said bolt by a slot connection so that the first part of the opening movement of the le- io ver will withdraw the bolt from its engaged position, the lever constructed' with a cam upon its forward side adapted to engage the carrier forward of its pivot during-the last part of the forward or opening movement of 15 the lever, substantially as described. 3. In a magazine fire-arm in which the maga- zine is arranged below the barrel, and both the barrel and magazine open into the receiver at the rear, the combination therewith of a car- 20 rier hung in the receiver upon a pivot at the rear, and so as to swing in a-vertical plane, a longitudinal reciprocating breeeh-piece, a le- ver hinged by one end to the breech-piece and extending downward and rearward through 25 the receiver to form a handle below, a vertb cally movable bolt arranged in the'receiver, an d adapted; to engage the breech-piece in its closed position, the said lever hinged to the said bolt by a slot connection so that the first' 30 part of the opening movement of the lever will withdraw the bolt from its engaged posi- tion, the lever constructed with a cam upon its forward side adapted to engage the carrier forward of its pivot during the lastpart of the forward or opening movement of the lever, 35 and the lever constructed with a bearing on its forward surface forward of said cam, and adapted to bear upon a corresponding, point on the upper side of the carrier forward of the pivot on which the carrier is hung, sub- 40 stantially as and for the purpose described. 4. In a-magazine fire-arm, having the maga- zine arranged below the barrel, and both the barrel and the magazine openinginto the re- ceiver at йетеат, with a longitudinally recip- 45 rocating breech-piece and a carrier pivoted at the rear to swing in a vertical plane, the com- bination therewith of ribs longitudinally ar- ranged in the sides of the receiver, in a posi- tion above the - cartridge on the carrier, the 50 said ribs distant from each other less than the diameter of the cartridge-head, and the ribs constructed with' recesses K, through ;whiclrtlie heads of the cartridges may rise, the forward ends of said recesses constructed 55 to form upward and forward inclines L, sub- stantially as and for the purpose described. ; In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscrib- ing witnesses. JOHN M- BROWNING. Witnesses: Jos. W. Wilcox, John E. Ramsden.
(No Model.) 2 Sheets—Sheet 1. J. M. & M. S. BROWNING. MAGAZINE CATCH FOB. MAGAZINE FIREARMS. No. 499,006. Patented June 6, 1893. THE NORfliS PETERS CO, PHOTO-UTHO.. WASHINGTON, О. C.
(No Model.) 2 Sheets—Sheet 2. J. M. & M. S. BROWNING. MAGAZINE CATCH FOR MAGAZINE FIREARMS. No. 499,006. Patented June 6, 1893. THE NO»R|S PETERS CO. PHOTO-LlTHO.. WASHINGTON, D. C,
United States Patent Office. JOHN M. BROWNING AND MATTHEW S. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH TERRITORY, ASSIGNORS TO THE WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS COMPANY, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT. MAGAZINE-CATCH FOR MAGAZINE-FIREARMS. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 499,006, dated June 6,1893. Application filed September 19,1892. Serial No. 446,249, (No model.) To all whom it may Concern: Be it known that we, John M. Browning and Matthew S. Browning, of Ogden, in the county of Weber and Territory of Utah, have 5 invented a new Improvement in Magazine- Firearms; and we do hereby declare the fol- lowing, when taken in connection with ac- companying drawings and the letters of ref- erence marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and io exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in— Figure 1, a side view of the arm complete; Fig. 2, a top view of the same; Fig. 3, a lon- 15 gitndinal sectional side view of the arm com- plete, all the parts in the closed or normal position; Fig. 4, a side view of the arm com- plete showing the receiver and stock portions separated, so as to bring the breech-piece into 20 the open position; Fig. 5, a longitudinal cen- tral section showing parts in side view, with the mechanism in the closed position, and with the cartridge-holder and cartridges in place, the hammer standing at full cock. 25 This invention relates to an improvement in that class of magazine fire-arms in which the cartridges for the magazine are contained in a holder, and the chamber for the maga- zine is formed in the receiver below the 30 breeeh-piece, and so that when the breech- piece is opened, the holder with the cartridges may be introduced through the open top of the receiver into the chamber below, the magazine being provided with a spring, the operation of which is to successively raise the cartridges, ana^so that as the breech-piece moves forward,, its forward end will strike ths uppermost cartridge, and force it forward iiilo the barrel Then on the re-opening of the /. . breeeh-piece the column of cartridges will be raised by I; follower to present the next car- tridge forward of the breech-piece, and par- ticularly to tnose arms of this class in which the holder for the cartridges is adapted to be 45 forced down through an opening in the re- ceiver, so that when cartridges from one holder in the magazine have been exhausted, the introduction of the next holder and car- tridges will force the previous holder down through an opening in the bottom of the re- 50 ceiver. The object of the invention is a simple con- struction of dog for securing the holder in its place in the magazine-chamber, and combined with the sear which holds the hammer at full 55 cock, whereby a single spring will serve for the dog and sear, the invention being an im- provement upon the construction shown and described in our application for Letters Pat- ent, Serial No. 438,105. 60 While the invention is specially applicable to the particular construction of the breech- opening and closing mechanism shown in the said application it is alike applicable to other arrangements of breech mechanism. 65 For convenience of illustration the inven- tion is shown as applied in the same con- struction and arrangement of breech-operat- ing mechanism as that in the said applica- tion, and it will be sufficient to briefly de- 70 scribe the said mechanism. A, represents the receiver, to the forward end of which the barrel В, is attached, in the usual manner, and so as to open into the re- ceiver at the rear. The receiver is detached 75 from the stock, and so that the receiver, with the barrel which it carries, may be drawn forward from the position seen in Fig. 1, to that seen in Fig. 4. The forward end of the stock C, is provided with a plate D, against 80 which the rear end of the receiver A, abuts when the receiver is in the rear position, as seen in Figs. 2 and 3. The receiver is con- structed with a spindle E, projecting from its rear end, and downwardly inclined according 85 to the downward inclination of the stock. The spindle is made tubular, and within the stock is a tube F, opening through the plate D, at the forward end, and corresponding to the spindle E, and so that the spindle E, may 90 slide longitudinally therein, as a guide for the forward and backward movement of the receiver and barrel, and as from the position seen in Fig. 3 to that seen in Fig. 4 and re- turn. 95 G, represents the breeeh-piece. which is ar- ranged longitudinally in the receiver, and so as to be free longitudinally, but the breech-
490,006 piece G, stands between the two sides of the receiver, and so as to allow the receiver to move forward and back, to take the barrel away from the forward end of the breech- 5 piece and return. From the plate D, is an upward and forwardly projecting arm II, which is constructed with an upwardly and forwardly inclined slot J, see Fig. 4. The rear end of the breech-piece is slotted corre- io sponding to the arm II, and into which slot the arm II, extends when the parts are in the closed position, as seen in Fig. 2, and through the breech-piece and through the slot J, in the arm II, is a jiin K, which forms a cofniec- 15 tion between the breech-piece and the arm II, so that the slot limits the forward and backward movementof the brecch-piece. -In the normal or closed position of the parts, the pin K,stands at the lower end of the slot .1, 20 as seen in Fig. 5, and so that a forward move- ment imparted to thebreeclnpiece will cause the pin K, to ride forward and upward in the slot J, and so as to raise the rear end of the breech-piece as it Is thus moved forward, and 25 as indicated in broken lines Fig. 1. In the. receiver below the breech-piece a shoulder L, is formed, see Fig. 3, represented as at the forward end of the spindle, and the breech-piece is constructed with a corre- 30 sponding shoulder M, so that when the breech- piece is in its closed position, as seen in Fig. 3, the shoulder M, on the breech-piece abuts against the shoulder L, of the receiver, and so that tlie breech-piece is locked in its closed 35 position, so as to resist recoil. The stock being held, arid the barrel moved forward, the receiver, spindle and breech- piece will all move together, because the shoulder L, of the receiver engages the shoul- 40 der M, of the breech-piece, but in the forward movement of the breech piece, its rear end will rise,-because of the movement of the pin K, in the slot J, as before described, and so as tocausethe shoulder M,of the breech-piece 45 to rise above the shoulder L, of the receiver, by the time the pin K, has reached the upper end of the slot in the arm II, so that the breech-piece being there arrested, the shoul- der L,of the receiver may pass forward under 50 the breech-piece, leaving the breech-piece stationary with the stock, and with its rear end in the raised position, the rear end of the breech-piece resting upon the upper side of the spindle, as seen in Fig. 4. When the bar- 55 rel is returned, the breeeh-pieee still remains with its rear end in the,up position, and rides upon the upper side of the spindle until the receiver is returned so far as to take the shoulder L, to the rear of the shoulder M, of 60 the breech-piece. Then as the barrel, or for- ward end of the receiver, strikes the forward end of the breech-piece, the completion of the closing movement will force the brecch-piece rearward, and its rear end will be drawn down 65 because of the inclination of the slot J, until the shoulder M, of the brecch-piece has passed down forward of the shoulder L, of the re- ceiver in the fully dosed position of the breech- piece, and so as to lock the breech-piece in that closed position against recoil. 7c The breech-piece issupportedat its forward end, and so as to maintain It a its proper re- lation to the barrel, by means of longitudinal grooves N in the receiver, seen in broken lines Fig. 3, and into which corresponding trun- 75 nions O, on the forward end of the breech- piece extend, and so as to run backward and forwardjn the said grooves in longitudinal line, and yet permit the vertical swinging movement of the breech-piece before de- So scribed. Within the breech-piece the firing-pin P, is arranged, extending from the forward end of the breech-piece through to the rear end, as seen in Fig. 5. 85 Q, represents the hammer, the spindle R, of which extends into thetubularspindle E, and within the tube a spiral spring S, is arranged around the spindle, adapted to bear forward against theshonlderT, on the hammer, the rear 90 endof thespringsupported to resist rearward pressure upon the hammer. The nose of the hammer stands in such relation to the firing- pin that when the partsare in theelosed posi- tion, as seen in Fig. 3, the hammer may strike 95 the rear end of the firing-pin, as usual in the arrangementof hammers in other arms. The hammer being supported in thespjndle, would ; naturally move backward and forward with it, but the hammer is stopped in the cocked iog .position by means of the sear X, hung upon a pivot Y, near the rear eud of the receiver and below the hammer, as seen in Fig. 3, the sear being provided with a spring Z,the tend- ency of which is to force the nose or rear end 105 of the sear upward against the hammer. In the opening movement the nose of .the ham- mer passes to the rear of the sear, and so that the sear spring will force the sear up forward of the hammer,as seen in Fig. 5, or a.suitable no shoulder formed on the hammer. Then in the closing movement of the receiver, the sear holds the hammer rathe cocked position while the closing movement of the breech-piece is completed, and until the engagement of the г 15 sear with the hammer:shall be released. The sear is constructed at its forward end with a projection formiug a rearwardly projecting finger a, and in the receiver the trigger b, is hung, its nose c, extending forward, and so as 120 to engage the said finger of the sear, as seen in Fig. 5, that a pull upon the trigger may de- press the sear and release the hammer. To hold the sear in the locked position so as to prevent accidental disengagement, a 125 latch d, is hung upon a pivot e, which is adapt- ed to be turned so as to bring the nose f, of the latch forward of the finger a, as seen in Fig. 5, and while this engagement exists, the sear cannot be turned from its engaged posi- 130 tion. The latch extends into the trigger- guard, and is thej’c provided with a finger- piei^jA, by whi^r the latch may be conven- iently turned to either the engaged or disen-
499,006 5 ю i5 20 25 3° 35 4о 45 5° 55 6о 65 gaged position, as shown in broken lines Fig. 5. The latch is provided with a spring g, tending to hold it in either its engaged or dis- engaged position. The receiver below the breech-piece iscon- structed with a chamber i, adapted to receive several cartridges, one upon another, they lying substantially parallel with each other, with their heads at the rear, and in the cham- ber a spring-follower j, of any suitable char- acter, is arranged, adapted to raise the col- umn of cartridges as they are successively transferred by the breech-piece to the barrel, it being understood that as the breech-piece is opened the cartridges rise, so as to bring the uppermost cartridge into position with its head forward of the front face of the breech- piece, in order that when the breech-piece re- turns, it will strike the head of the uppermost cartridge, and force it forward into the bar- rel. Followers and chambers for this arrange- ment of cartridge are to® well known to re- quire detailed description. The cartridge-holder k, is a common and well known construction, and adapted to be introduced through the top of the receiver when the breech-piece is opened, so that the holder, after the cartridges are removed, may pass down through a corresponding opening in the bottom of the receiver, and so that a second holder with its cartridges being in- troduced, the said second holder will force the preceding holder downward, outward, and from the receiver. As the force applied to the cartridges is upward, it is necessary that the holder or magazine shall be held against such upward force; to accomplish this object a latch I, is hung upon a pivot m, in the re- ceiver, in rear of the cartridge chamber or magazine,but forward of the sear. The latch extends downward, and is constructed with a tooth n which normally projects into the magazine chamber and has its upper edge beveled and its lower edge made square, whereby it is adapted to be forced back or retired for the downward movement of the cartridge-holder and to engage with the same and prevent the upward movement thereof. Between the sear and the hinged latch Z, a V-shaped spring Z, is arranged, one leg o, of which bears in a corresponding notch in the back of the latch, while the other end p, in like manner bears against the projection on the sear, but below the pivot on which the sear is hung, and so that the spring acts upon the sear to throwitinto its hammer engaging po- sition, and also upon the latch Z, to yieldingly hold the said latch in its forward or normal position. When a cartridge-holder is introduced into the chamber, it passes down, and striking the beveled-back shoulder of the latch, will force the latch backward, as seen in broken lines Fig. 5, until a corresponding opening or notch q, in the back of the holder, reaches the shoul- der of the latch. Then the latch will be forced forward by its spring, and make engagement with the holder, as seen in Fig. 5, which will prevent the holder from rising under the ac- tion of the follower spring. When the next 70 holder is introduced, it will force the preced- ing holder downward, the latch Z, yielding for such downward movement of the preceding holder, but will engage the next succeeding holder in the same manner as described for 75 the first holder. This arrangement of the hinged latch to engage the cartridge holder forward of the sear, and combining there- with a spring between the sear and latch adapted to bear on the two but in opposite 80 directions, is simple and effective, and not liable to derangement or breakage. The arrangement of the sear, cartridge- holder, latch and spring combined therewith, while specially applicable to the construction 85 of breech mechanism described, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that the arrangement of the sear, latch and spring is applicable to other breech-operating mech- anism, as, for illustration, any longitudinal 90 reciprocating breech-piece in which the ham- mer is forced rearward by the rear movement of the breech-piece so that the hammer may engage the sear when in the cocked position. The invention is therefore not to be under- 95 stood as limited to the particular constrnction of breech-mechanism described. The spring between the sear and latch, while preferably of a V or U-shaped char- acter, this shape is not essential to the inven- 100 tion, as other kinds of springs may be em- ployed, as, for illustration, a spiral spring in- troduced between the two bearing points, and so that one end of the spring would rest against the sear, while the other would rest 105 against the back of the latch, the spring be- ing compressed under the operative move- ments of either the latch or the sear, its re- action serving to return those parts, this sub- stitution of one kind of spring for another is no too apparent to require illustration, or fur- ther description. We are aware that it is not broadly new in guns of the type described, to employ a single spring to operate both the sear which holds 115' the hammer at full cock, and the lateh which holds the cartridge-holder in the chamber formed in the receiver to contain it. We are also aware that it is old to adapt the receiver of a magazine-gnn to have a cartridge-holder J2o inserted into it from its upper edge and with- drawn from it through its lower edge. We do not, therefore, claim, such constructions broadly but only our particular construction. We claim— 125 In a magazine fire-arm, the combination with the barrel and stock thereof, of a longi- tudinal reciprocal breech-piece, a hammer adapted to be thrown rearward in the rear movement of the breeeh-piece, a sear to en- 130 gage the hammer at full cock, a receiver hav- ing a magazine-chamber open above and be-
4 499,006 low for the introduction of a cartridge-holder through the upper edge of the receiver and its removal through the lower edge thereof, a latch hung on a pivot in the receiver and 5 located entirely within the same, and con- structed with a tooth having its upper edge beveled and its lower end made square to take into the rear edge of the holder which it holds against upward but not downward io movement, and a spring interposed between the said latch and sear; and operating both of them, substantially as set forth. In testimony whereof we have signed this specification in the presence of two subscrib- ing witnesses. john m: browning. MATTHEW S. BROWNING. Witnesses: Kate Linehan, IV. G. Wright.
3 Sheets—Sheet 1. (No Modsl.) J. M. BROWNING. MAGAZINE FIREARM, No. 499,007. Patented June 6, 1893. THE NORRiS PETERS CO, PHOTO-LJTHO, WASHINGTON О. C.
3 Sheets—Sheet 2. (No Model.) J. M. BROWNING. MAGAZINE FIREARM. No. 499,007. Patented June 6, 1893. THE NORATS PETERS CO., PHOTO-LITHO., WASHINGTON, О. C.

United States Patent Office JOHN M. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH TERRITORY, ASSIGNOR TO THE WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS COMPANY, OF NEW HAVEN, CON- NECTICUT. MAGAZINE-FIREARM. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 499,007, dated June 6, 1893. Application filed October 15,1892, Serial Ko. 448,971, (Ko model,) To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, John M. Browning, of Ogden, in the county of Weber and Territory of Utah, have invented a new Improvement 5 in Magazine Firearms;andldo hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with accompanying drawings and the letters of ref- erence marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said io drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in— Figure 1, a side view of the arm broken away at front and rear; Fig. 2, a top view of the same; Fig. 3, a longitudinal sectional side 15 view showing the parts in the closed or nor-; mal position; Fig. 4, a transverse section on line x—x of Fig. 3; Fig. 5, a transverse sec-. tion cutting on line у—у of Fig. 3; Fig. 6, a top view of the sear; Fig. 7, the same as Fig. 20 3, showing the parts in the open position and representing a pack of cartridges in the maga- zinechamber; Fig. 8, a transverse section cut- ting on line z—z of Fig. 3; Fig. 9, a detached view illustrating the operation of the sear 25 upon the hammer. This invention relates particularly to an improvement in that class of magazine fire- arms in which the magazine is in a chamber directly below the breech-piece, the cartridges 30 beingcontainedin a pack, so that several car- tridges are simultaneously introduced into ' the magazine when the breech-piece is in the open position, the breech-piece having a lon- gitudinal reciprocating movement, parts of 35 the invention being applicable to other ar- rangements of magazine, and also to single breech-loading arms, the object of the inven- tion being chiefly to produce the opening movement of the breech-piece by means of a 40 lever which is drawn toward the person as the arm is held at the shoulder, and so that ma- nipulation of the arm maybe produced with- out moving the trigger-finger from the trigger- guard or operating lever, and the invention 45 consists in the construction as hereinafter de- scribed and particularly recited in the claims. A, represents the receiver, to the forward end of which the barrel B, is attached, in the usual manner, the barrel opening into the re- 50 ceiver at the rear. C, represents the breech-piece, which is ar- ranged to move longitudinally backward and forward, as from the position inFig. 3, tothat seen in Fig. 7, and return; at its forward end it is guided in a longitudinal line by means 55 of a stud D, projecting laterally into a corre- sponding longitudinal groove E, in the re- ceiver, see Fig. 8, and so that the breech- piece may swing up and down between the sides of the receiver, turning on the stud D, 60 as a trunnion. At its rear end the breeeh- pieee is constructed with a downward projec- tion F, on its under side, in which is con- structed a cam-slot G, inclined upward and forward. 65 When the breech-piece is in the closed po- tion, its rear end is adapted to drop forward of an abutment H, in the receiver, see Fig. 2, and so as to rest against said abutment to re- sist recoil, but when the rear end of the breech- 70 piece is raised, as represented in broken lines Fig. 3, so far to take the breech-piece above the abutment, then the breech-piece may be moved longitudinally rearward. The receiver in rear of the breech-piece is 75 constructed with alongitudinal slot I, through which the downward projection F, of the breech-piece may run as the breech-piece is moved rearward, this downward projection corresponding substantially in thickness to 80 the width of the said slot I. In the receiver upon a pivot J, in rear of and below the breech-piece, a lever K, is hung, see Fig. 3. This lever extends forward, and is shaped to form a trigger-guard L, the movement of the 85 lever upon its pivot being from the closed po- sition seen in Fig. 3, to the wide open position seen in Fig. 7. A link M, is hung to the le- ver upon a pivot N, forward of the pivot J, on which the lever is hung. The link extends for- 90 ward from its pivot. The link is bifurcated so as toenibrace thelever upon opposite sides, and is also bifurcated or recessed at its for- ward end to embrace the downward projec- tion F, of the breech-piece, or, what is the same 95 thing, the link connection may be a pair of links, one upon opposite sides of the lever, and extending to corresponding sides of the downward projection F, of the breech-piece. At the forward ends the links are connected 100 by a pin O, which extends through the cam slot G, of the breech - piece, and the pin is
499,007 6 longer than the thickness of the links, so as to project at each side, and in the receiver at each side a groove P, is formed, into which the ends of the said pin O, extend, and so that 5 the forward ends of the links will be guided in a longitudinal path, this path being here rep- resented as inclined from the front end down- ward and rearward, see Fig. 7. Consequently as the lever K, is turned from its forward or to closed position, as seen in Fig. 3, to its rear or open position as seen in Fig. 7, the links will be drawn backward with the lever, the end connected with the links moving with the lever, while the forward ends of the links will 15 be-guided by the slot P. When the breech- piece stands in its closed position, and the le- ver in its forward or closed position, the links stand with the pin O, in the upper and for- ward end of the cam slot G. As the lever 2c commences its rear movement, and as in such movement the forward ends of the links can- not escape from the direction of the grooves P, it follows that the projecting ends of the pin O, will operate in the cam groove G, so as 25 to cause the rear end of the breech-piece to rise, as represented in broken lines Fig. 3, which rise is sufficient to take the breech- piece above its supporting abutment, and when the breeeh-piece is so raised, the pin O, 30 has passed to the rear end of the cam slot G, as represented in broken lines Fig. 3. From this point the continued movement of the le- ver K, will draw the breech-piece rearward nntil it reaches its full open position, as seen 35 in Fig. 7. In this movementthe rear end of the breech-piece rides upon the upper side of the receiver, while its forward end will be guided as before described. Then on the return of the lever K, the breech-piece will be moved 40 forward nntilitreachesitsclosedpositionrep- resented in broken lines Fig. 3, at which time its rear end has passed forward of the abut- ments. Then the pin O, again acts in the cam slot G, and so that in completing the forward 45 movement of the lever, the rear end of the breech-piece will be drawn down to its closed or locked position, as seen in Fig. 3. Q, represents the hammer, which is ar- ranged in rear of the breeeh-piece, and is 50 adapted to slide longitudinally in the path of movement of the breech-piece. The ham- mer projects up through the slot I, in the top of the receiver, and so that as the breech- piece is moved rearward, the hammer will be 55 forced rearward accordingly, and compress its spring R, the hammer being adapted to strike the firing-pin in the breech-piece in the usual manner. The hammer is provided witli a thumb-piece by which it may be 60 moved rearward against its spring independ- ent of the movement of the breech-piece if desired. S, represents the sear, which is in the form of a lever, hung below the hammer upon a 65 pivot T, and so as to swing in a vertical plane; its nose U, at the rear is adapted to engage a corresponding notch V, on the under side of the hammer, and so as to hold the hammer in the cocked position. W, represents the sear-spring, the tendency 70 of which is to yieldingly force the nose of the sear toward the hammer. The tail X, of the sear extends forward of its pivot. In the link M, the trigger Y, is hung, upon a pivot Z, and so as to swing in a vertical 75 plane, and the relation of the trigger to the sear is such that when the breech-piece is in its forward or closed position, as seen in Fig. 3, the rear end of the trigger will stand be- neath the forward end of the tail of the sear. 80 The finger-piece a, of the trigger extends down throngh a corresponding opening in the lever K, and within the trigger-guard L, so that when the parts are in the closed posi- tion, the trigger may be pulled by the trigger 85 finger in the usual manner, to release the hammer, but so soon as the operating lever K, commences its rear movement, the trigger- guard is taken away from the trigger, so that the trigger is disengaged from the finger, and 90 at the same time the trigger itself drops with the link M, from possible engagement with the sear, and this relation exists until the parts are returned to the closed position, so that if the hammer be held at the cocked po- 95 sition, the sear cannot release the hammer until the parts are in the proper closed and locked position. The extent of movement of the hammer rearward is the same as that of the breech- 100 piece, but so long a movement of the hammer upon discharge would be greater than desir- able. Consequently the cock-notch V, of the hammer is made distant from the forward end of the hammer corresponding to the length of 105 stroke required. The hammer follows the breech-piece in return until the full cock notch is reached, when that notch will engage with the seer and hold the hammer in the cocked position, while the breeeh-piece is returned no preparatory to firing. When the breech-piece is in the closed po- sition and the hammer cocked, it is desirable that the hammer be provided with a stop to prevent its being drawn backward by the 115 thumb. To accomplish this result the ham- mer is constructed with a shoulder b, forward of the cock notch V,andthesear isconstruct- ed with a corresponding shoulder c, forward of its . nose, and so that when the hammer 120 stands in the cocked position, as seen in Fig. 9, the nose of the sear is engaged with the full cock notch V. Now if the attempt be made to draw the hammer rearward from this point, the shoulderb, of the hammer will engage the 125 shoulder c, of the sear, and thus prevent any considerable extent of movement of the ham- mer by the action of the thumb. To prevent the engagement of the shoulder c, with the shoulder b, of the hammer when 130 the hammer is moved rearward nnder the ac- tion of the breech-piece, thesear is preferably constructed bifurcated from near its rear end forward, the two legs extending on opposite
499,007 3 5 ю r5 20 25 30 35 4° 45 50 55 60 65 sides of the downward projection F, of the breech-piece, and upon the upper side in rear of the pivot, the sear is constructed with an upward projection forming a cam d, and the breech-piece carries a corresponding stud e, adapted to pass over the cam d, of the sear. Consequently as the breech-piece approaches its rear position, and before the shoulder c, can have engaged the shoulder b, of the ham- mer, the nose of the sear will be depressed by the cam d and stud e, as represented in broken lines Fig. 9, so far as to permit the shoulder b, of the hammer to escape the shoulder c,of the sear. Then as the breech-piece and ham- mer reach their extreme positions, the nose'of the sear rises forward of the shoulder/, on the hammer so as to engage the hammer and re- lieve the breech-piece from the pressure or force of the hammer spring. Under this ar- rangement or locking of the hammer in its ex- treme rear position, the cam d, of the searand the corresponding stud & on the breech-piece come into action when the breech-piece com- mences its forward movement so as to release the hammer from its locked position. The depression of the sear by the stud e,will throw the nose of the hammer from the shoulder/, aud liberate the hammer, so that it may fol- low the breech-piece until the full cocked po- sition is reached. The hammer is provided with a half cock notch g, to permit the ham- mer to be drawn and held at half cock as occa- sion may require. In the receiver, beneath the breech-piece, the magazine chamber is arranged in the usual manner, and provided with a suitable follower i; the chamber is open in the usual manner from the top, when the breech-piece is in the opeu position as seen in Fig. 7, and so that a cartridge pack in which the car- tridges are supported in a holder j, may be introduced into the magazine, the follower being depressed in such introduction, in the usual manner. This arrangement of maga- zine is too well known to require particular description. In the bottom of the magazine- chamber is an opening Tc through which the holder J may be forced after the cartridgesit carried have been successively transferred to the barrel, such removal occurring by the in- troduction of the next pack of cartridges; this is also a common and well known device. The pack is locked by means of a dog I, hung upon a pivot m at the rear of the pack, the nose of the dog being adapted to engage a corresponding notch in the back of the hold- er; this is a well known device. The operating lever K, extends forward to form a cover n, for the opening in the bottom of the magazine, see Fig. 3. The pawl Z, is provided with a spring 0, adapted to yieldingly press the dog into en- gagement with the cartridge-holder, and the spring 0, projects rearward, so as to engage the lever when in the closed position, as seen in Fig. 3. The nose of the dog extends down so that it may be conveniently reached when the operating lever is turned away, and so that the cartridge holder may be thereby re- leased from engagement with the dog, and 70 removed from the receiver should occasion require such an operation. It will be understood that the breech-piece is provided with the usual extracting devices for the withdrawal of the exploded shell from 75 the barrel, or the cartridge if it be not ex- ploded. The arrangement of the operating lever so as to swing downward and backward in open- ing, enables the operator to bring the open- 80 ing force toward the shoulder instead of in the opposite direction, as in arms where the lever is hung forward and the movement is downward and forward in opening. This ar- rangement results in a more steady holding 85 of the gun against the shoulder, because the greater force required is in the opening move- ment, and the lesser force of closing does not tend to throw the gun ont of line, as must al- ways be the case where the heavy opening 90 force is applied in the opposite direction. The illustration of the arrangement of the operating lever hung below the breech-piece and so as to swing backward and downward in opening, in connection with the breech- 95 piece shown, will be sufficient to enable others skilled in the art to apply this arrangement of lever to other constructions and arrange- ments of breech-pieces without further illus- tration. 100 Instead of the magazine represented, other known arrangements of magazine and carrier may be substituted therefor, such substitu- tion being too apparent to require particular illustration. 105 I am aware that it is not broadly new to operate a breech-piece by means of an oper- ating-lever located below the receiver, for manipulation from the under side of the arm, and that it is old to positively connect a slid- no ing breech-piece with an operating-lever. I do not, therefore, claim such construction broadly, but only my particular arrangement of parts. I claim— 115 1. In a gun, the combination with the bar- rel and the receiver thereof, and a longitudi- nally reciprocal breech-piece; of an operating- lever hung by its rear end below the receiver and extending forward from its pivot, and 120 moving downward and backward in opening; and means attached to the said lever forward of its pivot positively connecting it with the said breech-piece, substantially as described, and whereby the said breech-piece is opened 125 by the downward and backward opening movement of the lever. 2. In a gun in which the barrel, opens at the rear into the receiver, the combination therewith of a breech-piece arranged in the 130 receiver at the rear of the barrel, and adapted for longitudinal reciprocating movement, the forward end of the breech-piece guided in a longitudinal path, its rear end adapted for a
4 406,007 5 го r5 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 united up and down movement, the receiver constructed with abutments against which the rear end of the breech-piece will bear when in the closed position, the breech-piece constructed with a downward projection at- its rear end the said projection constructed with a/'cam-shaped slot, an operating leVer below the breech-piece, hung by its rear mid to the receiver at the rear of the breech-piece, the lever extending forward and adapted to swing downward and backward in opening, a link pivoted by one end to said lever, the other end of the link provided with' a pin ex- tending into said cam'slotof the breech-piece, and the receiver constructed with a longi- tudinal guide adapted to confine the breech- piece end of the link in a longitudinal path independent of the breech - piece, substan- tially as and for the purpose described. 3. In a fire-arm having a longitudinally re- ciprocating breech - piece, the combination therewith of a hammer arranged at the rear of the breech-piece and adapted to moverear- wardly therewith, a spring for the hammer, which is compressed by said rear movement, a lever hung in the receiver below and at the rear of the breech-piece, adapted to swing backward and downward in opening, a con- nection from said'lever to said breech-piece whereby the swinging movement of the said lever imparts corresponding reciprocating movement to the breech-piece, a sear hung upon a pivot in the receiver so as to swing in a vertical plane, the sear extending rearward and adapted to engage the hammer at -the full cock notch, the hammer constructed with a shoulder forward of the said full cock notch, and the sear constructed with a shoulder for- ward of its nose corresponding to said shoul- der of the breech-piece and adapted to en- gage therewith, the sear constructed with a cam and the breech-piece with a stud corre- sponding to said cam, and adapted to pass over said cam to disengage said shoulder of the sear from the said shonlder of thebreeeh- piece, substantially as and for the purpose described. 4. In a fire-arm having a longitudinally re- ciprocating breech - piece, the combination therewith of a hammer arranged to move rear- wardly under the rearward movement of the breech-piece, a spring for the hammer com- pressed by such rearward movement, a sear hung in the receiver adapted to engage the hammer at full cock, a lever hung upon a pivot below and in rear of the breech-piece, and adapted to swing downward and back- ward in opening, a link connecting said lever with the breech-piece, whereby the said swing- ing movement of the lever will impart cor- 60 responding reciprocating movement to the breech-piece, a sear hung in the receiver so as to swing in a vertical plane, and adapted to engage the hammer at the full cock notch, the tail of the sear extending forward of its 65 pivot, and a trigger hung in said link adapted to engage the tail of the sear when the parts are in the closed position, substantially as de- scribed. 5. In a fire-arm having a longitudinally re- 70 ciprocating breech-pieee, the combination therewith of a hammer arranged to move rear- wardly with the breech-piece, a hammer spring adapted to be compressed in such rear move- ment of the hammer, a sear hnng upon a 75 pivot in the receiver so as to swing in a ver- . tical plane, the nose of the sear extending rearwardly from its pivot, and adapted to en- gage the hammer at full cock, a shoulder for- ward of the full cock notch, and in such po- 80 sition with relation to the breech-piece and nose of the sear that the nose of the sear will engage the said shoulder when the breech- pieee is in its full open position, the sear con- structed with a cam and the breeeh-piece with 85 a corresponding stud, whereby in the first part of the forward movement of the breech- piece it will release the said shoulder of the hammer from the nose of the breech-pieee, substantially asand for the purposedescribed. 90 6. In a magazine gun in which the barrel opens into the receiver at the rear, and hav- ing a longitudinal reciprocating breeeh-piece, and the receiver constructed witha magazine- chamber below the breech-piece adapted to 95 receive a cartridge-holder containing several cartridges, and the bottom of the chamber constructed with an opening at its rear end through which the said holder may pass down- ward and out from the chamber, the combi- 100 nation therewith of an operating-lever hung upon a pivot in the receiver in rear of said magazine chamber, the lever extending for- ward and so as to swing downward and back- ward in opening,connection between said le- 105 ver and breech-pieee whereby through the movement of said lever the reciprocating movement is imparted to the breech-piece, the forward end of the lever adapted to close the said opening in the bottom of the maga- no zine chamber, substantially as described. In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscrib- ing witnesses. JOHN M. BROWNING. Witnesses: John E. Ramsden, E. A. Ensign.
(No Model.) 2 Sheets—Sheet 1. J. M. BROWNING. GAS OPERATED BREECH LOADING GUN. No. 502,549. Patented Aug. 1, 1893.
(No Model.) 2 Sheets—Sheet 2. J. M. BROWNING. GAS OPERATED BREECH LOADING GUN. No. 502,549. Patented Aug. 1, 1893.
United States Patent Office. JOHN M. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH TERRITORY. GAS-OPERATED BREECH-LOADING GUN. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No; 502,549, dated August 1,1893. Application filed July llj 1892, Serial Ко, 439(574| (Ko model.) To all whom it may concern: Be it known that L John M. Browning, of Ogden, in the county of Weber and Territory of Utah, have invented a new Improvement 5 in Machine-Guns; and I do hereby declare the following, when takbn in conuection with ac- companying drawings and the letters of ref- erence marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said ro drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in— Figure 1, an under side view of the barrel showing the magazine tube and slide thereon in longitudinal section; Fig. 2, a side view of 15 the same; Fig. 3, a side view of afire-arm com- plete, with the parts in their closed positions, showing the connection between the levers and the breech-mechanism. - This invention relates to an improvement 20 in that class of breech-loading guns in which the mechanism is arranged to be automati- cally operated by means of the. gases pro- duced by explosion, and particularly to guns of this class in which the gas is brought to 25 bear by an opening from the barrel outward at a point in rear of the muzzle. In such guns the opening is at one side only of the gun, that is to say, a single opening is made ra- dially outward from the barrel, and so that 30 after explosion, and as the ball passes the opening, the gas escapes through said open- ing to operate upon some mechanism at that side of the barrel which will produce the opening movement of the breech - piece, a 35 spring being compressed in such opening movement, the reaction of which will return the mechanism to the closed position ready for the next explosion. Because of the open- ing being radially at one side only of the bar- 40 rel, the resistance which permits the gas to operate upon the mechanism must be met by the barrel itself. The result of this is that suclf resistance of the barrel tends to throw the barrel in the opposite direction to that 45 from which the gas escapes, that is to say, if the mechanism be arranged at one side, so that the gas operates directly upon that mech- anism as it escapes through the opening in the barrel, the force to operate the mechan- 50 ism is equal on the mechanism in one direc- tion, and upon the barrel in the opposite di- rection. Hence there is a great liability to thrhw the barrel out of line the instant that the gas is brought to bear upon the operative mechanism. 55 The object of this invention is to provide a counteracting operation upon the barrel so that the force upon one side will be resisted by a corresponding force upon the opposite side. 60. To this end the invention consists in con- structing the barrel with gas escaping open- ings in opposite directions, combined with mechanism in communication with both of said openings, and whereby the escape of gas 65 through both openings will be simultaneous, and the force of the gases being in opposite directions from the barrel, will produce a bal- ance of such force upon said opposite side, and thereby prevent the operation of the 70 mechanism from throwing the barrel out of line. ' In illustrating the invention the median-, ism represented is of that class which consists of a lever hung so as to swing in the longi- 75 tudinal plane of the barrel, the free end of the lever adapted to cover an opening into the barrel, and so that the gases of explosion passing through said opening will strike the lever and produce its swinging movement in 80 one direction, which swinging movement will operate the mechanism of the gun and com- press the spring, and so that the reaction of the spring will return the lever to its normal position. 85 In the illustration A, represents the barrel, which is constructed with two openings В C, diametrically opposite each other and in rear of the muzzle end of the barrel. In rear of these openings respectively a pair of levers 90 D E, lire hung, upon pivots F, which pivots are stationary on the barrel, and so that the levers may swing thereon in the plane of the barrel, as indicated in broken lines. These levers extend forward to bring their free 95 ends, or a projection therefrom, into or over the openings В C, as shown. The openings are preferably in the form' of slots, and the free ends of the levers are constructed with projections which enter these slots, and so as 100 to come substantially‘flush with the inner sur- face of the barrel. After explosion and after the bullet shall have passed the openings В C, the gases produced from explosion will be
2 602,649 instantly brought to bear upon the two le- vers, and so as to force them away from the openings in opposite directions, this opera- tion being simultaneous upon both levers. 5 The force thus exerted upon the levers being in diametrically opposite directions, it fol- lows that the force brought to bear upon one lever is counter-balanced by the force brought to bear upon the opposite lever, and so that io such lateral force can in no way affect the movement of the barrel to turn it out of line. The arrangement of a lever hung with re- lation to an aperture through the barrel for the gases to operate thereon, is a known de- 15 vice, and this device is adopted for illustra- , tion as being a convenient and practical ar- rangement. The movement of the levers may be com- municated to the mechanism of the gun by го any of the known means employed for this purpose. As here represented it is through a tubular slide G, arranged on the magazine- tube H, and so as to connect'with the handle N, which is also arranged on the magazine to 25 slide backward and forward, the said handle being connected with the mechanism of the arm by the slide O, in the usual manner, and as shown in Fig. 3 so that the rearward move- ment of the sliding tube G, and the handle 30 will produce the opening movement of the mechanism, and the forward movement of the tnbe G, and the handle will produce the clos- ing movement, this being a common and well known mechanism. 35 Within the forward end of the magazine- tube a spiral spring I, is arranged, one end of which bears against a stationary support J, in ' the magazine. The springextending forward, its other end bears against a cross-bar K, in +0 the sliding tube G, and the bar K, is connected by a link L, to the lever D, and is also con- nected by a link M, to'the other lever E, and so that in the opening movement of the levers E D, swinging to the position indicated in 45 broken lines Fig. 1, the sliding tube G, will be forced rearward, the spring I, being com- presed in such movement, and so that the re- action of the spring will cause the return of the levers D E. The sliding movement thus 50 imparted by the opening movement of the le- vers is sufficient to produce the opening move- ment of the mechanism of the arm, and the reaction of the spring brings the levers and the mechanism of the атдп back to the closed or 55 normal position. No breech mechanism is illustrated, as such is unnecessary to the full understanding of the invention. Any of the known breech clos- ing and operating mechanisms may be em- ployed, such mechanism having connection 60 with the devices by which the diametrically opposite openings in the barrel are closed. The illustration which has thus been made of the invention as applied to two diametri- cally oppositely arranged levers will be suffi- 65 cient to enable others skilled in the art to ap- ply the invention to other mechanisms where- by the counteracting force of thediametrically . opposite openings in the barrel will be at- tained. The invention is therefore not to be 70 understood as limited to the specific mechan- ism described combined with diametrically opposite openings in the barrel, but What is claimed, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is— 75 1. In a breech-loading gun, the barrel con- structed with openings into it in rear of its muzzle end, the openings being substantially diametrically opposite each other, combined with devices substantially such as described 8c adapted to receive the action of the gases within the barrel through said openings, and in opposite directions, with mechanism be- tween said devices and the breech-mechanism of the gun, and a spring substantially as de- 85 scribed whereby in the opening movement of said devices the breech mechanism will be opened and the spring compressed, the reac- tion of the spring operating to return the said devices and mechanism to their closed or nor- 90 mal position. 2. In a breech-loading gun, the barrel con- structed with openings into it in rear of its muzzle end, the openings being substantially diametrically opposite each other, two levers 95 hung upon pivots stationary with the barrel, the free ends of the levers adapted to sub- stantially close the said openings in the barrel, and whereby the force of the gases of explo- sion will be exerted npon said levers through 10c the said openings, but in opposite directions, combined with mechanism substantially such as described between said levers and the breech mechanism of the gun, ^hereby the outward swinging movement of the said levers 105 will produce the opening of the breech mech- anism, and the return of said levers will pro- duce the closing movement of said mechanism. Tin testimony whereof I have signed this - specification in the presence of two snbscrib- no ing witnesses. JOHN M. BROWNING. Witnesses: T. S. Browning, John E. Ramsden.
(No Model.) 2 Sheets—Sheet 1. J. M. BROWNING. BREECH LOADING FIREARM. No. 511,677. Patented Deo. 26, 189& THl NATIONAL UTHOORARHtNO COMPANY. WASHINGTON. O. e.
(No Model.) 2 Sheets—Sheet 2. J. M. BROWNING. BREECH LOADING FIREARM. No. 511,677. Patented Deo. 26, 1893. THE NATIONAL LITHOGRAPHING COMPANY. WASHINGTON. О. C.
United States Patent Office. JOHN M. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH TERRITORY, ASSIGNOR TO THE WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS COMPANY, OF NEW HAVEN, CON- NECTICUT. BREECH-LOADING FIREARM. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 511,677, dated December 26,1893. Application filed December 23j 1892, Serial No. 456,166. (Ko model.) To all whom it may concern.- Be it known that I, John M. BROWNING, of Ogden, in the county of Weber and Terri- tory of Utah, have invented new Improve- 5 ments in Breech-Loading Firearms; 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 io same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in— Figure 1, a view in side elevation of one form which a breech-loading, single-shot rifle constructed in accordance with my invention, 15 may assume; Fig. 2, a broken plan view there- of, drawn on a larger scale; Fig. 3, a broken view partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section, on the same scale as Fig. 2, and showing iny improved combined part 20 cocked and ready for firing; Fig. 4, a similar view showing the position of the said part after the gun has been fired; Fig. 5, a de- tached end view of the barrel, showing how the opposite faces of the coupling-head at its 25 butt-end are cut away to enable the spent shells to be taken hold of and removed by the fingers; Fig. 6, a broken view partly in side elevation and partly in vertical longitudinal section, of another gun containing my inven- 30 tion, this one being provided with my im- proved extractor and having a different form of spring for operating the combined part; Fig. 7, a broken view of the barrel and ex- tractor of the gun showing by the preceding 35 view and illustrating the operation of the ex- tractor. My invention relates to an improvement in breech-loading fire-arms of the single-shot rifle type, the object being to produce a very 40 reliable and convenient arm, in which the number of parts is reduced to the minimum, and which may be produced at a very low cost for manufacture. With these ends in view, my invention con- 45 sists in a breech-loading fire-arm having its breech-block an d trigger made in one combined part or piece located in line and rigid with respect to each other, and forwardly inclined with respect to the butt end of the gun-barrel, 50 and the breech-block being adapted to fire the cartridge when impinged against the same by a spring thereto provided. My invention further consists in certain de- tailsof constructionandeombinationsof parts as will be hereinafter described and pointed 55 out in the claims. The first feature of my invention consists in a combined part comprisinga breech-block B, having a finger-piece A and a trigger C, made in one piece, or constructed rigid with 60 respect to each other so as to virtually form one piece so far as their operation is concerned. The breech-block В of the said combined part not only closes the breech, but also acts as the hammer for exploding the cartridge, being 65 thereto adapted, as will be described farther on. In this combined part the finger-piece A, offsets rearwardly from the rear portion of the upper edge of the breech-block, while the trig- ger 0, is extended in a straight line from the 70 inner portion of the lower edge of the same. This combined part has as shown direct slid- ing connection with the butt-end of the bar- rel D, which is thereto constructed to form a coupling-head D', which may be described as 75 T-shaped in plan view, and wedge-shaped in side view. That appearance is given to it by forming at its inner end two corresponding grooves d d, which incline forward from their lower ends. The chamber B', of the breech- 80 block conforms to the shape of the said head D', the inner or forward edge of the block having flanges b b which take into the said grooves, and thus couple the barrel and com- bined part together in such a way that the 85 said part is free to slide in the plane of the grooves but is firmly held against move- ment in other directions. The stock E, of the gun is constructed with a deep cham- ber F, entering it from its upper edge, and 90 extending almost to its lower edge in the plane of the said grooves, being adapted in form to receive the lower end of the breech- block B, and the trigger C. A spiral spring G, interposed between the lower end of the 95 breech-block and the bottom of the said chamber, is employed to operate the said combined part in firing the arm. The trigger C, projects downward through the stock E, and through an opening H, formed to receive 100
511,677 5 ю t5 20 25 3° 35 4° +5 5° 55 бс б5 it in the guard I, which is of ordinary con- struction, and fastened to the stock by two screws I' I'. The combined part is held in its cocked position against the tension of the spring G, by the engagement of a cocking- notch c, formed in the forward edge of its trigger C, with the forward wall of the open- ing II, in the guard, as shown by Fig. 3 of the drawings. The gun is fired by drawing back on the trigger until the said notch is cleared from the said wall of the opening, when the spring G, will at once operate to throw the combined part into the position in which it is shown by Fig. 5 of the drawings, where, it will be observed'that a retaining- notch c' formed in the rear edge of the trig- ger at the lower end thereof, is engaged with the rear wall of the said opening II in the guard. When the barrel D, is in place, the retaining-notch is not necessary, for the bar- rel then prevents the combined part from be- ing forced out of the chamber F, in the stock, by the spring G; but when the barrel has been taken off from the stock by the removal of the long screw J, the combined part would be thrown out of place if it were not for the provision of its trigger with the retaining- notch c, as described. A small projection or teat K, formed in the center of the outer wall of the breech-block B, takes the place of the firing pin ordinarily employed to explode the cartridge in breech-loading fire-arms. When the combined part leaps forward under the action of its operating spring, the said pro- jection strikes the head of the cartridge L, at a point at or near its center, and is then forced on a forward slant to the rim of the cartridge, which contains the fulminate. The position of the combined part after the gun has been fired, is well shown by Fig. 5 of the drawings. The opposite, vertical walls of the coupling-head D, are correspondingly cut away, to form clearance grooves cl' cl' on op- posite sides of the bore IF of the barrel, as shown by Fig. 4 of the drawings, to permit the cartridge to be seized by the fingers and removed after it has been fired, for the head of the cartridge does not enter the bore of the gun. I find that in this way most all the cartridges can be readily removed by the fin- gers, but if preferred I may provide the gun with an ejector, as will be described at an- other time. In Figs. 6 and 7 I have shown another form in which my improved combined part maybe constructed and arranged for operation. In this other form it comprises, a breech-block N, having finger-piece M and a trigger 0, both having the same general construction and arrangement as the corresponding parts of the construction already described, and is designed to have sliding connection with the butt-end of the gun-barrel P, in the same manner. In this construction, however, in- stead of employing a spiral spring, I employ a long wire rod Q, having its forward end Q' bent downward and under it, and its rear end Q3 bent upward at an acute angle to engage with the under face of the hammer M, at the base thereof. To permit the use of this spring, 70 the combined part is constructed with a trans- verse opening R, through which it passes, and is furnished with a pin R', against the under face of which the rod Q bears. The said spring is located in its main-portion, in a 75 horizontal chamber S, formed in the upper edge of the gun stock T. Its looped forward end passes through a vertical opening U, formed in a stud U', depending from the rear end of the gun-barrel B, and receiving the 80 screw V, by means of which the barrel is re- tained in place. The trigger O, of the com- bined part of this gun is furnished with a cocking-notch o', which engages with the for- ward wall of the opening W, of the guard W'- 85 This trigger, however, has no retaining-notch corresponding to the notch c' before referred to, because the spring will hold the combined part in place when the gun barrel P is re- moved. This other form which a combined 9c breech-block and trigger may assume, oper- ates in the same way as the combined part shown in the other figures of the drawings. In Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawings I have also shown an ejector, which may, if desired, be 95 used in an arm constructed in accordance with my invention. It consists of a long rod W3, preferably rectangular in cross section, and located in a longitudinal grooveX, formed in the center of the lower face of the rear end 100 of the gun barrel P, the rear end of the said rod being upturned to form a finger w, which enters a radial recess x, formed in the rear end of the barrel, and extending from the said groove X, into the bore P' thereof. The 105 finger w, of the ejector fits down flush into the recess x, so that the rim у of the car- tridge Y will extend over the extreme end of the finger го, as clearly shown by Fig. 7 of the drawings. The forward end of the rod W3, no is bent down as at w’, at a point just in front of the forward end of the gun stock T, whereby it is adapted to be readily engaged by the fingers to be drawn back, as shown by broken lines in Fig. 7, so that the cartridge will be sufli- 115 ciently displaced to enable it to be readily grasped by the fingers and removed from the gun-barrel. It is not now necessary to push the ejector forward into place, because when the gun is again loaded, the rim of the car- 120 tridge must engage with the finger and push the ejector ahead of it into position for oper- ation. In case the gun is not loaded again the combined part will push the ejectorback into position when the gun is uncocked for 125 handling. In a gun constructed in accordance with my invention, the number of parts is reduced to the minimum, and they are so simple in char- acter that it may be produced at a low cost 130 for manufacture. It is, moreover, a conven- ient arm to use, and is safe and reliable. Thus the breech-block so incloses the cartridge at the time the same is fired, that there can be
511,677 3 no possibility of a back discharge.of the car- tridge, nor can any particles of burning pow- der or of grease be thrown back into the eyes. Furthermore, the danger of an accidental dis- 5 charge of the gun is very slight, as that can only occur when the lower end of the trigger receives a blow in a certain direction in which it is well protected by the guard. I do not limit myself to using my combined io part in direct sliding contact with the gun barrel, as it might have similar connection with a receiver attached thereto in a manner too obvious to need explanation or descrip- tion. It is obvious also from the illustration 15 and description herein, that I am not limited to forming my combined part exactly as shown, and I would therefore have it under- stood that I do not limit myself to the exact construction herein shown and described, but 20 hold myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention. Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters 25 Patent, is— 1. In a breech-loading fire-arm, a combined part located in an inclined position, and com- prising a breech-block and a trigger, rigid with respect to each other, and located in line, and 30 a spring constructed and arranged to throw the said part upward and forward to close the breech, and explode the cartridge, and means for sustaining the said part in its de- pressed or open position against the force of 35 the said spring substantially as described. 2. In a breech-loading fire-arm, a combined part located in an inclined position, and com- prising a breech-block and a trigger, rigid with respect to each other, and located in line, 40 and the breech-block being furnished at the outer edge of its upper end with a finger- piece; and a spring constructed and arranged to throw the said part upward and forward to close the breech and explode the cartridge, 45 and means for sustaining the said part in its depressed or open position against the force of the said spring, substantially as described. 3. In a breech-loading fire-arm, a combined part located in an inclined position, and com- 50 prising a breech-block and a trigger, rigid with respect to each other, and located in line, and the trigger having a cock-notch formed in its forward edge; and a spring constructed and arranged to throw the said part upward and forward to close the breech and explode 55 the cartridge, substantially as described. 4. In a breech-loading fire-arm, a combined part located in an inclined position, and com- prising a breech-block and a trigger rigid with respect to each other, and located in line, 60 and the trigger having a cock-notch formed in its forward edge, a spring constructed and arranged to throw the said part upward and forward to close the breech and explode the cartridge, and a guard adapted to receive the 65 lower end of the trigger, and to co-operate with the cock notch thereof in holding the part in its depressed or open position against the force of the said spring, substantially as described. 70 5. In a breech-loading fire-arm, a combined part comprising a breech-block and trigger, rigid with respect to each other and located in line, the breech-block being provided with an inwardly projecting firing teat or projec- 75 tion, and a spring constructed and arranged to throw the said part upward and forward to close the breech-piece and explode the car- tridge, and means for sustaining the said part in its depressed or open position against the 80 force of the spring, substantially as described. G. In a breech-loading fire-arm, the combi- nation with the barrel, stock and guard there- of, of a combined part located in an inclined position, comprising a breech-block and a trig- 85 ger, rigid with respect to each other and lo- cated in line, the said block having sliding connection with the barrel with which it is interlocked, and furnished with an inwardly projecting firing-teat or projection, and the 90 trigger being constructed with a cock-notch for engagement with the guard, and a spring constructed and arranged to throw the said part forward and upward, whereby the breech is closed and the said teat or projection ini- 95 pinged against the rim of the cartridge in the barrel, substantially as described. In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscrib- ing witnesses. JOHN M. BROWNING. Witnesses: T. S. Browning, W. G. Wright.
J. M. BROWNING-. BREECH LOADING GUN. Patented Jan. 23, 1894. (No Model.) No. 513,301.
United States Patent Office. JOHN M. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH TERRITORY. BREECH-LOADING GUN. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 513,301, dated January 23,1894. Application filed March 31,1893. Serial Nc. 468,422, (No model.) To all гиТъот it may concern: Be it known that I, John M. Bbowning, of Ogden, in the county of Weber and Territory of Utah, have invented a new Improvement 5 in Breech-Loading Firearms; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connec- tion with accompanying drawings and the let- ters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and io which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in— Figure 1, a view in vertical longitudinal section of a gun constructed in accordance with inyinvention, being shown with its com- 15 bined breech-block and guard in the closed or firing position thereof, and some of its parts being represented in elevation; Fig. 2, a corre- sponding but less comprehensive view, show- ing the combined part in its open or loading 20 position; Fig. 3, broken plan view of the arm. My invention relates to an improvement in breech-loading fire-arms of the single-shot rifle type, the object being to produce, at a low cost for manufacture, a simple, safe, con- 25 venient and effective small caliber arm. With these ends in view, my invention con- sists in a breech-loading, single-shot fire-arm, having a combined breech-block and guard, arranged to move at a right angle to the gun- 30 barrel, and to interlock with the same when closed to resist the explosion of the cartridge in firing. My invention further consists in certain details of construction and combinations of 35 parts as will be hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims. As herein shown, the barrel A, of the arm is secured by a screw-bolt B, to the stock C, thereof, in the usual manner the barrel being 40 constructed with a notch A', formed in its lower face just within its butt-end. A com- bined breech-block and guard D, oblong in its general form, and having flat sides, is lo- cated in the stock, so as to reciprocate at a 45 right angle to the plane of the barrel, the stock being thereto constructed with a chamber C', which extends forward and to the rear of the said combined guard and breech-block, and is cut through the stock for the passage of 50 the lower end of the same, at a point directly below the butt-end of the barrel as at C3. The upper end of the said combined part D, has a notch formed in it corresponding to the notch A', formed in the butt end of the bar- rel, whereby when the said part is in its raised 55 or closed position, it interlocks with the bar- rel, as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The adaptation of the barrel and combined part to be interlocked when the latter is in its closed position, is not limited to notching 60 the said parts in the manner shown, but may be made in some other wmy. The upper end of the said part has an extension D3, which, when the said part is in its raised position, closes the bore of the barrel, the said exten- 65 sion having a horizontal opening formed in it to receive the firing-pin E, which is held against displacement by a pin e, entering a notch e'-formed in its lower edge. The inner edge of the said extension D3 has a shallow 70 recess d formed in it (Figs. 1 and 3), to re- ceive the head of the cartridge. The outer edge of the part D, has a central recess formed in it to receive the hammer F, which is hung on a horizontal pin/, the hammer 75 being mainly accommodated in the rear por- tion of the chamber O' in the stock. The lower end of the hammer is constructed with a half cock-notch/' and a cock-notch/3, respectively provided for engagement with 80 the upper end of the trigger G, which is piv- otally mounted in the part D, on a horizontal pin g, its lower end projecting into the rear portion of the guard-opening D3, which occu- pies the lowerendof thecombinedpartD. A 85 spring H, for the actuation of the trigger, is located in a small chamber ]i, formed to re- ceive it, in the part D, at a point directly above the guard-openingD3. Aspiral spring I, located within the forward end of thecham- 90 ber O' in the stock C, is attached at its for- ward end to a screw-stud i, located in the gun barrel, and connected at its rear end to the forward end of a link J, which extends trans- versely through the part D, and has its rear 95 end pivotally connected with the hammer F, at a point above the pivot/thereof. This spring has the two-fold function of actuating the hammer, and of controlling the position of the part D combining the breech-block and ico guard,forit constantly tends to pull the ham- mer forward, and in so doing draws the ex-
2 513,301 tension D3 of the part D, against the end of the barrel, and its forward edge against a guide or wearing plate K, secured to the stock in front of the said part by means of the 5 screw-bolt B, before mentioned, and a screw k. The friction thus developed will always be sufficient to maintain the said part in its elevated or closed position. For maintaining the said part in its depressed or open posi- io tion, the action of the spring is assisted by means of a small notch d', formed in the for- ward edge of the part D, and coacting with the rear edge of the wearing-plate K. It may here be observed that the wear of the said part 15 D, falls upon the barrel and plate, the sides of the stock merely serving to prevent the part from side-wise displacement. The spring I, does not, however, draw forward on the combined part so hard but what the same 20 maybe depressed or thrown into its open po- sition without difficulty, by the sportsman. To raise it into its elevated or closed position, it must be started by a sufficient upward pressure to jump the rear edge of the wear- 25 ing-plate K, out of the notch d'. When the gun is fired, the recoil from the explosion of the cartridge is taken by the combined breech- block and guard, by the barrel with which the same is interlocked at its upper end, and 30 by the wearing-plate with which the forward edge of the lower end of the said part is en- gaged. As herein shown, the combined part D, has a circular transverse opening L, formed above 35 its center; this is done to lighten it, and it also serves to give additional clearance to the link J. My improved arm as thus constructed has comparatively few parts, which are of simple 40 and durable construction, and is both safe and convenient in nse. I would have it understood that I do not limit myself to the exact construction herein shown and described, but hold myself at lib- 45 erty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall witbfin the spirit and scope of my invention. Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters 50 Patent, is— 1. In a breech-loading fire-arm, the combi- nation with the barrel and stock thereof, of a combined breech-block and guard made inte- gral with each other, arranged to move at a 55 right angle to the gun barrel, and constructed at its upper end to interlock with the same, when closed, to resist the explosion of the car- tridge in firing, and & hammer and a trigger mounted in the said combined part, substan- tially as described. 60 2. In a breech-loading single-shot fire-arm, the combination with the stock thereof, of a barrel having the lower face of its butt-end notched, a combined breech-block and guard arranged to move at a right angle to the gun- 65 barrel, and having the forward portion of its upper end notched to interlock with the butt- end of the same, and the rear portion of its upper end constructed with an upward exten- sion to close the bore of the barrel when it is 70 in its closed position, and a hammer and a trigger mounted in the said part, substantially as described. 3. In a breech-loading, single-shot fire-arm, the combination with the barrel and stock 75 thereof, of a combined breech-block and guard arranged to reciprocate at a right angle to the plane of the barrel, and furnished with a fir- ing-pin, a hammer and a trigger; and a spring located in front of the said combined part in 80 the stock of the arm, and connected at its rear end with the hammer, whereby it operates to pull the same and the said combined part for- ward, substantially as described. 4. In a breech-loading fire-arm, the combi- 85 nation with the barrel and stock thereof, of a combined breech-block and guard arranged to reciprocate in the stock at a right angle to the barrel, and adapted to engage at its up- per end with the rear end of the latter, a wear- 90 ing-plate rigidly secured to the lower edge of the stock in front of the said combined part in position to be engaged by the forward edge of the lower end thereof, and a spring located in front of the said combined part and con- 95 nected therewith, and exerting a constant ef- fort to draw it forward against the gun barrel and the said plate substantially as described. 5. In a breech-loading single-shot fire-arm, the combination with the barrel and the stock ro thereof, of a combined breech-block and guard arranged to reciprocate at a right angle to the plane of the barrel, and constructed at its upper end to interlock with the same, when closed, to resist the explosion of the cartridge 10 in firing, and a spring located in front of the said combined part and connected with the same, and exerting a constant effort to draw it forward, substantially as described. In testimony whereof I have signed this n specification in the presence of two subscrib- ing witnesses. JOHN M. BROWNING. Witnesses: Kate Linehan, John E. Ramsden.
(No Model.) 2 Sheets—Sheet 1. J. M. BROWNING. MAGAZINE GUN.
(No Model.) 2 Sheets—Sheet 2. J. M. BROWNING. MAGAZINE GUN. No. 524,702. Patented Aug. 21, 1894.
United States Patent Office,. JOHN M. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH TERRITORY, ASSIGNOR TO THE WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS COMPANY, OF NEW HAVEN, CON- . NECTICUT. MAGAZINE-GUN. : SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 524,703, dated August 31, 1894. Application filed January 19,1894. Serial No. 497,416, (No model.) To all, whom It may concern: Be it known that I, John M. Bkowning, of Ogden, in the county of Weber and Territory of Utah, have invented a new Improvement 5: in Magazine-Firearms; and I do hereby de- clare the following, when taken in connec- tion with accompanying drawings and the let- ters and figures of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the io same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in— Figure 1, a broken view partly in section . and partly in inside elevation of a magazine fire-arm constructed in accordance with my 15 invention, and shown in its closed position; Fig. 2, a plan view of the arm; Fig. 3, a view corresponding to Fig. 1, but showing the gun in its open position; Fig. 4, a view in trans- verse section on the line у—у of Fig. 1, look- 20 ing rearward; Fig. 5, a view in transverse sec- tion on the line a;—a; of Fig. 1, looking for- ward; Fig. 6, a detached reverse plan view of the sliding breech-block; Fig. 7, a detached plan view of thecarrier; Fig. 8, a view thereof 25 in transverse section on the line z—z of the preceding figure. My invention relates to an improvement in . magazine fire-arms, the object being to pro- duce a simple, compact, safe and reliable gun, 30 in which the number of partsand the liability to derangement are reduced, which is con- structed with particular reference to avoid- ing the choking of the gun by the incorrect presentation of a cartridge, or the failure of 35 a cartridge to be properly handled by the breech mechanism, and which is designed to adapt the gun th take a longer cartridge than has heretofore been available for use in a . similar gun having a receiver of the same 40, length. ' With these ends in view, my invention con- sists in a magazine fire-arm having certain de- tails of construction, as will be hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims. 45 : My improvements are applied to a gun hav- ing a barrel A, magazine B, receiver C, and stock D, all of approved construction, and not .. .needing special description or illustration. In carrying out my invention, I employ an 50, operating - plate E, hung at its forward or muzzle end on a horizontal pin Ez, and mov- ing up and down in a vertical plane on the said pin as a center. The extreme forward end of this plate is constructed with a lugor nose e, which rises, when the rear end of the 55 plate is depressed, into the path taken by the cartridges 2, as they emerge from the maga- zine into the receiver, whereby the said lug or nose forms a magazine cut-off operating to prevent more than one cartridge from enter- 60 ing the receiver at a time. The said nose or lug rises into the path of the cartridges at the beginning of the opening movement of the gun, and is not retired, or moved but of the said path until the gnn is again closed. It 65 insures the easy operation of the gun, as it prevents the head of the incoming cartridge from resting upon or impinging against the forward end of the carrier F, and thus caus- ing the same to work with difficulty. It also 70 prevents the ohokingof the gun where thecar- tridges differ slightly in length, in which case, but for the said nose or Ing, a short cartridge on the carrier might allow the next cartridge in the magazine to secure a partial entrance 75 into the receiver,and by fouling the action of the carrier, choke the gun. By the use of this lugor nose, I secure an effective magazine cut- off without complicating the gu n by special in- dependently organized devices for that pur- 80 pose. The forward end of the operating plate E is also constructed with two lifting faces e' er, corresponding to each other, and respect- ively located below and on opposite sides of the lug or nose e forming the magazine cut- 85 off. The extreme forward end of the carrier F, rests upon the said lifting faces e’ e' when the gun is closed, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the said eud of the carrier being slotted or cut away to clear the magazine cut- 90 off lug e. At the beginning of the opening movement of the gun, the said lifting faces e' e' lift the carrier slightly, and hence the head of the cartridge, whereby the said head is brought into range with a projection g, 95 formed upon the under face of the forward end.of the sliding breech-block G, whereby the breech-block is caused to positively en- gage with the cartridge, and draw the same back into the receiver upon the carrier F, too which is constructed as shown by Figs. 7 and 8 of the drawings, with a depression or pocket
2 ' 624,702 enables a longer cartridge to be used than has heretofore been possible in a gun con- structed with a receiver of the same length. 70 The carrier F is pivotally hung upon a hori- zontal pin F' mounted in the receiver and passing through its rear end, hnd is pwungor lifted into its elevated position, in whichitis shown by Fig. 3 of the drawings, by the^n^^j- gagement of a shoulder д' depending from the lower face of the sliding breeeh-block./With an upwardly projecting operating Ing F^ formed . at the rear end of the carrier. The upward motion of the carrier is checked by two cor- 80, responding guides L, of which one is shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, these gnides being set. into grooves provided for them in the opposite walls of the receiver,and beihglocated so that they arrest the upward movement of the car- 85 rier when it has brought the cartridge carried by it into right presentation in front of the chamber,A'in thegun-barrel A. The sliding breech-block G, is furnished withan extractor M set into its upper face, and with an ejector 90 N depending from its lower face, the said ex- tractor and ejector being of ordinary construc- tion and operation. The breech-block itself is constructed with two corresponding longi- tudinal ribs дг g\ (Fig- 4) which enter suitable 95 grooves c' c' formed to receive them in the op- posite walls of the receiver in the ordinary msnrer. ThehammerJCiafnrnishediri&a hammer-springK', and co-operates with a sear 9 having a sear-spri ng and trigger O'. Д trig- tog ger P mounted on the same center p with the. sear O, operates the same to release the ham- mer. As herein shown, the operatihg-ltak E and the carrier F, are fnrnished with friction pins Q, Q' of ordinary.construction and oper- 105 ation, but these may be dispensed with; or oth- erwise located as desired. - Having now described in detail the.con- struction of my improved gnn, I will proceed to briefly pet forth the mode of its operation.zuc Assuming that the gun is closed, as show in Fig. 1 of the drawings, and that the maga- zine-spring has partly introduced the car- tridge 2 into the receiver and upon the carrier, we will suppose that the finger or operating. 115 lever is thrown down and .forward; this will operate to depress the rear end of the operat- ing-plate E, and therefore to draw down the - locking-block I, so as to permit the sliding (iii'osdi-blocklo 'be mpved rearward. At the 120 I'same time the rear end of theplateE, is being depressed,.its forwardelrd and beooe the hose . e and the lifting-faces e' e'?are being elevated, the latter then operating to slightly lift the forward end of the carrier, and hence the car- 125 tridge; and the former rising into the path of the cartridge so as to be imposition to act as a magazine cut-off the instant the cartridge has passed entirely into the receiver. The lifting of the forward end of the carrier and hence 13c the cartridge by the lifting faces e' e', brings kthe cartridge into position to be positively en- gaged by the projection g of the breech-block G, and .positively drawn into the aeceiver in f, located below the level of its floor, and pro- vided to let the head of the cartridge drop down, after the cartridge has been fully drawn into the receiver and cleared fro,m the 5 magazine,and disengage from the projection g so as to permit the sliding breech-block to complete its rearward movement. I thus pro- vide for positively locating each cartridge in right position upon the: carrier by means of io the breech-block, so that no matter how rap- idly the gun maybe fired, it cannot choke, by reason of the carrier being elevated to pre- sent the cartridge to the gun-barrel A before; the cartridge is in right position iipon it. I 15 conceive it to be necessary to thus provide for insuring the right location of the car- tridges upon the carrier by means of the breech-block, in a gun wherein the cartridge is not,-when the first opening motion of the 20 gun begins, located entirely on the carrier. ; With the rear end of the operating plate E, I pivotally connect the finger or operating lever H, by means of a pin H', which ex- tends into an elongated slot h formed in ~the ' 25 lever, the upper end of which is connected by a pin h' with the forward end of the slid-' ing breech-block G, which is moved back and forth by the action of the said lever. This finger-lever has the incidental function of 30 guarding the trigger, and Issometimes called the^trigger-guard; but I 'have chosen te de" 1 scribe it in connection with its larger fuuc-; tion. The said lever is also called the'op- erating-lever. I also connect with Це rear 35 end of the operating plate E- and at a point; in rear of the connection therewith of the fin- i ger-lever H, a locking-block I, the lower end J of which is pivotally connected with the rear I end of the plate by means of a pin -i. This; 40 locking block moves up and down in the te-i ceiver at an angle slightly inclined rearward j from the vertical, being constructed upon its opposite edges with guides i' i', which take- into corresponding grooves с c formed in the 45 opposite walls of the receiver, as shown in; Fig. 2. In its elevated position the upper ; end of this locking-block stands directly back of the rear end of the breech-block, the same being then in its closed position. On the; 50 other hand when the sliding - block is de-, pressed by the opening of the gun, its upper ’ end retires below the path of the breeeh- . block, as shown in Fig., Ji, and permits the rearward or opening movement thereof. The 55 upper end of this locking block is fnrnished with a short striking-piece I', limited in‘end- wise movement by means of a pin г1, as clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. This strik- ing-piece is arranged so that when the block 60 is in its elevated or closed position, it trans- mits the blow or impact of the hammer К upon its rear end to the flring-pin J, which engages with its forward end. A locking-block'constructed and arranged 65 as described, -provides simple and effective means for locking the breech-block in its closed position, and by reason of its location,
524,702 3 ease the magazine-spring does not act quickly enough or powerfully enough to push the car- tridge unaided into the receiver; then just be- fore the finger-lever reaches its extreme for- 5 ward position, as shown in Fig. 3, the shoulder or projection д' of the breech-block engages with the operating lug F3 of the carrier, and swings the same on its pivot so as to cause its forward end to be lifted, and present the point io of the cartridge in right position before the cartridge chamber A', to be forced thereinto by the breech-block as the same moves for- ward, which it will immediately begin to do when the closing movement of the finger-le- 15 ver is begun. Then after the breech-block has moved forward into its closed pbsition and the cartridge has been introdnced into place in the cartridge-chamber A', the lock- ing-block moves into place back of the breech- го block, and the operating-plate assumes its closed position, in which its nose e is de- pressed below the path of the cartridges, and in which its lifting faces e' e' permit the for- ward erjd of the carrier to take its lowest po- 25 sition. It will be seen from the foregoing that my improved gun is composed of comparatively few parts, compactly arranged, and is not liable to derangement, and that it'may be op- 30 erated with great rapidity without danger of choking. It is obvious that in carrying out my in- vention some changes from the construction herein shown and described may be made, 55 and I would have it understood that I do not limit myself to'such construction, but hold myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations therein as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention. 40 Having fnlly described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is— 1. In a magazine fire-arm, the combination with the barrel, magazine and receiver there- 45 of, of an operating-plate pivotally hung at its forward end, a downwardly movable finger or operating lever and an upwardly movable locking-block connected with the rear end of the said plate, and a sliding breech-block 50 connected with the upper end of the finger or operating lever and actuated thereby, sub- stantially as set forth. 2. In a magazine fire-arm, the combination with the barrel, magazine and receiver there- 5.5 of, of an operatingplate pivotally hung at its forward end, a downwardly movable finger or operating lever pivotally connected with the rear end of the operating-plate and form- ing a guard for the trigger, an upwardly mov- 60 able locking-block pivotally connected with the rear end of the said plate at a point in rear of the pivotal connection of the said fin- ger or operating lever, and arranged to move up and down in the receiver, and a sliding 65 breech-block connected with the upper end of the finger-lever and actuated thereby, sub- stantially as set forth. 3. In a magazine fire-af m, the combination with the barrel, magazine and receiver there- of, of a plate pivotally hung at its forward 76 end and constructed thereat with a nOse or lug forming a magazine cut-off, and rising into the path in which the cartridges emerge from the magazine .when the rear end 6f the plate is depressed, a sliding bfeCch-blpck, and a finger or operating lever pivotally con- nected with the rear end of the said plate, ' and connected at its upper end with the breech-block which it actuates, and forming a guard for the trigger substantially as de- 86 scribed. 4. lu a magazine fire-artn, the combination with the magazine and Carrier thereof, of a plate hung at its forward end and constructed thereat with two lifting faces upon which the 85 forward end of the carrier rests when the same is in its lowest position, and whereby the carrier and the cartridge Upon it are slightly lifted when the rear end of the plate is depressed, substantially as set forth. 90 5. In a magazine fire-arm, the combination with the barrel, magazine and receiver there- of, of an operating-plate pivotally hung at its forward end and constructed thereat with a nose or lug forming a magazine cut-off, and 95 with a lifting face, a carrier located within the receiver, and resting at its forward end when in its lowest position upon the said lift- ing face, a sliding breech-block, a finger or ’ operating lever pivotally connected with the ibe rear end of the operating plate, connected at its upper end with the breech-block which it actuates, and forming a guard for the trig- ger and means for locking the breech-block in its closed position, substantially as de- 105 scribed. 6. In a magazine fire-arm, the combination with a sliding breech-block and an operating- plate pivotally hung at its forward end, of a carrier resting at its forward end, when in no its lowest position, upon thesaid plate which lifts the said end of the carrier when the plate is operated in the opening movement of the gun, the said breech-block being con- structed upon its lower face to engage the 115 head of the cartridge when the carrier is lifted, is described, and the said carrier being constructed to permit the cartridge to drop away from the breech-block after the car- tridge has been fully entered into the receiver 120 of the arm, substantially as set forth. 7. In a magazine fire-arm, the combination with the barrel, magazine and receiver there- of,. of a plate pivotally hung, at its forward end, a downwardly movable finger or operat- 125 ing lever pivotally connected with the rear end of the plate and operating the same, and forming a guard for the trigger, an upwardly movable locking-block connected with the rear end of the said plate, a sliding breech- 130 block connected with the upper end of the finger or operating lever, and actuated there- by, and a carrier located within the receiver and arranged to have an initial lifting move-
meat. imparted to it by ths plate, substantially as described. 3. In a magazine fi.rs-аг®, the combination with ths barrel} magazine and receiver thero- g of, of a plate pivotally hang at its forward end, a Anger or operating lever pivotally con- nected with tbo rear ond of the plato, form- ing a guard for the .trigger, a sliding breech- block connected with the upper end of the ко finger or operating lever and actuated there-, by, a carrier located within the receiver, and a locking blodk connected with, the rear end of the operating plate, arranged to play up and down in the receiver and provided with a striking piece which, in the closed position 15 of the breech-block, is aligned with the fir- ing-pin carried thereby, substantially as de- scribed. In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two snbscrib- го ing witnesses. - JOHN M. BROWNING. Witnesses: Fred C. Earle, Gbo. D. Seymour.
(По Model,) . J. M. BROWNING. MEANS FOR AUTOMATICALLY REMOVING UNCONSUMED PRODUCTS FROM GUN BARRELS. No. 543,567. Patented July 30, 1895. Jnv&itoy1 Jp'&^besses.
United States Patent Office. JOHN M. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH TERRITORY. . MEANS FOR AUTOMATICALLY REMOVING UNCONSUMED PRODUCTS FROM GUN-BARRELS. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 543,567, dated July 30,1895. Application filed April 16,1S95. Serial No. 646,920. (No model.) -o all whom it may. сопсеу уь:. Be it known that I, John M. Browning, a citizen of the United States, residingat Ogden, in thecounty of Weber and Territory ofUtah, 5 haveinventedanewand useful Improvement in Breech-Loading Firearms, of which the fol- lowing is a specification. In consequence of the rapidity with'whieh modern firearms may be fired it has become ro difficult to keepclean the chamber of the bar- rel, for though the metallic case of the car- tridge protects the chamber at. the moment of firing any debris of the powder remaining in the ease after firing is liable to be deposited in 15 the chamber during the extraction of the car- tridge-case. The useof the modern nitro-pow- dershas especially developed this trouble, for as these are more difficult to ignite than the older gunpowder some unburned grains often го remain in the cartridge-case and during the extraction fall into the chamber,'where their presence causes more trouble,as these grains are hard and tough and cannot be readily crushed. Thus they prevent the entering car- 25 tridge from properly filling the chamber.. The object of my invention is to provide a simple but effective device by which, after each shot is fired and before a new cartridge is entered into the chamber, any such deposit 30 in the latter will be removed. I attain this object by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which— Figure I is a longitudinal vertical section of the breech of a magazine-gun, showing my 35 improvement applied thereto. Fig. II is a ver- tical cross-section of the same on line a; a; of Fig. I, looking rearward. Fig. Ill is a longi- tudinal vertical section of the breech of a ma- chine-gun with my improvement applied 4.0 thereto. Fig. IV is a vertical cross-section of tho same on line у у of Fig. Ill, looking rear- ward. Similar let tors refer to similar parts through- out the several views, IS My improvement consists in providing in the receiver or in some part connected there- with an air-chamber in which one of the re- ciprocating members of the breech mechan- ism fits and moves during the opening and 50 closing of the breech, thus forming an air- pump. From the air-chamber I provide a nar- row passage, through, which it communicates with the receiver somewhat above and in rear of the chamber of the barrel, and the end pf* this passage I incline inward, so as to direct 55 the air forced through- it downward and for- ward into the chamber. In the gun shown in Figs. land II, the bar- rel b is secured to and opens at its rear into the receiver a, in which the breech-bolt'c is 60 reciprocated by the rod d and handle d'., the locking-brace e connecting the rod with-the breech bolt, the magazine-tube /, cartridge- stop g, carrier i, hammer di, and trigger J be- ing all of the usual construction. 65 The breech-bolt c contains the firing-pin k, and projects rearWardly beyond the latter, A downward opening in the bolt enables the • hammer to strike the firing-pin when the breech is closed. In rear of this opening the 70 end of the breech-bolt is cup-shaped, the screw-plug I closing the seat of the firing-pin. In rear of the breech-bolt and in line with if the receiver forms the air-chamber m, in which the rear of the bolt closely'fits, and 75 which is closed by a suitable cap. Frotn this air-chamber the passage n in the top of the receiver leads forward toward the chamber of the barrel. When in operation the breech-bolt is moved 80 to the rear to open the breech after firing a shot. It compresses the air in.the ch amber m, and as soon as the bolt has moved rearward enough to elear t he front end of thejpassage n a strong streahi of. air is forced through the latter. As 85 the breech-bolt draws the cartridge-case rear- • ward and the latter is somewhat taper, the air is forced into the space between the case and the chamber of the barrel as soon as the flange of the case has passed the opening n'. 90 of tlie air-passage, and after the front end of the cartridge-case has passed this opening the stream of air freely enters the chamber and blows any powder left in it out of the front of the barrel. .During the return or 95 closing movement, of the breech-bolt the pas- sage n freely admits air to the chamber m. In the machine-gun shown in Figs. Ill and. IV, the arrangement varies only from the above in that it is not the breech-bolt which 100 acts as the piston of the air-pump, but-the striker or ham nier h performs this service. In this case the breech-bolt c is connected by the locking-brace в with the actnating-slide d,
643,667 from which it receives the reciprocating move- ment. The rear of the receiver is closed by the tubular extension q, to which the grasp о and the trigger j are attached, and in which 5 the stem h' of the hammer Л fits. The ham- mer h, moving in line with and in rear of the breech-bolt, is forced back by the opening movement of the latter, and when released it is forced forward by the spring p. The io trigger J serves to retain the hammer in the rear or cocked position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. III. The stem 7i' is made hol- low, and closely fitting the tube q it acts-as a piston therein. A narrow passage n in the 15 tube q leads from it to the receiver, where it communicates with a small tube n' seated in a longitudinal groove in the top of the receiver-chamber. The front end of the tube n’ inclines downward toward the chamber 20 of the barrel. The operation is essentially the same as that described above. The open- ing movement of the breech-bolt also moves rearward the hammer and compresses the air in the tube q and forces it throfigh the tube 25 n’ into the chamber as soon as the extraction of the cartridge-case opens the same. For- ward of the opening n’ the top of the breech- bolt has a shallow groove which freely ad- mits air to the tube when the hammer moves 30 forward. It will be understood that any suitable part of the breech mechanism may be made to per- forin the part of the piston, and that the lo- cation of the air-chamber is not of impor- 35 tance as long as during the opening movement air is compressed therein, and a suitable con- nection is provided to force this air into the barrel-chamber and clear the latter. I there- fore do hot wish to be understood as limiting 4° iny invention to the precise details of com struetion shown and described, but What I claim as my invention, and. desire to secure by Letters Patent, is— 1. In a breech loading fire-arm the air pump, consisting of an air chamber in the та- ceiver or attached to the receiver and a-pis- ton attached to one of the reciprocating parts of the breech mechanism and fitting in said air chamber, and a passage leading from said air chamber and opening into the receiver in 50 rear of and in the direction of the cartridge chamber. 2. In a breech loading fire-arm the combi- nation of the receiver provided with an air chamber in rear of the breech bolt, a piston 55 attached to the breech bolt and fitting in said air chamber, means to reciprocate said breech bolt,andapassageleadingfrom said air cham- ber into the receiver in rear of and in the di- rection of the cartridge chamber of the barrel, 60 substantially as and for the purpose specified. 3. In a breech loading fire-arm in combi- nation with the receiver and the cartridge chamber opening into said receiver, a breech bolt for opening and closing said cartridge 65 chamber, means for reciprocating said breech bolt, a hammer in rear of said breech bolt, said hammer provided with a piston, an air chamber attached to the receiver and a pas- sage leading from said air chamber into the 70 receiver in rear of and in the direction of the cartridge chamber, whereby during the open- ing movement air is compressed in said air chamber and forced into the cartridge cham- ber, for the purpose specified. 75 Thisspecification signed arid wi tnessed this 8th day of April,-1895. JOHN M. BROWNING. In presence of— C. J. Ehbets, Jas. S. Bryant.
(No Model.) 4 Sheets—Sheet 1. J. M. BROWNING. GAS OPERATED MACHINE GUN. No. 544,657. Patented Aug. 20, 1895.
4 Sheets—Sheet 2. (No Model.) J. M. BROWNING. GAS OPERATED MACHINE GUN. No. 544,657. Patented Aug. 20, 1895.
(No Model.) 4 Sheets—Sheet 3. J. M. BROWNING. GAS OPERATED MACHINE GUN. No. 544,657. Patented Aug. 20, 1895.
No Model.) 4 Sheets—Sheet 4. J. M. BROWNING. GAS OPERATED MACHINE GUN. No. 544,657. Patented Aug. 20, 1895.
United States Patent Office. JOHN M. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH TERRITORY. GAS-OPERATED MACHINE-GUN. SPECIFICATION’ forming part of Letters Patent No. 544,657, dated August 20, 1895. Application filed November 7, 1892, Serial No. 451,181, (No model) To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, John M. Bbowning, of Ogden, in the county of Weber and Ter- ritory of Utah, have invented a new Improve- 5 ment in Machine-Guns; and I do hereby de- clare the following, when taken in connection with accompanying drawings, and the letters and numerals of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the io same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in— Figure 1, a side view of the gun; Fig. la, a horizontal section showing the breech-piece in plan view as unlocked enlarged; Fig. lb, 15 the same, showing the breech-piece thrown into its locked engagement enlarged; Fig. 2, a longitudinal sectional view showing the mech- anism of the gun in the closed or normal po- sition. Fig. 2a is a detail view, on an enlarged 20 scale, of the feed-wheel and spring-latch bolt engaging therewith; Fig. 3, the same, show- ing the parts in the extreme open position; Fig. 4, an under side view of the forward por- tion of the gun, showing the connection be- 25 tween the slide and the operating-lever; Fig. 5, an under side view of the breech-block en- larged; Fig. 6, an under side view of the slide; Fig. 7, a top view of the carrier; Fig. 8, a transverse section on line у у of Fig. 2 30 enlarged; Fig. 9, a transverse section on line x x of Fig. 2 enlarged; Fig. 10, a transverse section on line x x of Fig. la enlarged; Fig. 10a, a face view of the feed-wheel ratchet en- larged; Fig. 11, a longitudinal section show- 35 ing side view of the breech-piece, carrier, and slide enlarged to illustrate the operation of the shoulders го in the receiver; Fig. 12, a longitudinal sectional side view illustrating the operation of the sear; Fig. 13, a horizon- <10 tai section of the forward portion of the re- ceiver, showing the passage through which the cartridge rises and the shoulders w en- larged; Fig. 14, a side view of the band with the cartridges therein; Fig. 15, an edge view 15 of the same. This invention relates to an improvement in that class of guns in which the force of the gases produced by explosion is employed as a means for operating the mechanism of 50 the arm, and whereby under the force of the explosion the breech-piece is opened, the ex- ploded shell extracted, the breech-piece forced to its wide-open position, the hammer cocked, a fresh cartridge presented forward of the breech-piece for insertion into the barrel, and 55 in the opening movementof the breech-piece a spring is compressed, and so that immedi- ately upon the parts reaching the open posi- tion the said spring reacts to return the parts to the closed position, carrying the fresh car- 60 tridge into the barrel and discharging it, whereupon a second opening movement is produced and so continuing, the gun being automatic in its operat ion so long as cartridges are supplied thereto. 65 In another application for Letters Patent by myself and Matthew S. Browning, Serial No. 485,215, there is described a mechanism adapted to be operated by gases of explosion. The present invention is an improvementupon 70 the invention of that application, and shows certain parts in construction and operation like the corresponding parts in the said appli- cation. In that application the breech-piece is arranged so that while it moves longitudi- 75 nally backward and forward in opening and closing it is permitted at its rear end an up- and-down swinging movement, turning upon its forward end as a pivot, such up-and-down movement of the rear end of the breech-piece 83 being for the purpose of unlocking and lock- ing the breech-piece. The object of the present invention is spe- cially to arrange the breech-piece so that its locking and unlocking movements are pro- 85 duced by a lateral swing instead of vertically, as in the before-mentioned application, as well as to improve the gun in other points; and the invention consists in the construction and combination of parts,as hereinafter described, 90 and particularly recited in the claims. A represents the receiver, at the forward end of which the barrel В is arranged and opens into the receiver at the rear. C represents the breech-piece, which is pref- 95 erably rectangular in shape in transverse sec- tion, and is arranged in a longitudinal recess D in the receiver, so as to be moved freely backward and forward, the said recess corre- sponding in shape to the shape of the breech- 100 piece. The recess in which the breech-piece moves opens downward through a groove E, as seen in Fig. 8, which is somewhat narrower than the width of the breech-piece, so that
2 544,65? the breech-piece may be supported against vertical movement. At the forward end of the breech piece is a downward projection F, which slides in the groove E as the breech- 5 piece moves backward and forward. On the right-hand side of the breech-piece when it is in its closed position a lateral opening G is made through the side of the receiver, (see Figs. la and 10,) and when the breech-piece id is in the closed position, as seen in the said Fig. la, its rear end stands in line with the rear end И of the opening G, and so that the rear end of the breech-piece may be thrown outward into the said opening, as seen in Fig. 15 lb, and so as to bring the rear end of the breech- piece against the end II of the opening G as an abutment to support the breech-piece against recoil. To open the breech-piece its rear end must do be thrown inward, as from the position in Fig. lb to that seen in Fig. la, and so as to bring the breech piece into line with the recess in the receiver in which the breech-piece may move. In this movement of the breech-piece 25 it turns laterally as upon a pivot at its forward end, the downward projection F in the groove below serving as snch pivot. The breech-piece is operated by means of a longitudinal slide I, arranged beneath the bar- 30 rel and extending through the forward end of the receiver below the breech-piece, and so that it may be freely moved backward and forward, as from the position in Fig. 2 to that seen in Fig. 3, and return. 35 On the under side of the breech-piece and at its rear end is a cam groove J. (See Fig. 5.) The main portion of the groove is oblique to the axis of the breech-piece, its inclination being from the left-hand side toward the right- 40 hand side, and as represented in broken lines, Figs. la and lb, and the groove also contains the longitudinal portion at its forward end, as shown in Figs. la, lb, and 5. At its rear end the slide I is constructed with a stud K, which 14 extends into the cam-groove J of the breech- piece, and when the breech-piece is in its ex- treme forward and closed position the stud stands in the forward end of the cam-groove J, and as indicated in broken lines, Fig. 1ъ. 50 As the slide I commences its rear movement the stud К operates in the cam-groove J of the breech-piece, first moving in the longitudinal portion thereof and causing lateral movement of the breech-piece, and then moving in the 55 inclined portion of the cam-groove to impart to the breech-piece an inward lateral move- ment, as from the position in Fig. lb to that seen in Fig. la, and which brings the breech- piece into its unlocked position and ready for 60 rear movement as the stud К strikes the rear end of the cam-groove in the breech-piece, as seen in Fig. la. Then a continued rear move- ment of the slide I will force the breech-piece to its rear or open position, as seen in Fig. 3. 65 Longitudinally in the breech - piece the firing-pin L is arranged and extends through the breech-piece at the rear, and at its rear end is provided with a downward projection M, and so that the rear end of the slide I will strike this projection Mof the firing-pin as it 70 completes the unlocking movement of the breech-piece and so as to retract the firing- pin, as represented in Fig. 3, the firing-pin being held so retracted throughout the rear movement of the breech-piece, and until on 75 the return of the slide I and breech-piece the breech-piece is brought to its forward posi- tion. Then the slide continues its forward movement, the stud К returning in the cam- groove J operates thereon to force the breech- 8э piece from its unlocked position seen in Fig. la to its locked position, as seen in Fig. lb, and this locking movement takes the end of the slide away from the projection M of the ' firing-pin, so as to leave that pin free to be 85 forced forward under the blow of the hammer. After the breech-piece has been locked the slide has a fnrther forward movement, during which the stud К moves in the longitudinal portion of the cam-groove J. 90 In rear of the breech-piece a longitudinally- reciprocating hammer N is arranged, pro- vided with a suitable spring O, and so that as the breech-piece is thrown rearward the ham- mer will also be forced rearward and com- 95 press its spring, the hammer being caught by a suitable trigger when in its full-cocked po- sition and there held until the breech-piece returns. Then the trigger may be pulled to liberate thehammer and the blow be imparted rco to the firing-pin in the usual manner. The reciprocating movement of the slide I, as here represented, is produced by the same mech- anism as that described in the application before referred to, and therefore requires but 105 brief description for its proper understanding. At a point in the barrel forward of the car- tridge-chamber an aperture P is formed, which opens outward. Near this aperture a lever Q is hung upon a pivot R, so as to swing 11 э in a plane parallel with the plane of the axis of the barrel. As here represented the lever is hung in rear of the aperture P and extends forward, and is provided at its forward or free end with some device which may per- 115 mit the gases of explosion to pass through the aperture P, and so act upon the forward end of the lever as to impart to it a swinging movement and throw it to its rear or open position, as seen in Fig. 3; The lever Q is 120 connected to the slide I by means of a rod S, so that the rearward swinging movement of the lever communicates to theslide I its rear movement, and consequently the correspond- ing rear movement of the breech-piece. In 125 the rear movement of the breech-piece a spring T, which is connected with the lever Q, is compressed, and so that the reaction of the spring, after the rear movement of the lever, as before described, will cause the lever 130 to return to its closed position, and in such return movement will draw the slide I for-
644,657 3 ward and bring the breech-pieee to its closed and locked position. To engage the hammer and hold it in its cocked position, so that it may be released 5 only when the breech-piece is in its closed po- sition, and then automatically released, the same sear and trigger mechanism is employed as that in the before-mentioned application; but according to this invention the sear en- io gages with the slide instead of engaging with the breech-piece, as in the above-mentioned application, and as the slide completes its forward movement after the breech-piece has been fully locked, and while the stud К is 15 moving in the longitudinal portion of the cam- groove J, the slide strikes the sear. The effect of the engagement of the sear with the slide is to put the firing mechanism into operative position, and if the trigger is held in pulled 20 position, as in automatic firing, the engage- ment of the sear and slide releases the ham- mer, so that the hammer will be thrown for- ward and will explode the cartridge. When the sear is not in engagement with the slide, г 5 the firing mechanism is out of operative posi- tion—г, e., the hammer cannot be released by pulling the trigger. It will therefore be evi- dent that according to this invention the fir- ing mechanism is only in operative position jo while the stud К of the slide occupies the for- ward end of or is moving backward or for- ward in the longitudinal portion of the cam- groove J, which it does during only a short period, and during this period the breech- 3 5 piece is necessarily firmly held in fully-locked position, while in all other positions of the parts, whether the breech-piece is moving into or out of fully-locked position or is out of locked position, the firing mechanism is jo but of operative position and the gun cannot be discharged. U represents the sear, which is hung at its rear end by a pivot V to the trigger W, the trigger being hung upon a pivot X in rear of 45 the pivot V. The nose Z of the sear is adapted to engage a corresponding notch or shoulder of the hammer when the hammer is in the rear position, and a spring a is provided, the tendency of which is to force the nose of the ;э sear into such engagement with the hammer, and as seen in Fig. 3. The sear is constructed with a forwardly-projecting finger b, which extends to a position below the slide, so that when the slide is in its extreme forward or 55 closed position, as seen in Fig. 2, the end of the finger b will bear upon a corresponding projection or point c on the nnder side of the slide, but so that after the slide commences its rear movement it will escape from the end of 5o the finger. When the end of the sear-finger b is thus engaged with the slide, that point of engagement serves as a fulcrum for the sear, and so that as the trigger is pulled, as seen in broken lines, Fig. 2, the rear end of the 65 sear will be drawn downward, tho sear turn- ing upon its fulcrum or bearing-point c of the slide, and so as to draw the nose Z of the sear from its engagement with the hammer and thereby liberate the hammer. The trig- ger being held in the pulled position, and as 7 э the slide moves rearward and escapes from the end of the finger b of the sear, the pivot between the sear and trigger serves as a ful- crum for the sear, and so that as the slide and breech-piece move rearward the sear is 75 free to rise under the action of the spring a into a position to engage the hammer when it arrives at the full-соек position, as seen in Fig. 3. The trigger being held in the pulled position, when next the slide with the breech- 80 piece is moved forward the projection c on the slide will strike the end of the finger b and turn the sear down out of engagement with the hammer, so as to liberate the ham- mer and permit it to fly forward to produce 85 explosion. Consequently so long as the trig- ger is held in a pulled position the opening movement of the breech-piece leaves the sear free to engage the hammer; but when the breech-piece has returned and reached its ex- 90 treme forward and locked position, the sear will be operated upon so as to release the hammer, and thereby automatic engagement and disengagement of the hammer with the sear occurs so long as the reciprocating move- 95 ment of the breech-piece is continued and the trigger is held; but if at any time the trigger be released, then the slide can have no effect upon the sear and the hammer will remain held by the sear in its cocked position. Car- 100 tridges being supplied so that at each forward movement of the breech-piece one will be in- troduced into the barrel, and then on the re- turn of the breech-piece the exploded shell will be withdrawn, automatic firing will con- 105 tinue so long as the cartridges are so sup- plied. To supply cartridges a rotating feed-wheel d is arranged below the barrel and near its rear end upon an axis e, parallel with the no axis of the barrel. This axis is supported at its ends in suitable bearings f g, and con- sists of a spindle or axle, which extends through the feed-wheel, and the feed-wheel is secured to the axle by a set-screw h or 115 otherwise, so that the axle and wheel will re- volve together. The axle extends through its forward bearing, and on its forward end is provided with a ratchet-wheel i, the teeth of the ratchet being pins or studsj on the 12c forward face of the wheel, as seen in Figs. 2 and 10a. The feed-wheel d is constructed with longi- tudinal grooves in its periphery, as seen in Fig. 9, each groove being adapted to engage 125 a cartridge, and through the left-hand side of the receiver is an opening k, through which cartridges may be supplied to the feed-wheel, and so that a cartridge, as Z, rest- ingin one groove will be gradually advanced 130 until it be brought into the position m, Fig. 9, where it is in a line directly below the bar- rel; but the wheel is so arranged that car- tridges in the wheel stand with their heads
4 544,657 somewhat forward of the rear end of the bar- rel, and as clearly seen in Fig 2. The slide I is provided on its under side with a spring feed-hook n, like the extract- 5 ing-hook usually employed on the breech- - piece for the extraction of the cartridge from the barrel, and its arrangement on the slide is iu such relative position to the cartridges in the feed-wheel that when the slide is in io its forward position and the breech-piece closed, as seen in Fig. 2, the feed-hook n will have passed over and engaged the head or flange of the uppermost cartridge m in the feed-wheel. Then as the slide commences its 15 rear movement it will take the cartridge m so engaged rearward from the feed-wheel and throughout the extent of the movement of the slide. As the slide must move a cer- tain distance in order to unlock the breech- 20 piece before the rear movement of the breech- piece commences, the position of the car- tridge in the feed-wheel is normally so far forward of the front face of the closed breech-piece that when the opening move- 25 ment of the breech-piece is produced by the first part of the rear movement of the slide the slide will have drawn the cartridge so far rearward as to bring its head in a plane just forward of the front face of the breech-piece, 30 and from that timethe breech-piece and car- tridge will move together. By providing for the extraction of the car- tridges from thefeed-wheel by their heads, I am enabled to employ a feed-belt having its 35 forward edgeclosed, and this I prefer for the reason that in such a belt there is less oppor- tunity for the cartridge to be displaced end- wise. Furthermore by feeding the cartridges by their heads from the feed-belt to the car- 40 rier, I avoid, even in the most rapid firing of the gun, disfiguring their lead bullets or dis- tortingor displacing the same in their shells, the effect in either case being to militate against accurate firing. Again, by feeding 45 the cartridges by their heads they are kept under control as to rearward movement until engaged by the breech-lock for being pushed into the gun-barrel, whereby they are pre- vented from getting out of place should the 50 gun be held at a high elevation in firing. The cartridge is drawn by the slide onto a car- rier 0, which is arranged below the breech- piece and slide and so that the cartridge may be drawn onto the carrier, as seen in Fig. 3. 55 The carrier extends to the rear, and is hung upon a pivot p, so as to swing in a vertical plane, as usual, and as in the gun of the ap- plication before referred to. The cartridge stops against a shoulder q, formed on the car- 60 rier forward of its pivot, so as to hold the car- tridge in its proper position for being raised. The carrier extends at the rear of its pivot, and in its rear end a dog r is hung to swing in a vertical plane upon the pivot s, the dog 65 extending upward from its pivot and so that the dog stands nearly vertical or slightly in- clined rearward. A spring t is provided, the tendency of which is to hold the dog in its forward position against a suitable stop in the carrier, and as seen in Fig. 11. This dog 7 э stands in the path of movementof the down- ward projection c on the under side of the slide, and so that as the slide moves rearward in opening the projection c will strike the dog rand turn the dog rearward without effect 75 upon the carrier, as indicated in broken lines, Fig. 3; but as soon as the projection c es- capes from the dog, then the dog will return under the action of its spring t to its normal position, and so that the projection c will 80 stand at the rear of the dog, as seen in Fig. 3. Then when the slide commences its for- ward movement the projection c strikes the nose of the dog and operates thereon as a cam to depress the rear end of the carrier, 85 which causes the carrier to rise and take with it the cartridge to the position seen in Fig. 11, bringing the head of the cartridge just for- ward of the front face of the breech-piece and so that as the breech-piece advances, as 90 seen in broken lines, Fig. 11, it will force the cartridge forward into the barrel. The pas- sage in the receiver through which the car- tridge passes in being raised by the carrier is contracted near its forward end, as seen in 95 Fig. 13, corresponding to the shape of the neck of the cartridge, it being understood that necked cartridges are best adapted for the use of this class of guns, and such as clearly seen in Fig. 11, the said section cutting 100 horizontally and longitudinally through the receiver in the plane of the bottom of the breech-piece. The forward part и of the pas- sage from below up through the receiver is slightly wider than that of the forward por- 105 tion of the cartridge, while the rear portion v corresponds in width to the rear portion of the cartridge, the contraction forward produc- ing shoulders w in each side of the receiver, and these shoulders are inclined orenrved up- no ward and forward, as seen in Fig. 11. The position of the shoulders is somewhat forward of the point where the contraction of the shell commences as the cartridge lies on the carrier, as seen in Fig. 11. As the breech- .115 piece moves forward, as seen in broken lines, Fig. 11, it forces the cartridge forward, the point of the cartridge entering the barrel as the expanding portion of the shell reaches the shoulders w, and so that from that time 120 the advance movement of the cartridge will cause the larger part of the cartridge to ride up over the shoulders w and raise the rear end of the cartridge nearly into line with the barrel, and as represented in Fig. 11, the con- 125 traction of the opening and the shoulders thus raising the cartridge at once taking the cartridge from the support of the carrier, so that the return of the carrier may commence much sooner than would be practicable with- 130 out such raising of the cartridge, thereby re- ducing to a very considerable extent the rest which would be required for the carrier were it not for this relieving the carrier from the
544,657 5 support of the cartridge and giving so much more time for the movement of the carrier, which is very important in rapid-firing or au- tomatic guns. The slide is constructed with 5 an opening x (see Fig. 6) upward through it for the passage of the cartridge under the movement of the carrier. As the slide re- turns, the projection c strikes the carrier in rear of the shoulder q and forces the carrier to downward to its home position, as seen in Fig. 2, ready to receive the next cartridge. An intermittent rotation is imparted to the feed-wheel tobringthecartridgessuccessively to their proper position for transfer, and this 15 intermittent movement is imparted through the ratchet-wheel г. Forward of the ratchet- wheel a lever у is hung upon a pivot z, and so as to swing in a vertical plane. This lever extends upward and is adapted to engage a 2 0 vertical recess 3 in the side of the slide I. When the slide is in its extreme forward po- sition, the recess 3 is forward of the free end of the lever y, but as the slide moves for- ward, and while a cartridge is being drawn 25 from the feed-wheel, the recess 3 engages the lever у and throws it rearward to the position seen in Fig. 3. The lever у carries a spring- pawl 4, which is adapted to engage the pins or teeth of the ratchet-wheel г, but in the rear 30 movement the pawl escapes a tooth of the ratchet-wheel and passes to the next tooth. Then as the slide returns the lever у is turned forward to the position seen in Fig. 2, which raises the pawl 4 and through its engage- 35 ment with the ratchet-wheel i turns that ratchet-wheel one point—that is, so far as to bring the next cartridge carried by the wheel into position to be transferred to the carrier, as before described. A spring latch-bolt 5 is 40 provided, (see Figs. 2 and 2a,) which will en- gage the feed-wheel at its points of rest, and so as to yieldingly hold it in that position while the cartridge is in place and nntil the cartridge is transferred, but will yield to the 45 turning of the feed-wheel by the action of the pawl, as before described. The breech-piece is provided with the usual extractor-hook 6, with corresponding oppos- ing shoulder 7, as seen in Fig. la, so that the 50 cartridge-head will be engaged and with- drawn in the rear movement of the breech- piece and ejected when the shell is drawn sufficiently far from the barrel for the pur- pose. 55 The firing in an automatic gnu is necessa- rily so rapid that if the shells be suddenly ejected the force will be so great as to make it dangerous to persons standing near the gun. To avoid this difficulty the force of ejec- 60 tion is reduced by arranging in the receiver upon the opposite side of the breech-piece to the extractor-hook an ejecting-block 8. This block takes the place of the common ejector- stud, which acts instantly when the cartridge- 65 head reaches the stud; but in this case the block is elongated, so as to present a length- ened surface in the path of the head of the cartridge - shell. It is best grooved on its face, as seen in Fig. 10, so as to produce two flanges 9 and 10, and these flanges are ver- 70 tically notched, as seen in Figs. la and lb, these notches being inclined both forward and backwad, so as to form teeth of slight pro- jection, neither of which is sufficient in itself to quite throw the head of the shell out of en- 75 gagement with the extractor. Consequently the head of the shell as it is being retracted will pass from tooth to tooth until finally it escapes, and such escaping will give it a whirl longitudinally, so as to throw it through the 80 opening in the receiver in a short curve, which will cause it to fall close by the gun, in con- tradistinction to being thrown directly from the gun to one side, as must be the case when the ejection is made instantaneous by the sin- 85 gle ejecting-shoulder. Cartridges may be fed to the feed-wheel through the opening к by means of a hopper or other conductor which will deliver the car- tridges to that opening so that they will be 90 successively taken by the feed-wheel, as rep- resented in broken lines, Fig. 9; but an end- less band may be used, which will work over - the feed-wheel as a band over a pulley, an opening k5 being provided (see Fig. 9) in the 95 opposite side frame of the gun, through which the empty end of the cartridge belt or band will escape as the belt is fed in through the opening к over the feed-wheel and after the cartridges have been extracted from the feed- 100 band pockets. This may be as described in the application for patent before referred to, or it may be made as seen in Figs. 14 and 15. The band 11 is constructed in width some- what shorter than the length of the cartridges, 105 and with a series of transverse pockets 12 equidistant from each other; but instead of extending entirely through the pockets, as in the band before referred to, the pockets are closed at one end, so that the pockets open no only at one edge of the band, the other edge of the band being closed, and these pockets correspond in shape to that portion of the shell from the point rearward toward the head; but the depth of the pockets is so much less 115 than the length of the complete cartridge that a portion of the head end will project from the open pockets at one edge of the band, and so that the band maybe set on over the feed- wheel, and the grooves of the revolving feed- 120 wheel will engage with the ribs formed by the cartridges in the pockets, and so as to advance the cartridges under the rotation of the feed- wheel. I do not, however, claim my improved band herein, having made the same the sub- 125 ject of a separate application pending con- currently herewith. The endless band with the cartridges is sup- plied in cases containing several bands, so that as soon as one is used another may re- 130 place it and the discharged band may be re- supplied with cartridges. While all the parts of the gun are specially adapted for automatic operation by means of
6 544,657 the gases of explosion, parts of the invention are applicable to breech-loadingand magazine arms in which the magazine is arranged be- low the barrel, so that cartridges may pass 5 rearward onto the carrier. The invention is therefore not to be understood as limited to a machine or automatic gun. The connection between the breech-piece and slide is represented as forming the cam- io groove in the breech-piece and the stud on the slide; but it will be understood that this order may be reversed, the stud being on the breech-piece and the groove in the slide, should sueh construction be preferred. This 15 modification is too apparent to require illus- tration, it only being essential to the inven- tion that there shall be the transverse cam- groove on the one and the stud on the other, whereby the lateral swinging movement may го be imparted to the breech-piece when it stands in its closed position, and so as to lock the breech-piece in and unlock it from that position. In Fig. 1 the gun is represented as arranged 25 upon a support the same as that in the before- mentioned application; but such support, be- ing no part of the present invention, does not require to be particularly described. I claim— 30 1. In a gun, the combination with a barrel opening at the rear end into the receiver, of a breech-piece adapted for longitudinal move- ment backward and forward in said receiver and adapted to swing into locked position at 35 the end of its forward movement, a locking device and a guide-wayforsaid breech-piece, a reciprocating slide and a stud and groove connection between said slide and breech- piece, said groove having a longitudinal por- 40 tion and a portion at an angle thereto, whereby said slide moves farther forward after swing- ing the breech-piece into fully locked position and moves a short distance rearward before it commences to swing the breech-piece out 45 of fully locked position, a firing mechanism, and a firing finger arranged to be actuated by the slide for throwing the firing mechanism into and out of locked position, whereby said firing mechanism is in operative position only 50 when the breech-piece is in fully locked po- sition, substantially as set forth. 2. In a gun, the combination with the bar- rel and the receiver thereof, of a longitudi- nally and laterally movable breech-piece, lo- 55 cated in the said receiver, which receiver is constructed with an abutment for engage- ment with the rear end of the said breech- pieee when the same is in its closed position, and said breech-pieee being adapted to be 60 moved laterally in front of said abutment, a longitudinally movable slide connected at its rear end with said breech-piece, which it op- erates to move both longitudinally and later- ally, a longitudinally movable hammer lo- 65 cated in the rear of the breech-pieee, a trig- ger located below the hammer and a sear piv- otally attached to the trigger forward of the pivot thereof and adapted to engage with the hammer when the same is in its cocked posi- tion, and constructed with a firing finger 7*0 which is engaged by the slide when the same is in its forward position, whereby the sear is operated, substantially as set forth. 3. In a gun having the barrel opening into the receiver at the rear, the combination there- 75 with of a longitudinally reciprocating breech- pieee, a longitudinally reciprocating slide be- low the barrel and extending rearward below the breech-pieee, and adapted to impart the reciprocating movement to the breech-pieee, 80 a carrier hung upon a pivot in the receiver below said slide, and extending from its pivot forward, adapted to receive a cartridge from the source of supply, the carrier extending in rear of its pivot, and at its rear end provided 85 with a spring-dog hung upon a pivot in the carrier so as to swing in a vertical plane, the carrier constructed with a stop to limit the forward movement of said dog, the said slide constructed with a projection adapted to en- 90 gage said dog as the slide approaches its ex- treme rear movement, and to turn the dog so as to escape therefrom, the spring of the dog serving to return the said dog forward or the projection on the slide, substantially as de- 95 scribed, and whereby as the slide commences its return or closing movement, the said pro- jection will engage said dog from the rear and raise the carrier. 4. In a gun, the combination with the bar- 100 rel and receiver thereof, of a longitudinally movable breeeh-piece, a longitudinally mov- able slide connected therewith for operating the same, a carrier located within the receiver below the breeeh-piece, a feed-wheel located 105 forward of the carrier, a feed hook attached to the slide at a point to the rear of the said wheel, and in position to engage with the heads of the cartridges when the slide is moved to the limit of its forward movement, and devices r 10 located in front of the feed-wheel for operat- ing the same, and constructed to be actuated by the slide, substantially as set forth. 5. In a gun, the combination with the bar- rel and the receiver thereof, of a longitudi- 115 nally movable breech-piece, a longitudinally movable slide connected with the said breeeh- piece and operating the sam e, a carrier located below the breech-pieee and adapted to have its forward end lifted into the path thereof, a 120 feed-wheel located forward of the carrier, a feed hook attached to the slide at a point to the rear of the said feed-wheel and in position to engage the heads of cartridges carried thereby when the slide is at the limit of its 125 forward movement, an operating lever located in front of the feed-wheel, and pivoted at its lower end to swing in a vertical plane, its up- per end being adapted to be engaged by the forward end of the slide, and a pawl attached 130 to the lower end of the said lever in the rear of the pivot thereof, and adapted to engage
644,657 7 with the forward end of the feed-wheel which it operates to turn intermittently, substan- tially as set forth. 6. In a gun having the barrel opening at the 5 rear into the receiver, the combination there- with of a longitudinally reciprocating breech- piece, the breech-piece provided with an ex- tracting-hook. and an ejector-block arranged in the receiver opposite the extracting-hook t о of the breech-piece, the said ejector-block con- structed on its face with a series of teeth, the said teeth standing in the path of the head of the shell while in the grasp of the extractor, substantially as and for the purpose described. 15 7. In a gun, the combination with the bar- rel thereof, of a receiver constructed with an interior vertical passage contracted at its for- ward end by inwardly projecting shoulders, having the upper portions of their rear ends beveled or inclined, a longitudinally movable 20 breech-piece, a carrier pivoted by its rear end below the same so as to move in a vertical plane, and adapted at its forward end to pass between the said shoulders, and means for feeding cartridges to the said carrier and lift- 25 ing the same, substantially as set forth, and whereby the said shoulders operate to lift the rear end of the cartridges into line with the bore of the gun as they are moved forward off the carrier by the forward movement of the 30 breech-piece. In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscrib- ing witnesses. JOHN M. BROWNING. Witnesses: Kate Linehan, . W. D. Buehess.
(No Model.) 3 Sheets—Sheet 1. J. M. BROWNING. GAS OPERATED MACHINE GUN. No. 544,658. Patented Aug. 20, 1895.
3 Sheets—Sheet 2. (No Model.) J. M. BROWNING. GAS OPERATED MACHINE GUN. No. 544,658. Patented Aug. 20, 1895.
3 Sheets—Sheet 3. (No Model.) J. M. BROWNING. GAS OPERATED MACHINE GUN. No. 544,658. Patented Aug. 20, 1895.
United States Patent Office. JOHN M. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH TERRITORY. GAS-OPERATED MACHINE-GUN. . SPECIFICATION fanning part of Letters Patent No. 644,668, dated August 20,1896. Application filed Marot 16,1893. Serial Ko. 466,029. (Ko model) To all -whom it may concern: Be it known that I, John M. Browning, of Ogden, in Jbe county of Weber and Territory of Utah, have invented a new Improvement 5 in Machine-Guns; and I do herebydeelare the following, when taken in connection with' ac- companying drawings and the letters of ref- erence marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said to drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in— » . Figure 1, a view in side elevation showing one form which a machine-gun containing my invention maj assume; Fig. 2, a plan view 15 thereof; Fig. 3, a view of the gun in substan- . . tially central vertical longitudinal section, showing the parts of the gun in the adjust- ments due to them just before firing; Fig. 4, a similar view showing the said parts in the 20 positions which they are moved into in con- sequence of the explosion of a cartridge in the gun; Fig. 5, an enlarged detached reverse plan view of the breech-block; Tig. 6, a de- tached plan view of tlie trigger and sear: Fig. 25 7, a view thereof in side elevation with one side of the forward portion of the trigger broken away; Fig. 8, ah enlarged view in ver- tical transverse section on the linexc xot Fig. 3,and showing in particular the operating- 30 slide in-its relations to the breech-block, the carrier, andjhe firing-lever, all of which it operates; Fig. 9, a similar view on the line у у of Fig. 3, and showing in particular the breech-block; Fig. 10, a similar view on the 55 line z z of Fig. 3, and showing in particular the feed-wheel from which the cartridges are fed to the breech-block; Fig. 11, an enlarged detached plan view of the firing-hammer; Fig.; 12, a similar view of the carrier; Fig. 13, an 40 edge view of a section of the cartridge-carry- ing bejt. •' My invention relates to an improvement in machine-guns of that class in which the gases produced in the explpsion-of the cartridges 45 are utilized in operating the mechanism of the gunj so that the cartridges are continu- ously and automatically fed into it, exploded, and ejected. My present invention is .an improvement 50 upou two guns of the same class for which I now have applications pending in the United States Patent Office, the same having been serially, numbered 445,651 and^451,181, re- spectively. In the gun disclosed by the first > of those applications the breech-block was 55 suspended at its forward end, so as to have an np-and-down movement in its vertical plane, in addition to a longitudinal, recipro- cal movement, while in the gun shown by .the second of those applications the breech- 6э block was arranged to have, in addition to its longitudinal reciprocal movement, a lateral swinging movement. л In my present improvement the breech- block is confined to longitudinal reciprocal 65 movement; and.the object of my invention is to simplify and improve the mechanism of the gun, with particular reference to' its breech- block, the operating-connections thereof, the firing-hammer, the firing-lever, the carrier, 70 the operating-slide, and the trigger' and sear. With these ends in view my invention con- sists in a machiue-gun having certain details of construction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out-75 in the claims. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, my improved gun has a barrel A, a receiver B, a support C, and a handle D, the said parts > * . being of ordinary.form and construction. 8o." The barrel A of the gun opens at its rear end directly into, the receiver B, and is construct- ed with an exteriorly-threaded hub A', which fits into a corresponding interiorly-threaded socket B', formed in the forward end of the- 85 receiver. The breech block E, Figs. 3,4,5, and 9, is located within the receiver and con- fined to longitudinal reciprocal movement therein, being .supported in place and guided in movement by a narrow offsetting longi- 9a thdinal rib e, Fig. 9, formed at one of its up- per edges, and a much wider longitudinal rib e', formed on its opposite upper edge, both of the said ribs taking into suitable longitudinal grooves formed for them’ in the receiver. 95 The firirig-pin F, located in the said block, is arranged at an acute augle to thfe longitudinal center of the same, extending from one of the rear edges of the block forward to the center thereof. This arrangement of the firing-pin ro< is made necessary by the construction and arrangement of the firing-hammer, as willap- a pear later on. The rib e' of the block is con- structed with a longitudinal groove, which re-
544,668 2 . ceives the secondary extractor or ejector e3, the function of which is to draw and eject the spent cartridge-shells from the chamber a, formed in the rear end of the gun-barrel. 5 The block also carries the primary extractor or feed-hook e8, which is located ina finger E', depending from it and extending down- ward through the respective members GGof the operating-slide, as shown by Fig. 9 of the- :o drawings, the secondary extractor being bet- ter shown in Fig. 5. Thia primary extractor or feed-hook e8 is designed to extract the cffr- , tridges H from the cartridge-carrying belt H', which runs over the feed-wheeFH2; and I call 15 it the “primary extractor” or “feed-hook,” to distinguish it from the secondary shell ex- tractor or. ejector e2, which draws the spent cartridges frbm theguji-barrel, because it pre- cedes the same in performing its function as 20 to any one cartridge. The said breech-block is provided upon its under face, at its rear end, with a lug E2, Fig. 5, by means of which it is pivotally connected with the forward end of the forward link I, which is pi^othlly 25 connected at its rear end with the forward end of the rear link I', which is at its rear end pivotally suspended in the receiver on a horizontal pin I2. For connecting the links I I' together the forward , link is bifurcated at 30 its rear end, as shown by Fig. 8 of the draw- ings. The rear link is provided in its oppo- site faces-with twd longitudinal slots 18 I8, located directly opposite each other and те?’ . spectively receiving studs G' G', correspond- 35 ing to each other and extending inwardly from the upper rear corners of the-respective members G G of the operating-slide, the said’ members being provided upon their outer faces with corresponding longitudinal ribs g 40 g, which take into grooves b b, formed to re- ceive them in the receiver, as shown by Fig. 8 of th ^drawings. When the said slide is moved rearward, it operates through the said studs G' G' to swing the said rear and for- 45 ward links into the positions in which they are shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, whereby the breech-block is drawn back into its full open position and the firing-hammer pushed back into its cocked position, in which it is 50 engaged by the trigger Jand the sear K. The said hammer consists of a forward arm L, (see Fig. 12,) which engages at its forward end with the firing-pin F, and which is rectangu- lar in cross section, a rear arm L', Circular in 55 cross-section, extending backward into the longitudinal bbre-B2, formed in the receiver to contain the coiled hammer-spring L2, which encircles the forward end of the said-arm I/, and a beveled hammer-head L8, located be- 60 tween and connecting the said arms L and I/, extending transversely to both of them, and •constructed and adapted to have its forward end engaged by the trigger J and sear K. It will be noticed that the forward arm L of the 65 hammer is set off to one side of its rear arm V, so that instead of being centrally behind the breech-block it is behind one edge there- of. This necessitates the peculiar arrange- ment of the firing-pin before referred to. The trigger J has its forward end bifurcated to re- 70 ceive the sear K, which is hung in the said bifurcation op a horizontal pin k, Fig. 7, the forward ends of .the trigger and sear being constructed with . corresponding hooks to adapt them to have like engagement with the 73 haminer-head L8 before mentioned. . The.spring J', which operates the trigger, Fig. 3, is "longitudinally split for independ- ent engagement with the trigger and sear, so that the-same may operate independently. 80 The said sear is provided for its independent operation with a depending finger K', which is engaged by the rear arm M of the firing- lever, which is hung within the lower portion of the rear end of the receiver on a horizon; 85 tai pin m,' its forward arm1 M' being bent downward at its extreme forward end, as shown by Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings'. The carrier N of the gun has its rear por- tion bowed downwardly, and is hung in the 90 rear portion of the receiver on a horizontal pin n, located just in front of the forward ends of the trigger and sear. The carrier ex- tends forward between the members GGof. the operating - slide, its forward, end being 95 straight ahd forming a horizontal table, onto which the cartridges are drawn by the pri- mary extractor or feed-hook e8, carried by the breech-block from the belt II'. The down- ' ~wardly-bowed гёаг end of the carrier is pro- 100 vided with a lug N', having its forward end beveled, as shown by Fig. 12 of the drawings. This Ing co-operates with a longitudinally-; movable pin or firing projection G2, mounted . in the lower rear corners of the two members 105 GG of the operating-slide, as shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 8 of the drawings, and extending at a right angle to the slide and carrier, its - outer end being engaged by a spring G8, ver- tically arranged and secured to one of the no said members G G of the operating-slide, the bottom of which is constructed with a groove G8, as shown by Fig.'8 of the drawings, to re- ceive the operating-lug N'. (Shown by Figs. 3, 4, and 12 of the drawings. When the said Г15 operating-slide is moved rearward, and just before it reaches the limit of its said move- ment, the beveled forward end of the lug N' engages with the pin G2 and pushes the same to one side against the force of the spring G3, 120 which snaps the pin-back into its normal po- sition as soon as the same, in the rearward movement of the slide, passes the rear end of the lug N'. Now, when the slide moves for- ‘ ward the pin will engage with the square 125 -rear end of the lug, which will then be forced to ride up over the pin, thus lifting the for- ward end of the carrier from the position in which it is shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings into the position in which it is shown in Fig. 130 4 thereof, whereby the cartridge drawn out upon its forward end is presented in front of the breech-block E, which is at this time open in position to be engaged by the same
644,668 and pushed into the chamber a, formed to re-' ceiveit in the butt of the gnu-barrel A. The height to which the forward end of the car- rier will be lifted depends of coarse upon 5 the depth of the lug N', which will be pro- portioned rightly. Jast before the operating- slide reaches the limit of its forward move- ment the said movable pin or firing projec- tion G8 engages with the downwardly-bent io forward end of the arm M.', of the firing-le- ver, whereby the upwardly-extending rear arm M thereof is borne down upon the oper- ating-finger K' of the sear K, which turns on its pin k, so as to have its hooked forward 15 end disengaged from the hammer-head IA The automatic operating mechanism of the gun, as well as the feeding mechanism there- for, may be of any approved form and con- struction. As herein shown, the gun-barrel 20 is constructed with a radial downwardly-ex- tending opening a', through which the gases of explosion will issue with considerable force aftera cartridge has been fired,the said open- ing being surrounded by a circular housing 25 A8, fixed to the lower face of the gun-barrel, and constructed with a forwardly-inclined opening a2, registering with the outer end of the opening a' and made somewhat larger in diameter than the diameter of a pin O, which 30 enters the said opening and normally stands against the opening a'in the gun-barrel. The said pin О is pivotally secured at its opposite end to a lever O', hung on a horizontal pin O8, located in the extreme forward end of the 35 forward extension B8ofthe receiver В of the gun. An operating-rod P is hinged at its for- ward end to the lever O', by a pin p, and at its rear end by a pin p' to the forward end of the operating-slide, the extreme forward ends 40 of the members G G thereof being thereto constructed with depending ears g\ which .support the opposite ends of the said pin pr. A spiral spring Q, located within a cylinder Q', fixed'to the said extension Bs of the re- 45 ceiver B, is connected at its forward end by a chain qwiththe extreme rear end of the lever O', and operates to throw the same back into its normal position in which the pin О enters the opening a2 formed in thehousingA8. The 50 slide is therefore moved back when the lever O'is turned backward on its pivot by the gases of explosion and forward by the spring Q. This movement of the slide is utilized to operate the feeding mechanism. Thereto I 55 employ a lever R, hung at its lower end on a horizontal pivot v, located in the extension B8 of the receiver, the upper end of the said lever being arranged to be engaged with the operating-slide and clearance being provided 60 for it by means of a recess A8, formed in the gun-barrel. The lower end of the lever R carries a small pawl R', which engages with the pins s of a ratchet-wheel S, mounted npon the forward end of the shaft T of the feed- 65 wheel H8, over which passes the belt H', con- structed with pockets to receive the cartridges H. The said shaft T has bearing at its op- posite ends in the receiver В and in‘the ex- tension B8 thereof. An opening U, Figs. 1 and 10, formed in one of the the sides of the 70 receiver, is provided for admitting the said belt to the said wheel, while an opening U', formed on the opposite side of the receiver, Figs. 9 and 2, permits the cartridges to be ejected from the arm as fast as they are ex- 75 tracted by the secondary extractor e8, carried by the breech-block. The-automatic feeding apparatus just described will be found to be fully illustrated and described in my pend- ing application, fileuMay 7,1892, and serially 80 numbered 451,181. 1 do not, however, limit myself to these particular mechanisms in con- nection with my improved features with which other mechanisms for accomplishing ,the same purpose might also be used, if de- 85 .sij’ed. - In Fig. 3 of the drawings I have indicated by broken lines a handle V, to show where a handle might be attached to the operating- slide for moving the same manually in case jo it w’as desired to fire blank cartridges not af- fording sufficient gases of explosion to ope- rate the gun automatically. Having now described my improved gun in detail I will proceed to set forth the method 95 of its operation. Assuming that a cartridge has just been fired, the gases of its explosion, issuing through the opening a' in the gnn- barrel, will act upon the pin O, so as to turn, the lever O'on its pivot O8 until the said ico lever is almost reversed in position, as shown by Fig. 4 of the drawings. This movement of the lever O' causes the operating-rod P to be thrown back and that in turn pushes the operating-slide back. As the operating-slide 105 moves back, the lever R is raised and its pawl R depressed so as to pass over one of the pins s of the wheel S; also as the oper- ating-slide moves back its studs G' G', act- ing through the rear and forward links 11', no draw the breech-block E back into its open position, as shown by Fig. 4 of the drawings. When the links I and I' are being swnng rear- ward, as just set forth, the lower edge of the rear link I' engages with the beveled face of 115 the head L8 of the hammer and pushes the sameback into its cocked position, in which it is engaged by the trigger and the sear, or by the sear alone in case the trigger is held back out of the way. Just before the oper- 12c ating-slide reaches the limit of its rear move- ment the beveled forward end of the depend- ing lug of the carrier engages with the mov- able stud G8, mounted in the slide, and pushes the same to one side against the force of the 125 spring G8. .Then when the slide reaches the limit of its rear movement the said stud snaps back of the rear end of the said lug. Now when the Slide begins to move forward, its stud G8 will engage with the said rear end 13c of the lug N' of the carrier and lift the car- rier from its charging position, in which it is shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, to its dis- charging position, in which it is shown by
С44,658 >ken lines in Fig. 4 thereof. Assuming now it in the described rear movement of the ‘ech-block its primary extractor or feed- эк e8 engaged with a cartridge H in the t H' and drew the same back onto the de- jssed forward end of the carrier, the said car- dge will be lifted into range with the gun- rrel. As the slide moves forward, it will op- ite through its stnds G' G' and the rear and ward links I and I' to move the breech-blook о its closed position. In this movement of e breech-block the said cartridge will be shed forward into the chamber a, provided r it in the gun-barrel. As the slide moves rward also, the lever R is pushed forward, lereby its pawl R'-is lifted against oue. of e pins s of the whe61 S, whereby the feed- leel is rotated and another cartridge ought into position to be engaged by the imary extractor or feed-hook es of the eech-block. Then just before the slide aches the limit of its forward position its ovable stud G2 will engage with the down- ardly-bent extremityof the forward arm M' the firing-lever, elevating ‘the said arm of ie lever and depressing its rear arm M, which ill in turn co-operate with the arm K' of ie sear, so as to disengage the same from the ?ad Ls of the firing-hammer, which will at ace be thrown forward by the hammer- ?ring I? and its forward arm L impinged gainst the rear end of the firing-pin F, which ill in turn strike the cartridge and cause its splosion. The gases ef explosion derived :om the firing of this cartridge will again perate the lever O', which will in turn push ie operating slide back to the limit of its эаг movement, and so on, the automatic fir- igof the gun continuing so long as cartridges re fed to it. It will be understood, however, hat when the gun is being automatically fired Is trigger J is held, in position so that it will ot engage with the bead L8 of the hammer. )n the other hand, if it is desired to fire the irm manually, its operating slide maybeflis- onnected at its forward end from the auto- natic firing mechanism and the, trigger al- owed to engage with the head L’ of the ham- ner every time thesame is cocked. Then the ilide is operated by its handle V with one jand, while the trigger is held back by the ither hand, or the trigger may be tied back tnd the slide operated by either hand. I would have it understood that I do not limit myself to using the particular devices which I have shown and described herein as new in connection with the automatic firing and feeding mechanism, which I have also illustrated and described, but hold myself at liberty to use my improved devices where available in this class of arms and to modify them in form and arrangement.within the spirit and scope of my invention. Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is— 1. In a machine gun, the combination with the barrel and the receiver thereof, of a ham- mer, means for cocking the same, a trigger having its forward end bifurcated and 70 adapted to engage with the hammer, a sear located in the bifurcation of the trigger and having a downwardly projecting operating finger,-a firing-lever engaging with the said finger of the sear to operate the same, and 75 irfeans for operating the said firing-lever, sub- stantially as described. 2. In a machinegun, the combination with the barrel and the receiver thereof, of an op- erating-slide carrying a movable pin, a spring 80 for yieldingly holding the same in place, and a pivotal carrier provided with a lug con- structed at its forward end with a bevel, and whereby the said pin is pushed aside by the lug when the slide is moved back, but com- 85 pels the lug to ride over it and raise the car- rier when the slide is moved forward substan- tially as and for the purpose set forth. 3. In a machine gun, the combination with the barrel and the receiver thereof, of a ham- 90 mer, means for cocking* the same, a trigger, a sear having a depending operating-finger, an operating-slide and a pivotal firing-lever having its rear arm adapted to engage with the said finger to disengage the sear from the 95 hammer, and having its forward arm adapted to engage with the slide when the same is moved forward so as to be elevated thereby, substantially as set forth. "4. In a machine gun, the combination with 100 the barrel and the receiver thereof, of-a ham- mer, means for cocking the same, a trigger, a sear having a depending operating-finger, an operating-slide, and a pivotal firing-lever having its rear end adapted to engage with the 105 said finger to depress the sear, and having its forward end turned down to be engaged by the slide, and elevated when the same is moved forward, substantially as described. 5. In a machine gun, the combination with 110 the barrel and the receiver thereof, of a ham- mer, a trigger, a sear having adependiogop- erating-finger, a breech-block, a pivotal car- rier, a pivotal firing-lever engaging with the sear to disengage the same from the hammer, 115 and an operating-slide constructed to operate both the firing-lever and the carrier when it is moved forward, substantially as described. 6. In a machine gun, the combination with thebarreland the receiver thereof, of a breech- 120 block, a hammer, an operating-slide, connec- tion between the said slide and the breech- block, a movable stud located in the slide, a spring for yieldingly holding the said stud in place, a trigger and a sear, both adapted to 125 have corresponding engagement with the hammer, and the sear having a depending operating finger, a pivotal carrier adapted to to be engaged and lifted by the said movable stud in the forward movement of the slide, 130 and a firing-lever adapted at its rear end to engage with the operating finger of the sear, and to be engaged at its forward end by the said stud in the forward movement of the л
644,668 5 slide, substantially as described,-and whereby the said stud in the forward movement of the slide, lifts the carrier and operates the firing- lever to disengage the sear from the hammer. 5 7. In a machine:gun, the combination with the barrel and the receiver thereof, of a breech- block, a longitudinally movable hammer lo- cated in the rear thereof, an operating slide, links connecting the said block and the rear ro end of the slide, and located between the hammer and therblock and above the slide, and a carrier pivoted in the rear end of the , receiver below the said slide and links, the , said slide being constructed to permit the 15 forward end of the carrier to be lifted up through it into range with the gun-barrel, substantially as set forth. 8. In a machine-gun, the combination with the barrel and receiver thereof, of a longitudi- 20 nally movable hammer, a breech-block, an op- erating slidOj a primary link pivoted at its for- ward end to the rear end of. the block, a sec- ondary link pivoted at its rear end in the re- ceiver at a point above the hammer, pivot- 25 ally connected at its forward end with the rear end of the primary link, and constructed with an elongated slot-, and connection be- tween the rear end of the slide and the said secondary link through the slot therein, sub- 30 stantially as described. 9. In a machine gun, the combination with thebarreland the receiver thereof, of a breech- block, an operating-slide, links connecting the said block and slide, whereby the former is 35 reciprocated back and forth in the receiver, and a hammer constructed and arranged to be engaged by ope of the said links as the operating slide is moved backward, and forced back into its cocked position, substantially as 40 described. 10. In a machine gun, the combination with the barrel and the receiver thereof, of a breech- block, a firing-pin located therein and emerg- ing from its rear end at One side of the center 45 thereof, a hammer having its forward arm lo- cated to one side of its rear arm in position to engage with the said rear end of the firing-pin, and means for operating the breech-block, substantially as described, 50 11. In a machine gun, the combination with the barrel and the receiver thereof, of a breech- block, means for operating the same, a ham- mer having a forward and a rear arm located out of line with each other, and a head be- 55 tween the said arms, a sear and a trigger con- structed for direct engagement with the said head of the hammer, and a firing-pin located in the breech-block in position to be engaged by the offsetting forward arm of the hammer, substantially as described. 60 12. In a machine-gun, the combination with the barrel and the receiver thereof, of a breech- block, a longitudinally movable hammer, a carrier pivoted at its rear end, an operating slide fnrnished at its upper end with two in- 65 wardly projecting studs located above the for- ward end of the carrier, and constructed to permit the same to be lifted up through it into range with the gun-barrel, a primary link pivoted at its forward end to the rear end of 70 the breech block, a secondary link pivoted in the receiver at a point above the hammer, pivotally connected at its forward end with the rear end of the primary link, and con- structed in -its opposite faces with two corre- 75 spending elongated slots which receive the inwaydly projecting studs of the slide, sub- stantially as set forth. 13. In a machine gun, the combination with the barrel of a reciprocating breech-block, a 80 slide actuating the breech block, a hammer, a trigger engaging'said hammer when the hammer isin cocked position, a sear normally held in position to prevent the forward move- ment of the hammer, and a firing lever engag- 85 ing with said sear and also engaging with the slide, whereby said slide in extreme forward position causes the firing leyer to actuate the sear to release the hammer, substantially as set forth. '90 14. Ina machine gun, the combination with the barrel and receiver, of a breech block, a slide actuating the breech block, a hammer, a trigger engaging said hammer when the hammer is in cocked position, a sear normally 95 held in position to engage said hammer and prevent the forward movement thereof, a fir- ing projection on the slide, and a firing lever medially pivoted at the side of the receiver, said lever at its rear end engaging said sear 10c and at its forward end engaging with said firing projection of the slide, substantially as set forth. In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscrib- io; ing witnesses. JOHN M. BROWNING. Witnesses: John E. Ramsden, Kate Line Law.
(No Model.) 3 Sheets—Sheet 1. J. M. BROWNING. GAS OPERATED MACHINE GON. No. 544,659. Patented Aug. 20, 1895.
(No Model.) 3 Sheets—Sheet 2. J. M. BROWNING. GAS OPERATED MACHINE GUN. No. 544,659. ' Patented Aug. 20, 1895. УК
3 Sheats—Sheet 3, (No Model.) No. 544,659. J. M. BROWNING, GAS OPERATED MACHINE GUN. Patented Aug. 20, 1895.
United States Patent Office. JOHN M. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH TERRITORY. GAS-OPERATED MACHINE-GUN. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 544,659, dated August 20,1895. Application filed June 17, 1893. Serial No.477,942. (No model.) To all whom it may concern; Be it known that I, John M. Browning,of Ogden, in the county of Weber-and Territory of Utah, have invented a new Improvement 5 in Machine-Guns; an dido hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with ac- companying drawings and the letters of ref- erence marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which to said drawings constitute part of this specifi- cation, and represent, in— Figure 1, a view partly in side elevation and partly in vertical central longitudinal section of a machine-gun constructed in accordance 15 with my invention, showing its breech-block closed and its other parts in corresponding po- sitions; Fig 2, asimilar view of the gnn, show- ing its breech-block open and other parts in proper positions relatively to the open breech- 20 block; Fig. la, an enlarged side elevation, partly in section, of t he feed-wheel and actuat- ing spring-dog and holding spring stud; Fig. lb, a view partly in side elevation and partly in section of the portion of the gnn in prox-. 25 imity toand in rear of the breech and looking toward the opposite side of the gun from that shown in front in Figs. 1 and 2, but with the parts in the same relative positions as in Fig. 1; Fig. 3, an enlarged detached front elevation 30 of the breech-block; Fig. 4, a detached plan view of a portion of the slide and connecting- link and means for detaching the slide and link with the sides of the frame in section; Fig. 5, an enlarged broken view, in vertical 35 longitudinal section; of one of the tubes con- taining the restoring-springs of the automatic operating mechanism; Fig. 6, a' detached plan view, partly in horizontal section, of the said tubes, together with the cross-bar and 40 links by which they are connected with the operating-lever; Fig. 7, an enlarged view of the gun in transverse section on the line 7 7 of Fig. 1; Fig. 8, a similar view ou the line 8 8 of the same figure; Fig. 9, a similar view on 45 the line 9 9 of the same figure; Fig. 10, a simi- lar view on the line 10 10 of the same figure; Fig. П, a similar view on the line 1111 of the same figure, but with the upper part broken away. 50 My invention relates to an improvement in machine-guns of that class in which the gases of explosion are employed to make the gun continuously operative, the cartridges being automatically fed, exploded, and ejected. Theobjectof my present invention is to 55 produce a comparatively simple gun, not liable to derangement, effective and conven- ient in use, and adapted to be adjusted for continuous or intermittent firing, as may be desired. 60 With these ends in view my invention is herein illustrated and described as embodied in a machine-gun having certain details of construction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out 65. in the claim. My improved gun, as herein shown, has a barrel A, a receiver B, a frame C extending forward therefrom, and a handle D, all of or- dinary form and construction. The breech- 70 block E is located within the receiver B, in •which it is arranged for longitudinal recipro- cation, being guided therein by a rib e, Fig. 3, which fits into a horizontal groove b, Fig. 9, formed in one of the side walls of theisame. 75 The breech-block is also constructed and ar- ranged to have a slight vertical movement, whereby its rear end is engaged with a lock- ing-shoulder b', formed in the upper wall of the receiver at a point above the bore of the 80 barrel A. When the breech-block is in its closed position its rear end is lifted for en- gagement with the said shoulder, whereby the block is locked above the bore, the said shoulder forming an abutment to resist the 85 recoil of the exploding cartridges. The said breech-block is provided at its forward end with a depending arm, carrying the primary extractor or feed-hook F, the function whereof is to successively extract cartridges from the 90 feeding mechanism, which will be described at another time. The breech-block is also provided with a secondary extractor F', lo- cated on its opposite side and near its upper edge, and adapted to extract the spent car- 95 tridges from the bore of the gun for their ejection through the opening B', thereto pro- vided in the right-hand side of the receiver B, as clearly shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings. The breech-block is further provided with a rco firing-pin Ea, Figs. 2 and 3, which may be of any approved construction. A hammer G, located in the receiver to the rear of but in line with the breech-block, is constructed
s 544,659 with a stem G', which is encircled by a spiral hammer-spring G2, which extends into an opening formed for it in the handle D, into which opening the said stem enters when the 5 hammer is cocked. A screw-plug g, located at the outer end of the opening in the handle, confines the spring in place, the forward end of the handle being fastened in the rear end of the receiver. A trigger H, pivoted in the rear з end of the receiver, has its inner end notched to engage with the notched lower face of the hammer in the usual manner. A trigger- spring II', secured to the handle and engag- ing with the upper edge of the trigger in the ; rear of the pivot thereof, exerts a constant effort to engage the trigger with the hammer. Upon the same pivot-pin as the trigger H is also provided a notched sear 7г, which also en- gages with the hammer, and is movable in- i dependently of the trigger, and is normally held in engagement with the hammer by a por- tion of the trigger-spring H', which is divided in its free forward portion longitudinally in two parts for its entire length, except at the hub which unites the two parts, and where a-screw serves for fastening, or two narrow springs fastened alongside each other may be substituted; and this sear 7г has a projection or finger at its end which is engaged by.a pin projecting from the rear end of a firing-lever I, the forward end whereof extends downward into position for engagement by a firing pro- jection h', carried by the slide J. The opera- tion of this firing-lever and its coaction with the sear will be set forth at another time. The said slide J is adapted to have longitudi- nal movement back and forth in the lower portion of the frame C of the gun, and is shown as guided in the longitudinal grooves c' c' in the sides of the frame, and is pro- vided near its rear end with a block J', which is inclosed by the receiver, and furnished at its upper end with an inclined operating- finger J2, which enters a notch E3 formed in the lower face of the rear end 6f the breech- block, which is in this manner connected directly with the slide. A secondary feed- lever K, pivotally hung upon the left side wall of the frame, is furnished near its upper end with a pin k', which enters an open slot formed in the rear end of the primary feed- lever L, which feed-lever L is hung on a pin I in the left side wall of the frame, and is pro- vided at its lower forward end with a spring- actuated dog L', having a beveled nose which co-operates with the feed-wheel M, Fig. 8, of the cartridge-feeding mechanism. The lower end of the secondary feed-lever К enters an opening J, formed in the slide just in front of the block J', the end walls of the said open- ing engaging wiih the said end of the feed- lever to turn the same on its pivot. Thus when the slide is moved forward the rear end wall of the opening engages with the lower end of the secondary lever and carries the same for- ward, whereby the pin k' of the secondary le- ver, working in the open slot of the primary lever, raises the rear end, and thus depresses the forward end of the primary lever, and the spring-dog L' moves downward in engage- 70 rnent with a tooth of the feed-wheel, thereby rotating the feed-wheel. On the other hand, when the slide moves rearward the front wall of the opening engages with the lower end of the secondary feed-lever, and carries the same 7 5 rearward, wher.eby the pin k' lowers the rear end and raises the front end of the primary feed-lever, and the dog L' is thus lifted into position for engaging a new tooth of the feed- wheel, the beveled nose of the dog causing 80 the same to be retired during its upward movement. The feeding mechanism of my improved gun comprises a notched feed-wheel M, which is arranged directly below the butt-end of the 85 barrel A and above the slide J. This feed- wheel engages a feed-belt N, provided with a series of transverse’pockets, each of which is adapted to receive a cartridge, the belt enter- ing the receiver through an opening O, formed 90 in the right-hand side thereof, and emerg- ing therefrom through the opening O' formed in the left-hand side thereof, as si,.-wn by Fig. 8 of the drawings. This belt-may be of any approved construction, and doesnot need 95 detailed description. A spring-actuated stud m, located in front of the wheel, is employed to prevent the same from retrograde move- ment, said stud entering one of a series of de- pressions m' in the feed-wheel (dee Figs. la roo and 8) at the conclusion of each downstroke of the dog k'. It will be understood that the wheel is arranged and the primary extractor or feed-hook F of the breech-blqek con- structed so that the primary extractor F will 105 engage with the heads of the cartridges in the belt M when the breech-block is in its closed position. Then as the breech-block is moved into its open position the cartridge thus en- gaged by the primary extractor or feed-hook no will ^e drawn out upon the carrier P, which carrier is hung at its rear end within the re- ceiver. The carrier is operated by means of a spring-stud P', mounted transversely in the lower portion of the block J', carried by 115 the slide, (see Fig. 11,) and the spring-stud P' is arranged to engage with the beveled shoulder P2, depending from the rear of the carrier. When the slide is moved rearward, the stud P' engages with the said beveled r20 shoulder P2, of the carrier, and the stud P' is temporarily retired thereby. As soon, how- ever, as the stud has been carried beyond the rear end of the said shoulder, it is ejected by its spring, taking a place back of the shoul- 125 der. Then when the slide is moved forward the stud engages with the lower edge of the shoulder and lifts the carrier quickly into its elevated position, in which it is shown by broken lines P2 in Fig. 2 of the drawings. 130 Then after the stud has passed beyond the forward end of the shoulder in the forward
644,659 8 movement of the slide, the carrier is allowed to drop back into its normal or receiving po- sition by the action of gravity. For the manual operation of the slide, I pro- 5 vide it with a depending handle J8, which is located just forward of its longitudinal cen- ter. In front of this handle I pivot to the slide a spring-actuated hand lever or latch Q, the forward end of which is constructed with io a hook Q', having a central vertical.notch or slot g. The extreme forward end of the slide J is constructed with a horizontal semicircu- lar bearing arranged transversely to the slide and adapted to receive a transverse pin R, 15 located in the rear end of the connecting or operating rod or link R', the said end of the link entering the slot q, formed in the hook Q' of the latch, and the hpok Q' extend- ing upwardly in front of the.pin R of the го link, so that said pin R is held between said hook Q' and the semicircular bearing at the end of the slide J. The extreme ends of the transverse pi nR work in the guides or grooves c' c'for the slide J above referred to as formed 25 in the sides of the frame, whereby the rear end of thelink R' is gnided when the link is dis- connected from the slide, and the link and slide may be at any time disconnected by lift- ing the rear end of the lever or latch Q, where- 30 by the hook Q' at the forward end of said le- ver is moved down from in front of the trans- verse pin R. When the slide is thus discon- nected it may be operated back and forth, and thereby the breech mechanism may be actu- 35 ated without disturbing the automatic oper- ating mechanism of the gnn, and the slide and link may be readily again connected at any time by releasing the latch Q and pushing the slide forward until the parts re-engage. 40 Thus the slide is detachably as well as flexi- bly connected with the link R'. Under this construction, when the slide and link are con- nected and the slide is moved rearward, the thrust of the link is taken by the semicircular 45 bearing at the forward end of the slide, while, on the other hand, when the slide is being moved forward the draft of the link falls upon the hook of the latch or lever Q. This state- ment is made on the assumption that the 50 mechanism of the gun is being operated au- tomatically by the gases of explosion. The link R' is pivotally connected at its for- ward end by a pin r with the operating-lever S> which operating-lever is hung on a horizon- 55 tai transverse pivot S', mounted in the for- ward end of the frame C. The forward end of this lever is provided with a pin S3, which enters an opening t, formed to receive it in a housing T, applied to the gun-barrel, and 60 connected with the frame C thereof by means of a band T'. The opening t of the housing registers with a radial opening U, formed in the gun-barrel A. The gases of explosion es- caping throngh this opening U impinge 65 against the pin S3, and thus swing the oper- ating-lever S on its pivot S'. If desired, the pin S3 may be pivotally mounted in the for- ward end of the lever S, as in the construc- tion covered by application for Letters Pat- ent of myself and M. S. Browning, Serial No. 70 485,215, filed September 11, 1893. It is not broadly new with me to utilize the gases of explosion for the purpose of auto- matically actuating, mechanism for operating the gun, and I do ngt limit myself to the par- 75 ticnlar construction and arrangement shown and described. I wish to call attention to the fact, however, that the housing T is connected with the frame C of the gun, so that as the gun-barrel heats and lengthens it will do so in- 80 dependently of the housing, which will there- fore be. preserved in its right relation to the operating-lever, which, as before explained, is carried by the frame of the gun. When the operating-lever is acted upon by 85 the gases of explosion it will be thrown into the position in which it is shown by Fig. 2 of the drawings, whereby the link R' and hence the slide will be moved backward. The said slide, link, and lever are then restored to 90 their normal positions by means of a chain V, connected at its forward end with an arm S8, formed at the inner end of the lever, and having its rear link or rod,-at the rear end thereof, provided with or connected to a trans- 95 verse bar V', the ends of which engage with plugs V3 V3, located in the rear ends of two parallel tubes V8 V8, situated in the same horizontal plane and containing spiral springs V4 V4, which thus exert a constant effort too through the medium of the chain V to main- tain the operating-lever S and the other operr ating parts of the device in their normal po- sitions, in which they are shown in Fig. 1. In this construction I thus employ two restoring- 105 springs in the place of one, as heretofore, and am enabled to place the gas-operated mechan- ism close to the barrel of the gun, as the ar- rangement of the springs on each side of tho link or links connecting the springs and gas- no lever enables the gas-lever to be placed di- rectly under the spring-containing tnbes. It will also be observed that in this construction the links connecting the springs and gas-lever have no sliding bearings except at the cross- 115 piece V', which cross-piece is guided by the walls of slots in the spring-containing tubes Vs, and that this entire retracting mechanism is symmetrical and perfectly balanced later- ally as to both weight and stress. r 20 The cushion-spring W (shown in Fig. l) isof ordinary construction and operation. Having now described my improved gnn in detail I will proceed to set forth the method of its operation. Assuming that a cartridge 125 has just been fired, the gases of its explosion issuing through the opening U in the gun-bar- rel will act upon the pin S3, so as to turn the operating-lever S upon itspivot until the said lever is almost reversed in position, as shown 130 by Fig. 2 of the drawings. This movement of the lever S causes the connecting-link R' to be moved rearward and in turn to rear- wardly move the slide J, which we will as-
644,669 не to be now coupled with the link or rod the latch or hand-lever Q. Almost imme- tely after the slide J has begun its rear- rd movement the inclined rear wall of the jrating-finger J2 of the block J'of theslide jages with the inclined rear wall of the :eh Es, formed in the rear end of the breeeh- ick, whereby the said inclined walls coact draw the -rear end of the breech - block wnward out of engagement with the lock- ' shoulder or abutment Ъ', formed in the per wall of the receiver. The breech-block thus left free to be moved by the slide о its open position. As it moves rear- .rdly it engages with the hammer, which forces into its cocked position, in which it engaged and held by the’trigger H. Furi згпсоге, as the block is moved rearward its imary extractor or feed-hook F, which is in gagement with a cartridge in the belt en- ding the feed-wheel, draws the said car- dge out upon the carrier, which carrier is sn in its depressed position. Furthermore, э rearward movement of the slide operates e primary and secondary feed-levers, as be- re described, and brings the spring-dog I/ to position for engaging the next tooth of the 3d-wheel. Again-, the spring-stud mounted the block J' of the carrier moves into posi- >n behind the depending shoulder thereof, le slide having now moved to the limit of its arward movement is automatically moved rward by the action of the springs V4 V4 of e operating-lever S through the medium of e chain V. As soon as the slide begins to ove-forward, the spring-stud P' engages with e depending shoulder of the carrier and ts the same and the cartridge upon it into з elevated position. The forward end of the eech-block now engages with the cartridge, id the cartridge is forced into the bore of e gun-barrel. The forward movement of ,e slide also operates the primary and sec- idary feed-levers and causes the rotation of ie feed-wheel, so as to bring another ear- idge into position to be engaged by the pri- ary extractor. Just before the slide reaches ie limit of its forward movement the in- ined forward edge or wall of the operating- nger J2 engages with the correspondingly- iclined forward wall of the notch Es in the reech-block, whereby the rear end of the reech-block is lifted for the engagement of s extreme rear end with the shoulder Ъ', jrmed in the upper wall of the receiver, hereby the breech-block is locked in its losed position at a point above the bore of ae barrel. It will be.understood that at this ime the operating-lever S has assumed its ormal position with reference to the radial pertnre formed in the barrel for the escape f the gases of explosion. Then, just as the tide iscompleting its forward movement the ring projection 7г', carried by the slide, en- ages with the downwardly-extending for- rard end of the firing-lever, whereby the ear eud thereof is depressed against the fin- ger of the sear h, which sear is in turn de- pressed, so that if the trigger is held in pulled position the hammer will be released. The 70 cartridge in the barrel is thus fired, and the gases of explosion thus developed operate to put the mechanisms of the gun through the movements just above described, and these operations will be repeated continuously as 75 lofng as cartridges are fed to the gun. It will bfe observed that the sear h is in position to engage with the hammer at all times except when the slide is in extreme forward position with the breech-block fully locked, and that 80 the slide in its forward movement fully locks the breech-block before the firing projection h' of the slide actuates the firing-lever to re- lease the hammer, so that the locking of the breech-block is insured before the hammer is 85 released, and the hammer cannot be released from'the sear except when the breech-block is fully locked in closed position. If it is de- sired, however, to operate the gun manually instead of automatically, that may be done 90 by grasping the handle J8 of the slide and lifting the hand-lever or latch at its rear end, whereby its forward end is disconnected from the pin carried by the operating rod or link R', and the slide is thus disconnected from 95 the gas-operated lever S. The hand-lever or latch also enables the gun to be loaded or un- loaded without operating the operating-lever, as it permits the slide to be disconnected from the automatic operating mechanism. When 100 the slide is operated manually back and forth it will when in forward position be automati- cally connected with the connecting-link by means of its hand-lever or latch, the hook of which will snap over the pin at the rear end 105 of the link whenever the slide is pushed for- ward with the hand-lever Q released. I would have it understood that I do not limit myself to the particular automatic op- erating mechanism herein shown and de- no scribed, nor to the feeding or firing mechan- ism, for all of the mechanisms mentioned may be varied in construction without departing from my invention. Having fully described my invention, what r 15 I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is— 1. In a machine gun, the combination with the barrel and the receiver thereof, of a lon- gitudinally and vertically movable breech- 120 block having an inclined slot formed in the rear end of its lower edge, a slide having an inclined finger adapted to enter the said notch for reciprocating the block and raising the rear end of the same into its locked position, 125 and drawing it down out of such position, . cartridge feeding mechanism, automatic op- erating mechanism constructed to be oper- ated by the gases of explosion, and connec- tions between the said operating mechanism 136 and the breech-block and feeding mechanism, substantially as described. 2. In a machine'gun, the combination with the barrel and receiver thereof, of a breech-
644,669 5 block, cartridge feeding mechanism, a slide, a primary feed-lever pivoted in the frame, and carrying a spring-actuated dog which en- gages with the feeding mechanism, a second- 5 ary feed-lever connected with the primary le- ver and also pivoted in the frame and enter- ing an opening in the slide for operation t hereby, and automatic operating mechanism constructed to be operated by the gases of ex- ro plosion, and connected with' the slide which slide also operates the breech-block, substan- tially as described. 3. In a machine gun, the combination with the barrel and frame, of a breech-block, car- 15 tridge feeding mechanism, a slide operating said block andmechanism,andagasoperated device, a rod extending from the gas operated . device to the forward end of the slide, and a hand lever or latch connecting the slide and го rod and adapted to be operated at will to con- nect or disconnect the breech mechanism and , gas operated device, and guides for said rod whereby said rod when disconnected is held in the path of said slide, substantially as set 25 forth. 4. In a machine gun the combination with the barrel and the receiver thereof, of a breech-block, cartridge feeding mechanism, a slide connected with the said block and mech- 50 anism, automatic operating mechanism con- structed to be actuated by the gases of explo- sion, and a hand lever or latch for connecting the slide and operating mechanism, whereby the said slide and mechanism may be readily 35 disconnected, substantially as described. 5. In a machine gun, the combination with the barrel and frame, of a breech block, car- tridge feeding mechanism, a longitudinally moving slide operating the said block and 40 mechanism, a' gas operated lever, a rod extend- ing therefrom to the forward end of the slide, said slide having an open bearing at said for- ward end and said ron uaving a cross pin to enter said open bearing, and guides in the frame for said cross pin, and a spring latch 45 pivoted upon said, slide and having a hook fitting over said pin of the rod when said pin is within the open bearing of the slide, where- by said slide and rod may be connected or dis- connected at will, substantially as set forth. 50 6. In a machine gun, the combination with a barrel provided with a radial gas opening, of a receiver, a frame connected with the re- ceiver, a housing encircling the barrel and connected with the said frame, and provided 55 with an opening aligned with tlie said gas opening, an operating lever pivotally attached to the frame, and provided with a pin which enters the opening in the housing, a spring connected with the said lever for restoring it 60 to its normal position; a breech-block, car- tridge feeding and firing mechanisms, and connection between the said operating lever and the said block and mechanisms, whereby the lengthening of the gun barrel as it heats 65 does not change the position of the housing with reference to the operating lever, sub- stantially as described. 7. In a machine gun, the combination with the operating lever thereof, of two spiral 70 springs and slotted tubes inclosing the same, a cross bar for compressing said springs, said cross bar being located at the rear ends of springs and working in the slots of the tubes, and links connected to said cross bar between 75 said springs and also connected to the oper- ating lever, substantially as set forth. In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscrib- ing witnesses. JOHN M. BROWNING. Witnesses: Kate Linehan, T. S. Browning.
(No Model.) 4 Sheets—Sheet 1. J. M. & M. S. BROWNING. GAS OPERATED BREECH LOADING GUN. No. 544,660. Patented Aug. 20, 1895.
(No Model.) 4 Sheets—Sheet 2. J. M. & M. S. BROWNING. GAS OPERATED BREECH LOADING GUN. No. 544,660, Patented Aug. 20, 1895.
(No Model.) 4 Sheets—Sheet 3. J. M. & M. S. BROWNING. GAS OPERATED BREECH LOADING GUN. No. 544,660. Patented Aug. 20, 1895.
(Ko Model.) 4 Sheets—Sheet 4. J. M. & M. S. BROWNING. GAS OPERATED BREECH LOADING GUN. No. 544,660. Patented Aug. 20, 1895.
United States Patent Office. JOHN M. BROWNING AND MATTHEW S. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH TERRITORY. GAS-OPERATED BREECH-LOADING GUN. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 544,660, dated August 20, 1895. Application filed September 11,1893. Serial Ko, 485,215, (Ko model.) 5 ю IS 20 25 3° 35 4° 45 5° To all whom it may concern: Be it known that we, John M. Browning and Matthew S. Browning, citizens of the United States, and residents of Ogden, in the county of Weber and Territory of Utah, have invented certain new and useful Improve- ments in Breech-Loading Guns, of which the following is a specification. This invention relates to improvements in that class of guns in which the gas produced by explosion after it has given a sufficient initial velocity to the projectile is further utilized as a means for operating the breech mechanism of the arm, and whereby rapid and successive firing may be automatically produced, it being only necessary after firing the first shot to furnish a supply of cartridges to the gun, which continues its operation so long as cartridges are so supplied. The object of the invention is to produce a simple and efficient mechanism adapted to re- ceive the action of or to be actuated by the pressure of the gases of explosion before the projectile shall have left or issued from the barrel, and by means of which movement is transmitted to the breech mechanism of the arm for its operation, the mechanism being provided with means for its perfect control and the interruption of its operation at any time at will. The in vention is more particularly set forth in the claims hereinafter following, forming a part of this specification of invention, one embodiment thereof being comprised in the parts and mechanisms and in the combina- tion of parts and mechanisms and their op- erations, hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which— Figure 1 is a side view in elevation of the gun complete. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal hori- zontal section cutting on line x x of Fig. 8. Fig. 2a is a similar section, but with the breech- piece removed to more clearly show the abut- ments for the breech-piece. Fig. 3 is a longi- tudinal and vertical sectional side view show- ing the mechanism in the closed position. Fig. 3a is a side view representing the feed- wheel detached and as provided with a carry- ing-band for the cartridges. Fig. 4 is the same view as Fig. 3, showing the mechanism in the open position. Fig. 4a is a detached longitudinal section of the spring-stop forthe feed-wheel. Fig. 5 is an under side view of the gun forward of the feed-wheel. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal and vertical section showing 55 side view of the breech-piece in its raised po- sition preparatory to its rear movement. Fig. 7 is an under side view of the longitudinally- reciprocating slide P. Fig. 8 is a partial lon- gitudinal and vertical section on an enlarged 60 scale for better illustration of the invention. Fig. 9 is a transverse vertical section on line ж ж of Fig. 3, looking forward. Fig. 10 is a top view of the carrier. Fig. 11 is a rear view of the carrier. Fig. 12 is a partial horizontal 65 section showing the pawl and a portion of the feed-wheel. Fig. 13 is a transverse vertical section cutting on line у у of Fig. 3, looking- rearward. Fig. 14 is a transverse vertical section on line z z of Fig. 3, looking forward; 70 and Fig. 15 is a transverse vertical section on line ж ж of Fig. 4, looking forward. A represents the receiver, to the forward end of which the barrel В is attached, the barrel opening into the receiver at the rear. 75 C represents the breech-piece, which is ar- ranged in the receiver and adapted for longi- tudinal movement backward and forward in the rear of the open end of the barrel. The breeeh-pieee is also adapted to swing verti- 80 cally, so that in the forward position its rear end may stand forward of abutments to sup- port the breech-piece against recoil, and from which abutments the breech-piece escapes at the proper time by an upward movementof 85 its rear end. The receiver is constructed with a longi- tudinal recess D, comprising the bore of the receiver, within which the breech-piece is adapted to move longitudinally and up and 90 down, as will be presently explained. This recess is covered on the top, but is open lon- gitudinally through the bottom, and is so con- structed that the recess on each side of the said central opening thereof forms grooves in 95 or through which the breech-piece may work. At the forward end of the breech-piece is a lateral projection E, which extends to and works against one side of the recess, and from that projection E, rearward, the breeeh-pieee 100 is narrower than the said downward opening from the recess or bore in which the breech-
3 544,660 piece works, and so that the breech-piece may freely swing up and down, the said projec- tion supporting the forward end of the breech- piece as a trunnion to permit the swinging 5 movement of the breech-piece. At the rear end the breech-piece is constructed with lat- eral projections FF—one on each side—which are broader than the said opening from the recess in which the breech-piece moves and io which projections are adapted to work on the said grooves or sides of the recess in the back- and-forward movement of the breech-piece. The sides of the opening downward from the recess are constructed with notches G G, cor- 15 responding to the shape of the lateral projec- tions F F of the rear end of the breech-piece, forming shoulders H II, so that when the breech - piece is in its extreme forward or closed position the rear end of the breech- 20 piece will drop, the projections passing down through the notches G G, bringing the said projections against the shoulders H H, and the breech-piece will rest against said shoul- ders as abutments to resist recoil, as seen in 25 Figs. 3 and 8, thereby locking the breech-piece or breech mechanism; but when the rear end of the breech-piece is raised, as shown in Fig. 6, it takes the breech-piece up and out of en- gagement with the shoulders IIII, so that the 3c breech-piece may then move rearward in its guides to the open position, as seen in Fig. 4, and then when the breech-piece is again moved forward its rear end may drop to en- gage the abutments, as before described. 35 In the barrel at some point forward of the cartridge-chamber an aperture I is formed, which opens outwardly or radially from the bore of the barrel, so that the gases produced by the explosion of the cartridge may escape 40 through said aperture as soon as the bullet has passed that point and before it has es- caped from the barrel. J represents a lever which is hung upon a fixed pivot K, and which lever is adapted to 15 swing in a plane parallel with the axis of the aperture I or of the vertical axis of the bar- rel. As here represented the lever is hung at the rear of the aperture I, alongside and beneath the barrel, and it extends forward, 50 so that its forward end is exposed to the ac- tion of the gases which pass through the ap- erture I. Consequently when the gases escape through said aperture they act upon the said lever and force it to swing from its closed 55 position (shown in Fig. 3) to its open position, as seen in Fig. 4, away from the aperture I in the barrel. As here represented the gases do not operate directly upon the lever as in other efficient constructions (not shown) they 60 may do within the purview of our invention; but a housing L is arranged around the aper- ture I, forming an enlarged opening M be- tween the end of the lever and the aperture, and in the lever a finger N is hung upon a 65 pivot О on the lever, the finger extending from the lever in the plane of the aperture I and is adapted to enter the opening M in the housing L, as seen in Fig. 3, so that the end of the finger is directly exposed to and closes the aperture I, and the gases will operate di- 70 rectly upon the end of the finger, which finger communicates the force of the gases to the lever. The finger has a certain amount of freedom in its swinging movement, and is of somewhat smaller diameter than the opening 75 in the housing, so as to insure its proper en- trance to the housing at all times and allow for the expansion of the barrel and other parts occasioned through the heat generated by successive firing, and thereby prevent the 80 possibility of clogging the finger within the housing. The housing serves as a guard to prevent the lateral escape of the gases, which might occasionally happen were the end of the lever shown in the drawings adapted to bear 85 directly against the aperture upon the out- side of the barrel without some such protec- tion, and thus the barrel about the aperture and the moving part adapted to cover the aperture are constructed, the one with a pro- 90 jection and the other with a recess, whereby in the normal condition the projection will be substantially inclosed by said recess, but so that the projection and recess will sepa- rate as the moving part is thrown from the 95 aperture under the action of the gases of ex- plosion; but the broad invention thus stated is not our joint invention and is the sole in- vention of one of us—John M. Browning—and is therefore not claimed herein, but is claimed 100 in an application of said John M. Browning under Serial No. 531,171, filed December 8, 1894. The movement of the lever as here- inabove described is adapted to impart to the breech-piece the opening movement, as 105 from the position seen in Fig. 3 to that seen in Fig.4, and the movement of the lever is communicated to the breech-piece through a slide P, arranged in longitudinal guides be- neath the breech-piece. This slide is con- no nected to the lever by means of a rod Q, and so that as the lever is thrown to the open po- sition, as seen in Fig. 4, the slide will be cor- respondingly moved rearward, as from the position in Fig. 3 to that seen in Fig. 4. The 115 breech-piece being locked against its abut- ments, it is necessary to raise it before it can receive its rear movement and in order to pro- duce such rising movement of the rear end of the breech-piece the breech-piece is con- 120 structed upon its under side with a down- wardly-projecting rib R, less in width than the opening downward from the recess in w’hich the breech-piece moves, and this rib is constructed with an upward and forwardly 125 inclined or cam-shaped slot S, which cam slot or groove is horizontal at its top for a short distance and then inclines downward and rearward, as shown Fig. 8. One of the purposes subserved by provid- 150 ing the cam-slot in the rib of the breech-piece with a horizontal portion at its forward end is that a slight rearward movement of the slide is attained before the slide commences to un-
544,660 О 5 (О 15 20 25 3° 35 4° 45 5° 55 6о 65 lock the breech-pieee, whereby time is al- lowed for the escape of the projectile from the barrel before the breeeh-piece is unlocked, and if the breech mechanism were operated by hand, as it would have to be if the radial aperture were closed or in a construction omit- ting the gas-operated lever, the breech-pieee would be held locked during that time against delayed firing; and a further object is attained by the use of the horizontal portion of the cam-slot in the return or forward movement of the slide, in that the breech-piece will have reached its fully-locked position before the hammer is released from the sear and will be held in its fully-locked position while the pin on the slide traverses the horizontal part of the cam-groove, producing a period of rest for the breeeh-piece in its fully-locked position before the gun is again fired. The rib R of the breeeh-pieee extends into a longitudinal slot T in the rear end of the slide P, and across that slot is a pin U, which passes through the cam-shaped slot S in the rib R of the breeeh-piece. The position of the cam-slot S in the breech-piece with rela- tion to the pin U of the slide is such that when the breeeh-pieee is in the down or closed po- sition, as seen in Fig. 3, the pin stands at the upper horizontal end of the slot S. Conse- quently in the first part of the rear movement of the slide P, after the pin IT has moved through the short horizontal part of the slot S, the pin U operates in the inclined portion of said slot S and causes the breeeh-piece to rise, as seen in Fig. 6, until it escapes from its abutments. Then the continued movement of the slide P, as before described, will produce a longitudinal rearward movement of the breech-pieee until it reaches its extreme open position, as seen in Fig. 4. Then when the slide P returns or is moved forward it will draw the breeeh-piece forward with it to its closed position, and so soon as the hreech-piece has reached its closed position and eomes to a stand the pi'n U will again aet in the eam-slot S and as the slide completes its forward move- ment will cause the rear end of the breeeh- piece to drop forward of its abutments, where- by it will be supported against recoil, as be- fore stated. Instead of having the pin on the slideP and the eam-groove in the breeeh-piece the arrangement may be reversed and the pin located in the breech-pieee and the eam- groove in the slide, and the described opera- tion of the parts would be as effectually per- formed. The opening movement of the breech-piece is produced by the gases, as before described. The closing movement is produced by me- chanical means, as a spring. As here repre- sented, a spiral spring W is arranged in a longitudinal tube X in a line parallel with the plane of movement of the lever J. From the forward end of the tube X a rod Y ex- tends longitudinally through the spring, and the rod carries at its rear end a head Z, upon which the rear end of the spring rests, the forward end of the spring being supported against a stationary head a in the spring- tube, and so that as the rod is drawn for- 70 ward the spring will be compressed within the tube. The forward end of the rod is con- nected to the hub of the lever J, as by a chain b, and so that as the lever turns from the position seen in Fig. 3 to that seen in 75 Fig. 4 the connection between the lever and the rod will cause the rod to be drawn for- ward, as seen in Fig. 4, and correspondingly compress the spring W. The power of the spring thus compressed is sufficient that its 80 reaction will produce the return movement of the lever and the breech-piece, as from the position seen in Fig. 4 to that seen in Fig. 3, the force of the explosion being sufficient not only to throw the parts to the open position, 85 but to compress the spring, so that the lever and all parts connected therewith, including the breech mechanism, may be returned by the reaction of said spring so soon as the force of the gases shall have been expended. 90 Two or more of such retracting-springs may be employed adapted to operate conjointly to restore the parts to their normal or closed positions, and they may be located and ar- ranged in the same manner and compressed 95 by the same means as shown in the drawings and hereinbefore described with reference to the single spring W, or otherwise, if desired; and of course, as will be understood, devices or mechanisms other than springs maybe em- ico ployed adapted to be operated by the move- ment of a lever, as J, through the action thereon of the gases of explosion to store up power to automatically restore the parts to their normal or closed positions within the 105 scope of our invention. As a cushion for the opening movement of the lever and so as to gradually break the force of the opening movement and take up the excess of momentum, a spring c is ar- no ranged in rear of the lever and attached to the side plate and against which the lever will strike as it approaches its extreme open position, the spring serving as a cushion or buffer to produce an easy or yielding stop for 115 the lever at its extreme open position. For- ward of the pivotal point of the spring c is located a pin a2, secured in the side plates, against which the spring c engages to keep it from being forced upward when the lever 120 Q or the finger O, attached thereto, strikes it. Instead of attaching a separate spring to the side plates to provide a cushion for the swing- ing lever J the bottom plate of the gun may be extended, so that its forward end will be 125 struck by the free end of the lever J as it is forced around by the pressure of the powder- gases, and the forward end of the bottom plate may be slightly tapered and split to se- cure a more yielding buffer; and any other 13c device or arrangement for the purpose stated is comprised in our invention, and such spring-buffers serve the double purpose of taking up the excess of momentum of the
4 544,660 5 13 i5 20 25 3° 35 4е 45 50 55 бо б5 lever in its rearward movement and impart- ing to the lever an initial impetus on its re- turn movement. The lever J may be counterbalanced by extensions d upon the opposite side of its pivot. This counterbalance tends to prevent any vibration of the barrel which might re- sult from the rapid action of the lever and the rod connected thereto, but such counter- balance is not essential and maybe dispensed with altogether, if desired. In rear of the breeeh-pieee a longitudinally- reciprocating hammer e is arranged, provided with a suitable spring/, so that as the breeeh- pieee is thrown rearward the hammer will also be forced rearward and compress its spring, the hammer being eaught by a suit- able sear connected to the trigger when in its full-cocked position and there held until the breeeh-pieee returns. Then the trigger may be pulled to liberate the hammer and the blow imparted to the firing-pin in the breeeh-pieee in the usual manner. In the usual operation of the gun cartridges will be successively supplied to the barrel in the manner to be presently explained when the breeeh-pieee is open, and the hammer will operate as soon as the breeeh-pieee is closed to explode the cartridge introduced into the barrel, which explosion will cause the breeeh- pieee to be raised and unlocked and opened and re-cock the hammer, and then the breeeh- pieee will be returned, as before described, to produce a second explosion, and so on, the continuous successive explosions being pro- duced as fast as and as long as cartridges are supplied to the barrel. To supply the cartridges a rotating feed- wheel is arranged upon an axle h'. This wheel may be in cylindrical form and is constructed with longitudinal grooves on its periphery, each adapted to engage and carry a cartridge, and so that under the rotation of the wheel the cartridges will be carried around and fed to the position for transfer. Preferably the feed-wheel is constructed with an annular re- cess around its central portion, forming heads g 1г, with an annular space between them, the heads being grooved, forming thereon periph- eral sprockets, as seen in Fig. 12, and which will in like manner engage and carry the car- tridges to the position for transfer from the wheel to the carrier, the operation of the wheel, so far as receiving and transferring cartridges is concerned, being the same as if the cartridge-grooves were continued through- out the length of the cylinder and without the annular space around the wheel between the heads. As seen in Fig. 9, i and j represent two car- tridges as held in the feed-wheel, the car- tridges being introduced through an opening к in the front side plate of the casing, either one at a time by hand or from out of a band formed in pockets, as shown in Fig. 3a, each holding a cartridge, the band being fed through the opening к in one side plate and the empty end of the belt passing out through an opening k2 in the opposite side plate, the exploded shells being expelled through an 70 opening 15 in the receiver, as shown in Figs. 2 and 9. The feed-wheel is rotated so as to success- ively present a cartridge into a plane verti- cally through the barrel—that is, into a posi- 75 tion below the bore of the barrel in a way hereinafter explained. In rear of the feed-wheel a carrier I is hung upon a pivot m near its rear end, and so as to swing in a vertical plane, as usual in this 80 class of carriers in magazine-firearms. Nor- mally the carrier stands in the position seen in Fig. 3 below the line of the cartridge i in the feed-wheel, and so that the cartridge so standing may be forced rearward from the 85 feed-wheel onto the carrier, as seen in Fig. 4. To thus transfer the cartridges from the feed- wheel onto the carrier, the slide P is provided at its front end and on its under side with a rearwardly-projecting finger n, which stands 90 in line with the cartridge in the feed-wheel, as seen in Fig. 3, and so that as the slide ap- proaches its rear position the finger n will strike the forward end of the cartridge i in the feed-wheel or in one of the pockets in the 95 feed-belt that has been fed onto the roller through the opening к before referred to and force it rearward onto the carrier, as seen in Fig. 4, to take the cartridge to a position that its forward end is just in rearof the rear end 10c of the barrel but below it. Then the carrier with the cartridge upon it is raised, as seen in broken lines, Fig. 4, to bring the forward end of the cartridge into position at the rear of the open end of the barrel and the head end 105 of the cartridge forward of a portion of the open breeeh-pieee, and so that as the breeeh- pieee next moves forward it will transfer the cartridge from the carrier into the barrel, as usual in guns having a longitudinally-recip- no roeating breeeh-pieee and a vertically-vibrat- ing carrier. As one cartridge is transferred from the feed-wheel, the feed-wheel is caused to rotate far enough to present the next car- tridge for transfer to the carrier. This rota- 115 tion of the feed-wheel is produced by means of a pawl 0 hung upon a pivot p, (see Fig. 4.) and a vibratory movement isimparted to this lever o, through a rocking arm g, hung upon a pivot r on the side plate. This lever q car- 120 ries a stud s, which works into a longitudinal slot t in the tail of the pawl o, and the lever q is constructed with a longitudinal slot u. in which a projecting pin v on the slide P ex- tends, so that as the slide moves rearward 125 from the position seen in Fig. 3 to that seen in Fig. 4 it will correspondingly turn the le- ver q and raise one end of the pawl o, as seen in Fig. 4. The nose of the pawl extends into the feed-wheel so as to engage therewith, but 130 its nose is beveled and it is permitted a cer- tain amount of longitudinal movement by means of a slot w at its pivot p, so that the nose of the pawl striking the teeth of the feed-
544,660 S wheel will escape therefrom without action on the wheel. The pawl is provided with a spri ng ж (see Fig. 12) at the rear of its pivot, the tendency of which is to force the pawl to its 5 rear position on the pivot. Consequently af- ter the pawl has escaped from the tooth of the feed-wheel with which it has engaged in its up position it will be forced rearward into en- gagement with the next tooth of the feed- ro wheel, as indicated in broken lines, Fig. 9. Then as the slide P returns and returns the pawl, the pawl will operate upon the feed- wheel to advance it one step and present the next cartridge carried by the feed-wheel into t5 position for transfer to the carrier. The feed-wheel is provided with a spring- stop y, such as is usual in similar mechanical devices, to engage the wheel when in its po- sition of rest and yielding]}’ hold it until its ?.a next movement is required, when the forced movement of the wheel causes it to readily escape from the said spring-stop, a device too well known to require particular description. This spring-stop у is separate!}’ shown in Fig. 25 4a, and its position relatively to the feed- wheel is indicated by a dotted circle in Fig. 9. The carrier I is raised at the beginning of the forward movement of the breech-piece, and in order that the movement of the car- 30 tier may be made at the proper time and with certainty the carrier is provided with a latch z on its upper side, hung upon a pivot 2, so as to swing in a horizontal plane, the upper side of the carrier at this point being 35 grooved or recessed to receive the latch, as seen in Figs. 10 and 11. The latch extends to the rear of the pivot on which the carrier is hung and is provided with a spring 3, the tendency of which is to hold the latch at one 40 side of the groove in the carrier in which it is arranged, but so as to permit it to yieldingly swing toward the other side, as indicated in broken lines, Fig. 10. The slide P is constructed with a down- 45 ward projection 4, the path of which is on that side of the latch z opposite the spring 3, and so that as the slide moves rearward the said projection 4 will pass the latch, the latch yielding so that the projection may escape to 50 the rear of the latch and without effect upon the carrier; but on the return of the slide the projection 4 will strike the end of the latch z and operate as a cam thereon to depress the rear end of the carrier and raise its forward 55 end, as seen in broken lines, Fig. 4. This movement of the carrier occurs in order to properly present the cartridge forward of the breech-piece, so that the forward end of the breech-piece may strike the rear end of the 60 cartridge on the carrier and force it to its place in the barrel. Then as the parts ap- proach the closed position the projection 4 on the under side of the slide strikes an up- ward projection 5 on the upper side of the 65 carrier and operates thereon to return the carrier to its down position, as seen in Fig. 3. To produce automatic and continuous fir- ing whenever it is desired so to do and yet prevent accidental firing, the sear is arranged so that the hammer can only be released when 70 the breech-piece is in its closed position. 6 represents the sear, which is hung by its rear end on a pivot 7 to the trigger 8, the trig- ger being hung upon a pivot 9 in rear of the pivot 7, the nose 10 of the sear being adapted 75 to engage a corresponding notch or shoulder of the hammer when the hammer is in the rear position, and a spring 11 is provided, the tendency of which is to force and hold the nose of the sear into such engagement 80 with the hammer. The sear is constructed with a forwardly-projecting finger 12, which extends to a position underneath the breech- piece, and so as to bear upon the breech-piece when the breech-piece is in the closed posi- 85 tion, as seen in Fig. 2. Under this arrange- ment the bearing of the finger 12 on the breech-piece serves as a fulcrum to the sear, and so that as the trigger is pulled, as seen in broken lines, Fig. 2, the rear end of the 90 sear will be thrown downward, the sear turn- ing upon its bearing - point at the breech- piece, and draw the nose of the sear from its engagement with the hammer to liberate it; but the trigger held in the pulled posi- 95 tion serves as a fulcrum for the sear when the breech-piece is open, and so that as the breech-picce is thrown rearward and escapes from the finger 12 of the sear the sear is free to rise under the action of the spring 11 into 100 a position to engage the hammer when it ar- rives at the full-cock position. The trigger- being held in the pulled position, when next the breech-piece is moved forward, the breech- piece will strike the end of the finger 12 and 135 turn the sear down out of engagement with the hammer, so as to liberate the hammer. Hence, so long as the trigger is held pulled the opening movement of the breech-piece leaves the sear free to engage the hammer; no but the closing movement of the breech-piece turns the sear to liberate the hammer, and therefore automatic engagement and disen- gagement of the hammer occur so long as the reciprocating movement of the breech- 115 piece is continued and the trigger is held; but if the trigger be released then the breech- piece has no effect upon the sear and the ham- mer will remain in the cocked position and the firing cease. 120 The firing-pin projects at the rear end of the breech-piece in the usual manner, as seen at 13, Fig. 8, and in order that no contact can possibly occur between the hammer and the firing-pin until the breech-piece is in the fully 125 closed and locked position the breech-piece is constructed with a projection 14 below the firing-pin corresponding or exceeding in pro- jection to the projection of the firing-pin 13, and the position of this projection 14 is such 130 that the hammer must strike that projection unless the breech-piece be in its extreme down position, as seen in Fig. 8. To the breech-piece is attached on its right
6 544,660 side a spring extractor-hook H2 of the well- known kind, which, yielding on the forward movement of the breeeh-piece, springs over the cartridge-head, and on the backward 5 movement of the breech-pieee it engages the cartridge-head and positively draws the shell from the barrel, and on the continued rear- ward movement of the breeeh-pieee the car- tridge-head is pressed against a projection on io the receiver standing in the path of the car- tridge as it is being extracted and causes it to be flung sidewise from the grasp of the ex- tractor-hook and out through the opening 15 (see Fig. 9) in the receiver, as will be readily 15 understood. The breech-pieee may be pro- vided, however, with any other suitable and effective extracting and ejecting devices to withdraw the exploded shell from the barrel and discharge it from the gun, the discharge 20 being through an opening located in an ap- propriate place in the receiver and the ex- tracting and ejecting devices arranged ac- cordingly. As represented, the breeeh-piece is pro- 25 vided with an upward projection 16 at its forward end, which works in a longitudinal groove 17 in the top or upper inside face of the recess in the receiver in which the breeeh- piece moves. This serves to support the 3 j breech-pieee laterally when in its forward po- sition and in the line of the discharge-opening. Devices may be arranged to supply car- tridges to the feed-wheels by hopper or by bands, such devices being adapted to sue- 35 cessively present the cartridges through the opening к to the feed-wheel, carrying devices of this character being too well known to re- quire particular description. The construction of the feed-wheel with an- 40 nular grooves, so as to form a spool shape, is desirable when a band 18 is employed for the supply of the cartridges, Figs. 3, 3a, and 4 representing the band, the cartridges being introduced through transverse pockets in the 45 band, so as to project from both sides of the band and engage the feed-wheel, so that the rotation imparted to the feed-wheel will op- erate upon the band like sprocket-wheels. The gun may be adapted to be fired from 50 the shoulder; but it is preferred to arrange it upon a support to hold the gun more firmly than can be done from the shoulder. One construction of such support is shown in Fig. 1, and consists of a turn-table 19 arranged 55 upon a suitable base 20, which table turns in a horizontal plane upon an axis 21, it being adapted to be clamped to the base by means of a nut 22 on the axis. At one side of this table an upright 23 is arranged, and to the 60 upper end of which the gun is hinged upon a pivot 24. Upon the opposite side of the turn- table is an upright 25, and to the gun a link 26 is hung upon a pivot 27, corresponding in position to the upright 25, the link 26 being 65 adapted to be adjustably secured to the up- right 25. As here represented, this adjust- ment is produced by means of a longitudinal slot 28 in the link 26, through which a bolt 29 extends, and by which the link may be clamped to the upright, and by means of which 70 the rear of the gun may be elevated or de- pressed to any desired extent, and then clamped in that position by means of the bolt 29. Lateral adjustment is produced by means of the turn-table 19, the gun being secured in 75 position by clamping the turn-table to its base, as before described. Other characters of supports by which the gun may be raised and lowered and turned from side to side, so as to enable the gun to be pointed in any di- 80 rection, may be used instead of the means shown in the drawings and hereinabove de- scribed without departing from our inven- tion. When operating as a machine-gun it will be 85 convenient to provide a grasp 30 in rear of the trigger, so that the operator may apply his hand thereto and conveniently reach the trigger with his finger. Parts of the mechanism of the gun de- 90 scribed, while specially adapted for machine- guns, are also applicable to other firearms, as magazine or single breech-loaders. For illustration, the slide P may be operated by a handle under the barrel forward of the re- 95 ceiver, and so that by the hand of the opera- tor the slide may be moved backward and forward to operate the mechanism of the arm, an arrangement of slide and handle too well known to require illustration, and in such ко case the breeeh-piece with its sear and trigger will operate the same as a single breech-loader or as a repeater, the arrangement of the sear and trigger with relation to the breeeh-piece being such that it is impossible to release the 105 hammer until the breeeh-piece be fully closed. Again, the gun may be provided with a com- mon tubular magazineforward of the receiver, opening directly onto the carrier, as in well- known magazine-guns, the mechanisms being 1 ю operated by the gases, as described, or the mechanism may be operated by the handle, as before described, and in a well-known man- ner. While, therefore, all the parts of the gun are specially adapted for employment 115 in a machine-gun, the invention is not to be understood as limited to the employment of the mechanism in a machine-gun. The foregoing clearljr describes a gun (shown in theaccompanyingdrawings) which 120 embodies our invention; but,'as before stated, we do not mean to limit ourselves to the par- ticular construction herein shown and de- scribed; but What we do claim as our invention, and 125 desire to secure by Letters Patent, is— 1. In a gun the combination with the barrel having an opening in rear of the muzzle through which the gases of explosion escape, of a breech mechanism normally held locked, 130 locking devices therefor a lever hung upon a fixed-pivot, means connecting said lever with the breech mechanism, the free end of said lever extending toward said opening and pro-
644,660 7 5 ю т5 20 «5 3° 35 40 45 5е 55 бо 65 vided with a device movably attached thereto, said device substantially closing said opening in its closed position, and operated by the gases of explosion to be removed from said opening, and thereby operatesaid levertoun- lock and open the breech mechanism, and automatically operating means to restore said device and lever to their closed positions and thereby close and lock the breech mechanism. 2. In a gun, the combination with the barrel constructed with an aperture opening there- from at a point in rear of the muzzle, of a lever hung upon a fixed pivot and adapted to swing in substantially a longitudinal plane, the free end of the lever extending toward said aperture and provided with a finger hinged thereto, said finger substantially cov- ering said aperture when in the closed posi- tion, and whereby the gases of explosion may escape through said aperture and operate upon the end of said finger thereby operating said lever and a breech mechanism connected with said lever, whereby the opening move- ment of said lever will impart the opening movement to said breech mechanism, and automatically operating means to restore said lever to its closed position and close and lock the breech mechanism. 3. In a gun the combination with the barrel constructed with an aperture opening out- ward from the bore of the barrel at a point in rear of the mnzzle, of a lever hung upon a stationary pivot adapted to swing in a longi- tudinal plane, its free end extending to said aperture, a finger hung to the free end of said lever and adapted to cover said aperture, a housing around said aperture having an open- ing through which said finger may pass to said aperture, breech mechanism and connec- tion from said lever to said breech mechan- ism, whereby the opening movement of said lever will impart the opening movement to said breeeh-piece, and a spring adapted to re- turn said lever and bring said breech mech- anism to its closed position. 4. In a gun the combination with the barrel open at the rear and constructed with an ap- erture opening radially from the bore at a point in rear of the muzzle, of a lever hung upon a stationary pivot and extending to said aperture, whereby the free end of the said lever is adapted to receive the force of the gases of explosion escaping through said ap- erture toimparttosaidleveraswinging move- ment awajz from said aperture, mechanism connecting said lever with the breech mech- anism of the gun, whereby the opening and closing movement of the lever will impart corresponding opening and closing movement to the breech mechanism, the said lever con- structed with projections from its hub to form a counterbalance. 5. In a gun the combination with the barrel opening in the rear into the receiver to the forward end of which receiver the barrel is attached, of a breech-pieee adapted for lon- gitudinal movement backward and forward in said receiver, said receiver being con- structed so as to form or having a groove on each side thereof, the rear end of the breech- 70 piece being constructed so as to form or being provided with a lateral projection on each side thereof adapted to ride on or through the said grooves in the sides of the receiver in the backward and forward movement of 75 the breeeh-piece, the sides of the receiver be- ing also constructed with notches through which the said lateral projections on the breeeh-pieee will drop and against the abut- ments formed bjT said notches the said pro- 80 jeetions will rest in its extreme forward posi- tion to resist recoil, substantially as set forth. 6. In a gun the combination with the barrel, of a longitudinally reciprocating slide pro- vided with a rearwardly extending finger or 85 projection, a feed-wheel adapted to carry car- tridges into the pathway of said finger, a ver- tically vibrating carrier located at the rear of said feed-wheel and operated by the move- ments of said slide and mechanism for im- 90 parting longitudinal movement to said slide so that as the slide moves rearward, the pro- jection or finger thereon will engage with the forward end of a cartridge in the feed-wheel and force it rearward onto the carrier. 95 7. In a gun the combination with the barrel, of a longitudinally reciprocating breech-pieee, a slide arranged longitudinally beneath the barrel and connected to said breeeh-pieee, said slide being provided with a rearwardly rco extending finger or projection, a feed-wheel adapted to carry cartridges into the pathway of said finger, a vertically vibrating carrier located at the rear of the feed-wheel, mech- anism for imparting longitudinal movements J05 to said slide and corresponding longitudinal movements to the breech-piece and means connecting the breech-pieee and slide and engaging parts of the slide and carrier where- by as the slide moves rearward, the projee- no tion or finger thereon will engage with the forward end of a cartridge in the feed-wheel and force it rearward onto the carrier and the breech-pieee will also be moved rearward and on the return movement of the slide, said 115 slide will engage with the carrier to raise it to bring the forward end of the cartridge into position at the rear of the open end of the barrel and the breech-piece will also return and engage with the said cartridge and trans- 12c fer it from the carrier into the barrel and the slide will engage with the carrier again and lower it to its down position. 8. In a gun the combination with the barrel, of alongitudinally reciprocating breeeh-piece, 125 a slide arranged longitudinally beneath the barrel and connected to said breeeh-pieee, said slide being provided with a rearwardly ex- tending finger or projection, a feed-wheel adapted to carry cartridges into the pathway 130 of said finger, a vertically vibrating carrier located at the rear of the feed-wheel, mechan- ism for imparting longitudinal movements to said slide and corresponding longitudinal
8 544,660 movements to the breech-piece and means connecting the breech-piece and slide and en- gaging parts of the slide and carrier whereby as the slide moves rearward, the projection or 5 finger thereon will engage with the forward end of a cartridge in the feed^wheel and force it rearward onto the carrier and the breech- piece will also be moved rearward and on the return movement of the slide, said slide will io engage with the carrier to raise it to bring the forward end of the cartridge into position at the rear of the open end of the barrel and the breech-piece will also return and engage with the said cartridge and transfer it from the 15 carrier into the barrel and the slide will en- gage with the carrier again and lower it to its down position, and means for rotating said feed-wheel step by step so as to bring in suc- cession one cartridge after another into posi- 20 tion for transfer onto the carrier. 9. In a gun the combination with the barrel, of a longitudinally reciprocating breech-piece, a slide arranged longitudinally beneath the barrel and connected to said breech-piece, said 25 slide being provided with a rearwardly ex- tending finger or projection, a feed-wheel adapted to carry cartridges into the pathway of said finger, a vertically vibrating carrier located at the rear of the feed-wheel, mechan- 30 ism for imparting longitudinal movements to said slide and corresponding longitudinal movements to the breech-piece and means connecting the breech-piece and slide and en- gaging parts of the slide and carrier whereby 35 as the slide moves rearward, the projection or finger thereon will engage with the forward end of a cartridge in the feed-wheel and force it rearward onto the carrier and the breech- piece will also be moved rearward and on the 40 return movement of the slide, said slide will engage with the carrier to raise it to bring the forward end of the cartridge into position at the rear of the open end of the barrel and the breech-piece will also return and engage with 45 the said cartridge and transfer it from the carrier into the barrel and the slide will en- gage with the carrier again and lower it to its down position, and automatically operating means for extracting the exploded shell from 50 the barrel and ejecting it from the gun. 10. In a gun the combination with the bar- rel, of a longitudinally reciprocating breech- piece, a slide arranged longitudinally beneath the barrel and connected to said breech-piece, 55 said slide being provided with a rearwardly extending finger or projection, a feed-wheel adapted to carry cartridges into the pathway of said finger, a vertically vibrating carrier located at the rear of said feed-wheel, and 60 mechanism for imparting longitudinal move- ments to said slide and corresponding longi- tudinal movements to the breech-piece and means connecting the breech-piece and slide and engaging parts of the slide and carrier 65 whereby as the slide moves rearward, the projection or finger thereon will engage with the forward end of a cartridge in the feed- wheel and force it rearward onto the carrier and the breech-piece will also be moved rear- ward and on the return movement of the 70 slide, said slide will engage with the carrier to raise it to bring the forward end of the car- tridge into position at the rear of the open end of the barrel and as the slide returns the breech-piece will also return and engage with 75 the said cartridge and transfer it from the carrier into the barrel and the slide will en- gage with the carrier again and lower it to its down position and means for rotating said feed-wheel step by step adapted to be oper- 80 ated by said slide on its return or forward movement so as to bring in succession one cartridge after another into position for trans- fer onto the carrier. 11. In a gun, the combination with the bar- 85 rel of a longitudinally reciprocating breech piece, a slide arranged longitudinally beneath the barrel and connected to said breech piece, said slide being provided with a rearwardly extending finger or projection, a feed wheel 9c adapted to carry cartridges into the pathway of said finger, means connecting the breech piece and slide, a vertically vibrating carrier located at the rear of said feed wheel, mech- anism for imparting longitudinal movements 95 to said slide, and parts on said slide and car- rier adapted to engage during the longitudi- nal movements of said slide said parts includ- ing a latch which yields during the rearward movement of said slide but is engaged during 100 tire forw'ard movement thereof and thereby causes the forward end of the carrier to be raised so as to bring the cartridge into posi- tion at the rear of the open end of the barrel. 12. In agun havingthe breech open into the 105 receiver at the rear, the combination with a longitudinally reciprocating breech-piece, a longitudinal slide extend ing forward from the receiver and into the receiver rearward be- low and connected to the breech-piece and no adapted to impart longitudinal reciprocating movement to said breech-piece, a hammer ar- ranged to move longitudinally in rear of the said breech-piece and so as to receive a rear movement under the rear ^movement of the 115 breech-piece, a spring adapted to be com- pressed by said hammer in its rear move- ment, a trigger hung upon a pivot adapted to swing in a longitudinal plane, a sear hung to said trigger forward of its pivot, the sear 120 extending upward and its nose adapted to engage a corresponding shoulder on the ham- mer, and the sear constructed with a finger extending forward beneath the breech-piece, and upon which the breech-piece bears when 125 in its closed position, and a spring adapted to force the sear into engagement with the hammer. 13. In a gun the combination with the bar- rel, of a longitudinally reciprocating breech- 130 piece, a slide arranged longitudinally beneath the barrel and extending rearward into the receiver, mechanism for imparting longitudi- nal movement to said slide, the slide connect-
544,660 9 ed to and adapted to impart backward and forward movement to the breech-piece, a car- rier located beneath the said slide and hung upon a pivot near its rear end adapted to 5 swing in a vertical plane, the forward end of the carrier adapted to receive a cartridge, the carrier extending in rear of its pivot, and con- structed with a spring-latch, the said slide constructed with a down ward projection from io its under side adapted to escape said latch in its rear movement, but to engage therewith as the slide moves forward to depress the rear end of said carrier and raise the forward end to present the cartridge on the carrier for- 15 ward of the front face of the breech-piece. 14. In a gun having the barrel opening into the receiver at the rear, the combination there- with of a longitudinally reciprocating breech- piece, a longitudinal slide beneath the breech- 20 piece, mechanism for imparting longitudinal reciprocating movement to said slide, the said slide being connected to and adapted to im- part corresponding reciprocating movement to said breeeh-pieee, a carrier hung below-said 25 slide, and adapted to swing in a vertical plane, a cartridge feed-wheel forward of said car- rier and adapted under rotation to carry car- tridges and successively present them to said carrier, the said slide constructed with a fin- 30 ger on its nnderside projecting rearward, and adapted to force a cartridge from said feed- wheel on to said carrier, and mechanism to im- part rotation to said feed-wheel, substantially as and for the purpose described. 15. In a gun the combination with a barrel 35 opening in the rear into the receiver, of a breech-piece adapted for longitudinal move- ment backward and forward in said receiver, the breeeh-pieee being adapted to swing on its forward end vertically in said receiver and 40 provided on its underside with a downwardly extending projection or rib having a cam-slot formed horizontal at its forward and upward end and then inclined downwardly and rear- wardly, a firing mechanism, a slide located 45 beneath the barrel provided with a pin adapt- ed to work in the cam-slot in the rib of the breech-piece and mechanism actuated by the gases of explosion for imparting longitudinal reciprocating movement to said slide and 50 breech-piece, whereby the said slide will have a slight rearward movement independent of the movementof the breech-piece, and on the continued rearward movement of the slide the breeeh-pieee will be unlocked and opened 55 and on the return movement of the slide the breeeh-pieee will be fully closed and locked, before the slide has completed its return or forward movement and before the firing mech- anism is released. 60 This specification signed and witnessed this 2d day of September, A. D. 1893. JOHN M. BROWNING. MATTHEW S. BROWNING. In presence of—- John E. Ramsden, Kate Linehan.
1 (No Model.) J. M. BROWNING. GAS OPERATED FIREARM. No. 544,661. Patented Aug, 20, 1895.
United States Patent Office. JOHN M. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH TERRITORY. GAS-OPERATED FIREARM SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 544,661, dated August 20,1S05, ~ Application filed December 8,1804. Serial Bo. 631,171. (Bo model.) To all- whom it may concern: Be it known that I, John M. Browning, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Ogden, in the county of Weber and Territory 5 of Utah, have invented certain new and use- ful Improvements in Machine-Guns,of which the following is a specification, reference be- ing had to the accompanying-drawings, form- ing part hereof. io This invention relates to that class of fire- arms in -which mechanism is arranged to be operated automatically by means of gases pro- duced by the explosion or discharge of the arm, and particularly to firearms of this class • «5 in which the gas is brought to bear upon the mechanism in rear of the muzzle and so that . the initial force occurs before the bullet es- capes from the barrel, the objects of the in- vention being to avoid the fouling and clog- ,2ft ging of the mechanism by the gases, and.to prevent the escape of the gases until after the . lever shall have commenced its opening move- ment and received its initial force, and to pre- vent the lateral spread of the gases, and to 35 generally improve and simplify the construc- tion of the gas-operated mechanism. My invention is embodied in the construc- tion hereinafter described, and is particularly, recited in the claims. 30 The accompanying drawings illustrate em- bodiments of my invention in a shoulder arm or rifle. Figure 1 is a side view of the rifle with the mechanism in the closed position. Fig.'Sisa 35 similar view with the mechanism in the open position. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section, en- larged, of a portion of the barrel with the plane of section cutting through the nipple and gas-operated lever. Fig. 4 is an under- 40 neath plan view of the gas-operated lever and adjacent parts. Figs. 5 and G are longitudi- nal seelie :,ч similar to Fig. 3, but showing modifications in construction. In illustrating the invention I show it as 45 applied to a shoulder arm or rifle, in which A represents the frame containing the breech mechanism and В represents the barrel at- tached to the frame. The breech mechanism of the arm may be of any known construction 50 whereby a forward and backward or vibra*-' ing movement of some part of the mechanism v-il1 produce the opening and closing of the breech-piece, and so that such opening of the breech-piece will force the hammer to the fully-cocked position, withdraw the exploded 55 shell from the barrel, and present a hew car- tridge for introduction into the barrel, and so that as the breech-piece advances the car- tridge so presented will be forced into the ’barrel and the hammer released; or a meek- 60 anism may be employed adapted to perforin successively and continuously a less number of operations than those above mentioned. As here represented, the breech mechanism (which mechanism is not particularly shown, 65 as any known form may be employed) is op- . erated through a lever 0, which lever is con- nected with a mechanism, so that a forward movement of the lever will produce the open- ing movement of the breech mechanism and 70 the return movement of the lever will bring the parts to the closed position. Through the barrel, preferably upon tho under side and in rear of the muzzle, an aper- ture D is formed through which gases pro- 75 duced by.explosion may escape from thebore of the barrel. This aperture is made through a nipple E, introduced into the under side of the barrel or which may be in one piece there- with, so that the nipple projects from the bar- 80 rel, and’ thenippleisof slightly tapering form or cylindrical or of other suitable shape, the tapering form embodying my entire invention, , as hereinafter set forth. F represents a lever, which is hinged to the 85 barrel forward or rearward of the aperture, according to the direction in which it is de- sired the lever shall swing. As here repre- sented, the hinging-point is at G, forward of the nipple or aperture, and the lever is hinged 90 to a band II, which surrounds the barrel, and so’that the lever in opening may swing down- ward and forward from tho nipple, from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 2.’ To lever F a rod I is pivoted, which rod 93 extends rearward to connect the lever F with . the lever C or breech mechanism of the gun, and so that as the lever swings downwardand forward, as from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 2, it will draw the rod rco I forward and will correspondingly turn the lever C, and this movement will produce the opening of the breech and the corresponding movements of the other parts of the breech
2 644,661 mechanisnr of the arm. As the lever returns from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 1, the rod I is forced rearward, returning the leverCandbringingthebreech 5 mechanism of the arm to the closed position. The lever F is constructed with a recess J on its face, which corresponds with the nipple E, and so that in the normal position of the parts, as shown iu Fig. 3, the nipple will be inclosed io by the recess J of the lever and so that the nipple and the aperture are normally covered, but upon the explosion in the barrel, and af- ter the bullet has passed forward of the aper- ture D, the gas will escape through the aper- 15 ture D into the recess in the lever and will bring its force to bear upon the bottom of that recess and so as to produce the downward and forward swinging movement of the lever F. The construction of the lever F with the 20 recess snrrounding the nipple prevents to a very considerable extent the escape of gases between the aperture and lever until after the lever shall have commenced its opening movement and received its initial force, for 25 were there no such protecting recess between the aperture and the lever the gases would escape laterally between the aperture and the lever, and thereby a considerable portion of the initial force would be lost, and, further, 30 the gases so escaping would be in the form of a flame which would be objectionable, if not dangerous; but bj’ protecting the apparatus by the Yecess between the aperture and the lever the gases are confined to their initial op- 35 eration, so that such an escape is prevented, and after lhe lever starts the gases will then followthe leverand withoutthelateralspread of the gases which would otherwise occur. The force of the gases is brought to bear 40 onljT iu producing the opening movement. The return of the lever may be produced by mechanical means and after the gases have ceased to act. To accomplish this result a spring is provided, which will be compressed 45 in the opening movement of the lever, so that the reactive force of said spring will be suffi- cient to return the lever and the mechanism of the arm to the closed position. As here represented, the spring К is of spiral or heji- 50 cal form and is arranged around the rod I, one end of the spring bearing against a shoul- der L on the rod I and the other end of the spring bearing against a loop or shoulder M, which loop or shoulder is made fast to the 55 barrel or frame, and, as here represented, is at the end of the rod N, which rod is hung to the frame at the rear, and so that the rod N will yield upward and downward to accommo- date itself to the swinging movement of the 60 rod I. Normally, the spring К isextendedas shown in Fig. 1; but as the lever F is thrown forward and the rod correspondingly drawn forward, the spring is compressed between the shoulder L on the rod I and the loop M on 65 the rod N, and so that, as soon as the force of the gases upon the lever F is exhausted or neutralized, the spring reacts and returns the lever, together with, the breech .mechanism of the arm, to the closed position. A stopshouid be provided to arrest the lever when it has 70 swung as far from the nipple as is required to produce the opening movement of the breech mechanism of the arm. As here rep- resented, this stop is in the form of a stud О on the back of the lever F, which will strike 75 the barrel when that extreme open position is reached, as shown in Fig. 2, and by varying the length or position of this stop Q the time of arrest in the movement of the le^erF may be adjusted. The magazine P is here repre- 80 sented as adapted to be attached to the frame - and extending upward therefrom so as to con- tain a column of cartridges to be automati- cally supplied to the arm. The upper partof this magazine is broken away in the drawings. 85 This is a common and well-known magazine, for which any other suitable magazine or feed device may be substituted. It will be under- stood that the lever will be hung forward or rearward of the aperture, accordingly as the 90 active movement requi red for the openi ng and closing of the breech mechanism is forward- er backward. In some cases it may be desirable to bring the force of the gases to bear upon a longi- 95 tudinal slide instead of upon a swinging le- ver. This may be done, as shown in -Fig. 5,. by turning the nipple accordingly and form- ing the recess in the arm or slide .upon which the gases are brought to bear, and so that the too movement may be in a longitudinal lineeither forward or backward, as-the ease-may be; or the nipple may be directed forward or back- ward onto a swinging lever, broken lines in- dicating such a lever in Fig. 3. 105 While the construction with a nipple in the barrel and corresponding recess in the mov-. ing part embodies my entire invention, this order may be reversed in a construction broadly embodying my invention, as shown no in Fig. 6, and the recess may be formed in the barrel arbund the aperture and the lever or moving part constructed with a projection "to enter said recess. It will be observed that °in this’construction there is the same protec- 115 tion between the moving part and the aper- ture at the initial action of the gases on such moving part. In order to provide against longitudinal ex- pansion and contraction of the barrel from 120 the heat produced in firing, it is desirable to make the nipple or projection tapering and the recess correspondingly tapering, so as to iusure the unobstructed return of the'moving part, and to accommodate the lever or mov- 125 ing part to such incidental expansion or con- traction the recess portion of the lever may be made separate from and movable upon the body of the lever, as particularly shown in Fig. 3, the lever being constructed with a slot 130 a and the recess portion constructed with a shank b, which shank extends through the slot and through a collar d on the reverse side of th- lever, and the shank is riveted
644,681 8 the barrel around said aperture and the said 60 'moving part constructed, the one witlia pro- jection, and the other with a corresponding recess, adapted to stand one within the other wheu in the closed position,and thesaidpro- jection or rocess, as the case may be, made 65 longitudinally adjustable on the said lever, with mechanism between the said lever and the breech mechanism of the gnn, whereby the opening movement of the said lever un- der the action of the gases of explosion will 70 produce the opening movement of the breech mechanism, and a spring adapted to be op- erated by such opening movement, and whereby the action of said spring will return the parts to the normal position, substau- 75 tially as set forth. 3. In a fire arm, the barrel constructed with an aperture in rear of the muzzle combined with a moving part adapted to coversaid ap- erture, the barrel around said aperture and 8c the said moving part constructed the one with a projection and the other with a corre- sponding recess, whereby in. the normal con- dition tire said projection will be substan- tially inclosed by said recess but so that said 85 projection and recess will separate as the said moving part is thrown from said aperture, tinder the action of the gases of explosion with mechanism between said moving part and the breech mechanism of the gun where- 90 by said moving part actuates the breech mechanism, substantially as set forth. 4. In an automatic fire-arm, the barrel con- structed with an outwardly projecting taper- ing nipple and an aperture through said nip- 95 pie, combined with a lever hung to the. bar- rel and so as to swing toward and from said nipple, the lever constructed with a recess adapted to inclose said nipple when the parts are in closed position, said recess being Ion- 10c gitudinally self adjusting on said lever un- der the effects of expansion and contraction of the barrel, with mechanism between said lever and the breech mechanism of the gun whereby the opening movement of said lever 105 under the action of the gases of explosion will produce the opening movement of said breech mechanism,and a, spring adapted to be operated by such opening movement and whereby the reaction of said spring will re- no turn the'parts* to the .normal position, sub- stantially as set forth. This specification signed and witnessed this 1st day of December, A. D. 1804. JOHN M. BROWNING. In presence of— M. J. Hall, John E. Ramsden. down over the collar, or otherwise secured, so that the recess portion E of the lever will be held by frictional contact and will not change its position in ordinary working, but yet so 5 that under the force resulting from expansion or contraction applied longitudinally of the lever the recess portion may slide upon the lever; and variations of the length of the barrel would produce such sliding of the re- 3o cess portion by reason of the tapering shape of the nipple and of the recess, the nipple operating as a cam to produce such sliding movement of the recess portion according to the expansion or contraction. 15 The representation of the self-adjustment when the recess is on the lever and the nipple on the barrel will be sufficient to indicate that the same sliding or self-adjustment may be employed when the order is reversed and the so projection is on the lever and the recess is on the barrel.. This self-adjustment construc- tion is an embodiment of my entire invention, but may be departed from in structures broadly embodying my invention. 35 It is, of course, evident that various modi- fications may be made of the construction above described within my invention, and -I do not, therefore, limit myself to the specific construction above described and shown in 30 the drawings. What 1 claim, and desire to secure by Let- ters Patent, is— I. Tn a fire-arm, the barrel constructed with an aperture from the inside outward, and in 35 rear of the .muzzle, combined with a moving part adapted to cover said aperture, the bar- rel around said aperture and the said moving part being constructed, the one with a projec- tion and the other with a corresponding re- st cess, whereby in the normal condition the said projection will be substantially inclosed by the said recess, but so that the said pro- jection and recess will wholly separate as the said moving part is thrown from said aper- •J5 I аге, under the action of the gases of explo- ' sion with mechanism between said moving part and the breech mechanism of the gun whereby the opening movement of the said moving part will produce the opening move- 50 ment of the breech mechanism, and a spring adapted to be operated by such opening movement, and whereby the reaction of the said spring will return the parts to the nor- mal position, substantially as set forth. 55 2. hr an automatic fire-arm, the barrel con- structed with an aperture from the inside outward and in rear of the muzzle, combined with *a lever arranged to swing toward and from and adapted to cover thesaid aperture,
3 Sheets—Sheet 1. (No Model.) J. M. BROWNING. MAGAZINE FIREARM. No. 545,671. Patented Sept. 3, 1895.
(No Model.) 3 Sheets—Sheet 2. J. M. BROWNING. MAGAZINE FIREARM. No. 545,671. Patented Sept. 3, 1895.
3 Sheets—Sheet 3. J. M. BROWNING MAGAZINE FIREARM. (No Model.) No. 545,671. Patented Sept. 3, 1895.
United States Patent Office. JOHN M. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH TERRITORY, ASSIGNOR TO THE WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS COMPANY, OF NEW HAVEN, CON- NECTICUT. MAGAZINE-FIREARM. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 545,671, dated September 3,1895. . Application filed April 29,1895. Serial No. 547,518. (No model.) To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, John M. Browning, of Ogden, in the county of Weber, Utah Terri- tory, have invented a new Improvement in 5 Breech-LoadingMagazine-Firearms; 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 io same, and said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in— Figure 1, a view partly in elevation and partly in vertical section of one form which a gun constructed in accordance with my in- 15 vention may assume, the action mechanism being represented as in the closed position of the arm; Fig. 2, a similar but less comprehen- sive view showing the arm open with the car- rier in the position in which it forms a car- 20 tridge-stop; Fig. 3, a broken reverse plan view, partly in section, showing the construction for the connection with the frame of the cover or plate which closes the bottom of the chamber therein; Fig. 4, a broken view in 25 horizontal section showing a portion of the frame and the rear end of the plate with the locking-lugs thereof inserted into the recoil- block grooves of the frame preparatory to be- ing shoved forward into the locking-grooves 30 thereof; Fig. 5, a broken view in vertical transverse section on the line а b of Fig. 4, and showing the rear end of the cover or plate in rear elevation; Fig. 6, a detached view, in side elevation, of the cover or plate; 35 Fig. 7, a broken view, partly in horizontal sec- tion and partly in plan, showing the pivotal carrier and the finger-lever with the projec- tion or pin of the lever engaged with the bev- eled inner edge of the cam of the carrier pre- 40 paratory to springing the elastic member of the carrier aside to provide for the rearward passage of the pin or projection of the lever beyond the end of the carrier; Fig. 8, a de- tached view, in side elevation, of the carrier; 45 Fig. 9, a detached plan view thereof; Fig. 10, a view of the carrier in central longitudinal sec- tion on the line a b of Fig. 9; Fig. 11, a de- tached view in front elevation of the recoil- block; Fig. 12, a plan view of the inner end 50 of the operating or finger lever. My invention relates to an improvement in breech-loading magazine-firearms, the object being to produce a comparatively simple, compact, strong, durable, and effective arm, constructed with particular reference to the 55 positive operation of its action mechanism and to convenience of assemblance and dis- memberment. With these ends in view my invention con- sists in the combination, with a bifurcated бэ carrier constructed upon the inner face and at the rear end of one of its legs with a cam, of a finger-lever provided near its upper end with apin or projection to coact with said cam. My invention further consists in the com- 65 bination, with a pivotal carrier, of avertically- movable recoil-block, one of the said parts having an operating-notch and the other a toe adapted to enter the said notch, whereby the recoil-block in the beginning of its downward 70 movement lifts the pivotal carrier into posi- tion to form a eartridge-stop. My invention further consists in the com- bination, with a chambered frame, of a cover or plate adapted to close the lower end of the 75 chamber therein, and constructed at its rear end with two outwardly-projecting corre- sponding locking-lugs, which take into hori- zontal locking-grooves formed in the opposite walls of the frame and at their rear ends in- 80 tersecting vertical grooves formed in the frame for the reception of the edges of the recoil-block. My invention further consists in certain details of construction and combinations of 85 parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims. In carrying out my invention, as herein shown, the rear end of the bifurcated carrier (detail views of which are shown in Figs. 8,9, 90 and 10) is cut into, so that the carrier is vir- tually composed of two long legs or members A and A', separated at their rear ends, and joined at their forward ends by a transverse tie or web Aa. The said leg A of the carrier 95 is laterally elastic, and is capable of being sprung away from the leg A'. A cam A3 is located upon the inner face of the extreme rear end of the leg A of the carrier and con- structed with a.beveled forward edge a, with ico
3 645,671 a curved lifting edge a' and a straight sus- taining-edge a2. The carrier is pivotally mounted in the frame В of the arm by means of two horizontally-arranged screw-pivots G 5 C', located directly opposite each other and extending horizontally inward and entering pivot-openings formed in lugs A4 As, respect- ively, formed at the rear ends of the two legs A and A' of the carrier. io By reference to Fig. 7 of the drawings it will be seen that the inner end of the screw- pivot C is longer than the inner end of the screw-pivot C', the object being to provide for the play of the leg A in the operation of 15 the arm, as will be described hereinafter, and for the further accommodation of the leg A in springing back and forth the pivot-open- ing provided in its lug A4 for the reception of the inner end of the screw-pivot 0 is made 20 large enough to permit the deflections of the leg A. It will be also seen by reference to Fig. 7 of the drawings that the leg A' of the carrier bears against the left-hand wall of the frame В and is prevented from springing out- 25 ward thereby, while it is prevented from springing inward by the engagement with its inner face of the inner end of the finger or operating lever D, which, on the other hand, does not engage directly with the inner face 30 of the leg A of the carrier, the outer face of the said leg A being cut away, as at A6, to clear it from the inner face of the right-hand wall of the frame В and to give it space in which to spring. 35 The cam A8, before mentioned, coacts with a pin D', arranged horizontally and project- ing to the right from the inner end of the le- ver D, as shown, for instance, in Figs. 7 and 12 of the drawings. The particular form of 40 this pin may he varied, and, if preferred, it maybe made integral with the lever, in which case it would be more properly described as a projection therefrom. When the gun is closed the pin or projection D' will have the 45 position shown in Fig. 1, and when the lever is thrown downward and forward in opening the gun the projection D' will be brought into engagement with the beveled edge a of the cam A3 of the carrier, which has by this 50 time been lifted into the position shown in Fig. 2, in which it forms a cartridge-stop. The forward movement of the lower end of the operating-lever Dbeingcontinued, its up- per end is moved backward, causing the pin 55 D' to impinge against the beveled edge a and spring the leg A of the carrier outward into the position shown by broken lines in Fig. 7, whereby space is secured for the rearward passage of the pin beyond the extreme rear 60 end of the carrier, the pin moving over the face of the cam substantially on the broken line a8 of Fig. 10, and assuming substantially the position in which it is shown in Fig. 2. It will be understood, of course, that as soon 65 as the pin clears the rear end of the cam the resiliency of the leg A causes it to at once spring backintoits normal position, whereby it presents its lifting edge a' and sustaining edge a2 in front of the side of the pin. Now, when the gun is closed, by grasping the fin- 70 ger or operating'lever by its lower end and drawing the same rearward and upward, whereby its inner or upper end is caused to be moved forward, the pin will be forced against the curved lifting edge a' of the cam 75 in such a manner as to cause the carrier to be quickly and positively lifted into its extreme elevated position, in which it presents the cartridge borne by it into position to be forced by the breech-bolt E into the gun-bar- So rel F. This movement of the carrier takes place while the pin D' is moving over the curved lifting edge a' of the cam; but the car- rier is sustained in its elevated position un- til the cartridge has been well entered into 85 the gun-barrel by means of the coaction of the pin and the straight sustaining edge a2 of the cam. Then, after the pin passes off from the straight edge a2 of the cam and releases the carrier from the sustaining effect of the 90 lever the carrier is engaged at about the point marked a,4 in Fig. 10 by the upper edge of the hooked link G, which is lifted' as the finger or operating lever D is drawn back- ward and upward. As soon, therefore, as tlie 95 pin D' releases the carrier, the same is posi- tively thrown down into its receiving position in front of the magazineH,asshowninFig.l. It will be seen from the foregoing descrip- tion that the carrier is positively raised into 100 its discharging position and maintained there as long as required by the positive action upon it of the finger or operating-lever and without the nse of or reliance upon any springs, whereby reliability of operation is 105 secured. I might, if preferred, locate the cam A3 upon the leg A' of the carrier and the pin or projection D' upon the left-hand side of the operating finger or lever D, and, furthermore, the particular construction of no the lever and carrier may be considerably varied, though the carrier must be constructed so that it shall have a spring portion for the carriage of the cam A3. Coming now to the second feature of my 115 invention, the same relates to the primary lifting of the carrier into position to form a cartridge-stop. For this purpose the leg A' of the carrier is constructed at its rear end with a depending lug A7, having a rearwardlj’- 120 projecting toe A8, which at thtb-proper time takes into an operating-notch H, formed to receive it in the front face of the vertically- movable recoil-block П'. When the gun is closed the said toe is entered into the said 125 notch by the positive throwing of the carrier into its receiving position by means of the engagement of the link with it, as already described. At the beginning of the opening of the gun, the recoil-block moves downward 130 and forces the toe A8 of the carrier out of its notch H, whereby the carrier is swung on the screws Gand C' and lifted into the po- sition shown in Fig. 2, where it forms a car-
545,671 3 tridge-stop, being sustained in this position by the riding of the pointof the toe upon the plain forward face of the reeoil-block, as shown in said Fig. 2. It wnll thus be seen 5 that this movement of the carrier into position to form a cartridge-stop is also positive and wholly independent of the action of springs. If desired, the notch might be arranged in the carrier and the toe upon the recoil-block, io though I prefer the construction illustrated. In this connection I would say that, while a toe and notch acting as described, for posi- tively lifting the carrier into position to form a cartridge-stop, coact well with the cam and 15 pin described for positively lifting the carrier into its discharging position and sustaining it therein, I do not limit myself to using these features in combination, for the cam and pin might be combined with other means for lift- 20 ing the carrier into position to form a car- tridge-stop, and vice versa. The third feature of my invention relates to the cover or plate which closes the bottom of the chamber I of the frame B. In carrying 25 out this part of my invention I provide the extreme rear end of the cover J with two cor- responding oppositely-projecting locking- lugs J' J', which are adapted to be received by shallow substantially horizontal locking- 30 grooves I'I', formed opposite each other in the side walls of the chamber I and opening attheir rest ends into the vertical slots I2 I2, formed in the said walls of the chamber at points opposite each other for the reception of 35 the edges of the recoil-block II'. In order to secure the cover or plate in place it is applied to the bottom of the frame in position for the entering of its locking-lugs into the lower ends of the vertical recoil-block grooves I212, 40 after which the rear end of the plate is pressed inward until the locking-lugs J' J' are brought into line with the rear ends of the locking-grooves I' I', after which the plate is moved horizontally forward to cause the said 45 locking-lugs to enter the said locking-grooves. The rear end of the plate having thus been firmly nnited with the frame, its forward end is secured thereto by means of a screw J2, which may, if desired, be replaced by a pin. I 50 prefer to employ two locking-lugs and grooves, as shown and described, although one of each will answer the purpose. Of course the par- ticular construction of the frame and lever may be varied as desired, as the principle 55 which I have described of securing the plate or cover in place is not limited to the con- struction shown. It has not seemed to me necessary to de- scribe the general construction or operation 60 of the arm nor to specify all the parts thereof, as its operation and construction will be un- derstood by any one familiar with the art, and I will only add that the inner end of the finger-lever is connected by horizontal pin 65 К with the forward end of the breech-bolt E, and that,the hooked link G is connected at its hooked forward end by a pin K' with the finger-lever, the rear end of the link being connected by a pin K2 with the lower tangK3 of the frame. The trigger L is pivoted in the 70 link G and coacts with a sear L', which in turn coacts with the hammer L2, which is furnished with the usual hammer-spring L3. In view of the foregoing suggestions of changes and alterations and of others which 75 may obviously be made, I would have it un- derstood that I do not limit myself to the exact construction herein shown and de- scribed, but hold myself at liberty to make such alterations as fairly fall within thespirit 80 and scope of my invention. Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is— 1. In a breech-loading magazine fire arm, 85 the combination with a pivotal bifurcated car- rier having one of its members or legs adapted to be sprung laterally, and provided at its rear end with a cam, of a finger or operating- lever constructed at its inner end with a pro- 90 jection to co-operate with the said cam in posi- tively raising the carrier into its discharging position and sustaining it therein temporarily when the said lever begins its closing or for- ward movement and co-operates with the said 95 cam in pushing the said member laterally to one side at the end of the outward or opening movement of the lever for clearing the mem- ber and cam from the path of the lever, sub- stantially as set forth. 100 2. In a breech-loading magazine fire arm, the combination with a pivotal, bifurcated car- rier having one of its legs or members adapted to be sprung laterally and provided with a cam, of a finger or operating lever constructed 105 at its inner end with a pin or projection co- acting with the said cam in positively lifting the carrier into its discharging position and temporarily sustaining it therein, substan- tially as set forth. no 3. In a breech-loading magazine fire arm, the combination with a carrier having a spring leg or member constructed with a cam having a beveled forward edge and also having a curved lifting and a straight sustaining edge; 115 of a finger or operating lever, the inner end of which is constructed with a pin or projec- tion coacting with the beveled edge of the cam to spring the same aside for the rearward passage of the pin, and coacting with the 120 curved and straight edges of the cam for lift- ing the carrier into its discharging position and sustaining it therein temporarily, sub- stantially as set forth. 4. In a breech-loading magazine fire-arm, 125 the combination with a pivotal bifurcated carrier having one of its legs adapted to swing laterally, provided with a cam, and con- structed with an elongated pivot-opening and having its other leg also constructed with a 130 correspondingly located pivot-opening, of a finger or operating lever constructed at its inner end with a pin or projection to coact with the said cam, and two screw-pivots re-
4 545,671 spectively located in the opposite walls of the frame of the arm, and entering the pivot-open- ings in the respective ends of the legs or mem- bers of the carrier for supporting the same 5 pivotally within the said frame, substantially as described, and whereby the elongated pivot-opening permits the elongated leg or head of the carrier to be sprung laterally. 5. In a breech-loading magazine fire arm, to the combination with a pivotal carrier, of a vertically movable recoil block, one of the said parts having an operating notch and the other a toe adapted to enter the notch when the block is in its closed position, whereby 15 the block in the beginning of its downward movement is caused to lift the carrier into position to form a cartridge-stop, substantially as set forth. 6. In a breech-loading magazine fire arm, 2o the combination with a carrier, constructed at its rear end with a toe, of a vertically mov- able recoil-block, having an operating notch formed in its forward face to receive the said toe in position to effect the lifting of the car- rier into position to form a cartridge stop at 25 the beginning of the downward movement of the recoil-block, substantially as set forth. 7. In a breech-loading magazine fire arm, the combination with a chambered frame, having recoil-block grooves formed in the in- 30 ner faces of its side wallsand locking grooves leading forward out of the lower ends of the recoil-block grooves; of a cover or plate adapt- ed to close the bottom of the chamber in the frame, and constructed at its rear end with 35 lugs adapted to enter the said lockinggrooves, into which they are introduced through the clearance afforded by the recoil-block grooves, substantially as set forth. In testimony whereof I have signed this 40 specification in the presence of two subscrib- ing witnesses. JOHN M. BROWNING. Witnesses: John E. Ramsden, Kate Linehan.
4 Sheets—Sheet 1. (No Model.) J. M. BROWNING-. BOX MAGAZINE BOLT GUN. Patented Sept. 3, 1895. No. 545,672.
4 Sheets—Sheet 2. (No Model.) J. M. BROWNING-. BOX MAGAZINE BOLT GUN. No. 545,672. Patented Sept. 3, 1895.
4 Sheets—Sheet 3. (No Model.) J. M. BROWNING. BOX MAGAZINE BOLT GUN. No. 545,672. Patented Sept. 3, 1895.
4 Sheets—Sheet 4. J. M. BROWNING-. BOX MAGAZINE BOLT GUN. Patented Sept. 3, 1895, (No Model.) No. 545,672.
United States Patent Office. JOHN M. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, . UTAH TERRITORY, ASSIGNOR TO THE WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS COMPANY, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT. BOX-MAGAZINE BOLT-GUN. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 545,672, dated September 3,1895. Application filed April 29, 1895. Serial No. 547,520. (No model,) To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, John M. Browning, of Ogden, in the county of Weber and Territory of Utah, have invented a new Improvement 5 in Breech-Loading Box-Magazine Guns; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with the accompanying draw- ingsand thelettersof reference marked there- on, to be a full, clear, and exact description io of the same, and which said drawings consti- tute part of this specification, and represent, i n— Figure 1, a broken view in side elevation of one form which a gun constructed in accord- 15 ance with my invention may assume; Fig. 2, a reverse plan view thereof; Fig. 3, a view drawn to a larger scale and showing the gun partly in elevation and partly in vertical lon- gitudinal central section, the plate or cover 20 being in its closed position and the carrier in its elevated position; Fig. 4, a detached plan view of the cover and carrier; Fig. 5, a de- tached view of the cover or plate in side ele- vation; Fig. 6, a corresponding view of the 25 carrier; Fig. 7, a detached view in side ele- vation of the lower tang of the gnn, includ- ing the box-magazine and the pivotal cover and carrier thereof, the same being shown in their open positions; Fig. 8, a broken plan 30 view of the tang and box-magazine, from which latter the carrier and cover have been removed; Fig. 9, a broken view, partly in hori- zontal section and partly in plan, showing the breech-bolt in its locked position and de- 35 signed with particular reference to illustrat- ing my improved ejector; Fig. 10, a similar but less comprehensive view showing the breech-bolt in its open position and the ejec- tor as shot forward for the ejection of a car- 40 tridge; Fig. 11, a view in transverse section on the line e/of Fig. 9. My invention relates to an improvement in breech-loading box-magazine firearms, the object being to produce a simple, compact, 45 strong, highly effective, and safe gun, con- taining comparatively few parts and con- structed with particular reference to provis- ion for charging the box-magazine with car- tridges from the bottom of the frame of the arm while the breech-bolt is in its closed po- 50 sition, so that the arm may be charged with- out operating its action mechanism or dis- turbing the cart ridge in the gun-barrel, if one is there. \Vith these ends in view my invention con- 55 sists in a cover or plate, pivoted at its for- ward end and closing the bottom of the mag- azine, a carrier pivotally connected at its forward end with the said cover or plate, and one or more springs for operating the cover 60 or plate and carrier. My invention further consists in an ejector, provided at its extreme rear end with an in- wardly - extending lifting-shoulder and an outwardly-projecting retracting-shoulderand 65 at its forward end with an outwardly-project- ing operating-shoulder and with an inwardly- projecting ejecting-shoulder, located in ad- vance of the said operating-shoulder. My invention further consists in a safety- 70 lock mounted in the frame of the arm, adapted to engage with the slide when the same is in its closed position and lock it therein, and also adapted to be engaged by the hammer, which depresses the lock to re- 75 lease the slide just before the hammer reaches its down position. My invention further consists in certain details of construction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and 8c pointed out in the claims. In carrying out my invention I employ a long narrow cover or plate A, constructed at its rear end with lateral extensions or Ings A'A', adapting it to be readily grasped for 85 manual operation and pivotally hung at its forward end upon a transverse horizontal pin B, the ends of which extend into the opposite walls of the forward portion of the box- magazine G, which, as shown, is formed 90 integral with the lower tang D of the arm and secured in place by means of screws D' and D2, the latter forming also the fulcrum of the hammer Ds. The lower portion or bottom of the box-magazine is made open 95 and the said cover or plate A fits into it, as shown in Fig 2. The lugs A'A' before men- tioned serve as finger-pieces for grasping the
2 645,672 plate to open it, and may also serve as stops for stopping the plate in right position in closing. The forward or pivoted end of the cover or plate is somewhat thickened, and the plate is 5 constructed upon itsinnerface with a central longitudinal groove A2, which receives a pivotal carrier E, the function of which is to lift the cartridges in the box-magazine into position to be engaged by the breech-bolt F io and thereby introduced into the cartridge- chamber formed in the rear end of the gun- barrel G. The said carrier is enlarged at its forward end and pivotally hung on a hori- zontal pin E', the ends of which extend into 15 the inner edges of the forward end of the cover or plate A, and which may be said to be eccentric in position to the position of the pin B, on which the saidzjover or plate is sus- pended. 20 A segmental clearance-slot E2, formed in the enlarged forward end of the carrier, receives the pin B, as shown in Fig. 2, the lower end of this slot forming a stop limiting the elevation of the carrier. The extreme forward end of 25 the plate A is constructed with a shoulder a, while the extreme forward end of the carrier E is constructed with a shoulder e, the said shoulders a and e being simultaneously en- gaged, when the cover or plate A is in its closed 30 position, by a spring H, located in a spring- chamber II', formed in the frame I of the arm at a point under the rear end of the gun-bar- rel G, the forward end of the spring being se- cured in place by means of a screw H2, as shown 35 in Fig. 3. When the cover or plate is in its closed position, as seen in Fig. 3,the spring H engages with the shoulder e of the carrier E and exerts a constant effort to lift the carrier, and hence the cartridges in the box-magazine 40 C. At the same time the spring acts, either through the carrier or directly on the shoulder a of the plate, to hold the same in its closed position, for it is to be observed that the en- gagement of the spring with the carrier arid 4g plate is at a point forward of the pin B, on which the plate or cover is hung. When the cover or plate is in its closed or normal posi- tion, the spring H thus performs the twofold function of holding the plate or cover closed- go and of lifting the carrier. When, however, the cover or plate is thrown down into its open position, as shown in Fig. 7, the spring rides off over the shoulder e of the carrier and off the shoulder a of the cover or plate, so that it 55 ceases to have any direct action upon the cover; but as the plate is swung around the spring is virtually transferred from its shoulder a to its cam-surface a', which is located below.the said shoulder, but above the pin B, whereby 60 the spring gets such a purchase on the plate or cover as to exert an effort to hold it in its open position. As the cover is being thrown into its open position, the cam-face e' of the carrier engages with the transverse tie O', lo- 65 cated at the forward end of the box-magazine, in such a manner that the carrier will be thrown down into the groove A2 of the plate or cover and maintained therein out of the way while the said plate or cover is open. With the plate or cover thus held out of the 70 way the box-magazine may be charged from its bottom with no more obstruction from the cover or carrier than if the same had been entirely removed from the gun. The box-magazine shown and described is 75 formed, as before stated, integral with the lower tang of the arm, and is to be distin- guished from that class of box-magazines which are made of sheet metal and inserted into a chamber formed in the frame of the 80 arm. It is provided toward its forward por- tion with two upwardly-extending spring-fin- gers J, which engage with the ball portions of the cartridges and prevent the same from be- ing deflected sidewise as they are being fed 85 upward, and in fact retard their upward move- ment until they are brought into position to engage with a lifting-cam J', formed in the frame, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, the said cam lifting them into position to be intro- 90 duced into the chamber of the gun-barrel when their heads are engaged by the breech- bolt in the forward movement thereof. At its rear end the magazine is furnished with a forwardly-inclined box-like guideway K, 95 adapted to receive the heads of the cartridges and also preventing the cartridges from be- ing displaced while they are being fed up- ward, the forward edges of the said guide way being turned inward at a right angle to form 100 retaining-fianges к к. I will next describe my improved ejector L, which is located in a longitudinal groove/, Fig. 11, formed in the left-hand side of the breech- bolt F, and constructed at its forward end 105 and npon its innerface with an ejecting-shoul- der Z, which engages with the heads of the cartridges for the ejection of the same, and upon its outer face with an operating-shoul- der I', which is located to the rear of theshoul- no der Z, and which engages with the extreme in- ner corner of the abutment face I', as shown in Fig. 10, for arresting the rearward move- ment of the ejector with the breech-bolt F, and therefore bringing the shoulder Z into 115 play for ejecting the cartridge, as indicated in that figure. In this connection I may say. that it will be understood that shortly before the breech-bolt reaches its fully-open position the ejector is virtually shot forward suddenly 120 and its shoulder Z impinged against the head of the cartridge in such a manner as to cause the same to be projected from the arm. I may here explain, also, that the abutment-face I' is formed in the frame for locking the 125 breech-bolt in its closed position, for which purpose the bolt is swung laterally from left . to right through the medium of the flring- pin F' and the breech-bolt slide F2, which are connected for the purpose by means of a pin 130 Fs, carried by the firing-pin and entering in- clined grooves F4, formed in the said breech-
645,672 3 bolt slide, which is located at one side of and in the same horizontal plane with the breech- bolt and connected with an action-bar F3, ex- tending rearwardly from a sliding support- 5 ing-handle F4, located forward of the action mechanism of the arm. I do not now enter into any detailed descrip- tion of the construction just referred to, inas- much as it forms no part of my present inven- io tion. The said ejector L is longitudinally bowed, so that its rear end has a constant tend- ency to spring inward, and is constructed at its extreme rear end with a retracting-shoul- der Z2 and with a lifting-shoulder Z3, respect- 15 ively extending outward and inward. The extreme rear end of the groove/, Fig. 10, in the breech-bolt is recessed, as at /', for the reception of the lifting-shoulder Zs of the ejec- tor and constructed with a bevel face/2, lo- 20 cated at the forward end of the recess, for coaction'with the said lifting-shoulder Z8,just referred to. Tn. the normal position (shown in Fig. 9) of the ejector the lifting-shoulder Z3 is located in the recess/' in the breech-bolt. 25 When, however,thebreech-bolt is drawn back, and just before it reaches the limit of its rear- ward movement, its operating-shoulder Z' en- gages with the abutment-face I', as shown in Fig. 10, causing the arrest of the ejector and 30 the ejection of the cartridge, the breech-bolt continuing to move rearward for a short dis- tance. The said movement of thebreech-bolt, after the ejector has been stopped, as shown in Fig. 10, causes the lif ting-shoulder Z3, at the 35 rear end of the ejector, to ride up out of the recess/' and over the bevel/2, whereby the rear end of the ejector is sprung outward, as shown in Fig. 10, so as to bring its retracting- shoulder Z2 into position to engage with the 40 frame of the gun at the point i, Figs. 9 and 10, during the closing movementof the breech- bolt. When thesaid engagement takes place, the ejector will be arrested until the continu- ing forward movement of the breech-bolt has 45 brought the lifting-shoulder Z3 of the ejector into line with the recess/'of thebreech-bolt, at which time the rear end of the ejector will spring back into its normal position, whereby the retracting-shoulder Z2 will be cleared from 50 the point i of the frame. This operation per- mits the breech-bolt to move forward with respect to the ejector for a distance repre- sented by the separation of the ejecting- shoulder Z and the operating-shoulder Z', so 55 that the real effect of temporarily stopping the ejector by means of the retracting-shoulder Z2 is to permit the forward face of the breech-bolt to catch up, so to speak, with the ejecting- shoulder Z. The object of this is to insure a 60 right position of the ejector prior to the elevation of the head of the cartridge, being fed squarely in front of the breech-bolt, with the forward face of which the ejecting- shoulderZ must then be practically flush; for, 65 if the ejector were in the position in which it is shown in Fig. 10 at the time of lifting the head of the cartridge being fed, into its high- est position, in which it is squarely in front of the breech-bolt, the ejector would interfere with the feeding of the cartridge, either mak- 70 ing its feeding impossible or cocking it off one way or the other. In this connection I may say that although the ball end of the car- tridge is elevated at about the time the breech- bolt begins to move forward the head of the 75 cartridge is not released and allowed to as- sume a position squarely in front of the breech-bolt until the same has moved forward for something like half its length. In this connection I may say that the use of my .im- 80 proved ejector is not limited to a breech-bolt constructed and operated in the particular manner shown and described. The last feature of ray invention consists in a sliding lock M, arranged to play up and 85 down in a suitable opening M', formed for it in the tie M2 of the frame I. The extreme upper end of the lock is constructed with a lockihg-rib m, taking into a transverse lock- ing-notch m', formed in the under face of the 90 rear end of the slide F2. At its lower end the lock is slotted, as at m2, to receive a guiding and supporting pin m3, while a spring m4, resting at its lower end upon the pin and ex- tending thence upward into the lock, is pro- 95 vided for exerting a constant effort to lift the lock and snap its locking-rib into the locking- notch in the slide. The upward movement of the lock is limited by its stop shoulder m5. The rear face of the lock is cut away, as at 100 m6, to receive a shoulder m1, which enters it from the forward edge of the hammer Ds, which is constructed and arranged so that, just before it reaches the limit of its down or fired position, the shoulder m7 engages with 105 the bottom of the notch m6 and depresses the lock so as to disengage its rib m from the notch m', and thus release the slide. By means of the lock the breech-bolt slide, and hence the breech-bolt, is locked in its closed 110 position, from which it cannot be unlocked except by firing the gun or letting the ham- mer down, which is sometimes done for the particular purpose of unlocking the slide, and hence the breech. 115 It is obvious that the several features of my invention shown and described are not necessarily used in combination with each other in one gun, but that they may be used in any combinations and wherever applicable 120 in other situations, as in guns of other con- struction. I would therefore have it under- stood that I do not limit myself to the exact construction herein shown and described, but hold myself at liberty to make such changes 125 and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention. Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is— .130 1. In a box-magazine fire arm, the combina- tion with a cover or plate, pivotally hung by
4 548,673 its forward end and closing the bottom of the ' box-magazine, of a carrier pivotally mounted at its forward end in the forward end of the said cover or plate, and a spring for lifting 5 the carrier to feed the cartridges upward in the box-magazine, substantially as set forth. 2. In a box-magazine fire arm, the combina- tion with a cover or plate adapted to close the open bottom of the box-magazine and pivot- io ally hung by its forward end, of a carrier piv-. oted at its forward end in the forward end of the cover or plate, and. a spring arranged to. coact with the carrier to lift it to feed; the cartridges upward, in the box-magazine, and 15 to at the same time coact with the cover or plate to hold the same in its closed position, substantially as set forth. 3. In a box-magazine fire arm, thecombina- tion with a cover or plate, adapted to close the 20 open bottom of the box^magazine and pivot- ally hung by its forward end, of acarrier.piv- oted in the forward end of the.said cover or plate, and a spring.arranged to coact with the said cover or plate to hold it in. both its 25 closed and open positions and with the.car- rier to lift the same, when the cover or plate is closed, for feeding the cartridges upward in the box-magazine, substan tially as set forth. 4. In abox.magazine fire-arm, the combina- 30 tion with a cover or plate adapted to close the open bottom of the box magazine, and-pivot- ; ally hung by its*forward, end, which is con-; . structed with a shoulder, of a carrier pivot- ally mounted in the forward end of the said 35 cover or plate and constructed at its forward . end with a shoulder, and a spring co-acting with the said shoulders, substantially as set forth. 5. In a box-magazine fire arm, the combina- 40 tion with a cover or plate adapted to close the open bottom of the box-magazine, pivotally hung by its forward end and constructed in its inner face with a longitudinal groove, of a carrier pivoted in the forward end of the 45. said cover or plate and adapted to enter the said groove therein when the plate or cover is swung into its open position, substantially as set forth. 6. In a box magazine fire-arm, the combina- 50 tion with a box magazine having at its for- ward end a transverse web or tie, of a cover or plate adapted to close the open bottom of the box-magazine, and pivotally hung by its forward end, a carrier pivoted by its forward 55 end in the forward end of the said cover or plate, and constructed at its forward end with a cam-surface which coacts with the.said web or tie in forcing the carrier to follow the.said cover or plate when swung into its open posi- 60 tion, and a spring to hold the cover in its closed position and elevate the carrier to lift the cartridges upward in the box-magazine, substantially as described. 7. In a box-magazine fire arm, thecombina- 65 tion with a box-magazine having at its for- ward end a transverse web or tie, of a cover ’ or plate pivotally hung by its forward end in the forward end of the box-magazine, the open bottom of which it closes when in its closed position, a carrier pivoted at its forward end 70 in the forward end of the said cover or plate at a point eccentric to the pivot thereof, and constructed with a cam surface arranged to engage with the said web or tie when the plate is swung into its open position for causing 75 the carrier to positively swing open with the plate, and a spring coacting with the carrier in the closed position of the plate to feed the cartridges upward in the box-magazine, sub- stantially as set forth. 80 8; Ina boxmagazine fire arm, the combina- tion with a box-magazine, combined with the lower tang of. the?arm and constructed with two spring fingers arranged to engage with the ball portions of the cartridges, and with a 85 box-like, forwardly-inclined guideway to re- ceive the.heads of the cartridges; of a cover or plate pivotally:hung by its forward end : and adapted to close the open bottom of the box-magazine, a carrier pivoted at its forward 90 end in the forward end of the plate or cover, and a carrier-spring coacting with the carrier to lift the cartridges upward in the box-maga- zine, substantially as set forth. 9- . In a fire arm,, the combination with a 95 breech-bolt, of a longitudinally and laterally movable ejector, mounted therein and fur- nished at its forward end with an inwardly projecting ejecting shoulder, and an out- . wardly projecting operating shoulder located 100 in the rear of the ejecting shoulder, and at its rear end with an inwardly projecting lifting shoulder and an outwardly projecting retract- ing shoulder, substantially as set forth. 10. In a fire arm, the combination with a 105 frame constructed with a locking abutment, of a breech-bolt adapted to have its rear end swung into engagement with the said abut- ment, whereby it is locked in its closed posi- tion, and constructed with a longitudinal no groove terminating at its rear end in a recess, the forward wall of which is beveled, and an ejector located in the said groove and con- structed at its forward, end with an ejecting shoulder which engages with the heads of the 115 cartridges, and with an operating shoulder which engages with the said abutment face, and at its rear end with a lifting shoulder which enters the recess of the breech-bolt and .coacts with the beveled forward wall thereof, 120 and with a ttracting shoulder which tempo- rarily engages with the frame of the arm dur- ing the forward movement of the breech, . whereby the ejector is virtually retracted so as to bring its ejecting shoulder into substan- 125 tial alignment with the forward face of the breech-bolt, substantially as set forth. 11. In a fire-arm, the combination with a breech-bolt, of a breech-bolt slide located at one side thereof and in the same horizontal 130 plane therewith, a. hammer, a spring-lifted sliding lock located below the rear end of the
646,673 5 breech-bolt slide, and adapted to engage there- with and lock the same and hence the breech in its closed position, and engaged by the hammer for being depressed and retired into 5 its unlocked position just before the hammer reaches its full down or fired position, sub- stantially as described. In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscrib- ing witnesses. JOHN M. BROWNING. Witnesses: John E. Ramsden, Kate Linehan.
(No Model.) J. M. BROWNING. CARTRIDGE HOLDING PACK FOR MAGAZINE GUNS. No. 547,986. Patented Oct. 15, 1895. ANDREW B.GRAHAM. PHOTO-UTHO. WASHINGTON, D.C.
United States Patent Office* JOHN M. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH TERRITORY, ASSIGNOR TO THE WIN- CHESTER REPEATING ARMS COMPANY, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT. CARTRIDGE-HOLDING PACK FOR MAGAZINE-GUNS. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 547,986, dated October 15, 1895. Application filed July 30( 1895. Serial No. 557,555. (No model.) To all whom it may concern: Be it known that 1, John M. Browning, of Ogden, in the county of Weber and Territory of Utah, have invented a new Improvement 5 in Packs for Box-Magazine Breech-Loading Guns; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with the accompa- nying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and ex- io act description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represents, in— Figure 1, a view in side elevation of one of my improved packs; Fig. 2, a reverse plan 15 view thereof; Fig. 3, a view in transverse sec- tion showing the application of the pack when filled with cartridges to a box-magazine, which is indicated by broken lines; Fig. 4, a view in side elevation of a pack containing a 20 different form of presser-bar. My invention relates to an improvement in packs for box-magazine breech-loading guns, the design being that the user of such an arm shall equip himself with a number of these 25 packs, which he will charge or fill and carry in a suitably-constructed belt. The object of my invention is to produce a simple, compact, and durable pack, con- structed with particular reference to charg- 30 ing the box-magazine with great rapidity. With these ends in view iny invention con- sists in a pack having elastic side walls and open at its lower edge, which is provided with two outwardly-inclined operating-flanges. 35 My invention further consists in certain details of construction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims. As shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 of the draw- 40 ings, the pack A is formed of a single piece of sheet metal and has its lower edge and its rear end partially open, its side walls inclin- ing toward each other and provided at their extreme lower ends with outwardly-turned 45 operating flanges or ears A' A'. Midway of its length the pack is constructed with a wide vertical clearance slot A3, adapted to permit the thumb or finger to follow down through it nearly to the lower edge of the pack. Preferably the pack isprovided with apiv- 50 otal presser-bar, which, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 8, is formed from a single piece of wire bent into U shape, its ends pivoted in the outer face of the side walls of the pack near the forward end, from whence they extend 55 upward and rearward, its rear end being con- tracted to extend inside the walls of the rear portion of the pack, and so that as the presser- bar is forced downward, the doubled end of the bar will take a bearing against the up- 60 permost cartridge, forcing the contents of the pack downward. Instead of forming the presser-bar from wire it may be formed from sheet metal, as indicated in Fig. 4, in which case it will be 65 preferably hung inside the side walls of the pack, it being understood that it will be of metal so thin as not to interfere with the en- trance of cartridges into the pack. This pack is filled by hand by the intro- 70 duction of the cartridges into its open lower edge, the cartridges being forced against the inclined operating flanges or ears A' A', whereby the side walls of the pack are sep- arated and admit the cartridges, which will 75 be held within the pack by the springing of the said walls together again when spreading pressure upon the flanges is removed. To introduce the contents of the pack into the box-magazine of a gnn, the pack is placed 80 upon the open npper edge of the magazine and crowded down thereupon, whereby its flanges or ears will ride over the upper edge thereof and spring its sides apart, after which the cartridges in the pack may be quickly 85 forced into the magazine by pressing down the presser-bar of the pack, which is followed down to the bottom thereof through the clear- ance-slot therein. By the employment of such a pack I am enabled to charge the box- 90 magazine not only conveniently, but with great rapidity. I might dispense with the presser-bar, which however I consider makes the manipu- lation of the pack more positive. 95 I would therefore have it understood that I do not limit myself to the exact construction shown and described, but hold myself at lib-
3 547,986 erty to make such changes as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention. Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters 5 Patent, is— 1. A pack for filling the box magazines of box-magazine, breech-loading guns, the said pack having elastic side walls and being open at its lower edge, which is provided with two io outwardly inclined operating flanges, sub- stantially as set forth. 2. A pack for filling the box-magazines of box-magazine breech-loading guns, the said pack having elastic side walls and being open 15 at its lower edge, which is provided with two outwardly inclined operating flanges, sub- stantially as set forth, and constructed with a wide clearance slot entering it from its up- per edge. 3. A pack for filling the box magazines of 20 box magazine breech-loading guns, having elastic side walls, constructed with a clearance slot entering it from its upper edge, and pro- vided with a pivotal presser-bar arranged to be engaged through the said slot, substan- 25 tially as set forth. In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscrib- ing witnesses. JOHN M. BROWNING. Witnesses: Kate Linehan, John E. Ramsden.
(No Model.) 3 Sheets—Sheet 1. J. M. BROWNING. BOX MAGAZINE FIREARM. ANDREW B.GRAHAM.PHOTO-UTHO.WASKTNGTON'.D.C.
(No Model.) 3 Sheets—Sheet 2. J. M. BROWNING. BOX MAGAZINE FIREARM. ANCmtW B.GRAHAM.PHGTQ-UTHQ.WASHINGTON.O.C.
(No Model.) 3 Sheets—Sheet 3. J. M. BROWNING. BOX MAGAZINE FIREARM. No. 549,345. Patented Nov. 5, 1895. ANDREW B.GRAHAM, PHOTO-UTHO WASHINGTON.DC.
United States Patent Office. JOHN M. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH TERRITORY, ASSIGNOR TO THE WIN- CHESTER REPEATING ARMS COMPANY, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT. BOX-MAGAZINE FIREARM. SPECIFICATION’ forming part of Letters Patent No. 549,345, dated November 5, 1895. Application filed November 19,1891, SerialNci 529,259. (No model,) • To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, John M. Browning, of Ogden, in the county of Weber and Territory of Utah, have invented a new Improvement 5 in Box-Magazine Breech-Loading Guns; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with the accompanying draw- ings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact descrip- io tion of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and rep- resent, in— Figure 1, a broken view, partly in side ele- vation and partly in vertical longitudinal sec- 15 tion, of one form of a gun constructed in ac- cordance with my invention, the parts of the gun being shown in the positions due to them when the gun is closed; Fig. 2, a broken de- tached plan view of the frame of the gun with so the breech-bolt removed and showing the sta- tionary and flexible members of the two-part box-magazine and the recoil-block and the pivotal dog mounted therein; Fig. 3, a de- tached plan view of the finger-lever; Fig. 4, 25 a view corresponding to Fig. 1, but showing the parts in the positions due to them when the gun is open; Fig. 5, a detached view in side elevation of the breech-bolt; Fig. 6, a detached reverse plan view thereof; Fig. 7, a 30 detached view of the breech-bolt in front ele- vation; Fig. 8, a detached plan view of the recoil-block; Fig. 9, a view thereof in side elevation; Fig. 10, a front view thereof; Fig. 11, a detached view in side elevation of the 35 link emplojred to connect the finger - lever with the lower tang of the frame; Fig. 12, a plan view thereof; Fig. 13, a plan view of the carrier-arm; Fig. 14, a view in side ele- vation of the equalizing - lever; Fig. 15, a 40 view in side elevation of the stationary for- ward member of the box-magazine; Fig. 16, a view thereof in rear elevation; Fig. 17, a view thereof in vertical section on the line a Ъ of Fig. 15; Fig. 18, a plan view of the 45 stirrup by means of which the said part of the magazine is secured in place; Fig. 19, a perspective view of one form which the flexi- ble rear member of the magazine may have; Fig. 20, a perspective view of a modified form 50 thereof; Fig. 21, a plan view of the said modi- fied form. My invention relates to an improvement in that class of magazine breech-loading fire- arms which have box instead of tubular mag- azines, the object being to produce a con ven- 55 lent, safe, and effective arm, constructed with particular reference to having a compact, nar- row frame. With these ends in view my invention con- sists in a box-magazine breech-loading fire- 60 arm, a link located to the rear of the finger- lever and having articulate connection with the same and the frame of the arm, whereby the finger-lever has only to straddle the box- magazine. 65 My invention further consists in such a fire- arm when provided with a link located to the rear of its finger-lever, having articulate con- nection with the same and with the frame of the arm and coacting with a recoil-block which 70 locks the breech-bolt in its closed position. My invention further consists in such an arm when provided with a firing-pin having a beveled operating-head at its rear end, and with a recoil-block for locking the breech-bolt 75 in its closed position, and having a notch formed in its upper end for the reception of the said beveled head of the firing-pin. My invention further consists in such an arm when provided with a recoil-block for 80 locking the breech-bolt in its closed position, and constructed at its lower end with a clear- ance space adapting it to fit over a link by which the said block is operated, and which is located to the rear of the finger-lever of the 85 arm and is articulated with the same and with the frame. My invention further consists in such an arm when having certain details of construc- tion and combinations of parts, as will be here- 90 inafter described, and pointed out in the claims. In carrying out my invention I employ a pivotal hook or link A for connecting the finger-lever В with the lower tang Cb of the 95 frame C, but located to the rear of the said lever instead of forward of the same, as has been done in some cases heretofore, the rear end of the said link or hook being connected by a pin A' to the said tang Cb, while its for- 100 ward end has an elongated opening a formed in it to receive a pin A2, mounted in the finger-
549,345 lever, which is thus connected with the link. The said tang Съ is constructed with a slot G' to receive the link when the same is in its closed position, as shown in Fig. 1 of the 5 drawings. The link itself has formed in it a central longitudinal slot A3, Figs. 1, 4,11, and 12, to receive the trigger D, which it carries, the said trigger engaging, when the link is in its closed position, with a searD', projecting io downward into the slot C' before mentioned, controlled by a sear-spring D2 and engaging with notches formed in the usual manner in the hammer D3, which has an antifriction- roller D4 engaged by the hammer-spring D5, as 15 clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The forward end of the link is furnished with an integrally- formed hook or beak A4 extending upward and rearward and adapted to take into an opening E, Figs. 1, 4, 9, and 10, formed to re- 20 ceive it in the vertically-movable recoil-block E'. The said recoil-block is arranged verti- cally in the frame and constructed upon its opposite edges with vertically-arranged longi- tudinal guide-ribs e e, which take into grooves 25 c c, formed to receive them in the opposite walls of the frame, and offsetting from the chamber G2, formed therein to receive the two- part box-magazine, comprising the parts F and F', and the arms В' B', Fig. 3, produced 30 by bifurcating the forward end of the finger- lever В to adapt the same to embrace the two- part box-magazine. It will be noticed by referring to Fig. 2 of the drawings that the frame is very narrow. 35 I am enabled to make it so by locating the link A to the rear of the finger-lever, thus dispensing with the use of a bifurcated piv- otal base-plate or link located in front of the lever, in which case the frame must be adapt- 40 ed in width to receive not onlj’ the box-maga- zine, but also the arms formed by bifurcating the forward end of the finger-lever and the arms of the bifurcated base-plate. The breech bolt H has the opposite faces 45 of its forward end recessed, as at H' H', to receive the extreme inner ends of the arms В.' B' of the finger-lever, the said arms being connected with the block by means of a hori- zontal pin H2. 50 The breech-bolt H has formed in the lower face of its extreme rear end a large transverse notch G, adapted to receive the upper end of the recoil-block. The extractor T and the ejector U, mounted 55 in the breech-bolt, may be of any approved construction and arrangement. I may mention here that the opening a, formed in the link A to receive the pin A2, which connects the same with the flnger-le- 60 ver B, is sufficiently elongated to allow of the lost motion required to permit the recoil-block to be drawn down sufficiently, through the medium of the finger-lever, to clear the breech-bolt before the same begins its rear- 65 ward movement, and on the other hand to permit the breech-bolt to be moved forward into its closed position before the lever be- gins to raise the recoil-block into its closed position. It is to be noted, also, that by lo- cating the trigger in the link A, I effectually 70 guard against the accidental firing of the arm through the medium of the trigger, which, being carried by the link, is only in position to act upon the sear and thus release the hammer when the breech-bolt and recoil- 75 block are in their closed positions. The upper end of the recoil-block is con- structed with a central vertical notch E2, which receives the beveled operating-head I, located at the rear end of the firing-pin I', 80 mounted in the usual manner in the breech- bolt, the said operating-head having a bev- eled face I2, which engages with the upper end of the hammer D3, when the breech-bolt is thrown open and throws the hammer back 85 into its fully-cocked position, as indicated in Fig. 4. Ordinarily in this class of guns the breech-bolt itself engages with the hammer and throws the same back into its fully-cocked position, but under my present invention the 90 same office is performed by the firing-pin, which is thereto provided with a beveled op- erating-head, as described. The rear face of the recoil-block is cut away, as at E3, to clear the sear D' and the hammer D3, while its ex- 95 treme lower end is cut away so as to form the clearance space at E4, Fig. 10, to adapt it to fit down over and embrace the forward end of the link A when the same is in its closed position. The downward movement 100 of the recoil-block is limited by the engage- ment of the upper end of the cut E3 with the hammer. For maintaining the link and finger-lever in their closed positions the former is pro- 105 vided at its lower end with a spring-pressed friction-pin A5, which, when the link and lever are in the said positions, takes into a notch B2, formed in the lever, as shown in Fig. 1. A vertically-arranged elbow-lever J no is mounted on a horizontal pin J' in a ver- tical slot J2, formed in an arm EG, which pro- jects forward from the recoil-block, with which the said elbow-lever moves up and down. A spring J3, mounted in the said arm 115 at a point below the pin J', on which the le- ver is hung, impinges against the same and exerts a constant effort to throw the lower end thereof forward against the closed rear- wall of the flexible rear member or part F' of 120 the two-part magazine, whereby the said part is retained in place. The said lower end of the said lever rides up and down upon the said rear wall of the said part F', the open forward edge whereof opens directly into the 125 open rear end of the main part F of the maga- zine. For the purpose of coupling the two parts of the magazine together so as to pre- vent the flexible part from being longitudi- nally displaced the sides thereof are fur- 130 nished with two corresponding lugs//, which take into corresponding notches/'/',formed in the rear edges of the sides of the station- ary part F, before mentioned. The sidewise
S49,345 3 displacement of the flexible part F' is pre- vented, as will be understood, by the engage- ment of the outer faces of its sides with the inner faces of the arms В' B' of the finger- 5 lever B, as shown in Fig. 2. It will be un- derstood that sufficient clearance is secured for the insertion and removal of the part F' by pressing back the elbow-lever J against the tension of its spring J3. io My object in making the box-magazine in tAVo parts, as described, is to secure elastic inclosure for the heads of the cartridges, which I do by making the part F' of the maga- zine of sheet metal sufficiently light to be 15 elastic, its sides pinching the heads of the cartridges enough to hold them against dis- placement, but yielding readily to allow them to be introduced into the magizine and fed out of the same one by one in the operation 20 of the gun. It will be noted that the char- acter of the connection between the fixed and flexible parts of the magazine in no wise in- terferes with the flexure of the latter. It Avill be seen by reference to Fig. 19 of the 25 drawings that the upper forward corners of the part F' of the magazine are bent slightly inward to form retaining-flngers /2. The up- per rear corners of the sides of the stationary part F of the magazine are correspondingly 30 cut away to form clearance spaces f3 f3, lo- cated at points directly in front of the in- wardly-turned retaining - fingers /2 of the flexible part of the magazine. By forming the clearance spaces f3 fs as described the 35 heads of the cartridges are permitted to emerge from the magazine as soon as the breech - bolt has pushed them forward far enough to clear them from the fingers /2. Inclined guideways /4 /4, located beloAv the 40 clearance spaces/3/3 just described and ex- tending forward beyond the same, are formed opposite each other by cutting away the in- ner faces of the side walls of the stationary portion of the magazine. These guideways 45 have the function of gradually elevating the cartridges through their heads as they are moved forward after their emergence into the clearance spaces /3 f3 and from their confine- ment between the fingers /2 of the part F. 50 It will be understood, of course, that the in- clination of the guideways is pitched, so as to cause the right presentation of the car- tridges to the breech-block G and the bore of the gun-barrel Q. 5 5 When the gun is in condition for operation, the flexible part of the box-magazine is not disturbed, more than to be sprung, when the magazine is being filled Avith cartridges, which are introduced in any approved manner; but 60 I may, if desired, construct the flexible part of the magazine so that it Avill have the ad- ditional function of a pack, which Avill be in- troduced into the gun filled with cartridges and removed therefrom empty of cartridges 65 as often as required. I thus convert the flexible part of the magazine into what I may term a “skeleton pack,” one form of which is shoAvn in Figs. 20 and 21 of the draAvings. This pack F4 is made of sheet metal bent into box-like form and made so as to have flexi- 70 ble sides, which are inrvardly upset to form longitudinal ribs /8/3, between which and the rear Avail of the pack there is just enough space for the heads of the cartridges. The lower ends of the sides of the pack are turned 75 inAvard to form retaining-flngers/5/5 to pre- vent the cartridges from escaping through the lower end of the pack, Avhile the upper- ends of the said sides are bent inward to form retaining-flngers /G /6, Avhich prevent the car- 80 tridges from escaping from the upper end of the pack. It is designed that this pack shall be supplied in duplicate to the gun and filled prior to being introduced thereinto. When in the gun, it operates in substantially the 85 same manner as the flexible part F' before referred to, and is held in place by means of a projection/7, formed upon its rear Avail, in position to be engaged by the notched loAver end of the elbow-lever J. (ShoAvn in Fig. 9.) 90 The stationary member F of the box-maga- zine is formed for the most part from a single piece of sheet metal and has the upper por- tion of its forward end closed by means of a head-block К inserted into it and secured in 95 place by rivets к k. A horizontally-arranged stirrup L, a detail view of which is shoAvn by Fig. 18, is em- ployed for supporting the part F of the box- magazine in place in the frame, the middle 100 portion of the forward end of the said part being inserted between the arms L' L' of the stirrup and the magazine being brazed on to the said arms, the extreme rear ends of which receive screws L2L2, mounted in the side walls 105 of the frame, which is thereto furnished Avith screAV-holes c' c', as shown in Fig. 2. The said part F of the box-magazine is thus supported in place within the frame by means of the said screws L2 L2 through the medium of the no stirrup. Circular openings L3 L8, formed in the arms of the stirup, and corresponding- openings F6, formed in the opposite walls of the box-magazine, are made to lighten the gun, but of course the formation of these 115 openings is optional. A holloAV projection L4, depending from the forward end of the stir- rup and furnished with a toe I, which enters the .for-Avard end of the magazine, is provided for bridging the space between the said end 120 of the magazine and the frame, the exterior- surface of the said arm being thereto curved. The feeding mechanism of the arm com- prises a carrier M, located Avithin the box- magazine and pivotally secured at its rear 125 end to a piA’otal carrier-arm N, the upwardly- curved forward end of which receives a hori- zontal pin 0, passing through the forward end of the stirrup and also through the side walls of the frame, the said forward end of the car- 130 rier-arm having a shoulder n engaged by one end of a bowed spring P, located Avithin a chamber P', formed to receive it at a point di- rectly under the butt-end of the gun-barrel
4 549,345 5 io i5 20 25 3° 35 4° 45 5° 55 60 65 Q. In order to preserve the carrier in sub- stantially-horizontal position during its up- ward movement in the box-magazine, I pro- vide the feeding mechanism with what I shall term an “equalizing-lever” R, which is lo- cated in a long slot N', extending nearly throughout the length of the center of the carrier-arm N, in which the said lever is mounted upon a pivot r. The rear end of this lever engages with the lower face of the carrier near the rear end thereof in front of its pivotal point, while the forward end of the lever is shaped to form a camR', which coacts with a horizontal pin R2, mounted in the stirrup L. The said cam is shaped so that as the equaliz- ing-lever is lifted with the carrier-arm it will be brought into contact with the said pinR2 and thus move the lever as required for main- taining the carrier in the right position of in- clination throughout its upward movement in the box-magazine. At its extreme rear end the carrier is formed with a stop M', which en- gages with the upper face of the extreme rear end of the carrier-arm at the point n', Fig. 13, and prevents the carrier from being un- duly elevated. Under the construction de- scribed the spring Pwill lift the carrier-arm, which in turn will lift the carrier, while, the equalizing-lever will maintain the carrier in the right position of inclination to suitably present the bolts of the cartridges to the bore of the gun-barrel and the heads of the car- tridges to the breech-bolt. It is apparent that in carrying out my in- vention some changes in the construction and arrangement of parts may be made, and, fur- thermore, that the parts are not necessarily limited to use in the particular combination herein shown and described, but might be used in other guns of the same class. Again, the equalizing-lever might be used for insuring the uniform elevation of the carrier of a gun having a different breech-bolt and a different recoil-block, &c. I would therefore have it understood that I do not limit myself to the exact construction herein shown and de- scribed, but hold myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention. Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is— 1. In a box-magazine breech-loading gun, the combination with the frame and the box- magazine thereof, of a breech-bolt, a finger- lever embracing the box-magazine, and con- nected with the said bolt for operating the same, a recoil-block to coact with the breech- bolt for locking the same in its closed posi- tion, and a link located to the rear of the fin- ger-lever, having articulate connection there- with and with the frame, and coacting with the lower end of the recoil-block for raising and lowering the same, substantially as de- scribed. 2. In a box-magazine breech-loading gun, the combination with the frame thereof, of a breech-bolt, a finger-lever connected with the bolt for operating the same, a vertically mov- able recoil-block coacting with the breech- 70 bolt to lock the same in its closed position, and a link located to the rear of the finger lever, having articulate connection therewith and with the frame, and constructed at its forward end with a hook which takes into the 75 recoil-block, whereby the same is operated by the link, substantially as described. 3. In a box-magazine breech-loading gun, the combination with the frame and the box- magazine thereof, of a breech-bolt, a finger- 80 lever embracing the box-magazine and con- nected with the breech-bolt for operating the latter, a recoil-block for locking the breech- bolt in its closed position, a link located at the rear of the finger-lever, having articulate 85 connection therewith and with the frame, and coacting with the lower end of the recoil-block for opening and closing the same, a trigger carried by the said link, a sear mounted in the frame and operated upon by the trigger 90 when the link is in its closed position, and a hammer mounted in the frame, and operated upon by the sear, the rear face of the recoil- block being adapted to clear the hammer and sear, substantially as described. 95 4. In a box-magazine breech-loading gun, the combination with the frame thereof, of a breech-bolt, a firing-pin mounted in the said bolt and provided at its rear end with a beveled operating-head, a recoil-block for locking the 100 said bolt in its closed position, and having a notch formed in its upper end for the recep- tion of the beveled head of the firing-pin, means for operating the said block, and a ham- mer which co-acts with the said head, and 105 which'is thrown into its fully cocked position thereby during the opening movement of the breech-bolt, substantially as described. 5. In a box-magazine breech-loading gun, the combination with the frame and the box- no magazine thereof, of a breech-bolt, a finger- lever connected with the bolt for operating the same, a recoil-block for coacting with the bolt to lock the same in its closed position, and constructed at its lower end with an 115 opening and with a clearance space located below the same; and a link located at the rear of the said lever, having articulate connec- tion with the same and with the frame, and constructed at its forward end with a hook 120 which takes into the said opening for raising and lowering the recoil-block, the clearance space of which adapts it to fit down over the link when the same is in its closed position, substantially as described. 125 6. In a box-magazine breech-loading gun, the combination with a breech-bolt, of a verti- cally movable recoil-block co-operating there- with, and a box magazine, open at its rear end which is kept normally closed by the said 130 block, substantially as described. 7. A box magazine for a breech-loading gun, having its opposite side walls internally cut away at the upper portion of its rear end to
649,345 form guide-ways for the heads of the car- tridges to ride upon as they emerge from the magazine, substantially as set forth. 8. In a breech-loading magazine gun, the 5 combination with the frame thereof, of a two- part magazine of which the rear part, which receives the heads of the cartridges is flexible, and a vertically movable recoil-block having sliding connection with the rear wall of the io rear part of the magazine for holding the said part in right relation to the forward part of the magazine, substantially as described. 9. In a breech-loading magazine gun, the combination with the frame thereof, of a two- 15 part magazine of which the rear part, which receives the heads of the cartridges, is flexible, a vertically movable recoil-block, and a spring-pressed elbow-lever mounted in the said recoil-block and having sliding connec- 20 tion with the rear wall of the flexible rear part of the magazine for holding the said part in place, substantially as described. 10. In a breech-loading magazine gun, the combination with the frame thereof, of a two- 25 part magazine, the main forward part of which is permanently secured within the said frame, and has the upper corners of its rear end cut away to form clearance spaces, and of which the rear part, which receives the heads of the 30 cartridges, is made flexible, and constructed at its upper end with two inwardly turned retaining fingers, from under which the heads of the cartridges emerge into the clearance spaces formed by cutting away the forward part of the magazine, substantially as de- 35 scribed. 11. In a box-magazine, breech-loading gun, the combination with the frame thereof, of an independently formed box magazine located within a chamber formed in the said frame, 40 a stirrup secured to the forward end of the box-magazine, and supporting the same in the frame, a carrier located in the box-maga- zine, a carrier-атт having the carrier pivoted to its rear end, pivotally mounted at its for- 45 ward end in the said stirrup, and bifurcated between its two ends; an equalizing lever pivotally mounted in the carrier-arm between the two members formed by bifurcating the same, engaging at its rear end with the car- 50 rier, and constructed at its forward end with a cam which co-acts with a pin mounted in the stirrup at a point therein forward of the pivot on which the carrier-атт is hung, and a spring extending forward of the stirrup, and 5 5 engaging at its rear end with the carrier-arm, substantially as described. In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscrib- ing witnesses. JOHN M. BROWNING. Witnesses: E. A. Ensign, John E. Ramsden.
5 Sheets—Sheet 1. (No Model.) J. M. BROWNING. MAGAZINE FIREARM. Patented Deo, 3, 1895. No. 550,778. ANDREW B.GRAHAM,PllOTOUmO.WASHINGTON.ОС
5 Sheets—Sheet 2. (No Model.) J. M. BROWNING. MAGAZINE FIREARM. ANDREW 0 GRAHAM.PHOTO-UTHO.WASHINGTON DC
5 Sheets—Sheet 3. (No Model.) J. M. BROWNING. MAGAZINE FIREARM. ANDREW B,GRAHAM.PHOTO-UTHO WASHINGTON DC
(No Model.) 5 Sheets—Sheet 4. J. M. BROWNING. MAGAZINE FIREARM. No. 550,778. Patented Deo. 3, 1895. ANDREW B.GRAHAM. PHOTO-UTHO. WASHINGTON. DC
(No Model.) 5 Sheets—Sheet 5. J. M. BROWNING. MAGAZINE FIREARM. Patented Dao. 3, 1895. No. 550,778. е/ ANDREW B.GRAHAM. PHOCO-UTHO. WASHINGTON, D C
United. States Patent Office» JOHN M. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH TERRITORY, ASSIGNOR TO THE WIN- CHESTER REPEATING ARMS COMPANY, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT. MAGAZINE-FIREARM. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 550,778, dated December 3, 1895. Application filed April 29, 1895. Serial No, 547,519, (No model,) To all whom it may concern: Beit known that I, John M. Browning, of Ogden, in the county of Weber and Territory of Utah, have invented a new Improvement 5 in Breech-Loading Firearms; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connec- tion with the accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, io and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in — Figure 1, a broken view in side elevation of one form which a gun constructed in accord- ance with my invention may assume; Fig. 2, 15 a reverse plan view thereof; Fig. 3, a broken view of the arm in vertical longitudinal sec- tion, showing the position due to the several parts when the gun is closed; Fig. 4, a view in transverse section on the line c d of Fig. 3 20 and looking rearward; Fig. 5, a detached plan view of the lower tang and carrier; Fig. 6, a broken view of the gun in vertical longitudi- nal section, showing the several parts of the action mechanism in the positions due to them 25 at the beginning of the opening movement of the gun. and just after the slide has been moved rearward sufficiently to draw the breech-bolt down into its unlocked position and to have started throwing the hammer 30 back into its cocked position; Fig. 7, a view of the arm in transverse section on the line a Ъ of Fig. 6 and looking forward; Fig. 8, a detached view in perspective of the cartridge- stop; Fig. 9, a view thereof in front elevation; 35 Fig. 10, a broken view of the arm in vertical longitudinal section, designed to show the breech-bolt in its open position, and the mech- anism for lifting the carrier, which part is represented in its depressed position by full 40 lines and in its elevated position by broken lines; Fig. 11, a detached broken view, partly in vertical section and partly in side elevation, showing the sliding safety-lock, the hammer, and the trigger, the breech-bolt slide, safety- 45 lock, hammer, and trigger being in the posi- tions which are due to them just before the slide moves into the limit of its forward move- ment and depresses the lock to release the hammer; Fig. 12, a broken sectional view on 50 the line e f of Fig. 10, showing the rocking lever employed for lifting the carrier; Fig. 13, a detached view in vertical section of the breech-bolt and slide, which are shown in their closed and locked positions; Fig. 14, a similar but less comprehensive view showing 55 the coaction of the rear link with the firing- pin; Fig. 15, a detached broken reverse plan view of the slide and the rear end of the ac- tion-bar; Fig. 16, a broken view in inside ele- vation of the rear end of the action-bar. 60 My invention relates to an improved breech- loading tubular-magazine concealed - ham- mer repeating firearm designed, primarily, to be used as a shotgun, the object being to pro- duce a simple, strong, compact, reliable, and 65 safe arm, constructed with particular refer- ence to ease and convenience of operation, to the better inclosure and protection of the action mechanism, to locking the breech-bolt at a point close to the gun-barrel, to prevent 70 the hand from being injured by the projec- tion of the rear end of the breech-bolt through the frame when the gun is open, and to pre- vent the gases of explosion from being thrown back into the face of the sportsman. 75 With these ends in view my invention con- sists in a firearm having certain details of construction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims. 80 In carrying out my invention, as herein shown, I form four transversely - arranged locking notches or recesses A in the upper wall or top A' of the frame A3 of the arm, the said upper Avail or top being unbroken 85 throughout its length, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. These recesses or notches receive a corresponding number of transverse upward- ly -projecting locking-ribs B, formed upon the upper face of the breech-bolt B', which is con- 90 fined to longitudinal movement back and forth in the frame, except at the end of its forward movement, where it is permitted to move up and down for the entrance of its locking-ribs В into, and their clearance from, 95 the locking notches or recesses A. I do not limit myself to employing four locking-re- cesses and four ribs, as the number thereof may be varied, as desired. Two links B2B2, connected at their upper ends with the breech- 1 oo bolt, from which they depend, are connected at their lower ends with a breech-bolt slide
й 650,778 С, which is moved back and forth in the frame of the arm by means of its connection, as will be described later on, with the rear end of an action-bar D, the forward end of which is at- 5 tached to a sliding handle I)', mounted upon the tubular magazine E, located directly un- der the gun-barrel F, the said handle being therefore situated in front of the action mech- anism of the arm and movable back and forth io in line with the longitudinal axis of the gun- barrel. The breech-bolt reaches the limit of its forward movement before the slide reaches the limit of its forward movement, as shown in Fig. G, which represents in broken lines 15 the links connecting the breech-bolt and slide in inclined positions and with their upper ends in advance of their lower ends. When, therefore, the slide is moved forward to com- plete its forward movement, the links are го brought into upright positions, as shown in Fig. 3, so that the breech-bolt is lifted verti- cally for a distance sufficient to enter all of its transverse locking-ribs into the locking notches or recesses in the frame, whereby the 25 breech-bolt is firmly locked in its closed po- sition. On the other hand, the slide begins its rearward movement before the breech- bolt, whereby the links are turned down into their inclined positions, as shown in Fig. G, 30 and the breech-bolt drawn downward to clear its locking-ribs from the locking-notches of the frame, after which it may be moved di- rectly rearward into its full open position, as seen in Fig. 10. 35 By constructing the arm with locking notches or recesses and the breech-bolt with locking ribs or shoulders, as described, I am enabled to entirely dispense with the use of a recoil-block and means for operating the 40 same, whereby I simplify the arm. Further- more, I thus lock the breech-bolt at a point very near its forward end and close to the gun- barrel, whereby I secure a solid construction and reduce to a minimum the springing of 45 the parts under the force of the recoil follow- ing the explosion of a cartridge. On the other hand, when a recoil-block is used it locks the breech-bolt at or near the extreme rear end thereof, giving a chance for the breech-bolt 50 to spring throughout its entire length. By my invention, therefore, I secure superiorre- sistance and stability in the arm under the shocks of use. The breech-bolt is provided with two ex- 55 tractors b, respectively located in recesses formed in its opposite sides and projecting slightly forward of its forward face. When the breech-bolt reaches the limit of its for- ward movement and before it is lifted into its 60 locked position, the said forward ends of the extractors enter notches b' b', formed to re- ceive them, at opposite points in the rear end of the gun-barrel F, as shown in Fig. 7. In order therefore to provide for the vertical 65 . movement of the breech-bolt inlocking it into and unlocking it from the frame after it reaches the limit of its forward movement, the extractors are flexibly connected or articu- lated with the breech-bolt, so that their rear ends may be lifted up and down wfliile their 70 forward ends remain entered in the said notches. It will be noticed that, as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings, the extractor lies in a horizontal plane with its forward end entered into one of the notches in the gun-barrel, and 75 that, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the extractor has been brought into an inclined position by the lifting of its rear end, conse- quent upon the lifting of the breech-bolt in locking it into the frame. 80 The particular construction of the breech- bolt and extractors for the flexible connection of the latter with the former may, of course, be widely varied, and I do not limit m jrself to any particular way of securing the result 85 mentioned. The extractor shown in Figs. 3 and 6,for instance, is constructed near its rear- end with a vertical slot b2, receiving a verti- cal pin b3, mounted in the breech-bolt. The other extractor, which is not shown,is adapted 90 in any suitable manner to have its rear end moved up and down for the purpose set forth. In order to prevent the firing-pin B3, mount- ed in the breech-bolt B', from being broken by the snapping of the concealed hammer G 95 of the arm when there is no cartridge in the gun, I connect the said pin with a spring B4, Figs. 13 and 14, located in the breech-bolt and arranged to exert a constant effort to pull the pin forward, so as to project its forward 100 end beyond the forward face of the breech- bolt and draw its rear end slightly within the rear face of the breech-bolt, and there- fore out of range of the action of the hammer, should the same be snapped without a car- 105 tridge in the gun. For the positive retraction of the firing-pin after the gun has been fired I provide the rear end of the pin with a depend- ing noseB5 andthe rear face of the upper end of the rear link B2 with a corresponding nose no BG. When the breech-bolt is in its locked position, the nose BG does not interfere with the proper longitudinal movement of the pin. In Fig. 13 of the drawings the breech-bolt is represented in its said locked position and 115 the firing-pin is drawn forward by its spring B4, whereby its forward end is projected be- yond the front face of the breech-bolt audits rear end drawn Avithin the same. With the • breech-bolt and slide in the positions shown 120 in this figure it is clear that if a cartridge were introduced into the gun, its head would push the firing-pin rearward against the ten- sion of the spring B4, so that the rear end of the firing-pin would project beyond the rear 125 face of the breech-bolt, as shown in Fig. 14, and into position to be struck by the hammer for exploding the cartridge. When there is no cartridge in the gun, the spring will assert itself, as aforesaid, and hold the flring-pin in 130 the position shown in Fig. 13; but just as soon as the slide C begins its rearward move- ment the nose BG of the rear link B2 acts upon the depending nose B5of the firing-pin
550,778 s IO 15 20 25 30 35 4° 45 5° 55 60 •65 so as to positively retract the same against the tension of the spring B l, as shown in Fig. 14. The flring-pin being thus positively re- tracted by means of the rear link is held in such retracted position while the breech-bolt and slide are moving rearward into their open positions, and also while they are moving for- ward into their closed positions and until the links are brought into their vertical positions again by the final forward movement of the slide, when the breech-bolt is lifted into its locked position. The link then relieves the firing-pin, which is retained in its retracted position, with its rear end projecting beyond the rear face of the breech-bolt, by the car- tridge in the gun-barrel, if one is there; but if there is no cartridge in the gun-barrel the spring Bl asserts itself to draw the firing- pin inward into a position in which it is pro- tected against in j ury from the sn apping of the hammer. For locking the slide and breech-bolt in their closed and locked positions and for prevent- ing not only the premature snapping of the hammer, but any snapping of the hammer un- til the gun is closed, I employ a sliding safety- lock II, arranged for vertical movement and mounted in the lower tang I of the gun at a point just in front of the trigger-guard I' thereof, the lower end of the lock being ex- posed and having its forward face roughened to facilitate its engagement by the fingers. By reference to Fig. 4 of the drawings it will be seen that the opposite edges of this sliding safety-lock are constructed with ribs 1г, taking into the ends of a guideway formed in the tang. The upper end of the lock coacts with a forwardly-inclined beveled locking-shoul- der c, arranged transversely upon the extreme rear end of the lower face of a lug O', extend- ing rearwardly from the. slide G. When the slide is in its closedposition, the upper end of the sliding safety-lock extends up behind the said shoulder c, whereby the sliding lock locks the slide, and hence the breech-bolt, in its closed position. The sliding safety-lock is maintained in its normally elevated position by means of a spiral spring IT, located in part in a recess formed in the trigger-guard I'and engaging at its upper end with a hook II2, formed integral with the sliding lock and ex- tending rearwardly from the rear face thereof. The sliding lock is further constructed at a point slightly above its longitudinal center with a slot IF, which receives a lug G', extend- ing forward into it from the lower end of the concealed hammer G, the said lug and slot being constructed and arranged so that the lower edge of the lug engages with the lower end wall of the slot just before the hammer reaches its down position, and so that the ham- mer will during the completion of its forward movement push the sliding lock down against the tension of its spring IT for a distance suf- ficient to clear its upper end from the bev- eled locking-shoulder c of the slide 0. The snapping of the hammer in firing the gun therefore operates to depress the sliding lock and unlock the slide and breech-bolt prepara- tory to the opening of the gun after firing it. 70 The hook IF of the sliding lock takes into a notch g, formed in the lower end of the ham- mer at a point in front of and above a notch д', formed therein to receive the nose located at the forward end of the trigger J, the dif- 75 ference between the position and elevation of these two notches causing the hook of the sliding lock to act on the hammer before the trigger acts thereon, whereby the sliding lock will hold the hammer in a little lower posi- 80 tion or a little farther back than the trigger will. On account of the construction just above described the sliding safety - lock virtually takes the place of the trigger for holding the 85 hammer in its cocked position until the breech-bolt and slide are in their closed po- sitions when the gun is being fired as a re- peater by holding back the trigger and oper- ating the handle rapidly. When the gun is 90 being fired in the manner described, with the trigger pulled back so as to entirely clear the hammer, the hook IF of the safety sliding lock springs into the notch g of the hammer, when the same is thrown back into its cocked 95 position hy the engagement of the slide G with its forward face in the rearward move- ment of the slide. The hammer is then held by the sliding safety-lock in its cocked posi- tion until the slide is virtually in its closed 100 position, when the beveled shoulder upon the lower face of its extreme rear end engages with the upper end of the lock and pushes the same downward far enough to disengage the hook from the hammer, which is thus 105 automatically released and allowed to lly for- ward under the action of its spring. This action of the slide in pushing down the lock and releasing the hammer takes place imme- diately before the slide comes to rest, which no it has just time enough to do before the ham- mer springs forward. It is to be understood, furthermore, that by virtue of the direct co- action of my improved sliding safety - lock with the hammer the snapping of the same 115 is prevented until the breech-bolt and slide are in their fully-closed positions, for the rear- wardly-projecting hook of the lock is not dis- engaged from the hammer until the lock is pushed down by the going of the slide into 120 its fully - closed position. Therefore, if the trigger is pulled to release the hammer be- fore the slide has gone into its closed posi- tion, the hammer will not be released, so that the premature snapping of the hammer is 125 prevented and any snapping of it rendered impossible until the gun is fully closed. Here I may say that it must be understood that. the lock is always engaged, when the gun is open, in holding the hammer in its cocked po- 130 sition, for the reason that the sliding safety- I lock is only pushed down out of engagement
550,778 5 ю i5 20 25 3° 35 4° 45 5° 55 6о 65 4 with the hammer by the hammer itself or by the slide when the same is in its closed posi- tion. The reason why the hook of the sliding safety-lock is always engaged with the ham- mer when the gun is open is because the notch g of the hammer is located forward of the notch д' and above the same when the hammer is in its cocked position, so that when the hook of the lock is holding the hammer in its cocked position the nose of the trigger, although it has entered into the notch д', has done so without engaging the hammer so as to have any restraining action thereupon. It follows from this that when the sliding safety- lock is pushed downward by the going of the slide into its fully-closed position, whereby the hook is disengaged from the hammer, the same will be liff ed a trifle by the hammer-spring G2 before it is engaged by the trigger, which then holds the hammer in its cocked position, in- dependent of the sliding safety-lock and un- til the gnn is fired. I may also add that the gun may be closed without cocking the ham- mer by holding the trigger back during the forward movement of the breech-bolt slide, whereby the hammer is permitted to follow the breech-bolt slide forward without being- caught either by the trigger or by the rear- wardly-extending hook of the safety-lock. The function just described will be availed of when the gun is closed with a cartridge in the gun-barrel and it is desired to uncock the hammer without expIoding the cartridge. For this purpose the safety-lock is pulled down by the fingers and the sliding handle moved rearward Avith the trigger held back. Then, during the following forward movement of the handle, the trigger being still held back, the hammer will follow the breech-bolt slide, and comes into its down position without be- ing engaged by the trigger or the hook of the safety-lock, which will be lifted by its spring, but not elevated enough to lock the breech- bolt slide, which is left free to be moved back by the rearward movement of the handle. By preference the sliding safety-lock will be op- erated for unlocking the slide from the breech- bolt by drawing it down by grasping its pro- j ecting lower end with the fingers. I may add in this connection that the lug G' at the rear end of the slide engages with the forward face of the hammer at the base thereof in such a manner that it holds the hammer a way from the firing-pin unless the slide is in its fully-closed position. To prevent the gun from being fired after it is closed and the hammer is cocked, I pro- vide the trigger with a safety-clutch K, for the reception of which the upper portion of the trigger is constructed with a longitudinal chamber J', open at both ends. The forward end of this clutch is constructed with two jaws к and k', adapted when it is pushed for- ward to be engaged with a transverse web or tie I2, Fig. 11, after which the trigger cannot be rocked on its pivot. The said jaw k' ex- tends downward into the trigger-guard and has its face roughened or hatched so that it may be readily engaged by the fingers for 70 pushing the clutch forward or back. The rear end of the clutch is engaged by the trig- ger-spring J2, Avhich thus has not only the function of operating the trigger, but also of holding the clutch in any position into which 75 it may be moved by the sportsman. For the purpose of lifting the carrier L, the rear end of which is pivotally connected with the lower tang I by means of a horizontally- arranged pin L', I employ a rocking lever M, 80 which is located in a vertical recess M', Fig. 5, formed to receive it in the left-hand wall of the forward end of the said lower tang. This lever is fulcrumed upon a horizontal pin or stud M2, mounted in the tang and project- 85 ing into the said recess, the lever being hung so loosely upon the pin or stud that it is free not only to rock back and forward in a verti- cal plane, but also to tip laterally in a plane at a right angle to the longitudinal plane of 90 the gun. A spring M3, interposed between the lever and the bottom of the said recess, exerts a constant effort to hold the lever in an upright position, in which it clears the bot- tom or inner Avail of the recess. The forward 95 end of this lever terminates in a finger m, which coacts Avith the lower edge of the rear end of the action-bar D and also Avith the loAver edge of a flange C2, depending from the left-hand side of the slide C. For the pur- 100 pose of this coaction the said edge of the ac- tion-bar has a notch d formed in it, while the said flange C2 has formed in it a clearance- space c' and an operating-bevel c2, all shoAvn in Fig. 15. At the beginning of the opening 105 movement of the gun the bevel c2, Avhich is formed at the extreme rear end of the said flange C2 of the slide G, engages Avith the fin- ger m of the rocking lever M and tilts and croAvds the same inward into its containing- no recess M' against the tension of the spring M3. After this the said finger of the lever virtu- ally rides upon the inner face of the flange C2 and upon the inner face of the rear end of the action-bar D until the notch dot the bar 115 is brought into coincidence with the finger m, at Avhich time the spring- M3 acts to lift the lever back into its vertical position and thus to move the said finger laterally outAvard into the said notch. The movement of the fin- 120 ger of the lever into the notch of the bar takes place just at the tinreAvhen the slide reaches the extreme limit of its rearward movement. When, noAv, in the closing of the gun the slide and bar are moved foi’Avard, the rear 125 Avail of the said notch engages Avith the rear edge of the finger m, so as to cause the lever M to be rocked on its pivot, Avhereby the fin- ger m' of the lever is lifted against a projec- tion L2, formed in right position at the rear 130 end of the carrier, which is then lifted into its elevated or dischargingposition,asshownby broken lines in Fig. 10. When the carrier has thus been lifted into its elevated position,
550,778 S 5 10 i5 20 25 3° 35 4° 45 5° 55 6о б5 the finger т of the rocking lever rides out of the notch d, but is held down so as to hold the carrier up by means of the flat lower edge of the action-bar and the flat lower edge of the flange of the slide. The lever is thus main- tained in its rocked position until its finger m reaches the clearance-space c' in the flange C2 of the slide. The clearance thus afforded per- riiits the rocking lever to rock rearward on its pivot, its finger m rising into the said space. At the same time that the lever is rocking rearward, as described, the carrier is forced downward by the engagement of its forward end with the forward end of the slide. Dur- ing the subsequent forward movement of the slide the finger m rides out of the clearance- space and upon the inner face of the rear end of the flange C2 of the slide and over the op- erating-bevel c2 thereof until, when the slide is in its fully-closed position, the said bevel stands in front of the said finger. At this time the spring M3, before referred to, oper- ates to push the rocking lever outward against the adjacent side wall of the frame. The next time the. gun is opened the bevel c2 engages with the finger m and crowds the lever in- ward again, and so on. For connecting the rear end of the action- bar with the slide I provide the slide with a transversely-arranged spring-actuated coup- ling-pin N, Fig. 15, the longitudinal move- ment of which is controlled by a small stop- pin n and which is normally projected by means of a coiled spring N', engaging with its inner end. This pin, when projected, en- ters a suitable hole D2 of corresponding di- ameter formed in the extreme rear end of the action-bar. For access to this pin the frame A2 is provided in the right place with a very small aperture a. For disconnecting the slide and action-bar they are moved until the pin is brought into alignment with the opening a, through which a small wire or other similar object is then introduced for pushing the pin inward, so as to clear it from the action-bar, after which the bar and slide may be drawn apart. This spring-actuated pin therefore makes the connection and disconnection of the bar and slide a very easy matter. The cartridge-stop which I employ in this gun consists of a long lever O, hung on a pin O' and bearing directly against the inner face of the right-hand wall of the frame. It is con- structed at its forward end with a depending inwardly-turned stop-finger O2 and with an operating-bevel 0s, the latter being located upon its upper edge in position to be engaged by the forward end of the slide C, so that when the slide is moved forward the forward end of the lever is depressed to retire the stop- flnger, as shown in Fig. 7, and permit the cartridges to feed rearward out of the maga- zine E. On the other hand, when the slide is moved back into its open position its rear- end engages with the operating-bevel O4, formed at the rear end of the lever, -which the slide depresses, so as to lift its forward end and raise its stop-finger into the position shown by broken lines in Fig. 7, where it en- gages with the head of the rearmost car- 70 tridge and holds in check the line of car- tridges in the magazine. When the slide is in its forward position, the stop is pushed down out of the way, so that the rearmost cartridge in the magazine is free to move out 75 of the same, which it does until stopped by engaging with the forward edge of the car- rier, which is rounded out. The cartridge re- mains in this position until the slide, which is then located directly over it, is moved back. 80 When this takes place, the upper edge of the cartridge is released,and the magazine-spring, which is not shown, acts on the cartridge to cause it to ride up over the rounded edge of the carrier and onto the same; but just be- 85 fore the cartridge next ahead of the one on the carrier emerges from the magazine the slide engages with the bevel O4 at the rear end of the lever O, causing the forward end of the lever to be fitted and the stop-finger O2 pre- 90 sented directly in front of the head of the rearmost cartridge in the magazine. By reference to Fig. 4 of the drawings it will be seen that the frame incloses and pro- tects the action mechanism in a degree un- 95 usual in this class of guns, inasmuch as it is solid except for the ejection-opening A3, formed in its right-hand Avail, an d for the long- opening A4, formed in its bottom for the re- ception of the lower tang and for the feeding 100 of cartridges into the magazine under the car- rier, which is lifted for the purpose. I wish to call attention to the fact that the breech- bolt and slide are inclosed, and that neither of them projects through the frame when the 105 gun is open, so that there is no danger to the sportsman of having his hands injured, and, furthermore, there is no danger to him from the gases of explosion, which sometimes fly back into the face of the sportsman in guns no in which there are cuts in the top of the frame. It is apparent from the suggestions made in the foregoing description and of other changes which may obviously be made, that I am not limited in carrying out my invention to the 115 exact construction shown and described. Nor am I limited to using the several features of my invention in combination, for I may use them separately in different guns or in any combinations. Nor do I limit myself to their 120 use in connection with tubular-magazine guns or repeating-guns. I would therefore have it understood that I hold myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my inven- 125 tion. Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is— 1. In a fire-arm, the combination with the 130 frame thereof, of a breech-bolt constructed and arranged to move longitudinally back and forth in the said frame, and also to move vertically up and down therein when at the
660,773 s IO 15 20 25 30 35 4° 45 5° 55 60 65 limit of its forward movement, a breech-bolt slide located below the breech-bolt and mov- able longitudinally back and forth in the frame, one or more links connecting the breech-bolt and the said breech-bolt slide, and means for operating the latter, the breech- bolt and the frame of the arm being con- structed to interlock when the breech-bolt is lifted at the limit of its forward movement, through the medium of the link or links con- necting it with tiie breech-bolt slide, substan- tially as described. 2. In a fire-arm, the combination with the frame thereof, of a breech-bolt which is verti- cally movable at the limit of its forward move- ment, a breech-bolt slide located in the frame at a point below the breech-bolt, one or more links connecting the breech-bolt and the breech-bolt slide which does not reach the limit of its forward movement until after the breech-piece has reached the limit of its for- ward movement, a sliding handle located for- ward of the action-mechanism of the arm, and connection between the said sliding han- dle and the breech-bolt slide which raises and lowers the breech-bolt through the medium of the said link or links, the breech-bolt and the frame of the arm being constructed to in- terlock when the breech-bolt is so lifted, sub- stantially as set forth. 3. In a йте-arm, the combination with the frame thereof having the inner face of its up- per wall or top constructed with one or more locking notches or recesses, of a breech-bolt having longitudinal sliding movement, and also having vertical movement at the limit of its forward movement, and constructed with one or more locking ribs or shoulders to take into the said notches or recesses, a breech- bolt slide located within the said frame at a point below the said breech-bolt, one or more links for connecting the breech-bolt and slide, the said link or links being inclined except when the breech-bolt is at the limit of its for- ward movement and in its locked position, a sliding handle located forward of the action- mechanism of the gun, and an action-bar con- necting the said handle with the said breech- bolt slide, substantially as described. 4. In a fire-arm, the combination with a frame having an imperforate upper wall or top, the inner face of which is constructed with one or more locking recesses; of a breech- bolt confined to sliding movement back and forth in a straight line, and to vertical move- ment at the limit of its forward movement, and constructed upon its upper face with one or more locking ribs or shoulders to take into the said recess or recesses; a breech-bolt slide located within the frame below the breech- bolt and corresponding or substantially cor- responding to the same in length, connection between the bolt and slide for moving the bolt back and forth, and up and down when the bolt has reached the limit of its forward sliding movement, a sliding handle located forward of the frame, and movable back and forth in line with the longitudinal axis there- of, and an action-bar extending rearward from the said handle, and having detachable 70 connection with the forward end of said slide, substantially as described. 5. In a fire-arm, the combination with the frame thereof, of a sliding breech-bolt having vertical movement at the limit of its forward 75 sliding movement, means connected with the said breech-bolt for moving it back and forth and up and down, and one or more extractors applied to the breech-bolt and articulated thereto to permit the vertical movement there- 80 of, after their forward ends have been entered into notches in the gun-barrel, substantially as described. 6. In a fire-arm, the combination with a sliding breech-bolt which is vertically boy- 85 able at the limit of its forward movement, of a breech-bolt slide located within the frame at a point below the breech-bolt, one or more links connecting the breech-bolt with the said slide, means connected with the slide for act- 90 uating it and hence the breech-bolt back and forth, and a firing-pin located in the breech- bolt and adapted to be engaged directly with one of the said links for being positively re- tracted thereby when the gun is opened, sub- 95 stantially as described. 7. In a fire arm, the combination with a breech-bolt, of a firing-pin located therein, and a spring, also located in the breech-bolt and connected with the firing-pin to exert a 100 constant effort to draw the same forward and retract its rear end within the rear face of the breech-bolt, substantially as set forth. 8. In a fire-arm, the combination with the frame thereof, of a sliding breech-bolt which 105 is vertically movable at the limit of its for- ward movement, a breech-bolt slide located within the frame and below the breech-bolt, one or more links connecting the breech-bolt and the said slide, a firing-pin located in the no breech-bolt and constructed at its rear end with a depending nose which engages with a nose formed upon one of the links, whereby the pin is positively retracted when the gun is opened, and a spring located in the breech- 115 bolt and connected with the firing-pin to ex- ert a constant effort to draw the same forward and retract its rear end within the rear face of the bolt, substantially as described. 9. In a fire arm, the combination with the 120 frame thereof, of a sliding breech-bolt, which is movable up and down at the limit of its forward movement, a breech-bolt slide adapt- ed to move back and forth in the frame, one or more- links connecting the said slide and 125 breech-bolt for moving the latter back and forth and up and down, and a handle located forward of the action mechanism of the arm, moving in line with the longitudinal axis of the gun-barrel, and having a rearwardly ex- 130 tending action-bar which is connected with the said slide, substantially as set forth. 10. In a fire arm, the combination with a sliding breeeh-bolt, movable up and down at
550,778 the limit of its forward movement, of a breech- bolt slide adapted to move back and forth with the breech-bolt, two links connecting the slide and breech-bolt, and operating to 5 move the latter back and forth and up and down, a firing-pin located in the breech-bolt, and a spring also located in the breech-bolt and arranged to draw the firing-pin forward to clear its rear end from the rear face of the io breech-bolt, one of the links coacting with the firing pin to positively retract the same when the gun is opened, substantially as set forth. 11. In a fire-arm, the combination -with a 15 sliding breech-bolt, of a breech-bolt slide, a sliding lock, the upper end of which coacts with the rear end of the said breech-bolt slide for locking the same in its closed position, and the lower end of which extends downward 20 into position to be engaged by the fingers for its retraction and the unlocking of the said slide, a hammer adapted to be directly en- gaged by the said lock which holds it in its cocked position, and which in its flight into 25 its down position engages with the said slid- ing lock for depressing the same to unlock the slide, and a trigger co-acting with the ham- mer, substantially as described. 12. In a fire arm, the combination with a 30 breech-bolt, of a breech-bolt slide connected there with and constructed at its rear end with a beveled locking shoulder, a vertically ar- ranged sliding safety lock, adapted at its up- per end to coact with the said shoulder for 35 locking the said slide in its closed position ex- tending downward and exposed for manual operation, and a hammer adapted to engage with the said sliding safety lock for pushing the same downward to unlock the slide, and 40 means for automatically depressing the lock to disengage its hook from the hammer and permit the same to go into its down position, substantially as set forth. 13. In a fire arm, the combination with a 45 vertically arranged sliding safety lock, con- structed with a rearwardly extending hook and having its lower end extended downward and exposed for manual engagement and op- eration, of a spring arranged to exert a con- 50 stant effort to lift the lock, a hammer con- structed to engage with the said hook for be- ing held in its cocked position thereby, and to engage with the lock to depress the same and unlock the slide, and means for automati- 5 5 cally depressing the lock to disengage its hook from the handle and permit the same to go into its down position, substantially as set forth. 14. In a fire arm, the combination with a 60 vertically arranged sliding safety lock, hav- ing its lower end extended downward and ex- posed for manual operation, and constructed with a rearwardly extending hook, of a spring for lifting the said sliding safety lock, and a 65 hammer adapted to be engaged by the said hook when in its cocked position and held therein thereby, and as it reaches its down po- sition to engage with the lock and push the same down into its unlocked position; a trig- ger, also adapted to engage with the hammer 70 and hold the same in its cocked position, and means for engaging with the said sliding safety lock for depressing it to disengage its hook from, the hammer, substantially as set forth. 75 15. In a fire arm, the combination with a vertically arranged sliding safety lock, ex- tended downward and exposed for manual operation, and constructed with a slot, of a . spring arranged to exert a constant effort to 80 lift the said sliding safety lock, a hammer adapted to be engaged by the lock and held in its cocked position thereby, and provided with a forwardly extending lug which enters the slot in the said sliding safety lock and de- 85 presses the same into its unlocked position; a trigger, also coacting with the hammer, and means engaging with the sliding safety lock for depressing the same and disengag- ing the hook thereof from the said hammer, 90 substantially as set forth. 16. In a fire arm, the combination with a sliding breech-bolt, of a breech-bolt slide con- nected therewith, a sliding handle located forward of the action mechanism and con- 95 nected with the said breech-bolt slide for op- erating the same, and hence the breech-bolt, a vertically movable sliding safety lock adapted at its upper end to engage with the rear end of the said slide for locking the same 100 in its closed position, and extended at its lower end into position for manual engage- ment and provided with a slot and a rear- wardly extending hook, a spring coacting with the lock to lift it, a hammer having a 105 notch into which the said hook takes and hav- ing a lug which enters the said slot in the said sliding safety lock, and a trigger, also coacting with the hammer through a notch therein, substantially as set forth. no 17. In a fire-arm, the combination with a trigger and a trigger-spring, of a horizontally arranged safety clutch mounted in the upper portion of the body of the trigger at a point below the pivot thereof, and adapted at its 115 rear end to be engaged with the trigger spring which thus operates the trigger and coacts with the clutch, which, when shot forward engages with a fixed portion of the arm and locks the trigger against pivotal movement, 120 substantially as described. 18. In a fire arm, the combination with a pivotal carrier for lifting the cartridges into position to be introduced into the gun-bar- rel, of a rocking lever adapted to engage 125 with the rear end of the carrier to lift the same, a handle located in front of the action- mechanism of the arm, sliding back and forth in line with the gun-barrel, and constructed with a rearwardly extending action-b ar which 130 coacts with the rocking lever for rocking the same on its pivot and lifting the carrier, sub- stantially as set forth. 19. In a fire arm, the combination with a
550,778 sliding handle, located forward of the action mechanism and moving back and forth in line with the longitudinal axis of the gun-bar- rel and constructed with a rearwardly extend- 5 ing action-bar, of a breech-bolt, a breech- bolt slide connected with the said breech-bolt and with the action-bar, a carrier pivoted at its rear end, and a rocking lever adapted to tilt laterally, engaging with the carrier for i о lifting the same when it is rocked, and co- acting with the breech-bolt slide and the rear end of the action-bar in being rocked to lift and support the carrier, substantially as set forth. 15 20. In a Are arm, the combination with a sliding handle having a rearwardly extending action-bar, of a breech-bolt slide connected with the said action-bar, a pivotal carrier piv- otally hung at its rear end, and a rocking le- 20 ver adapted to be laterally tilted and to be engaged with the carrier for lifting the same and coacting with the action-bar and breech- bolt slide, the action-bar being constructed for the purpose of such coaction with a notch 25 and the breech-bolt slide with a clearance space and bevel, substantially as set forth. 21. In a fire arm, the combination with a sliding handle, located forward of the action mechanism, sliding back and forth in line 30 with the longitudinal axis of the gun-barrel, and having a rearwardly extending action- bar, of a lower tang, a carrier pivoted at its rear end to the said tang, a rocking lever piv- otally mounted in the tang so as to rock back 35 and forth edgewise and tilt sidewise, and con- structed with two fingers, of which the rear and lower finger is arranged to engage with tire carrier for lifting the same, a breech-bolt slide connected with the rear end of the ac~ 40 tion-bar and constructed with a depending flange, located in line with the said bar and constructed with a clearance space and bevel to coact with the forward upper finger of the lever, to receive which the action-bar is notched, and a breech-bolt connected with 45 the breech-bolt slide and operated thereby, substantially as set forth. 22. In a fire arm, the combination with a sliding handle, located forward of the action mechanism and movable back and forth in 50 line with the longitudinal axis of the gun-bar- rel, and constructed with a rearwardly ex- tending action-bar, which is provided at its rear end with a transverse open hole, of a breech-bolt slide, and a spring-actuated coup- 55 ling pin, mounted in the said slide and enter- ing the hole in the action-bar for coupling the same and the said slide together, substantially as set forth. 23. In a tubular magazine fire arm, the com- 60 bination with the magazine thereof, of a car- tridge stop, consisting of a lever pivoted to one of the side walls of the frame so as to move up and down in a vertical plane, and constructed at its forward end with a stop 65 finger and an operating bevel and at its rear end with an operating bevel, and a breech- bolt slide which engages, when in its forward position, with the operating bevel at the for- ward end of the lever for retiring the stop 70 finger, and which engages in its open position with the bevel at the rear end of the lever for bringing the stop finger into play, substan- tially as set forth. In testimony whereof I have signed this 75 specification in the presence of two subscrib- ing witnesses. JOHN M. BROWNING. Witnesses: John E. Ramsden, Kate Linehan.
(No Model.) 6 Sheets—Sheet 1. J. M. BROWNING. MAGAZINE FIREARM. ANOfiEW 8. GRAHAM.PHOTO UTHO.WASHINGTON.DC.
6 Sheets—Sheet 2. J. M. BROWNING. MAGAZINE FIREARM. Patented Jan. 7, 1896. (No Model.) No. 552,864. ANDREW В GRAHAM PHOTO UTHO.WASHINGTON.ОC,
(No Model.) 6 Sheets—Sheet 3. J. M. BROWNING. MAGAZINE FIEEAKM. No. 552,864. Patented Jan. 7, 1896. ANDREW W GRAHAM.PHOTO-LHHO WASHINGTON DC
(No Model.) 6 Sheets—Sheet 4. J. M. BROWNING. MAGAZINE FIREAB.M. No. 552,864. Patented Jan. 7, 1896. 7П7 AKOftCW fl СВАНАМ PHOCO-UTHO WASHIN&QN.DC.
(No Model.) 6 Sheets—Sheet 5. J. M. BROWNING. MAGAZINE FIREARM. No. 552,864. Patented Jan. 7, 1896. ANDREW S.GRAHAM.PHOTO-UniO.WASHINGTON.DC.
(No Model.) 6 Sheets—Sheet 6. J. M. BROWNING. MAGAZINE FIREARM. No. 552,864. Patented Jan. 7, 1896. ANOfttW П GRAHAM PHOTO 1ГТНО. WASHIHGTOH t> C
United States Patent Office. JOITX M. BROWNIXG, OF OGDEX, UTAH TERRITORY. MAGAZINE-FIREARM. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 552,864, dated January 7, 1896. Application filed November 19,1894. Serial No. 529,258. (No model.l To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, John II. Browning, of Ogden, in the county of Weber and Territory' of Utah, have invented a new Improvement 5 in Breech-Loading Magazine-Firearms; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with the accompanying draw- ings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact descrip- io tion of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and rep- resent, in— Figure 1, a broken view in side elevation of the rightsideofanarmconstructedin accord- 15 ance with my invention; Fig. 2, a partial view of the left side of the arm, showing the clear- ance-opening formed in the frame to permit the breeeh-bolt to be moved into its closed po- sition in front of the locking-abutment formed 20 therein; Fig. 3, a broken plan view showing the connection of the forward end of the action-bar with the wearing-sleeve or bush- ing located in the rear end of the sliding sup- porting-handle which is mounted on the mag- 25 azine; Fig. 4, a broken view of the gun in ver- tical longitudinal section, showing the parts in their closed positions; Fig. 5, a correspond- ing view showing the parts in their open po- sitions; Fig. C, a view in vertical transverse 30 section on the line а Ъ of Fig. 8, showing the frame, slide, breech-bolt, and firing-pin; Fig. 7, a broken view of the arm in horizontal sec- tion,looking down upon the breech-bolt, which is in its closed and locked position; Fig. 8, a 35 corresponding view showing the breech-bolt in its closed position but unlocked; Fig. 9, a detached view in inside elevation of the brecch-bolt slide and the action-bar; Fig. 10, a reverse plan view of the breeeh-bolt slide, 40 action-bar, and breeeh-bolt; Fig. 11, a view in vertical transverse section on the line c d of the preceding figure; Fig. 12, a detached view of the breech-bolt in elevation, looking at the right side thereof; Fig. 13, a corre- 45 spending view of the breech-bolt looking at the left side thereof; Fig. 14, a corresponding view of thQ bolt in front elevation; Fig. 15, a detached plan view of the firing-pin; Fig. Id, a similar view of the firing-pin in side 50 elevat ion; Fig. 17, a view of the firing-pin in transverse section on the line e/of Fig. 15; Fig. 18, a detached plan view of the carrier; Fig. 19, a. detached broken plan view of the forward end of the trigger-plate; Fig. 20, a broken view in side elevation showing the 55 pivotal connection of the forward end of the magazine with the gun-barrel and the tapered recess located in the forward end of the frame to receive the beveled head located at the free rear end of the magazine; Fig. 21, a reverse 60 plan view of the parts shown in the preced- ingfigure; Fig.22,a viewin vertical transverse section on the line g h of Fig. 1; Fig. 23, a broken view in horizontal longitudinal section on the line ij of Fig. 1, through the frame, 65 magazine, and the action-bar, showing the cartridge-stop in its retired position, which it takes when the action-bar is moved forward into its closed position; Fig. 24, a similar but less comprehensive view showing the car- 70 tridge-stop thrown into its operative position, which it assumes very soon after the action- bar begins its rearward movement for open- ing the gun; Fig. 25, an enlarged detached reverse plan view in horizontal longitudinal 75 section of the hinged cartridge-stop, the joint of which is shown in section. My invention relates to an improvement in breech-loading firearms, the object being to produce a compact, reliable, safe, durable and So effective arm composed of comparatively few parts and not liable to derangement. With these ends in view my invention con- sists in a breech-loading magazine-firearm having a longitudinally-movable breeeh-bolt 85 slide, and a breeeh-bolt actuated by the said slide in longitudinal and lateral movement, its rear end being moved laterally for locking it in its closed position and for unlocking it therefrom, and its forward end being moved 90 laterally for coupling it with and uncoupling it from the forward end of the said slide, which has longitudinal movement independ- ent of it. My invention further consists in the em- 95 ploymcnt of a firing-pin mounted in a longi- tudinally-movablc brecch-bolt for connecting the same for lateral movement with the rear end of a longitudinally-movable breeeh-bolt slide. 100 My invention further consists in a breeeh- bolt slide, provided at its rear end with an ex-
552,864 g tension which engages with the rear end of a laterally-movable breech-bolt for pushing the same into its locked position. My invention further consists in a breech- 5 bolt constructed at its forward end with a head which coacts with fixed points in the frame for moving the said head and hence the bolt to the right and to the left for coupling the bolt with and uncoupling it from the lon- i3 gitudinally-movable slide by means of which it is moved back and forth. My invention further consists in a pivotal bell-crank lever located beneath a carrier and extending upward through the same into po- 15 sition to be engaged by a longitndinally-mov- able breech-bolt for operating it and lifting the carrier. My invention further consists in a pivotal fender made independent of the carrier, and 20 interposed between the same and an ejection- opening formed in one of the side walls of the frame. My invention further consists in a lifting- lever pivotally mounted in the carrier and en- 25 gaging with a portion of the frame and with the forward end of the trigger-plate for being operated to lift the cartridges as the carrier is lifted. My invention further consists in a ear- 30 tridge-stop which is positively operated in- ward and outward through the medium of the action-bar. My invention further consists in a breech- loading magazine-firearm having certain de- 35 tails of construction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims. In carrying out my invention, as herein shown, I employ a breech-bolt A, located in the 43 frame В of the gun and constructed and ar- ranged so as to be not only reciprocated longi- tudinally backand forth therein, but also so as to be laterally movable therein, its rear end having more range of lateral movement than 45 its forward end. By the term ‘ ‘ frame ” as used above I mean to include all of the gun-frame except the upper tang Ba and the lower tang Bb thereof. The said breech-bolt is partially supported by the frame and partially sup- 50 ported by a breech-bolt slide C, by means of which it is longitudinally reciprocated and through and by which it is moved laterally. The said breech-bolt slide is mounted in the frame, in which it is confined to longitudinal 5 5 movement, being provided upon its upper and lower faces with longitudinal ribs c and c', Figs. 6 and 11, which take into suitable grooves formed in the frame for their reception. To adapt the frame to receive the breech-bolt 60 slide its right-hand side wall is cut away to form a longitudinal slot Ca, Fig. 1, which opens laterally into the chamber formed in the frame. z An action-bar O', connected at its rear end 65 with the forward end of the breech-bolt slide, is provided upon the inner face of its forward end with a vertically-arranged dovetail rib G2, Fig. 3, taking into a dovetail groove D, formed in a lateral enlargement of the inner end of a metal bushing or wearing-sleeve D', 70 secured within the inner end of a sliding sup- porting-handle D2, arranged to slide back and forth upon the tubular magazine D3. To operate the breech-bolt, the said handle is grasped and moved back and forth upon the 75 magazine, whereby the breech-bolt slide G, and hence the breech-bolt A, are actuated in longitudinal movement through the medium of the said action-bar connecting the breech- bolt slide and the sliding supporting-handle. 80 The firing-pin E is employed for loosely coupling the breech-bolt and slide together, the said pin being thereto furnished at its rear end with a lateral flange E', extending to the right and entering a deep horizontal 85 slot C3, formed in the inner face of the said slide, Figs. 6, 7 and 8, which has an inward extension C4 formed at its rear end, through which the said slot extends. The firing-pin, it will be observed by refer- 90 ence to Figs. 7 and 8 of the drawings, is not located parallel with the longitudinal axis of the breech-bolt, bnt is inclined to the said axis, its flange E'emerging laterally from the rear portion of the breech-bolt, so as to enter 95 the slot C3 in the said breech-bolt slide, and the rear end of its flange projecting beyond the rear end of the breech-bolt so as to enter that portion of the said slot C3 contained in the said extension C4 of the breech-bolt slide. 100 The firing-pin and breech-bolt are piv- otally connected by means of a vertically- arranged coupling-pin E2, located in the bolt, and passing through an elongated slot E3, formed in the flange E' of the pin, which is 105 therefore free to move independently of the bolt within the limits of the length of the said slot E3, while the firing-pin and breech-bolt slide are connected by means of a vertically- arranged operating-stud e, located in the ex- no treme rear end of the said flange E' extending above and below the upper and lower faces thereof, and taking into two corresponding oppositely-arranged grooves С5 C5, forwardly inclined with respect to the said slide, lo- 115 ca ‘d in the lateral extension G4, and lead- ing t of the npper and lower walls of the slot G The inner end of the said extension is shapeu co form an operating-bevel G6, Fig. 10, which coacts with the beveled inner 120 corner a of the rear end of the breech-bolt to force the same from right to left for lock- ing it in its closed position. The said end of the extension is also shaped to form an inclined seat C7, upon which the said corner 125 of the breech-bolt rests when the same is both closed and locked. The breech-bolt is thus moved longitudinally back and forth by the breech-bolt slide, while its rear end is moved from right to left directly by the said slide 130 and from left to right bj7 the flring-pin, which is thereto operated by the said slide. The rear end of the bolt also has a locking-face a', which, when the said end of the bolt is swung
552,864 from right to left, coacts with a locking-abut- ment B', formed in the left-hand side of the rear end of the frame, also having a clear- ance-opening B2, formed in it at a point di- 5 rectly in front of the said abutment, as clearly shown in Figs. 2, 7 and 8. At its forward end the breech-bolt is en- larged to form a head A', which though but slightly narrower in width than the width of i о the upper portion of the receiver-chamber B3 is still enough narrower than the same to ad- mit of a slight lateral movement of the said head, and hence the forward end of the bolt therein. To receive the right-hand side of 15 the said head the forward end of the breech- bolt slide is constructed with a recess EG, in which the said end of the bolt is in part sup- ported. The forward end of the bolt is moved from left to right by means of a horizontally го arranged outwardly - projecting operating- shoulder A2 located upon the left-hand side of the said head and coacting with a simi- larly-arranged long guide-rib B4, projecting inwardly into the receiver-chamber B3, from 25 the left-hand wall of the frame, the said rib being cut away at its forward end to form a clearance-space b for the shoulder A' to enter and having its said end beveled at b', as clearly shown in Figs. 7 and 8. The said head, and 30 hence the forward end of the bolt, is moved from right to left just as the bolt is passing into its fully-closed position by means of a bevel A3, formed at the upper right-hand cor- ner of the said head, as shown in Fig. 14, and 35 by means of a coacting bevel B3 formed in the frame at the upper right-hand corner of the forward end of the receiver-chamber B3, as shown in Fig. 7. The said head is moved from right to left and left to right by means 40 of the instrumentalities described, for the purpose of disconnecting the forward end of the breech-bolt from and connecting the said end of the bolt with the forward end of the breech-bolt slide. For the purpose of con- 45 necting the forward end of the breech-bolt with the forward end of the breech-bolt slide a coupling-shoulder A4 is formed in the right- hand side of the head A'of the bolt by notch- ing the same, as clearly shown in Fig. 7, the 50 said shoulder being engaged bjr the inner cor- ner c, Fig. 8, of the extreme forward end of the breech-bolt slide. In illustration of the operation of the breech- bolt slide and breech-bolt let it be supposed 55 that both are in their closed and locked posi- tions. Now when the said slide begins to move back, the inclined forward walls of the grooves С3 C5 in the extension C4 at its rear end will engage with the vertically-arranged operat- 60 ing-stud e, located in the flange'E' of the fir- ing-pin E, and draw the same back without stirring the bolt until the forward end wall of the elongated slbt E3 in the flange E' of the firing-pin brings up against the coupling-pin 65 E3 in the bolt, the rear end of which from this moment begins to move from left to right un- der the drawing action of the firing-pin, which is correspondingly moved by the drawing ac- tion of the forwardly-inclined forward walls of the said grooves С3 C3 before mentioned. 70 The breech-boltis thusunlockedby the swing- ing of the locking-face a' at its rear end away from the locking-abutment B', formed in the left-hand side of the rear end of the frame. The breech-bolt havingthus been moved at its 75 rear end from left to right and unlocked is now free to be moved back into its open position by the breech-bolt slide of the straight longi- tudinal movement whereof it then partakes. Just as soon as the slide begins to move back, 80 the bevel A3 formed on the right-hand side of the head A' located at the forward end of the bolt clears the bevel B5 formed on the right-hand side of the forward end of the re- ceiver-chamber B3. As soon as these bevels 85 have cleared each other the rear end of the operating-shoulder A2, located on the left- hand side of the said head, engages with the bevel b' formed at the forward end of the guide-rib B4 projecting into the left-hand side 90 of the said receiver-chamber. The breech- bolt continuing to move rearward, the said shoulder rides upon the said bevel, whereby the forward end of the bolt is shifted from left to right, whereby its coupling-shoulder 95 A4 is moved directly in front of the inner cor- ner c of the extreme forward end of the breech- bolt slide. The bolt now moves rearward with the said slide, its forward end being maintained in its deflection to the right by 100 means of the guide-rib B4 acting on the shoul- der A2. The bolt and slide thus move into their fully-open positions. At the beginning of the closing movement of the bolt and slide the latter moves forward alone at first, until 105 the corner c of its forward end abuts against the coupling-shoulder A4 before mentioned, after which the bolt and slide move steadily forward until the bevel A3 of the bolt engages with the bevel B5 of the frame B, with the no effect of shifting the forward end of the bolt from right to left, which is permitted by the clearance-space b provided for the shoulder A2 in front of the guide-rib B4, the forward end of which the said shoulder has by this 115 time passed. The described lateral move- ment of the forward end of the bolt from right to left is just sufficient to clear the coupling- shoulder A4 of the bolt from the forward end of the breech-bolt slide, which has now moved 120 the bolt forward as far as it will go. The op- erating-bevel C3 located at the base of the for- ward end of the extension C4 of the slide now engages with the beveled inner corner a of the rear end of the breech-bolt and moves the 125 same laterally from right to left, whereby the locking-face a' at the said end of the breech- bolt is swung in front of the locking-abutment B' of the frame В and a portion of the bolt swung into the clearance-opening Informed in 130 the said frame В in front of the said abutment. Then, just as the bolt is coming into its fully- closed position, the operating-bevel passes the inner cornero of the bolt and the inclined
4 552,864 seat O' formed upon the inner end of the said extension is presented for engagement with the bolt, as shown in Fig. 7, and prevents the rear end of the bolt from moving from right 5 to left, and henee out of its locked position. It will thus be seen that the bolt has longi- tudinal movement with the slide and that its rear end has lateral movement independent thereof for locking it in its closed position in io the frame, and that its forward end has lat- eral movement independent of its rear end for coupling it with and uncoupling it from the forward end of the slide. The head A' at the forward end of the breech- 15 bolt slide is furnished with an extractor F, located at the right, and an extractor F', lo- cated at the left, the latter co-operating with an abutment-block F2, against which the heads of the cartridgesabut, and which projects into 20 the receiver-chamber B3 from the left-hand wall thereof, the said block virtually forming an ejector against which the cart ridges are im- pinged as the breech-bolt is retracted with a cartridge in the grip of the extractors. The 25 clearance-slot F3 formed in the left-hand side of the bolt is provided for clearing the abut- ment or ejector-block F2 when the breech-bolt is in its closed and locked position. The head of the breech-bolt is constructed on its left- 30 hand side with a clearance-slot/, Fig. 13, for clearing the abutment or ejector-block F2 when the breech-bolt is drawn back into its open position. I may mention here that the extractors F and F' may be of any approved 35 construction. The forward end of the breech- bolt is also provided with an operating-finger A5, depending from its head A', having its rear end undercut, as at a2, and beveled, as at a3. The function of this finger will be set forth 40 later on. The carrier II of iny improved gun is bi- furcated at its rear end, Fig. 18, to receive the shank of the hammer I and to embrace the upright I' of the trigger-plate I2, Fig. 19, 45 the carrier and hammer being hung upon a pivot H', passing through the said bifurcated rear end of the carrier, through the shank of the hammer, and through the said npright I' of the trigger-plate I2, the forward end of 50 which fits into the lower face of the rear end of the frame. The said carrier has a long clearance-opening H3, Fig. 18; formed in it to the rear of its longitudinal center for the up- ward passage through it of the upper arm J of 55 a bell-crank or elbow lever, the lower arm J' of which is located in a longitudinal groove I3, Fig. 19, formed in the trigger-plate, and en- gages with the under face of a web or bridge IF, located at the rear end of the carrier, as 60 seen in Fig. 18. The said bell-crank lever is hung upon a horizontal pivot J2 mounted, as shown in Fig. 19, in the forward end of the trigger-plate. 'J’he opening J, Fig. 4, formed in the said bell-crank lever for the reception 65 of the pivot J2, is enough larger in diameter than the same to permit the lever to tip lat- erally from left to right against the tension of the spiral spring J3, mounted on the pin and interposed between the right-hand face of the lever and the adjacent wall of the 70 recess Is in the trigger-plate, as shown in Fig. 19. The said spring is provided for hold- ing the lever in its normal or vertical position, from which it is deflected from left to right against the tension of the spring to permit 75 the operating-finger A5 depending from the head A' at the forward end of thebreech-bolt to push it aside during the rearward move- ment of the said bolt, the left-hand face of the upper end of the upper arm J of the said 80 bell-crank lever being beveled, as at J', Fig. 19, to coact with the bevel a3 formed upon the right-hand corner of the rear end of the said depending finger, as shown in Fig. 10. When the breech-bolt moves forward, the 85 square forward end of the operating-finger A5 abuts against the square rear edge of the up- per arm J of the said bell-crank lever, which is then rocked forward on the pivot or pin J2. The lower arm J' of the lever is thus raised 90 against the web or bridge H4 of the carrier, with the effect of lifting the same, so that the forward end of the carrier rises from the plane of the magazine D3 to the plane of the gun- barrel G. 95 It will be understood that the carrier is lifted as described at the beginning of the forward movement of the breech-bolt, and is maintained in its elevated position until the breech-bolt has entered the forward end of 100 the cartridge lifted by the carrier into the gnn-barrel, after which the operating-finger A5 of the breech-bolt passes forward of and clears the upper arm J of the said bell-crank lever and thus permits the carrier to drop 105 back into its depressed position of readiness to receive another cartridge from the maga- zine. When, on the other hand, the breech- bolt is moving back into its open position the bevel a3 of its depending finger A5 engages no with the bevel j' of the upper arm J of the bell-crank lever, which yields laterally, tip- ping from left to right against the tension of the spring J3, which immediately rights the le- ver after the said operating-finger has passed 115 by and to the rear of it and thereafter holds it in- its righted position, in which the square forward edge of the said finger A5 engages with the square rear edge of the said arm, when the breech-bolt is again moved forward. 120 For the purpose of preventing the chance escape of the cartridges from the ejection- opening B6, formed in the right wall of the frame B, when the cartridges are being trans- ferred from the magazine to the barrel of the 125 gun, and also for assisting in guiding the car- tridges into the gun-barrel, I provide the car- rier upon its right-hand side with a fender K, consisting of a vertically-arranged thin plate of metal rigidly secured at its inner end to a 130 horizontal arbor K', the ends of which are journaled in the carrier and which is provided with a short forwardly-projecting finger K2, which engages with the free inner end of a
552,864 flat slicct-mctal spring K8, the forward encl of which is rigidly secured to the bottom of the forward end of the carrier, with which the fender is thus pivotally and yieldingly con- 5 connected, so as to stand above the bottom of the forward end thereof. The breech-bolt slide gradually closes the said ejection-open- ing from the beginning to the end of its forward movement, when it completely closes io the said opening, but the carrier is lifted at the beginning of the forward movement of the said slide, and hence before the said opening is closed to any extent thereby, wherefore the desirability of using the fender to prevent the 15 accidental escape of the cartridges through the said opening before the slide has moved far enough forward to prevent their escape and for assisting in guiding the cartridges into the gun-barrel. The fender has still an- 20 other function, for its upper edge is engaged by the slide as the same is closed, whereby the slide acts through the medium of the fender and the spring thereof in holding the carrier down in proper position and insures 25 its being depressed when the slide is closed. For the purpose of lifting the rear ends of the cartridges above the floor of the carrier and. thus assisting in their introduction into the gun-barrel, I provide the carrier with a 30 lifting-lever L, which is hung upon the hori- zontal arbor or pin K' of the fender K. The lower portion of the rear end of this lever rests npon the forward end of the trigger- plate I2, while the upper portion of its rear 35 end will engage with the web B7 of the frame in such a manner that when the carrier and hence the lever are lifted, the latter will be turned on its center and its forward end raised above the floor of the carrier, with the effect 40 of lifting the rear ends of the cartridges. When in its depressed or normal position, the forward end of the carrier occupies the open- ing Ba, formed in the bottom of the frame to permit the chargingof the magazine with car- 45 tridges, which are fed into the frame through the said opening and pushed forward into the rear end of the magazine D8, one by one by hand, the carrier being forced upward each time so as to permit the cartridges to pass 50 under it into the rear end of the magazine, which is furnished with a spring-actuated fol- lower D4 of any approved construction. For preventing the cartridges from enter- ing the frame from the magazine, except one 55 at a time as required, I employ a cartridge- stop M, Figs. 23, 24, and 25, pivotally secured at its rear end to a small plate ЛГ, rigidly se- cured by means of a screw m within the right wall of the frame, which is longitudinally re- 60 cessed to receive the said stop and plate, which are pivoted together on the knuckle principle, and so as to limit the inward move- ment of the stop, which is constructed upon the inner face of its forward end with a stop- 65 shoulder m' which, when in its operating posi- tion, engages the heads of the cartridges so as to prevent the same from emerging from the magazine. The outer face of the free forward end of the stop is furnished with an outwardly-projecting operating-arm m2, hav- 70 ing a depending finger m3, the ends of the inner face whereof are outwardly beveled, as seen in Fig. 25. The said arm projects out- ward through an opening nd, Figs. 20 and 22, formed in the right wall of the frame and into 75 a long groove m5 formed in the inner face of the action-bar C', and curved outwardly at its rear end, as at mG, to clear a draw-flange m7, the outer face of the forward end of which is bev- eled, as at m3, and which stands in the plane So of the long groove in5. Supposing the action- bar to be in its fully-closed position, the de- pending finger m3 of the arm m2 of the stop will be located in the outwardly-curved, por- tion m3 of the groove m5 in the action-bar, as 85 shown in Fig. 23. Now when the said bar is moved rearward the curved forward end of the curved portion m3 of the groove will force the finger m3 inward, and hence the arm m2, whereby the stop will be caused to move 90 inward into the path of the cartridges, as shown in Fig. 24, and will be retained in this position by the engagement of the said finger with the outer wall of the straight portion of the groove ms in the bar. When, on the other 95 hand, in the closing movement of the bar the same approaches its closed position, the bevel ms at the forward end of the draw-flange m7 will engage with the beveled inner face of the rear end of the finger m? and draw the said тэо finger outward into the curved portion of the groove and outside of the said draw-flange, whereby the stop will be positively swung out of the path of the cartridges as they emerge from the magazine. Then when the bar is 105 moved rearward the curved forward end of the curved portion m3 of the groove will force the stop inward again. It will thus be seen that I do not depend upon the action of a spring for either movement of the stop, but no that under my construction the stop is posi- tively moved into its operative position and positively moved into its retired position, se- curing perfect reliability’ in the operation of the stop. 115 For preventing the breeeh-bolt slide from being deflected up or down I provide the frame with a guiding-lug M2, Figs. 20 and 23, which is located on the right hand of the frame В at the extreme forward end thereof 120 and enters the straight portion of the long groove ?n5, formed in the inner face of the ac- tion-bar, which is thereby guided and pre- vented from being moved up or down, except as it is disengaged from the said lug. 125 Another feature of my invention is the utilization of the magazine as a lever for screwing the barrel into the frame and un- screwing it therefrom, and also as a wedge for tightening the barrel in the frame B. The 130 magazine D3is pivotally connected by means of a screw-stud D5 with a heavy lug D6 de- pending from the lower face of the gun-barrel G. The rear end of the magazine is fur-
6 552,864 nished with a head d, having its rear or outer face beveled or inclined, as at d', the said head being adapted to be entered into a deep recess cZ3, Fig. 5, formed to receive it in the 5 lower face of the forward end of the frame and having its rear Avail forwardly inclined. To secure the barrel to the frame the breech- bolt is fully opened and the rear end of the magazine disconnected from the frame, so io that it may be used as a handle-lever. The gun-barrel is then inserted into the frame with the magazine turned one-quarter to the left and turned to the right as far as it will go, using the magazine as a lever for turning 15 it. Then the follower D4 of the magazine is pushed inward even with the rear end thereof and the magazine closed in, so that its head d will enter the recess d2 in the frame. When the said head has been pushed home in the 20 said recess, the locking-plate D' is pushed forward to engage with the lower edge of the head for holding the magazine in its closed , position. The said locking-plate, Figs. 1G and 17, is provided with a central slot, per- 25 mitting it to be moved back and forth, and is connected with the frame by means of a screw ds. To remove the barrel from the frame the plate D7 is pushed back so as to free the rear end of the magazine, which is then turned 30 down so as to form a lever, by means of which the barrel is turned one-quarter turn from right to left, after which the barrel may be removed. By the construction just above de- scribed the operation of removing and apply- 35 ing the barrel is made very easy, while at the same time the connection of the barrel with the frame is made exceedingly firm. The turning of the barrel a quarter-turn in one direction for connecting it with the frame 40 and a quarter-turn in the opposite direction for disconnecting it therefrom, as above de- scribed, assumes that it as well as the frame has suitable interrupted screw-threads which are too well known to require illustration or 45 . detailed description. The magazine would have the same value as a lever, however, if the barrel and frame had continuous threads requiring the complete rotation of the barrel. For locking the breech-bolt slide, andhence 50 the breech-bolt, in their closed positions I employ a safety-catch N, mounted in the web or bridge B7 of the frame В at a point just- in front of the hammer, and slightly inclined rearward, its upper end being adapted to take 55 into a notch N' formed transversely in the extreme rear end of the extension G4 of the breech-bolt slide G, and its lower end being engaged with a spring №, secured to the up- per tang B“ of the gun-frame, which also in- 60 eludes the frame В and the lower tang Въ. The upper end of this eatch is furnished with a rearwardly-projecting finger №, which is engaged by the hammer I, when the same is thrown forward, in such a manner as to de- 65 press the eatch and, clear its upper end from the notch N' in thc’brccch-bolt slide, but the hammer depresses the catch in the manner set forth only when in its closed position, so that when it is half-cocked or full-cocked the breech-bolt slide and breeeh-bolt are finnly 70 held in their locked positions by the catch. When the hammer is down, however, as it will be after the firing of the gun, it holds the catch down, so that the same does not in- terfere with the action of the breech-bolt slide 75 in automatically throwing the hammer back to its full-cocked position. The catch thus prevents the manipulation of the gun except under certain conditions, which are ordinarily present only when the same has been fired or 80 the hammer let down. The trigger 0, guard O', hammer-spring O3, and other instrumentalities not set forth may be considered to be of any approved construc- tion. 85 Inasmuch as the operation of the gun has been so fully set forth in connection with the description of its construction I deem it un- necessary to describe its operation further. It is apparent that in carrying out my in- 90 vention some changes in the construction herein shown and described may be made, and I would therefore have it understood that I do not limit myself to the exact construc- tion herein set forth, but hold myself at lib- 95 erty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention. Having fully described my invention, what I claim asnew, and desire to secure by Letters 100 Patent, is— 1. In a breech-loading magazine gun, the combination with a frame having a chamber formed in it and also having one of its side walls cut away to form a longitudinal slot 105 which opens laterally into the said chamber, of a longitudinally movable breech-bolt slide located in the said slot and movable back and forth therein, and a breech-bolt located in the said chamber and actuated by the said no slide in longitudinal and lateral movement, and connected at its rear end therewith, its rear end being moved laterally for engaging it with the frame to lock it in its closed posi- tion and for disengaging it from the frame to 115 unlock it, and its forward end which is dis- connected from the slide, being moved later- ally for coupling it with and uncoupling it from the forward end of the slide which has longitudinal movement independent of it, 120 substantially as described. 2. In a breech-loading magazine gun, the combination with a frame having a locking abutment at its rear end, and fixed breech- bolt-operating points at its forward end of 125 a longitudinally movable breech-bolt slide mounted in the said frame, and a longitudi- nally and laterally movable breech-bolt con- nected with the said slide for actuation there- by, its rear end being moved by the slide into 130 and out of engagement with the said abut- ment, and its forward end being constructed to coact with the said fixed points whercbj7 it is moved laterally from left to right and from
552,864 right to,left for being coupled with and un- coupled from the forward end of the said slide, which has longitudinal movement independ- ent of it, substantially as described. 5 3. In a breech-loading magazine gun, the combination with the frame thereof, of a lon- gitudinally and laterally movable breech-bolt and a longitudinally movable „breech - bolt slide mounted in the said frame, and a firing- io pin mounted in the breech-bolt, and con- nected at its rear end with the slide which moves it and hence the rear end of the breech- bolt laterally, substantially as described. 4. In a breech-loading magazine gun, the 15 combination with the frame thereof, of a lon- gitudinally7 and laterally movable breech- bolt, a longitudinally- movable breech-bolt slide mounted in the frame and having a for- wardly7 inclined groove in its rear end, and a 20 firing-pin located in the breech-bolt, and pro- vided at its rear end with a stud entering the said groove, substantially as set forth, and whereby,through the medium of the said stud and groove, the rear ends of the firing-pin and 25 breech-bolt are moved laterally in one direc- tion, substantially as described. 5. In a breech-loading magazine-gun, the combination with a frame, constructed at its rear end with a locking abutment, of a longi- 30 tudinally7 and laterally movable breech-bolt adapted at its rear end to co-act with the said abutment, a longitudinally movable breech- bolt slide mounted in the frame, and a firing- pin located in the breech-bolt and connected 35 with the said slide which imparts lateral movement to the rear end of the pin and hence the breech-bolt, whereby the bolt is moved out , of range with the said locking abutment of the frame, substantially as set forth. 40 6. In a breech-loading magazine gun, the combination with a frame, of a longitudinally movable breech-bolt slide mounted therein, and provided at its rear end with an extension having its inner end beveled, a longitudinally 45 and laterally7 movable breech bolt, the rear end of which is engaged by the said bevel, whereby7 the rear encl of the bolt is moved laterally7 into its locked position, substantially as described. 50 7. In a breech-loading magazine gun, the combination with a frame, of a longitudinally7 movable breech-bolt slide mounted therein, a longitudinally and laterally movable breech- bolt, a firing-pin located therein and con- 55 nectedatitsrear endwith the said slide, which is adapted at its rear end to engage directly with the bolt for moving the same laterally, substantially as described, and whereby the bolt is moved longitudinally by the slide, and 60 laterally in one direction by7 the slide acting through the pin, and laterally in the other di- rection by being directly engaged thereby. 8. In a breech-loading magazine gun, the combination with a frame having a locking 65 abutment at its rear end, of a longitudinally movable breech-bolt slide mounted therein, and having its rear end provided with an in- ward extension having an operating bevel, a longitudinal slot and forwardly inclined grooves, a breech-bolt, and a firing-pin mount- 70 ed therein and projecting at its rear end therefrom into the said slot, and carrying a stud entering the said grooves, substantially7 as described, and whereby7 the rear end of the bolt is moved laterally7 in front of the said 75 abutment by the direct engagment with it of the said bevel, and whereby7 also the said end of the bolt is moved laterally7 away7 from the said abutment by7 the firing-pin which is moved laterally by7 the eo-action of the said 8c grooves and stud when the slide is moved rearward. 9. In a breech-loading magazine gun, the combination with a frame provided with a longitudinal guide-rib extending inward from 85 the left wall of its chamber, of a longitudinally7 and laterally movable breech-bolt, the for- ward end of which is furnished with an out- wardly7 projecting operating shoulder located on its left side to co-act with the said guide- 90 rib, and with a coupling shoulder located on its right side, and a longitudinally7 movable breech-bolt slide mounted in the frame, and engaging at its forward end with the coupling shoulder of the breech-bolt when the same is 95 moved from left to right by the action of the said operating shoulder and rib, the said coupling shoulder being cleared from the for- ward end of the slide by the movement of the forward end of the breech-bolt from right to 100 left as the same reaches its fully closed posi- tion and engages with the receiver, substan- tially as described. 10. In a breech-loading magazine gnn, the combination with the frame thereof, of a Ion- 105 gitudinally movable breech-bolt, a carrier pivotally hung by its rear end, and a pivotal ; bell-crank lever having its upper arm ex- tended upward through the carrier in posi- tion to be engaged by the breech-bolt in the no forward movement thereof, whereby the lever is tilted forward with the effect of lifting its lower arm against the carrier, which is thereby lifted, substantially as set forth. 11. In a breech-loading magazine gun, the 115 combination with the frame thereof, of a lon- gitudinally movable breech-bolt, a carrier pivotally hung by its rear end, and a bell- crank lever pivotally mounted with capacity7 for lateral deflection, at a point below the 120 carrier through which its upper arm extends in position to be engaged by the breech-bolt when the same moves forward and back, and whereby the lower arm of the lever is lifted against the carrier, which is thereby raised, 125 when the bolt is moved forward, and the said lever is laterally deflected for clearing the bolt in the rearward movement thereof, substan- tially as described. 12. In a breech-loading magazine gun, the 130 combination with the frame thereof, of a breech-bolt having a beveled operating fin- ger depending from its forward end, a trig- ger-plate mounted in the rear end of the said
8 552,864 frame, a carrier pivotally connected by its rear end with the said plate, and a bell-crank lever pivotallj- mounted in the forward end of the said plate, with capacity for lateral-de- 5 flection, and having its lower arm arranged to lift the carrier, and its upper arm extended upward through the same in position to be engaged by the said finger which engages with it and rocks the lever and lifts the car- lo rier in the forward movement of the bolt, and engages with it, and deflects the lever later- ally in the rearward movement of the bolt, substantially as described. 13. In a breech-loading magazine gun, the 15 combination with a frame having an ejection- opening formed in one of its side walls, of a carrier located within the chamber formed in the said frame, and a fender formed inde- pendently of the said carrier, set into a recess 20 in one of the sides thereof, pivotally attached thereto by its rear end and having inde- pendent vertical movement, substantially as described. 14. In a breech-loading magazine gun, the 25 combination with the frame thereof, the same having an ejection-opening formed in one of its side walls, of a carrier, a pivotal fender made independently of the carrier, interposed between the same and the said ejection-open- 30 ing, and a spring coacting with the fender, substantially as set forth. 15. In a breech-loading magazine gun, the combination with the frame thereof, the same having an ejection-opening formed in one of 35 its side walls, of a longitudinally-movable breech-bolt, a breeeh-bolt slide, a carrier, a pivotal fender formed independently of the carrier and located between the same and the said opening, and a spring coacting with the 4° fender to assist the slide in holding the car- rier in its depressed position when the gun is closed, substantially as described. 1G. In a breech-loading magazine gun, the combination with the frame thereof, of a 45 breeeh-bolt located therein, a trigger plate extending at its forward end into the lower portion of the said frame, a carrier pivotally hung by its rear end in the forward end of the said trigger plate, and a lifting lever piv- 50 otally mounted in the carrier, and having its rear end arranged to engage with the. said plate, and also with a portion of the frame, whereby, when the carrier is elevated,the for- ward end of the lever will rise above the floor 55 thereof, substantially as described. 17. In a breech-loading magazine gun, the combination with the frame thereof, of a tubular magazine, a longitudinally movable breech-bolt, a longitudinally movable breech- bolt slide mounted in the frame, and operat- 60 ing the said bolt, a sliding supporting handle mounted on the magazine for operation back and forth thereon, an action-bar connecting the said slide and handle, and a cartridge stop mounted in the frame, and connected 65 with the action-bar for positive inward and outward movement thereby, substantially as described. 18. In a breech-loading magazine gun, the combination with the frame thereof, of a 70 tubular magazine, a longitudinally movable breech-bolt, a longitudinally movable breeeh- bolt slide mounted in the frame and operat- ing the said bolt, a sliding supporting handle mounted on the magazine for operation back 75 and forth thereon, an action-bar connect- ing the said breeeh-bolt slide and handle, and provided at the rear end of its inner face with a draw flange, and constructed with a longitudinal groove, the rear end of which is 80 curved outward to clear the said flange; and a cartridge stop mounted in the frame, and furnished with an outwardly projecting lat- eral finger entering the said groove, and co- acting therewith and with the said flange for 85 positively moving the stop inward and out- ward as the slide is moved forward and back, substantially as described. 19. In a breech-loading magazine gun, the combination with the frame thereof, of a Ion- 90 gitudinally movable breeeh-bolt, a breeeh- bolt slide mounted in the frame and con- nected with the breech-bolt for operating the same, a tubular magazine, a sliding support- ing handle mounted thereupon, an action- 95 bar connecting the said slide and handle, a safety catch normally engaging with the rear end of the slide to lock the same, and hence the breech-bolt in their closed positions, and a hammer adapted when in it is closed posi- 100 tion to depress the said safety-catch and un- lock the slide, substantially as described. In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscrib- ing witnesses. JOHN M. BROWNING. Witnesses: JohnE. Ramsden, Kate Linehan.
(No Model.) 6 Sheets—Sheet 1. J. M. BROWNING. MAGAZINE FIREARM. No. 577,281. Patented Feb. 16, 1897. THE NORRIS PETERS CO., PHOTO-uTHO., WASHINGTON. Cn c.
(No Model.) 6 Sheets—Sheet 2. J. M. BROWNING. MAGAZINE FIREARM. No. 577,281. Patented Feb. 16, 1897. THE NORRIS PETERS CO., PHOTO-LiTHO., WASHINGTON. D. C.
(No Model.) 6 Sheets—Sheet 3. J. M. BROWNING. MAGAZINE FIREARM. No. 577,281. Patented Feb. 16, 1897. THE NORRlS PETERS CO , PHOTO-UlTHO , WASHINGTON. D. C.
(No Model.) 6 Sheets—Sheet 4. J. M. BROWNING. MAGAZINE FIREARM. Patented Feb. 16, 1897. No. 577,281. THE NCRfilS PETERS CO . PHOTO.L1THO , .WASHINGTOM, О. C.
(No Model.) 6 Sheets—Sheet 5. J. M. BROWNING. MAGAZINE FIREABM. No. 577,281. Patented Feb. 16, 1897. THE NORRIS PETER&.CO. PHOTO-LITHO , WASHINGTON. D..C.
(No Model.) 6 Sheets—Sheet 6. J. M. BROWNING. MAGAZINE FIREARM. No. 577,281. Patented Feb. 16, 1897. The NOR'R.S PETERS CO..-PHOTO-UTHO.. WASHINGTON, D c
United States Patent Office. JOHN M. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH, ASSIGNOR TO THE WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS COMPANY, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT. MAGAZINE-FIREARM. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 577,281, dated February 16,1897. Application filed March 16, 1896, Serial No, 583,357, (Nc model.) To all whom it may concern; Be it known that I, JohnM. Browning, of Ogden, in the county of Weber and State of Utah, have invented a new Improvement in 5 Magazine-Firearms; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with tlie accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and io which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in— Figure 1, a broken view, in side elevation, of one form which a gun constructed in ac- cordance with my invention may assume; 15 Fig. 2, a view thereof in vertical transverse section on the line a bof Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a de- tached view in elevation of the forward end of the gun-frame; Fig. 4, a view of the gun in vertical transverse section on the line c d 20 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5, a detached broken view, partly in elevation and partly in section,show- ing the rear end of the gun-barrel and the coupling and compensating collars applied thereto; Fig. G, a detached view of the coup- 25 ling-collar; Fig. 7, a detached view of the compensating collar; Fig. 8, a perspective view thereof; Fig. 9, a broken view, partly in elevation and partly in section, of the forward end of the magazine and the plug located 30 therein; Fig. 10, a broken view, partly in ver- tical section and partly in elevation, of the gun with the several elements of its action mechanism shown in the positions due to them when the gun is closed and the hammer 35 is down; Fig. 11, a similar but less compre- hensive view showing the breech-bolt slide in the position which it has just before it begins to lift the recoil-block into its locked position; Fig. 12, a view corresponding to Fig. 10, but 40 showing the elements of the action mechan- ism in the positions due to them when the gun is fully opened; Fig. 12% a view corre- sponding to the preceding figure so far as the positions of the parts are concerned, but with 45 the near side of the tang-head broken away to show the parts in full lines instead of re- lying upon their indication by dotted lines, as in the preceding figure; Fig. 13, a view, partly in plan and partly in horizontal section, show- 50 ing the breech-bolt slide, the rear end of the action-bar, and the gun-frame, the coupling- pin mounted in the slide being alined with the hole in the action-bar and with holes formed in the frame for the insertion of the coupling-pin; Fig. 14, a detached reverse 55 view of the breech-bolt slide; Fig. 15, a view in side elevation of the combined cartridge- stop and carrier spring; Fig. 16, a detached view, in side elevation, of the tang-head, tang, and hammer; Fig. 17, a view in front eleva- 60 tion of the tang-head, the hammer, and the breech-bolt slide; Fig. 18, a broken view thereof in longitudinal section and designed particularly to show the safety-dog; Fig. 19, a broken plan view thereof, showing the 65 safety-dog and the heavy safety-dog spring; Fig. 20, a detached view, in side elevation, of the carrier; Fig. 21, apian view thereof; Fig. 21a, a detached perspective view of the car- rier; Fig. 22, a broken view, in side elevation, 70 of the tang-head and carrier with reference to showing the groove formed in one of the side Avails of the latter; Fig. 23, a detached plan view of the breech-block; Fig. 23a, a view7 showing in front and in side elevation the 75 pivot-pin which pivotally connects the recoil- block with the breech-block; Fig. 24, a view thereof in front elevation; Fig. 25, a reverse plan view thereof; Fig. 26, a detached view of such a key as may be used in connection 80 with the assemblance and taking down of the gun. My invention relates to an improvement in that class of firearms in -which the action mechanism is operated by means of a sliding 85 handle located forward of the frame of the arm and arranged to be reciprocated back and forth in a line parallel or substantially parallel with tlie axis of the gun-barrel. The main object of my present invention 90 is to provide a gnn of the class described with simple and effective means for preventing the user of the arm from prematurely open- ing the gun in the interval between the fall- ing of the hammer and the explosion of the 95 cartridge by exerting a premature rearward draft upon the sliding handle. Further ob- jects of my invention are to produce a sim- ple, compact, and reliable gun composed of comparatively few parts, and hot liable to too
577,281 5 IO К 20 25 3° 35 40 45 5° 55 бо б5 г accident or derangement, and constructed with particular reference to convenience, re- liability, and safety of operation. With these ends in view my invention con- sists in the combination, in a gun, with the ac- tion mechanism thereof, of a sliding handle for operating said mechanism, and means re- leased by the recoil following the firing of the gun for locking the gun closed and against being prematurely opened by rearward draft exerted upon the sliding handle when the gun is fired. My invention further consists in a safety- dog combined with the action mechanism of a gun and constructed and arranged to block the rearward movement of the sliding handle in case rearward draft is exerted thereupon when the gun is closed and before the car- tridge has exploded. My invention further consists in a safety- dog constructed and arranged to be controlled in being retired by the falling action of the hammer, unless at the time that occurs it is engaged and held in its active or blocking- position as a consequence of the exertion of rearward draft upon the handle at the time the hammer is released. My invention further consists in the com- bination, with a hammer, of a carrier con- structed and arranged to exert trigger re- straint upon it until the breech-closure of the gun has been moved into its closed position. My invention further consists in the com- bination, with a breech-closure, of a slide therefor, a hammer, and a pivotal cartridge- carrier constructed and arranged to engage withthe hammer and exerta trigger restraint thereupon until after the breech-closure has been moved into its closed position, when it is disengaged by the slide and allowed to fall, at which time it lets go of the hammer. My invention further consists in the com- bination, with a breech-closure, of a pivotal recoil-block mounted therein, and means for lifting the block to engage the same withthe frame of the gun when the closure is in its closed position. My invention further consists in the com- bination, with a breech-closure, of a slide by means of which the same is actuated back and forth, a recoil-block pivotally mounted in the breech-closure, and a tumbler mounted in the closure and coacting with the recoil- block to move the same into its operative po- sition and into its retired position. My invention further consists in the com- bination, with a breech-closure, of a firing-pin mounted therein, a breech-closure slide, a pivotal recoil-block mounted in the breech- closure, a tumbler mounted in the breech-clo- sure and coacting with the recoil-block for the operation of the same, with the slide for the connection of the same with the breech-clo- sure, and with the firing-pin for retracting the same. My invention further consists in a combined cartridge - stop and carrier - spring located within the frame and forming a stop for the cartridges in the magazine, and also forming a spring for the carrier. 70 My invention further consists in the com- bination, with a gun-frame formed with alined transverse holes in its opposite walls, of a breech-closure slide, a longitudinally-mov- able transversely - arranged coupling-pin 75 mounted in the slide, and an action-bar hav- ing a hole formed in its rear end, the holes in the frame, the coupling-pin of the slide, and the hole in the action-bar alining when the slide and the action-bar are at the limit 80 of their rearward movement. My invention further consists in the com- bination, with a gun-frame, of a removable barrel having its rear end formed with con- tinuous and interrupted threads, a coupling- 85 collar mounted on the continuous threads of the barrel, and a sliding compensating collar non-rotatably placed over the interrupted threads of the barrel, so as to be interposed between the coupling-collar and the frame 90 when the gun is assembled. My invention further consists in the com- bination, with a gun-frame, of a removable barrel and a removable magazine, a coupling- collar mounted upon the barrel, a coinpen- 95 sating collar mounted upon the barrel and provided with a stop-lug coacting with a pro- jection upon the frame and with the maga- zine for preventing the barrel from being ro- tated in either direction, and stops located 100 upon the magazine for preventing the same from being turned in either direction after the gun is assembled. My invention further consists in certain details of construction and combinations of 105 parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims. For the illustration of my invention I have chosen to show it as embodied in a tubular magazine-gun of the take-down type, but I no would have it understood that I do not limit myself to the use of all of the various features of my invention in combination with such a gun. As herein shown, the gun comprises a frame 115 A, a removable barrel B, a tubular magazine C, located below the barrel, a sliding handle D, mounted upon the magazine so as to move back and forth in a line parallel or substan- tially parallel with the longitudinal axis of 120 the gun-barrel, an action-bar E, rigidly con- nected with the handle and extending rear- wardly therefrom, a breech-bolt slide F, cou- pled with the rear end of the action-bar, a breech-bolt G, loosely connected or articu- 125 lated with the slide by means of which it is operated, but which has sliding movement independent of it, a pivotal recoil-block II, mounted in the breech-bolt, an operating- tumbler I, also mounted in the breech-bolt 130 and coacting with the recoil-block and the breech-bolt slide, a firing-pin J, mounted in the breech-bolt and coacting with the tum- bler, a hammer K, which is cocked by the said
577,281 3 slide when the gun is opened, a pivotal car- tridge-carrier L, a safety-dog M, a combined cartridge-stop and carrier-spring N, a coup- ling-collar 0, and a non-rotatable compen- 5 silting collar P, together with other features to be hereinafter detailed. In the foregoing paragraph I have used the terms ‘ ‘ breeeh-bolt ” and ‘ ‘ breeeh-bolt slide,” and shall hereinafter use them in describing io the particular gun chosen for the illustration, notwithstanding the fact that in the state- ment of the nature of my invention and in some of the claims I shall employ the terms “ breech-closure” and “ breeeh-closureslide,” 15 for I would have it understood that my in- vention in some of its phases comprehends the employment of breech-closures of other forms than the breeeh-bolt form. In providing against the premature' open- 20 ing of the gun in ease the user exerts a pre- mature rearward draft upon the sliding han- dle at the time he pulls the trigger R, I em- ploy a blocking-piece in the form of a safety- dog M, Figs. 10,12,17,18, and 19, located in a 25 recess Q, formed to receive it in the left-hand wall of the chambered tang-block Q', the trigger-guard Q2 and the tang Qs being made, as shown, integral with the said block. The safety-dog is hung upon a horizontal stud or 30 pin M', located to the rear of its longitudinal center, and has limited oscillating movement in a vertical plane. Its forward endis formed withan operating-face M3, which is struck on a circle of which the pin M' is the center. A 35 light spiral spring M3, located beneath the for- ward end of the dog, exerts a constant effort to lift its forward end into its active or block- ing position, in which it coacts with the rear end of the breeeh-bolt slide F. This spring- 40 I shall hereinafter refer to as the “light” safety-dog spring. A flat spring M4, engaged with the lower edge of the rear end of the dog, and superior in power to the spring M3 before mentioned, is employed to overcome 45 the spring Ms and swing the dog into its re- tired position under normal conditions in the operation of the arm, that is to say, when the user of the arm is not exerting a pre- mature rearward draft upon the sliding han- 50 die I) thereof at the time he pulls the trigger R. As the spring M4 is superior in power to the spring M3, I shall for convenience refer to it hereinafter as the “heavy” safety-dog spring. The said spring M4 is located parallel 55 with and beneath the flat hammer-spring K' in such a manner that when the hammer is cocked, as shown in Fig. 12, the hammer- spring will depress the heavy safety-dog spring, so as to take the tension thereof from 60 the safety-dog and leave the light safety-dog spring free to act in elevating the nose of the dog into its blocking position. On the other hand, when the hammer falls and the ham- mer-spring K' rises it permits the heavy 65 safety-dog spring to lift and coact with the rear end of the safety-dog in such a manner as to compress the light safety-dog spring and swing the dog onits fulcrum, so as to depress its nose into its retired position, in which it clears the breech-bolt slide. The cocking of 70 the hammer, as before explained, retires the heavy safety-dog spring and permits the light safety-dog spring to actin lifting the nose of the safety-dog into its blocking position. Now if the gun is fired properly and with- 75 out the exertion of any rearward draft upon the sliding handle at the time of pulling the trigger the falling of the hammer will permit the heavy safety-dog spring to assert itself and overcome the light safety-dog spring and 80 retire the nose of the safety-dog, so as to clear the way for the opening of the gun after the same has been fired; but, on the other hand, if the user is exerting a premature rearward draft upon the sliding handle at the time he 85 pulls the trigger the rear end of the breeeh- bolt slide will be jammed against the uplifted nose of the safety-dog with such force that although the falling of the hammer releases the heavy safety-dog spring and permits the 90 same to act upon the rear end of the safety- dog it is unequal to the task of overcoming not only the tension of the light safety-dog spring but also the friction developed be- tween the nose of the dog and the slide conse- 95 quent upon the jamming of the former against thelatter. Under these conditions thesafety- dog will keep its blocking position notwith- standing the falling of the hammer, so that the opening of the gun will be blocked, no ico matter how hard the user pulls upon the slid- ing handle, until after the cartridge explodes, rvlicn the ensuing recoil will involuntarily re- lieve the friction between the dog and slide and permit the heavy safety-dog spring to 105 move the same into its retired position. It will be seen from the foregoing that by means of my invention the normal or proper firing of the gun is in no wise interfered with, but that the safety-dog is in constant readi- no ness to prevent a wrong use of the gun and to avoid the premature opening thereof in case the user exerts a premature draft upon the sliding handle at the time of firing. To provide for opening the gun after it has 115 been closed and thehammer cocked, I employ an unlocking-pin MB, Figs. 10 and 12, mounted so as to be vertically reciprocated in the cham- bered tang-head Q', as best shown in Fig. 12. The lower end of this pin extends into a re- 120 eess q, formed in the tang-head, while its up- per end is provided with a small plate m, lo- cated, in a small rectangular slot д', formed in the tang-head Q'. The plate m engages with an outwardly-projecting lifting-pin m', 125 mounted in the rear end of tire safety-dog. As before stated, when the gun is closed and the hammer cocked the heavy safety-dog spring is retired to permit the light safety-dog spring to lift the nose of the dog into its block- 130 ing position, so that the gun cannot be opened except by the falling of the hammer or with the assistance of the recoil following the ex- plosion of the cartridge unless the unlocking-
й 577,281 pili is brought into play by lifting it, so as to cause it to swing the safety-clog on its fulcrum and move its nose into its retired position, which permits the gun to be opened without 5 firingit. Such an unlocking-pin or its equiva- lent is desirable because the hammer К of the gun, being a concealed hammer, is inaccessi- ble for manual operation and cannot be let down without exploding the cartridge, where- io by some provision for unlocking the gun in- dependent of the falling of the hammer is re- quired. In my improved arm the carrier has a trig- ger function in the sense that it maintains a 15 trigger-hold upon the hammer until after the breech-bolt has been moved into its closed po- sition and located therein. In adapting the carrier toperform a trigger functionand maintain atrigger-hold upon the 20 hammer until the gun is closed and locked I construct the carrier with a trigger-nose L', which takes into a notch K4, formed in the top of the hammer K, which is also construct- ed with a cocking-notch K2, formed in its 25 lower end, for the reception of the nose r of the trigger R, which is hung upon a horizontal pin R', operated by a trigger-spring R2, and furnished with a locking - slide Rs, all as clearly shown in Figs. 10 and 12. The cock- 30 ing-notch K2 is located below a notch Ks, formed in the lower end of the hammer,for the reception of the hammer-springK'. The ham- mer, carrier, and trigger are so constructed that when the hammer is cocked it will be 35 held so by the trigger; but in case the trigger is pulled so as to release the hammer the same will almost immediately come into restrain- ing engagement with the carrier, which will hold it in a practically f ull-coeked position nn- 40 tilthegun is closed and locked. Furthermore, if the gun is being fired automatically, with the trigger held back so as to take no part in its operation, the carrier will assume the en- tire trigger function of the arm and engage 45 with the hammer for holding it in its cocked position, and so hold it until the gun is closed and locked. The earner is lifted into its highest position, which is its position for de- livering a cartridge to the gun-barrel, and 50 which also is its position in which it performs its trigger function, by means of thebreech- bolt slide F, which also lets go of the carrier and permits the same to drop and release the hammer for the firing of the gun. 55 For the coaction of the carrier and breech- bolt slide the former is furnished with two spring-actuated operating-pins L2L2, horizon- tally arranged in its extreme rear end and projecting f rom its opposite side walls, as best 60 shown in Fig. 21. These pins are located in rear of the carrier pivot-pin L8, by means of which the carrier is pivotally mounted in the chambered central portion of the tang-head Q'. To adapt the breech-bolt slide to coact 65 with the yielding operating-pins L2 L2 of the carrier, it is constructed with two parallel flanges F' F', depending from its opposite edges. The inner faces of the extreme rear . ends of each of these flanges are beveled, as at// to adapt them to coact with the pins, 70 which are forced inwardly against the ten- sion of their springs by the said bevels when the slide is toward the limit of its rearward movement. Each of these flangos F' is also formed with a notch/', having a straight for- 75 ward wall and an inclined roar wall /2, the two notches /' /' being located directly op- posite each other. In the rear movement of the slide the bevels ff engage with the pins and force the same inward, after which they 80 ride upon the inner faces of the rear ends of the flanges until they are brought into range with the notches /' /', when they spring outward into the same. The forward move- ment of the slide occurring, the pins coact 85 with the beveled rear walls/2 /2 of the notches in lifting the carrier to its highest position, after which the pins ride upon the lower edges of the rear ends of the flanges. Now just before the said ends of the flanges clear 90 the pins an inwardly-projecting supporting- stud /3 enters a long groove 1Д formed in one of the side walls of the carrier and extend- ing nearly to the forward end thereof. The said supporting-stud/’coacts with the upper 95 wall of the groove L4 in supporting the car- rier until after the breech-bolt has been moved into its closed position and located therein, whereby the carrier is kept in position to maintain its trigger-hold upon the hammer; 100 but when the supporting-stud emerges from the forward end of the groove L4 the carrier is thrown down into its depressed position by the action of the combined cartridge-stop and carrier-spring N, Fig. 15, whereby the 105 carrier is caused to release the hammer, which falls and explodes the cartridge; but the car- rier has this action only when the trigger is held back, as before stated. The breech-bolt slide F is connected with no the breech-bolt G not only in such a manner as to move the same into its open and closed positions, but also in such a manner as to per- mit it to have independent movement thereof, for the slide is relied upon to lock the breech- 115 bolt after the same has reached its closed po- sition and to unlock it before the gun is opened. A loose connection is thus required between the breech-bolt and. breech-bolt slide. For moving the breech-bolt into its 120 open position the breech-bolt slide is pro- vided at its forward end with a heavy, short, upwardly-extending operating-pin F2, which takes into a longitudinally-arranged slot G', formed in the lower face of the forward end 125 of the breech-bolt G, as seen in Figs. 11 and 25. The length of this slot represents the ex- tent of movement which the slide and block have independently of each other. Suppose, for illustration, the gun to bo fully closed. 130 Then at the beginning of its opening move- ment the breech-bolt slide moves back with- out disturbing the breech-bolt until the pin F2of the slide engages with the rear end wall
577,281 5 of the slot G' in the breech-bolt, which will then be picked up by the slide, so to speak, and be moved rearward with it. The breech- bolt is moved into its closed position by the 5 breech-bolt slide through the engagement thereof with the tumbler I, mounted in the breech-bolt, which, through the medium of the said tumbler, is pushed forward, with its forward end projecting beyond the forward ro end of the slide, until it reaches its fully- closed position, when it is stopped by the en- gagement of its said end with the breech end of the gun - barrel. The slide then moves forward alone until it reaches the limit of its 15 forward movem ent, and d n ring this ti me locks the bolt. For locking the breech-bolt in its closed position I employ a recoil-block II, Figs. 10 and 11, which is swung by its forward end го upon a horizontal pivot-pin II', mounted in the breech-block. The said end of the re- coil block is knuckle - shaped and enters a knuckle-shaped recess G2, formed in the breech-bolt by means of a suitable boring- 25 tool corresponding in curvature to the said end of the block, the outer end of the said recess being closed, after the block is in place, by means of a circular head IIs, formed upon the outer end of the pivot-pin IT. The upper 30 edge of the rear end of the recoil-block is adapted to enter a locking-notch A', formed in the gun-frame A. As herein shown, this notch is cut through the top of the frame, as at A8, but that is not necessary. The rear 35 end of the recoil-block is constructed with a knuckle-shaped notch IIs, which receives the knuckle-shaped forward end I3 of the upper arm of ths pivotal tumbler I, which is mounted in the rear end of the breech-bolt upon a hori- 40 zontal tumbler-pin, as plainly shown in Figs. 10 and 11. An arm IT1, formed upon the lower edge of the rear end of the recoil-block as an incident of forming the notch II3 therein, ex- tends downward into a clearance-recess F'1, 45 formed to receive it in the upper face of the breech-bolt slide, and clearly shown in Fig. 13. The said tumbler I is constructed with a downwardly-depending rear arm Г, which en- ters a rectangular opening F3, formed to re- 50 ceive it in the rear end of the slide which ac- tuates the tumbler, and hence operates the recoil-block. The said connection of the tum- bler with the brcech-bolt slide also provides for the pushing forward of the breech-bolt by 55 the breech-bolt slide, which acts through the medium of the tumbler, as already set forth. The firing-pin J, which may be of any ap- proved construction, is retracted through the medium of the said tumbler, which is con- 60 structed with a longitudinal slot to receive the rear portion of the pin, which-is formed at its extreme rear end with a head J2, which engages with the rear edge of the arm I' of the tumbler. The arm IF of the recoil-block is 65 also longitudinally slotted for the reception and clearance of the rear portion of the tiring- pin, as shown in Fig. 11. When the slide is moved into its fully-closed position, the tum- bler clears the head J2 of the pin, as shown in Fig. 10, but in the initial starting rearward 70 movement of the slide the rear edge of the arm I' of the tumbler engages with the head J2 of the pin and retracts the same, as shown in Fig. 11. In the forward movement of the breech- 75 bolt and breech-bolt slide the former reaches its closed position before the latter reaches the limit of its forward movement, as shown in Fig. 11. Now as the slide is moved along into its closed position the coupling-tumbler I 80 is swung on its pin and the rccoil-block H lifted into the locking-notch A', as shown in Fig. 10, whereby the bolt is adapted to take the recoil of the explosion of a cartridge. At the beginning of the opening movement of 85 the gun the slide moves back alone and with- out disturbing the bolt, and swings the coup- ling-tumbler I on its pivot, causing the said tumbler to positively draw the recoil-block down into its retired position, as shown in 90 Fig. 11, after which the bolt and slide move rearward together. I will call attention in this connection to the fact that the breech- bolt is very short as compared with breech- closures of the bolt type as ordinarily con- 95 structed, whereby I avoid extending the rear end of the bolt out of the frame in opening the arm, and whereby also I secure a complete housing at all times of the bolt within the frame, to obvious advantage. I am enabled 100 to thus shorten the bolt and compact the frame by employing a pivotal recoil-block mounted entirely in the breech-bolt. The combined cartridge-stop and carrier- spring N, Figs. 10,12, and 15, is located within 105 the right-hand side wall of the frame and hung upon a horizontal stud N'. The lower edge of the forward end of this combined part is shaped to form a cartridge-stop №, while the upper edge of the said end is constructed with no a bevel №, which coacts with the forward end of the breech-bolt slide in swinging the com- bined part, so as to retire the stop № at its forward end and to lift the notch N4, formed in its elastic rear end, into engagement with 115 the right-hand pin of the two pins L2 L2 of the carrier, whereby the same is put under the spring-tension derived from springing that portion of the combined part lying to the rear of the stud N' on which the same is hung. 120 The rear end of the said part is also con- structed with a bevel №, which is engaged by the rear end of the carrier to swing the com- bined part, so as to lift its stop N2 into posi- tion to act to control the egress of the car- 125 tridgesfrom the magazine into the chambered forward end of the frame of the gun. It will be noted that the breech-bolt slide does not engage with the bevel № until just before it goes into its fully-closed position, so that not 130 until then is the carrier placed under the tension of the rear* end of the said combined part N, the carrier being placed under the tension of the pawl immediately before its
с 577,281 forward end is released from the slide by the emergence of the supporting-stud thereof from its groove LA The carrier is therefore under spring-tension only when the slide is 5 very near to its closed position and in its closed position. When the slide is in its closed position, the carrier may be said to have the function of a loading-trap and the combined part N the function of a loading or io trap spring. For the connection of the forward end of the breeeh-bolt slide with the rear end of the action-bar the said end of the slide is fur- nished with a transversely-arranged longitu- 15 dinally-movable eoupling-pin Fs, which is moved under the restraint of the spiral fric- tion-spring F6, Fig. 13. One end of this pin enters a hole E', formed to receive it in the extreme rear end of the action-bar, as shown 20 in Fig. 10. The said bar and slide are cou- pled and uncoupled when both are at the limit of their rearward movement, where the pin and the hole in the bar are brought into alinement with small holes A3 A8, formed op- 25 posite each other in the side walls of the gun- frame A and provided for the convenient in- sertion of a suitable tool for pushing the fric- tion-pin in one direction or the other, accord- ing as it is desired to push it out of or into 30 engagement with the action-bar. The gun herein shown is what is known as a “takedown” gun, that is to say, a gun adapted to have its barrel and magazine con- veniently detached from its frame to enable 35 it to be more compactly packed for trans- portation. The barrel В is provided with a depending lug B', to which a magazine-plug C' is pivot- ally attached by means of a horizontal pivot- 40 pin C2. This plug is externally threaded for entrance into the internally-threaded for- ward end of the tubular magazine C, which is virtually extended and contracted in length by being rotated in one direction or the other 45 upon the plug. When the rear end of the magazine is disconnected from the frame of the arm, the magazine may be thrown down into a position at a right angle to the barrel, at which time it may be utilized as a lever 50 for rotating the same for the attachment of the barrel to the frame and its detachment therefrom. The rear end of the barrel is reduced in di- ameter and formed with a band of continuous 55 screw-threads B2 and with two sets of sec- tional screw-threads B3B3, separated by clear- ance-spaces В4 B4. Over the continuous screw-threads В2,1 place an internally-thread- ed compensation or take-up collar 0, the for- 60 ward edge of which abuts against the shoul- der B5, formed upon the barrel by reducing the rear end thereof. This collar is operated for taking up wear by turning it as required. Its adaptation to be seized for turning may, 65 of course, be varied. As shown in Fig. 6, it is formed with a radial pin-hole o, designed to receive a pin mounted in a key T, such as shown in Fig. 26, the key also having a pin T2 for use in operating the coupling-pin F11, mounted in the breeeh-bolt slide. 70 Over the forward portions of the inter- rupted threads В3 В3,1 locate a non-rotatable coupling-collar P, the forward edge of which abuts against the rear edge of the take-up col- lar 0. To lock the said collar F against ro- 75 tation without interfering with its sliding, it is constructed, as shown, with two inwardly- projecting flangesP' P', "which enter the clear- ance-spaces В4 B4 aforesaid. The said collar is fnrnished with a stop-lug P2, the function 80 of which will be set forth later on. The forward end of the gun-frame A is con- structed with a circular opening A4 for the re- ception of the rear end of the magazine and with a correspondingbut slightly-larger open- 85 ing A5 for the reception of the rear end of the gun-barrel. The walls of Hie opening A5 are constructed with two sets of interrupted threads a and a, corresponding to the inter- rupted threads В3 B3 of the barrel, and with 90 clearance-spaces a' a', corresponding to the clearance-spaces В’ B4 of the barrel. It will be understood from this description that by registering the clearance-spaces В4 B4 of the barrel with the interrupted threads a a of the 95 frame and thus also registering the inter- rupted threads В3 B3 of the barrel with the clearance-spaces a' a’ of the frame the barrel may be inserted into the frame s«o as to bring the rear edge of the non-rotatabie collarPinto ю< abutment with the forward face of the frame. Then if the barrelis rotated for a quarter-turn the threads В3 B3 will take into the threads a a, binding the barrel to the frame. After the barrel has been rotated a quarter-turn the io; stop-lug P2 of the collar P, which is rotated with the barrel, engages with a stop S, located in the forward end of the frame and shown in Fig. 3 as consisting of a screw. After the barrel has been connected with n< the frame, as described, the magazine is swung on its pivot C2 and brought into line with tho magazine-opening A4 in the frame, after which the magazine is rotated, so as to extend it and cause its rear end to enter it and take a full 11; bearing in the said opening. After the magazine has been located, as de- scribed, the action-bar of the sliding handle is passed rearward through the opening A6, Fig. 3, formed in the forward end of the frame 121 to permit it to enter the same for connection with the breech-bolt slide. After the magazine is in place the coupling- collar, and hence the barrel, are prevented from rotating by the engagement of the low'er 125 edge of the stop-lug P2 of the said collar with the upper portion of the magazine, as clearly seen in Fig. 2, "which shows that when the magazine is in place the barrel cannot be ro- tated in either direction. 13; After the action-bar is in place the maga- zine itself is prevented from rotating in one direction by means of an action-bar stop-pin G3, mounted in it and engaging with the lower
577,281 edge of the bar, and in the opposite direction by means of a take-up-collar stop-pin C'1, which engages with the lower face of the take- up collar 0. 5 To “take down” the gun, as the phrase is, the uncoupling-pin T2 of the key T is forced into the left-hand hole A3 in the gun-frame A and engaged with the friction coupling-pin F5, which is pushed inward out of the holeE' о in the action-bar E, which is thus discon- nected from the breech-bolt slide. The slid- ing handle D is now moved forward upon the magazine, carrying the action-bar with it and clearing the rear end of the action-bar from 5 the frame and from the action-bar stop-pin G3 on the magazine, which may now be rotated from left to right until its rear end is cleared from the opening A4 of the frame. The maga- zine-follower is thenpushed back,so as to clear о the frame, after which the magazine is swung outward away from the barrel, thus clearing the stop-lug P2of the non-rotatable coupling- collar P from the magazine. The magazine, now transformed into a lever, is used for turn- 5 ing the barrel a quarter-turn back, so as to clear its interrupted threads В3 B3 from the interrupted threads a a of the frame, from which the barrel and magazine arc now free to be detached. The take-up collar 0, it will of о course be understood, is never to be disturbed except to take up wear, when it is turned so as to be moved rearward, thus crowding the coupling-collar rearward also and bringing the same into closer contact with the forward 5 end of the gun-frame. It is apparent that in carrying out mj- in- vention sonic changes from the construction herein shown and described may be made. I would therefore have it understood that I do J not limit myself to the exact construction shown, but hold myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention. Having fully described my invention, what ; I claim as new, and desire to sec ure by Letters Patent, is— 1. In a firearm, the combination with the action mechanism thereof, of a sliding handle located forward of the said mechanism and > adapted to be reciprocated back and forth in a line parallel or substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the gun-barrel, a blocking-piece released bjr the recoil follow- ing the firing of the gun, and coacting with a ; member of the action mechanism for blocking the gun against being prematurely unlocked and opened by a rearward draft exerted upon the sliding handle when the gun is fired. 2. In a firearm, the combination with the > frame thereof, of action mechanism located therein, a sliding handle located forward of the said mechanism, and adapted to be recip- rocated back ami forth in a line parallel or substantially parallel with the axis of the gun- barrel, an action-bar extending rearwardly from the handle into the frame within which it is connected with the action mechanism for operating the same, a blocking-piece located within the said frame, constructed and ar- ranged to be released for retirement by the 70 recoil following the firing of the gun, and co- acting with a member of the action mechan- ism for blocking the gun against being pre- maturely unlocked and opened by a rearward draft exerted upon the sliding handle when 75 the gun is fired, means for moving the said blocking-piece into its blocking position, and means for retiring the said blocking-piece when the same is released by the recoil fol- lowing the firing of the gun. 80 3. In a firearm, the combination with the action mechanism thereof,including a breech- closure and a recoil-block; of a slidiu g handle located forward of the said action mechanism and adapted to be reciprocated in a line par- 85 allel or substantially parallel with the longi- tudinal axis of the gun-barrel; an action-bar extending rearwardly from said handle into the frame, and connected with the action mechanism for operating the breech-closure, 90 and for operating the recoil-block to lock and unlock the gun; and a blocking-piece released for retirement by the recoil following the fir- ing of the gun, and coacting with a member of the action mechanism for blocking the gun 95 against being prematurely unlocked and opened by rearward draft exerted upon the handle when the gun is fired, substantially as described. 4. In a firearm, the combination with the too frame thereof, of action mechanism including a breech-closure, a breech-closure slide and a recoil-block, a sliding handle located for- ward of the action mechanism and adapted to be reciprocated back and forth in a liue 105 parallel or substantially parallel withthe lon- gitudinal axis of the gun-barrel and connected with and operating the said breech-closure, brecch-closureslide and recoil-block, a block- ing-piece in the form of a safety-dog, released no bj7 the recoil following the firing of the gun and coacting with the breech-closure slide to block the same and prevent the premature unlocking and opening of the gun by rear- ward draft upon the slidinghandle when the 115 gun is fired, a spring arranged to move the said dog into its active or blocking position, and means under the control of the firing mechanism of the gun for retiring the dog when it is so released, against the tension of 120 the said spring. 5. In a firearm, the combination with the action mechanism thereof, of aslidinghandle for operating the said mechanism, a safety- dog for blocking the opening of the gun. by 125 rearward draft exerted upon the slidinghan- dle when the gun is fired, a light spring ar- ranged to move the dog into its active or blocking position, a heavier spring for retir- ing the dog, and means for cutting out the 130 heavy safety-dog spring to permit the light safety-dog spring to act, substantially as set forth. 0. In a firearm, the combination with the
8 577,281 5 ю i5 20 25 3° 35 40 45 5° 55 бо б5 action mechanism thereof, of a sliding han- dle for opera! ing the said mechanism, a safety- dog for blocking the gun against being pre- maturely opened by rearward draft exerted upon the sliding handle when the gun is fired, a light safety-dog spring for moving the dog into its blocking position, a heavy safety-dog spring for moving the dog into its retired position, and a hammer constructed and ar- ranged to act upon the safety-dog spring whereby the same is cut out of action when the hammer is cocked, substantially as de- scribed. 7. In a firearm, the combination with the frame thereof, of action mechanism, a sliding handle located forward of the same and adapt- ed to be reciprocated back and forth in aline parallel or substantially parallel with the lon- gitudinal axis of the gun-barrel, a safety-dog against which a member of the action meeh- ism is jammed in ease of premature rearward draft upon the sliding handle, whereby the gun is prevented from being prematurely un- locked and opened, a spring for moving the dog into its blocking position, and means, un- der the control of the firing mechanism of the gun, for retiring the dog when it is released from the jammingaction of the eoacting mem- ber of the action mechanism by the recoil fol- lowing the firing of the gun. 8. In a firearm, the combination with the action mechanism thereof including a breech- closure slide, of a sliding handle connected with the said mechanism for operating the same, a tang-head, a safety-dog mounted in the said tang-head in position to engage with the breech-closure slide for blocking the same in its closed position, a light safety-dog spring for moving the dog into its active position, and a heavy safety-dog spring adapted to be cut into and out of operation under the con- trol of the hammer of the arm, substantially as described. 9. In a firearm, the combination with the hammer thereof, of a pivotal carrier construct- ed and adapted to engage with the hammer and restrain the same until the gun is vir- tually closed, and a trigger also coacting with the hammer, substantially as described. 10. In a firearm, the combination with a hammer having a notch formed in its top, of a pivotal carrier constructed with a trigger- tooth arranged to take into the notch in the hammer and hold the hammer in its cocked position until the gun is virtually closed, sub- stantially as described. 11. In a firearm, the combination with the hammer thereof, of a pivotal carrier having a trigger function, and constructed to have a trigger-hold upon the hammer until the gun is virtually closed, and a spring eoacting with the carrier upon which it imposes its tension just as the gun is about to be fully closed, substantially as described. 12. In a firearm, the combination with a breech-bolt, of a breech-bolt slide connected with the breech-bolt for operating the same, a pivotal carrier connected with the said breech-bolt slide by means of which it is lifted intoits highest position and sustained therein 70 until the gun is virtually closed, a hammer engaged by the pivotal carrier, and held by the same as by a trigger until the gnn is vir- tually closed, and a trigger also eoacting with the hammer for releasing the same. 75 13. In a firearm, the combination with a breeeh-bolt slide having depending flanges, the rear ends of which are beveled, and which are notched forward of their said ends, and a pivotal carrier provided with yielding pins 80 which are thrust inward by the said bevels, and which eoaet with the notches for lifting the carrier, substantially as set forth. 14. In a firearm, the combination with alon- gitudinally-movable breech-bolt, of a breech- 85 bolt slide located below the said bolt and con- nected therewith for operating the same, and provided at its forward end with a laterally- projecting supporting-pin, and a pivotal car- rier eoacting at its rear end with the breech- 90 bolt slide which lifts it into its highest posi- tion, and constructed in one of its side walls with a groove receiving the said pin which supports the carrier in such position until the gun is virtually closed. j 95 15. In a firearm the combination with a breeeh-bolt slide having depending flanges and a supporting-pin, of a pivotal carrier pro- vided with yielding pins which eoaet with the said flanges to lift the carrier and support 10 the same in its lifted position for a time, the said carrier being also formed with a groove which receives the said pin which maintains the carrier in its lifted position until the gun is virtually closed, substantially as described, ic 1G. In a firearm, the combination with the frame thereof, of a sliding handle located for- ward of the said frame, adapted to be recip- rocated back and forth in a lino parallel or substantially parallel with the longitudinal 11 axis of the gun-barrel, and constructed with a rearwardly-extending action-bar; of a lon- gitudinally-movable breeeh-bolt, a recoil- block pivotally mounted in the said bolt and movable upward for engagement with the ij frame, and downward for clearance there- from, a breeeh-bolt slide located beneath the breeeh-bolt, and connected with the said ac- tion-bar, and a tumbler pivotally mounted in the breech-bolt and connected with the re- 11 coil-block and breeeh-bolt slide. 17. In a firearm, the combination with a breeeh-bolt, of a recoil-bloek pivotally mount- ed therein, and a tumbler also mounted in the breeeh-bolt and eoacting with the recoil- 1: block to lift the same into engagement with the frame and to retract it from such engage- ment, substantially as described. 18. In a firearm, the combination with a breeeh-bolt having a transverse horizontal re- 1; cess formed in it, of a recoil-block pivotally mounted therein and having its forward end knuekle-shaped to fit into the said recess, and a pin mounted in the breeeh-bolt, forming a
577,281 9 pivot upon which the recoil-block swings, and having one end provided with an enlarged head which fills the outer end of the said re- cess, substantially as described. 19. In a firearm, the combination with the breech-bolt, of a breeeh-bolt slide, a recoil- block pivotally mounted therein, a tumbler mounted in the breech-bolt coacting with the said block, and extending downward into eon- > nection with the breeeh-bolt slide, a recipro- cating action-bar connected at its rear end with the said breeeh-bolt slide for operating the same, and a sliding handle connected with the forward end of the bar and mov- able back and forth in a line parallel or sub- stantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the gun-barrel, substantially as described. 20. In a firearm, the combination with a breeeh-bolt, of a recoil-block mounted there- in, a tumbler also mounted in the breeeh- bolt and eoacting with the recoil-block, a firing-pin mounted in the breeeh-bolt and en- gaging with the tumbler which retracts it af- ter it has been fired, a breech-bolt slide lo- cated below the breeeh-bolt, and connected with the tumbler which it rocks for actuating the recoil-block and the firing-pin, an action- bar connected with the slide for operating the same, and a sliding handle located at the forward end of the action-bar for operating the same, substantially as described. 21. In a firearm, the combination with a breech-bolt, of a breech-bolt slide, a recoil- block, an operating-tumbler and a firing-pin mounted in the breech-bolt, and a breech- bolt slide constructed to operate the said tum- bler which in turn operates the recoil-block and the firing-pin, substantially as described. 22. In a firearm, the combination with a frame having openings formed opposite each other in its side walls, of a breeeh-bolt clo- sure, a coupling-pin movable under friction mounted in the forward end of the said slide and alining with the said holes when the slide is at the limit of its rearward movement, a sliding handle, and an action-bar extending rearwardly from the said handle, and receiv- ing the said coupling-pin which is moved into or out of engagement with the action-bar by means of a tool inserted through the holes in the frame, substantially as described. 23. In a firearm, the combination with a tu- bular magazine and a carrier, of a combined cartridge - stop and carrier-spring pivotally mounted within the frame of the arm, and adapted at its forward end to form a maga- zine-stop and at its rear end to engage with the carrier and place the same under spring- tension, and means for operating the said combined part to elevate its rear end to place the carrier under its spring-tension just as the gun is closed, and to elevate its forward end to bring the same into play as a cartridge- stop at the proper time,- substantially as de- scribed. 65 24. In a firearm, the combination with the frame thereof, of a removable barrel, a maga- zine connected therewith, a take-up collar mounted upon the barrel, and a non-rotatable sliding coupling-collar mounted on the barrel 70 so as to be interposed between the take-up collar and the frame when the barrel and magazine arc assembled with the frame, sub- stantially as described. 25. In a magazine-firearm, the combination 75 with the frame thereof, of a barrel having its rear end formed with continuous and inter- rupted screw-threads, a take-up collar placed over the said continuous threads, a non-ro- tatable sliding, coupling-collar placed over 80 the interrupted threads, the exposed portions of which coact with corresponding threads formed in the forward end of the frame be- tween which and the takehip collar, the coup- ling-collar is located, substantially as de- 85 scribed. 2G. In a firearm, the combination with the frame thereof, of a removable barrel, a maga- zine connected therewith, a take-up collar mounted upon the barrel, and a sliding non- 90 rotatable coupling-collar also mounted upon the barrel, and provided with a stop-lug which coacts both with a stop upon the frame and with the magazine, to prevent the barrel from being rotated in either direction, suhstan- 95 tially as described. 27. In a magazine-firearm, the combination with a frame, of a removable barrel, a rotata- ble take-up collar mounted thereupon, a ?ion- rotatable sliding coupling-collar also mount- 100 ed thereupon, a rotatable magazine connect- ed with the barrel at its forward end and adapted at its rear end to enter an opening in the forward end of the frame, two stops lo- cated upon the magazine, a sliding handle 105 mounted upon the magazine, and an action- bar extending rearward from the sliding han- dle and coacting with one of the said stops for preventing tire magazine from being ro- tated in one direction after the gun has.been no assembled, the other stop eoacting with the said take-up collar to prevent the magazine from rotating in the opposite direction after the gun has been assembled, substantially as described. 115 In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscrib- ing witnesses. J. M. BROWNING. Witnesses: M. S. BROWNING, Kate Linehan.
4 Sheets—Sheet 1. (No Model.) J. M. BROWNING-. FIREARM. No. 580,923. Patented Apr. 20, 1897,
(No Model.) 4 Sheets-т-Sheet 2. J. M. BROWNING. FIREARM. No. 580,923. Patented Apr. 20 , 1897.
4 Sheets—Sheet 3. (No Model.) J. M. BROWNING. FIREARM. No. 580,923. Patented Apr. 20, 1897.
4 Sheets—Sheet 4. (No Model.) J. M. BROWNING. FIREARM. Patented Apr. 20, 1897, No. 580,923. / 4 2TOT0R ATTORNEYS
United States Patent Office. JOHN M. BROWNING-, OF OGDEN, UTAH. FIREARM. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 580,923, dated April 20, 1897. Application filed September 14j 1895. Serial No. 562,577. (No model.) To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, John M. Browning, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Ogden, Weber county, Territory of Utah, 5 have invented certain new and useful Im- provements in Breech-Loading Firearms, of which the following is a specification, refer- ence being had to the accompanying draw- ings, forming a part hereof. io This invention relates to automatic maga- zine-firearms, and particularly to firearms of that general description which are adapted to be operated by the gases of explosion. The main object I have in view in this in- 15 vention is to provide means to prevent the release of the hammer after a single discharge until the trigger has been released and is again pressed by the finger; and, further, to provide means to preven t the full or effective 20 movement or release of the trigger until all of the parts are in proper position for the dis- charge of a cartridge. The improvements referred to are herein represented as embodied in a gas-operated 25 magazine-pistol, but it will be understood that these improvements and the improvements to be referred to hereinafter are not necessarily restricted in their use and application to such a firearm or class of firearms nor to their use 30 in the same or in one common structure. The further improvements which form, a-: part of this invention relate more especially to the construction and arrangement of the parts comprising a practical, and efficient 35 magazine-pistol and will be more particularly described hereinafter. In the accompanying drawings, wherein I have represented an embodiment of my in- vention and which form a part hereof, Figure 1 40 is a view in side elevation of a magazine-pistol embodying the improvements herein referred to, the breech being closed; Fig. 2 is in gen- eral a longitudinal center section of the same, ' some parts being shown in elevation and the 45 breech being open. Fig- 3 is a view, partly in side elevation and partly in section, with the breech closed. Fig. 4 is a top view of the same with the breceh open and with some parts broken away to show others beneath. 50 Fig. 5 is a top view with.the breech closed and with parts broken away to show others be- neath. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the connect- ing-piece between the trigger and the other parts of the hammer-releasing devices. Fig. 7 is a detail view, partly in,section, illustrat- 55 ing a modification of the devices for prevent- ing the release of the trigger. The receiver a is represented as having the barrel b and t he grip-stock or handle c formed in one piece therewith, but it will be under- 60 stood that the parts are so represented for con- venience and that they might be formed sep- arately and,be secured together in any suit- able manner. The barrel b is provided, sub- stantially as usual in firearms of this class, 65 with a vent or aperture in rear of the muzzle, as at b', through which thegasesiof explosion may act upon the means for operating the shell extracting and reloading devices, the vent being-formed through asuitable nipple, 70 as b2. The grip-stock or handle c is dispose! substantially at right angles to the receiver and is shown as arranged to form or consti- tute or contain the magazine in which are placed the loaded cartridges, one upon an- 75 other, and from which they are fed, one by one, to the cartridge-chamber of the barrel. The grip-stock is preferably open at its lower end and is adapted to receive a car- tridge-holder d, which is provided with a lug 80 d' to be engaged by a catch d2 for the purpose of retaining the holder in place. The catch d2 is pivoted in the handle and is pressed at one,end into engagement with the cartridge- holder by a spring cP, which also serves an- 85 other purpose, to be referred to hereinafter. ' The other end of thistcatch d2 projects slightly beyond the end of the grip-stock in position to be pressed by the finger in order to release the holder. The holder itself is formed as a 90 flattened tube adapted to receive within it the cartridges one upon another. Within the lower portion of the tube is placed a feeding-spring cP and a follower d5,. which are adapted to press the cartridges up- 95 wardly. The upper end of the tube is open, but is provided with ears cP, which are bent inward slightly 1,6 engage the uppermost car- tridge and prevent its being forced out of the holder by the spring cP. The upper for- юэ ward corner of the holder js cut away to permit the ejection of a cartridge from the
2 580,923 holder in a generally longitudinal direction toward the cartridge-chamber of the barrel, and the ears extend forward only a short dis- tance from the rear of the holder, so that each 5 cartridge is readily released from the holder by a short forward movement thereof. The uppermost cartridge is therefore held in the holder with the upper portion thereof pro- . jecting above the walls of the holder and in io position to be engaged by the breeeh-bolt (hereinafter referred to) in its forward move- ment and to be pushed toward and into the barrel. An overhang b3 projects from the rear of the barrel and is cut away at an in- 15 cline on its under side to guide the cartridge properly into the barrel, and the receiver is likewise cutaway at an incline below the car- tridge-chamber, as at a', for the same pur- pose. 20 Jn the, construction shown in the drawings the breeeh-bolt e is arranged in the receiver and is adapted for longitudinal movement backward and forward in the receiver in the rear of the open end of the barrel, suitable 25 ways a8 being formed in the sides of the re- ceiver to guide the breeeh-bolt in its move- ment. The receiver is open at its top and at its rear end and is provided at one side with a suitable aperture a3 to permit the ejection 30 of the empty eartridge-shells. In the upper side of the barrel, at a suitable distance for- ward of the cartridge-chamber and in rear of the muzzle, is formed the aperture or vent b', through which the gases of explosion may es- 35 cape as soon as the bullet has passed the ap- erture and before it has-escaped from the barrel. A lever/ is hung between ears/' on the top of the barrel in such position that its free end covers the aperture b' before referred 40 to, whereby at each discharge the lever / is thrown backward upon its pivot. This move- ment of the lever/ is imparted to the breech- bolt through a donnecting-rod/2, which is di- vided or forked to embrace the rear portion 45 of the lever/, to which it is secured by a pin /?, and at its rear end is forked to embrace and to be secured by a pin/4 to a Ing/5, which projects upwardly from the breech- bolt e through the open top of the receiver a. The 50 lever/is returned to its normal position to cover the aperture and to move the breeeh- bolt forward by a spring/6, which acts upon the lever through a suitable link connection f, passing under the heel of the lever, and is 55 suitably supported in a barrel /8. The latter lies above the br,eech-bolt e, and space is pro- vided for its reception by recessing or hol- lowing out the connecting-rod/2. The forward end of the spring-barrel f8 60 rests inst an abutment /°, formed on. the upper г-de of the barrel b of the pistol, and is held from lateral displacement by pins /10, which project rearwardly from the face of the abutment. As the spring fe is always 65 under tension the spring-barrel/8 will there- fore be held in position without requiring any additional holding devices and may be removed readily, when required, by pulling it backward to clear it from the pins/10 and letting it slip forward above the abutment/9 70 to slacken the tension on the spring /6 and to permit the disconnection of the links /’. Preferably a rod /“, having a head or fol- lower f12 to bear upon the spring-/6, is in- serted through the barrel f8 and is connected 75 to the last link of the series. It will be evident that at each explosion of a cartridge the breech-bolt is moved back- ward through the described intermediate de- vices by the force of the gases of explosion 80 which escape through the aperture b' and that it is immediately moved forward again by the action of the spring/6. Thebreech-bolt in its forward movement feeds a cartridge from the holder into the cartridge-chamber and in its 85 rearward movement, being provided with a cartridge-extractor e' of usual construction which engages the head of the cartridge- shell in the usual manner, it withdraws the empty shell from the cartridge-chamber. In its rear- 90 ward movement the shell strikes an ejector e2 of ordinary construction and is thereby thrown out from the receiver a through the aperture a3 in the side wall thereof. The breeeh-bolt e overlies the hammer g, and in 95 its rearward movement it cocks the same by direct contact therewith. The breeeh-bolt . also carries the firing-pip, as usual, and aS the same.is arranged in the ordinary manner it has not been thought necessary to illustrate it. too The'constfuctiori of the breeeh-bolt and its actuating deviceshaving been described, and the operation of such devices having been ex- plained, it now remains to describe the de- vices for controlling the hammer g. 105 The hammer is pivoted, as usual, in the re- ceiver a and is acted upon by a mainspring д' in an ordinary manner, the hammer being provided with an antifriction-roller p8, upon which the mainspring д' bears, and an adjust- 110 ing-screw g3 being set imthe handle to bear upon the mainspring, so that the tension thereof may be regulated. Thd hammer g, as usnal, is provided with a half-cock notch gi and a full-cock notch p5, which are adapted 115 to be engaged by a sear Ti, which is pivotally mountdd in the upper portion of the handle and is pressed upon the' hammer to engage the notches thereof by a suitable spring h'. Below’ its pivot the sear h is provided with a 120 lip or shoulder h2 for engagement with a con- necting-piece i, which transmits the pressure of the trigger к to the sear h for the purpose of moving the same to release the hammer g. As the cartridge-holder intervenes between 125 the trigger к and the hammer g and sear h, the connecting-piece i must be so shaped as to offer no obstacle to the introduction of the cartridge - holder d. Accordingly the con- necting-piece is preferably made in the form 130 of an open loop, as shown in Fig. 6, to partly or wholly embrace or surround the holder,
680,923 3 the opening through the loop being suffi- ciently large to permit the introduction of the cartridge-holder through the same and to permit the requisite movement of the con- 5 necting-piece itself. At its forward efid the connecting-piece i is formed with a lug i', against, which the trig- ger к may bear, and at its rear end it is formed with a lip or shoulder i2 for engage- ro ment with the lip or shoulder k2of the sear h. In accordance with this invention provision is made whereby the trigger к may be discon- nected from the sear h by the fall of the ham- mer g. Accordingly the rear end of the con- 15 necting-piece i is held yieldingly against the sear h, the device which I have herein shown for this purpose consisting simply in the rear- wardly-incllned upper end d7of the spring d3, hereinbefore referred to, against and upon го which the rear end of the connecting-piece i rests, and by which it is held yieldingly up- ward against the end of the sear h. Con- nected with the hammer and preferably piv- oted thereon is a dog or trip g6, which is ar- 25 ranged to strike the rear end of the connect- ing-piece i at each forward or' downward movement of the hammer g and to thrust said connecting-piece downward against the pressure of the spring d1 and to disengage it 30 from the sear h, the lip i2 of the piece i mov- ing to the rear of the lip h2 of the sear. The subsequent engagement of the connecting- piece i with the sear h can1 be effected only by releasing the trigger к and permitting the 35 connecting-piece i to move forward and up- ward. Consequently, although the hammer pis instantly recocked by the discharge which was effected by the first pull of the trigger fc, nevertheless the hammer will be engaged and 40 held by the sear h, although the pressure on the trigger has not-been relieved. Therefore it is impossible that two or more explosions should follow one another in quick succession before the trigger к could be released, and it 45 is necessary in order to effect a subsequent discharge to release the trigger and pull it again. As a further safeguard against accidental explosions, means are provided to prevent an 50 effective movementof the trigger nntil all of the parts of the pistol are in proper position for the explosion of a cartridge. These means are controlled by the actuating mech- anism of the breech-bolt and operate to pre- 55 vent either the release and forward move- ment of the trigger and the reengagement of the connecting-piece i with the sear h, in the manner.already described, or the rearward movement of the triggerand connecting-piece 60 i, by which the sear is normally disengaged from the hammer. As represented in Fig. 3 of the drawings, an elbow-lever mis mounted in a suitable re- cess formed in the side wall of the receiver a, 65 and a spring m' is applied to said lever to cause one arm thereof to' project through the open top of the recessin position to be struck and depressed by the connectiijg-rod/2 as it returns to its position of rest. ТЦе other arm of the elbow-lever m stands normally in the 70 path of a projection k' from the trigger a. in position to prevent the forward movement of the trigger;, but when the upwardly-project- ing arm of the elbow-lever m is struck by the connecting-rod f2 and depressed the other 75 arm thereof moves ont of the path of the pro- jection k' on the trigger к and permits the movement thereof necessary for the reen- gagement of the connecting-piece i with the sear h. 80 As represented in Fig. 7 of the drawings, the elbow-lever is provided with a hook m2, which is adapted for engagement with the frpnt end of the trigger Or with a correspond- ing hook k2, projecting therefrom, so that 85 when the elbow-lever is in the position which it assumes when the breech-bolt e is thrown back the trigger is held from the movement necessary to disengage the sear h from the hammer g. As soon, however, as the breech; 90 bolt and the connecting-rod have returned to their positions of rest the elbow-lever m is shifted to release the trigger aud to permit the free movement thereof. The hooks upon the elbow-lever m and the trigger к are pref- 95 erably beveled, so that the reengagement of the trigger and elbow-lever will be effected . automatically as soon as the trigger is re- leased after it has been pulled. It will be observed by reference to Figs. 2 ico and 3 of the drawings that the hammer g when in its rearmost position rests against a solid portion c' of the frame or upper portion of the grip or handle c in rear of the hammer, and that the hammer g is extended upward 105 to form a shoulder, as at gt, to cooperate with a shoulder or projection e3 on the under side of the breech-bolt e. (Indicated clearly by a dotted line ,in Fig. 3.) The breech-bolt be- ing held from upward movement by its guides no in the receiver a, it is evident that the ham- mer thus forms a stop to limit the rearward movement of the breech-bolt should the pins or bearings which support the bolt in closed position break under the shock of discharge, 115 whereby the bolt will be prevented from fly- ing into the shooter’s face. Referring now to the operation’and mode of use of the mechanism already described, it will be evident, in the first place, that a car- 120 tridge-holder fully charged may be readily inserted in the place of an empty holder which has been withdrawn fromthe magazine, no movement of the operative parts of the pistol being required to permit this. It being as- 125 sumed that the cartridge-.ehamber of the bar- rel is empty, it is necessary, in the first in- stance, to effect by hand the movementof the parts necessary to place a cartridge therein. Accordingly, the end of the lever/is grasped 130 by the fingers of one hand and is drawn upward and backward as far as possible. Through the connecting-rod/-this movement of the lever causes a rearward movement of
i 880,923 the breeeh-bolt e, which cocks the hammer g and permits it to be engaged and held by the sear-and at the same time it releases the uppermost cartridge in the holder d and per- 5 mits it to be pressed upward slightly, so that as the breeeh-bolt moves forward again un- der the influence of the spring/6 the cartridge will be engaged thereby and will be pushed forward out of the cartridge-holder into the io cartridge-chamber of the barrel, the inclined overhang &3 and the incline a' properly di- recting the cartridge in its movement.. .When the lever /, connecting-rod /2, and breech- bolt ehave reached the limit of their forward 15 movement, the several pivotal centers thereof will be in a single straight line and thebreech- bolt will therefore be held firmly in a posi- tion to withstand the recoil of the cartridge when exploded. During the movement of 20 the breech-bolt both backward and forward the elbow-lever^ will be in such position as to prevent effective movement of the trigger fc, as already described, and it will not be un- til the breech-bolt has reached its position of 25 rest and the connecting-rod f2 is resting upon its .seat and depressing the elevated arm of the elbow-lever m that the trigger 1c will be released, so that it may be possible to effect the release of the hammer g and the explo- 130 sion of the cartridge. ' Upon the pulling of the trigger when the parts are in proper position the hammer will - be released and will strike the firing-pin, caus- ing the explpsion of the cartridge. As soon 35 as the bullet passes the aperture b' tbe gases of explosion will rush forcibly therethrough and will throw back the lever/, beginning again the cycle of operations already de- scribed. These operations take place so 40 quickly that the operator might not have time to release the trigger until two or more car- tridges were exploded, but, as already de- scribed fully, the trigger is disconnected au- matically from the sear h at each forward 45 movement of the hammer g, and therefore when the hammer is recocked it is engaged and held at full-cock by the sear, which can- not be again disengaged until the trigger has been released and therebj’ the engagement 50 thereof with the sear again permitted. It is evident that some of the features of my present invention are not restricted in their application to gas-operated firearms, but that they may be applied with equally good re- 5 5 suits to hand-operated firearms, and, further- more, that the several features hereinbefore described are not necessarily combined to- gether in one struct ure, but may be used sepa- rately without departing from my invention. 60 It will be obvious also that various changes in the form and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from within the pur- view of my invention. What I claim, and desire to secure by Let- ters Patent, is— 65 1. In a breech-loading firearm, the combi- nation of a frame or handle, a longitudinally-, movable breeeh-bolt, and a hammer mounted in said frame or handle, the said frame or handle having a solid portion in rear of the 70 hammer against which the hammer may rest in cocked position and said hammer having a . .shoulder_to„stand, when the hammer is in cocked position, iri' the path of the bKeTch- bolt and to prevent rearward movement 75 thereof beyond said shoulder, substantially as shown and described. 2. In a breech-loading firearm, the combi- nation with a receiver, a barrel having an aperture in rear of the muzzle, a longitudi- 80 nally-movable breech-bolt.in said receiver, a lever operated by the gases of explosion, a rod connecting said lever and said breech-bolt, said connecting-rod being recessed or hol- lowed out from its under side, a spring and 85 connections to said lever to return said lever and its connected parts to normal position, and a barrel supporting said spring mounted above said receiver and received within the recess of said connecting-rod, substantially 90 as shown and described. 4 3. In a breech-loading firearm the combi- nation with a breech mechanism, a hammer, a sear and a trigger to operate the sear, of a safety device to engage the trigger positively 95 to prevent effective movement thereof and supported in proximity to the breech mech- anism to be actuated thereby to release the trigger as the breech mechanism assumes its normal position, substantially as shown and 100 described. 4. In a breech-loading firearm the combi- nation with a breech mechanism, a trigger, a hammer mechanism, an intermediate piece operated by the trigger to release the ham- 105 mer, a device operated by the movetnent of the hammer as it falls to positively disengage said intermediate piece from the sear, means to effect a reengagement of said connecting piece with the hammer mechanism upon the t to release of the trigger, and a device to engage the trigger to prevent the release thereof and actuated by the breech mechanism to release the trigger, substantially as shown and de- scribed. 115 This specificationsigned arid witnessed this 3d day of September, A. D. 1895. JOHN M. BROWNING. In presence of— John E. Ramsden, Wm. P. Fowler.
8 Sheets—Sheet 1. J. M. BROWNING. FIREARM. (No Model.) No. 580,924. Patented Apr. 20, 1897.
3 Sheets—Sheet 2. J. M. BROWNING-. FIREARM. {No Model.) No. 580,924. Patented Apr. 20, 1897.
.No Model.) 3 Sheets—Sheet 3. J. M. BROWNING. FIREARM. No. 580,924. Patented Apr. 20, 1897.
United States Patent Office. JOHN M. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH. FIREARM. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 580,924, dated April 20, 1897. Application filed October 31, 1896. Serial No. 610,657. (Nc model,) To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, John M. Bbowning, of Ogden, in the county of Weber, State of Utah, have invented certain new and useful Im- 5 provements in Firearms, of which the follow- ing is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof. This invention relates generally to auto- io matic breech-loading firearms, and more es- pecially to firearms of this description in which the several operations—such as the unlocking and opening of the breech after firing a shot, the ejection of the empty car- 15 tridge-shell, the cocking of the hammer, the presentation and introduction of a new car- tridge to the chamber of the barrel, and the closing and looking of the breech—are auto- matically effected by or through the energy 20 of the recoil of the breech block or bolt car- rier or that part which at the time of firing the shot closes the breech or rear end of the cartridge-chamber of the barrel and of the parts connected therewith after each dis- 25 charge. The object which I have had in view has been firstand mainly the production of afire- arm of this class which should be not only practical, efficient, and perfectly safe in use, 30 but should also be very simple in construc- tion and therefore much less liable to get out of order and much less expensive to manu- facture than firearms of like general nature but of more complicated construction, such 35 as have been produced or designed hitherto. I have sought also to provide improved means to prevent the release of the hammer until the breech is fully closed and all parts are locked in proper position for the discharge of 40 a cartridge, improved means to prevent the release of the hammer after each single dis- charge until the trigger has been released and is again operated, and improved means whereby the breech block or bolt carrier is 45 automatically locked in its closed position, so as to prevent the possibility of its movement, by bringing the hammer to the safety or half- cock position and whereby the breech block or bolt carrier is automatically unlocked by 50 bringing the hammer to the full-cock position or by fully lowering the hammer. In attain- ing these objects the barrel of the firearm is caused to have a double movement at one and the same time—that is to say, a movement in the direction of its length and simultaneously 55 therewith another movement—the effect of this double movement being to lock or to un- lock the breech block or bolt carrier and at the same time to permit the barrel to move to a limited extent with the breech block or 60 bolt carrier, so as to permit the gases of ex- plosion to have their full effect upon the pro- jectile before the breech is unlocked and opened. The breech block or bolt, carrier slides to and fro, being impelled in one direc- 65 tion by the energy of the recoil and in the other direction by a reaction-spring, and in its movements it extracts and ejects the empty shell, moves the hammer to the full- cock position, and introduces a fresh car- 70 tridge into the chamber of the barrel. In conjunction with other devices the breech block or bolt carrier also operates to prevent the lowering of the hammer until it has closed the breech fully. The lock mechanism is so 75 constructed as to prevent the disengagement of the sear from the hammer after the ham- mer has been brought automatically to the full-cock position until the trigger is released and is again operated, thereby preventing the 80 discharge of two or more cartridges at each single operation of the trigger, which other- wise would inevitably occur by reason of the swiftness of the automatic operation of the firearm. 85 Various other features of improvement will be more particularly referred to hereinafter. I have chosen a pistol as an embodiment of my improvement, and for the purpose of explaining the nature of such improvement 90 I have illustrated in the accompanying draw- ings and shall refer to and describe herein- after a magazine-pistol, but it will be under- stood that I do not intend thereby to restrict my invention to a magazine-pistol nor any 95 other particular kind of firearm, nor even to the combination of the several features of improvement in a single structure. In the accompanying drawings, wherein I have represented the embodiment of my in- 100 vention which I have already referred to, Figure 1 is a left-hand side elevation of the pistol with the breech closed and the hammer in the full-cock position. Figs. 2
2 580,924 5 ю 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 5° 55 60 65 and 3 are respectively front and rear end views of the same. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal central section of the same with the parts in the same position as in Fig. 1, the barrel and some other parts being shown in elevation. Fig. 5 is a partial view similar to Fig. 4, but with the hammer lowered upon the firing- pin. Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but with the barrel and the breech block or bolt carrier in their extreme rearward positions. Fig. 7 is a partial view similar to Fig. 5, but with the hammer in the half-cock position. Figs. 8 to 17 are detail views of parts to be referred to. The three main parts of the pistol which I have represented in the drawings are the frame a, the barrel b, which has a limited double movement, and the breech block or bolt carrier c, which slides to and fro under the influence of the recoil and of the reaction- spring. The rear portion of the frame a forms the receiverand has a seat and suitable guides for the reciprocating breech block or bolt carrier, and below the receiver is the grip or handle a', which is preferably made integral with the frame, but obviously may be formed separately and attached thereto in any suitable manner. Within the grip and extending through the same upward into the receiver is arranged a seat or chamber for the reception of the cartridge magazine or holder d, Figs. 4, G, and 14 to 17. In the main the cartridge-magazine d may be made in any usual or suitable manner, being in effect a sheet-metal tube in which the cartridges are laid one upon another, resting upon a spring- follower cl, by which they are pressed up- ward toward the receiver. The holder is conveniently retained in place within the grip by a spring-actuated latch d*. The upper end of the holder is open to permit the escape of the cartridges, the side walls at the rear of this opening being turned in to form ears ds, Figs. G to 14, which engage the rim or flange of the topmost cartridge to prevent the escape of the same from the holder ex- cept when it is pushed forward, as herein- after described. From the receiver the frame a is extended forward for the attachment thereto of the barrel b and for the reception and support of the reaction-spring. In its normal position the front end of the barrel may project some- what beyond the extremity of the frame, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 4. The top of the frame a from end to end is preferably milled off straight, to serve as a guide and slide way for the breech block or bolt carrier c, as herein- after more particularly referred to, and be- tween its edges it is concaved, as may be necessary to form a seat for the barrel when the latter is in its rearmost position. The barrel is attached or connected to the frame in such a manner or by such means as to be capable of limited movement only, but of a double movement within its limits—that is to say, the barrel is free to move to and fro in the direction of its length and also to have another movement at the same time, such other movement being, in the construction 70 represented in the drawings, a bodily move- ment toward and from the frame. Obviously the means whereby the barrel is attached or connected to the frame so as to be capable of such movement maybe varied considerably. 75 As a convenient means to accomplish the de- sired purpose I have represented the barrel as provided with two lugs b' and b3, Figs. 4 and 6, projecting from its under side, one near the muzzle and the other near the breech, 80 corresponding recesses being formed in the frame. Links b° and b4 are secured in slots in said lugs and between the walls of said re- cesses by transverse pivot-pins, so that said links swing freely in the plane of the axis of 85 the barrel. The links are of equal length, and the distance between their points of at- tachment to the barrel is the same as that be- tween their points of attachment to the frame. Consequently while the barrel moves rear- 90 wardly and forwardly and at the same time toward and from the frame the axis of the barrel remains always parallel to its normal position. It will be evident that the forward link may be dispensed with if the barrel is 95 properly guided at its forward end in the frame and that the barrel might be otherwise connected to or supported upon the frame. The breech block or bolt carrier c carries the breech-bolt o', to close the breech or rear 100 end of the chamber of the barrel, is adapted to be engaged by the barrel, to be thereby locked in its closed position, and is also adapted to be engaged by the reaction-spring. Therefore, provided the breechblock or bolt 105 carrier is adapted to serve these purposes, it is immaterial what the precise form of the same may be. I prefer, however, that it shall have, forward of the breech-bolt o', a semitubular extension c3 to inclose the top no and sides of the barrel b, the breech block or bolt carrier having longitudinal ribs and grooves c3 c'*to engage corresponding ribs and grooves a3 cd, formed on the frame a, as shown clearly in Figs. 2, 3, and .6, to be thereby 115 held to the frame and guided thereon in its reciprocation. Near the forward end of the breech block or bolt carrier is a transverse key c°, which is inserted through rectangular recesses cut 120 therefor in the sides of the breech block or bolt carrier and normally projects slightly at each side of the breech block or bolt carrier. Л longit udinal mortise or slot a5is cut through the forward part of the frame a to receive the 125 key c3and to permit it to travel freely therein. The rear end of said slot or mortise a5 forms an abutment for the key c3 to limit the rear- ward movement of the breech block or bolt carrier, and thereby all danger that the breech 13c block or bolt carrier may fly back from the frame is entirely obviated. The key c3 also forms the bearing through which the reaction- spring e acts upon the breech block or bolt
580,924 3 carrier to return it to its normalposition after it has been moved rearwardly therefrom by the recoil. This spring is conveniently lo- cated in a chamber ali, formed in the forward extension of the frame, and at its rear end bears against the rear end of said chamber. At its forward end the said spring may have a piston e', which is provided with a head or liange e3 to bear against the key cs. The rear face of the key c5 is recessed, as at c°, (see Figs. 12 and 13,) to receive the head or flange e2, whereby said piston forms a latch to pre- vent the accidental displacement of said key c5. When it is desired to withdraw said key c5 to permit the removal of the breech block or bolt carrier from the frame, a pin is in- serted through the hole a7 into the path of said piston e' to stop its forward movement, while the forward movement of the breech block or bolt carrier is continued, thereby re- leasing the key from the piston and permit- ting it to be withdrawn readily. The piston e is preferably tubular to receive a springe3, which bears at its forward end against an in- ternal shouldor e1 and projects rearwardly somewhat beyond the rear end of said piston, so that when the breech block or bolt carrier and the piston moverearwardly, compressing the reaction-spring e, the end of the spring e3, which is quite stiff, strikes the solid parti- tion at the cud of the chamber a° and serves as a buffer or cushion to diminish the shock. In order to permit the introduction of the re- action-spring e and piston e', the forward end of the chamber «s is left open and is closed after the introduction of the spring and pis- ton by a plug a8, which may be secured in place by the pin a9, which serves as the pivot for the forward link bs. It will be evident that the piston might be dispensed with, if desired, the terminal coil of the spring taking its place as a latch for the key c\ Just forward of the breech-bolt c' the top of the breech block or bolt carrier c is cut away, as at c7, to permit the ejection of the empty shell after each discharge, the said opening c7 being directly over the upper end of the cartridge-holder d when the’breech block or bolt carrier is in its extreme rearward position, and standing over the rear portion of the barrel when the breech block or bolt carrier is in its extreme forward or closed po- sition. Just forward of the opening c7 the breech block or bolt carrier is provided with one or more recesses csto receive correspond- ing transverse ribs or projections N on the barrel b, the said ribs or projections being caused to enter and occupy said recesses by the movement in the transverse or vertical plane which the barrel has at the same time that it is moved forward in a longitudinal direction by the breech block or bolt carrier during the last of the forward movement of the latter, whereby the breech block or bolt carrier is securely locked to the barrel and the breech-bolt is held rigidly against the end of the barrel, closing the breech. In this closed position, therefore, the breech block or bolt carrier c and the barrel b are securely interlocked and neither one can move inde- 70 pendently of the other. When, however, the breech block or bolt carrier is moved rear- wardly under the influence of the recoil, the barrel moves for some distance with it until the rocking movement of the barrel hereto- 75 fore explained lowers the barrel until it rests upon the frame, and thereby withdraws the ribsb5from the recesses c8 in the breech block or bolt carrier and releases the breech block or bolt carrier from the barrel. The frame 80 prevents further rearward movement of the barrel, which is left with its breech in proper position with respect to the cartridge-maga- zine to receive a fresh cartridge after the empty shell has been withdrawn. The con- 85 tinued rearward movement of the breech block or bolt carrier opens the breech by mov- ing the breech-bolt away from the barrel until the face of the breech-bolt has passed to the rearof the cartridge-magazine. Duringthe re- 90 turn or forward movement of the breech block or bolt carrier the barrel is kept from moving forward with it by the top of the breech block or bolt carrier, which slides over the ribs b5 and prevents the barrel from rising from the 95 frame, but as the last of the closing move- ment brings the-face of the breech-bolt c against the breech of the barrel the recesses cs arrive above the ribs b5, permitting the barrel to rise as the ribs enter the recesses 100 and at the same time to be pushed forward by the breech block or bolt carrier, so that when the breech block or bolt carrier and the barrel arrive at their forward or closed posi- tion they are again securely locked, as before. 105 In order to delay somewhat the unlocking of the barrel and breech block or bolt carrier, so as to insure the exit of the projectile from the muzzle of the barrel, and the consequent relief of the pressure of the powder-gases in nc the barrel before the breech block or bolt car- rier is unlocked and the breech opened, I ar- range the links bs fr1 so that in the closed po- sition of the breech block or bolt carrier the centers of the upper pivots between the links 115 and the barrel stand somewhat forward of a vertical line through the centers of the lower pivots between the links and the frame. By this arrangement the barrel moves rearward with the breech block orbolt carrier for some 120 distance before it moves downward, tire ribs are kept in the recesses, and the unlocking of the breech block or bolt carrier from the bar- rel is correspondingly delayed. The device just described is not only sim- 125 pie, but exceedingly effective for the purpose named, requiring no nice adjustment and not being injuriously affected by wear, the only effect of which will be to increase the delay. As described heretofore, the cartridges are 130 pressed upward from the holder, but are held from escaping therefrom bytheearsd3. Nev- ertheless the rim of the topmost cartridge rises, so as to project above the holder as soon
580,924 4 as the breech-bolt c! has passed to the rear of the holder, the action of the spring-follower in the magazine and of the cartridges upon one another causing the forward end of the 5 topmost cartridge to be tilted up and directed toward the breech of the barrel. In the for- ward or closing movement of the breech block or bolt carrier the face of the breech-bolt c' engages the topmost cartridge, the upper edge io of which then lies in the path of the breeeh- bolt and pushes it directly from the holder into the chamber of the barrel, the lug b2 on the under side of the barrel projecting some- what beyond the rear end thereof and having 15 its upper face inclined rearwardly and down- wardly to serve as a guide for the cartridge. It will be understood that when the breech is closed and the barrel and breech block or bolt carrier are locked together the lock 20 mechanism can be released by pressure upon the trigger to effect the discharge of the car- tridge. By the energy of the recoil the breech block or bolt carrier is driven to the rear, and in its movement after it is released from the 25 barrel it effects the extraction of the empty shell from the chamber of the barrel and its ejection from the receiver. For this purpose an extractor/,of usual construction and acted upon by a spring/', as usual, is arranged in 30 the breech-bolt c' to engage the head or flange of the cartridge during the closing movement and to extract the shell from the chamber of the barrel during the opening movement. As the shell is drawn rearwardly by the ex- 35 tractor, which engages its upper edge, its lower edge strikes two projections g, which are preferably formed on or secured to the sides of the cartridge-holder near the upper rear corners iu similar position, as shown in jo Figs. 15,10, and 17, so as to be removed there- with. These projections stop the rearward movement of the lower portion of the shell while its upper edge is still engaged by the extractor, with the result that the shell is 45 snapped out or ejected through the opening cT in the top of the breech block or bolt car- rier. The under side of the breech-bolt c' is of course provided with grooves c9, Fig. 8, corresponding to the stops or projections g. 50 The breech-bolt c' is provided with th e usual firing-pin к and retracting-spring k', and the hammer I is pivoted, as usual, in the frame and is acted upon by the usual mainspring I', the shape and position of the hammer be- 55 ing such that it is struck and brought to full- cock position by the breech-bolt c' in the rear- ward or opening movement of the latter. The sear m is pivoted in the frame in front of the hammer and is normally acted upon by a 60 spring m' to cause it to engage the hammer and keep it cocked. The trigger n is pivoted, as usual, in the frame in front of the grip a', and its rearward movement is transmitted to the sear by a connecting-piece ri, Figs. 4, 5, 65 and 11. The front end of the latter is sup- ported in a horizontal opening in the front wall of the magazine-seat and rests against the trigger. In rear of this the piece n' is divided into two arms, which pass around the cartridge-holder without interfering with 7 the same and in rear of it arc united by a cross-bar 7г2. The rear face of the cross-bar 7г2 is beveled and the spring 7г8, ben t геат- wardly at its upper end, bears against the cross-bar n2, tending to raise it into the path 7 of the sear m and to yieldingly hold the con- necting-piece 7г' and the trigger 7г in their for- ward positions. Upon the top of the cross- bar n2 is a lip or shoulder тг'1, adapted to en- gage the extremity of the sear, so that the 8 rearward movement of the trigger n may be communicated to the sear to cause it to re- lease the hammer 1 when the trigger is oper- ated. In orderTo prevent the release of the hammer unless the breech is fully closed, a 8 safety-piece о is arranged between the breech- bolt c' and the connecting-piece 7г'. The top of the safety-piece о is guided in a hole in the frame adjacent to the breech-bolt and projects into a recess c10 in the latter when the breech is 9 fully closed. The lower portion of the safety- piece 0 passes through a slot m2 in the sear m and is itself slotted, as at o', to straddle the pin upon which the sear is pivoted, so that the longitudinal or vertical movement 9 of the safety-piece is limited by said pin. The length of the safety-piece 0 is such that when its upper end stands in the recess c10 of the breech-bolt its lower end permits the cross-bar 7г2 of the connecting-piece 7г' to be 1 raised by the spring 7г3 into position to en- gage the sear 77г. As soon as the breech-bolt commences to move rearwardly the inclined forward end of the recess c10 forces the safety- pieee downward against the pressure of the 1 spring тг8 and depresses the cross-bar 7г2 be- low the end of the sear 77?, so that even if the trigger is. pressed when the breech block or bolt carrier is out of its closed position the sear cannot be operated thereby, and the sear 1 is at all times, except when the breech is closed and the trigger is pressed, free to re- engage the hammer as soon as it is cocked, even thoughthetrigger has not been released. The sear m and safety-piece о also serve to 1 automatically lock the breeeh-bolt in the frame when the hammer is brought to half- cock and to automatically unlock the same when the hammer is either lowered or raised to full-cock. For this purpose the safety- 1 piece has at its lower end a shoulder o2, (see Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, and 10,) and the sear m has a cross-bar ms below its slot m2, which forms a shoulder to cooperate with the shoulder o2 of the safety-piece 0. 1 As is well understood, the point or upper end of the sear 77г approaches the center upon which the hammer is pivoted more nearly when the hammer is at half-cock than when it is down or at full-cock, wherefore the cross- 1 bar or shoulder ms, when the hammer is at half-cock, (see Fig. 7,) is thrown forward un- der the shoulder o2 of the safety-piece о and prevents the latter from moving downward.
580,924 5 As the breeeh-bolt c cannot move rearward unless the safety-piece о yields downward,the locking of the safety-piece in this manner holds the breech-bolt in its closed position. 5 When the hammer is raised or lowered out of the half-cock position, it forces the point of the sear forward, thereby withdrawing the cross-bar or shoulder m3 from beneath the shoulder or end o2 of the safety-piece o, per- to mitting the latter to be moved downward and the breech-bolt, therefore, to be moved rear- ward. The spring -n8 is conveniently formed as the middle leaf or member of a single spring-plate, which is trifurcated and whose 15 outer leaves or members m' bear upon the sear. This spring-plate may also be secured to the latch d2 for the cartridge-holder, and thereby operate the latter without requiring an additional spring. so The operation of the firearm described here- in will now be readily understood. A charged cartridge-holder is inserted in its seat in the grip of the frame and the breech block or bolt carrier is drawn rearward once by hand. 25 This unlocks the barrel, opens the breech, cocks the hammer, and presents a cartridge in front of the breech-bolt. When the breech block or bolt carrier is released, the reaction- spring moves the parts forward and closes and 30 locks the breech after transferring a cartridge to the barrel, thus placing all parts in position for firing. If, now, the triggeris pulled, a shot will be fired and the recoil will effect the open- ing movement, extracting and ejecting the 35 empty shell and storing energy in the reac- tion-spring for the subsequent movement of the parts in transferring a cartridge to the barrel and closing and locking the breech. These operations may be repeated as often as 40 cartridges are supplied. The movements of the parts take place so rapidly, that unless means were provided to prevent, the trigger could not be released before several shots in succession would be fired; but, as already 45 explained, the trigger is at each opening move- ment of the breech disconnected from the sear, thus releasing the latter and allowing it to reengage the hammer as soon as the same is again cocked, even though the trigger has 50 not been released. By reason of the con- struction and arrangement of parts which I have devised and explained herein I am en- abled to make the frame of the barrel of so light a weight that the breech block or bolt 55 carrier may be of considerable weight, where- by the momentum of the heavy breech block or bolt carrier enables it to continue the open- ing movement after the pressure of the gases in the barrel has been released and after the 60 barrel has been stopped and to store energy in the reaction-spring. It will be evident that various features of this invention may be employed independ- ently of the rest and in hand-operated or other 65 firearms of a different kind from that which I have described herein, and that various changes in the form and arrangement of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention. What I claim, and desire to secure by Let- 70 ters Patent, is— 1. In a firearm, the combination with a frame and a movable breech block or bolt car- rier, of a barrel having a limited movement in the direction of its length and in a trans- 75 verse direction to lock and unlock said breech block or bolt carrier. 2. In a firearm, the combination with a frame, of a breech block or bolt carrier mount- ed to slide upon said frame, a barrel having 80 a limited movement upon said frame, and a projection carried by said barrel and caused by the movement thereof to engage said breech block or bolt carrier. 3. In a firearm, the combination with a 85 frame, of abreech block or bolt carrier mount- ed to slide upon said frame, a barrel having a limited longitudinal movement and a lim- ited transverse movement npon said frame and a projection carried by said frame and 90 caused by said transverse movement to enter or leave a recess in said breech block or bolt carrier. 4. In a firearm, the combination with a frame and a breech block or bolt carrier slid- 95 ing on the frame, of a barrel connected to said frame to have a longitudinal movement and a movement toward and from said frame and means for interlocking said barrel and said breech block or bolt carrier by the move- 100 ment of said barrel from said frame. 5. In a firearm, the combination with a frame and a breech block or bolt carrier slid- ing on said frame, of a barrel, a link connec- tion between said barrel and said frame, 105 whereby said barrel may move longitudinally and toward and from said frame, and means for interlocking said barrel and said breech block or bolt carrier by the movement of said barrel from said frame. no 0. In a firearm, the combination with a frame and a breech block or bolt carrier slid- ing on said frame, said breech block or bolt carrier having a transverse groove, of a bar- rel, a link connection between said barrel and 115 said frame whereby said barrel may move lon- gitudinally and toward and from said frame, and a projection fixed on said barrel to enter the groove in said breech block or bolt car- rier as said barrel is moved from the frame. 120 7. In a firearm, the combination with a frame, of a breech block or bolt carrier slid- ing on said frame, said breech block or bolt Carrier comprising a breech-bolt and a for- ward extension embracing said frame, and a 125 barrel mounted upon said frame within said forward extension and having a limited move- ment upon said frame to move with and to lock and unlock said breech block or bolt car- rier. 130 8. In a firearm, the combination with a frame having a forward extension, a reaction- spring mounted in said forward extension, and a barrel, of abreech block or bolt carrier
6 580,924 5 ю i5 20 25 3° 55 40 45 .5° 55 60 65 having a semitubular, forward extension to inelose the barrel and to engage said frame and to slide thereon, said frame having a lon- gitudinal slot in its forward extension, and a key carried by the forward extension of said breech block or bolt carrier and traveling in said slot to form a bearing for said reaction- spring. 9. In a firearm, the combination with a frame, and a reaction-spring mounted in said frame, of a breech block or bolt carrier formed to engage said frame and to slide thereon, said frame having a longitudinal slot, and a key carried by said breech block or bolt car- rier and traveling in said slot to form a bear- ing for said reaction-spring and arranged to be held by said spring from accidental dis- placement. 10. In a firearm, the combination with a frame, a reaction-spring mounted in said frame, and a piston carried by the free end of said spring, of a breech block or bolt carrier formed to engage said frame and to slide thereon, said frame having a longitudinal slot, and a key carried by said breech block or bolt carrier and traveling in said slot to form a bearing for said reaction-spring, said key being recessed to receive the head of said piston. 11. In a firearm, the combination with a frame adapted to receive a magazine, of a barrel, a link connection between said barrel and frame, whereby said barrel may move toward said frame to present its.breech end in position to receive a cartridge from the magazine, and a sliding breech-bolt to push the cartridge from the magazine into said barrel. 12. In a firearm, the combination with a frame and a cartridge-holder supported in the frame and having a spring-follower to feed the cartridges toward the receiver of the frame, of a breech-piece sliding on said frame, said breech block or bolt carrier comprising a breech-bolt and a forward extension, a bar- rel having a link connection with said frame, and means whereby said barrel may engage said breech block or bolt carrier, whereby as the breech block or bolt carrier and barrel move rearwardly the movement of the barrel is interrupted and a cartridge is presented in position for insertion into the barrel, and as the breech block or bolt carrier moves for- ward the breech-bolt engages the cartridge, inserts it into the barrel, returns the barrel to normal position, and is at the same time locked to said barrel. 13. In a firearm, the combination with a frame and a barrel mounted on said frame, of a breech block or bolt carrier sliding on said frame, said breech block or bolt carrier comprisinga breech-bolt anda forward, semi- tubular extension to cover the barrel and hav- ing an opening forward of the breech-bolt to permit the ejection of the shell. 14. In a firearm, the combination with a frame and a barrel connected to said frame to have a limited double movement thereon, of a breech block or bolt carrier sliding on said frame, said breech block or bolt carrier 70 comprising a breech-bolt and a forward ex- tension therefrom to cover said barrel, means to engage said breech block or bolt carrier and said barrel and shell-extracting and shell- ejecting devices carried by said breech block 75 or bolt carrier and said frame and operated by the movements of said breech block or bolt carrier. 15. In a firearm, the combination with a frame adapted to receive a magazine, and a 80 barrel, of a sliding breech block or bolt carrier mounted on said frame, an extractor mounted on said breech block or bolt carrier to engage one edge of the cartridge-flange, and a maga- zine independent of the frame and having 85 lugs or ears at the rear of the magazine in the path of the cartridge-shell as it is withdrawn from the barrel by the extractor, whereby the rearward movement of the shell is arrested and the shell is ejected. 90 16. In a firearm, the combination with a frame and a lock mechanism, of a breech block or bolt carrier sliding on said frame andhavinga recess, and a safety-piece mount- ed in the frame to control said lock median- 95 ism and entering said recess in said breech block or bolt carrier and permitting the re- lease of the lock mechanism when the breech block or bolt carrier is in the firing position. 17. In a firearm, the combination with a 100 frame, a hammer and a sear, a trigger and a connecting-piece to operate said sear, of a breech block or bolt carrier sliding on said frame and having a recess, and a safety-piece entering said recess in said breech block or 105 bolt carrier when the latter is in firing posi- tion and permitting the operation of the sear and its movement by said breechblock or bolt carrier as it moves from the firing position to disconnect said trigger from said sear. no 18. In a firearm, the combination with a frame, a hammer having a half-cock notch and a full-соек notch, a sear engaging said notches and having a shoulder, a breech block and bolt carrier sliding on said frame 115 and having a recess, and a safety-piece mount- ed in said frame and entering said recesses when the hammer is at half-cock and having a shoulder which engages said shoulder of said sear, whereby when said hammer is at 120 half-cock said safety-piece is held by said sear in engagement with said breech block or bolt carrier. This specification signed and witnessed this 17th day of October, A. D. 1896. JOHN M. BROWNING. In presence of— Matthew S. Browning, M. J. Hall.
3 Sheets—Sheet Г. J. M. BROWNING. FIREARM. iNo Model.) No. 580,925. ’ Patented Apr. 20, 1897.
(Ho Model.} 3 Sheets—Sheet 2. J. M. BROWNING. FIREARM. No. 580,925. Patented Apr. 20, 1897.
(No Model.) 3 Sheets—Sheet 3. J. M. BROWNING. FIREARM.
United States Patent Office. JOHN M. DROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH. FIREARM SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 580,926, dated April 20, 1897. Application filed October 31,1896. Serial So. 610,668. (Ho model,) To all wlbOTib Ik. may concern: Be it known that I, John M. Browning, re- sidingin Ogden, in the county of Weber, State of Utah, have invented certain new and use- 5 ful Improvements in Firearms, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,- forming a part hereof. This inventioix relates generail у to the class, to of. automatic breech - loading firearms, and more especially to firearms of this description in which the several operations, such as the unlocking and opening of the breech after, firing a shot, the ejection of the empty car- 15 tridge-shell, the cocking of the hammer, the presentation and introduction .of a fre h car- tridge to.the chamber of the barrel, and the closing and locking of the breech, are auto- matically effected by or through the energy го of. the recoil of the breech block dr bolt car- rier or that part which at the time of firing the shot closes the breech or rear end or car- tridge - chamber of the barrel and of the parts connected therewith after each dis- 25 charge. The object which I have had particularly . in view has been the production of a firearm of this description-which shoitld be compact, well-balanced, comparatively simple add in- 30 expensive in construction, and provided with means whereby the breech-bolt. maybe locked positively to the rear end of the barrel at the time of firing. I have sought also to provide means to prevent the release of the hammer 35 until the breech is fully closed and all parts are locked in proper position for the discharge ’ of the cartridge and to provide improved means to prevent the release.of the hammer after each single discharge until the trigger 40 has been released and is again operated. In reducing the invention to practice the barrel of the firearm is caused to have a syn- chronous double movement—that is to say, a movement- in thedircciion of its length and si- 45 niultancously therewith another movement— the’fcffect of this double movement being to lock or to unlock the breech block or bolt car- rier and at the same time to permit the bar- rel to move to a limited extent with the breech 50 block or bolt carrier, so as to permit the gases - of explosion to have their full effect upon the projectile before the breech is opened; In another application, filed concurrently herewith and serially numbered 610,657 and to which this application is subordinate, I 55 have sought to cover, broadly, a firearm pro- vided with a movable breech block or bolt carrier and a barrel having a synchronous double movement for the purpose of locking and unlocking the breech block or bolt car- 60 rier, and in the particular construction there- in shown and described as an embodiment of the invention the secondary movement of the barrel is a bodily movement toward and from’the frame upon which the barrel is sup- 65 ported. In the present application I have shown and described a, particular construction which likewise embodies the broad invention re- ferred to, but in which the secondary move- 70 ment of the barrel is a partial rotation.' The other features of the firearm, which I shall explain hereinafter, have been devised with especial reference, therefore, to their use in conjunction with a barrel which has a liin- 75 ited longitudinal movement and a simultane- ous limited rotary movement upon.its own. axis, but it will be understood, however, that such other features of the firearm are not of necessity limited to their use in a firearm So provided with a barrel haying such a move- ment as that to which I have referred nor to a firearm of any particular class Or descrip- tion. j In the firearm which I have described here- 85 inafter the breech block or bolt carrier slides to and fro, being impelled in one direction by the energy 6f the recoil and in the other .direction by the reaction-spring, and in its movements it extracts and ejects the empty 90 shell, moves the hamtiier to the full-cock po- sition, and introduces a fresh cartridge into the chamber of the barrel.. The breech block or bolt carrier operates through other dev ices to prevent the release of the hammer until 95 the breech is fully closed; and the lock' mech- anism is so constructed and so arranged as toprevent the disengagement of the sear from the hammer after the hammer has been brought automatically to the full-cock posi- 100 tion Until the trigger is -released and is again operated, thereby preventing the discharge of two or, more cartridges at each single op- eration of the trigger, which would otherwise
я 680,925 inevitably осецг by reason of tlie swiftness of the automatic operation of the firearm. For the purpose of enabling the nature of my invention to be fully understood I have 5 illustrated, the same in the accompanying drawings) as embodied in a breech-loading- auiomatiie magazine-pistol,. and with refer- ence to such a firearm I will hereinafter ex-? plain in detail the several features of my in- io yentien, although it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited thereby to the precise construction, arrangement, and relation of parts which I have represented. . In the drawings, Figure 1 is a left-hand »S side elevation of a pistol of the class referred to which is constructed in accordance’with my invention. Figs. 2 and 3 are-respectively iront and rear end views of the same, Fig. 3 being partly broken a way. ’ Fig, 4 is a vertical so longitudinal section of the same on a central plane; but with the breech block or bolt car- rier and some other parts in elevation, the. breech block or bolt carrier being represented in its closed position in both Figs. 1 and 4. «5 Figs. 5 and G are sections on the plane indi- cated by the line sc я of Fig. 4, looking rear- ward, showing the parts in different posi- tions. Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section on a horizontal plane with the barrel in plan view.. 30 Fig. 8 is a view generally similar to Fig. 4, -but with the breech block or bolt carrier also in vertical longitudinal section and in its ex- treme rearward or open position, the sear- latch being shown in the position which it 35 assumes when pressed by the hand of the op- erator in grasping the pistol and in which it will permit the movement of the sear to re- lease the hammer, the trigger itself being shown in its forward position. Figs. 9,10, and 40 11 are detail views of parts to be referred to'. The firearm which is illustrated in the drawings arid embodies my invention com- prises a frame a, a barrel b, which has a lim- ited double movement, and a breech block 45 or bolt carrier c, which is caused to slide to and fro by tlie energy of the reeoil when a shot is fired and by a reaction-spring in which energy is stored by the recoil. The rear por- tion of the frame cr constitutes the receiver, 50 and below the receiver is the grip or handle a', which is preferably made integral With the frame, but obviously may be formed sepa- rately and attached thereto in any suitable manner. Within the grip and extending itp- .5$ ward into the receiver is arranged a seat or chamber for the reception of the cartridge magazine or holder d, Which may be made in any usual or suitable manner, being in effect a sheetmetal tube in which the "cartridges 60 are laid one upon another upon a spring-fol- lower Л', by which they are pressed upward toward the receiver. The holder is conveniently retained in place within the grip by a spring-actuated 65 latch d®, and its upper end is open to permit the escape of the cartridges, the side walls at the rear of the opening being turned in to form ears cl3, Figs. 8 and 9, which engage the rim or flange of the topmost cartridge to pre- vent the escape of the same from the holder, except when it is pushed for wal’d, as herein-, after described. Above the grip and trigger-guard the frame is formed as a tubular body a2, which pro- vides a seat for the breech block or bolt car- rier c, in which the latter is guided in its re- ciprocation, and it is extended forward to a point near the muzzle of the barrel. The latter is connected to the frame at the for- ward end of the tubular extension and in such a manner as to be capable of a limited double movement, or, more specifically, of a movement in the direction of its length and of a transverse or partial rotary movement. The barrel does riot, rest directly upon the frame, but is entered within the tubular breech block or bolt carrier c, which slides to and fro within the tubular extension of the frame and about the barrel, the breech block or bolt carrier and barrel being entered to- gether in the frame from the front end. As a means of connection between the barrel and the frame to permit of the desired movement of the former I prefer the construction which I have shown in the drawings, Figs. 2, 4, 7, and 8, and which comprises a collar b', which is secured to the forward end of the barrel b* while a bashing a5 is secured to the for- ward end of the tubular extension a2 of the frame a. An external shoulder b2 on the col- lar b' and an internal shoulder in the b nsh- dng a5 limit the rearward movement of the barrel b with.respect to the frame a. Cam- pins !>’, projecting from the collar b', enter obliquely-disposed cam grooves or slots a7 in the bushing q3, so that as the barrel moves rearward it receives at the same time a partial rotation through.the cooperation of the said cam-pins and the cam-grooves. For a short distance rearward from their forward ends the cam-grooves are preferably made straight or parallel with the axis of the barrel, so that the barrel moves rearward for a short dis- tance before it begins to turn, the object of this being, as will appeqr iriore clearly here- inafter, to retard the unlocking of the breech somewhat, so that the powder-gases shall have their full effect upon the projectile be: fore the breech is opened. The breech block or bolt carrier c com- prises the breeeh-bolt c', which fits in the rear part of the tubular portion or casing ft2 of the frame, and a forward cylindrical ex- tension c\ which moves freely and is guided within the casing d2 and is bored out longi- tudinally for the reception of the barrel b, being of such length that it occupies the cas- ing a2 to within a short distance of its front end. The extension c2 is adapted to be en-^ gaged by the barrel to lock the breeOh-bolt c' in its closed position, and is also adapted to be engaged by the reaction-springe, which is a coiled spring received between the barrel and the tubular extension c2, the bore of the
580,925 8 latter being of such a diameter as to form a space to receive it. The front end of the spring e rests against the bushing cs, secured in the forward end of 5 the said extension c2 and through which the barrel slides freely, while its rear end rests against the collar b\ loosely mounted on the rear portion of the barrel b. Energy is stored in the spring e by the recoil of the breech о block or bolt carrier, and its reaction effects , the forward or closing movement of the breech block or bolt carrier and the barrel. A shoulder c° is formed on the brcech-bolt c' by reducing its diameter to cooperate with a 5 collar a8 at the rear end of the casing a2, Figs. 4, 7, and 8, and thereby limit the rearward movement of the breech block or bolt carrier and prevent positively its flying farther back. The collar is cut away, as at a9, to accommo- э date a spline c7, formed on the breech-bolt c', by which means the breech-bolt is kept from turning upon its axis as it moves to and fro. The extremity of the breech-bolt is threaded to receive a knob c8, which limits the forward 5 movement of the breech block or bolt carrier and can also be conveniently grasped by the lingers, so that the breech block or bolt car- rier can be drawn rearward for the first op- eration of the pistol. э In front of the breech-bolt c' and within the bore of the breech block or bolt carrier (see Figs. 5, G, 7, and 8) are provided one or more annular projections c9, from which segments are removed, as at c10, and on the barrel, near its breech, are corresponding annular projec- tions or ribs b5, from which segments are also removed, as at b6. The projections bson the barrel are adapted to move longitudinally through the openings c10 in the ribs c9 and to ) enter the grooves in the rear of the ribs c9 when the barrel is partially rotated. As al- ready described, the barrel moves rearwardly for a short distance with the breech block or bolt carrier when the latter begins its rear- ; ward movement, and during the latter part of its longitudial movement the barrel re- ceives a partial rotation through the engage- ment of the cam-pins bs with the cam-slots a7 in the bushing a5. < When the barrel and the breech block or bolt carrier are in their extreme forward po- sitions, the projections b5 are in engagement with the projections c9 of the breech block or bolt carrier, as shown in Figs. 5 and 7, there- by locking the barrel and the breech block or bolt carrier together, but when the rear- ward movement begins and the barrel is par- tially rotated, the breech block or bolt car- rier is disengaged from the barrel b, as shown in Figs. G and 8, and by reason of its momen- tum continues its rearward movement, while the barrel is brought to rest. During the last of the forward movement of the breech block or bolt carrier the barrel is moved for- ward with it and at the same time receives a partial rotation in the opposite direction, whereby the barrel and the breech block or bolt carrier are again locked together. It will be understood that the portions of the cam grooves or slots a7 Avhich are par- 70 allel with the axis of the barrel permit the latter to move rearwardly for a short distance with the breech block or bolt carrier before the breech is unlocked, thereby delaying the opening of the breech until the powder-gases 75 have had their full effect upon the projectile. Forward of the breech-bolt o' the breech block or bolt carrier is provided in its upper side with an opening c11, Figs. 4, 5, G, and 8, through which the empty shell may be ejected. 80 A block a11 is secured to the frame a in front of the corresponding opening a12 and enters the opening c11. (Shown in Figs. 4 and 8.) Its forward end forms an abutment for the collar b4, Figs. 4 and 8, which supports the rear end of 85 the reaction-springe, and a screw cd3 projects through the frame from the under side in line with the end of the block cd1 to form also an abutment for the collar b4, so that the rear end of the reaction-spring e, which rests against 9c the collar b4, is in effect supported by the frame a. The screw cd3 projects through an open- ing c12 iu the under side of the breech block or bolt carrier c, which is widened at its rear end to form a square shoulder c13 on one side. 95 (See Fig. 4.) A piece or block b7 is secured to the barrel b to move therewith and is adapted to slide in the opening c12, partaking both of the ro- tary and of the longitudinal movements of 100 the barrel. When the barrel is in its extreme forward position with its breech end against the face of the breech-bolt c', the front end of the block b7 is on a line with the shoulder c13, so that the barrel may be rotated to per- 105 mit its sectional ribs or projections bs to inter- lock with the corresponding sectional ribs or projections c9 of the breech block or bolt car- rier and so to lock the barrel and the breech block or bolt carrier together, the bloek b7 no moving laterally into the wide part of the opening c12 in rear of the shoulder c13. In order that the barrel may be unlocked from the breech block or bolt carrier, it must be rotated in the opposite direction until the 115 block b7 clears the shoulder c13. If the breech block or bolt carrier is then moved rearward^ while the barrel is prevented from moving with it, the block b7 will slide in the forward narrow part of the opening c12 along the 120 straight part of the side forward of the shoul- der c13, preventing rotation of the barrel un- til the return or closing movement of the breech block or bolt carrier again brings the shoulder cls into line with the front end of the 125 block c7. The cartridges are held from escaping ver- tically from the magazine or holder d by the ears ds, but they are pressed upward by the follower^', so that as the breech-bolt c'passes 130 totherearof the magazine or hold er the flange of the uppermost cartridge is projected up-
580,625 ward between the ears d3 into the path of the breeeh-bolt, and on the forward or closing movement of the latter the cartridge, which is then in an inclined position with the bullet 5 directed toward the open breech of the bar- rel, is thrust forward by the breech-bolt into the chamber of the barrel. The lower side of the breech-bolt is grooved to travel freely over the upper end of the magazine or holder io d, so that the uppermost cartridge can be thereby brought sufficiently near the axis of the barrel to be inserted into its chamber, as already described. As referred to above, an opening a13 is 15 formed in the top of the frame a in a posi- tion to correspond with the opening c11 in the breech block or bolt carrier when the latter is in its rearward position to permit of the ejection of the empty shell. An extractor/, 20 Fig. 8, of ordinary construction, is carried by the breech-bolt to engage the cartridge during the last of the forward or closing movement of the breech-bolt and to with- draw the shell from the chamber of the bar- 25 rel during the rearward or opening move- ment of the breech-bolt. The ejection of the shell is effected by the ejector operating in conjunction with the firing-pin, as described hereinafter. 30 In a longitudinal chamber in the breech- bolt o' is arranged the hammer or striker Z, Figs. 7 and 8, the forward part of which forms the firing-pin Zc. The body of the hammer Z is hollow and contains the coiled mainspring I'. 35 The rear end of the spring is supported by a pin c14, fixed to the knob cB and projecting into the breech-bolt. The length of the firing- pin к is such that its point protrudes consid- erably from the face of the breech-bolt c' and 40 under the pressure of the spring V serves to eject the shell when the rearward movement of the breech-bolt and the extractor has with- drawn the same from the barrel, the upper edge of the head of the shell being held by 45 the extractor. On its lower side the hammer I has a longi- tudinal rib Z2, Fig. 8, which prevents rotation of the hammer, while its front end forms a shoulder Zs, with which the sear m may en- 50 gage during the forward movement of the breech-bolt to cock the hammer, a slot being formed through the bottom of thebreech-bolt to permit of such engagement. The sear m is pivoted in the casing of the frame a below 55 the breech block or bolt carrier and in the rear of the magazine, the point m' of the sear in rear of and above its pivot being kept yieldingly in the path of the shoulder Is by a sear-spring m2. In rear of the sear m is piv- 60 oted a latch o, the point o' of which is held yieldingly beneath the point m’ of the sear m by the sear-spring m2, so that the sear can- not be moved to release the hammer unless the latch is first moved from beneath the sear- 65 point. To. enable this to be done, the lower part of the latch о projects through a slot in the rear of the grip a' in such a way that when the pistol is grasped and held in the proper position for firing the latch о will be moved so as to release the sear, as shown in 7 Fig. 8, which represents the several parts in the positions which they occupy after the latch has been moved and before the trigger is pulled. The trigger n is pivoted in the cas- ing or frame in front of the grip a', and be- 7 tween the trigger and the sear is a connect- ing-piece n', Figs. 4, 8, and 10, which serves to transmit the rearward movement of the trigger to the sear m. The front end of the connecting-piece is 8 supported upon a shoulder of the trigger, and in rear of this the piece is divided into two arms, which pass around the cartridge-holder without interfering with the same and are united in rear of it by a cross-bar n2. ' A 8 spring n\ bent rearwardly at its upper end, bears against the cross-bar n2, tending to raise it and at the same time to yieldingly hold the connection-piece n' and the trigger n in their forward position. The center of the cross- 9 bar stands normally in front of a forward projection m3, Figs. 4, 8, and 11, of the sear, so that as the trigger is pulled and the con- necting-piece moved rearwardly the cross-bar bears against said projection m3 and turns 9 the sear-point m' out of the path of the shoul- der Z3 on the hammer Z, thereby releasing the latter and permitting it to be thrown forward by the spring Z'. On its upper side the cross- bar is provided with lugs rd. one on each side 1 of the projection m3 of the sear, which, un- der the action of the spring n3, bear against the under side of the breeeh-bolt c'. Recesses c15 are formed in the under side of the breeeh-bolt to correspond with lugs n4, so 1 that when the breech-bolt is in its extreme forward position in readiness for firing the lugs rd will enter the recesses cls and permit the cross-bar n2 to rise, so that it shall engage the projection m3 of the sear when the trigger 1 is pulled, but when the breech-bolt is in any other than the firing position the lugs??4, bear- ing against the breech-bolt, will depress the cross-bar below the plane of the projection m3, so that the movement of the trigger and of 1 the connecting-piece shall have no effect on the sear, wherefore only when the parts are in the proper position for firing can the ham- mer be released to fire a shot by pulling the trigger. Furthermore, as soon as the rear- j ward movement of the breech-bolt has begun the cross-bar n2 is depressed and leaves the sear free, so that under the influence of its spring m2 its point m' at once returns into the path of the hammer and is in readiness to en- : gage the shoulder I3 thereof when the breech- bolt and hammer reach their extreme rear- ward position and thereby to cock the ham- mer against the stress of the spring Z' as the breech-bolt is returned to its forward position : by the reaction-spring e. By the return of the sear its projection m3 is moved so as to stand above the cross-bar n2, and the latter therefore cannot resume, its position in front
580,925 of the projection m3 until the trigger is re- leased and the trigger and connecting-piece ri move forward together. Then the lugs n4 again enter the recesses cls and the parts are 5 in readiness for the firing of another shot. It will be observed that the Ings n4 in this con- struction operate as a safety-piece in substan- tially the same manner as the independent safety-piece shown and described in my said io application hereinbefore referred to. These means permit a positive control of the firing, so that the discharge of two or more shots in immediate succession before the trigger is re- leased is prevented, and it is necessary in or- 15 der to lire a second shot to release the trigger and pull it again. The operation of the firearm which I have chosen herein as a convenient embodiment of my invention will now be readily understood 20 in view of the foregoing description of the construction, arrangement, and relations of' its parts. A cartridge-holder fully charged having- been inserted in the seat therefor in the grip 25 the breech block or bolt carrier is once drawn rearward to the full extent by grasping the knob c8. This movement draws the barrel rearwardly and effects a partial rotation there- of, thereby releasing the breech block or bolt 30 carrier from the barrel and opens the breech, a cartridge being at the same time presented in rear of the barrel. When the knob cs is re- leased, the breech block or bolt carrier is re- turnee! to its former position by the spring e, 35 the hammer is cocked, the cartridge is trans- ferred to the barrel, the breech is closed, and the barrel and the breech block or bolt carrier are locked together, thus putting all the parts in position for firing. If the trigger is now 40 pulled, a shot will be fired and the opening movements of the parts will be effected by the recoil, during which the empty shell is ex- tracted and ejected, and thereafter the suc- ceeding operations will be effected as before. 45 It will be understood that I do not intend to limit my invention to its application to a magazine-pistol, nor to any other particular kind or class of firearm, nor to the use of the several features together in one common 50 structure, nor to the precise construction of those features which I have herein shown and described. What I claim, and desire to secure by Let- ters Patent, is— 5; 1. In a firearm, the combination with a frame, a barrel and a breech block or bolt car- rier having a common longitudinal movement and a relative longitudinal movement, of a connection between said barrel and said frame 60 whereby a rotary movement of said barrel relative to said breech block or bolt carrier is effected as the common longitudinal move- ment takes place, and means preventing ro- tarj7 movement of the barrel during the rela- 65 tive longitudinal movement of the barrel and the breech block or bolt carrier. 2. In a firearm, the combination with a frame, a barrel and a breech block or bolt car- rier having a common longitudinal movement and a relative longitudinal movement, of a 70 connection between said barrel and said frame whereby a rotary movement of said barrel relative to said breech block or bolt carrier is effected as the common longitudinal move- ment takes place, said barrel and said breech 75 block or bolt carrier being formed the one with a longitudinal slot and the other with a projection engaging said slot and preventing rotary movementof the barrel during the rela- tive longitudinal movement of the barrel and 80 the breech block or bolt carrier. 3. In a firearm, the combination with a frame, a barrel and a breech block or bolt car- rier sliding longitudinally in respect to said barrel and said frame, said barrel and breech 85 block or bolt carrier having a limited common longitudinal movement and being adapted to be engaged with and disengaged from each other by a rotary movement, of means where- by a rotary movement of said barrel relative 90 to said breech block or bolt carrier is effected to disengage said parts as the common longi- tudinal movement of said barrel and breech block or bolt carrier takes place, and a spring interposed between said frame and said 95 breech block or bolt carrier in which energy is stored by the rearward movement of said breech block or bolt carrier and which returns both said breech block or bolt carrier and bar- rel to their initial positions. 100 4. In a firearm, the combination with a frame having a tubular seat, a breech block or bolt carrier comprising a tubular extension and a breech-bolt and free to slide in said seat and a barrel inclosed and movable within said 105 tubular extension, of means whereby a rotary movement of said barrel relative to said breech block or bolt carrier is effected to dis- engage said parts as the common longitudi- nal movement of said barrel and breech block no or bolt carrier takes place. 5. In a firearm, the combination with a frame and a movable breech block or bolt car- rier, of a barrel having a limited rotary move- ment with respect to said frame, said barrel 115 and breech block or bolt carrier having inter- locking segmental ribs. 6. In a firearm, the combination of a frame having a tubular seat, a tubular breech block or bolt carrier mounted movably in said seat, 120 and a barrel inclosed and movable within said tubular breech block or bolt carrier. 7. In a firearm, the combination of a frame having a tubular seat, a breech block or bolt carrier comprising a tubular extension and a 125 breech-bolt and free to slide in said seat, and a barrel inclosed and movable Avithin said tubular extension. 8. In a firearm, the combination of a frame having a forward, tubular extension, a breech 130 block or bolt carrier free to slide in said ex- tension and comprising itself a breech-bolt and a forward tubular extension, and a bar- rel inclosed Avithin the tubular extension of
G 580,9!?5 the breech block or bolt carrier, and connect- ed at its front end to the forward extension of the frame. 9. In a firearm, the combination with a 5 frame having a forward tubular extension provided near its front end with cam-slots, a breech block or bolt carrier free to slide within said tubular extension, and a barrel formed to engage said breech block or bolt carrier io and having pins to engage said cam-slots. 10. In a firearm, the combination with a frame and a reaction-spring supported by said frame, of a breech block or bolt carrier free to slide in said frame and connected to 15 said reaction-spring, and a barrel formed to engage said breech block or bolt carrier and having a cam slot and pin connection with said frame, whereby said barrel has a limited longitudinal and rotary movement to engage 20 and disengage said breech block or bolt car- rier. 11. In a firearm, the combination of a frame having a seat to receive a breech block or bolt carrier, a breech block or bolt carrier mount- 25 ed to slide in said seat and having a chamber to receive the barrel, a barrel movably mount- ed in said chamber, said breech block or bolt carrier and barrel having segmental ribs and grooves for engagement, and a cam slot and 30 pin connection between said barrel and said frame, whereby, as the breech block or bolt carrier is moved rearward the barrel is moved rearward with it and is rotated to release the breech block or bolt carrier, and as the breech 35 block or bolt carrier is moved forward, the barrel is moved forward with it and is rotated to reengage the breech block or bolt carrier. 12. In a firearm, the combination with a frame, a breech block or bolt carrier sliding in 40 said frame and comprising a breech-bolt and a forward extension from said breech-bolt, a barrel movably mounted in said extension, means to limit the movement of the barrel, said extension of the breech block or bolt 45 carrier having an opening in front of the breech-bolt, a cartridge holder and feeder supported in the frame beneath said breech block or bolt carrier, whereby, as the breech block or bolt carrier and barrel are moved 50 rearward, the movement of the barrel is in- terrupted and a cartridge is fed into the open- ing of the breech block or bolt carrier in po- sition for insertion into the barrel and on the forward movement of the breech block or bolt 55 carrier is inserted by the breech-bolt into the barrel. 13. In a firearm, the combination of a lon- gitudinally-movable breech block or bolt car- rier, a hammer, a sear, a trigger, and a con- necting-piece to transmit pressure from the 60 trigger to the sear, said connecting-piece hav- ing a lug to bear upon the breech block or bolt carrier to hold said connecting-piece out of operative relation with said sear and to enter a recess in said breech block or bolt car- 65 rier to permit the connecting-piece to move into operative relation with said sear. 11. In a firearm, the combination of a slid- ing breech-bolt, a hammer cocked by the movement of the breeeh-bolt, a sear having 70 a point to engage said hammer, a trigger to operate said sear, a latch freely movable to engage said sear-point and prevent its re- lease from the hammer and to release said sear-point, and a spring acting upon said 75 latch to hold it normally in engagement with the sear-point and yielding to permit its release. 15. In a firearm, the combination of a frame having a cartridge-magazine in the grip and 80 having a slot in the rear of said grip, a ham- mer and a sear pivoted in said frame- in rear of the g'rip, said sear having a point to engage said hammer, a trigger pivoted in front of the grip and provided with a connector to oper- 85 ate said sear, a latch pivoted in and project- ing through said slot and freely movable to engage said sear-point and to release the same, and a spring acting upon said latch to hold it normally in engagement with the sear- 90 point and yielding to permit its release. 16. In a firearm, the combination of a slid- ing breeeh-bolt, a hammer, a sear having a rearwardly - extending point to engage the hammer and a forward projection, a trigger, 95 a connecting-piece to transmit pressure from said trigger to the forward projection of said sear, said connecting-piece being in operative relation with said breech-bolt whereby the end of said connecting-piece is moved by юс said breech-bolt out of the path of said pro- jection in position to be engaged and held thereby when the sear returns to normal po- sition after operation, to prevent a further movement of the sear until the trigger is re- 105 leased and pressed again. This specification signed and wi tnessed this 17th day. of October, A. D. 1896. JOHN M. BROWNING. In presence of— Matthew S. Browning, M. J. Hall.
2 Sheets—Sheet 1. (No Model ) No. 580,926. J. M. BROWNING-. FIREARM. Patented Apr. 20, 1897.
(No Model.) 2 Sheets—Sheet 2. J. M. BROWNING. FIREARM. No. 580,926. Patented Apr. 20, 1897.
United States Patent Office. JOHN M. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH. FIREARM. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 580,926, elated April 20, 1897. Application filed October 31, 1896. Serial Fo. 610,659. (No model.) To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, John M. Browning, re- siding at Ogden, in the county of Weber and State of Utali, have invented certain new and 5 useful Improvements in Firearms, of which the following is a specification, reference be- ing had to the accompanying drawings, form- ing a part hereof. . This invention relates generally to the class io of automatic breech-loading firearms, and more especially to firearms of this descrip- tion in which the several operations, such as the opening of the breech after firing a shot, the ejection of the empty cartridge-shell, the 15 cocking of the hammer, the presentatioirand introduction of a fresh cartridge, into the, chamber of the barrel, and the closing of the breech, are automatically effected by the pressure-in the barrel of the gases generated 20 by the explosion of the cartridge.1 In another application for Letters Patent of the United States filed concurrently here- with and serially numbered 610,657 I have shown and described a firearm of the general 25 class referred to and containing some of the features of the complete firearm which I have illustrated and described herein for the pur- pose of enabling my present invention to be understood. Such features as are common to 30 the two constructions will be referred to here- in so far as may be necessary to enable the present invention to be .understood, but the description which follows will relate particu- larly to the novel features of this ease. 35 The main object which I have had in view has been the production of a firearm of the- class referred to which should be simple and inexpensiye-in construction, not liable to get out.of order, and reliable and safe in opera- 40 tion under all conditions of use. I have hereinafter shown and.described my present improvement as adapted to a gas-op- erated magazine-pistol, but I have chosen this particular kind of firearm- merely as a con- 45 venient illustration of an embodiment of mj- invention and do not intend to restrict my invention to an application thereof to a mag-’ azine-pistol nor to any particular kind of fire- arm ; nor do I intend to restrict the invention 50 to the use of the several features of improve- ment together in a common structure. In the accompanying drawings, in which I have illustrated an embodiment of my inven- tion, Figure 1 is a right-hand side elevation of the pistol with the breech closed and the 55 hammer down.' Figs. 2 and 3 are respec- tively front and rear end views of the same. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section on a horizon- tal plane with the, barrel shown partly in plan view. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section on a 60 vertical plane with some of the parts in side view. Figs. 6, 7, 8, and 9 are detail views of parts to be referred'to. The pistol represented in the accompany- ing drawings comprises a frame a, a barrel b, 65 fixed in the frame, and a sliding breech block or bolt carrier c.. The upper portion of the frame a forms the receiver and has a seat and suitable guides for the reciprocating breech block or. bolt carrier, and below the 70 receiver is the grip or handle a', which is preferably made integral with the frame, but obviously may be formed separately and at- tached thereto in any suitable manner. Within the grip and extending through the 75 same upward into the receiver is arranged а seat or chamber for the reception of the car- tridge-magazine d. The latter is substan- tially of ordinary form and construction, and may consist of a sheet-metal tube in which 80 the cartridges are laid one upon another, rest-, ing upon a spring-follower d', by which they are pushed forward into the receiver. It is conveniently retained in place within the grip by a spring-actuated latch d1. Its upper 85 end is open to permit the escape of the car- tridges, the side walls at the rear of the open- ing being turned in to form ears d3, Fig. 6,’ which engage the rim or flange of the topmost cartridge to prevent the escape of the same. 90. from the holder except when it is pushed for- ward, as hereinafter described. The barrel Ъ is secured to the receiver id any usual or suitable manner and extends for- wardly from the same to the desired length. 95 The upper portion of the frame is provided interiorly with longitudinal ribsand grooves a3 a4, Fig. 3, to engage corresponding ribs and grooves c3 c4 of the breech block or bolt carrier c or of that portion c' of it which may be more 100 properly designated as the “breech-bolt,” the said breech-bolt or breech block or bolt carrier being thereby held to the frame and guided thereon in its reciprocation. On the
s 680,926 top of the breeeh-bolt e' is a strong longitu- dinal rib c2, to which the portion c5 of the breech block or bolt carrier is secured firmly by means of screws c®, which pass transversely 5 through said portion c3 and the rib, the top of the rib being increased in width to make itT-she ed and the slot in the slide cs being correspondingly shaped to secure a stronger attachment, if desired. The part c3 slides to upon the frame and extends forwardly,so that when'the breeeh-boltisinclosed position the front end of said part or slide c3 stands over the muzzle of the barrel. In order that the slide may be accurately guided in its move- 15 ment, its forward portion'is extended down- ward, preferably in the. form of a sleeve c7, which embraces the forward portion of the barrel, an open space being left between the rear end of said sleeve c7 and the front of the 20 frame a to allow for the longitudinal move- ment of the sleeve with the slide and breeeh- bolt. The slide c3 is bored out or chambered longitudinally from the breech-bolt forward to receive the reaction-springe. This is a 25 strong closely-coiled spiral spring, in the rear end of which a plug e' is secured by being grooved spirally, as af <?-, Fig. 8, to permit the spring e to be threaded thereon. The plug is secured to the forward end of the rib 30 c2 by means ofarearwardly-projecting tongue on the plug, which enters into a correspond-. ing recess in the rib, and by a pin e3, which passes transversely through the slide c3 and the tongue of the plug e'. 35 To the front end of the barrel b is secured a collar V by means of a pin V, and from the collar b' an arm bs projects upwardly into the line of the reaction-spring e in the slide c3. A plug e4, Fig. 9, to which the forward end 40 of the reaction-spring may be secured in the same manner in which the rear end is se- cured to the plug e', is fixed to the arm b3 by a screw e5, thereby maintaining the reaction- spring e in a state of tension. When the. 45 breech-bolt is moved to the rear, either by hand or by the powder-gases, the breech is opened, the hammer I is cocked by contact with the rear end of the breeeh-bolt, and through the described connection the reac- 50 tion-spring e is farther distended, so that on the release of the breeeh-bolt it returns the slide and the breeeh-bolt to their forward po- sition and thereby closes the breech. The rear end of the sleeve c7 and the front of the 55 frame a limit the rearward movement of the sliding breech block or bolt carrier, or slide and breeeh-bolt^ and in order to diminish the shock with which the sleeve strikes the frame I provide on the barrel in front of the frame 60 a washer b4, of leather or other suitable ma- terial, as a cushion or buffer. The space be- tween the sleeve and the frame when the former is in' its forward position is covered by a shield or cover as, which is attached'-to 65 the frame by screws a® and extends, forward from, the frame to the sleeve withou't rinterT fering with the movements.of the latter. As described heretofore, cartridges are pressed upward from the holder or magazine d, but are held from escaping therefrom by the ears 70 cZ3. Nevertheless the rim or flange of the topmost cartridge rises above the holder as soon as the breeeh-bolt c' has passed to the rear of the.holder, so that in the forward or closing movement of the breech block or bolt 75 carrier the face of the breeeh-bolt engages the topmost cartridge, the upper edge of which then lies in the path of the breeeh-bolt and- pushes it directly from the holder into the chamber of the barrel. When the cartridge 80 is exploded, thebreech-bolt is driven back- ward by the powder-gases, and in its move- ment it effects the extraction of the empty shell from the chamber of the barrel and its ejection from the receiver. For this purpose 85 an extractor f, Fig. 4, of usual construction and acted upon by a spring f, as usual, is arranged in the side of the breecli-bolt c' to engage the head or flange of the cartridge during the closing’movement and to extract 90 the shell from the chamber of the barrel dur- ing the opening movement. As the shell is drawn rearwardly by the extractor which engages the flange on the. right-hand side the left-hand edge of the flange strikes a pro- 95 jeetion g on the left-hand side of the receiver, so that the shell is snapped out or ejected through the opening a7, formed in the right- hand side of the frame a for that purpose: The lock mechanism is substantially the roc same as that described in my said applica- tion, but will be briefly explained herein, so that the operation of the firearm may be fully and clearly'understood. The breeeh-bolt c' is provided with the usual firing-pin к and its 105 retracting-spring k', Fig. 0, and the hammer Z is pivoted, as usual, in the frame and is acted upon by the usual mairtspring Z', the shape and position of the hammer being such that is struck and brought to full-cock position no by the breeeh-bolt c' in the rearward or open- ing movement of’ the latter. The sear m is pivoted in the frame in front of the hammer and is normally acted upon by the spring m' . to cause it to engage the hammer and keep it 115 cocked. The trigger » is pivoted, as usual, in the’fraine in front of the grip, and its rear- ward movement is transmitted to the scar by a connecting-piece n', Figs. 5 and 7. The front end of the latter is supported by the 120 frame and carries a projecting Ing »5, which rests against the trigger. The rear of this piece ri is divided into two arms, which pass around the cartridge-holder without interfer- ing with the same and in rear of it are united 125 by a cross-bar »2. The rear face of the cross- bar n3 is beveled and the spring ?r, bent rear-. wardly at its upper end, bears against the eross-bar n2, tending to raise it into the path of the sehr m and to yieldingly hold the con- 130 nhcting-pieee a' and the trigger n in their for- ward positions. Upon the top of the cross-bar n3 is a lip or shoulder n4, adapted to engage the extremity of the sear, so that the rearward
680,926 3 movement of the trigger may be communi- cated to the sear to cause it to release the hammer I when the trigger is operated. In order to prevent the release of the hammer 5 unless the breech is fully closed, a safety- piece о is arranged between the breech-bolt c' and the connecting-piece ri. The top of the safety-piece о is guided in a hole in the frame adjacent to the breech-bolt and projects into io a recess c10 in the latter when the breech is fully closed. The lower portion'of the safetj’- piece passes through a slot тг in the sear m and is itself slotted, as at o', to straddle the pin upon which the sear is pivoted, so that the 15 longitudinal movement of the safety-piece'is limited by said pin. The length of the safety- piece о is such that when its npper end stands in the recess c10 of the breech-bolt its lower end permits the cross-bar n2 of the conuect- 20 ing-piece ri to be raised by the spring та3 into position to engage the sear m. As soon as the breech-bolt commences to move rearwardly theinclined forward end of the recess enforces the safety-piece 0 downward against the pres- 25 sure of the spring ri and depresses the cross- bar ri1 below the end of the sear m, so that even if the trigger is pressed when the breech block or bolt carrier is out of its closed position the . sear cannot be operated thereby and the sear 30 is at all times, except when the breech is closed and the trigger is pressed, free to reengage the hammer as soon as it is cocked, even though the trigger has not been released. The spring ns is conveniently formed as the 35 middle leaf or member of a single spring-plate, which is trifurcated and whose on ter leaves or members m' bear upon the sear.' This spring- plate may also be secured to the latch d2 for the cartridge-holder and thereby operate the lat- 40 ter without requiring an additional spring. For the better lateral support of the breech- bolt in its closed position a tongue as projects from the frame a above and in the rear of the barrel and enters a corresponding recess c8 in 45 the face of the breech-bolt c' when the lafter is in its forward position. The tongue as filso assists in the properintroduction of each car- tridge into the barrel, as it guides the bullet end of the cartridge. 50 From the foregoing description it will be understood that the breech-bolt is not posi- tively locked in the closed position, but is yieldingly held in such position by the reac- tion-spring e and by the pressure of the main- 55 spring Г, exerted on the breech-bolt c' through the hammer I. On firing, the breech-bolt yields to the pressure of the powder-gases in the barrel, which pressure forces, the car- trid ge-shell and breech-bolt rearward. By my 60 construction I am enabled to make the frame and the barrel of such lightness that the breech ’bolt and the breech-slide, toget her con- stituting the “breeeh block or bolt carrier,” as it has been denominated herein, may be of 65 great Strength and weight, and as the inertia of these parts has to be overcome in opening the breech their weight serves as a safeguard by retarding the opening of the breech until the bullet has passed from the muzzle. The momentum of the heavy breech bolt and slide 70 completes the rearward movement after the pressure in the barrel has been relieved, in- sures the extraction and .ejection of the car- tridge-shell, and stores energy in the reaction- spring for the closing movement without ex- 75 posing this spring to the shock which would be occasioned if the breech block or bolt car- rier was of lighter weight. The strength of the movable parts and the fact that the front of the frame serves as a stop to arrest their 80 rearward movement insure the safety of the arm even if the reaction-spring should break. It will be observed also that the mainspring, acting through the hammer, which is cocked by the rearward movement of the breech 85 block or bolt carrier, cooperates to retard the rearward movement of the breech block or bolt carrier, but leaves it free to be moved forward by the reaction-spring alone. The operation of the improved firearm will 90 be readily understood from the foregoing. A filled cartridge-holder is inserted in the grip and the breech-slide is drawn rearward once by hand. This opens the breech, cocks the hammer, presents a cartridge in front of the 95 breech-bolt, and distends the reaction-spring. When the breech - slide or breech block or bolt carrier is released, the reaction-spring returns it to the forward position and trans- fers the topmost cartridge from the holder to roc the barrel. If now the trigger is pulled and a shot 'fired, the breech is automatically opened, the hammer is again cocked, the emptj’ shell is extracted and ejected, and a new cartridge is presented-, energy being at 105 the same time stored in the reaction-spring to effect the forward movement of the breech block or bolt carrier. Thes.e operations are repeated so long as cartridges are supplied. The automatic opening and closing of the no breech and cocking of the hammer follow so rapidly upon the pulling of the trigger that several successive shots would be fired be- fore the trigger’could be released by the fin- ger, but, as above explained, the first of the 115 opening movement releases the sear from the trigger, leaving the sear free to reengage the hammer when it is again cocked and to retain it in its cocked position until the trigger is released and again pulled. This insures per- 120 feet control of the arm. . It will be understood that the features of improvement which I have described herein are not necessarily combined in the same structure with the other features of the fire- 12g arm which, for purposes of explanation, I have-shown and described herein, nor are they necessarily employed in a firearm of the particular character of that shown. Obvi- ously also various changes in form and ar- 130 rangement of parts may be made within the scope of my invention.
4 580,926 What I claim, and desire to secure by Let- ters Patent, is— 1. In a firearm, the combination with a frame find a barrel carried by said frame, of 5 a sliding breech-bolt, and a forward exten- sion or arm attached to said breeeh-bolt and extending forward alongside the frame and barrel, said extension or arm having a sleeve surrounding the barrel, whereby the mo've- io ment of said extension and breeeh-bolt is guided by the barrel and is limited rearwardly by contact of the rear end of said sleeve with the front of the frame. 2. In a firearm, the combination with a 15 frame and a barrel carried by said frame, of a sliding breech-bolt, a forward extension or arm attached to said breeeh-bolt and extend- ing forward alongside the frame and barrel, said extension or arm having a sleeve sur- 20 rounding the barrel, and a buffer or cushion interposed between the front qf the frame and the rear end of said sleeve. 3. In a firearm, the eofnbination with a frame and a barrel carried, by said frame, of 25 a sliding breeeh-bolt, a forward extension or arm attached to said breeeh-bolt and extend- ing forward alongside the frame and barrel, said extension or arm having a sleeve'sur- rounding the barrel, and a shield attached, to 30 the frame and covering the space between said sleeve and the front of the frame. t 4. In a firearm, the combination with -a frame and a barrel carried by said frame, of a sliding breech-bolt, a forward extension or 35 arm attached to said breeeh-bolt and extend- ing forward alongside the frame and the bar- rel, and bored out or chambered longitudi-' iially, and a reaction-spring disposed within said extension or arm and having its rear end connected to said breech-bolt and its forward 40 end connected to the barrel near its muzzle. 5. In a firearm, the combination with a frame having a grip or handle to receive a magazine, and a barrel, of a'sliding breeeh- bolt, a forward extension or arm attached to 45 said breech-bolt and extending forward along- side the frame and barrel, said extension or arm having a sleeve surrounding the barrel, a reaction-spring secured to said breeeh-bolt and to said barrel, and cartridge-exploding, 50 shell-extracting and shell-ejecting devices Carried with said breeeh-bolt. 6. In a firearm, the combination with a frame having a grip or handle to receive a magazine, and a barrel, of a sliding breech- 55 bolt, a forward extension or arm attached to said breech- bol t an d extend in g forward alon g- side the frame and.barrel, said extension or arm being bored out orchambered longitudi- nally and having a sleeve surrounding the 60 barrel, a reaction-spring disposed within said extension or arm and connected at one end to said breeeh-bolt and at the other end to the barrel near its muzzle, and cartridge-explod- ing, shell-extracting and shell-ejecting de- 65 vices carried with said breech-bolt. 7. In a firearm, the combination with a frame, a barrel carried by said frame, and a sliding breeeh-bolt, of a,spiral reaction-spring and a plug detachably secured to said frame 70 or barrel and spirally grooved or threaded to engage said reaction-spring. This specification signed and witnessed this T7th-day of October, A. D.-l-SOG. JOHN M. BROWNING. In presence of— Matthew S. Browning, M. J. Hall.
(No Model.) 6 Sheets—Sheet 1. J. M. DOWNING. BOX MAGAZINE FTEEABM. No. 599,595. Patented Feb. 22, 1898.
(No Model.) 6 Sheets—Sheet 2. J. M BROWNING. BOX MAGAZINE FIREARM.
(No Model.) 6 Sheets—Sheet 3. J. M. BE,OWNING. ' BOX MAfiAZISS FIREARM. No. 599,595. Patented Feb. 22, 1898.
(No Model.) Sheets—Sheet, 4 J. M. BROWNING. BOX MAGAZINE FIBEASM.
(No Model.) 6 Sheets—Sheet 5. J. M. BROWNING. BOX MAGAZINE FIREARM. No. 599,595. Patented Feb. 22, 1898.
Wo Model.) No- 599,595 J. M. KKOWJOTG. BOX MAGAZINE HKEABM. 6 Sheete-Shm 6.
United States Patent Office. JOHN M. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH, ASSIGNOR TO THE AVIN CHESTER REPEATING ARMS COMPANY, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT. BOX-MAGAZINE FIREARM. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 599,595, dated February 22,1S9S. Application filed May 5,1897. Serial Ko, 635,217. (No model,! Ta dll u-lioni it nuiy 'concern: Be it known that I, John M. Bkowning, of Ogden, in the county of Weber and State of Utah, have invented a new Improvement in 5 Firearms; and I do hereby declare the follow- , ing, when taken in connection with the ac- companying drawings and the letters of ref- erence marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said to drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in— Figurel, Sheet 1, a broken view, in side ele- vation, of one form which a gun constructed in accordance with my invention may assume; r5 Fig. 2, Sheet 2, a broken view of the gun, partly in central vertical longitudinal section and partly in side elevation, the parts of the action mechanism being shown in the posi- tions due to them when the gun is closed and 2o locked. ' Fig. 3, Sheet 3, a similar view show- ing the gun closed, but unlocked; Fig. 4, Sheet 4, a similar view showing the gun fully open; Fig. 5, Sheet J, a broken plan view of the gun; Fig. 6, Sheet 5, a detached broken 25 view of the gun-frame in side elevation, show- ing also the breech end of the gun-barrel; Fig. 7, a view of the same parts in vertical longitudinal section; Fig. 8, a reverse plan view of the same parts; Fig. 9, a view of the .30 gun-frame in vertical section on the line « Ъ of Fig. G; Fig. 10, Sheet G, a detached view, in side elevation, of the operating or finger lever, the breech-block, the link connecting them, and the instrumentalities mounted in 35 the said level- and block, this view showing the organization of the lever and block and their associated instrumentalities, so as to be removed .from and introduced into the gun virtually as one piece; Fig. 11, a detached view, 40 in side elevation, of the box-magazine and sear; Fig. 12, a plan view thereof; Fig. 13, a detached reverse plan view of the breech- block with the firing-pin removed; Fig. 14, Sheet 1, a detached perspective view of the 45 assembling-pin and its finger-piece; Fig. 15, a sectional view on a lino c d of Fig. 1, show- ing the assembling-pin as locked into the box- magazine; Fig. lG,adetailview,partlyinside elevation and partly in section, showing the 50 assembling-pin iu the position in which it is inserted into or removed from its pivot-hole, the finger-piece being represented by broken lines; Fig. 17, a similar new showing the said assembling-pin and finger-piece in their locked positions; Fig. 18, a sectional view 55 showing the push-pin which coacts with the finger-piece of the assembling-pin; Fig. 19, Sheet 3, a detached plan view of the breech- block, the forward end of the operating-lever, and the link by which they are connected to- 60 getlier; Fig.20, a detached view, in rear eleva- tion, of the breech-block with the firing-pin removed; Fig. 21, a detached broken view, in front elevation, of the forward end of the op- erating-lever; Fig. 22, Sheet 2, a detached 65 view,in sideelevation, of the connecting-link; Fig.2-3, a plan viewthereof; Fig. 24,a detached. view, in side elevation, of the firing-pin; Fig. 25, a broken view showing the inside of the right-hand wall of Mie receiver and the hori- 70 zon tally- arranged rocking cartridge-guide; Fig. 26, a detached view of the said guide in inside elevation; Fig. 27, a detached perspec- tive view of the said guide; Fig. 28, a sec- tional view through the receiver, showing the 75 fixed and rocking cartridge-guides, the latter- being shown in its downwardly and outwardly rocked position; Fig. 29, га, corresponding view showing the rocking guide in the posi- tion in which it blocks the upward movement 8c of the cartridges; Fig. 30, Sheet 4, a sectional view of the forward end of the operating-lever, looking at the forward end of the hammer; • Fig. 31, a detached reverse plan view of the box-magazine, showing also the forward end 85 of the operating-lever; Fig. 32, a plan view of the box-magazine cover; Fig. 33, a de- tached plan view of the forward end of the carrier-spring, showing its two locating-lugs. My invention relates to an improvement in 90 that class of firearms known as “ lever-guns,” from the fact that their breech mechanisms are operated by means of an operating or fin- ger lever, the object of my invention being to produce a gun composed of comparatively 95 few, simple, and strong parts, constructed and organized so as to be dismembered and re- assembled with tjjp npnimnm expenditure of time and labor and built with particular ref- erence to withstanding the explosive force of 100 high-pressure powdprs and to reliability of action and safety in use.
3 599,595 With these ends in view my ip vention con- sists in_ a breech-block and operating-lever permanently united by-means of a link and adapted to be introduced into and removed 5 from the gun-frame as one piece; in an op- erating-lever adapted to have the hammer, hammer-spring, and trigger carried by it; in an operating-lever adapted to be locked in its closed position by means of the hammer- io spring and a pin which acts as a guide for the hammer; in a buffer constructed and ar- ranged to cushion the action of the operating- lever as it reaches its open position; in a gun- frame having a chambered rearward exten- j 5 siori or tang into which the breech-block is retracted in a curved path by means of the operating-lever, the inner portion of which swings back and forth in the chamber of the said extension or tang; in a sear extending го rearward and adapted to directly coact with a hammer and a trigger, both of which are mounted in and swung with the operating- lever; in a breech-block having its lower face slotted for the reception of a suspended or 25 pendulous flring-pin which is retracted by the action of a retracting-pin mounted in the' breech-block; in a horizontally-arranged ver- tical rocking cartridge-guide located in a re- cess formed in one of the side walls of the 30 receiver of the gun-frame and adapted to re- tire to permit the cartridges to be forced down- ward past it from above, but blocking the upward movement of the cartridges from be- low; in a box-magazine having a forwardly- 35 inclined forward end wall and a virtually straight rear end wall, in combination with a spring-actuated carrier the ends of which co- act with the said walls, whereby the carrier assumes a position more and more nearly par- 40 allel with the gun-barrel as it is lifted in the box-magazine; in a box-magazine cover hav- ing peculiar adaptation at its rear and for- ward ends for being secured to the open lower end of the box-magazine; in an assembling- 45 pin provided with a finger-piece and adapted to be readily introduced into and removed from the gun and constituting the pivot on which the operating-lever swings, and in cer- tain other details of construction which will 50 be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims. As herein shown, my invention has been embodied in a box-magazine gun, although it may also be embodied in tubular-magazine 55 guns or even in single-shot guns. In carrying out my invention, as herein shown, I employ a compound - movement .tbreecli-block A, the rear end of which is formed with a centrally-arranged vertical slot 60 A’ for the reception and clearance of a short operating-link B, the forward end of which is connected with the rear upper corner of the breech-block by means of a horizontally-ar- ranged pivot «, passing through the saidcor- 65 ner of the block. The rear end of the said operating-link is inserted into a centrally-ar- ranged.vertical slot C, formed in the nose- like inner end of the operating-lever C',which is sometimes called the “finger-lever” from the fact that its bow О receives the fingers 70 of one hand of the user when the gun is be- ing fired. A pivot c, mounted in the said in- ner end of the operating-lever, passes through the rear end of the said operating-link B,which thus connects the breech-block and operat- 75 ing or finger lever. The said link'is formed about midway of its length with two corre- sponding laterally-projecting abutment-lugs Ъ Ъ, which eoaet with two corresponding abut- ment-shoulders c' c', formed at the nose-like 8o extreme inner end of the operating-lever. The engagement of the said abutment-lugs with the said abutment-shoulders prevents the link from dropping down too far during the rearward movement of the breech-block, 85 whereby the forward end thereof is steadied. The lower end of the slot A' in the rear end of the breech-block is laterally cut away at a' a\ Fig. 20, for the clearance of the said lugs when the block is being lifted into its locked posi- 90 tion, in which it is shown in Fig. 3. The oper- ating-lever C' is itself pivotally hung in the lower rear corner of the box-magazineD,which is rigidly secured to and depends from the re- ceiver E of the gun-frame by means of aremov- 95 able pivot, which Ishall hereinafter designate as the “assembling-pin” C-, as that term well describes the function of the part referred to. Here I may remark that J use the word “re- ceiver” to designate that portion of the gun- 100 frame which receives the cartridges prepara- tory to their being pushed forward and in- serted in to the cartridge-chamber F,formed in the rear end of the gun-barrel F'. The inner portion of thesaid lever swings back and forth 105 in a chambered tang E', forming, as it were, a rearward extension of the receiver and con- stituting a portion of the gun-frame. Pref- erably the chambered tang will be integral with the receiver, though that is not essen- no tial. The gun-frame is secured to the gun- stock E2 by means of a long screw-bolt Es, which enters the rear end of the chambered tang, as clearly shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4. The breech-block A is provided with a 115 spring-actuated hook-extractor G, which may be of anjr approved construction. It is also provided with a flring-pin G', Fig. 24, formed with a conical nose g and with an abutment- shoulder located at the base of the said nose 120 and limiting the forward movement of the pin and with an upwardly-extending lug g2, con- taining a slot g2, having its upper end longi- tudinally enlarged, as at y’, and its lower end bowed on a forward curve. This slot re- 125 ceives a horizontal retraeting-pin </’, mounted in the breech-block and serving to retract the firing-pin and to connect the firing-pin with the breech-block, of which it has consider^ able independent movement, as will be de- 130 scribed later on. The said firing-pin is lo- cated in a long deep slot A2, formed in the lower face of the breech-block. This slot does not extend through the forward end of
599,595 the breech-block, which contains a conical ] passage A3 enough larger than the nose g of the firing-pin to permit the firing-pin to vir- tually swing upon its nose as upon a center, 5 the length and arrangement of the slot gs, formedin the flring-pin, allowing the rear end of the pin to have a very marked vertical movement. When the gun is closed and locked, at which time the rear end of the io breech-block rests upon the nose-like inner end of the lever, as shown in Fig. 2, the rear end gr’ of the firing-pin passes under the rounded lower end of the operating-link В and enters the lower end of the vertical slot 15 C, formed, as before mentioned, in the nose- like inner end of the operating-lever O', the said end of the pin being-then in position to be struck a blow by the hammer II, which in Fig. 2 is shown in its fired position. When 20 the hammer strikes the end of the firing-pin, the same leaps forward, as it is allowed to do by the horizontal elongation gi of the upper end of its bowed slot p3. The forward move- ment of the flring-pin is arrested by the en- 25 gagementof its abutment-shoulder д' against the forward end wall of the long slot A3, formed in the bottom of the breech-block, whereby the retracting-pin p5 is saved from possible harm. The retraction of the flring- 30 pin will be described at another time. The inner portion of the operating-lever C' is chambered, as at €b, for the reception of the hammer 11, the hammer-guide pin II', and the spiral hammer-spring IF. The ham- 35 mer consists of a flat block slightly tapered at its rear end and guided at its forward end by means of a gnide-bloek II3, located above it, and by means of a guide-pin II1, mounted in its lower forward corner and riding upon 40 two oppositely-located shoulders h 7/, formed in the side walls of the chamber Cb of the le- ver, as clearly shown in Fig. 30. The said hammer is itself formed with a longitudinal cylindrical bore IF3, extending throughout 45 its length and receiving the hammer-guide pin 1Г and also receiving the hammer-spring IF, the forward end of which abuts against a shoulder A', formed near the forward end of the said bore 11The said spring 112 also 50 performs the function of a locking-spring for locking the operating-lever C' in its closed . position. For that pu rpose the rear end of the said haninicr-guide pin II' is furnished with a head IF’, tlie upper lace of which is formed 55 with a notch 7F to receive the rctaining-pin 7F. The said notch 7r is made long enough to permit the longitudinal, movement of the hammer-guide pin required for permitting the Qoubly-beveled nose h l of the head IF to 6c spring over the locking-lug 7i';, formed within the chambered tang E', at the rear lower cor- ner thereof, as.shown in Figs. 2, 3, and I. Just before the operating-lever comes into its completely-closed position the doubly-bev- 65 eled nose 7F of the head IF engages with the locking-lug 7d, and the lever being under rear- ward and upward draft at this time.the ham- mer-spring IF is sufficiently compressed to allow the nose 7F to snap over the locking- lug 7t“, after which the hammer-spring will 70 assert itself <,t> keep the nose h' engaged with the upper face of the lug 7F, whereby the le- ver is kept in its locked position. In this way the hammer-spring IF perforins a locking function in addition to its hammer-actuating 75 function. The operating-lever C also carries the trig- ger I, which is hung upon a pin 7 and pro- vided with a safety - catch Г, which when pushed forward engages with the forward end 80 wall F of the slot F, formed in the finger-le- ver for the reception of the trigger. When the catch engages with the said wall I2, the trigger is locked against swinging movement down ward, whereby the gun is prevented from 85 being fired until the safety-catch is brought back so as to clear the said wall. I do not, however, claim this safety-catch, which is old. The said trigger is formed in its for- ward end with a notch I1, receiving the finger- 90 like rear end of a sear J, which is suspended by a pivot J' from the rear face of the rear post D' of the box-magazine. A spring J2, interposed between the base of the sear and the said post of the magazine, exerts a con- 95 stunt effort to lift the sear, whereby the sear is maintained in a constant position of readi- ness to be engaged by the eockiiig-noteh J1, formed in the lower edge of the hammer II, which in the closing of the gun moves in a 100 curved path, (indicated by the arrow J5,) as seen in Fig. -I. It will now be seen that the breech-block A, together with its hook-ex- tractor G and. firing-pin G', the operating- link B, and the lever C', together with the 105 hammer II, the hammer-guide pin II', the ha minor-spring IF, and the trigger I, are all organized together and constitute one piece so far as their introduction into and removal from the gun-frame is concerned. My im- no proved gun, therefore, is on account of the construction just set forth-very simple to as- semble and take apart and easy of attention and repair. IVhen the breech-block and le- ver and their associated instrumentalities are 115 removed from the gun, the frame and cham- bered tang thereof are practically unoccupied, and therefore easily accessible for cleaning or for any other required attention. To facilitate the introduction and removal 120 of the connected breech-block and lever, I preferably employ a removable assembling- pin like that shown in perspective in Fig. 14. This is provided at its outer end with a fln- ger-piecc G!, terminating in a taperedorpunch- 125 like end C, which will be found convenient in pushing the various pins and pivots out in taking the gun apart. ‘ In this view of it the finger-piece C3 constitutes a dismounting- tool. The other end of the pin C3 is formed 130 with a flat face c3 and a short transverse groove c3. The pin is introduced into a suit- able hole D2 in the box-magazine D in the position in which it is shown in Fig. 16, its
599,595 flat face c2 being then in position to pass un- der a locking-pin c", located near the inner end of the said hole and situated in the left-hand wall of the box-magazine. The finger-piece is 5 then lifted in the direction of the arrow c5 into the position in which it is shown by full lines in Fig. 1 and by broken lines in Fig. 17, whereby the groove c:' of the pin is caused, so to speak, to take over the pin. c1, as shown in io Fij*. 15, whereby the assembling-pin is pre- vented from being removed s.o long as it is kept in engagement with the 'said locking- pin. That engagement preserved by the engagement of the finger-piece Csby a push- 15 pin K, Figs. 1 and 18. The said push-pin К is mounted in suitable position in the box- magazine and is actuated by a spiral spring K', which is held in place by a screw K2, the push-pin, spring, and screw being located in 20 a transverse cylindrical chamber K:|, formed for their reception in the box-magazine. For its coaction with the said pnsh-pin the flnger- piece C:i is formed npon its inner face and near its outer end with a shallow beveled 25 notch (J5, Fig. 14, adapting it to crowd the push-pin inward, so as to permit the finger- piece to ride over it in going to its locked po- sition. When, however, the finger-piece has gone into this position, the push-pin recovers 30 itself and engages wi th the edge of the finger- piece at a. point opposite the said not ch, as shown in Fig. I, thus preventing the finger- piece from being accidentally swung back, so as to rotate the pin Cl2, and keep it from the 35 locking-pin c4. On the otherband, the finger- piece is prevented from moving in the other direction by the groove c3in the pin C-, which extends only partially around the pin and prevents it from being rotated in the wrong 40 direction. To remove the breech-block and operating-lever and their associated parts from the gun, it is only necessary to press the push-pin inward with the finger or any con- venient object and then swing the finger-piece 45 back to the position in which it is'shown by broken lines in Fig. 16, whereby it is discon- nected from the locking-pin c4, so that it may be drawn directly outward, after which the lever and block may be drawn away from the 50 gun, as though in one piece. It will be observed by reference to Fig. 2 of the drawings that the pivot c, which con- , nects the lower end of the operating-link with the inner end of the operating-lever, stands 55 a trifle forward of a straight line connecting the centor of the pivot a, which connects the upper end of the said link with the breech- block and the assembling-pin Cs, on whichf lie operating-lever swings. On account of this 60 relative arrangement of the. pivots «, c, and C2 the recoil following the explosion of a cartridge 'ends to throw the parts into their closed positions in ease it be conceded that there is any lost motion to be taken up. In 65 other words, the tendency of the recoil being to push the breech-block back, the tendency of the backward movement of the breech- block is to depress the inner end of the op- erating-lever and lift its lower end. The up- per wall E1 of the chamber E3 of the chain- 70 bered tang is struck on a large circle, of which the hole I)3, receiving the assembling-pin C2, on which the lever swings, is the center. The forward end of this wall may be said to ter- - minate in a recoil-abutment <?, against which 75 the rear end of the breech-block is lifted for locking the breech-block in its closed posi- tion. This recoi] - abutment has a central notch e' for the clearance of tire connecting- link В before mentioned. 80 It will readily be understood that my im- proved gun is well adapted to withstand the expansive force of high-pressure powders, inasmuch as the entire recoil of the gun is taken by t he. breech-block, which when closed 85 and locked constitutes the only piece be- tween the head of the cartridge and the frame of the gun against the recoil or abutment shonlder of which the rear end of the block impinges when lifted into its locked position. 90 At a point just above the locking-lug A6, which I have already referred to, I insert into the chambered tang a U -shaped spring-buffer L, which is engaged by a shoulder L', formed at the base of the nose-like inner end of the 95 lever C'. Just as the lever reaches its full open positiou the shoulder L' comes into con- tact with the buffer L, which yields suffi- ciently to cushion the stopping of the lever, whereby the racking of the gun is avoided 100 when it is being rapidly manipulated. Of course the spring-buffer may be replaced by a yielding buffer of any other form or con- struction. The gun herein shown is provided with a 105 box-magazine D, although it might be fur- nished with a tubular magazine, as has been already stated. The said box-magazine is provided with a rear upright or post D' and a forward upright or post D2", the magazine no being secured in place by means of a pin cZ, passing through the receiver and through the forward upright D’!o, and by means of pins cZ' cZ', passing through the receiver and through the rear upright D'. Within the magazine I 115 locate a cradle or carrier M, consisting of a long narrow plate having its forward end turned very slightly upward and having its rear end turned downward to form a trailing guide-cam M'. The innerfaee of the forward 120 upright D2D Is formed with a deep vertical slot or groove D3, which receives the ends of the bullets of the cartridges N. The forward end of the said cradle M engages with the in- ner face of the upright Dso on opposite sides 125 of the slot D3, the said face being forwardly inclined, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 4. The inner face of the rear upright D' is nearly vertical and is engaged by the trailing guide- cam Л1', formed by turning down the rear of 130 the carrier M. The lower face of th'e carrier is engaged near the rear ' end Thereof by the bowed upwardly-tur ned arm О of a two-armed carrier-spring, the lower arm O' of Avhich rests
599,595 upon the. inner face of a cover P, applied to the bottom of the box-magazine. Tlie said spring as thus constructed and applied exerts a constant effort to lift the rear end of the 5 carrier, tlie spring operating thereupon, so that as the same moves upward it will come nearer and nearer to assuming a position par- allel with the gun-barrel, for the reason that as the inner face of the forward upright 1.F" 10 of the box-magazine is forwardly inclined the spring is given more and more opportunity of lifting the rear end of the carrier to the level of the forward end thereof. Under this construction if downward pressure is applied 15 to the upper face of the forward end of the carrier it will be immediately cheeked against downward movement by the engagement of its extreme forward end with the inclined in- ner face TV of the forward upright, the trail- 20 ing guide-cam 5Г at the rear end of the car- rier rocking or camming on the straight inner face IP of tlie rear upright D' to lock the car- rier against downward movement. On the other hand, if pressure is applied to the upper 25 face of the rear end of the carrier the carrier- spring yields and thecarrier is readily pushed down, the tendency being then to clear the cam guide end M' of the carrier from the straight inner face D5 of the upright b>'. 30 To insure tlie right location of the carrier- spring, its looped forward end is provided with two corresponding oppositely-located lugs p p, Fig. 33, designed to be received by two short vertically-arranged grooves p' p', 35 Fig. 31, formed in the side walls of the box- magazine,at the forwardend thereof, as shown in Fig. ill. These lugs and grooves are not necessary, but they insure the correct location of the carrier-spring. The :;ar end of the 40 cover I’, Fig. 32, is formed with a D-shaped undercut locking-stud P', adapted to be in- serted into a suitable undercut locking-recess l’:, Figs. 2, -I, ami 31, formed at the lower end of tlie rear upright ,D’ of the box-magazine. 45 The rear end of the arm O' of the carrier- spring is formed with a semicircular notch O-1 о adapt it to straddle the locking-stud P', whereby the said end of the spring is held in place when the gun is being assembled. The 50 forward end of the cover is. formed with a perforated retaining-lug P5, Figs. 2,-1, and 32, which is received by a suitable slot P", Fig. 31, formed in the lower end of the forward upright 1)- of the box-magazine. 55 To secure the cover in place, it is applied to the bm.toin "f t.lw !‘0\-magazine and slid rearward thereupon until its undercut lock- ing-slud P' has been fully entered into the nmk reiit. locking-recess P-. A pin P1 is then 60 passed through the lower forward corner of tho box-magazine and through the lug P5, against which the looped forward end of the (arrier-spi-iiig abuts, whereby the spring is hel<l agaiiist longitudinal movement in either 65 direction. Thesaid cover is therefore easily removed and replaced. At opposite points within the receiver-1 lo- cate two cartridge-guides Q and R, the former being rigid and the latter being movable. The movable cartridge-guide R is located in 70 a horizontal recess R', formed in the right- hand wall of the receiver, and is furnished upon its inner face with a flat spring R-, which exerts a constant effort to move the rear end of the guide ontward into the .receiver, as 75 shown in Fig. 28. This guide is loosely held in place by means of a screw R3, Fig. 8, which is mounted in the receiver in a transverse hole R!, formed in the right hand thereof and so much larger in diameter than the screw that 80 the same is free to have a rocking or wabbling movement therein. When a cartridge is in- trodu- ed into the box-magazine through the open top thereof and pressed downward upon the two cartridge-guides Q and R, the rear end 85 of the movable guide R swings downward suf- ficiently to clear the upper edge of the guide from a horizontal shoulder r, formed in the upper portion of the recess R'. The guide R, having thus been cleared from the said 90 shoulder r, is, then free to move laterally out- ward into the recess R', whereby an ample passage-way is formed for the cartridge, which passes thence below the two guides into the body of the box-magazine. The cartridge is 95 thus prevented from escaping upward be- tween tho guides, although it passed down- ward between them, for the reason that when the cartridge is pressed upward by the car- rier-spring it is lifted against the said mov- 100 able guide R, which it then in torn lifts, so as to bring its upper edge into position to col- lide with the shoulder r, which prevents it from moving laterally ontward into the re- cess, as shown in Fig. 29. ‘ 105 The use of the movable cartridge-guide R above described adapts the box-magazine to be very conveniently loaded. I may here say that while one movable eartridge-guide has been found sufficient both guides may be no made movable, if desired. It will be under- stood, of course, that the two cartridge-guides above described hold tho rear ends of the cartridges down while they are being pushed forward by the breech-block into the car- 115 tridge-chamber !<’ of the gun-barrel. It- will be observed by reference to the. drawings that the path in which the hammer reciprocates is not in line with the liring-pin, and, furthermore, that the front or striking 120 face of the hammer is not at a right angle to the path of its reciprocation. For these two reasons when the hammer strikes the tiring- pin or the roar face of tho rear upright I)' of the box-magazine it tends to glance off and up- 125 ward. This thrust is communicated by the hammer to the operating or finger lover C', and as it is exerted at a point in front of a plane intersecting tho path of the hammer and the assembling-pin D-, on which the said 130 lover is hung at a right angle, the result will be that the said lever may be started from '
599,595 its closed position or “jarred” open, as the saying is, in case tire, trigger is pulled when the fingers of the user are not. passed through the bow of the lever for holding the same in 5 its closed position. To prevent the hammer from glancing off, as described, and also to provide additional security for preventing the lever from being jarred open, I may employ, as herein shown, io a fixed pin Z, located in a horizontal plane in the upper end of tho rear upright D'and pro- jecting rearwardly therefrom in position to be engaged by the forward end of the ham- mer just before the same reaches the limit of 15 its forward excursion, at which time the pro- jecting rear end of the pin enters the forward end of the long bore IIlil, formed in the ham- mer for the reception of the guide-pin II' thereof. 20 Having now described my improved gun, I will briefly set forth the mode of its opera- tion. Supposing the gun to be closed and locked, as shown in Fig. 2, and that it is de.- sired to open it, the user grasps the finger or 25 operating lever by the borv Ся at its lower end and by a quick downward impulse over- comes the tension of the ha miner-spring, whereby the doubly-beveled nose of the locking-head IF of the hammer-gnide pin IT 30 is cleared from the locking-lug lic‘. During the first movement of the lever its nose-like inner end moves from under the rear end of the breech-block A, which is then pulled down by the operating-link B, so that it is en- 35 tirely cleared from the recoil-abutment e of thegun-frame. The abutment-] ngs b b of the operating link В are now engaged with ihe abutment-shoulders c d of the said lever, tile nose-like inner end of which is at this 40 time about in line with the breech-block, which is then drawn rearward' in a curved path until it is retracted entirely into the chamber E:! of tlie chambered tang E', as clearly shown in Fig. 4, which shows a car- 45 bridge N just emerging from-the box-inaga- zirie 1) into a position in front of the forward end of the breech-block, which when it moves forward will push tho cartridge forward un- der the control of the cartridge-guides (J and 50 li until its head passes the forward ends thereof, after which it will rise into line with the eartridge-chamber F of the gun-barrel I'1', into which it will be completely inserted by the completion .of the forward movement 55 of the breech-block. When the lover is drawn rearward from the position in which it is1 shown in Fig. 4, the breech-block is moved through a substantially segmental path out of the chamber of the chambered tang of the 60 gun-framo.and into the receiver. During the closing movement of the lever the cocking- notch J1 of tho hammer engages with lhe ex- treme rear end of the sear .1, which .stops the further forward movement of the hammer, 65 after which tin; compression of the hanimer- .spriue. И -’ belies. Tin- forward excursion of the breech-block haviug,beemfeoinplfeted, the further rearward movement of the lever causes the rear end of the breech-block to be lifted by the operating-link В up in front of 70 the recoil-abutment c, the breech-block swing- ing vertically at this time upon the fulcrum formed by the engagement of its forward end with the forward end wall of the receiver. As the rear end of the breech-block lifts upward 75 in front of the recoil-abutment e the nose-like inner end of the lever passes under the rear end of the breech-block, for which it then forms a support, as shown in Fig. 2. As the nose-like inner end of the lever passes under 80 the rear end of the breech-block, as just de- scribed, its lower face engages with and has a cam-like action upon the upper end of the rear / post or upright D' of the box-magazine, upon / which the nose-like inner end of the lever is/85 then supported, the rear end of the breech/ block being supported, as stated, upon the upper face of the nose-like inner end of the lever, and the nose-like inner end of the lever having its lower face supported upon the box- 90 magazine, which in turn is rigidly secured to the frame of the gun. A remarkably-solid support is thus provided for holding the breech-block in its closed position. I may remark in this connection that in case fea- 95 tures of my invention should be embodied in a tubular-magazine gun some other provision would be made for supporting the inner end of the operating-lever at the time the same supports the rear end of the breech-block. 100 <Tnsl as the lever goes into its fully-closed po- sition the doubly-beveled nose Id of the lock- ing-head IF snaps over the locking-lug 7F, whereby the lever is locked in its closed po- sition by the hammer-spring IF. I should 105 here remark that when the breeeh-block be- gins to enter the receiver on its forward ex- cursion the pendulous flring-pin G' engages with the upper end of the rear upright D' of the box-magazine D, whereby the firing-pin no is forced upward into the slot A=, formed to receive it in the bottom of the breech-block A. At the same time that the tiring-pin is being lifted into tho breech-block, as de- scribed, it is retracted by the engagement of 115 the forwardly-curved rear wall, of its slot <f with the retaining-pin if', which might with propriety be called a “ rctracting-pin.”. The firing-pin is thus retracted before the gun is closed without the employment of any extra 120 pieces ,for the purpose. I particularly wish to call attention to the fact that the retraction ' of the (iring-pin takes place at the last mo- ment and just before the gnn is closed and. locked, making the gun very safe. Justus 125 the breech-block is being lifted into its locked position the trigger I, carried by the operat- ing-lover, comes into engagement with the soar; but this engagement is not complete until after the breech-block has been closed 130 and locked, f may mention that the opera- tive engagement of tho (rigger with the sear
599,595 conies so close to the closing movement of the lever that the trigger cannot be pulled to op- erate the sear to release the hammer until after the lever has been fully locked in its 5 closed position. It is apparent that in carrying but my in- vention some changes from the construction herein shown may be made. I would there- fore .have it understood that I do not limit io myself to the exact construction herein shown and described, but hold myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my inven- tion. 15 Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is— 1. In a firearm, the combination with a breech-block, of an operating-lever, and an 20 operating-link uniting the said block and le- ver, and formed with two abutment - Ings which coact with the inner end of the said lever. 2. In a magazine-firearm, the combination .25 with a breech-block having a vertical slot formed in its rear end, of an operating-lever having a vertical slot formed in its extreme forward end, and an operating-link having its ends entered into the said slots and con- 30 nected at one end with the rear upper corner of the breech-block, and at its opposite end with the extreme forward end of the lever which is shaped to pass under the rear end of the breech-block for holding the same in 35 its locked position. 3. In a firearm, the combination with the frame thereof, of an operating or finger le- ver, one of the said parts being provided with a buffer-shoulder and the other with a buffer 40 which coact to cushion the lever as it readies the limit of its open position. 4. In a firearm, the combination with an operating or finger lever, of a buffer consist- ing of a U-shapcd spring mounted in the 45 gun-frame in position to be engaged with the lever when the same roaches its open posi- tion. 5. In afircarm, the combination withagnn- frame comprisinga receiver and a chambered 50 rearward extension or tang, of an operating • or finger lever, the inner end of which swings back into the said chambered tang when the lever is thrown open, and a yielding bull'cr located in the rear wall of the chamber of the 55 said tang and engaged by the lever for cush- ioning the same when it reaches its open po- sition. (>. In a lirearin, the combination with an operating or linger lever formed with a ham- 60 mor-chamber, of a hammer located in the said chamber so as to bo reciprocated therein, a rearward ly-projccting hammer-guide pin en- tering the rear end of the said hammer and having bearing in the forward end thereof, a 65 hammer-spring entering the rear end of the hammer and encircling the said pin, a trig- ger also mounted in the said lever, and a scar which coacts with the said trigger and also with the under face of the said hammer. 7. In a magazine-firearm, the combination 70 with a breech-block, of an operating or fin- ger lever, an operating-link connecting the upper portion of the rear end of the breech- block with the extreme forward end of tlie lever, a spring-controlled hammer mounted 75 in and carried by the lever, and means com- bined with and carried by the lever for lock- ing the same in its closed position. 8. In a firearm, the combination with an operating or finger lever, of a reciprocating 80 hammer mounted therein, a hammer-guide pin located in the hammer, having bearing in the forward end thereof, projecting rear- wardly therefrom, and adapted at its rear end to form a lock for holding the lever in its 85 closed position, and a hammer-spring encir- cling the said pin the rear end of which en- gages with the lower portion of the rear wall of the chamber in whiqh the lever swings. 9. In a firearm, the combination with an 90 operating or finger lever, of a reciprocating hammer mounted therein, a hammer-guide pin located in the hammer, having bearing in the forward end thereof and projecting rear- ward therefrom, a hammer-spring encircling 95 the said pin, and a locking-head located at the rear end of the said pin and having a bev-' eled nose which coacts With the lower portion of the rear wall of the chamber in which the le ver swings,"for locking the lever in its closed 100 position. 10. In a firearm, the combination with a breech-block,of a firing-pin mounted therein, an operating or finger lever formed with a haiiinier-eliaiiiber, an operating-link connect- 105 ing the upper portion of the rear end of the breech-block with the extreme forward end of the lever which extends under the rear end of the block when the same is in its locked po- sition, and a spring-controlled firing-hammer 110 located in the haniiiier-chaiiiber of the lever in which it is free, to reciprocate, and adapted at its forward end to engage with the rear end of the firing-pin which depends from the breech-block. 115 11. In a firearm, the combination with a gnu-frame having a, receiver and a chambered tang, of a sear arranged to extend rearward into the chambered tang, an operating or fin- ger lever, and a hammer and a trigger mount- 120 ed in the said lever, the cooking-notch of the hammer engaging with the rear'end of the sear to cock the hammer as the lever is swung info its closed position. Г2. In a firearm, the combination with the 125 box-magazine thereof, of a sear connected with the rear portion of the magazine and ex- tending rearwardly therefrom, of an operat- ing or linger lever, and a hammer and a trig- ger mounted therein, the hammer being ar- 130
8 599,595 5 10 *5 20 25 3° 35 40 45 5° 55 6о б5 ranged to engage with the-se.ar for being cocked as the lever is swiinghnto its closed, position. ‘ ' 13. In a firearm, the combination with a chambered tang of an operating-lever having a hammer-chamber, a sear pivotally mounted by its forward end and ^extending rearwardly into the chamber of the tang, and a hammer and a trigger mounted in the said lever, and both coaeting directly with the rear end of the sear wheri.thedever is swung into its closed position. i 14. In a .firearm, the combination with a- gnn-fratne comprising a receiver and a cham- bered tang, of a box-magazine having an up- right which forms its rear end, a sear pivoted to the rear face of the said upright so as to extend rearwardly into the chamber of the said tang, a .sear-spring located below the pivot of the s'par for lifting the same into its operating position, and an operating or linger lever carrying a hammer and a trigger, both of which engage directly with the rear end of the sear which is drawn down against the ten- sion of the sear-spring by the trigger for re- leasing the hammer. 15. In a th carin, the combination with an operating-level', of an assembling-pin by which the said lever is pivotally suspended in the gun, the said pin being furnished with a rigidly-attached finger-piece by means of which it is turned into its locked and unlocked jiositions, and having its other end formed with a flat face and a short transverse notch, both of which coact with a locking instru- mentality intersecting the hole formed in the gun for’„the reception of the pin. 10. In a firearm, the combination with the operating or finger lever thereof, of an as- sembling-pin by .means of which the said le- ver is suspended in the arm, the said pin be- ing formed at one end to be engaged with a locking instrumentality intersecting the hole formed in the gun to receive the pin the other end of which is furnished with a rigidly-at- tached finger-piece by means of wliich the pin Vs rotated into its locked and unlocked positions; and a push-pin mounted in the gun, exposed upon thoouter face thereof and engaging with one edge of the said finger- piece for holding the same and hence the as- sembling-pin in its locked ad.j iistmenit. 17. In a, firearm, the combination with n gun-frame comprising a receiver and a cham- bered rearward extension or tang, of abreee.h- block, an operating or finger lever, a short connecting-link extending forward from the extreme forward end of the lever and con- nected with the rear end of the breech-block, a reciprocating hammer mounted in the le- ver, a trigger also mounted in the lover, a scar extending rearwardly into the cham- bered ta ng for coaction with the hammer and trigger, and a yielding buffer located in the, r ar wall of the chambered tang for engage- men t by the lever j ust before the same reaches the limit of its extreme open position after the breech-block has been drawn rearwardly in a curved path into the chambered tang. 18. A breech-block for firearms, having an 70 open slot formed in its lower face, a swinging or pendulous firing-pin adapted to enter the said slot, and formed with a slot, a retracting- pin passing through the said block and the slot in the firing-pin and coaeting with the 75 firing-pin slot to cause the firing-pin to be re- tracted when the same is moved upward into the breech-block slot. 19. The combination with a breeeh-block having an open slot formed in its under face, 80 of a swinging or pendulous firing-pin entered into the said slot, and formed with a verti- cally-arranged slot the upper end of which is longitudinally enlarged and the lower end of which is curved forwardly, and a trans- 85 vCTsely-arranged retracting-pin mounted in the breech-block and extending through the said slot in the firing-pin. 20. The combination of a breech-block for firearms having a longitudinal slot formed in 90 itslowerface, of a firing-pinlooselysuspended in the said slot and swinging from its forward end as upon a fulcrum, its rear end being free, and a retracting-pin mounted in the said block, and passing through a slot in the fir- 95 ing-pin. 21. The combination, with a breech-block for firearms having a longitudinal slot formed in its lower face and extending nearly to its forward end, of a swinging or pendulous fir- 100 ing-pin having its extreme forward end in- serted into a passage formed in the extreme forward end of the block and swinging upon its said forward end as upon a fulcrum, and a retracting-pin which passes through the fir- 105 ing-pin slot. 22. Tiie combination with a breech-block having a longitudinal slot formed in its lower face, of a firing-pin adapted to enter the said slot and formed with a vertically-arranged 110 slot having its upper end longitudinally elon- gated and its lower portion forwardly curved, and a retracting - pin passing through the block and engaging with the rear wall of the curved portion of the slot for retracting the 115 firing-pin as the same islifted into the breech- block slot. 23. In a firearm, the combination with a breech-block, of a swinging or pendulous ver- tically-movable firing-pin locatedintho Lower 120 lace thereof, and a box-magazine with which the Li ring-pin engages and by which it islifted from its pendulous position into the said breeeh-block. 24. In a firearm, the combination with the 125 receiver thereof, of a horizontally-arranged, ver Li eally-rocking cart ridge-guide adapted to swing downward and outward under pressure from above, and formed to prevent its out- ward movement when it is lifted under pres- 130
599,535 9 sure from below, whereby it permits car- tridges to be forced downward past it, but pre- vents them from being forced upward past it. 25. In a firearm, the combination with a 5 receiver, having a longitudinal recess formed in one of its side walls, of a spring-actuated cartridge-guide located in the said recess, and having a rocking movement therein so as to rock downward and ontward under down- io ward pressure, and to be blocked against out- ward movement under upward pressure. 26. In a firearm, the combination with a receiver having a horizontally-arranged re- cess formed in one of its side walls, of a car- 15 tridge-guide located in the said recess,a spring exerting a constant effort to push the said guide inward, and a rocking pin mounted in the side wall of the receiver and entering the guide which it supports, the opening receiv- 2 0 ing the pin being larger in diameter than the ' pin, whereby the pin and guide are free to rock within the limit set by the size of the opening through which the pin passes. 27. In a firearm, the combination with the 25 receiver thereof, of a horizontally-arranged fixed cartridge-guide located therein, a hori- zontally-arranged rocking cartridge-guide lo- cated opposite the said fixed guide and retir- ing to permit cartridges to be forced down- 30 ward below it, but blocking to prevent them from being lifted upward by it. 28. The combination with a box-magazine, of a carrier located therein and eoacting at its rear and forward ends with the rear and 35 forward ends thereof, a two-ahmed sheet- metal carrier-spring, the loop between the arms.’thereof extending forward and being connected with the box-magazine at the lower . corner of the forward end thereof, and the 40 rear end of the upper arm of the spring being engaged with the said carrier, and the rear end of the lower arm of the spring being en- gaged with a portion of the box-magazine. 29. In a firearm, the combination with a 45 box-magazine having its bottom open, of a cover adapted at its forward end to be con- nected with the forward lower corner of the said box-magazine, and provided at its rear end with an undercut coupling-stud enter- 50 ing an undercut coupling-recess formed' in the rear end of the lower portion of the said box-magazine, - a carrier located within the said box-magazine and coacting'with the rear and forward end "walls thereof, and a sbeet- 55 metal carrier-spring comprising a forwardly- extendingloop and rearwardly-extending up- ’ per and lower arms, the extreme forward end of the loop being connected with the box- - magazine at the lower corner of the forward 60 end. thereof, and the rear end of the upper arm of the spring being engaged with the car- rier, and the rear end of the lower arm of the spring being notched and engaged with the said undercut coupling-stud. 65 SO. Inabox-magazine,thecombinationwith a frame comprising a receiver and a cham- bered tafig, of a breech-block, an operating or finger ley er, a link connecting the .rear end of the block with the forward end of the lever by means of which the block is moved back 70 and forth in a segmental path, and also up and down for' locking it and unlocking it; a hammer and a trigger carried by the said lever, a' sear extending rearwardly into the chambered tang in position to be engaged by 75 the hammer when the lever is being swung into its closed position, whereby the hammer is cocked and the trigger engaged with the. sear; and a box-magazine containing a spring- ' actuated, vertically - movable cradle or car- 80 rier, and a removable cover for the box-maga- zine. 31. In a magazine-firearm, the combination with a breech-block, of an operating-lever, a link connecting the rear end of the breech- 85 block with the inner end of the lever, a ham- mer, a hammer-spring, a hammer-guide pin entering the hammer and having the spring mounted upon it, and-a trigger, the said hammer, spring, pin and trigger being carried 90 by the lever, and all of the said parts being • organized together for insertion into and re- moval from the gun as one piece. 32. In a firearm, tlie combination with a breech-block, of an operating-lever, the in- 95 ner end whereof passes under the rear end of the breech-block for supporting the same in its closed and locked position; an operating- link uniting the upper portion of the rear end of the said block and extreme forward 100 end of ths lever, and acting as the medium' for lifting the block into its locked position and drawing it down into its unlocked posi- tion; and means for supporting the inner end of the lever at the same time that the same 105 is supporting the rear end of the breech-block in its closed and locked position. 33. In a firearm, the combination with a breech-block, of an operating-lever, the in- ner end whereof passes under the rear end of no the block for supporting the same in its closed ana locked position, and a box-magazine sup- porting the inner end of the lever when the same is supporting the rear end of the breech- block. 115 31. In a firearm, the combination with a breech-block, of a firing-pin mounted therein, an operating-lever by means of which the breech - block is operated, a reciprocating hammer mounted in the said lever, having 120 its path of reciprocation out of line with the firing-pin and having its front or striking . face at an angle with its said path of recipro- cation, and means for preventing the hammer from glancing upward when it strikes, the 125 said pin or other object-located at tlie limit of its forward excursion. 35. In a firearm, the combination with a breech-block, of a firing-pin mounted therein, an operating-lever' by means of which the X30 breech - block is operated, a reciprocating hammer mounted in the said lever, having
до 599,585 its path of reciprocation out of line with the firing-pin, and having its front or striking face at an angle-with its said path of recipro- cation, and a fixed pin projecting rearward 5 and arranged to be engaged by the ham- mer just before the same reaches the limit of its forward excursion for preventing it from glancing upward and jarring the lever open. In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscrib- io ing witnesses. JOHN M. BROWNING. Witnesses: Feed C. Earle, Geo. D. Seymour.
Patented Feb. 7, 1899. No. 619,132. J. M. BROWNING. MAGAZINE FIREARM. "(Application filed Feb. 21, 1898.) (No Model.) 5 Sheets—Sheet).
No. 619,132. Patented Feb. 7, 1899. (No Model.) J. M. BROWNING. MAGAZINE FIREARM. (Application filed Feb. 21, 1898.) 5 Sheets—Sheet 2.
Patented Feb. 7’, 1899. No. 619,132. J. M. BROWNING. MAGAZINE FIREARM. (Application filed Feb. 21, 1898.) (No Model.) 5 Sheets—Sheet 3.
No. 619,132. Patented Feb. 7, 1899. J. M. BROWNING. MAGAZINE FIREARM. (Application filed Feb. 21, 1898.) (No Model.) 5 Sheets—Sheet 4.
No. 619,132. Patented Feb. 7, 1899. J. M. BROWNING. MAGAZINE FIREARM.
United States Patent Office. JOHN M. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH, ASSIGNOR TO THE WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS COMPANY, OF InEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT. MAGAZINE-FIREARM. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 619,132, dated February 7,1899. Application filed February 21,1898. Serial No. 671,046. (No model.) To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, John M. Browning, of Ogden, in the county of Weber and State of Utah, have invented a new Improvement in 5 Magazine-Firearms; 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 io which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in— Figure 1, a view in side elevation of the gnn, showing it closed and with its stock re- moved ; Fig. 2, a similar plan view of the gun; 15 Fig. 3, a broken view of the gun in vertical longitudinal section, showing its parts in the positions due to them after the breech-block has been lifted into its unlocked position in the opening of the gun; Fig. 4, a correspond- 20 ing view showing the gun open; Fig. 5, a cor- responding view showing the gun closed; Fig. 6, a view in vertical transverse section, taken on the line a b of Fig. 4, showing the maga- zine filled with cartridges; Fig. 6a, a detached 25 plan view of the deflector; Fig. 7, a detail view, in transverse section, on the line c d of Fig. 3, showing the connection of the forward end of the magazine-cover with' the gun; Fig. 8, a detached view, in right-hand side eleva- 30 tion, of the breech-block, which is slightly broken away to show the mode of holdirjg the extractor in place; Fig. 9, a view in horizon-- tai longitudinal section on the line ef of Fig. 8; Fig. 9a, a detached plan view of the ex- 35 tractor; Fig. 10, a view of the breech-block in vertical tranverse section on the line g h of Fig. 9; Fig. 11, another view of the breech- block in transverse section on the line i j of Fig. 8; Fig. 12, a broken view of the gun, 40 partly in elevation and partly in vertical sec- tion and designed to show the construction and arrangement of the trigger and the safety- piece which maybe employed to lock it; Fig. 13, a view of the same parts in vertical trans- 45 verse section on. the line к I of Fig. 5; Fig. 14, a detached view, in side elevation, of the operating dr finger lever; Fig. 15, a plan view thereof; Fig. 1G, a detached view, in side ele- vation, of the operating-link; Fig. 17, an edge 50 view thereof; Fig. 18, a detached view, in side elevation, of the trigger; Fig. 19, an edge view thereof; Fig. 20, a detached view, in side ele- vation, of the safety-piece; Fig. 20a, a broken plan view of the rear end of the rearwardly- projecting arm of the safety-piece; Fig. 21, 55 a front view thereof. My invention relates to an improvement in magazine-firearms of the lever type, the ob- ject being to produce an effective, reliable, and safe arm constructed with particular 60 reference to lightness and to compactness of form. With these ends in view my invention con- sists in a magazine-firearm having certain de- tails of construction and combinations of 65 parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims. I have chosen for illustration and descrip- tion the embodiment of the several features of my invention in a firearm having a box- 70 magazine adapted to receive two independ- ent columns of cartridges located side by side; but my invention is applicable for use in arms having box-magazines constructed to receive a single column of cartridges, as well as fire- 75 arms of the tubular magazine type or single shotguns. In carrying out my invention as herein shown I employ a breech-block A, which is mounted in the receiver portion В of the gun- 80 frame, so as to be longitudinally movable for being moved into its opened and closed po- sitions and so as to be vertically movable for being moved into its locked and unlocked po- sitions. By reason of its having these two- 85 fold movements the breech-block becomes one of the so-called “ compound-movement ” type. For being moved back and forth and up and down the breech-block is pivotally connected by means of a breech-block pivot- 90 pin C with the upper end of an operating-link D, which is loosely connected by an operating- pin E with an operating or finger lever F, which is pivotally hung on a pivot-pin G, the ends of which extend through the chambered tang 95 portion B' of the gun-frame. As shown, the said pivot-pin C is formed with a transversely- arranged socket receiving a small spiral spring c, which acts as a friction device for preventing the escape of the pin; but this 100 friction-spring may be dispensed with, if de- sired. To adapt the operating-lever F to re-
2 619,132 ceive the operating-link D, its forward or up- per portion is constructed with a long cen- trally-arranged longitudinal slot F', which forms two corresponding yielding arms F2 F2. 5 The operating-pin E aforesaid extends at its ends into oppositely-located corresponding operating-slots F3, formed in the said arms F2 E2 of the operating-lever and shaped so as to impart the required movements to the oper- io ating-liuk for lifting the breech-block in un- locking and drawing it down in locking. The said operating-pin E is provided, as shown, with a small radial pin e, which is received in a slot formed in the operating-link D and 15 which in ease the operating-pin E tends to escape when the gun is open engages with the inner faces of the arms F2 F2 aforesaid and prevents the escape of the pin E, which when the gun is in its closed position is prevented 20 from escaping by the side walls of the cham- bered tang portion B' of the gun-frame. For supporting the operating-link, and hence the breech-block, in their elevated positions, in which they are supported from the time the 25 breech-block is unlocked, which is at the be- ginning of its opening movement, up to the time that it is closed, which is at the end of its closing movement, I provide the operating- link with a pin II, which on account of its 30 function I shall hereinafter call the “sup- porting-pin.” The ends of this pin extend into and ride upon the concaved lower walls of two oppositely-located supporting-slots B2, formed in the side walls of the chambered 35 tang B', and struck from the center of the pin-holes formed in the said side walls for the reception of the operating-lever pivot-pin G, before mentioned. The forward ends of these slots are formed with downwardly and rear- 40 wardly extending arms or extensions Bs, which are located substantially in line with the op- erating-link D when the gnn is in its closed position, at which time these arms are also substantially in line with alongitudinally-ar- 45 rangedclearance-slot D', formed in the lower end of the link and receiving the operating- lever pivot-pin G, which performs an addi- tional function in guiding and supporting the lower end of the said link, which, as afore- 50 said, is loosely connected with the operating or finger lever, but positively connected, so to speak, with the breech-block by the breech- block pivot-pin 0. If desired, the ends of the slot D' might be used in limiting the endwise 55 movement of the operating-link D. For the clearance of the operating-pin E, I form two oppositely-located circular clearance-open- ings F4 in the arms F2 of the operating or finger lever, which I preferably lighten by 60 the formation in the said arms of two larger oppositely-located circular openingsF5, which may, however, 'be changed in form or dis- pensed with altogether. To provide for lock- ing the breech-block in its closed position, its 65 lower face is formed with a wide transverse slot Л', the forward wall A2 of which consti- tutes a recoil-face which coacts with a recoil- face B4, formed upon the upper forward edge of a transversely-arranged heavy integral tie B5, which unites the rear ends of the side 70 walls of the receiver portion В of the gun- frame. Having now described the connection of the breech-block with the operating-lever as being by means of an operating-link pivoted 75 to the breech-block and loosely connected with the lever, I will proceed to describe the operation of the parts mentioned in unlock- ing arid locking the gun. When the gun is closed, as seen in Fig. 5, the operating-pin E, 80 mounted in the link, is located at the rear ends of the operating-slots Fs of the lever, while the supporting-pin H, mounted in the link, is located at the lower ends of the arms B3, formed at the forward ends of the cam- 85 like supporting-slots B2, located in the side walls of the chambered tang B'. At this time also the operating-link is located in what may be termed its “depressed” position, at which time the upper end of its clearance-slot D' is 90 registered with the operating-lever pivot-pin G. Now when the operating-lever F is started forward from its closed position the lower walls of its cam-like lifting-slots F3 coact with the operating-pin E, so as to impart a lifting 95 movement to the operating-link D, which in turn lifts the rear end of the breech-block A until its recoil-face A2 is entirely cleared from the recoil-face B4, formed by the tie Bs of the receiver .portion of the gun-frame, as stiown too in Fig. 3. At the conclusion of this lifting movement of the link the operating-pin E will be located at the forward ends of the op- erating-slots F3 of the operating-lever and the supporting-pin II at the upper ends of the 105 arms B3 of the supporting-slots B2, formed in the side walls of the chambered tang portion B' of the gun-frame, all as shown in Fig. 3. Now as the operating-lever is pushed for- ward into its full-open position the breech- no block will be drawn back by the coaction of the operating-pin E, carried by the operating- link, with the operating-slots Fs, located in the lever, the link being held up to its work during this part.of the opening movement of 115 the gun by means of the supporting-pin H, which is mounted in it and which rides upon the convex lower walls of the supporting-slots B2 aforesaid. In this manner the breech- block is drawn back to its full-open posi- 120 tion, as shown in Fig. 4. During the clos- ing movement of the gun the link is main- tained in its elevated position by means of its said supporting-pin II, which rides back over the said convex lower walls of the sup- 125 porting-slots B2, from the forward ends of - which it rides off into the upper ends of the arms or extensions Bs of the said slots simul- taneously with the movement of the block into its locking position, which is also repre- 130 sented by Fig. 3. The operating-lever is at this time nearly in its closed position, and as it is drawn into the same the operating-pin E of the operating-link D coacts with the lower
619,132 8 5 io 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 walls of the operating-slots F3, so as to posi- tively draw the link, and hence the breech- block, downward, whereby the recoil-face A2 of the breech-block is brought into position for eoaction with the recoil-face B4 of the tie B5 of the gun-frame. During this last move- ment of the operating-link and breech-block the supporting-pin H of the link moves down- ward to the lower ends of the arms B3 of the supporting-slots B2 of the gun-frame, while the clearance-slot D' of the link permits the same to move down over the operating-lever pivot- pin G, whereby the parts are brought back into the positions in which they are shown in Fig. 5. It will thus be seen that by loosely connecting the operating-link with the oper- ating-lever I am enabled to lift the breeeh- block for unlocking it and draw it down for locking it, as well as imparting the required longitudinal movements to it for opening and closing it. Within the breeeh-block I locate a longi- tudinally-movable firing-pin I, which com- bines the twofold functions of firing-pin and hammer, as the gun shown has no hammer proper and belongs to the type of hammerless guns. The forward end of this firing-pin is encircled by a spiral spring Г, which I shall call the “ mainspring,” while its rear end is formed with a wide vertical slot I2, which re- ceives a retracting-finger D2, formed at the upper end of the operating-link D, and acting to cock the firing-pin at the beginning of the opening movement of the gun, the retraction of the hammer at this time placing the main- spring I' under tension and bringing the cocking-notch Is, formed in the under face of the extreme rear end of the pin, into position to be engaged by the nose J of a sear J', hung upon a pivot J2 and located within a vertical slot A3,formedin the lowerface of the rearend of the breech-block. The said sear is formed with a circular recess J3 to receive the sear- spring J4, which is confined in. place by a pin Js, mounted in the breech - block, from the rear lower corner of which lj.he tongue J6 of the sear depends in position to be engaged by the nose К of the trigger K', which is sus- pended by a pin K2, passing through its rear end and having its ends supported in the yielding arms F2 F2of the operating or finger lever F, which plays within the chambered tang B' of the gun-frame. It will be noted that the tongue Jc of the sear is formed with a notch, which the nose К of the trigger K' enters when the trigger is lifted into its op- erating position by the movement of the oper- ating-lever into its closed position. The said notch in the tongue J6 of the sear guides the nose of the-trigger into place and promotes accuracy in the operation of the parts men- tioned. The upper wall of the said notch en- gages with the lower end of the abutment- plate 17 for limiting the upward movementof the rear end of the sear under the influence of the sear-spring J4, while the lower wall of the notch is beveled for lifting the nose of the trigger, which rides over itin the last portion of the closing movement of the gun. For the purpose of holding the mainspring 70 I' forward at the time of its compression I employ two corresponding horizontally-ar- ranged mainspring-retaining rods L L, let into grooves I formed in the opposite faces of the rear end of the firing-pin, as shown in Fig. 75 10,the rear ends of these pins abutting against a removable abutment-plate L', mounted in substantially a vertical position in the rear end of the breech-block, which is formed with a slot L2 to receive it, the said slot having 80 u ndercut ends l' V. It will be understood that the forward ends of these pins engage with the rear end of the mainspring I'and prevent the rearward movement of the spring during the retraction of the firing-pin, which there- 85 fore places the spring under tension by com- pressing it from its forward end. To remove the firing-pin, the abutment-plate L' is re- moved and the long retaining-rods L L with- drawn, afterwhichthefiring-pinmaybewith- 90 drawn from the breech-block, bringing the mainspring with it. On the other hand, for the purpose of assembling the firing-pin and spring with the breech-block the firing-pin and spring are first introduced thereinto. The 95 retaining-rods L L are then slipped into place, after which the abutment-plate L' is restored to the breech-block. The extractor M is located in a long groove M', formed in the forward end of the right- 100 hand face of the breech-block and held in place solely by its. own spring-power. For that purpose it is formed at its forward end with an inwardly-projecting horizontally-ar- ranged retaining-lug m, which plays back and 105 forth in a horizontal recess m', leading out of the bottom of the forward end of the said groove M'. The extractor is also formed about midway of its length and at opposite points upon its upper and lower edges with small no retaining-flanges m2 m2, which when the ex- tractor is in place are seated in the extreme inner ends of undercut grooves m3 m3, Figs. 8 and 11, leading out of the upper and lower walls of the said groove M' and extending in- 115 ward from the forward end thereof to about midway of its length. The rear end of the extractor is made thinner than its forward portion, so as to form, as it were, a yielding tail ?n4, which is located entirely to the rear 120 of the retaining-flanges m2 m2 aforesaid, for- ward of which the extractor may be said to be rigid. The said tail is slightly bowed lon- gitudinally, so that when the extractor is in- troduced into the groove M' from the forward 125 end thereof its tail is straightened, and thus placed under enough tension to assist in hold- ing the extractor in place, the lug m prevent- ing the extractor from endwise displacement, the flanges m2 m2 preventing its lateral dis- S30 placement, and the spring-tail m4 holding the said lug m and the said flanges m2 m2 in their proper places and also giving a yieldingaction to the extractor with respect to the cartridges.'
4 619,13Й When so constructed, the extractor may be readily removed by pulling its forward end laterally outward sufficiently to clear the lug m from the recess m,', after which the ex- 5 tractor may be drawn forward and out of the breech-block. Itwill be understood,of course, that the tail w.4 of the extractor yields to per- mit the forward end thereof to be pulled lat- erally outward, as described, preparatory io to drawing the extractor forward out of the breech-block. This is a convenient construc- tion, as.it avoids the necessity of any pins or screws for holding the extractor in place. For locking the trigger К', I employ a lon- 15 gitudinally-movable safety-piece N, which is interlocked, so to speak, with the upper end of the. trigger and which is supported upon the upper edges of the arms F2 F2 of the op- erating-lever, in which the trigger is mounted, 20 as before stated, by means of a plate N', form- ing a part of it and having its upper surface corrugated or otherwise roughened to permit the user of the gup to engage it with his fin- gers and move it back and forth. The said 25 safety-piece is formed at its forward end with a depending arm №, carrying a locking-pin №, which normally clears the forward end of the lower edge of the trigger, as shown in Fig. 5,. which represents the safety-piece in 30 its normal or retracted position. When, how- ever, the safety-piece is retracted into its op- erating position, the. said locking-pin moves under the forward end of the lower edge of the trigger, as shown in Fig. 12, thus pre- 35 venting the trigger from being swung on its pin K2. When the safety-piece is thus moved backward, its rearwardly-extending arm N4 passes under a lug K3, formed at the rear end of the trigger, and locks the safety-piece at 40 that point also, the trigger being formed at its rear and with the lug K3 and at its forward end with, a lug K4 to permit the safety-piece to be set down into it, as shown, for instance, in Figs. 5,12, and 13. The lug K4, just men- ’ 45 tioned, includes the nose K, before mention ed of the trigger. It will be understood by ref- erence to these figures that the arms № and N4df the safety-piece pass downward between the lugs K4 and K3of the trigger, the arm № 50 of the safety-piece extending rearward under the lug K3. The said arm N4 of the safety- piece is formed with an offset or lateral pro- jection №, which extends under the lug Ks of the trigger and which is made wide enough 55 to practically fill the slot F' of tbe finger or operating lever, whereby the yielding arms F2 F2 of the lever are frictionally engaged with the said lug or extension №. Under this construction the rear end of the safety- 60 piece is prevented from lateral play and is frictionally gripped and held away from en- gagement with the trigger, which must be free to operate. The arms F2 F2 of the lever are, as before mentioned, yielding arms and 65 set inward enough so as to secure a friction- grip upon the arms N2 and N4 of the safety- piece, which passes downward between them, whereby the safety-piece is frictionally held against movement forward or back except as it is operated through the instrumentality of 70 its plate N'. Thus far I have spoken of the safety-piece as coacting with the trigger; but it has still another and very important function in lock- ing the entire operating or finger lever in 75 its closed position. This it does through its arm N4, which when the safety-piece’js drawn backward into its operating position slides over a transversely-arranged pin №, mounted in the rear end of the tangB' of the gun-frame. 80 This pin, however, might be replaced by any projection suitably arranged and suitably constructed for engagement by the said arm N4 of the trigger-piece. Therefore when the safety-piece is drawn back into its operating 85 position it not only locks the trigger, but also locks the operating or finger lever in its closed position, thus discharging a twofold function. For assembling the safety-piece with the 90 operating-lever and holding it in place there- upon I form in the inner faces of the arms . F2 F2 of the operating-lever F two oppositely- located vertically-arranged entrance-grooves n and two oppositely-located horizontally-ar- 95 ranged retaining-grooves ri, extending rear- wardly from the lower ends of the said enter- ing-grooves,as shown in Fig. 14. In applying the safety-piece to the levar the ends of its locking-pin № are entered into the upper ends too of the entrance-grooves n of the lever. The safety-piece is then pushed downward to Carry the said ends of the pin № into the lower ends of the said entrance-grooves, after which the safety-piece is pushed rearward to enter the 105 ends of the pin into the retaining-grooves, the upper walls of which then hold the safety- piece in place upon the lever with a capacity for being moved back and forth, as required, after its operation. It will readily be under- no stood that by sliding the safety-piece forward until the ends of its pin № emerge from the forward ends of the retaining-grooves ri into the lower ends of the entrance-grooves n it may be removed. I most also call attention 115 to the fact that the safety-piece by being mounted upon the upper edges of the yield- ing arms F2 F2 of the operating or finger le- ver F extends upward through the chambered tang B' of the gun-frame when the gun is 120 closed, so that the safety-piece is always in sight when the gun is closed and located in a position in which it may be operated with facility. Furthermore, the mounting of the safety-piece in the operating-lever insures the 125 removal of the safety-piece from the gun with the operating-lever, it being one of the fea- tures of my present invention that practically all of the parts of the gun are connected with the operating-lever, so as to be removed when 13a the same is removed. This organization of the parts of the gun system with the operat-
619,132 5 ing-lever greatly facilitates the operations of assembling and dismembering the gun, as will be apparent. The lower end of the cartridge-chamber 0, 5 formed within the receiver portion В of the gun-frame, is normally closed by means of a frictionally-fitted cover O', which is bowed in transverse section and formed at its forward end with a T-shaped retaining-head O2, which io is entered into a correspond! ng slot 0s, formed in the lower end of a block O4, which forms the forward end wall of the cartridge-chamber O. The rear end of the said cover is provided upon its upper face with a heavy hook P, 15 adapted by the formation in it of a forwardly- opening horizontal slot to engage with a coup- ling-pin P', horizontally arranged in the lower rear corner of the receiver portion of the frame. The said end connections of the cover 20 are fitted so closely that the cover is practi- cally held in place by friction. More than this, the operating-lever of the gun constantly tends to shove it forward, which it will do if by any chance it moves rearward. Moreover, 25 the cover and operating-lever are constructed and arranged so that the lever may be util- ized for driving the cover into its home posi- tion by throwing the lever into its extreme open position, at which time the forward edge 30 of its lower portion will engage with the rear end of the cover and strike the same such a blow as to send it into its home position. In this way the lever may be used in place of a hammer to overcome the friction which re- 35 sists the movement of the cover into its closed position. For the purpose of locking the lever in its closed position it is provided near its forward end with a cylindrical socket Q for the recep- 40 tion of a spring Q' and a friction-pin Q2, which is held in place by a stop-pin Q3 and beveled at its outer end to adapt it to be snapped into and forced out of a notch Q4 formed in the rear face of the hook P, before 45 described. It will be understood that when the lever is brought into its closed position the beveled outer end of this pin will snap into the notch Q4 of the hook P and hold the lever in its closed position, from which it is 50 readily started, however, by the exertion of the little additional force required to com- press the spring Q' when the lever is started in being thrown forward into its open posi- tion. 55 The cartridges R, as shown in Fig. 6, are arranged intwoindependentcolumnsof three each, both columns being supported and fed upward by a follower R', actuated by a spring R2. The said follower is formed with a step 60 Rs, so as to lift one column of cartridges above the other, so that the cartridges of the re- spective columns will be fed alternately to the breech-block, by means of which they are pushed forward, and which is guided as 65 it travels back and forth by a lug A4, located upon the forward end of its left-hand face and running back and forth in a longitudi- nal groove B6 formed in the upper edge of the inner face of the left-hand wall of the re- ceiver portion В of the gun-frame. The up- 70 per edge of the right-hand wall of the said receiver portion of thegun-frame is cut away, as shown in Fig. 6, to permit the lateral ejec- tion of the cartridges from the gun. For the purpose of narrowing the forward 75 portion of the cartridge-chamber О, I locate in it twonprights S S', (clearly shown in Fig. 6,) and for the purpose of insuring the freer feeding of the cartridges of the right-hand column I locate upon the inner face of the 80 right-hand wall of the cartridge-chamber a horizontally-arranged wedge-like guide orde- flector S2, which may or may not be made in- tegral with the upper end of the upright S'. This deflector operates to push the cartridges 85 of the right-hand column inward under the extractor, whereby they are prevented from jamming or canting in being fed forward. No such deflector is required for coaction with the left-hand column of cartridges, as 90 they are fed upward entirely free of the ex- tractor, which is on the right-hand side of the chamber and which makes the use of the de- flector necessary. The deflector may be char- acterized as a safeguard for insuring the 05 movement of the cartridges of the right-hand column inward in front of the forward end of the breech-block. In the absence of this deflector if a cartridge of the right-hand col- umn of cartridges should be slow in moving roo outward and upward the breech-block in its forward movement would gain on it to such an extent as to jam it under the extractor, which is located on the right-hand side of the breech-bolt and therefore over the right-hand 105 column of cartridges. To prevent the escape of gas or flame from the receiver, the bolt is provided with a stud or projection a, which when the bolt is in the closed position will stand directly back of the 110 rear end of the groove B6, the rear end of which is necessarily open, so that without some such stud or projection on the breech- block to stand in line with the open rear end of the groove when the gun is fired some of 115 the “fire” might strike back into the eyes of the user of the arm. It is apparent that it is unnecessary to em- ploy all of the several features of my inven- tion in one gun, but that one or moreof them 120 may be used, as desired. It is also apparent that in applying my invention to guns other than those having box-magazines adapted to receive two independent columns of car- tridges changes from the construction herein 125 shown and described may be made. I would therefore have it understood that I do not limit myself to the details herein shown and described, but hold myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall 130 within the spirit and scope of my invention. Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is—
6 619,132 1. In a firearm, the combination with a com- pound-movement breech-block, of an operat- ing-lever, an intermediate link pivotally con- nected with the breech-block and loosely con- 5 nected with the operating-lever so as to have movement independent thereof and means for supporting the link and hence the breech- block from the time they are lifted for the un- locking of the block until they are depressed io for the locking of the block. 2. In a firearm, the combination witha com- pound-movement breech-block, of an operat- ing-lever, an intermediate link pivotally con- nected with the breech-block at its upper end, 15 and loosely connected with the operating-le- ver by means of an operating-pin and an op- erating-slot which coact to lift the breech- block into its unlocked position, and to draw it down into its locked position, and a snp- 20 porting instrumentality carried by the said link and coacting with the frame of the gun for supporting the link and hence the breech- block from the time they are lifted for un- locking the block until they are depressed 25 for locking the block. 3. In a firearm, the combination with a com- pound-movement breech-block, of an operat- ing-lever formed with an operating-slot, an intermediate lever pivotally connected at its 30 upper end with the said breech-block, and provided with an operating-pin coacting with the said slot; and a supporting-pin mounted in the said link and coacting with a support- ing-slot formed in the frame of the gun for 35 supporting the link and hence the breech- block from the time they are lifted for the un- locking of the block until they are depressed for the locking of the block. 4. In a firearm, the combination with a gun- 40 frame formed with a supporting-slot, of a com- pound-movementbreecli-block, an operating- lever formed with an operating-slot, and a link pivotally connected at its upper end with the breech-block, and provided with an op- 45 erating pin or projection coacting with the said operating-slot and with a supporting pin or projection coacting with the said support- ing-slot. 5. In a firearm, the combination with a gun- 50 frame having a supporting-slot formed at its forward end with a downwardly-extending extension or arm, of a compound-movement breech - block, an operating or finger lever from the center of the pivot-pin of which the 55 said supporting-slot is struck, and an inter- mediate linkpivotally connected at its upper end with the said breech-block, and provided with an operating-pin which coacts with the said operating-slot, and with a snpporting- 60 pin which” coacts with the said supporting- slot,and formed with a clearance-slot through which the pivot-pin of the said lever passes, and which permits the vertical movement of the link with respect to the lever and the gun- 65 frame. 6. In a firearm, the combination with a com- pound-movement breech-block, of a firing- pin located therein, an operating-lever, an operating-link pivotally connected with the breech-block and coacting at its extreme up- 70 per end with the firing-pin to cock the same, and loosely connected with the lever by means of which it is raised and lowered for elevat- ing and depressing the block, and by means of which it is swung for movingthe block into 75 its opened and closed positions. 7. In a firearm, the combination with a breech-block, of a firing-pin located therein, a spiral mainspring encircling the forward end of the flring-pin, two removable main- Bo spring-retaining rods arranged to engage at their forward ends with the rear end of the said spring, and a removable abutment-plate lo- cated in the rear end of the breech-block and engaging with the rear ends of the said rods 85 for holding them in place. 8. In a firearm, the combination with the frame thereof, of an operating-lever pivotally mounted therein and formed with two arms, of a trigger pivotally mounted between the 90 upper portions of the said arms and extend- ing downward into the finger-guard of the said lever, and a safety-piece located between the upper portions of the said arms at a point directly above the trigger so as to project 95 slightly above the wrist portion of the frame of the gun when the lever is in its closed po- sition, and adapted, when moved into its op- erating position, to engage directly with the trigger to prevent the operation thereof. 100 9. In a firearm', the combination with the frame thereof, of an operating-lever pivotally mounted therein and formed with two arms, of a trigger pivotally hung by its rear end between the said arms, and formed' at its rear 105 and forward ends with lugs, and a sliding safety-piece mounted upon the said arms of the lever at a point above the trigger and formed atits forward and rear ends with down- wardly-extending arms which pass between no the said lugs of the trigger and which are con- structed to engage with the trigger near the f 0 rward and rear ends thereof, when the safety- piece is moved into its operating position, for holding the trigger against operation. 115 10. In a firearm, the combination with an operating-lever, of a trigger mounted therein, and a sliding safety-piece also mounted in the said lever and located above the said trig- ger, and coacting therewith to lock the same 120 against movement, and formed at its forward end with a depending projection entering ver- tically-arranged entranceand longitudinally- arranged retaining grooves formed in the le- ver for the purpose of permitting the entrance 125 of the safety-piece into the lever and its re- tention thereupon. 11. In a firearm, the combination with a.gun- frame, the receiver portion of which contains a cartridge-chamber, of a sliding cover for 130 the open lower end of the said chamber, the cover being adapted at its forward and rear ends for being friction ally coupled with the gun by forward sliding movement and an op-
619,132 7 erating or finger lever mounted in the gun- frame and in its closed position forming an abutment for the rear end of the said cover which it will force forward into and keep in 5 its'proper position. 12. In a firearm,the combination withagun- frame, the receiver portion of which contains a cartridge-chamber, of a cover for the open lower end of the said chamber, adapted at its io forward end to have sliding connection with the gun-frame, and formed upon the upper face of its rear end with a hook having a for- wardly-opening, horizontally-arranged slot to engage with a horizontally-arranged coup- 15 ling-pin mounted in the gun-frame with which the cover is connected by sliding it forward; and an operating or finger lever mounted in the gun-frame and forming an abutment for the rear end of the said cover when the lever го is in its closed position, whereby the cover is kept in place by the lever in addition to the frictional restraint formed by the sliding con- nections at its ends. 13. Inafirearm,thecombination withagun- 25 frame containing a cartridge-chamber for the . reception of one or more columns of car- tridges, of a cover for closing the lower end of the said chamber, and formed npon the upper face of its rear end with..a hook which 30 engages with a horizontally-arranged coup- ling-pin mounted in the gun-frame, an oper- ating-lever mounted in the gun-frame, and a forwardly - projecting spring - actuated pin mounted in the said lever and engaging with 35 the rear end of the said hook of the said cover for holding the lever in its closed position. 14. In a firearm, the combination with a breech-bloek, of a flring-pin mounted there- in, a pivotal sear mounted in the rear end of io the breech-block and coacting with the rear end of the firing-pin, an operating or finger lever pivoted in the frame of the gun, and co- acting with the breech-block for operating the same, and with the firing-pin for cocking the 15 same, and a trigger mounted in the lever for eoaction witb the sear. 15. In a i-.earm, the combination with a frame having a heavy transversely-arranged tie which unites the rear ends of the side >0 walls of the receiver portion of the frame, of a compound-movement breech-block adapted to be moved back and forth in the frame for opening and closing the gun and to be raised and lowered therein at its rear end for being i5 locked and unlocked, and formed in its un- der face with a transverse slot adapting it to be lowered down over the upper portion of the said tie which acts as a recoil-block for it, an operating-lever hung in the said frame >0 and having its upper end connected with the breech-block at a point to the rear of the said slot therein, a flring-pin located in the said breech-block, a sear mounted in the rear end of the breech-block below the rear end of the 15 firing-pin, and to the rear of the connection of the lever with the breech-block, and a trig- ger mounted in the said lever in position to coact with the said sear when the lever and breech-block are in their closed positions. 16. In a firearm, the combination with a 70 breech-block formed at its rear end with a vertical slot, of a firing-pin mounted in the said breech-block and having its rear end formed with a vertical slot located in line with the vertical slot formed in the rear end 75 of the breech-block, a sear pivotally mount- ed in the vertical slot in the breech-block and located below the extreme rear end of the firing-pin with which it coacts, and means carried by the operating-lever of the gunfor 80 extending upward through the vertical slot of the breech-block and into the vertical slot of the firing-pin for retracting and cocking the same. 17. In a firearm, the combination with an 85 operating or finger lever, of a breech-block having its rear end formed with a vertical slot, a firing-pin mounted in the breech-block and having its rear end formed with a verti- cal slot located in line with the vertical slot 90 of the breech-block, a sear pivotally hung by its forward end in the vertical slot of the breech-block at a point below the rear end of the flring-pin, and formed with a nose which coacts with the lower face of the rear end of 95 the flring-pin, and with a rearwardly and downwardly projecting tongue, a spring co- aeting with the sear and tending to con- stantly throw it upward for engagement with the firing-pin, a trigger mounted in the op- 100 erating or finger lever in position to coact with the tongue of the sear and means ex- tending upward into the vertical slot of the breech-block and into the vertical slot of the firing-pin for operating the block and re- 105 tracting and cocking the pin. 18. In a firearm, the combination with an operating or finger lever having its forward or upper end formed with two laterally-yield- ing arms separated by a deep vertically-ar- no® ranged slot, of a trigger pivotally mounted between the said arms, and a safety-piece supported upon the upper edges of the said yielding arms and provided at its forward and rear ends with downwardly-projecting 115 arms which coact with the trigger for lock- ing the same against operation, and which extend downward between the yielding arms of the lever which grip it frictionally and nor- mally hold it against movement forward or 120 back. / 19. In a firearm, the combination with the frame thereof, of a breech-block, a firing-pin mounted therein, a sear pivotally mounted within the rear end of the said block in po- 125 sition to coact with the extreme rear end of the firing-pin below which it is located, an operating or finger lever pivotally hung in the frame of the gun and extending upward into the rear end of the breech-block for the 130 operation thereof, and for coaction with the firing-pin which it retracts and cocks, and a
8 619,132 trigger mounted in the upper portion of the said lever in position to engage with the said sear when the lever is in its closed position. 20. In a firearm, the combination with a 5 frame formed with a chambered tang, of an operating-lever pivotally hung within the said chambered tang, and formed with two arms the upper edges of which coincide with the upper edges of the side walls of the cham- io bered tang when the lever is in its closed po- sition, and a safety-piece located between the upper edges of the said arms of the lever, and projecting above the side walls of the chambered tang of the frame, and adapted 15 when shifted in position to engage with a portion of the frame for locking the lever in its closed position. 21. In a firearm, the combination with a frame formed with a chambered tang, of an 20 operating-lever pivotally hung within the said chambered tang, and formed with two arms the upper edges of which coincide with the upper edges of the side walls of the cham- bered tang when the lever is in its closed po- 25 sition, a trigger mounted between the said arms near the upper edges thereof, and a safety-piece also mounted between the said armsatapointabove the trigger, and adapted to coact with the same for locking it against 30 being operated and to engage with a part sta- tionary with respect to the frame for locking the lever in its closed position. 22. In a firearm, the combination with a frame formed with a chambered tang, of an 35 operating-lever pivotally hung within thesaid chambered tang and formed with two arms, the upper edges of which coincide with the upper edges of the side walls of the cham- bered tang when the lever is in its closed po- 40 sition, a trigger mounted between the said arms near the upper edges thereof, and a safety-piece also mounted between the said armsatapointabove the trigger, and adapted at its forward end to engage with the trigger 45 for locking the same against operation, and provided with a rearwardly-extending arm adapted to be engaged with a part stationary with respect to the gun-frame for locking the lever in its closed position. 50 23. In a magazine-firearm, the combination with a gun-frame having a cartridge-chamber adapted for the reception of two columns of cartridges located side by side, of a breech- closing instrumentality, an extractor located in one of the side faces of the said instru- 55 mentality, and a wedge-like cartridge-deflec- tor arranged upon the inner face of the wall of the said chamber on that side of the breech- closing instrumentality in which the said ex- tractor is located. 60 24. In a firearm, the combination with the breech-block thereof, of a firing-pin located therein, a sear pivotally mounted in the rear end of the said block and formed with a notch, of an operating or finger lever connected with 65 the said block for operating the same, and a trigger carried by the said lever and formed with a nose adapted to enter the notch of the sear just as the gun is closed. 25. The combination with a breech-block, 70 of a firing-pin located therein and introduced thereinto and removed therefrom through an opening formed in the rear end of the block, a spring encircling the firing-pin and there- fore located within the said block, and in- 75 troduced thereinto and removed therefrom through the said opening in the rear end thereof,a flat vertically-arranged plate mount- ed in the rear end of the block for closing the opening therein, and means interposed be- 80 tween the rear end of the spring and the said plate for causing the spring to be placed un- der tension when the firing-pin is retracted, the said plate virtually constituting an abut- ment for the rear end of the said spring. 85 26. In a firearm, the combination with a gun-frame the receiver portion of which con- tains a cartridge-chamber, of a sliding cover for the open lower end of the said chamber, the said cover being adapted at its forward 9c and rear ends for being frictionally coupled with the gun by a forward sliding movement, and an operating or finger lever pivotally mounted in the gun-frame, the rear end of the said cover and the forward edge of the 95 lower portion of the said lever being con- structed and arranged so that when the lever is thrown into its open position, it will strike the rear end of the cover, and force it for- ward into its home position. ec In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscrib- ing witnesses. JOHN M. BROWNING. Witnesses: Frederic C. Earle, Thomas C. Johnson. '
Patented Mar. 21, 1899. No. 621,747. J. M. BROWNING. GAS OPERATED FIREARM. THE NORRIS PETERS CO.. PHOTO-L-THO.. WASHINGTON, q C.
No. 621,747. Patented Mar. 21, 1899. J. M. BROWNING. GAS OPERATED FIREARM. (Application filed Dec. 28, 1697.) THE NQRAiS PETEAS CO, PNOTO-UlTHO., WASHINGTON, D. C.
United States Patent Office, JOHN M. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH. GAS-OPERATED FIREARM. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 621,747, dated March 21,1899. Application filed December 28,1897. Serial No. 663,845. (No model.) To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, John M. Browning, re- siding at Ogden, in the county of Weber and State of Utah, have invented certain new and 5 useful Improvements in Firearms, of which the following is a specification, reference be- ing had to the accompanying drawings, form- ing a part hereof. This invention relates generally to auto- io matic breech-loading firearms, and more espe- cially to firearms of this description in which the several operations—such as the opening of the breech after firing a shot, the ejection of the empty cartridge-shell, the cocking of 15 the hammer, the presentation and introduc- tion of a fresh cartridge into the chamber of the barrel, and the closing of the breech—are automatically effected by the pressure in the barrel of the gases generated by the explosion 20 of the cartridge. My invention comprises, further, improve- ments in firearms of the class described in United States Patent -No. 580,926, applied for by me and granted April 20,1897, said patent 25 containing some of the features of the com- plete firearm which I have illustrated and described herein for the purpose of enabling my present invention to be understood. Such features as are common to the two construc- 30 tions will be referred to herein so far as may be necessary to enable the present invention to be understood; but the description which follows will relate particularly to the novel features of this case. 35 The main object which I have had in view has been the production of a firearm of the class referred to which should be simple and inexpensive in construction, not liable to get out of order, and reliable and safe in opera- 40 tion under all conditions of use. I have hereinafter shown and described my present improvements as adapted to a gas- operated magazine-pistol; but I have chosen this particular kind of firearm merely as a 45 convenient illustration of an embodiment of my invention and do not intend to restrict my invention to an application thereof to a magazine-pistol nor to any particular kind of firearm, nor do I intend to restrict the inven- 50 tion to the use of the several features of im- provement together in a common structure. In the accompanying drawings, in which I have illustrated an embodiment of my inven- tion, Figure 1 is a left-hand side elevation of the pistol with the breech closed. Figs. 2 and 55 3 are respectively rear and front end views of the same. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section, on a vertical plane, with the breech closed. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section, on a vertical plane, with the breech open. Figs. 6,7,8, and 60 4я are detail views of parts to be referred to. Fig. Iя is a horizontal section on the plane indicated by the line а b of Fig. 1. Fig. lb is a horizontal section on the plane indicated by the line c d of Fig. 1. 65 The pistol represented in the accompany- ing drawings comprises a frame a, a barrel b, fixed in the frame, and a sliding breech-piece c. The upper portion of the frame a forms the receiver and has a seat and suitable guides 70 for the reciprocating breech-piece, and below the receiver is the grip or handle a', which is preferably made integral with the frame, but obviously may be formed separately and at- tached thereto in any suitable manner. With- 75 in the grip and extending through the same upward into the receiver is arranged a seat or chamber for the reception of the cartridge- magazine d. The latter is substantially of ordinary form and construction and may con- 80 sist of a sheet-metal tube, in which the car- tridges are laid one upon another, resting upon a spring-follower, by which they are pushed upward into the receiver; It is con- veniently retained in place within the grip by 85 a spring-actuated latch d'. Its upper end is open to permit the escape of the cartridges, the side walls at the rear of the opening being turned in to engage the rim or flange of the topmost cartridge and prevent the escape of 90 the same from the holder except when it is pushed forward, as hereinafter described. The barrel b is secured to the receiver in any usual or suitable manner and extends forwardly from the same to the desired length. 95 The upper portion of the frame is provided interiorly with longitudinal ribs and grooves as a4, Fig. 2, to engage corresponding ribs and grooves c3 c4 of the breech-piece c or of that portion c' of it which may be more properly 100 designated as the “breech-bolt,” the said breech-bolt or breech-piece being thereby held to the frame and guided thereon in its reciprocation. On the top of thebreech-bolt
621,747 a c' is a strong longitudinal rib c2, to which the portion c5 of the breech-piece is secured firmly by means of screws c°, which pass transversely through said portion cs and the rib, the cen- 5 tral portion of the ribbeing increased in width and the slot in the slide c5 being correspond- ingly shaped to secure a stronger attachment, if desired. The part c5 slides upon the frame and extends forwardly, so that when the io breeeh-bolt is in closed position the front end of said part or slide c5 stands over the muzzle of the barrel. In order that the slide may be accurately guided in its movement, its for- ward portion is extended downward, prefer- 15 ably in the form of a sleeve c7, which em- braces the forward portion of the barrel, an open space being left between the rear end of said sleeve c7 and the part of the frame a supporting the barrel to allow for the longi- 20 tudinal movement of the sleeve with the slide and breeeh-bolt. The slide c5 is bored out to form a longitudinal chamber from the breech- bolt forward to receive the reaction-spring e, and at the front this chamber is closed by a 25 screw-plug c8. The reaction-spring e is a strong spiral sprin g,the rear end of which stands against the shoulder a2 of the frame, which at the breech end of the barrel projects upward into the 30 chamber of the slide cs. A plug e' is secured to the forward end of the spring e and is fit- ted to slide freely in the chamber of the slide. The forward part of the top rib c3 of the breech-bolt is divided by a vertical cut, form- 35 ing a seat for the lever I, which is pivotally attached to the rib c2 and depends through a vertical opening in the body of the breech- bolt c'. To the central part of the lever I is attached the connecting-rod T, which extends 40 forward from the lever through a cut in the part «3 of the frame and through the spri ng e to the plug e', which is firmly attached to the for- ward end of the rod Z', thereby maintaining the reaction-spring e in a state of compression. 45 When the breech-bolt is moved to the rear, either by hand or by the powder-gases, the breech end of the barrel is opened,and through the described connection the reaction-spring e is further compressed, so that on the release of 50 the breech-bolt the spring e returns the slide and the breech-bolt to their forward position, and thereby closes the barrel. The rear end of the sleeve c‘ and the face of that portion of the frame a which supports the barrel limit 55 the rearward movement of the sliding breech piece or slide and breech-bolt. The space be- tween the sleeve and the frame when the former is in its forward position is covered by a shield or cover a5, which I prefer to make 60 integral with the frame, and which extends forward from the frame to tlie sleeve without interfering with the movements of the lat- ter. As described heretofore, cartridges are pressed upward from the holder or magazine 65 cl, but are held from escaping therefrom. Nevertheless the rim or flange of the topmost cartridge rises above the holder as soon as the breech-bolt c' has passed to the rear of the holder, so that in the forward or closing move- ment of the breech-piece the face of the breech- 7 о bolt engages the topmost cartridge and pushes it directly from the holder into the chamber of the barrel. When the cartridge is ex- ploded, the breech-bolt is driven backward by the powder-gases, and in its movement it ef- 75 fects the extraction of the empty shell from the chamber of the barrel and its ejection from the receiver. For this purpose an ex- tractor/of usual construction is arrangedin the side of the breech-bolt c' to engage the 80 head or flange of the cartridge during the closing movement and to extract the shell from the chamber of the barrel during the opening movement. As the shell is drawn rearwardly by the extractor, which engages 85 the flange on the right-hand side, the left- hand edge of the flange strikes a projection on the left-hand side of the receiver, so that the shell is ejected through the opening a6, formed in the right-hand side of the frame for 90 that purpose. My improved firing mechanism varies in part from that described in my said patent and will be briefly explained herein, so that the operation of the firearm may be fully and 95 clearly understood. The breech-bolt c! is chambered, as usual, forming a seat for the hammer 7c, the forward part of which forms the firing-pin, and the lever Z, passing, as de- scribed above, through an opening in the юэ body of the breech-bolt, extends into a ver- tical slot in the hammer k, and under the ac- tion of the spring e and the rod Z' the lever forces the hammer to its forward position, and the forward movement of the rod V is trans- 105 mitted to the breech-bolt c' by the lever Z at its pivot and also at its point bearing against the hammer. Below the receiver and the breeeh- bolt the sear g is pivoted in the frame in rear of the grip and is provided with the usual no sear-spring д', and the breech-bolt is slotted, and the hammer 1c is provided with the usual cock-notch 7c'. In front of the grip the trig- ger 7i is pivoted in the frame, and from the trigger a connecting-piece h' extends to the 115 sear and serves to transmit the rearward movement of the trigger to the sear without interfering with the cartridge-magazine. The spring returns connecting-piece h' and the trigger h to the forward position when the 120 latter has been released. When the breech- bolt is moved to the rear in opening the breech end of the barrel, the hammer 7c moves with it and the notch k' passes to the rear of the sear-nose, Fig. 5. On the release of the 125 breech - bolt the extension of the spring e, transmitted through the rod V to the lever Z, causes the latter to return the breech-bolt forward; but when the notch k' arrives above the sear-nose the latter enters the notch and 130 retains the hammer at full-cock, as shown in Fig. D and in Fig. 4 in dotted lines. During the remainder of the closing movement the extension of the spring e is transmitted to the
621,747 3 5 ю 15 20 25 3° 35 40 45 5° 55 60 б5 breeeh-piece through the lever I at its pivot only, and when the breeeh-bolt arrives fully forward the lever 1 assumes the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4, inclining rearward from its pivot and its point resting against the forward portion of the hammer. If now the trigger is pulled rearward, the sear-nose is moved down out of the path of the hammer and the latter is thrown forward by the lever Z under the force of the spring e. In this manner the spring e not only serves to close the barrel, but also causes the ham- mer to strike the firing blow upon- the car- tridge and thus makes the addition of the usual mainspring for this purpose unneces- sary. For perfect safety in handling and carrying this pistol even when loaded and with the hammer at full-cock I have provided a strong horizontal bolt i, which passes transversely through the frame below the breech-bolt and between the sear and the hammer, Figs. 1, lb, 4,4“, 5, and 6. On the outside of the frame the safety-bolt i has a handle i’, by which it may be turned through’ an angle of about ninety degrees, Figs. 1 and lb, and segments of the bolt i are ent away, so that if it is turned to the position shown in Figs. 4 and 0 the breech-bolt may be moved rearward and the sear may be moved to release the ham- mer. In the bottom of the breech-bolt I pro- vide a transverse recess i2, which stands above the safety-bolt i when the breech-bolt is closed, Figs. 4 and 4я, and into which a por- tion of the bolt i enters if itis turned from the position shown in Fig. 4 to that shown in Fig. 4я, thus securely locking the breech-bolt in its forward or elosed position. In this posi- tion the central part of the safety-bolt i bears against a shoulder formed on the sear g above its pivot, Fig. 4я, and positively locks the sear and prevents it from releasing the hammer,if the latter is in the full-cocked position. As the hammer cannot be seen when the breech is closed, I provide a projecting point Z2 on the lever Z in front of its pivot. This point can be seen in the lever’s seat from the out- side when the hammer is forward, but disap- pears when the latter is cocked, thus serving as an index to show the position of the ham- mer, Fig. 4. In Fig. G a convenient method of yieldingly retaining the safety-bolt i in either of its po- sitions is shown. For this purpose I arrange in the side of the frame a hole radial to the bolt i and in it a short piston, a spiral spring and screw-plug closing the hole. The piston has a conical point, and two correspondingly- shaped recesses in the safety-bolt i serve to yieldingly hold the latter in its two positions. In Figs. 1 and Iя I have shown a novel, simple, and efficient way of removably attach- ing the cheek-pieces upon the pistol-grip when the interior of the latter is utilized as a magazine-seat. On the inner surface of each cheek-piece m l form a part m', which slightly projects into the opening in each side of the grip, thus preventing the cheek-pieces from moving in any direction but outward. Upon the part m' each cheek-piece has a plate m2 70 of oblong shape and attached to the cheek-. piece, so that it may be readily turned from the outside, as by a stud and a nut 'ms, pro- vided on the outside with a slot. Within each side of the grip a shallow partly-circu- 75 lar recess forms a seat for the oblong plate, which in the position shown in Figs. Iя and 4 securely locks the cheek-piece in place, while to remove it the nut ms, and with it the platem2, is turned through an angle of ninety 80 degrees, whereby plate and cheek-piece are released. For the better lateral support of the breech- bolt in its closed position a stud b2 projects from the barrel b and enters a corresponding 85 recess c9 in the face of the breech-bolt c' when the latter is in its forward position. The stud b2 also assists in the proper introduction of each cartridge into the barrel as it guides the bullet end of the cartridge. 90 From the foregoing description it will be understood that the breeeh-bolt is not posi- tively locked in the closed position, but is yieldingly held in such position by the reac- tion-springe. On firing the breech-bolt yields 95 to the pressure of the powder-gases in the bar- rel, which pressure forces the cartridge-shell and breech-bolt rearward. By my construc- tion I am enabled to make the frame and the barrel of such lightness that the breech-bolt 100 and the breech-sl ide, together cons tituting the “breech-piece,” as it has been denominated herein, may be of great strength and weight, and as the inertia of these parts has to be overcome in opening the barrel their weight 105 serves as a safeguard by retarding the open- ing until the bullet has passed from the muz- zle. The momentum of the heavy breech bolt and slide completes the rearward movement after the pressure in the barrel has been re- no lieved, insures the extraction and ejection of the cartridge-shell, and stores energy in the reaction-spring for the closing movement without exposing this spring to the shock which would be occasioned if the breech-piece 115 were of lighter weight. The strength of the movable parts and the fact that the front of the frame serves as a stop to arrest their rear- ward movement insures the safety of the arm even if the reaction-spring should break. 120 The operation of the improved firearm will be readily understood from the foregoing. A filled cartridge-holder is inserted in the grip and the breech-slide is drawn rearward once by hand. This opens the barrel, cocks the 125 hammer, presents a cartridge in front of the breeeh-bolt, and compresses the reaction- spring. When the breech-slide or breech- piece is released, the reaction-spring returns it to the forward position and transfers the 130 topmost cartridge from the holder to the bar- rel. If now the trigger is pulled and a shot fired, the barrel is automatically opened, the hammer is again cocked, the empty shell is
621,74? 5 ю i5 20 25 3° 35 40 45 5° 55 4 extracted, and ejected, and a new cartridge is presented, energy being at the same time stored in the reaction-spring to effect.the for- ward movement of the breech-piece. These operations are repeated so long as cartridges are supplied. It will be understood that the features of improvement which I have described herein are not necessarily combined in the same structure with the other features of the fire- arm which for purposes of explanation I have shown and described herein, nor are they nec- essarily employed in a firearm of the particu- lar character of that shown. Obviously also various changes in form and arrangement of parts may be made within the scope of my invention. What I claim, and desire to secure by Let- ters Patent, is— 1. In a firearm, the combination with a frame and a barrel carried by said frame, of a sliding breech-bolt, a forward extension at- tached to said breech-bolt and extending alongside the frame and barrel, and cham- bered longitudinally,a shoulder on said frame projecting into the chamber of said extension, a reaction-spring disposed within said exten- sion, having its rear end supported by said shoulder on the frame and having its forward end fitted to freely slide in said extension, and a connecting-rod having its forward end secured to the forward end of said reaction- spring, and passing through said reaction- spring and through said shoulder on the frame, and having its rear end pivotally con- nected with said breech-bolt. 2. In a firearm, the combination with a frame and a barrel carried by said frame, of a sliding breech-bolt, a forward extension or arm attached to said breech-bolt and extend- ing forward alongside of the frame and the barrel, and bored out or chambered longitu- dinally, a reaction-spring disposed within said extension or arm and having its rear end supported by said frame, a hammer arranged within said breech-bolt, a lever pivoted in said breech-bolt and extending into a recess in said hammer, and a rod having its rear end connected to said lever and having its forward end connected to the forward end of said re- action-spring. 3. In a firearm, the combination with a frame having a grip or handle to receive a magazine, and a barrel, of a sliding breech- bolt, a forward extension attached to said breech - bolt and extending alongside the frame and barrel, and chambered longitudi- nally, said extension having a sleeve sur- rounding the barrel, a shoulder on said frame projecting into the chamber of said exten- 60 sion, a reaction-spring disposed within said extension and having its rear end supported by said shoulder bn the frame and having its forward end fitted to freely slide in said ex- tension, a connecting-rod having its forward 65 end secured to the forward end of said reac- tion-spring, and passing through said reac- tion-spring and through said shoulder on the frame and having its rear end pivotally con- nected with said breech-bolt, and cartridge- 70 exploding, shell-extracting and shell-ejecting devices carried with said breech-bolt. 4. In a firearm, the combination with a frame having a grip or handle to receive a magazine, and a barrel, of a sliding breech- 75 bolt, a forward extension or arm attached to said breech-bolt and extending forward along- side the frame and barrel, said extension or arm being bored out or chambered longitudi- nally and having a sleeve surrounding the 80 barrel, a reaction-spring disposed within said extension or arm and having its rear end sup- ported by said frame, a hammer carried by said breech-bolt,a lever pivoted in said breech- bolt and connected with said hammer, a con- 85 necting-piece between said lever and the for- ward end of said reaction-spring, and shell- extracting and shell-ejecting devices carried with said breech-bolt. 5. In a firearm the combination with a 90 frame, a barrel carried by said frame, a slid- ing breech-bolt and a hammer arranged with- in said breech-bolt, of a lever pivoted in said breech-bolt and engaging said hammer, and a reaction-spring supported at one end by 95 said frame and having its other end connected with said lever. 6. The combination with the grip of a pistol- frame, of a cheek-piece, having a projection to enter the opening in the side of the grip, 10 an oblong plate movably attached to the cheek-piece, a recess within the grip for the reception of the ends of said oblong plate, and means for turning said plate to engage said recess, and to disengage it therefrom. 10. This specification signed and witnessed this 15th day of December, A. D. 1897. JOHN M. BROWNING. In presence of— Kate Lineham, M. J. Hall.
No. 632,094. (No Model? Patented Aug. 29, 1899. J. M. BROWNING. BOLT GUN. /Application filed Feb. 17, 1899.) 1 Sheets—Sheet 1. THE NOftflIS PETEAS CO . PHOTO-LlfHO . WASHINGTON. О. C.
No. 632,094. Patented Aug. 29, 1899. J. M. BROWNING. BOLT GUN. (Application filed Feb. 17, 1899,] (No Model.) 2 Sheets—Sheet 2. Tilt NORRI-. PFTEF1S CO. PHOTO-L'THO.. WASHINGTON О C
United States Patent Office. JOHN M. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH, ASSIGNOR TO THE WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS COMPANY, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT. BOLT-GUN. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 632,094, dated August 29, 1899. Application filed Teliiuary 17, 1899. tierial Ko. 705,793. (No model.l To all whom it T>iay concern: Be it known that I, John M. Browning, of Ogden, in the county of Weber and State of Utah, have invented a new Improvement in 5 Bolt-Guns; and I do hereby declare the fol- lowing, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the letters of ref- erence marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which io said drawings constitute part of this specifi- cation, and represent, in-^- Figure 1, a view in side elevation of a gun constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2, a broken plan view thereof on an en- 15 larged scale, showing the integral receiver ex- tension of the gun-barrel and the bolt; Fig. 3, a broken view of the gun in vertical longi- tudinal section; Fig. 4, a view of the gun in vertical transverse section on the line a b of го Fig. 2, looking rearward in the direction of the arrow c; Fig. 5, a less comprehensive view of the gun iu vertical transverse sec- tion on the line c d of Fig. 3; Fig. 6, a broken view of the gun, partlyin elevation and partly 25 in vertical section, showing the bolt in its closed but unlocked position; Fig. 7, a simi- lar view showing the bolt in its open position; Fig. 8, a broken plan view of the gun-barrel, showing its receiver extension stripped of all 30 the parts mounted therein; Fig. 9, a perspec- tive view of the bolt; Fig. 10, a perspective view of the hammer; Fig. 11, a detached plan view of the combined extractor and sear. My invention relates to an improvement in 35 that class of bolt-guns in which the bolt is lo- cated in a bolt-housing formed in a rearward extension of the gun-barrel itself, the object being to produce at a low cost for manufac- ture a simple, safe, and effective gun com- 40 posed of few parts and not liable to derange- ment. A further object of my invention is to pro- duce a gun in which the barrel maybe readily removed from the stock without the use of 45 tools to permit the gun to be more compactly packed for transportation. With these ends in view mjT invention con- sists in a gun having certain details of con- si ruction and combinations of parts, as will 50 be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims. In carrying out my invention I provide the barrel A at its butt-end with an integral re- ceiver extension, which is separated,” so to speak, from the barrel proper by means of a 55 transversely-arranged loading-opening A', which extends downward below the axial cen- ter of the barrel. The said receiver exten- sion maj7 be said to consist of a tubular bolt- housing A3 and a grooved reach or tie A3, 60 which connects the same with the barrel. The bolt B, which is cylindrical in cross-sec- tion, is located within the said bolt-housing A3 and at its forward end has bearing in the said reach or tie, which is concaved to con- 65 form to it in curvature. The said bolt is fur- nished with a radially-arranged handle B', movable back and forth in a longitudinal clearance passage or slot A4, extending throughout the length of the housing and 70 constituting the means for locking the bolt in its closed position, for when the handle emerges from the forward end of the slot A4 into the transverse opening A' it is free to be swung to the right in position to be engaged 75 with the right-hand portion of the forward end of the housing at the point B3, (seen in Fig. 2,) whereby the bolt is not only turned on its longitudinal axis, but also locked in its closed position. The bolt is itself formed 80 with a longitudinal hammer-chamber B3, open at its rear end and extending nearly to its forward end, where it terminates in a wall B4. This hammer-chamber receives the re- ciprocating hammer 0, which is entered into 85 it from its rear end and which is provided at its forward end with a firing pin or nose c, which passes through a small opening b, formed in the wall B4 just mentioned. When the said firing-pin is projected through the 90 said opening, it engages with the head of the cartridge in the cartridge-chamber of the gun- barrel, into which the cartridges are entered through the transverse loading-opening A' aforesaid. The said hammer is also formed 95 with a longitudinal spring-chamber O', en- tering it at its rear end and extending for- ward nearly to its forward end, where it ter- minates in a solid wall C3. A spiral hammer- spring D is inserted into this spring-chamber 100 C' through the rear end thereof and is im- pinged at its forward end against the wall Cs,
632,094 its rear end being engaged with a transversely- arranged pin D', mounted in the rear end of the bolt В and passing through an elongated slot D2, formed in the hammer. The said pin 5 D' not only constitutes an abutment for the rear end of the spring D, but prevents the hammer from rotation within the bolt and limits its reciprocation therein. The rear end of the spring-chamber O', formed in the io hammer, is closed by an operating-button or finger-piece E, having a stem E', which is se- cured within the hammer by means of a pin E2. It will be understood, of course, that.the operating-button E, with its stem E', is re- 15 moved for the introduction and removal of the hammer-spring. A very simple and eco- nomical construction and one easily accessi- ble for attention and repair is thus provided. Moreover, the hammer-spring is located en- 20 tirely within the hammer and the firing-pin made integral with the forward end thereof. These are obvious advantages. With this bolt and hammer I employ a longitudinally and vertically movable combined extractor and 25 sear F, which is made in one piece and which is mainly located in a narrow recess G, formed in the gun-stock G'. The upper edge of this combined part extends upward through a long slot H, formed in the reach or tie A2 of the 30 receiver extension, the said recess G and slot H being long enough to permit the said part to be moved back and forth, as will be here- inafter explained, the rear wall H' of the slot H limiting the rearward movement of the said 35 part, while the forward movement thereof is limited by the engagement of the extractor- hook F' with the forward wall of the notch/, formed in the rear end of the gun-barrel for the reception of the said hook. I may here 40 remark that the said notch f and the forward end of the slot H are adapted in form and size to provide enough clearance for the forward end of the said combined part to permit the play required for the rocking movement there- 45 of upon its lugs/'/', as will be more fully de- scribed later on. The recess G is also made deep enough to permit the required vertical movement of the rear end of the said com- bined part. The sear-lug F2, which is located 50 upon the upper edge of the rear end of the said combined part, extends upward into a clearance-opening B5, formed in the lower face of the bolt, the rear end of the said opening being laterally enlarged, as at B6, Fig. 9. The 55 said sear-lug also enters a cocking-notch J, formed in the lower face of the reciprocating hammer C, which the sear-lug enters under the influence of a spring K, located within the recess G. The rear end of the combined part 6 b is formed with a deep horizontally-arranged notch F3,which receives a finger L, extending forward from the upper end of the trigger L', which is hung on a pin L2 and the lower end of which extends downward into a trigger- 65 guard M, secured by screws M' M' to the lower face of the stock G'. For the purpose of giv- ing a slight impulse to the rearward or ex- tracting movement of the said combined part and also for preventing the extractor from moving forward until after a cartridge has 70 been entered into the cartridge-chamber of the gun-barrel the lower edge of the said com- bined extractor and sear is formed with a doubly-beveled operating-nose F4, over which the fear end of the spring К snaps, as will be 75 described later on. The extreme forward end of the said combined part is formed with two laterally-arranged lugs /2 /2, which engage with the lower face of the barrel and reach A3 on opposite sides of the slot H, the main 80 portion of which is located in the reach, but which extends forward into the gun-barrel and rearward into the bolt-housing, these lugs pre- venting the forward end of the combined part from undue upward movement and acting as 85 pivot-pins, upon which the part virtually swings, while its rear end moves upward and downward for cocking the hammer and re- leasing the same. The gun-barrel and its connected parts are 90 secured in place by means of a removable or take-down screw N, which passes upward through the gun-stock into a heavy lug O, which may be dovetailed into the gun-barrel, as shown, or made integral therewith. By 95 removing the said take-down screw N the bar- rel and all of its connected parts may be read- ily removed from the gun-stock and readily replaced therein, at which time care should be taken to cause the finger L of the trigger 100 to enter the notch Fs in the said combined ex- tractor and sear. In order to load the gun, the handle is lifted from its locked position.of engagement with that portion of the forward edge of the tubu- 105 lar bolt-housing lying just below the lower or right-hand wall of the longitudinal clearance- slot formed therein. When the handle has been brought into registration with the said slot, during which time the bolt has been ro- no tated, the bolt may be retracted into its open position, when its forward end is withdrawn into the forward end of the tubular bolt-hous- ing, so as to leave the transverse loading-open- ing entirely unobstructed to permit a car- 115 tridge to be readily entered into the cartridge- chamber of the gun-barrel. Shortly before the bolt reaches its open position the forward edge of the sear-lug F2 is brought into en- gagement with the extreme forward end of 12c the clearance-slot B5, formed in the lower face of the bolt. After this engagement takes place the combined extractor and sear is drawn back until the extreme rear end of the said combined part is brought into engagement 125 with the extreme rear end of the slot H, formed in the reach or tie of the receiver ex- tension, whereby the rearward movement of the bolt is arrested and the bolt prevented from disengagement from the gun. A car- 130 tridge is now entered into the cartridge-cham- ber of the gun-barrel, after which the bolt is
632,094 ihoved forward, but without disturbing the combined extractor and sear, which is held at the limit of its rearward excursion by means of the engagement of the spring К with the 5 forward bevel of the noseF1, formed upon the lower face of the said part. When, however, the forward end of the bolt engages with the rear edge of the extractor-hook, the bolt “ picks up ” the combined part, so to speak, and io pushes it forward into its home position, dur- ing which time the combined extractor-and- sear spring К rides over the nose F1 and then engages with the beveled rear face thereof. The bolt is now locked in its closed position by 15 turning its handle down into engagement with the forward edge of the bolt-housing, as al- ready described, at which time the bolt is ro- tated on its longitudinal axis. The operating- button is now seized and the hammer drawn го back against the tension of its spring to bring the cocking-opening formed in its lower face into engagement with the sear-lug, which is then immediately lifted into the said notch for cocking the hammer by the lifting action of 25 the combined extractor-and-sear spring K. It maybe here mentioned that the said cock- ing-notch is only brought into registration with the sear-lug when the bolt and hence the hammer are in their locked or closed po- 30 sitions, for at other times the sear-lug simply rides upon the exterior surface of the lower portion of the hammer. The hammer having been cocked the gun is fired by pulling the trigger, which pulls the sear-lug down out of 35 the cocking-notch and permits the hammer- spring to project the hammer forward with sufficient force to cause the firing-pin to ex- plode the cartridge. I should here explain that the cocking of the hammer by the en- 40 trance of the sear-lug into the cocking-notch thereof locks the bolt in its closed position, for the bolt cannot be rotated unless the ham- mer rotates aud the hammer cannot be ro- tated as long as the sear-lug is entered into 45 its cocking-notch. The pulling of the trig- ger, however, unlocks the bolt and permits it to be turned back to bring the handle into line with the clearance-passage of the bolt- housing,after which the bolt is retracted, with- 50 out, however, disturbing the combined ex- tractor and sear, until in the rearward move- ment of the bolt the forward end wall of the clearance - opening formed therein engages with the forward edge of the sear-lug, at which 55 time the combined extractor and sear is “picked up,” so to speak, by the bolt and drawn rearward against the tension of the combined extractor and sear-spriug, which, when it snaps over the nose of the said com- 60 bined part, pushes the same rearward with a sudden movement, assisting more or less in the extraction and ejection of the spent shell. It is obvious that in carrying out my inven- tion I may make some changes in the con- 65 struction herein shown and described, and I therefore wish it to be understood that I do not li mit myself thereto, but hold myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my inven- tion. 70 Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is— 1. In a bolt-gun, the combination with a gun-barrel formed at its butt-end with an in- 75 tegral receiver extension comprising a tubu- lar bolt-housing formed with a longitudinal slot, and a reach formed with a downwardly- opening longitudinal slot; of a longitudinally- movable and rotatable bolt mounted in the 80 said receiver extension and provided with a radially-arranged operating-handle which is movable back and forth in the longitudinal slot of the bolt-housing, a reciprocating ham- mer located within the bolt, and a combined 85 extractor and sear located below the said reach, but extending upward into the longi- tudinal slot therein, and adapted at its for- ward end to be directly engaged by the bolt for being pushed forward thereby and at its 90 rear end to be directly engaged by the bolt for being drawn rearward thereby, the for- ward end of the said part acting as an ex- tractor, and the rear end of the said part act- ing as a sear by engaging with the hammer. 95 2. In a bolt-gun, the combination with a bolt having a hammer-chamber open at its rear end, of a reciprocating hammer located within the said hammer-chamber, projecting rearward beyond the rear end of the said bolt, 100 and formed with a hammer-spring chamber open at its rear end, a hammer-spring which is introduced into and removed from the said hammer-spring chamber through the open rear end thereof, an operating-button or fin- 105 ger-piece formed independently of the ham- mer and adapted to be secured thereto so as to close the rear end of the said hammer-spring chamber and a combined part located below the said bolt, adapted at its forward end to rio act as an extractor and at its rear end as a sear, and to be engaged by the bolt which slides it forward and back. 3. In a bolt-gun, the combination with a bolt formed with a hammer-chamber open'at 115 its rear end, and closed at its forward end by a wall provided with a firing-pin opening, of a reciprocating hammer located within the said chamber, provided at its forward end with a firing-pin arranged to pass through the 120 said firing-pin opening, and the said hammer being formed with a hammer-spring chamber open at its rear end which projects beyond the rear end of the bolt, a hammer-spring which is introduced into and removed from 125 the said hammer-spring chamber through the open rear end thereof, a removable operat- ing-button or finger-piece adapted to be at- tached to the projecting rear end of the ham- mer, and to close the rear end of the. ham- 130 mer-spring chamber and a combined part lo- cated below the said bolt which coacts with
632,094 5 ю 15 20 25 3° 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 4 it to move it forward and back, and adapted at its forward end to act as an extractor and at its rear end to act as a sear. 4. In a bolt-gun, the combination with a gun-barrel formed at its butt-end with an in- tegral receiver extension comprising a tubu- lar bolt-housing and a reach having a longi- tudinal slot, the said reach being located en- tirely below a transversely-arranged loading- opening separating the cartridge-chamber of the gun-barrel from the said housing; of a longitudinally-movable and rotatable bolt mounted in the said receiver extension, pro- vided with an operating-handle, and formed with a hammer-chamber, a hammer located in the said hammer-chamber from the rear end of which it projects, and provided with a hammer-spring chamber, a pin passing through the said bolt and extending throngh a slot formed in the rear end of the hammer for securing the same to the bolt, a hammer- spring introduced into and removed from the said hammer - spring chamber through the open rear end thereof, and abutting at its rear end against the said pin, an operating- button or finger-piece secured to the pro- jecting rear end of the hammer, and re- moved for the insertion and introduction of the hammer-spring, and a combined extractor and sear extending into the longitudinal slot of the reach in’which it is moved back and forth by the bolt, and adapted at its forward end to act as an extractor, and at its rear end to act as a sear. 5. In a bolt-gun, the combination with a longitudinally-chambered bolt provided in its lower face with a clearance-opening, of a reciprocating hammer located within the said bolt and formed with a cocking-notch regis- tering with the said clearance-opening, and a sear passing upward through the said clear- ance-opening in the bolt and entering the said cocking-notch in the hammer, the said sear being formed at its forward end so as to constitute an extractor and adapted to be engaged by the bolt which slides it rearward for the performance of its extracting function and which slides it forward into its home po- sition. 6. In a bolt-gun, the combination with a gun-barrel formed at its butt-end with au in- tegral receiver extension comprising a tubu- lar bolt-housing and a reach, which latter lies below a transversely-arranged loading- opening located between the cartridge-cham- ber of the barrel and the said housing, of a longitudinally - movable and rotatable bolt mounted in the said housing, and a longi- tudinally-movable combined extractor and sear provided at its forward end with an ex- tractor-hook and at its rear end with a sear- lug which enters a cocking-notch formed in the hammer through a clearance - opening formed in the bolt. 7. In a bolt-gun, the combination with the barrel thereof, of a longitudinally-movable and rotatable bolt, a longitudinally-movable hammer located within the said bolt, and formed with a cocking-notch, and a combined extractor aud sear located below the pathway 70 of the bolt, and provided at its forward end. with an extractor-hook, and at its rear end with a sear-lug which enters the cocking- notch of the hammer through a clearance- opening formed in the bolt and locks the bolt 75 against rotation as well as reciprocationjWhen the hammer is cocked. 8. In a bolt-gun^ the combination with the barrel thereof, of a longitudinally-movable and rotatable bolt; a longitudinally-movable 80 hammer located within the bolt and formed with a cocking-notch, a combined extractor and sear located below the path of the bolt, and formed at its forward end with an ex- tractor-hook and at its rear end with a sear- 85 lug which enters the cocking-notch of the hammer through a clearance-opening formed in the bolt, a nose located upon the lower face of the combined extractor and sear, and a spring engaging with the lower edge of the 90 said combined part, and coacting with the nose to give the part a rearward impulse in the ejection of spent cartridges, and coacting with the said nose to retard the forward move- ment of the part in the closing of the gun. 95 9. In a bolt-gun, the combination with the bolt thereof, of a reciprocating hammer mounted therein, a trigger, and a longitudi- nally-movable combined extractor and sear located below the bolt which moves back and 100 forth over it, and which as well as the ham- mer has reciprocating movement independent of it and by which it is directly engaged at its forward end for being pushed forward, and by which it is directly engaged at its rear end 105 for being drawn rearward, its forward end acting as an extractor and its rear end eoact- ing with the hammer as a sear and adapted to be engaged by the trigger. 10. In a bolt-gun, the combination with the no bolt thereof, of a longitudinally and vertically movable combined extractor and sear located below the bolt which moves back and forth over it, and adapted at its forward end to act as an extractor and at its rear end to act as a 115 sear, and also adapted to be engaged by a trigger, and provided at its forward end with lateral extensions upon which it swings as upon a pivot, but which do not prevent its sliding movement back and forth under the 120 action of the bolt, which also has reciprocat- ing movement independent of it. 11. In a bolt-gun, the combination with a gun-barrel formed at its butt-end with an in- tegral receiver extension comprising a tubu- 125 lar bolt-housing and a reach which latter is formed in its bottom portion with a long slot, of a longitudinally-movable and rotatable bolt, mounted in the said housing, a longitudinally- movable hammer located within the said bolt 130 and formed with a cocking-notch, a combined extractor and sear, having longitudinal and
632,094 vertical movement in the slot formed in the reach, adapted at its forward end to act as an extractor, and at its rear end to act as a sear by entering a cocking-notch formed in 5 the hammer through a clearance - opening formed in the bolt, a spring engaging with the lower edge of the said combined part for operating and controlling it, and a trigger en- gaging with the said combined part for draw- i ing its rear end downward out of the cocking- l notch of the hammer in firing the gun. j In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscrib- ing witnesses. JOHN 31. BROWNING. s Witnesses: j Wm. F. Critchlow, M. J. Hall. IO
No. 659,507. (No Model.) Patented Oct. 9, 1900. J. M. BROWNING. RECOIL OPERATED FIREARM. (Application filed Feb. 8, 1900.) 5 Sheets—Sheet I.
No. 659,507. Patented Oct. 9, 1900. J. M. BROWNING. RECOIL OPERATED FIREARM. (Application filed Feb. 8, 1900,) (No Model.) 5 Sheets—Sheet 2.
No. 659,507. Patented Oct. 9, 1900. J. M. BROWNING. RECOIL OPERATED FIREARM. (No Model.) {Application filed Feb. 8, 1900.) 5 Sheets—oneet 3.
No. 659,507. (No Model.) Patented Oct. 9, 1900. J. M. BROWNING. RECOIL OPERATED FIREARM (Application filed Feb. 8, 1900.) 5 Sheets—Sheet 4.
No. 659,507. Patented Oct. 9, 1900. J. M. BROWNING. RECOIL OPERATED FIREARM. (Application filed Feb. 8, 1900;)
United States Patent Office. JOHN M. BROWNING, OS’ OGDEN, UTAH. RECOIL-OPERATED FIREARM. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 689,1507. dated October 9, 1900. Application filed February 8,1900. Serial Ho. 4,557. (Ho model.) To all. whom may concern: Be it known „iiat I, John M. Browning, of Ogden, in the county of Weber and State of Utah, have invented a new Improvement 5 in Firearms; and I do hereby declare the fol- lowing, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which о said drawings constitute part of this specifi- cation, and represent, in— Figure l,a view in side elevation of the left- hand side of an automatic firearm constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2, a 5 similar view of the right-hand side thereof, showing the ejection-opening formed in its receiver or gun-frame; Fig. 3, a broken view, in vertical longitudinal section, showing the gun in the closed positions of its parts; Fig. э 4, a less comprehensive broken view of the gun in vertical section drawn tofull size and with the parts in their dosed positions and with the trigger-plate and all of its connected parts removed for the sake of clearness; Fig. ; 5,a detail section showing the breech-bolt in its closed position,but with the locking-block thereof in the nnlocked position into which ... it is moved by the rocking tumbler; Fig. 5a, a detached perspective view of the lockihg- 5 block; Fig. 5b, a corresponding vie.w of the operating- tumbler thereof; Fig. 6, a broken view of the gun in vertical section, showing its parts in their open positions; Fig. 7, a de- tail view showing the coaction of the hammer ; with the two hooks constituting the double seaf of the trigger; Fig. 8, a corresponding but more comprehensive view showing the hammer, the trigger with its two hooks, and a safety-eatch which is here represented in > its blocked or inoperative position; Fig. 9, a broken view of the gun in vertical section, showing the parts of the gun in the positions due to them when the gun has been opened manually instead of automatically. In this view the trigger-plate, with its connected parts has been removed for the sake of clear- ness; Fig. 10, a broken view, in vertical sec- tion, of the receiver on the line a b of Fig. 2; Fig. 11, a view in vertical section on the line c d of Fig. 9, looking rearward and taken through the gun-barrel at a point close to the extension thereof; Fig. 12, a detached plan view of the breech-bolt, showing the locking- block and rocking tumbler mounted therein; Figi 13, a broken view, in horizontal section, 55 on the line ef of Fig. 2 and designed to show the carrier, the combined cartridge-stop and earrier-catch, and the sliding inertia-piece or carrier-catch lock; Fig. 14, a similar but less comprehensive view showing the carrier- 60 catch in the position which it has after it has been operated by a cartridge for releasing the carrier and is acting as a cartridge-stop; Fig. 15, a detached plan view of the operat- ing-link and operating-rod of the gun; Fig. 65 16, a detached view in longitudinal section of the link; Fig. 17, a detached broken view, in side elevation, of the carrier; Fig. 18, a de- tached plan view of the carrier; Fig. 19, a view of the rear end of the carrier; Fig. 20, 70 a detached reverse plan view of the breech- bolt; Fig. 21, a detached view, in side eleva- tion, of the sliding carrier-catch lock or iner- tia-piece; Fig. 22, a detached perspective view of the barrel extension. 75 My invention relates to an improvement in automatic portable firearms of the class in which the recoil following the explosion of a cartridge in the gnn-barrel is utilized to op- erate the breech mechanism of the gun, the 80 object of .my present invention being to pro- duce an improved arm of this class in which the. recoiling parts are housed for their pro- tection, as well as the protection of'the user of the arm, and in which the parts are con- 85 striicted with particular reference to simplic- ity.of construction, strength, durability, and reliability of operation. With these ends in view my invention con- sists in certain details of construction aud 90 combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims. In carrying out my invention as herein shown I provide a gun-barrel A with a tube- like extension A', into the forward end of 95 which the barrel is screwed. This extension is located within and housed by the upper portion of the gun frame or receiver B, in which the extension reciprocates back arid forth, together with the barrel, the rear end 100 of which enters the receiver during the recoil following the explosion of a cartridge in the barrel. The barrel and extension are re- turned to their normal or closed positions af-
4 359,807 ter. the recoil by means of a spiral action- spring C, mounted upon the rear end of the • magazine D, the open rear end of which is screwed into the lower portion of the forward 5 end of the receiver, while its forward end ex- tends forward through a heavy sleeve or col- lar 1У depending from the barrel, to which it is secured in any desired manner. The said magazine and action-spring are inclosed by io means of a fore stock E, the rear end of which is formed with a segmental flange e to adapt it to be inserted into a recess B', formed in the forward end of the receiver. At its for- ward end the fore stock is held i n place by 15 the impingement against it of a nut E',screwed upon the projecting forward end of the mag- azine, which is threaded for the purpose, as shown in Fig, 3. To take the shock of the return of the barrel and its extension under 20 the action of the action-spring, I employ a buffer, which, as herein shown, consists of a series of vulcanized fiber rings E2, located in the front stock at a point in front of the col- lar or sleeve D', with which the rearmost ring 25 engages, while the outermost ring engages with a shoulder e', formed within the said front stock. If desired, the rings E2 might be dispensed with and the fore stock itself adapted to act as the buffer. 30 Within the extension A', I locate the breech- closure F, which is of the bolt type and which is confined to movement back and forth. This breech-closure is provided at its forward end with two yielding extractors F' F', of any 35 approved construction, which project slightly beyond its forward end. For locking the breech-bolt Б’ in its closed position I employ a vertieally-movable lock- ing-block F2, which is mounted in it and 40 which is provided upon its opposite edges with vertical ribs b'3 F3, which enter grooves ff, cut in the opposite side walls of the ver- tical chamber f, formed in the bolt, as shown in Fig. 20, for the reception of the locking- 45. block, the upper end of which is adapted to enter a substantially - rectangular locking- , opening A2, formed to receive it in the up- per portion of the barrel extension, as seen in Figs. 3 and 4. The locking-block is re- 50 ciprocated for the purpose Of being thrown into its locked and unlocked positions by means of a tumbler G, located in the cham- ber/'aforesaid and swinging on a horizon- tal pin G', the ends of which enter the side 55 walls of the. breeeh-bolt. This tumbler is provided at its upper forward corner with an arm G2, entering a transverse slot F4, formed in the rear face of the locking-block, the up- per and lower faces of these arms being 60 rounded, as seen in Figs. 5 and 5b. The said tumbler is swung on its pivot G', as required for raising and lowering the block, by means of an operating-link H, the forward end of which is pivotally connected with the tum- 65 bier by means of a pin H'. At its rear end this link is connected by a pin H2 with the forward end of an operating-rod I, which ex- tends rearward in an inelined position into a long chamber J, formed for its reception in the butt-stock J'. This- rod, as shown in 70 Fig. 15, is formed with a very long narrow slot I', receiving an operating-lever K, which is located in a narrow vertically-arranged slot J2, formed in the buti-stock J'. The said lever К is pivotally mounted in a small plate 75 K', set into the upper edge of the butt-stock, while its lower end projects just enough be- low the lower edge of the butt-stock to per- mit it to be readily engaged and operated by hand. The forward end of a coiled operat- 80 ing-spring J3, encircling said rod, impinges against a shoulder i, formed at the forward end of the operating-rod I, while its rear end abuts against a washer i', through which the rod is free to play and which is supported 85 upon the forward end of a tube I', located in the butt-stock and formed with a vertical longitudinal slot i2 for the downward passage through it of the levdr К and receiving a small head i3, which is secured to the ex- 90 treme rear end of the rod I. In Gie auto- matic operation of the gun the spring J2 is compressed by the rearward excursion of the breeeh-bolt, at which time the rod I moves freely rearward without disturbing the lever 95 K, which, as aforesaid, passes downwardly through the long slot J2. On the other hand, when the gun is opened manually the pro- jecting lower end of the lever is seized by the user with his hand and drawn back, whereby 10 through the head i3 the rod I is retracted and the operating-spring J3 placed under ten- sion for returning the breech-bolt toits ek^cd position and for performing the other func- tions of the said spring. 10 The forward end of the operating-link II is formed with a<nose h, eoacting with the thin rear end of a locking-lever L, mounted in the lower face of the breeeh-bolt F and hung upon a horizontal pivot L', located just. 11 in front of the lower end of the locking-block F2. At its extreme forward end the lever is formed with a lug L2, impinged upon by a si all coiled spring L3, located within a socket I , formed within the breeeh-bolt. The said 11 s[ "ing exerts a constant effort to depress the fo. "ard end of the lever, and hence lift its rear end into engagement with a transversely- arranged locking-notch g, formed in t he lower forwardcornerof therockingtumbler. When 12 the rear end of the lever L is entered into the said notch g, the bolt. F2 is held down in its unlocked position through the medium of the tumbler, as showmin Fig. 5, which represents the-breeeh-bolt in its closed position, with the 12 locking-block in its unlocked position. A shoulder Ls, formed upon thelugL2of the locking-leverL, acts as a secondary cartridge- stop, as will appear later on. When the gnn is ready to be fired, the 131 breech-bolt F is locked to the barrel A through the medium of the locking-block F2, the tip- per end of which is entered into the opening A2 of the barrel extension A', the locking-
669,807 block beingheld i n its locked position through the medium of the rocking tumbler G, the link H, the operating-rod I, and the operat- ing-spring J3, which exerts a constant effort 5 to push the said rod and link forward, and hence to push.the lower end of the rocking tumbler G forward, with the effect of lifting its upper end, and hence lifting the locking- block. At this time the extreme rear end of to the locking-lever L is located under the nose h, formed at the extreme forward end of the link H. Now when the gun is fired the bar- rel, barrel extension, and breech-bolt will re- coil together, arid at the limit of their recoil- 15 ing movement the rear ends of the breech- bolt and barrel extension will strike the rear wall of the receiver-chamber B'. The rear- ward excursion of the breech-bolt will thus be arrested, but the momentum of the recoil so will carry the rod I and link H still farther rearward, with the effect of rocking the rock- ing tumbler G downward and rearward, so as to retract the upper end of the loekiug- bloek from the opening A3 in the barrel ex- !5 tension, whereby the breech-bolt will be un- locked from the said extension and barrel, which is now immediately returned to its closed position under the power of the action- spring C. Just as soon as the rocking tum- 50 bier G is swung downward, as described, it is caught and locked in sueh position by the snapping of the rear end of the locking-lever L into its notch g, whereby the locking-block F3 is locked in its unlocked position, in which it 55 is maintained until in theclosingmovementof the breeeh-bolt the locking-block F2 has passed the rear end of the barrel extension A', where- by the locking-block is prevented from being prematurely moved into its locked position jo and so as to engage with the rear edge of the barrel extension. Soon after the locking- block passes the rear edge of the barrel ex- tension in the forward excursion of the breech- bolt the rear end of the locking-lever L is 55 pushed downward out of the locking-notch g in the rocking tumbler by the nose h of the link H, which gradually assumes a horizontal position as the breech-bolt moves forward. Just as soon as the rocking tumbler F3 is nn- ;o locked by having the locking-lever thrown out of engagement with it the operating- spring J acts, through the operating-rodland link H, to swing the said tumbler upward, with the effect of lifting the locking-block Fa, ,5 the upper end of which will then ride over the.inner face of the extension until it is “snapped,” so to speak, into the locking- opening A3, formed in the said barrel exten- sion, as shown in Fig. 4. >o The firing-pin M is operated in being re- tracted by the rocking tumbler, which is pro- vided for that purpose with a horizontally- arranged tooth-like projection M', which co- acts with a doubly-beveled nose M2, formed >5 at the rear end of the pin, which is longitu- dinally movable in the breech-bolt and ex- tends forward through a slot Ms in the rock- ing tumbler and through a slot M4 in the locking-block. A short groove M„5, formed in the rear end of the firing-pin, receives a 70 stop-pin M6, which limits the reciprocation of the pin. When the rocking tumbler is swung downward, aS shown in Fig. 5, for the unlocking movement of the locking-block, the projection M' of the rocking tumbler co- 75 acts with the nose M3 of the firing-pin for the retraction of the pin, as shown in the said figure. Then when the rocking tumbler is swung upward the pin is left in its retracted position, in which it is struck by the ham- 80" mer N. As has been already explained, the barrel, barrel extension, and breech-bolt recoil to- gether, with the breeeh-bolt locked to the barrel extension the same as in firing. When 85 the breech-bplt reaches the limit of .ts rear- ward excursion, the momentum of the operat- ing rod and link operates the rocking tumbler and loeking-block to unlock the breech-bolt from the barrel extension, so as to permit the 90 immediate return of the barrel and barrel extension to their normal positions under the influence of the action-spring C. The breech- bolt does not, however, return with them, aS just as soon as it reaches the'limit of its rear- 95 ward excursion it is locked in that position by means of a locking-dog O, mounted in a vertical position upon a pin O' in the extreme rear end of the carrier O2, which is pivotally hung upon pins Oa, located in the lower por- 100 tion of the gun frame or receiver В at a point forward of the pin O', npon which the said locking-dog is mounted. .The said dog is normally maintained in position to be. en- gaged by the rear end of the breech-bolt by 105 means bf a plunger 0, operated by a spiral spring o', located within a spring-socket»3, formed in the rear end of the carrier, as clearly shown in Fig. 17, the rear end of the plunger о engaging with a finger oa, formed at the no lower end of the dog. For coaction with this dbg the breech-bolt is formed upon the right- hand side of its lower edge with , a locking- notch O4, Fig. 20, the rear wall o4 of which, Fig. 6, constitutes an abutment - face. In 115 the rearward movement of the breeeh-bolt its lower edge strikes the upper forward cor- ner of the dog О and eants the same rear- ward against the tension of its spring o3, as shown in Figs. 6 and 9. The lower edge of tn. the rear end of the bolt then slides over the dog until the locking-notch O4 iu the bolt is brought into registration with the upper cor- ner of the dog, which is then snapped into it by the action of the spring o2. In this rear- 125 ward movement of the bolt the abutment- face o4 of the notch is carried rearward be- yond the upper end of the dog, with which the said abutment-face is, however, almost immediately reengaged for locking the bolt r?o iu its rearward position by a slight forward recoil movement of the bolt. The locking- dog when thus engaged with the bolt oper- ates to hold the same in its open position
4 689,607 against the tension of the operating-spring | J’, which exerts a constant effort to move the breech-bolt forward against the locking-dog, which is held up in its locking position bjT 5 the carrier, which is in turn held in its de- pressed position by the carrier-catch P, Fig. 13, which is released by the cartridges as they are fed rearward from the tubular maga- zine, as will be hereinafter described. When io the carrier-catch is disengaged from the car- rier, the forward pressure of the spring J3 w-illbe transmitted, through the rod I, link H, and bolt F, to the locking-dog, which will be pushed downward and forward and acts to 15 swingthecarrierupon its pivot 0s, whereby the forward end of the carrier is elevated,as shown by broken lines in Fig. 9,for the purpose of lift- ing a cartridge up in front of the forward end of the breech-bolt, in which position the car- 20 rier is temporarily held by the engagement of the free end of the carrier-spring P' with the rear beveled face of an operating-nose P2, formed at the rear end of the carrier. As the bolt moves forward the dog takes a posi- 25 tion which permits the bolt to ride over it, whereby the dog is released from the notch in the bolt. The dog is shown by broken lines in Fig. 9 in the position which it has when it has been operated, as described, to lift 30 thecarrier. When the breech-bolt moves into its closed position, its lower face engages with the elevated forward end of the carrier and depresses the same sufficiently to cause the point of the nose P2 of the carrier to be 35 snapped rearward of the free end of the car- rier-spring P', which then acts to throw the carrier into its depressed position, as shown by full lines in Fig. 9. The construction of the nose P2 and spring P' is such, as I may 40 here remark, that the elevation of the car- rier into its intermediate position, as shown by broken lines in Fig. 9, for loading the magazine is not sufficient to cause the said nose to be snapped over the spring, which 45 will therefore operate to return the carrier to its depressed position between the feeding of each cartridge into the magazine D. The carrier-catch P is located in a shallow recessp, formed in the inner face of the left-hand wall 50 of the gnn frame or receiver and hung upon a vertically-arranged pi votj/. The forward end of the catch is bent inward, as at /?, to' eon-, stitute a cartridge-stop, while its rear end is enlarged to form a locking-finger p3, formed 55 at its base with a bevel p\ which is engaged by the rims of the cartridges just before they reach their final positions upon the carrier, for pushing the said locking-finger p3 of the catch outward and away from the locking- 60 surface p-‘ of thecarrier, with which thesaid finger normally engages to hold the carrier in its depressed position. A spring P3a, co- acting with the rear end of the catch, exerts a constant effort to throw its locking-finger 65 inward over the locking-surfacep3 of the car- rier. It will be understood, of course, that when the locking-finger ps is pushed outward by a cartridge the stop-finger рг at the for- ward end of the catch will be thrown inward in position to act as a cartridge-stop. At its 70 forward end the carrier-catch is provided with a push-button P3,which projects through the left-hand wall of the frame and provides means for manually operating the carrier- catch to unlock the carrier when there are 75 no cartridges in the magazine D, which, as I may here state, is provided with the usual plungbr d and plunger-spring d'. In order to prevent the carrier from being unlocked before the barrel and ban-el exten- 80 sion have completed their forward movement, (either by the premature operation of the catch P by a cartridge before the said bar- rel and barrel extension have completed their said forward movement or by the jolting of 85 the catch out of engagement with the carrier under the shock of stopping the recoiling parts at the limit of their forward and rear- ward movements,) I employ a sliding lock, or, as I prefer to term it, an “inertia-piece” Q, 90 which is constructed, arranged, and operated to temporarily lock the said cateh P. This inertia-piece Q is located in the rear portion of the long shallow recess 7? before men- tioned and is formed with a central longitu- 95 dinal opening Q', receiving the hub Q4, which provides a bearing for the screw O3, upon which the carrier swings. The opening Q' is made long enough to allow the inertia-piece a limited movement forward and backward. i < A spring q, mounted in the inertia-piece so as to ride upon the bottom wall of the recess p, is employed to hold the inertia-piece in either its forward or rearward position. In its normal position its forward end is just 105 back of the rear end of the catch P. The operation of the inertia-piece is as fol- lows:. When the gun is fired, the recoiling parts recoil until the rear end of the barrel extension and the rear end of thebreech-bolt- 1 re strikes the rear end of the receiver. This blow- drives the receiver rearward, together with its contained parts, including the carrier- catch, the rear end of which is thus driven rearward back of the forward end of the in- t15 ertia-piece, which, not being positively con- nected with any portion of the carrier, stands practically-still, while the receiver and its contained parts are driven rearward, as de- scribed. The recoiling parts are immediately 120 started forward by the forward pull of the action-spring, and if a cartridge feeding rear- ward from the magazine should complete its rearward movement before the barrel reaches the end of its forward excursion it will strike 125 the catch, which will be prevented from op- erating to release the carrier by the iner- tia-piece; but when the barrel completes its forward movement the shock of stopping it and its connected parts drives the receiver 130 and the parts connected therewith forward, whereby the rear end of the catch is pulled away, so to speak, from the forward end of the inertia-piece, which stands practically
@00,007 о still when the receiver is being driven for- ward, as described. In this way the catch is disengaged from the inertia-pieee and left free to beforced outward by the cartridge, so .5 as to release the carrier. It will also be seen that the inertia-piece prevents the rear end of the catch from being jolted away from the carrier, so as to unlock the same, by the shock of stopping the recoiling parts at the io limit of their rear of their forward movement. The hammer N is hung by a pivot N' in the forward end of the trigger-plate №, the rear end of which is extended to form the lower tang №, which is secured in place by a boltN4. 15 In order to prevent the entire charge of cartridges in the magazine from being fired by one pulling of the trigger and to require a separate action of the trigger'for the explo- sion of each cartridge, I provide the hammer 20 with a finger n, formed with a cocking-notch n1' and a safety-notch n2, the former being lo- cated nearer the lower end of the finger than the latter. These notches respectively coact with a cocking-hook R and a safety-hook R', 25 arranged in opposition to each other,with suf- ficient space between them for the reception of the finger n of the hammer, these two hooks being virtually sear-hooks and formed integral with the trigger R2, which is hung 30 on a pin Rs and provided with a trigger- spring R4. The hammer, as it will be under- stood, passes upward through a long slot H8, formed in the link H, and is automatically cocked during the recoil of the gun by the 35 beveled forward end wall H4of the slot Win the said link H, whereby the safety-notch n2 of the fingernof the hammer is engaged with the safety-hook R', which holds it. cocked when a rearward draft is maintained upon 4c the trigger by the finger of the user of the gun. On the other hand, if this draft upon the trigger is removed the spring B4. will swing the trigger so as to disengage the hook R' from the notch n2; but this swinging move- 45 ment of the trigger only brings the cocking-. hook R into position to strike into the cock- ing-notch’n.' of the hammer before the ham- mer has time to escape, so that thereafter the hammer will be held by the trigger until the 50 same is again pulled. In this way automatic action of the gun is limited? to the reloading of a single cartridge by the recoil following the explosion of a previously-fed cartridge. If desired, the construction just described 55 may be reversed by locating the finger n upon the trigger and the hooks RR' upon the hammer. For the purpose of locking the trigger so that it cannot be moved in either direction I 60 employ a sliding safety-catch S, formed at its rear end with a nose s, adapted to enter the notch s', formed in the forward side of the trigger in such position with reference to the nose that the latter can only be entered into 65 the former when the hammer is in its cocked position. In order to prevent the safety de- vice from being accidentally brought into use, I provide the safety-hook R' of the trigger with a nose r, which coacts with the rear wall of an opening T, formed in the main or ham- 7c merspringT' for the forward passage through ' it of the arms R and R'. When the hammer is cocked, the spring isdepressed.and the rear end wall of the said opening is cleared from registration with the projection r, whereby 75 the trigger may be swung rearward into po- . sition to bring its notch s' into registration with the nose sof the safety-catch S. When, however, the hammer is released for firing, the spring is lifted, so that the rear end wall 80 of the opening T engages with the projection т and tilts the trigger forward, so as to re- move its notch s'from registration with the nptch S. It will thus be .seen that the safety- catch can only be utilized for locking the trig- 85 ger when the hammer is cocked. This is nec- essary, because if it were possible to lock the trigger against movement in either direction with the hammer in its uncocked position . then should the hammer be thrown back 90 breakage would result, because the trigger must move freely to permit the engagement, of the hammer with it. For the purpose of ejecting the spent car- tridges I provide the barrel extension at its 95 rear end and along its left-hand side with two ejecting-pins IT U, which when the.extension and barrel are near the limit of their retnrn movement under the power of the action- spring C engage with the rim of the spent car- ros tridge, which is at this time held by the ex- tractors, and swing the cartridge from left to right, causing its ejection through the ejec- tion-opening V, formed in the right-hand side of the receiver. On the other hand, if the 105 gun should be opened by hand through the instrumentality of the operating-lever К the rim of the cartridge will be drawn against the pins U U with sufficient force to cause the cartridge to be ejected through the said open- r 10 ing V. 1 ‘ • Having fully described my improved fire- arm, I will now describe the operation there- of. I shall, however, do this only briefly, for the reason that the operation of the gun has 115 been so largely explained in connection with the description of the mechanism thereof. Let it be assumed, in the first place, that the magazine has been charged with car- tridgesand that the last cartridge introduced 120 thereinto has been moved back by the maga- zine-spring to engagement with the shoulder L5 upon the under face of the locking-lever L, mounted in1 the breech-bolt. The gun must now be manually opened by drawing 125 back upon the projecting lower end of the -operating-lever K, whereby the breech-bolt is unlocked from the barrel extension and withdrawn to the limit of its rearward ex-, cursion without disturbing the barrel or bar- 13c rel extension, but at the same time cocking the ham mer and placing the operating-spring J8 under tension. The said cartridge will now be pushed rearwardly.by the magazine-
6 669,507 spring and coaet with the rear end of the combined earner-catch and cartridge-stop, so as to unlock the carrier. The operating- spring J wili now assert itself and push the 5 breech-bolt forward, with the effect of lift- ing the unlocked carrier, the cartridge upon which will then be forced into the gun-barrel. Then after the breeeh-bolt has reached its closed position it will be locked therein by io the locking-bloek F2, which will be moved into its locked position by the •locking-tum- bler acting under the power of thesaid spring F. During this forward movement of the bolt the carrier will be forced downward into 15 its depressed position against the tension of the carrier-spring. As soon as the carrier fetiches its depressed position the combined cartridge-stop and carrier - cateh will snap over ii. and lock it in that position. This 20 movement of the said combined parts clears its forward end from its cartridge-stopping position in front of the rear end of the maga- zine, from which another cartridge will now immediately emerge and engage with the 25 shoulder L5 on t he under face of the loeking- lever L. The trigger is now pulled for firing the cartridge, the explosion following which will carry the barrel, barrel extension, and breeeh-bolt back, together with the bolt and 30 barrel extension, and hence the barrel, locked together by means of the locking-block,which will be retracted, so as to unlock the barrel extension and barrel from the bolt after the bolt has reached the limit of its rearward ex- 35 cursion by the momentum of the parts con- nected with the rocking tumbler. As soon as the bolt, reaches the limit of its rearward excursion it wil) be locked in that position by means of the locking-dog carried by the car- 40 rier. Just as soon as the breech-bolt has been unlocked from the barrel extension the barrel and barrel extension will be returned to their closed positions by means of the ac- tion-spring C. In the meantime the car- 45 tridge, which was resting against the shoulder L5 upon the locking-lever L, travels back to its final position upon the carrier and pushes aside the carrier-catch and unlocks the car- rier, which is now free to be lifted to lift the 50 cartridge in front of the breeeh-bolt, which is pushed forward into its closed position by means of the operating-spring Js, which also locks the bolt in its closed position. ThegOn is now ready for being fired by pulling the 55 trigger, the operation of reloading it having been effected entirely automatically by the recoil following the explosion of the preced- ing cartridge, and so on. When the last car- tridge is fired, the bolt will remain open. 60 I may explain that preparatory to loading the magazine the push-button P3 must be pushed inward, so as to operate the carrier- catch in releasing the carrier and permit it to be raised sufficiently to allow the car- 65 tridges to be fed under it. This movement of the carrier-catch will bring the cartridge- stop into play. This action of the cateh as a cartridge-stop does not, however, preventthe cartridges from being fed into the magazine, as the stop is yielding aud is readily pushed 70 aside under the pressure placed upon the cartridges in pushing them into the rear end of the magazine. The arm herein shown and described is what is known as a “take-down” ann,or, in 75 other words, an arm constructed with refer- ence to the detachment without the use of tools of the barrel and magazine from the receiver, so as to permit the barrel and maga? zine to be packed in a case side by side with 80 the butt-stock and receiver. To take down my improved gnn, the nut E’ is removed from the forward end of the maga- zine and the operating-lever К drawn back until the breech-bolt is caught and locked at 85 the limit of its rearward excursion by the locking-dog mounted in the rear end of the carrier. The barrel and barrel extension and the front stock may now be drawn forward and separated from the receiver and maga- 90 zine. For convenience the front stock is then restored to the magazine, upon which it is held by the restoration of the nut E'. The parts may now be conveniently packed in a case no longer than the length of the barrel 95 and barrel extension. To reassemble the gun,the barrel extension is entered into the open mouth of t he receiver, the magazine again passed through.the collar D', depending from the gun-barrel, the front 100 stock is again placed over the magazine and reengaged at its rear end with the forward end of the receiver, and the nut E is screwed home, the action-spring C, encircling the magazine, being placed under tension at the 105 time the front stock is restored to position thereupon. I would have it understood that I do not limit myself to theexact construction herein shown and described, but hold myself at no liberty to make such changes aud alterations therein as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention. Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters 115 Patent, is— 1. In a magazine-firearm, the combination with a recoiling barrel and barrel extension, of a breech-bolt, a vertieally-movable lock- ing-block mounted in the said bolt,: and 120 adapted to be entered into a locking-opening formed in the barrel extension, and means mounted in the said bolt for operating the said block in locking and unlocking the bolt to and from the barrel extension. 125 2. In a magazine-firearm, the combination with a recoiling barrel and barrel extension, of a breech-bolt, a vertieally-movable lock- ing-block mou nted in the breech-bolt for lock- ing the same to and unlocking it from the 130 barrel extension, and for locking the breech- bolt at the limit of its rearward excursion while the barrel and its extension are re- ’ turned to their closed positions, and a gun
6S9,S07 frame or receiver constructed to house the said parts, and containing a laterally-ar- ranged ejection-opening; 3. In a magazine-firearm, the combination 5 with a recoiling barrel and barrel extension, of a breech-bolt,, a vertieally-movable lock- ing-llock mounted in the said bolt and mov- able therein for engagement with the locking extension, whereby the bolt is locked to the io said extension, and means connected with the said locking-block and operated by the momentum of recoil, to move the locking- block into its unlocked position after the breech-bolt has reached the limit of its rear- 15 ward excursion.' 4. In a magazine-firearm, the combination with a recoiling barrel and barrel extension, of a breech-bolt, a vertically-movable lock- ing-block mounted in the breech-bolt and 20 adapted to he entered into a locking-opening formed for its reception in the barrel exten- sion, and means connected with thesaid block and operated by the momentum of recoil for moving the block into its unlocked position 25 after the breech-bolt has reached the limit of its rearward excursion. 5. In a magazine-firearm, the combination with a recoiling barrel and barrel extension, of a breech-bolt, a locking-block mounted in 30 the breech-bolt and coacting with the exten- sion for locking the bolt thereto, a rocking tumbler also mounted in the said bolt'and coaeting with the said block for moving it. into its locked and unlocked positions, and 35 means connected with the said tumbler and operated by the momentum of the recoil for rocking the tumbler and moving the block into its.unlocked position after the bolt has reached the limit of its rearward excursion. 40 6. In a magazine-firearm, the combination with a recoiling barrel and barrel extension, of a breech-bolt, a vertically-movablelocking- block mounted in the breech-bolt, a rocking in in bier also mounted in the said bolt, and 45 coaeting with the block for moving the same into its locked and unlocked positions, an operating-rod extending rearwardly into the butt stock of the gun, and a link connecting the forward end of the said rod with the said 50 tumbler, which is rocked by the momentum acquired by the link and rod, which continue to move rearward after the bolt has reached lhe limit of its rearward excursion. . 7. In a iliagazine-firearm, the combination 55 with a recoiling barrel and barrel extension, of a breech-bolt, a vertically-movable locking- block mounted in the breech-bolt and adapt- ed at its upper end to be entered into a lock- ing-opening formed in the extension, a rock- 60 ing tumbler also mounted in the said bolt and engaging with thesaid block for operating the same, and ineans connected with the said rocking tumbler and operated by the mo- mentum of the recoil, for unlocking the'lock- 65 ing-biock after the breech-bolt has reached the limit of its rearward excursion. 8. In a magazine-firearm, the combination with a recoiling barrel and .barrel extension, of a breach-bolt, a vertically-niovable loeking- block coacting with the extension to lock the 70 bolt in.its closed position, a rocking tumbler for operating the block, ineans coacting with the tumbler for rocking the same, and a lock- ing-lever coacting with the tumbler for hold- ing thesame in itsdepressed position in which 75 the tumbler holds the block in its unlocked position, the said block, tumbler and lever being mounted in the said bolt. 9.. Ip a firearm, the combination with a re- coiling barrel, of a breech-bolt, a vertically- 80 movable locking-block mounted in the breech- bolt for locking the breech-bolt to the barrel, a locking-lever tnonnted in the breech-bolt for locking the said block in its nnlocked po- sition, and means coacting with the said lock- 85 ing-lever to operate the same in releasing the said block. 10. In a firearm, the combination with a re- eoiling barrel and barrel extension, of a breech-bolt, a vertically-movable locking- 90 block for locking the bolt to the said exten- sion, a rocking tumbler coaeting with the said block for operating the same, a locking-lever coacting with the said tumbler for holding the same in itsdepressed position, and means 95 coacting with the said lever to operate the same in releasingthe said tumbler and hence the locking-block, the said block, tumbler and lever being mounted in the breech-bolt. 11. In a magazine-firearm, theeombination 100 with a recoiling barrel and barrel extension, of a breech-bolt, a vertically-movable lock- ing-block for locking the bolt to the barrel extension, a rocking tumbler for operating the block, a locking-lever coaeting with the 105 tumbler for holding the same in its depressed position in which the tumbler holds the block in its unlocked "position, a link connected with the rocking tumbler, and coacting with the loeking-lever for disengaging the same no from the rocking tumbler, and an operating- rod extending rearwardly into the gun-stock, and connected with the link which coacts with the rod in moving the bolt into its unlocked position by the momentum they acquire by 115 the recoil of the gun, the said locking-block, rocking tumbler and locking - lever being mounted in the breech-bolt. 12. In a magazine-firearm, the combination with a recoiling barrel and barrel extension, 120 of a breech-bolt, a locking-block, a rocking tumbler coacting with the said block for the operation thereof, and a firing-pin mounted in the bolt, and coaeting with the rocking tumbler which retracts it. 125 13. In a firearm, the combination with a re- coiling barrel and barrel extension, of a breech-bolt,, a vertically-movable locking- block mounted in the said bolt-, a spring-ac- tuated operating-rod extending into the butt- 130 stock of the gnn, and means connecting the said rod with the said block which is operated by the rod for manually unlocking the bolt and opening the gun.
8 659,507 5 IO 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 14. In a magazine-firearm, the combination with a reciprocating barrel and barrel exten- sion, of a breech-bolt, a vertically-movable locking-block mounted in the bolt for locking the same to the extension, an operating-rod extending into the butt-stock of the gun, a spring encircling the said rod, a transversely- arranged operating part mounted in the stock of the gun, connected with the rear end of the said rod, and adapted to be manually oper- ated for retracting the rod and placing the said spring under tension, and means con- necting the forward end of the said rod with the said locking-block. 15. In a magazine-gun, the combination with a reciprocating barrel and barrel exten- sion, of a breech-bolt, a vertically-movable locking-block mounted therein, a rocking tumbler mounted in the said bolt foroperat- ingthe block, an operating-rod extending into the butt-stock of the gun, a link connecting the said rocking tumbler with the forward end of the said rod, a transversely-arranged oper- ating-spring encircling the rod, and an oper- ating-lever mounted in the butt-stock, con- nected with the rear end of the rod for re- tracting the same, and adapted to be manually operated. 16. In a magazine-gun, the combination with a reciprocating barrel and barrel exten- sion, of a breech-bolt, a vertically-movable locking-block mounted in the breech-bolt, an operating-rod extending into the butt-stock of the gun, connection between the said rod and block, an operating-spring encircling the said rod, a tube Ideated in the butt-stock and receiving the rear end of the rod, a washer mounted upon the forward end of the tube, forming a bearing for the rear end of the spring, and having the rear end of the rod extended rearwardly through it, and atrans- versely^&rranged operating-lever pivoted in the upper portion of the butt-stock, extend- ing downward through the rear end of the rod, projecting below the lower edge of the butt-stock for manual operation, and passing through the said tube which is slotted for the purpose. 17. In a magazine-firearm, the combination with a recoiling barrel and barrel extension, of a breech-bolt, a pivotal carrier, and means mounted in the carrier itself for locking the bolt at the limit of its rearward excursion. 18. In a magazine-firearm, the combination with a recoiling bap-el and barrel extension, of a breech-bolt, a pivotal carrier, and a lock- ing-dog mounted in the rear end of the car- rier itself for engaging with the breech-bolt and locking the same at the limit of its rear- ward excursion. 19. Tn a magazine-firearm", the combination with a recoiling barrel and barrel extension, of a breeeh-bolt, a pivotal carrier, a locking- dog mounted in the carrier itself and engag- ing with the breech-bolt to lock the same in its open position while the barrel and barrel extension are returned to their closed posi- tions, and an operating-spring placed under tension by the recoil of the gun, and acting through the said bolt and the said locking- 70 dog to lift the carrier into its elevated posi- tion when the bolt moves forward. 20. In a magazine-firearm, the combination with a recoiling barrel aud barrel extension, of a breech-bolt, a locking-block mounted 75 therein for locking it to t he said extension, a rocking tumbler mounted in t.he breech-bolt for operating the said block, an operating- rod extending into the butt-stock of the gun, a link connecting the said rod and the said 80 rocking tumbler, a pivotal carrier, a locking- dog pivotally mounted in the rear end of the carrier at a point to the rear of the pivot thereof, and adapted to coact with the bolt to lock the same in its open position, and an 85 operating-spring, whereby the locking-dog acts to lock the bolt in its open position, and to lift the carrier, under the power of the said spring, into its elevated position. 21. In a magazine-firearm, the com bination 90 with a recoiling barrel, of a tube-like barrel extension laterally cut away for the ejection of the spent cartridges, a breech-bolt adapted to enter the said extension, a vertically-mov- able locking-block mounted in the said bolt 95 for locking the same to the said extension, a rocking tumbleralso mounted in the said bolt for.coacting with the rocking tumbler, means extending rearward from thesaid tumblerfor operating the same and a gun frame og hous- ioc| ing inclosing the said parts and formed with a lateral ejection-opening. 22. In a magazine-gun, the combination with a pivotal carrier, of a combined carrier- catch and cartridge-stop which in one posi- X05 tion locks the carrier in its depressed position and in another position acts as a cartridge- stop, these two functions being performed al- ternately. ° 23. In amagazine-firearm, the combination nq with a pivotal carrier,of a combined cartridge- stop and carrier-catch for locking the carrier in its depressed position, pivotally mounted. upon a vertical pivot located in a recess formed in the inner face of one of the side walls of the gun-frame. 24. In a magazine - gun, the combination with a pivotal carrier,of a combined cartridge- stop and carrier-catch for locking the carrier in its depressed position, and adapted to be izcj operated to release the carrier by the head of a cartridge. 25. In a magazine - gun, the combination with a pivotal carrier,of a combined cartridge- stop and carrier-catch for locking the carrier 125 in its depressed position, and a part brought into operation by the recoil of the gun for pre- venting the premature operation of the said combined part in unlocking the carrier. 26. In a magazine - gun, the combination 130 with a pivotal carrier,of a combined cartridge- stop and carrier-catch for locking the carrier in its depressed position, and a sliding iner- tia-piece coacting with the carrier-catch end
668,607 9 of the said, combined part and brought into operation by the recoil of the gun.for prevent- ing the premature operation of the said com- bined part in unlocking the carrier. 5 27. In a magazine-firearm, the combination with a pivotal carrier,of a combined cartridge- stop and carrier-catch for locking the carrier in its depressed position, and an inertia-piece brought into operation by the recoil of the io gun, and coacting with the carrier-catch for preventing the premature operation thereof in unlocking the carrier, the said combined part and inertia-piece being located in a re- cess formed in the inner face of one of the 15 side walls of the gun. 28. In a magazine-firearm, the combination with a recoiling barrel and barrel extension, of a breech-bolt, a locking-block, a rocking tumbler for operating the block, an operating- 20 link connected with the said tumbler, an oper- ating-rod connected with the said link, and a hammer passing upward through the said link whichengages with it to automatically eockit. 29. An automatic firearm, having a ham- 25 mer and a trigger, one of the said parts hav- ing a locking-notch and a safety-notch, and the other part having a locking-hook and a safety-hook, the. said notches and hooks co- acting to prevent the hammer from being re- 50 leased by the trigger except as the rearward draft upon the trigger is first relieved to per- mit th< hold of the hammer to be transferred from the safety-notch and safety-hook to the cocking-notch and cocking-hook. 35 30. In a magazine-firearm, the combination with a hammer provided with a finger con- taining a locking-notch and a safety-notch, of a trigger provided with a locking-hook and a safety-hook arranged in opposition to each 40 other and sufficiently separated from each other to permit the finger containing the said notches to pass down between them, and re- spectively coacting with the said notches to prevent the hammer from being released by 45 the trigger except as the rearward draft upon the trigger is first relieved to permit the hold of the hammer to be transferred from the safety-notch and safety-hook to the cocking- notch and cocking-hook. 50 31. In a firearm, the combination with a hammer and a trigger, of a safety-catch for locking the trigger, and a mainspring con- structed aud arranged to prevent the catch from being engaged with the trigger to lock 55 the same except when the hammer is in its cocked position. 32. In a magazine-firearm, the combination with a pivotal carrier formed at the extreme lower corner of its rear end with a nose, of a 6c carrier-spring bent at its free end to conform to the curvature of the said nose with which it coacts to hold the carrier in its elevated and in its depressed positions, and to return it to its depressed position after it has been pushed upward for feeding » cartridge into the mag- 65 azine. 33. In a firearm, the combination with the receiver and tubular magazine thereof, of a recoiling barrel and barrel extension, a front stock through which the forward end of the 70 magazine projects, ah action-spring placed under tension by the front stock, and means applied to the projecting forward end of the magazine for detachably connecting the front stock with the magazine, whereby when the 75 front stock is removed from the magazine,the recoiling barrel and barrel extension may be withdrawn from their connection with the re- ceiver. 34. In a firearm, the combination with the 80 receiver and tubular magazine thereof, of a recoiling barrel and barrel extension, an ac- tion-spring located within the said front stock for restoring the barrel and barrel extension to their closed positions, a front stock within 85 which the action-spring is located and through the forward end of which the magazine , ex- tends, and a buffer for taking the shock of the forward excursion of the barrel and its extension, and engaging with the said front 90 stock to which the shock is transmitted. 35. In a firearm, the combination with the receiver and tubular magazine thereof, of a recoiling barrel and barrel extension, a front stock applied to the magazine and receiver, 95 an action - spring located within the front stock, and a nut applied to the forward end of the magazine and engaging with the front stock to hold it in place. 36. In a firearm, the combination with a re- 100 coiling barrel, of a barrel extension formed at or near its rear end with one or more eject- ing pins or projections located in position to engage directly with a rim of a spent car- tridge, a breeeh-bolt adapted to enter the said 105 extension, one or more extractors carried by. the said bolt, a gun frame or housing inclos- ing the.said parts and formed with a lateral ejection-opening, and an action-spring for re- storing the barrel and barrel extension to their 110 closed positions, during which act of restora- tion the said ejecting means effect the expul- sion of the spent cartridge. In testimony wherOof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscrib- 45 ing witnesses. JOHN M. BROWNING. Witnesses: John E. Ramsden, N. Gail Norton.
Лэ. 659,786. Patented Oct. 16, 1900. J. M. BROWNING. RECOIL OPERATED FIREARM. (Application filed Jane 6, 1SOO.) (Йо Modei.) 4 Sheets—Sheet I. Attorney
No. 659,786. Patented Oct. 36, 1900. J. И. BROWNING. RECOIL OPERATE®' FIREARM. (Application filed Juno X0OO.) (Йо Model.) 4 Shasta—Sheet 2.
Patented Oct. 16, 1900. No. 659,786. J. M. BROWNING. RECOiL OPERATED FIREARM. (No Model.) 4 Sheets—Sheet 3. Attorney
No: 659,786. Patented Oct. 16, 1900. J. M. BROWNING. RECOIL OPERATED FIREARM. (No Model.) 4 Sheets—Sheet 4,
United States Patent Office. JOHN M. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH. RECOIL-OPERATED FIREARM. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No: 669,786, dated October 16, 1900. Application filed June 6,1900. Serial Ko. 19,260. (Ncmodel.l To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, John M. Browning, a citizen of the United States, residi ng at Ogden, in the county of Weberand Slate of Utah, have 5 invented certain new and useful Improve- ments in Automatic Guns, of which the fol- lowing is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings. This invention relates to automatic or re- io coil-operated guns. The object of the invention is to improve the construction and combination of parts of a gun of this character and to make the oper- ation of the bolt-carrier and the bolt depend- 15 ent on the condition of usage, so that the work- ing may be automatic or manual, as may be desirable. Figure 1 is a longitudinal pearly-central sec- tion of the stock, magazine, and the riiain por- 20 tions of the.operating mechanism of a rifle in- volving the principles of this invention with breech closed and in firing position. Fig. 1л is a similar section of the front stock and bar- rel portions of the gun. Fig. 2 is a broken 25 longitudinal section aud partial elevation of the bolt, bolt-carrier, and associated mechan- ism in recoiled position with breech locked and magazine omitted. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing breech unlocked, barrel returned to 30 forward position, aud bolt-earrier in rear po- sition with bolt-carrier about to spring for-, ward. Fig. 4 is a bottom plan of a portion of the barrel wit h bolt and bolt-carrier in locked position. Fig. 5 is a detail plan of siideway 35 guide-strip. Fig. 6 is a detail section of bolt- carrier, showing bolt in locked position and extractor in operative ‘position. Fig. 7 is an elevation of the bolt-currier, showing bolt in unlocked position. Fig. 8 is a broken section 40 of the rear part of the barrel. Figs. 9 and 10 are detail elevation and plan of the bolt-car- rier stop. Figs. 11 and 12 are plan and ele- vation of magazine-follower. Fig. 13is aside elevation, Fig. 14 a plan, and Fig. 15 a cross-, 45 section, of the cartridge-extractor. Fig. 16 is & detail horizontal section of the magazine, showing stop and latch-lever in plan. Fig. 17 is a plan, and Fig. 18 an elevation, of the bolt-locking pawl. Fig. 19 is an elevation, 50 Fig. 20 a plan, and Fig. 21.an end elevation, of the operating-slide detached. Fig. 22 is a top plan of the bolt-carrier; Fig. 23, a side elevation of the same, and Fig. 24 a front ele- vation of the bolt-carrier and bolt in locked position. Fig. 25 is an elevation of the bolt. 55 Fig. 26 is.a plan of the receiver or shoe, partly broken away to showthe engagement of ex- tension bolt-lock with bolt-carrier and re- ceiver. Fig. 27 is an elevation of the receiver. Fig. 28 is a vertical longitudinal section of the 60 bolt-carrier. To avoid complication, some of the springs and minor parts are omitted in some of the figures, but their location will generally be apparent. , ‘ 65 The receiver, shoe, or frame A is of suit- able form and material to receive and support the operative parts of the gun and is suitably connected to the butt-stock 1 and to the fore- stock 2. The,receiver has a longitudinal 70 generally - cylindrical chamber 3, in which the rear end of the barrel Band the bolt-car- rier D may have longitudinal movement. The bolt-darrier D is connected by a link or pitman E to the action-rod F, the link E be- 75 ing pivoted to both parts. The action-rod F • moves in a suitable guideway I in the butt- stock and partakes of the longitudinal move- mentof the bolt-carrier D. The action-spring G surrounds the rod F, having its rear bear- 80 - ing against the front of the guideway I or other suitable support fixed to the stock and its front end bearing against the head 6 of the action-rod, thus tending to always press the aetion-rod and the bolt-carrier connected 85 thereto to the forward position of said parts. The operating-slide H has a stem 7, which connects with the action-rod G and moves with the action-rod by means of a pin-and- shoulder engagement 8, Fig. 1, or other suit- 90 able connection. The slide H is guided in the slideway 9 by reason of the handpiece 10, projecting through a slot 11 in said slideway, (See Figs. 19,20, and 21.) An enlarged open- ing 12 in the slide way permits theassembling 95 of these parts, and the slideway forms a con- venient closing and strengthening piece for. the bottom of the bntt-stock, a boss 5 the operating-slide extending above the slide way. To Brat open the gtin, as for loading the 100 magazine, draw back the slide H by the hand or plunger piece 10. This draws back the action-rod, link, and bolt-carrier, as will be readily understood. The bolt-carrier D be-: ing pivoted to link E cannot rotate in the re- 105 ceiver. It may he otherwise supported to move lengthwise only in said receiver. The bolt-carrier D is cored lengthwise to receive
6S9,?86 bolt C. Bolt C has spiral wings 15, which engage corresponding grooves 18 in the bolt- carrier. The bolt 0 has locking-lugs 16, which engage with spiral or circumferential 5 grooves 20 in the rear extension 30 of the bar- rel in the usual manner of engagement of a mutilated screw or bayonet-catch engagement for locking the bolt to the barrel. Both spiral and circumferential locking-grooves are old, io and thisinventionisapplicabletoeitherform. The barrel В is normally held forward in the fore stock 2, Fig. 1% by spring M, which is inclosed in housing N, and a collar 0 on the barrel receives the thrust of the spring M. A 15 shoulder 22 serves as a forward check or stop to the barrel, and the barrel is held .against rotation, in the stock in any suitable or usual . way and cushioned in usual, manner. When the bolt C is in its forward position relatively' ao to the bolt-carrier D, as will • be hereinafter explained, the lugs 16 of the bolt are in posi- tion to enter the longitudinal grooves 19 of the barrel extensions. When so entered, a forward movement "of the bolt - carrier ro- 25 tates the bolt on its axis by reason of the en- gagement of the wings 15 on the bolt with the" spiral grooves 18 in the bolt-carrier, and the lugs 16 of the.bolt are carried around to locked position in the recesses 20 of the bar- 30 rel extensions 30, the bolt at the: same time having a spiral telescopic movement into the carrier, which closes up the bar rel extensions. The extractorWhas a lug 23, whifch extends down into a slot 24 in bolt-carrier D. The 35, bolt of the extractor rests in a groove in the carrier and has a longitudinal movement, therein limited by the contact of lug 23 with the ends of the slot 24. Bolt C has a trans- verse groove or notch 25, into which the lug 40 of the extractor extends, and this engage- ment Of the bolt with the extraetor-lng limits both the rotary and the longitudinal move- ment of the bolt relatively to its carrier. The extractor slides in the receiver, and thus 45 serves to hold the*bolt and carrier together. The firing-pin Z is carried by the bolt-carrier, and partakes of the longitudinal movement of the carrier, but not of the separate move- ment of the bolt. Suppose, now, the parts 50 to be in the position of Fig. 1. To open the breech, draw back on the handle 10. This draws back the bolt-carrier through the con- nections stated;' partly rotating the bolt by means of the spiral wing-and-groove .connec- ts tions, and/when the’ bolt has turned far enough, the bolt-Carriet having, meanwhile moved back .relatively, the bolt will move back with the carrier, the barrel being all the while held forward by’its spring M. When 60 the bolt-carrier’has completed its backward movement under such conditions, the bolt will extend forward from the carrier. An extension bolt-lock S; Fig. 26, which lies in a recess in the bolt-carrier, is actuated by a 65 spring to project its front end behind the bolt and so hold the bolt in its forward po- sition, in which the lugs .16 are in line with the grooves 19 in .he barrel. A recess in the , receiver permits the projection of the rear end of the extension bolt-lock S when in po- 70 sition of Fig. 26; but as the bolt-carrier moves forward an incline in the wall of the receiver forces in this end of the stop S, permitting the telescopic movement of bolt and carrier at the proper time. This automatic locking 75 and unlocking of the bolt in its position rela- tively to the carrier insnres the proper en- gagement of the bolt with the barrel. Now suppose a cartridge to be inserted in the bar- rel of the gun ana the bolt closed thereon by 80 a forward movement of the bolt-carrier. The bolt will present its wings 16 in line with the recesses 19 of the barrel extension and will enter therein. At this instant the bolt-lock S is released, and the forward movement of 85 bolt-carrier D causes the bolt to rotate to locked position, the bolt-carrier closing over the bolt into close contact with the barrel, as in Fig. 4. If the cartridge is now fired, the recoil carries the barrel and bolt-carrier di- 90 reetly backward, as in Fig. 2, compressing both springs G and F. Latch P, pivoted in the receiver on the pivot 31 of the hammer, is pressed up by. a spring 61 to engage a shoul- der. 32 on the bolt-carrier, thus retaining the 95 carrier in it& rearmost position. The barrel В moves forward nnder the impulse of spring M, and, pulling the bolt with it by means of the locking engagement described, causes the bolt C to partially rotate until it is un- too- locked, when the barrel continues to move forward, leaving the bolt in the position of Fig. 3. The extractor W engages the cartridge flange or groove as usual, and when the bar- rel has moved forward far enough the spring- 105 ejector 33, Fig. 6, pressing on the lower part of the cartridge-head throws out the shell through. the opening 34 in the .receiver in usual manner. The further'forward move- ment of the barrel В brings the lug 35 on the 11c barrel into contact with the front portion 36 of the latch-lever Q, rocking said lever on its pivot 37 and also rocking the latch P, with which said-lever engages, as indicated in Figs. 2 and. 3. As soon as the latch P is rocked 115 far enough to be released from the bolt-car- rier D said Carrier jumps forward under the impulse of the action - spring G, carrying a cartridge with it, if one be present, and dps-, ifjg and locking the breech, as before de- i»o scribed. When the barrel, with the bolt locked to it, moves back under the recoil im- pulse, the lug 38 on the bolt-carrier, striking the surface 36 of the latch-lever Q, depresses said lever so that the lug 35 on the barrel 125 rides over, the latch-lever; but when the bolt-. carrier is drawn back by pulling on the oper- ating-slide H the Ing, 38 rides oyer the lever Q, which immediately rises and its front end is in position to engage the lug 35 on the bar- 130- 'rel and to hold the barrel against backward movement even should the cartridge stick in the barrel. The gpn then opens, as in Fig. 3. The magazine К is of any nsual construe-
689,780 3 tion to receive its cartridges side by side or one above another,,and the magazine has a spring-actuated follower T, Figs. 1 and 16. Alongside the magazine is the bolt-stop R, 5 having a side projection 40, which extends over a nib 41 on the follower T. If there be a cartridge or cartridges in the magazine, the follower T cannot rise so far that nib 41 lifts the stop R, the follower being held down by ro the cartridge or cartridges thereon; but if the magazine be empty the follower is lifted by its spring until its nib encounters the bolt- stop, and this engagement of the follower with the stop lifts the stop R in front of the bolt-. t5 carrier, as in Fig. 3, holding the bolt in posi- tion to allow the charging of the magazine through opening 34. Any usual detent.may hold the top cartridge from rising under the impulse of the follower T. The stop R, as го shown, has a finger-piece 43, by which the stop may be released when desirable, said finger-piece extending alongside the maga- zine. The hammer J, pivoted at31, is pressed upward by the spring 51, as heretofore, and 25 the trigger 5.2 may engage the hooks of the projection 53, asheretofore. The safety-catch L has a tang 54,. which may .slide under the heel of theham mer when the ham mer is turned back, Figs. 2 and 3, and' at the same time, the 30 end of the catch L may enter notch 55 in the trigger and so lock both hammer and trigger, when the slide is drawn back by the finger acting on fingei>piece 56. It is desirable to lock the hammer at full-соей, so that the 35 other mechanism may slide over the hammer without interference therewith. The front stock 2 is cored to receive the sleeve 60, which sleeve may screw into the front of the frame A. A bolt V, which screws 40 into a threaded hole in the front of th is sleeve, serves to hold the parts together. By remov- ing this bolt the front stock and barrel may be separated from the rear stock. The operations of the different parts have 45 been separately explained. Supposing, gnn . and magazine to be loaded, the gun may be fired by pulling the trigger when the safety- catch is forward. The hammer strikes the firing-pin and explodes the cartridge. The 50 recoil carries back the barrel, bolt-carrier, and bolt and in moving back the hammer is cocked thereby and so held. The latch P, pressed up by the spring 61, holds the bolt- carrier back and the action - spring com- 55 pressed. The barrel then moves forward, turning and unlocking the bolt and leavingJ the bolt in position to enter the locking- grooves in „the barrel, the bolt-lock holdingit .in such, position. The shell is ejected and a 60 new cartridge rises in front of the bolt. The extreme forward movement of the barrel re- leases the bolt-carrier by the action on the latch and latch-lever, and when released the bolt-carrier moves forward under the infin- »5 ence of the action-spring, its forward move- ment unlocking the bolt from the carrier and then engaging and locking it with the barrel. Thus the loading is entirely automatic or re- coil-actuated, but the firing is by means of a pull on the trigger, as with most other guns. 70 No time is lost in loading the gun, as the action is almost instantaneous and mneh quicker than the eye can follow; but the firing may be as deliberate as is desired. If there be no cartridges in the magazine, the barrel, bolt, 75 and bolt-carrier move back together when a cartridge is fired and then the barrel moves forward find the bolt and carrier are held back by the latch, as has been explained, so that the magazi ne may be filled from the top. 80 Changes and modifications within the scope of the claims are contemplated, I have de- scribed the best form of the invention known to me at the present time, but do not limit to precise forms and constructions save as 85 pointed out in the claims. What I claim is— 1. In an automatic gun as described,'the combination of a receiver in which the barrel moves as described, a barrel, bolt, and bolt- 90 carrier, and means for locking the bolt to the barrel by a partial rotation of the bolt, and for holding back the bolt and unlocking the bolt from the barrel by a reverse rotary movement of the bolt and an extension bolt- 95 lock for holding the bolt in forward position relatively to the bolt-carrier, when the barrel moves forward from its recoiled position, sub- stantially as described. ° 2. In . an automatic gun, the combination 10c of the receiver, barrel, bolt, and bolt-carrier, spiral wing-and-groove connection between the bolt and bolt-carrier as described, lock- ing-ribs on the bolt engaging corresponding grooves in the barrel, the pivoted extension 105 bolt-lock operating as described and engag- ing the frame to release the bolt and permit its spiral telescopic movement as the bolt- carrier moves forward, all substantially as , described. 110 3. In an automatic giin, the combination of the receiver in which the barrel may move longitudinally, the barrel, bolt-carrier,, and bolt, the latter moving telescopically and spirally in the carrier, means for holding the 115 . barrel forward when the bolt-carrier is drawn to the rear, and an action-rod and connec- tions to the bolt-carrier within the rear stock, by which the boltrcarrier and bolt may be manually retracted, the barrel remaining for-. 120 ward, substantially as described. ' . 4. In an automatic gun, the combination of the receiver, boltrcarrier reciprocating therein, bolt having spiral telescopic connec- tion to the bolt-carrier, and barrel to which -125 the bolt may be locked by partial rotation as described, a link connected to the bolt-car- rier and a reciprocating action-rod within the rear stock, connected to said link, and a spring bearing said rod forward, substantially 130 as described. 5. In an automatic gun, the combination of the receiver, the barrel constructed to re- . ciprocatc therein, a spring acting to press the
4 ЙВ9.78Й barrel forward, a bolt-carrier and bolt having telescopic spiral connection as described whereby the bolt may be partially rotated and thereby locked or unlocked from the 5 barrel as described, an action-spring carried by a slide-piece in. the stock, said slide-piece having a link connection to the bolt-carrier to move said carrier forward, all substan- tially as described. io 6. In an automatic gun, the combination "tit the' receiver, barrel, bolt-carrier recipro- cating in the receiver, and bolt reciprocating in the bolt-carrier, and an extension bolt- lock engaging the bolt and bolt-carrier to re- 15 tain the bolt in its forward position relatively to its carrier, and in position to make first locking engagement with the barrel by direct forward- movement, substantially as de- scribed. , 20 7. In an automatic gun, the combination of the receiver, the barrel, bolt-carrier, and bolt, constructed to reciprocate in the re- ceiver substantially as described, a spiral telescopic connection between the bolt-car- 25 rier and bolt, and a pivoted extension bolt- lock, automatically holding the bolt forward when the bolt-carrier is in rearmost position, and automatically disengaged by the forward movement of the bolt-carrier, substantially 30 as described. 8. In an automatic gun, the combination of the bolt - carrier,; action • rod connected thereto and extending backward in the rear stock, the slide connected to said action-rod 35 and having a finger-piece extending outside the stock, arid the Slideway having a slot therein, and serving as a longitudinal guide for said slide, substantially as described. 9. In a gun of the character described, the 40 receiver, the bolt-carrier and bolt having spiral telescopic connection, and the ex- tractor having a lug engaging slots or open- ings in the bolt-carrier and bolt, whereby the longitudinal arid rotary inovements of the 45 bolt relatively to its carrier are limited, all combined substantially as described. 10. In a gun of the character described, the combination! of the receiver, barrel, bolt-car- rier and boit^a;lildingaetiori-piece and a link 50 con necting the barrier thereto for moving the ! bolt-carrier rearwardly; and a spring press- ing the carrier - forward, and a carrier-latch, engaging the bolt-carrier to lock it in its rear- most position, substantially as described. 55 11.’ In a gun of the character described, the receiver, barrel reciprocating therein, and pressed forward by a spring, bolt-carrier and bolthavingspiraltelescopicengagementjsub- stantially as described, a sliding action-piece 60 in the stock and a link conriecting the same to the bolt-carrier and a carrier-latch engag- ing the bolt-carrier at its rearmost position, ' .to hold the earner back while, the barrel by its engagement with the bolt moves the same 65 spirally forward, substantially as described, 12. The combination .of the receiver, bolt- carrier reciprocating therein and bolt having spiral telescopic connection to the carrier, of1 the carrier-latch pivoted in the frame in po- sition to engage ’ the carrier and hold itin 70 rear position, the reciprocating barrel, arid means connecting to the barrel by which the Carrier-latch is released by the forward move ment of the barrel, substantially as described. 13. The combination with the receiver,bolt- 75 carrier and barrel reciprocating in the re- ceiver,and bolt having telescopic connection to its carrier and locking engagement as de- scribed with the barrel, of a carrier-latch en- gaging said carrier to hold it back as the barrel 8b moves forward, and the bolt extension-lock engaging the bolt to hold the same forward relatively to its carrier, as the barrel engage- ment moves the bolt forward from the latched carrier, substantially as described. 85 14. The combination of the receiver, bolt- carrier reciprocating therein, bolt having spiral telescopic connection with carrier, and the barrel sliding in the receiver and having locking engagement with the bolt as de- 90 scribed, of the bolt-carrier latch engaging the bolt-carrier to hold it in open position, and the carrier-latch lever engaged by the barrel in its forward movement, and acting on the carrier-latch to disengage the same, 95 substantially as described. 15. The combiriation of the receiver, bolt- carrier and barrel reciprocating in the re- ceiver, and bolt telescoping in its carrier sub- stantially as described, of the carrier-latch 100 lever, a lug on the carrier in proximity to the barrel when the parts are in locked re- lation, and a lug on the barrel with which the latch-lever engages to hold the barrel for- ward when not released by the action of the 105. carrier-lug, all substantially as described. 16. In a gun of the character described, the combination with the receiver and bolt-car- rier’ reciprocating therein, the magazine hav- ing a spring-actuated followed, and the bolt- r 1® stop pivoted in the frame and having a pro- jection in line of movement of the magazine- follower, and actuated thereby to stop the forward bolt movement when| the magazine- is empty, and a finger-piece by which said 115 stop may be manually released, substantially as described. - 17. In a gun of the character described, the pivoted hammer, the notched-trigger^ and a slide in the frame having a tang which comee under the heel of the hammer while the slide enters the notch in the trigger,, whereby the hammer is locked at full-cock and the trig- ger separately locked by the same slide- piece. r*5 In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses. JQHN'M. BROWNING Witnesses:'. . Josie Zitzman, .John EvaSts.
Wo. 660,244. Patented Oct. 23, 1900. J. M. BROWNING. MACHINE FOR LOADING FEED BELTS FOR MACHINE GUNS. (Application filed Nov. 16, 1899.) <Ио Model.) 4 Sheete—Sheet |.
No. 660,244. Patented Oct 23, 1900. J. M. BROWNING. MACHINE FOR LOADING FEED BELTS FOR MACHINE GUNS. (Application filed Mov. 1Ь» 1899. J (No Model.) 4 Sheet»—Sheet 2.
No. 660,244. Patented Oct. 23, I9G0. J. M. BROWNING. MACHINE FOR LOADING FEED BELTS FOR MACHINE GUNS. (Application filed Nov. 16, 18991» 4No Model.) 4 Sheet»—Sheet 3.
No. 660,244. Patented Oct. 23, 1900. J. M. BROWNING. MACHINE FOR LOADING FEED BELTS FOR MACHINE GUNS. (ДррИе*Ноа filed Хот. Ifi, 1899.? (He Model.) 4 Sheet»—Sheet 4. IiwenZor:
United States Patent Office, JOHN M. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH. - MACHINE FOR LOADING* FEED-BELTS FOR MACHINE-GUNS. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No..660.244, dated October 28,1600. Appliotiica filed November 16,1899. -Serial Bo. 737,068, (Nomodelj To all whom it may concern: Be it known that 1, John M. Browning, a citizen of the United States, residing in Og- den, county of Weber, State of Utah, have 5 invented certain new and useful Improve- ments in Machines for Loading Feed-Belts for Machine-Guns, &c., of which the follow- ing is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part io hereof,- The object of this invention is to provide^ an improved machine for inserting cartridges in feed-belts by which the cartridges are sub- sequently fed to machine-guns. It is desir- 15 able that such feed-belts should be light in weight, flexible, capable of holding the car- tridges close together, and inexpensive. The possession of these qualities renders it nec- essarj’ to avoid the use of beaded edges and ao of metallic strips between ’'-e pockets, and hitherto no satisfactory mechanical devices have been provided for opening or holding open the pockets in such belts for the inser- tion of the cartridges or for holding the belts 25 during the insertion of the cartridges, it be- ing understood that in such belts the pock- ets for the reception of the cartridges are formed between two layers or plies of fabric united between the pockets and are trans- 30 versely disposed with respect to the belt. By the present invention, however, provision is made for opening each pocketand holding it open for the insertion of the end. of the car- tridge by means which engage the fabric ex- 35 ternally, whereby it becomes nnneeessaryito clamp the belt at sneh time, as is the case when an opener is forced into the pocket, and whereby also each pocket is certainly opened.at the proper time and cannot close 40 before the cartridge is introduced. There- after in-the improved machine the belt is . firmly held while the cartridge is pushed into it to the desired extent. These mechanical devices and others which it may be found ad- 45 vantageous to combine therewith in practice will be fully described hereinafter with ref- erence to the accompanying drawings, in which for purposes of illustration aud ex- planation of the natnreof the invention they 50 are illustrated as embodied in convenient and practical forms and as combined in a sin- gle machine which performs all of the neces- sary operations of loading the belts. In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of such a machine with its parts in their initial 55 positions, a partly-loaded belt being repre- sented in place in the machine. Fig. 2 is ah end elovation of the same. Fig. 3 is a plafi view with the cartridge-feeding guide or hop- per removed, the parts being represented in 60 the positions which they assume when the driving-shaft has- been rotated one hundred and eighty degrees from the position indi- cated in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4 is a section on the plane indicated by the Line 4 4 of Fig. 1 65 looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 5 is a section on the plane indicated by the line 5 5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a similar view, but with the parts in the positions indicated in Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a detail rear elevation. 70 Figs. 8 and 9 are respectively a front eleva- tion and a rear.elevation of the opener de- tached. Fig. 10 is a section on the plane in- dicated by the liue 10 10 of Fig. 9. Figs. 11 and 12 are plan and edge views of a portion 75 of an unloaded belt. Figs. 13 and 14 are similar views of a partly-loaded belt, the car- tridges being indicated by dotted lines. In the machine shown in the drawings the several working parts are supported upon a So suitable bed-plate A, which can be secured wherever convenient for the operation af the machine. In suitable bearings on the bed- plate is mounted a short shaft B, which may be operated by any convenient means,a crank- 85 handle B' being indicated. The several work- ing parts of the machine are operated either directly or indirectly from the shaft B, as will be described hereinafter.. The belt or band to be filled (shown particularly in Figs. 90 11, 12, 13, and 14) is preferably a woven belt or band having two'plies, which are united transversely at regular intervals, the pockets for the reception of the cartridges being < formed between the two plies and separated 95 from one another by the lines of union of the two plies. It is obvions, as clearly showfi in the said figures of the drawings, that such'a belt will be taken up somewhat both in width - and in length by the insertion of the car- 10a tridges in the pockets. The belt is delivered through a guide A', in which it may be held-
2 . 660,244 by a pivoted cap or cover a',the beltor.bana passing freely through such guide. The car- tridges to be inserted in the belt or band may be delivered to the machine in any conven- 5 ierit manner. There is shown at A3 in the drawings a guide or feefl chute, which is se- cured npou the bed-plate above some of the working parts of the machine-and in which the cartridges are held-one above another for io deli very to the devices; which insert them one by one in the belt. The belt-feeding devices, whiel engage the filled portion of the belt, will first be described. These comprise two fluted wheels C and C', 15 the flutings being suitably toothed or rough- . ened, as indicated ate, that they may engage the bell and hold it as each cartridge is be- ing pushed home. These feed-wheels receive a step-by-step motion, the'iower wheel being »o engaged by a pawl C2, which is loosely piv- oted upon the bed-plate A and is actuated by an eccentric C3 on the shaft B, the pawl and the eccentric strap or fork being conveniently formed in one piece. The pawl is loosely 25 pivoted, as above stated, so that it may have some lateral play in order to permit the end which engages the fluted wheel to pass over the ridges between the flutings in one direc- tion, a spring c- bearing against the pawl to 30 insure its proper engagement with the feed- . wheel when moving in the opposite direction. The feed-wheel C is by the pawl C2 brought to the exact position at each-operation and there held by a blade-spring O, which en- 35 gages the under side of the feed-wheel and prevents its movement in either direction. The right’- hand edge of the spring C1 is slightly upturned, as at c4, to engage the rear side of’the ridge which has just passed it, 40 thus positively preventing backward move- ment of the feed-wheel, while tlie upward pressure of the spring C‘ is exerted against the next ridge in a vertical plane consider- ably to the left side of that through the axis 45 of the feed-wheel, thereby forcing the right- hand ridge against, the edge of the spring c* and preventing forward rotation of the feed- wheel. The upper feed-wheel O' is in the na- ture of a presser to cooperate with the lower 50 feed-wheel. It is carried by a pivoted crane or arm C5, so thatit may be swung towardor from the lower feed-wheel, such crane hav ing a shoulder o' to engage a correspondieif stop on the bed-plate, so that the tipper feed-vyheel 55 cannot at any time come in contact with the . lower feed-wheel.nor press toohard.upou the cartridge which at-thc time may be in the belt between the two.wheels. Al the same time iu ordpr that the wheel C may beheld 60 yieldingly toward the wheel С a spring C" is extended'from the pivoted rigid arir. C3 and is engaged by a.suitable latch" c trried by the bed-plate. As indicated hereinbefore, the opener, the 6$ function of which is to open each pocket pre- vious to the introduction of the cartridge,, is arranged to operate externally as distin- guished’from the operation of an opener which is thrust into the pocket. It frill be obvious that many dmerent forms of devices 70 might bo devised to engage the fabric which forms the walls of the pocket and to pull the pocket open, as well as that one side wall of the pocket maybe pulled away from the other to form au opening for the insertion of the 75 end of the. cartridge or that both side walls may be pulled away in oppositeidirections from a central line. It will also be under- stood that the opener may be operated by various means. In the construction which 80 has been chosen for illustration in the draw- ings, however, the opener is arranged to en- gage both side walls of each pocket to pull . them from a central line, and the oponer is arranged to be operated by the-forward 85 movement of each cartridge as it is ad vanced for insertion into the pocket. As shown most clearly iu Figs. 8, 9, and 10 of the draw- ings, this form of opener comprises a carrier D, which is arranged to slide on the edge of 90 the guideway A', being loosely mounted thereon, and two jaws or arms D', which are pivoted to the carrier on opposite sides of .the .. plane of the belt or band as it passes oyer the guide A'. Each arm or jaw is provided with 95 a point or needle «, which is extended for- wardly toward the belt in a position to enter or engage bnt not to penetrate the corre- sponding pocket-wall of the belt or band as the carrier moves forward. The rear end of teo each arin or jaw is extended to form a toed*- for the bearing of a spring D3, the function of which is to hold the points toward each other with a yielding pressure and is not to impel the opener forward, the spring being roj carried by the arm which effects the to-and- - fro movement. Upon the rear .faces of the two’arms or jaws, near their forward ends . and at their proximate edges, the two arms or-jaws are chamfered or milled out, as atd', Tic to form a cam-like surface on each, so that as the cartridge ie thrust forward, as herein-’ after described, its eud will engage the oam- like surfaces and will thrust the two arms or jawsapart. The walls of the pocket being 11» at the time engaged by such arms or jaws, the pocket will bs opened in readiness for the introduction of the cartridge as its for- ward movement is continued. Thu dam-sur- faces are preferably somewhat conical, as t*« they will thereby eerve to center the end of the cartridge as it is thrust forward, insur- ing its. proper alinemeut with the pocket. To effect the to-and-fro motion of the opener, a bell-crank lever D3 is mounted npon the tas bed-plate. A, one arm engaging the earner D, while the other engages a cam D* on the shaft B. A spring D’, also mounted on the bed- plate, cooperates with ons arm of the bell- crank lever I>! to hold the lover 'In. con tact -13c with the cam and to draw lira opencY back, the forward movement of the opener being effected by the cam. The spring D2, above referred to, .is secured to the lever "D?, and
680,244 8 therefore has no influence upon the to-and- fro movement of tbe carrier. Any desired form of mechanism may be “mployed for thrusting the cartridges into 5 the pockets of the belt or band; but in the machine represented in the drawings a plun- ger E is employed for the purpose, such plun- ger being mounted and suitably guided on the bed - plate A and being connected by. a to rod. or pitman E’ with, a crank-pin E3, carried at the inner end of the shaft B. The plun- ger is arranged to insert one cartridge part way into the pocket just opened at the same time that it thrusts home the cartridge which 15 was previously inserted part way and which is then in the belt in the grasp of the wheels С C'. For this purpose the plunger is formed in rear of its head e with a lateral shoulder e', which is adapted to engage the head of so the second cartridge.. The side of the plun- ger between the heade arid the shoulder ё is grooved to assist in centering and holding the second cartridge before its point engages the belt. The plunger is also formed with 45 two shoulders e3 6s for a purpose to be de- scribed presently. As already described, the cartridge guide or feed chute A3 is mounted upon the bed - plate A, but with sufficient clearance for the working parts beneath it. 30 Immediately below the cartridge-feed chute an arm F is pivoted npon the bed-plate A, being arranged to swing back from the line of the ehute far enough to allow a cartridge to drop down in front of it and then to swing 35 forward to carry such cartridge into position to be engaged by the shoulder ё of the pl un- ger E, the front side of the arm beinggrooved longitudinally to cooperate with the corre- sponding groove in the side of the plnnger to 40 center the cartridge and hold it in. position for insertion into the opening pocket. A toe / is formed on the arm near its pivot for en- gagement with one or the other of the shoul- ders e2 e3 on the plunger E, and on the other 45 side of its pivot it is formed with a tee/' for cooperation with one member of the'spring • D!, above referred to. In the rearward move- ment, of the plunger E the sbohldere3 thereof strikes the toe/of the arm F and carries the 50 toe /' past the spring Ds, so that it then acts, upon the other.side of the toe/' tothrowthe arm forward sinhrtly. In like- manner the- shoulder e3 at the end of the forward move- ment of the plunger forces the point of the 55 toe/' past the spring in the opposite direc- tion, so thabthe spring throws the arm back smartly into position to permit another car- tridge to drop down from the feed-chnte. It will be seen that the arm furnishes a guide 60 for the cartridge as it is driven forward by the shoulder ё. of the piiinger E. In order that each cartridge, notwithstanding the rela- tivcly-smaller diameter of the bullet ascom- pared with the head of the cartridge, may be 65 properly supported beneath the month of the feed-chnte and properly directed into the \ opening pocket, arid particularly that it may be properly gag between the grooved portions of the pin ger and the arm, a step a is formed upon the bed-plat-э, which serves jo to lift the bullet end of the cartridge to the proper height, and thus to prevent the col-. umn of cartridges in the feed-chnte from in- terfering with the movementof the cartridge beneath the chnte. Furthennore, since the 75 cartridge is less likely to get into a wrong po- sition if it is thrown forward by the arm and immediately followed by the arm a. spring- seated friction-plunger аг, of ordinary con- struction, is located in the bed-plate-,: prefer- 80 ably in the step a, and serves to'hold. the - cartridge until it is thrown forward and im- mediately followed by the armyieldinglyas the cartridge passes over it. •In the operation of the machine described 85 herein two cartridges are first placed, in the belt by hand and then, with the working parts of the machine in the.positions Indi- . eated in Figs. 1,2, and 5 of the drawings, the upper feed-wheel C' is released and raised^ 9® the first cartridge is placed in the uppermost fluting of the feed-wheel C, the feed-wheel C lis returned to position and secured by the latch, and the machine is started, it being premised that cartridges are supplied to the 95 eartridge-chuto and that the belt is properly placed in the belt-guide. During the first half of the rotation of the shaft the pawl C3 is actuated to advance the feed-wheels one step, thereby drawing the • belt forward to too bring the first empty pocket into position to receive a cartridge. At the same time the plunger E is drawn back, causing the arm F . to thrqw the lowermost cartridge against the. plunger, with its head jnst in advance of the 105 shoulder ё. During the second half of the rotation of the shaft the cam D4 moves the opener forward, causing its points to engage ' the opposite walls of the fl rat empty pocket. ’ Meanwhile the plunger E moves forward, so no that as soon as the walls of the pocket have been fairly engaged by the opener the .end of the cartridge will be brought-against the chamfered- portions of the opener-jaws and will cause the jaws to open, thereby also sep- 115 : seating the walls of the pocket. Thecontin- : ued forward movementof the plunger pushes the cartridge forward into the pocket far enough-.to be retained and carried on by the - •’ 1 belt when the next movement of the feed- t»o wheels is produced. The opener is allowed < by its cam to retire as soon as it has accom- ipiished its pn грозе and the cartridge has been fairly introduced into the pocket. Therota- tion of the shaft being now completed and 125 continued, the operations of the machine are- repeated as before, except that the cartridge, which was first partly introduced is brought into line with the plunger E between the t wo - feed-wheels and at the next forward moye- 130 ment of the plunger is pushed home, the belt being held by the teeth or corrugations of the flutings. . A guide-plate a3 is secured to :the. bedrplate A at ita edge, to raise the belt/
4 660,244 ' with the cartridges, slightly as they pass over it and prevent them from dragging down and moving out of proper position as they leave the feed-wheel. 5 It will now be clear that various changes can be made in the details of construction and arrangement and that the invention is not to be limited to the precise form and com- bination of parts shown and described herein, to- I claim as my invention— 7 1. In a machine for Wading pocketed belts, ' an opener adapted to engage the pocket-wall 'ana means to move said opener away from the plane of the belt. 15 2. In a machine for loading pocketed belts, an arm or jaw having a point to engage the ' pocket-wall and means to move said arm or jaw away from the plane of the belt. 3. Ina machine for loading pocketed belts, 20 ‘a carrier, an arm or jaw mounted on said car- rier and adapted to engage the pocket-Wall, means io move the carrier to and fro and means to move said arm or jaw away from the plane of the belt. 4. In a machine for loading pocketed belts, the combination of a belt-guide, a carrier mounted in proximity to said guide, means to move said carrier to and f ro, an arm or jaw mounted on said carrier and having a point 30 to engage the pocket-wall, and means to move said arm or jaw away from the. plane of the .belt 5. In a machine for loading pocketed belts, the combination of a belt-guide, a carrier 35 mounted in proximity to said guide, arms-or jaws mounted on said carrier on opposite sides of the plane of the guides and adapted to engage the opposite pocket - walls, and means to separate said 'arms or jaws. 40 6. In a machine for loading pocketed belts, the combination of a belt-guide, a carrier mounted in proximity’ to said guide, means to move said carrier to and fro, arms or jaws pivoted upon said carrier and having each, a 45 point projecting forwardly’ and toward the plane of the guide, a spring acting upon said arms or jaws to press said points yieldingly toward each other, and means to separate said arms or jaws. 50 7. In a machine for loading pocketed belts, the combination of an opener adapted to en- gage the pocket-wall, and means to press a cartridge forward in line with the pocket and against- the opener to move the same from 55 the plane of the belt. 8. In a machine for loading pocketed belts, . the combination of an arm or jaw having a point to. engage the pocket-wall and means to press a cartridge forward in line with the 60 pocket and kgainst the arm or jaw to move the same from the plane of the belt. . 9«- In a machine for loading pocketed belts, the combination of a carrier, an arm or jaw .mounted on said carrier and adapted to en- 05 gage the pocket-wall, means to move the car- rier to and fro, and means to press a cartridge forward in line with- the pocket and against the opener to move the same from the plane of the belt. 10. In a machine for loading pocketed belts the combination of a'belt-guide, a carrier mounted in proximity to said, guide, arms or jaws mounted on said carrier on opposite sides of the plane of the guide and adapted to. engage the opposite pocket-walls, and means.to press a cartridge forward inline with the pocket and against said arms or jaws to separate them. 11. In a machine for loading pocketed belts, the combination of a tinted feed-wheel, means to actuate the same, a second fluted feed- wheel, and means to press the last-named wheel yieldingly toward the first-named wheel. 12. In a machine for loading pocketed belts, the combination of a fluted feed-wheel, means to actuate the. same, a second fluted feed- wheel, a pivoted, rigid arm carrying said last- named wheel and having a stop to limit the movement of the last-named wheel toward the first-named wheel, and means to hold the last-named wheel toward the first-named wheel. 13. In a machine forloading pocketed belts, the combination of a fluted feed-wheel, means to actuate the same, a second fluted feed- wheel, a pivoted, rigid arm carrying said last- named wheel and having a stop to limit the movement of the last-named wheel toward the first- named wheel, a spring extension from said, arm, and a latch to engage said spring extension. 14. In a machine for loading pocketed belts, the combination of a Anted feed-wheel, an ac- tuating-pawl adapted to engage the ridges be- tween the flutings, and a flatspring engaging the ridges of the wheel with its edge in rear of one of such ridges. 15. In a machine 10г loading pocketed belts with cartridges, the combination with a pocket-opener;-and means to hold the belt while the cartridge is thrust home, of a car- tridge-feeding mechanism having a head or shoulder in line with the opened pocket to in- sert the cartridge and a head.or shoulder in line with the belt-holding means to thrust the cartridge home. 16. In a machine for loading pocketed belts with cartridges, the combination with a pocket-opener, and meanfe to hold the belt while the cartridge is thrust home, of a re- ciprocating plunger having a head or shoul- der in line with the opening pocket and a head or shoulder in ad vance of the first-named head or shoulder and in line with the belt- holding means. 17. In a machine for loading pocketed belts with cartridges, the combination with means for holding the belt, of a cartridge-feeding mechanism having a head or shoulder to in- sert, the cartridge into a pocket and a second head or shonlder in advance of.the first-named head or shonlder and in line with the next pocket to thrust the cartridge home.
e©o,344 5 18. In a maehineforloadiBgpeeketed belts I cartridge-chute' above .the bed- plate and 60 with cartridges, the combination with means adapted to receive the cartridges horizontally, for holding the belt, of a reciprocating pb:i>- .one upon another said chute having a suffi- ger havinga head or shoulderiu line with one cient clearance above the bed-plate to permit . 5 pocket and a head or shoulder in advance of. the first-named head or shoulder and in line ' with the next pocket 19. In a machine for loading pocketed belts with cartridges, the combination of fluted, io belt feeding and holding wheels, means to ad- vance said wheels step by step; an opener adapted to engage the pocket-wall, and a re- ciprocating plunger’having a head or shoul- der to thrust a cartridge against the opener 15 to move the same away from the plane of the belt and to insert the cartridge in the opened poeket, said plunger having also a head or shoulder in line with the belt feeding and holding wheels to thrust tne cartridge home. 20 20. In a machine for loading pocketed belts with cartridges, the.combination with means’ for holding the belt, of a reciprocating plun- ger having a head or shoulder in line withone pocket and a head or shoulder in advance of 25 the first-named head or shoulder and in line with the next poeket, said plunger being lon- gitudinal)}’ grooved between said heads or' shoulders to receive the carlridge, and ineans to press the cartridge against said grooved 30 portion of the plunger. 21. In a machine for loading pocketed belts' with cartridges, the. combination with a hori-' zontal bed-plate, and я cartridge-’ehuto above . the bed-plate and adapted to receive the car- 35 fridges horizon tally, one upon another, said chute having sufficient, clearance above the bed-plate to permit the passage of a cartridge in a horizontal position, of an arm pivoted upon the bed-plate to swing across the inouth io of 1 he ch ute in contact with a cartridge, means I to operate said arm, and means to push the cartridge forward horizontally in the direc- tion of its length. 22. Ina machine for loading pocketed belts 45 with cartridges, the combination with a hori- zontal bed-plate, and a cartridge chute above the bed-plate and adapted to receive the car- tridges horizontally, one upqn another, said chute having snfiicient clearance above the 50 bed-plate to permit the passage of a cartridge in a- horizontal position, of an arm pivoted upon the bed-plate to swing across the mouth of the chute i n contact with aeartridge, means to operate said arm, and a reciprocating phm- 55 ger to push the cartridge forward horizon tally in the direction of‘its iength. 23. Ina machine for loading pocketed belts with cartridges, the combination of a recip- ;• rocating pkniger, a horizontal bed-plate, a j the passage of a cartridge in a horizontal po- sition, an arm pivoted upon the bed-plate to 65 swing across the mouth of the chute in con- tact with a cartridge, said arm havinga lon- gitudinal groove to center the cartridge, aud means to operate said arm to transfer tbe cartridge from the chute to the path of said 70 plunger. 24. In a machine forloadingpocketed baits with cartridges, the combination of a hori- zontal bed-plate, a reciprocating plunger, a wtridge-ehuie mounted above the bed-plate 75 and adapted to recon e the cartridges hori- zontally, one upou another, an arm pivoted upon tbe bed-plate to swing between the bed-plate and the chute across, the mouth of the chute, andoperative connections between 80 said plungerand said am to cause.the latter to transfer the cartridge from the chute to the path of the plunger. 25. In a machine for loading pocketed belts with cartridges, the combination of a bed- 85 plate, a reciprocating plunger, a cartridge- chute mounted upon the bed-plate, an-arm mounted to move between the bed-plate and the chute across the meuth of the chute, ineans to operate said arm to transfer the 90 cartridge from the chute to the path of the . plunger, and a friction-stop in the bed-plate in the path of the cartridge. - 20. Ina machine of the character described, the combination of a.reciprocating plunger, 95 a cartridge-chute, and a pivoted arm mount- ed to move across the mouth of said chute to transfer the cartridge from the chute to the path of the plunger, said arm having a toe engaged by’ a shoulder of projection on the too plunger to be operated thereby. 27. Inamachineoftheeharacterdescribed, the combination of a reciprocating plunger, a cartridge-chute, a pivoted arm mbunted to move across the mouth of said chute to trans- 105 fer the cartridge from the chute to the path of the plunger, said arm having a toeengaged by a shoulder or projection on the plunger to be operated thereby and having a second toe, and a spring adapted to engage said second чо toe on one side and oni the other as the arm is moved. This specification signed and witnessed this 20th day of October, A. D. 1899. JOHN M. BROWNING. In presence of— Jobs E. Ramsdek, J. ZlTZMAKi .
Patented July 23, 1901. 4 Sheets—Sheet I. No. 678,937. (No Model.) J. M. BROWNING. AUTOMATIC GUN. (Application filed June 19, 1900.)
No. 678,937. Patented July 23. 1901. J. M. BROWNING. AUTOMATIC GUN. (Application filed June 18, 1900.) (No Model.) 4 Sheets—Sheet 2. THE NORRlS PETERS CO., РНОТО-LtTHO..'WASHINGTON, О. C.
No. 678,937. Patented July 23, 1901. J. M. BROWNING. AUTOMATIC GUN. (Application filed June 19, 1900.) (No Model.) 4 Sheets—Sheet 3. THE NORRiS PETERS CO . PHOTO-LfTHO.. WASHINGTON. О. C.
Patented July 23, 1901. No. 678,937. J. M. BROWNING. (No Model.) AUTOMATIC GUN. (Application filed June 19, 1900.) 4 Sheets—Sheet 4. THE NORRIS PETERS CO., PHOTO-UTHO., WASHINGTON. О. C.
United States Patent Office. JOHN M. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH. AUTOMATIC GUN. SPECIFICATION' forming part of Letters Patent No. 678,937, dated July 23, 1901. Application filed June 19,1900, Serial No. 20,874, (No model.) To all whom it may concern,: Be it known that I, John M. Browning, a citizen of the United States, residing at Og- den, in the county'of Weber and State of 5 Utah, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Guns, of which the following is a specification, reference be- ing had therein to the accompanying draw- ings. io This invention relates to automatic guns. The object of the invention is to produce an automatic gun which may be fired with great rapidity, using cartridges from a belt, yet which shall be light enough for manual 15 transportation and which may be fired from the shoulder by the use of a rest, if needful. All the operations of loading and firing after the first cartridge are effected by the recoil. The barrel and barrel extension move back го in the casing under the influence of recoil, and the bolt moves in the same line, part of the time with the barrel, being locked thereto by a vertically-moving locking-block, and part of the time the bolt has an independent 25 movement in the same line as the barrel movement. The invention consists in certain improved constructions and combinations of elements employed in guns of this class. 30 Figure 1 is a side elevation of the rear por- tion of the gun, showing the barrel-casing broken away. Fig. 2 is a top plan of the rear portion of the gun; and Fig. 3 a similar plan, partly broken away, showing feed-lever in 35 different position. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal central section of the operative mechanism of the gun in closed position, as at the in- stant of firing. Fig. 5 is a similar section of the gun with barrel and bolt in recoiled po- 40 sition. Figs. 6 and 6a are similar sections with some parts omitted, showing also con- nection to the shoulder-piece. Figs. 7 and 8 are top and bottom plans, Fig. 9 an end ele- vation, and Fig. 10 a side elevation, of the 45 bolt. Fig. 11 is a detail elevation of the lock- ing-block. Fig. 12 is a plan of the main- spring, showing manner of interlocking with casing, a part of which is shown broken away. Fig. 13 is a detail elevation of the barrel- 50 latch. Fig. 14 is an elevation of the feed slide and pawl. Fig. 15 is a side elevation of the bolt-latch trip. Fig. 16 is a top plan of barrel extension. Fig. 17 is a side eleva- tion thereof inverted. Fig. 18 is a sectional detail or diagram showing manner of engage- 55 ment of cartridge-feed pawl with cartridges and belt. Fig. 19 is a plan diagram of car- tridges, belt, and feed-pawl. Fig. 20 is a de- tail elevation of barrel extension and car- tridge-carrier. 60 The main casing A is a rectangular box, of metal, inclosing most of the operative mech- anism of the gun. The barrel tube or casing 1 is connected to the front of this box by screw-thread or otherwise, and the barrel 2 65 is arranged within this and the main casing, so as to recoil therein. The barrel is pressed forward in the casing by a spring 33, the front end of the barrel being guided in the tube 1 and the rear end of the barrel being rigidly 70 connected to the barrel extension or receiver 3, moving within casing A. The barrel ex- tension 3 is generally rectangular and has guide-tongues 4 on each side, which tongues slide in longitudinal grooves A8 in the casing 75 A as the barrel moves backward and forward. The extension or receiver has a receptacle for the bolt to slide in and is open at the top to receive the cartridge and at the sides to per- mit of the shell ejection. go The breech-bolt 6 is generally rectangular in its body portion and has side tongues 61, which slide in the same grooves in the casing as do the tongues 4 of the barrel extension. The bolt 6 has a handle 62, which projects 85 through a slot in the side of the casing A to draw back the bolt for the entry of the first cartridge. The barrel extension has a ver- tical mortise near its rear end, and in this mortisea locking-block 7 moves vertically, as 90 shown, to lock the bolt to the barrel extension by engagement with the notch 63 in the bolt, Fig. 4. The locking-block 7 is operated by the engagement of its pin 71 with a cam- groove 72 in the casing. The pin may be on 95 one or both sides of the locking-block, with grooves in the casing to correspond. As the barrel extension moves backward the block 7 is forced down by the engagement of pin 71 with the incline 74, and as the extension 100 moves forward the incline 73 forces the lock- ing-slide upward by cam engagement, thus locking the parts by a block moving at right angles to the line of resistance. A pin 50 in
2 678,937 the casing serves as a pivotal support for the bolt-latch 51, which is pressed up into engage- ment with notch 64 in the bolt when the bolt is in retracted position by a spring 52, suit- 5 ably supported in the casing. The barrel- latch 54 is also pivoted on pin 50, and its front end is pressed up by the rear end of mainspring 55 to engage projection 12 on the barrel, and so hold the barrel locked for an io instantuntiltheboltovertakesit,as willbeex- plained. The bolt-latch trip 56 is pivoted on a pivot in the casing, (shown in dotted lines, Figs. 4,5, and 6,) and its arm 57 is in position to be engaged by projection 39 of the barrel ex- 15 tension to hold the bolt-latch atcertain times so it cannot latch the bolt in open position (see Fig. 6) and to release said bolt so that it may close forward into the receiver at the proper time when the bolt is locked to the го barrel extension or receiver by the locking- block, as has been explained. The cartridges are contained in a belt B, preferably of canvas, which belt incloses the bullets and the front ends of the cartridge- 25 shells, leaving the flanges and most of the body of the cartridges uncovered. The belt is fed through the transverse opening A' in the casing above the plane of the barrel, and cartridges are drawn back from the belt by 30 the carrier 31 and transferred downward into the receiver or barrel extension, as will be ex- plained. The cartridge-carrier 31 is pivoted to the upper part of the barrel extension or receiver. It has a hook which extends a little 35 way over the top of the cartridge in the belt when the barrel is in forward position. A plunger 32 bears against the rear end of car- rier 31 above the carrier-pivot, the plunger being pressed forward by spring 33, and both 40 plunger and spring may be moved back into the tube 34 in the casing as the barrel moves back, the spring 33 being compressed by such movement. Tube 34 maybe held in place by a key or pin passing through the side of the 45 casing and into mortise 341 in the rear end of the tube. This spring 33 then tends to press the barrel forward after its recoil as well as to force down the. front end of the carrier. The bolt 6 is inclined on top, as indicated at 50 66, and lifts the carrier as it moves forward under the same in closing into the barrel extension or receiver, as will be explained. The bolt is returned after recoil by coiled spring 76, which spring is seated in a hole 55 bored in the rear of the bolt, and the spring is guided on a rod 67, which is sustained in the rear end of the casing A. The bolt is connected to a cartridge-feed cam 8 by a pin 81, which holds the bolt and feed-cam in rigid 60 relation. The cam 8 has a groove 82, extend- ing obliquely in its upper surface. Feed- ; lever 84 is pivoted to the outside of the cas- ing at 85 and has a pin 86 extending through a hole in the casing and entering cam-slot 82. 65 The reciprocation of the bolt and cam-slide 8 thus rocks feed-lever 84 on its pivot 85. When the bolt is closed, the cam-slide 8 is just forward of pin 86, and when the car- tridges are in feeding position the backward movement of the bolt and its cam-slide will 70 cause the cam-slide to operate the feed-lever, and thus move the cartridge-feed slide or feed-pawl slide 9 transversely of the casing in the guideways in the casing. The engage- ment of the feed-lever with the feed-pawl 75 slide is a common connection. Feed-lever 84 extends in a groove 91 in the feed-pawl slide 9. The feed-pawl slide 9 has guide wings or ribs 92, which guide said slide in guide- grooves A4 at the sides of slot A5 in the cas- 80 ing A. The slide 9 carries feed-pawl 94, which is pivoted to said slide and is pressed down by a spring. 95. The feed-pawl is a metallic plate arching over the top of a car- tridge in the belt and of such wid th that it bears 85 on the belt and on the cartridges at the side of the belt. The pawl bears by its shoulder x on the belt and indirectly on the cartridge within the belt. The end у of the pawl is held up by the cartridge in the belt, if there 90 be one beyond the cartridge properly acted on by the shoulder x, and this engagement with the point y, if there be an undrawn car- tridge, lifts point у and the shoulder x, so as to keep the pawl from feeding the belt 95 along; but if the cartridges be properly drawn the point у of the feed-pawl falls and the shoulder x then acts as a feeder. The feed-stop 96 is pivoted at 97 to the casing, and its rear end projects upward through an 100 opening on the plate on which the cartridge- belt rests and engages the belt just back of the-second cartridge in the belt and holds the belt from slipping back when not engaged by the feed-pawl. This feed-stop is.in the form 105 of a bell-crank lever, and its operating end is lifted against the cartridge-belt by spring 98, which spring yields and permits the stop to yield downwardly without swinging for- ward, so that the belt of cartridges may be no pulled over the stop by the action of the feed- pawl. The feed-stop presents an inclined face toward the incoming cartridge-belt and acts on the principle of a well-known sewing- machine feed. 115 The firing-pin 69 is carried by the bolt, and the extractor 68 is also carried by the bolt, both operating in usual manner. The hammer 21 is pivoted in the casing and pressed upward by mainspring 55. The ham- 120 mer may be held in cocked position by either or both of two sears 22 and 23, both pivoted on pin 24, but independently movable. A spring 25, connected to sear 23, bears on sear 22 to push it into engagement with a notch in 125 the hammer, so that the two sears engage the hammer at different angles and both engage at the front side of the hammer or its hub. The sear 22 I term the “automatic” sear and sear 23 the “stop-sear.” Sear 23 is connected 130 to trigger 100 by slide-rod 101, and when the trigger is pressed down the slide-rod 101, which lies in the bottom of the casing, presses the sear 23 out of engagement with the ham-
678,937 5 ю т5 20 25 3° 35 4° 45 5° 55 бо 65 mer and fires the gun. Slide-rod 100 lies un- der the mainspring either in a recess in the casing or space is left for it under the main- spring. As long as stop-sear 23 is held for- ward the recoil of the barrel will cock the hammer, and sear 22 will hold it cocked until the engagement of the shoulder 29 on the bar- rel extension, in its forward movement, with the front portion of sear 22 trips this sear and permits the hammer to fall under the in- fluence of the mainspring, thus firing the gun. To check the recoil of the barrel, I use what I call a “cushion-rocker” 10, which is piv- oted at 11 to the casing near the rearward limit of movement of the barrel extension. The cushion-rocker has a cam or snail face toward the front, and the rocker is turned forward by projection 70 on the bolt when the bolt closes. In its backward movement the projection 70 of the bolt rides over the top of the rocker, and the rear face of the projection 12 of the receiver engages the front face of rocker 10 at the other end, swinging back said rocker. The upper end of the rocker engages projection 70 of the bolt to force the bolt backward independently of the barrel. The cam-face of the rocker engaging projection 12 acts with constantly-increasing resistance as the rocker swings to check and stop the barrel and to transfer its energy to the movement of the bolt, which bolt, acted on by the longer leverage of the upper end of the rocker, is thrust back with increased ve- locity, its spring being compressed at the same time. A shoulder-piece C of any usual form may be connected to the casing A by a bolt D or attached in other usual manner. The operation is as follows: The belt, with its contained cartridges, is fed into the open- ing A' in the casing until the flange of the first cartridge in the belt enters under the hook of carrier 31 and the second cartridge is just past the cartridge-feed stop 96. The feed-lever is now in position shown in Fig. 2 and the working mechanism as in Fig. 4. Now grasp handle 62 and draw the bolt back. As the bolt and barrel extension are in this position locked together by the locking-block 7, the barrel will move back with the bolt, compressing both barrel and bolt springs and cocking the hammer, which is caught by both sears. The cartridge is drawn back by the hook of the carrier. (It thus appears that the hammer cannot fall against the fir- ing-pin except when the barrel is in its for- ward position, in which position the barrel and breech-bolt are firmly locked together.) When the pin 71 of the loeking-block reaches the downward incline 74 of the cam-groove in the casing, the locking-block will be forced downward, freeing the barrel from the bolt. The barrel is then thrown forward by the ac- tion of its spring, carrying the cartridge with it. The pressure of plunger 32 throws down the forward end of the carrier, causing the front of the cartridge to fall into the receiver of the barrel extension, so as to move forward below the cartridge-belt. The forward move- 70 ment of the barrel is stopped by the barrel- latch 54 engaging the projection 39 of the barrel extension. The projection 39 on the barrel extension or receiver at the same time rocks the bolt-latch trip, so that the bolt can- 75 not be engaged thereby. (See Fig. 6.) The feed-lever 84, feed-slide 9, and feed-pawl will have been moved to the position of Fig. 3 by the backward movement of the cam 8. If the grasp on the bolt be now released, the bolt- 80 spring will throw the bolt forward, carrying the cartridge into its chamber in the barrel. When the bolt is near the limit of its inde- pendent forward movement, the cam 69 on its under surface engages the arm 59 on the 85 barrel-latch, thus forcing down said latch and releasing the barrel to continue its forward movement under the influence of the barrel- spring. The barrel and bolt then move for- ward together, and as pin 71 of locking-block 90 7 rides up the incline in the casing at 73 the locking-block is forced into engagement with the groove 63 in the bolt, so that the barrel and bolt are locked together. When about at the limit of its forward movement, the for- 95 ward end of extension 29 of the barrel-piece strikes sear 22 and disengages this sear from the hammer, leaving the sear 23 in engage- ment and the gun in position for firing by bearing on the trigger 100. When the gun 100 is fired and as long as the trigger is held down and cartridges supplied, the automatic action of firing will be continued in manner as has been explained, the sear 22 then alternately holding and releasing the hammer. The ac- 105 tion of the bolt moves the cartridge-feed, as has been explained, and as long as there are cartridges in place in the belt the firing will continue unless trigger 100 is lifted, when the firing will cease. The cartridges are fed no forward by the bolt almost their whole length while the barrel is held back by the. barrel- latch. This allows them to feed into the re- ceiver just forward of the retracted position of the carrier with little lost motion. As the 115 barrel moves forward while the bolt is held back by the latch 51 a stud 139 on the left- hand side of the barrel extension, which ex- tends into the path of the cartridge, (the bolt being grooved to allow it,) comes into contact 120 with the rim of the fired shell as it is held back by the ejector and ejects the shell to the right through a suitable opening in the cas- ing. When the gun is fired, the barrel recoils to a position farther back than when the bolt 125 is drawn back by hand, and by its action on the cushion-rocker accelerates the backward movement of the bolt, while its own motion is gradually checked by the rocker, as explained. The bolt 6 has a bayonet-catch groove 600 cut 130 around the bore, in which the bolt-spring 66 is inserted, and the rod 67, which guides the spring, has a pin .602 projecting at one side, which pin can enter said groove, so that
4 678,937 when the spring is compressed and the rod forced into the bore of the bolt with its pin in the groove a partial turn of the rod will lock the spring in place, when the rear cover 5 A7 can be lifted if in place, as in Fig. 3, or can be applied to the casing if said cover has been removed and can then slide down over the rod. Then by drawing the bolt back the rear end of rod will project through the rear io cover, and by turning the rod the spring is released and bolt thrown forward, and the rear cover is retained in place by the rod 67 projecting through a hole in said cover A7. Mainspring 55 is a nearly flat spring, widest 15 at the middle and having wings 103, which can enter notches 104 in the casing and then pass forward in the usual manner of tongue- and-groove connections, so that the main- spring may be readily removed, but will be 20 firmly held when in place in the gun. The two ends of the mainspring bear upward against the hammer and barrel-latch, respec- tively. While the gun has been described as in po- 25 sition to move the cartridges laterally and to lock the bolt by a vertical movement of the locking-brace,it will be understood that these terms are relative and that the parts would generally be operative if the positions were 30 changed, as gravity is not relied on to oper- ate any part of the mechanism. So a change of location in many instances would not change the principles and mode of operation of the gun. The claims are intended to point 35 out the features of novelty, the use of equiva- lents being understood. What I claim is— 1. The combination of the main casing hav- ing longitudinal guide-grooves, of the barrel 40 and extension having guide-tongues which enter the grooves in the casing, and the breech-bolt adapted to slide in said extension and having tongues which enter the same grooves in the casing by which the barrel ex- 45 tension and bolt are both guided by the grooves in the casing and mutually support each other, substantially as described. 2. The combination of the casing having a cam-groove therein, of the barrel extension 50 having a mortise, the locking-block in said mortise having a pin projecting into said cam- groove, and the breech-bolt having a notch with which said block engages to lock the bolt to the barrel extension and the barrel- 55 latch operating to check the barrel and means for releasing the same, all substantially as described. 3. In a gun of the character described, the combination of the casing, the barrel and ex- 60 tension, and means for moving the barrel lengthwise in the casing, the bolt and means for moving the same lengthwise of the barrel extension the locking-block carried by the barrel extension and locking by movement 65 at right angles to the barrel and bolt, a bolt- latch engaging the bolt to hold it retracted, and operating means between the bolt and latch and barrel, whereby the forward move- ment of the barrel releases the bolt-latch, substantially as described. 70 4. The combination of the casing, the bar- rel and extension, the reciprocating bolt and a locking-block moving at right angles there- to and forced into locking engagement with the bolt by direct cam engagement with the 75 casing, a barrel-latch engaging the extension to hold the barrel retracted as described, and the bolt acting on said latch to trip the same, substantially as described. 5. The combination of the casing, barrel 80 and extension reciprocating therein, the bolt moving in line with the barrel and means for locking the two together, separate springs for moving the barrel and the bolt, the bolt-latch in the casing acting to retain the bolt in open 85 position and to be released by the barrel movement, and the barrel-latch engaging the barrel as described, and released by the bolt movement, all substantially as described. 6. The combination of the casing the bar- 90 rel and extension forming the receiver, and means for moving the barrel and receiver lengthwise in the casing, of a cartridge-car- rier pivotally connected to the receiver, en- gaging cartridges to draw them back with and 95 force them downward into the receiver, and means for closing the breech, substantially as described. 7. The combination of the casing, the bar- rel and its receiver arranged to reciprocate in 100 the casing, the carrier pivoted in the upper portion of the receiver in position to engage and draw back a cartridge as the receiver moves back, and a'spring-pressed plunger engaging the carrier above its pivot, and act- 105 ing to press the barrel forward by its pres- sure on the carrier, substantially as described. 8. The combination with the casing, the barrel and receiver reciprocating lengthwise therein, the cartridge-carrier pivoted in the no upper part of the receiver and spring-pressed from the rear, and the bolt reciprocating in the receiver and casing and engaging the car- tridge-carrier to swing the same upward, sub- stantially as described. 115 9. In a gun of the character described, the bolt and feed-cam attached thereto and recip- rocating longitudinally with the bolt a feed- lever pivoted to the casing and engaging such feed-cam to be oscillated thereby and also 120 engaging the cartridge-feed slide, the feed- slide moving in transverse guideways and actuated by said lever, and a feed-pawl 'car- ried by said slide, all combined substantially as described. 125 10. In a gun of the character described, the longitudinally-reciprocating bolt and a feed- cam attached thereto, the transversely-recip- rocating feed - slide and a pawl connected thereto and acting on the cartridges and belt 130 substantially as described, a lever pivoted in the frame and engaging said feed-cam and
678,937 S feed-slide, the feed-pawl on the feed-slide, and a feed-stop operating to hold the car- tridge-belt when not engaged by the feed- pawl, all combined. 5 11. The combination of the transversely- moving cartridge - feed slide, and a spring- pressed pawl carried thereby, said pawl hav- ing a plurality of engaging points or surfaces, whereby the pawl will beheld out of engage- io ment with the cartridge it should feed when an undrawn cartridge in the belt lifts the point of said pawl, substantially as described. 12. The combination of the casing, the - transversely-moving feed-slide, the pawl car- 15 ried thereby and having two engaging points whereby it is upheld and detached by an un- drawn cartridge, and a spring-actuated feed- stop having an inclined face toward the in- coming cartridge, and yielding directly down- 20 ward as the cartridge-belt moves over said stop, substantially as described. 13. The combination with the casing and reciprocating barrel, of the firing-hammer pivoted in the casing, and two sears engaging 25 said hammer to hold it cocked, one sear being in line of movement of the barrel to be re- leased thereby,the othersear being under con- trol of the trigger and a single spring bearing said sears in opposite directions into engage- 30 ment with the hammer, all substantially as described. 14. The combination of the easing, barrel, • and receiver sliding lengthwise in the casing, the hammer pivoted in the casing, and two 35 sears on a single pivot, engaging the hammer at opposite sides of their pivot, a spring bear- ing the noses of the sears into engagement with the hammer, means extending from the barrel by which one of the sears is tripped as 40 the barrel moves forward, and a trigger oper- atively engaging the second sear, all substan- tially as described. 15. The combination of the casing, barrel reciprocating lengthwise therein, and bolt 45 having additional movement in the line of the barrel movement, the cushion-rocker hav- ing a cam or snail face against which the bar- rel bears in its backward movement, and the bolt engaged by the long arm of said rocker, 50 whereby the rocker serves to check the barrel and convey its energy to the bolt, at the re- coil, substantially as described. 16. The combination with the casing and barrel reciprocating therein, of a cushion- rocker pivoted in the frame having a snail- 55 face against which the barrel engages with a constantly-increasing resistance as the barrel presses back the rocker, and means engaging the rocker by which the energy of the barrel recoil is transmitted to another moving part, 60 while the barrel is checked, substantially as described. 17. The combination with the bolt, bored from the rear, of a bayonet-catch groove sur-. rounding said bore and opening to the rear, 65 a rod having a pin projecting at the side to enter said groove, a coiled spring surround- ing the rod and acting to press the bolt for- ward when the rod is unlatched from the bay- onet-catch, and the casing having a perforated 70 rear face-plate against which the spring finds a bearing to press the bolt forward, while the rod retains the cover, substantially as de- scribed. 18. The combination with the casing hav- 75 ing undercut grooves, the hammer and bar- rel-latch, of the flat mainspring having side flanges to enter said grooves in the casing and be held thereby, in combination withthe ham- mer and the barrel-latch against which the 80 two ends of the mainspring bear, substan- tially as described. 19. In a gun of the character described, a reciprocating slide and a spring-pressed pawl carried thereby, said pawl having a contact- 85 shoulder to act as a pusher, and a point pro- jecting therefrom, combined with a slideway along which a flexible belt of cartridges is carried by said pawl, the belt collapsing under the point of the pawl when a cartridge is 90 withdrawn, but otherwise lifting the point so that the contact-shoulder fails to feed, all combined substantially as described. In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses. JOHN M. BROWNING. Witnesses: Josie Zitzman, John E. Ramsden.
No. 689,283. Patented Dec. 17, 1901. J. M. BROWNING. AUTOMATIC FIREARM. (Application filed Mar. 18, 1901. (No Model.') 5 Sheets—Sheet I. THE NORRIS HCTERS CO, PhOTO-UIMC- WASHINGTON. ft C.
No. 689,283. Patented Dec. 17, 1901. J. M. BROWNING. AUTOMATIC FIREARM. (Application filed Mar. 18, 1901.) No Model.) 5 Sheets—Sheet 2. TMt НОЛЯ» «ТЕМ CO.. PMOTO-UTHO. WASHINGTON. О. C.
No. 689,283. (No Model.) Patented Dec. 17, 1901. J. M. BROWNING. AUTOMATIC FIREARM. (Application filed Mar. 18, 1001.) 5 Sheets—Sheet 3. THS ЮЯММПМ CO. PHOTD-LITHO.. WASKINOTOH. O. c.
Patented Dec. 17, 1901. No. 689,283. J. M. BROWNING. AUTOMATIC FIREARM. (Application filed Mar. 18, 1001.} 5 Sheets—Sheet 4. (Ло Model.) «« ma. «о- «W. *
No. 689,283. Patented Dec. 17, 1901. J. M. BROWNING. AUTOMATIC FIREARM. (Application filed Mar. 18, 1001.) (No Model.) 5 Sheets—Sheet 5. THE HORhlJ РГТГГО p'>., PHOTO-llTHCX,' WASHINGTON. О. C.
United States Patent Office. JOHN M. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH. AUTOMATIC FIREARM. .‘SPECIFICATIONForming part of Letters Patent No. 689,283, dated December 17, 1901. Application filed March 18i 1901. Serial Ko, 51,697. (No model.) 'To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, JohnM. Browning, of Ogden, in the county of Weber and State of Utah, have invented a new Improvement in r5 Automatic Portable Firearms; and I do here- by declare the following, when taken in con- nection with the accompanying drawings and the numeralsof reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the чо same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in— Figure 1, a view in side elevation of a gun constructed in accordance with my invention looking at its left-hand side; Fig. 2, a corre- U5 sponding view looking at the right-hand side of the gun; Fig. 3, a view of the gun in ver- tical longitudinal section, showing the right- 'hand side of the mechanism; Fig. 4, a broken view, in vertical section, showing the contrac- :го tile collar-brake applied to the forward end of the magazine and coacting with the barrel- spring encircling the magazine and with the bevel upon the lug depending from the bar- rel; Fig. 5, a detached perspective view of •25 the contractile collar-brake; Fig. 6, a de- tached perspective view of the elamping-ring applied to the said collar-brake; Fig. 7, a broken plan view of the forward end of the re- ceiver and the rear end of the barrel, showing 30 the finger-piece of the sliding handle mounted in the bolt of the gun; Fig. 8, a broken view •of the gun, in vertical longitudinal section, showing the parts of the breech mechanism in the positions due to them when the bolt is 35 closed and locked; Fig. 9, a broken view, in horizontal section, taken through the for- ward end of the receiver and the rear end of the magazine and showing in particular the combined cartridge-stop and carrier-lock and .40 the safety cartridge-stop on the opposite side of the receiver therefrom; Fig. 10, a broken view, in vertical section, on the line a b of Fig. 8, showing the location of the safety car- tridge-stop in its recess in the left-hand wall .45 of the receiver; Fig. 11, a detached perspec- tive view of the safety eartridge-stop; Fig. 12, a detached view, in inside elevation, of the combined cartridge - stop and carrier-lock; Fig. 13, a broken view, in left-hand side ele- 30 vation, showing the clearance-groove in the barrel extension; Fig. 14, a view in vertical section of the barrel extension on the line cd of the preceding figure; Fig. 15, a detached perspective view of the bolt of the gun and the operating-link thereof; Fig. 16, a de- 55 tached view, in side elevation, of the sliding handle of the gun; Fig. 17, a detached plan view thereof; Fig. 18, a detached end view thereof looking at its rear end; Fig. 19, a broken view, in side elevation, of the oper- 60 ating-linkof the gun with its rear end broken , away; Fig. 20, a broken plan view showing how the rear end of the sliding handle coacts with the forward end of the operating-link and also with the tumbler; Fig. 21, a broken 65 view, in vertical section, through the receiver of the gun, showing the-boltin its open posir tion and the coaction of the locking-dog mounted in the carrier withthe pivotal tum- bler; Fig. 22, a detached reverse plan view 70 of the tumbler, showing the notch formed in it for the reception of the locking-dog of the carrier; Fig. 23, a detached view, in left- hand side elevation, of the tang of the gun, showing in particular the safety-dog in co- 75 action with the safety-finger of the hammer; , Fig. 24, a less comprehensive detail showing the safety-dog as released from the safety- finger of ‘the hammer; Fig. 25, a detached plan view of the parts shown by Fig. 23; Fig. 80 26, a detail view, in right-hand side elevation, showing the mode of mounting the safety-dog in the tang of the gun; Fig. 27, a broken de- tail view, in vertical section, on the line e f of Fig. 26 looking forwardly. 85 My invention relates to an improvement in automatic portable firearms of the class in which the recoil following the explosion of a cartridge in the gun-barrel is utilized to op- erate the breech mechanism of the gun. 90 More particularly my invention relates to an improvement upon the arm shown and de- scribed in United States Patent No. 659,507, granted to me under date of October 9,1900. The object of my present invention is to 95 simplify and improve the gun of the said patent. With these ends in view iny invention con- sists in certain details of construction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter it о described, and pointed out in the claims. Before proceeding to a detail description of my present gun I may say that in view of the fact that many of its features correspond to
689,283 5 ю 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 5° 55 60 65 й those of the grin of my said patent I shall not enter into a detailed description of the con- struction and operation of those features herein. In carrying out my present invention Fern- ploy a sliding handle 2, located in a longitu- dinal groove 3, formed to receive it in the right-hand side of the breech-bolt 4, the up- per a.nd lower edge of the said handle being formed with longitudinal retaining and guid- ing ribs 6 and 6. This handle is provided at its forward end with a laterally-projecting fin- ger-piece 7, which projects ontward through the ejection-opening 8, formed in the right- hand wall of the frame or receiver 9 of the gun, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. At its rear end the said handle is formed with an in- wardly-projecting lug 10, the rear edge of which coacts with a shoulder 11, formed by the forward end of the right-hand wall of the operating-link 12, the extreme forward end of which consists of a tongue 13, entering a slot 14, formed in the lower face of the tumbler 15, with which the tongue is connected by means of a pin 16. The said tumbler 15 is located in a chamber 17, formed to receive it in the breech-bolt 4, in which it swings upon a pin 18. The said tumbler is provided with a lug 19, entering a notch 20 in the vertieally-mov- able locking-block 21, also mounted in the breech-bolt, and raised and lowered when the tumbler is rocked, whereby the upper end of the said locking-block is shot into or with- drawn from a locking-opening 22, formed in the segmental extension 23 of the gun-barrel 24. The said tumbler and locking-block hav- ing been fully described in my prior patent do not need detailed description here. As shown, the shoulder 11 is formed with a re- inforcement 25; but this is not essential. As shown also, the lower end of the tumbler 15 is formed with a shoulder 26 for coaction with the forward edge of the lug 10 of the sliding handle, as well as for coaction with the locking-dog 27 of the pivotal carrier 28, as will be described later on. At its rear end the link 12 is shaped to form a nose 29, entering a socket 30, formed in the head 31 of a plunger 32, which is set into the for- ward end of a coiled operating-spring 33, the forward portion of which is located in a bore 34, formed in the tang 35. The rear portion of the said spring is housed in a tube 36, con- stituting an extension of the tang, and en- tering an inclined bore formed to receive it in the butt-stock 37. The rear end of this tube is closed by a plug 38. The said spring 33 exerts a constant effort through the plun- ger 35 and the link 12 to push the breech- bolt 4 forward into its closed position. To retract the upper end of the locking-block 21 from the locking-opening 22 in the barrel ex- tension 23 and so unlock the breech-bolt, the user of the arm grasps and exerts a rearward pull or pressure upon the finger-piece 7 of the sliding handle, whereby the lug 10 at the rear end of the handle engages with the shoulder 11 of the operating-link and forces the samb rearward for a short distance against the ten- sion of the operating-spring 33. The link 12 70 being moved rearward, the pivotal tumbler 15 is turned on its pin 18, so as to move the locking-block downward out of the locking- opening 22 in the barrel extension. The breech-bolt is now unlocked, and pressure or 75 pull upon the finger-piece being continued the breech-bolt may readily be moved to the limit of its rearward excursion. It is to be understood, of course, that the sliding han- dle 2 is provided for unlocking and opening 80 the breech-bolt by hand, either for the pur- pose of inserting the first cartridge or for re- moving a cartridge, or for any other purpose. When the gun is fired, the ensuing recoil moves the barrel, the barrel extension, and 85 the breech-bolt rearward together in their locked relations. When they reach their open position, the locking-dog 27 immediately enters the notch 39 formed in the lower face of the pivotal tumbler 15, directly in front of 90 the shoulder 26, before mentioned. Now when the spiral barrel-spring 40 reacts to re- store the barrel to its normal position it op- erates through the barrel 24 and barrel-ex- tension 23 and the locking-block 21 to pull 95 the breeeh-bolt forward, and everything con- nected with it, including the pivotal tumbler 15, the lower end of which is engaged with the locking-dog 27. The result of this is that the tumbler 15 turns on its pin 18 and forces the 100 locking-block 21 downward clear of the bar- rel extension 23, so as to leave the barrel and barrel extension free to be moved forward into their normal positions under the action of the barrel-spring 40. The turning of the 105 tumbler 15 on its pin 18, as described, disen- gages it from the locking-dog 27. The location of a handle directly in the breech-bolt for the purpose of manually opening the same secures a very convenient no position for it, enables it to be simply con- structed,reduces the cutting of the butt-stock to the minimum,and enables any form of butt- stock to be used. I may state in this con- nection that the tumbler 15 is locked in its 115 open position by means of a locking-lever 41 hung upon a pin 42. The construction and action of this lever are the same as in the gun of my patent referred to, and will not be de- tailed herein. 120 I may here mention that in assembling the gun the handle 2 is passed into the receiver 9 of the gun th'rongh the ejection-opening 8 thereof and that the breech-bolt is introduced into the receiver through the forward end 125 thereof, which is open. The breech-bolt and handle are now respectively moved, so that the forward end of the handle is entered into the rear end of the handle-groove 3 in the breech-bolt. Preparatory to sliding the han- 130 die into the groove in the breeeh-bolt the link 12 is allowed to drop down, so as to carry its shoulderll below the inwardly-projectinglug 10 at the rear end of the handle. Then when
689,283 ' 3 the handle is in place the link is lifted, caus- ing the shoulder 11 to rise in rear of the said lug, whereby the sliding handle is retained in place. When, on the other hand, it is de- 5 sired to dismember the gun, the rear end of the link is moved out of the socket 30 in the head 31 of the follower 32. The link may now be dropped, so that its shoulder 11 will fall below the lower edge of the lug 10 of the io sliding handle, which may then be very easily slipped out of the breech-bolt and removed from the gun through the ejection-opening 8 thereof. A leaf-like safety cartridge-stop 43 is loca- 15 ted in a recess 44, formed to receive it in the right-hand wall of the receiver 9, as shown in Fig. 10. This stop swings upon a vertical pivot 45, passing through its rear end, as shown in Fig. 9, and is constantly pushed in- 20 ward by means of a spiral spring 46, located in the recess 44; but this spring might be re- placed by a leaf-spring. At its forward end the said stop is furnished with an upwardly- projecting operating-finger 47, by means of 25 which the stop is crowded back against the tension of the spring 46 into its recess 44, whereby the forward edge 48 of the stop is cleared from the path of the cartridges 49. A clearance-groove 50, in which the end of the 30 finger 47 is received, is formed in the side of the barrel extension near the front end there- of and permits the stop 43 to swing inward; but when the finger rides out of the rear end of the groove at the point 51 in Fig. 13 the 35 stop is crowded outward into its retired posi- tion. The stop above described supplements the action of the combined eartridge-stop and car- rier-lock 52, located in a recess 53 in the right- 40 hand wall of the receiver 9. The part 52 does hot need detail description as to its construc- tion or operation, because it is substantially like the corresponding part in the gun of the patent referred to. The forward end of the 45 part 52, it will be enough to say, acts as a cartridge-stop by engaging with the heads of the cartridges while they are still in the maga- zine 70, while its rear end moves over the up- per edge of the pivotal carrier 28 and locks 50 the same in its depressed position. The object of my safety cartridge-stop 43 is to prevent a cartridge from feeding rearward from the magazine 70 and operating upon the cartridge-stop and carrier-lock 52 so as to un- 55 lock the carrier prior to the complete return of the barrel to its normal or forward position, for it might happen that a cartridge would be fed rearward so fast as to unlock the carrier before the barrel had had time to return to its 60 forward position. When the gun is being op- erated by hand, the safety-stop is kept in its retired and inoperative position by the barrel extension 23, the part 51 of which engages with the finger 47 of the stop and keeps the same 65 crowded outward into its recess 44, for it must be remembered that when the gun is opera- ted by hand the barrel and barrel extension do not move. When, however, the gun is being automatically reloaded by the action of the recoil, the cartridge being fed after pass- 70 ing the forward end of the part 52 will be en- gaged with the forward edge 48 of the safety- stop 43, which will at this time be in its op- erating position by reason of the fact that the rearward movement of the barrel and barrel 75 extension will have brought a portion of the clearance-groove 50 of the extension into reg- istration with the finger 47 of the stop 43, which will thus be free to be pushed inward by its spring 46. Now as the stop 43 will not 80 be pushed into its retired position until the finger 47 rides out of the rear end of the clear- ance-groove 50 the stop 43 will not be crowded back into its position so as to release the partly-fed cartridge u ntil the barrel extension, 85 and hence the barrel, have been returned to their normal positions. Just before this oc- curs the stop will be crowded into its retired position, so as to release the partly-fed car- tridge and allow the same to jnmp rearward 90 and operate the rear end of the part 52 in un- locking the carrier, which is thus prevented from being unlocked until after the barrel is in its proper position for being loaded, so that the fouling of the.gun is prevented. 95 To prevent the hfimmerfroin being released until the breech-bolt is in its closed and locked position, I employ a safety-dog 54, which is mounted upon a pin 55 in the tang 56 at a point directly to the rear of the ham- 100 ner 57, which is formed at its extreme rear end with a long safety-finger 58, notched at its lower extremity for the reception of the nose of the dog, as shown in Fig. 23. This dog is provided upon its right-hand side with 105 a laterally-projecting flange 59, the forward end of which is impinged against by a spiral spring 60, which exerts a constant effort to keep the nose of the dog in engagement with the finger 58. The upper end of the dog is no shaped to form an arm 61, extending into the long opening 62, formed in the link 12 for the upward passage through the link of the ham- mer 57. The rear wail of the opening 62 is formed with a notch 63, which coacts with the 115 arm 61 to tilt the upper end of the dog 54 for- ward aud disengage the nose at its lower end from the safety-finger 58 of the hammer, just as the link 12 has completed that Anal por- tion of its forward movement which swings 120 the tumbler 15 and lifts the locking-bolt 21 into its locking position, which occurs after the breech-bolt 4 has reached its fully-closed position. It will thus be seen that even if the hammer 57 is released bjT the action of the 125 trigger 64 i t will still be detained by the safety- dog 54 unless the same has been tilted, as de- scribed, and that that tilting cannot take place until the breech-bolt has been closed and locked and when it is safe to fire the gun. 130 I shall not describe the peculiar construc- tion of the hammer 57 and the trigger 64, as that is fully set forth in my patent before re- ferred to, nor is it necessary for me for the
4= 689,283 5 ю 15 20 2 5 3° 35 4° 45 5° 55 6o 65 same reason to describe the firing-pin 65 and its retraction by the tumbler 15. In order to reduce the shock of recoil upon the rear end of the frame of the gun to reduce the shock of the return of the barrel to its normal position under the action of the bar- rel-spring and to prevent any rattling in the connection between the barrel and the maga- zine,! employ a contractile collar-brake which operates frictionally upon the magazine and consisting of a split collar 66, formed at its forward end with a conical or beveled flange 67, which is also split, so as to be contractile. The collar 66 is encircled by a split clamping- collar 68, preferably made of steel and exert- ing a constant effort to contract the collar 66 and the beveled or conical flange 67 thereof. This composite brake is interposed between the forward end of the barrel-spring 40 and the rear edge of the perforated lug 69, de- pending from the gun-barrel24 and adapted to receive the forward end of the tabular magazine 70. The rear face of the perforated lug 69 is formed with a beveled shoulder 71 to coaet with the beveled flange 67 of the brake. When the gun is fired and the barrel starts rearward, a portion of the force of the recoil will act through the beveled shoulder 71 upon the beveled flange 67, which will be contracted and which will in turn contract the collar 66, so as to cause the same to grasp the magazine 70 and slide over the same with sufficient resistance to materially reduce the shock of recoil and prevent the rear end of the bolt from being impinged with too much severity upon the rear end of the receiver 9. This I call the “recoil-braking action ” of my improved composite collar-brake. Now when the barrel-spring 40 operates to return the barrel to its normal position the split clamp- ing-collar 68 operates by its contractile power to squeeze the collar 66 upon the magazine with sufficient power to develop enough fric- tion to moderate the action of the spring 40. This may be called the “barrel-spring-brak- ing action ” of my improved composite collar- brake. Of course the crowding of the flange 67 of the collar 66 forward against the bevel- shoulder 71 heightens the clamping action to a certain extent during the return movement of the barrel. Furthermore, at all times the coaction of the flange 67 and shoulder 71 pre- vents any rattling between the barrel and the magazine due to their connection through the perforated lug 69. It will be understood that the braking action is greater during the re- coil movement of the barrel than during the return movement of the barrel, and that is as it should be, because the power of the recoil is always greater than the power of the bar- rel-spring. In view of the modifications suggested and of others which may obviously be made I would have it understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction shown and described, but hold myself at liberty to make such departures therefrom as fairly fall with- in the spirit and scope of my invention. Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters 70 Patent, is— 1. In a magazine-firearm, the combination with the breech-bolt thereof, of a handle mounted directly in the bolt for longitudinal sliding movement therein, and provided with 75 a finger-piece extending laterally outward through the frame or receiver of the gun. 2. In a magazine-firearm, the combination with a frame or receiver formed in its right- hand wall with an ejection-opening, of a 80 breech-bolt, and a handle mounted in the bolt for longitudinal sliding movement there- in, and provided with a finger-piece extending laterally outward through the said opening. 3. In a magazine-firearm, the combination 85 with a recoiling barrel and barrel extension, of a breech - bolt, breech mechanism con- nected with the bolt and operated by the re- coil for reloading the gun, and a sliding han- dle mounted directly in the bolt and having 90 a lateral projection extending through the frame of the gun for use in opening the gun manually. 4. In a magazine-firearm, the combination with a recoiling barrel and barrel extension, 95 of a breech-bolt, a vertically-movable lock- ing-block movable therein for engaging with the barrel extension to which the bolt is thus locked, means connected with the said block and operated automatically to move the same 100 into its locked position, and a sliding handle mounted in the bolt for manually unlocking the said block. 5. In a magazine-firearm, the combination with a recoiling barrel and barrel extension, 105 of a breech-bolt, a vertically-movable block for engagement with the barrel extension to which the bolt is thus locked, means for au- tomatically moving the block into its un- locked position, and a sliding handle mount- no ed directly in the bolt, having a projection through the frame of the gun, and coacting with the said means for manually moving the block into its unlocked position, whereby the bolt is unlocked, after which it is moved into 115 its open position by the handle. 6. In a magazine-firearm, the combination with a recoiling barrel and barrel extension, of a breech-bolt, a vertically-movable lock- ing-block therein for eoaction with the said 120 extension in locking the bolt in its closed po- sition, a rocking tumbler also mounted in the said bolt and coacting with the said block for moving it into its locked and unlocked po- sitions, and a sliding handle mounted di- 125 rectly in the bolt, having a projection through the frame or receiver of the gun, and coact- ing with the said tumbler for the manual op- eration thereof. 7. In a magazine-firearm, the combination 130 with a recoiling barrel and barrel extension, of a breech-bolt, a locking-block mounted
689,386 therein and coacting with the said extension for locking the bolt thereto, a rocking tum- bler also mounted in the said bolt and coact- ing with the said block for moving the same 5 into its locked and unlocked positions, a link connected, with the said tumbler and extend- ing rearwardly therefrom,an operating-spring coacting with the rear end of the said link, and a sliding handle mounted directly in the io bolt and coacting with the forward end of the link for manually operating the said tumbler in moving the said block into its unlocked po- sition. 8. In a magazine-firearm, the combination 15 with a recoiling barrel and barrel extension, of a breech-bolt formed with a longitudinal handle-receiving groove,a vertieally-movable locking-block mounted in the said bolt, a rock- ing .tumbler also mounted in the said bolt and 20 coacting with the block for moving the same into its locked and unlocked positions, an operating-link connected with the said tum- bler, an operating-spring coacting with the said link to push the bolt forward, and aslid- 25 ing handle mounted directly in the bolt, hav- ing a projection through the frame or receiver of the gun, and at its rear end coacting with the said link for manually operating the said tumbler, and confined in its groove in the 30 bolt by means of the said link when the same is in its normal position. 9. In a magazine-firearm, the combination with a recoiling barrel and barrel extension, of a breech-bolt, a vertieally-movable loeking- 35 block mounted therein, a rocking tumbler also mounted in the said bolt and coacting with the said block for moving the same into its locked and unlocked positions, an operat- ing-link connected at its forward end with the 40 said tumbler which it automatically operates, and provided with an abutment-shoulder, a spring coacting with the said link which it moves forward, and a sliding handle mount- ed directly in the bolt, provided with a lateral 45 projection extending through the frame or receiver of the gun, and also provided with an inwardly-extending arm for coaction with the abutment-shoulder of the link which is thereby manually operated for unlocking the 50 bolt and moving the same manually into its open position. 10. In a magazine-firearm., the combination with a recoiling barrel and barrel extension, of a swinging carrier, a combined cartridge- 55 stop and carrier catch or lock, and a pivotal safety cartridge-stop brought into operation by the recoil of the gun for preventing the premature operation of the said combined part in unlocking the carrier by a cartridge 60 released by the said. part. 11. In a magazine-firearm, the combination with a recoiling barrel and barrel extension, of a swinging carrier, a combined cartridge- stop and carrier catch or lock, a pivotal leaf- 65 like safety cartridge-stop swinging on a ver- tically-arranged pivot, and brought into op- . eration by the recoil of the gun for preyen t- b ing the premature operation of the said com- bined part in unlocking the carrier by a car- tridge released by the said part, and a spring 70 for moving the said safety-stop into its oper- ating position. 12. In a magazine-firearm, the combination with a recoiling barrel and barrel extension, of a combined cartridge - stop and carrier- 75 catch stopping the cartridges with its forward end, and locking the carrier with its rear end, and a leaf-like safety cartridge-stop located opposite the said combined part and coacting with the said extension which permits it to 80 act as a cartridge-stop until the barrel has been returned to its normal position when the stop is retired to permit the cartridge already released by the said combined part to operate the said part in unlocking the carrier. 85 13. In a magazine-firearm, the combination with a reciprocating barrel and barrel exten- sion, of a pivotal carrier, a combined car- tridge-stop and carrier-catch for stopping the cartridges at its forward end and locking the go carrier at its rear end, and a leaf-like safety cartridge-stop swinging on a vertically-ar- ranged pivot, located opposite the said com- bined part, and formed with an upwardly- projecting finger eoacting with the said ex- 95 tension which permits the said stop to swing inwardly into its operating position in which it prevents the premature operation of the said combined part in unlocking the carrier, and the said extension also forcing the stop 100 into its retired position when the barrel has reached its normal position after which the cartridge being fed is free to operate the com- bined part in unlocking the carrier. 14. In a magazine-firearm, the combination 105 with a recoiling barrel and barrel extension, of a reciprocating breeeh-bolt, a vertieally- movable locking-block mounted therein, a rocking tumbler for operating the said block, a swinging carrier, and a locking-dog mount- 119 ed in the rear end of the said carrier itself, and coacting with the said tumbler for lock- ing the breech-bolt at the limit of its rear- ward excursion. 15. In a magazine-firearm, the combination 115 with a reciprocating bolt, of a vertically-mov- able locking-block mounted therein, an oper- ating-link connected with the said block for automatically operating the same to lock the bolt after the same has reached its closed po- 129 sition, a hammer, and a safety hammer-dog operated for releasing the hammer by the rear end of the said link, after the bolt has been closed and locked. 16. In a magazine-firearm, the combination 12,5 with a reciprocating bolt, of a vertically-mov- able locking-block mounted therein, an oper- ating-link connected with the said block for . automatically operating the same to lock the bolt after the same has reached its closed po- 130 sition, a hammer formed at its rear end with a safety-finger, a vertically-arranged safety hammer-dog coacting atits lower end with the said finger, and means coacting with the up-
€3 689,283 per end of the dog for operating the same to release the hammer after the bolt has been closed and locked. 17. In a magazine-firearm, the combination 5 with a recoiling barrel and barrel extension, ofa reciprocating bolt,a locking-block mount- ed therein, a rocking tumbler also mounted in the bolt for operating the said block, a link connected at its forward end with the said io inmblerandextendingrearwardly therefrom, an operating-spring coacting with the rear end of the link, a hammer extending up- wardly through the said link, and a safety hammer-dog operated by the said link for те- 15 leasing the hammer after the bolt has been closed and locked. 18. In a magazine-gun, the combination with a recoiling barrel, of a friction-brake connected with the barrel and operating 2э throughout the recoiling movement of the barrel for reducing the shock of recoil. 19. In a magazine-firearm, the combination with a recoiling barrel, of a friction-brake connected with the barrel to move rearward 25 therewith and reduce the shock of recoil. 20. In a magazine-firearm, the combination with a recoiling barrel, of a tubular magazine, and a friction-brake eoacting with the maga- zine over which it rides to reduce the shock 30 of recoil. 21. In a magazine-firearm, the combination with a recoiling barrel of a friction-brake con- nected with the barrel and reducing the shock when the barrel is recoiling and breaking the 35 shock following the return of the barrel to its normal position. 22. In a magazine-firearm, the combination with a recoiling barrel of a barrel-spring for returning the same to its normal position af- 40 ter recoil, a tubular magazine, and a friction- brake mounted upon the magazine and riding forward over the same to reduce the power of the barrel-spring in returning the barrel. 23. In a magazine-firearm, the combination 45 with the receiverand tubular magazine there- of, of a recoiling barrel and barrel extension, a barrel-spring encircling the magazine for restoring the barrel to its normal position, and a contractile collar-brake applied to the 50 magazine and interposed between the for- ward end of the said barrel-spring and the connection of the magazine with the barrel, and contracted by the action of recoil to grasp the magazine, whereby the shock of recoil is 55 in part absorbed. 21. In a magazine-firearm, the combination with the receiverand tubular magazine there- of, of a recoiling barrel provided with a per- forated lug receiving the forward end of the magazine, a barrel-spring encircling the mag- 60 azine, and a contractile collar-brake inter- posed between the forward end of the spring and the said lug, and provided with a spring clamping-collar, the said collar-brake being clamped upon the magazine through the me- 65 dium of the said lug during recoil, and being contracted upon the magazine through the medium of the said clamping-collar during the return of the barrel to its normal position. 25. Ina magazine-firearm, the combination 70 with the receiver and magazine thereof, of a recoiling barrel having a depending perfo- rated lug through which the forward end of the magazine passes, and formed with a bev- eled shoulder, of a barrel-spring encircling 75 the magazine, and a collar-brake interposed between the forward end of the said spring and the beveled shoulder of the lug, and formed with a beveled flange eoacting with the beveled shoulder of the lug for clamping 80 the collar upon the magazine during the re- coil of the barrel. 26. In a magazine-gun, the combination with a recoiling barrel and barrel extension, of a cartridge-stop eoacting with the barrel 85 extension, whereby the stop assumes its op- erating position during the first part of the recoil movement of the barrel and is retired into its inoperative position by the barrel during the last part of the return movement 90 thereof. 27. In a magazine-gun, the combination with a recoiling barrel, of a swinging carrier, means for locking the same in its depressed position, the said means being adapted to be 95 operated to unlock the carrier by a cartridge, and a cartridge-stop brought into action dur- ing the recoil of the barrel to prevent the car- tridge from operating the said means until after the barrel has completed its recoiling 100 movement and returned to its closed or nor- mal position. In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscrib- ing witnesses. JOHN M. BROWNING. Witnesses: A. L. Ulrich, S. Monks.
No. 701,288. Patented June 3, 1902. J. M. BROWNING. RECOIL OPERATED FIREARM. (Application filed Mar, 18, 1901,) (No Model.) 4 Sheets—Sheet I.
No. 701,288. Patented June 3, 1902. J. M. BROWNING. RECOIL OPERATED FIREARM. (No Model.) (Application filed Mar. 18, 1901.) 4 Sheets—Sheet 2.
Patented June 3, 1902. No. 701,288. J. M. BROWNING. RECOIL OPERATED FIREARM. (Application filed Mar. 18, 1901.) St (No Model.) 4 Sheets—Sheet 3.
Patented June 3, 1902. No. 701,288. J. M; BROWNING. RECOIL OPERATED FIREARM. (Application £16(1 Mar. 18, 1901.) (No Model.) 4 Sheets—Sheet 4. £❖
United States Patent Office. JOHN M. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH. RECOIL-OPERATED FIREARM. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 701,288, dated June 3, 1902. Application filed March 18,1901. Serial No. 61,698. (No model.) to all whom il may con,ccrn: Be it known that I, JOHN M. BROWNING, of Ogden, in the county of Weber and State of Utah, have invented a new Improvement in 5 Recoil-Operated Firearms; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connec- tion with the accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be . a full, clear, and exact description of the same, io and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in— Figure 1, a broken view, in right-hand side elevation, of a gun constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2, a similar but less 15 comprehensive plan view; Fig. 2a, a view in front elevation of the frame or receiver stripped of its applied parts; Fig. 2Ъ, a view in rear elevation of the take-down head lo- cated upon the rear end of the barrel-jacket; 20 Fig. 3, a broken left-hand side view of the gun; Fig. 4, a detached broken view in right- hand side elevation, showing the barrel ex- tension, the fore-arm, and the rear end of the jacket inclosing the barrel; Fig. 5, a broken 25 view, partly in vertical longitudinal section and partly in elevation, showing the breech mechanism of the gun in the closed and fired positions thereof and also showing the take- down feature of the gun; Fig. 6, a broken 30 view, in vertical section, through the barrel- jacket, showing the barrel in elevation; Fig. 7,a view in vertical transverse section through the barrel-jacket on the line а b of Fig. 6; Fig. 8, a broken view of the gun, partly in 35 side elevation and partly in vertical section, showing the parts of the breech mechanism as locked together during the recoil of the barrel and showing the barrel at the limit of its recoiling movement and still coupled with 40 the breech-bolt of the breech mechanism; Fig. 9, a corresponding view showing the gun as open, the barrel having now been unlocked from the breech-bolt and returned to its nor- mal position; Fig. 10, a detached view, in left- 45 hand side elevation, of the tang of the gun, showing the hammer and the safety-dog there- of; Fig. 11, a plan view of the same parts; Fig. 12, a detail view in elevation, showing the hammer, the trigger, and the safety-dog 50 in the firing position of the hammer; Fig. 13, a view comprising views in side elevation and plan of the safety-dog; Fig. 14, a view I comprising a side elevation and a plan view of the hammer. My invention relates to an improvement in 55 recoil-operated firearms, its object being to construct a comparatively simple, durable, effective, and safe arm, following the general plan and in some particulars the construc- tion of the arm shown and described in United 60 States Patent No. 659,786, granted to me un- der date of October 16, 1900. With these ends in view my invention con- sists in certain' details of construction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter 65 described, and pointed out in the claims. As my present invention is virtually an improvement upon the arm of my prior pat- ent above referred to, I shall confine myself for the most part to describing the features 70 of my present improvement without going into a further description of the construc- tion and operation' of the arm than is inci- dentally necessary in connection with fea- tures of present novelty. 75 In carrying out my invention I secure a handle or hand-grip 2 directly and rigidly to the right-hand side of the forward end of the chambered bolt-carrier 3, which receives the rotatable breech-bolt 4, the said bolt-carrier 80 and. breech-bolt constituting the breech-clo- sure of the gun and corresponding to the same parts in my said prior patent. The said han- dle projects laterally through the loading and ejecting opening 5, formed in the gun frame 85 or receiver 6, and in the rearward portion of its excursion forward and back moves in a narrow longitudinal slot 7, leading out of the rear end of the said opening 5, the stem 8 of the handle being made flat and arranged hori- 90 zontally for being received by the said slot. In manually opening the gun preparatory to loading it the breech-bolt and bolt-carrier are drawn back into their open positions by means of this handle rather than through the medium 95 of the operating-link 9, as in the construction of my prior patent. For this reason it is not necessary that the rear end of the link should be pivotally connected with the plunger 10, which is surrounded by the bolt-spring 11, as iod in my said patented construction; but the rear end of the link terminates in a nose 12, which has a ball-and-socket movement in a socket 13, formed in the head of the plunger.
701,388 In my present construction the barrel 14 of the gun is inclosed very nearly throughout its entire length by means of a tubular bar- rel-jacket 15, made of steel or equivalent 5 material and forming a support for the bar- rel in its recoiling and returning movements. An external screw-thread formed upon the extreme forward end of the barrel receives an internally-threaded collar 15a, formed at io its rear end with an annular shoulder 16, which in the normal position of the barrel fits within the outer end of a bushing 17, hav- ing external threads which take into internal threads formed within the extreme forward 15 end of the jacket, the extreme forward edge of which abuts against a shoulder 18, formed at the outer end of the bushing 17. A spiral barrel-spring 19,encircling the barrel 14,abuts at its forward end against the shoulder 16 of 20 the collar 15a and at its rear end against the inwardly-turned flange 20 of a tubular stop 21, which extends forward over a portion of the said barrel - spring. The said tubular stop 21 itself rests against the forward coil 25 of a heavierand larger, but much shorter, buf- fer-spring 22, also encircling the barrel 14 and resting at its rear end against an abutment- collar 23, fixed within the barrel-jacket. When the gun is fired, the barrel recoils 30 against the tension of the barrel-spring 19 until the rear portion of the collar 15я on the barrel strikes the forward end of the tubular stop, at which time the barrel-spring has been entirely forced within the same and at which 35 time the force of recoil is transferred from the barrel-spring to the stop, which transmits it to the heavier buffer-spring 22, which is thus compressed in addition to the compres- sion of the barrel-spring, whereby both springs 40 act in reducing the shock of recoil. I par- ticularly wish to point out that the buffer- spring 22, being stiffer than the barrel-spring 19, markedly increases the resistance to re- coil just before the rear end of the bolt-car- 45 rier 3 impinges against the wall 21 of the gun frame or receiver. On the other hand, when the barrel begins its return or forward move- ment the barrel-spring 19 is for a brief period reinforced and assisted by the heavier buffer- 50 spring 22, which recovers in time to assist the barrel-spring in starting the spent shell, which is subsequently extracted and which very often requires considerable power to start it. In order to provide for taking the gun down 55 for convenience in packing and transporting it, I locate what I shall term a “take-down head ” at the rear end of the barrel-jacket 15. This take-down head is preferably made in one piece and comprises a body 25, the up- 60 per portion of which is formed with an inter- nally-threaded ophning 26 for the reception of the externally-threaded rear end of the bar- rel-jacket 15 and the lower portion of which is formed with a threadless bolt-hole 27 for 65 the reception of a removable screw-bolt 28, the head of which is received in a chamber 29, formed in the rear end of the fore-stock 30, which is secured in place by a screw 31, passing up through the stock into an inter- nally-threaded post 32, depending from the 70 barrel-jacket. The plate 26a, forming a part of the take-down head, is made oval in gen- eral form, Fig. 2b, so as to conform it to the cross-sectional form of the forward end, Fig. 2a, of the gun frame or receiver 6. The rear 75 face of this plate, which might also be termed a “ flange,” is formed with a shoulder 33, con- forming to the plate in outline and adapted to enter a shallow recess 34, formed in the forward end of the receiver 6, so as to fit 80 therein closely. The threaded rear end of the screw-bolt 28 takes into a threaded open- ing 35, formed in the forward end of the re- ceiver. When the said bolt is turned by means of the bolt-head at its forward end, the 85 shoulder 33 of the take-down head is drawn into the recess 34 and the edge of the plate or flange 26a seated firmly against the ex- treme forward edge of the receiver, whereby the take-down head is firmly secured in place, 90 so as to give a solid support for the barrel- jacket, which incloses and supports the bar- rel. To take down the gun, it is only neces- sary to remove the fore-stock 30 and then the screw-bolt 28, which permits the barrel-jacket 95 and the barrel to be separated from the rest of the gun. In order to prevent the hammer 36 from falling before the gun has been closed and locked, even though the hammer may have 100 been released by the trigger, I employ a safety-dog 37, which in my present gun per- forins the twofold function of locking the bolt-carrier 3 in its open position and of holding the hammer against falling until the 105 gun has been closed and locked. In its gen- eral construction and arrangement this dog 37 corresponds to the part P shown and de- scribed in my said prior patent; but as I now construct it it has the additional function of no coacting as a safety-dog with the hammer. The dog 37 rocks upon a screw-pivot 38, mounted in the tang 39, and is formed at its rear end with a nose 40, which enters a lock- ing-notch 41, formed in the bolt-carrier. At 115 its forward end the dog is formed with an arm 42, terminating in a hook 43, and also with a beveled operating-arm 44. The said hook 43 coacts with a small lug 45, formed near the base of the hammer 36, while the 120 arm 44 of the dog coacts with the rear end of a lever 46, hung upon a pivot 47, mounted in the receiver and formed at its forward end with a eain-like surface 48 and with a notch 49, located just in front of the said surface. 125 When the gun is fired, the barrel 14, the barrel extension 50, the breeeh-bolt 4, and the bolt-carrier 3 recoil together into the po- sitions shown by Fig. 8 of the drawings, in which the nose 40 of the dog 37 snaps into 130 the locking-notch 41 in the bolt-carrier 3, which is thus locked in its open position. At the same time the forward end of the dog is depressed so as to bring the hook 43 of its
701,388 3 arm 42 into engagement with the lug 45 of the hammer 3G, which is thrown back into its cocked position by the riding of the bolt- carrier 3 over it. The buffer-spring 22 and 5 the barrel-spring 19 now act immediately to cause the rotation of the breech-bolt 4, where- by the same is unlocked from the barrel ex- tension 50, leaving the same and the barrel 14 free to be returned to their normal posi- :o tion by the action of the said springs. Just before they reach the limit of their forward movement the lug 51, depending from the barrel extension, passes over the cam-like surface 48 of the lever 46, whereby the for- s 5 ward end of the lever is depressed, with the effect of lifting its rear end and turning the dog 37 so as to disengage its nose 40 from the locking-notch 41 of the bolt-carrier 3. At the same time the hook 43 of the dog 38 is lifted го above and out of engagement with the lug 45 of the hammer, which, however, is at this time held in its fully-depressed position by the bolt-carrier 3, as shown in Fig. 9; but when the lug 51 passes over the cam-like sur- 25 face 48 into registration with the notch 49 in the lever 46 the same lifts at its forward end, and thus permits the rear end of the lever 46 to drop, as shown in Fig. 9, sufficiently to permit the forward end of the dog 37 to move 30 downward sufficiently to reengage its hook 43 with the lug 45 of the hammer 36. It is evident that the hammer cannot now fall until the hook 43 of the dog 37 has been dis- engaged from its lug 45, and, furthermore, 35 that that disengagement cannot be effected except through the depression of the forward end of the lever 46, which does not occur until the lug 52, formed at the forward end of the bolt-carrier, passes over the cam-like surface 40 48 of the lever and depresses the same; but by that time the gun has been closed and its bolt 4 rotated, so as to be interlocked in the barrel extension 50, permitting the gnn to be fired with safety. 45 To provide for the convenient application and adjustment of the forward sight 53 to the jacket 15,1 locate within the jacket a broken ring 54, which springs so as to fill the inside diameter of the jacket. This spring receives 50 the inner ends of the two screws 55, which are passed through the ends of the sight and through transversely - elongated clearance- openings 56, formed in the jacket. When these screws are turned home, the ring 54 is 55 clamped against the inner periphery of the jacket, so as to firmly hold the said sight in any position in which it may be placed. By loosening the screws, however, the sight may be adjusted sidewise within the limits of the 60 clearance-openings 56 in the jacket. When the sight is removed altogether, the ring will not be displaced, on account of its tendency to spring outward. If desired, the rear sight 57 may be secured in place in the same way. 65 I do not, however, claim my improved sight herein, but have made it the subject-matter of an independent application to be filed be- fore the issuance of this patent. It is apparent that in carrying out my in- vention some changes from the construction 70 herein set forth may be made, and I would therefore have it understood that I do not limit myself to the exact details herein shown, but hold myself at liberty to make such changes as fairly fall within the spirit and 75 scope of my invention. Thus the tubular stop 21 may be reversed in position, so as to fit over the forward end of the barrel-spring. Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters 80 Patent, is— 1. In a recoil-operated firearm, the combi- nation with the receiver thereof, of a recoil- ing barrel, a barrel-jacket secured to the re- ceiver, a barrel-spring encircling the barrel, 85 a buffer-spring encircling the barrel at a point to the rear of the rear end of the said barrel- spring, and a stop coacting with the barrel and bringing the buffer-spring into play after the barrel-spring has been compressed. 90 2. In a recoil-operated firearm, the combi- nation with the receiver thereof, of a recoil- ing barrel, a barrel-jacket secured to the re- ceiver, a barrel-spring encircling the barrel, a buffer-spring encircling the barrel at a point 95 to the rear of the rear end of the said barrel- spring, and a stop located outside of the bar- rel-spring,coacting with the barrel and bring- ing the buffer-spring into play after the bar- rel-spring has been compressed. 100 3. In a recoil-operated firearm, the combi- nation with the receiver thereof, of a recoil- ing barrel, a barrel-jacket secured to the re- ceiver, a barrel-spring encircling the barrel, a buffer-spring encircling the barrel at apoint 105 to the rear of the rear end of the said barrel- spring, and a tubular stop encircling a por- tion of the barrel-spring and coacting with the barrel to bring the buffer-spring into play af- ter the barrel-spring has been compressed, no 4. In a recoil-operated firearm, the combi- nation with a receiver, of a recoiling barrel, a barrel-jacket secured to the receiver, a barrel-spring encircling the barrel, a buffer- spring also encircling the barrel, and a tuba- 115 lar stop coacting at one end with the buffer- spring and adapted to have its other end en- gaged by a projection from the barrel after the same has begun its recoiling movement. 5. In a take-down recoil-operated firearm, 120 the combination with a receiver having its forward end formed with a bolt-hole, of a re- coiling barrel, a barrel-jacket, a take-down head located at the rear end of the said jacket, adapted to fit the forward end of the receiver, 125 and provided with a bolt-hole registering with the said bolt-hole therein, and a screw-bolt passing through the bolt-hole in the take-down head into the bolt-hole in the receiver, where- by the said head is fastened directly to the 130 receiver. 6. In a take-down, recoil-operated firearm,
4 701,388 the combination with a receiver formed at its forward end with a shallow recess, of a recoil- ing barrel, a barrel-jacket provided at its rear end with a take-down head consisting of a 5 body receiving the rear end of the jacket, and formed with a bolt-hole, and of a plate or flange formed with a shoulder adapted to enter the said recess, a screw-bolt passing through the said bolt-hole in the said head and io into the receiver and securing the head di- rectly thereto. 7. In a recoil-operated firearm, the combi- nation with a recoiling barrel, of a breech- closure, a hammer, and a dog coacting with 15 the breech-closure to lock the same in its open position, and coacting with the hammer to prevent the same from falling until after the gun has been closed and locked. 8. In a recoil-operated firearm, the combi- 20 nation with the recoiling barrel and barrel ex- tension thereof, of a breech-closure, a ham- mer, a dog coacting with the breech-closure to lock the same in its open position, and co- acting with the hammer to prevent the same 25 from falling until after the gun is closed and locked, and a lever coacting with the said dog and operated upon at its forward end by the barrel extension and by the breech-closure in the order named. 9. In a recoil-operated firearm, the combi- 30 nation with the recoiling barrel and barrel ex- tension thereof, of a breech-closure, a ham- mer, a dog coaeting at its rear end with the breech-closure to lock it in its open position, and formed at its forward end with two arms, 35 one of which is provided with a hook for en- gaging with the hammer, and a lever coact- ing at its rear end with the other arm of the dog, and acted upon at its forward end by the barrel extension and the breech-closure in the 40 order named, just before they reach their closed positions. In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscrib- ing witnesses. JOHN M. BROWNING. Witnesses: A. L. Ulrich, S. Monks.
No. 701,289. Patented June 3, 1902. (No Model.) J. M. BROWNING. SIGHT FOR FIREARMS. (Application filed Bee. 16, 1901.) THE NORfllS PETERS CO, PHOTO-LlTHO.. WASHINGTON. О. C.
United States Patent Office. JOHN M. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH. SIGHT FOR FIREARMS. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 701,289, dated June 3, 1902. Application filed DeoembeT-16, 1901. Serial No. 86,049. (No model.) To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, John M. Browning, of Ogden, in the county of Weber and State of Utah, have invented a new and useful Im- 5 provement in Sights for Firearms; 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 io same, and which saiddrawingsconstitute part of this specification, and represent, in— Fignre 1, a broken view, in side elevation, of the forward end of a gnn provided with my improved sight; Fig. 2, a broken view 15 showing my improved sight; Fig. 3, a view in transverse section on the line a & of Fig. 2. . My invention relates to an improvement in sights for that class of firearms in which the barrel is inclosed by a jacket, the object be- 20 ing to provide for the convenient application and ad justmen t of the forward and rearsights of a gun, either or both. With these ends in view my invention con- sists in a sight having certain details of con- 25 struction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and particularly re- cited in the claims. As herein shown, my invention has been applied to the construction of the forward 30 sight of a gun; bnt it is also applicable, as aforesaid, to the construction of the rear sight of a gun. However, the application of my in- vention to the forward sight will sufficiently explain the construction and use. 35 In carrying out my invention as herein shown I locate an expansible ring 2 within the jacket 3, which surrounds the barrel 4, the said ring springing or expanding to closely fit the inside periphery of the jacket. The 40 middle portion of this spring is formed with two threaded screw-holes to receive the inner ends of two screws 5 5, which are passed through the ends of the sight-piece 6 and through transversely- elongated clearance- 45 openings 7, formed in the top of the jacket 3. When these screws are turned home, the ring 2 is drawn upward and clamped against the inner periphery of the jacket, so as to firmly hold the sight in any position in which it may be placed. By loosening the screws, however, 50 the sight-piece may be adjusted sidewise within the limits of the clearance-openings 7 in the jacket 3 for justifying the position of the sight-piece upon the jacket, the ring be- ing at this time rotated within narrow limits 55 in the jacket. When the sight-piece is re- moved altogether, the ring will not be dis- placed, on account of its tendency to spring outward and bind. It is apparent that in carrying out my in- 60 vention some changes from the construction herein shown and described may be made, and I would therefore have it understood that I do not limit myself to the exact details herein described, but hold myself at liberty 65 to make such changes as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention. Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is— 70 1. In a firearm, the combination with the barrel thereof, of a barrel-jacket formed with one or more clearance-openings, a sight-piece located upon the jacket, and a ring located within the jacket in frictional contact with 75 the inner periphery thereof, and adapted to have the sight-piece connected with it through the said opening or openings which permit the sight-piece to be adjusted sidewise upon the jacket, at which time the ring rotates within 80 the same. 2. In a firearm, the combination with the barrel thereof, of a barrel-jacket formed with one or more clearance-openings, a sight-piece mounted upon the jacket, an expansible ring 85 located within the jacket, and screws for con- necting the sight-piece and ring through the said clearance opening or openings and per- mitting the sight to be adjusted upon the jacket for justifying its position thereupon. 90 In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscrib- ing witnesses. JOHN M. BROWNING. Witnesses: Frederic C. Earle, George D. Seymour.
No. 708,794. Patented Sept. 9, 1902. J. M. BROWNING. AUTOMATIC FIREARM. ' Application filed Nov. 7, 1901. i (No Model.) 3 Sheets—Sheet I.
No. 708,794. Patented Sept. 9, 1902. J. M. BROWNING. AUTOMATIC FIREARM. ' Application filed Nov, 7, 1901.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets—Sheet 2. ТНГ H'loqiS огтгич CC , PHOTS-l ««KHINBT-h, о c, .
No. 708,794. Patented Sept. 9, 1902. J. M. BROWNING. AUTOMATIC FIREARM. (Application filed Nov. 7, 1QO1.) 3 Sheets—Sheet 3. (No Model.) THE NORM KTCM CO-. PHOTO-UTHO, WMHINOTON. O. c.
United States Patent Office. JOHN M. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH. AUTOMATIC FIREARM. SPECIFICATION forming’ part of Letters Patent No. 708,794, dated September 9, 1902. Application filed November?, 1901. Serial No, 81,361. WcratW.i To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, John M. Browning, a citizen of the United States, residing in Og- den, county of Weber, in the State of Utah, 5 have invented certain new and useful Im- provements in Firearms, of which the follow- ing is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof. io This invention relates to automatic fire- arms of that description in which the several operations—such as the opening of the breech after firing a shot, the ejection of the empty7 eartridge-shell, the cocking of the hammer, 15 the presentation and introduction of a new cartridge to the chamber of the barrel, and the closing of the breech—are automatically effected through or by the energy of the re- coil of the breech-block or that part which at 20 the time of firing the shot closes the breech of the barrel, and more especially' relates to firearms of this description in which energy is stored during the opening movement of the breech-block in a spring, ttie reaction of which 25 is utilized to actuate the return or closing movement of the breech-block. One object of the invention is to produce a firearm of this class in which the breech- block shall not only be adapted to move on 30 the frame to and from the barrel to be en- gaged by the reaction-spring aud to be posi- tively limited in its movements on the frame, but shall be at will and readily removable from the frame and disengaged from the re- 35 action-spring without requiring the use of any tool for its disengagement and removal. Another object is to provide a positive means for at once indicating when the supply of cartridges in the arm has become exhaust- 40 ed and to facilitate the renewal of the supply of cartridges without requiring the breech mechanism to be operated, and thereby to re- duce toa minimum the unavoidable interrup- tion of a continuous firing of the arm. 15 These objects are attained by mechanism of very simple and practical construction, which _is efficient and perfectly safe in use and not liable to get out of order. For the purposes of explanation and illus- 50 tration of the invention it is shown herein as embodied in a magazine-pistol in which in firing the barrel and the breech-block are in- terlocked and recoil some distance together, and during the rearward movement the bar- rel has another movement imparted to it, 55 which unlocks it from the breech-bolt, after which the movements of the barrel are ar- rested, while the breech-block continues to recoil until the breech is fully opened. Be- neath the barrel a reaction-spring is arranged 60 in a chamber in the frame and connected with the breech-block, energy being stored in this spring, which effects the return or clos- ing movement of the breech-block and of the barrel and the interlocking thereof. Thefea- 65 tures of such a magazine-pistol are shown and described in the United States Patent No. 580,924, granted April 20,1897; but it will be understood that the invention is applicable to other firearms—such, for example, as those 70 in which the barrel is fixed to the frame and the breech-block alone moves rearward and is returned forward by energy7 stored in a re- action-spring. Therefore it is not intended to restrict the present invention to a maga- 75 zine-pistol nor to any other particular kind of firearm nor to the combination of the sev- eral features of improvement in a single struc- ture. In the accompanying drawings, wherein is 80 represented the embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 is a left-hand side elevation of the pistol with the breech closed. Figs. 2 and 3 are respectively front, and rear end views of the same. Fig. 4 is a side elevation similar 85 to Fig. 1, but showing the forward portion of the frame and of the breech-slide in section, portions of the breech-slide, grip, and car- tridge-holder being broken away to expose other parts to view. Fig. 5 is a side eleva- 90 tion with the breech-slide in its rearward po- sition and locked by the latch-slide, a portion of the breech-slide being broken away, as also a portion of the receiver above the grip, exposing to view the latch-slide and the top 95 of the empty magazine with the spring-fol- lower, the ejector <7 being shown in dotted lines. Fig. .6 is a detail cross-section on the plane indicated in the line 6 6 of Fig. 5. Figs. 7, 8, 9,10, and 11 are detail views of the maga- 100 zine and follower, the latch-slide being also shown in Fig. 10. Figs. 12 and 13 are detail elevations of the latch-slide detached. Fig. 14 is a detail plan view of the plug in the end
708,794 5 ю г5 20 25 3° 35 4° 45 5° 55 бо 6 5 of the spring-chamber and of the transverse pin which holds it in place. Similar letters refer to similar parts through- out the several views. In the pistol represented in the drawings the barrel b is attached to the top of the frame a by two links bs and b4, which are pivoted in the frame by transverse pins and in the same manner secured by pins to the lugs b' and b2 of the barrel. On the top of the frame the breech-slide c is fitted to slide rearwardly and forwardly, the rear part of the breech-slide c forming the breech-bolt o', adapted to close the chamber of the barrel, and the forward portion cs of the breech-slide extending in semitubular form and inclosing the barrel. The sides of the breech-slide extend down- ward, overlapping the sides of the frame, and have longitudinal ribs and grooves e3and c4, engaging corresponding ribs and grooves a3 and a4 on the frame a to hold the breech-slide to the frame and guide it in its reciprocation. The barrel is provided with locking-ribs bB, and the interior surface of the breech-slide has corresponding recesses c8, whereby the breech-slide and the barrel are securely in- terlocked when in their forward firing posi- tion; but when the barrel and breech-slide are moved rearward, as by the energy of re- coil on firing a shot, the barrel, swinging on the links, has also a downward movement to- ward the frame, which causes the disengage- ment of the locking-ribs bB from the recesses c8, the rearward movement of the barrel be- ing arrested, while the breech-slide continues its rearward movementaway from the barrel, thus opening the breech. Beneath the bar- rel the frame a has a longitudinal chamber a6 for the reception of the reaction-spring e, and a transverse key cs is inserted through rectan gu lar recesses in the sides of the breech- slide and passes transversely through the chamber a° in the frame, projecting, nor- mally, slightly from each side of the breech- slide. A longitudinal slot a? through the frame allows the key cs to travel freely therein, and the rear end of said slot a5 forms an abut- ment for the key c5 to limit the rearward movement of the breech-slide and positively obviates all danger of the breech-slide flying back and from the frame. The key cs also forms the bearing through which the reaction- spring e. acts upon the breech-slide to return it and the breech-bolt c' to the normal closed position after the recoil has moved them to the rear, the forward end of the spring e being fitted to a piston e', the head r-a of which bears against the key cs, which is slightly recessed for the reception of said head es, thereby pre- ven ting the accidental displacement of the key c5. The rear end of the spring e bears against the rear end of the chamber a°. The frame a in rear of the barrel forms the receiver and has an opening at the top for the ejection of the cartridge-shells, and the breech-bolt is provided with a firing-pin and an extractor of usual construction, while an ejector g is fitted to the receiver. Below the receiver the frame a has the grip or handle a' and in rear of the grip the hammer Z, other parts of 70 the firing mechanism being fitted in the frame, while in front of the grip the trigger n is located. Within the grip a' and extend- ing upward through it to the receiver is ar- ranged a chamber for the reception of the 75 cartridge magazine or holder <Z, which is a sheet-metal tube in which the cartridges are laid one upon the other, resting upon a spring- follower d', by which they are pressed up- ward to the receiver. The holder d is re- 80 tained in the grip by a spring-latch d2, and at the upper end of the holder the rear por- tion of the side walls are turned inward to form ears d3, which engage the rear portion of the topmost cartridge and prevent its es- 85 cape from the holder except when the car- tridge is pushed forward, as by the forward movement of the breech-bolt in closing the breech. All of the parts thus far referred to may 90 be and are here shown as of the same con- struction and mode of operation as fully set forth in said Letters Patent No. 580,924 and forming no part of the present invention re- quire no further description or explanation 95 herein except so far as certain features will be referred to hereinafter. In order to be able to withdraw the key c5, as for the removal of the breech-slide c and breech-bolt o', it is necessary to free the key 100 cs from the piston-head e2, by which it is locked in place. Heretofore this was ac- complished, as described in the Patent No. 580,924. above referred to, by cocking the hammer, drawingthe breech-slide to the rear 105 until the key c5 had passed by a small hole in the bottom of the spring-chamber a6, and inserting a pin through this hole into the path of the piston e'. On then pushing the breech-slide forward the pin would arrest the no forward movement of the piston e' and spring e, thus freeing the key c5 from the head ea of the piston and permitting the key c5 to be withdrawn. By the improved construction the key can be released and withdrawn with- 115 out the use of a pin or any other tool and without having to cock the hammer or to move the breech-slide, this result being at- tained without adding to the number of parts of the arm and without making them more 120 complicated or expensive. The front end of the chamber a6 for the re- action-spring e is closed by a plug a8, held in place by a transverse spring a9, which also serves to attach the link b3 to the frame, the 125 upper end of said link being pivotally con- nected to the barrel b. Instead of being held immovable by the pin a9 the plug is allowed to have a slight longitudinal movement in the chamber a6 by elongating the hole in the plug 130 through which the pin passes. To the rear end of the plug a9 is affixed a small project- ing rod a10, which extends rearwardly be- neath the key c5 toward the front of the head
708,794 e3 of the piston e', but without making con- tact with the head when the parts are in their normal position. The front end of the plug a8 is made slightly concave in a form eonven- 5 ient for the application of the pressure of a finger. When it is desired to withdraw the key c5, it is only necessary to push the plug a8 inward, so that the projecting rod a10 shall come in contact with the piston e'or its head, io move the same rearward against the tension of the reaction-spring e, and thereby remove the head es of the piston from the recess in the key cs and release the latter, so that it can be easily withdrawn. The replacing of 15 the key is as readily done by pushing inward the plug a8, inserting the key through the breech-slide and frame, and releasing the plug, when the springe will push the head of the piston into the recess of the key, and 20 thereby lock it and the breech-slide in place, at the same time pushing the plug to its nor- mal forward position, so that the pistol is ready for charging and firing. The charging is performed by inserting a 25 loaded cartridge-magazine intothegrip,draw- ing back the breech-slide, and releasing it. During the closing movement of the breech- slide by the reaction-spring e the topmost cartridge in the magazine is transferred to 30 the chamber of the barrel, so that a pull on the trigger will fire a shot. The recoil re- sulting will again open the breech, eject the empty shell, cock the hammer, and store en- ergy in the reaction-spring for the closing 35 movement by which the next cartridge is transferred to the barrel ready for firing by a pull on the trigger. These operations may be repeated so long as cartridges are supplied by the magazine in the grip. 40 The cartridge magazine or holder d maybe the same as that shown and described in said patent No. 580,924 except that provision is made for engagement of the follower with a latch, hereinafter described, preferably by 45 cutting a small portion from the upper end on the left side,forming a substantially square notch to the left of the front opening. The spring-follower d' in the magazine also is un- changed except that it is arranged to engage 50 the latch aforesaid, preferably being divided for a part of its length, a cut running from its front end rearward through about half the length of the follower, one of the two parts thus formed, as d4, retaining its shape and 55 serving for raising the cartridges in the maga- zine, the other part ds being bent downward, the front end of this part standing consider- ably below the other part di. On the left side of the frame, in rear of the trigger, a 60 substantially vertical cut is made running for some distance downward from the top through the left-hand wall of the receiver, the forward edge of said cut preferably be- ing parallel to and coinciding with the front 65 of the magazine in the grip. In this cut is fitted a small slide or latch p of a thickness equal to that of the wall of the grip outside of the magazine-seat and in cross-section T-shaped, the ent being correspondingly shaped. On the outside the slide has a pro- 70 jecting thumb-piece p' of somewhat greater width, this and the T shape of the slide con- fining it in the cut, so that it may be moved freely up and down. On the inside the slide p at its top is provided with a projecting rib 75 ps, which extends inward into the notch cut in the top of the magazine arid far enough to stand in the path of the follower, but not far enough to interfere with the free upward and forward passage of the cartridges from 8c the magazine to the receiver. Above the slides the cartridge-ejector g is attached to the top of the frame or receiver and serves to limit the upward movement of the slide p when the breech-slide is removed from the 85 frame, but allows some up and down play to the slide p. In the lower edge of the breech- slide c, on its left side, a notch c11 is cut, in a position which brings this notch above the thumb-piecep' on the slidep when the breech- 90 slide c is moved to its rearmost position, as in openiug the breech, and above the thumb- piece the slide p is shaped in the form of a latch-nose p3, corresponding to the notch c11 in the breech-slide, the forward edge of the 95 latch and of the notch being beveled to in- cline rearward and upward. When the breech is fully open and the latch p3 is pushed into the notch c11 in the breech-slide, the latter is thereby positively locked in its rear position, ico but maybe released by pressure upon the thumb-piece p'. As the latch-slide p moves freely in the cut, its weight is sufficient to keep it in its lower inoperative position, even when the opening of the breech brings the 105 notch above it, unless it is pushed upward by some means. While a cartridge remains in the magazine the latch-slide p remains in- operative, as on firing the cartridges are suc- cessively fed from the magazine to the re- no eeiver and to the chamber in the barrel with- out operating the slide p; bnt when the last cartridge has been fed to the barrel the spring-follower d' rises to the top of the empty magazine, and the left-hand part d5 of 115 the front end of the follower engages the in- ward-projecting ribp3 of the latch-slide p, so that when on firing this last cartridge the breech - slide c recoils the spring-follower raises the latch-slide and by pushing the latch- 120 nose^into the notch c11 locks the breech-slide in its open rear position. The breech remain- ing thus wide open serves as an unmistakable indication that the magazine is empty and for continued firing must be replaced by a loaded 125 one. This is now readily and safely accom- plished by withdrawing the empty magazine from the grip and introducing a loaded one while the breech remains open. Then re- leasing the breech-slide by pressing upon the 130 thumb-piece p' of the latch-slide the breech will be automatically closed by the reaction- spring e, and the pistol will be ready again for firing. In case the firing is to be discon-
-5= 708,794 tinned after a charged magazine has been, inserted it is only necessary to release the open breech-slide and to lower the hammer, which makes the arm safe, though loaded, 5 and it requires only the cocking of the ham- mer to make it ready for firing again. Another great advantage gained by the im- provement is the fact that during the replac- ing of the empty magazine by a loaded one io the pistol need not leave the hand with which it is fired, the exchange of the magazine be- ing wholly effected by the other hand. It will be evident that various features of the invention may be employed independ- 15 ently of the others and in firearms of a dif- ferent kind from that which has been de- scribed herein and that various changes in form and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. 20 What I claim, and desire to secure by Let- ters Patent, is— 1. In a firearm, the combination with a frame,a reaction-spring mounted in the frame, and a breech-slide formed to engage the frame 25 and slide thereon, of an abutment for said spring carried by the breech-slide and a plug having a limited movement in the frame and adapted to cooperate with said spring to press the same back and release the abutment, sub- 30 stantially as shown and described. 2. In a firearm, the combination with a frame having a chamber, a reaction-spring mounted in said chamber, and a breech-slide formed to engage the frame and slide there- 35 on, of a key carried by the breech-slide and traveling in a slot in the frame to couple said slide and frame and form an abutment for said spring, and a plug having a limited move- ment in the end of said chamber and adapted to cooperate with said spring to press the same 40 back and release the key, substantially as shown and described. 3. In a firearm, the combination with a frame, a breech-slide formed to slide on the frame, and a magazine having a spring-actu- 45 ated follower, of a latch mounted to slide in the frame, said latch having a locking-nose to engage the breech-slide and having a pro- jection in the path of said follower whereby when the magazine is empty the latch is raised 50 to engage the breech-slide and hold the same in its rearward position, substantially as shown and described. 4. In a firearm, the combination with a frame having a slot in its side, a breech-slide 55 formed to slide on the frame and a magazine having a spring-actuated follower, of a latch mounted to slide in the slot in the frame, said latch having a locking-nose to engage the breech-slide and having a projection in the 60 path of said follower, whereby when the maga- zine is empty the latch is raised to engage the breech-slide and hold the same in its rear- ward position, substantially as shown and de- scribed. 65 This specification signed and witnessed this 25th day of October, A. D. 1901. JOHN M. BROWNING. In presence of— Geo. E. Browning, J. C. Zityman.
No. 710,094. Patented Sept. 30, 1902. J. M. BROWNING. MAGAZINE GUN. (Application, filed Jan. 11, 1902.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets—Sheet I. THE NORRIS PETERS CO, PHOTO-L1THO- WASHINGTON. DC.
No. 710,094. Patented Sept. 30, 1902. J. M. BROWNING. MAGAZINE GUN. । Application filed Jan. 11, 1002.} (No Model.) 2 Sheets—Sheet 2.. THE NORRiS PETERS CO., PHOTO-UTHO- WASHINGTON. О, C.
United States Patent Office. JOHN M. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH. MAGAZINE-GUN. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 710,094, dated September 30, 1902. Application filed January 11,1902. Serial No. 89,295. (Nomodel.) To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, JohnM. Browning, of Ogden, in the county of Weber and State of Utah, have invented a new and useful Im- 5 provementin Magazine-Guns; and I do here- by declare the following, when taken in con- nection with the accompanying drawings and the characters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear,and exaetdescription of the it> same,and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in— Figure 1, a view in broken vertical longi- tudinal section of a gun constructed in ac- cordance with my invention, showing it closed 15 and locked; Fig. 2, a similar view showing the gun closed and unlocked; Fig. 3, a de- tached plan view of thebreech-bolt, showing its locking-block, handle, and extractor; Fig. 4, a view of the gun in broken longitudinal 20 section, showing its breech-closure at the limit of its rearward excursion, its pivoted carrier in its depressed or cartridge-receiving position, and the locking-dog mounted in the rear end of the said carrier in engagement 25 with the breech-closure; Fig. 5, a detached view in side elevation of the locking-block; Fig. 6, a detached plan view thereof; Fig. 7, a detached view thereof in rear elevation; Fig. 8, a broken plan view of the operating- 30 slide, showing its connection with the forward end of the operating-link and the locking- block, which is shown in section; Fig. 9, a broken horizontal section of the barrel ex- tension, showing the ejection-cam and a car- 35 tridge; Fig. 10, a view in rear elevation of the barrel extension; Fig. 11, a perspective view of the ejection-cam. My invention relates to an improvement in that class of automatic small-arms in which 40 the recoil is utilized forreloadingand recock- ing and may be said to be an improvement upon the arms shown and described in United States Patent No. 659,507, granted to me Oc- tober 9, 1900, and United States Patent No. 45 689,283, granted to me December 17, 1901. The object of my present invention is to improve such an arm in respect of its bolt locking and ejecting features, whereby it is simplified and made more effective. 50 With these ends in view my invention con- sists in the combination, with a breech-bolt or breech - closure, of a locking - block carried thereby and swinging from its rear end and means for operating the said block. My invention further consists inthe combi- 55 nation, with a breech-bolt or breech-closure,of a locking-block mounted therein and one or mere segmental ribs on which the said block swings instead of upon a true pivot. My invention further consists in the com- 60 bination, with the breech-bolt or breech-clo- sure, of an extractor carried thereby and an ejection-cam which lifts the spent shell out of engagement with the extractor just prior to the ejection of the shell. 65 Myinvention further consists in certainde- tails of construction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims. In carrying out my invention as herein 70 shown I employ a locking-block 2, provided on the opposite faces of its rear upper corner with two corresponding segmental ribs 3, upon which the block swings instead of upon a true pivot. The said block is located in a 75 large slot or chamber 4, formed to receive it in the breech-closure 5, which is in this case of the “ bolt” type, inasmuch as it is confined to movement back and forth in a straight line. The said segmental ribs 3 take into 80 corresponding segmental grooves 6, formed in the rear ends of the side walls of the cham- ber 4 aforesaid.. If desired, however, the positions of the said ribs and grooves maybe reversed. The said ribs 3 are struck from or 85 about the point a on Fig. 5, and therefore from a point outside of the locking-block 2, the front face 7 of which is struck from the same point. What I wish to call particular at- tention to in this connection is that by having 9c the block swung upon segmental ribs instead of upon a true pivot the center from which the block swings may be located outside of the block itself. The said block is provided at its forward end with a heavy rectangular 95 locking-lug 8, adapted to enter a correspond- ing locking-opening 9, formed in the exten- sion 10 of the barrel 12 in position to have the said lug entered into it when the gnn is closed or, in other words, when the breech- 100 bolt 4 is at the limit of its forward excursion. To render the action of the lug 8 quick and easy in entering and leaving the locking-open- ing 9, the inner or rear wall of the lug is cut,
s 710,094 as at 8a, on a circle struck from a point a' on Fig. 5, which shows that the point a’ is a lit- tle distance above the point a before men- tioned. 5 For the operation of the locking-block 2 I employ, as herein shown, a long operating- link 13, the forward end of which is connected with the rear lower corner of the said block by means of a pivot 14 and the rear end of to which is formed with a nose 15, entering a socket 16, formed in thehead 17 of a plunger 18, which is set into the forward end of a coiled operating-spring 19, which is located partly in the tang 20 of the arm and partly 15 in the butt-stock thereof. Near its forward end the said link 13 is formed with a shoulder 21, which is engaged by a lug 22, projecting inward from the rear end of an operating- slide 23, located in a deep groove 24, formed 20 in the right-hand side of the breeeh-bolt 5, the said slide being furnished at its forward end with an outwardly-projecting handle or finger-piece 25. This operating-slide is used for manually opening the gun for loading the 25 first cartridge into the gun-barrel as well as for manually unloading the gun. On its un- der face it is formed with a locking-shoulder 26, which is engaged by a locking-dog 27, mounted in the extreme rear end of the piv- 30 oted carrier 28. When the bolt 5 reaches the limitof its rear- ward excursion with the barrel 12 and the barrel extension 10, the said locking-dog 27 springs up in front of the shoulder 26 of the 35 operating-slide 23. Now when the spiral bar- rel-spring, which is not shown, but which cor- responds to the barrel-spring of my Patent No. 689,283, reacts to restore the barrel 12 to its normal position it operates through the 40 said barrel, barrel extension, and locking- block to pull the breech-bolt forward. This forward draft upon the breech-bolt effects the swinging of the locking-block 2 downward into its unlocked position, whereby its lock- 45 ing-lug 8 is cleared from the locking-opening 9 of the barrel extension, because the pivot 14 of the locking-block 2 is prevented from moving forward for the reason that the same passes through the operating-link 13, which 5c is connected with the operating - slide 23 through the engagement of the lug 22 of that slide with the rear edge of the locking-block 2. When the locking-block has been swung downward into its unlocked position, its rear 5 5 edge is engaged by the rear wall of the slot 4, formed in the breech-bolt for the reception of the said block, whereby the forward move- ment of the bolt is arrested. The locking- block is now in position for the entrance into 60 a locking-notch 29, formed in its lower edge, of the rear end of locking-lever 30, mounted upon a pin 31 and operated by a short spiral spring 32, pressing downwardly upon its for- ward end. The barrel and barrel extension 65 continuing in their forward movement open the space required between the rear end of the barrel and the forward end of the breech- bolt for the feeding upward of a cartridge by the pivoted carrier 28 into position in front of the breech-bolt for the same to force it for- 70 ward into the gun-barrel when the bolt is re- leased through the agency of the carrier in the same manner as provided for in either of my prior patents herein referred to. The said locking-lever 30 maintains the locking- 75 block 2 in its unlocked position during the greater part of the forward excursion of the bolt and at least until after the locking-lug 8 of the locking-block has been entered into the rear end of the barrel extension 10, after 80 which the rear end of the said locking-lever is depressed and forced out of the locking- notch 29 of the locking-block 2 by means of a nose 33, formed at the extreme forward end of the operating-link 13. The action of the 85 said nose upon the said lever is a gradual one and caused by thegradual assumption of a horizontal position by the said link as it moves forward with the barrel, barrel exten- sion, and bolt, its rear end being depressed 90 somewhat below its forward end when its for- ward movement begins. To manually open the gun, the handle 25 of the operating-slide is used for drawing the slide rearward against the tension of the 95 spring 19, the lug 22 at the rear end of the slide being engaged with the shoulder 21 of the link 13, and the link 13 being pivotally connected with the locking-block the same is swung downward into its unlocked position, 100 whereby the breech-bolt is freed for being drawn back into its fnlly-open position, in which it is held by the engagement of the locking-dog 27 with the shoulder 26 of the slide, this connection being maintained until 105 the carrier is released for breaking the con- nection between the locking-dog and the slide. The said locking-block is formed with a large centrally-arranged clearance-slot 34 for the clearance of the firing-pin 35, which is mount- 110 ed at its rear and forward ends in the bolt 5, in whicli its reciprocating movement is lim- ited by a stop-pin 36. The said firing-pin is retracted by the engagement of the walls of the notch 37, formed in the rear end of the 115 locking-block, with retracting-shoulders 38, formed near the rear end of the pin. For facilitating ejection of the cartridges I employ an ejection-cam 39, which is located in a suitable recess 40, entering the rear edge 120 of the left-hand wall of the barrel extension 10, as shown in Fig. 10. This ejection-cam comprises two inclines 41 41, which are sepa- rated from each other by the width of the guideway 42, formed in the inner face of the 125 said wall of the barrel extension for the left- hand extractor-hook 43 to travel in. Each of the said inclines terminate at its rear end in an ejecting-shoulder 44. When the gun is fired, the spent shell is 133 thrown back with the barrel, barrel exten- sion, and breech-bolt, the extractors 43 and 45 of which are engaged with it. Now when the barrel extension, and hence the barrel,
710,094 ate unlocked from the breech-bolt they are moved forward by the spiral barrel-spring (not shown) and “ stripped oft,” so to speak, from the shell, which remains with the breech- 5 bolt. However, jnst before the barrel exten- sion reaches the limit of its forward move- ment the inclines 41 41 of the ejection-cam ride under the head of the shell and lift the same from left to right out of engagement io with the beak of the hook of the left-hand ex- tractor 43. The shell having thus been dis- engaged from the extractor, the shoulders 44 at the rear ends of the said inclines strike the shell with sufficient force to eject it from the 15 gun. The employment of the described ejec- tion-cam for lifting the shell out of engage- , ment with the hook of the extractor enables me to construct the said hook so as to posi- tively engage the rim of the shell, whereas 20 in prior constrnctions it has been necessary to make the gripping edge of the hook some- what beveled or oblique, and therefore less positive in its action on the heads of the shells. It will be understood, of course, that 25 the ejection-cam will operate to lift the car- tridge away from the left-hand extractor- hook in case the gun is opened manually for unloading it or removing a misfire; but in the latter case the cartridge will be drawn 30 back out of the gun-barrel and engage with the ejection-cam instead of having the gun- barrel “ stripped over it,” so to speak, as oc- curs when the gun is automatically operated. In view of the modifications suggested and 35 of others which may obviously be made I. would have it understood that I do not limit myself to the exact construction herein shown and described, but hold myself at liberty to make such variations therefrom as fairly fall 40 within the spirit and scope of my invention. lamaware that it is old to provide a breech- loading firearm with a swinging breech-clo- sure turning upon segmental ribs instead of upon a true pivot, the ribs being struck from 45 a center located above the breech-closure. Such a construction is shown in United States Patent No. 160,748, granted March 16, 1875, to Edwin Burt. Having fully described my invention, what 50 I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is— 1. In a gun, the combination with a barrel having a barrel extension, of a reciprocating breech-closure formed with an npwardly-dpen - ing vertical slot, a locking-block located in 55 the said slot and adapted at its forward end to extend upward through the slot to engage with the said barrel extension, one or more segmental ribs on which the locking-block swings instead of upon a true pivot, and 60 means connected with the lower portion of the block for swinging it into its locking and retired positions. 2. In a gun, the combination with a barrel having a barrel extension, of a reciprocating 65 breech - closure, a locking - block mounted therein and adapted to engage at its forward end with the upper portion of the barrel ex- tension to lock the breech-closure in its closed position, two segmental ribs upon which the 70 locking-block swings from its rear end in- stead of upon a true pivot, an operating-link connected directly with the rear end of the lower portion of the said locking-block, an operating-spring coacting with the said link, 75 and means coacting with the lower portion of the said block for locking the same in its re- tired position. 3. In a gun, the combination with a barrel having a barrel extension, of a breech-clo- 80 sure, an extractor carried thereby, and an ejection-cam mounted in the barrel extension and acting to lift the spent shell out of en- gagement with the extractor. 4. In a gun, the combination with a barrel 85 having a barrel extension, of a breech-clo- sure, an extractor carried thereby, and an ejection-cam mounted in the said extension and formed with two inclines separated from each other sufficiently to permit the extractor 90 to pass between them, and operating to lift the spent shell out of engagement with the extractor, and also formed with one or more ejecting-shoulders. 5. In a gun, the combination with the 95 breech-closure thereof, of a locking-block mounted in the said breech-closure so as to swing from its rear end as upon a center lo- cated above the upper edge of the block. In testimony whereof I have signed this 100 specification in the presence of two subscrib- ing witnesses. JOHN M. BROWNING. Witnesses: Frederic C. Earle, C. L. Weed.
No. 730,870. PATENTED JUNE 16, 1903. J. M. BROWNING., RECOIL,OPERATED FIREARM. KO MODEL. APPLICATION FILED MAY 6, 1899. 7 SHEETS—SHEET 1.
No. 730,870. PATENTED JUNE 16, 1903. J. M. BROWNING. RECOIL OPERATED FIREARM. . KO MODEL; APPLICATION FILED MAY.6, 1899, 7 SHEETS-SHEET 2.
No. 730,870. PATENTED JUNE 16, 1903. J. M. BROWNING. RECOIL OPERATED FIREARM. .NO MODEL. APPLICATION FILED MAY 6, 1899. 7 SHEETS-SHEET 3.
No. 730,870. PATENTED JUNE 16, 1903. J. M. BROWNING. RECOIL OPERATED FIREARM. NO MODEL. APPLICATION FILED MAY 6, 1899. 7 SHEETS-SHEET 4.
No. 730,870. HO MODEL. 7 SHEETS-SHEET PATENTED JUNE 16, 190! J. M. BROWNING. RECOIL OPERATED FIREARM. APPLICATION FILED MAY 6, 1899.
No. 730,870. PATENTED JUNE 16, 1903 J. M. BROWNING. HO MODEL. RECOIL OPERATED FIREARM. APPLIOATIOH FILED MAY 6, 1899. 7 SHEETS-SHEET 6. /
PATENTED JUNE 16, 1903. J. M. BROWNING. RECOIL OPERATED FIREARM. No. 730,870. HO MODEL. APPLICATION FILED MAY 6, 1899. 7 SHEETS—SHEET 7.
No. 730,870. Patented. June 16, 1903. United States Patent-' Office. JOHN M. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH. RECOIL-OPERATED FIREARM. SPECIFICATION forming' part of Letters Patent No. 730,870, dated June 16, 1903. Application filed May 6,1899. Serial No, 715,822. (No model.) To all whom it тпая] concern: Be it known that I, John M. Browning, of Ogden, in the county of Weber and State of Utah, have invented a new Improvement in 5 Recoil-Operated Magazine-Guns; and I do hereby declare the following; when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the characters of reference marked there- on, to be a full, clear, and exact description of io the same, and which said drawings constitute, part of this specification, and represent, in—. Figure 1, a broken view, in side elevation, of one form which a recoil-operated gun con- structed in accordance with my in vention may 15 assume,a portion of thefore-ann being broken - away to show the action-spring, a portion of the magazine being broken away to show the --.magazine-spring, and a portion of the stock being broken away to show the combined ham- 20 mer and mainspring. Fig. la is an enlarged . view, in transverse section on the line а b, of the preceding figure to show the bearing-col- lar depend! 3g Zr- ,n the barrel and encircling and riding upon the magazine; Fig. 2, a re- 25 verse broken plan view of the gun,; Fig. 3, a plan view thereof; Fig. 4, an enlarged broken view of the gun, in side elevation, with por- tions of the upper and lower members of its receiver broken away to show parts of its.ac- 30 tion mechanism, and particularly its feeding instrumentalities; Fig. 0, a broken viewof the gun in vertieal longitndinal section with its parls in the positions dne to them when the • gnn is closed; Fig. 6, a broken view of the 25 'gun, partly in side elevation and partly in vertical longitudinal section, the npper mem- ber of the receiver being shown at the limit of its rearward excursion; Fig. 7, a partial view, in side elevation, of the action mechan- ic ism at the time the ejector is brought into operation for ejecting an empty shell by the’ engagement of the finger of the ejector-lever by the lower end of the rear link; Fig. 8, a similar but more comprehensive view show- 45 ing the upper member of the reeeiver-at the limit of its for ward excursion, with the breech- bolt held back by the carrier-lever and a car- tridge on the carrier ready to belifted thereby to tlie barrel; Fig. 9, a similar but less com- 50 prehensive view showing the parts in the act of raising a cartridge to the barrel; Fig. 10, a view in vertical transverse section on the line c d of Fig. 4; Fig. 10a, a partial section on the same line, showing the cartridge-lever .by broken as well as by full lines; Fig. 11, a 55 partial view, in transverse section, on the line ef of Fig. 4; Fig. 12, a detached plan view of the carrier, showing the ejector by broken lines; Fig. 13, a corresponding view of the ejector; Fig. 14, a corresponding view of the 60 cartridge-stop; Fig. 15, a detached reverse plan viewof thebreech-bolt, showing also the. searand the extractors; Fig. 16, a view of the breech-bolt in rear elevation; Fig. 17, a de- tached view, inside elevation, of the hammer; 65 Fig. 18, a plan view thereof; Fig. 19, a broken view, in horizontal section, through the right- hand wall of the lower member of the receiver, showing the carrier-catch; Fig. 20, adetached broken view, in horizontal section, showing 70 portions of the right-hand walls of the upper and lower members of the receiver and the recesses formed in them for receiving and co- acting with the eartridge-guide. My invention relates to an improvement in 75 recoil-operated magazine-firearms in which all of the several operations of the arm, with the single exception ot pulling the trigger, are performed . by power derived from the •suc- cessive explosions of the cartridges in the car- 80 tridge-ehamber of the gun-barrel, the object of my present invention being to produce a simple, safe, compact, and effective firearm of the class described composed of compara- tively few parts and not liable to become de- 85 ranged. With these ends in view my invention con- sists in a recoil-operated magazine-firearm having certain details of construction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter 90. described, and pointed out in the claims. In the accompanying drawings I have chosen to illustrate the application of my in- vention to a shotgun, for which it is particu- larly well adapted; buttheinventionmayalso 95 be adapted, as I would have it understood, to other classes of magazine-firearms. In carrying but my invention I employ a recoiling.receiver A and a non-recoiling re- ceiver B, the former being located upon the ico latter and so as to slide back and forth there- upon. These two parts constitute, in fact, the upper and lower members of a longitudi- nally-divided gun frame or receiver; but for
s 730,870 the sake of convenience I shall speak of them as the “ recoiling” and “ non-recoiling” receiv- ers. O f course the non-recoiling receiver par- takes of the recoil ensuing upon the explosion ,5 of a cartridge, and I do not wish to be under- stood that this part does not recoil; but its recoil, so far as it does recoil, is of a negative character, while the recoiling receiver has a considerable excursion back and forth. All 10 of the recoiling parts of the action mechan- ism of the gun are connected directly or indi- rectly with the recoiling receiver, while the non-recoiling parts of the gun, such as the magazine C and the stock D, are firmly fixed 15 to the non-recoiling receiver B. As shown, the innef faces of the lower ends of. the side walls of the upper or recoiling receiver,are formed with longitudinally-arranged grooves A', receiving outwardly-extending longitndi- го nally-arranged ribs B', formed upon the up- per edges ef the side walls of the non-recoil-’ ing receiver B. The gun-barrel E is screwed in the ordinary manner into the forward end of the recoiling^ 25 receiver and provided a short distance for- ward of its butt-end with a depending collar orringE’, encircling the magazine C, asshown in Fig. la, the fit between the collar and maga- zine being loose enough to permit the collar 30 to slide back and forth upon the magazine. 'ГЬе collar, in connection with the magazine, therefore acts as a guide for the reciprocation of the barrel and the recoiling receiver and prevents the latter from cramping. Between 35 the rear edge of the collar E' and the forward end of the non-feeoiling receiver В, I locate a heavy action-spring F, which encircles the magazine, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 5. This spring is compressed during the rear- 40 ward or recoiling excursion of the recoiling receiver A and barrel E and operates when it recovers-to return those parts to the limit of t-heir forward excursion after the force of the explosion of the cartridge has been spent. To 45 limit this forward excursion, I locate upon the magazine C an adjustable nut C, which pro- vides for adjusting the said spring in tension, which is located forward of the collar E', as shown in Fig. 1, and between the rear edge of 50 thisbutandthe forward edge of thesaid collar Ilocatea bufferE2forwhieh I shall preferably employ vulcanized fiber, which may, how- ever, be replaced by any other Suitable sub- stance or material. The said nut C is em- >5 ployed for adjusting the tension of the ac- tion-spring F, so that the same will have just power enough to restorp the recoiling receiver to its closed position,and held it there under proper tension, and no more, for if the spring 61 is not under sufficient tension the parts will not be held in their closed positions with suf- ficient firmness. On the other hand, if the spring is placed under too much tension by the said’ nut the shock of the return of the 65 recoiling receiver to its closed position will rack the gpn. The mean tension is therefore determined by trial after the gun has been assembled. It 'may be said in this connec- tion that the compression of the action-spring will not appreciably affect the relations of 70 the sear N and the dog O, because any slight change in relation of those parts is provided for by the rocking of the dog under the in- fluence of the spring 0‘. It will be seen by reference to Fig. 1 that the action-spring F, 75 the nut C', and the buffer E2, as well as the rear portion of the magazine, are inclosed by a shield G, secured by a screw p to the for- ward end of the non-recoiling receiver B. This shield corresponds to the fore-arm of an 80 ordinary gun and might with propriety be so designated. Thebreech-bolt H is located in the extreme forward end of the recoiling receiver A and provided with two outwardly-extending rear- 85 wardlyrarranged ribs h, which run back and forth in correspondingly-arranged grooves h’, formed in the recoiling receiver, as shown in Fig. 10. It, is because this part is confined by the said ribs and grooves to longitudinal 90 movement that I have chosen to designate it by the term “bolt” rather than by the term “block.” At its rear end the breech-bolt is formed with a recess IT, receiving a knuckle I, formed at the forward end of the forward 95 operating - link I2, a pivot-pin I3 passing through the said knuckle and through the fear end of the breeeh-bolt, serving to pivot- ally connect them together. The breech-bolt is provided with a short firing-pin II2, located 10: in a slightly-inelined position and furnished with a retraeting-spriugH3. The rear end of the forward link I2 is slotted for the recep- tion of a knuckle J, formed at the forward end of the rear link J', which is connected 105 with the rear end of the forward link by means of a pivot-pin J2, while the rear end of the rear link is pivotally connected with the rear end of the recoiling receiver by meansof a pivot-pin J3. By reference to Fig. no 5 of the drawings, which represents the gun in its closed position, it will be observed that the center of the interrnediate.pivot-pin J2is in a plane slightly below the centers of the pivot-pins I3 and J2. Under this arrange- 115 ment of the pivot-pips the two links and the breeeh-bolt form a solid and safe resistance against the rearward pressure of the explod- ing cartridges, for the greater'the resistance the greater will be the tendency of the cen- no tral pin J2 to move downward, and the more that, pivot-pin moves downward the greater the bracing action of the said parts. The for- ward end of the rear link.J' is furnished with two laterally - extending wing-like finger- 125 pieces J4 J4, which provide for opening the gnn by hand. These wing-like finger-pieces are locaied entirely above the pivot-pin J2 upon the edge of one of the links, which they,per- mit to close down flush with the top of the 130 recoiling receiver A, beyond the side walls of , which they extend sufficiently to permit them .< to be seized with a strong grip, which-is re- quired in this arm for manually lifting the
?30,870 3 links. The forward end of the rear link is alscr formed u]5oli its lower face with a cam-snrfaee •Is, which coacts .with a rounded shoulder J6, for.m'ed on the non-recoiling receiver at the 5 rear end thereof, in lifting up or humping up the links, so as to carry the center of the pin J? above the centers of the pins I3 and J3, after which the rearward momentum of the recoil- ing parts will force up or hump up the links, io with the effect of starting the breech-bolt back into itsfull open position, asshownin Fig. 9. I may here mention that the cam-surface J5 and the shoulder J6 might be reversed in location andthesame result secured. Bylocatingthe 15- cam-surface J5 upon the rear link J' at a point •forward of the pin J3,1 secure an economy of space and enable the mechanism of the gun to be made shorter than it could be if the cam- surface J5 or its equivalent were located upon го the rear link J' at a point to the rear of the pin J3. The rear end of the rear link J' is slotted for the reception of a stationary lock- ing-cam K, held in place by the pivot-pip J3, which passes through it, as shown in Fig. 5, 25 and is prevented from turning on the said pivot-pin by means of a Ing k, entering a cor- responding recess k', formed in the rear end of the recoiling receiver.. The forward end of this cam is formed with a beveled nose K', 30 coacting with the beveled rear end of a fric- tion-stud L,located in a suitable recess formed in the rear link J', the stnd itself being hol- low for the reception of an actuating-spring L', which exerts a constant effort to force its 35 beveled rear end into engagement with the nose K' of the cam. The beveled end of this stqd engages with the lower face of the nose of the cam, and therefore holds the links down in their closed positions under the ten- 40 sionof thespringL',which, however,isreadily overcome for the automatic opening of the gun, at" which time the spring L' is com- pressed, allowing the nose of the stud to pass over the nose of the cam. 1 locate in the 45 said' cam a retaining-screw k2, employed for holding the pivot-pin J3 against endwise dis- placement. At its rear end the breech-bolt is formed with a depending recoil-face 9, which at the limit of the rearward excursion 5c of'the bolt engages with a recoil or abutment shonlder 10, Toriped near the, rear end of the non-recoiling receiver B, as shown in Fig. 5. The breech-bolt, is also provided, as shown in Fig. 15, with extractors 12, located upon its 55 sides and of any approved construction, those operating in the usual manner to extract the spent cartridges from the, gun-barrel. For the purposeoFdisengagingthe cartridges from these extractors when the gun is oper- 60 ated by hand I employ two beveled ribs r, located opposite each other upon the opposite faces df the inner walls of the recoiling re- ceiver A, one of these ribs being shown in Fig. 8. When the gun is being opened by 65 ha,nd, the head of the cartridge being held by and between thie extractors 12 jnst men- tioned is drawn back in a straight line, and when nearthe limit of its rearward movement the head of the cartridge comes incontact with the beveled Upper faces of the said ribsr, by 70 which it is forced upward and so disengaged from the'extractors. Being thus disengaged from the extractors, the cartridge may be re- moved by hand or discharged fror 1 the gun by turning the same over. A cartridge may 75 also be removed from the gun in this manner in ease of a misfire. When the gun is being operated automatically,the cartridges areau- tomatically discharged by mechanism.to be described later on. The lower faces of the 80 , ribsr act tolimit the upward movementof the cartridges when the gun is being operated au- tomatically, as will also be described later on. For the operation of the firing-pin H2,1 em- ploy a longitudiually-movable hammer M, 85 detached views of which are shown by Figs. 17 and 18. The forward end of this hammer extends forward into a recess M', formed in the rear end of the lower face of the breech- bolt Й, the said end of the hammer being 90 provided with two oppositely-projecting 1'ngs mm, which slide in grooves formedfor their reception in the breech-bolt, as shown in Fig. 16. A pair of fingers m'm', extending downward from the forward end of the for- 95 ward link I3, are sufficiently separated from each other for the reception between them of the extreme forward end of the hammer, with the forward faces of' the said lugs m m of which they engage. When the gun is opened, 100 the.fingers m'm', acting against the luga m, operate to force the hammer back into its cocked position. z A sear N, located directly under the for- ward end of the hammer, is hung'on a hori- 'ios zontal pin N' in the lower face pf the breech- bolt. II, which is formed with a recess № for the reception of the forward end of the sear, as well as for the reception of the sear-spring '№, which is arranged to exert a constant ef- no fort to lift the rear end of the sear into en- gagement with the cocking-notch n of the , hammer. The extreme end of the sear is formed with a forwardly - turned hook ri, adapted to be engaged by a rearward ly-turned 115 hook 0, located at the upper end of a sear- dog O, pivotally mounted upon the extreme forward end of the trigger O', which is hung upon a pin 0s in the lower tangs B3, which is formed with a finger-guard B3, into which the i2< finger-piece O3 of tlie trigger extends in the usual manner. With the sear-dog О and the trigger O', I employ a double spring O'1, located directly below.the rear end of the trigger in such po- 12 sition as to engage not only with the same to throw the same upward, but also with the forward corner of the dog, so as to throw the upper end of the same rearward. However, these results might be accomplished by a 13 different spring or by the employment of more than one spring. By constructing the sear, sear-dog, and hammer as described I prevent the firing of more than one shot with
4 730,870 one pull of the trigger, for in this class of automatic arms the action of the mechanism is so rapid that some provision must be made for firing only one shot with one pull of the trigger, for otherwise two or more shots would be fired before the pressure upon the trigger could be released. Under this con- struction the hook of the sear is engaged by the hook of the sear-dog when the gun is . -> ready for firing. Then when the trigger is pulled the sear-dog operates to draw the sear down out of the cocking-notch of the ham- mer. When the recoil takes place, the sear and hammer are driven rearward away from sg the dog; but as they come forward the hook of the sear instead of hooking into the hook of the dog merely engages with the upper face thereof and pushes the dog forward, whereby the dog is prevented from hooking into the 2o sear until the pull upon the trigger is released and the spring O4 allowed to act to lift the trigger and throw the dog rearward into po- sition for engagement with the sear. A vertically-split safety device P, suspend- 25 ed by its upper end from a pin P', termi- nates below the trigger in a roughened sur- face for engagement by the finger for its op- eration. The friction developed between the said safety device and the side walls of the 30 opening in the lower tang B3, in which it is hung, is sufficient to hold it in any position ~ in which it may be set. It is formed with a shoulder p, which when it is swung rear- wardly engages with a shoulder p', formed 35 in the trigger, which is thus firmly locked against movement. In its normal position, . in which it is shown in Fig. 5, the two shoul- ders of the trigger and safety device clear.each other. 40 The rear end of the hammer terminates in a rod-like finger M2, having a rounded end, which is seated in the cup-like forward end of a plunger Q, located in a cylindrical cham- ber Q', formed in the upper tang B2 of the 45 non-recoiling receiver B, this chamber Q' be- ing extended by a long tube Q2, located in the butt-stock D. The said chamber and tube contain the spirally-wound mainspring Q3, which exerts a constant effort to press the 50 plunger Q forward and which acts through the hammer M not only to give the same its forward impulse for operating the firing-pin H2, but also through the medium of the ham- mer and sear to assist in restoring the action 55 mechanism of the gun to its closed position, and more especially the breech-bolt, which it pushes forward for the insertion of the car- tridges into the cartridge-chamber of the gun- barrel. 60 The action of the recoil throws the hammer back so quickly that if it is not limited in its rearward flight it will be liable to disarrange- ment. To avoid that, I form the hammer at ’ its rear end with a stop-shoulder M3, which 65 moves back and forth in a long narrow slot M4, formed to receive it in the lower face of the upper tang B2 aforesaid.. This slot termi- nates at its rear ond at the lug M5, formed upon the lower face of the rear end of the up- per tang B2 aud receiving the threaded upper 70 end of a screw - bolt MG, extending upward through the stock D from the lower tang B:;. The engagement of the stop-shoulder M3 with the forward edge of the lug Ms, as shown in Fig. 6, limits the rearward flight of the ham- 75 mer. The magazine C contains the usual spiral cartridge-feeding spring R, extending at its rear end into a cup-like follower R', which I prefer to form in its side walls with several 80 air-holes r', which prevent the retardation of the movement of the follower by .the action of suction. By the location of these holes in the side walls of the follower they are spaced so that dirt cannot well get into them and 85 so that they will not be interfered with in their operation by the heads of the cartridges, as they would be if they were located in the closed rear end of the follower. Under the action of the spring R and fol- 90 lower R' the cartridges are delivered from the magazine upon the forward end of a carrier S, hung upon a pivot S', passing through its extreme rear end and mounted in the non- recoiling lower receiver B. This carrier also 95 serves as the gate through which the maga- zine is loaded through the feeding-opening B4, formed in the forward portion of the lower end of the non-recoiling receiver B. A com- bined cartridge-stop and carrier-depressor T 100 is located on the left side and in a recess T', formed in the inner face of the left-hand side wall of the non-recoiling receiver B, which is provided with a pin t, on which the said part is hung. The forward end of this part is 105 turned at a right angle to form a stop-finger T2, which in the elevated position of the part not only prevents the cartridge or cartridges in the magazine from following the cartridge which has already been pushed out upon the no carrier, but also prevents the cartridge on the carrier from recoiling or being thrown back into the magazine. Here it may be stated that when the gun is fired with a heav- ily-loaded cartridge the recoil movement is 115 so quick that unless there is something to pre- vent it the cartridge npon the carrier will be thrown back into the magazine, or, to speak more exactly, the cartridge upon the carrier will stand still and the gun will recoil back 120 over t so quickly that the cartridge would be. landed in the magazine if it were not for the . obstruction offered by the stop-finger, which thus performs the double function of keep- ing not only the cartridge or cartridges in the 125 magazine in their place, but the cartridge upon the carrier in its place. When the gun is closed, the said combined cartridge - stop and carrier-depressor has its forward end depressed and its rear end elevated by the 13 coaction of a lug T3, depending from the rear end of the breech-bolt, and an npwardly-ex- tending lug T4, formed near the forward end of the said part. When the forward end of
730,870 5 the said part is depressed as described, its stop-finger T2 is depressed into a position in which it does not interfere with the emer- gence of the cartridges from the magazine. . 5 A spring T5, carried by the said combined part and located under.its forward end, provides for lifting the said end and depressing its rear end npon the opening moveinen t of the breeeh- bolt, which does.not‘take place until the re- vo coiling receiver A has been thrown nearly to the limit of its rearward excursion by the re- coil following the explosion of a cartridge in the gun-barrel. The said spring T5 then lifts the forward end of the part, so as to bring its 15 cartridge-stop T2 into its operative position;' but this spring T5 has nothing to do with the action of the part T as a carrier-depressor, the entire part springing from end to end.in the discharge of that function. At its rear end 20 the combined part T is formed with an in- . wardly-turned lifting-fingerT3, which passes under a lifting-lug T7, formed at the extreme rear end of the carrier, so that when the for- ward end of the part T is depressed by the 25 action of the breech-bolt the forward end of the carrier will also be depressed in position to receive a cartridge by the lifting of its rear end through the medium of the finger T6 and the Ing T7. The carrier will "now be held in 30 its normal or receiving position by the part T acting as a spring and yielding throughout its length to permit the forward end of the carrier to be pushed upward sufficiently to permit cartridges to be introduced one by one 35 through the feeding-opening B4, formed in the lower or non-recoiling receiver B. It will • be understood, of course, that the magazine is charged while the gun is closed, and there- fore while the part T is held in its depressed 40 position by the'breech-bolt. When, however, the breech-bolt moves rearward, so as to clear its lug T3 from the lug T1 of the part T, the forward end of the said part is lifted by the spring T5 and the rear end thereof depressed, 45 soastoelearthelifting-finger Te fromthelift- ing-lugof the carrier, which is now free in the sense that no spring imposes any restraint against its being freely lifted for presenting a cartridge in front of thebreech-bolt. ' 50 A carrier-lifter U iu the form of a bell- crank lever is provided for lifting the carrier and hung upon a pin и in the non-recoiling receiver B. The lower end of this lifter ex- tends rearwardly under the carrier, while its 55 upper end extends upward into position to be engaged by a beveled lugU', depending from the breech-bolt, as seen in Fig. 15, the’said upper end of the lifter having its forward edge beveled, as atu', so that when thebreech- 60 bolt moves rearward the bevel u' of the lifter will enact with the bevel u2 of the lugU' and push the upper arm of the lifter inwardly, so as to permit the lugU' to pass it, after which • the said arm will return and take a position 65 directly in front of the square forward edge of the lug U', as shown in Fig. 6. I should here explain that the. lifter U -is so loosely • ’ • • ’ I mounted-upon the pivot-pin и that it is free to have a slight sidewise rocking movement, as well as a forward and back rocking move- 70 ment. A spring U2, engaging with the lower arm of the lifter, is employed for restoring it to,its normal or vertical position, in which it is shown in Figs. 10 and 10a. A carrier-catch V is employed for locking 75 the carrier in its depressed position while the opening of. the gun is being completed, the shell ejected, and a new cartridge fed into po- sition on the carrier for being lifted in front of the breeeh-bolt. This carrier-catch is lo- 8c cated in a recess V', formed in the inner face of the right-han’d wail of the non-recoiling receiver В and hung upon a pin V2. A small spiral spring V3, located behind it, Fig. 19, provides for normally throwing it outward, 85 so that a locking-lug V4, extending inwardly from its forward end, will engage with the adjacent or right-hand edge of the forward end of the carrier. When the carrier is de- pressed, the lug V^of the catch springs over 90 its upper edge and locks it in its depressed position, in which it will be held until the cam-finger v, formed at the forward eud of the catch, is engaged by the head of the car- tridge, which is moved onto the carrier from 95 the magazine. The head cjf the cartridge then pushes the cateh outward against the force of its spring V3, whereby the carrier is released for being lifted by the action of the carrier-lifterU. If the recoiling receiver has 10c completed its forward excursion, aud there- fore the opening of the breech of the gun, at the time the earrier-cateh has been disen- gaged by the head of an incoming cartridge from the carrier, the mainspring Q3, which, 101 through the medium of the hammer M,is con- stantly pressing the breech-bolt H against the upper arm of the carrier-lifter, will then act and by forcing the square forward edge of the lug U' against the rear edge of the up- 11 per arm of the carrier-lifter will cause the same to be rocked for ward, whereby the carrier will befimmediately lifted, so as to present the cartridge upon it in front of the breeeh-bolt, whieh will then be moved forward into its 1: closed position, with the effect of inserting the cartridge into the cartridge-chamber of the gun-barrel; but to.provide for the dis- - engagement of the earrier-cateh from the carrier by the head of a cartridge' before the 1 recoiling receiver has reached the limit of its forward movement and so fully’opened the breech of the gun I provide a movable car- tridge-guide W, whieh is located directly above the carrier-catch V, as shown in Fig^5, 1 aud secured to the inner face of the right- hand wall of the noh-recoiiing receiver В by means of a pin w, Fig. 20.. The he^ds of the incoming cartridges are caused to jtass under this guide by means of a solid horizontally- arranged guide-rib W', Fig. 5, formed upon ’ the inner face of the right-hand side wall of the-non-recoiling receiver B, the movable car- tridge-guide W virtually formingan extension
780,870 of this fixed guide-rib W'. At a point above and a little in front of the forward end of the carrier-catch V the cartridge-guide is formed with an outwardly-projecting lug W2, which 5 extends through a transverse opening W3, formed in the said side wall of the non-recoil- ing receiver, and permits the lug Ws to ride upon the lower edge of the inner face of the right-hand wall of the recoiling receiver as io the same moves back and forth; but the said wall of the recoiling receiver is formed with a shallow recess W4, arranged in position so that when the recoiling receiver reaches its fully forward position the recess registers with the 15 lug and allows the same, as well as the for- ward end of the cartridge-guide, to spring out- ward,and thus perm it the cart ridge,and hence the carrier, to be lifted. It will thus be seen that the cartridge guide prevents the carrier so from being lifted during the forward excur- sion of the recoiling receiver and before the'< same has been brought into its fully forward, position, even if the coaetion of a cartridge with the carrier-catch should prematurely ttn- lock the carrier. • It will be seen front the foregoing that the breech-bolt is virtually locked in its open po- sition by the carrier-lifter through the me- dium of the carrier, which is itself virtually 30 locked in its depressed position by the car- rier-catch and by the cartridge-guide acting through the medium of a cartridge, the breOch-bolt being so locked while the action- spring F is moving the recoiling receiver for- 35 ward and completing the opening of the gun. For the rapid ejection of the spent car- tridges I employ an ejector-lever X and an ejector X', which bperate to eject the shell out of the gun directly after its withdrawal 40 from the cartridge-chamber of the gun-barrel. The ejector-lever X is hung by its rear end from the upper tang B2 and formed at its for- ward end with- a beveled finger x, Fig. 4, which is engaged by the rear end of the link 45 J'. The ejector-lever is also furnished at its forward end with a nose which coaets with a head sc2, formed on the rear end of a stiff spring я;3, secured to the lower edge of the ejector, which is hung upon the pivot S', on 1 50 which the carrier S turns, the carrier being formed with a long longitudinally-arranged slot я;4 for the reception of the ejector. As soon as the rear end of the rear link J' passes over the finger a: of the ejector de- 55 ver the ejector is allowed to fall back into . its normal position in the carrier out of the way of the breeeh-bolt, which then passes over it. In the ordinary action of the ejec- tor the spring ж3 does not yield; but if .from 60 any cause the breeeh-bolt should be moved forward prior to the action of the ejector, so that the ejector impinges upon its under face instead of striking up in front of it, then the spring will yield to permit the rear end of 65 the link J'to ride over the finger я; of the ejector-lever X,_and no harm will result. I do not, however, limit myself to accomplish- ing these-resbits in the particular way shown, as it will, bp understood that the spring a:s might be mounted upon the ejector-lever, 70 and, furthermore,: that some other recoiling , part might be utilized to actuate the ejecting instrumentalities represented by the ejector- lever and kicker. In order to hold the ejector down in its 75 normal posit’ and prevent it from rattling, I employ a spring X2, secured to the upper face of the carrier S, Fig. 12, and engaging with the ejeetorat a point justin advaneeof the pivots', on which it is hung. I have ex- 80 plained that the ejector-lever is operated by the rear end of the link J' just before the for- ward .movement of the recoiling receiver is completed, and it may be well to explain that during the rearward excursion of the recoil- 85 ing receiver the link J', being in a horizontal position, does not engage with the ejector-le- v.er, but simply passes over it. __Having now described the construction of my improved arm, I will briefly set forth the 90 mode of its operation. For using it as a maga- .zine-gun the magazine is charged when the gun is closed by introducing the cartridges one by one through the feeding-openings in , the bottom of the non-recoiling receiver by 95 pressing them upward against the carrier S, which yields for their admission against the tension ;of' the combined cartridge-stop and/ .carrier-depressor T.7 The magazine having been charged,.the finger-pieces. J1 J4 on the 100 rear link J are grasped by. the'thumb an£ forefinger and, the link and its connected , parts are pulled upward and backward as far as they y ill go,. They are then allowed to re- turn to their closed positions under th'e in- 105 fluence'of the mainspring, and the gun is- ready for firing by pulling the trigger. When the gun is fired, the recoil ensuing from the explosion of the cartridge forces the recoil- ing receiver backward to the limit of its rear 1 to excursion. During this rearward excursion the breech-bolt and the links remain in their closed and locked positions until the said re- ceiver has traveled nearly to the limit of its rearward excursion,when the cam-surface J5 115 on the rear link impinges against the shoul- der J°, whereby the rear link is turned on its pivfit-pin J3and thrown upward, carrying the forward link Is with it, ;so that the pin Js is lifted up Out of line with the pins I3 and J3, 120 thus unlocking the links, whereby the breech- bolt is withdrawn a short distance. During this rearward excursion of the recoiling re- ceiverand barrel the action-spring F is com- pressed by the guiding-collar E', depending 125 from the gun-barrel E, until it arrests the rearward excursion of the recoiling receiver and barrel. However, the momentum im- . parted to the breeeh-bolt and links causes their nioVement to be continued until the re- 130 coil-face 9 of theTireech-bolt engages with the recoil-face 10 of the non-recoiling receiver. It may here be explained that the said links do not reach their full open positions until
730,370 7 after the recoiling receiver and barrel have nearly completed their forward excursion. The parts are now in the position in which they are shown in Fig. 6, with the hammer 5 cocked and the breech-bolt held back at the limit of its rearward movement by the car- rier-lifter, only tiie recoiling receiver is far- ther forward than shown, as it moves nearly to the point where the shell is kicked out to while the breech-bolt is completing its rear- ward movement—i. after the recoiling re- ceiver has reached the limit of its rearward movement it is immediately started-forward by the action-spring, so that while the breech- 15 bolt is completing its rearward movement under the impulse of the recoil the receiver is at the same time moving forward under the pressure of the action-spring. In the con- struction of the gun it may, if desired, be ar- 2o. ranged to operate without any mechanism for holding the bolt at the limit of its rear- ward movement by giving it a longer travel and the receiver a shorter movement; but in carrying out my present invention I prefer 25 to hold the bolt back and let tie recei ver com- plete its forward movement somewhat later. This forward movementof the receiver while the bolt is held back at the limit of its rearward travel draws the cartridge-chamber away from 30 the spent cartridge, which is held by the extrac- tors, and as soon as the chamber has cleared itself from the forward end of the cartridge the ejector-lever and ejector operate to eject . the cartridge from the gun, as shown in Fig. 35 7. At about this time the head of the next cartridge engages with the cam-finger v of the carrier-catch V and pushes the same outward into the recess V', whereby thelocking-lug V4 is disengaged from the adjacent edge of the 40 carrier, which is now unlocked, so far as the carrier-catch is concerned, aud as soon as the recoiling receiver reaches the limit of its for- ward excursion its recess W4 is brought into registration with the outwardly-projecting 45 lug W2 of the cartridge-guide W, which then immediately springs outward and releases the cartridge, leaving the same free to be lift- ed, whereby the carrier is unlocked so far as the cartridge constituted a lock for holding 50 it in its depressed- position. The unlocking of the carrier operates to unlock the carrier- lifter, which now no longer holds the breech- bolt in its retracted position against the con- stantly-exerted effort of the mainspring Q3 55 to push it forward. As the breech-bolt moves' forward the square forward edge of its lugU' engages with the square rear edge of the up- per arm of the cartridge-lifter, which is then rocked forward on its pivot u, whereby the 6f> carrier is lifted in season to present the car- tridge upon it in front of the breech-bolt, as shown in Fig. .9, which in its forward move- • ment poshes the cartridge into the cartridge- - chamber of the gun-barrel. As the breeeh- 65 bolt is thus moved into its closed position the links I2 and J' are drawn down into their closed positions, as shown in Fig. 5, with suf- ficient ^jrtfe to cause the spring-stud L to be snapped^undsr the nose K' of the cam K, the center of\the.pin J2 being carried below the 70 centers o£ the pins I3 and Js, whereby the breech-bolt is firmly held jn its closed posi- tion against, the rear end of the barrel. The gun is nowjn readiness for being fired again by pulling the trigger. It has already been 75 explained that on account of the construction of my gun, and particularly on account of the employment of the dog O, the gun is pre- vented from being fired more than once by7 pulling the trigger once, even if the rearward 80 draft upon the trigger is not removed until after the recoiling receiver has completed its forward excursion. In using my improved arm as a single-loader the breech is opened as before through the 85 medium of the operating-fingers J4 J4, where- by7 the hammer is cocked. A cartridge is then dropped into the open top of the recoil- ing receiver and received by the carrier. The carrier-catch V is then manually operated, 90 by means of its outwardly-projecting button V5, for unlocking the carrier, and hence the carrier-lever, and hence the breech-bolt, which then starts forward under the action of the mainspring Q3 and inserts the cartridge in 95 the gun-barrel and closes the gnn, which when fired remains open, because the gun contains no reserve cartridge for automatically7 un- locking the carrier again. The user of the- arm therefore has only7 to drop in another car- ico tridge in the same way and again press the button. It will be understood, of course, that in opening the - an by hand the operator has only to compress the mainspring, as the ac- tion-spring remains at rest except when the 105 gun is fired. . It is apparent that in carrying out туИп- vention some changes from the construction herein shown and described may be made not only in utilizing the invention for shot- no guns, but in employing it in the construction of other forms of magazine-arms. I would therefore have it understood that I do, not limit myself to the construction set forth here- in, but hold myself at liberty to make such 115 alterations herein as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention. I do not wish it to be understood, however, as claim- ing a breech-bolt locked by two links, as, broadly speaking, that is old. 120 Haying fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is—• - 1. A recoil-operated inagazine;gun having a non-recoiling receiver and a magazine, are- 125 coiltug receiverand abarre), an action-spring for returning the recoiling receiver and bar- .rel to t heir normal positions, a breech-closing instrumentality, two upwardly7-opening tog- gle-links connecting the said instrumentality 1,50 with the recoiling receiver, a cartridge-car- rier, a carrier-lifter coacting with, the said in- strumentality7 to hold the same in its retracted 1 position, and acted upon and lifted thereby
730,870 in the forward movement thereof, means for locking the carrier in its depressed position and for unlocking it, and a spring for return- ing the said instrumentality to its closed po- 5 sition. 2. A recoil-operated magazine-gun having a non-recoiling receiverand a magazine, a re- • coiling receiver and a barrel, an action-spring for returning the recoiling receiver and bar- io rel to their closed positions, a breech-closing instrumentality, two toggle-links connecting thesaid instrumentality with the recoiling re- ceiver, and having their central pin located below their end pins when they are in their 15 normal or closed positions, a longitudinally- movable hammer eoacting at its forward end with thesaid instrumentality, and a spring coacting with the rear end of the said hammer and acting through the same, irrespective of 20 the said links, to force the said instrumen- tality into its closed position. , •3. A recoil-operated magazine-gun having a non-recoiling receiver and a magazine, a re- coiling receiver.and a barrel, an action-spring 25 for returning the recoiling receiver and bar- rel to their normal positions, a breech-closing instrumentality, two upwardly-opening tog- gle-links connecting the said instrumentality with the recoiling receiver, a cartridge-ear- 30 rier, means eoacting therewith for holding the said instrumentality in its retracted position, and a spring for returning the said instru- ' mentality to its closed position. 4. A recoil-operated magazine-gun having 35 a non-recoiling receiver and a magazine, a re- coiling receiver and a barrel, a gniding-col- lar depending from the barrel and embracing the magazine over which it moves back and forth in correspondence with the excursions 40 of the recoiling receiver and barrel, an action- springfor returningthe recoiling receiverand barrel to their closed positions, a buffer con- sisting of a collar mounted upon the maga- zine at a point in front of the said guiding- 45 collar, and an adjusting-nut also mounted upon the magazine and located in front of the said buffer, the position of which it con- trols as well as the tension of the spring. 5. A recoil-operated magazine-gun havinga 50 nou-recoiling receiver and a magazine, a re- coiling receiver and a barrel, an action-spring for returning the recoiling receiver and bar- rel to their closed positions, a breech-closing instrumentality, two upwardly-opening tog- 55 gle-links connecting the said instrumentality with the recoiling'receiver, a cartridge-car- rier, a carrier-lifter coacting with the said carrier for lifting the same and eoacting with said instrumentality for holding the same in 60 its retracted position, a spring for returning the said instrumentality to its closed position, andmeansinterposed between the said instru- mentality and the said spring for communi- cating the power of the latter to the former 65 independently of the said links. 6. A recoil-operated magazine-gun having a non-recoiling receiver and magazine, a recoil- ing receiver and barrel, a breech-closing in- strumentality, two upwardly-opening toggle- links connecting the said instrumentality 7c with the recoiling receiver, and having their central pin located below their end pins when they are in their normal or closed positions, means for lifting and thus unlocking the said links during the latter part of the rearward 75 excursion of the said recoiling receiver and means for holding said instrumentality in its retracted position and for automatically un- locking it therefrom. 7. A recoil-operated magazine-gun havinga 8: non-recoiling receiver and magazine,* a recoil- ing receiver and a barrel, a breech-closing in- strumentality, two upwardly-opening toggle- ‘ links connecting the said, instrumentality with the recoiling receiver, and-having their 85 central pin located below their end pins when they are in their normal or closed positions, means for lifting and unlocking thesaid links during the latter part of the rearward excur- sion of the recoiling receiver, and a cam and’ 9c spring-controlled stud for normally holding the said links in their closed and locked posi- tions. 8. A recoil-operated magazine-gun,havinga non-recoiling receiver and a barrel, a breech- 95 closing instrumentality, two upwardly-open- ing toggle-links connecting the said instru- mentality with the recoiling receiver, and hav- ing their central pin located below their end . pins when they are in their normal or closed ic positions, means for lifting and unlocking the said links, a cam located in a recess in the rear end of the rear link, and a spring-actu-" • ated friction-stud mounted in the said rear link and engaging with the cam for holding ic the links in their closed and locked positions. 9. In a recoil-operated magazine-gun, the combination with a non - recoiling receiver and a magazine, of a recoiling receiver and a barrel, an action-spring for returningthe said 11 recoiling receiver and barrel to their closed positions, a breech-closing instrumentality, two toggle-links for connecting the said in- strumentality with thv recoiling receiver, a firing- pin mounted in the said instrumen- 11 tality, a longitudinally-movable hammer coacting at its forward end with the said fir- ing-pin, and a spring eoacting with the rear end of the said hammer,and operating through the same and irrespective of the said links, 12 to actuate the firing-pin,and to. force the said instrumentality into its closed position;.after the action-spring has returned the recoiling receiver and the barrel to their closed posi- tions. 12 10. In a recoil-operated magazine-gun, the combination with a non-recoiling receiver and a magazine, of a recoiling receiver and a bait-' rel, an action-spring for returning the said, recoiling receiver and barrel to their closed 13 positions, a breech-closing instrumentality, a long longitudinally-movable hammer engaged at its forward end with the said instrumental- ity, and a spring extending rearward into the
730,870 9 stock of the gun, and coacting with the rear end of the said hammer through the medium of which it forces the said instrumentality ' into its closed position. 5 11. In a recoil-operated magazine-gun, the combination with a non-recoiling receiver, an upper tang having a spring-chamber formed in it, of a recoiling receiver and a barrel, an action-spring for returning the said recoil- io ing receiver and barrel to their closed posi- tions, a breach-closing instrnmentality, a fir- ing-pin mounted in the said instrumentality, a long longitudinally-movable hammer coact- ing at its forward end with the said firing-pin, . 15 and a spring located in the said spring-cham- ber, and coacting with the rear end of the hammer for eansing the same to strike the said pin, and also to foreethe-said instrumen- tality into its closed position aftet1 the reeoil- «0 ing receiver and barrel have been returned to their closed positions through the medium of the action-spring. 12. In a recoil-operated magazine-gun, the combination with a non-recoiling receiverand 25 a magazine, of a recoiling receiver and a bar- rel, a breech-closing instrumentality, a fiiing- pin mounted in the said instrumentality, two upwardly-opening toggle-links connecting the said instrumentality with the recoiling re- 30 ceiver, and having their central pin located below their end pins when they are in their normal or closed positions, and a long longi- tudinally-movable hammer extending rear- wardly beyond the said instrumentality, co- 35 acting with the firing-pin and cocked by one of the said links, and a spring eoacting with the rear end of the said hammer for actuat- ing the firing-pin aud for causing the ham- mer to force the said instrumentality into its 40 closed position irrespective of the said links. 13. In a recoil-operated magazine-gun, the combination with a recoiling receiver, of a breech-closing instrumentality, a firing-pin mounted in the said instrumentality, two up- 45 wardly-opening toggle-links connecting the said instrumentality with the recoiling re- ceiver, and a hammer coacting at its forward end with the said pin, engaged at its forward end by the forward link which cocks it when 50 the links are lifted and extending rearward beyond the said instrumentality, and a spring coacting with tithe rear end of the said ham- mer. 14. In a recoil-operated magazine-gun, the 55 combination with a recoiling receiver, of a breech-bolt, a sear directly connected with the said bolt and extending rearwardly there- from, two upwardly-opening toggle-links con- necting the said bolt with the recoiling re- 60 ceiver, and having their central pin located below their end pins when they are in their closed or normal positions, a longitudinally- movable hammer eoacting with the said sear and retracted and cocked by the action of 65 one of said links which engages it with the sear, and a trigger few actuating the sear. 15. Ina recoil-operated magazine-gun, the combination with a hammer, a trigger, a dog pivotally mounted in the trigger, means for lifting the trigger upward and yieldingly hold- 70 ing the dog at the limit of its pivotal rear- ward movement, a sear adapted to be engaged by the upper end of . the dog, and a sear-spring operating to engage the sear with the ham- mer every time the same is moved into its 75 cocked position, the coacting portions of the searand dog being constructed to require the releasing and pulling of the trigger every time the gun is fired to effect the engagement of the dog with the sear so that the firing of 80 the gun will not be automatic even if the pull upon the trigger is maintained. 16. In a recoil-operated magazine-gun, the combination with a breech-closing instrumen- tality, of a carrier, means for locking the car- 85 rierin its depressed position, means for auto- matically unlocking the carrier? and a carrier- lifter engaged and held by the carrier when . the same is in its locked position, and engag- ing the said instrumentality to hold the same 90 at or near the limit of its rearward excursion until after the carrier has been unlocked when the said instrumentality operates the lifter to lift the carrier. 17. In a recoil-operated magazine-gun, the 95 combination with a breech-closingitistrumen- tality, of a carrier, means for locking the car- rierin its depressed position, means for auto- matically unlocking the carrier, and a car- ; rier-lifter engaged and held by the carrier ico when the same is in its locked position, and engaging the said instrumentality to hold the sanie at or near the limit of its rearward ex- cursion until after the carrier has been un- locked when the said instrumentality oper- 105 ates the lifter to lift the carrier, the said car- rier-lifterconsisting of a bell-crank lever, the . upper end of which coaets with the breech- closing instrumentality and the rearwardly- Oxtending lower end of which coacts with the 110 carrier. 18. In a recoil-operated magazine-gun, the combination with a breech-closinginstrumen- tality, of a carrier, means for locking the car- rier in its depressed position, means for auto- 115 matically unlocking the carrier, and a carrier- lifter engaged and held by the carrier when the same is in its locked position, and engag- ing the said instrumentality to hold the same at or near the limitof its rearward excursion 120 until after the carrier has been unlocked, when the said instrumentality operates the lifter to lift the carrier, the Sfiid carrier-lifter consistingof a bell-crank lever loosely mount- ed upon a pivot t? rock forward and back and 125 sidewise, having its rearwardly-extending lower arm adapted to coact with the carrier, and having its upper arm beveled to coact with a beveled lug depending from the'said instrnmentality, which, in its rearward ex- 13c eursion, rocks the said lifter sidewise' so as to clear its upper arm with the rear edge of which the said lug engages in the forward mo vement of the instrumentality, which then
1О 730,870 rocks the lifter forward and effects the lift- ing of the carrier. 19. In a recoil-operated magazine-gun, the combination with p carrier for lifting the car- 5 tridges upward preparatory to their insertion into the gun-barrel, df a carrier-catch which normally locks the carrier in its depressed position, and which is automatically disen- gaged from the carrier bya rearwardly-mov- io ing cartridge, and means for lifting tiie car- rier after it has been unlocked. 20. In a recoil-operated magazine-gun, the combination with a carrier for lifting the car- tridges upward preparatory to their insertion 15 into the gun-barrel, of a carrier-catch which normally locks the carrier in its depressed position, and which is automatically disen- gaged from the. carrier by a rearwardly-mov- ing cartridge, means for lifting the carrier 20 after the same has been unlocked as de- scribed, and ineans for manually disengaging the carrier-catch from the carrier in using Jthe arm as a single loader. 21. In a recoil-operated magazine-gun, the 25 combination with a carrier for lifting the car- tridges into position for insertion into the gu n-barrel, of a eartridge-gu ide acting through t,hb medium of a cartridge to lock the carrier in its depressed position, and released by one 30 of the recoiling parts of the gun as the same is closed. 22. In a recoil-operated magazine-gun, the combination with a non-recoiling and a re- coiling receiver, of a carrier for lifting the 35 cartridges into position for insertion into the gun-barrel, and a cartridge - guide acting through the medium of a cartridge to lock the carrier in its depressed position, and formed with an outwardly - projecting lug 40 which extends through an opening formed in one wall of the non-recoiling receiver into po- sition to be engaged by the recoiling receiver as the same moves back and forth, the re- coiling receiver being adapted to permit the 45 lug to move outward when the said receiver reaches its fully forward position, whereby the eartridge-guide retires and releases the cartridge and hence permits the lifting of the carrier with the cartridge, which is then in? 50 serted into-the.gun-barrel. 23. In a recoil-operated magazine-gun, the combination with a non-recoiling and a re- coiling receiver, of a carrier for lifting the. cartridges upward preparatory,to their in-, 55 sertion into the gun-barrel, a carrier-catch which engages directly with and normally locks the carrier in its depressed position, and which is automatically disengaged from thecarrier byarearwardly-moving cartridge, 60 a cartridge-guide acting through the medium ofthe cartridge to additionally lock the car- rier in its depressed position and released by the recoiling receiver when the same reaches its fully forward position, and means for lift- 65 ing. the carrier after the carrier-catch and cartridge-guide have been retired. 24. In a recoil-operated magazine-gun, the. combination with tWo upwardly-opening tog- gle-links, of an ejector for ejecting the spent cartridges from the gun, and an ejector-lever 70 located in the rear of .the said ejector in po- sition to coact therewith and to be operated by the rear link. 25. In a recoil-operated magazine-gun, the combination with an ejector, of an ejector- 75 lever operating the ejector, and itself oper- ated by one of the recoiling parts of the gun, and a safety-spring through which the ejec- tor-lever acts upon the ejector and which yields if the free operation of the ejector is 80 obstructed. 26. In a recoil-operated magazine-gun; the combination with an ejector pivoted at its rear end, of an ejector-lever located in rear of the ejector, pivoted at its rear end, having 85 yielding connection at its forward end with the ejector and provided with an upwardly- extending finger which is engaged by one of the recoiling parts df the gun for operating the lever, which in turn actuates the ejector, go 27. In a recoil-operated magazine-gun, the combination with a recoiling and a non-re- eoiling receiver, of a breech-Closing instru- mentality, two toggle-links connecting the said instrumentality with the recoiling re- 95 eeiver, an ejector, and an ejector-lever coaet- ing with the ejector to operate it and engaged by the rear link which operates it in actuat-. ing the ejector. ' 28. In a recoil-operated magazine-gun, the too combination with a carrier for lifting the car- tridges into position to be inserted into, the gun-barrel and formed with a long longitudi- nally-arranged slot, of an ejector located, iu the said slot and pivoted at its rear end,'And 105 means for operating the said ejector by one of the recoiling parts of. the gun. 29. In a recoil-operated magazine-gun, the combination with a pivotal carrier for lifting the cartridges into position for insertion into no the gun-barrel, and formed with a long longi- tudinally-arranged slot, of an ejector located in the said slot and hung at its rear end upon the pivot of the carrier and operated by one of the recoiling parts of the gun. 115 30. In a recoil-operated magazine-gun, the combination with a carrier for lifting the car- tridges into position, for insertion into the gun-barrel, and formed with a long longitu- dinally-arranged slot, of an ejector located 120 in the said slot, and pivoted upon the pivot of the carrier, an ejector-lever hung by its rear end, aijd a yielding connection between the ejector and the forward end of the ejec- tor-lever which is engaged1 for operation by 125 one of the recoiling parts of the gun. 31. In a recoil-operated magazine-gun, the combination with a breech-bolt provided with cartridge-extractors, of a receiver in which v the said bolt is mounted,! and which is pro- 130 vided'with one or more/longitudinally-ar- ranged ribs locate^ in position to limit the upward movement of tije.hartridges as they arft,lifted from, the mag^ihe, apd having their
730,870 tipper faces beveled to engage with the nnder sides of the heads of the cartridges to lift them and free them from the grip of the ex- tractors when the cartridges are withdrawn •5 by hand. 32. In a recoil-operated magazine-gun, the combination with a carrier, of a carrier-catch which normally locks the carrier in its de- . pressed position, and which is automatically 10 disengaged from the carrier by a cartridge when the same is fed from the magazine of the gnn and moves into right position upon the carrier. 33. In an automatic gun, the combination 15 with a breech-bolt*, of a pivotal carrier,' a car- rier-lifter which acts to lift the carrier and to hold the breech-bolt in its open position, and means to hold the carrier in its depressed po- sition at which time it acts through the said 20 lifter tohold the bolt in its open position; the said means being automatically released from the carrier to permit the same to be lifted, by a rearwardly-moving cartridge. 34. In an automatic gun, the combination 25’ with a carrier, of a carrier - catch normally locking the carrier in its depressed position, automatically disengaged from the carrier by a cartridge when the same is fed from the magazine of the gun and moves into right po- 30 siiiorf 'Upon the carrier,, and having an ex- posed part or button adapted to be manually operated to release the carrier. 35. In an automatic gun, the combination with a breeeh-bolt which slides rearward and 35 forward for opening and closing the breech, and means for holding the said bolt at the limit of its rearward excursion, the said means beingautomatieally released-by the cartridges as they are fed from the jtyagazine, and pro- 40 vided with an exposed part or button for .manually releasing the bolt when there are no cartridges in the magazine. 36. In an automatic gun, the combination with a recoiling and a non-recoiling receiver, 45 of a breech-closing instrumentality, two up- - wardly-opening toggle-links connecting the said-instrumentality with the recoiling re- ceiver, means for holding the said instrumen- tality at or near the limit of its rearward ex- cursion, whereby the links are held in their 50 elevated or open positions, and manually-op- erable means for releasing the said instru- mentality when held as described, to permit it to move forward into its closed position, and to permit the links toassume their closed 55 positions. , 37. In recoil-firearms having movable bar- rels, the combination of the rearward-moving barrel with linked levers, a stud or projection at the bending 01 “ knee” point of the linked 60 levers and a curved guide-surface of the cas- ing located in the path of the said projection, which in consequence of the recoil after firing is pressed against the said surface, substan- tially as shown and described. 65 38. In a recoil-operated magazine-gun, the combination with the receiver or casing, of a recoiling or sliding barrel, a breech-closing instrumentality, and two upwardly-breaking toggle-links connecting the said instrumen- 70 tality with the recoiling or sliding barrel, the rear link of the two toggle-links being pro- vided at,a point forward of its rear pin with, a surface for engagement with a surface upon the receiver dr casing for lifting and unlock- 75 ing the links during the rearward excursion of the recoiling or sliding barrel. 39. In. a recoil-operated magazine-gun, the combination with the receiver or casing, of a recoiling or-sliding barrel, a breech-dosipg 80 instrumentality, and two upwardly-breaking toggle-links connecting the said instrumen- tality with the recoiling or sliding barrel, one of the said links being provided at a point forward of the rear pin of the lehr link with 85 a surface for engagement with,the said sur- face upon the receiver or easing, for lifting and unlocking the links. In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscrib- 90 ing witnesses. JOHN. M. BROWNING. Witnesses: J. W. F. Volker, N. Gail Norton.
No. 747,585. PATENTED DEC. 22, 1903. J. M. BROWNING. AUTOMATIC FIREARM. APPLICATION FILED APB. 3, 1902. NO MODEL. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.
No. 747,585. BO MODEL. PATENTED DEC. 22, 1903. J. M. BROWNING. AUTOMATIC FIREARM. APPLICATION FILED APB. 3, 1902. 3 SHEETS—SHEET 2. /viverr/or:
Me. 747,585. PATENTED DEC. 22, 1903. J. M. BROWNING. AUTOMATIC FIREARM. APPLICATION FILED APB. 3, 1902. SO MODEL. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.,
No. 747,585. Patented December 22, .1908. United States Patent Office. JOHN M. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH. AUTOMATIC FIREARM. SPECIFICATION forming’ part of betters Patent No. 747,585, dated December 22, 1903. Application filed April 3, 1902. Serial No. 101,159. (No model.) To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, JohnM. Browning, a citizen of theUnitedStates,residingin Ogden, county of Weber, in the State of Utah, have 5 invented certain new and useful Improve- ments in Firearms, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the ac- companying drawings, forming a part hereof. Thisinvention relates to automatic firearms io of that description in which the several op-. erations—such as the opening of the breech after firing a shot, the ejection of the empty eartridge-shell, the cocking of the hammer, the presentation and introduction of a new 15 cartridge to the chamber of the barrel, and the closing of the breech—are automatically effected through or by the energy of the re- coil of the breech-bolt or that part which at the time of firingeloses the breech of the bar- 20 rel, and more.especially relates to firearms of this description in which energy is stored dur- ing the opening movement of the breech-bolt, in a spring, there action of which is utilized to actuate the return or closing movement of 25 1 he breech-bolt. The main object of the invention is to pro- duce a firearm of this class .which shall be simple aud inexpensive in construction, reli- able, and safe under all conditions of use. 30 Another object of the invention is to pro- duce a firearm of this class in which the bar- rel to insure accuracy in firing shall be rig- idly -held upon but located entirely above the’ffhme near the sighting-line of the arm 35 and in which the attachment of the barrel to the frame shall support the barrel rigidly, but shall allow the barrel at will and readily to be detached and removed and to be replaced and attached without requiring the useof any 45 tooi therefor. Another object of'the invention is to pro- duce a firearm of this class in which to insure the absolute safety of the nser the cover or breech-slide, the movable abutment for the 4 reaction-spring, and the breech-bolt shall be combined in one strong integral whole with- out a division or joint therein and shall be mounted upon the top of the frame from the front and be so held and guided in its recip- 55 rocation thereon that it can be removed from the frame as one whole only and in the for- ward direction alone, carrying with it the bar- rel previously disengaged from the frame. Another object of the invention is to pro- duce a firearm of this class in which not only 55 shall the possibility of any part of the arm beingthrown rearward be absolutely guarded against; but in which also the blowing rear- ward from the arm of escaping powder-gases, due to defective cartridges or their primers, 60 shall be positively prevented. Another object o':' the invention is to pro- duce a firearm of this class in whi’ch for safety in handling and carrying the firing mechan- ism, with the exception of the trigger shall 65 be entirely inclosed and concealed in the arm and which shall be provided with a device for automatically locking the firing mechanism whenever it is cocked or made ready for fir- ing, such locking device to be actuated to 7n unlock the firing mechanism by the act of grasping the arm and holding it in the posi- tion for firing. Whenever the firing mech- anism is released and moved from tho cocked position, this locking.device shall thereby be 75 automatically moved from its operative to its inoperative position and shall there be posi- tively held until the recocking of the firing mechanism shall again move the locking de- vice to its operative position. 80 A further object of. the invention is to pro- vide the firearm in the said device for auto- matically locking the concealed firing mech- anism when cocked with a reliable indicator for showing at a glance whether the firing 85 mechanism is in the cocked or in the released position. Another object of the invention is to pro- duce a firearm of this class which for safety in handling and carrying, even when a car- 9c. tridge is in the chamber of the barrel and the firing mechanism is cocked, shall be provided with a safety device for at will and readily locking the combined breech-slide and breech- bolt in its closed forward position, at the 95 same time positively locking the cocked firing mechanism, or for as readily unlocking these parts, and thereby adapting the arm for in- stant use, Forsafetyand convenience while examining and cleaning the arm and while too charging it with cartridges said safety device shall, further, be adapted at will to lock the
2 747,5fii? combined breech-slide and breech-bolt in its rearward open position and at the same time to lock the cocked firing mechanism or to as readily unlock these parts. 5 A further object is to provide the firearm in tlie said safety device for simultaneously lock- ing the breech-slide and the cocked firing mechanism with a reliable indicator percep- tible to touch, as well as to sight, for showing ro if the arm is ready for instant use or not. Another object of the invention is to pro- duce a firearm in which for simplicity of con- struction and for prevention of accidental firing the means by which the device for au- 15 tomatieally locking the cocked firing mech- anism is acnated shall also be the means by which the safetydevice for at will locking the breech-slide simultaneously with locking the cocked firing mechanism is held or retained zo in its operative position. Besides thus actu- ating both these locking devices the same means, moreover, shall also be the means by_ which the firing mechanism when released' is actuated to discharge a cartridge, so that 25 whenever breakage or failure of the common means causes both the automatic locking de- vice to become inoperative and the manual safety device to fail to remain in its opera- tive position the firing mechanism shall si- 30 multaneously become incapable of exploding a cartridge. These objects are attained by mechanism of simple and practical construction which is efficient, perfectlysafe in use, and not liable 35 to get out of order. The invention is shown herein as embodied in a gas-operated magazine-pistol; bnt it will beunderstoodthattheinvention isapplicable to other firearms. Therefore it is not in tended 40 to restrict the present invention to a maga- zine-pistol nor to any particular kind of fire- arm nor to the combination of the several featuresof improvementina singlestructure. In the accompanying drawings, wherein is 45 illustrated an embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 is a left-hand side elevation of the pistol with the breech closed. Figs. 2 and 3 are respectively front and rear end views of the same. Fig. 4 is a horizontal detail sec- go tidn on the plane indicated by the line 4 4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical sec- tion of the pistol with the breech closed and the hammer down, the barrel being shown in elevation. Fig. 6 is a vertical detail section 55 on the same plane as’Fig. 5, but with the hammer in its cocked position and the sear locked, the normal position of these parts when other parts are as shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a section similar to Fig. 4, but with 60 the breech open. Figs. 8,9, and 10 are trans- verse sections'on the planes indicated by the lines 8 8,9 9, and 1010, respectively, of Fig. 5. Fig. 11 is a horizontal detail section through the breech-slide on the plane indicated by the 65 line 11 11 of Fig. 5, but with the breech-slide moved rearwardly, the barrel being shown in plan view. Fig. 12 is a detail rear view of the lower part of the pistol-grip. Fig. 13 is a detail view of the combined trigger, sear, and magazine-catch spring. Fig. 14 is a de- 70 tail view of the mainspring. Similar letters refer to similar parts through- out the several views. The pistol representedin the drawings com- prises three main parts—the frame a, the bar- 75 rel b, and the breech-slide c. The top snrfaee of the frame a forms a straight seat for the reciprocating breech- slide c. In the upper portion of the frame is the receiver and below it the grip or handle 80 a2, which is preferably made integral with the frame, but may be formed separately and attached thereto in any suitable manner. The barrel b is securely engaged with the topof thefrainetopreventlongitadinalmove- 85 ment and without any longitudinal move- ment of the barrel during the act of lock- ing by a series of transverse segmental ribs b' at right angles to the axis of the barrel, pro- jecting downwardly from the under side of 90 the barrel near its rear end and fitting into я series of corresponding segmental grooves a' in the open top of the frame in front of the receiver, the width of the series of ribs being substantially equal to the largest diameter of 95 the barrel, two parallel surfaces extending from t he sides of the barrel to the ends of the series of ribs. To lock and to unlock the bar- rel to and from the frame when the breech- slide is in place, it is revolved on its longitu-' n о dinal axis until the projecting ribs swinging sidewise are respectively engaged with or dis- engaged from the grooves in the frame and clear the top surface of the frame. When the breech-slide is not in place, the barrel can. 105 be disengaged from the frame by lifting it. The barrel is held down when engaged with the frame by the breech-slide c, Which com- bines in one integral piece the breach-bolt o', the barrel-cover c*, and the front abutment c4 no for the reaction-spring. The top of the breech- slide is semicylindricai, and its straight bot- tom is fitted to slide rearward and forward upon the top of the frame. The aides of the breech-slide project downward, overlapping 1»$ those of the frame, and are provided wii h lon- gitudinal ribe <?, which interlocking with cor- responding grooves a* in the sides of the frame serve to secure the breech-slide upon the frame and tognideitin its reciprocations tao thereon. In rear of the barrel the breeeh- slide forms the breech-bolt c',forwardof which extends the tubular cover o’, which inclose» the barrel and, like the barrel, projects some distance forward of the frame. This project- 125 ing forward portion of the breech-slide car- ries the depending front abutment c*, tubular in form and parallel to the axis of the barrel. In the forward portion of the frame is pro- vided a longitudinal seat aa for the reaction- t jo spring e, the axis of which lies in the rear- wardly-prolongedaxis of theabut.mentc*,aud the forward portion of the bore of the seat a8 is enlarged and opened at the top, so that the
747,585 3 depending abutment c3 can enter and slide therein when the breech - slide moves rear- ward. The front opening of the abutment c3 is closed by a plug d, against which the for- c ward end of the reaction-spring e bears, while the rear end of the spring & bears against the end of the seat a3 in the frame, the spring e ihas exerting its tension in yieldingly sup- porting the breech-slide c in the forward po- lo silion. As the depending abutment c3 is in- tegral with and in its entire length strongly joined to the breech-slide and is projected into the planeof the frame itself, the breech- slide can be mounted upon and removed 15 from the frame only from the front and is positively prevented from being thrown rear- ward'ly from the frame, the shoulder formed by the enlarged bore of the seat a3 and the front end of the top of the frame limiting the 20 rearward movement of the breech-slide by contact with the rear end of the abutment <A This arrangement, besides forming an addi- tional means of securing the breech-slide upon the frame and guiding it in its movements 25 thereon, provides in the frame an abutment of great strength capable of absorbing the shock should the breech-slide be thrown rear- ward with uiihsual violence, stieh as might be caused by the firing of cartridges containing 30 excessive powder charges. In order to pre- vent the central part of the reaction-spring e from bending during its compression by .the rearward movement of the breech-slide, a pis- ton e' is inserted into the rear end of the 35 springe, the head of the piston bearing against the end of the seat a? and its body extending through the spring far enough to project into the abutment c3 of the breech-slide, thus pro- viding a guide for the unsupported portion of 40 the spring in the enlargement of the seat a3. - After the breech-slide has been mounted from the front upon the frame it is secured thereon by the interlocking of the barrel with the top of thefraine,the rearendof the barrel forming 45 an abutment on the top of the frame against which the face of the breech-bolt c' will be yieldingly supported by the tension of the reac- tion-spring e. The barrel may be introduced into the breech-slide after the latter has been 50 mounted upon the frame, and it may also be removed from the breech-slide while upon the frame; but with the present improvements the barrel may be first introduced and ad- justed in the barrel-cover c2 of the breeeh- 55 slide, and then breech-slide and barrel to- gether be mounted upon the frame and there secured by the interlocking of the barrel with the frame. This method is'preferable, as it is simpler and may be more quickly per- 60 formed than the monntingof thesepartseach separately upon the frame. Forward of the breech-bolt o' the interior of the barrel-cover <? is bored out large enough for the passage through it of the rear end of 65 the barrel enlarged by the projection form- ing the series of locking-ribs b' if said pro- jection stands vertically below the barrel, but not large enough to allow any rotation of the barrel in the barrel-cover cs except in the part c5, where a recess, which may be seg- 70 mental, permits the turning of the locking- ribs laterally enough to clear the top of the frame. The location of this recess c5 is such that it corresponds with the series of lock- ing-grooves in the top of the frame when the 75 breech-slide approaches the rearward limit of its movement otf the frame. After inserting the barrel into the breech- slide and turning it on its axis until the pro- jecting ribs V stand in the recess c5 the 80 front end of the breech-slide is closed by the bushing/, which supports the muzzle of the barrel and fits into the enlarged front end c° of the bore of t he barrel-cover. The rear end of the bushing / is reduced in diameter and 85 carries a segmental locking-rib/', and in rear of the enlargement ce a corresponding recess is cut in the barrel-cover, into which the rib /' is entered by a partial rotation of the bushing / on its axis, thus securing the 90 bushing / to the breech-slide, with which it reciprocates, the bushing sliding on the cy- lindrical front end of the stationarj7 barrel. At the front the bushing / has a flange /2, which bears against the front of the breech- 95 slide and projects downward, partly overlap- ping the abutment c3 and provided with a segmental recess /3, which corresponds with the bore of the abutment c3, forming the seat. of the reaction-spring e when the bushing is 100 in its locked position. The plug d, closing said seat at the front, is secured therein by a pin d', passing transversely through the abut- - ment and the plug, the hole in the plug d be- ing slightly elongated, so as to allow a lim- 105 ited longitudinal movement of the plug d in the abutment c3 and so that, under the pres- sure of the reaction-spring e the plug d pro- jects slight!}’ from the front of the abutment and bj7 entering the recess/3 in the flangeof rio the bushing locks the bushing against rota- tion. With the barrel 6, and the bushing / ad- justed as described in the breech-slide and the reaction-spring e, with tfie piston e', in- 115 serted in the seat as of the frame the breech- slide is mounted upon the frame, the front end of the spring e being guided into the seat in the abutment c3. Pressing the breech- slide rearward npon the frame will carry the 120 locking-ribs &'of the barrel over the grooves a’ in the top of the frame» when a partial rotation of the barrel will securely interlock barrel and frame, and thereby secure the breech-slide upon the frame. On releasing 125 the breech-slide it will, under the pressure of the reaction-spring, move to the forward po- sition and close the. breech. For dismount- ing the breech-slide it is pressed rearward until the locking-ribs b' may be turned into 130 the recess c5, after which the breech-slide, with the barrel, may be drawn from the frame. It will be observed that through the de- scribed construction the assembling and the
747,585 separation of the barrel, breeeh-slide, and frame can be accomplished without the aid of any tool or implement whatever. The location of the recess c5 prevents the 5 accidental unlocking of the barrel, because it is so arranged that during the operation of the pistol the breech-slide is always in mo- tion at the place where the locking-ribs Ъ cor- respond with the recess, and it is carried io rapidly beyond that position, so as to give the barrel no chance to rotate, but to always keep it securely interlocked with the frame. The front sight, and the rear sight are ar- ranged upon the ends of the breech-slide, 15 and thus the axis of the barrel, which rests on top of the frame and is merely covered by the shell of the ЬгеесЦ-slide, is adjacent to the line connecting the sights by which the pistol is aimed. го The breech-bolt carries the firing-pin and the cartridge-shell extractor, and in front of the breech-bolt an opening is provided in the top of the breeeh-slide for the ejection of the cartridge-shells by the action of a shoulder 25 in the receiver. The cartridges are supplied by a detachable magazine seated in the grip and provided with a spring-actuated fol- lower by which the cartridges are succes- sively raised to the receiver, where the for- 30 ward motion of the breech-bolt carries the topmost cartridge from the magazine to the chamber of the barrel. These devices may be as usual in this class of arms and do not re- quire further description. 35 In rear of the grip the hammer h, and the sear g are pivotally mounted in the frame, while in front of the grip the trigger* is ar- ranged, a rearward extension i' oh the trig-, ger serving to connect the trigger with tfije 40 sear. The mainspring I and the trigger and sear-spring m are arranged in the grip in rear of the magazine-seat. In its released position the hammer h, pro- jects from the top of the frame into a cham- 45 ber c7, formed in an extension of the breeeh- slide in rear of the breech-bolt c', which cov- ers the hammer and gives a smooth rounded form to the pistol. This construction serves to prevent the catching of the arm when hur- 50 riedly drawn from a pocket, and the solid im-- perforate rear end of the breech-slide or wall of the chamber dr recess c7, having no open- ing in line with the axis of the firing-pin, positively prevents powder-gases escaping 55 from the chamber of the barrel through the seat of the firing-pin from being blown into the face of the person firing the arm. This is especially important in gas-operated arms in which the rearward pressure of the gases Oo of explosion is directly utilized for opening the breech of the arm and in which an ex- cessive powder charge, a defective cartridge- case, a punctured primer, or the failure of the reaction-spring may each result in the 65 rearward escape of a portion of the bnrning powder-gases. Against these the solid rear end of the breech-slide forms a shield. In order to leave the rear end of the breeeh- slide solid the seat in the breech-bolt for the firing-pin is bored out from the front, and 70 later a bushing c10 is fastened in the face of the breech-bolt, which allows only the point of the reduced front end of the firing-pin to project through it. To permit the introduc- tion and removal of the firing-pin to and from 75 the breech-bolt without each time removing this bushing, the firing-pin is divided in two sections J and/, each of which is short enough to enter into the seat from thereat through the chamber c7, thus allowing the front bushing 80 to remain permanently fixed in thebreech-bolt. The forward section j forms the firing-pin point and has a head for the retraction-spring fc to abut against) said spring being intro- duced with the piece j into the breech-bolt 85 and there confined between the firing-pin head and the fixed front bushing. The rear piece/ is cylindrical and is removable locked in the breech-bolt by a transverse pin / pass- ing through the breech-bolt and through a 90 recess in the top of the piece/. The entire firing mechanism of the pistol, with the exception of the trigger, being cov- ered and concealed and it beiug, therefore, impossible to at will lock the hammer by the 95 sear and the usual safety-notch in the ham- mer, a safety or grip lever n is provided in the rear side of the grip, which serves to au- tomatically lock the firing mechanism if cocked and only to release it when the grip 100 is grasped, as in firing the arm. The posi- tion of the lever n also indicates if the con- cealed hammer h is cocked or is in the re- leased position. The lever n extend» up- ward from it» pivot ri2, oh which it has a 105 limited swinging movement, and the main- spring- I is seated upon a shoulder 011 the lever n above its pivot so as to yieldingly hold the lever in its rearmost' position, in which the upper portion of the lever extends no considerably from the rear of the grip.. When the lever n is pressed forward, itswings on its pivot until it is entirely in the grip and the rear of the lever corresponds with the out- line of the grip. At its top the lever n has a 115 forwardly-projecting hook or hooked projec- tion ri,‘which when the lever n is in its nor- mal rear position standsabove a similar hook or hooked projection д', projecting rearward from the sear g, so that.then the sear cannot 120 be moved on its pivot, and thereby the trig- ger is locked in its forward position. When pressed into the grip, the lever n carries the hook ri forward of the hook д' on the sear to a position where 3 recess in the sear stands be- 135 low thehookn'andasimilar recess in the lever standsabove the hook д', thus leaving thesear free to be moved by the trigger. The upper rear corner of the sear is fitted to enter the cock-notch-of the hammer h, so as to support 130 the hammer when cocked, the sear-spring m pressing the lower end of the sear forward and .through the extension i' also-fielding the trigger in its forward position. If now the
747,585 s trigger i is pulled while the lever n is pressed into the grip, the trigger extension i' will move the sear g on its pivot and cause it to release the hammer and will simultaneously 5 cause the hook д' of the .sear to enter the re- cess in the lever n, and thus to interlock with the hook ri of the lever, thereby locking the lever n, so that it cannot be moved rear- wardly out of the grip. As soon as tlie sear io has released the hammer the mainspring I causes the hammer to fall, thus carrying the hub of the hammer to the rear of the top of the sear, thereby positively locking the sear in its released position, in which itcoiitinues 15 to positively retain the grip-lever n in the grip. On again cocking the hammer, as by the rear movement, of the breech-slide, the sear; actuated by the sear spring, enters the notch in the hammer and simultaneously re- 20 leases the hook ri of the lever n. Then the mainspring will move the lever n rearward so as to project from the grip and also carry the hook?i' over the hook д' of the sear, there- by again locking the sear and the trigger and 25 preventing the release of the hammer. By this construction the cocked hammer cannot be released until the grip-lever is pressed ifito the grip, and the projection of the grip- lever from the grip is a positive indication 30 thatthe hammer is cocked and locked, where- as if the grip-lever does not project from the grip it indicates that the hammer is in its re- leased position and must be cocked before the pistol can be fired. 35 Pivoted to the left side of the frame con- venient to he operated by the thumb of the hand grasping the grip is the manual safety- lever 0, the pivot o' of which is an integral part of the lever and, passing through the 40 center of the hammer A, at the same time serves as the hammer-pivot. This arrange- ment is not only simple and inexpensive, as it reduces the number of parts of the mech- anism, but by it an important result is ob- 45 tained, as hereinafter described. The safety-lever о carries on its surface the checked thumb-piece os, at its top the hook-shaped, projection o3, and on its inner side the projecting square stud o4, which ex- 50 tends through a small segmental opening in the wall of the frame to the side of the sear y,on which is provided a similar square stud or projection g2 near its upper rear corner, the remaining portion of the left side of the 55 sear g above its pivot being ent away so as to allow the stud o4 on the safety-lever 0 to freely move by the side of the sear into and out of the path of the stud g2 thereon. In the left side of that portion of the breech- 60 slide which overlaps the frame two recesses c8 and c9 are cut and so located that the re- cess cs corresponds with the hook o3 on the safety-lever 0 when the breech-slide is fully forward and the breech closed and the recess 65 c1 corresponds with the hook o3 when the breech-slide is in its rearmost position and the breech fully open. Thus in both these po- sitions the safety-lever may be turned up- ward to positively lock the breech-slide either when fully closed or when fully open. The 70 upward movement of the safety-lever carries the stud o4 thereon to a position in front of the stud g2 on the sear, so as to positively lock the sear against movement and prevent the release of the cocked hammer. 75 If the hammer has been released and stands in its position of rest, which it can occupy only while the breech is closed, the hub of the hammer, standing in rear of and against the top of the sear, locks the sear in its released, 80 position, in which the stud g2 on the sear stands above the stud oi on the safety-lever 0, and thus prevents the safety-lever from be- ing moved until the hammer is again cocked. The safety-lever thus being held immovable 85 is a positive indicator that the hammer is not cocked and that the pistol is not ready for instant use, but that a rearward and forward movement of the breech-slide is required to cock the hammer. When,however,the closed 90 breech-slide is locked by the safety-lever, it indicates that the hammer is cocked and. locked and that by simply turning down the safety-lever the pistol is made ready for firing, as long as cartridges are supplied by the 95 magazine. The safety-lever 0 thus is an in- dicator of the condition of the pistol, not only apparent at a glance, but also perceptible in the dark, as the yielding of the lever or its immovable condition can at once be felt. too The cartridge-magazine p is detachably held in the grip by the magazine-catch p', which is at 2? pivotally mounted in the grip and is yieldingly held in operative position by the lower end of the combined sear and 105 trigger-spring m. The spring m, as shown in Fig. 13, is divided in two parts in its up- per portion. The longer one, m', of these parts serves to actuate the sear, while the shorter one, m2, rests against the extension 110 i' of the trigger and holds it in its forward position. Below the division the spring m has a segmental lateral projection m\ which , fits into a corresponding segmental lateral recess a5 in the grip in rear of the magazine. 115 In this manner the spring is held from mov- ing ,up or down in the grip, but the recess be- ing considerably greater in depth than the thickness of the spring allows the spring some movement rearward and forward in the 120 recess, whereby the spring is adapted to ex- ert its elasticity through its entire length, and thus both ends of the spring may be utilized. As shown in Fig. 7, the mainspring I is V- shaped, one linqb, I’, bearing against the ham- 125 mer, while the other shorter limb, I2, has a segmental projection Z3, which fits into a cor- responding segmental recess ae in the grip in rear of the sear and trigger-spring m, thus confining the mainspring against moving up 130 or down, but allowing it to exertits elasticity through its entire length. The projection on the mainspring and the corresponding recess in the grip being larger than the projection
747,585 s on the sear and trigger-spring and its recess, the short limb of the mainspring rests against a shoulder in the grip, thereby retaining the sear and trigger-spring in its recess, without, 5 however, fully’- compressing it. As heretofore described, the lower end of the mainspring rests against a shoulder on the grip-lever n above its pivot?is and presses the lever rearward 'o its operative position, ro in whieh the lever locks the sear, while the longer limb of the mainspring presses against the hammer, and by the hammer this pres- sure of the mainspring is transmitted to the hammer-pivot o', and as this pivot is an inte- 15 gral part of the safety-lever o.the pressure of thp mainspring serves to yieldingly support the safety-lever 0 in either of the positions to which it may be moved. By this construc- tion the two safety devices for locking the 20 firing mechanism, the grip-lever, and the safety or locking lever both depend fortheir efficiency on the mainspring, and therefore should either or both of these safety devices fail on account of the breakage or failure of 25 the spring the pistol is yet safe from acciden- tal firing, because the failure of the spring also makes the hammer unable to strike the blow necessary for exploding a cartridge. From the foregoing description the opera- 30 tion of the improved firearm will be readily understood. A filled cartridge-magazine is inserted in the grip and the breech-slide is once drawn rearward by hand. This opens the chamber of the barrel, extracts the empty 35 cartridge-shell, and ejects the same, cocks the hammer, presents a cartridge in front of the breech-bolt, and compresses the reaction- spring. When the breech-bolt is released, the reaction-spring returns it to the forward 40 position and transfers the topmost cartridge from the magazine to the chamber of the bar- rel. On now pulling the trigger a shot is fired, and the rearward pressure of the pow- der-gases in the barrel is utilized to actuate 45 the rearward movement of the breech-slide and to store energy in the reaction-spring to effect the forward movement of the same. These operations may be repeated so long as cartridges are supplied. 50 It will be understood that the breech-bolt is not positively locked to the barrel in its closed position, but is yieldingly held in the closed position by the reaction-spring. By the improved construction the barrel and the 55 frame are of such lightness that the breech- bolt, barrel - cover, and abutment, together constituting the breech-slide, may be of great strength and weight, and as the inertia of this part has to be overcome in opening the 60 breech, in addition to the pressure of the re- action-spring, the weight is a reliable safe- guard whieh retards the opening of the breech until the bullet has passed from the muzzle of the barrel. The momentum of the heavy 05 breech-slide completes the rearward move- ment after the pressure of the gases in the barrel has been relieved. It will be understood that the several fea- tures of improvement herein described are not necessarily combined in the same struc- 70 ture with one another nor with the other fea- tures of the firearm, which for purposes of explanation are shown and described here- in, nor are they necessarily employed in a firearm of the particular character of that 75 shown. Obviously, also, various changes in form and arrangement of parts may be made within the scope of the invention. I claim as my invention— 1. In a firearm, the combination of a frame, 80 a barrel supported on top of the frame and engaged with the frame by transverse, seg- mental ribs and grooves to prevent longitu- dinal movement, a reaction-spring supported in the frame below the barrel, and a breech- 85 slide reciprocating on the frame and cover- ing and fitting closely on the barrel to hold it in engagement!with the frame, whereby the barrel is adapted to be disengaged from the frame by relative'transverse movement 90 of the ribs and grooves when the barrel is un- covered and by relative rotary movement when the barrel is covered. 2. In a firearm, the combination of.a frame, a barrel supported on top of the frame and 95 engaged therewith by transverse, segmental ribs and grooves to prevent longitudinal movement, and a cover movable on the frame, and holding the barrel in engagement with the frame, whereby the barrel isadapted tobedis- 100 engaged from the frame by relative transverse movement of the ribs and grooves when the barrel is uncovered and by relative rotary movement when the barrel is covered. 3. In a firearm, the combination of a frame, i°5 a barrel having projecting ribs in engagement with grooves in the frame, and a cover mov- able on the frame and holding the barrel in engagement with the frame, said cover hav- ing a recess to receive the projecting ribs of ч° the barrel when the latter is rotated to dis- engage the ribs from the grooves of the frame. ,4. In a firearm, the combination of a frame, a barrel having projecting ribs in engagement with grooves in the frame, a cover holding 45 the barrel in engagement with the frame, and a bushing in the forward end of the cover to support the muzzle of the barrel and remov- able to permit the projecting ribs of the bar- rel to pass through the forward end of the 120 cover. 5. In a firearm, the combination of aframe, a barrel having projecting ribs in engagement with grooves in the frame, a cover movable on the frame and holding the barrel in e‘n- 125 gagement with the frame, said cover having a recess to receive the projecting ribs of the barrel when the latter is rotated, and a bush- ing removably held in the forward end of the cover to support the muzzle of the barrel aud 13° to permit the passage of the projecting ribs. 6. In a firearm, the combination of a frame, a barrel supported on the frame and having an enlarged rear end, a cover holding the
747,585 barrel on the frame, a bushing in the forward end of the cover and having a projection to engage a transverse groove in the cover, said bushing having a notched flange, and a mov- 5 able plug engaging said notched flange to hold the bushing from rotation. 7. In a firearm, the combination of a frame, a barrel supported on the frame and having an enlarged rear end, a cover holding the i о barrel on the frame, a bushing in the forward end of the cover and having a projection to engage a transverse groove in the cover, said bushing having a notched flange, and a spring- pressed plug supported by the cover and en- 15 gaging said notched flange. 8. In a firearm, the combination of a frame having a longitudinal, tubular seat below the barrel, a barrel, a breech-slide comprising in one integral piece a breech-bolt in rear of the 20 barrel, a cover for the barrel and a tubular abutment in front of and projected into the plane of the frame, whereby said slide is movable from the frame in a forward direc- tion only and is positively held from removal 25 rearwardly,. and a reaction-spring.Iocated in said tubular seat and said tubular abutment. 9. In a firearm, the combination of a frame, a barrel, a breech-slide comprising in one in- tegral piece a breech-bolt in rear of the bar- 30 rel, a cover for the barrel and an abutment in front of the frame, and a reaction-spring seated partly within said frame and partly within said abutment. 10. Inafirearnijthecombinationofaframe, 35 a rotatable barrel having on its under side segmental ribs at right angles to the axis of the barrel in engagement with grooves in the upper side of the open frame; and a breeeh- slide comprising a cover holding the barrel 40 in engagement with the frame and a breech- bolt in rear of the barrel. 11. In a fi rearm, the combination of a frame, a rotatable barrel having projecting segmen- tal ribs in engagement with grooves in the 45 frame, and a breech-slide comprising a cover for the barrel, having a recess to receive the projecting ribs of the barrel, and a breech- bolt in rear of the barrel. 12. Inafirearm,thecombinationofafraine, 50 a barrel, cooperating ribs and grooves on the frame and under side of the barrel only at right angles to th'e axis of the barrel, the bar- rel being adapted to be engaged with the frame by partial rotation, a breeeh-slide cora- 55 prisiug a cover for the barrel to hold it in en- gagement with the frame, a breech-bolt in rear of the barrel, and an abutment in front of the frame, and a reaction-spring inter-, posed between the abutment and the frame. 60 13. In afirearm,thecombination of aframe, a barrel adapted to be engaged with theframe by rotation and having an enlarged rear end, a breeeh-slide comprising a cover for the bar- rel, a breech-bolt in rear of the barrel, and 65 an abntmentin front of the frame, a remova- ble bushing in the forward end of the cover, and a reaction-spring interposed between the abutment and the frame. 14. In afirearni,thecombination of aframe, a barrel, interlocking ribs and grooves on 70 the frame and barrel at right ansrlcs with the axis of the barrel, a breeeh-slide comprising in one integral piece a cover fitting overthe barrel, a breech-bolt in rear of the barrel, a solid imperforate wall in real1 of the breech- 75 bolt with a recess for the hammer between the breech-bolt and said wall, and an abut- ment projected iuto the plane of the frame in front of the same, and a reaction-spring cooperating with said abutment. So 15. In a firearm, the combination of a frame, a barrel, a hammer mounted in a recess in the frame, and a breeeh-slide reciprocating on the top of the frame and comprising a cover for the barrel and a breech-bolt in rear 85 of the barrel said breech-slide having in rear of the breech-bolt a recess to receive the ham- mer, whereby the hammer is always covered. 16. In afirearm,tlieeombinationof a frame, a barrel, a breeeh-slide reciprocating on top 9°o of the frame and having an integral abutment projected into the plane of the fraine in front of the same, a reaction-spring cooperating with said abutment, abreeclubolt, and a solid imperforate wall in rear of the breech-bolt 95 with a recess for the hammer between the breech-bolt and said wall, a firing-pin carried in the breech-bolt and having its forward end reduced in diameter, said breech-bolt having a.seat to receive the firing-pin, and a bushing tec in the forward end of said seat surrounding the front portion of the firing-pin. 17. In a firearm,thecombination of a frame, a barrel, a breech-slide havinga breech-bolt and a solid, imperfqrate wall in rear of the 105 breech-bolt and separated therefrom by a re- cess shorter than the breecli-bolt, said breech- bolt being bored to receive the firing-pin, and a firing-pin longer than said recess and di- vided in two parts whereby the parts of the no firing-pin can be removed successively from the breech-bolt through said recess. 18. In a firearm, thecombination of a ham- mer, a sear cooperating with the hammer, a grip-lever adapted to engage and lock the 115 sear, and a mainspring cooperating with the . hammer and with the grip-lever. 19. In a firearm, thecombination of a ham-. mer, a grip-lever and a soar cooperating both with the hammer and with the grip-lever, 12c said sear beingformed to engage the hammer and to be held from movement when the ham- mer is down, said sear also having a part which engages the grip-lever to hold the same from movement when the hammer is down 125 and a part which is engaged by the grip-lever to hold the sear from movement when the hammer is up until the grip-lever is moved to release the sear. 20. In a firearm, the combination of a ham- 130 rner,asear cooperating with the hammer, and a grip-lever, said sear and grip-lever having
е 747,585 interengaging projections whereby the grip- lever in one position locks the sear and in an- other position is locked by the sear. 21. In a firearm, the combination of aham- 5 mer, a sear cooperating with the hammer and having a hooked projection, and a grip-lever having a corresponding hooked projection turned in the opposite direction, whereby.in . one position the ends of the projections,op- io pose each other to lock the sear and in an- other position the projections in terlock to lock the grip-lever. 22. In a firearm, the combination of a frame, al reciprocating breech - slide, and a safety- 15 lever pivoted on the frame said breech-slide having forward and rearward recesses for en- gagement with said safety-lever, whereby the breech-slide is held either in its forward or rearward position on the frame. 20 23. Inafirearm,thecombinationofaframe, a reciprocating breech-slide, a safety-lever pivoted on the frame, said breech-slide hav- ing recesses for engagement with the safety- lever, a hammer, and a mainspring cooperat- 25 ing with the hammer, said safety-lever hav- ing a rigid pivotal shaft upon which the ham- mer is loosely pivoted, whereby the pressure of the mainspring holds the safety-lever in position. 30 24. In a firearm,the combination of a frame, a reciprocating breech-slide, a safety-lever adapted to engage the breech-slide and a sear, said safety-lever and sear having cooperat- ing projections whereby the movement of the 35 safety-lever to engage the breech-slide locks the sear against movement. 25. Inafirearm,thecombinationofaframe, a safety-lever pivoted on the frame, a sear, and a hammer, said sear and safety-lever hav- 40 ing cooperating projections, whereby when the hammer is down the projection on the sear stands in the path of the projection on the safety-lever and prevents movement of the latter. ( 45 26. In a firearm, the combination of a frame, a reciprocating breech-slide, a safety-lever pivoted on the frame and adapted to engage the breech-slide, and a sear pivoted within the frame and having a projection,said safety- 50 lever having a projection extended through a slot in the frame to cooperate with the pro- jection on the sear. 27. In a firearm,the combination of a frame, a sear, a magazine-catch and asear and maga- zine-catch spring having lateral projections 55 engaging lateral recesses in the frame with a depth greater than the thickness of the pro- jections, whereby the spring is held from moving up or down but with both ends free and with freedom to exert its elasticity 60 through its entire length. 28. In a firearm, the com bination of aframe, a hammer and a mainspring having lateral projections engaging lateral recesses in the frame with a depth greater than the thick- 65 ness of the projections, whereby the spring is held from moving np or down and the elas- ticity of the whole spring maybe utilized. 29. In a firearm,the combination of aframe, a hammer and a V-shaped mainspring hav- 70 ing lateral projections on one limb engaging lateral recesses in the frame with a depth greater than the thickness of the projec- tions, whereby the spring is held from mov- ing up or down and theelasticity of the whole 75 spring may be utilized. 30. In a firearm, the com bination of a frame having stepped,lateral recesses, a sear, a ham- mer, a sear-spring having lateral projections engaging the inner portions of said stepped, 80 lateral recesses, and a mainspring having lat- eral projections engaging the outer portions of said stepped, lateral recesses and retain- ing the sear-spring. 31. Inafirearm,thecombinationofaframe. 85 a reciprocating breech-slide, a safety-lever adapted to engage the breech-slide and hav- ing a rigid pivotal shaft, a hammer loosely pivoted on the shaft of the safety-lever, a sear, a grip-lever cooperating with the sear, 90 and a mainspring cooperating^with the grip- lever and the hammerand exej’^ing pressure through the hammer on the shaft of the safety- lever. ' ' This specification signed and witnessed this 95 21st day of March, A. D. 1902. JOHN M. BROWNING. In presence of— Louise Eldredge, Henry Williams.
No. 781,765. » PATENTED FEB. 7, 1905. J. M. BROWNING. MAGAZINE GUN. AEPDIOATIOH TILED JULY 10, 1903 4 SHEETS—SHEET 1. NOMIt ГЕТР RS. |‘'C , LiTHO.. WAStUN&TOii П. c.
No. 781,765. PATENTED FEB. 7, 1905. J, M, BROWNING. MAGAZINE GUN, АРГЫОАТ1ОН TILED JULY IQ, 1903. 4 SHEETS—SHEET 2.
No. 781,765. PATENTED FEB. 7, 1905. J. M. BROWNING. MAGAZINE GUN. application piled July io, 1эоз. 4 SHEETS—SHEET 3. 70 кояя.5 Peters inc . litho , Washington. D •:
No. 781,765. PATENTED FEB. 7, 1905. , J. M. BROWNING. MAGAZINE. GUN. APPLICATION TILED JULY 10, 1903.. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4. NORRIS PETERS IRC.. LlTHO., WASHINGTON, О. C.
No. 761,798. Patented February 7, 1905. United States Patent Office. JOHN M. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH. MAGAZINE-GUN. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 781,765, dated February 7, 1905. Application Hied July 10, 1903. Serial No. 165,020. . To all whom it may concern: _ Be it known that I, John M. Browning, a citizen of the.United States, residing at Ogden, in the -county of Weber and State of Utah, 5 have invented certain new and useful Improve- ments in Magazine-Guns, of which the fol- lowing is a specification. This invention relates to magazine - guns, and is mainly applicable to shotguns. io The object of the invention is to improve the construction of guns, especially in the strengthening of the barrel, magazine, and stock connection, so that the recoil may not weaken the joint or cause the breech-operat- 15 ing mechanism to work abnormally; also, to improve the connections by which the handle which reciprocates on the barrel is made to open and close the breech; also, to improve the safety mechanism and to place the control 20 of the firing devices largely with an automatic mechanism actuated by the recoil or shock of firing. The invention consists in certain construc- tions and combinations of mechanisms, sub- 25 stantially as hereinafter set forth and claimed. Figure 1 is a broken longitudinal section of the loading and firing mechanism of the gun, the stock and some other parts being omitted, the breech being closed. Fig. 2 is a longitu- 30 dinal section of the breech mechanism, the breech being open and parts omitted for clearness. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the coupling-piece between barrel and frame, showing' the barrel and magazine partly 35 broken away. Fig. 4 is an end view of said coupling-piece and immediate connections. Fig. 5 is a detail end view of cartridge-stop. Fig. 6 is a broken inside view of the left-hand side of the receiver or frame, showing the 4° bolt-operacing slide locked in forward posi- tion. Fig. 7 is a broken cross-section of the frame on the line 7 7, Fig. 6, showing the safety-sear lock and immediate connections. Fig. 8 is an edge view,.and Figs. 9 and 10 side 45 elevations, of a safety-sear lock. Fig. 11 is a bottom plan of the operating-slide. Fig. 12 is a side view thereof. Fig. 13 is aside view of the slide with the handle or draw bar en- gaging the same. Fig. 14 is a similar view 5° with the handle-bar partly disengaged. Fig. 15 is a side elevation‘of the breech-bolt de- tached. Fig. 16 is a longitudinal section of the breech-bolt. Fig. .17 is a top plan of the breech-bolt. Fig. 18 is an elevation Of the breech-bolt lock. Fig. 19 is an elevation of 55 the firing-pin. Fig. 20 is a broken elevation of the trigger-plate, showing the safety-sear, spring, and hammer. Fig. 21 is a plan of the double or split spring for the safety-sear and trigger; Fig. 22, a top plan of the safety-sear.' 60 Fig.. 23 is a broken inside view of the right side of the frame, showing the carrier and spring and cartridge feedrstop. Fig. 24 is'a plan of the carrier detached. Fig. 25 is an elevation of the cartridge feed-stop. Fig. 26 65 is a front end view of the frame or receiver with the cartridge-stop. Fig. 27 is a broken side elevation of the carrier, showing the pro- jection 43. Figs. 28 and 29 are views of the carrier-pawl detached. Fig. 30 is a broken 70 side vi'ew of the gun; Fig. 31, a plan of the slide, sear-lock, and inertia-piece. The gun is of that class which Js operated to open and close the breechby a handle slid- ing on the magazine, which magazine is un- 75 der the barrel. The handle, having connec- tions to the bolt-operating mechanism, is locked in closed position by an inertia-piece which releases the bolt- median isrrUunder the impulse of recoil when the gun is fired. Meeh- .80 anisnris provided by which the bolt-operat- ing mechanism can be released by manipula- tion without firing the gun. The magazine feeds cartridges back to a carrier in the re- ceiver, which carrier lifts a cartridge to the 85 line of the barrel. The breech-bolt acts in the usual manner to impel a cartridge from the carrier into the barrel and .by its adjuncts to withdraw the shell from the barrel and eject it through the side of the frame. 90 The numeral 1 indicates the frame or re< ceiver, which is closed on top and at the rear of the barrel and is open at the bottom. The bottom opening in the frame is in part closed by tbe trigger-plate and in part by the car- 95 rier, as will'be explained. , . The barrel 2 is screwed into the coupling- piece 3. This coupling-piece is attached to the frame by ribs'and grooves 4 on its outer and upper surfaces, said ribs and grooves in- 10c terlocking with grooves and ribs 5 in the frame when the parts are coupled. The bar-
2 781,765 5 rel, however, does not enter into thocoupling- ' When the slide 23 moves forward to close the piece from the front so far as the frame ex- tends forward, and the coupling-piece 3 con- ' tains the rear end of the cartridge-chamber, j The coupling-piece 3 is therefore of full j thickness and strength between the frame and the barrel, and where it is weakened at the j rear by the ribs and grooves it is not so ! weakened by the screw-thread for the barrel, ; and vice versa. The tubular magazine 6 slips at its forward end over a plug 7, which plug is attached by a screw 8 to a Ing 9, projecting from the lower part of the barrel. (See Fig. 1.) The j rear end of the magazine 6 is externally i screw-threaded. A ring-nut lb surrounds the ! tubular magazine a little in front of its rear end and is internally screw-threaded. The ! ring-nut has a projection 11, (preferably at ; eacli side,) which projection is in line with a corresponding recess 12 in the coupling-piece 3. To lock the barrel, magazine, and coup- ling-piece to the frame, the tongues and grooves 4 5 of the frame and coupling-piece are slipped together, as is usual, the ring-nut j being then in the position shown in Fig. 3. Then by rotating the magazine - tube. 6 the I ring-nut is screwed backward. The pfojec- : tion 11 on said nut enters the recess 12 in the ’ ro i5 20 2 5 30 frame and precludes the separation of the slip- joint until the ring-nut is again moved for- ward. One end of the magazine rotates easily on the plug 7 and the other end turns in the .coupling-piece 3, whieh keeps the magazine 35 from moving backward or forward. The ring-nut is internally threaded, and as it can- | not rotate it is screwed backward or forward ; by turning the magazine. The slip-joint can i be operated to break the gun in two when the ' 4° ring-nut 10 is out of engagement with the 1 coupling-piece. The draw-bar 36 then un- hooks from its connection with the operating- ' slide 23, as will be explained. j The breech-bolt 15 reciprocates longitudi- j 45 nall.y in the frame, as in many bolt-guns. The 1 bolt 15 has a solid front except a passage for ' the .firing-pin 16. The rear part of the bolt has a vertical mortise 171 therein and a curved ; guideway 18 at each side of said mortise. A 50 curved bolt-lock 19 is guided in this curved guideway by curved guides 20 moving in tlie said curved guideways. The bolt-lock 19 has a finger 21, which en- ters a mortise 22 in the operating-slide 23, 55 Figs. 1 and 2. The mortise in the slide 23 is long enough . to permit an independent movementor “lost motion between the slide and bolt-lock. A downward projection 24 on the bolt-lock 60 19 swings down into the mortise or recess 25 in the slide 23 when the backward movement of the slide 23 causes the bolt-lock 19 to move backward and downward in its curved ways 18, thus releasing the bolt-lock from the mor- 65 tise 27 in the top of the frame. (See Fig. 2. j bolt, the front upper end of the bolt-lock rides under the frame until it comes to the opening 27, at which time the bolt is closed. Then the,lock 19 moves on its curved guide 7° oi-slideways 18. The upper end closing into the mortise 27 and the slide 23 closing under the projection 24 of the bolt-lock effectually holds the bolt-lock into its engagement with the frame until the slide is moved back, when a 75 reverse operation takes place. The bolt car- ries an extractor-hook 28 and an ejector-hook 29, which operate to withdraw and eject the cartridge-shell in usual manner. The firing-pin 16 passes through an open- 80 ing 33 in the bolt-lock 19, Fig. 1 and dotted, lines, Fig. 18. The firing-pin has an inclined shoulder 30, which comes directly in rear of a shoulder 31 on the bolt-lock'when said bolt- lock is closed. The first backward movement 85 of the bolt-lock moves back the firing-pin and causes it to remain back except when the bolt is closed and locked. The operating-slide 23 has in its left side near its forward end a notch 34, with which 90 a hook 35 of handle-bar 36 engages to recip- rocate the said slide by movement of the han- dle 37 in the usual manner. Both the slide and the bolt may be held so as to moye in di- rect line by means of ribs or grooves in the 95 frame in the usual manner. The handle-bar 456 moves in the groove 39 in the side of the frame. The-groove or recess 39 is wider than the handle-bar 36 by so much as the length of 100 the hook 35. When the gun is coupled, the handle-bar is in the upper part of the groove or reccss 39. In uncoupling, after the ring- nut is moved forward the first movement is to push the barrel and coupling-piece down un- 105 til the handle-bar strikes the bottom of the groove 39, when the handle-bar is unhooked from the slide 23, and the handle-bar is then moved forward out of the groove 39, when the uncoupling may be completed. no The carrier 40 is supported on pivot 41 at the left-hand side of the frame. The carrier extends. forward from ’its pivot, and when down it fills the opening in the bottom of the frame or receiver in’front of the trigger- J15 plate. The carrier 40 may be swung upward on its pivot 41, becoming thus a loading-trap under which car ridges may be entered into the magazine. The carrier-spring 42.in the frame bears on the tip of the polygonal lug 120 43 of the carrier, so, as to throw the carrier down whenever the carrim- is lifted, except it be lifted so far as to throw the pressure of the spring 42-at the reverse side of the pivot,, when the spring will operate to hold or lift 125 the carrier up. (This is similar to the oper- ation of the spring in opening or closing the blade of a pocket-knife.) The position of the slide 23 will prevent the carrier from being- held upward except when the breech is open, «30
781,765 3 at which time the magazine may be filled by | A notch 62 in the safety-sear engages a.stud passing, cartridges under the carrier. The 63, projecting from the side of the hammer, carrier is raised to lift a cartridge for .load- when the parts are in the position of Fig. 20/ ing by the engagement of the operating-slide The hammer is forced back into its cocked 5 23 with a spring-pressed dog 45, pivoted to position by the backward movement of the 70 the carrier. This happens at about the time ( slide 23. The rear end of the slide 23 has a of completion of the backward movement of i downwardly-projecting arm and a notch 63' said slide. ’ . 1 ’---- “ ’’1 The dog 45 is pressed by the spring 46 in 10 the carrier into contact with the slide 23 when the slide is back. The forward movement of the slide 23 turns the dog on :its pivot and starts the carrier and cartridge upward. The upward movement is continued by the spring 15 42 as soon as this spring finds its bearing to lift and not depress the carrier. The notch 44 in the slide 43 engages the • upper end of tlie spring-dog 45 when the slide 23 is near its'rear position. The slide 23 rides 20 over the end of the dog 45 in its forward movement, releasing the spring-dog 45 from the notch 44, when the dog swings back under impulse of the spring 46, The cartridge-stop 48 is pivoted in the frame with its forward 25 end close to the rear face of the coupling-' piece 3. The front end of the cartridge-stop has an arm 49 with a beveled rear face, and the rear end of the stop has an arm 50 with a beveled front face. 30 The side of the cartridge-stop has a beveled recess 51, which is engaged by the stud 52 in the side of the frame. Tlie forward move- ment of the slide 23 by engaging the arm 49 moves the front end of the cartridge-stop down 35 when the end of the stud 52 enters the recess 51 in the cartridge-stop, which releases the cartridge in the magazine and allows it to follow the slide backward as the breech is opened. When the slide has about com pleted 49 its backward movement, it engages the arm 50, which moves the rear end of the cartridge- stop down and the front end up. This moves the recess 51 away from the stud 52, which moves the front of the cartridge-stop inward 45, and stops the cartridge following in the maga-. zine. ’ , The hammer 55, trigger 56, and safety-sear 57 are all pivoted to the trigger-plate 58, (the trigger 56 and sear 57 on the same pivot,) and 50 the trigger-plate is held in the frame by any usual means for securing the same in place, as by a screw 59 passing through the frame, . The spring 60 is split at its forward end, one side or leaf bearing on the safety-sear 57 to 55 engage said sear with the hammer. (See Fig. 20.) The safety-sear is shown at the left side of the trigger, and its function is to hold the - hammer in cocked position even though tlie trigger be pulled, unless the breech ispracti- 60 cally closed. The safety-sear also prevents the breech from being opened by a backward pull on.the handle and operating-slide, except at the time of the recoil of the gun (unless freed by other, manipulations, as will be ex- , 65 plained.) I in this arm. When the slide 23 moves for- ward to close the breech, the downwardlyr projecting’ arm strikes safety-sear 57 just as 75 the breed! is closing-. This depresses* the safety-sear and releases the hammer from ' this sear; but the hammer is still held cocked by engagement with the trigger 56 unless this trigger is pulled Or held,, back, in which case 80 the hammer will strikeiorward under impulse of the mainspring 66. The notch 63' in slide 23 is engaged , by the-nose 67 of the safety- sear when the slide is forward, and the slide is held thereby? A backward pull on the handle 85 at the instant of-firing moves, the slide 23 back in the frame, carrying back the bolt and fir- • ing-pin and effectuating the other operations hereinbefore explained. The completion of the backward movement of the slide cocks 90 the hammer, and the trigger and safety-sear engage therewith to ho Id the hammer cocked. The safety-sear lock and inertia-piece is a sliding piece 70 arranged to move horizgn- 1 tally in the left side of the frame beside the 95 safety - sear. The -rear' end of safety-sear / lock 70 has a sidewise movement, as will be explained. The sear-lock 70 has a cam 71 at its right side and front end, and this cam engages a pin or.projection 72 on the safety^ 100 sear 57 and holds the front end of the safety,- sear down, so that thb operating-slide 23 can be reciprocated when t(ie sear - lock 704 s moved forward. A. slot is cut through the . frame, and a.stud 74 on the safety-sear lock 105 projects, through this slot, so that the sear- lock 70 may be manipulated to hold the sear and release the operating-slide; The rear end of the sear-lock 70 has an . upwardly-project- , ing arm 75, with which the operating-slide 23 no engages at the,extreme of its rearward move- ment to $lide the sear-lock hack ward and re- lease the safety-sear therefrom. , A friction- spring 76 holds the safety sear-lock against accidental displacement; but. the sear-lock 70 115 moves relatively forward under the impulse of recoil/ . To prevent a rebound of the sear- lock, a notch 77 is cut in the inner wall of the ° frame and a sjbpiilder 78 is,formed on the side of the sear-lock adjacent thereto. As the 120 spring 76 bears the sear-lock against the frame tlie shoulder 78 on the sear-lock will be pressed into the notch 77 as the seSr-lock slides, thus holding the sear-lock. An incline 80 on the operating-slide 23 presses the front end of the 125 sear-lock 76 inward and disengages it from its .notch,77, so that its further movement by the operating-slide is easy; A trigger-lock 82 of usual construction may be employed. . From the foregoing description it is be- 130
781,765 lieved the construction and operation of this . gun may be understood by persons skilled in this art, The handle is only partly shown in thedrawings; but such handles are well known 5 in this art. The gunner grasps this handle by one band and the gun-stock by the other hand in aiming aud bring. The filling of the magazine has been explained. The magazine has the usual cartridge-follower, as 83, pressed to back by a spring 84. /To load the gun, the sear-lock 70 is slid forward by means of the button or projection 74, thus pressing down the front end of the safety-sear 57 and re- leasing the operating-slide 23, A back ward 15. pull bn the handle now causes the mechanism to open, the breech and. lift the front end of the cartridge-stop, shutting off the cartridges in’’ the niagazine; A forward movement of the handle doses the bolt, the cartridge mov- яо jng before it, and throws, down the carrier. The hammer having been cocked by the back- ward movement of the operating-slide is held cocked by the trigger and by the safety-sear. The forward movement of the slide causes the 25 safety-sear to engage and hold said slide, the safety-sear being released from the hammer by the final engagement of said sear with the operating-slide. A pull of the trigger may now fire the . gum and the recoil causes the 3c safety-sear lock to fly forward (or to remain at rest when the gun moves backward) and hold tho.sear until the slide in its rearward movement pushes back the safety-sear lock, which allows the sear to engage the slide in 3; . its next forward movement. .The barrel, m igazine, and coupling-piece, with their immediate connections, constitute the front part of the gun, and the frame, op- erating mechanism, and stock constitute the 4c rear part, which parts can be disconnected, as is common in shotguns and as has been ex- plained. What I claim, and desire to secure by Let- ters Patent, is—: r 45 1. In a magazine-gun, thecombination of a barrel and frame, a coupling-piece interposed between the two and suitably connected to both barrel and frame, said coupling-piece con- taining a part of the cartridge-chamber, the 5c barrel connection terminating forward of the frame connection so that the full thickness of the coupling - piece forms the wall of said chamber for part of the length of the chamber. 2. In a magazine-gnn, the combination of a 55 barrel, a coupling-piece screwed thereto and having ribs and grooves at its rear end, and a front notch, the frame having ribsand grooves at its front end, a magazine-tube turning in the coupling-piece, and a nut on the magazine 60 having a projection at its rear to enter the front notch of the frame. 3. The frame having a notch and internal ribs and grooves at its front end, the coup- ling-piece having external ribs and grooves at 65 its rear end, and a movable nut carried by the I coupling-piece and having a projection to en- ter the notch in the frame to lock the ribs and grooves when engaged, all combined. , 4. In a magazine-gun, the barrel and maga-. . zine connected together in the front section, 70 the frame connected to said front section by a , slip-joint, the operating-handle sliding on the magazine and having a draw-rod, the operat- ing-slide moving in the frame, and a hooked connection between said slide and draw-rod. 75 . 5. In a magazine-gun, the front section car- rying the operating-handle, combined with the rear section carrying the breech-operating and loading mechanism, and detachable joints which connect the sections and the operating 80 parts. 6. ' Гп a magazine-gun, the front section Cbm sisting essentially of the barrel, magazine, and coupling-piece, and the rear section con- sisting essentially of the stock, frame, and 85 . mechanism for loading and firing, and a slip- joint consisting of interlocking ribs for the barrel and frame, and interlocking hooks for the handle and working parts, all combined. 7. In a gun, thecombination with the frame 9° of a longitudinally-reciprocating bolt, a bolt- lock moving in curved ways in said bolt and engaging a mortise in the top of the frame, and a reciprocating slide engaging said bolt- lock to move the same in its curved path. 95 8. Inagun, thecombination with the frame, longitudinally-reciprocating bolt, the bolt- lock moving in curved ways in said bolt and having a projection therefrom, of a longitudi- nally-reciprocating slide havinga mortise into too which the projection on the bolt-lock extends. 9; In a gun, the frame, the longitudinally- reciprocating bolt, the bolt-lock moving -irf curved ways generally transverse to said bolt, the operating - slide having a mortise into 1.05 which a projection on the bolt-lock extends, and the firing-pin having a shoulder With which the bolt-lock engages at its initial open- ing movement to retract the same, all com- bined. ’ * 110 10. In a gun, the frame, longitudinally- moving breech-bolti locking-block moving on curved ways in the bolt, a .projection on said bolt engaging the locking-block and permit- ting a lost motion, and a shoulder on the lock- 115 ing-block engaged by said slide to secure the lock when the slide is at its extreme forward position. 11. Thecombination with the reciprocating slide, bolt, and bolt-lock, of the safety-sear 12c engaged by said slide in its forward position. 12. The combination with a reciprocating bolt, bolt-lock, and reciprocating slide, of the safety-sear, the hammer engaged by said sear, when cocked and the sear free for such en- 12; gagement, and the slide engaging said sear to free it from the hammer. 13. The combination of the reciprocating bolt, bolt-lock, and reciprocating slide, of the hammer, the safety-sear having a projection 131
781,765 in line with' said hammer when cocked, and the slide having a notch engaging said sear to free.the hammer. 14. The combination with the hammer and i safety-sear, of a sliding sear-lock whereby the sear, is controlled. 15. The combination with the reciprocating slide and its operative connections, of the safety-sear engaging said slide, and the sear- to lock controlling such engagement. 16. The combination with the operating- slide, safety-sear engaging said slide and sear- lock, of means whereby the sear-lock may be engaged with or disengaged from said safety- 15 sear 17. In a magazine-gun and in combination, a barrel-section and a breech-section and trans- verse ribs and grooves by which such sections may be coupled, an operating-slide in the .20 breech section, and a handle-bar making hooked engagement therewith, said breech? .• 5 seption grooved to permit the side movement of the handle-bar, . 18. In a magazine-gun, the combination of a grooved breech-seetio.il and a barrel-section 25 connected by transverse ribs and grooves, and • a longitudinally-sliding handle-bar. resting in the groove in the breech-section to limit, trans- verse displacement of the sections. . 10. The combination with the magazine of. 3° the cartridge-stop pivoted to the frame and having one end extending jn front of the magazine, means for swinging said stop on its pivot; and inclines on the frame and stop whereby the latter is given a sidewise as well 35 as a swinging movement to stop the magazine. Ir>testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses. ' JOHN M. BROWNING. Witnesses:.. Louise Eldredge, John E. Ramsden.
Ao. 808,003. PATENTED DEC. 19, 1905. J. M. BROWNING. FIREARM. APPLICATION PILED MAY 25, 1905, 2 SHEETS SHEET 1 VV itn^ssss. n P . I OW-iAJ/- invEmlnr
No. 808,003. PATENTED DEC. 19, 1905. J. M. BROWNING. FIREARM. APPLICATIOK FILED MAY 85, 101'5. 2 ЗЯЕЕТЯ-8НЕЕТ 2. VCiInessas..
JOHN M. BROWNING, OF OGDFN, UTAH. FIREARM. No, 308,003. Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Dec. 19, 1905. ipplkation filed May-25, 1905. Serial No 262,205. To all whom it may amcern: Be it known that I, John M. Browning, a citizen of the United States, residing at Og- den, in the county of Weber and State of 5 Utah, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Firearms, of which the fol- lowing is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof. io This invention relates to automatic fire- arms of that description in which the several operations—such as the opening of the breech after firing a shot, the ejection of the empty cartridge-shell, the cocking of the hammer, 15 the presentation and introduction of a loaded cartridge to the chamber of the barrel, and the closing and locking of the breech—are automatically effected through or by the en- ergy of the recoil of the breech-block or that го part, which at the time of firing the shot closes the breech of the barrel, and the inven- tion more especially relates to firearms of this description in which in firing the barrel and the breech-block are interlocked and re- 25 .coil some distance together, and during this .Rearward movement the barrel has another ''movement imparted to it, whereby it is un- locked from the breech-block, and after its release the movements of the barrel are ar- 30 rested, while the breech-block continues to recoil until the breeeh is fully opened and in which -during the opening movement of the breeck-block energy is stored in a spring, the reaction of which is utilized to effect the re- 35 turn or closing movement of the breech- block. It is essential for the proper opera- tion of firearms of this class that the breech- block and the parts connected and moving with it should be made as heavy as is practi- ce cal, so that it may fjtore a maximum amount of energy in the short period of time during which on firing the rearward pressure of the powder-gases in the barrel acts tipon the breech-block and initiates its recoil, and so 45 that the breech - block may continue to re- coil under its momentum alone to complete the opening of the breech and the compres- sion, of the reaction - spring after the gas- pressure has ceased because relieved by the 50 exit of the bullet from the barrel. On ac- count of ths limited total weight practical for a small-arm, and. especially for a pistol, it is necessary in order to be able to give a maxi- mum weight to the breech - block- that the -,5 other parts of the arm be constructed as b’ght as possible. This is especially important re- garding the barrel of this class of arms, for the additional reason that at the commencing of the recoil the light barrel may readily yield to and move pearward with the breech- 60 block while it remains interlocked therewith and in order that when unlocked from the breech-block and the movements- of the bar- rel are arrested the stress caused by this sud- den stopping may not be too great to be ab- 6$ '- sorbed without injury to either the barrel or the frame of the arm. The importance of these relations as to their weight between the breech-block and the barrel remains the same when the caliber and weight of the pro- 70 jectile and the powder charge are increased; but experience has shown that in a small-arm of this class of large caliber- intended to fire powerful charges of powder'the additional strength required in the barrel in its con- 75 nections with and attachment to the frame,. and especially in the parts of the barrel and frame by which the movements of- the one upon the Other are arrested, is so much greater jn proportion to the weight of these 80 parts that the constructions heretofore used in arms of this class of smaller caliber can- not be relied upon as perfectly safe. One object of the present invention is to provide in a firearm-of this class''& simple but 85 strong and reliable means of attachment and connection between the barrel and the, sta- tionary frame of the arm which shall leave the barrel free to recoil a limited’distance in- terlocked with the breech-block and which 90 shall during this rearward movement guide the barrel and impart to it at the same time another movement by which it will be un- locked from the breech-block and which shall at?- the last of J he return or forward move- 95 ment of the breech-block guide the barrel while it is moved forward by the breech- block and impart to it another movement by which the barrel and the breech-block will be interlocked when they arrive at the forward 100 firing position. Another object of the invention is to pro- vide in a firearm of this class a means wliich shall positively limit the rearward movement of the barrel with the breech-block, arrest the 105 movements of the barrel as soon as the same has become unlocked from, the breech-block, and which shall be adapted in form and in strength to transmit to the frame the stress due to the sudden arrest of the movements of no the barrel without injury resulting therefrom to either the barrel or the frame.
808,003 Another object of the invention is to pro- vide in. a firearm of this class a simple but strong and reliable means for securing the breech-block on the frame of the arm by posi- 5 tivsly limiting the movements of the breech- block on the-:.fbame and for causing the breech-block to ,b® engaged by the reaction- spring, but wM'oh.shaH allow the breech- block to be at will and readily disengaged io from, the reaction-spring and tp be removable. from the frame without requiring the use of aay tools for its disengagement and removal. These objects are attained by mechanism of simple and practical construction, which is x$ efficient, perfectly safe, and not liable to get ous of order. The embodiment of my improvements rep- resented in the accompanying drawings is a magazine-pistol, such as is shown and de- ne scribed in the United States Patent No. 580,924, granted to me April 20, 1897; but it will be understood that I.do not intend to re- strict the present invention to a magazine- • pistol, nor to any particular kind of firearm, 25 nor to the combination of the several features in a single structure. In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a left-hand side elevation of the pistol with .the breech closed, but showing the breech- 30 slide and the forward portion of the frame in section and the lower portion of the grip as being broken, away. Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but with the breech-slide in its open rearward position. Fig. 3 represents a verti- С-й-l С'Ь1к|~Ь;вС‘1"/ion of the barrel on the line 3 3 | of Fig. 1 looking forward. Fig. 3“ represents - a vertical cross-section of the frame on the line 3' 3' of Fig. 1 looking rearward. Fig. 1 represents a vertical cross-section through 40 the breech-slide, barrel, and frame on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1 looking roarward, with the bar- rel in. the raised position locked to the breech-slide, exposing to view the stop- slioulders: on the barrel and on the frame. 45 Fig. 5 represents .a side elevation of the bar- rel with a portion of the frame in section, showing a modification in the connection be- tween the barrel and the frame. Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate another modification of the. con- 50 noction between-the barrel and the'frame of the arm. Fig. 6 represents a side elevation of the barrel end a section of the forward por- tion of the frame and of the breech-slide with the breech closed. Fig. 7 represents a cross- -5 section of the barrel in roar of the front collar looking forward. Similar letters refer to similar parts through - out tiie several views. In the pistol represented in the drawings 60 the barrel b is attached to the Lop of the limits tin1 rearward movement of the breech- slide on the frame, and 'prevents the breech- slide from dying back from the frame. 123 frame a at tine front by a big b', which pro- j Through the key the reaction-spring r, acts jee.ts downward from the barrel near the i upon the breech-slide to return it and the muzzle. The rear face of the hig F inclines \ breech-boll to the forward closed position downward and rearward and engages a corre- | after the recoil has moved them to the rear. ,>5 spondingly-inclined surface a! under the top | The rear end of this spring e bears against the 130 of the forward part of the frame, interlocks the barrel with the frame, and when the bar- rel is moved rearward forces the forward end at the same time to move downward toward the frame. At its rear end the barrel Ъ has 70 another depending lug b-. This is divided by a central longitudinal groove, in .which one end of the link ?/’ is fitted and pivotally attached to the barrel by a transverse pin. The lower end of the link Ьл is pivotally secured to 75 the frame by a similar pin. When the barrel is in the forward firing position, the link lh, standing nearly vertically, holds the barrel above the top of the frame and allows it to moverearward. During the rearward move- 80 ment the link causes the rear end of the bar- rel to move downward toward the frame. Thus the inclined lug 7/ at tbe front and the link b3 at the rear impart to the barrel at both extremities, substantially the same double 85 movement. On the top of the frame the breech-slide c is fitted to slide rearward and forward. The rear part of the breech-slide forms the breech-bolt e', adapted to close the chamber of the barrel, and the forward part 90 c* of the breech-slide extends in semitubuiar form and incloses the Ъап-el. The sides of the breech-slide -overlap those of the frame. Longitudinal ribs and grooves on the slide en- gaging corresponding grooves and ribs on the 95 frame serve to hold the breech-slide to the frame and to guide it thereon. The barrel is provided on the top with locking-ribs b:‘, and the breech-slide has corresponding re- cesses c5, whereby the breech-slide and the 100 barrel are securely interlocked when in the forward firing position. When on firing a shot the breech-slide moves rearward under the energy of recoil and draws the barrel rear- ward, the simultaneous downward move- 105 ment of the barrel, due to the inclined lug b' and to the link F', causes the disengagement, of tlie locking-ribs b:‘ from the recesses <4 and allows the -rearward movement of the barrel to be arrested, while that of the breech-slide no continues, thus opening the breech. . Beneath the barrel the reaction-spring i> is seated in a longitudinal chamber a3 in the frame a, and a transverse key c3 is inserted through reciangiilar recesses in the sides of 115 the breech-slide and passes transversely through the. chamber «’ in the frame, nor- mally projecting slightly from each side of the breech-slide. A. longitudinal slot a3 through the’frame allows.the key A to travel 120 freely .therein. The rear end of the slot a:l forms'.an abutment for the key, positively
308,003 rea± end of the chamber a2 in the frame, and the forward end of the spring e is fitted upon a piston e', the head e2 of which boars against the key c3, a slight recess hi the roar face of 5 the key providing a seat, for tiro. hi’.-id 0, and thereby securing tho key r again-,! ,-i widen (al displacement. In rear of the barrel the fra их- a forms the receiver and has an opening- for tiie ijeetion io'of the,cartridge-shells. Ti-.e brei'cii-bolt с/is provided with a firing-] mi and an extractor of usual construction, and an eg-eior <7 is fit- ted to the receiver, Be.lov. the receiver the frame a forms the grip <>r handle, in rear of tj which thefhammer and other parts of the firing mechanism are mounted in the frame, while the trigger is located in front of the grip. The interior of (lie grip forms the seat for tiie cartridge-magazine, in which car- no bridges are held mi<> upon the other upon a spring-follower. l-\ wbic.it they are fed up- ward to the receiver, the topmost cartridge - being presented .in front of the breach-bolt when the same is in (he open position, and by «5 the forward'movement of the breech-bolt this cartridge is ti-.-msforred from the maga- zine to the chamber of rhe barrel. With one exception all the parts thus far referred to my ho mid tire here shown as of jo the same eou,-’ru:-Lioij and mode of opera-' tion. as is fully set fortii in the said Letters Patent No. ySO/C-! and forming no part of the present invention require no further de- scription or explanation herein. The excep- 35 tion is.the sub-uitution at 1he forward part of tiie barrel w- tiw rearwardly-inclined lug b', engaging ir,e I’rame. as the means of at- taching and. guiding tho barrel, as hcrein- iihove described, i,1 (lie place of a link at the 40 forward end of the barrel similar to thirl] at the rear end serving this purpose, as shown and described in said k'.ieiit No. 580,924. The lug b’ performs tl e "unctions of the link equally well, and it si nplifios the construe-- 45 tion considerably , as by its use the link and vhe two pivot-pins are dispensed with. While 1 have shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the rear end of tho barrel connected with the frame by the link a1.- an inclined lug may be 50 substituted for Jilts rear link also. This modification is shown in Fig. 5, in which the rear lug T depends from the' barrel far' enough forward of the rear end to allow an integral part a1 of the frame to form a con- 55 necting-bar between the two sides of the frame in rear of the lug &4. The front face of tliis connecting-bar in the frame is undercut, inclining downward and rearward, and is en- gaged by the lug i>4. When the barrel moves 60 rearward, the lug forces the same, to move downward toward the frame. Instead of thus providing both ends of the barrel with inclined lugs, so that both ends of the barrel will move to and from the frame while the 65 barrel moves rearward and forward and so I that the axis of the barrel will remain always i parallel to its normal position, it will be evi- I dent that the forward lug may be dispensed I with and the front end of the barrel be al- I lowed to rest and slide upon the frame, being 70 : held down thereon by the forward part of the j breech-slide fitting over it. In.that case the I rear end of the barrel when the same is moved I rearward or forward and at the same time is moved toward or from the frame swings .on 75 its front end, resting on the frame as on a ful- crum. This construction is illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7, in which the outside diameter of the collar on the barrel near the muzzle is equal - to the distance between the top of the frame 8- •and the inside of the breeeh-slide, so that the breech-slide confines the front end of the bar- rel upon the frame. The periphery of the- col lar instead of being rectangular is rounded to allow the barrel to slide and to swing upon 85 the frame on the bottom of the .collar as on a fulcrum- On the top of the barrel a rib ex- tends from the collar rearward for a distance somewhat greater than the length of the con- tinued rearward movement of ths breech- <y slide after the barrel has been stojdp^d.. The top of this rib is equal in height to the top of the collar, the rib filling the space between the breech-slide and the reduced part of the bar- rel in rear of the collar. ' The front lug of the 05 barrel is left off, as is also the opening and seat for it in tbe frame. The rear lug fr and its connection, with the frame at a4 are sub- stantially like, those shown in Fig. 5. When the b reech-slido continues io move rearuwd icc after the barrel has been stopped in the open- ing of the breech, the rib upon the barrel ore- vents the breeeh-slide from losing its hold upon the front end..of the barrel, and while the barrel is free to slide upon, the frame and toe to swing on. the lower edge of the collar as on a fulcrum the front end of the breeeh-slide in all positions holds down the front end of-the barrel upon the frame. In the patent referred to, No. 580,924, the 110 means for attacliing the barrel to the frame and for imparting to it the movement to and from the "frame is also depended on to pro- vide the stop to arrest the double movement of the barrel at. the proper time. In order to 115 prevent the shock due to the sudden stopping of the barrel in its rearward movement from injuring either the barrel or the frame, I pro- vide a separa te independent ineans on the bar- rel and on the frame for positively arresting. 12 г- the movements of the barrel. On the under side Of the. barrel, vertically below the lock- ing-ribs 6s, is a series of ribs or stop-shoulders &°, the reai’ face of each rib being vertical and the front inclining downward and rearward. 1'2; On the top of the ftame'’is a series of recesses ' a’ of corresponding shape. These ribs be and the recesses a1' serve as the stops for the bar- rel. When-the barrel is in the raised forward position, Figs. 1. 4, and 5, the ribs oe stand T30
4= 808,003 £0 £5 20 25 3° 35 4° 45 5° 55 6 с &3 above and clear of the frame; but as the bar- rel moves rearward with the breech-slide and simultaneously moves toward the frame the ribs ba gradually enter the recesses <i‘‘ until when the barrel is released from the breech- slide the ribs 6“ are fully seated in the recesses a1', Fig. 2, and further movement, of the bar- rel is positively stopped without any strain being thrown upon the means of attachment and guidance of the barrel. The ribs 1>K are located at the strongest part of the barrel and are capable of sustaining the shock without injury to the barrel, while they positively pro- tect the lugs b' and Ъ‘г at the weaker extremi- ties of the barrel from having to bear any part of the stress. To enable the key c3 to be at will and read- ily withdrawn from the frame and the breech- slide, and thereby to disengage the breech- slide from the reaction-spring, and to enable the slide and the spring to be removed from- the frame, the head e3 of the piston e' is pro- vided with a stem e3, which projects forward sufficiently to stand at the open front end of the frame when the breech-slide, the key c3, and the piston e' are in the forward closed position. The front end of the stem e3 is in- creased in diameter and is knurled to form a convenient hold by which rearward pressure may be exerted upon it and the piston e’ suf- ficiently to overcome the tension of the reac- tion-spring e and to forced)ack the piston- head e3 out of the recess in the key c3. Thus released the key c3 maybe readily withdrawn, thereby enabling the breech-slide and the re- action-spring to be removed without requir- ing the use of any tools. It will be evident that the piston e! might be dispensed with, if desired, the forward terminal coil of the-spring e taking the place of the piston-bead in the recess of the key and serving as a latch for the key, and from the coil forward a straight portion of the wire of which the spring is formed extending at right angles to the coil and below the key to the front of the frame, by means of which the spring may be pressed back to release the key; but 1 prefer the use of the piston, as shown and described. This arrangement while equally effective is much simpler and less expensive than are either of those shown and described for accomplishing the same objects in my prior patents covering similar firearms,-No. 580,924, dated April 20, 1897, and No. 708,794, dated September 9, 1902. In the arms shown and described in these patents in both cases- a plug a8 closes the front end of the seat of the reaction-spring in the frame, and a pin a”, fitted transversely through the frame and the plug, secures the plug in its place in the frame. In the first of the patents referred to the breech-slide, jnust be drawn rearward and a pin inserted through a hole in the bottom of the frame to intercept the piston and the reaction-spring and to hold them back when, the breech-slide is re- turned forward before the transverse key can be released and withdrawn. In the later patent referred to the front plug as is fitted for a slight lengthwise movement and car- yc ries a rod extending. from its rear, whieh when the plug is pressed rearward forces back the piston and the spring, and thus releases the key. In the present improved construc- tion both the front plug aud the pin securing 75 it in the frame are dispensed with, thus mak- ing it simpler and less expensive and lighten- ing the front end of the arm and facilitating the assembling of the arm and the taking it apart. Ko It will be evident that various features of this invention may be employed, independ- ently of the others and in firearms of a dif- ferent kind from that which I have described herein and that various changes in form and 85 arrangement may be made without depart- ing from the spirit of the invention. . What I claim, and desire to secure'by Let- ters Patent, is— 1. In a fire-arm the combina tion with the 90 frame having a transverse recess, of a barrel connected at the breech end with said frame for a limited movement in the direction of its length and in the direction toward the frame, said barrel carrying near the breech 95 end a stop-shoulder for entering the recess in said frame by the movement of said barrel toward fhe frame, whereby the movements of the barrel are arrested and the impact thereof transmitted to said frame at the 100 strongest part of the barrel, substantially as specified. 2. In a firearm, the combination with a frame of a barrel, an inclined lug connection between said barrel and said frame, whereby 105 said barrel may move lengthwise ami toward and from said frame, a transverse recess in said frame and a stop-shoulder on said barrel for interlocking said barrel and said frame by the movement of said barrel toward said rio frame, substantially as shown ami described. .3. In a firearm, (ho com bination with a. frame having a-’transverse recess, of a barrel having an .integral inclined lug connecting said barrel with said frame to have a length- 1 £5 wise movement and a movement toward arid from said frame, a stop-shoulder on said bar- rel for entering the recess in said frame by (he movement of-said barrel toward, said frame, and means for limiting the movement of said barrel from said frame. 4. In a firearm, the combination with a frame haying a transverse recess, andabreech block mounted to slide upon said franie and having a locking-recess, of a barrel connected at the breech end with said frame for a lim- ited movement thereon lengthwise and toward and from said frame, a locking-rib carried by said barrel and caused by tire movement thereof toward and from said frame to release Г2О '25 I£O
808. and to engage the locking-recess of saidbreech block, and a stop-shoulder on said barrel near the breech end, caused by the movement thereof lengthwise and toward said frame to 5 enter the recess in said frame, substantially as and for the purpose specified. 5. In a firearm, the combination with a , frame and a breech - block sliding on said frame, said frame having a transverse recess io and said breech-block having a transverse groove, of a barrel, an inclined lug connection between said barrel and said frame, whereby said barrel may move lengthwise and toward and from said frame, transverse ribs project- 15 ing from opposite sides of said barrel, for in-, terlocking said barrel with said breech-block by the movement of said barrel from said frame, and for interlocking said barrel with said frame by the movement of said barrel so toward said frame. ,003 6. In a firearm, the combination witb a frame having a transverse recess, of a barre1 attached at the breechend and near the muz- zle to said frame for a limited movement thereon lengthwise and toward and from' said 25 frame, a stop-shoulder on said barrel located betw’een said attachments and unconnected therewith, for entering said recess in the. frame by the movement of the barrel toward the frame, ivhereby the movements of said 30 barrel are arrested and the impact thereof is transmitted to the frame at a distance from the .muzzle of said barrel, substantially as shown and specified. This specification signed and witnessed this 35 16th day of May, A. D. 1905. JOHN M. BROWNING. In presence of— 0. J. Ehbets, " K. POWEES.
No. 812,326. •PATENTED FEB. 13, 1906. J. M. BROWNING. RECOIL BRAKE FOR AUTOMATIC GUNS. APPLICATION PILED JUNE 30, 1904. FIG. 3. Attorney
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. ' JOHN M. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH. RECOIL-BRAKE FOR AUTOMATIC GUNS. No. 813,326. Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Feb. 13, 1906. Application filed June 30,1904. Serial No. 214,773. To all whom, it may concern: Be it known that I, John M. Browning, a citizen of the United States, residing at Og- den, in the county of Weber and State of 5 Utah, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Recoil-Brakes for Auto- matic Guns, of which the following is a speci- fication. This invention relates to friction-brakes io for automatic guns. The object of the invention is to adjust the brake mechanism of an automatic gun to the character of the cartridge employed, so that the shock of recoil and the shock of the return 15 of the barrel to firing position may both be adapted to the conditions of use with differ- ent cartridges. In my Patent No. 689,283, of December 17, 1901,1 describe a brake mechanism for reduc- 20 ing the shock of recoil upon the rear end of the frame of the gun and also reducing the shock of the return of the barrel to its normal or firing position. The present invention is an improvement thereon and is appliable to 25 the automatic gun of that invention or to other guns of like general character. In the drawings, Figure 1 is a broken longi- tudinal section of an automatic gun and for convenience may be supposed to be the gun 30 of the patent referred to with the present in- vention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a broken longitudinal section of the brake mechanism of the present invention, the barrel-lug being slightly forward. Fig. 3 is a detached eleva- 35 tion or the contractile collar-brake. (Shown in former patent.) Fig. 4 is a partial section and partial elevation of the brake mechan- ism of this invention. Fig. 5 is a perspective of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a perspective of the clamp- 40 ing-rmg. Fig. 7 is a rear perspective of the adjustment ring or controller. Assuming the gun to be substantially of the character described in my former patent or equivalent thereto, let A indicate the bar- 45 rel; В the stock; C the magazine, and D the barrel-returning spring. In order to reduce the shock of recoil upon the rear end of the frame of the gun, to re- duce the shock of the return of the barrel to 50 its normal position under the action of the barrel-spring, and to prevent any rattling in the connection between the barrel and the magazine, I employ a contractile collar-brake which operates fractionally upon the maga- zine. This consists of a split collar 1, formed 55 at its forward end with a conical or beveled flange 2, which is also split, so as to be con- tractile. The collar 1 is encircled by a split clamping-collar 3, preferably made of steel, and exerting a constant effort to contract the 60 collar 1 and the beveled or conical flange 2 thereof. This composite brake is interposed between the forward end of the barrel-spring D and the rear edge of the perforated lug 5,; depending from the gun-barrel A and adapt- 65 ed to receive the forward end of the tubular magazine C. The rear face of the perforated lug 5 is formed with a beveled shoulder 7 to coact with the beveled flange 2 of the brake. When the gun is fired and the barrel starts 70 rearward, a portion of the force of the recoil will act, through the beveled shoulder 7, upon the beveled flange 2, which will be contracted and which will in turn contract the collar 1, so as to cause the same to grasp the magazine 75 D and slide over the same with sufficient re- sistance to materially reduce the shock of re- coil and prevent the rear end of the bolt from being impinged with too much severity upon the rear end of the receiver. This I call the 80 “recoil-brake action” of mj improved com- posite collar-brake. Now when the barrel- spring D operates to return the barrel to its normal position the split clamping-collar 3 operates by its contractile power to squeeze 85 the collar 1 upon the magazine with sufficient power to develop enough friction to moderate the action of the spring D. This may be called the “barrel-spring braking action” of my improved composite collar - brake. Of 90 course the crowding of the flange 2 of the col- lar 1 forward against the bevel-shoulder 7 heightens the clamping action to a certain extent during the return movement of the barrel. Furthermore, at all times the coac- 95 tion of the flange 2 and shoulder 7 prevents any rattling between the barrel and the maga- zine due to their connection through the per- forated lug 5. It will be understood that the braking ас- tion is greater during the recoil movement of the barrel than during the return movement of the barrel, and that is as it should be, be- cause the power of the recoil is always greater than the power of the barrel-spring. 105 So far I have substantially described the brake mechanism of the patent referred to. In the present invention Г add to such mech-
£1 813,326 anism a controlling-ring 8, which surrounds the magazine in front of spring D. The front end of the ring 8 is beveled, as indicated at 9. The rear end of the collar 1 may also be bev- eled, as shown, although this is not essential. The forward pressure of spring D forces ring 8 over the rear end of split- collar 1, thus compressing said collar onto the magazine by a wedge action. Clamping pressure thus ex- erted increases the frictional resistance to re- coil of the barrel and to return of the barrel to normal position. The ring 8 can be quickly applied to or re- moved from the brake mechanism of my for- mer patent. 'When removed, the ring can be conveniently stored on the magazine in rear or the spring D and next, to the receiver, al- though it need not be so stored. This appli- cable and removable controlling-ring 8 is a valuable addition to the, brake mechanism of the gun described and is, so far as I know, the first mechanism for adjusting the resistance of the brake for an automatic gun to iyco.il and counter-recoil under changed conditions due to the firing of increased or diminished charges. While the magazine is a most convenient part for the friction-brake tn operate on, it, is evident that any other piece or part which is rigid with tiie stock and extends pansflel with the barrel would serve the same purpose as the magazine. What I claim is— 1. In an automatic gun, the combination with a recoiling barrel, a friction-brake con- nected with the barrel and operating through the recoiling movement of the barrel for re- ducing the shock of recoil, and means sepa- rate from the barrel for increasing the fric- tion of said brake upon the firing of the gun. 2. In an automatic gun, the combination of a recoiling barrel, a magazine, a friction- brake connected to the barrel to move rear- ward therewith and reduce the shock of re- coil, and auxiliary means separate, from the barrel for increasing the friction of said brake on the magazine upon the firing of the gun. 3. In an automatic gun, the combination with a recoiling barrel, of a tubular magazine, ; a friction-brake connecting with the maga- zine over which it rides to reduce the shock of recoil, and auxiliary'means separate from the barrel for increasing the, friction of the brake on the magazine upon the firing of the gun. 4. In an automatic gun, the combination with a recoiling barrel, of a friction - brake connected with the barrel and reducing the shock when the barrel is recoiling, and brak- ing the shock following the return of the bur- I rel to firing position, and auxiliary means in- dependent of the barrel and removable from the brake, for regulating the friction of said brake upon the firing of the gum 1 5. An automatic gun, a recoiling barrel, a ! split collar connected thereto, a rigid piece I parallel with the barrel and surrounded by said collar, the spring for returning the bar- । rel, and a beveled ring pressed by said spring : against said collar to contract the same. , In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses. JOHN M. BROWNING. Witnesses: Theodore De W. Moore, Chas. W. Many. 4° 45 to 55 6o 65 7°
No. 818,739. PATENTED APR. 24, 1906. J. M. BROWNING. FIREARM. APPLICATION FILED AEG. 18, 1005.
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. JOHN M. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH. FIREARM. No. 818,739. Specification of Letters Patent. Patented April 24,1906. Application filed Auguet 18,1905. Serial Ko. 274,723, To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, John M. Beowning, a citizen of the United States, residing at Og- den, in the county of Weber and State of 5 Utah, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Firearms, of which the fol- lowing is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof. I о This invention relates to automatic fire- arms of that description in which the several operations-^such as the opening of the breech after firing a shot, the ejection of the empty cartridge - shell, the cocking of the 15 hammer, the presentation and introduction of a loaded cartridge to the chamber of the barrel, and the closing end locking of the breech—are automatically effected through .or by the energy of the recoil of the breech- 20 block or that part whieh at the time of fir- ing the shot closes the breech of the barrel; .and the invention more especially relates to firearms of this description, in which, in firing, the barrel and the breech-block are inter- 2< locked and recoil some distance together, and during this rearward movement the barrel has another movement imparted to it, where- by it is unlocked from the breech-block, and after its release the movements of the barrel 30 are arrested, while the breech-block contin- ues to recoil until the breech is fully opened and in which during the opening movement of the breech - block energy is stored in a spring, the reaction of which is utilized to ef- 35 feet the return or closing movement of the breech-block. It is essential for the proper operation of firearms of this class that the breech-block and the parts connected and .moving with it should be made as heavy as is 40 .practical, so that, it may store a maximum amount of energy in the short period of time during which on firing the rearward pressure of the powder-gases m the barrel acts upon the breech-block and initiates its recoil and 4'5 sd that the breech-block may continue to re- coil under its momentum alone to complete the opening of the breech and the compres-- sion of the reaction-spring after the gas-pres- stire has ceased because relieved, by the exit 50 of the bullet.from the barrel. On account of the limitedrtotal weight practical for a’small- arm, and especially for a pistol, it is neces- sary, in order t.o be able to give a maximum weight to the breech-block, that the other 55 parts of the arm be constructed as light as .possible,. This is especially important re- garding the barrel of this class of arms, for the additional reason that at the commencing of the recoil the light barrekmay readily yield to and move rearward with the breech- 60 block while it remains interlocked there- with, and in order that when unlocked from the breech-block the movements of the bar- rel are arrested the stress caused by this sudden stopping may not be too great to be 65 absorbed without injury to either the barrel or the frame of the arm. The importance of these reb.tions as to their weight between the breech-block and the barrel remains the same when the caliber and weight of the 70 projectile and the -powder charge are in- creased; but experience has shown that in a small-arm of this class of large caliber, in- tended to fire powerful charges of powder, the additional strength required in the barrel in 75 1 its connections with and attachment to the frame, and especially in the parts of the bar- rel and frame by w'hich the movements of the one upon the other are arrested, is so much greater in proportion ,to the weight of these So parts that the constructions heretofore used "m arms of this class of smaller caliber cannot be relied upon as perfectly safe. Onex object of the present invention is to provide in a firearm of this class a simple but 85 strong and reliable means of attachment and connection between the barrel and the sta- tionary frame of the arm which shall leave , the barrel free to recoil a limited distance in- terlocked with the breech-block and which 9c shall during this rearward movement guide the barrel and impart to it at the same time another movement by which it will be un- locked from the breech-block and which shall at the last of the return or forward move- 95 ment of the breech-block guide.the barrel while it is moved forward by the breech- block and impart to it another move inent by which the barrel and the breech-block will be interlocked when they arrive at the for- 106 ward firing position. Another object of the invention is to pro- vide in a firearm of this class a means which shall positively limit the rearward movement of the barrel with the breech-block, arrest the 105 movements of the barrel as soon as the same, has become: unlocked from the breech-block, : and which shall be adapted in form and in strength to transmit to the frame the stress due" to the sudden arrest" of the movements of 110 the barrel without injury resulting therefrom to either the barrel or the frame.
8 818,739 These objects are.attained by mechanism tn simple and practical construction which is efficient, perfectly safe, and not likely to get out of order. 5 The embodiment of my improvements rep- resented in the accompanying drawings is a magazine-pistol; but it will be understood that I do not intend to restrict the present invention to a magazine-pistol nor to any ro particular kind of firearm. In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a left-hand side elevation of the pistol with the. breech closed, but showing the forward part of the breech-slide and of the frame in 15 section and the lower portion of the grip as being broken away. Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing the barrel in its rear- ward position and the breech-slide moved somewhat farther rearward. Fig. 3 is a plan 20 of the frame as it appears after the removal of the breech-slide-and the barrel from it. Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-section through the "breech-slide, barrel, and frame on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1 seen from the rear. Fig. 5 is a ver- 25 tical- cross-section through the breech-slide, barrel, and frame on the fine 5 5 of Fig. 2 seen from the rear. Figs. 6 and 6a represent the barrel detached, respectively, in a front end view and in a rear end view. Fig. 7 rep- 3° resents a cross-section of the breech-slide, de- tached, on line 7 7 of Fig. 8. Fig. 8 repre- sents a right side elevation of the breech- slide partially in section to expose to view the locking-recesses on the interior left side wall. 35 Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views. , ' In the pistol represented in the drawings the barrel b is arranged upon the top of the frame a, the upper surface of which is con- 40 cave in cross-section corresponding to the un- der side of the barrel to receive the same and to allow it to slide lengthwise and to rotate upon the frame. The breech end or rear por- tion b' of the barrel inclosing the cartridge- 45 chamber and the part of the bore adjoining the chamber which are exposed to the maxi- mum pressure of the powder-gases generated by the explosion therein of a cartridge is cy- lindrical in the greater part of its circumfer- 50 ence. Forward of this rear portion the bar- rel has. an. exterior taper shoulder and from the shoulder to the muzzle the outside diam- eter of the barrel is considerably reduced, thus lessening the weight of the barrel. On 55 this reduced part of the barrel between the muzzle and the shoulder a series of annular collars Й2 and 63 is provided. These collars, the outside diameter of which is equal to that of the rear portion of the barrel,. serve to 60 strengthen the same. The collar b2 nearest to the muzzle of the barrel is cylindrical in its entire circumference. The remaining collars 63, of which three are shown on the barrel in the drawings, and also the rear portion V of 65 the barrel in rear of the shoulder are in- j creased in diameter on the tinder side nearest to the frame, each of them being provided with a projecting segment. On the rear por- tion fe' the projecting segment occupies sub- stantially ninety degrees of the circumfer- 70 ence, while the projecting segment on each of the collars b3 is of less width. (See Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 6a.) The concave upper surface a' of the frame a at the front end and rearward for a distance 75 nearly equal to the length of the reduced por- tion of the barrel corresponds in diameter with that of the collar b2 near the muzzle of the barrel and forms a seat upon which this collar rests and supports the front end of the 80 barrel. The seat-а' extends from the front of the frame rearward nearly to the taper shoul- der on the barrel at which the larger rear por- tion b' begins. From there rearward the con- cave upper surface a2 of the frame is shoul- 85 dered down to correspond with the project- ing segmental surface under the rear portion V of the barrel and provides a seat upon which the breech end of the barrel is sup- ported. Beneath each of the collars b3 on 90 the barrel a recess a3 is provided in the top of the frame, into which the segmental projec- tion on the collars bs depends and which al- lows them a limited lengthwise and a limited rotary movement. 95 . From the under side of the projecting seg- mental surface at the breech end b' of the bar- rel a stud b* extends downward into a cam- groove a* in the frame and secures the barrel longitudinally upon the frame. The rear end 100 of the cam-groove is central in the top of the frame, and from it the cam-groove inclines forward and to the left side. When the barrel b is in the forward firing position, the muzzle projects slightly in front 105 of the frame, the projections on the collars b3 occupy the front end of the recesses a3, and . the stud b* stands in the front end of the cam- groove a4. As the barrel moves, rearward the stud passing through the cam-groove no forces the barrel to make a partial rotation on its longitudinal axis, and on the return or forward movement of the barrel it is rotated in the opposite direction. On top of the frame the breech-slide c is 115 fitted to slide rearw'ard and forward. The rear portion of the breech-slide forms the’ breech-bolt c', adapted to close the chamber of the barrel, and the forward part c2 of the breech-slide extends in semitubular form and 120 incloses the barrel, the interior diameter of the slide corresponding with'the exterior di- ameter of the collars and of the breech end of the barrel, so that the slide secures thp barrel vertically in its seat upon the top of the 125 frame, but leaves it free for limited longitudi- nal and rotary movements thereon. The sides of the breech-slide overlap those of the frame. Longitudinal ribs and grooves in the slide engagmg corresponding grooves 13 c-
818,739 8 and ribs on the frame serve to hold the breeeh- slide to the frame and to guide it in its recip- rocation therepii. In rear of, the barrel the frame a forms the 5 receiver and lias an opening for the ejection of the cartridge-shells, and the breech-bolt is provided with a firing-pin and an extractor, and an ejector is fitted to the receiver, all of the usual construction. ip Below the receiver the frame forms the grip or handle, in rear of which the hammer ana other parts of the firing mechanism are mounted in the frame, while the trigger is lo- cated in front of the grip. The interior of 15 the .grip forms the seat for the cartridge- magazine, in which cartridges are held one upon the other upon a spring-follower by which they are fed upward to the receive^, the topmost cartridge being presented in 20 front or the breech-bolt when the same is in the open position, and by the forward move- ment of the breech-bolt this cartridge is transferred to the chamber of the barrel. Beneath the barrel the reaction-spring e is 25 seated in a chamber in the frame a, and a transverse key, c3 is inserted, through rec- tangular recesses in the sides of the breeeh- slide and passes transversely through the chamber in the .frame. A longitudinal slot 30 through the frame allows the key to travel freely therein. The rear end of the slot forms, an abutment for the key, positively limits the rearward movement of the breeeh- slide on the frame, and prevents the breech- 35 slide. from flying back from the frame. Through the key c3 the reaction-spring e acts upon the breech-slide to return it and the breech-bolt forward to .the closed position after the recoil has moved them to the rear. 40 The rear .end of this spring й bears against the end of the chamber in the frame, and the front end of the spring e is fitted upon a pis- ton e!, the head e3 of which bears against the key c3, a slight recess in the rear face of the 45 key providing a seat for the head e2, thereby securing the key against accidental displace- ment. The head of the piston e extends for- ward from the key to the front of the frame, a transverse recess in the piston-head being 50 provided for the key, this recess being some- what longer than the key. To enable the key e3 to be at will withdrawn from the frame and from the breech-slide, thereby to disen- gage the breech-slide from the reaction- 55 spring, and to enable the slide and the spring-., to be removed from the frame rearward pres- sure is exerted upon the front end of the pis- ton-head sufficiently to overcome the tension of the spring e and to force the piston-head 60 out of the recess in the key. Thus released, the key c3 may be readily withdrawn, there- byreleasing the breech-slide'and the reaction- spring for removal without requiring the use of any tools. These parts being of wqjl- 65 known construction and mode of operation and forming no part of the present invention, require no further description. On the left side of the rear portion b' of the barrel a series of vertical locking-ribs b3 is formed by a series of cuts between the said 70 ribs at the junction of the downwardly-pro- jecting segment with the cylindrical side of the barrel. (See rear end view of barrel, Fig. 6a.)' In the left side wall of the breeeh- slide in front of the breech-bolt a correspond- 75 ing series of locking-recesses c3 is provided. (See Figs. 7 and 8.) When the barrel and the breech-slide are in their forward closed position, the locking- ribs l>3 on the barrel occupy the recesses c3 in 80 the breech-slide and barrel and slide are se- curely interlocked, Figs. 1 and 4. When on firing a shot the breech-slide recoils on the frame, it draw’s the barrel rearward also. As the barrel moves rearward the stud bl of the 85 barrel moves through the cam-groove a4 in the frame, and, rotating the barrel, turns the locking-ribs l>3 downward until as the stud arriveS'w.t the rear end of the cam-groove the locking - ribs have been withdrawn down- 90 wardly from the locking recesses in the • breeeh-slide. (See Figs. 2 and 5.) The breech-slide, thus released from the barrel, continues to recoil under its momentum, Completes the opening movement, and stores 95 energy by compressing the reaction-spring e. During the rearward movement of the barrel the segmental downward projections of the collars b3, standing in the recesses a? in the frame freely allow the rearward and simul- 100 taneously rotatory movements of the barrel; but as the stud ft4 arrives at the rear end of the cam-groove a1 the collars b3 come into con- tact with the frame at the rear end and at the right side of the recesses a3, and thus the 105 movements of the barrel are positively ar- rested. The shock due to the sudden check- ing of the motions is transmitted to the frame of the arm at each of the several places of contact specified, and thus divided the stress no is prevented from causing injury to either the barrel or the frame of the arm. At the end of the return or closing movement of the breech-slide under the reaction of the spring e the breech-bolt encounters the rear end of 115 the barrel and forces the barrel forward and causes the stud 64 to move forward through the cam-groove a4 in the frame. The result- ing rotation of the barrel turns the locking- ribs b3 upward into the locking recesses c3, 120 and as barrel and breech slide arrive in the forward closed position they are again se- euFely interlocked. What I claim, and desire to cover by tet- ters Patent, is— - 125 1. In a firearm, the combination with a frame having a forward'extension, an un- covered seat, upon the top surface of-said frame, and a cam-groove in said seat, a bar- rel mounted from above upon said seat over 130
818,739 said frame to slide and to rotate thereon, said barrel having a fixed stud to engage said cam - groove, and means movably carried upon said frame for confining the barrel ver- 5 tically upon said frame. 2. In a firearm, the combination with a frame having an uncovered seat upon the top thereof and a cam-groove in said seat, and a barrel mounted from above upon said seat to io slide and to rotate thereon,said barrel having a fixed projection to engage said cam-groove to limit the lengthwise and the rotatory movements of said barrel in both directions, of a breech-slide embracing said frame and 15 sliding thereon, and having a forward exten- sion to cover and to vertically confine said barrel upon said frame. 3. In a firearm, the combination with a frame having a forward extension, an un- го covered seat upon the ton thereof, a cam- groove and a recess in said seat, of a barrel mounted from above upon said seat to slide thereon,. said barrel having a fixed stud to . engage said cam-groove and an integral pro- 25 jection to depend into said recess, and a breech-slide movably held upon said frame and carrying an extension to cover said bar- rel and to hold the same vertically upon said frame, whereby said barrel is attached to 30 said frame for lengthwise and rotatory movements, limited in all directions by a plurality of points of contact. 4, In a firearm; the combination with, a frame having a forward extension, a seat 35 upon the top surface thereof, a cam-groove in said seat, and a recess in said seat forward of said cam-groove, of' a barrel mounted to slide upon said seat, having a stud to engage said cam-groove and having a projection de- 40 pending into said recess, whereby the length- wise and rotatory movements of said barrel upon said frame are limited by a plurality of points of contact, and a breech-slide embrac- ing said frame and sliding thereon, said breech-slide comprising a breech-bolt and a 45 forward extension inclosing said barrel, and means for interlocking said barrel and said breech-slide by the rotatory movement of said barrel. 5. In a firearm, the combination with a 50 frame, having a forward extension, a seat upon the top surface thereof and a cam- groovein said seat, of a barrel to engage said cam-groove whereby said barrel may have limited, lengthwise and rotatory movements 55 upon said frame, a breech-slide embracing said frame and sliding thereon, said breech- slide comprising a breech-bolt and a forward extension inclosing said barrel, and Ibcking- ribs on said barrel and locking recesses in 60 said breech-slide for interlocking said barrel and said breech-slide by the rotatory jnove- ment of said barrel. 6. In a firearm, the combination with a frame having a forward extension, a seat 65 upon the top surface thereof, a cam-groove in said seat and a series of recesses in said seat forward of said cam-groove, of a barrel mounted to slide upon said seat, having a stud io engage said cam-groove, and having 70 a series of projections depending into said recesses, whereby the lengthwise and rota- tory movements of said barrel upon said frame are limited by a plurality of points of contact, and a breechrslide embracing said 75 frame and sliding thereon, said breech-slide comprising a breech-bolt and a forward ex- tension inclosing said barrel, and locking- ribs. on said barrel and locking recesses in • said breech-slide for interlocking said barrel 80 and said breech-slide by the rotatory move- ment of said barrel. This specification signed and witnessed this 14th day of August, A. D. 1905. JOHN M. BROWNING: In presence of— Henry J. Wellenkamp, Theo. D. W. Moore.
No. 853,438. PATENTED MAY 14, 1907 J. M. BROWNING. AUTOMATIC FIREARM. APPLIOATIOE FILED AUG. 18, 1906. З-П'иамЛ-оъ Ээ-ij zt-totvie-u 5
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. JOHN M. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH. AUTOMATIC FIREARM. No. 853,438. Specification of Letters Patent. Patented May 14,1907. Application filed Auguet 18,1906. Serial No. 274,689. To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, John M. Beowning, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Ogden, in the county of Weber 5 and State of Utah, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Firearms, of which the following.is a specifi- cation, reference being had to the accom- panying drawing, forming a part hereof. io This, invention relates to automatic fire- arms such, for instance, as are shown and de- scribed in Letters Patent of the United States No. 659,786, issued to me October 16, 1900; and the general object of the ifivention is to 15 improve .in certain particulars the arm shown and described in said Letters,Patent, although the improvements are capable of being applied to other firearms of like gen- eral character. 30 The invention concerns the taking down of the gun. In doing this, the handle upon the bolt mechanism by means of which the gun is manually opened and which handle works in a slot in the receiver, has to be removed 3 5 before the bolt and its associated parts can be pushed out from, the forward end of the receiver. This handle therefore, in accord- ance with the present invention, is fastened to the bolt mechanism in such a way as to be 30- readily attached and detached as required. The invention will be more fully described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which the improvements are illustrated in a convenient and practical embodiment. 35 In said drawing: Figure 1 is 9, view in side elevation of an arm to which the improve- ment may be applied; Figs. 2 and 3 are sec- tional views of tne bolt carrier, Fig. 2 show- ing the handle and its parts in section, and 40 Fig. 3 showing the handle in elevation; Figs. 4 and 5 are respectively an end view and a view in side elevation of the handle; ’Fig. 6 is a view in front elevation of the bolt mechanism; Figg; 7 and 8 are respectively 'a 45 top view and a side view of the nut in the handle; and Figs. 9 and 10 are respectively a view in elevation of the spring and a view in elevation of the pin in the handle. , The bolt mechanism, as in the Letters Pat- 50 ent above referred to, includes a bolt carrier 3 which moves backward in the receiver 6 to- gether with the barrel upon each recoil; and then moves forward again and closes the breech. During this operation, the handle 2 55 upon the carrier works in a slot 7 as will be obvious from Fig. l and as has already been described in said Letters Patent. In accordance with the present invention, the handle and carrier are formed with a sliding connection such as a dove-tail connec- 60 tion, whereby the handle, when the gun is to be taken apart, may be slid out from the car- rier and removed from the carrier and where- . by the carrier may then be pushed forward out of the receiver, In the present case, the 65 handle is shown to have; a T-shaped portion a and the carrier a correspondingly shaped groove in which this T-snaped portion is adapted to slide. In order to secure the handle within the groove in the carrier in 70 such a way that it may be readily attached and detached therefrom, means such as a pin ' b extending through the handle so as to be accessible йот the exterior thereof .is pro- vided. This pin is adapted to engage a re- 75 cess c in the carrier ana thereby to hold the handle firmly within the groove m the carrier. In order to keep the pin b in the recess c, any suitable means may be employed, such, for instance, as a spring d, one end of which 80 may abut against the shoulder e upon the pin while the other end of which rests against a nut / threaded in the end of the handle. In this way the pin is normally held in its recess and may Ъе quickly and easily re- 85 moved by the nnger. If desired, a groove g may be provided upon the outer, end of the pili in order that the end of the pin may be the more conveniently grasped. Various changes in the construction shown 90 and described herein may _be made without . departing from the spirit of the invention, and. the improvements are not limited there- fore to the present embodiment thereof. Furthermore, as was stated at the outset, 95 the improvements are not limited in appli- cation to the gun mechanism shown and de- scribed in the present case nor to the mech- anism shown and described in the Letters Patent abovfe referred to. i.co I claim as my invention— 1. In afire arm, the combination with the receiver and breech mechanism, of a handle detachably secured to the said mechanism and working in a slot in the receiver, and 105 means in the handle whereby 0 the handle / may be secured to and detached from the bolt mechanism. - 2. In a fire arm, the combination with the receiver and breech bolt mechanism, of a no
13 863 handle detachably secured to said mechan- ism and working in a slot in the receiver and a pin extending through the handle whereby the handle may be secured to and detached 5 from the bolt mechanism. 3. In a fire arm, the combination with the receiver and breech bolt mechanism, of a handle for moving said mechanism, said handle working in a slot in the receiver and ro having a sliding connection with the bolt mechanism, and a spring actuated pin adapt- ed to fasten the handle to the bolt mechan- ism and accessible from the exterior of the handle whereby the handle may be secured 15 to and detached from the bolt mechanism. ,438 4. In a fire arm, tlje combination with the receiver, breech bolt and breech bolt carrier, of a handle having a sliding connection with the carrier and working in a slot in the re- ceiver, a pin extending through the handle 20 and adapted to engage a recess in the carrier to lock the handle thereto, and a spring to. hold the pin normally in the recess. This specification, signed and witnessed this 14th day of August, 1905. JOHN M. BROWNING. Signed in the presence of— Henry J. Wellenkamp. Theo. D. W. Moore.
No, 864,608. PATENTED AUG, 27, 1907. J. M. BROWNING. MAGAZINE GUN. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 3, 1906. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1. THE NORRIS PETERS CO,, WASHINGTON, D. C.
No, 864,608, PATENTED AUG. 27, 1907. J. M. BROWNING. MAGAZINE GUN. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 3, 1906. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2. THE NORRIS PETERS CO., ’WASHINGTON, D. C
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. JOHN M. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH. MAGAZINE-GUN. No. 864,608. Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug. 27, 1907. Application filed August 3,1906. Serial Ho. 329,068. 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 To all vdiorn it may concern: . Be it known, that I, John M. Browning, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Ogden, in the county of Weber and State of Utah, liav'c invented a new and useful Magazine-Gun, of which the following is a specification. This invention relates to magazine firearms; the ob- ject being to produce a gun in which a long cartridge and heavy powder charge may be used, and yet that the gun may be light, strong, compact, simple in con- struction, safe and positive in action, and low in cost. Figure 1 represents a longitudinal sectional view of the breech, mechanism, of a gun with action closed; Fig. 2 show sreceiver broken away and parts, in the open position; Fig. 3 shows a cross section through receiver at z z, Fig. 1; Fig. 4 shows detached view of magazine cut ой; Fig. 5, a top view; Fig. G, a bot- tom view; and Fig. 7, a detail view showing the man- ner in which the cocking lip on breech bolt cocks the hammer and prevents the hammer from coming in contact with firing pin. My improvements are applied to a gun having a re- ceiver, barrel, magazine, stock, and firing mechanism which, being all well known constructions, will need no special description. My invention embodies a horizontally sliding breech bolt which is locked against the explosion of the cartridge by a solid locking block, which block covers the rear end of the breech bolt; this locking block slides in grooves in the receiver and is provided on its lower end with a forward extension, to which tire lever is pivoted; this extension on the locking block is a very important part of my invention, for it enables me to use a solid locking block at the rear end of the breech bolt and connect the lever to the breech bolt and locking block without additional parts. This is held to be a much better and more simple con- struction than having two blocks, or connecting the lever to a link and the link to the block, as I have done heretofore in some well-known guns. It will be understood that in order to use a solid locking block, said block must be located far enough in the rear to allow the breech bolt to move to the rear its full distance before the upper end of the lever comes in contact with it; when thus located, if the lever should be pivoted to the block, the forward end of said lever, or the part forward of its pivot, would be so long that in the opening movement, when the lever turned so far that its upper pivot stood directly over the lower pivot, the locking block would be drawn nearly out of the receiver; this con- struction would not be practical, and also there would not be sufficient leverage for the easy operation of the mechanism; but by pivoting the lever to the forward projections on the lower end of the locking block, I am able to use a solid block in rear of the bolt, and have room for the siring of the lever; this construc- tion also permits pivoting the lever as far forward as may be necessary, thus giving ample leverage and great simplicity and strength. The forward extension 60 on the lower end of the locking block is also very im- portant, inasmuch as it allows me to make a gun adapted to take a long cartridge, and yet have a very short receiver. The lever is pivoted to the breech bolt, and where it is pivoted to the locking block its 65 pivot hole is elongated, to allow the lost motion neces- sary, as in my Patents No. 306,577 of October 14, 1884, and No. 524,702 of August 21, 1894. The upper end of the locking block is beveled on its front side, and a portion of the bolt extends rearward over the rear 70 end of the locking block, and engages the hammer when the bolt is moved rearward; such construction prevents any possibility of the hammer striking the firing pin while the breech bolt is unlocked. The breech bolt carries the firing pin, and the locking 75 block carries a pin which receives and transmits the blow of the hammer to the firing pin. In the drawing, a indicates the frame or receiver, b the barrel, and c the magazine, all being of a character well known in this art. The longitudinally reciprocal- 80 ing breech bolt d is guided in the frame by ribs entering grooves in the sides of the frame, as is common. The operating lever/ is pivoted in the bolt d. near the front end thereof. The locking block e is pivoted to the le- ver/at f', in such manner as to permit a lost motion be- 85 tween these parts. The locking block e is guided in its sliding movement by grooves in the frame, and when in locking position the upper end of the locking block is in rear of the breech bolt d. As the locking block is solidly supported in the frame in such position, the bolt 90 cannot move to the rearward when the locking block is closed. (See Fig. 1.) The first downward movement of lever/, when the gun breech is closed, withdraws the locking block e from behind the breech bolt'd. A shoulder/2 on the 95 lever rides under an extension a2 of the frame. The downward movement of the locking block e in its grooves causes the pivot at f' to act as a shifting fulcrum, and this fulcrum falls below the frame as the lower end of the lever is swung forward, (as in Fig. 2), the lever ac- 100 tion forcing the breech bolt to the rear, over the top of the locking block. In closing the breech, a reverse movement takes place. The locking block carries a separate pin j, which serves as an extension of firing pin i. The locking block is beveled at its top, and the rear 105 end of the breech bolt corresponds therewith. As seen in Fig. 7 the hammer t cannot strike the firing pin, by reason of the bevel form of the breech block, and can only strike pin J when the breech is locked. The extractor is of the well known spring hook kind, 110 but in order to throw the empty shell further to one side of the gunner’s face, I make a cut in the right hand
864,608 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 side of the receiver, about the length of the cartridge, back from the front of the receiver; this cut widens the opening in the top of the receiver on the right side, so the shell can be ejected more to the right than in the usual construction: In carrying out this idea the ex- tractor is located on the upper right hand side of the bolt, and a lip on the side of the bolt extends over the cut in the side of the receiver, and closes it when the bolt is in its forward position. The ejector is a stud s' located in the lower face of the breech bolt and is provided with a spring which forces it outward as usual. As a result of this arrangement, when the bolt is drawn back to open the breech if there is a shell or empty cartridge in the chamber, the ejec- tor, through its pressure on the under side of the head of the shell, will force the front end of said shell upward as soon as it leaves the chamber; and as the extractor is on one side of the center, and the opening in the frame is made wider on the same side, the shell is thrown up- ward and to one side instead of straight up. The carrier g is pivoted at I just forward of the locking block. Its upper rear end extends back so that when the parts are in the closed position this upward exten- sion of the carrier touches the front face of the locking block. When the parts are in the open position and the carrier raised, this rearward extension moves back into the path of the locking block, which locking block, as it moves upward, to lock the breech bolt, cams the carrier down and holds it. This prevents any possibil- ity of the carrier getting jolted up so it might interfere with the movement of the loading spring in loading the magazine. A carrier spring к acts upon a spur in on the lower side of the carrier and holds it in its up or loading position, when permitted by the locking block. A car- tridge stop h is pivoted to the receiver at n and extends forward from its pivot to the rear end of the magazine. It also extends rearward on the left hand side of the re- ceiver, and in closed position of the parts its forward end is down just even with the lower side of the maga- zine, and its rear end extends upward and enters a cut о in the lower side of the breech bolt, where it is held by the forward extension on the lower end of the locking block. The inside of the receiver is provided with two cartridge guides (p, p, Fig. 3) which holds the cartridge from being thrown out of the receiver when elevated by the carrier; and the magazine is loaded through an opening in the right hand side of the receiver when the action is closed; this opening is provided with a spring cover in the usual manner. The operation of the gun is as follows: Supposing the magazine is loaded and the last cartridge partly on the carrier resting against the shoulder q on the lower front end of the lever; the rear end of the lever is forced downward and forward. The first part of this movement carries the locking block down and unlocks the breech bolt, which then commences to move to the rear; the first part of the rearward movement of the breech bolt forces down the rear end of the cartridge stop h which raises its front end so the cartridge follow- ing in the magazine will be stopped when its head reaches the front end of the cartridge stop; at the same time the cocking lip on the rear end of the breech bolt is forcing the hammer to the rear, and thus cocking the same very easily and preventing any contact of the hammer with the firing pin. When near the limit of its rearward movement the shoulder r on the under- side of the forward end of the breech bolt strikes the upwardly extending arm of the carrier p, forcing this arm to the rear which raises the carrier together with the cartridge, which has moved onto it, in line with 70 the cartridge chamber in the barrel. The carrier is held in its elevated position by the carrier spring, the cartridge being held on the carrier by the cartridge guide p, p. The return movement of the lever forces the cartridge on the carrier into the chamber, and as 75 the locking block rises to move in behind the breech bolt it first comes in contact with the upper rear end of the carrier and forces the carrier down to its lower position, at the same time the forward extension on the locking block comes up under the rear end of the 80 cartridge stop and allows another cartridge to jump rearward from the magazine onto the carrier against shoulder q on lever. It will be noticed that the breech bolt is forward and the extractor snapped over the head of the cartridge in 85 the chamber before the forward extension on the lock- ing block comes in contact with the cartridge stop to release another cartridge from the magazine. This does away with one source of trouble in this class of arms, that is, allowing two cartridges to get jammed 90 in the receiver at once. When the lever is in its closed position the gun is ready to fire by pressure on the trigger; then when the bolt is thrown back the shell will be ejected, as explained, upward and to the right. It will be noted that in my improved gun I bevel 95 the upper end of the locking block, and get the recoil on the lower half of the breech bolt instead of the upper half; this adds greatly to the strength of the receiver, permitting it to be made lighter than is possible where the recoil is taken on the upper half. It will be under- 100 stood that the center of the receiver is the ideal place to take the strain, but as this is impossible, it is very desirable to apply the strain as far from the outer edge as possible. I know that locking on the lower half of the bolt is 105 not broadly new, but I am not aware of any gun of this class in which the locking block practically covers the rear end of the breech bolt and locks on its under side. What I claim is: 1. In a firearm, the combination of a sliding breecli цд bolt, a solid sliding locking block which practically covers the rear end of the breecli bolt, said locking block being beveled at its upper end so it locks on the lower half of the bolt and provided at its lower end with a forward ex- tension, and the lever pivoted to said extension. 2. In a firearm having a sliding breech bolt and a slid- ing locking block which practically covers the rear end of the breech bolt, a rearwardly projecting- safety cocking lip which assists in the easy cocking of the hammer and also prevents the hammer from coming in contact with 120 the firing pin while the bolt Is unlocked. 3. In a firearm having a sliding breech bolt and a slid- ing locking block the latter having a forward extension, a lever pivoted to the breech bolt and to the forward ex- tension of the locking block, a firing pin carried by the 125 breech bolt, and ;1 movable pin carried by the locking block to receive and transmit the blow of the Hammer to the firing pin, and a rearwardly projecting safety cocking lip carried by the breech bolt which assists in the easy cocking of the hammer and also prevents the hammer from 130 coming in contact with the firing pin while the bolt is unlocked, all combined. 4. In n firearm having a magazine under the barrel and a carrier for transferring the cartridge from the magazine
864,608 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 j block, and a cartridge stop acted on by the breech bolt I in opening so that it stops the cartridge following in the magazine and acted on by the locking block in closing so that it releases the cartridge in the magazine, 9. In a firearm having a magazine under the barrel 40 and sliding breech bolt and sliding locking block, said locking block having a forward extension and a lever pivoted to the breech bolt and to the forward extension of the locking block, a cartridge stop pivoted to the lower part of the receiver and having a part oxlending forward 45 from its pivot to act as a cartridge slop, and having a part extending to the rear and upward, the upper ex- tension adapted to enlcr a seat in the breech bolt and a lower part to rest on the forward extension of tbe locking block when the parts are in their closed position to the 50 end that when the bolt is moved to the rear it forces the rear end of the cartridge stop down and as the locking- block moves up in closing its forward extension Lifts the cartridge stop up and holds it in that posiiion, as aud for the purpose described. - 55 10. In a firearm having an opening in the top of the receiver from which 1he shells are ejected, a sliding breech bolt moving in this opening, an extractor located to one side of the center of the breech bolt, and an ejector lo- cated in the lower face of the breech bolt, the opening in GO the receiver being of greater width a certain distance on one side, and a lip on the side of the breech bolt which covers the enlarged opening, as and for 1he purpose described. In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in the 65 presence of two witnesses. JOHN M, BROWNING. Witnesses : Theo. D. W. Mooiie, Joseph Butleii. to the barrel, a sliding breech bolt and a sliding locking block, the latter located to tbe rear of tbe pivot of the carrier and so arranged that as the locking block is moved upward to lock the breech bolt it comes in contact with the carrier and forces it from its elevated or loading ; position to its lower or receiving position and locks it. I 5. In a magazine firearm having a sliding breech bolt | and a sliding locking block, a lever pivoted to the breech 1 bolt and locking block, a carrier pivoted to the receiver in | front of tbe locking block and having an arm extending upward and to tbe rear of its pivot, said arm arranged to be engaged by the breech bolt in its opening movement to raise the carrier and )>y tbe locking block in its closing movement to press the carrier down and hold it in its down posiiion. all combined. (>. In a magazine firearm having a sliding breech bolt and a sliding locking block, the locking block being beveled at the top to form a cam, a carrier pivoted in front of the locking block and having an arm extending upward and rearward and arranged so that when the carrier is raised by the opening movement of the breech bolt, the upwardly extending arm will be moved into the path of the locking block and above it, so that as the locking- block moves upward in closing the bevel on its upper end cams the carrier down, all combined. 7. In a firearm having a magazine under the barrel, a sliding breech bolt and a sliding locking block, a cartridge stop pivoted in the lower part of the receiver and having a part extending forward from .its pivot and a part ex- tending rearward from its pivot, the rearward part ar- ranged to be forced down by the breech bolt in its opening movement and forced up by the locking block in its upward or closing movement, 8. in a firearm having a magazine under the barrel, tbe combination of a sliding breech bolt, a sliding locking
No, 864,609. PATENTED AUG. 27, 1907. J. M. BROWNING. FIREARM. ATPLIOATION FILED DEO. 5, 1806.
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. JOHN M. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH. FIREARM. No. 864,609. Specification of Betters Patent. Patented Aug. 37, 1907. Application filed December 5,1906. Serial No. 346,432. To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, John M. Browning, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Ogden, in the county of Weber and State of Utah, have invented a 5 new and useful Improvement, in Firearms, of which tbe following is a specification. My invention relates to firearms. The invention more particularly resides in the c.on- necting interlocking parts between the sliding handle 10 and the bar which operates the actuating mechanism, such as the main gun parts, or the extractor, or the like. With this object in view, the invention consists in the following construction and combination of parts, the details of which will be fully described and the fea- 15 tures of novelty set forth and claimed. Generally in guns which are operated by a sliding handle upon or adjacent to the magazine or the barrel, , the bar that connects the handle with the actuating mechanism is fastened with a bushing which goes ,20 partly or entirely through the handle. This hushing is usually fastened to the handle by a nut on the front end of the bushing or by screws passing through the wood into the bushing. If the bar is connected di- rectly with the handle the connection is made by' 25 screws fastened through the handle into the bar itself. The first method is expensive and heavy. In the second the screws are continually working out owing to the. shock of firing, moving the handle back and forth quickly in loading. The above invention is 30 designed to entirely obviate these annoying objections a.nd will now be particularly described. Figure 1 is a side elevation of a firearm, partly broken away, to which the invention is applied; Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken through the sliding 35 handle showing the bar connected thereto: Fig. 3 is a cross-section taken through the magazine and handle upon the line 3—3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a horizontal cross- section of the handle and connecting bar showing the connection in modified form; Fig. 5 is a. side elevation 40 of the bar shown in Fig. 4: and Fig. G is a cross-section taken on the line 6—6 looking in tbe direction of arrow. In the drawings, 1 represents the barrel: 2, the maga- zine; 4, the handle sliding thereon; 5, a portion of tbe actuating mechanism shown in dotted lines and partly 45 broken away; 6B, the bar connecting the handle 4 and actuating mechanism 5. The Ьаг,6а is preferably 1 into or set in a recess in the interior of the handle 4 al is provided with studs 7 which are rigidly secured to integrally formed with the bar. It will be noted th the bar is assembled in the handle from the inside a’ that when the handle 4 is slipped upon the niagazi the parts are all securely locked against any displai ment. In Figs. 4, 5 and 6, instead of the bar being provid with studs 7, a crescent-shaped head 8 of any' approv form is secured upon the bar 6°. This head 8 is cessed within the handle 4, the inner face being fit with the magazine upon which the handle slides. I assembly of bar (P is made from the inside and int locked by sliding the handle upon the magazine i: manner similar to that of the bar shown in Figs. 1,2 s 3. In this modification the interlocking parts do show exteriorly upon the handle. While I have shown a bar having interlocking p: fashioned, for example, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4; it is evident that the form of the interlocking parts it be varied within considerable range of equivalei It is also obvious that such an interlocked bar and s ing handle can be adapted to a different style of j than is shown and described. For example, the liar might slide upon simply a tubular or other guide instead of sliding under the barrel. It can also used with styles of magazine guns other than the here described. What I claim is: 1. The combination of a tubular magazine, a sit handle embracing the magazine, a connector lying aga the magazine and partly between the magazine and handle, and an outward projection on the connector gaging the handle. 2. The combination of a tubular magazine, a ha slidably embracing the magazine and having a recess, a connector partly lying between the magazine and ha and having a stud, the stud being inserted in the reee: assembling .the parts and securely retained in the i‘( so as to retain the connector in operative relation to handle, by engagement of the handle with the mngazii in testimony whereof I have affixed my signature ir presence of two witnesses. JOHN M. BROWNIN Witnesses : Matthew Galt, W. A. Bautlbtt.
947,478. J. M. BROWNING. SAFETY DEVICE FOE FIREARMS. APPLICATION PILED JUNE 21, 1909. Patented Jan. 25,1910. X- 'РсплНлЛ/. IlLVEulnr.
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. JOHN M. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH. SAFETY DEVICE FOB FIREARMS. 94'7,4'78. Specification of Letters Patent. Patented. Jan. 25, 1910. Application filed. June 21, 1909. Serial No. 503,481. To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, John M. Browning, a citizen of the United States, residing in Og- den, in the county of Weber and State of 5 Utah, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety Devices for Fire- arms, of which the following is a specifica- tion, reference being had to the accompany- ing drawings, forming a part hereof. 10, The invention relates to safety devices for breech-loading firearms generally, and it is more especially applicable to automatic fire- arms in which the .several operations—such as the opening of the breech after firing a 15 shot, the ejection of the empty cartridge- shell, the cocking of the hammer, the presen- tation and introduction of a loaded cartridge into the chamber of the barrel, and the clos- ing of the breech—are automatically effected 20 by the pressure in the barrel of the powder- gases generated by the explosion of the cartridge. The main object of the invention is to pro- .... vide for the firearms of this class, in which 25 for safety in handling and carrying the members of the firing-mechanism, with the exceptioii of the trigger, are entirely in- closed and concealed in the arm, a safety de- vice for at will and readily locking the 30 breech-mechanism in its closed forward posi- tion, and at the (Same time positively locking the concealed firing - mechanism when cocked; or for at will and as readily unlock- ing these parts, and thereby adapting the 35 arm for instant use. For safety and con- venience, while examining and cleaning the arm and while charging it with cartridges, said safety device shall, further, be adapted for at will locking the breech-mechanism in 40 its open rearward position; or for as readily unlocking said mechanism. and allowing the same to close. Another object of the invention is to pro- duce a safety device which shall be simple 45 and inexpensive in construction, strong, re- liable and safe under all conditions of use. These objects are attained by mechanism of simple and practical construction, which is efficient, perfectly safe in use and not 50 liable to get out of order. The invention is shown herein as embodied in a gas-operated magazine pistol, but it will be understood that the invention is ap- plicable to other firearins. Therefore it is not intended to restrict the present invention 55 to. a magazine pistol, nor to any particular kind of firearm. x In the accompanying drawings, wherein is illustrated an embodiment of the inven- tion, Figure 1 is a left-hand side elevation of 60 the pistol with the breech closed, and with the safety device turned to the operative locking position; the non-operative unlocked position of the same being indicated in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is an elevation similar 65 to Fig. 1, but partly in section and with the breech open, and with the safety device turned to lock the breech-slide in the open rear position. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sec- tion of the upper rear portion of the pistol, 70 with the breech closed and the firing-mech- anism cocked and locked by the safety de- vice. Fig. 4 is a section similar to Fig. 3, but with the safety device turned to unlock the breech-slide and the firing-mechanism. 75 Fig. 5 shows detail views of the safety-lock- ing-lever detached, respectively at 1 a side elevation, at 2 a top view, and at 3 a front view. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the upper rear portion of the frame of the pistol de- 80 tachea, with the breech-slide and other mech- anisms removed. Fig. 7 is a side view of the rear portion of the breech-slide detached. Fig. 8 is a bottom view of the rear portion of the breech-slide detached. 85 Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views. In the pistol represented in the drawings a is the frame, & the barrel, and c the breech- slide. The top of the frame a, upon the 90 forward portion of which the barrel Ъ is mounted, forms the seat for the reciprocat- ing breech-slide c. In rear of the barrel b, the upper portion of the frame forms the re- ceiver and below it is the grip or handle a1, 95 preferably made integral with the frame, and the hollow inside of which forms the seat for the reception of the cartridge-maga- zine d, which is a tube holding a number of cartridges one upon the other resting upon a 100 spring-pressed follower, the magazine is in- serted into the. grip from below, so that its top communicates with the receiver and with the rear of the barrel, and at each opening
2 947,478 of the breech-slide a cartridge is fed from the magazine to the barrel. The barrel is fixed upon the frame against lengthwise movement, and the rear of the barrel is 5 closed by the breech-bolt c1 which forms the rear portion of the breech-slide c, forward of the breech-bolt c1 the breech-slide extends in semi-tubular form c2, inclosing the barrel b on top and sides; at the bottom the sides of 10 the breech-slide overlap those of the frame and each side is provided with an internal . longitudinal rib c1 for engagement with a cor- responding groove a4 on each side of the frame, cations and vertically lock it upon the frame, 15 and the forward portion of the breech-slide vertically confines the barrel upon the frame. In front of the breech-bolt c1 an opening in the top of the extension c2 of the breech-slide permits the ejection of the empty cartridge- 20 shells. The forward end of the breech-slide is closed at the bottom by the depending front abutment c3, tubular in form and parallel to the axis of the barrel. In front of the grip a1 the top of the frame extends 25 forward beneath the barrel and in it is pro- vided a longitudinal seat a2 for the reaction- spring e, the guide-rod e1, and for the de- pending abutment c3 of the breech-slide. In rear the reaction-spring в and the head of 30 the guide-rod e1 are supported by the frame, while the front end of the spring в rests against a shoulder in the abutment c3, and the tension of the spring e thus yieldingly keeps the breech-slide in forward closed po- 35 sition; while the abutment c3 positively pre- vents the breech-slide from being thrown rearwardly from the frame. In front of the grip a1 and beneath the seat a2 is the trigger-guard, in which the 40 trigger f is located. The breech-bolt c1 is provided with a car- tridge-shell extractor g of usual form, and carries in a central seat the combined firing- pin and hammer A, the hammer is hollow 45 and in it the forward portion of the spiral mainspring i is seated, the rear end of which is supported upon the guide-rod г1, the head of which rests in a shallow recess in the face of the upwardly projecting abutment a3 50 upon the rear end of the-frame, which closes | the,hammer-seat in the breech-bolt when the । latter is in the forward position, see Figs. 3, I 4 and 6. The hammer h has under its rear end a rib № guided in a corresponding longi- 55 tudinal slot in the bottom of the breech-bolt. Below the breech - bolt and in rear of the grip h1 the sear j is mounted upon a pivot-pin in the frame, and a connector jf1 extends from the trigger / upward and rear- 60 ward to the front of the sear and serves to transmit the movement of the trigger / to the sear a flat bifurcated spring is ar- ranged in the grip, the upper end of one of its leaves к yieldingly holds the connector 5 and the trigger in the forward position, while the other leaf /г1 rests against the sear and yieldingly holds the rear- wardly extending arm y1 of the sear in the _ raised position. This rear arm of the sear corresponds in thickness and in central 70 location with the longitudinal slot in the bottom of the breech-bolt, and in its raised position the sear-arm y1 projects into the slot and into the path of the rib A1 of the ham- mer A, the shoulder j2 of the sear-arm thus 75 forming the sear-point for engagement with the hammer, while the forward end of the rib Л1 forms the cock-notch of the hammer. The lower portion of the arm j1 of the sear extends some distance rearward beyond the 80 point j2, and a transverse pin I, located in the frame above the rearmost portion of the sear-arm serves to limit the upward move- ment of the sear-arm under the pressure of the spring 7c1. 85 In the rear face of the grip the automatic safety grip-lever m is seated in a vertical mortise, being pivoted at the bottom upon a pin w1, and pressed outward by the lower end of the spring k, the upper portion of 90 the lever m, normally protrudes some1 dis- tance from the rear of the grip; on grasping the grip of the pistol, as in the act of hold- ing the same for firing, the lever m yields to the pressure of the hand grasping it, and 95 is pressed into the grip without requiring thought or attention. At the upper extrem- ity the grip-lever m carries within the frame an upward extension m,2, the end of which normally stands below the sear-arm j1 so as 100 to lock the sear, see Fig. 3; when, however, the lever m is pressed into the grip, the ex- tension m2 is moved forward into the posi- tion shown in Fig. 4, where it stands below a recess in the under side of the sear-arm Ю5 j1, so as to unlock the sear and allow it to release the hammer if the trigger is pulled. All the parts thus far referred to are of the same construction and mode of opera- tion as those of the well-known Colt auto- 110 matic pistol, and, forming no part of the present invention, require no further de- scription or illustration herein, except as far as certain features will be referred to hereinafter. . 115 I For at will, readily and positively lock- I ing the breech-slide in the closed firing po- sition, and at the same time positively lock- ing the firing-mechanism against operation, even though the grip should be grasped and 120 the, trigger pulled, or for at will locking the breech-slide in the open rear position, and for at will and as readily releasing the locked breech-slide and firing-mechanism, a manually operable safety-lever of novel con- 125 struction and operation has been provided. In rear of the sear 7 and of the top m2 of the grip-lever m, the safety-lever n is pivotally attached on the left side of the frame, convenient to be operated by the
647,478 в thumb of the hand grasping the grip of the pistol. The horizontal pivot or arbor о of the safety-lever n is an integral part of the same and passing transversely through the 5 frame a, it has a bearing in each side-wall slightly below the longitudinal grooves a4 in the frame by which the breech-slide is held and guided upon the same. From its arbor о the safety-lever n extends forward 10 and rearward, the rounded end of its for- ward arm n1 being provided with a knurled boss or thumb-piece, while the shorter rear arm n2 ends in a pointed heel, see Figs. 1, 2 and 5. 15 When the breech-slide c is in its place upon the frame a, it fills and covers the grooves a4, and the straight lower edges of the breech-slide coincide with those of the grooves, though laterally the breech - slide 20 projects beyond the frame. When the safety-lever n stands in the non-operative position, indicated in dotted lines in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, the upper edge of the lever clears the breech-slide and the lever does not in- 25 terfere with the movements of the same. In the left side of the breech-slide two re- cesses г, are provided, with the breech- slide in the closed firing position the recess r stands above the forward arm n1 of the 30 safety- lever, and the lever- arm may be turned upward into the recess r, as shown in Fig. 1; in this position the safety-lever positively locks the breech-slide in the firing position, as the,, rounded end of the lever- 35 arm n1 bears Against the correspondingly shaped forward wall of the recess r, thus acts as a stop and holds the breech-slide against movement. On account of the up- ward and forward inclined position of the 40 raised lever-arm n1, rearward pressure ap- plied to the breech-slide will prevent the lever-arm from dropping and cause it to hold the breech-slide the more securely. The arbor о of the safety-lever n carries a 45 tongue or radial projection o1, extending in the forward direction, see Fig. 5; when the safety-lever n is in its place on the side of the frame, the tongue o1 is located in the frame below the sear-arm /. With the 50 safety-lever n turned to the non-operative horizontal position, indicated in dotted lines in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, the tongue o1 is outside of- the reach of the sear-arm y1 and does not interfere with the movements of the sear, 55 see Fig. 4. If, however, the safety-lever n is turned so that the raised lever-arm я1 locks the breech-slide in the forward posi-. tion, as hereinbefore explained, the tongue o1 is raised until its end stands below the end 60 of the sear-arm /, and thus positively locks the sear against movement, as shown in Fig. 3, and, therefore, prevents the sear from being operated to release the cocked hammer. By this arrangement the locking of the 65 breech-slide in firing position by means of the safety-lever n, simultaneously locks the firing-mechanism against operation. The tongue o1 performs an additional function besides that of locking the sear. The tongue o1, like the lever n-, is integral with the arbor 70 o, and the hole in the left side of the frame, which forms the bearing for the arbor о nearest to the lever, is enlarged vertically into the groove a4, so as to resemble a key- hole in form, and so as to enable the tongue 75 o1 to pass through it into the frame, see Fig. 6. The space on the arbor 0 which separates the lever n from the tongue o1 is equal in width to the thickness of the wall of the frame, and after turning lever and tongue go up and entering the arbor and tongue o1 into the frame until the lever n, rests against the outside of the same, the lever n is turned down until it stands horizontally below the groove a4, and the tongue o1 bears inside 35 against the wall of the frame and thus se- cures the • lever and arbor movably in the frame, from which they cannot be removed unless lever and tongue are again turned to the vertical position. In the regular opera- 90 tion of the pistol the lever cannot be brought to the vertical position. When the breech- slide is in place upon the frame it fills the grooves a4 and covers the enlargement of the hole,, and as the breech-slide is somewhat 95 wider than the frame its lower edges project laterally beyond the same,, and, therefore, the safety-lever n can be turned upward out of the horizontal position only when the re- cess r stands, above the lever-arm h1, and юо then only so far as to stand inclining in the recess. By this simple and inexpensive ar- rangement the safety-lever is movably se- cured in the frame without any additional means such as are usually required to secure 105 it in the frame. The forward recess r1 in the edge of the breech-slide stands above the pointed heel n2 of the safety-lever when the breech-slide is in the open rear position, and if the breech- no slide is brought to the open position and downward pressure is exerted upon the thumb-piece, the heel n2 of the lever will enter the recess, and serve as a stop or pawl and hold the breech-slide in the rear posi- 115 tion, until by raising the thumb-piece the heel is withdrawn from the recess and the breech-slide is relea,sed, when it will at once be closed by the reaction-spring. The for- ward recess r1 is vertically much smaller 120 than the recess r, "because the pointed heel will Jock the breech-slide securely without a greater hold, as the tension of the com- pressed reaction-spring is exerted in tend- ing to move the breech-slide. forward, and 125 thus it also tends to keep the point of the heel in the recess. As will be seen in Figs. 7 and 8,'the recess r1 is cut laterally entirely through, the edge of the breech-slide, and the heel n2 is in 130
•4L £47,478 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 thickness equal to the part of the breech- slide Avhich projects beyond the frame, there- by strengthening the hold of the heel on the breech-slide. The rearward recess r, though of greater height, is laterally cut less deep than the re- cess r1, and a solid web is left uncut which separates the recess r from the inside of the breech-slide, see Figs. 7 and 8. With the breech-slide in place upon the frame in the forward position with the recess r above the lever n, this web covers and conceals the en- larged hole in the frame. The outer sur- face of the web forming the bottom of the recess r stands slightly above the side of the frame laterally, and the forward portion of the lever-arm n1 is correspondingly undercut on the inner side nearest to the frame, see Fig. 5, at 2 and 3, so that this portion of the lever-arm can pass above the bottom of the recess when the lever n is turned to the locked position. The rear arm or heel n2 of the lever n is not undercut and while it may be turned into the forward recess r1 when the breech-slide is in the rear position, the raised bottom of the recess r prevents the heel n2 from entering this recess. This ar- rangement, at all times except when the breech-slide is at the rear, positively pre- vents the turning of the lever down and the entrance of the heel into the large recess, which might occur if both recesses were of the same depth, either by wrong manipula- tion, or by the action of gravity on the longer and heavier forward lever-arm, should it overcome. the frictional fit or ar- rangement which supports lever and arbor in their positions in the frame. The forward recess r1 is so small, and dur- ing the regular rapid operation of the arm the breech-slide, acted upon by the fully compressed reaction-spring, remains so short a time at the extreme rearward limit of its reciprocation, that there is no danger of the heel of the safety-lever accidentally entering the recess and locking the open breech-slide. But when the breech-slide during the clos- ing movement approaches the forward limit, its movement becomes slower on account of the resistance opposed by the cartridge in en- tering the chamber of the barrel and because the reaction-spring is then only partly com- pressed, so that there is a longer space of time in which the heel of the safety-lever might be turned into the recess r; moreover the length of the recess r is such that there is a much greater chance for the heel to en- ter the recess between the front end and the rear end. For these reasons the different depths of the recesses are important for pre- venting the unintentional blocking of the breech-slide by the heel of the safety-1 ever. I claim as my invention— 1. In a firearm, the combination 4of a frame, a reciprocating breech-slide, and a safety - lever pivoted on said frame, said safety-lever having two arms, one of said arms adapted to engage and hold said breech-slide in forward position, the other arm adapted to engage and hold said breech- 70 slide in rearward position. 2. In a firearm, the combination of a frame, a reciprocating breech - slide and a safety - lever pivoted on said frame, said breech-slide having recesses and said safety- 75 lever having two arms for engagement with said recesses, whereby the breech-slide is held in its forward position on the frame by one of said lever-arms, or in its rearward posi- tion by the other lever-arim 80 3. In a firearm, the combination of a frame, a reciprocating, breech-slide and a safety - lever pivoted on said frame, said breech - slide having recesses of ' different depth and said safety-lever having arms of 85 different thickness for engagement with said recesses, whereby the breech-slide is held in its forward position on the frame by one of said lever-arms, or in its rearward posi- tion by the other lever-arm. 90 4. In a firearm, the combination of a frame, a reciprocating breech-slide, a pivot- ed safety-lever having two arms, one arm adapted to engage and hold said breech-slide in its firing position, the other arm adapted 95 to hold the breech-slide in the open position, and a sear, the pivot of said safety-lever having a projecting tongue and said sear having a cooperating projecting arm, where- by the movement of the saftey-lever to en- 100 gage and hold the breech-slide in firing po- sition locks the sear against movement. 5. In a firearm, the combination of a frame, a reciprocating breech-bolt carrying a hammer, a sear, and a safety-lever pivoted 105 on the frame, said sear and the pivot of said safety-lever having cooperating projections, and said safety-lever having two arms to engage and hold said breeeh-bolt in firing position or in the open position, whereby, 110 when the hammer is cocked, the movement of the safety-lever to engage and hold the breech-bolt in firing position, locks the sear against releasing the cocked hammer. 6. In a firearm, the combination of a 115 frame, a breech-slide inovably secured on said frame, and a safety-lever pivoted on the frame for engagement with said breech- slide, the pivot of said safety-lever having a projection and said frame having an open- 120 ing to permit the passage of said pivot and said projection, whereby said safety-lever is held by the breech-slide against removal from the frame, and the breech-slide is held either in forward or rearward position by 125 the movement of said safety-lever. 7. In a firearm, the combination of a frame, a breech-bolt secured for reciproca- tion on said frame and carrying a hammer, a safety-lever pivoted on the frame to en- 130
&47, gage and hold said breeeh-slide either in firing position or in the open position, and a sear, the pivot of said safety-lever having a projection and said frame having an open- 5 ing to permit the passage of said pivot and said projection, whereby said safety-lever is held from removal by the breech-slide, and the sear is held against releasing the hammer by said projection when the safety-lever is 47й 8 moved to engage and hold the breech-bolt ю in firing position. This specification signed and witnessed this second day of June, A. D. 1909. JOHN M. BROWNING. In the presence of— A. L. Ulrich, K. Powers.
J. M. BROWNING. RECOIL OPERATED FIREARM. APPLICATION FILED JULY 30, 1904. Patented Feb. 14,1911. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1. .
J. M, BROWNINli. RECOIL OPERATED FIREARM. APPLIOATIOH FILED JULY 30, 1904. 984,263. Patented Feb. 14,1911. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.
984,263. J. M. BROWNING. RECOIL OPERATED FIREARM. APPLIOATIOK FILED JULY 30, 1904. Patented Feb. 14,1911. 3 SHEETS—SHEET 3.
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. JOHN Iff. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH. RECOIL-OPERATED FIREARM. 984,263. Specification of letters Patent. Patented Feb. 14, 1911. Application filed. July 30, 1904. Serial No. 218,815. To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, John M. Browning. a citizen of the United States, and a resi- dent of the city of Ogden, county of Weber, 5 and State of Utah, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Recoil- Operated Firearms, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part 10 hereof. This invention relates to recoil operated firearms and, while it is applicable generally to fire arms embraced within this class, the invention will be illustrated and described 15 herein in connection with the gun mecha- nisms shown in my former Letters Patent, and in particular Letters Patent of the. United States numbered 659,786, dated No- vember 16, 1900, and numbered 701,288, 20 dated June 3, 1902. . One of the improvements embraced with- in the present invention relates to the means for rotating the breech bolt within the bolt carrier, the object of the present improve- 25 ments being to provide a simple means to ef- fect the rotation of the bolt within the carrier which does not involve anv consider- able expense in its construction, and which will effect the desired operation with cer- 30 tainty, ease and freedom. Another object of the invention is to en- able the empty shells, which have to be dis- charged from the gun while in a hot and expanded condition, to be extracted from 35 the barrel with greater, ease than heretofore. . ‘Another object of the invention is to pro- yide a safety device to lock the trigger in its position of full cock and also to prevent at the same time the rearward movement of the 40 bolt carrier, thereby avoiding an accidental or unintentional firing or an unintentional opening of the gun. Another of the objects of the invention is to provide improved means for transferring 45 the cartridges one by one into the chamber of the gun barrel from their magazine, . which means will be set forth more particu- larly hereinafter. Still another object of the invention is to 50 provide means for turning the bojt. which clamps the barrel tp rhe gun frame in order that the gun may be quickly taken apart and packed. . • . In the drawings, in which for purposes of °5 illustration and explanation the invention is einbcdied, Figure 1 is a view in side eleva- tion of a fire arm containing the improve- ments, the butt-stock and a portion of the gun barrel being broken away for conven- ience of illustration. Fig. 2 is a view partly 6o in central section and partly in elevation, showing some of the interior of the gun mechanism within the outer frame, the parts of such mechanism being in position ready for the gun to be fired and the hammer be- 65 ing at full cock, but with the safety device in position to prevent the firing of the gun and the rearward movement of the bolt car- rier. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the safety device in its inoperative position, the 70 bolt carrier in a position just short of its ex- treme rearward position with the breech bolt extended, and with the cartridge maga- zine empty. Fig. 4 is a view partly in hori- zontal section through the center of the gun 75 barrel and partly in plan of the parts as they appear in Fig. 3. Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively a side elevation and plan of the bolt carrier removed from the gun, and with the breech bolt removed from the carrier. 80 Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are respectively opposite side views and a front end elevation of the breech bolt. Figs. 10 and 11 are respec- tively a side elevation and a plan of the checking device for the bolt carrier which is 85 brought into operation by the spring-actu- ated follower in the magazine when all of the cartridges have been discharged there- from. Figs. 12 and 13 are respectively a plan and a side elevation of the lever and 90 shaft for operating the safety device. Figs. 14,15 and 16 are detail views of parts of the safety device. Fig. 17 is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation, showing the buffer .for the barrel. 95 In describing the invention it will be un- necessary to describe in detail a full opera- tive.gun mechanism, as reference may be had for such description to my former Letters Patent above referred to; and only so much, 100 therefore, of a gun mechanism as may be nec- essary to enable the invention to be under- stood, will be alluded to. The recoil barrel a as will be understood, is carried in a barrel jacket l> which is se- Ю5 cured to the gun frame c, the latter contain- ing most of the gun mechanism. When the gun is fired the breech bolt d (rotatable in the reciprocating bolt carrier e, which is cored to receive the bolt and constitutes with n° the bolt the breech closure of the gun), re- coils with the barrel which, in the position
12 984,263 in which the gun is fired (Fig. 2), is locked ] to the bolt and when the recoil takes place the barrel, carrier and bolt move back in the I same relative positions as shown in Fig. 2. 5 The means for locking the bolt and barrel together may comprise, as shown in the vari- i ous figures, projections or lugs / upon the . bolt and corresponding grooves (not shown) j in the rear end of the barrel which are 10 adapted to be engaged by said projections or ! lugs, the latter as the bolt and barrel come i together entering longitudinal slots, one of I which is shown at A, in the barrel and being I rotatecLby suitable means which are provided 15 to turn the bolt to bring said projections or lugs into their grooves in the rear of the gun barrel, as clearly explained in my former Letters Patent. After the recoil has taken place and the 20 barrel, bolt and bolt carrier have moved to their rearward positions, the carrier is checked by the latch i, as was explained in my former Letters Patent, while the barrel moves forward again under the action pf 25 the barrel spring (not shown) drawing as it moves, the core out of the carrier and at the same time rotating it through a cam and pin connection to be presently described, where- by the. bolt and barrel are unlocked, the bolt 30 remaining in its, forward position with re- spect to the carrier while the barrel returns to its normal position. In my former Letters Patent, the rotation of the bolt within the .carrier was effected 35 by providing spiral wings upon the bolt to engage corresponding grooves in the carrier, a construction which involves considerable expense in the manufacture of the parts. In the present case there are provided cam 40 slots j in the bolt, preferably two in number, and diametrically opposite each other in the periphery of the bolt so that one may bal- ance the other, these slots being shaped sub- stantially as shown in Figs. 7 and 8 while 45 pins к are provided upon the carrier and ex- tend into the central space therein in which the bolt reciprocates^ and into the cam slots j respectively. In this way a very simple means is provided to effect the rotation of 50 the bolt within the carrier and one which does not involve any considerable expense in its construction and which will effect the de- sired operation with the necessary certainty, ease and freedom. - 55 After each firing of the gun takes place and the recoil drives back the carrier and barrel, the latter, as already described, moves for- ward again while the carrier is retained for a moment in its rearward position. As the 60 barrel moves forward, the extractor 4 on the bolt engages the head of the blank which is drawn out of the barrel and ejected. On ac- count of the rapidity with which the gun operates, the blanks are not permitted to 55 cool even slightly before being extracted from the barrel, and accordingly are not easily withdrawn from the barrel, being held tightly therein in a very hot and somewhat expanded condition. In order to . assist in starting these hot blanks from 70 the barrel, the latter is adapted to be- . gin its forward. motion while the carrier is still movings backward, so that the mo- mentum of the carrier while so moving back- ward may be added to the impulse of the 75 forward movement of the barrel in starting the blanks. The barrel in recoiling when near the limit of its rearward movement is stopped by the buffer spring contained in the barrel jacket as shown and described in 80 my Patent No, 701,288; in the present case, | however, the barrel is stopped°entirely by the buffer which is located in such a position that the barrel is stopped while the bolt car- rier has yet about one-half an inch to travel 85 rearward. By this arrangement the bolt car- rier is moving to the rear while the barrel is moving forward which Causes a heavy blow to be struck upon the extractor to start the empty shell. 90 When the barrel is moved back to its first position, it depresses a lever m which con- trols the latch i causing it to release the car- rier which, provided the magazine is not ex- hausted of its cartridges, then moves for- 95 ward with the breech bolt held non-rotatable in its forward position by means not showp but already described in my former Let- ters Patent. As the carrier moves forward across the 100 magazine n containing cartridges o, one over the other and all being pressed upward by a spring actuated' follower p, one or more projections or fingers q, preferably one upon each side and upon the lower forward 105 end of the carrier, engage the head of the top cartridge and push it from the magazine forward and upward into the chamber of the gun barrel. The tw о fingers are preferable to a single piece inasmuch as they push upon I10 the cartridge head at each side and therefore assure the centering of each cartridge as it is transferred from the magazine to the chamber of the gun barrel, notwithstanding any unevenness in the head of the cartridge. 115 Between the stwo fingers, as the carrier ap- proaches the limit of its forward movement, a longitudinal rib or flange a' on the for- ward upper end of the magazine is received and serves to keep the carrier properly cen- 120 tered, so that the cartridges may be de- livered accurately into the breech. More- over the, two fingers bear the cartridges above the rib or flange so that there is no possibility of the head of the cartridges be- 12S coming caught by coming in contact with said rib or flange or any other underlying part ss has been the ease heretofore, where a single finger has been employed. • * In order to maintain the gun in its closed 130
984,263 8 position (shown in Fig. 2) and prevent ac- cidental opening or accidental firing there- of, a safety device is provided and may com- prise a rotatable sleeve portion r (Figs. 14, 5 15 and 16) upon which are provided pro- jections or fingers s preferably two in num- ber, to engage notches t in the link и which connects and operates with the bolt carrier and with a projection v adapted to be io brought in front of an offset w upon the trigger x. The safety device may further comprise a shaft у within the sleeve portion r to which it is keyed and manually opera- tive controlling lever г, through which as 15 will be obvious the positions of the projec- tions or fingers may be controlled, is se- cured to the shaft y. When the lever г is in the position shown in Fig. 1, the trigger and bolt carrier will be locked, and the gun 20 can neither be fired nor opened, the posi- tions of the projections or fingers being as indicated in Fig. 2; but when the lever is depressed the projections or fingers will be moved to the position shown in Fig. 3 and 25 the gun may be operated as if no safety device were present. Furthermore, the lon- gitudinal slot 2, in which the handle 3 upon the bolt carrier e moves back and forth as the gun operates, is normally closed by the 30 lever a which fits closely against the side of the gun and is of an elongated shape to completely cover the slot 2 when the gun is locked. For convenience in screwing and unscrew- 35 ing the screw bolt 5, which passes through the “ take down head ” 6 into the forward end of the frame c, a lever 7 may be pivoted in a straight groove 8 in the nead of the bolt. Normally the lever will rest in the 40 forward stock 9, indicated in dotted lines, but when it is desired , to screw or unscrew’ teh bolt 5, the stock is removed and the lever turned so that it is perpendicular to the bolt, when the bolt may be easily rotated. 45 It will be obvious that many changes may be made in the embodiment of the invention without departing from the spirit thereof. I claim as my invention:— 1. In a device of the character described; 50 the combination of a recoilable, barrel and means to limit its rearward movement, a bolt and carrier therefor mounted so as to permit a greater rearward movement than the bar- rel, connecting elements between the bolt , 55 and barrel to hold them together during the rearward movement of the latter and ele- ments operated by a continued movement of the carrier after the barrel has been arrested by the limiting means to cause an unlocking 60 of the bolt and barrel. 2. In a recoil operated fire arm the combi- nation of a recoilable barrel, limiting means - to limit its rearward movement, a breech bolt and carrier therefor and extractors se- 65 cured to the bolt, elements to secure the bolt and barrel together as the barrel moves rear- wardly, elements operated by the continued rearward movement of the carrier after the barrel has engaged the limiting means to cause the bolt to become unsecured to the 70 barrel and free to move rearwardly relative thereto, the rearward movement of the bolt being greater than the rearward, movement. of the barrel. 3. In a recoil operated fire arm the combi- 75 nation of a recoilable barrel, means for lim- iting its rearward movement, a breech bolt and carrier therefor, bayonet connecting means between the bolt and barrel for lock- ing them together, pin and slot connections 80 between the carrier and bolt of such shape and construction as to cause a partial rota- tion of the bolt when the carrier moves rear- wardly relative thereto and after the barrel is arrested to rotate the bolt sufficiently to 85 unlock the bolt and barrel and also to im- part a rearward movement of the bolt from the carrier by further movement of the car- rier, and a shell extractor carried by the bolt; the carrier and bolt both so mounted 6° that they can continue to move rearwardly after the unlocking and thus cause move- ment of the carrier to impart through the extractor a blow upon the cartridge. 4. In a recoil operated fire arm, the combi- 95 nation of a reciprocating part constituting the breech closure of the gun, a hammer, a trigger controlling the hammer, and a safety device having a rotatable portion and fingers rigidly attached to said portion to engage 100 the reciprocating part and the trigger re- ' spectively to lock the reciprocating part and trigger from inovement when the recipro- . eating part is closed against the end of the gnn barrel. ‘ / 105 5. In a recoil operated fire arm, the combi- nation of a reciprocating part constituting the breech closure of the gun, a hammer, a trigger controlling the hammer, and a safety device having a rotatable portion with fin- 110 gers rigidly attached to said portion to en- gage the reciprocating part and the trigger respectively and manually operative meajis engaging the rotatable portion whereby the same may be rotated to lock the, reciprocal- 115 ing part from movement. 6. In a recoil operated fire arm, the combi- nation of a reciprocating part constituting the breech closure of the gun, a hammer, a trigger controlling the hammer, and a safety 120 device having a rotatable portion with fin- gers rigidly attached to said portion to en- gage the reciprocating part and the trigger respectively, a shaft keyed to the rotatable : portion, and a lever secured to the shaft 125 -whereby the rotatable portion may be ro- tated to lock the reciprocating part from movement. 7. In a recoil operated fire arm, the combi- nation of a reciprocating part, a handle 130
984,263 4 upon the reciprocating part, said fire arm having a slot m its side in which the handle works, and a locking device having a lever adapted to close said slot. 5 8. In a recoil operated fire arm, the combi- nation with the gun barrel, of a magazine, a part constituting the breech closure of the gun adapted to reciprocate above the maga- zine, two projections upon the lower forward 10 end of the reciprocating part to push a car- tridge from the magazine into the chamber of the gun barrel, and a fixed rib each side of which the projections work in the opera- tion of the arm. ч 15 9. In a recoil operated fire arm, the combi- nation with the gun barrel, of a magazine, a breech bolt, a bolt carrier adapted to re- ciprocate above the magazine, a projection upon the lower forward end of the bolt car- rier to push a cartridge from the magazine 2C into the chamber of the gun barrel, and a longitudinal rib upon the forward upper end of the magazine for the purpose specified. This specification signed and witnessed this fifteenth day of July, 1904. JOHN M. BROWNING. In the presence of— Anthony N. Jesbeba, Lucius E. Vabney.
984,519. J. M. BROWNING. FIREARM. APPLICATION PILED FEB. 17, 1910. Patented Feb. 14,1911. 3 SHEETS—SHEET 1. ^'^CSSCS. J~nventor. Attorney.
984,519. J. M. BROWNING. FIREABM, APPLICATION FILED FEB. 17, 1910. Patented Feb. 14,1911. 3 SHEETS—SHEET 2. й/^ле-sses. (J "cw JJ^ven'tor. Attorney.
J. M. BROWNING. FIREARM. 984,519. APPL1OATIOK PILED PEB. IT, 1910. Patented Feb. 14,1911. 3 SHEETS—SHEET 3.
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. JOHN M. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH. FIREARM. 984,519. Specification of letters Patent. Patented Feb. 14, 1911. Application filed. February 17, 1910. Serial No. 544,400. To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, John M. Browning, a citizen of the United States, residing in Og- den. in the county of Weber and State of 5 Utah, have’invented, certain new and useful Improvements in Firearms, of which the fol- lowing is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof. 10 The invention relates to automatic firearms of that description in which the several oper- ations—eh as the opening of the breech a fter firing a shot, the ejection of the empty , cartridge-shell, the cocking of the hammer, 15 the presentation and introduction of a load- ed cartridge to the chamber of the barrel, and the closing and locking of the breech— are automatically effected through or by tile energy of the recoil°of the breech-bolt or that 20 part avhich at the. time of firing the shot closes the breech of the barrel, and the in- vention more especially relates to firearms of this description in .which, in firing, the bar- rel and the breech-bolt are interlocked and 25 recoil some distance together, and during this rearward movement the barrel has am other movement imparted to it, whereby it is unlocked from the breech-bolt, and after its release the movements of the barrel are ar- 30 rested, while the breech-bolt continues to re- coil until the breech is fully opened, and in ivhicli during the opening movement of the breecli-bolt energy is stored in a spring, the reaction of which is utilized to effect the re- 35 turn or closing movement- of the breech-bolt. It is essential for the proper operation of firearms of this class that the breech.-bolt and the parts connected and moving with it should be made as heavy as practicable, so 40 that it may store a maximum amount of en- ergy in the short time during which on fir- ing the rearward pressure of the pow.der- gases in the barrel acts upon the breeeh-bolt and initiates its recoil, and so that the 45 breeeh-bolt may continue to recoil under its momentum alone to complete the opening of the breech and the compression of the re- action - spring after the gas - pressure has ceased because relieved by the exit of the 50 bullet from the barrel. On account of the limited total weight practical for a small- arm, and especially for a pistol, it is neces- sary in order to be able to give a maximum weight to the breech-bolt, that the other parts 55 of the arm, the.frame and the barrel, .be con- structed as light as possible. This is espe- cially important regarding the barrel of this class of arms, for the additional reason that at the commencing of the recoil the light barrel may readily yield to and move rear- 60 ward with the breech-bolt while it remains ' interlocked therewith, and in order that when unlocked from tire breech-bolt, the movements of the barrel may be arrested, without causing by this sudden stopping in- gj jury to either the barrel or the frame of the arm. The main object of the present invention is to produce a firearm of this class which, . in order to be specially adapted for the mili- 70 tary service, shall be hot only practical, effi- cient and perfectly safe in use, but strong and capable of withstanding the exposure and rough usage of service in the field, .and adapted to fire cartridges having bullets of 75 large caliber and weight and powerful charges of powder; it shall also be very sim- ple in construction so as to be reliable under all conditions of service and not liable to get out of order, inexpensive of manufacture, 80 with a minimum number of parts, and readily dismounted and cleaned without re- quiring the use of any tools. Another object of the invention is to pro- duce a firearm of this class in which to in- 85 sure the absolute safety of the user the breech-slide, comprising the breech-bolt and the forward extension of the same covering the barrel, and the movable abutment inclos- ing the reaction-spring shall be combined in ЭС -one strong integral whole without a division or joint therein and shall be mounted upon the top of the frame from the front, to be so held and guided in its reciprocation there- on that it can be removed from the frame as 95 one whole only and in-the forward direction alone, by which the possibility of any part of the arm being thrown rearward shall be positively guarded against. Another object of the invention is to pro-,.,100 diice a firearm of this' class in which the barrel shall first be seated in the forward’ part of the breech-slide, shall then be mount- ed with the breech-slide npon the frame, from the front, and finally the barrel shall 105 be securely connected with and movably at- tached to the frame in such a manner that the barrel may be at will and readily de- tached and disconnected from the frame, so that it can be removed from the frame with 110 the breech-slide in the forward direction only.
£2 984,619 Another object of the invention is to pro- vide in a firearm of this class a simple but strong and reliable means of attachment and connection between the barrel and the frame 5 of the arm, which shall leave the barrel free to recoil a limited distance interlocked with the breech-bolt and which shall during this rearward movement guide the barrel and impart to it at the same time another 10 movdmeht by which it will be unlocked from the'breech-bolt, and which shall at the last of the return or forward movement of the breech - bolt guide the barrel while it is moved forward by the breech-bolt and im- 15 part to it another movement by which the baiel and the breech-bolt will be inter- locked when they arrive at the forward fir- ing position; this means of attachment and connection shall at. the same time be the 20 means which shall positively limit the rear-' ward movement of the barrel with the breech-bolt, arrest the movements of the bar- rel as soon as the same becomes unlocked from the breech-bolt, and which shall be 25 adapted in location, form and strength to transmit to the frame the stress due to the sudden arrest of the movements of the bar- rel without injury resulting therefrom to either the barrel or the frame or to the 30 means of attachment between the same; such means shall further positively limit and ar- rest the forward or return movement of the barrel and of the breech-slide when the same arrive at the firing position. 35 Another object of the invention is to pro- duce a firearm of this class in which, to in- sure absolutely against the dangerous acci- dental firing sometimes liable to occur if the trigger is pulled after the magazine has been 40 withdrawn, in the belief that all cartridges have been removed from the arm with the magazine, whereas the loaded cartridge last ted to the barrel still remains in the cham- ber, the'magazine-catch shall not only lock 45 the magazine in its seat or at will release the magazine, but the catch shall also automati- cally lock the trigger against operation - whenever there is no magazine in the seat, and shall automatically release the trigger .50 when a magazine is entered into the seat and is there locked by the catch. These objects are attained by mechanism of simple and practical construction, which is perfectly safe, efficient and not liable to 55 get out. of order. Various other features of improvement will be more particularly referred to here- inafter; Tbe embodiment of my improvements rep- 60 resented in the accompanying drawings is a magazine-pistol, such as is shown and de- scribed ih the United States Patent Xo. 580,924, granted to me April 20th, 1897; but it will be understood that I do not intend «5 to restrict the present invention to a maga- zine-pistol, nor to any particular kind of firearm, nor to the combination of the sev- eral'features.in a single firearm. In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 , is a left-hand side elevation of the pistol 70 with the breech closed. Figs. 2 and 3 are respectively front and rear end views of the same. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but with the breeeh-slide in the open rearward position, and with the breech-slide and the 75 frame in longitudinal section. Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively left and right end views of the magazine-catch, detached. Fig. 7 is a top view of the magazine-catch, the adja- cent parts of the frame, magazine and trig- 80 ger being indicated by dotted lines. Figs. 7a and 7b are respectively front and rear views of the magazine-catch detached. Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section of the breech-bolt detached, in the horizontal plane through 85 the axis of the shell extractor, seen from above. Fig. 9 is a front view, Fig. 10 a side view with the forward portion in lon- gitudinal section, and Fig. 11 a bottom view of the breech-slide, detached. Fig. 12 is a 90 front view, Fig. 13 a side view with the for- ward portion in longitudinal section, and Fig. 14 a. top view of the frame, detached, the lower portion of the guard and of the grip being broken away in the front and 95 side views. Figs. 15, 16 and 17 are respec- tively front, side and rear views of the bush- ing h for tne front end of the breech-slide, detached. Figs. 18, 19 and 20 are respec- tively front, side and rear views of the plug Ю0 /, for the forward end of the reaction spring, detached. Figs. 21, 22 and 23, are respec- tively side, top. and rear views of the com- bined link-pin and breech-slide-stop, de- tached, a portion of the top view being lf” shown in longitudinal section, to expose to view the small spring-actuated piston seated therein. Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views. 110 The three main-parts of the pistol repre- sented in the drawings are the frame a, the barrel Ъ mounted upon the frame for. a limited double movement thereon, and. the breech-slide or bolt-carrier e, which slides 11э rearward and forward upon the frame un- der the action of the recoil and of the re- action-spring. The frame a is straight at the top and has suitable guides for the re- ciprocating breech-slide c, the rear portion 120 of which forms the breech-bolt c1. The frame extends downward-in form of the handle or grip a1 of the arm. In the interior of the grip a1 is the seat for the detachable cartridge-magazine, in which 125 cartridges are held one upon the other upon a spring-follower, by which they are fed upward to the receiver in the frame. In rear of the grip the hammer and other mem- bers of the firing- and safety-mechanisms are 13C
081,619 Q arranged, while the trigger in the trigger- guard is located in front of the grip. All the parts thus far referred to may be and are here shown as of the same construc- 5 tion and mode of operation as fully set forth in the said Patent No. 580,924, and forming no part of the present invention "require no further description or explanation herein, except so far as certain features will be re- 10 ferred to hereinafter. The barrel b is attached at its breech only to the top of the frame, for this purpose the barrel haying-near its rear end where it is largest. and strongest a depending lug S1 15 projecting downward into a central recess a" of corresponding width in the top of the frame, whereby the breech end of the barrel, when in its place, is guided and its axis is , always kept within the vertical plane 20 through the axis of the frame. In the lug b1 is a vertical central slot in which the link d is seated and,by a pivot-pin attached to the barrel. The lower part of the link d is larger than the upper, and a second pivot- 25 pin г“, considerably larger than the upper one, is fitted transversely through the frame and through the link, and serves to movably attach’ the barrel b to the frame a. This at- tachment permits the barrel to swing on the 30 link d, and to move longitudinally and at the-same time vertically a limited distance, the limit of this double movement in the reaxward direction is the contact of the rear face of the lug b1 with the rear end of the '35 recess a3 in the frame, and in the forward direction the'movement is limited by the lower end of the lug b1 coming into contact with the lower link-pin i at each side of the link. For this purpose, while the lower and 40 forward face of the lug b1 is parti-circular in form, concentric with the upper pivot- pin which holds the link to the barrel, and of such a radius 'that this part of the lug clears and freely moves over the lower pivot- 45 pin г which holds the link to the frame, the rear face of the lug b1 is straight, ex- tending vertically down below the center of the lower pivot-pin i, and between the rear face and the lower edge of the lug b1 this 50 extension forms a projection at the bottom . of the lug which, coming in contact with the lower pivot-pin г at the last of the for- ward movement of the barrel, limits this movement. The forward side of this pro- 55 jection is rounded to correspond with and fit upon the pivot-pin г. Heretofore in the arms of this class in which the barrel is movably attached to the frame and in which the breech-bolt and an 60 integral forward extension of the same to- gether form the breech-slide, which serves to cover the barrel and to interlock the bar- rel and the breech-bolt in the firing position, an arrangement such as is shown and de- £5 scribed in the patent referred to, No. 580,924, it was necessary- to first mount the barrel upon the frame and attach it thereto, then to mount the breech-slide from the rear upon the frame and slide it forward over the bar- rel, and finally to securely lock the breech- 70 slide to the frame and connect it with the ‘ reaction-spring therein by means of the com- bined slide-lock or .key and abutment for the reaction-spring; For ease in assembling and dismounting it was necessary that this 75 slide-lock could be readily put in place or removed. With this arrangement and with the breech-slide removable rearward from the frame, in case the slide-lock had not been put in place or had not been properly se- 80 cured, it Became possible that, on firing the arm, the breech-slide might be thrown rear- ward from the frame. By my improved construction the breech-slide can be mounted upon the frame from the front only and can 85 be removed in that direction alone, and it can not under any conditions be thrown from the frame to the rear. The rear part of the breech-slide forms the breech-bolt c1 and forward of this the 90 breech-slide extends in form1 of a tube from which a part has been removed opening it atz the bottom. At the forward end the breedlr- slide is closed at the bottom by a second , smaller: tube, which depending downward 95 from it and extending some distance to the rear, with its axis parallel to that of the breech-slide, forms the; strong integral front abutment c2, the interior of which is the seat for the forward portion of the reaction- 100 spring. From the abutment c2 rearward, throughout the remaining length of the breech-slide, its sides project downward overlapping the sides of the frame, and are provided with internal longitudinal grooves 105 and ribs which interlock with corresponding ribs and grooves near the top in the sides, of the frame, and serve to secure the breech- slide vertically upon the frame and guide it in its movements thereon-. 110 At the front fhe frame has a semi-tubular extension a2 the axis of which coincides with the axis of the depending abutment c2 of the breech-slide when it is mounted upon the frame, and the internal diameter of the ex- 115 tension a2 corresponds with the external di- ameter of the abutment c2, so that the abut- ment will enter into the extension and slide . therein when the breech-slidp moves. At the rear end of the bore of the extension a- 120 the front of the top of the frame forms a strong vertical shoulder a4, at each side pf the.recess a3; (see Figs. 12, 13 and 14) this shoulder stands in the path of the depending abutment c2 and "positively limits the^ rear- 125 ward'movement of the same. As the abut- ment is integral and strongly connected with the breech-slide, and projects into the plane of the frame, the breech - slide can be mounted upon and removed from the frame 130
984,619 only from the front and it is positively pre- vented from being thrown rearward from the frame. The bore of the abutment <? is such that 5 the reaction-spring e can. freely move there- in, and the forward portion of the bore is enlarged to admit the plug / which closes the front of the abutment and incloses the forward end of the reaction-spring e. The 10 rear end of the reaction-spring fits upon a guide-tube g and bears against a collar upon the same, and the rear end of the guide-tube g fits into the recess a® in the front of the top of the frame against the shoulder a4 of 15 which the collar of the guide-tube g bears. The bore of the abutment c2 is open at the top, being connected throughout its length with the bore of the breech-slide by a verti- cal passage, (see Figs. 4, 9 and 10). In the 20 forward end of the breech-slide the bushing A is seated, a projecting flange A1 of which rests against the front of the breech-slide- and extends downward to -the abutment where a segmental recess Л3 in the flange fits 25 over and receives the reduced end of the ping f projecting from the abutment c2. In rear of the flange a segmental lug Л2 pro- jects from the lower surface of the bushing A, at the right side of and at an angle to the 30 vertical plane through the axis of the bush- ing (see Figs. 2, 15, 16 and 17). On enter- ing pie bushing in to the breech-slide the bushjng is turned on its axis until the lug Л.2 is centrally under the bushing and enters 35 into the passage leading from the breech- slide to the abutment, then a segmental groove <?3, cut in the interior surface of the breech-slide on the right side at the proper distance rearward and connecting at the 40 right side 'with the passage, receives the lug ft2 when the bushing is fully entered and is turned until the recess h3 in the flange coin- cides with the bore of the abutment c2. By this arrangement the lug Л2 locks the bush- 45 ing jn the breech-slide, the reduced end of the plug / standing in the recess h3 in the flange -prevents the bushing from being turned, and the shoulder on the plug f formed by the reduced front end of the 50 same, is pressed by the reaction-spring e against the flange h1, and thereby transmits the tension of the compressed- reaction- spring e in forward direction to the bushing h and through it to the hreech-slide c. The 55 flange A1 of the bushing A thus forms the front abutment for the reaction-spring, and lhe bushing h forms the connection between the reaction-spring and the hreech-slide. At the forward end the- bushing к fits 60 closely upon the forward portion of the bar- rel b, but in rear the bore of the bushing is enlarged so that while the bushing holds the muzzle of the barrel securely in position, it allqws the rear end of the barrel to move 35 vertically a limited distance, the barrel turn- ing during this movement upon its forward end as upon a fulcrum. Before the barrel or the breech-slide are mounted upon the frame, the barrel Ъ with the link d attached thereto in the lug &1, is 70 placed from the front in the breech-slide, the depending lug and link entering and passing through the open passage between the breech-slide and the abutment c2, then the plug / is placed upon the forward end of 75 the reaction-spring e, and fitting firmly upon the same, the spring and the plug are from ’ the front entered into the abutment c2, and the guide-tube g is placed in the rear end of the reaction - spring, then the plug f is go pressed back into the abutment and the bushing h is placed upon the barrel and in the breech-slide and locked in the same as hereinbefore described. The breech-slide, with the barrel and the 85 reaction-spring contained therein, is then mounted from the front upon the frame, the lub Ъ1 and link d entering the recess a3, the end of the guide-tube g finding its seat in the recess, and the link d moving rearward 90 with the barrel until the hole in the link for the lower pivot-pin coincides with the cor- responding hole in the fraime, when the pivot-pin i is inserted and pushed into its place, thereby securing the barrel to the 95 frame and limiting the movements of the barrel and of the breech-slide upon the- frame in both directions. For easier han- dling the pivot-pin i is provided with a han- dle j which projects at, right angle from the 100 end of the pin, and extending rearward rests against the left side of the frame a when - the pin is in its place, (see Figs. 1, 3, 21, 22 and 23.) > In order to adapt the handle to be readily 105 moved upward and downward by the thumb of the hand grasping the grip, .the rear end; of the handle j carries a projecting thumb' piece j2. A lug y2 projects from the handle inward through an opening in the side of 110 the frame into the top of the magazine-seat, this opening in the frame permitting a lim- ited movement vertically to the handle j, for which the pivot-pin i turns in its seat; within the thumb-piece J1 a small piston k1 115 and spiral spring k2 are secured, (see Figs. 21,22 and 23), while a round stud к projects from the frame at the rear of the liandle, . the protruding end of the spring-pressed piston k1 bears against the stud к and yield- 120 ingly holds the handle j in either the raised or lowered position to which it may be moved at will by pressure oh the thumb piece. On the outside of the frame above the thumb piece the handle j carries an upward 125 projection I, and the breech-slide has a cor- responding recess m in its low,er edge, both projection and recess being square at the rear and inclining at the front. The inner end of the lug y2 does not inter- 130
984,619 S fere with the passage of the cartridges from the magazine to the chamber in the barrel, but when the last cartridge lias been fed from the magazine, the lug j- stands in the 5 path of the spring-follower of the magazine, and when the breech-slide is moved to the rear above the empty magazine, the follower will raise the lug j2 and the handle j and cause the projection I to enter the recess m, 10 in the breech-slide, thereby locking the same in the open rear position, and serving as an indicator to show that the empty magazine must be replaced by a charged one before the firing can be continued. After placing the 15 magazine in the grip, the breeeh-slide is re- leased by depressing the handle j. A slide-stop, actuated by the magazine-fol- lower to arrest the breeeh-slide in the open position when the magazine is empty, has 20 been heretofore described and shown in the . United States Patent No. 708794, granted to me September 9, 1902, but the construction of the slide-stop as an integral part of the handle of the pivot-pin securing the barrel 25 and the breech slide upon the frame, as herein shown and described, is a novel im- provement which reduces the number of parts and simplifies the dismounting and as- sembling of the arm. 30 Upon, the inner end the lug 'f- of the handle j carries a slight upward projection I1 which stands inside of the lower edge of the breeeh-slide” and, with the breech-slide upon the frame,.the inner edge of the same 35 locks the handle j laterally in position on the frame and thus locks the pivot-pin i against being accidentally displaced or removed, to insure this locking even while the recess m in the edge of the breech-slide stands above 40 the upward projection I on the thumb-piece, the projection I and the recess m do not ex- tend inward entirely through the edge of the breech-slide, but an uncut portion of the edge remains forming a partition between 45 the recess m> and the interior of the breeeh- slide, and preventing the projection Z1 on the lug / from passing outward through the recess. Some distance in rear, of the recess m 'a 50 second recess n is cut in the edge of the breech-si ide, less high and shorter than the forward recess in,, but cut entirely through the edge. The location of this recess n is such that in the regular operation of the 55 breeoh-slide the movement of the same is not ’ arrested when the recess n is above the thumb-piece j1, but the recess is carried be- yond the same in either direction, so that the projection I is not likely to enter this 60 recess, and both ends of the recess n are in- clining, sb that, when the breeeh-slide moves the projection I will be forced downward put of the way even in the case it should have partly entered into the recess. 65 For at will removing the pivot-pin i the breech-slide is moved rearward until the re- cess n stands above the projection I, then pressure is applied against the end of the pivot-pin i protruding from the right side of the frame, and the pin i and handle j, 70 will yield, the lug j2 with the projection I1 upon it will pass outward through the open- ing in the frame and the recess n, until the handle j has been moved sufficiently away from the side of the frame that it may be 75 grasped and together with the pivot-pin i withdrawn, after which the breeeh-slide corn taining the barrel and the reaction-spring may be removed from the frame in the for- ward direction. For replacing the pivot-pin 80 i, the breeeh-slide with the spring and the. barrel, is moved to the position ifi which the recess n coincides with the opening in the frame, when the pin i may be inserted, the lug j2 entering through the recess n and the 85 opening in the frame. With the breech closed and the breeeh- slide and barrel in the forward position, Fig. 1, the link stands upright, the end of the lug &1 bears against the pivot-pin i, and 90 the rear end of the barrel is raised to its highest position in which the enlarged rear portion of the barrel and two ribs of simi- ar diameter projecting forward of the same from the barrel, occupy corresponding re- 95 cesses in the top of the breech-slide and in- terlock the barrel and the breech-slide in firing position, while the muzzle of the bar- rel remains securely supported in the bush- ing/. Tn this closed firing position the bar- 100 rel is therefore situated not parallel with the top of the frame and breech-slide, but the axis of the closed barrel inclines for- ward and downward at a considerable an- gle; however, as both ends of the barrel arq 105 firmly secured in this position, and as on firing a shot the inertia of the heavy breeeh- slide and of the barrel delays the rearward movement of these parts until after the bul- let has passed from the muzzle of the barrel, 110 the inclined position of the barrel does not affect the accuracy of the arm; In conse- quence of the depressed position of the muz- zle of the barrel at firing, the front sight upon the breech-slide may be much lower US than it would have to be if the muzzle were raised and the. barrel were parallel to the breech-slide. The low front sight is a de- cided advantage in a military pistol, be- cause it facilitates the drawing of the arm I20 from its holster; whereas a high front sight forms a projection very liable to catch and to interfere with the ready drawing of the pistol. On firing, the breech-slide recoils and carries the barrel rearward until the 123 rear end of the same, swinging rearward and downward on the. link and pivot-pins, becomes unlocked from the brqech-slide and its movements are arrested in its lowest rear- ward position by the lug 61 striking the end 136
984,519 of the recess a3 in the frame, while the breech- slide continues its rearward movement, Fig. 4, during which the bushing ^ slides upon the f orwardportion of the barrel. $.' In rear of the barrel the breech-slide forms the breech-bolt in which the firing- pin о and retraetor-sprmg o1 of usual form ate carried^^fhe reareriaof the firing-pin о isreducedindianieter and a plate p, fitted Sb. to dide from- below in vertical grooves in the rear* end of the breech-bolt, closes the seat of the firing-pin ; the central hole in the plate, p looselyuts upon the reduced end of' the firing pin and allows the same to pro- trade through the plate for- receiving the . blow* of the hammer and transmitting it to the primer of the cartridge in the barrel. For seating the plate p in the breech-bolt, . , the firing-pin is pressed forward until it 2b dears and allows the plate p to slide up into its place, then the spring o1 will press the firing-pin rearward until its : reduced end'enters'and protrudes through, the hole in the plate; by.this arrangement the plate locks; the firing-pin in the breech-bolt, and the firing-pin locks the plate in the same. To removei the plate and the firing-pin, the firing-pin is pressed forward until it clears the plate, which is withdrawn, leaving the Sb firing-pinj.free for removal. Both these partsmay thus be placed in position or re- moved, without the aid of any tools. The breedi-bolt also carries the extractor z for .. firawing the. empty cartridge-shell from the j^ijhhniber. of the barrel and carrying it rear- ward until it is ejected through the opening in the breech-slide, in the usual manner. At ;the forward end the extractor z has the usual . hook which projects from the breech-bolt db and is yieldingly held in position to engage the cartridge which the breech-bolt trans- fers from the magazine to the chamber of the barrel; when the breech-bolt moves rear- ward the extractor continues its hold upon 4.s the cartridgershell until it is ejected. Tn order to simplify the extractor and its attachment to the breech-bolt; the extractor z and ite spring are made integral, and it is seated in a hcfle bored- lengthwise entirely 50 through the breech-bolt from the rear to the • front, parallel to the axis of the same, at the right side of and slightly below the seat of the firing-pin, see Figs. 3,4 and 8. The rear portion of this hole is increased in size, and 55 the rear, portion of the extractor z is cylin- drical and fits in this part of the seat, the shoulder formed by the enlargement of the extractor and of the seat serving as a posi- tive stop in forward direction for the ex- 60 tractor in tee breech-bolt. -As shown in Fig. 8, forward of this shoulder the ex- tractor forms a strong curved spring, the tension of which presses its hook at the for- ward end inward toward the center of the 65 breech-bolt, the elastic portion of the ex- tractor bearing on the inner side of the seat at the point where it projects from the face of the breech-bolt, and on the outer side of the seat at a place nearer to the en- larged rear portion. At the rear end a seg- 70 ment is removed from the inner side of the extractor to conform to the slot in the breech-bolt for the hammer in the down position, and forward of this a vertical re- cess is cut in the inner side of the extractor 75 in which the plate p fits. By this means the plate p not only locks the firing-pin in the breech-bolt, but it also secures the extractor in the breech-bolt, and on the removal of the plate p the extractor may be placed in its 80 position or removed without the aid of any tools. The hammer q, sear r, safety s, are pivot- ally mounted, in the frame in rear of the grip, the trigger t is seated in front of the 85 same and carries a connecting piece.#1 to transmit its movement to the sear. In the lower rear portion of the grip the trigger- spring #®, and the sear- and safety-spring 'P- are arranged, their lower ends-seated upon 90 a stud a5 projecting from the rear wall- of the magazine-seat in the grip. In rear of the springs the grin is closed by the butt-piece -w, which slides from below into the grip, being guided therein by hav- 95 ing longitudinal ribs fitting in correspond- ing grooves in the sides of the grip, a trans- verse rib «2 projecting from the front of the butt-piece rests against the sear-spring and holds it and the trigger-spring in place. 100 Within the butt-piece the spiral main- spring v is seated, .carrying in each end a piston, the spring and pistons being mov- ably secured in the butt-piece by a small transverse pin. u3 which projects into the Ю5 path of the upper piston At the lower end a pin w1, fitted transversely through the sides of the grip and the butt-piece, secures the same in the grip, and the rounded end' of the lower piston v3 projects into a cor- no respondingly rounded groove ip the center of the pin -u1, and yieldingly holds the pin in its place. . The top Of the upper -piston u1 is concave or cup-shaped and' receives the lower end И5 of the strut j1 the upper end of which is pivotally attached to the hammer q in rear of its pivot; the'strut transmits to the hammer the tension of the main-spring, y tending to force the hammer into contact 125 with the firing-pin, and when the hammer is dismounted, the strut may serve to push the pivot-pins of the other parts out of the frame. In rear of the hammer and above the butt- piece w, the grip-lever w is secured in the ^25 grip by the pivot-pin w1, and a branch r* of the divided sear-spring yieldingly hold? the grip-lever w in the operative position, in which its lower portion projects from the rear of the grip, and in which a projection 130
984,519 from the front of the grip-lever w stands in rear of the connecting-piece t1 and locks the trigger, aga'inst operation. When the grip is grasped, as in the act of firing, the 5 grip-lever is automatically pressed into the grip, thereby releasing the: trigger without- requiring attention. Heretofore in the pistols of this class, when the hammer was cocked ready for firing, '10 and it became necessary to lower the hammer to the safetyposition without allowing it to" touch the firing^pin, it required both hands of the user to accomplish this act,-because the trigger had to be pulled with the first 15 finger of the right h'qnd to release the ham- mer apd the grip-lever had simultaneously to be pressed into the grip to release the trigger for operation, to do this required the Keeping of the thumb of the right hand SO in a horizontal position on the left side of the grip. Therefore it. was impracticable to also extend the thumb of the right hand, while this hand pressed in . the grip-lever i and polled the trigger, upward so as to rest upon .the thumb-piece of the hammer and, thus controlling the hammer, to gently lower the same and restrain it from falling and from striking the firing-pin,'because any attempt to do. this .would result in loosening 30 the necessary hold upon the grip-leve'r. Con- sequently the lowering of the hammer had to Ъе performed by the other hand, this, is a serious drawback in a military arm,/as a soldier and especially a mounted soldier does 35 not in action have both'hands free for such use. To overcome Ibis difficulty, I have pro- vided the grip-lever w with a pro jecting nose to2 in rear of its pivot, which stands closely in rear of. and below the hammer when 40 cocked, and the-hammer is so fitted: that it ’ may be drawn rearward somewhat farther than to its cocked position. When the ham- mer is drawn fully, back Jt strikes the nose w2 and, by pressing the same downward, it 45 causes the • grip-lever to'.turn on its pivot forcing the lower portion into the grip', thereby releasing the trigger. By this ar- rangement the thumb of the hand grasping the grip needs not to be kept at the side of 50 the grip for pressing in the grip-lever, but the thumb may be applied to the hammer ; and through the same operate the grip-lever to release the trigger, then the trigger may be operated with the first finger of the same 55 hand to release the hammer and finally the thumb, still applied tor the hammer, may allow the same to slowly descend to the safety position, without requiring the aid of thq/other hand. The rearward project- 60 ing noise to2 of the grip-lever to below the hammer q and -in rear of the pivot-pin to1, serves to perform another important func- . tion in addition to that of providing the point of contact between the grip lever and •5 the hammer, by means pf which the grip le- ver may be operated to release the trigger by drawing the hammer fully rearward, as hereinbefore described. In automatic firearms-in which, on firing, the. uncovered hammer is returned to the 70 cocked position by the rearward movement of the breech-bolt sliding on the frame under the energy of the recoil, this movement of the breech bolt and consequently the cock- ing of the hammer take place so rapidly that- 75 it is very essential to positively guard the hand of the operator grasping the grip of the pistol against inadvertently moving to a position in which it might come in contact with the hammer while the same is being 80 cocked; because by such contact the hand would be exposed to receive serious injury. As shown ik the drawings, I have con- structed the frame of the pistol with the usual rearward projection between the ham- 85 mer and the grip to insure a secure grasp, and to prevent the hand from slipping up- ward; but as an additional preventative I have? extended the nose tof of the grip lever to rearward considerably beyond the frame, c0 and have formed its lower portion so as to provide a guard which positively prevents the hand grasping the grip from cbming in contact with the hammer. The projecting nose w2 being of the same width as that of 95 the hammer and its sides corresponding ver- tically with those of the hammer, the nose fully covers and guards the rear and under- side of the hammer. This construction is effi-, cient . and adds but very little to the weight 100 of the arm, being much lighter than if the . frame between the hammer and the grip lever jn^its entire width were extended for- ward a similar distance to form the neces- sary guard. . 1°5 The pivot-pip r1 of the sear and safety, being slightly larger in diameter at the right end, can be entered or removed from the right side of the frame only, the grip-lever ' pivot-pin -w1 being largest at the left end 110 .must be entered and removed from the left side of the frame, its. right end projects a small distance from the night side of the frame, and has an annular groove. The hammer pivot-pin j2, fitted from the right 115 side in the frame, carries on its right end a thin integral plate g3, which rests against the right side of the frame and extends for- ward and downward to cover the end of the sear'pivot-pin r1, while the rear end of the 120 plate extendis to the grip-lever pivot-pin to1' arid: enters the groove in the same, the straight top of the plate g3 is parallel to and lies below the edge of the breeeh-slide, by which the plate is prevented from turning. 125 By this arrangement the plate a3 and the hammer pivot-pin q3 are locked in place when the breeeh-slide is on the frame, while the. pivot-pins r1 and w1 are kept in the frame by the plate J3 of the hammer pivot- 130
8 984,519 pin. In Fig. 1 the plate q3 is shown in dotted lines and in Fig. 3 a rear view of the plate and of the end of the pivot-pin w1 is Shown. 5 When the breech-slide has been removed from the frame, the. three pivot pins may be readily withdrawn, for this purpose the plate q3 is turned, withdrawing its rear end downward from the groove in the grip-lever 10 piyot-pin, uncovering the sear pivot-pin and raising the forward end of the plate beyond the top of the frame. This allows the plate q3 with the pivot-pin to be withdraw from the frame, thereby liberating the hammer q 15 for removal. The strut q1 depending from the hammer riiay then be utilized to push out the two remaining pivot-pins and also the pin holding the butt-piece in the grip. The removable cartridge-holder or iriaga- 20 zine ж, of usual form and construction, is locked in the grip by the magazine-catch y, fitted transversely through the grip in rear of the trigger, its reduced ana checkered end projecting from the left side of the grip 25 convenient for operation by the thumb of the hand holding the grip. The cylindrical body of the catch у intersects the front' end of the magazine-seat in the grip, and a sec- tion of the catch has been removed to corre- 30 spond with and to clear the magazine-seat- when the catch у is pressed inward from the left toward the right side of the grip; with the catch thus pressed in, a magazine may be freely entered into or withdrawn from 35 the seat in the grip. See Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, 7a and 7®. At the right end the catch у carries a projecting lug y1 which fits into a corre- sponding opening through the right side of the grip and prevents the catch from turn- 40 ing. Within the catch у a spiral spring y3 aria a piston y3 are seated, entered from the right side, the left end of the spring bearing against the bottom of the seat in the catch, the right end resting against a shoulder on 45 the piston, While a radially projecting stud y4 on the piston y® extends outward through a slot in the catch у into an annular recess in the wall of the grip surrounding the right end of the catch. The stud y4 of the piston 50 thus locks the same and the catch у in the grip and the tension of the spring y® is ex- '. erted to yieldingly press the catch toward the left side; where the reduced end of the catch projects from the grip. On its inner 55 face the lug y1 of the catch carries a horizon- • tai locking-rib y2, which normally projects into the magazine-seat, and the magazine ж is provided on the right side near its front with a corresponding recess x1 into which 60 the rib y- enters, when the magazine is in its place in the grip, the rib thereby locking the magazine in the seat, to • • By pressing against the projecting left end of the catch, the same is moved inward so 55 as to withdraw the locking rib out of the magazine which is thereby released and free for removal from the grip; on inserting a magazine from below into the grip tip top of the magazine encounters a beveled under- side of the locking-rib y2, (see Figs. 7 and 7”,) 70 and causes the catch to yield, until, at the end of the upward movement of the maga- zine, the rib enters the recess ж1 in the mag- azine. and locks the same in place. From the rear of the trigger t the rib t2 75 prpj ects, extending to the upper forward side of the catch у ana there registering with a corresponding recess y® in the catch (see Figs. 7 and 7я,) so located therein laterally that it permits the trigger to be operated 80 whenever a magazine is m the grip and the locking-rib y2 of the catch у has locked the magazine therein, as, with magazine and catch in these relative positions, the inner face of the locking-rib y2 rests against the 35 forward edge of the recess ж1 far the maga- zine, and this contact prevents the catch1 у from being moved by its spring fully to the left side to its released position. When, however, the magazine is unlocked rind with- 90 drawn from the grip, the catch у on its re- lease is at once moved by its Spring fully to the left side, its movement in that direction being then only limited by the contact with its seat in the grip of the shoulder on the 95 catch formed where the reduced left end and the- body meet; in this released position of the catch the recess in its upper, forward side does not register with the rib t2 of the trigger and therefore (he trigger is then loo locked in the forward position against rear- ward movement dr operation. This auto- matic locking of the trigger in the absence of the magazine positively prevents acciden- tal firing, due to the pulling of the trigger 105 in the erroneous belief that all cartridges have been removed from the pistol by the removal of the magazine, whereas an unfired cartridge may have remained in the chamber of the barrel. 110 On introducing a magazine into the grin the trigger is automatically released, ready for operation. When a magazine is in its place, the operation of the trigger, as for firing a .shot, moves the rib t2 of the trigger 115 rearward into the recess y® in, the catch у and the rib t2 thus standing in the recess y’ securely locks the catch in the operative po- sition, thereby positively preventing its re- lease and the accidental removal of the mag- 120 azine, which might result from the shocks due to the firing, if the catch were not locked by the trigger,, but held in position yieldingly only by its spring. By this ar- rangement of the rib t2 on the trigger apd the corresponding recess y4 in the catch, the catch automatically locks the trigger against operation when the magazine is removed from the grip, and the trigger is automati- cally released for operation by the introduc- 13t>
&84ДП» tion of a magazine into the grip. Viceversa, the catch "is free for operation to release the magazine for removal white the trigger is at. rest in the forward position, but when the 5 trigger is pulled to the rear it locks the catch against operation and thereby locks the mag- azine against removal; on release of. the trigger and its return forward the catch is automatically released for operation. 10 It will be evident that various features of this invention may be employed independ- ently of the rest, and in hand-operated dr other firearms of a different kind from that which I have described herein, and that va- 15 rious changes in form and arrangement of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention., What I claim, and desire to secure by Let- ters Patent, is: 20 1. In a firearm, the combination of a frame, a barrel movable longitudinally on said frame, a breech-block or bolt carrier sliding on said frame and comprising inte- grally^ breech-bolt, a forward semi-tubular 25 extension and a depending abutment pre- venting removal rearward of the bolt car- rier from the frame, and .means for attach- ing the barrel to the frame after said barrel in and with the bolt carrier has been slid 30 upon the frame from the front, so as, to permit the longitudinal movement of the barrel upon the frame. 2. In a firearm, the combination of a frame, a barrel movable longitudinally and 35 vertically on said frame, a breech block or bolt earner sliding on sai’d frame and com- prising integrally a breech bolt, a forward semi-tubular extension and a depending abut- ment" preventing removal rearward of the 40 bolt carrier from the framO, and means for attaching the barrel to the frame after said barrel in and with the bolt carrier has been slid upon the frame from the front, so as to permit the longitudinal and vertical move- 45 ment of the barrel upon the frame. 3. In a firearm, the combination of a frame, a barrel movable longitudinally on said frame, a breech-block or. bolt carrier sliding on said frame and coinprising inte- 50 grally a breech bolt, a forward semi-tubular extensioii and a depending abutment pre- venting removal rearward of the bolt carrier from the frame, interlocking means for lock- ing the bolt carrier to the barrel when said - 55 parts are in their forward position, and means for attaching the barrel to the frame after said barrel in and with the bolt car- rier has been slid upon the frame from the front, so as to permit the longitudinal move- 60 ment of the barrel updn the frame. 4. In a firearm, the combination of a frame, a breech block or bolt carrier diding on said frame and comprising integrally a breech bolt, a forward semi-tubular exten- 35 sion and a depending abutment preventing removal rearward ofthe bolt carrier from the frame, a barrel movable longitudinally and vertically on said frame, interlocking means carried by said barrel and caused by the movements thereof to interlock and to unlock the barrel and the bolt carrier, and means for attaching the barrel to the frame after said barrel in and with the bolt car- rier has been slid upon the frame from the front, so as to permit the longitudinal and 75 vertical movement of the .barrel upon the frame, ' . j. In a firearm, the combination of a frame, a breech block or bolt carrier sliding on said frame and comprising integrally a 80 breech bolt, a forward semi-tubular exten- sion, and a depending abutment preventing removal rearward of the bolt carrier from the frame, a barrel movable longitudinally and vertically on said frame and having a 85 projection caused by J.e movements thereof to enter or to leave a recess in Said bolt car- rier, and means for attaching the barrel to the frame after said barrel in and with the bolt carrier has been slid upon the frame 00 from the f.'-mt, so as to permit the longi- tudinal and veil! 'al movement of the barrel upon the frame. 6. In a firearm, the combination of a frame, a breech block or-bolt carrier sliding 05 on said frame and comprising integrally a breech bolt, a forward semi-tubular exten- sion and a depending abutment preventing removal rearward or the bolt carrier from the frame, a barrel having a depending lug 100 and a link pivotally secured therein, and я link pin in the frame for attaching the link and the barrel to the frame after said barrel in and with “the bolt carrier lias been slid upon the frame from the front. 105 7. In a firearm, the combination of a frame, a breech block or bolt carrier sliding On said frame and comprising integrally a breech holt, a forward semi-tubular exten- sion and a depending abutment preventing lit removal rearward of the bolt carrier from the frame, a barrel having a depending lug and a link pivotally secured therein, said frame having a recess to receive said lug, and a link pin in the frame for attaching li- the link and the barrel to the frame after said barrel in and with the bolt carrier has been slid upon the frame from the front. 8. In a firearm, the combination of a frame, a breech block, or bolt carrier sliding 12 on said frame and comprising integrally a breech bolt, a forward semi-tubular Exten- sion and a depending abutment preventing removal rearward of the bolt carrier from the frame, a barrel having a depending lug, 12 a link pivotally secured therein, and a down- ward projection from said lug. said frame having a recess to receive said lug, and a link pin. in the frame for securing the bar- rel to the frame, after the bolt carrier has 18
984,619 been .slid upon the frame from the front, whereby said lug- limits the movement of said barrel on the frame in rearward direc- tion, and Said lug and said link pin limit the 5 movement of the barrel and of the bolt car- rier on the frame in forward direction. 9. In a firearm, the combination of a frame, a breech block or bolt carrier sliding on said frame and comprising integrally a 3 0 breech bolt, a forward semi-tubular exten- sion having a locking recess and a depending abutment preventing removal rearward of the bolt carrier from the frame, a barrel having a depending lug and a link pivotally .15 secured therein, a link pin in the frame for attaching the link and the barrel to the frame after said barret a_- 'nd with the bolt carrier has been did upon ths frame, where- by said barrel may-move longitudinally and 20 vertically on said frame, and a projection on said barrel caused by the movements thereof to enter or to leave the locking re- cess in said bolt carrier. 10. In a firearm, the combination of a 25 frame, a breech block or bolt carrier slid- ing on said frame and comprising integrally a breech bolt, a forward semi-tubular ex- tension and-a depending abutment prevent- ing removal rearward of the bolt carrier 30 from the frame, a barrel longitudinally mov- able pn the frame, its front end mounted in a removable bushing in said bolt carrier, its rear end having an extension depending into the frame, and means for attaching the bar- 38 rel to the' frame after said barrel in and with the bblt carrier has been mounted on said fsame^so as to permit the longitudinal move- ment of the barrel on the frame. 11. In a firearm, the combination of a 40 frame, a breech block or bolt carrier sliding on said frame and comprising integrally a breech bolt, a forward semi-tubular exten- sion and a depending abutment preventing removal rearward of the bolt carrier from 45 the frame, the barrel movable on the frame, its rear end mounted on and secured to said frame for a limited double movement there- on, its front end securely supported in posi- tion in a removable bushing in said bolt car- 50 rier, the bore of said bushing being en- larged from the front end rearward to per- mit vertical movement of the rear end of said barrel, and means for attaching the bar- rel to the frame after said barrel in and 55’ with said bolt carrier has been mounted on said frame, whereby the barrel in its for- ward position has its rear end elevated on the frame: above its front end, and in the rearward position of said barrel its rear end 60 is lowered and the axis thereof is parallel to the top of the frame, and whereby the front end of said barrel is kept depressed, as. and for the purpose specified. 12. In a firearm, the combination of a frame, a breech block or bolt carrier sliding 65 on said frame, and comprising integrally a breech bolt, a forward semi-tubular exten- sion and a depending abutment preventing removal rearward of the bolt carrier from the frame, the barrel having at its rear end 70 a depending lug and a link pivotally secured therein, and having its front end securely supported in position in a removable bush- ing in said bolt carrier, and a link pin in the frame for attaching the barrel to the frame 75 after said barrel in and with the bolt car- rier has been slid upon the frame, whereby the rear end of said barrel has a limited double movement on said frame upon its front end as a fulcrum. 80 13. In a firearm, the combination of a frame, a breech block or bolt carrier sliding on said frame and comprising integrally a breech bolt, a forward semi-tubular exten- sion having a locking recess and a depending 85 abutment preventing removal rearward of the bolt carrier from the frame, a barrel movable on the frame within said forward extension and carrying at its rear end a projection and a depending lug and a link 90 pivotally. secured therein, the front end of said barrel being securely supported in po- sition in a removable bushing in said bolt' сатёг, and a link pin in the frame for at- taching the barrel to the frame after said 95 barrel in and with said bolt carrier has been slid upon the frame, whereby the rear end of said barrel has a limited double move- ment on said frame upon its front end as a fulcrum to cause said projection to enter 100 or to leave the locking recess in said b°lt carrier. . 14. In a firearm, the combination of a frame, a barrel, a bolt earner sliding on •said frame, a reaction spring, a shoulder in the 105 frame for supporting the rear end of the reaction spring, a depending abutment on the bolt carrier for inclosing the forward portion of the reaction spring, a bushing secured removably in the front end of said 110 bolt carrier, said bushing having a depend- ing part adapted to confine said reaction . spring at its front end, whereby the thrust of said reaction spring is transmitted in for- ward direction through the bushing to the 115 bolt carrier. 15. In a firearm, the combination of a frame, a barrel, a bolt carrier'sliding on said frame, a reaction spring, a shoulder in the frame for supporting the rear end of the re- 120 action spring, a depending abutment on the bolt carrier for inclosing the forward por- tion of the. reaction spring, a bushing se- cured rotatably in the front end of said bolt carrier for locking it to br releasing it from 125 said bolt carrier, and having a. depending part adapted to confine said reaction spring at its front end, whereby the thrust or said
984,619 11 fractionspring is transmitted in forward direction through the bushing to the bolt carrier. s 16. In a firearm, the combination of a I frame, a barred, a bolt carrier sliding on said frame, a reaction spring, a shoulder in the frame for the rear end of the reaction spring, a depending abutment on the bolt carrier'for inclosing the forward portion of the reaction ► spring, a shouldered plug, carried on the front end of the reaction spring and seated loosely in the abutment depending from the bolt carrier, a bushing secured removably inihe front end of saidholt'carrier and hav- • mga dependingpart adapted to confine said ping in said.,abutment, whereby the thrust' of said: teahtioii spring is transmited in for- ward direction through the plug and the bushing to the bolt'carrier. • 17. In a firearm, the combination of .a frame, a barrel, a bolt carrier sliding on said frame, a reaction spring, a shoulder in the frame for the rear end of the reaction spring, a depending abutment on the bolt IS carrier for inclosing the forward portion of .the reaction spring, a. shouldered plug carried on the front end of the reaction spring anfi seated loosely in the abutment depehding from’the bolt carrier, a bushing BO secured rotatably in. the front end. of said bolt carrier: for locking it to or releasing it from, said bolt carrier, and haying a de- pending part adapted to confine said plug m said; abutment, whereby the thrust or 15 said reaction spring is transmitted in for- ward direction through^ the plug and the bushing to the. bolt carrier and said hushing is locked against'rotation by the plug. 18. In a' firearm, the combination of a 4* frame, a barrel secured to said frame, a bolt carrier sliding on said frame and pro- vided with a locking shoulder, a cartridge holder haying a spring actuated follower, and a handle comprising a locking pin for' 45 securing the barrel to the frame; an upward projection for engaging the locking shoulder on the bolt earner, and an inward exten- sion in the path of said follower. 19. -In a firearm, the combination of a 50 frame, a barrel secured to said frame, a bolt carrier sliding on said frame and'provided with a locking shoulder, a cartridge holder haying- a spring actuated follower, and a hahdle comprising alpcking pin for secur- 55 >ing the barrel to the frame, an upward pro- jection, for engaging the locking shouldbr on the bolt carrier, an inward , extension in : the path' of said follower, an upward pro- jection on said extension located within said M bolt carrier, whereby said handle is locked against removal from said frame. 20. In a firearm, the combination of a ' frame, a barrel secured to said frame, a bolt carrier sliding on said frame and pro- vided with a locking shoulder, a cartridge; 65 holder having a spring .actuated follower., ahd/a handle comprising a locking pin for securing the barrel to the frame, and an up- . ward projection for engaging, the locking shoulder oh the bolt carrier^ an inward ёх- 70 tension in the path of said, follower, and an' upward projection on said extension located within the' bolt carrier for locking Said handle against removal, said bolt carrier having a recess for at W ill removing and 75 replacing the handle. ' . . , • 21. In a firearm, the combination of a fiume, a, hammer, a sear, a trigger, and springs for said sear and trigger mounted in said frame, a butt piece removably se- '80 cured in 'said frame by a pin, a main spring carried in the butt piece, a connector be- tween said hammer and-said main spring, and a connector between said main spring and said pin for yieldingly holding said pin 85 in place. ." z ' 22. In a firearm, the combination of a hammer, a sear and a trigger, a grip lever held normally in position to prevent the release of said hammer, springs for said 90 parts, and a projection on said grip lever in the path of said hammer, whereby the hammer may be moved to operate said grip lever to permit the operation of' said trig- ger and sear to release said hammer. 95 23. In a firearm, the combination of a hammer, a sear and a trigger, springs for said sear and trigger, a removable outt piece, a main spring carried in the removable butt piece, a connector between said hammer and 100 said main spring, -a grip lever, a spring to hold said grip lever normally in position to prevent the release of. said hammer, and a projection on said grip lever in the path of said hammer, whereby the hammer may be Ю5 moved to operate said grip lever to permit the operation of said trigger and sear to release said hammer. 24. In a firearm, the combination of a breech bolt carrying a firing pin shouldered П0 at its rear end and a retractor spring, a locking plate removably seated in the.breech bolt and having an opening to receive the rear end of said firing pin, whereby, said plate locks the firing pin in place and said 115 firing pin locks said plate in place. • 25. In a firearm," the combination of a re- movable cartridge, holder, a catch for lock- ing’said holder, in place and for at will re- leasing the same, a trigger, and means oper- 120 a ted by said catch for locking and for re- leasing said trigger. 26. Tn a firearm, the combination of a re- movable cartridge holder, a catch for lock- ing said holder in place and for at will.re-. 125 leasing the same, a trigger, and' means oper- ated by said trigger for. locking said catch in operative position. :
XS&- 984,519 27. In a firearm, the combination of a re- movable cartridge holder, a catch. for lock- ing said holder in place and for at will.re- leasing the same, a trigger, means operated 5 by said catch for locking and for releasing said trigger, and means operated by said trigger for locking said catch in operative position. - • 28-. In a firearm, the combination of a re- 10 movable cartridge holder having a recess, a . catch carrying a projection adapted for en- tering the recess in said holder to lock the same and for at will leaving said recess to release the holder, said catch being provided 15 with a recess, a trigger carrying a rib adapt- ed to enter the recess in said catch, whereby the operation of said catch locks or releases the trigger, and the operation of the trigger locks the catch in .position to lock said 20 holder. 29. In a firearm; the Combination of a breech bolt carrying a shell extractor having a recess in its rear portion, and a locking plate removably seated in the breech bolt 25 and extending into .the-recess in said ex- tractor. whereby said plate locks the ex-, tractor against removal from the breecli bolt. 30. In a firearm, the combination of a breech bolt carrying a shell extractor 30 shouldered in front of its rear portion and having a recess in its. reEtr portion, and a locking plate removably seated in the breech bolt and extending" into-, the recess in said extractor, whereby said plate locks the ex- 35 tractor against removal from thebreech bolt. 31. In- a firearm; the combination of a breech bolt carrying a firing pin shouldered at its reaS -end and a retractor spring, a shell. extractor removably seated in the 40 breecli bolt and having a recess in its rear portion, and a locking plate removably seat- ed in the. breech bolt and having an opening to receive the rear end of said filing, pin and. extending into the recess in said extractor, 45 whereby said firing pin locks said plate iii. place and said plate locks the firing pin and the extractor in place. 32. In a firearm, the combination of a frame, a slide mounted on said frame, a 50 taper pivot pip seated in said frame, and a second pivot pin seated in said frame com- prising a plate integral therewith to. cover and lock in place said first mentioiied pivot pin, said plate being held iii covering and 55 locking position by said slide, . 33. In a firearm, the combination of a frame, a slide mounted on said frame, a pivot pin rotatably seated.ip said frame and comprising a plate integral therewith, anfi 60 one or more additional pivot pins being taper and seated in said frame and engaged by said plate and locked in place thereby, said plate being, held in locking position by said slide. . . ; . - .- • 34. In a firearni^ the combination of a '65 frame, a slide mounted on said frame, a. taper pivot pin seated in-said frame, the smaller end of said pivot pin protruding from the frame and having a recess, and a second pivot pill i-otatably seated in said 70. frame and comprising a plate integral there- with, said plate extending into said recess and being held against rotation by said slide, whereby both pivot.pins are locked in the frame. . . . . < 7S 35. In a firearm, the combination .of a frame, a barrel secured to 'said frame, a bolt carrier.sliding on said, frame, a . 'cartridge holder having a spring actuated follower., and a handle comprising a locking pin for .8® securing the barrel to the frame, an inward extension , in. the path of said follower, and. ’ an upward projection on said extension lo- cated within said bolt carrier, whereby said handle is locked against removal. , 86 36. In a -firearm, the combination of a frame, a barrel secured to said frarpe, a bolt carrier sliding on said frame, ,-a1. cartridge holder having a spring .actuated follower, and a handle comprising a locking pin for. 96 securing the barrel to the frame, an inward extension in . the path of said follower, and an upward projection on said extension lo- I cated within the bolt carrier for locking said, handle against removal, said bolt carrier 86 having a recess for at will' removing and re- placing the handle. \ . 37. In a firearm, the combination of a frame having a grip, a hammer and a grip lever pivotally mounted in said frame, and 191 a rearward extension of said grip lever cov- ering the entire under side of said hammer ipid forming a guard between said hammer and said grip, whereby contact with said hammer while being, cocked is prevented. 10И 38. In a firearm, the combination of a frame having a grip, a hammer, a sear and a trigger, a grip lever held normally in po- sition to prevent the release of said hammer, springs for said parts," a projection on said 111 grip lever in the path of said hammer, whereby the hammer may be moved to oper- ate said grip lever tb permit the operation of said trigger und-sear to release said ham-, mer, and a rearward-extension of said pro- Ш j ection forming a guard between said ham- mer-and. said grip; This specification signed and-witnessed, this 1st day of February, A. D. 1910. JOHN M. BROWNING. . I In the jpresence of-^ / A L. UiBibH. ' i \ K. Powers.
J. M. BROWNING. TAKE-DOWN CONSTRUCTION FOR FIREARMS. APPLICATION PILED MAE. 20, 1913. 1,065,341ч Patented June 24,1913.
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. BFST AV^TLABLE COPYjohn u. browning, or ogden, utah. TAKE-DOWN CONSTRUCTION FOR FIREARMS. 1,065,341, Specification of betters Patent. Patented June 34,1913. Application filed March 20,1Э13. Serial No. 755,645. To dll whom it may concern,: Be it known that I, John M-. Bbowning, a citizen of the United States, resident of Ogden, Utah, have invented certain new 5 and useful Improvements in Take-Down Construction for Firearms, of which the following is a specification. My invention relates to improved means for securing a gun barrel removably to the 10 frame. A principal object is to provide simple and effective means for taking up play that may occur between the barrel and the frame. A further object is to provide simple and 15 effective means for locking the barrel in position. Another object is to arrange the locking means to secure the adjusting means in posi- tion. 20 The invention consists in instrumentali- ties and combinations thereof for carrying out the foregoing and other objects, as will appear. The drawing illustrates an exemplifying 25 structure embodying the invention, but it is to be understood that the particular con- struction can be varied greatly within the invention. Figure 1 is a side view of a gun-frame and 30 adjacent parts of the barrel, embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the adjoining parts of frame and barrel. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line a—a of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a transverse sec- 35 tion on the line b—b of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a front side perspective of the front end of the frame. Fig. 6 is a perspective detail of the barrel plate. Fig. 7 is a perspective de- tail of the barrel lock. 40 Reference character 1 designates the frame and 2 the barrel. In the front end of the frame is a hole 3 provided with inter- rupted internal threads 4. The rear part of the barrel is provided with a screw-thread 45 5, and for some distance from the end this thread is interrupted as at 6, Fig. 3. The nut 7 is screwed upon the barrel thread. This nut is provided with periph- eral serrations or teeth 8. Barrel-plate 9 50 has a circular part surrounding the end of the barrel, and within this circular part are inwardly projecting lugs 10 which engage in grooves 11 cut in the barrel. The barrel- plate is pushed onto the barrel and against 55 the nnt, as-shown in Fig. 1, with lugs 10 in grooves 11. and is prevented from drop- ping off by being made a tight fit, or by slightly denting the sides of grooves 11, or in some other suitable way. At the bottom, the barrel-plate has a 60 downwardly extending member 9a in which is a slot 12. In this slot is mounted the bar- rel-lock 13. This lock engages tbe barrel- plate by means of flanges 14 engaging- grooves 15 in the sides of slot 12, so that the- 65 lock may slide forward and back. The rear end 16 of the lock is adapted to enter notch or socket 17 in the front end of the frame. At one side of socket 17 is a stop-pin 28 adapted to engage the barrel-plate member 70 9a and limit the turning movement of the barrel when the gun is set up. The lock is also provided with a downwardly projecting finger-piece 18 knurled at 19 for the con- venient operation of the lock. At the for- 75 ward end of the barrel-lock is an upward projecting member 20 having serrations or teeth 21 slidably engaging teeth 8 on the nut. The barrel-plate is also provided with a socket 22, in which are located a plunger 80 23 and spring 24. The point of the plunger engages notches 25 in the lock to yieldingly hold the lock in forward or rearward posi- tion. ' The rear end 26 of the front stock 27 is 85 so placed in relation .to the barrel-lock 13 that when the front stock is in position on the barrel, as shown, the lock can be moved forward sufficiently to disengage it from the frame socket 17, but not far enough to dis- 90 engage teeth 21 from teeth 8 of nut 7. In putting the parts together, the nut 7 is first screwed upon thread 5 and the barrel-plate placed on the barrel against the rear end of the nut and secured as above described. 95 The rear encl of the barrel is then inserted in the frame and turned until the bottom part 9a of the bftri1-.'-plate engages stop pin 28. The nnt is' now screwed back against the barrel-plate until the latter is held firmly 100 against the frame and so that there is no play between the barrel and the frame. The barrel-lock is then put in place from the front, whereupon its teeth 21 engage teeth 8 on the rear end of the nut and lock the 105 latter in place. The front stock is then se- cured to the barrel and prevents the barrel- lock from being pushed forward sufficiently to disengage nut 7. If the barrel ever becomes loose in the 1W frame for any reason, it. can be tightened by taking off the front stock, pushing the bar-
s 1,065,341 rel-lqck forward far enough to-disengage its teeth from those of the nut and then turn- ing the nut back against, the barrel-plate sufficiently to take up the play. The parts Б are {hen replaced as above described. I claim: 1. The combination of a barrel, a nut thereon, a barrel-plate, a barrel-lock carried by the plate, and means whereby, the barrel- 10 locks engages the nut to lock the same. 2. In a firearm, the combination of a frame, a barrel, a nut screwed on the barrel to take up play between the barrel and frame, a barrel-lock adapted to engage the frame and means whereby the barrel-lock engages 15 the nut to lock the same. JOHN M. BROWNING. Witnesses: L. M. Taylor, Matthew Galt.
J. М. BROWNING. SAFETY DEVICE FOR FIREARMS. APPLICATION FILED MAE. 20, 1913. A Horney
1,065,342. JOHN M. BROWNING, OE OGDEN,;UTAH. SAEETY DEVICE E.OR EIRE ARMS... - Specification of Letters Patent. Patented JlHle 24; 1913. Application filed March 20, 1913. Serial Ko. 755,646. To 'all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, John M. Browsing, a citizen of the United States, resident of Ogden, Utah, have invented' certain new •5 and useful Improvements in Safety Devices for Firearms, of which the following is a specification. My invention relates to a safety device or safety stop for firearms. 10 A principal object of the invention is to prevent the locking of the sear in safety po- sition when the hammer is uncocked. Means for accomplishing this is adapted as herein disclosed to a structure in which the seal- 15 is free from the hammer after the trigger has been pulled and until the hammer is cocked again. In structures which permit locking of the sear when the hammer is un- cocked, and the hammer is free from the 20 sear, it is usually impossible to cock the gun because the sear obstructs the rearward movement of the hammer. The invention consists in instrumentali- ties and combinations thereof for carrying 25- out the above and other objects, as will be sufficiently explained hereinafter. TRe accompanying drawing shows an ex- emplifying structure embodying the inven- tion. and it is to be understood that the con- 30 struction may be varied greatly within the limits of the invention. - Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a gun-frame with inclosed mechanism, suf- ficient parts being shown to understand the 35 cooperation of the safety device with other essential parts of a firearm structure. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of a fragment of Fig. 1, showing the safety stop in active posi- tion. Fig. 3 is a transverse section in the 40 vertical plane of the stop. Fig. 4 is a per- spective view of the safety stop or pin re- moved from the gun. Reference character 1 designates a gun- frame containing a trigger-plate la. Slid- 45 ably mounted on the trigger-plate is a breech block 2. The breech block carries a cocking lug 3 extending down through slot j 4 in the trigger-plate. Slidably mounted within the breech-block is the firing pin 5 50 actuated by spring 6. The rear end of the spring abuts against the rear end 7 of the trigger-plate. Near the rear end the ham- mer is provided with a cock-notch 8. In the trigger-plate is pivoted sear 10 adapted 55 to engage the cock notch. The sear is urged I to engaging position by a spring 11 and is ] prevented from moving too far in that di- rection by sear member 26 engaging the safety-pin 18. The-trigger 14 is pivoted in the trigger-plate at 15 and carries a pivoted 60 connector 16 cooperating with notch 17 on the sear. Adjacent to the lower end of the sear the safety stop or pin 18 is mounted in a transverse socket 19. For convenience, this safety pin is usually round and is pre- 65 vented from rotating by a spring-pressed plunger 20 carried in the trigger-plate .and engaging a longitudinal groove 21 in the pin. At each end of this groove is a depres- sion 32 cooperating with the plunger 20 to 70 hold the pin in either engaged or disengaged position. The lower end of the sear is shaped to embrace the pin as at 25. A member 2G of the sear lies normally in front of the pin and another member 27 lies to 75 the rear of the pin when the arm is cocked, as shown in Fig. 2. At a point opposite the sear, when the pin is in inactive or firing position, the pin is provided with a for- wardly arranged depression, cut or groove 80 30. adapted to cooperate with sear member 26, and at the same point in its length the pin is also provided with an upwardly and rearwardly arranged cut or depression 31 adapted to cooperate with sear member 27. 85 When the hammer is forward or un- cocked, as shown in Fig. 1, it is free from the sear and sear spring 11 holds sear mem- ber 26 in engagement with cut 30 of the safety pin 18. Therefore, the pin cannot 90 be moved to safety position until released from the sear. When the hammer is cocked, either by hand or by automatic action, the sear 10 engaging with cock notch 18 of the hammer is held down sufficiently, as shown 95 in Fig. 2. to free sear member 26 from cut 30 of the pin. The pin may then be moved to safety position as shown in Fig. 2. Here the cuts or grooves 30 and 31 of the pin are entirely away from the sear and the 100 scar is locked in engagement with the ham- mer by reason of the close engagement of its part 25 with the safety pin and the gun cannot be accidentally discharged either by pulling the trigger or otherwise. 105 The mechanism described affords means for determining whether the gun is cocked or not, because if it is not cocked the sear will engage cm 30 and prevent the safety pin from being moved to safety position, 110 while if the gun is cocked the pin can be moved to safety position, as above described.
г 1,085,842 Without the provision of cut 30 the sear will not be locked by the safety pin when the hammer is uncocked and the pin could, therefore, be moved to safety position, thus 5 locking the sear, and then if it were at- tempted to cock the hammer it would be impossible to do so because the sear would not be free to depress and allow the hammer to pass back sufficiently to engage cock- 10 notch 8 with the sear. I claim: 1. In a firearm, the combination of a ham- mer, a sear and a safety pin mounted to move laterally in relation to the sear to lock 15 the same when the hammer is cocked, the sear and pin being provided with cooperat- ing means to prevent the pin from being moved to safety position when the hammer is not cocked. 2. In a firearm, the combination of a 20 frame, a sear,‘a hammer free from the sear when uncocked, a safety pin mounted to move laterally in the frame, and means by which the safety pin is engaged with the sear and prevented from moving to safety 25 position when the hammer is not cocked. JOHN M. BROWNING. Witnesses: L. M. Tayeoe, Matthew Gait.
J. M. BROWNING. FIBEABM. APPLICATION FILED APJ1.23, 1913. 1,070,582. Patented Aug. 19,1913.
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC E. JOHN M. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH. riREARM. .. 1,070,582, specification of betters patent. Patented Aug. 19,1913. Application filed April 23,1913. Serial No. 763,045. To all 'whom it may: concern.: В» it kuoAvn- that I, John M. Browning, a citizen of the United States, residing, in Ogden, ini the county of Weber and' State 5 of Utah, have' invented, certain new and use- ful Improvements in Firearms, of which the following i& a specification, reference being had- to the accompanying drawings, forming, a pairt hereof. 10 The invention relates generally to auto- matic firearms of that description in which aid' G-peraitions, except the* actuation of the trigger for firing, are automatically- effected by the energy of the recoil "of the breech- 15 closing part. The invention particularly relates to novel improvements- in firearms of the class described in the United States Patent No; 984,51)91, granted to- me* February 14, 191'1', 20 said patient covering many of the-features- of the complete firearrii which I have herein dte- seribed' and illustrated- with the, object of «enabling my present invention and1 file ob- jeets thereof to' be- understood1. Those fea- 25 tunas. which are common , to the two con- structions are referred to herein only as fer as is: necessary to' explain the present inven- tion, but the- description' which follbws re- lates particularly to. the novel1 improved1 fea*- 30 tunes of this case. Thei main object of the present invention is toiprodhce an improved fitearm of this class specially adapted'for the military service by beings reliable, accurate, strong and! abso- 35 lutely safe under all-conditions^ while simple in constructions, not liable to get out of'order and inexpensive of manufacture; This ob- ject is attained by simplifying the mecha- nism. of the arm, by providing an improved 40 construction of certain parts thereof, there- by enabling each of these parts to perform several distinct functions, and thus reducing the number of the component parts, and-by giving to .all; the parts such form- that 45 they may be piit in place or removed and the entire arm may be assembled or dis- mounted! without requiring the use of any tools. The embodiment of my improvements 50 represented- in the accompanying drawings is a riiagazine pistol, such as is shown and-de- scribed in my said Patent No. 948,519; buti it will be understood! that Г do not intend- to restrict the present' invention to a magazine | pistol, nor to any particular kind of fire- 55 arm-, nor to the combination of the several features- in a single firearm. In the accompanying drawings: Figure ly is'- a left-hand side elevation of the1 pistol with the breech-slide closed and' the hammer 60 at rest, not cocked. Fig. 2, is a rear end view of the pistol. Fig. 3, is a view similar to Fig. 11,. of the upper rear portion of the pistol; ; but with the closed breech-slide locked: and the hammer cocked and locked. Fig. 4, is a» 65 [longitudinal vertical section of the rear- por- . ticm of the pistol showing the1 firing mecha-- nism and the safety mechanisms, the breech1-: slid® being clbsed and the hammer cooked' and locked. Fig. 5, represents one of' the 70 side-plates of the pistol1 grip detached, and one of the* studs- and the locking pint de- tached; by which the sidfe-plates are remov- ably attached to the grip; i being a view of the inner side and 2: at longitudinal ver1- 75 tical section, of the side-plate, 3 ai side View and an end view of the stud, and 4 a sidb view and end view of the locking-pirn Fig. 6, represents the1 combined slide-ibck- and; i hammer-lock detached, 1 being an edge vibW 80 - seen1 from- below, 2 an- inner side view of the i slidfe-lbck, 3 a cress section of the integral1 , locking-stud thereon, on a line parallel' to ; and just beneath the plate-like body of the lock, and 4 a side view of a portion of the 85 left side of the pistol’ frame, showing the aperture therein for the entrance- of the stud; and'the undercut front edge for'securing, the stud in the frame. Fig; 7, represents- a side view and a rear view of the- hammer- db- 90 tached, and a side view and rear view of the’ hammer-strut detached; Fig. 8, represents the two pistons and' the1 spiral spring, de1- tached; by which the- pivot-pin-llandlb and the slide-lock and' hammer-lock are yield?- 95 ingly held ite place. Fig; 9, represents- a- side view and a front view-of the-combined trigger- and' safety-spring, sear-spring; and' grip-lever-spring, detached; Similar letters refer to similar parte 100 throughout the several' views. The pistol represented in the drawings1 has three main parts, the frame a, the barrel b mounted1 upon the frhme, and’ the breech1- slide c, which slides rearward' and forward’ 105 upon the frame under the-action ofthere- coil'andof the reaction-spring'- The frame ex- tends downward in form ofthe handle or grip
1,070,583 , a1, and i» the grip is the seat for the detach- able cartridge magazine ж of usual construc- tion, in which cartridges are held one above . the other upon a spring-follower by which 5 they are fed upward to the receiver. In front of the grip the trigger t is located in the trigger-guard, while the hammer q and other members of the firing mechanism and safety mechanisms are arranged in rear of LO the grip. The barrel Ъ is attached at its rear end to the frame by a link pivoted in a depending lug of the barrel, the lower part of the link being attached to the frame by the pivot- 15 pin « fitted transversely through the frame , and the link, thus securing link and barrel movably to the frame. The rear part of the breech-slide c forms the breech-bolt c1 and forward thereof the JO breech-slide forms, an integral extension, which incloses the barrel and carries at its forward end a bushing h for keeping the muzzle of the barrel in place. The for-, ward portion of the breech-slide c is closed J5 at the bottom by a depending smaller tube extending some distance to the rear and forming the abutment c2 with its axis par- allel to the breech-slide and its front closed by the plug f.. From the abutment c2 rear- JO ward the sides of the breech-slide overlap the sides of the frame, and are provided with integral lengthwise grooves and ribs interlocking with corresponding ribs and grooves in the sides of the frame by which 55 the breech-slide is vertically secured upon • the frame and guided in its movements thereon. At its front the frame a has the extension a2 for receiving the abutment c2 of the 10 breech-slide, which moves therein when the breech-slide recoils upon the frame. In the extension a2 of the frame and the abutment c2 of the breech-slide the spiral reaction- spring is arranged as usual, exerting its ten- 15 sion against the plug f to yieldingly hold the breech-slide in its forward position in which the breech-bolt c1 closes the breech of the barrel. The pivot-pin i projects from the left side 50 of the frame where it carries the rearwardly extending handle j resting against the side of the frame, by which the removal of the pivot-pin i and thereby the release for re- moval of the barrel and breech-slide in for- 55 ward direction from the frame are effected. The breech-bolt c1 carries a firing-pin and an extractor of usual form, and the hammer g, sear r and safety s are pivotally mounted in the frame, so that when released by. the 60 operation of the trigger t, while the breech- slide is in the forward position, the hammer will strike the firing-pin which transmits the blow to the primer of the cartridge. The rear of the grip is closed by the butt- 65 piece и sliding from below into the grip, and secured therein by the pin u1 fitted transversely through the grip and butt- piece; within the butt-piece и the spiral main-spring v is seated, the strut g1 piv- otally attached to the hammer q transmit- 70 ting the tension of the main-spring v to the hammer. In front of the butt-piece и the trigger- and safety-spring t2, the sear-spring r2 and the grip-lever-spring r3 are seated. In rear 75 of the hammer q and above the butt-piece и the grip-lever w is secured in the grip by the pivot-pin 7c1, and the grip-lever-spring r yieldingly holds the grip-lever w in its rear position in which a forward projection go of the grip-lever stands in rear of the con- necting piece t1 of the trigger and locks the trigger against operation, while the lower portion of the grip-lever w projects from the rear of the grip. When the grip is 35 grasped, as in the act of firing, the grip- lever is pressed into the grip, thereby auto- matically releasing the trigger for operation without requiring attention. All the parts thus far referred to may be 90 and are here shown as of the same construc- tion and mode of operation as fully set forth in my said Patent No. 984,519, and forming ; no part of the present invention require no further description or explanation herein, 95 except so far as certain features will be re- ferred to hereinafter. Heretofore pistols of this class were pro- vided with automatic safety devices which made it impossible to fire one or several юо shots unless a cartridge was in the barrel, a charged magazine in the grip and all parts were in the proper closed and locked . condition, the hammer cocked and the grip properly grasped to hold the pistol in the 105 firing position. If, with the pistol thus made ready for instant use, the occasion for firing or for continued firing had passed, and it was desired to make the pistol tem- porarily safe for carrying, it was necessary no to lower the hammer to the safety position, and special means were provided for en- abling the lowering of the hammer to be performed, if necessary, by the use of only the hand holding the pistol. Experience, 115 however, has shown that the exigencies of active military service make it at times nec- essary that the pistol be carried for a longer or shorter time with a loaded cartridge in the barrel, a charged magazine in its seat 120 and with the hammer cocked, so as to still remain ready for instantly firing a maxi- mum number of shots without requiring any initial movement, except the pulling of the trigger. At the same time, it is as neces- 125 sary that the pistol can be made safe to posi- tively prevent its accidental discharge while being so carried. For fulfilling, as nearly as possible, these necessary but contradictory requirements, an additional manually op- 130
1,070,883- erated combined slide-lock and hammer- lock of novel construction and with addi- tional functions has been provided on the pistol, which serves to at will lock the 5 breech-slide and the firing mechanism and make the pistol positively safe against dis- charge though a cartridge is in the chamber and the hammer is cocked, or to at will re- lease these parts and make the pistol ready 10 for firing; with this added device the lock- ing or releasing of the slide and of the ham- mer require only a slight pressure by the thumb of the hand grasping the grip of the pistol, without demanding such attention, 15 care and exertion as are required for cock- ing the hammer or for releasing and lower- ing the same. The combined slide-lock and hammer-lock consists of the plate-like body к pivotally 20 secured upon the left side of the frame in rear of the grip by its integral pivot-pin k> which passes transversely through the frame and through the grip-lever w, thus serving also to pivotally secure the grip-lever in the 25 frame. Above the plate к an angular re- cess <3 has been cut in the lower edge of the breech-slide which corresponds with the for- ward upper corner of the plate к and stands above the same when the breech-slide is in 30 the forward closed position, so that the plate к may be turned upward upon its pivot to enter the recess c3 and thereby to positively lock the breech-slide in the forward closed position. By its location the plate к is just 35 above and within easy reach of the thumb of the hand grasping the grip of the piston, and upon the outside at the upper forward corner of the plate a lateral projection k2 provides a thumb piece by which the plate к 40 may be at will turned upward into its opera- tive slide-locking position, or downward into the releasing position by applying a slight pressure with the thumb in the desired di- rection, without requiring more than the 45 slightest attention or effort. From the inner surface of the slide-lock or plate k. a stud k3 extends through an open- ing in the left side of the frame inward to a position in rear of the lower arm of. the 50 sear r and below the hub of the hammer y, see Figs. 1,3 and 4. The stud X:3 is cylindri- cal, except at its free inner end, where for some distance a segment has been cut away from its forward side. With the slide-lock 55 in its lower inoperative position, as in Fig. 1, the cut-away portion of the stud k3 keeps the same clear of the path, of the sear and of the hammer, both of which are thus free for operation: but when the slide-lock is 60 raised to lock the slide, as in Fig. 3, the stud k3 is thereby moved to the rear of the lower arm of the sear, positively prevent- ing the same from being operated to re- lease the cocked hammer, Fig. 4. A recess 65 is provided in the hub of the hammer into which a portion of the stud k3 enters when in the raised position, see Fig. 4, thereby the hammer is locked independently of its sup- port by the sear, so that even under violent blows against the exposed part of the ham- mer, which might break the point of the sear, the hammer cannot move. When the hammer is down, not cocked, the recess in its hub not being above the stud k3, the slide- lock cannot be raised to the locking position until the hammer is again cocked. In Fig. G at 4 is shown the shape of the aperture in the left side of the frame through which the stud k3 is entered into the frame when the slide-lock is being placed in posi- got tion; this aperture is elongated to permit the necessary upward and downward movements of the stud and of the slide-lock for lock- ing g? releasing the slide and the hammer, but the aperture is covered by the slide-lock 85- in both positions. The central part of the aperture is wider than the upper and lower parts, a segmental recess centrally in the forward edge of the aperture being provided for allowing the cylindrical portion of the 90; stud k3 to pass into the frame. Above and below this recess in the forward edge of the aperture, the side wall of the frame is undercut and reduced in thickness, as is in- dicated by dotted lines in Figs. 1, 3 and 6, 95; to correspond in thickness with the groove cut in the front side of the cylindrical por- tion of the stud k3, just beneath the plate or slide-lock k, see Fig. 6 at 1 and 3. The undercut forward edge of the aperture and 100 the bottom of the groove in the stud being formed concentric to the pivot k1 of the slide-lock k, they interlock and movably se- cure the slide-lock in the frame in all posi- tions except when the slide-lock is midway 105 between its upper and lower positions, in this central position only the slide-lock may be removed from the frame the stud k3 then passing out through the central recess in the edge of the aperture. As the integral 110 pivot-pin k1 of the slide-lock is the pivot on which the grip-lever w is mounted in the frame,’ the securing in place of the slide- lock also secures the grip-lever in place, and by the removal of the slide-lock the 115. grip-lever also is released for removal from the frame. Moreover, the pivot-pin q2 of the hammer and the pivot-pm r1 of the sear and safety are fitted to enter into the frame from the left side toward the right side, 120 and each pin has a head of slightly larger diameter on its left end, so that they can be removed from the frame only by being pushed from the right toward the left side thereof. With the slide-lock к in its place 125 it covers both of these pivot pins q2 and F, thus securing them in the frame, and on the removal of the slide-lock these pivot-pins may be-readily pushed out and thereby the ham- mer q. sear r and safety s are released for 130
1,0*0,680 removal from the frame without the use of any tool. In order to keep the slide-lock к in either the raised or the lowered position, a spring- 5 actuated piston V- is provided, the rounded point of which bears against the forward edge of the slide-lock k. and enters one of- the two shallow recesses in said edge corre- sponding with the point of the piston in 10 each of the positions of the slide-lock, and serving to yieldingly hold the slide-lock in either position to which it may be moved. The piston I1 and the spiral spring Z3 press- ing it rearward, are seated in a small hori- 15 zontal tube I attached to the left side of the frame above the grip, in front of the slide- lock k, so that the slightly protruding point of the piston Z1 may enter the recesses, see Figs. 1 and 3; 20 As heretofore constructed and shown and described in my said prior patent, the handle j of the pivot-pin i was provided with a small spring-pressed piston seated in the hollow rear portion of the handle, and held 25 therein for limited movement by a trans- verse pin, the protruding point of the pis- ton bearing against a small rounded stud fixed in the side of the frame, thereby hold- ing the handle yieldingly in either of the 30 positions to which it may be moved. In the present improved construction the spring, piston and locking-pin in the handle j and the stud on the frame have been eliminated, and the rear end of the 35 imperforate handle j, provided with two' shallow recesses, is located in front of the forward end of the tube I. In this end of the tube I a second small piston Z2is seated, and the spiral spring Z3 in the tube tends to 40 press the rounped point of this piston Z2 forward into contact with the handle j, so as to yieldingly hold the same in position, Figs. 1 and 3. The forward end of the piston Z2 is reduced in diameter forming a 45 shoulder on the piston which bears against a corresponding shoulder in the inner bore of the tube Z near its forward end, by this arrangement the forward piston Z2 is pre- vented from being thrown forward from 50 the tube when the pivot-pin i and the handle j are detached from the frame. The pistons Z1 and Z2 are each reduced in diameter in their inner portions nearest to the spiral spring Z3 which fits upon these reduced parts. 55 and. the exterior diameter of the spring Z3 is small enough to freely move in the tube I; to prevent the pistons Z1 and Z2 and the spring Z3 from being thrown rearwardly from the tube Z when the slide-lock к is re- 60 moved, the spring Z3 is bent at the center of its length so that-its forward and rearward halves form an obtuse angle instead of being in a straight line, see Fig. 8. When the spring Z3 and the two pistons Z1 and Z2 are 65 together fully inserted into the tube Z, with the reduced part of each pistoh seated m one of the ends of the spring, the tension of the spring lengthwise will hold the pistons yieldingly with their points protruding from the tube Z, because the pistons, fitting loosely 7q in the tube, guide the ends of the spring therein and keep them from contact with the tube; whereas the bent center of the spring is pressed by the tension of the same against the inside of the tube and causes 75 at that point sufficient friction to yieldingly hold spring and pistons in the tube, but to allow them to be at will drawn from the rear of the tube. By this arrangement, there- fore, these parts are held in place without go requiring the usual locking-pin, and it allows their ready assemblage and removal without requiring the use of any tools. All parts of the safety mechanisms and of the firing mechanism mounted in the rear’ 85 part of the frame have thus been shown to be held1 securely therein by the slide-lock к when in its place, while they become readily removable by the removal of the slide-lock. An accidental release and dis- 90 placement of the slide-lock itself is pre- vented by the arrangement under which it can be removed only at one point, midway between its lower and its raised position, because, while it requires but a slight effort 95 to fully raise or lower the slide-lock, it be- ing yieldingly held in either of these posi- tions, it requires considerable care and effort to move it to and hold it in the central position and there to withdraw it laterally юо from the frame; there being nothing to arrest the slide-lock except at the proper limits of its movements, a casual stopping mid- , way between these limits will not occur, because the pressure of the spring-actuated 105 piston Z1 against the front edge or the slide- lock tends to cause it to complete its ver- tical movements, and also tends to prevent any lateral movement of the slide-lock away from the side of the frame. no While the spiral main-spring v is seated within the butt-piece u. like that shown and described in my said prior patent, the upper and lower pistons at the ends of the main- spring and the small transverse pin for se- 115 curing them in the butt-piece, have been eliminated by the present construction. The lower end of the seat of the spring in the butt piece allows the lowest coil of the main-spring to partly project into the hole 120 which passes transversely through the sides of the grip and through the butt-piece at the lower end of the same, in which the pin u1 is fitted which secures the butt-piece in the grip of the pistol, Figs. 1, 2 and 4. 125 As is shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the pin u1 has two annular grooves into which the lowest coil of the main-spring partly enters, so that the spring itself yieldingly holds the ; pin u1 in its place in the grip. Both ends 130
1,070,688 of the pin u1 project laterally from the grip and the pin may be readily removed by pressure upon its right end. The strut q1 is pivotally connected with 5 the hammer, but instead of being attached thereto, as heretofore, by a separate pivot- pin, the strut q1 carries at its upper end integral trunnions which fit into the jnvot- holes in the hammer, see Figs. 4 and 7, and 10 through the left side of the divided rear part of the hammer a slot is cut from the pivot-hole rearward, through which the trunnions of the strut may be entered into their seats in the hammer, the strut being 15 guided in a radial direction from the rear toward the same until the trunnions enter the holes, then turning the strut on the trunnions downward until it enters the cen- tral vertical slot in the hammer, the trun- 20 nions are locked in their seats and the strut is secured to the hammer, see Fig. 4, thus dispensing with the separate pivot-pin, and with the use of tools which were required for driving out the pivot-pin for the re- 25 moval of the strut, whereas the strut, as here represented, may be as readily detached from the hammer by raising it to the radial position, without requiring the use of tools. Near the lower end the strut q1 has a collar 30 and below the same a part which fits into the main-spring, so that, when in place, the spring bears against the collar and the strut directly transmits the tension from the main- spring to the hammer. Below the part fit- 35 ting into the main-spring, the end of the strut q1 has been given the form of a punch of small diameter. This part may be used in dismounting the pistol, after the pin w1, the butt-piece u, the slide-lock k, the grip- 40 lever w and the hammer-strut q1 have been removed in the manner hereinbefore ex- plained, the small end of the strut may serve to release the hammer, sear and safety for removal by pushing their pivot-pins out 45 of the frame. As shown in Figs. 4 and 9, the trigger- and safety-spring t2, the sear-spring r2 and the grip-lever-spring r3 are formed as sepa- rate leaves, but are integral by being com- 50 bined at their lower ends into one common body, which having at its end a forward pro- jection fitting into a transverse slot in the rear Avail of the magazine-seat in the grip, is secured therein endwise or vertically, 55 while the front of the butt-piece u, when in place, securely locks the spring against rearward displacement. The sear-spring r2 is provided at the upper end and on the outer part of its width with a forward pro- 60 j ection by which the correct introduction and location of the combined springs in the grip is insured, there being no room for the placing of this forward projection except at the left side of the lowef part of the sear. 65 As seen in Figs. 1 and 5, the side-plates of the grip are secured to the frame by two studs y\ one of which is represented de- tached in Fig. 5 at 3, two of the studs are firmly attached by their shouldered ends in each side of the frame, one at the top and 70 the other near the bottom of the side-plates y, where each stud forms a lateral projec- tion provided with a larger T-shaped down- wardly projecting head. Each side-plate у has in its inner face a circular recess for 75 the reception of the lower stud, and, extend- ing downward from the recess, a T-shaped slot corresponding to the head and neck of the stud. In the upper end of each side- plate у a similar T-shaped slot is cut for go the upper stud. To attach the side-plate to the grip, it is placed on the side of the grip slightly below its normal position, with the lower stud in the lower recess and the upper stud just above the upper slot, then 35 the side-plate is pushed upward so that the two studs will enter the slots, and firmly lock the side-plate to the grip of the frame. At the lower rear corner each side-plate has a partly circular recess for the reception of 90 the projecting portion of the locking-pin -m1, by driving this pin into its place both side- plates are positively locked to the grip. For removing the side-plates the pin w1 is re- moved, then each side-plate may be readily 95 moved downward to be thereby released from the studs, when it may be removed from the grip. It will be evident that various features of this invention may be employed independ- юс ently of the rest, and in fire-arms of a dif- ferent kind from that which I have described herein, and that various changes in form and arrangement of the parts may be made with- out departing from the spirit of the inven- ю& tion. What I claim, and desire to secure by Let- ters Patent, is: 1. In a firearm, the combination of a frame, a breech-slide sliding on the frame, no firing mechanism mounted in said frame, a grip-lever pivoted in said frame and having an extension to lock or release said firing mechanism, and a slide-lock pivotally mount- ed on said frame for engaging or releasing цб a shoulder on said breech-slide for locking said slide in its forward position and releas- ing same, said slide-lock having an integral pivot-pin fitted transversely through said frame and through said grip-lever, whereby 120 said slide-lock is pivoted in said frame and pivotally secures said grip-lever in said frame. 2. In a firearm, the combination of a frame, a breech-slide sliding on the frame, 125 firing mechanism comprising a hammer and a sear pivoted in said frame, a grip-lever pivoted in said frame and having an exten- sion to lock or release said firing mechanism, and a slide-lock pivotally mounted on said iso
1,070,582 & frame for engaging or releasing a shoulder on said breech-slide for locking said slide in its forward position and releasing same, said slide-lock having an integral pivot-pin 5 fitted transversely through said frame and through said grip-lever whereby said slide- lock is pivoted in said frame and pivotally secures said grip-lever in said frame, said slide-lock also having an inward projection 10 extending into the frame for locking the hammer in its cocked position. 3. In a firearm, the combination of a frame, a breech-slide sliding on the frame, firing mechanism comprising a hammer and 15 a sear pivoted in said frame, a grip-lever pivoted in said frame and having an exten- sion to lock or release said firing mechanism, and a slide-lock pivotally mounted on said frame for engaging or releasing a shoulder 20 on said breech-slide for locking said slide in its forward position and releasing same, said slide-lock having an integral pivot-pin fitted transversely through said frame and through said grip-lever whereby said slide- 25 lock is pivoted in said frame and pivotally secures said grip-lever in said frame,, said slide-lock also having an inward projection extending into the frame for locking the sear when it holds the hammer in cocked po- 30 sition. 4. In a firearm, the combination of a frame, a breech-slide sliding on the frame, firing mechanism comprising a hammer and a sear pivoted in said frame, a grip-le- 35 ver pivoted in said frame and having an ex- tension to lock or release said firing mecha- nism, and a slide-lock pivotally mounted on said frame for engaging or releasing a shoulder on said breech-slide for locking 40 said slide in its forward position and releas- ing same, said slide-lock having an integral pivot-pin fitted transversely through said frame and through said grip-lever, whereby said slide-lock is pivoted in said frame and 45 pivotally secures said grip-lever in said frame, said slide-lock also having an inward projection extending into the frame for lock- ing the hammer in its cocked position and for locking the sear against releasing said 50 hammer. •S. In a firearm, the combination of a frame, a breech-slide sliding on the frame, firing mechanism comprising a hammer and a sear pivoted in said frame, a slide-lock piv- 55 otally mounted on said frame for engaging or releasing a shoulder on said breech-slide for locking said slide in its forward position and releasing the same, said slide-lock hav- ing an inward projection extending into the 60 frame for engaging and locking the hammer in its cocked position and for engaging and locking the sear against releasing said ham- mer. 6. In a firearm, the combination of a 65 frame, a breech-slide sliding on the frame, firing mechanism secured in said frame by pivot-pins, and a slide-lock pivoted on said frame having a shoulder for engaging said breech-slide to lock it in its forward position and having a plate-like body to cover and 70 secure in place the pivot-pins of said firing mechanism. 7. In a firearm, the combination of a frame, a breech-slide sliding on the frame firing mechanism comprising a hammer and a sear secured in said frame by pivot-pins fitted transversely through said frame and held therein in one direction by having heads of increased diameter, and a slide- lock pivoted on said frame having a shoul- 80 der for engaging said breech-slide to lock it in its forward position, and having a plate-like body to cover said heads and se- cure in place the pivot-pins of said firing mechanism. 85 8. In a firearm, the combination of a frame, a breech-slide sliding on the frame, firing mechanism secured in said frame by pivot-pins, and a siide-lockpivotally mounted on said frame having a shoulder for engag- 90 ing said breech-slide to lock it in its forward position, and having a plate-like body to cover and secure in place the pivot-pins of said firing mechapism and also having an inward projection extending into the frame 95 for locking the firing mechanism in cocked position when the said slide-lock is moved into position to lock the slide. 9. In a firearm, the combination of a frame, a breech-slide sliding on the frame, iqq firing mechanism secured in said frame by pivot-pins, a grip-lever pivoted in said frame and having an extension to lock or re- lease said firing mechanism, and a slide-lock pivotally mounted on said frame having a 105 shoulder for engaging said breech-slide to lock it in its forward position, and having an integral pivot-pin fitted transversely through said frame and through said grip- lever, and also having a plate-like body to hq cover and secure in place the pivot-pins of said firing mechanism. 10. In a firearm, the combination of a frame, a breech-slide sliding on the frame, firing mechanism secured in said frame by 115 pivot-pins, and a slide-lock pivotally mount- ed on said frame having a 'shoulder for en- gaging said breech-slide to lock it in its for- ward position, and having a plate-like body to cover and secure in place the pivot-pins of 120 said firing mechanism, and also having an inward projection extending into the frame for locking the firing mechanism in cocked position, said projection having a recessed portion for interlocking with the frame 125 whereby said slide-lock is movably secured on said frame. 11. In a firearm, the combination of a frame, a breech-slide sliding on the frame, firing mechanism secured in said frame by 130
|s07C,6§!? pivot - pins, and a slide - lock pivotally mounted on said frame having a shoulder for engaging said breech-slide to lock it in its forward position, and having a plate-like 5 body to cover and secure in place the pivot- pins of said firing mechanism, and having also an inward projection extending into the frame for locking the firing mechanism in cocked position, said projection having a 10 recessed portion for interlocking with the frame, and said frame having an elongated aperture widened at its central part, w’jhere- by said projection may be inserted or re- moved from said aperture at its central part 15 when the slide-lock is in an intermediate position, and the recessed portion in said in- ward projection interlocks with the frame when said slide-lock is in its locking position or in its unlocked position. 20 12. Jn a firearm, the combination of a frame, a breech-slide sliding on the frame, firing mechanism secured in said frame by pivot-pins, and a slide-lock pivotally mount- ed on said frame having a shoulder for en- 25 gaging said breech-slide to lock it in its forward position, and having a plate-like body to cover and secure in place the pivot- pins of said firing mechanism, and having also an inward projection extending into 30 the frame for locking the firing mechanism in cocked position, said projection having a recessed portion for interlocking with the frame, and said frame having an elongated apertur.e widened at its central part, wheire- 35 by said projection may be inserted or re- moved from said aperture at its central part when the slide-lock is in an intermediate position, and the recessed portion in said in- ward projection interlocks with the frame 40 when said slide-lock is in its locking posi- tion, or in its unlocked position, apd a spring-pressed member engaging the slide- lock for yieldingly holding it in lockecj or unlocked position. 45 13. In a firearm, the combination of a frame, a member pivoted on said frame so as to be movable to one position or another, a second member pivoted on said frame 'so as to be movable to one position or another, 50 a tube-like inclosure on the frame located between said two members, a spring in said inclosure with a piston at each end for yieldingly engaging said members and hold- ing them in either position. 55 14. In a firearm, the combination of a frame, a member pivoted on said frame' so as to be movable to one position or another, a second member pivoted bn said frame so as to be movable to one position or another, 60 a tube-l'ke inclosure on the frame located between the two nfembers, a spring in said inclosure with a piston at each end for yieldingly engaging said members, said spring having a bend in the portion between 65 the pistons so as to frictionally engage the wall of the inclosure and Jiold the spring in position in the inclosure while the two ends of the spring are guided by the pistons so as to operate freely and independently. 15. In a firearm, the combination of a frame, a member pivoted on said frame so as to be movable to one position or another, a second member pivoted on said frame so as to be movable to one position or another, a tube-like inclosure on the fraipe located between said two members, a spring in said inclosure with a piston at each end for yieldingly engaging said members, one of said pistons having a shoulder engaging a projecting portion in the inclosure to con- fine the spring and pistons in the inclosure at one end, said spring and pistons being confined at the ’ other end by engagement with one of said members! ' lb. In a firearm, the combination of a gtj frame, a breech-slide sliding on said frame, firing mechanism mounted in said frame, a barrel connected to saicj frame by a, pivot- pin, a rearwardly projecting handle for said pivot-pin, a slide-lock pivotally mounted on go said frame, a tube-like inclosure oh the frame located between said handle and said slide-lock, a spring in said inclosure with a piston at each encj for yieldingly engaging said handle and said slide-lock. " ' 95 17. Jn a firearm, the combination of a frame,' a breech-slide sliding'’on said frame, . firing mechanism secured in saifi frame by pivot-pins, a member pivoted on said frame, a slide-lock pivoted on said frame having a iqq plate-like body for covering and’ securing in place the pivot-pins of phe firing mechanism and haying an inward projection for remov- ably securing it to the frame, a tube-like ipclosure on said frame located betwebn 1Q5 said member and said slide-lock, and a spying in'said inclosure with a piston at each end for yieldingly engaging said mem- ber and said slide-lock. 18. In a firearm, the combination of a frame,' a breech-slide sliding on said frame, firing mechanism secured in said frame by pivot-pins, a member pivoted on said frame, a slide-lock pivoted on said frame, having a plate-like body for covering and securing in place the pivot-pins of the firing mecha- nism and having an inward projection for removably securing it to the frame and for locking the firing mechanism in cocked po- sition, and a tube-like inclosure on said 120 frame located between said member and said slide-lock, and a spring in said inclosure with a piston at each end for yieldingly en- gaging said member and said slide-lock. 19. In a firearm, the combination of a 125 frame, a hammer, a butt-piece, a pin for re- movably securing said butt-piece in said frame, grooves in said pin, a coiled main- spring carried in the butt-piece and having its lowest coil entering the grooves in said 130
8 1,070,582 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 pili so as to yieldingly secure the pin in place, and a strut between the upper end of said main-spring and the hammer. 20. In a firearm, the combination of a frame, a butt-piece removably secured in said frame, a main-spring carried in the butt-piece, a strut having trunnions at its upper end and connected at its lower end with said main-spring, a hammer having at its rear portion two vertical walls sepa- rated by a space, pivot-holes in said walls for said trunnions and a slot in one of the walls extending from one of the pivot-holes whereby the trunnions may be entered in the pivot-holes and the strut between the walls when the strut is in line with the slot, and the strut confined between the walls with the trunnions in the pivot-holes when the strut is turned downward toward opera- tive position. 21. In a firearm, the combination of a frame, a butt-piece removably secured in said frame, a main-spring carried in the butt-piece, a strut having at its lower end a collar resting on top of the main-spring and a projection entering into said main- spring, said strut having trunnions at its upper end, a hammer having at its rear portion two vertical walls separated by a space, pivot-holes in said walls for said trunnions and a slot in one of the walls ex- tending from one of the pivot-holes where- by the trunnions may be entered into the pivot-holes and the strut between the walls when the strut is in line with the slot, and the strut confined between the walls with the trunnions in the pivot-holes when the strut is turned downward toward operative position. 22. In a firearm, the combination of a frame, a hammer, a sear, a trigger, a grip- lever, a spring for the sear, a spring for the trigger and a spring for the grip-lever, said three springs being formed as separate leaves at their upper ends and merging into a common integral body at their lower ends, said body having near its lower end a trans- verse projection and said frame having a slot to receive said projection, whereby the three springs are lengthwise and laterally kept in position in the frame. 23. In a firearm, the combination of a frame, a hammer, a sear, a trigger, a grip- lever, a spring for the sear, a spring for the trigger and a spring for the grip-lever, said three springs being formed as separate leaves at their upper ends and merging into a common integral body at their lower ends, one of said spring-leaves having a forward projection at its upper end, and a space in 60 the frame for receiving said forward pro- jection. 24. In a fij-earm, the combination of a frame having a grip, a side-plate for the grip, T-shaped slots in the side-plate ex- 65 tending downwardly from suitable open- ings in said side-plate, studs on the frame having T-shaped heads for entering said openings and engaging said slots, and a pin extending through ana from the frame and 70 yieldingly held therein for engaging the said side-plate and securing it in position on the frame with said heads engaged with said slots. 25. In a firearm, the combination of a 75 frame having a* grip, a side-plate on each side of the grip, a T-shaped slot in the top of each side-plate, and a T-shaped slot ex- tending downward from a suitable opening near the bottom in each side-plate, studs on 80 the frame having T-shaped heads for enter- ing and engaging said slots, and a pin ex- tending through and projecting from the sides of the frame and yieldingly held there- in for engaging ,and securing both side- 85 plates in position on the grip with said heads engaged with said slots. 26. In a firearm, the combination of a frame having a grip, a butt-piece removably seated in the grip and a coiled mainspring 90 carried in said butt-piece, a side-plate for each side of the grip, a T-shaped slot in the top of each side-plate, and a T-shaped slot extending downward from a suitable open- ing near the bottom of each side-plate, studs 95 on the frame having T-shaped heads for en- tering and engaging said slots, and a pin extending through the grip and the butt- piece for securing said butt-piece in said grip and projecting from the sides of said 100 grip for engaging and securng both side- plates in position on the grip with said heads engaging said slots, said pin having grooves for the entrance of the lowest coil of said main-spring, whereby said pin is 105 yieldingly held in place by the main-spring. This specification signed and witnessed this 14th day of April A. D. 1913. JOHN M. BROWNING. In the presence of— Matthew Galt, H. O. Williams.
J. M. BROWNING. EIBEARM. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 19, 1912. 1,083,384. Patented Jan. 6,1914. 3 SHEETS—SHEET 1.
J. M. BROWNING. FIBEABM. APPLICATION PILED NOT. 19, 1912.
J. M. BROWNING. FIBEABM. APPLICATION PILED NOV. 19, 1912. 1,083,384. Patented Jan. 6,1914.
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. JOHN M. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH. EIREABM. 1,083,384. specification of letters Patent. Patented Jan. 6,1914. Application filed November 19,1912. Serial No. 732,215. To aU whom it may concern : Be it known that I, John M. Browning, a citizen of the United States, resident of. Ogden, Utah, have invented certain new and 5 useful Improvements in Firearms, of which the following is a specification. My invention relates to improvements in firearms particularly adapted to automatic guns, although I do not limit myself to any 10 particular class of weapon with respect to such features of the invention as are capable of general application. The mechanism is also particularly adapted to the use of rim fire cartridges, although by suitable modifi- 15 cations other lands of cartridges may be used. The principal object of my invention is to simplify and improve the construction of guns of this class and to arrange the parts 20 so that the user is protected from gases and flying particles while firing. Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will be pointed out, so far as is necessary, in connection with a detailed 25 description of the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one embodiment of the in- vention. It is to be understood that the invention is capable of embodiment in many different SO forms. Figure 1, is a side elevation of a com- plete gun; Fig. 2, is an enlarged longitu- dinal section through the butt-stock and frame or receiver; Fig. 3, is a fragmentary 35 plan showing the part of the stock adjacent to the grip and the filling opening. Fig. 4, is a transverse section on the line ж—x of Fig. 3; Fig. 5, is an enlarged longitudinal section of the cartridge-guide and extractor; 40 Fig. 6, is a perspective view of the guide, looking from the front and top; Fig. 7, is a, large bottom plan of the frame with the action removed, showing the cartridge-chan- nel, guide, stop and support with cartridges *5 in position; Fig. 8, is a perspective view of the cartridge-stop; Fig. 9, is a sectional de- tail of the rear end of the magazine and follower-tube; Fig. 10, is an enlarged longi- tudinal section of the frame and action; 50 Fig. 11, is a side elevation of the trigger- plate and breech-block and related parts partly broken away; Fig. 12, is a section through the breech-block, showing the firing pin in full; Fig. 13, is a top plan of the 55 breech-block with the cartridge-stop taken out of its normal position in the frame and laid upon the breech-block in proper op- erative relationship thereto; Fig. 14, is a section on the line у—у of Fig. 10; Fig. 15, is a section on the line 'z —z at Fig. 10; Fig. go 10, is a section much enlarged on the line w—w of Fig. 10; Fig. 17, is a longitudinal sectional detail of the front end of the breech-block and extractor in the scale of Fig. 16; Fig. 18, is an enlarged side view of 65 the rear end of the barrel, the adjusting nut being shown in section; Fig. 19, is a rear end elevation of Fig. 18; Fig. 20, is a front view of the frame with the barrel removed; Fig. 21, is a fragmentary section of the 70 front end of the frame and barrel fastening, the barrel being shown in position. Fig. 22, shows the empty frame in longitudinal sec- tion ami the trigger-plate in perspective be- low the frame, this view being designed to 75 show particularly the complemental engag- ing members of the frame and trigger-plate. Considering the gun as composed of dif- ferent groups of parts, reference character F designates the frame or receiver; A the go action or working parts therein ; B the bar- rel detachably secured to .the front end of the frame; S the butt-stock secured to the rear end of the frame, and M the magazine in the butt-stock. The frame houses the ac- 85 tion, and all parts of the mechanism are de- signed so that the frame may present an ab- solutely solid and unapertured exterior, ex- cept for the ejecting opening 27 in the bot- tom, the threaded socket in the front end to 90 receive the barrel, and threaded socket s' in the rear end to receive the magazine. When desired, and it is usually desirable, the frame may be a single piece of metal of ample strength to resist any interior explosions, 95 and its solid top, sides and back completely protect the user of the gun from explosion gases or flying particles which might other- wise strike bis face. The butt-stock is of the almost universal type, comprising a 100 downwardly curved grip 1, forming a de- pression 2 forward of the comb 3. A pistol grip 4 is also preferably provided, although this may be dispensed with in certain cases. Advantage is taken of the natural and 195 usual form of butt-stock to provide a novel and advantageous filling opening for the. magazine. The magazine comprises an outer tube 5 fixed in a longitudinal bore in the stock. The front end of the tube is цо screwed into socket s', in the frame. Within the outer tube is an inner tube 6 having at
1,083,384 its rear a finger-piece 7 contained in a re- cess 8 in the butt-stock and containing a spring 9 and a flexible follower 10. Fin- ger-piece 7 is provided with a .hole 7a 5 through which it is easy to insert the point of a screw-driver or other tool for the pur- pose of withdrawing the inner tube if it becomes jammed in any way so that it is not easily removed with the fingers. The 10 outer tube is conveniently provided with a spring 11 engaging the inner tube to pre- vent it from accidentally dropping out. A bayonet or other locking device 12 is also provided at the base of the outer and inner 15 tubes to positively secure the latter in posi- tion. Tube 5 is placed in the stock so that it forms as small an angle as possible with the upper axis of the cartridge-channel 13 located in the top of the frame. The maga- 20 zine is also arranged so that it intersects the depression 2 formed in the stock close to the base of the grip 1, and at that point the outer tube 5 is exposed and is provided with a filling hole 14. This hole is normally 25 closed by the inner tube, as shown in Fig. 2, so that there is normally a complete closure of the magazine at the filling point. The wood of the stock is rounded off to form a finishing outline 15 about the metal maga- 30 zine adjacent to the filling hole, and the tube 5 is itself smoothed or beveled off, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, to meet the inner tube so that the contour of the grip at this point is perfectly smooth and trim. The magazine 35 is filled by pulling- back the inner tube until the front end of the follower is back of the filling hole. The muzzle of the gun being held downward, cartridges are then dropped into the filling hole, bullet first, until the 40 magazine is full. Then the inner tube is pushed in, compressing the spring behind the column of cartridge, and the inner tube is then locked by bayonet fastening 12. The act of pushing in the inner tube also closes 45 the filling hole. This construction provides a very accessible top filling opening over the longitudinal axis of the gun, so that it is convenient equally to right-handed or left- handed users. The hole is also made in and 50 lined with metal; it is immediately accessi- ble without removing any outside cover- plate, and the arrangement obviates the necessity of cutting away the wood of the stock to gain access to the filling hole proper. 55 Short cartridges can be easily inserted in this filling hole, and if one is accidentally jammed or wedged in wrong position, it can be easily reached to remove it, because of the outside and accessible arrangement of 60 the hole. If desired, the magazine may run somewhat below the surface of the stock near the base of the grip, but in this case the natural form of the stock will bring the magazine near the surface of the wood 65 and the wood need be cut away only slightly to give access to the filling opening. The opening will then have the same relative position in the stock as above described and is Still convenient for short cartridges. The frame, as above stated, is open at the 70 bottom, and in this opening the trigger- ' plate 16 is inserted. At the front end, the lower part.of the frame-wall is provided with an opening 17 having lateral channels 18. The front end 19 of the trigger-plate 75 closes the opening 17 and the plate is pro- vided with short flanges 20 engaging chan- nels 18. In the rear wall of the frame is a socket 21, and this is engaged by a tongue . 22 on the rear end of the trigger-plate. The so breech-block 25 slides upon the trigger- plate and has a cocking piece or lug 26 ex- tending through ejector opening 27. The recoil spring 28 is seated in a bore in the breech-block and abuts against a member 85 29 of the trigger-plate (specifically, this may be a pin) fixed in the upstanding lug 30 at the rear of the plate. A spring-guide 31 is placed within the rear end of the recoil spring, and this has a head 32 to directly 90 engage abutment pin 29. Evidently, the re- coil spring at all times urges the breech- block forward upon the trigger-plate, and when the barrel is in position the breech- block is thus normally held close against the 95 breech. When the barrel is dismounted, the trigger-plate and other parts of the action carried by it are inserted forwardly through the bottom opening of the frame. This brings the front end of the breech-block 100 against the inside of the front wall of the frame. The trigger-plate is then moved forward against the resistance of the recoil spring until flanges 20 clear the front end of the frame. The trigger-plate and asso- 105 dated parts are then moved bodily upward so that flanges 20 are opposite the front ends of channels 18 and tongue 22 is opposite its socket 21. The trigger-plate is then moved back so that the flanges engage their 110 channels and the tongue engages the socket, and the recoil spring then -acting through the breech-block securely retains the trig- ger-plate and other parts of the action in po- sition. The parts can be quickly detached as 115 a unit by first pushing the trigger-plate for- ward against-the pressure of the. recoil spring, until the tongue 22 is clear of socket 21 and flanges 20 are clear of channels 18. The rear end of the trigger-plate is then 120 drawn downward and out, with the breech- block and other associated parts. No addi- tional springs are necessary for this remov- able fastening of the action, the recoil spring being necessary in any case to ac- 125 tuate the breech-block, and the only purely fastening parts are the complemental en- gaging member of the trigger-plate and frame. The firing-pin 35 is reciprocably mounted 130
1,083,384 in a hole in the breech block. The firing- pin is, in turn, provided with a hole to re- ceive firing-pin spring 36, and this spring is provided with a guide abutting against 6 member 30 of the trigger-plate. In addi- tion to actuating the* firing-pin for firing, spring. 36 aids the recoil spring in holding the action in position, because through the firing-pin it also urges the breech-block for- 10 ward and the trigger-plate back. At the front of the firing-pin is the point 37 ex- tending through a hole provided for it in the breech-block, and at the rear the firing- pin is provided with a cock-notch 38. The 15 sear 39 is pivotally mounted in the trigger- plate. The sear spring 42, mounted in a socket in the trigger-plate, urges the sear to engagement with the firing-pin. A part of the sear extends downward and is provided 2o with a notch 43 to be engaged by the con- nector 47. Back of the sear is the trigger 44 pivoted at 45 and returned by spring 46. The trig- ger does not directly engage the sear. A 25 connector 47 is pivoted to the trigger 48 and has a pawl or point 49 to engage the con- nector notch on the sear. Connector 47 also has a cam 50 over which one bottom edge 51 of the breech-block slides. At the rear 30 end, this edge of the breech-block is pro- vided with a cam 52 which cooperates with cam 50. The connector is urged upward -by a spring-pressed pin 53, carried by the trig- ger, and engaging a pin 54 on the connector. 85 So far, I have described all of the action ex- cept parts directly concerned with feeding the cartridges, the ejector and the extractor. The operation is as follows: The breech- block is normally held against the breech 40 by recoil spring 28. Fig. 10 shows the breech-block in this position and also shows the firing-pin released, and it may be as- sumed that a cartridge has just been fired. The firing reaction moves the shell and the 45 breech-block with firing-pin 35 back against the recoil spring 28 and firing-pin spring 36, until sear 40 engages with cock-notch 38 of the firing-pin. The shell is ejected through slot 27 by means which will be described 50 later. The firing-pin is retained in retract- ed position and the breech-block returns im- mediately toward the breech, carrying with it a cartridge which has been fed in front of the breech-block, as will be later de- 55 scribed. To fire, the trigger is pulled mov- ing the connector forward, and the connector engages notch 43 in the sear and rotates the sear so that the rear end of sear 40 is drawn down, releasing the firing-pin. Firing-pin 60 spring 36 then drives the firing-pin for- ward and point 37 fires the cartridge. Trig- ger 44 cannot be manually released in the short time elapsing before the breech-block will come back again, and to prevent unin- 65 tentional repeating an automatic sear-re- lease is provided, consisting of the pivoted connector, its cam 50, and the cam carried by the breech-block. Breech-block cam 52 engages cam 50 as soon us the breech-block starts back and depresses the connector, car- 70 rying connector pawl 49 out of engagement with the sear. The sear immediately springs into active position irrespective of the posi- tion of the trigger and reengages the firing- pin as soon as the firing-pin is brought back 75 by the breech-block, and then to fire again the trigger must be released and again pulled. The release of the trigger permits the connector pawl to spring back into en- gagement with the sear 43. This releasing sq mechanism not only prevents unintentional repeating, but absolutely prevents firing by means of the trigger, except when the breech is fully closed. Evidently, when the breech- block is in any other than its forward posi- 35 tion, it holds cam 50 down and positively prevents any connection being effected be- tween the trigger and the sear, and, there- fore, the sear cannot be operated to release the firing pin. 90 A positive safety lock is provided, con- sisting of a pin 60, transversely movable in a socket in the trigger-plate and held by a spring-pressed plunger 61, engaging a groove 62 in the pin. This groove is pro- 05 vided with depressions 63, 64, at either end to locate the pin in locked or unlocked posi- tion. The pin is also provided with a slot 65 adjacent to a dependent locking member 66 of the sear. When the safety-pin is put 100 in the position of Fig. 14, locking member 66 of the sear is opposite slot 65 in the pin, and the sear can be freely moved by the trigger when the breech block is in proper position. But, when the pin is pushed to 105 the other end of its travel, locking member 66 on the sear is opposite a solid part of the pin and cannot move, and the sear is thus positively locked into engagement with the firing-pin and the firing-pin cannot be re- 110 leased. The cartridge-channel 13 in the upper part of the frame or receiver has been men- tioned. At its rear end, this channel con- nects with the magazine-tube 5, but shortly 115 straightens so that for the greater part of its length it is parallel with the barrePbore. At the forward end of the channel is located a cartridge-guide 70 which is conveniently a separate piece, but might otherwise be in- 120 teirral with the frame. This guide is pro- vided at its sides, near the top thereof with ribs which enter the corresponding grooves in the frame. The guide is inserted from the front and shoved back, and when the 125 barrel is put in position the rear end of the barrel securely holds the guide in place. The interior of this guide is substantially a continuation of the cartridge-channel. At its rear end, at each side, is a diagonal 13©
1,088,384 groove 71. These grooves, together, form a cam-guide for the base of the shell. . At its forward end the guide has a diagonal face 72 constituting a cam to guide the bullet. 5 As clearly seen in Fig. 10, if a cartridge is shoved forward from the channel 13 into the guide, the bullet will encounter cam 72 and at the same time the base of the shell enters grooves 71 and continued forward movement 10 of the cartridge will cause it to move bodily forward and downward, preserving its par- allelism to its original position until the bul- let is substantially in the rear end of the ' chamber. As soon as the cartridge moves 15 slightly downward in the cams, the base of the shell is below the line of travel of the breech-block, and when the breech-block comes forward its face 73 will strike the rear end of the shell and push the cartridge for- 20 ward into the breech. To control the move- ment of the column of cartridges, a positive stop 74, shown in perspective in Fig. 8, is provided. In this the stop proper is . the member 75' projecting into channel 13 25 somewhat to the rear of the guide, as shown in Fig. 7. The stop has a pivot 75 engaging a socket in the frame and a cam-shaped end 76 cooperating with cam members carried by the breech-block. 30 Fig. 13 shows cam face 77 at one side of the breech-block and cam-pin 78 adjacent to cam 77 with the stop-cam 76 between them. In this view, the stop-piece 74 has been re- moved from the frame and dropped upon 35 the breech-block in proper position, so that if it is imagined the pivot 75 is stationary and the breech-block slides back and forth, the correct operation of the parts will be easily understood. The stop 75' does not 40 enter the channel far enough to interfere with the bullets or the bodies of the shells, but only engages the shell heads. Entering the channel of guide 70, near the forward end thereof, is a support 80 which’ may con- 45 veniently be the bent end of a spring 81 en- gaging a socket 82 in the frame and held in tension by a pin 83 therein. The support 80 passes through a hole in the side wall of the guide, and in addition to its cartridge- 50 supporting function evidently serves to re- tain the guide in position in the frame when the barrel is removed and the guide is made a separate piece. In this case, removal of the spring will, evidently, permit the guide 55 to be removed. The support 80 holds the cartridge in the guide when the breech-block is retracted, and until the breech-block re- turns toward the barrel. When the car- tridge is in firing position, as shown in Fig. 60 10, and the breech-block is closed, there is a cartridge in guide 70 engaging cam 72 and cam grooves 71 and prevented from ad- vancing farther by engaging on its lower side with the upper face of the breech-block. Behind this is another cartridge in channel 65 13, its bullet engaging behind the cartridge, first-mentioned, and all being, of course, urged forward by the magazine spring. Upon firing, as soon as the breech-block moves back a short distance, cam 77 actuates 70 the free end 76 of the stop-piece so that stop 75' is moved into channel 13 behind the car- tridge in the guide and slightly in front of the head of the next following cartridge, the distance between the stop and the car- 75 tridge head being, say, about one-eighth of an inch. The stop remains in this position while the breech-block goes all the way back and until it returns almost to the limit of its forward movement. As soon as the front 80 end of the breech-block moves back, clear of the head of the cartridge, in the guide, the magazine spring moves forward the whole column of cartridges until the head of the second cartridge engages stop 75', and it, 85 with all the cartridges- behind it in the column, is arrested and held. The bullet of this second cartridge is then just slightly within the channel of the guide, as shown in Fig. 2. The forward cartridge has by 90 the movement of the whole column been moved forward in the guide until it is en- gaged by support 80, and at this time the base of the shell has moved downward into the path of the breech-block. The support 95 now holds the cartridge in the same position in its guide until the breech-block again goes forward and the forward end 73 of the block strikes the rear face of the cartridge head. The further forward movement of 100 the breech-block then pushes the cartridge forward and the guide at the same time forces it downward in parallel position un- til the bullet enters the breech and the breech-block then shoves the cartridge fully 105 into the barrel and holds it ready for firing. Slightly before the breech-block fully closes, cam-pin 78 engages the free end of stop-piece 74 and moves stop 75' out of the cartridge-channel, releasing what is now the 110 foremost cartridge in the channel, and the magazine-spring then moves the whole car- tridge column until the foremost cartridge is within the guide and rests upon the up- per face of the breech-block. 115 The ejector mechanism may vary consid- erably, but in the preferred construction it comprises the two ejector lugs 85 located on the side walls of the guide to the rear of cam grooves 71 projecting downward into 120 the rearward path of the cartridge-head, as shown in Figs. 5 and 7. An extractor 86 is also located in a groove in the front end of the breech-block and pressed forward by a spring. This extractor is arranged to en- 125 gage the lower side of the cartridge head. When the shell comes rapidly back after firing, the upper edge of its base strikes lugs
1,088,384 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 85 and the forward end of the shell is thus snapped sharply downward and the shell forcibly thrown through slot 27 to the ground. When the bolt goes forward to feed the cartridge into the chamber the base of the cartridge is flat against the front face 73 of the block, and as the block goes for- ward the shell is shoved straight down by the cam guides. The lower edge of the flanged base is thus inserted in . the ex- tractor 86. The upper face of the breech-block is pro- vided with channels 90 to accommodate the lower edges of- the side walls of guide 70 and between these, is a land or flat ridge 91 extending, straight back from the point 73 upon whieh the cartridge rests while it. is in the guide before and during the rearward movement of the block. The mechanism is accommodated to a take-down barrel construction, as follows: The frame is provided with a front opening s to receive the barrel. This is provided with interrupted threads 95 and the rear end of the barrel is' provided with comple- mental threads 96. Instead of interrupted threads, continuous .threads may be used and the barrel then inserted or removed by giving it several turns. A short distance from the end of the barrel these threads are made continuous as at 97, and an adjustable abutment nut 98 is screwed upon the con- tinuous threads and pinched or tightened bn threads in any suitable way so that it will not accidentally turn. The nut is usually provided with holes 99 by which it may be turned when adjustment is necessary. The barrel also carries a lug 100 connected to the barrel forward of the nut and reaching back under the nut and terminating in a face 101 which abuts against the front end of the. trigger-plate when the barrel is in position. At this ]>oint the trigger-plate is provided with a vertical slot 102. At one side of this slot is a stop-pin 102a. ,Located in lug 100 is a sliding latch 103 provided with an extended finger-piece 101 and yield- ably held in position by a spring-pressed plunger 105. Latch 103 cooperates with slot 102 in the forward end of the trigger-plate. To put the gun together, the end of the bar- rel is inserted in frame-hole s, in such position that, the interrupted threads are free from each other. The barrel is then turned until the threads pull the barrel firmly into position with the base of nut 98 resting against the frame. At this point barrel lug 100 encounters stop 102a and is prevented from turning further. Latch 103 is then opposite slot 102 and the latch is drawn back and positively locks the barrel against rotating in the opposite direction. If any looseness occurs, nut 98 may be set up tight while the barrel is in position. When the barrel is in position it affords a 65 positive fastening, for the action, by reason of lug 100 resting in front of the trigger- plate. In other forms of the invention the barrel locking parts could be arranged so that the 70 action could be removed without reference to whether the barrel were in place or not. Evidently, also, the position of the barrel locking parts coidd be interchanged so that the latch is on the frame or trigger-plate 75 and the socket carried by the barrel. The butt-stock may be fastened to the frame in different ways, but the drawing shows a preferred method of fastening. This con- sists of a screw 110, the head of which en- 80 gages the back of the pistol grip and the threaded end of whieh is screwed into socket 111 in the frame. Some of the details of construction of the trigger-plate, breech-block and associated 85 parts, in addition to those already pointed out, are of considerable importance. Fig. 10 shows that the cartridge-channel 13 in the frame is open at the bottom toward the rear end.' This open bottom of the channel 90 is closed, when the trigger-plate is in posi- tion, by lug 30, which carries in its inclined face a groove 31a in which the cartridges slide. At its rear end the breech-block has a slot 25a in which lug 30 of the trigger- 95 plate is accommodated when the breech- block moves back. Lug 30 also has a for- ward extension 30b which lies over the rear end of the firing-pin when the gun is cocked. This assists in preventing the firing-pin 10® from accidentally springing away from the sear. Eecoil spring 28 is located in one side of the breech-block and its abutment 29 is carried at one side of lug 30. This allows for sufficient travel of the breech-block and 105 at the same time for an ample long spring. Firing-pin spring 36 abuts directly against the front, face of lug 30. Many features of the invention are adapt- able to non-automatic guns. The feeding HO mechanism, including the cartridge-guide and the breech-block arrangement, are a few examples of this. Other features of the in- vention are applicable to firearms whether they are automatic or not, breech-loading or 115 not, such, for instance, as the barrel-fasten- ing and adjusting mechanisms. Persons skilled in the art will understand many advantages of the invention and possi- ble modifications not particularly referred 12© to for the sake of brevity. I claim:— 1. In an automatic gun, the combination of a receiver, - & breech block and trigger plate, a sear pivoted to the trigger plate and 125 having an arm extending rearward and an- other arm extending downward, a firing pin adapted to engage said rearward extending
в 1,088,834 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 arm, a safety stop adapted to engage the downward extending arm a trigger pivoted rearward of the sear, ana a connector piv- oted to the trigger q and extending forward to engage the sear. 2. In an automatic gun, the combination of a receiver, a breech block and trigger plate, a sear pivoted to the trigger plate and having an arm extending rearward and an- other arm extending downward, a firing1 pin adapted to engage said rearward extending arm, a safety stop adapted to engage the downward extending arm, a trigger pivoted rearward of the sear, a .connector pivoted to the trigger and-extending forward to en- gage the sear, the breech block and connector being provided with cooperating .means to free the connector from the sear. 3. In an automatic firearm, a barrel, a butt-stock and a box-frame between said bar- rel and stock, said frame having a solid un- broken top and sides, a front wall receiving the barrel and otherwise solid, a rear wall, a magazine in the butt-stock entering the rear wall of said frame, said wall being otherwise unapertured, said frame being provided at the bottom with an ejector opening, and loading, firing and ejecting mechanism with- in said frame. 4. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a butt-stock, a magazine therein, a barrel, a box-frame connecting the butt- stock and barrel, said frame having solid, unapertured top and sides, an open bottom, a solid front end unapertured except for a barrel opening, a solid rear end unaper- tured except for a magazine opening, and a trigger plate closing the bottom of said frame, the trigger plate being provided with an ejector opening. 5. In a firearm, the combination of a frame, a butt-stock and a barrel, a remov- able action in the frame and means carried by the barrel for securing the action in posi- tion. 6. In a firearm, the combination of a butt- stock, $ frame, a removable action therein and a take-down front portion comprising a barrel and forearm, and means carried by said front portion having means for secur- ing the action in position. 7. In a firearm, the combination of a butt- stock, a box-frame having a bottom opening, a removable action within the frame con- structed and arranged so that it may be re- moved through said bottom opening, and means for securing the action in position. 8. In a firearm, the combination of a butt- stock, a box-like frame having a bottom opening, a removable unitary action within the frame and quick acting means for fas- tening fhq action in position and permitting it to be quickly removed as a unit through said bottom Opening, as desired. 9. In a firearm, the combination of a butt- 65 stock, a box-frame having a bottom opening, a removable unitary action therein, a latch device for quickly securing the action in po- sition and permitting it to be readily re- moved, a demountable barrel, and means by 70 which mounting the barrel positively se- cures the action in position. 10. In a firearm, the combination of a butt-stock, a frame having a bottom opening and a removable action therein comprising 75 a trigger - plate, a breech-block movable thereon, a spring for actuating the breech- block, and means by which said spring holds the action removably in position in the frame. 80 11. In a firearm, the combination of a butt-stock, a frame having a bottom open- ing, a removable action therein comprising a trigger-plate, a breech-block movable there- on, a spring for actuating the breech-block. 85 and frame engagement devices on the trig- ger-plate whereby said spring detachably secures the action in position in the frame. 12. In a firearm, the combination of a butt-stock, a receiver, an action therein, a 90 cartridge-channel in the receiver above the action, and a magazine in the stock com- municating with the channel. 13. In a firearm, the combination of a butt-stock, a receiver, an action therein, in- 95 eluding a movable breech-block, a cartridge- channel in the receiver above the breech- block, and a magazine in the stock communi- cating with the channel. 14. In a firearm, the combination of a 100 butt-stock, a receiver, an action therein, a cartridge-channel in the receiver above the action, a barrel, a feed-guide between the channel and the barrel, and a magazine in the stock communicating with the channel. 105 15. In a firearm, the combination of a butt-stock, a receiver, an action therein, a cartridge-channel in the receiver above the action, cam members at the forward end of the channel to guide a cartridge into the l10 breech, and a magazine in the stock com- municating with the channel. 16. In a firearm, the combination of a butt-stock, a receiver, an action therein, a barrel, a cartridge-channel in the receiver 115 above the action and communicating with the barrel, a movable stop cooperating with the action and entering the channel adjacent to the barrel, and a magazine in the stock communicating with the channel. 120 17. In a firearm, the combination of a butt-stock, a receiver, an action therein, a barrel, a cartridge-channel in the receiver above the action and communicating with the barrel, a cartridge-support in the chan- 125 nel adjacent to the barrel, and a magazine in the stock communicating with the chan- nel.
1,083,384 •7 18. In a firearm, the combination of a butt-stock, a receiver, an action therein, a barrel, a cartridge-channel in the receiver above the action and communicating with 5 the barrel, a spring-actuated cartridge-sup- port in the channel adjacent to the barrel, and a magazine in the stock communicating with the channel. 19. In a firearm, the combination of a 10 butt-stock, a receiver, an action therein, a barrel, a cartridge-channel in the receiver above the action and communicating with the barrel, a positive cartridge stop coop- erating with the action and entering the 15 channel near the barrel, a spring-cartridge- support intermediate the stop and the bar- rel, and a magazine in the stock communi- cating with the' channel. 20. In a firearm, the combination of a 20 butt-stock, a barrel, a receiver, a sliding breech-block therein, a recoil spring there- for a cartridge-channel in the receiver above the breech-block, and a cartridge-guide at the forward end of the channel to move a 25 cartridge into the path of the breech-block. 21. In a firearm, the combination of a butt-stock, a barrel, a receiver, a sliding breech-block therein, a recoil spring there- for, a cartridge-channel in the receiver above 30 the breech-block, and a guide-cam at the forward end of the channel to guide the car- tridge forward and downward into the chamber. 22. In az firearm, the combination of a 35 butt-stock, a barrel, a receiver, a cartridge- channel therein near the top, a. magazine in the butt-stock communicating with the chan- nel, a sliding breech-block below the chan- nel, and a guide-cam intermediate the chan- 40 nel and the barrel to guide the cartridge downward into the path of the breech-block and into the chamber. 23. In a firearm, the combination with a butt-stock, receiver and barrel, of a car- 45 tridge-channel near the top of the receiver, a magazine in the stock communicating with the channel, and a cartridge-guide inter- mediate the channel and the chamber, said guide comprising a cam for the bullet and a 50 cam for the shell-head, a reciprocating breech-block below the channel, and means for feeding cartridges through the channel and downward through the guide to the barrel. 55 24. In a firearm, the combination with a butt-stock, receiver and barrel, of a car- tridge-channel near the top of the receiver, a magazine in the stock communicating with the channel, a breech-block reciprocating be- 60 low the channel, a cartridge-guide inter- mediate the channel and the chamber, said guide comprising a cam for the bullet and a cam for the shell-base, whereby thte car- tridge is guided downward toward the cham- ber and into the path of the breech-block 65 with its axis parallel to its position in the channel, and means for feeding cartridges through the channel. 25. In a firearm, the combination with a butt-stock, receiver and barrel, of a car- 70 tridge-channel in the receiver, a magazine in the stock communicating with the chan- nel, a breech-block reciprocating near the channel, a cartridge guide intermediate the channel and the chamber, said guide com- 75 prising a cam for the bullet and a cam for the shell-base, whereby the cartridge is guided toward the chamber and into the path of the breech-block with its axis par- allel to its position in the channel, means 80 for feeding cartridges through the channel, a positive stop entering the channel and ac- tuated by the breech-block to regulate move- ment of the cartridges. 26. In a firearm, the combination with a 85 butt-stock, a receiver, and barrel, of a car- tridge-channel in the receiver, a magazine in the stock communicating with the chan- nel, a breech-block reciprocating near the channel, a cartridge-guide intermediate the 90 channel and the chamber, said guide com- prising a cam for the bullet and a cam for the shell-base, whereby the cartridge is guided toward the chamber and into the path of the breech-block with its axis par- 95 allel to its position in the channel, means for feeding cartridges through the channel, and a spring-actuated Cartridge support to hold a cartridge in said guide during retrac- tion of the breech-block. 100 27; In a firearm, the combination with a butt-stock, receiver and barrel, of a car- tridge-channel in the receiver, a magazine in the stock communicating with the chan- . nel, a breech-block reciprocating near the 105 channel, a cartridge-guide intermediate the channel and the tmamber, said guide com- prising a cam for the bullet and a cam for the shell-bsise, whereby the cartridge is guided toward the chamber and into the 110 path of the breCch-block with its axis par- allel to its position when in the channel, means for feeding cartridges through the channel, a positive cartridge stop entering the channel and actuated by the breech-block 115 to regulate movement of the cartridges, and a spring-actuated eartridge-support to hold a cartridge in said guide during retraction of the breech-block. 28. In a firearm, the combination of a 120 butt-stock, receiver and barrel, a cartridge- channel in the receiver, a guide-cam inter- mediate the channel and the barrel-chamber, . a magazine in the butt-stock communicating with the channel, a.feed spring in the maga- 125 zine behind the column of cartridges, a breech-block reciprocating within the re- ceiver adjacent 'to the channel and; guide
1,0® 8,884 and arranged to engage and hold the for- ward cartridge when closed, so that when the breech-block is retracted the cartridge is fed forward and directed by the guide to- 6 ward the chamber and into the path of the breech-block. 29. In a firearm, the combination of a butt-stock, receiver and barrel, a cartridge- channel in the receiver, a guide-cam inter- 10 mediate the channel and the barrel-chamber, a magazine in the butt-stock communicating with the channel, a feed spring in the maga- zine behind the column of cartridges, a breech-block reciprocating within the re- 15 ceiver adjacent to the channel and guide, a cartridge-stop entering the channel, and cams on the breech-block to actuate the stop. 30. In a firearm, the combination of a 20 butt-stock, receiver and barrel, a cartridge- channel in the receiver, a guide-cam inter- mediate the channel and the barrel-chamber, a magazine in the butt-stock communicating with the channel, a feed-spring in the maga- 25 zine behind the column of cartridges, a breech-block reciprocating within the re- ceiver adjacent to the channel and guide, a cartridge-stop entering the channel, cams on the breech-block for actuating the stop, 30 and a spring-cartridge-support adjacent to the guide. 31. In a firearm, the combination of a butt-stock, receiver and barrel, a cartridge- channel upwardly located in the receiver, a 35 cartridge-guide intermediate the channel and barrehchamber, a breech-block recipro- cating below the channel and guide, and an ejector abutment at the rear of the guide, and above a bottom ejecting opening in the 40 receiver. 32. In a firearm, the combination of a butt-stock, receiver and barrel, a cartridge- channel in the receiver, a cam-guide inter- mediate the receiver and the barrel-chamber, 45 a breech-block reciprocating near the chan- nel and guide, and ejector lugs carried by the side Avails of the guide in the path of the rearwardly moving shell. 33. In a firearm, the combination of a 50 butt-stock, a barrel, a frame, and cartridge channel therein near the top, the frame be- ing provided with a bottom ejector open- ing, a reciprocating breech-block within the frame below the channel, a cartridge-guide 65 for guiding cartridges downward from the channel to the barrel, an extractor carried by the breech-block below the shell to en- gage the shell-base as it is fed forward, and ejector lugs at the rear of the guide to €0 engage the top of the shell-base as it is pulled back, and cause it to be ejected through the bottom opening. 34. In a firearm, the combination of a receiver casing, a cartridge-channel near the 65 top of said casing, a trigger-plate having an ejecting aperture, a breech-block slidably mounted on said plate below the channel and having a face adjacent to the cartridge- channel, a cartridge-guide at the forward end of the channel to guide cartridges into feeding engagement with the breech-block, a firing pin movably mounted in the breech- block, a sear carried by the trigger-plate, a trigger, and a connector carried by the trig- ger to actuate the sear. 35. In a firearm, the combination of a butt-stock, a barrel, a receiver having an open bottom, a trigger-plate having forward flanges to engage grooves in the receiver and a rearward tongue to engage a socket in the receiver, the trigger-plate having an ejector opening, a breech-block slidably mounted on the trigger-plate, and a spring engaging the breech-block and abutting against the trigger-plate for actuating said gj breech-block and holding the trigger-plate and associated parts in quick-detachable en- gagement with the receiver. 36. In a firearm, the combination of a butt-stock, barrel and receiver, a cartridge- 9c channel in the receiver, a reciprocating breech-block and a cartridge-stop posi- tively actuated by the breech-block to en- gage the column of cartridges upon rear- ward movement of the breech-block and to 95 disengage the column upon forward move- ment thereof. 37. In a gun, the combination of a frame closed at the top and sides and open at the bottom, a trigger-plate removably located ю in the bottom of the frame and provided with a bottom ejecting opening, a recipro- cating breech-block mounted on the trig- ger-plate, and a cocking lug on the breech- block projecting down through the ejecting ю opening for manually operating the arm. 38. In an automatic gun, the combination of a frame closed at the top and sides and hav- ing a bottom opening, a trigger-plate located in said bottom frame opening, and itself ц provided with an ejecting opening, a recip- rocating breech-block carried by the trigger- plate, a recoil spring, sear and trigger mech- anism for the breech-block, and a lug on the breech-block projecting down through ц the ejecting opening for manually operating the arm. 39. In an automatic gun, the combination of a frame having a cartridge-channel in the upper part thereof, the channel being inter- 12 rupted at the bottom near the rear end of the frame, a trigger plate located in the lower part of the frame and having at its rear end an upwardly projecting member serving to close said opening in the car- 12 tridge-channel. 40. In an automatic gun, the combination of a frame having a cartridge-channel in the upper part thereof, the channel being in- terrupted at the bottom near the rear end 13
1,083,384 of the frame, a trigger-plate located in the ] lower part of the frame and having at its rear end an upwardly projecting member ad- jacent to the cartridge-channel, the member 5 being provided with a groove to complete the interrupted part of the channel. 41. In an automatic gun, the combination of a frame having a cartridge-channel in the upper part thereof, the channel being.inter- 10 rupted at the bottom near the rear end of the frame, a trigger-plate removably secured in the lower part of the frame and having at its rear end an upwardly projecting member serving to close said opening m the cartridge 15 channel. 42. In an automatic gun, the combination • of a frame having a cartridge-channel in the upper part thereof, the channeltbeing interrupted at the bottom near the rear end 20 of the frame, a trigger-plate removably se- cured in the lower part of the frame and having at its rear end an upwardly project- ing member adjacent to the cartridge-chan- nel, the member being provided with a 25 groove to complete the interrupted part of the channel. 43. In an autoamtic gun, the combination of a frame, a trigger-plate thereon, an up- standing lug at the rear end of the trigger- 30 plate, a breech-block reciprocating on the plate and having a central rearward slot to accommodate the lug. 44. In an automatic gun, the combination of a frame, a trigger-plate therein, an up- 35 standing lug at the rear end of the trigger- plate, a breech-block reciprocating on the plate and having a central rearward slot to accommodate the lug, a recoil spring seated in a hole in the breech-block at one side 40 thereof, and a spring guide engaging against one side of said lug. 45. In an automatic gun, the combination of a frame, a trigger-plate therein, an up- 0 standing lug at the rear end of the trigger- plate, a breech-block reciprocating on the 45 plate and having a central rearward slot to accommodate the lug, a recoil spring seated in a hole in the breech-block at one side thereof, a spring guide engaging against one side of said lug, a firing pin reciproca- 50 bly mounted in a hole substantially centrally placed in the breech-block, the firing spring seated in a longitudinal hole in the firing- pin, and a firing spring guide bearing against the front face of said lug. 55 46. In a firearm, the combination of a butt-stock, a barrel, a frame, a cartridge channel therein, a guide-cam intermediate the channel and the barrel, and an ejector lug on the guide-cam to engage the base of 60 the shell during recoil and eject the shell downward. 47. In a firearm, the combination of a butt-stock, a barrel, a frame, a cartridge- channel upwardly located in the frame, a 65 cartridge-guide between the channel and the barrel, a sliding breech-lock serving when closed to support a cartridge in the guide, a cartridge stop, and means by which said, stop engages a cartridge when the breech- 70 block is moved back.- _ 48. In a firearm, the combination of a butt-stock, a barrel, a frame, a cartridge channel upwardly located therein, a car- tridge guide-cam between the channel and 75 barrel, a yielding stop to engage the car- tridge in the guide, a positive stop to en- gage the cartridge just to the rear of the guide, a sliding breech-block serving when closed to engage the forward cartridge and 80 to release it when open, and means by which the breech-block operates said positive stop. JOHN M. BROWNING. Witnesses: Anr. Andbi, A. Ealopin.
J. M. BROWNING. CARTRIDGE TUBE. APPLICATION PILED NOV. 19, 1912. 1,095,801. Patented May 5,1914. Cl I’to г»i etj
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. JOHN M. BROWNING, of OGDEN, UTAH. CABTBIDGE-TUBE; 1,095,801. Application Specification of letters Patent. filed November 19,1912. To all whom it may.concern: Be it known that I, John M. Browning, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ogden, in the State of Utah, have invented 5 tertain new and useful Improvements in Cartridge-Tubes, of which the following is a specification. My invention relates to an improved form of tube for carrying cartridges so that they 10 may be quickly loaded into the magazine of a repeating firearm. ' ' Paper cartridge tubes have heretofore been made with a closure at the filling end which requires the use of some tool to open 15 it. This tool, usually a special device made for the purpose, must be carried around and used whenever it is desired to load a maga- zine from the tube. The principal object of my invention is to 20 provide a form of closure for cartridge tubes that can be easily opened with the finger nail and without the use of any tool. The convenience and advantage of this improve- ment, when used by a sportsman in the field 25 and in many other cases, will be easily un- derstood. A further object is to provide in one form of the invention a movable closure at each end of the tube so that cartridges can be 30 loaded from it into a magazine from either end. The characteristics and advantages of the invention will be . sufficiently pointed out in connection with a detailed description of the 35 accompanying drawing which shows some of the possible embodiments of my inven- tion. Figure 1 is a side view of one form of the tube with the feeding end of the tube open. 40 Fig. 2 is a side view with the tube turned one-quarter way around. Fig. 3 shows the feeding end of the tube closed. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section showing the tube filled and the feeding end closed. Fig. 5 is a sec- 45 tional view showing the tube inverted and in feeding‘relation to an imaginary maga- zine, the feeding end being open for feeding. Fig. 6 is a modification in which the same closure may be used for both ends of the 50 tube, and Fig. 7 shows the tube of Fig. 6 with both ends closed. Referring to Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, refer- ence character 1 designates a paper cartridge tube of sufficient thickness to give consider- #5 able lateral stiffness. The bottom end 2 is Patented May 5,1914. Serial No. 732,214. partly or entirely closed by crimping of in any other suitable way. The top or feeding end is cut away diagonally as at 3, leaving at one side a projection or tongue 4. The angle of the cut may be varied considerably, eo When the feed end is open the tube is filled with cartridges as shown in Fig. 4 and the feed end is then closed by bending or crimp- ing in the projection or tongue 4. In a.pre- ferred form this bending" is done1 in such a 65 way that when the tongue is closed it has a concave contour 5. When it is desired to feed the column of cartridges into a maga- zine, the tongue may easily be opened out straight by the finger nail. This leaves an 70 angular discharge opening very conveniently adapted to be placed against a gun stock, or. other part of a gun containing a filling open- ing, in an angular position so that the col- umn of cartridges will easily slide out and 75 pass through the filling opening and make the slight turn necessary to enter the maga- zine. Fig. 5 shows the tube open with its filling end placed against a part of a gun in- dicated by the line x.—ж, adjacent to the 80 filling opening y. In some cases both ends of the tube may be closed in the manner already describedin . connection with the filling end shown in Figs. 6 and 7. This is especially convenient 85 when the tube may be required for use in connection with guns in which the cartridges are. to be loaded either bullet first or shell first. Either end can be opened and the cartridges discharged through that end as go required by the gun in use. ' , ' I claim: 1. A cartridge tube of cellulose material having its discharge end diagonally formed and provided with an integral closure so 05 that the closure may be readily opened with- out the use of a special tool, and the dis- charge end angularly fitted against the gun part to fill a magazine. 2. A paper cartridge tube having its dis- 100 charge end diagonally cut, the projecting part at one side of the tube so produced be- ing inwardly bent toward the center of. the tube forming a closure which may be easily opened with the finger nail to permit dis- 105 charge of cartridges into a magazine. • 3. A paper cartridge tube having its dis- charge end diagonally cut, the projecting part at one side of the tube sb produced be- ing inwardly bent toward the center of the 110
1,066,801 tube forming an integral temporary closure which may be easily opened to permit dis- charge of cartridges into a magazine. 4. A paper cartridge tube having each end 5 diagonally formed and temporarily closed so that either end may be,readily opened and angularly fitted against a gun part to fill a magazine. 5. A cartridge tube of relatively soft, flex- 10 ible material provided at its discharge end with an integral part projecting at one side of the tube in the direction of the tube axis, said part being inwardly, concavely bent toward the center of the tube, forming a car- 15 tridge-retaining closure which may be easily opened without the use of a special tool to permit discharge of cartridges into a maga- zine. 6. A cartridge-containing tube of paper, said tube having one end diagonally cut, the 26 integral extending part thus formed being inwardly bent or crimped to removably en- gage the contained cartridges. ' , 7. A cartridge-containing tube of paper, said tube having each end diagonally cut, the 25 extended parts thus formed being inwardly bent or crimped to removably engage the contained cartridges, the closures thus pro- vided at each end of the tube being formed and adapted to retain cartridges by engag- 30 ing either the balls or the shell bases thereof. JOHN M. BROWNING. Witnesses: A. J. Andbi, A. Salopin.
J. M. BROWNING. FIREARM, APPLiCATlON FILED NOV. 26,1913. 1,143,170. Patented June 15,1915. 5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.
J. M. BROWNING. FIREARM. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 26. 1913. 1,143,170. Patented June 15,1915. 5 SHEETS—SHEET 2.
J. M. BROWNING, FIREARM. APPLICATION FILED NOV, 26, 1913. 1,143,170. Patented June 15,1915. 5 SHEETS-SHEET 3. (/s.
J. M. BROWNING. FIREARM. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 26, 1613. 1,143,170. Patented June 15,1915. 5 SHEETS—SHEET 4.
J. M. BROWNING. FIREARM. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 26. 1913. 1,143,170 Patented June 15,1915. 5 SHEETS-SHEET 5. S/teom e-#s.
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. JOHN M. BBOWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH. •Ftpp.A-g.Tvr, 1,143,170. Specification Of betters Patent. Patented June 15,1915. Application filed November 26,1913. Serial Nd. 803,192. To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, John M. Browning, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ogden, Utah, have invented certain new and 5 useful Improvements in Firearms, of which the following is a specification. A principal object of this invention is to provide a frame or receiver having solid, . unbroken top and sides with a bottom ejec- 10 tion opening. The magazine is filled through the ejection opening. The mecha- nism is designed, to operate properly in con- nection with a receiver of this character- The invention also includes a slide mount- 15 ed to reciprocate in the receiver and a tilt- ing breech-block supported entirely by the slide, with means, for positively locking the breech-block in firing position. There is also a carrier actuated by the slide and 20 breech-block in a novel manner. There are also provided two cartridge stops to effec- tively control the delivery of cartridges from the magazine, in proper relation to the move- ments of the slide, breech-block and carrier. 25 The extractor has a combined pivotal and longitudinal movement cooperating with the action of the carrier. There is also a slide- lock to lock the slide in firing position and prevent premature return of the slide. 30 The invention as here shown is. especially adapted to shot guns and to a slide action, but many features of the invention may be used in firearms of other classes, and some features may be used with other than a slid- 35 ing action. I will now describe one exemplifying structure embodying the invention. It is to be understood that the invention is capable of embodiment in many different 40 forms. The objects and advantages of the inven- tion will be further pointed out in connec- tion with this detailed description SO far aS ' is necessary to enable persons skilled in the 45 art to understand the same. Figure 1 is a side elevation of a complete gun embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the barrel detached. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail partly in section df 50 the barrel fastening. Fig. 4 is an addi- tional detail on the section line 4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail on section line 5 of’Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a front end view of the barrel fas- tening nut. Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sec- 55 tion of the magazine. Fig, 8 is a vertical longitudinal section, the parts within the re- ceiver being shown, however, in full. Fig. 9 is a vertical longitudinal section, the parts within the receiver being shown in section. Fig. 10 is a top plan of the trigger-plate and 60 associated parts, removed from the gun. Fig; 11: is a vertical longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 12 is a fragmentary section of the hammer, trigger, slide-stop and slide. Fig. 13 is a, vertical transverse section 65 through the receiver at the rear of the breech-block. Fig. 14 is a vertical section of the breech-block, showing the extractor and firing-pin. Fig. 15 is a bottom plan of the slide. Fig. 16 is a section through the 70 trigger-plate to show the safety-stop. Fig. 17 is a transverse section of the safety-stop. Fig. 18 is a longitudinal section through the receiver, with all moving parts removed ex- cept the slide, spring, cartridge-stop, and 75 slide-bar. Fig. 19 is a horizontal sectbn through the receiver with all parts removed except the two cartridge-stops and a frag- ment of the slide. Fig. 20 is a horizontal section of the receiver showing the end of 80 the breech-block passing through the front end of the carrier. Fig. 21 is a vertical, longitudinal section showing a shell nearly withdrawn from the chamber. Referring first to Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive, 85 reference character 5 designates the receiver as a whole. In the front end of this is rigidly and, usually, permanently secured the magazine 6, on which is slidably mount- ed the slide-handle 7, connected by means 90 of slide-bar 8 to the slide within the re- ceiver. The front end of the receiver is provided with an aperture. 9, as better shown in Fig. 18, to receive the barrel 10, and the rear end of the barrel and the aperture 9 85 are provided with cooperating interrupted threads 11. The barrel, is also provided with a lug 12, in the rear face of which is a socket 13. The adjacent face of the lug is provided with a slot dr channel 14, lead- 100 ing from one side of the lug to the socket. Upon the front end of the, magazine is screwed a nut 15, having on its forward end a stud 16. To set up the gun after it has been taken down the rear end of the barrel is inserted in receiver socket 9 and given a quarter-turn, whereupon the rear face of lug 12 is brought in front of nut 15 and stud 16 passes through the slot 14 of the lug and is opposite socket 13. By screw- 110
£3 1,143,170 ing the nut put, the stud is then caused to tion to the slide. At the rear, the breech- enter the, socket and the barrel is. thus , block has a lug or hook 37 adapted to enter firmly locked to the front end of the maga- ’ ............ zine and also secured at its base in the re- ceiver. A very strong and rigid barrel support is thus secured. Preferably, also, near the front eiid of the magazine is se- cured a yoke 17 fitting about half way around the barrel to further support and locate it in relation to the magazine. T 10 extend the full width of the block and have, a full width engagement with cooperating parts of the slide, whiqh provides ample wearing sur- face and ample lateral stability. The upper 80\ roar end 44 of the breech-block is adapted to engage a shoulder 45 in the top of the receiver to lock the breech-block in firing position. This locking engagement of the I breech-block is effected by' the slide, as will Й5 appear. The carrier 46 is pivoted in the receiver upon studs or screws 46“ and consist? of two tines or spring side pieces 47, connected only by cross-pie.ee 48; at the rear, as best 90 understood from Figs. 8, 9 and 20. The bottom 49 of this eross-piece cooperates with the rounded upper rear surface 50 of the slide. The earner arms also have cams 51 cooperating with cams 52 oh the slide. 95 In certain positions, the breech-block 34 passes between the arms of the carrier. -.The front ends of these carrier arms are pro- vided with inward projections, best shown in Fig. 20, and such projections have slant- 100 ing faces a which cooperate with cams 54 on . the breech-block. As the breech-block rier, these arms spring outward to permit such passage of the block, and to. provide for this outward movement of the arihs the receiver is provided With recesses 55, oppo- site the anus when they are in approxi- mately horizontal position. The upper in- ner faces of the carrier arms are slightly beveled at the points 56, and the lower inner faces of the arms are similarly beveled at 57. The top of the receiver, to the rear iof the barrel, is provided with a guide or rib 58 to engage the shell-head during part of its movement, as will be described. After the shell-head leaves the rib it engages the carrier arms and the retarding, wedging effect thus exerted by the arms upon the upper edge of the shell-head in connection with the pull of the extractor, as will be more fully described, assists in ejecting the shell. There are provided to control the move- ment of cartridges from the magazine two stops, which will be designated, simply for the . purpose of identification, as a spring- 20 25 30 40 a recess in the slide. The rear face of this lug constitutes a cam cooperating with a cam 39 on the slide. The bottom 40 of lug 70 , 37 is adapted to rest upon the rear end 41 of The slide when the breech-block is locked, as will appear. The front face 42 of lug 37 constitutes a cam to cooperate with cam In face 43 of the slide. The faces 39, 40 and 75 this particular embodiment, it will be .42 of the breech block lug noticed that the nut 15 also serves as a closure for the forward, end of the maga- zine and has an abutment for the magazine spring 18, the rear end of which engages a follower 19.- Tho particular mode, of fastening the bar- rel. above described is only an exemplifica- tion of different structures that can be em- ployed for the same purpose. For instance, the lug 12 might be provided with a screw to engage the end of the magazine and vari- ous Other changes may beimade without de- parting from the invention. The- receiver 5, as best understood from Figs, j., 13 and 18, has a solid top 20 and side walls 21, 22., At the bottom, the re- ceiver is open to provide for the location of the trigger plate 23 at the rear end of the receiver, And to provide for the loading and ejection opening 24 at the front end of the receiver. The sides of the trigger plate are? provided with ribs 25 (Figs. 8 and ilO);. and these fit' into channels 26 in 35 the inner side walls .of the receiver (Fig. 18). The trigger plate is slid into the re- ceiver from the rear and secured by screws ___ 27. The hammer and .trigger mechanism passes forward between the arms 6f the car- carried by the. trigger plate will be later described. In the inner walls of the re- ceiver are two channels 28, in which fit the sides o,f the slide 29. Slide-bar 8 passes through the front wall of the receiver and . lies in one of these slots 28. A recess 30 is provided near , the front end of the slide to receive the rear end of the slide-bar, and these two parts are detachably connected by a transverse pin 31 mounted in the slide. The outer end of this pin engages a hole in the slide-bar, as best shown in Figs. 15 and 18. A central portion of the pin is also exposed at the bottom of the slide and the pin is here provided with an annular groove 32 engaged by the head of screw 33. This screw is exposed through the ejector open- ing when the slide is forward, and by slightly withdrawing the screw and pushing pin 31 inward its end is withdrawn from the slide-bar to disconnect the slide. Breech-block 34 rests on top of the slide and is supported thereby. At the front end the upper face of the slide has a shallow . channel 35 in which fits a lug 36 of the stop and a positive-stop. The positive- breech-block, providing a lateral guide for stop-bar 59 islocated in a channel 60 in the the front end of the breech-block in rela- right wall of the receiver, is pivoted at 61, 130 105 110 115 50 120 Г>5 125
1,143,170 8 6 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 and at its forward end the bar carries the inwardly projecting stop 62. This stop moves up and down in its channel slightly forward of the shell-heads when they rest against the spring-stop, or in the position shown in Fig. 19. To operate this stop its bar 59 carries near the forward end a cam 63 projecting upward into the path of the slide when the slide is retracted, and near its rear end the bar carries a cam 64 simi- larly projecting into the path of the slide when the slide is in closed position. In the other wall of the receiver is the spring-stop- bar 65 located in a channel 66, pivoted at 67 and carrying at its forward end the in- wardly-curved stop proper 68, engaging the shell-head in the position shown in Fig. 19. A spring 69 urges the stop to engaged posi- tion. At its rear end the stop-bar 65 carries a cam 70 cooperating with a cam-lug 71 on the slide. Fig. 19, which is a section in a horizontal plane looking down, does not show the slide but shows the cam-lug 71 projecting downward from the slide to en- gage cam 70. This lug also clearly appears in its proper position on the slide in Figs. 8 and 15. The breech-block is longitudinally slotted, and in this slot 72 is located the extractor 73. The rear end of the extractor is slotted to slidably and pivotally engage pin 74. The extractor hook 75 projects through a channel in lug 36 of the breech-block. The extractor is urged upward by wire-spring 76 (Fig. 14) coiled around pivot 74 and having a short end 77 resting on the bottom of breech-block channel 72, and a long end 78, the end of which is slightly curved to- ward the center of the breech-block so that it may be sprung into a groove. 79 in one side of the extractor-piece 73, and when so inserted will retain itself in position. The firing-pin 80 is located in a hole 81 in the breech-block and passes through an aperture 82 in the extractor-piece. The rear end of the firing-pin is enlarged and a spring 83 compressed between this enlarge- ment and the breech-block urges the pin rearward. The firing-pin is held in by transverse-pin 84 engaging a slot 85 in the enlarged rear end of the firing-pin. The operations of filling the magazine, loading and ejecting shells may now be de- scribed: The magazine is filled through the ejection opening 24 when the slide and breech-block are in forward position. Each cartridge inserted into the magazine is held by the spring-stop 68, which springs in be- hind the shell. The breech-block is tilted up at its rear end so that it engages shoulder 45 in I he receiver and is positively locked in firing position. It is so held by upper rear face 41 of the slide resting under bot- tom face 40 of the breech-block-lug 37. The carrier is free and lies in substantially hori- zontal position, as shown in Fig. 8, with the front ends of its arms slightly behind cams 54 of the breech-block. The positive car- tridge stop 62 is held down out of the way of the cartridges in the magazine by cam 63 70 engaging the underside of the slide. In this closed position of the slide and breech-block, the breech-block is positively locked by member 41 of the slide lying below lug 37 of the breech-block and thus holding the up- 73 per rear end of the breech-block in engage- ment with shoulder 45 in the receiver. In loading, the first rearward movement of the slide brings member 41 of the slide away from under lug 37 and permits the rear end 80 of the breech-block to be positively pulled down by cam-face 43 of die slide engaging face 42 of lug 37. About the same time, the front ends of the carrier-arms 47 engage cams 54 of the breech-block and the front 85 end of the carrier is thrown up. The car- rier stays in this position until the slide approaches the rear end of its stroke and then member 50 of the slide strikes cross- piece 49 of the carrier, raising it and throw- 90 ing the front ends of the carrier-arms down to the position shown in Fig. 9. Some time before the slide reaches the rear end of its • stroke, it engages positive-stop-cam 64, and raises the positive-stop 62 into the path of 95 the second cartridge in the magazine. Some time after this, cam-lug 71 on the slide engages cam 70 of the spring cartridge stop, and just as the slide is at the limit of its rearward movement the spring-stop is with- 100 drawn from the first cartridge in the maga- zine and the magazine-spring snaps this cartridge onto the arms oi the carrier. The second cartridge in the magazine moves back until its head engages the positive-stop. 105 Forward movement of the slide then causes slide-cams 52 engaging carrier-cams 51 to quickly throw up the front end of the car- rier, elevating the cartridge into line with the chamber in front of the breech-block. 110 At about the same time the spring cartridge- stop is released and moves to its active po- sition in relation to the magazine. Further movement of the slide causes the breech- block, engaging the rear end of the car- 115 tridge, to push the cartridge into the cham- ber. During this forward movement of the breech-block it lies between the carrier arms. They are forced into the channels 55 to al- low the front end of the breech-block to 120 pass, and as soon as cams 54 pass the front ends of the carrier-arms the carrier-arms snap in behind the cams. Toward the end of the forward movement of the slide it en- gages positive-stop-cam 63 and depresses the 125 positive-stop 62, releasing the cartridge which is now first in the.magazine, and the cartridge thereupon moves slightly to the rear until it engages the spring-stop. The final movement of the slide causes its cam 130
4= 1,143,170 39, cooperating with cam 38 on the breech- block, to elevate the rear end of the breech- block to again engage shoulder 45 in the re- ceiver, and thereafter face 41 of the slide 5 comes under the bottom surface 40 of the breech-block-lug and positively locks the breech-block in firing position, as shown in Fig. 8. In pushing the cartridge into the chamber, extractor 75 snaps into engagement 10 with the shell base. The extractor is then in rearward position in relation to the breech- block, as shown in Fig. 9. After firing, when the slide is moved back, the parts'op- erate as before, but in this case the extractor 15 pulls back the fired shell. During the first part of its backward movement, the upper edge of the shell-base slides under rib or guide 58 in the receiver. After a short rear- ward movement, the upper edge of the shell- 20 head engages the beveled lower surfaces 57 of the carrier-arms, which are now in ele- vated position. These portions of the car- rier arms force the head of the shell down and exert a sort of wedging effect upon the 25 shell head as it moves toward the rear. The top of the shell is thus retarded while the bottom is pulled back by the extractor, and as soon as the front end of the shell leaves the chamber the shell is snapped down and 30 ejected through the opening 24. The quick downward movement of the carrier occur- ring at about the same time assists in eject- ing the shell. A new cartridge is ’thrown upon the carrier, as above described, and the 35 actions may be repeated until it is necessary to refill the magazine. The hammer 86 is pivoted at 87 in the • trigger-plate, and a hammer-strut 88 is piv- oted to the hammer at 89. The trigger-plate 40 is bored from the rear, and in this bore is main spring 90 secured in position by pin 91. The spring has a follower 92, and the rear end of strut 88 rests in a slight depres- sion in the forward face of this follower. 45 The trigger 93 is pivoted in the trigger- plate at 94, and the forward extension 95 of the trigger engages trigger-notch or cock- notch 96 on the hammer. Pivoted also on the pin 94 is a piece 97, which performs sev- 50 eral functions, but may be identified as a slide lock. This has a sear notch 98 cooper- ating with a lug or tooth 99 on the hammer. At the forward end, piece 97 has a slide lock or stop 100 engaging behind a shoulder 55 101 at the rear, end of the slide. JusPfor- . ward of this shoulder the slide has a groove 102 to accommodate stop 100, and the rear end of this groove is formed into a cam 103 to depress the stop just before the slide 60 reaches its foremost position.. The slide lock is provided with a strong spring 104, one end of which is inserted in a hole in the stop. The other end of this spring lies over the rear end 105 of the stop-piece and ex- 65 tends above a cam 106 formed on the upper face^of strut 88. The spring is flexed and retained in position by a pin 107. The stop- piece 97 is also provided with a weak spring .*109 which ordinarily holds slide-stop 100 in active \position. The strong spring 104 be- 70 comes effective to overcome the effect of the weak spring when the hammer is released for firing. Thereupon, cam 106 of strut 88 engages the overlying end of spring 104 and urges slide-stop 100 down with sufficient 75 energy to overcome the effect of the weak spring, unless, before the cartridge actually fires, the slide is improperly urged back- ward, as will be explained. The stop piece 97 also has a downward finger projection 97a 8G exposed at the front of the trigger-guard. This permits the stop to be easily manipu- lated for unlocking the breech without fir- ing the gun. In firing position, when the breech-block 85 is locked in the position shown in Fig. 8, the hammer rests against the rear face of the breech-block, and also against the rear end of the slide, so that at the first rearward movement of the slide the hammer is with- 90 drawn from engagement with the breech- block and the firing pin, and cannot again come into contact with the firing pin until the breech-block is again locked in firing position. Rearward movement of the slide 95 depresses the hammer, as clearly under- stood from Fig. 9, until the trigger exten- sion 95 engages behind the notch 96. The cocking of the hammer also depresses it suffi- ciently to cause the tooth 99 to engage the 100 sear notch 98 of the slide-stop, which may be considered, in a sense, a sear, and when the hammer tooth 99 engages this sear-notch the trigger-notch 96 is slightly in advance of the end of the trigger extension 95, as 105 clearly shown in Fig. 11. In the ordinary use of the arm, just before the slide reaches its foremost position, its cam 103, as shown in Fig. 12, depresses the front end of the slide-stop, releasing tooth 99 from sear-notch 110 98. Thereupon, the hammer springs up slightly until trigger-notch 96 engages the end of triggenextension 95. The final move- ment of the slide brings the rear end of lug 101 in front of stop 100, and thereupon 115 under the influence of spring 109 the stop springs up behind the slide and positively locks it in firing position, and the shooter is thus protected in case of a hang-fire, be- cause if he attempts to pull back the slide 120 while pulling the trigger and before the cartridge explodes, the rearward pressure of the slide upon stop 100 will hold the stop in engaged position and prevent the slide from moving back, although at the same time the 125 stop is urged to move to inactive position by spring 104, which has been tensed by cam 106 as the hammer moved up. But as soon as the cartridge is fired, the recoil of the gun will remove the pressure exerted against 130
1Д43.170 5 5 10 15 20 25 80 35 40 45 50 55 во вб the stop and the stop will drop out of the way of the slide by the action of the spring 104. When the slide and breech-block are in proper firing position the gun may be fired in the ordinary, way by pulling the trigger, releasing extension 95 from notch 96, and thereupon the main spring will act on strut 88 to strike the hammer forcibly against the firing pin. The gun may also be fired by pulling the trigger during the forward movement of the slide. This will hold the trigger-extension free from the trigger- notch, and the hammer' will then be released for firing by the action of the cam 103 on the slide, depressing the stop 100 and re- leasing sear-notch 98 from hammer-tooth 99. A trigger safety-stop is provided, con- sisting of a stop-pin 110, mounted in a trans- verse bore 111 in the trigger-plate to the rear of the trigger. This pin has a rib 112 engaging a slot in the trigger-plate to pre- vent rotation of the pin. A spring plunger 113 is provided to engage a notch in the pin and hold it in safety position, and also by frictional engagement with the pin holds it in firing position with sufficient firmness. The' pin has a slot 114 which accommodates trigger-lug 115 when in firing position, but when in safety position this trigger-lock is out of register with the slot and the trigger is prevented from moving. I claim:— 1. In a firearm, the combination of a re- ceiver having a socket provided with inter- rupted threads, a magazine rigidly secured to the receiver, a barrel having interrupted threads to engage the receiver socket by ro- tative movement, a nut screwed upon the forward end of the magazine and provided with a stud, and a lug secured to the barrel and having a slot to admit the stud and limit rotative movement of the barrel, and a socket to receive the stud and firmly lock the barrel to the magazine and receiver. .. 2. In a firearm, the combination of a re- ceiver, a barrel detachably engaging the re- ceiver, a lug on the barrel, a tubular maga- zine rigidly fixed to the receiver, a spring within the magazine and a nut screwed upon the front end of the magazine to engage said lug and lock the barrel, said nut also serv- ing as an abutment for said spring. 3. In a firearm, the combination of a re- ceiver, a reciprocating slide therein, a breech-block supported thereon, a carrier having arms, one located at each side of the breech-block, and means carried by the breech-block and slide for actuating the car- rier. . 4. In a firearm, the combination of a re- ceiver, a reciprocating slide therein, a breech-block supported on the slide and having wide lateral slide-engaging faces, a carrier movably mounted within the re- ceiver and having arms between which the breech-block is adapted to pass, means car- ried by the breech-block-and slide for rais- ing and lowering the carrier,, and means to permit the block to pass between the carrier 70 arms in its forward movement. 5. In a firearm, the combination of a re- ceiver, a barrel, and a magazine communi- cating with the receiver, a slide, a breech- block supported upon the slide and movable 75 in relation thereto,. a carrier pivoted in the receiver and having arms at the sides of the receiver, and means carried, by the slide and breech-block for operating the carrier. 6. In a firearm, the combination of a re- so eeiver having solid top and sides and a bot- tom-ejection opening, a barrel, a magazine communicating with the receiver near the bottom, a slide within the receiver, a breech- block supported upon the slide by means of 85 wide lateral surfaces, and a carrier pivoted rearwardly in the receiver and having arms at the sides of the receiver, means on the breech-block to elevate the front ends of said arms, when the breech-block moves rear- 90 wardly, and means by. which the breech- block passes between said arms in moving forward. 7. In a firearm, the combination of a re- ceiver having solid top and sides and a bot- 95 tom-ejection opening, a barrel, a magazine, a reciprocating slide, a breech-block sup- ported thereon and moving in relation there- to, a carrier pivoted rearwardly in the re- ceiver and having spring arms adjacent to 100 the side walls of the receiver, means carried by the breech-block to raise the front end of the carrier in the early rearward move- ment of the breech-block, means by which the slide causes the carrier arms to be de- 105 pressed at the rear end of the slide move- ment, and means by which the slide causes the carrier arms to be raised in the early forward movement of the slide. 8. In a firearm, the combination of a re- 110 eeiver having solid top and sides and a bot- tom-ejection opening, a barrel, a magazine, a reciprocating slide, a breech-block sup- ported thereon and moving in relation there- to, a carrier pivoted rearwardly in the re- 115 eeiver and having spring arms adjacent to the side walls of the receiver, means carried by the breech-block to raise the front end of tne carrier in the early rearward movement of the breech-block, means by which the 120 slide causes the carrier arms to be depressed at the rear end of the slide movement, means by which the slide causes the carrier arms to be raised in. the early forward movement of the slide, and means for permitting the 125 breech-block to„ pass between the carrier arms toward the end of its forward move- ment. 9. In a firearm, the combination of a re- ceiver, a barrel, a magazine, a slide, a ISO
6 1,143,170 breech-block, a carrier, and two cartridge stops, one actuated by the slide near each end of the slide movement, and the other actuated by the slide only near the end of 5 its rearward movement. 10. In a firearm, the combination of a re- ceiver, a barrel and magazine, a slide, a breech-block and a carrier, a positive car- tridge stop, pivoted at one side of- the re- 10 ceiver, means by which rearward movement of the slide moves said stop to active posi- tion and forward movement of sa; I slide moves said stop to inactive position, another cartridge stop engaging the cartridges in a 15 slightly different position, and means by which rearward movement of the slide moves said stop to inactive position. 11. Tn a firearm, the combination of a re- ceiver, a barrel, a magazine, a reciprocating 20 slide, a breech-block thereon, a carrier hav- ing arms at the sides of the receiver, means for withdrawing the shell from tho barrel with its upper side in engagement with the carrier, means for moving the carrier down 25 to eject the shell, means for placing a fresh cartridge above the carrier, means for ele- vating the carrier, arms carrying the car- tridge in lino with the chamber, and means for permitting tbe breech-block to pass be- 30 tween the carrier arms in placing the car- tridge in the chamber. 12. In a firearm, the combination of a re- ceiver, a barrel, a magazine, a- slide, a breech-block thereon, a carrier pivoted near 35 the rear of tho receiver and having arms at the sides thereof, an extractor carried by the breech-block, means on the breech-block to elevate the front ends of the carrier arms whereby the shell is held during its rear- 40 ward movement between the extractor and the bottoms of said arms, means carried by the slide to move the carrier arms down to eject the shell, cartridge stops cooperating with tho slide to deliver a fresh cartridge 45 above the, carrier arms, means carried by the slide to elevate said iutos to present the car- , tridge to the chamber, and means by which the breech-block passes between the carrier arms in its forward movement. 50 13. Tn a. firearm, the combination of a’re- ceiver, a barrel, a magazine, a slide, a breech-block thereon, a carrier pivoted near the rear of the receiver and having arms at the sides thereof, said arms having con- 55 verging portions, an extractor carried by the breech-block, means on the breech block to elevate tbe front ends of the carrier arms whereby tho, shell is held during its rear- ward movement between the extractor and 00 the bottoms of said arms, means carried by tho slide, to move the carrier arms down to eject the shell, cartridge stops cooperating with the slide to deliver a fresh cartridge above the carrier arms, means carried by the 65 slide to- elevate said arms to present the cartridge to the chamber, and means by which the breech-block passes between the carrier arms in its forward movement. 14. In a firearm, the combination of a re- ceiver, a barrel, a magazine, a slide, a 70 breech-block thereon, a carrier pivoted near the rear of the receiver and having arms at the sides thereof, said arms having con- verging portions, a shell-guiding surface in the receiver rearward of tho chamber, an 75 extractor carried* by the breech-block, means on the breech-block to elevate the front ends of the carrier arms whereby the shell is held during its rearward movement between the extractor and the bottoms of said arms, 80 means carried by the slide to move the car- rii r arms down to eject the shell, cartridge stops cooperating with the slide to deliver a fresh cartridge above the carrier arms, means curried by the slide to elevate said 85 arms to present the cartridge to the cham- ber, and means by which the breech-block passes between the carrier arms in its for- ward movement. 15. Tn a firearm, the combination of a re- 00 ceiver, a slide, a carrier, a breech-block, a . firing pin therein, an extractor-piece having an extractor-hook projecting at the lower front face of tho breech-block, said piece having a slot engaging a pivot pin in the 05 breeeh-block above the firing pin, said ex- tractor-piece being apertured to accommo- date the firing pin. 1C>. In a firearm, the combination of a re- ceiver, a slide, a carrier, a breech-block, a 100 firing pin therein, an extractor-piece hav- ing an extractor-hook projecting at the lower front face of the breech-block, said piece having a slot engaging a pivot pin in the breech-block above the firing pin, an ex- 105 tractor-spring coiled about said pin and hav- ing an end engaging against the breech- block, and a longer, incurved end engaging “ tho curve in said extractor-piece. 17. In a firearm, the combination of a re- H° ceiver, a slide, a breach-block, a carrier hav- ing arms at the sides of the receiver, the • receiver being provided with a bottom ejec- tion-opening, the receiver walls being re- cessed to permit passage of tho head of the П5 breech-block between the front ends of the carrier during the forward movement of the slide. 18. Tn a firearm, the combination of a re- ceiver, a slide, a breech-block, a carrier, a I20 trigger-plate, a hammer pivoted therein, a spring-operated strut connected with the hammer, a slide lock to cooperate with the slide, and means actuated by said strut to operate the slide lock. 125 19. Tn a firearm, the combination of a Re- ceiver, a slide, a breech-block, a carrier, a trigger-plate, a hammer pivoted therein, a strut pivoted to the hammer, a main spring actuating the strut, a slide lock to engage 130
1,143,170 7 5 10 15 20 25 the slide, a cam on said strut, and a spring actuated by the cam to urge the slide lock to disengaged position. 20. In a nrearm, the combination of a re- ceiver, a slide, a; breech-block, a carrier, a trigger-plate, a hammer pivoted therein, a strut pivoted to the hammer, a main spring actuating the strut, a.slide lock to engage the slide, a cam on said strut, a spring actu- ated by the cam to urge the slide lock to dis- engaged position, a spring fastened to the slide lock and having a part turned in to engage said cam. 21. In a firearm, the combination of a re- ceiver, a magazine, a slide handle thereon, a slide within the receiver, a slide bar con- nected to the handle and entering the re- ceiver, a pin mounted in the slide for lateral movement and adapted to engage a hole in the slide bar, said pin being exposed at a point below the slide, and means tor fasten- ing the pin in engagement with the slide bar. 22. In a firearm, the combination of a re- ceiver, a slide, a trigger-plate, a hammer th'reon having a trigger-notch, a trigger having an extension to engage said trigger- notch, a slide lock piece having a sear-notch, a tooth on the hammer to engage said notch, said sear-notch and tooth being placed so that when in engagement there is clearance 30 between the trigger and its notch, and springs for actuating the slide lock piece, a finger-piece extending downwardly from the slide lock piece for releasing the slide in manipulating the arm. 35 23. In a firearm, the combination of a receiver, a slide, a trigger-plate, a hammer thereon having a trigger-notch, a trigger having an extension to engage said trigger- notch, a slide lock piece having st- sear-notch, 40 a tooth on the hammer to engage said notch, said sear-notch and tooth being placed so that when in engagement there is clearance between the trigger and its notch, and springs for actuating the slide lock piece, a 45 slide stop member carried by said slide-lock piece, and a cam carried by the slide to actuate said member. JOHN M. BROWNING. Witnesses: V. A. Browning, M. A. Wood.
J. M. BROWNING. FlfifARM. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 18, 19 14. 1,202,024» Patented Oct. 24,1916. 3 SHEETS—SHEET 1 .
J. M. BROWNING. FIREARM. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 18, 1914. 1,202,024. Patented Oct. 24,1916. 3 SHEETS—SHEET 2.
J. M. BROWNING. FIREARM. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 18, 1914. 1,202,024. Patented Oct. 24,1916. 3 SHEETS—SHEET 3.
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. JOHN M. BBOWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH. FIBEABM. 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 1,202,024. Application To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, John M. Bbowning, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ogden, Utah, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Firearms, of which the following is a specification. My invention relates to modifications and improvements in the type of automatic fire- arms shown in my Patent #1,083,384, dated January 6, 1914. One of the principal objects is to adapt the mechanism there shown to the use of a more powerful cartridge, such, for instance, as a 22 caliber, long cartridge. The use of such a powerful cartridge requires the use of a heavier breech-block, and in providing a heavier breech-block it is necessa'ry to modify and rearrange parts of the mecha- nism shown in said patent, especially the breech-block, trigger-plate, sear, connector, etc. In addition to this reorganization, I provide in the present invention certain im- provements, as will appear. The accompanying drawings show one ex- emplifying embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that the invention is capable of embodiment in many different forms and I do not limit myself to details, except as claimed hereinafter. In the drawings: Figure lisa 'longitu- dinal section through the trigger-plate, breech-block, and related parts, showing the parts in cocked position. Fig. 2 is a similar section showing the parts in fired position. Fig. 3 is a similar section showing the breech-block brought away back in the cock- ing or recoil movement. Fig. 4 is a trans- verse enlarged section on the line a—a, Fig. 2. Fig. 5-is a transverse enlarged section on the line b—b, Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a horizontal longitudinal section on the line c—c, Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary vertical section on the line d—d, Fig 2. Fig. 8 is a horizontal longitudinal section on the line e—e, Fig. 2. Fig. 9 is a front, left perspective view of the trigger-plate. Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a similar position of the breech- block. Fig. 11 is a perspective detail of the sear. Fig. 12 is a longitudinal vertical sec- tion through the forward part of the trig- ger-plate and one form of guard. Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the firing-pin. Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the trigger, and Fig. 15 is a perspective view of the con- nector. All the parts of the arm, in a representa- Specification of betters Patent. filed August 18,1914. Patented Oct. 24,1916. Serial No. 857,371. tive embodiment, may be the same as in my Patent #1,083,384, except the parts herein shown and described, which are modified for the use of a heavier cartridge, the basis of 60 the modification being the downward exten- sion of the breech-blcck to make it heavier and the provision in the trigger-plate of a passage for this downwardly extended part of the breech-block. The trigger, sear, con- 65 nector, etc. are also moved downward or rearward, speaking in general terms, to ac- commodate the modified breech-block. Beference character 1 designates the trig- ger-plate having sides 2, front end 3, and 70 vertical lug 4, at the rear end. Between the side walls and the front and rear ends, the trigger-plate provides an opening 5 of ample depth, width and length to accommodate the breech-block 6, which has guides or run- 75 ners 7 engaging the upper edges of the sides 2 of the trigger-plate upon which the breech- block reciprocates. The breech block also has an extension 8 at the bottom which is accommodated by the opening 5 of the trig- 80 ger-plate. Carried by this extension, near the forward end of the breech-block, is a cocking lug 9, by means of which the arm may be manually cocked. Toward one side, the breech-block is pro- 85 vided with a hole 10, within which is placed recoil spring 11 suitably guided by a rod 12, having, its end 13 removably engaging pin or stud 14 carried by lug 4. The breech-block also has a central longitudinal bore 15, in 90 which the firing pin 16 is mounted. The fir- ing pin in turn has a longitudinal bore 17 containing the firing spring 18, and this is suitably supported and guided by a rod 19 terminating in a shoulder 20 bearing against 95 lug 4 and a point 21 entering a socket in the lug to removably locate the rod in position. At its forward end, the firing pin carries fir- ing point 22, protruding through the hole 23 in the breech-block. Near the rear end, at 100 the bottom, the firing pin has a sear-notch or cock-notch 24, cooperating with sear 25 piv- oted upon a pin 26 in a. suitable aperture in trigger-plate lug 4. Tjie lug also has a ver- tical hole 27 containing sear spring 28 urging 105 the sear to active position. This spring is re- tained by pin 29. The trigger 30 is pivoted on pin 31 in the trigger-plate below the line of movement of the breech-block. It has upper side walls 32 110 accommodating between them the connector 33, which is pivoted to the side walls ,of the
Q 1,202,024 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 10 la 50 55 60 6 5 trigger at 34. The forward end 35 of the connector cooperates with a cam 36 at the rear lower edge of the breech-block extension 8. The rear end of the connector has a ver- tical member 37, the end of which is caused to cooperate with a part 38 of the sear, or with notch 39, depending upon the position of the breech-block. The sear and trigger are normally urged to the position shown in Fig. 1 by spring 40 placed about connector member 37 and abutting against shoulders 41 in the trigger-plate. When the arm is cocked, as shown in Fig. 1, connector 33 is in normal position, with its member 37 underlying member 38 of the sear and its forward end 35 resting against cam 36 of the breech-block, and the sear is in engagenjent with the sear notch of the firing pin. To fire, the trigger is pulled and this elevates the connector and releases the sear in an obvious way. Firing reaction throws back the breech-block, and in the first part of its movement, cam 36, acting on the forward end 35 of the connector, moves the connector to the position shown in Fig. 3 with the upper end of connector member 37 opposite the notch 39 of the sear. This prevents auto- matic repeating before the trigger can be released. Also, any accidental pulling of the trigger during the cocking or return move- ment of the breech-block will now be in- effective to release the sear until the arm is in firing position again with the breech-block in its foremost position, as in Fig. 1, where- upon cam 36 will again permit'the connector to move to active or firing position, and the arm may again be fired by pulling the trigger. The trigger has a forward extension 42 to cooperate with safety-stop 43, located in a transverse bore in the trigger-plate, forward of trigger-guard 44. This safety-stop or pin, as best seen in Fig. 7, has a notch 45, which accommodates trigger extension 42 when the pin is in firing position; but when in safety position, or pushed to the left, as seen in Fig. 7, the rounded part 46 of the pin is opposite trigger extension 42 and the trigger cannot then be moved, and firing is impossible. The safety-pin is held in either safety or firing position with sufficient firmness by spring- pressed ball 47, located in a socket 48 in the. trigger-plate and cooperating with two notches 49 in the safety-pin. As explained in my above mentioned pat- ent, in a rifle of this type, the shells are eject- ed through trigger-plate opening 5. To protect the hand of. the user from cocking lug 9, and for other purposes, a hand-guard 50 is provided. In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1-3, this is open at the bottom and has sides 51 extending well below the cocking lug 9 and substantially in line with sides 2 of the trigger-plate. This guard has at the rear end. side pieces or ears 52 fitting at either side of a lug 53 on the trigger-plate, forward of the trigger-guard 44, and pivot- ally connected to the trigger-plate by pin 54 passing through lug 53 and ears 52. In this lug is also a transverse bore 55 containing yt spring 56, which urges two balls 57 into en- gagement with sockets 58 in ears 52 of the guard. This yielding engagement of the balls with their sockets holds the guard in active position, as shown in full lines in Figs. 75 1, 2 and 3, but to permit access to cocking lug 9 to cock the arm, or for other; reasons, the guard ma,y be easily swung down, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. This guard may vary greatly in form and may have a bot- tom opening or side openings, or it may be, as exemplified in Fig. 12, made in the form of a cup 50a, to receive and hold ejected car- tridge shells until such time as they may be conveniently removed, or act as a palm rest 85 in firing. The above mentioned patent fully de- scribes how the trigger-plate with its asso- ciated parts may be removably mounted in a receiver or frame having a solid top and 90 side walls and a bottom ejecting opening. I claim:— 1. In a firearm, the combination of a re- ceiver having closed top and sides and a bot- tom ejecting opening, firing and ejecting 95 mechanism in the receiver including a mov- able member projecting through the ejecting opening, and a guard connected to the re- ceiver by a transverse pivot and having rigid walls surrounding the ejecting opening iou and projecting there-below to protect the user’s hand from said movable member, and means for holding the guard in active posi- tion. 2. In a firearm, the combination of a trig- 165 ger plate having guideways and a long, cen- tral opening, and also having an upwardly- extending lug at its rear end, a breech block slidably mounted upon the guideways and having a downward extension substantially 110 the full length of said breech block accom- modated by said opening, a firing pin in the breech block, a spring therefor abutting against said lug, a recoil spring engaging against the breech block and abutting 3 3-5 against said lug, trigger mechanism carried by said plate below said opening and out of the path of said breech block extension, a sear carried by said lug and accommodated by an aperture in the breech block and a 120 connector intermediate the trigger and the sear located within said lug to the rear of the breech block. 3. In a firearm, the combination of a trig- ger-plate having a central opening and side 125 walls, a breech-block slidably mounted upon the trigger plate and having a bottom exten- sion accommodated by said opening, ah up- wardly-extending lug at the rear end of the trigger-plate, a firing-pin within the breech- 130
1,202,024 block provided with a sear-notch, a firing- pin spring abutting against said lug, a sear pivoted in said lug, a trigger pivoted in the trigger-plate, a connector pivoted to the 5 trigger to the rear of the trigger pivot and having an arm extending forward to engage the breech-block, and an arm extending up- ward to engage the sear. 4. In a firearm, the combination of a trig- 10 ger-plate having a central opening and side walls, a breech-block slidably mounted upon the trigger-plate and having a bottom exten- sion accommodated by said opening, an up- wardly-extending lug at the rear end of the 15 trigger-plate, a firing-pin within the breech- block provided with a sear-notch, a firing pin spring abutting against said lug, a sear pivoted in said lug, a trigger pivoted in the trigger-plate, a connector pivoted to the 20 trigger to the rear of the trigger pivot and having an arm extending forward to engage the breech-block, an arm extending upward to engage the sear, and a spring acting upon the connector to return it and the trigger to 25 normal position. 5. In a firearm, the combination of a trig- ger-plate, a breech-block slidably mounted thereon, a trigger pivoted in the trigger- plate below the line of movement of the 30 breech-block, a connector pivoted to the trig- ger to the rear of the trigger pivot and hav- ing a forwardly-extending arm located to the rear of the breech-block, a lug extending up at the rear end of the trigger-plate, a 35 sear pivoted in the lug abo ve the trigger and having a notch to cooperate with the up- wardly-extending arm of the connector, and a firing pin carried by the breech-block and having 'a sear-notch to cooperate with the 40 sear. 6. In a firearm, the combination of a trig- ger plate, a slidable breech block thereon, a firing pin, a sear pivoted in the trigger plate and adapted to engage the firing pin, a trig- 45 ger pivoted in the trigger plate, a connector pivoted to the trigger and having a member to cooperate with the sear, said connector also having a member to cooperate with the breech block to disconnect the trigger from the sear except when the breech block is in 5( firing position. . 7. In a' firearm, the combination of a breech-block, a firing-pin, a trigger, a con- nector and a sear pivoted near its center and having a forward extension to engage 5! the firing-pin and a rearward extension to engage the connector, said rearward exten- sion being provided with a notch and means by which rearward movement of the breech- block locates the connector opposite said 6i notch and prevents actuation of the sear by said connector. 8. In a firearm, the combination of a trig- ger-plate, a trigger pivoted therein, a con- nector pivoted upon the trigger and having 6: an upwardly-extending arm and a for- wardly-extending arm, a slidable breech- block cooperating with said forwardly-ex- tending arm of the connector, a firing pin and a sear pivoted near its middle and hav- 7' ing a member to be engaged by said up- wardly-extending arm of the connector for firing and also having a notch to free the sear from said connector member and pre- vent firing when the connector is actuated 7 by rearward movement of the breech-block. 9. In a firearm, the combination of a trig- ger-plate, a trigger pivoted therein, a con- nector pivoted upon the trigger and having an upwardly-extending arm and a for- 8 wardly-extending arm, a slidable breech- block cooperating with said forwardly-ex- tending arm of the connector, a firing pin and a sear pivoted near its middle and hav- ing a member to be engaged by said up- 8 warclly-extending arm of the connector for firing and also having a notch to free the sear from said connector member and pre- vent firing when the connector is actuated by rearward movement of the breech-block, 9 and a spring located on said upwardly-ex- tending arm of the connector for returning the connector and trigger to normal posi- tion. JOHN M. BROWNING, Witnesses: John E. Ramsden, L. M. Taylor.
J. M. BROWNING. FIREARM. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 30, 1917.
United states patent office. JOHN M. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH. firearm:. 1,276,716. Application To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, John M. Browning, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ogden, in the county of Weber and State of 6 Utah, have invented a new and useful Im- provement in Firearms, of which the fol- lowing is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof. 10 This invention relates to improvements m magazine firearms, and more especially to automatic firearms and particularly to auto- matic pistols in which energy is stored dur- ing the opening movement of the breech- 15 slide in a spring, the re-action of which is utilized to actuate the return or closing movement of the breeeh-slide. The main object of the invention is to pro- duce a firearm of this class which shall be 20 simple and inexpensive in construction, re- liable, and safe under all conditions of use. Another object of the invention is to pro- duce an automatic pistol specially adapted for accurate target practice, by haying the 25 handle or grip of the pistol formed to be securely grasped and conveniently held in aiming and firing, and in which the frame of the arm shall support the comparatively long barrel rigidly, and in which the breech- 30 slide may be at will and readily detached and removed from the frame, and be re- placed and attached upon the same without requiring the use of any tool therefor. A further object of the invention is to 35 provide the firearm with an automatic safety device for positively preventing the firing of the arm unless the breech is closed and all parts are in the proper firing position, and by the same device to always prevent 40 more than one shot from. following upon each pull of the trigger. A further object is to provide the arm with a manual safety lock for , at will and simultaneously locking the breech-slide and 45 the cocked firing mechanism, and by this same device to provide the. arm with a re- liable indicator for showing at a glance or touch whether the firing mechanism is In the cocked or in the released position. 50 These objects are attained by mechanism of simple and practical construction which is efficient, perfectly safe in use, and not liable to get out of order. The invention is shown herein as em- 55 bodied in a gas-operated magazine pistol; Specification of betters Patent, filed. March 30,1917. Patented Aug. 27,1918. Serial No. 158,569. but it will be understood that the invention is applicable to other firearms. In the accompanying drawings, wherein is illustrated an embodiment of the inven- tion, Figure 1 is a left-hand side view of a .60 central vertical section through the frame and the rear portion of the barrel with the. breech closed and ready for firing; but show- ing the breech-slide in a vertical section in a plane somewhat to the left side of its central 65 axis, thereby exposing to view the re-action spring and its guide for storing the energy of the recoil on firing a shot, and showing the manner in which the two ends of the re-action spring are supported, the front 70 end in the breech-bolt and the rear end by the butt piece of the grip or mainspring housing. Fig. 2 is a left-hand side view of the up- per portion of the frame of the pistol and of 75 the breech-slide in the closed position. Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal section of the breech-slide, showing the firing-pin with its retracting spring and locking pin in the breech-bolt. 80 Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the breeeh- slide. Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse section of the breech-bolt near its forward end looking forward, showing also an upper portion of 85 the cartridge magazine. Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse section of the breech-slide in rear of the breech-bolt, indicating the respective positions of the fir- ing pin and of the re-action spring and its 90 guide rod, the spring and rod being shown in Figs. 4 and 6 as held in their forward compressed position by a transverse pin. Fig. 7 is a horizontal section through the forward portion of the frame below the bar- 95 rel, showing a top view of the trigger and showing the trigger spring, its piston and its fastening plug. Fig. 8 is a partial vertical section of the frame showing the trigger in its place and 100 above it the trigger spring, its piston and fastening plug. Fig. 9 is a vertical transverse section of a portion of the frame, showing the hub and the pivot of the trigger, and the side plate, 105 seen from the front. Fig. 10 shows the trigger pivot detached, in an end,view and in a top view. Fig. 11 'shows the trigger-bar in a left- hand side view and in an under side view. 110
о 1’276 Fig. 12 shows the side plate detached, in a top view and in a side view. Fig. 13 shows the cartridge magazine in a top view, a right-hand side view, and a 5 bottom view. Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views. The pistol represented in the drawings has the following main parts, the frame 1, 10 the barrel 2, the breech-slide 3, and the butt piece or mainspring housing 4. The frame 1 has a strong upwardly pro- jecting abutment at its forward end for re- ceiving the rear portion of the barrel 2, as 15 shown in Figs. 1 and 2, this seat and the rear portion of the barrel are of consider- able length and the barrel has an annular shoulder to fit against the front end of the frame, so that the barrel is most rigidly 20 supported in the frame, being fastened therein either by screw threads or by any other well known means. From the barrel seat rearward, the top of the frame is lower and open, and is pro- 25 vided with external longitudinal ribs and grooves, and the bottom of the breech-slide 3 has corresponding internal grooves and ribs by which the breech-slide when placed from the rear upon the frame, is vertically SO confined upon the same, and guided thereon in its rearward and forward movements in opening and closing the breech pf the barrel. In rear of the barrel, the frame 1 extends downward and rearward forming the grip . 85 of the pistol, the hollow interior of the grip is the seat for the cartridge magazine 5, which is inserted from below into the seat and confined therein bv the pivoted maga- zine catch 6, which may be at will forced 40 rearward to release the magazine _ for re- moval or for enter mu a magazine into the grip. In rear of the magazine seat, the grip and the upper part of the frame are provided 45 with a central recess in which the butt piece or mainspring housing 4, the hammer 7, the sear 8, and the sear spring 9 are seated, the mainspring housing 4 thus forms the cen- tral rear portion of the butt of the grip, 50 and its upner end extends through and pro- jects above the top of the frame. The forward portion of the breech-slide 3 is solid and forms the breech-bolt provided with a central firing pin 10 and firing pin 55 retracting spring 11 which are confined in the breech-bolt by a vertical locking pin 12, as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The breech-bolt also carries in its right side the usual shell extractor 13 and has in its un- to der side two grooves for receiving the up- per edges of the sides of the cartridge maga- zine 5, see Fig. 5' In rear of the breech- bolt the breech-slide 3 is recessed from the bottom upward, for the reception of the top 65 of the hammer and the upper end of the ,716 butt piece 4, the rear efid of said recess be- ing closed by an imperforate wall which fits upon the top of the frame 1, thus positively preventing any rearward escape of powder- gases. 70 As clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 6, on the left side of the central firing pin seat, the re-action spring 14 and its guide rod 15 are seated in the breech-bolt so. as to extend rearward into the recess in the breech-slide, 75 the forward end of said spring 14 thus rest- ing in the breech-bolt holds the same yield- ingly forward and the rear end of the spring and of its guide rod being supported by the upper end of the butt piece 4, in the face of 80 which is provided a recess for receiving and holding the reduced rear end of the guide rod 15, see Fig. 1. Just in rear of the breech-bolt a small hole is bored trans- versely through the breech-slide 3 in such 85 a position that a pin may be inserted trans- versely through the breech-slide when the reaction spring and its guide rods are in their forward compressed position; this transverse pin thereby confines the re-action 90 spring 14 and its guide rod 15 in the breech- bolt as indicated by dotted lines in Figs. 4 and 6. Whenever the breech-slide is in its rearmost position on the frame, the re-action . spring 14 and its guide rod 15 are forced to 95 this forward compressed position and the upper forward corner of the butt piece 4 is cut away so as to allow the transverse pin to be inserted between the guide rod and the butt piece, thus locking spring and guide 100 rod in the breech-bolt. If now the breech- slide is moved forward, the guide rod and spring confined by the pin, move therewith and release the butt piece 4 which may then be removed from the frame, as hereinafter. 105 described, thus leaving the breech-slide 3 Lree for removal rearwardly from the top of the frame. The hammer 7 is pivotally mounted upon the transverse hammer pin in the frame, in IK rear of the magazine seat; a strut 16 pivoted to the rear of the hammer hub extends downward into the butt piece 4, in which the mainspring 17 and the mainspring pis- ton 18 are located, being confined therein by 114 a small transverse pin 18a near the top of the mainspring seat in the housing. The end of the hammer strut 16 rests in a recess in the top of the piston 18, the strut thus trans-' mits the tension of the mainspring 17 to the 12 hammer 7, tending to swing the top of the hammer upward into the recess in the breech-slide and against the rear end of the firing pin 10. > In front and below the hammer, the sear 8 12 is pivotally mounted upon a transverse pin, its upper arm extends upward to the front of the central hub of the hammer 7, and its end forms the sear point adapted to engage the full-cock notch of the hammer 7. The 1
1,276,716 lower atm of the sear extends downward from its pivot and is acted upon by the upper end of the sear spring the tension of which thus causes the sear point of the upper arm 5 of the sear to engage the hammer. The up- per arm of the, sear 8 carries on its left side an upward extension,, the left side of the hammer being cut away to allow this exten- sion of the sear to be located on the left side 10 of the hammer hub and between the same and the left side wall of the frame. The sear spring 9 extends downward be- tween the rear wall of the magazine seat and the front face of the butt piece 4, which 15 compresses the sear sprihg 9, while the lower end of the spring rests against the maga- zine catch 6, thus the tension of the spring 9 also serves to hold the catch 6 in its opera- , tive magazine engaging position. 20 In rear of the magazine catch a transverse pin 19 is fixed in the grip, and the lower end of the butt piece 4 has a semi-circular recess for engaging said pin, see Fig. 1, thus the lower end of the butt piece is downwardly 25 and rearwardly supported in position by said transverse pin 19, the tension of the mainspring 17 yieldingly holding the butt piece down upon the pin 19. An upward pressure against the lower end of the butt SO piece 4, while the breech-slide, is in its for- ward position and while the re,-action spring and its guide rod are confined in their forward compressed position by the trans- . verse pin, as hereinbefore described, will 35 cause the butt piece to move upward until it is free from its hold upon the pin 19, when the butt piece may be removed rear- and downwardly from the frame, thereby re- leasing the breech-slide for removal from 40 the frame. The frame in front of the grip carries the trigger-guard into which the finger-piece of the trigger 20 depends, the hub of the trig- ger being pivoted in a circular recess cut 45 from the left side into the frame, above said guard. The pivot pin 21 of the trigger, shown detached in Fig. 10, is inserted through the hub of the trigger into the frame from the left side; this trigger pivot 50 pin 21 carries on its left end a washer af- fixed thereto and . closely fitting the recess in the frame, thus limiting the lateral move- ment of the pivot pin and supporting its left end. 55 Above its hub and pivot, the trigger 20 carries a circular extension, so that a pull on the finger-piece of the trigger will cause the upper circular extension to move forward, the frame having a second circular recess 60 connected with the lower one to receive the upward extension of the trigger and to allow its free movement. In the forward portion of the frame, be- neath the barrel, in a longitudinal central 95 hole, the helical trigger spring 22 is located, ДД1 др» its rear end pressing upon a piston 23, its .front end being supported by a plug 24 fixed in the frame by a small transverse pin. The piston 23, as clearly shown in Figs. 7 and 8, is ent away on each side at its rear 70 end, so as to form a narrow, vertical fin which extends into a corresponding vertical groove or recess in the front of the upward trigger extension; the piston 23 and the re- cess in the trigger serve to lock the trigger 75 in the frame from which it cannot be re- moved until after the plug 24, the trigger spring 22 and the piston 23 have been for- wardly removed from the frame. From the upper circular recess of the 80 trigger seat in the frame, a horizontal groove is cut rearwardly in the left side of the frame, see Figs. 7 and 8, for the reception of the trigger-bar 25 by which the move- ments of the trigger are transmitted to the 85 firing mechanism in rear of the magazine seat. This trigger-bar 25, clearly shown de- tached in Fig. 11, has at its front end an in- tegral laterally extending arbor which fits into a corresponding circular seat provided BO for it in the upper extension of the trigger, thereby pivotally attaching the bar 25 to the trigger. The front of the arbor has a verti- cal groove which, when the arbor is seated in the upper trigger extension, corresponds 95 with the vertical groove or recess in said ex- tension and permits the narrow rear fin of the piston 23 to enter through the trigger ex- tension into. the groove in the arbor and allows the rear end of the fin to press upon 100 the vertical bottom of said groove. By this construction, the rear end of the piston 23 pressing upon the bottom of the groove in the arbor transmits the tension of the trig- ger spring to the arbor of the trigger-bar 25 105 and through it to the trigger 20, thus hold- ing the trigger yieldingly in its inoperative position, with its finger-piece in its forward position. See Figs. 1, 7, and 8. Tbe rear end of the piston 23 also serves to lock the 110 arbor and through it the trigger-bar 25 to the trigger and to yieldingly hold the trig- ger-bar with its rear end raised, as shown in Fig. 1. At its rear end, the trigger-bar is pro- 115 vided with an upward and inward projec- tion which rises into the path of the breech- slide and extends through an opening in the side of the frame to the rear of the upward extension of the sear 8. The lower left-hand 120 edge of the breech-slide bears upon this pro- jection so as to force down the rear end of the trigger-bar. 25 whenever the breech-slide moves rearward from its closed position. To allow the trigger-bar to rise when the 125 breech-slide is in the closed or firihg posi- tion, a recess 26 is cut into the lower left- hand edge, of the slide so located as to be above the projection of the trigger-bar and to allow tne’ same to rise into the recess 26 180
ла27в,71ё when the slide arrives at its dosed firing position: but so that the inclined forward end of said recess at once depresses the trig- ger-bar as soon as the breech-slide moves 5 rearward, as under its recoil on firing. This construction forms the automatic safety of the pistol by positively preventing firing unless the breech-slide is in its for- ward closed position, when a rearward pull 10 on the trigger will cause the trigger-bar to move forward so that the face df the in- ward projection on its rear end will engage the rear face of the upward extension of the sear 8, and transmit the motion of the trig- 15 ger to the sear and cause the same to release the hammer for firing a shot. Just below its upper end the sear exten- sion has a recess open at the rear into which the inward projection of the trigger-bar 25 20 will enter whenever the trigger-bar is moved forward while its rear end is depressed by the edge of the breech-slide when the same has moved rearward from its forward firing position, so that the movement of the trigger 25 and trigger-bar in that case will hot be transmitted to the sear, and the sear will retain its hold upon the hammer, thus pre- venting firing. This construction and operation, besides 30 acting as an automatic safety,'-as just de- scribed, also serves to control the firing of the pistol, by preventing more than one shot to follow upon each pull of the trigger. When the trigger is pulled and a shot is 35 fired, the breeeh-slide at once recoils, ejects the empty shell, depresses the rear end of the trigger-bar, cocks the hammer, and is re- turned forward by the re-action spring, thus again loading the pistol by transferring a ,40 cartridge from the magazine to the chamber of the barrel and making it ready for firing another shot. These automatic operations occur very rapidly and are completed before the pull upon the trigger has ceased and be- 45 fore the finger can release the trigger. At the first recoil of the slide, the rear end of the trigger-bar is depressed and the lateral projection on the bar loses its hold on the rear face of the sear extension and enters 50 into the recess below the face. This leaves free the sear so that, under the action of the sear spring, it again engages the hammer as soon as the recoiling slide has forced the hammer rearward and downward, so as to 55 cock the same, and holds it cocked ready for the next shot. On the return of the breech-slide forward, the recess 26 in the edge of the slide is again brought over the projection of the trigger-bar and the end of 50 the bar would at once be raised by the trig- ger spring if this were hot prevented by the top of the sear extension above the recess which top continues to hold the bar in its depressed position, until the pull on the trig, ger is released and the finger-piece of the trigger is allowed to return forward, thereby moving the trigger-bar reaward and allow- ing the pojectioii of the bar to escape from the recess in the sear, then the bar will be raised bringing its projection into line with the rear face of the sear extension, ready to engage the sear if the trigger is again pulled. By this arrangenient, only one shot can fol- low upon each pull of the trigger. To close the open seats of the trigger and trigger-bar, a side plate 27 is provided upon the left side of the frame. In Fig. 12. the side -plate is shown detached and in Fig. 2 the side plate is represented in its place upon the left side of the frame. This side plate consists of a thin plate of tempered steel, in its central portion slightly buckled out- wardly, and has a central hole for the re- ception of the stud 28, which is fixed in the frame and projects from the left surface of the’ frame: the stud 28 has an annular recess between the frame and its outer end, later- ally equal to the thickness of the side plate. Tbe side plate 27 has near its forward lower end a hole to freely fit over the outwardly ! projecting reduced end of the trigger pivot pin 21’ and at its rear end the side plate has a rearward and downward extension in which a recess is cut for the reception of the end of the sear pivbt pin. * When the side' plate 27 is put upon the side of the frame so that the stud 28 and the ends: of the trigger pivot pin and of the sear pin project through the plate, a down- ward and inward pressure upon the face of 1 the plate will cause the same to engage the annular recess in the stud 28 and thereby hold the side plate firmly upon the side of the frame. The upper edge of the side plate, when in position, corresponds with 1 the groove provided in the frame for the reception of the lower left edge of the breech-slide, so that whenever the breeeh- slide is mounted upon the frame, its lower edge holds the side plate in the stud-engag- 1 ing position, and thereby prevents its re- moval from the frame until after the breeeh- slide has been removed from the same. The transverse pin upon which tbe ham- mer 7 is pivotally mounted in the frame, ex- 1 tends beyond the left side of the frame and there carries an integral manually operated locking catch 29' as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The rear end of the catch 29 is provided with'an upwardly extending projection fit- 1 ting into a correspondingly shaped recess in the lower left edge of the breech-slide, below said projection the catch has on its outside a thumb piece by which it is adapted to be at will pressed upward or downward 1: by the thumb of the hand grasping the grip of pistol. The catch extends also forward of the hammer pivot pin and carries on its inner face an inwardly projecting pin 30 which extends through a slot in the side of 1!
1,270,710 £2 the frame into a position in front of the sear point. When the rear end of the catch is raised as described, to lock the breech- slide, the inwardly projecting pin 30 on & the catch is brought in front of the sear point thereby positively locking the sear if the same holds the hammer in the cocked position; but when the hammer is in its down position, the sear point being thereby 10 moved into its forward position stands di- rectly below the inwardly projecting pin 30 which thus is prevented from being moved to the front of the sear; so that when the pistol is closed, the safety catch 29, by 15 being movable or immovable, will at once indicate if the hammer is cocked or not, as only with the hammer cocked can the catch be moved upward to lock the breech- slide in its forward position and. at the 20 same time lock the sear against releasing the hammer. When the breech slide is in the rearmost, open position, the manual safety catch 29 may be at will pressed up- ward to lock the slide in that position, a' 25 second smaller recess in the edge of the slide, somewhat in front of the locking re- cess described, allows the rear edge of the projection on the catch 29 to hold the slide open, until it is released by a downward SO pressure upon the catch. From the partly circular front face of the catch extends a thin forwardly projecting lip which will be caught under the rear edge of the side plate 27 when the same is adjusted upon the 35 left side , of the frame, as heretofore de- scribed; by this means, the side plate also serves to lock the safety catch and hammer pivot pin laterally in the frame and to yield- ingly hold the catch in either the raised or 40 the depressed position. The cartridge magazine has the usual form of a tubular holder in which the cartridges may be held one upon the other. Fig. 13 clearly shows the cartridge maga- 45 zine in three views. The rear portion of the top of each side of the magazine is turned inwardly so that the turned in edges will overhang the head of the topmost car- tridge in the magazine and thereby prevent 50 the cartridges from escaping from the maga- zine, unless they are successively pushed for- ward so as to escape from the overhanging edges of the magazine. In Fig. 5, this con- struction of the top of the magazine is 55 clearly indicated as are also two grooves in the bottom of the breeeh-bolt into which the overhanging edges of the magazine may enter when the same is pushed into its posi- tion in the grip of the pistol with the breech- 50 bolt in the forward position. A follower and a follower spring in the magazine serve to press upward the cartridges therein and the bottom of the magazine is closed by a bottom plate affixed thereto, The right- 65 hand side of the magazine is slotted and a button, the inner end of the stem of which extends through the slot into the follower, serves to at will depress the follower so as to facilitate the loading of cartridges into the magazine. When, as shown in Fig. 1, 70 the cartridge magazine is in the grip with some cartridges therein, and after firing the breech-bolt recoils, the topmost cartridge will be raised by the follower so that a por- tion of its head will project into the path 75 of the breech-bolt and on the ensuing for- ward movement of the breech-bolt under the tension of the re-action spring, the face of the breech-bolt will engage the upwardly projecting head of the topmost cartridge in 80 the magazine and press the same forward from the magazine into the chamber of the barrel. As long as the head of the cartridge to be transferred to the barrel, remains un- der the overhanging edges of the sides of 85 the magazine, the head of the cartridge can- not rise while the forward movement of the breech-bolt and cartridge forces the bul- let upward into the barrel; this steeply in- clined position of the cartridge, while being 90 fed to the barrel, is apt to block the free forward movement of the breech-slide and interfere with the working of the pistol; to overcome this drawback an inwardly pro- jecting rib inclined forward and upward 05 has been formed in each side of the maga- zine forward of the overhanging lips, when the head of the cartridge escapes from the overhanging sides of the magazine, .the sides of the cartridge head will strike these ribs 100 and, under the forward movement of the breech-bolt, the head of the cartridge will be forced to rise being guided upon the inclined ribs, and to assume a horizontal position in front of the breech-bolt, which then may 105 readily push the cartridge home into the chamber of the barrel. It will be understood that several of the features of my improvements herein de- scribed are not necessarily combined in the 110 same structure with one another, nor are they necessarily employed in a firearm of the particular character of that shown. Obviously, also, various changes in form and arrangement of parts may be made 115 within the scope of the invention. I claim as my invention: 1. In a firearm, the combination of a frame having an upward extending front abutment and a downward extending grip, 120 and having an open top in rear of the abut- ment, a barrel rigidly supported by the frame in the abutment, a breech-slide mounted from the rear upon the frame and vertically locked to reciprocate thereon, and 125 comprising a breech-bolt for opening and closing the barrel, and having a recess in rear of the breech-bolt and an imperforate rear wall closing said recess, ana a butt, piece removably mounted in the frame and 180
& 1,276,716 projecting above the top thereof into said recess in the breech-slide, whereby said butt piece limits the rearward movement of the breech-slide and confines the same upon the 5 frame. 2. In a firearm, the combination of a frame having an upward extending front abutment and a downward extending grip, • and having an open top in rear of the 10 abutment, a barrel rigidly supported by the frame in the abutment, a breech-slide mount- ed from the rear upon the frame and held thereon by ribs on the breech-slide engaging grooves in the frame, and comprising a 15 breech-bolt for opening and closing the bar- rel, and having a recess in rear of the breech-bolt and an imperforate rear wall closing said recess, and a butt piece remov- ably mounted in the frame and projecting 20 above the top thereof into said recess in the breech-slide, whereby said butt piece limits the rearward movement of the breech-slide and confines the same upon the frame. 3, In a firearm, the combination of a 25 frame having an upward extending front abutment and a downward extending grip, and having an open top in rear of the abut- ment, a barrel rigidly supported by the frame in the abutment, a breech-slide mount- 30 ed from the rear upon the frame and verti- cally locked to reciprocate thereon, and com- prising a breech-bolt for opening and clos- ing the barrel, and having a recess in rear of the breech-bolt and an imperforate rear 35 wall closing said recess, a butt piece remov- ably mounted in the frame and projecting above the top thereof , into said recess in the breech-slide, whereby said butt piece limits the rearward movement of the breech-slide 40 and confines the same upon the frame, and a re-action spring seated in the breech-bolt and extending rearward through said re- cess to the butt piece, whereby said re-action spring yieldingly holds said breech-slide for- 45 ward. 4. In a firearm, the combination of a frame having an upward extending front abutment and a downward extending grip, and having an open top in rear of the abut- 50 ment, a barrel rigidly supported by the frame in the abutment, a breech-slide mount- ed from the rear upon the frame and verti- cally locked to reciprocate thereon, and com- prising a breech-bolt for opening and clos- 55 ing the barrel, and having a recess in rear of the breech-bolt and an imperforate rear wall closing said recess, a butt piece remov- ably mounted in the frame and projecting above the top thereof into said recess in the 60 breech-slide, whereby said butt piece limits the rearwafd movement of the breech-slide and confines the same upon the frame, and a re-action spring seated in the breech-bolt and extending rearward through said re- 85 cess to the butt piece, and carrying a guide rod in its rear portion, the rear end of said guide rod seated in said butt piece, whereby said re-action spring yieldingly holds said breech-slide forward. 5. In a firearm, the combination of a 70 frame having an upward extending front abutment and a downward extending grip, and having an open top in rear of the abut- ment, and having a hammer pivotally mounted in the frame in rear of the grip, a 75 barrel rigidly supported by the frame in the abutment, a breech-slide mounted from the rear upon the frame and vertically locked to reciprocate thereon, and comprising a breech-bolt for opening and closing the bar- 80 rel, and having a recess in rear of the. breech-bolt for receiving the hammer and an imperforate rear wall closing said re- cess, and a butt piece removably mounted in the frame and projecting above the top 85 thereof into said recess in the breech-slide, whereby said butt piece limits the rearward movement of the breech-slide and confines the same upon the frame. 6. In a firearm, the combination of a 90 frame having an upward extending front abutment and a downward extending grip, and having an open top in fear of the abut- ment, and having a hammer pivotally mounted in the frame in rear of the grip, a 95 barrel rigidly supported by the frame in the abutment, a breech-slide mounted from the rear upon the frame and vertically locked to reciprocate thereon, and comprising a breech-bolt for opening and closing the bar- ioo rel, and having a recess in rear of the breech-bolt/ for receiving the hammer and having an imperforate rear wall closing said recess, a butt piece removably mounted in the frame and projecting above the top 105 thereof into said recess in the breech-slide, and a mainspring seated in said butt piece and connected with the hammer to yield- ingly hold the top of the hammer in said re- cess, said mainspring yieldingly holding no said butt piece interlocked with the frame whereby said butt piece limits the rearward movement of the breech-slide and confines the same upon the frame., 7. In a firearm, the combination of а ц& frame having an upward extending front abutment and a downward extending grip, and having an open top in rear of the abut- ment, and having a hammer pivotally mount- ed in the frame in rear of the grip, a barrel 120 rigidly supported by the frame in the abut- ment, a breech-slide mounted from the rear upon the frame and vertically locked to re- ciprocate thereon, and comprising a breech- bolt for opening and closing the barrel, and 125 having a recess in rear of the breech-bolt for receiving the hammer and having an im- perforate rear wall closing said recess, a butt piece mounted in the frame and projecting above the top thereof into said recess in the 130
1,276,716 breech-slide, a mainspring seated in said butt piece and connected with the hammer to yieldingly hold the top of the hammer in said recess, and a transverse pin fixed in the 5 grip, the lower portion of said butt piece adapted to engage said transverse pin, where- by said mainspring yieldingly holds said butt piece interlocked with said transverse pin, and whereby said butt piece may be 10 disengaged from said pin for removal and for releasing the breech-slide for removal from the frame. 8. In a firearm, a frame having a down- ward extending grip, a hammer and a sear 15 motinted in the frame in rear of the grip, a trigger pivotally mounted in front of the ' grip and a trigger-bar pivotally mounted in the trigger and connecting the trigger with the sear, a trigger spring seated in the frame 20 and holding the trigger in inoperative posi- tion and holding the trigger-bar in operative position, means for confining the trigger spring in the frame and interlocking means between the trigger spring and the trigger 25 and trigger-bar, whereby the trigger and trigger-bar are removably locked in the frame. 9. In a firearm, the combination of a frame and a barrel rigidly supported by the 80 frame, a breech-slide mounted to recipro- cate upon the frame, a hammer and a sear pivotally mounted in the frame in rear of said grip, and a trigger pivotally mounted in the frame in front of the grip, an upward 35 extension on said trigger carrying a rear- ward extending trigger-bar connecting the trigger with the sear, and a trigger spring seated in the frame and carrying a piston, said piston having a flat rear portion and 40 said trigger and trigger-bar each having a groove to receive the rear portion of said piston, means for confining said trigger spring and piston in the frame, whereby said trigger spring will hold said trigger in 45 inoperative position and hold said trigger- bar in operative position and lock said trig- ger and trigger-bar in the frame. 10. In a firearm, a frame having a down- ward extending grip, a hammer and a sear 50 pivotally mounted in the frame in rear of said grip, a trigger pivotally mounted in front of said grip and a trigger-bar pivot- ally mounted in the trigger and connecting the trigger with the sear, said trigger and 55 said trigger-bar each being seated in an open recess in the side of the frame, a trigger !55 spring seated in the frame and holding the trigger in inoperative position and holding the trigger-bar in operative position, means for confining said trigger spring in the 80 frame, and a side plate mounted upon the frame and kept in place thereon by a re- cessed stud on the frame and by a hole in said side plate, whereby said side plate and said stud are interlocked. 85 11. In a firearm, a frame having a down- ward extending grip, a hammer and a sear mounted in the frame in rear of said grip and a trigger-bar pivotally mounted in the trigger and connecting the trigger with the 7® sear, said trigger and said , trigger-bar each being seated m an open recess in the side of the frame, a trigger spring seated in the frame and holding the trigger in inopera- tive position and holding the trigger-bar in 75 operative position, a side plate mounted upon the frame and kept in place thereon by a stud on the frame and a hole in said side plate, and a slide lock pivotally mount- ed on the side of the frame for manual op- so eration, said slide lock extending under said side plate, whereby said side plate yield- ingly keeps said slide lock in position. 12. In a firearm, the combination of a frame, a barrel rigidly supported by the 86 frame, the frame having an open top in rear of the barrel, a breech-slide mounted from the rear upon the frame and vertically locked to reciprocate thereon, and compris- ing a breech-bolt for opening and closing 00 the barrel, and having a recess in rear of the breech-bolt and an imperforate wall closing said recess, a butt piece removably mounted in the frame and projecting above the top thereof into said recess in the breech-slide, 96 whereby said butt piece limits the rearward movement bf the breech-slide and confines the same upon the frame, and a re-action spring seated in the breech-bolt and carrying a guide rod extending rearward through 100 said recess to the butt piece, said breech-slide provided with a transverse aperture for the insertion of means for locking said re-action spring and said guide rod in their com- pressed position in said breech-bolt, sub- 106 stantially as and for the purpose described. This specification signed and 'witnessed this twentieth day of March, A. D. 1917. JOHN M. BROWNING. In the presence of: C. J. Ehbets, A. L. Ulrich.
J. M. BROWNING. MOUNT FOR MACHINE GUNS. APPLICATION FILED APR. 26. 1916.
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. JOHN M. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH. MOUNT FOB MACHINE-GUNS. 1,393,020. Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Feb. 4, 1919. Application filed April 26,1316. Serial No. Э3.7ЭЗ. To all whom it may concern : Be it known that I, John M. Browning, a citizen of the United States, residing in Og- den, in the county of Weber and State of 5 Utah, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mounts for Machine-Guns, of which the following is a specification, ref- erence being had to the accompanying draw- ings, forming a part hereof. 10 The invention relates generally to mounts for machine guns in which it is essential that the gun may be readily and easily turned and sighted in all directions in the hori- zontal plane as well as in the vertical and 15 to any angle between these extremes; and it especially relates to mounts for auto- matic guns of this class. The invention particularly relates to novel improvements in tripod-mounts for 20 machine guns, but portions thereof may be as readily used for mounting guns of this class upon light wheeled vehicles of the kind used for the transporting of guns of this class.' 25 The main object of the present invention is to produce an improved tripod-mount of this class specially adapted for the military service by being. light but strong a.nd abso- lutely reliable under all conditions: while 30 simple in construction and not liable to get out of order, and inexpensive of manufac- ture. This object is attained by generally sim- plifying the mount and by providing an 35 improved construction of' certain parts thereof. । In the embodiment of ,these improve- ments represented in the. accompanying drawings, a machine gun of a well-known 40 type, the rear portion of (which has the form of a rectangular breech-casing and the forward portion inclosing the barrel has the form of a cylindrical Water jacket, is represented as mounted upon the improved 45 tripod-mount, but it will be understood that I do not intend to restrict the use of my mount to this particular type of ma- chine gun, but that it may be readily adapted for other types.’ 50 In the acompanying drawings: ' Figure 1, represents in a right-hand side elevation the tripod-mount with a machine gun mounted upon the same. Fig. %., represents a front view of the tri- gs pod-body with its pivot, post, portions of the Ifgs being -omitted. Fig. 3, represents a. rear end view of the mount or swivel, with the socket for receiv- ing the pivot post; on an enlarged scale., Fig. 4, represents a plan of the mount or SO swivel seen from above; on an enlarged scale. Fig. 5 represents a top view and a side view of the lower elevating- screw and hand . wheel, detached. 65 Figs. 6 and 7, represent respectively a side view and a top view of the forked up- per portions of the rear or trail leg, de- tached; on a still more enlarged scale. Fig. 8, represents a front view and a side 70 view of the upper portion of the two for- ward legs, detached; on a similar scale. Fig» 9 represents a side view and a rear view of the tripod-body, detached. Fig. 10, represents the binding shoe, de- 75 tached, in front view, top view and side view. Fig. 11, represents a rear view and a side view of the combined upper elevating screw and gun clamp, detached. 80 Fig. 12, represents a rear view and. an encl view of the clamp bolt, detached, with the washer, nut and check nut and the piv- oted wrench. Similar figures refer to similar .parts 85 throughout the several views. In tripod-mounts as heretofore generally constructed, it has been customary to at- tach the gun firmly to an upper mount, and support this mount pivotally on a swivel SO provided with a platform or turn-table from which a pivot post projects' down- ward. The socket for this pivot post was- provided by the body of the tripod. To tiie. outside of such socket, beneath the plat- 05 form, the legs of the tripod were usually at- tached so as to extend at equal angles ra- dially outward and downward; each of the legs being attached below the swivel-plat- form by its separate pivot bolt. 100 With such construction it is necessary, when the legs are to be adjusted, to loosen each leg separately by unscrewing the nut on its pivot bolt, to adjust it and fasten it in the desired position. Moreover, the fact 105 that the swivel-platform extended above the legs to a considerable, distance outward from the center necessarily limited the movements of the logs; and each leg could" only be adjusted outward or inward within 110 the plane at right angles to its pivot bolt. My improved tripod-mount consists of
1,293,020 & two main parts, the upper mount or swivel for receiving and Holding firmly the gun, and the lower part or tripod proper, neither of these parts having a projecting-platform 5 or turn-table; moreover, the three legs of the tripod are attached and adjusted by one single pivot bolt which also serves for fix- ing or releasing each and all of the three legs by one movement or at will adjusting 10 them in the desired position by the move- ment of a single bolt. In Fig. 1, the gup .1 iss outlined as mounted upon the swivel 2, gun and swivel being supported by the tripod. The swivel 15 2 consists of the swivel-body 3 forming a socket fitted over the pivot post 4 and adapted to turn thereon with the gun 1 in the horizontal plane, or to be firmly fixed upon the pivot post 4. 20 On each side the swivel-body 3 is flattened and two cheek pieces 6, 6, in form of thin plates, are fitted to the swivel-body 3 to ex- tend. rearward therefrom for holding and supporting the lower sides and the rear end 25 of the gun, Avhile a pivot bolt 5 is fitted through the. cheek pieces 6, 6 and the swivel- body 3 so that the cheek pieces 6, 6 with the gun can swing vertically upon the pivot bolt 5 independently of the swivel-body 3, 30 which however, serves to hold the two cheek pices 6, 6 the proper distance apart. For further binding together the two cheek pieces 6, 6 at the proper distance apart for receiving the lower portion of the rectangu- 35 lar breech-casing, three stay-bolts 12,. 12, 12 are firmly riveted between the cheek pieces 6, 6, one stay-bolt near the rear end and one near the front end thereof and the third between the rear one and the pivot bolt 5, 40 these stay-bolts being nearer to the /tipper edge of the cheek pieces 6, 6 than to the downwardly projecting forward portion of the same. The depending lower edges of the for- 45 ward portion of the cheek pieces 6, 6 have the form of a segment of a circle, concen- tric with the pivot bolt 5; and the swivel- body 3 on its lower rear face has a transverse boss through which a binding bolt 7 is so 50 fitted that a portion of its head projects over the segmental lower edge of the left cheek piece 6, while on the right side a washer on the bolt 7 similarly projects over the outside of the right cheek piece 6, so that 55 when the binding nut 8 on the right end of the bolt 7 is screwed inward by means of its handle, the cheek pieces 6, 6 are both forced inward firmly against the sides of the swivel-body 3 and thereby the cheek 60 pieces 6, 6 are positively prevented from moving on their pivot bolt 5. See Figs. 1 and 3. Slightly in rear of the top of the swivel- body 3 and of the pivot bolt 5 a hole is «5 bored transversely through the cheek nieces 6, 6 and a corresponding hole is provided through the lower portion of the gun cas- ing for receiving the transverse gun-pin 9 providedjyith a handle on its right end. Near its rear end on its under side the 70 gnn casing carries a rectangular rib or pro- jection 10, from the front side of which a lip extends forwardly. Between the rear ends of the cheek pieces 6, 6 a block 11 is fitted to slide vertically, being held in posi- 75 tion by a transverse pin and a vertical slot in the cheek pieces 6, 6 which guide and limit the upward and downward movements of the block. This block forms the combined Upper elevating screw and gun clamp. See 80 Figs. 1 and 11. Near the upper end of its rear face this block 11 has a transverse groove or recess corresponding to the lip on the rib 10 and ready to receive the same. In order to mount the gun upon the swivel 85 and between the cheek pieces 6, 6 the gun is laid with the rear portion of its water jacket resting upon the swivel-body 3 and then the gun is moved forward until the lip of the projection 10 enters the recess in 90 the-bloek 11. This will cause the transverse hole in the gun 1 and those in the cheek pieces 6, 6 to coincide so that the gun-pin 9 may be readily inserted into them. By this simple means the gun is firmly 95 attached and fixed to the upper mount or swivel; the rear end of the gun being posi- tively locked to the block 11 between the cheek pieces 6, 6. Below the block 11 another strong block 100 13 having a trunnion on each side is fixed between the rear ends of the cheek pieces 6, 6. Through this block 13 a strong screw 14 having left-hand thread and carrying a small lihnd wheel 15 at its lower end, is 105 fitted. Lengthwise through this screw 14 and hand, .wheel 15 a hole is bored and threaded ?fd receive the threaded stem or screw 16 extending downward from the block 11, the thread of this interior screw 110 16 being right-handed. Thus, while the fixed block 13 forms a nut for the larger §crew/14 this screw 14 itself forms the nut for flie stem 16, and by turning the screw 14 upward in the fixed block 13 the screw 115 16 .and the block 11 are also moved upward within the limits of the transverse pin and the slot in the cheek pieces 6, 6, while by turn- ing the hand wheel in the reversed direction, the screw 14 and the hand wheel 15 are 120 moved downward in the block 13 and the block 11 and screw 16 are also moved down- ward. This arrangement serves for the sighting of the gun 1 when a fine or exact aim is necessary. For rapidly elevating or 125 depressing the muzzle of the gun 1 for any considerable amount in aiming at an object, the binding nut 8 is loosened on the bolt 7 thereby allowing gun 1 and cheek pieces 6, 6 to be raised or lowered by turning on the 130
1,363,020 8 pivot bolt 5. When this elevation has been made to the desired extent, the binding nut 8 is tightened thus fixing the cheek pieces 6, 6 to the swivel-body 3.. If now a more exact 5 finer aim is desired the hand wheel 15 is turned when it will raise or lower the block 11 and the rear end of the gun 1 to a limited extent, thereby enabling a fine sight or aim at a special object to be attained. 1 о Ths block 11 and its limited vertical move- ment by means of the hand wheel. 15 and screws 14 and 16 thus take the place of the usual large and more complicated elevating gear. The block 11 during its vertical move- 15 ment never loses its firm hold upon the rear end of the gun by means of the interlocking of the block 11 with the lip of the rib under the gun. In order to prevent the adjustment by SO die hand wheel 15 and. the screws from being disturbed during firing, as by the vibrations caused by a series of shots of the gun following each other in rapid suc- cession, a. number of small circular depres- 25 sions are made in the upper surface of the hand wheel 15, and' in the block 13, a small vertical piston and a spring are pro- vided,' the pointed lower end of the piston bearing on the top surface, of the hand 30 wheel 15 and adapted to enter into one of the series of depressions; in this man- ner the spring-actuated piston operates as a friction brake and yieldingly holds the hand wheel 15 in any position to which it 35 may be turned. See Figs. 3, 4 and 5. The left-hand cheek piece 6 carries upon its out- side the .usual bracket IT for receiving and holding a feed box containing a feed belt with cartridges in the pockets thereof, this 40 being a well-known arrangement and not forming a part of my • improvement does not require any further description herein. The swivel-body 3 is provided on its for- ward face with a boss in which the binding 4 5 screw 18 is fitted transversely to the axis of the socket of the swivel-body. At its outer end the binding screw 18 has a handle and on its inner end carries a small bind- ing shoe 19, see Figs. 1 and 4; this shoe 50 is shown detached . in Fig. 10 in three views. This shoe 19 has a projecting rib fitting into a corresponding recess or groove on the outside of the pivot post 4 of the tripod-body. This binding screw 18 55 with its handle and. shoe 19 serves at will to fasten' the upper mount or swivel against turning upon the pivot post 4 and the pro- jecting rib of the shoe 19 with the corre- sponding grooves in the post 4 locks the 60 swivel-body 3 and through it the swivel and the gun upon the tripod-body. Having thus described the upper mount, it remains to explain the lower parts or tripod. . ; 65. As shown in.Figs. 1 and 2, the tripod consists of the central tripod-body, the three legs, and. the means for attaching the three legs adjustably to the tripod-body. The upper portion of the tripod-body forms the pivot post 4 and to it the lower part 70 of the body is joined in the form of a strong circular hub, 20. At the junction between this hub 20 and the post 4. is a circular shoulder or seat upon which the lower end of ’.the socket of the swivel-body 3 rests 75 when the swivel is mounted upon the post 4. Thus this shoulder or seat takes the place of the large projecting circular-plat- form of tripods as made heretofore. The longer rear or trail leg 21 carries 80 at its upper end a fork, see Figs. 2, 6 and 7, the interior sides of the two branches, of which are fitted to the sides of the hub 20 and a central transverse bolt through the branches of the fork and through the hub 85 20 pivotally attach the rear leg to the body of the tripod in such a way that the leg may be readily adjusted lipon the hub 20. Each of the two shorter forward legs 22, 23 of the tripod carries at its upper end 90 a circular hub with a central slot, by means of which the two legs may be attached to the outer sides of the branches of the fork of the trail leg 21 and through them to the hub 20 of the tripod body. On the 95 outer face of the circular hub of each leg 22, 23 a strong rib is formed parallel to the axis of the leg by which the thickness of the hub is increased in'size to equal the diameter of the leg, and the width of said 100 rib also coincides with the outer surface of the legs. See Figs. 1, 2 and 8. In this rib on the outside of the upper part of each leg a nearly semi-circular recess is cut, clearly / shown in Fig. 8, where also 105 the central slot through the hub and through thb rib of each leg is clearly shown. The same central bolt which passes through the hub 20 of the tripod-body and through both sides of the fork of leg 21 no also passes through the. hub and through the rib outside of the hub of each of the legs 22, 23. On its right side the leg bolt 24 carries a head 25 to which the upper forked end of a wrench 26 is pivotally at- 115 tached by a transverse pin; and under the head 25 and between it and the concave recess in the rib on the outside of the hub of the leg 22 a washer 27 is loosely fitted upon the leg bolt 24; this washer 27 is-’of 120’ rectangular shape but much wider in the direction transverse to the axis of the leg than in the direction of the axis of the leg. Both inner corners on the long sides of this washer are rounded off so that the 125 washer will adjust itself to the semi-cir- cular recess in the rib on the outside, of the leg hub in whatever position the leg may adopt. The longer, transverse sides of this rectangular washer insure , that the same 180
4= 1,293,020 cannot turn on. its center in the recess as its edges will, in fitting themselves into the semi-circular recess, retain the washer in a position where its longer sides are at right 5 angle to the axis of the leg. In the front view represented in Fig. 8 the washer 27 is indicated by doited lines showing clearly the manner in which it adjusts itself to the semi-circular recess. On the other end 10 of the leg bolt 24 a mil 28 is fitted, the outer shape, of which is similar to that of the washer under the head on the other end of the bolt 24, but being a nut it has an interior thread to screw on the leg bolt. 15 The rounded corners of the inner face of the nut 28 insure that the nut also will be kept from turning with the bolt. 24, after it adjusts itself in the concave semi-circular recess’ in the rib on the. hub of the leg 23 20 just like the washer 27 adjusts itself on the other end in the rib on the leg 22. The leg bolt. 24 extends considerably beyond the outer face of the nut 28 and a small check nut is .fastened upon the. end of the. bolt 25 24 to prevent the nut or washer from es- caping from the. bolt 24 or the bolt from its seat in the tripod-body and legs. Each of the three legs 21, 22, 23 carries at its lower end the usual foot plate from 30 which a sharp point or spike extends down- ward to insure the grasp of the legs upon the ground or base. By the construction as described, the three legs of the tripod may be readily adjusted 35 after loosening them by unscrewing the bolt 24. The legs may be brought nearer to- gether thereby raising the tripod-body, swivel and gun to the maximum height above the ground; or the legs may be 40 spread farther apart so as to lower the gun and its mount. The three legs may be al- lowed to spread until they lie upon the ground and until the hub of the tripod- body 20 also touches the ground, thereby 45 lowering the gun and its mount to its ex- treme depressed position. Besides these ad- justments of the legs for varying the eleva- tion of the gun above the ground, the two front legs may also be adjusted, after loos- 50 ening the, bolt 24, independently of each other as the uneven condition of the ground may require; in a position on the side of a hill or incline, for example, one leg may be adjusted at an angle more steep than the 55 other legs thereby having the effect of short- ening or lengthening the legs respectively. In addition to enabling the legs to be at will adjusted, the construction as described also permits the tripod-body to be at will 60 adjusted while the, legs remain unmoved in their position. After loosening the bolt 24, the gun, together with the upper mount and the tripod-body may be turned on the bolt 24 is a pivot, thereby at will depressing the muzzle of the gun until the axis of the gun 66 is in the vertical plane; or the muzzle of the gun may be elevated until it is pointed upward in the, vertical plane. The only further condition for this last adjustment being that the gun and swivel are turned to 70 one side sufficiently .that the depressed rear end of the gun will pass to one side of the rear or trail leg. By turning the bolt 24 by means of its handle 26 the gun may be fixed in either of the extreme positions de- 75 scribed or at any intermediate angle of ele- vation or depression. To increase the friction between the tri- pod-body and the fork of the trail leg and between the outside of the fork and the 80 two shorter legs, the, inner face of the hubs of the shorter legs and the outer and inner sides of the fork branches, as well as the sides of the tripod-body 20 have been pro- vided with radial serrations. These are in- 85 dicated in Figs. 2, 7, 8 and 9 in the edge views of the respective parts, but have not been shown in the side views as they are of rounded shape and, therefore, do not show m sharp lines. Moreover, such serrations 90 are a well-known construction for increas- ing the frictional hold and, therefore, do not require further representation. In addition to the various positions to which the construction adapts the legs to be 95 adjusted, as described, the forward legs may be turned rearward until they are in the same plane with the rear or trail leg and the legs may be lowered together until all three of them lie extended in rear of the 100 hub 20 on the ground and until the hub also touches the ground or base, the two shorter legs diverging outward and rear- ward from the longer central leg, in which position the three legs maybe fastened. This log last position of the legs will enable the gun to be fired from an elevated-platform such as the, top of a house, and by placing some weights across the three legs, or seating some persons upon them to counterbalance the 110 weight of the gun and the upper mount, the gun may be moved so as to project beyond the edge of the house-top and the muzzle of the gun may be depressed, thereby en- abling the gun to be fired at will at any 115 angle downward to cover streets or other approaches below. The three legs may be turned so as to lie side by side in one plane, then the slot in the. hubs of the short legs allows these 120 to be folded up for packing and transport in tho smallest possible space. By loosening and unscrewing the bolt 24 to a consider- able extent, the feet of the shorter legs may. be moved inward until they are close to the 125 longer central leg, and so that all three legs lie parallel to each other in the same hori- zontal plane. The pvot post 4 of the tri-
1,393,030 pod-body may then be turned rearward un- til it also extends rearward from the hub but above the legs. The absence of a more or less projecting 5 platform between the upper mount or swivel and the top of the tripod, as heretofore ex- plained, simplifies the construction, and this improvement serves another important object. 10 The. automatic firing of a large number of shots in rapid succession in a machine gun requires th at the empty cartridge cases may be freely ejected without meeting with die. least obstruction. In some guns of this 15 type the ejection of the cases if effected later- ally through an opening provided for this purpose in the side of the breech-casing, in others' the cases are ejected downwardly through an opening in the bottom of the 20 breech-casing: this downward ejection be- ing the preferable one, as the downwardly directed stream of violently expelled car- tridge cases during rapid firing, is much less liable, to cause trouble than if the cases are 25 expelled laterally. Figs. 1 and 4 of the drawings clearly show that with the present mount the downward ejection is perfectly unobstructed, as the two cheek pieces of the swivel 2 do not pro- 09 ject under the forward portion of the bot- tom of the breech-casing in rear of the gun- pin & where the ejection opening must be located, the smooth inner faces of the cheek pieces, on the contrary, form a guide for the §8 ejected cases. The upright swivel-body 3 and the tripod- body 20 being forward of the breech-casing and having no parts projecting into the path of the ejected cases? cannot interfere with 4© their descent to the 'ground beneath the gun and mount. It will be evident that various changes in ind arrangement of the parts may be without departing from the spirit of renHon. it I claim and desire to secure by Let- ____ .... atent, is: 1, A. tripod composed of the upright pivot-post fitted to enter into and to sup- la!;' port the socket of a gun-swivel, said pivot- post extending downward in form of a hub, and the three legs adjustably attached to said hub by a single transverse bolt, the . axis of said bolt located in a plane through № the axis of the pivot-post. 2. In a mount for machine guns, the conr- bination of a swivel fitted to receive and to carry the gun, and having a central >od composed of the Ai -pivot-post for entering said socket and a hub. and three legs adjustably attached to said hub by a single transverse bolt, the axis of said bolt lying in a plane through the .axis of said pivot-post. 3. A tripod composed of an upright 65 pivot-post fitted to enter into and to support the socket of a gun-swivel, said pivot-post carrying at its lower end a hub having a central hole and on two sides a circular face, a leg provided with a forked upper end 70 clasping the faces of said hub, and having a hole through the branches of said fork corresponding with the hole in said hub, and two legs each provided at its upper end with a boss having a circular face and a longi- 75 tudinal slot, and a single transverse bolt in the plane of the axis of said pivot-post fitted through the three legs and the cen- tral hub for adjustably attaching said legs to the hub of the pivot-post. 80 4. A tripod composed of an upright pivot-post fitted to enter into and to sup- port the socket of a gun-swivel, said pivot- post carrying at its lower encl a hub having a central hole and on two sides a serrated 85 circular face, a leg provided with a forked upper end clasping the faces of said hub, and having a hole through the branches of said fork corresponding with the hole in said hub, and two legs each provided at 90 its upper end with a boss having a circular face, and having 011 the outer side of said boss a longitudinal rib, and a partly circular transverse recess in said rib, a central longitudinal slot through в 5 said boss and said rib, and a single trans- verse bolt in the plane of the axis of said pivot-post fitted through the three legs and the central hub, and having a washer and a nut, both of rectangular form, adjusted 100 transversely in said recess, substantially as and for the purpose described. 5. In a mount for machine guns, the com- bination of a swivel-body having a central socket, and two cheek pieces pivotally at- 105 tached to the sides of said swivel-body and extending rearward’ therefrom, to receive and to carry the. gun, a gun-pin fitted through said cheek pieces and the gun and provided with a handle, a block seated for a limited 130 vertical movement between the rear ends of said cheek pieces, the-rear of said block hav- ing a transverse recess to interlock with a transverse rib on said gun, whereby said gun is rigidly attached to said block, with 115 means for transmitting vertical movement to said block and to the gun, substantially as and for the purpose described. 6. In a mount for machine guns, the com- bination of a swivel-body having a central 120 socket, two cheek pieces pivotally attached to the sides of said swivel-body and extend- ing rearward therefrom to receive and to carry the gun, a gun-pin fitted through said cheek pieces and the gun and provided with a 121 handle, a block seated for a limited vertical movement between the rear ends of said cheek pieces, the rear of said block having
1,293,020 a transverse recess to interlock' with a trans- verse rib on said gun, whereby said gun is rigidly attached to said block, a vertical threaded extension depending from said 5 block and a second block fixed between said cheek pieces and threaded to receive a screw carrying a hand wheel, said screw being in- ternally threaded to receive said extension from the vertically movable block, whereby 10 the turning of said hand wheel will cause a limited vertical movement of said first block and gun, substantially as and for the pur- pose described. 7. In a mount for machine guns, the com- 15 bination of a swivel-body having a central socket, and two cheek pieces’ pivotally at- tached to the sides of said swivel-body and extending rearward therefrom to receive and to carry to the gun, a gun-pin fitted through 20 said cheek pieces and the gun and provided with a handle, mechanism between the rear portion of said cheek pieces for interlocking said gun and said cheek pieces, with a down- ward extension from the forward portion of 25 said cheek pieces forming a segment of a circle concentric to the pivot connecting said swivel-body and said cheek pieces, and a binding bolt and nut carried by said swivel- body for at will rigidly attaching said cheek 30 pieces to said swivel-body or releasing said cheek pieces from said swivel-body, substan- tially as and for the purpose described. 8. A tripod composed of the upright pivot-post fitted to enter into and to support 35 the socket of a gun-swivel, said pivot-post extending downward in form of a hub, and the three legs adjustably attached to said hub by a single transverse bolt. 9. In a mount for machine guns, the com- 40 bination of a swivel fitted to receive and to carry the gun, and having a central socket, with the tripod composed of the pivot-post for entering said socket and a hub, and three legs adjustably attached to said hub by a 15 single transverse bolt. 10. A tripod composed of an upright pivot-post fitted to enter into and to support the socket of a gun-swivel, said pivot-post carrying at its lower end a hub having a >0 central hole and on two sides a serrated cir- cular face, a leg provided with a forked upper end clasping the faces of said hub, and having a hole through the branches of said fork corresponding with the hole in said hub, and two legs each provided at its upper 55 end with a boss having a circular face and a longitudinal slot, and means for adjustably attaching said legs to the hub of the pivot- post. 11. A tripod composed of an upright 60 pivot-post fitted to enter into and to support the socket of the gun-swivel, said pivot-post carrying at its lower end a hub having a central hole and on two sides a serrated cir- cular face, a leg provided with a forked 65 upper end clasping the faces of said hub, and having a hole, through the branches of said fork corresponding with a hole in said hub, and two legs each provided at its upper end with a boss having a circular face, and 70 having on the outer side of said boss a lon- gitudinal rib, and a partly circular trans- verse recess in said rib, a central longitudi- nal slot through said 'boss and said rib, and means for adjustably attaching said legs to 75 the hub of the pivot-post including a washer and a nut, both of rectangular oblong form, for adjustment transversely in said recess, substantially as and for the purpose de- scribed. 80 12. In a mount for machine guns, the com- bination of a swivel-body having a central socket, and two cheek pieces pivotally at- tached to the side of said swivel-body and extending rearward therefrom, to receive 85 and to carry the gun, a gun-pin fitted through said cheek pieces and the gun, a block seated between the rear ends of said cheek pieces, the rear of said block having a transverse recess to interlock with a trans- 90 verse rib on said gun. whereby said gun is rigidly attached to said block, substantially as and for the purpose described. This specification signed and witnessed this twentieth day of April, A. D. 1916. JOHN M. BROWNING. In the presence of— Arthur L. Ulrich, C. J. Ehbsts.
1,293,021. J. M. BROWNING. AUTOMATIC MACHINE GUN. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 13, 1916. Patented Feb. 4,1919. 4 SHEETS-SHEET I.
1,293,021. J. M. BROWNING. AUTOMATIC MACHINE GUN. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 13, T916- Patented Feb. 4,-1919. 4 SHEETS—SHEET 2.
J. M. BROWNING. AUTOMATIC MACHINE GUN. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 13, 1916. 1,293,021. Patented Feb. 4,1919. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.
J. M. BROWNING. AUTOMATIC MACHINE GUN. 1,293,021. Patented Feb. 4,1919. 4 SHEETS—SHEET 4. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 13. 1916.
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN M. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH. AUTOMATIC MACHINE-GUN. 1,393,021. specification of letters patent. Patented Feb. 4,1919. Application filed October 13,1916. Serial No. 125,504. To dll whom it may concern: Be it known that I, John M. Browning, a citizen of the United States, residing in Ogden, in the county of Weber and State of • Utah, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Machine-Guns, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof. • The invention relates generally to auto- matic machine guns of that description in which all operations of the mechanism are automatically effected by the energy of the recoil of the movable parts. » The invention particularly relates to novel improvements in recoil-operated machine guns in which the barrel and breech closing part recoil together while interlocked, a lim- ited distance, are then unlocked, the move- ) ment of the barrel is arrested and the breech closing part alone continues its recoil, dur- ing which energy is stored in a reaction spring by which all parts are returned to the forward firing position. » The main object of the present invention is to produce an improved firearm of this class specially adapted for military service by being reliable, accurate, strong, and abso- lutely safe under all conditions, while very ® light in weight, simple in construction, not liable to get out of order, and inexpensive of manufacture. This object is attained by greatly simplifying the mechanism employed in machine guns of this class, by providing 6 a novel improved construction of certain members of the mechanism, thereby enabling these parts to perform several distinct func- tions, and thus reducing the number of the component parts, and by giving to all parts ° such form that they may be. placed or re- moved and the entire arm may oe assembled or dismounted without requiring the use of any tools. In the accompanying drawings: \ 5 Figure I, represents a right-hand side ele- vation of the gun. - Fig. II, is a top view of the gun. Fig. Ill, is a central longitudinal section through the gun showing the breech mecha- 0 nism in its forward firing position. Fig. IV, is a sectional view similar to Fig. Ill, but with the breech mechanism in its recoiled rearmost position. In these four figures a portion of the cooling jacket sur- rounding the barrel is represented as broken 55 away. ' Fig. V, is a left-hand side view of the bar- rel and recoiling members of the breech mechanism and of their guide, withdrawn from the breech casing. 60 Fig. VI, is a side view and a rear end view of the rear portion of the barrel ex- tension. Fig. VII, is a rear end view of the barrel. Fig. VIII, is a transverse section through 65 the barrel extension in rear of the front wall in which the barrel is seated,r looking for- ward. Fig. IX, is a top view of the barrel ad- justing pawl, detached. ’ 70 Fig. X, is a plan of the recoiling parts of the breech mechanism and their guide, simi- lar to Fig. V, but seen from above. Fig. XI, is a left-hand side view of the upper forward portions of the breech casing 75 showing the cams inside of the casing in dotted lines. Fig. XII, is a top view of a portion of the feed belt showing some cartridges in the pockets thereof and some pockets empty. 80 Fig. XIII, is a transverse section through the gun at the feed channel above the barrel, showing a portion of the feed belt in the same, looking rearward. Fig. XIV, is a transverse sectional view 85 through the gun at a point in rear of the barrel, looking rearward, showing a front view of the breech bolt and of the feed ex- tractor in its highest position. Fig. XV, .is a sectional view, similar to 90 Fig. XIV but showing the breech bolt in its rear position and the feed extractor in a lower position. Fig. XVI, is a sectional view similar to Figs. XIV and XV, but showing the breech 65 bolt in a position after it has returned partly forward and the feed extractor in its lowest position. Fig. XVII, is a top view of the breech bolt, aetached. Ю0 Fig. XVIII, shows a longitudinal vertical section through the breech bolt, detached. Fig. XIX, is a front end view of the breech bolt, detached.
1,203,021 Fig. XX, is a rear end view of the breech bolt, detached. Fig. XXI, shows, on an increased scale, a side view and a rear view of the reaction 5 spring guide rod, detached. Fig. XXII, is a transverse vertical section through a portion of the breech casing, top plate and breech bolt showing the cocking lever. 10 Fig. XXIII, represents the firing pin, de- tached, in a side view, bottom view, front view, and rear end view, and two transverse sections of the same. Fig. XXIV, represents a vertical longitu- 15 dinal section of the upper rear portion of the breech bolt with the reaction spring guide rod locked therein, on an increased scale. Fig. XXV, represents a rear end view of a portion of the breech bolt with the reac- 20 tion spring guide rod in the released or un- locked position, on an increased scale. Fig. XXVI, represents a view similar to Fig. XXV, but with the guide rod in ite locked position, its lugs wedged in the eccen- 25 trie recesses, on an increased scale. Fig. XXVII, represents the vertically sliding sear, detached", in a front view and in a side view. Fig. XXVIII, represents a side view and 30 a top view of the trigger, detached. Fig. XXIX, represents a rear end view of the gun with the handle removed and a por- tion of the fear plate broken away, showing the trigger safety lock. 35 Fig. XXX, represents the feed extractor in a side view, detached and on an increased scale. Fig. XXXI, represents a front end view of the breech bolt with the feed extractor 40 attached thereto, in its highest position, on an increased scale. Fig. XXXII, represents a sectional view of the head of the feed extractor, and the cam pin and shell ejector attached thereto, 45 on an increased scale. Fig. XXXIII, shows the rocking lever de- tached in several views. Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views. 50 , The machine gun represented by the draw- ings comprises the following main parts. The breech casing A, containing the breech mechanism, is rectangular in form, having two side plates a, a connected at the front 55 by being firmly ’ attached to the trunnion block D which closes the casing and carries a circular flange d to which the rear end of . the cylindrical barrel cooling jacket Ъ is at- tached in the usual manner. 60 The rear portion of the breech casing A is closed at the bottom by the bottom plate L and at the top by the top plate H both of which are secured to the side plates «, a. The forward portion of the breech casing 65 A is open at the bottom, at the top it is closed by the cover G which is hinged to the trunnion block D, so that the coVer G may be at will raised for uncovering the breech cas- ing or closed down upon the same. In its closed position the cover G is se- 1 cured by the spring-actuated cover latch I, which has a limited longitudinally sliding movement on the top plate H where a T- shaped rib is provided to receive and guide the latch I, the front end of which overlaps ; the cover G, but may be at will pressed to the rear to release said cover for opening same. The rear of the breech casing is closed by the rear plate J which slides vertically be- J tween the side plates a, a and is provided with a circular hub for receiving and carry- ing the handle К of the gun. The rear end of the cover latch I slightly projects over the top-of the rear plate J and normally the 8 latch locks both the cover G and the rear plate J in position, but when the cover G is released and opened, the latch I may be pressed forward sufficiently to clear the plate J which may then be upwardly withdrawn, 0 opening the rear of the breech casing A. See Figs. I, II, III, and IV. The barrel В passes lengthwise through the cooling jacket Ъ from the front of which its muzzle projects some distance; while 9 the rear portion of the barrel is supported in a seat provided for it in the trunnion block D. The rear or breech end of the bar- rel carries an annular packing and the.front end of the cooling jacket Ъ is fitted with a К stuffing box, both of the usual construction, so that the barrel may be firmly supported at both ends for longitudinal movement without allowing the cooling fluid in the jacket to escape therefrom. It The rear end of the barrel В is firmly at- tached by a screw thread to the barrel ex- tension C, the rear portion of the barrel ex- tension C having a downward projection, provided with internal grooves, which fit 11 and are guided upon corresponding ribs provided on an upward projection Z on the bottom plate L, thus holding and guiding the rear of the barrel extension, which moves longitudinally with the barrel. 11 Above the rear portion zof the. barrel, the trunnion block D has a recess which forms the transverse feed \,channel for receiving and guiding the feed belt with the’ cartridges in its movements from the left to the right 121 side of the gun. The top of the feed chan- nel in the trunnion block is opfen so that the feed belt with the cartridges may be readily placed into the channel from the top. The cover G of the breech casing is hinged 124 in the trunnion block forward of the feed channel, so that the cover may be at will raised and turned upward and forward until it rests against the flange d of the trunnion block D, in which position the cover does 13®
1,293,021 3 not close the feed channel and does not in- terfere with the placing of the feed belt into the feed channel. See Fig. IV. By closing down the cover G upon the 5 breech casing, the portion of the cover just in rear of the hinge closes the feed chan- nel in the trunnion block thus confining the feed belt in the channel. In this portion of the cover G, adjacent to its hinge, the feed ) slide g is fitted to move transversely in the cover and in the feed channel; and the downward projection or pawl earned by said feed slide g serves to engage the feed belt for moving it and the cartridges step- 5 wise through the feed channel from the left to the right side of the gun, in the well known manner usual in guns of this class. On the outer left side of the breech cas- ing below the feed channel a pawl M is piv- ) otally attached so that its upper end is held by a spring yieldingly in the path of the feed belt in the feed channel. See Figs. I, II, X, XI, and XIII. This pawl M pre- vents, in the usual manner, tiie feed belt 5 from moving in the wrong direction, from the right to the left side, but this pawl does not require the usual finger piece for at will moving it out of the path of the feed belt in case of a stoppage of the same; because ) the feed belt may be, if necessary, instantly and readily removed, raised, or adjusted in the channel by simply opening the cover G, which gives the free access to the feed belt. In rear of the barrel the breech bolt E 5 is fitted to move in the barrel extension C and in the breech casing A in rear of the extension. The breech bolt having ribs in its sides which are guided in corresponding longitudinal grooves in the barrel extension; 0 and the rear end of the breech bolt in its rearmost position being guided upon the breech bolt guide F, located in the lower rear portion of the casing A. In Fig. V these main parts of the gun 5 mechanism, the barrel B, the barrel exten- sion C, the'breech bolt E, and the guide F are shown in their relative proper positions but withdrawn from the breech casing. This construction serves the important pur- 0 pose of allowing the barrel and breech mech- anism together to be at will removed from the breech casing after opening the rear of the same by the removal of the rear plate J with the handle К upwardly, as herein- 5 before described, and withdrawing the bolt handle 8. Besides facilitating the assembling and dismounting of the barrel and breech mech- anism, another important object is attained. 0 One of the most essential points in the oper-. ation of machine guns is the proper adjust- ment between the rear end of the barrel, the forward end of the breech bolt, and the locking device by which the breech bolt is 6 locked in its firing position, so as to securely support the cartridge in the chamber of the barrel against rearward movement under the pressure of the powder gases when the gun is fired. In the present construction, the breech 70 bolt is locked to the barrel by the vertically sliding locking block N which is located in a vertical mortise in the rear portion of the barrel extension C, its vertical movements being limited by the transverse pin n extend- 75 ing through the block N and laterally from the same into slots through both sides of the barrel extension C. In Figs. Ill and V the locking block N is shown in its operative raised position in 80 which its top has entered a corresponding locking recess в in the lower side of the breech bolt, clearly shown in Fig. XVIII. In Fig. IV the locking block JF is shown in its lowered position in which its top is 85 withdrawn from the recess e in the breech bolt and has allowed the bolt to move rear- ward over it. The locking block N is positively forced into its upper locking position by an in- 90 cline on the upward projection I on the forward portion of the bottom plate L which the lower end of the locking block encoun- ters in the last of the joint forward move- ment of the barrel extension and the'breech 95 bolt, so that on arriving at the forward firing position, the barrel extension and breech bolt are positively interlocked. See Figs. Ill and V. The lowering of the lock- ing block N to unlock the breech bolt from 100 the barrel extension takes place during the joint rearward movement of the barrel, bar- rel extension, and breech bolt under the en-. ergy/of the recoil. For this purpose a for- wardly7 projecting arm / is provided on each 105 side of the breech bolt guide F which fits into a horizontal- groove in each outer side of the barrel extension. The forward ends of these arms f are inclined downward and rearward and these inclines act upon the 110 transverse pin n of the locking block ex- tending through the slots in the barrel ex- tension, so as to force the locking block down and hold it there. See Fig. IV\ In assembling and adjusting the barrel and 115 the breech mechanism before they are in- serted into the breech casing, the barrel is first screwed into the barrel extension. A cartridge is then inserted into the chamber of the barrel and the breech bolt is from 120 the rear placed in the barrel extension Chand brought forward until it pushes the car- tridge fully home in the barrel then the locking blopk N must be raised by exerting considerable force from below against it, so 125 as to firmly lock the breech bolt and sup- port the cartridge. On the shoulder on the outside of the barrel just forward of the threaded portion of same, a series of party-. circular recesses is cut and on the left side 130
& 1,2ЙЗ,021 of the barrel extension C a flat spring pawl P is seated. The rear end of this pawl fits into a T-shaped slot provided for its reception in the barrel extension and the 6 forward end of said pawl is bent inward and carries a party-circular point for engag- ing one of the recesses in the barrel; when the barrel extension is in the breech casing, the. latter holds the pawl so that it cannot 10 yield outward to release the barrel. By these means the barrel will be locked against rotation in the extension, while the breech bolt is firmly locked by the locking block N against the head of the cartridge. See Figs. 15 V, VII, VIII, and IX. In this condition the barrel, barrel extension, and breech bolt are together entered from the rear into the breech casing and pushed forward until the front end of the barrel extension C bears 20 against the rear end of the trunnion block D. Then the breech bolt guide F is entered into the casing and the rear plate J replaced, so that it locks in place the guide F, the rear •end of the guide bearing firmly against the 25 front face of the rear plate J as shown in Fig. III. While these main parts are thus adjusted in their proper forward firing po- sition, it is not unusual that by firing thfi gun the firmness of the adjustment may be 30 affected, particularly if long series of shots, or volleys, are fired from the gun; because under the continuous strain exerted thereby the supporting parts may be forced into a slightly closer contact. In order to readjust 35 the parts, the rear of the breech casing is opened and all the parts are drawn from the breech casing, and by simply attempting to screw the barrel farther into the barrel ex- tension, with a cartridge in the chamber and 40 while the locking block locks the breech bolt in its forward position, the adjustment may be readily tested. If found necessary, the adjustment may be corrected by screwing the barrel farther into the barrel extension 45 and by allowing the pawl P to take its bear- ing in one of the next succeeding recesses on the barrel. On firing, the barrel and barrel extension, and the breech bolt recoil together until the 50 locking block is lowered as hereinbefore de- scribed, thus releasing the breech bolt. The rearward movement of the barrel and barrel extension is arrested by the rocking lever О which is pivoted in the’forward end 55 of the bolt guide F, its upper end resting against the barrel extension when the same is in the forward position. As the barrel ex- tension moves from the position shown in Figs. Ill and V to its rearmost position as 60 shown in Fig. IV, the rocking lever О is turned on its pivot and its upper end is thrown rearward with an increasing speed, until the lever О absorbs the energy of recoil and stops the barrel and barrel ex- 65 tension. At the same time the upper end of the rocking lever takes hold against the front of the downward extension of the4 breech bolt near its rear end and the rocking lever transmits its momentum to the breech bolt which is thereby thrown to its rearmost 7 position as shown in Fig. IV. On its rear end, the barrel extension C carries a horizontal arm c which extends for some distance rearward and has a lateral projection on each side at its rear end. The 7 arm c ialso carries a pin p which projects some distance from the left side of said arm. See Fig. VI whieh shows the rear portion of the’ barrel extension C with the arm c and pin p in a side view and rear view. 8i As shown in Figs. Ill, IV, V, and XXXIII, the upper portion of the rocking lever О occupies a position between the body of the barrel extension and the lateral pro- jections on the rear end of the arm c, the 81 rocking lever О having a central slot from the top downward to allow it to straddle the arm c, and also the trigger W. Upon its concave rear face the rocking lever О car- ries a web or rib о which is also slotted to 9< admit the arm c. In rear of the rocking lever О a piston Q is mounted, its rear end being guided in a vertical central partition of the breech bolt guide F, and its front end forming a head which carries a laterally ex- 91 tending guide pin q fitted to slide in a cor- responding horizontal slot in the left side of the guide F, and at a height which brings it in line with the projecting pin p on the arm c. See Figs. Ill, IV, and V. к Between the head of the piston Q and the partition guiding its rear end, a spiral spring is mounted by which the piston is yieldingly kept in its forward position. On its front face the head of the piston Q has 1( a horizontal semi-circular recess which fits over the lateral pin p on the arm c, so that the tension of the spring on the piston Q is exerted to force this arm c and the barrel exteiision C forward, and so that the spring 11 acts as a buffer to absorb any excess of recoil of the barrel extension. In Fig. XXXIII, sheet 3, the rocking lever О is shown detached, in two left-hand side views and in a rear view. One of the 11 side views shows the lever О turned forward and the webo.on its rear face upward. And in the other side view the lever is turned rearward and the web о on its rear face downward, which two positions agree 12 with those in which the rocking lever and its web are shown, respectively, in Figs. Ill and V, and IV. In Fig. IV the barrel ex- tension is in its rearmost position in which the lever О has stopped it and in which the 12 lateral projections of the arm c and the pin p on the same transmit the tension of the compressed spring on the piston Q to the web on the lever O. but as shown in Figs. IV, VI, and XXXIII the lower front 13
1,293,021 5 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 face of the lateral projections on the arm c is beveled downward and rearward and the rear face of the web on the lever O, when the lever is in the position shown in Fig. IV, is correspondingly beveled downward and rearward so that while the tension of the spring on the piston Q is normally ex- erted to move the barrel extension forward, these beveled faces, in the position shown in Fig. IV, serve to lock the rocking lever О ana the barrel extension C and Darrel В in their rearmost positions as the lowest part of the web cannot move upward and for- ward unless the piston. Q and the arm c are moved slightly rearward. The reaction spring R is mounted in a longitudinal seat in the breech bolt E above and at the right of its axis, with its rear end against the rear plate J of the breech easing. When the breech bolt is in the rear- most position as shown in Fig, IV, this spring is compressed and almost entirely contained in the breech bolt, whereby its tension is exerted to force the breech bolt forward. After the breech bolt has moved forward some distance under the tension of this spring R, the downward projection on the breech bolt near its rear end strikes the end of the rocking lever О thereby exerting sufficient force to turn the lever forward from its rearmost position, compelling the spring and the piston Q to yield and to allow the lever to turn forward, as the re- action spring R is stronger than the spring on the piston Q. This turning forward of the lever О causes the same to force the bar- rel extension and the barrel forward from their recoiled position, and the return move- ment of the barrel and barrel extension and breech bolt is thus accomplished under the tensions of both the spring on the piston Q. and of the breech Bolt reaction spring R. The breech bolt E carries in its longitu- dinal axis the firing pin S and the main- spring T. In Fig. XXIII the firing pin S is shown detached, while in Figs. XVII, XVIII, and XIX the firing pin and the mainspring are represented as seated in the breech bolt. The firing pin S is confined in the breech bolt by a vertical locking pin я inserted through the top into the breech bolt and passing through a vertical slot in the firing pin. The forward portion of the fir-' ing pin S is bored out for receiving the mainspring T which is inserted from the front, the rear end of the mainspring bear- ing against the vertical locking pin s and the front end of the mainspring T bearing against a horizontal transverse pin inserted into the firing pin near its front end. See Figs. XVIII and XXIII. On the lower edge of the front face, the firing point of the firing pin is located, extending there- from through the corresponding small open- ing to the face of the breech bolt. In this location the firing point does not interfere with the bore of the firing pin nor with the placing of the mainspring T therein. In the rear portion of the breech bolt the cocking lever U is pivotally mounted in a 70 vertical slot on a horizontal pin u. The lower arm of the cocking deyer extends into the slot in the firing pin, and the upper arm of the cocking lever extends upward from . the breech bolt, so that by moving the upper 75 arm of the lever U to the rear it leaves the firing pin free to move forward in the breech bolt until its firing point protrudes from the face of the breech bolt sufficiently to transmit the igniting blow to the primer of 80 the cartridge in front of the breech bolt. By moving the upper arm of the cocking lever U forward, the lower arm of the lever takes hold against the firing pin at the rear end of the vertical slot therein and moves 85 the firing pin rearward to its cocked posi- tion. The location and operation of the cocking lever U are clearly indicated in the detached views of the breech bolt in Figs. XVII and XVIII. 9C In Fig. Ill where the breech bolt is in its forward firing position, the cocking lever U is shown as extending upward and rearward from the breech bolt into a slot in the top plate H of the breech casing A, the upper 95 end of the lever U resting against the rear end of the slot which, as shown, is inclined upward and rearward. When the breech bolt E is moved rearward from the position shown in Fig. Ill to that shown in Fig. IV, 100 the rear ena of the slot in the top plate H causes the lever U to be turned upward and forward until the upper end of the lever U escapes from the slot in the top plate H and, during the last of the rearward movement of 105 the breech bolt, the upper end of the lever U moves under the top plate H and is held in its forward position by the under side of the top plate, so that during the first of the rear- ward movement the lower arm of the lever 110 U retracts the firing pin and during the re- mainder of the rearward movement holds the firing pin" positively in its retracted, po- sition. The cocking lever U and the firing pin S remain in these relative positions dur- 115 ing the first part of the forward return movement of the breech bolt until the upper end of the cocking lever U encounters the forward portion of the top plate H which project^ downward so that the cocking lever 120 will strike against it and will thereby be turned upward to геёп!ег the slot in the top plate and be moved from its forward to its rearward position, or from the position shown in Fig. IV to that shown in Fig. 1Ц; 125 so that, as the breech bolt reaches its firing position, the lower arm of the cocking leVer is withdrawn out of the path of the firing pin leaving the same free to move forward, Figs. Ill and XVIII. ISO
1,203,021 As shown in Figs. I, JU, III, and IV, the slot in the top plate of the breech casing, and the cocking lever U extending into the same, are covered over by the sliding spring latch 5 I which prevents dust or dirt from entering into the gun casing through said slot. The hollow inside of the spring latch carries a flat spring secured by a rivet to the latch and the forward end of this spring rests in a re- 10 cess in the top plate H which recess inclines upward and rearward at its rear end so that the tension of the spring is exerted to yield- ingly hold the latch in its forward cover- locking position. The front of this recess 15 extends somewhat beyond the forward end of the spring, which allows the latch to be at will pushed forward sufficiently, to release the rear plate J which the rear end of the latch slightly overlaps, as hereinbefore de- 20 scribed. When the cocking lever has retracted the firing pin, the sear V takes hold of the fir- ing pin and holds it in its cocked position until the sear is moved to release the same. 25 The sear V is a narrow sliding plate fitted into a vertical T-shaped slot in the rear face of the breech bolt so as to slide freely there- in. See Figs. XVIII and XX. The sear V has near its lower end a forwardly project- 30 ing arm in the upper surface of which a shoulder is formed by which the sear takes hold of the cocking shoulder on the under side of the firing pin S near its rear end, see Figs. XXIII and XXVII, and thereby 35 holds the firing pin in its cocked position. Said surface extends forwardly of said shoulder parallel to the axis of the firing pin, see Figs. XVIII and XXVII, and is of suf- ficient length to underlie the firing pin even 40 when in its forward or firing position. This forwardly extending portion of the arm gives great strength to the sear shoulder, avoiding relatively thin or inclined cam sur- faces forward of said shoulder, while insiir- 45 ing engagement of the sear shoulder with the cocking shoulder of the firing pin at the proper time; for while this flat top portion of the sear is depressed during the trigger’s action on the sear, entirely out of contact 50 with the firing pin during the forward stroke of the firing pin when firing, yet after the sear has been released by the trigger, during the recoil the flat portion or the sear arm will contact with the lower surface 55 of the firing pin, thus keeping the sear de- pressed sufficiently so /that its shoulder can snap over or in front of the cocking shoul- der of the firing pin as soon as the two shoulders register. On top of the breech 60 bolt, a flat sear spring v is located, its front end held down by the firing pin lockiiig pin s to the top of which the forward end of the spring is riveted, the locking pin s itself be- ing held in the breech bolt against moving 65 upward by the tension of the mainspring T. The rear portion of the sear spring v. is divided by a slot to allow the passage through it of the cocking lever U, and the ends of the spring v rest in a horizontal recess in the front face near the top of the 70 vertically sliding sear V, so that the tension of the spring v holds the sear yieldingly in its operative upper position in which the shoulder on the arm of the sear holds the firing pin in its cocked position. The sear V 75 is shown detached in Fig. XXVII, in a front view and in a side view. The trigger W is-shown detached in Fig. XXVIII in a top view and a side view. “ The trigger W is pivoted in the vertical 80 central partition of the breech bolt guide F and extends from the same forward into a T-shaped slot in the lower end of the sear V below the forward extending arm of the same, when the breech bolt is forward, the 85 upper portion of the trigger beingreduced in thickness to freely fit in the slot; the front end of the trigger W has two lateral pro- jections which fit Into the upper wider part of the T-shaped slot in the sear. The rear 90 arm of the trigger extends from its pivot downward and rearward and carries at its rear end a finger piece by . which the rear arm of the trigger may be raised and there- by the front arm and with it the sear be low- 95 ered to release the firing pin. With the breech bolt in its forward position, the seal’ spring v also serves to hold the forward arm of the trigger W in raised position. Ayhen the breech bolt moves rearward, its 100 bottom sliding over the top of the trigger keeps the same in position. As hereinbefore described, the forwaro portion of the reaction spring R is seated in the breech bolt while the rear end rests 105 against the rear plate J of the breech casing; in order to keep the reaction spring R in this position when the breech bolt is forward, as seen in Fig. Ill, the guide rod r extends through the rear plate J and through the re- 110 action spring R and for a short distance into the breech bolt in its forward position. In Fig. XXI the guide rod r is shown detached on an increased scale. The rear end of the guide rod r which extends through and some 115 distance beyond the rear plate J, is of a larger diameter than the forward portion of the rod in the spring, and the spring pressing against the shoulder on the rod yieldingly holds the rod in the rear,plate. 120 The rear end of the rod is concave and has a slot, this, construction allows the rod to be turned on its axis in the rear plate by using the head of a cartridge shell in place of a screwdriver. In front of the rear plate and 125 in line with the slot, the rod r carries two small lugs which project from opposite sides of the rod. As shown in Fig. XX and op an increased scale in Figs. XXIV, XXV, and XXVI, the rear end of the breech bolt E, at 13©
1,263,021 7 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 00 вб the end of the seat therein for the reaction spring R and the rod r, is provided with a horizontal slot through which these lugs may be made to enter the breech bolt when the same is moved fully to the rear, see Fig. IV. Slightly in front of the rear face of the breech bolt two party-circular recesses are cut in the breech bolt into which the lugs of the rod may be made to enter by the rota- tion of the rod. Figs. XXIV, XXV, and XXVI. The bottoms of these recesses are eccentric to the seat of the spring in the breech bolt, and when by the rotation of the rod the lugs are entered into these recesses, the outer ends of the lugs will come in con- tact with the eccentric bottoms of the recesses and may be by forcible rotation caused to wedge therein so as to lock the rod in the breech bolt; in this condition the rod r with the breech bolt may be moved forward so as to withdraw the rear end of the rod from the rear plate J of the casing for the removal of the plate; at the same time the reaction spring R is by the locking of the rod r con- fined in its compressed condition within the breech bolt, and the forcible ejection of rod and spring from the breech bolt is prevented, which otherwise would take place when the rear plate is removed. The wedging of the lugs in the eccentric seats still locks the spring and rod in the breech bolt against ac- cidental ejection when the same is removed from the breech casing, but by a slight rota- tion the rod may be unlocked for the removal of spring and rod. The, handle К of the gun is by a screw thread fastened in the hub of the rear plate J and in the tubular horizontal portion of the handle a buffer plate к is seated, the re- duced front end of which projects through a corresponding hole in the rear plate, so as to stand in the path of the breeeh bolt; the rear of this portion of the handle is closed by the screw plug and the space between the front of this plug and the rear of buffer plate к is filled with a number of washers of a resili- ent material, or with a spiral spring. By this means any excess of recoil of the breech bolt is absorbed by the buffer plate and the packing in the handle, the resiliency of which may be adjusted by screwing the rear plug more or less into the rear end of the handle. I do not, however, claim in this ap- plication this buffer construction and adjust- ment in the handle, reserving the right to claim this in a со-pending application filed by me, said application being Serial No. 183,841, for automatic machine rifles, filed August 1, 1917. With the trigger W pivoted in the vertical central partition of the barrel guide F, as hereinbefore described and as shown in Figs. Ill and IV, the rear end of the trigger ex- tends outside of the 'breech casing beyond the rear plate J and occupies a position in front of the handle К where it may be read- ily operated with a finger of the hand grasp- ing said handle. The rear plate J has a cen- tral vertical recess in its lower end through which the trigger passes so that the plate 70 may be raised and lowered without interfer- ing with the trigger. See Fig. XXIX. At the left side of the trigger a small horizontal safety latch w is mounted in the rear plate J and provided on its rear with a thumb piece 75 by which the safety latch may be at will pushed to the right when its end will enter a recess in the left side of the trigger W and securely lock the trigger against operation; to yieldingly hold the safety latch w in 80 either its locking or its releasing position a small spring-actuated vertical piston is mounted in the rear plate J above the latch, to enter one of two recesses cut in the upper edge of the latch. The top of the locking 85 recess in.the trigger is open, so that on re- moval of the rear plate J the latch гс may be withdrawn upwardly with the plate even if in its locking position, and in replacing the rear plate J the latch will readily re- 90 enter the recess in the trigger. In Figs. XVII, XVIII and XIX the breech bolt E is shown to be provided at its front end with a vertical flangeway which consists of a central T-shaped slot adapted 95 to receive from above and guide downward the rear ends of the cartridges. The two laterally overhanging front edges of the slot are fitted to enter the annular groove in the cartridges near their rear end, thereby firmly 100 holding the cartridges against lengthwise movement. In Fig. XXXI a front view of the breech bolt E is represented on an in- creased scale clearly showing the flange- way on the face of the breech bolt, one 105 side of said flangeway extending vertically from the top to the bottom of the breech bolt while the other side extends only partly upward from the bottom, leaving a space • at the top of that side for the rear end HO of a cartridge in, the feed belt to be moved through it laterally until it is stopped by the other side of the flangeway in a cen- tral position in front of the breech bolt. In the same figure, the breech bolt is shown 115 provided with the combined cartridge feed extractor X and shell ejector x. The car- tridge feed extractor X is mounted by a strong pivot 9 on that side of the breech bolt to which the flangeway is open for the 120 reception from the side of a cartridge. On the other side of the flangeway the shell ejector x is pivotally mounted in the feed extractor X. As hereinbefore described, cartridges are 125 supplied in a feed belt fed through the feed channel from the left side to the right, as shown in Figs. I, II, III, IV, XII, and XIII, by the transverse movement of the feed slide g, in the usual manner. The feed 130
8 1,263,031 slide g in its movements is actuated by' a two-armed lever Y which is mounted on the pivot pin у on the under side of the hinged cover G from which an arm projects down- 5 ward to support the lower end of the hub of the lever, the pivot pin у being fitted through the top of the cover and through the hub of the lever into the supporting arm; a flat spring attached to the top of the pivot pin 10 у and resting upon the top of the cover plate locks the pivot pin against accidental re- moval. The forward arm of the feed lever Y extends into a recess in the rear face of the feed slide g so as to communicate its 15 movements to the same in the usual manner, see Fig. II; the rear arm of the feed lever Y carries a depending circular stud z which extends into a cam groove Z cut in the upper, surface of the breech bolt E. *By this con- 20 struction the reciprocating movement of the breech bolt causes the stepwise movement of the feed belt and cartridges through the feed channel as usual, so that when the breech bolt arrives at its forward position a car- 25 tridge is moved to the front of the vertical center line of the breech bolt, having been carried over the top of the shorter side of the flangeway on the left side of the breech bolt. In this position, see Figs. Ill and V, the 30 feed extractor X is in its raised position so that a downward projecting lip 1 cn the under side of the feed extractor X, centrally above the flangeway, stands above the groove in the cartridge in front of the breech bolt 35 and, on the first rearward movement of the breech bolt this lip 1 descending into the groove in the cartridge, grasps the same and draws the cartridge rearward out of the feed belt. As the breech bolt moves farther 40 rearward, the feed extractor X is lowered and forces the cartridge held in its grasp to enter into the flangeway, where it is held in a horizontal position as the breech bolt is moved fully to the rear. During the re- 45 turn or forward movement of the breech bolt, the feed extractor X is farther forced down so that the cartridge is lowered until it is in line with the chamber in the barrel, which it will enter during the remainder of 50 the forward movement of the breech bolt until the cartridge is fully inserted into' the barrel, and barrel and breech bolt returned to the firing position. After firing the car- tridge in the barrel, these movements are re- 55 peated, and during the next rearward move- ment of the breech bolt another cartridge is withdrawn from the feed belt, drawn fully to the rear, and by the return move- ment entered into the chamber of the barrel. 60 In addition to this, the second rearward movement of the breech bolt not only with- draws the cartridge from the belt and moves it to the rear, but, as the rear end of the cart- ridge in the chamber of the barrel which was 65 fired remains within the grasp of the flange- way, the second rearward movement of the breech bolt also draws the empty shell of the fired cartridge from the barrel, see Fig. IV, and during the ensuing return or forward movement the lower point of the descending 70 shell ejector x strikes the shell and ejects it vertically downward through the flangeway. See Fig. XVI. The lower end of the shell ejector is forced inward, as it descends, when its lower end strikes the upper edge of the 75 barrel extension below it, see Figs. XIV, XV, and XVI, the upper inner corner of the ex- tension being inclined inward and down- ward and the shell ejector being correspond- ingly beveled so that it is forced inward and 80 kept in its vertical position until it reaches its downmost position. In Figs. XIV, XV, and XVI are repre- sented transverse sections through the breech casing A and barrel extension C in rear of 85 the barrel, looking rearward, and showing -a front view of othe breech bolt, and of the feed extractor respectively in its high- est position, in a lower position, and in the lowest position. In Fig, XXX the feed ex- 90 tractor X is shown on an increased scale and in its highest position in which the lip I takes hold in the groove of the cartridge shown in dotted lines below the head of the feed extractor. In Fig. XXXI the front of 95 the breech bolt is shown on an increased scale and the feed extractor X and shell ejector x are shown in their raised position. In Fig. ХХХП a vertical transverse sec- tion through the "head of the feed extractor 100 is represented, showing the shell ejector x pivoted in a vertical slot in the right side of the feed extractor X and yieldingly held in its vertical position by a spiral spring pressing against the upper arm of the shell 105 ejector x. The other end of this spring rests against a horizontal cam pin 7 which is in- serted into the left side of feed extractor X and fixed therein for a limited movement by a small transverse stop pin, so that the 110 spring yieldingly keeps the pin 7 projecting from the left side of the feed extractor. These views being seen from the front, the left and right sides appear reversed, as nor- mally their location is determined from a 115 position in rear of the gun looking forward. The means for giving to the feed extractor X the vertical movements at the proper times will now be explained. On the under side of the cover Gr and near the left edge of 120 the same, so as not to interfere with the feed lever Y there are mounted a flat spring 2 and a longitudinal rib 3, the under edge of tbe rib 3 having the form of a cam. The spring 2 and the rib 3 are represented in 125 Figs. Ill and IV, in dotted lines for the reason that these views are central vertical sections showing the interior of the right hand half of the breech casing and the cover, while the spring and the rib are located in 130
1,288,021 0 the left half of the breech casing. In Fig. II, the top Anew of the gun, the position of the rib 3 is indicated as just inside of the left side plate a of the breech casing. When the breech bolt is in its forward position, Fig. IH, the flat spring 2 rests upon the head of the feed extractor X and holds the same yieldingly down upon the rear end of the .cartridge with the lip 1 in the annular groove of the cartridge. During the first of the rearward movement of the breech bolt and feed extractor, the highest portion of the head of the feed extractor, which is near its. left side, is carried under the front end of the. depending rib 3, and as.the breech bolt moves farther to the rear the cam-shaped lower edge of this rib positively forces the feed extractor down and holds it in that po- sition until at the last of the rearward move- ment the feed extractor arrives in the posi- tion shown in Fig. IV. where it and the car- tridge have been lowered by the rib and where the head of the feed extractor has moved rearward beyond the rear end of said rib 3. In Fig. XI an outside view of a por- tion of the left side plate a and a section of the cover G are shown. The lower edge of tbe rib 3 depending from the cover is rep- resented in dotted lines being located near the inner side of said side plate. Under- neath the rib 3 and fastened by rivets to the inside of the left side plate are shown two cams, 4 and 5, their location in the vertical plane with the rib 3 being also indicated in the top view represented in Fig. X. The forward portion of the cam 4 is less high than the rear portion, a shoulder 6 being formed on the top edge of the cam 4, which shoulder 6 is laterally inclined rearward and inward, and as the 'breech bolt and feed Ex- tractor X pass rearward under the rib 3, this incline forces the cam pin 7 into its seat in the head of the feed extractor where it is held by the inner face of the cam 4 until the breech bolt and feed extractor reach their rearmost position ; there the head of the feed extractor has passed beyond the rear end of the rib 3 and the cam pin 7 be- yond the rear end of the cam 4 and, there- fore, the pin 7 is by its spring forced out- ward again and projects from the left side of the feed extractor X. In the first of the forward return movement of the breech bolt and feed extractor, the cam pin 7 encounters the rear end of the cam 4 fastened to the left side plate, and this rear end being inclined downward and forward, the cam pin and the feed extractor are positively forced down to the lowest position shown in Fig. XVI and held there by the under edge of cam 4 until the pin arrives at the forward end of the cam 4 which is inclined upward and forward. Then the cam pin 7 encounters the rear edge of the cam 5, which inclines forward and upward, and this forces the feed extractor to again rise to its highest po- sition when the breech bolt arrives at its for-, ward closed position. As shown in Figs. I and II, for at will moving the breech bolt rearward and for- 70 ward by hand, a handle 8 is inserted into the right side of the breech bolt near its front end and moves in a slot in the right side plate of the breech easing; a collar on the handle 8 of a larger diameter than the 75 width of the slot and located inside of the side plate, sefves to lock the handle in its seat in the breech bolt. Ah seen in Fig. I, the slot ends at the rear in a larger circular opening through which 80 the handle 8 with its collar may be inserted _ or removed, when the rear plate J is re- moved for entering or withdrawing the breech bolt from the casing. This enlarged opening being in rear of the rearward limit 85 of the normal movement of the breech bolt during the operation of the gun, the handle cannot accidentally escape from the breech bolt. With the foregoing description of its con- 90 struction, the operation of the breech mech- anism may be readily understood. After a feed belt with cartridges in the pockets thereof, see Fig. XII, has been inserted into the feeu channel from the left side to the 95 right, Figs. I, II, and ХШ, the breech bolt is once moved by hand to the rear. By this motion, the first cartridge is withdrawn out of the feed belt and as the handle is released the breech bolt is returned forward by the tension of the reaction spring R, and the cartridge, properly lowered by the feed ex- tractor, is inserted into the barrel while the next step of the feed belt brings another cartridge above the barrel within the reach of the feed extractor. On pulling the trig- ger and releasing the same, the first cartridge is fired and the operation of the breech, belt is automatically repeated, and the next car- tridge is seated in the barrel ready for firing. : In this manner single shots may be at will fired, tbe pulling of the trigger lowering the sear each time and allowing it to return upward'for holding the firing pin again in the cocked position. If it is desired to fire a succession of shots, or a volley, the trigger is pulled and re- tained in its raised position, when the lat- eral projections on the front end of the for- ward arm of the trigger, which projections ? are inclined rearward and upward bn their under sides, will automatically cause the sear to release the firing pin each time when the breech bolt reaches its forward locked position and thereby release the firing pin 125 automatically for firing each succeeding shot, until the trigger is released. \ If it becomes necessary at any time to ob- tain access to the breech mechanism, or to the feed belt op the mechanism moving the :
Ю 1,363,031 same, it will only be required to press rear- ward the latch I and to raise the cover G from its closed position, Fig. Ill, to its open position, Fig. IV, in dotted lines. If on re- 5 closing the cover, the feed belt moving slide g and the feed lever Y should happen to be in a position where the vertical stud z de- pending from the rear arm of the lever Y, can not enter the cam groove in the top of 10 the breech bolt, but descends to rest upon the top surface..of the bolt sidewise of the groove, the cover may nevertheless be readily pressed down and be locked by the latch I, as the rear arm of the feed lever Y, being 15 thin and of a spring temper and having a space, between its upper surface and the under side of the cover, will yield by bending upward ; then on the first rearward move- ment of the breech bolt the cam groove will 20 be brought beneath the stud z which will automatically find its place in the groove, the tension of the lever arm forcing the stud down into the groove. It is evident that various changes in form 25 and arrangement of the parts may be niade without departing from the spirit of the in- vention. What I claim and desire to secure by Let- ters Patent is: 30 1. In a machine gun, the combination of a breech casing, a barrel and barrel exten- sion supported and guided for longitudinal movement in the casing, a breech-bolt sup- ported and guided for longitudinal move- 35 ment in the barrel extension, a removable guide for said breech-bolt inserted in the casing, and a removable rear plate for clos- ing the casing and locking said movable members and said guide therein, and - for 40 opening the casing to allow the movable members and the guide in their relative po- sitions to be withdrawn from said casing. 2. In a machine gun, the combination of a breech casing, a barrel and barrel extern 45 sion supported and guided for longitudinal movement in the casing, means located en- tirely, within the breech casing, and not ex- tending through or into the side walls there- of,, for supporting, guiding and securing in 50 position said barrel and barrel extension, a breech-bolt supported and guided for lon- gitudinal movement in the barrel extension, and means located entirely within the breech casing, and not extending through or into 55 the side walls thereof, for guiding and sup- porting the rear end of the breech-bolt, and a removable rear plate for closing the cas- ing and locking said movable members in place therein, and for opening the casing to 80 allow the movable members in their rela- tive positions to be withdrawn from said casing, whereby said members of the breech . mechanism may be readily inserted in the breech casing or removed therefrom. 65 3. In a machine gun,, the combination of a breech casing, a barrel and barrel extension supported and guided for longitudinal move- ment in the casing, means located entirely within the breech casing, and not extending through Or into the side walls thereof, for ' supporting, guiding and securing in position said barrel and barrel extension, a breech- bolt supported and guided for longitudinal movement in the barrel extension, and means located entirely within the breech casing, ; and not extending through or into the side walls thereof, for guiding and supporting the rear end of the breech-bolt, a removable top cover, cartridge feed mechanism at- tached to the under side of said cover, and J a removable rear plate for closing the cas- ing and locking the barrel, barrel extension and breech-bolt within the casing and for opening the casing to allow said parts in their relative positions to be withdrawn J therefrom. 4. In a machine gun, a barrel, a breech- bolt supported and guided for longitudinal , movement to' open and close the breech of the barrel, feed mechanism for successively fi feeding cartridges to a position above and in line with the barrel, a feed extractor piv- oted to the breech-bolt and having an in- tegral cartridge - engaging projection near its free end and means for causing said feed 9 extractor to engage the cartridge, whereby upon rearward movement of the breech-bolt a cartridge iff withdrawn from the feed mechanism. 5. In a machine gun, a barrel, a breech- 1 bolt supported and guided for longitudinal movement to open and close the breech of the barrel, feed mechanism for successively feedjpg cartridges to a position above and in line with the barrel,- a feed extractor piv- 1 oted to the breech-bolt and having a car- tridge-engaging projection near its free end and means for causing said feed extractor to engage the cartridge, whereby upon rear- ward movement of the breech - bolt a car- 1 . tridge is withdrawn from the feed mecha- nism, and means for depressing the free end of said feed extractor and keeping it in en- gagement with the cartridge until the car- tridge is fully depressed and in line with 1 the bore of the barrel. 6. In a machine gun, аЪагге!, a breech- bolt supported and glided for longitudinal movement to open and close the -breech of the barrel, feed mechanism for successively 11 feeding cartridges to a position above and in line with the barrel, a feed extractor pivoted to the breech-bolt and having a cartridge- engaging projection near its free end and means for causing said feed extractor to 1! engage the cartridge, whereby upon rear- ward movement of tne breech - bolt a car- tridge is withdrawn from the feed mecha- nism, a vertical flange-way formed on the. face of the breech-bolt integrally therewith, 1!
1/283,021 11 and means for vertically moving the free end of said feed extractor to lower the car- tridge and force its head into said flange- way. » 7. In a machine gun, a barrel, a breech- bolt supported and guided for longitudinal movement to open and close the breech of the barrel, feed mechanism for successively feeding cartridges to a position above and > in line with the barrel, a feed extractor pivoted to the breech-bolt and having a cartridge-engaging projection near its free end, and means for causing said feed ex- tractor to engage the cartridge, whereby » upon rearward movement of the breech-bolt a cartridge is withdrawn from the feed mechanism, and a shell ejector carried by the free end of said feed extractor. 8. In a machine gun, a barrel, a breech- } bolt supported and guided for longitudinal movement to open and close the breech of the barrel, feed mechanism for successively feeding cartridges to a position above and in line with the barrel, a feed extractor j pivoted to the breech-bolt and having a cartridge-engaging projection near its free end, means for causing said feed extractor to engage the cartridge, a vertical flange- way formed on the face of the breech-bolt > integrally therewith, a shell ejector carried by the free end of said feed extractor, and means for vertically moving the free end of said feed extractor to lower the cartridge and force its head into said flange-way and j to cause said ejector to eject the empty shell from the flange-way. 9. In a machine gun, a barrel, a breech- bolt supported and guided for longitudinal movement to open and close the breech of } the barrel, feed mechanism for successively feeding cartridges to a position above and in line with the barrel, a feed extractor pivoted to the breech-bolt and having a car- tridge-engaging projection near its free end, 5 and means for causing said feed extractor to engage the cartridge, whereby upon rear- ward movement of the breech-bolt a car- tridge is withdrawn from the feed mech- anism, and a shell ejector carried by the ) free end of said feed extractor, means for depressing the free end of said feed ex- tractor to lower the cartridge during the rearward movement of the breech-bolt, and means for further depressing said free end 5 during the return movement of said breech- bolt. ' 10. In a machine gun, a barrel, a breech- bolt supported and guided for longitudinal movement to open and close the breech of ) the barrel, feed mechanism for successively feeding cartridges to a position above and in line with the barrel, a feed extractor pivoted to the breech-bolt and having a cartridge-engaging projection near its free 5 end, and means for causing said feed ex- tractor to engage the cartridge, whereby upon rearward movement of the breech-bolt a cartridge is withdrawn from the feed mechanism, a shell ejector carried by the free end of said feed extractor, means for 70 depressing the free end of said feed ex- tractor to lower the cartridge during the rearward movement of the breech-bolt, means for further depressing said free end during the return movement of said breech- 7'5 bolt, and means for raising the free end of said feed extractor near the end of the return movement of the breech-bolt. 11. In a machine gun, a barrel, a breech- bolt supported and guided for longitudinal 80 movement to open and close the breech of the barrel, feed mechanism for successively feeding cartridges to a position above and in line with the barrel, a feed extractor pivoted to the breech-bolt and having a cartridge-en- 85 gaging projection near its free end, means for causing said feed extractor to engage the cartridge, whereby upon rearward move- ment of the breech-bolt a cartridge is with- drawn from the feed mechanism, a shell 90 ejector carried by the free end of said feed extractor, a spring and a cam rib located above the free end of the feed extractor for engaging same and depressing said free end. 12. In a machine gun, a barrel, a breech- 95 bolt supported and' guided for longitudinal movement to open and close the breech of the barrel, feed mechanism for successively feeding cartridges to a position above and in line with the barrel, a feed extractor 100 pivoted to the breech-bolt and having a car- tridge-engaging projection near its free end, means for causing said feed extractor to en- gage;the cartridge, whereby upon rearward movement of the breech-bolt a cartridge is 105 withdrawn from the feed mechanism, a shell ejector carried by the free end. of said feed extractor, a pin extending from the feed ex- tractor and yieldingly mounted therein, and cams for engaging said pin and forcing it no into the feed extractor and forthereafter re- leasing same during the rearward movement of the breech-bolt, and cams for engaging said pin and thereby depressing and later raising the free end of said feed extractor n5 during the return movement of the breech- bolt. 13. In a machine gun, the comiiination of the breech casing, a ^barrel and barrel ex- tension supported and guided for longitudi- 120 nal movement in the casing, a breech-bolt supported and guided for longitudinal . movement in the barrel extension, a pivoted rocking levet, a rib on the rear face there- of, a locking face on said rib, an arm on 125 the barrel extension, a locking face on said arm for engaging the locking face on said rib, and a buffer spring and piston for en- gaging said arm, whereby at the end of the , rearward movement of the barrel extension 130
112 1^дЗ,021 said rocking lever and barrel extension are locked against return movement. 14. Tn a machine gun, the combination of a breech casing having a removable rear . 5 plate, a barrel and barrel extension adjust- ably secured together by screw threads and supported and guided for longitudinal movement in the casing, a breech-bolt sup- ported and guided for longitudinal move- 10 ment in the barrel extension, a series of recesses around the circumference of the barrel forward of the barrel extension, a spring pawl secured in said barrel exten- sion for engaging one of said recesses and 15 in position to be engaged by the breech cas- ing, whereby the barrel is positively locked against rotation when in place in the breech casing, but whereby the barrel may readily be adjusted in the barrel extension relatively 20 to the breech-bolt when the parts are rear- wardly withdrawn from the breech casing. 15. In a machine gun, the combination of a casing, a barrel and barrel extension, a breech-bolt movable lengthwise in the barrel 25 extension, a locking block mounted in the barrel extension and adapted to lock the breech-bolt in the barrel extension, an up- ward inclined projection on the bottom of the breech casing adapted to forcy said lock- 3o ing block into the locking position when the barrel extension and breech-bolt are in the forward position, and a breech-bolt guide having forwardly extending arms adapted to engage said locking block on the rear- 35 ward movement of Said barrel extension to lower said block to unlock the breech-bolt. 16. In a machine gun, a breech casing in- closing and guiding the breech mechanism and having an open transverse feedway for 40 receiving and guiding a cartridge feed belt, a top cover attached to the casing by a pivot or hinge pin near the forward end of the casing, a transversely moving cartridge feed slide provided with a feed pawl mounted 45 upon the under side of said cover, a feed lever pivotally mounted upon the under side of said top cover and adapted to move said feed slide through the feedway, and a breech- bolt having a cam groove in its top surface 50 adapted to actuate said feed lever. 17. In a machine gun, a breech casing in- closing and guiding the breech mechanism and having an open transverse feedway for receiving and guiding a feed belt, a, top cover 55 attachea to the breech casing, a feed slide and a feed pawl mounted upon the under side of said cover, a two-armed feed lever pivoted upon the under , side of said cover and having a depending stud on the rear 60 arm, and a breech-bolt having a earn groove in its top for receiving said stud, the rear arm of said feed lever being vertically resilient^ whereby said-cover may be closed without said stud entering said cam groove, 65 and said stud will automatically spring into said cam groove when the breech-bolt has moved to the proper position therefor. 18. In a machine gun, a breech casing having a pivotally attached top cover and a removable rear plate, and provided with a spring-actuated latch for normally locking both the top cover and the rear plate in place, but releasing said top cover on being moved in one direction and releasing said rear plate on being moved in opposite direc- tion. 19. In a xhachine gun, a breech casing haying a pivotally attached top cover, and a removable rear plate, and provided with a longitudinally sliding spring-actuated latch for normally locking both said top cover and said rear plate in place, but releasing said top cover on being pressed rearward, and releasing said rear plate on being pressed forward- 20. In a machine gum a breech-bolt, a slotted firing pin carried thereby, a main- spring within the firing pin, a vertical pin confining the firing pin in the breech-bolt and also confining the rear end of the main- spring in the firing pin, and a horizontal transverse pin for confining the front end of said mainspring in the firing pin. 21. In a machine gun, a breech-bolt, a firing pin carried thereby, having a tubular portion open at the front end, a main spring within said tubular portion, a transverse pin for confining the front end of said main spring within the firing pin, and means car- ried by the breech-bolt for engaging and supporting the rear end of said spring. 22. In a machine gun, a breech-bolt, a firing pin carried thereby having a tubular portion open at the front end, a main spring within said tubular portion, a transverse pin for confining the front end of said main spring within the firing pin, means carried by the breech bolt for engaging and sup- porting the rear end of said spring, and a firing point on the lower edge of the front face of said tubular portion. 23. In a machine gun, a breech casing, a breech-bolt, a firing pin carried thereby hav- ing a tubular portion open at the front end, a main spring within said tubular portion, a transverse pin for confining the front end of said main spring within the firing pin, means carried by the breech bolt for en- gaging and supporting the rear end of said spring, said firing pin also having a slot in rear of said tubular portion, and a cocking lever pivoted in the breech bolt and enter- ing said slot in the firing pin. 24. In a machine gun, a breech casing having a fixed top plate,- a breech-bolt, a firing pin and a mainspring carried thereby, a cocking lever also carried by the breech-bolt, combined with a slot in the top plate of the breech casing, said slot having a rear wall for engaging said cocking lever
1,263,021 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 and moving it into position to hold the firing pin retracted, and also having a downwardly- projecting front wall for engaging said cocking lever during the last of the forward movement of said breech bolt and positively moving said cocking lever into engagement with said rear wall again. 25. In a machine gun, a breech casing hav- ing a fixed top plate, a breech-bolt, a firing pin and a mainspring carried thereby, a cocking lever also carried thereby, a slot in the top plate of the breech casing having a rear wall for engaging said cocking lever and moving it into position to hold the firing pin retracted, and having a down- wardly projecting front wall for engaging said cocking lever during the last of the forward movement of said breech bolt, and positively moving said cocking: lever to in- itial position out of reach of said firing pin. 26. In a machine gun, a breech-bolt, a fir- ing pin and a mainspring carried thereby, a vertically sliding sear also carried thereby, and a sear spring for holdings said sear m the path of the firing pin, said sear provided with an arm having a shoulder |or engaging and holding said firing pin in cocked posi- tion, said arm also having forward of said shoulder a surface extending parallel to the axis of the firing pin and ot sufficient length to underlie the firing pin when in its for- ward or firing position. 27. In a machine gun, a breech casing, a breech-bolt, a breech-bolt guide, a sear mounted in the breech-bolt, a trigger pivoted in the breech-bolt guide having a finger piece extending at the rear beyond said guide and beyond the breech casing, said trigger also having a forward extension to engage the sear for at will causing it to re- lease the firing pin. 28. In a machine gun, a breech casing, a breech-bolt, a breech-bolt guide, a sear mounted in the breech-bolt, a trigger pivot- ed in the breech-bolt guide having a finger piece extending at the rear beyond said guide and beyond the breech casing, said trigger also having a forward extension with inclines on its front end to engage and lower said sear in its forward movement. 29. In a machine gun, a breech casing, a breech-bolt carrying the forward portion of a reaction spring on a guide rod, a rear plate for the breech casing for supporting the rear end of said guide rod, cooperating means for entering and engaging by rota- tion said rod with the breech bolt, and means for positively preventing further ro- tation of said rod in the same direction while frictionally locking it against reverse rotation. 30. In a machine gun, a breech-bolt, a re- action spring and a guide rod with their forward portions extending into the breech- bolt, and cooperating means upon said guide 18 rod and breech-bolt whereby upon the rota- tion of said guide rod it may be positively prevented from further rotation in the same direction and frictionally locked against re- verse rotation. 70 31. In a machine gun, a breech-bolt, a re- action spring and a guide rod with their forward portions extending into the breech- bolt, said breech-bolt having an eccentric re- cess for engaging a projection on said guide 75 rod whereby said guide rod is adapted to be locked in said breech-bolt by a part-ro- tation against further rotation in either di- rection. 32. In a machine gun, a breech casing, a 80 breech-bolt, a breech-bolt guide, a trigger piyoted in the breech-bolt guide having a finger piece extending at the rear beyond the guide and beyond the breech casing, a removable rear plate closing the breech cas- 85 ing at the rear, said plate having in its lower edge a slot for the passage through it of the rearward extension of the trigger, whereby said rear plate is adapted to be re- moved or to be replaced without affecting 9 о the trigger. 33. In a machine gun, a breech casing, a breech-bolt, a breech-bolt guide, a trigger pivoted in the breech-bolt guide and having a finger piece extending at the rear beyond 95 the guide and beyond the breech casing, a removable rear plate closing the breech cas- ing at the rear, said plate having in its lower edge a slot for the passage through it of the rearward extension of the trigger, 100 and a safety slide movably mounted in the lower portion of said rear plate, and a co- operating recess in the side of said trigger whereby said trigger may be at will secured against operation or released for operation. 105 34. In a machine gun, a breech casing, a breech-bolt, a breech-bolt guide, a trigger pivoted in the breech-bolt guide and having a finger piece extending at the rear beyond the guide and beyond the breech casing, a 110 removable rear plate closing the breech cas- ing at the rear, said plate having in its lower* edge a slot for the passage through it of the rearward extension of the trigger, and a safety slide movably mounted in the lower 115 portion of said rear plate, and a cooperating recess in the side of said trigger, said recess being open at the top, whereby said trigger may be at will secured against operation or released for operation, and whereby said 120 rear plate is adapted to be removed or to be replaced without affecting the trigger or the safety slide. 35. In a machine gun, a breech casing having a fixed top plate, a breech-bolt, a 125 firing pin and a mainspring carried thereby, a cocking lever also carried thereby, a slot in the top plate of the breech casing having a rear wall for engaging said cocking lever and moving it into position to hold the fir- ISO
1,203,021 ~ ing pin retracted, and a surface upon the under side of said top plate for thereafter engaging said cocking lever and holding it in said' position during the rearward and 5 greater portion of the forward movements of the breech-bolt, and a downwardly pro- jecting front wall of said slot for engaging said cocking lever during the last of the for- ward movement of said breech bolt and posi- 10 tively moving said cocking lever to initial position out of reach of said firing pin. 36. In a machine gun, a breech casing in- closing and guiding the breech mechanism and haying an open transverse feed way for i 5 receiving and guiding a feed belt, means for moving said feed belt stepwise through said feed way, a top cover attached to thebreech casing, a movable feed lever mounted upon the under side of said cover and having a depending stud, said lever and stud com- 2Э prising a yielding element "whereby the stud may yield in vertical direction^ ana a breech bolt having a cam groove in its top for re- ceiving said stud, whereby said cover may be closed. without said stud entering said 25 cam groove and whereby said stud will au- tomatically spring into said cam groove when the motion of the breech bolt carries the groove to the proper position for receiv- ing said stud. This specification signed and witnessed this third day of October, A. D. 1916. JOHN M. BROWNING. In the presence of— Arthur L. Ulrich, Katherine A. Powers.
J, M. BROWNING. AUTOMATIC MACHINE RIFLE. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 1. 1917. 1,293,022. Patented Feb. 4,1919.
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. JOHN M. BBOWNING, OB OGDEN, UTAH. AUTOMATIC MACHINE-BIFLE. 1,293,022. Specification of letters Patent Patented Feb. 4,1919. Application filed August 1,1917. Serial No. 183,841. To all whom, it may concern: Be it known that I, John M. Browning, a citizen of the United States, residing in Ogden, in the county of Weber and State of 5 Utah, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Machine-Rifles, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof. 10 The invention generally relates to ma- chine rifles in which all operations of the mechanism, except that of the trigger, are automatically effected, and in which the form and the weight of the rifle adapt it 16 for using highly charged military ammuni- tion, the shooter either lying prone upon the ground, or standing erect with only his hands and shoulder supporting the rifle. The invention specially relates to novel 20 improvements in gas-operated machine rifles in which a vent in the barrel leads to a gas cylinder kept below the vent by a band al- lowing the barrel to expand lengthwise. The rorward end of the cylinder is closed, 25 the rear end fixed in the breech casing. The gas cylinder has a series of radial openings through which the powder gases escape after having exerted pressure upon the gas piston in the cylinder. Some distance forward of 30 the breech casing the gas cylinder carries a block from the bottom of which a bar ex- tends to the breech casing where it is fixed. The main object of the invention is to provide a machine rifle adapted to fire 35 highly charged military cartridges, but so light in weight as to allow of one person carrying it and firing it from the shoulder, . and yet most durable. This object is at- tained by providing novel constructions for 40 transforming the necessarily very rapid movements of members of the mechanism at certain points of their path, yet thereby not reducing the rate of speed of the opera- tion of the arm, but rather at will increas- 45 ing same. Heretofore, most firearms of this class firing highly charged cartridges and having a high rate of speed of operation, though heavier and apparently stronger, have been’ injured or wracked to pieces by a 50 comparatively short use. In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 represents a left hand side ele- vation of the machine rifle, with portions broken away. 55 Fig. 2 represents a top view of the central portion of the machine rifle. Fig. 3 represents the same portion in a longitudinal vertical section showing the breech mechanism with the breech block in the forward locked position. 50 Fig. 4 represents a similar view to Fig. 3, but with the breech block unlocked and moved to its rearmost position. Fig. 5 represents a front view of a verti- cal transverse section through the receiver 55 at a place somewhat forward of the front end of Fig. 4, and with the parts in the same position as in Fig. 4, looking rear- ward ; the magazine being removed, and the magazine guide, shell ejector, the magazine 70 latch and the breech block shown in front view. Fig. 6 represents a vertical transverse sec- tion in the line 6—fl of Fig. 4, through the receiver and trigger plate, and the parts 75 therein, seen from the rear, the sear, the sear shifting button or firing controller and the handle and its arbor being represented as not in section. Fig. 7 represents a top view of the trig- 80 ger plate detached, with the parts contained therein. Fig. 8 represents a vertical longitudinal section of the trigger plate with the parts therein. 85 Fig. 9 represents a top view of the car- tridge magazine detached. Fig. 10 represents an upper portion of the cartridge magazine partly in section, so as to expose to view the magazine fol- 90 lower, a part of the follower spring, and a number of cartridges resting upon said fol- lower, seen from the rear. Fig. 11 represents a portion of the car- tridge magazine, an upper part of which is 95 in section, so as to expose to view some of the cartridges therein, seen from the front. Fig. 12 represents in the three positions, X, Y, Z, the new rotary shifter T and the positive springrsupported stop t1 for same. 100 Similar letters refer. to similar parts throughout the several views. The machine rifle represented in the draw- ings comprises the following main parts: the breech casing A, the barrel В secured to the 105 breech casing, the breech block C and the locking brace D; the trigger plate E closing at the bottom the rear portion of the breech casing, the cartridge magazine F inserted from below into the breech casing and 110 locked there in front of the trigger plate,, and the butt stock G.
1,203,022 £ The barrel В has a vent. Below the vent is the gas cylinder H, its front end closed, its rear end fastened in the breech casing. Some distance forward of the breech casing 5 the cylinder H takes the form of a cubical block A from the under side of which a flat guide bar extends into the breech casing and is locked therein by a transverse pin h1. In the cylinder the piston head I is fitted 10 from which the piston rod L of slightly smaller diameter extends rearward through the cylinder H and the cubical block A. In rear of the block the piston. rod L carries a crosshead from which a lug depends into a 15 groove in the guide bar H, and from the crosshead rearward it forms the action slide, being divided in two side bars- sepa- rated by an open space of sufficient width for the passage of the cartridge magazine 20 therethrough; at the rear end of the action slide L the two side «bars are united by an integral, crossbar I. The breech casing be- low the barrel has a wide opening for the entrance of the rear end of the action slide 25 and two internal grooves in which the side bars of the slide are guided. After the crossbar I has passed into the casing through said opening a plate is removably fitted in the casing below the barrel from 30 which a short guide rod к extends some dis- tance in front of the breech casing. Slightly in tear of the vent the cylinder H has a series of holes through which the powder gases may escape after exerting 35 their pressure upon the piston I. Either on the piston rod L and between it and the cylinder H the usual reaction spring К is located, its forward end bearing against the piston head I its rear end against the face 40 of the block h of the cylinder; or the pis- ton rod Ь may be tubular arid contain the forward end of the reaction spring К the rear end of which is in that case supported by the guide rod к and plate fastened in 45 the breech casing. It is obvious that when the reaction spring is fully compressed by the rearward movement of the piston I under the pressure of the gases, the reaction spring. К not only 50 serves to return the piston .and action slide forward, but it also serves to cushion the ac- tion slide by absorbing any excess of energy. This arrangement of the gas vent, cylin- der and piston, with the reaction spring on 55. the piston rod or in the piston rod, located alongside the barrel for the automatic op- eration of the action slide, is a well known one and needs no further illustration or description. 80 In Fig. 3 an alternate of this arrange- ment is shown in which the tube containing the reaction spring and the piston actuated thereby are located in rear of the breech mechanism. The main difference in this 45 arrangement from the former one is that a reaction spring К and a separate buffer plate 8 with a resilient cushion s1 are pro- vided. The arrangement of the reaction spring and itss piston in the butt stock, and of the intermediate means between the re- 70 action spring and the action slide for mov- ing the same forward is also Well known, and .therefore, needs not to be further de- scribed, with the exception of the inter-rela- tion ’between the buffer and the reaction 75 spring and piston clearly shown in Fig. 3, in which the cylindrical tube q containing the reaction spring К and the piston p, car- ries on its its exterior a strong annular col- lar qi upon the outside of which is attached 80 by a screw thread the rear end of a second larger tube r, which extends forward some- what beyond the inner smaller tube q; the interiorly shouldered front end of the larger tube r is closed by a shouldered annular buf- 85 fer plate 8 which projects forwardly beyond the end of the tube r and is rearwardly mov- able therein. Through the central opening in the buffer plate « the piston p of the re- action spring may freely slide, and the space 90 between the collar on the smaller tube and the buffer plate s is packed with annular disks s1 or coils of a resilient material. The rear end of the smaller tube q is closed by an adjustable screw plug p1 which carries 95 centrally upon its forward face a guide pin for the rear end of the reaction spring K. From the piston p a rod о extends forward to the reaction slide Ъ. The face of the piston and the end of the slide are both pro- 100 vided with a recess in which ®the rounded ends of the'rod о rest. The constant pres- sure of the reaction spring prevents the ends of the rod from leaving the recesses. See Fig. 3. t 106 By this simple and compact construction the plate s not only acts as a buffer to cushion and absorb any excess of energy of recoil residing in the action slide L at the limit of its rearward movement, and to as- lit sist the reaction spring К in returning the action slide and the breech block forward; but by screwing the inner smaller tube q, and the collar q1 thereon more or less into the larger tube r, the degree of resiliency of 115 the buffer may be readily adjusted by the degree of compression of the packing s1, and thereby the starting of the return movement of the action slide and the breech block may be made quicker or slower, so as to cause 120 a more rapid or a slower rate of automatic firing of the rifle. The rear of the barrel is closed by the breech block C fitted to reciprocate in the breech casing A guided there vertically by 125 the top of .the casing and two longitudinal ribs a a which project inward from the sides of the casing. See /Fig. 5. The breech block C for its supportln the forward firing position carries a pivotally attached locking 130
1,263,022 G brace D, the rear of which is adapted to be raised in front of a strong abutment formed on the top of the breech casing A. Below the breech block is the chamber for holding 5 the cartridge magazine, as seen in Figs. 3 and 9 to 11. The magazine is a rectangular box F which contains two columns of car- tridges side by side in staggered relation upon the spring-actuated follower f, and 10 has in each side wall a vertical inwardly projecting guide rib f1. Between the nar- - row parallel top openings at both ends of the magazine, the over-hanging edges of the sides form a wide curved opening. The 15 front and rear walls have each a recess which permits the lower portion of the breech block to slide lengthwise through the magazine. The rear portion of the car- tridge chamber in the barrel is inwardly 20 chamfered to form at the bottom and both sides an upward and inward conical incline leading into the cartridge chamber. When the breech block moves forward from its rearmost positionj its lower portion 25 engages the topmost cartridge in the maga- zine and forces it forward. As the bullet encounters the chamfer, in its continued for- ward movement, its point is forced inward ат,ц1 upward, the narrow forward opening 30 in the top of the magazine permitting the small bullet to pass out of the magazine. By this simultaneous forward, upward and inward movement the cartridge is caused to incline in its entire length, and, as during 35 this movement the large portion of the car- tridge has reached the wide central opening in the top of the magazine, it can leave the same and the breech block can fully force the cartridge into the chamber of the barrel. 40 This insertion directly from the wide square box magazine into the barrel is effected as readily with the cartridges in the right hand column as with those in the left hand one, as the chamfer in the barrel will guide the 45 rising cartridges from either side into the chamber. The breech block is provided with the firing pin N, shell extractor O, and has in its bottom a central groove for the shell ejec- 50 tor P. The firing pin N at-its rear end has an enlarged head n and the locking brace has in its under side a central longitudinal groove for clearing the body of the firing pin. Near its rear end the locking brace has 55 an upwardly extending hole c connected with the groove, for the head n of the firing rin, the forward edges of this hole c acting ike a cam upon the head n, so that as the ocking brace is lowered the firing pin is 60 positively retracted to its rearmost position m which its firing point is withdrawn into the breech block, thus making a positive safety device. The locking brace below its rear end ex- 65 tends downward and has a boss d, divided by a central recess in which the link M is attached by its upper pivot, the lower pivot of the link being attached to the crossbar I of the action slide. At the place where the bottom of the lock- 70 ing brace and the front face of its down- ward extension meet, a double cam of sub- stantially quadrantal form is provided; said cam consists of an upper portion curving downward from the horizontal under side 75 of the brace and of a lower portion curving forward from the vertical face of the ex- tension, both of these curved portions being connected. By the first rearward movement of the ac- 80 tion slide the locking brace is lowered to un- lock the breech block and is stopped by the stop studs R, R, provided in the breech cas- ing. As the brace is lowered, instead of it striking a violent blow upon the top of the 85 stops R, R, the lower portion of the cam will engage the rear of the stops with a glancing blow. At the instant when the top of the lowered brace clears the inside of the breech casing, the cam transforms the down- 90 ward movement of the brace into a longitu- dinal rearward one and thus prevents injury to brace or stops. In addition to the cam on the brace for preventing a violent blow upon the stops as just described, the link M 95 is provided’in rear of its upper pivot with a shoulder m, shown in Fig. 3 as extending nearly horizontally rearward from the link when the brace is in the upper breech block- locking position. When the brace is low- 100 ered by the downward pull on it of the link as the same is drawn rearward by the action slide, the projecting shoulder m is turned upward and forward upon the upper link pin as a fulcrum, until, after the rounded 105 rear corner of the top of the brace has fully cleared the under surface of the breech cas- ing, the shoulder m, then nearly vertical is brought up against the rear face of the brace, and as the link then draws the brace lie rearward, it thereby increases the action of the cam in transmitting rearward movement to brace and breech block. Consequently, when the rapidly rearward moving action slide commences through the link to draw ill along the breech block and brace, it finds these members already started in the rear- ward direction; therefore, any sudden strain upon the action slide, link, its pivots, brace, and breech block due to their inertia is' 12i avoided and these parts are thereby saved from injury to which they would be exposed were the movement of the action slide sud- denly transferred to them while they stood still. 12 In consequence of the exceedingly rapid rate of firing required of automatic firearms, the reciprocating menibers of the breech mechanism as well as the action slide must be'easily started, then moved at a greatly 13
1,203,О2Й .4 increased speed, and, finally, the resulting blows at the ends of the movements of all parts must be cushioned to prevent injury to the members. 6 During the recoil, as well as during the forward movement, the members of the breech mechanism must move freely and without frictional contact with their longi- tudinar guides. To insure this freedom of 10 their movements, the following arrange? ment, clearly represented in the drawings, is provided. During the first of the rearward move- ment of the action slide under the blow-like 15 effect of the powder gases against the gas piston, the action slide draws down the link and brace and thus unlocks the breech block and starts the breech block rearward when the rounded upper rear corner of the locking 20 brace can slide under the abutment on the receiver. The speed of the rearward move- ment of the action slide is then gradually diminished by the compression of the reac- tion spring, which aided by the buffer 25 spring, filially stops the slide entirely and returns it forward. During this rearward movement the cen- ters of the three pivot pins lie substantially in a straight line inclining rearward ana 30 downward, but with the central pivot slightly below this line to which position the rounded rear corner of the locking brace, when sliding under the abutment, has forced the center of the middle pivot, as 35 hereinbefore described. The momentum of the heavy breech block after rapid rearward movement. has been imparted to it by the action slide, is not directly absorbed or diminished, so that 10 during the rearward movement the breech block actually pushes the brace, link and slide rearward, and thereby prevents the middle pivot from rising and thus keeps the top of the breech block and locking orace 15 from frictional contact with the inner sur- face of the top of the receiver, a freedom which would not result if the rearward movement were still due to the drawing by the slide of the link and brace, as such draw- fl ing instead of depressing’would tend to raise the middle pivot and thereby also the top of the brace. During the ensuing forward movement, and up to the point where the cam of the 5 brace strikes the studs R, R, the action slide, link, locking brace and breech block remain relatively-in the same position in which they are shown in Fig. 4, with the center of the pivot pin connecting the locking brace with 1 the breech block and the center of the pivot pin connecting the link with the action slide in a straight line inclining rearward and downward, but with the center of the middle pivot pin connecting the link with the brace > below this line; by this disposition and be- cause again a push transmits the movement of the action slide to the link, brace and breech block, it keeps down the middle pivot pin and the brace and again presents fric- tional contact of the same with the under 70 side of the top of the breech casing, and thus greatly facilitates the forward closing move- ment Of the breech block. Rigidly attached to the crossbar I is the hammer or striker S. Its central portion 70 projects upward'into the path of the firing pin head n and on the last of the forward movement of the action slide, after the link, has raised the brace D and thereby locked the breech block C in the firing position, the 80 projection of the hammer strikes upon the head n of the firing pin, and this percussion ignites the primer of the cartridge. During this forward movement of the action slide and the transforming of this movement into 85 the vertical one necessary to raise the lock- ing brace, the reversed action of the link and that of the upper portion of the cam of the brace on the stops R, R, cushions the for- ward movement of the breech block so that 90 the same will confine the cartridge in the chamber of the barrel without delivering a blow liable to injure the operating parts. In the present embodiment of the im- portant improvements the rearwardly mov- 95 ing action slide is stopped either by the com- bined reaction and cushion spring located below the barrel, or by the combined action of the reaction spring К and of the sepa- rate cushioned buffer plate s in the butt 100 stock by which the action slide is returned forward in its counter-recoil. If the rifle is to be fired with reduced or with increased speed by at will firing single shots each con- trolled by the trigger U, a device is provided 105 for absorbing any excess of coUnter-recoil, shown in Figs. 3, 4, 7 and 8. Unless de- pressed by the operation of the trigger, which is mounted on a fixed pivot pin in the trigger plate. E, the rear end of the two no armed sear и serves as a.stop for the action slide L, by engaging a notch in the bottom of the integral cross bar I of the slide; the sear и is pivoted above the trigger U and its pawl in the separate slide e lengthwise 115 movably mounted in a recess in the top of the trigger plate E, and the slide e carries on a pin on its front a strong helical buffer spring, g, the forward end of which rests against a fixed point of the trigger plate E, 120 while a horizontal slot in the slide e for the trigger pivot pin is provided to allow this movement. The buffer spring g thus ab- , sorbs the blow of the counter-recoil and pre- vents injury to the rear end cf the sear. 125 The .present embodiment of the automatic rifle as represented in Figs. 3, 4, 6, 7 and 8, is provided with a laterally sliding shifter T mounted in a transverse seat in the trigger plate above the upper rear end of the trig- 130
1/203,022 К fer U, which serves for at will changing the ring mechanism from the position in which single shots may be fired under the control of the trigger, to the position in which vol- 5 leys of shots may be fired and controlled by the operation and retention of the trigger and its release and by the capacity of the magazine, or to the safety position where firing is entirely prevented by locking the 0 trigger and sear against operation. From the under side of the shifter T above the trigger, several segments have been removed so as to form a series of steps of varying depth, which may at will be brought above 5 the rear end of the trigger by the laterally sliding movement of the shifter. In Fig. 6 the shifter T and the several steps in its under side are clearly shown, and above it a spring t, also shown in Fig. 0 8, and several notches to frictionally keep the shifter in any of its several positions. In Fig. 4 the shifter T is shown in the - position m which single shots may be fired. The rear end of the sear и standing in the 15 notch of the action slide holds the latter in its rear position from which it will be re- leased if the trigger is pulled. In Fig. 3 the parts are also shown in the position for firing single shots, but the trig- >0 ger has been pulled so as to cause the sear to release the action slide which has been returned forward. The pawl pivoted in the trigger has raised the forward end of the sear for releasing the slide L, and the pawl <5 has then been thrown with its upper end forward, beyond the front end of the sear, by striking the front face of a cross bar in the slide e, which face is inclined forward and upward; by this arrangement the sear 10 is released to again engage the notch in the action slide when the same is next thrown to the rear by the firing of a shot. In Fig. 8 the parts are shown adjusted for automatic firing, and the trigger is rep- (5 resented as having been pulled and retained in its rear position, whereby the rear end of the sear и has been lowered entirely out of the path of the action slide by the trigger pawl raising the front end of the sear u, 50 the pawl being kept in operative position by its rear end bearing against the shifter T. On firing, the action slide will be thrown to the rear, and, not being retained by the sear, will be at once returned forward as long as 55 cartridges for continued automatic firing are supplied. In Fig. 12 is represented an improved or rotatory shifter T for changing the con- trolling mechanism from the single shot 60 position to the volley position, or to the locked position. As shown in the partial section the rotatory shifter consists in a strong pivot mounted and located in the trigger plate and provided with a series of C5 peripheral recesses of varying depth, from which pivot a crank arm extends upward, which arm may be moved from the forward position X to the central position Y or to the rearward position Z, these three posi- tions being also clearly represented in a 70 small, horizontal section shown in Fig. 12. There is no obstacle to change the shifter from the forward position X to the central position- Y, but when arrived at the central position Y a small horizontal stop pin tl 75 projects from the side of the casing and positively prevents the shifter arm from be- ing rotated to the rearward position Z until the stop t1 is pushed inward, which cannot be done except by intentional pressure upon 80 the end of the stop t1. After the stop tx has been pushed out of the path of the shif ter arm T and the same has been turned to the rear position the shifter may at any time be again moved from its rearmost 85 locking position to the volley firing central position and from there to the single shot firing forward position by simple pressure against the upper part of the shifter arm in the forward direction, because the for- 90 ward edge of the shifter arm is slanting in- ward and rearward so as to automatically press the stop pin t1 out of its path when the shifter arm is moved in the forward direction; but the rear edge of the shifter 95 arm being square or vertical to the side of the casing, when it encounters the stop pin in its rearward movement the stop will positively hold it until the stop itself is re- moved out of the shifter’s path which can- 100 not be done accidentally, but only by the deliberate and intentional action of the op- erator. By this means the shifter may be readily moved for bringing into action the volley firing instead of the single firing, 105 but cannot be accidentally moved too far and, therefore, stop all firing at a time when it is desired to shoot a number of shots with the greatest possible rapidity by holding the trigger. It would be a fatal fault if 110 the shifter arm were unintentionally moved too far to the rear just at the time when the operator wanted the most rapid fire and maximum number of shots. This accident is positively prevented by the provision of 115 the stop tx described. I claim: 1. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a breech casing, a barrel supported thereby, a reciprocating breech block mount- J 20 ed in said breech casing for reciprocation in a right line for opening and closing said barrel, a locking brace pivoted to said breech block, an abutment on the breech cas- ing for engaging the rear face of said lock- 125 ing brace, a reciprocating gas-operated ac- tion slide located below said locking brace, a gas-cylinder and piston for operating said action slide, a link pivoted to the rear end of said locking brace and to said action ISO
в" 1,283,022 slide, and a shoulder on said link for en- gagement with the rear face of said lock- ing brace during the reciprocation of said breech block. 5 2. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a breech casing, a barrel supported thereby, a reciprocating breech block mount- ed in said breech casing for reciprocation in a right line for opening and closing said 10 barrel, a locking, brace pivoted to said breech block and having a rear locking face, an abutment on the breech casing having a locking surface extending to the lower sur- face of the upper portion of the breech cas- 15 ing for engaging the rear locking face of said brace and preventing any rearward movement of said breech block until the locking face of said brace has been pulled downward below the lower edge of said 20 abutment, a reciprocating gas-operated ac- tion slide located below said locking brace, a gas cylinder and piston for operating said action slide, a link connection between said brace and said action slide, whereby when 25 said action slide moves rearward the rear end of said brace is first pulled downward and thereafter said brace and the breech block are drawn rearward, a cam surface upon the underside of said locking brace, 30 and stationary means so located upon said breech casing as to be engaged by said cam surface after the rear end of said locking brace has been pulled downward sufficiently to bring its locking face below the lower 35 edge of said abutment, whereby the down- ward movement of said locking brace is stopped without violent blows and said breech block is started rearward without sudden strains upon the parts connecting 40 it with the action slide. ' 3. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a breech casing, a barrel 'supported thereby, a reciprocating breech block mount- ed in said breech casing for reciprocating 46 in a right line for opening and closing said barrel, a locking brace pivoted to said breech block, an abutment on the breech casing for engaging the rear face of said locking brace, a reciprocating action slide located below 50 said locking brace, a gas cylinder and piston for operating said action slide in one direc- tion, a reaction spring for operating said action slide in the other direction, a link between said brace and said action slide 55 whereby when said action slide moves rear- ward, the rear end of said brace is first pulled downward and said brace and the breech block are thereafter drawn rearward, and when said action slide moves forward 50 said brace and said breech block are forced forward and the rear end of said brace is thereafter^ forced upward, a cam surface upon the underside of said locking brace, and stationary means upon said breech cas- 65 ing engaged by said cam surface when the rear end of said locking brace is pulled downward or forced forward and upward, whereby the downward movement and the forward movement of said locking brace are stopped without violent blows. 70 4. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a breech casing, a barrel supported thereby, a reciprocating breech block mount- ed in said breech easing for reciprocating in a right line f or opening and closing said 75 barrel, a locking brace pivoted to said breech block, an abutment on the breech casing for engaging the rear face of said locking brace, a reciprocating action slide located below said locking brace, a gas cylinder and piston 80 for operating said action slide in one di- rection, a reaction spring for operating said action slide in the other direction, a link connection between the said brace and said action slide, a cam surface upon the under 85 side of said locking brace substantially quadrantal in form, and correspondingly shaped stationary means upon said breech casing engaged by the lower portion of said cam surface when the rear end of said lock- ao ing brace is pulled downward, and engaged by the upper portion of said cam surface when said locking brace is forced forward, whereby the downward and the forward movements of said locking brace are stopped »& without violent blows. 5. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a breech casing, a barrel supported thereby, a reciprocating breech block mount- ed in said breech casing for reciprocating 1(H in a right line for opening and closing said barrel, a . locking brace pivoted to said breech block, an abutment on the breech casing for engaging the rear face of said locking brace, a reciprocating action slide 101 located below said locking brace, a gas cyl-. inder and piston for operating said action slide in one direction, a reaction spring for operating said action slide in the other direc- tion, a fink connection between the said 11® brace and said action slide, a cam sur- face upon the under side of said locking brace comprising two connected curved por- tions, and correspondingly curved stationary means upon said breech casing engaged by 11g one of said curved portions when the rear end of said locking brace is pulled down- ward and engaged by the other of said curved portions when said locking brace is forced forward, whereby the downward and 1M the forward movements of said locking brace are stopped without violent blows. 6. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a breech casing, a barrel supported thereby, a reciprocating breech block mount- 125 ed in said breech casing for reciprocation in a right line for opening and closing said barrel, a locking brace pivoted to said breech block, an abutment on the breech casing for engaging the rear face of said locking brace,
1,293,022 *7 a reciprocating gas-operated action slide lo- cated below said locking brace, a gas cyl- inder and piston for operating said action slide, a link connection between said brace 5 and said action slide, whereby when said action slide moves rearward the rear end of said locking brace is first pulled down- ward and thereafter said brace and breech block are drawn rearward, a cam surface 10 upon the under side of said locking brace, stationary means upon said breech casing en- gaged by said cam surface when the rear end of said locking brace is pulled downward or pushed upward, and a shoulder on said 16 link for engagement with the rear face of said locking brace during the reciprocation of said breech block. 7. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a breech casing, a barrel supported 20 thereby, a reciprocating breech block mount- ed in said breech casing for reciprocation in a right line for opening and closing said barrel, a locking brace pivoted to said breech block, an abutment on the breech casing for 25 engaging the rear face of said locking brace, a reciprocating gas-operated action Side lo- cated below said locking brace, a gas cyl- inder and piston for operating said action slide, a link jpivoted to said brace and to 30 said action slide, whereby when said action slide moves rearward the rear end of said locking brace is first pulled downward and thereafter said brace and the breech block are drawn rearward, a shoulder on said link 35 for engagement with the rear face of said locking brace with the center of the pivot pin connecting said link to said brace lying below a line joining the centers of the pivot pin connecting said brace to said breech 40 block and the pivot pin connecting said link to said action slide, during reciprocation, a cam surface upon the under side of said locking brace, and stationary means upon said breech casing engaged by said cam sur- 45 face when said breech block is being moved forward to close said barrel, whereby the forward movement ot jaid locking brace and breech block is stopped without violent blows, and said locking brace is forced up- 50 ward, raising above said line the center ot said pivot pin connecting said locking brace to said link. 8. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a breech casing, a barrel supported 55 thereby, a reciprocating breech block mount- ed in said breech casing for reciprocation in a right line for opening and closing said barrel, a locking brace pivoted to said breech block, an abutment on the breech casing for 60 engaging the rear face of said locking brace, a reciprocating gas-operated action slide located below said locking brace, a gas cyl- inder and piston for operating said action slide, a link pivoted to said brace and to said 65 action slide, whereby when said action slide moves rearward the rear end of said locking brace is first pulled downward and there- after said brace and the breech block are drawn rearward, a cam surface on the up- per side of said locking brace co-acting with 70 said abutment to depress the locking brace, a shoulder on said link for engagement with the rear face of said locking brace with the center of the pivot pin connecting said link to said brace lying below a line joining the 75 centers of the pivot pin connecting said brace to said breech block and the pivot pin connecting said link to said action slide dur- ing reciprocation, a cam surface upon the underside of said locking brace, and station- 80 ary means upon said breech casing co-acting with Skid last mentioned cam surface when said locking brace is pulled downward, and when said breech block is moved forward to close said barrel. - 85 9. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a breech casing, a barrel supported thereby, a reciprocating breech block for opening and closing said barrel, a recipro- cating gas-operated action slide, a gas cylin- 9 о der ana piston for operating said slide, a shoulder on said action slide, a trigger plate closing the bottom of said breech casing, a pivoted sear for engaging said shoulder on the action slide upon the forward move- 95 ment of said action slide, a spring cushioned slide mounted in said trigger plate upon which said sear is pivoted, a trigger pivoted in said trigger plate for movement about its pivot only, a pawl pivoted on the trigger 100 for tripping said sear and thereafter re- leasing same, or for holding said sear in inoperative position where said sear will not engage the shoulder on said action slide, and means for varying the limit of move- 106 ment of the trigger and pawl whereby the firingjnay at will be changed from single shot to volley firing. 10. In an automatic firearm, the com- bination of a breech casing, a barrel sup- 110 ported thereby, a reciprocating breech block for opening and closing said barrel, a re- ciprocating gas-operated action slide, a gas cylinder and piston for operating said slide, a shoulder on said action slide, a trigger lie plate closing the bottom of said breech cas- ing, a pivoted sear for engaging said shoulder on the action slide upon the for- ward movement of said action slide, a spring cushioned slide mounted in said trigger 120 plate upon which said sear is pivoted, a trigger pivoted in said trigger plate for movement about its pivot only, a pawl pivoted on the trigger for tripping said sear and thereafter releasing same, or for hold- 126 ing said sear in inoperative position where said sear will not engage the shoulder on said action slide, a cam surface on said spring cushioned slide for engaging said pawl and disengaging it from said sear, and 130
в 1,263,023 means for varying the limit of movement of the trigger and pawl whereby the firing may at willbe changed from single shot to volley firing. 5 11. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion with breech mechanism, firing mecha- nism and mechanism^ for controlling the fir- ing, of a rotatory shifter for engaging the mechanism for controlling the firing, where- 10 by the firing may at will be changed from single shot to volley- firing, or, whereby the mechanism for controlling the firing may be locked against operation, an arm on said shifter for rotating same, a removable stop 15 in the path of said arm positively prevent- ing movement of said shifter from volley firing position to locked position, but yield- ing to permit movement of said snifter from locked position to volley firing posi- 20 tion. 12. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a breech casing, a barrel supported thereby, a reciprocating breech block for opening and closing said barrel, a locking 25 brace pivoted to said breech block, an abut- ment on the breech casing for engaging the rear face of said locking brace, a recipro- cating gas-operated action slide located be- low said locking brace, connections between 30 said action slide and said locking brace whereby said locking brace is pulled, down- ward when said action slide moves rearward, a firing pin mounted for reciprocation in said breech block and having at its rear end 35 an enlarged head, and a hole or recess ex- tending into the lower portion of said lock- ing brace and adapted to fit over said head, said hole having its forward wall slotted, the two edges of said slot engaging said 40 head on each side of the firing pin and re- tracting the firing pin when the locking brace is pulled downward and thereafter positively holding said firing pin retracted until said breech block has returned to closed 45 position. 13. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a breech casing, a barrel supported thereby, a reciprocating breech block for opening and closing said barrel, a locking 50 brace pivoted to said breech block, an abut- ment on the breech casing for engaging the rear face of said locking brace, a recipro- cating gas-operated action slide located be- low said locking brace, connections between 55 said action slide and said locking brace whereby said locking brace is pulled down- ward when said action slide moves rear- ward, a firing pin mounted for reciproca- tion in said breech block and having at its 80 rear end an enlarged head, a central longi- tudinal groove in the underside of said locking brace, terminating at its rear end in a wider recess or hole, whereby when said locking brace is pulled downward said 85 groove accommodates the body of said fir- ing pin while the two edges of said recess engage said head of the firing pin on each side thereof, positively retracting the firing pin and holding it retracted throughout the reciprocation of the breech block. 70 14. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a breech casing, a barrel supported thereby, a reciprocating breech block for opening and closing said barrel, a locking brace pivoted to said breech bloch, an abut- 75 ment on the breech casing for engaging the rear face of said locking brace, a reciprocat- ing gas-operated action slide located below said locking brace, connections between said action slide and said locking brace whereby 80 said locking brace is pulled downward when said action slide moves rearward, a firing pin mounted for reciprocation in said breech block and having a projection on its rear end, a cam surface upon the underside of 85 said locking brace for engaging said pro- jection and retracting said firing pin when the locking brace is pulled downward and thereafter positively holding said firing pin retracted until said breech block has re- 90 turned to closed position, and a hammer rigidly mounted upon said action slide for striking said firing pin after the breech block has returned to closed position and said locking brace has been raised to release 05 the firing pin and to lock the breech block. 15. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a breech casing, a barrel, a recipro- cating breech mechanism for opening and closing said barrel, an annular buffer plate 100 in rear of the breech mechanism against which said mechanism strikes at the end of its rearward movement, a tube in the for- ward end of which said buffer plate is mounted, means upon said tube engaging 105 said buffer plate for preventing forward movement of said plate while permitting free rearward movement thereof, a plug for closing the rear end of said tube, a tube of smaller diameter extending through and rig- 110 idly supported by said plug and extending through the first mentioned tube and into said buffer plate, a reaction spring con- tained within said tube of smaller diameter, a piston cooperating therewith, and connec- 115 tions from said piston to said breech mecha- nism. 16. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a breech casing, a barrel, a recipro- cating breech mechanism for opening and 120 closing said barrel, afinular buffer plate in rear of the breeeh mechanism against which said mechanism strikes at the end of its rearward movement,' a tube in the for- ward end of which said buffer plate_ is 125 mounted, means upon-said tube engaging said buffer plate for preventing forward movement of said plate while permitting free rearward movement thereof, a plug for closing the rear end of said tube adjustable 130
1,263,022 toward and from said buffer plate, a pack- ing of resilient material extending from said buffer plate to said plug, a tube of smaller diameter extending through and rigidly sup- 5 ported by said plug and extending through the first mentioned tube and into said buffer plate, a reaction spring contained within said tube of smaller diameter, a piston coop- erating therewith, and connections from said 10 piston to said breech mechanism. 17. In an automatic firearm, the combi- nation of a breech casing, a barrel, a recipro- cating breech mechanism for opening and closing said barrel, an annular buffer plate 15 in rear of the breech mechanism against which said mechanism strikes at the end of its rearward movement, a tube in the for- wiard end of which said buffer plate is mounted, means upon said tube engaging 20 said buffer plate for preventing forward movenient of said plate while permitting e free rearward movement thereof, a plug for closing the rear end of said tube adjustable toward and from said buffer plate, a pack- ing of resilient material extending from said 25 buffer plate to said plug, a tube of smaller diameter extending through and rigidly sup- ported by said plug and extending through the first mentioned tube and into said buffer plate, a reaction spring contained within 30 said tube of smaller diameter, a piston co- operating therewith, connections from said piston to said breech mechanism, and a plug for closing the rear end of said last mentioned tube adjustable toward and from 35 said piston. This specification signed and witnessed this 27th day of July, A. D. 1917. JOHN M. BROWNING. In the presence of— C. J. Ehbets, A. L. Ulrich.
1,301,810. J. M. BROWNING. CARTRIDGE CARRIER. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 28, 1917. Patented Apr. 29,1919.
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. JOHN M. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH, ASSIGNOR TO COLT’S PATENT FIRE ARMS MANUFACTURING COMP ANT, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT. CARTRIDGE-CARRIER. 1,301,810. specification of betters patent. Patented Apr. 29,1919. Application filed November 28,1917. Serial No. 204,451. To till whom it may concern: Be it known that I, John M. Browning, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ogden, in the county of Weber and State 6 of Utah, have invented certain new and use- ful Improvements in Cartridge-Carriers, of which the following is a specification. This invention relates to cartridge car- riers. I use the title selected as a matter 10 of convenience, and further for the fact that the invention involves the cartridge as well. In a certain kind of machine gun the am- munition is carried by a belt which is usually flexible and of textile material. There are 16 ordinarily a large number of these car- tridges which fit loops or pockets in the belt. The latter is subjected to vibration, jars and shocks particularly when used as an ad- junct in aerial warfare. When the belt is 20 thus vibrated, the result is that the car- tridges are dislodged or slipped from their correct positions. In this event the ef- ficiency of the belt is naturally affected; certainly it is so far as the displaced car- 26 tridges are concerned. One of the funda- mental purposes I have in view is the pro- vision of an article, of the nature set forth by which the cartridges are positively pre- vented from moving with respect to their 30 carrier or belt. This particular movement which I eliminate is in the direction of the longitudinal axes of the cartridges. While it is conceivable that the function I attain can be secured in several ways, I prefer to S6 do so by peripherally roughening the shells of the cartridges. The roughened portion is desirably secured by providing the shell with a multiplicity of small projections or barbs which bite into the fabric of the car- 40 rier when the cartridges are in proper as- sembled relation therewith and thus ac- complish the end in view. These projec- tions or barbs are comparatively speaking of quite small size and thus do not interfere 45 with the proper insertion of the cartridge into the gun of whatever type it may be; they point toward the butt or base of the car- tridge and thus resist in a proper manner the accidental displacement of the cartridges ]) by entering the material of the carrier or belt. In the drawings accompanying and form- ing part of the present specification I have shown in detail a form of embodiment of the invention which to enable those skilled 66 in the art to practise the same will be set forth fully in the following description. As will be clear, I do not restrict myself to this particular disclosure; I may depart therefrom in several respects within the 80 scope of the invention defined by the claims following said description. Referring to said drawings: Figure 1 is a top plan view of a cartridge carrier with cartridges sustained embody- 66 ing the invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line 2—2, of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 3 is a detail in section and on an en- 70 larged scale of a portion of the carrier and cartridge, the arrow pointing toward the base of the cartridge. Like characters refer to like parts throughout the several views. 76 The article involves in its make-up a belt or carrier as 2. This is generally made of webbing or some suitable textile material, and its length may be as required. The carrier or belt 2 is furnished with a line of 80 loops or pockets as 3 customarily made in- tegral therewith and opening each at their ends. These loops in the aggregate extend longitudinally of the belt, although their longitudinal axes are transverse of the belt. 86 The cartridges are denoted by 4. Each car- tridge comprises a shell 5 and a projectile 6. The shells 5 are narrowed or tapered peripherally as at 7 to fit against the tapered forward ends 8 of the pockets and 90 naturally prevent the cartridges from be- ing pushed entirely through the pockets or loops. To extract the cartridges from the pockets it is necessary to pull them rear- wardly which in Figs.. 1 and 2 is toward 85 the right. The foregoing is a concise dis- closure of a structure quite common in the field of ordnance. My invention while not necessarily restricted to use in connection therewith is of particular utility, however, 100 when employed in connection with parts such as those described. The cartridges are shown transversely alined in Fig. 1, and as will be inferred one of my principal motives is to maintain this 106 alinement under various conditions. The
1,301,810 a cartridges have an interlocked relation with their carrier or belt. While it is conceiv- able that this can be accomplished in vari- ous ways, I prefer to provide the shells 5 with one or more circumferential projec- tions or teeth which penetrate the fabric of the belt and thus effectually preclude this endwise movement. The shells 5 are shown provided peripherally near their forward or 10 reduced ends with a multiplicity of com- paratively fine projections or teeth 9. These teeth point toward the rear of the shell as best shown in Fig. 3. They may . be formed in any desirable manner upon the shells and 15 do not increase its diameter or caliber as to interfere in any wise with their proper in- sertion into the barrel of the gun. When the cartridges are pushed home in the belt, however, these peripheral projections, barbs 20 or teeth bite into the stock of the belt to such an extent as to effectually prevent ac- cidental backward movement of the car- tridges and thus maintain them in line with each other and also in proper- position in 25 the belt. What I claim is: 1. A cartridge comprising a shell and a projectile, the shell being peripherally roughened to cooperate with a belt to prevent accidental movement of the cartridge with 30 respect to the belt. 2. A cartridge comprising a shell and a projectile, the shell having a multiplicity of pointed projections on its circumference to enter a belt and thus prevent accidental 35 movement of the cartridge with respect to the belt. 3. A cartridge comprising a shell and a projectile, the shell having a circumferen- tial projection having a point which points 40 toward the butt or base of the shell. 4. A cartridge comprising a shell and a projectile, the forward portion of the shell having a multiplicity of pointed projec- tions to enter the material of a belt and thus 45 prevent accidental relative movement of the cartridge and the belt. 5. A cartridge comprising a shell and a projectile, the forward portion of the shell having a multiplicity of pointed projections 60 which point toward the butt of the shell. In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses. JOHN M. BROWNING. Witnesses: L. L. Markel, Heath Sutherland.
J. M. BROWNING.- MACHINE FOR FILLING FEED BELTS FOR MACHINE GUNS. 1,327,698. APPLICATION FILED SEPT, 9, 1919. Patented Jan. 13,1920.
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. JOHN M. BBOWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH. MACHINE FOB FILLING FEED-BELTS FOB MACHINE-GUNS. 1,327,6980 Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Jan. 13, 1920. Application filed September 9, 1919. Serial No. 322,686. 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 To dll whom, it may concern: Be it known that I, John M. Browning, a citizen of the United States, residing in Ogden, in the county of Weber and State of Utah, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Filling Feed-Belts for Machine-Guns, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof. The invention relates to machines for fill- ing cartridge feed-belts, by means of which the cartridges are subsequently fed to ma- chine-guns; and it particularly relates to novel improvements in feed-belt filling ma- chines of the class for which a prior Patent, No. 660,244, was granted to me on October 23, 1900. In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of such a machine embodying my improvements, Fig. 2 is a front end ele- vation of the same; Fig. 3 represents, on an enlarged scale, a portion of a ffced-belt with three cartridges inserted in adjoining pock- ets, Fig. 4 is a front end view of said belt and cartridges; Fig. 6 is a front view, on an enlarged scale, of my improved tension latch, detached, and Fig. 6 is a side view of same; Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are respectively a rear elevation, a front elevation and a bot- tom view of the pocket opener, detached, on an enlarged scale; Fig. 10 shows, on an en- larged scale, one of the multi-pointed needle- bars, detached, in a top view and in a front view; Fig. 11 represents the regulator-stop, on an enlarged scale, in a top view and in a side view. In general construction and operation the machine represented in Figs. 1 and 2 con- sists of a bed plate A upon which is mounted a cartridge receiver a for receiving the car- tridges so that the lowest cartridge will rest upon the bed plate below the base of said receiver. A laterally vibrating lever F serves for moving the lowest cartridge toward the left side and for placing same in front of a longitudinally moving slide E, which, on being reciprocated by means of a crank В and crank shaft B1 carrying a cam disk Ъ with a crank pin thereon, and a connecting rod e, forces the cartridge forward so that the point of its bullet engages the beveled rear faces at the left ends of two vertically vibrating opener jaws d, d, which are pivot- ally mounted upon a laterally movable car- rier D, each of the jaws being provided with on opening needle. In front of the carrier D a guide platform A1 on the bed plate A is provided for receiving the empty car- 60 tridge belt, the general construction of which is plainly shown, on an enlarged scale, in Figs. 3 and 4, and a pivoted cover plate a1 serves to hold the belt movably upon the guide platform. 65 At the front of the bed plate a fluted wheel C is mounted upon a longitudinal pivot to receive a stepwise rotary movement when the shaft B1 is turned by means of an eccentric on said shaft and a lever &1; a 70 second fluted wheel C1 is mounted to freely rotate upon a longitudinal pivot carried by a lever arm C2 pivoted on a longitudinal pivot near the left end of the front face of the bed plate A. 75 As shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, the lever arm C2 may be turned upward so as to carry the upper wheel away from its place above the lower fluted wheel C; in this position a feed belt with a cartridge in one 80 of its pockets may be laid upon the guide platform A1 in such a manner that the car- tridge and the pocket of the belt will fill the uppermost fluting of the wheel C; then the lever arm C2 is returned to its lower 85 position in which the lower fluting of the upper wheel will fit down upon the belt and cartridge, so that a step of rotation of the lower fluted wheel will be communicated to the upper wheel and serve to feed the belt 90 and cartridge in the direction from the right side of the machine toward the left side. At the forward movement of a cartridge actuated by the slide E, the bullet of said cartridge forces the opener jaws d, d, apart 95 and the point of the needle secured to each of the said jaws serves to open the pocket of the feed belt, thereby insuring the insertion of the cartridge into the pocket of the belt by the slide E. Then the rotation of the 100 two fluted wheels feeds the belt and the car- tridges in the same toward the left side of the machine where belt and cartridges are guided downward from the machine. From the top of the lever arm C2 a flat Ю5 spring c extends to the right side of the ma- chine and a hooked tension latch G, pivoted at the front of the bed plate below the plat- form A1 serves to hole! down the free end of said spring by the tension of which the 110 upper fluted wheel is pressed upon the belt' and cartridge between the wheels.
1,327,698 All these parts and their operation are fully described and shown in my prior Pat- ent No. 660,244 referred to., and therefore do not require further description except in 5 the relation to the improved novel devices. In the practical use of these machines in the field during war time, a very great num- ber of feed belts have to be filled in these machines, and among these belts, some of 10 which may be entirely new while others may have been used many times, some variations of the belts in thickness, stiffness and width are unavoidable. For- this reason, it is neces- sary that the tension latch G should be ad- 15 justable in order to hold the belt and car- tridges in proper position, and for this pur- pose I have provided the improved tension latch G shown in Figs. 2, 6 and 6, which has two hooked-shaped projections on its left 20 side for engaging the spring c and for. at will increasing or decreasing the tension thereof according to the condition of the belt. Another danger in the practical working 25 of these machines is that the single opening needle carried by each of the opener jaws d, d, will not always be certain to take hold of the web of the belt if said belt happens to be a narrow one. By my improvement the 30 opener jaws are each fitted with a wide needle bar having three separate and dis- tinct points, see Figs. 7, 8 and 9, so that one or more of the three points will be sure to engage the rear edge of the feed belt and 35 properly open the pockets in same. Such a multi-pointed needle bar is clearly shown in Fig. 10, detached. The use of these machines in the field in war time has developed one further danger 40 which consists in the fact that when a belt with its empty portion is properly laid on the guide platform A1 and movably held there by the cover plate a1 above it, the por- tion of the belt containing the single car- 45 tridge, which has been previously inserted in one, of its pockets, may be placed cor- rectly in the top fluting of the wheel C, but may be pushed too far rearward in the ma- chine. A misplacement like this will cause 50 the cartridges to be more or less far pushed into the pockets of the feed belt, so that the rear ends of the cartridges in the belt will not all lie in one transverse vertical plane. Such irregularity may prevent the filled belt 55 from properly feeding into the machine gun, and thereby cause a stoppage or irregularity in the firing of the gun at a time when such occurrence might be fatal. To overcome this difficulty I have devised 60 the regulator-stop H which is fastened upon the upper surface of the base of the cam tridge receiver a. Fig. 11 plainly shows the construction of this regulator-stop which consists of a flat spring the forward end 65 of which is bent downward. As shown in Fig. 1, the rear end of this regulator-stop H is firmly attached upon the base of the cartridge receiver a by a screw, while the forward portion is held in position by a dowel-pin fixed in the base and projecting 70 upward through a slightly elongated hole in the regulator-stop, but allows its forward portion to yield upward under a lifting force applied to it. The regulator-stop H being located above 75 the slide E and parallel to same, its forward inclined end depends into the path of the slide, but when the slide E is moved forward it readily raises up the yielding end of the regulator-stop, which springs down again 80 when the slide is withdrawn rearwardly. When a cartridge is moved laterally from under the cartridge receiver a by the lever F, as hereinbefore described, the regulator- stop H does not oppose this lateral move- 85 ment, but by yielding upward to the lifting force exerted by the cylindrical body of the cartridge allows the same to be placed in front of the slide E. However., if a car- tridge in a pocket of the belt is with the belt 90 pushed rearward while it rests in the upper fluting of the wheel C the depending front end of the regulator-stop H positively pre- vents the cartridge and belt from being pushed too far rearward and thereby insures 9 5 the belt and cartridges therein to be placed in their proper relation, and the rear ends of all cartridges inserted into the pockets of the belt to lie in the same vertical plane. What I claim as my invention is: 100 1. In a machine for filling the pockets of cartridge feed-belts, the combination of fluted belt holding and feeding wheels, means to rotate said wheels step by step, a recipro- cating slide to insert the cartridges in the 105 pockets, and a spring stop attached above said slide to yield upward out of the path of said slide, and to regulate the position of the belt and the cartridges therein be- tween said fluted wheels. 110 2. In a machine for filling the pockets of feed-belts with cartridges, the combination of an opener provided with multi-pointed bars to engage and separate the pocket-walls, means to operate said opener, fluted belt 115 holding and feeding wheels2 means to step- wise rotate said wheels, a reciprocating slide to insert the cartridges in the pockets, and a spring stop attached above said slide to yield upward out of the path of said slide, 120 and to regulate the position of the belt and the cartridges therein between said fluted wheels. This specification signed and witnessed this 2nd day of Sept., A. D. 1919. JOHN M. BROWNING. In the presence of— Val A. Browning, R. M. Markle.
J. M. BROWNING. FIREARM. APPLICATION FILED APR. 27, 1920. 1,373,336. Patented Mar. 22,1921.
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. JOHN M. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH. FIREARM. 1,372,336. Specification of betters Patent. Patented Mar. 22,1921. Application filed April 27, Tо all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, John M. Browning, a citizen of the United. States, residing at Ogden, in the county of Weber and State 5 of Utah, have invented certain new and use- ful Improvements in Firearms, of which the following is a specification. This invention while applicable to differ- ent kinds of firearms is more particularly in- 10 tended to be adapted to 22 caliber rim-fire greased cartridges. I provide improved extracting means in- cluding an extractor, acting together with the firing pin to; grip the rim of the car- 15 tridge while it is being extracted; which does away with, the necessity of the Iqwer portion of the cartridge guide holding it to the ex- tractor. The cartridge being gripped be- tween the extractor and the firing pin is held 20 securely while being extracted and until the rim of the cartridge comes in contact with the downward depending ejecting shoulder on the cartridge guide, when it is turned on the point of the extractor and ejected from 25 the receiver. . . Another object of my invention is to pro- vide an adjustable extractor. When using cartridges as small as the caliber 22 and greased, the rfecoil spring cannot be very 30 strong and the grease especially in cola weather, has a tendency to gum up the ex-, tractor and cause .it to work slowly or not at all, unless it is provided with a fairly strong spring. When a strong spring is 35 used, if the hook on the extractor extends upward too far,, it has to be forced down by the recoil spring and if the block re- bounds or is drawn back slightly for any purpose, the recoil spring is not strong 40 enough to force the extractor down, and the result is that the breech-block is held, slightly away from the end of the barrel which causes misfiring. To prevent this, I have a simple means ot adjusting the extractor just 45 high enough, to engage the rim of the car- tridge properly ana have no tendency what- ever to hold the breech-block away from the end of the barrel. Referring to the drawings: 50 Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of the frame, action and certain adjunctive mem- bers of a rifle involving the invention, the parts being shown advanced. Fig. 2 is a practically similar view of the 1920. Serial No. 376,922. principal elements of Fig. 1, with the mov- 55 able parts in retracted or backward position. Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 3—3 of Fig. 1 looking toward the right. Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the breech- block; .60 Fig. 5 is a top plan view, and Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a pusher. Like characters refer to like parts throughout the several views. The frame or receiver of the gun, is de- 65 noted by 2 and it is generally speakingj like that shown in the Letters Patent hereinbe- fore mentioned. The magazine comprises a passage 5, into which the cartridges are in- serted and fed automatically therealong by 70 the. flexible follower 6' the forward end of which engages the rearmost cartridge to advance the line of cartridges along the pas- sage for subsequent introduction into the chamber of the barrel. In the frame or re- 75 ceiver 2, is the breech-block 7, the backward motion of the breech-block being brought about by the pressure of the gases generated during firing, while forward movement thereof is effected by the recoil spring (not 80 shown). The firing pin is denoted oy 11 and its spring by 12, the firing pin having a point 13, which strikes the cartridge. After the foremost cartridge passes from the passage 5, it engages the cam surfaces 8 85 and 9, and, as it falls, is directed thereby into the path of the breech-block 7 which then inserts it into the chamber of the bar- rel. This is the normal action, but there may be cases, however, as I have already 90 noted, in which the cartridge does not get into the path of the breech-block. To insure this latter result under all conditions, I pro- vide means of a positive nature by which the foremost cartridge when out of the mag- 95 azine passage is pushed forward positively into the path of tne breech-block. As shown this means is in the form of a pusher 14 oscillatory on the upper side of the breech-block, which has a longitudinal chan- 100 nel to receive the pusher, the latter having about its central under side the lug 16 which engages the bottom of the channel. In addi- tion to this the pusher has a lateral exten- sion 17 which fits a cut in the side of the юб breech-block, and thus prevents endwise movement of the pusher with respect to the breech-block. The rear end of the pusher is
8 1,S72,88<J shown as tapered or pointed as at 18 which is adapted to enter an opening 19 in the lug 19' of the trigger plate, the upper surface of the tail part of the1 pusher having a cam 5 surface 20 to cause the .upward tip of the forward end of the pusher when the tail thereof enters the opening 19. It will be assumed that the breech-block 7 is moved backward by recoil and that its 10 forward end is back of the head of the front cartridge of the row, said front- cartridge having just emerged from the passage 5. In Fig. 2 the breech-block is shown as all the way back, the pusher having been caused to 315 be moved to its operative position. When, therefore,, the breech-block is advanced^ the pusher will strike the head of the first car- tridge, then out of the passage 5, and will positively cause said first cartridge to be SO guided downward by the cam surfaces 8 and 9 into the path of the breech-block. The extractor is denoted by 22 and it has a lug 23 loosely fitting a cut 24 in the front end of the breech-block. The extractor 22 25 is supported by the front end of the plun- ger 25 loosely fitting a socket in the breech- block and engaged by the spring 26 to hold the front cam end of the plunger against the lower cam surface of the extractor. An ex- amination of the drawings, will show clearly that this thrust of the plunger 25 against the cam surface of the extractor 22, while holding the extractor yieldingly in its upward position also holds the upper end of the extractor yieldingly against the face of the breech-block. When the breech-block is in its advanced position the upper end of the extractor engages the rim of the cartridge in the usual manner. When the point 13 of the firing pin strikes the cartridge the roughened end of the point will be slightly embedded and the extractor will with the point clamp jointly the shell to insure the' shell being withdrawn from place. As the <16 breech-block moves backward during which time the cartridge- is gripped- by the- ex- tractor and the firing pin, it comes in con- tact with the downward depending shoulder 27 at which time it is turned on the point of 60 the extractor and discharged positively from the receiver. Through the breech-block 7 is tapped the screw 28 the upper end of which engages the plunger 25 so that when necessary 35 the extractor may be adjusted vertically through the action of the screw engaging the plunger and effecting corresponding movements of the extractor. What I claim is: 30 1. A fire arm comprising a frame, a breech-block, a firing pin carried by the breech-block, an extractor also carried by the breech-block, to coact with the firing pin when the cartridge is fired to clamp the ft shell both on the same side of the shell, means for imparting a movement to the ex- tractor toward the rear of the breech-block to secure said clamping action, and inde- pendent means for positively separating the shell from the joint clamping engagement 70 of the firing pin and the extractor on recoil of the breech-block. 2. A fire arm comprising a frame, a breech-block, a firing pin carried by the breech-block, an extractor also carried by 75 the breech-block, to coact with the-firing pin when the cartridge is fired to clamp the shell both on the same side of the shell, means for imparting a movement to the ex- tractor toward the rear of the breech-block 80 to secure said clamping action, and means on the frame, for positively separating the shell from the joint clamping engagement of the firing pin and the extractor on recoil of the breech-block. 85 3. A fire arm comprising a frame, a breech-block, a firing pin carried by the breech-block, an extractor also carried by the breech-block to coact with the firing pin when the cartridge is fired to clamp the 00 shell both -on the same side of the shell, means for imparting a movement to the ex- tractor toward the rear of the breech-block to secure said clamping action, spring means acting against the extractor to yieldingly 05 cause the extractor to engage the shell, and means for positively separating the shell from the joint clamping engagement of the firing pin and the extractor on recoil. 4. A fire arm comprising a frame, a 100 breech-block, a firing pin carried by the ' breech-block, an extractor also carried by the breech-block, to coact with the firing pin when the cartridge is fired, to clamp the shell both on the same side of the shell, 105 means for imparting a movement to the ex- tractor toward the rear of the breech-block to secure said clamping action, and means for positively separating the shell from the joint clamping effect of the firing pin and IN the extractor on recoil. 5. A fire arm comprising a frame, a breech-block, a firing pin carried by the- breech-block, an extractor also carried by the breech-block, to coact with the firing pin 115 when the cartridge is fired, to clamp the shell both on the same side of the shell, means for imparting a movement to the ex- tractor toward the rear of the breech-block to secure said- clamping action, and means 120 for positively separating the shell from the joint clamping effect of the firing pin arid the extractor on recoil, the clamping means acting to retain the shell in the position in which it was in and until it is ejected. 125 6. A fire arm. comprising a frame, a breech-block, a firing pin carried by the breech-block, an extractor also carried by the breech-block for up and down and lat- eral movements with respect to the breech- 18Q
1,379,336 8 block, and means for yieldingly causing the extractor to clamp the shell of the cartridge against the front of the firing pin and both on the same side of the shell. 5 7. A fire arm comprising a frame having an opening through its lower side, a slidable breech-block, a firing pin carried, by the breech-block, an extractor also carried by the breech-block, means for causing the ex- 10 tractor to clamp the shell when the cartridge is fired against the front of the firing pin and both on the same side of the shell, and means for positively separating the shell from the joint hold of the extractor and the firing pin 15 and causing it to pass downwardly through said opening. 8. A fire, arm comprising a frame, a breech-block, a laterally immovable fifing pin carried by the breech-block, a . rocking 80 extractor also carried by the breech-block, to coact with the firing pm, a spring actuated member carried by the breeen7block and to apply a forward thrust against the extractor to cause it to jointly clamp with the firing 25 pin, the shell, and means for positively sep- arating the shell from the extractor and the breech-block, on recoil. 9. A fire arm comprising a frame, a breech-block, a laterally immovable firing SO pin carried by the breech-block, a rocking ex- tractor also carried by the breech-block and having a lug, the frame having a cut to re- ceive the lug, the extractor also having a cam, a spring-operated plunger on the 15 breech-block having a cam to engage the cam of the extractor to cause the extractor to rock rearwardly and thus jointly clamp the shell with the firing pin on explosion of the cartridge, and means for positively sep- 40 arating the shell from the clamping means on recoil of the breech-block. 10. A fire arm comprising a frame, a breech-block, a laterally immovable firing pin carried by the breech-block, an extractor 45 also carried by the breech-block, to coact with the firing pin when the cartridge is fired to clamp the shell, means for adjusting the extractor, and means for positively sep- arating the shell from the joint clamping en- 50 gagement of the firing pin and the extractor, on recoil of the breech-block. 11. A fire arm comprising a frame, a breech-block, a laterally immovable firing pin carried by the breech-block, a rocking 55 extractor also carried by. the breech-block, to coact with the firing pin when the cartridge is fired, to clamp the shell, the breech-block having a bore, a plunger set into the bore, and a spring acting against the plunger to 60 apply a forward thrust thereto, the plunger engaging the extractor, the engaging sur- faces of the plunger and the extractor being of cam form. 12. A fire arm comprising a frame, a breech-block, a firing pin carried by the 65 breech-block, an extractor also carried by the breech-block, to Coact with the firing pin when the cartridge, is fired, to clamp the shell, the breech-block having a bore, a plun- ger set into the bore, a spring acting against 70 the plunger, the plunger engaging the ex- tractor, the engaging surfaces of the plun- ger and the extractor being of cam form, and a screw tapped through the breech-block to engage the plunger to effect thereby ad- 75 justment of the extractor. 13. A fire arm comprising a frame, a breech-block, a firing pin carried by the breech-block, an extractor against the front end of the breech-block, having on its rear 80 side a lug, the breech-block having a cut to freely receive the lug, the bottom of the 'ex- tractor having a cam surface, a plunger, the breech-block naving a bore in which said plunger is laterally adjustable, the plunger 85 having at its front end a cam surface to en- gage that on the extractor, a spring in the bore to engage the rear end of the plunger, a screw acting against the plunger to adjust the same and correspondingly adjust the ex- 90 tractor, the extractor being adapted to jointly clamp the shell of the cartridge when the latter is fired, and means for positively separating the shell from the clamping en- gagement of the firing pin and the extractor 95 on recoil of the breech-block. 14. A fire arm comprising a frame, a breech block, a laterally immovable firing pin carried by the breech block, an extractor , also carried by the breech block to coact 100 with the firing pin when the cartridge is fired to clamp the shell, means for causing the extractor to move rearwardly to effect such coactionr and independent means for positively separating the shell from the joint 105 clamping engagement of the firing pin and the extractor on recoil of the breech block. 15. A fire arm comprising a frame, a breech block, a firing pin carried by the breech block, an extractor also carried by 110 the breech block, means for applying a thrust to the extractor toward the rear of the breech-block to cause it to clamp the shell against the firing end of the firing pin both on the same side of the shell, and inde- 115 pendent means for positively separating the shell from the joint clamping engagement of the firing pm on recoil of the breech block. In testimony whereof I affix my signature 120 in the presence of two witnesses^ JOHN M. BROWNING. Witnesses: Elsie M. Rabenstein, Heath Sutherland,
J. M. BROWNING. FIREARM. . APPLICATION FILED JULY 28, 1920. 1,381,448. Patented June 14,1921.
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. JOHN M. BROWNING, ОГ OGDEN, UTAH. FIREARM. 1,381,448. specification of letters Batent. Patented June 14,1921. Original application filed April 27, 1920, Serial No. 376,922. Divided and this application filed July 28, • •''4 ; 1820. Serial No. 398,645. 2 о all no horn it may concern,: Be it known that I, John M. Browning, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ogden, in the county of Weber and State of 5 Utah, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Firearms, of which the following is a specification. This invention while applicable to differ- ent kinds of firearms is more particularly 10 intended to be adapted to 22 caliber rim-fire greased cartridges. In this case I use a cartridge guide with double cam, one for the bullet and one for-the rim of the car- 15 tridge the same as in my Patent No. 1,083,38-1 of January 16, 1914. *It, however, happens occasionally in cold weather in using greased cartridges that the column of cartridges is not pushed forward quickly enough when the breech-bolt moves back of the head of 20 25 the first cartridge, with the result that the breech-block comes forward under the car- tridge head and fails to push it into the chamber. > To obviate this difficulty^ I em- ploy improved mechanism for picking up the first cartridge and pushing it into the chamber whether the magazine spring moves it forward'or not. 30 Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is. a sectional side elevation of the frame, action and certain adjunctive members qf a rifle involving the invention, 35 40 45 the parts being shown advanced. Fig. 2 is a practically similar view of the principal elements of Fig. 1, with the mov- able parts in retracted or backward position. Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 3—3 of Fig, 1 looking toward the right. : Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the breech block. . Fig. 5 is a top plan view, and Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a pusher. lake characters refer to like parts throughout the several views. The frame or receiver of the gun, is de- noted by . 2 and it is generally speaking, like that shown in the Letters Patent hereinbe- 50 fore mentioned. The magazine comprises a passage 5, into which the cartridges are inserted and fed automatically therealong by the flexible follower 6 the forward end of which engages the rearmost cartridge to advance the line of cartridges along the pas- sage for subsequent introduction into the chamber of the barrel. Inthe frame or re- 55 ceiver 2, is the breech-block 7, the backward motion of the breech-block being brought about by the pressure of the gases generated during firing, while forward movement thereof is effected by the recoil spring (not shown). The firing pin is denoted by 11 60 and its spring, by 12, the firing pin having a point 13, which strikes the cartridge. After the foremost cartridge passes from the passage 5, it engages the cam surfaces 8 and 9, and, as it falls, is directed thereby 65 into the path of the breech-block 7 which then inserts it into the chamber of the bar- rel. This is the normal action, but there may be cases, however, as I have already noted, in which the cartridge does not get 70 into the path bf the breech-block. To in- sure this latter result under all conditions, I provide means of a positive nature by which the foremost cartridge when out of the magazine passage is pushed forward pos- 75 itively into the path of the breech-block. As shown this means is in the form of a pusher 14 oscillatory on the upper side of the breech-block, which has a longitudinal channel to receive the pusher, the latter hav- 80 ing about its central under side the lug 16 which engages the bottom of the channel. In addition to this the pusher has a lateral ex- tension 17 which fits a cut in the side of the breech-block and thus prevents endwise 85 movement of the pusher with respect to the breech-block. The rear end of the pusher is shown as tapered or pointed as at 18 which is adapted to enter ah opening 19 in the lug 19' of the trigger plate, the upper surface of »o the tail part of the pusher having a cam sur- face 20 to cause the upward tip of the for- ward end of the pusher when the tail there- of enters the opening 19. It will be assumed that the breech-block 95 7 ip moved backward by recoil and that its forward end is back of the head of the front cartridge of the row, said front cartridge having just emerged from the passage 5. In Fig. ‘2 the breech-block is shown as all the 100 way back, the pusher having been caused to be. moved to its operative position. When, therefore, the breech-block is advanced, the pusher will strike the head of the first cartridge, then out of the passage 5, and will 105 positively cause said first cartridge to be guided downward by the cam surfaces 8 and 9 into the path of the breech-block. , The extractor is denoted by 22 and it has a lug 23 loosely fitting a cut 24 in the front 110
a 1,381,448 5 10 16 20 26 30 55 60 end of the breech-block. The extractor 22 is rearwardly beyond the rear end of the supported by the front end of the plunger 25 breach-block, and means for engaging the loosely fitting a socket in the breechblock rear end of the pusher on the backward and engaged by the spring 26 to hold the movement of the breech-block to condition front cam end of the plunger against the the pusher to pick a cartridge from the lower cam surface of the extractor. An ’ 1 г ' п examination of the drawings, will show clearly that this thrust of the plunger 25 against the cam surface of the extractor 22, while holding the extractor yieldingly in its upward position also holds the upper end of the extractor yieldingly against the face of the breech-block. When the breech-block is _ in its advanced position the upper end of the cartridge pusher is movably mounted; the extractor engages the rim of the car- the rear end of the cartridge pusher extend tridge in the usual manner. When the point ing beyond the rear end of the bi 13 of the firing pin. strikes the cartridge the “‘1 ~ roughened end of the point will be slightly embedded and the extractor will with the point clamp jointly the shell to insure the shell being withdrawn from place. As the breech-block moves backward during which time the cartridge is gripped by the extrac- tor and the firing pin, it comes in contact with the downward depending shoulder 27 at which time it is turned on the point of the extractor and discharged positively from the receiver. /<• Through the breech-block 7 is tapped the screw 28 the upper end of which engages the plunger 25 so that when necessary the extractor may be adjusted vertically through the action of the screw engaging the plunger and effecting corresponding movemenfs of the extractor. The present application is a division of that filed by me April 27, 1920 under Serial Number 376,922. What I claim is: 1. A fire arm comprising a frame, a breech-block, a magazine having means to guide the cartridge toward the barrel, a trig- ger plate, a pusher on the breech-block, and means on the trigger plate for operating the 45 rear end of the pusher to tip down the back end and thus cause the front end of the pusher to tip up and engage the cartridge which has just emerged from the magazine and push it into the path of the breech-block. 2. A firearm comprising a frame, a breech- block supported for sliding forward and backward movement by the frame, a maga- zine having means to guide the cartridge to- ward the barrel, a trigger guard, a pusher on the breech-block, and means bn the trigger guard for operating the rear end of the pusher to condition it to engage the car- tridge which has just emerged from the magazine and push it into the path of the breech-block. 3. A firearm comprising a frame, a breech- block; a magazine having means to guide the cartridge toward the barrel, a pusher sup- ported by the breech-block and extending 65 magazine and to cause the cartridge thus picked up to move into the path of the breech-block. 4. A firearm comprising a frame, a maga- zine having means to guide the cartridge to- ward the barrel, a breech-block, a trigger guard, a cartridge pusher, the breech-block having a channel in its upper side in which ’ у mounted, slier extend- the breech-block, and cam means on the trigger guard for con- ditioning the. pusher to push the cartridge which has just emerged from the magazine into the path of the breech-block. 5. A fire arm comprising a frame, a breech-block, a magazine having a passage situated above the breech-block, an oscilla- tory pusher on the breech-block, a trigger plate and means on the trigger plate to con- dition the pusher when the breech-block is in its backward position, for pushing the car- tridge which has emerged from the maga- zine into the path of the breech-block. 6. A firearm comprising a frame, a breech- block, a magazine having a passage for the cartridge, situated above the breech-block, a trigger guard, a cartridge pusher movably supported by and On the upper portion of the breech-block, and means on the trigger guard for operating the rear end of the pusher to tip down the back end and thus cause the front end of the pusher to tip up and engage the cartridge which is just emerged from the magazine and push it into the path of the breech-block on the forward movement thereof. 7. A fire arm comprising a frame, a breech- block, a magazine having a passage for the cartridge, situated above the breech-block, a trigger plate, a cartridge-pusher supported for oscillation between its ends by thebreech- block, and means on the trigger plate, for imparting a tipping movement to the pusher when the breech-block is'back to thereby ele- vate the forward end of the pusher, the . frame having a cartridge guide to impart a downward movement to the pusher when the breech-block is in its forward position, the pusher when in its elevated position and on the forward movement of the breech-block pushing a cartridge from the magazine into the path Of the breech-block. In testimony whereof I affix my signature. JOHN M. BROWNING. Witnesses: M. A. Bbowning, S. N. Hobson, 70 75 80 85 90 95 35 40 50 100 105 110 115 120
J, M. BROWNING. FIREARM. APPLICATION FILEO JULY 26, 1919, 1,424,553. Patented Aug. 1,1922. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.
J, M. BROWNING. FIREARM. APPLICATION FILED JULY 26, 19 19. 1,434,553. Patented Aug. 1, 1922. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.
J. M. BROWNING. FIREARM, APPLICATION FILED JULY 26, 1919. 1,424,553. Patented Aug. 1, 1922. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3. ATTORNEY
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. TOHN M. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH. FIREARM. 1,424,553. Specification of betters Patent. Patented Aug. 1, 1922. Application filed July 26, 1919. Serial. Ko. 313,581. To all whom, it may concern: Be it known that I, John M. Bbowning, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Ogden, county of Weber, and 5 State of. Utah, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Firearms, of Which the following is a specification. My invention relates to an improvement in repeating firearms and an object thereof 10 is the provision of a firearm provided with a combined sliding magazine and action- slide which may be removed from the re- ceiver of the firearm without removing the handle of the magazine. 15 Another object of the invention is the pro- vision of an unbroken guideway for the head of a cartridge, from the time the cartridge leaves the magazine until it is in place in the chamber of the firearm. 20 A further object of the invention is the provision of a combined slide-and-trigger- Ibck whereby the trigger is moved into posi- tion to engage with the notch in the hammer and hold the hammer in cocked position, 25 whether finger pressure on the trigger is ex- erted or not, said trigger being locked in such position from the time the hammer has reached the limit of its rearward movement until the action-slide has been forced for- 30 ward to the firing position, when the trigger is unlocked and the action-slide locked in its full forward position. A further object of the invention is the provision of a carrier pivoted at its front 35 end, the front end of the carrier functioning as a cartridge-stop and the rear end, in the operation of transferring the cartridge from the magazine to the chamber of the firearm, bearing on the cartridge directly beneath the 40 head of the same. A still further.object of the invention is the provision of a spring mounted on the trigger-pivot one arm of which spring func- tions as a trigger-spring and the other as a 45 safety-spring, and the provision of means for preventing lateral movement of the spring. A further object of the invention is the provision of an improved assembling-screw 50 for holding the rear end of the trigger-plate in the receiver, which screw has been provid- ed with means co-operating with a hammer- slot in the trigger-plate whereby in taking down the firearm the assembling-serew may 55 not be accidentally removed. Further objects of the invention will be pointed out in connection with the following detailed description. In the accompanying drawings wherein I have illustrated an embodiment of my in- 60 vention, Fig. 1 shows in elevation a repeating fire- arm in which my invention is incorporated; Fig. 2 is a sectional elevational view through the firearm of Fig. 1 showing the 65 positions assumed by the action of the fire- arm immediately upon the discharge of the same; Fig. 3 is a sectional elevational view, simi- lar to Fig. 2, showing the action-slide and 70 hammer in their extreme rearward position, the trigger of the firearm locked, and a car- tridge on its way to the chamber; Fig. 4 is a sectional elevational view, simi- lar to Fig. 2, showing the action-slide ad- 75 vanced towards its forward position, the hammer'still being at the extreme of its rear- ward movement, the trigger locked and a cartridge raised to a position in the breech- , block whereby it will enter the chamber of 80 the firearm as the action-slide and magazine are moved to their extreme forward position. Fig. 5 shows in sectional elevation the positions assumed by the various parts of the firearm when the same is ready to be dis- 85 charged, the action-slide in this view being shown in locked position and the trigger un- locked ; and the hammer at full cock; Pig. 6 is a view taken on the line 6—6 of Fig. 5, looking in the direction of the ar- 90 rows; Fig. 7 is a part sectional view showing the breech-block moved out of the ejecting open- ing in the receiver; Figs. 8 and 9 are views in perspective of 95 a portion of the action-slide and the breech- block respectively; and Fig. 10 is a section taken on the line 10—10 of Fig. 5. Referring to the drawings in detail, 1 designates the barrel of a firearm, 2 a re- ceiver carried thereby and 3 and 4 a sliding magazine and action-slide respectively, fas- tened rigidly together and carried beneath the barrel 1 and held in place in the receiver 2. 5 designates a handle secured to. the magazine 3 whereby the latter, together with the action-slide 4 may be reciprocated for the purposes hereinafter set forth. The receiver 2 as shown in Fig. 10 for ex-
a 1,424,553 ample, is provided with a slot 6 cut through the bottom and front end thereof whereby the magazine 3 and the action-slide 4 may be placed in position in the receiver through 5 the bottom thereof, thus eliminating the necessity of removing the handle 5 of the magazine every time it is desired to take the firearm down. The slot 6 also receives a trig- ger-plate 7 which is fastened to the stock of 10 the firearm, the front end 8 of the trigger- plate being adapted to be received by a groove 9 cut in the rear end of an assembling slide 10 which, when the firearm is assem- bled, maintains the magazine and action- 15 slide, together with the front end of the trigger-plate in position in the receiver. The assembling-slide is provided with ribs 11 adapted to be received by slots 12 cut in the walls of the slot 6 in the receiver. In 20 order that the assembling-slide may not ac- cidentally be removed from the receiver, I have provided a spring-arm 13 on the front end thereof which spring-arm as shown in Fig. 2 for example, is forced over a projec- 25 tion 14 near the front end of the action-slide 4, a slot 15 having been provided in the handle 5 whereby the latter may be moved rearwardly, together with the magazine and action-slide. The rear end of the assem- 30 bling-slide abutting the trigger-plate 7, its rearward movement is prevented. The magazine 3 and action-slide 4 are here shown secured rigidly to each other, the action-slide being provided with a carrier- 35 slot 16 as shown in Fig. 8 for example. With the parts in the position shown m Fig. 2, the bottom of the carrier-slot 16 is covered by the spring-arm 13 of the assembling-slide. Mounted upon the extension 17 of the rear 40 end of the action-slide, is a breech-block 18 shown in perspective in Fig. 9. This breech- block is provided with a downwardly ex- tending portion 19 at the front end thereof which extends into a notch 21 cut in the ac- 45 tion-slide and which projection is provided with vertical guideways 22 for guiding a cartridge in its movement from the magazine 3 to the chamber 23 of the firearm. The con- struction of these guideways will be ex- 50 plained more in detail hereinafter. The upper side of the extension 17 of the action-slide is provided with a stud 24 adapt- ed to cooperate with cam surfaces 25 and 26 cut in the under side of the breech-block, so 55 that relative movement of the action-slide to the breech-block will cause the breechblock to move laterally, swinging about the down- wardly extending portion 19 as a pivot. This movement of the breech-block is illustrated •0 in Figs. 6 and 7, Fig. 6 showing the block moved to its extreme outward position to a point where the rear end thereof is locked in the ejecting opening 27 of the receiver. The breech-block carries a firing-pin 28 having downwardly extending projections 29 and 30 at the middle and rear end thereof respectively, the projection 29 cooperating with a slot 31 in the breech-block whereby movement of the firing-pin forwardly ana rearwardly of the breech-block is limited. 70 A carrier 32 pivoted at its front end is carried at the front end of the trigger-plate 7 and as shown in Fig. 3 for example, is pro- vided with a squared end 33 functioning as a cartridge-stop to hold back the cartridges 75 in the magazine as a cartridge is being trans- ferred to the chamber of the firearm. The side of the carrier is provided with a cam 34 adapted to co-operate with a cam or stud 35 on the action-slide whereby, as the action- slide is reciprocated the carrier will be caused to be elevated and depressed. A spring 36 is provided beneath the rear end of the carrier so that when the action-slide is moved to its rearward position as shown 95 in Fig. 3 for example, until the cam on the slide passes the car 34, the carrier will be lifted by the spring so that on the reverse movement of the action-slide the cam on the slide will travel along the lower face of the 90 cam 34 to cause the carrier to be elevated. The trigger-plate 7 is slotted at 37 to receive a hammer 38 and a combined slide- and-trigger-lock 39 which is pivoted qn a common pivot 40 in the trigger-plate. The 95 hammer is provided with a slot 41 adapted to receive the slide-and-trigger-lock 39 whereby movement of the hammer relatively to the same is permitted. Pivoted in the trigger-plate on a pivot 42 100 is a trigger 43 provided with a notch or shoulder 44 in the front end thereof adapted to co-operate with a notch 45 in the hammer so that the hammer when moved rearwardly to its full-cocked position will be maintained 105 in that position until it is desired to dis- charge the firearm. The slide-and-trigger- lock has a downwardly extending portion 46 adapted to lock the end of the trigger to pre- vent premature movement of the same to no release the hammer 38, the slide-and-trigger- lock being moved to such trigger-locking position by a shoulder 47 formed in the slot 41 in the hammer already referred to en- gaging a projection 47' on the slide and 115 trigger-lock as the hammer is moved to its extreme rearward position. As will be here- inafter pointed out, the slide-and-trigger- lock functions to prevent movement of the trigger to release the hammer after the ham- 120 mer has been cocked until the action-slide has been moved to its extreme forward posi- tion and locked. In addition to the trigger-locking device already referred to, I have provided a com- 125 bined safety-and-trigger-spring designated 48, which spring is mounted upon the pivot 42 carrying the trigger as already described. The spring is received by a slot 49 in the, rear of the trigger whereby lateral move- 130
1,424,553 8 б 10 16 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 ment of the spring is prevented. The spring co-operates with a safety-pin 50, one arm of the spring resting against the pin and the other against the back part of the trigger. This pin is provided for the purpose of preventing movement of the trigger to re- lease the hammer after the trigger has been relieved of the action of the slide-and-trig- ger-lock as already referred to. The spring is at . all times under more or less tension so that the safety-pin 50 will be maintained in adjusted position at all times. In order to facilitate the assembling and taking down of the firearm with respect now’ to the assembling of the trigger-plate? in the receiver, I have provided an assembling- screw 51 which passes through the trigger- plate at the rear of the pivot 40 upon which the hammer is mounted, provision having been made at 51' in the hammer to permit movement of the hammer without inter- fering with the assembling-screw. Acci- dental removal of the assembling-screw from the trigger-plate is prevented by a pin 53 in the screw’, adapted to engage the walls of the slot 37 in the trigger-plate. Assuming now’ that the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 2 and that the mag- azine is charged writh cartridges, I will de- scribe a cycle of operation of my invention. As will be seen from Fig. 2, the head of the foremost cartridge in the magazine is at this time resting against the bevelled por- tions 54 in the front end of the breech-block 19 and at the bottom of the guideways 22, being urged to this position by the mag- azine spring 55. The magazine 3 and action-slide 4 may now be moved rearwardly by the handle 5, the slide-and-trigger-lock 39 having been moved out of slide-locking position by movement of the hammer 38 to the position shown in Fig. 2. As the action- slide moves rearwardly and relatively to the carrier 32, the inclined upper surface of the latter will gradually force the foremost car- tridge up the guideways 22 in the breech- lock. At the beginning of the rearward movement of the action-slide the end 17 thereof engages the face of the hammer 38 to force the same rearwardly toward cocked position, carrying the hammer out of en- gagement with the rear end of the firing- pin 28. It should be noted that the hammer is, from the beginning of the rearward move- ment of the action-slide and until tbe same has been returned to its extreme forward position and locked, positively main- tained out of contact with the firing-pin. At the beginning of the rearward movement of the action-slide, the stud 24 engages the shoulder of the cam face 25 at the bottom of the breech-block to cause the breech-block to be moved laterally from the position shown in Fig. 6 for example, to the position in Fig. 7, out of locked position in the ejecting opening of the receiver. The hammer, action-slide and magazine, and the breech- block also, as soon as the front end of the slot 21 in the action-slide strikes the down- wardly extending portion 19, now’ travel 70 rearwardly, the breech-block carrying with it the empty shell 56 which is automatically ejected through the. ejecting opening 27 by the ejector 57. It is to be here noted that the firing-pin is moved rearw’ardly w’hen 75 the stud 24 engages the rear projection 30, so that the firing-pm cannot possibly come into contact w’ith the head of a cartridge until the breech-block is returned to its forward position. The rearward movement of the 80 action-slide and magazine is continued until their limit of movement has been reached at which time the hammer 38 will have been moved to full-cocked position and the slide- and-trigger-lock 39 will have been moved 85 to trigger-locking position. As will be noticed from Fig. 3, the ham- mer is moved rearwardly slightly beyond full-cocked position to cause the slide-and- trigger-lock 39 to be moved to trigger-lock- 90 ing position, but that upon reversal of move- ment of the action-slide the hammer is pre- vented from moving forward again to un- cocked position by means of the shoulder 44 and notch 45 in the end of the trigger and 95 the under side of the hammer, as already de- scribed. At this time it will be noted also that the squared end 33 of the carrier 32 as shown in Fig. 3 for example, functions as a cartridge-stop and the next cartridge in the 100 magazine is up to this time, prevented from moving rearwardly. As the parts move to their extreme rear- ward position, the cam 35 on the action-slide will clear the rearward end of the cam 34 on 105 the carrier so that the spring 36 may move the carrier upwardly, slightly, in order that upon forward movement of the parts, the cam 35 will follow the under face of the cam 34 to elevate the carrier as shown in 110 Fig. 4 for example, thus forcing the car- tridge w'hich at this time has been moved up- wardly in the guidew’ay 22 in the end of the breech-block, to its extreme upward position, the parts at this time being in the position 115 shown in Fig. 4. The trigger is now’ main- tained locked by the slide-and-trigger-lock 39, the rearw'ara end of the action-slide still projects beyond the rearward end of the fir- ing pin 28 so that contact of the hammer 120 with the firing-pin is prevented independent- ly of the fact that the hammer is locked and the firing-pin is also prevented from moving forward relative to the breech-block by the projection 30 engaging the stud 24. The 125 forward movement of the parts is continued until their limit of travel has been reached forcing the shell into the chamber 23 and the engagement of the stud 24 with the cam- face 26 in the breech-block will move the 130
4 1,424,653 breech-block laterally, forcing the rear end thereof into the position shown in Figs. 5 and 6. As the parts move forward from the po- 5 sition shown in Fig. 4 the stud 35 on the action-slide clears the front end of the cam 34 on the carrier, allowing the magazine spring to return the carrier to its normal position. The cam surfaces 20 in the slot 16 10 of the action-slide then move under the head of the cartridge resting against the squared end 33 of the carrier, and lift the head up clear of said squared shoulder so that the magazine spring can force the cartridge 15 back against the bevelled faces 54 on the front end of the breech-block 19. It will be noted here that the progress of the car- tridges through the magazine as they are taken out one by one through the rear to 20 be fired, is comparatively gradual, there be- ing no long jumps or severe stops to injure the cartridges. As the parts reach their limit of forward movement the shoulder 57' on the action- 26 slide engages the end of the slide-and-trigger- lock 39 which at this time is being main- tained in trigger-locking position by the spring 58, depressing the slide-and-tiigger- lock out of trigger-locking position, the end SO of the same then moving into the groove 58 in the rear end of the slide tp lock the same in its extreme forward position. The parts are now in the position shown in Fig. 5, the hammer being at full cock, the trigger unlocked, the action-slide locked in its forward position and the firing-pin projecting beyond the rear, end of the breech- block in position to be struck by the hammer. It is evident that various modifications 40 may be made in the construction above de- scribed within the purview of this invention. I do not, therefore, limit myself to the specific details of construction shown in the drawings and particularly described. 45 I claim: 1. In a firearm, the combination of a slid- ing magazine, an action-slide, a laterally movable breech-block carried by said slide and actuated by said magazine, a receiver 60 having an ejecting-openmg therein, and means for locking the breech-block in the ejecting-opening when actuated by ’ said magazine. 2. In a firearm, the combination of a slid- 55 ing magazine, an action-slide actuated there- by, a breech-block carried by the action- slide, means acting on the rear end of the breech-block to move it sidewise and for- ward and means at the front end to move 60 it to the rear. 3. In a firearm, the combination of a slid- ing magazine, an action-slide actuated by said magazine, being provided with a notch, a breech-block extending into the notch in the action-slide, said breech-block being pro- vided with an unbroken guideway for re- ceiving the head of a cartridge as it leaves the magazine and which thereafter guides the head of the cartridge as the same is trans- ferred to the chamber of the firearm. 70 4. In a firearm, the combination of a slid- ing magazine, an action-slide, a breech-block carried by said slide and actuated by said magazine, a receiver having an ejecting- opening therein, and means for locking the rear end of said breech-block in the ejecting opening when actuated by said magazine. 5. In a firearm, the combination of a re- ceiver having an ejecting-opening, a sliding magazine, an action-slide, a breech-block carried by said slide, a firing-pin carried by said breech-block, said pin being positively actuated rearwardly of said breech-block at the beginning of the rearward movement of said magazine, and said breech-block being actuated laterally into the ejecting-opening upon forward movement of the magazine. 6. In a firearm, the combination of an ac- tion-slide, a breech-block, a firing-pin hav- ing two downwardly projecting parts, one 90 at the rear end co-operating with said slide whereby the firing pin is positively actuated rearwardly of the breech-block and the other for limiting movement of the pin rela- tively to the breech-block. 95 7. In a firearm, the combination of a slid- ing magazine, an action-slide and a carrier pivoted at its front end co-operating with said magazine and slide. 8. In a firearm, the combination of a loo sliding magazine, an action-slide and a car- rier pivoted at its front end and provided with means at its rear end co-operating with the action-slide and said magazine for ele- vating a cartridge. 105 9. In a firearm, the combination of a mag- azine, a pivoted carrier, means for moving the carrier about its pivot, and a spring in said magazine, the thrust of which returns the carrier to its former position. не 10. In a firearm, the combination of a magazine, a carrier pivoted at its forward end, means for moving the carrier about its pivot and a spring in said magazine, the thrust of which returns the carrier to its hi former position. 11. In a firearm, the combination of a slid- ing magazine, an action-slide actuated there- by, a combination cartridge-carrier and car- tridge-stop pivoted at its front end and co- 120 operating with the action-slide. 12. In a firearm, the combination of a slid- ing magazine, and a carrier pivoted at its front end and actuated by the magazine and adapted to raise a cartridge taken from the magazine into position to be received by the chamber of the firearm. 13. In a firearm having a magazine, the combination of a breech-block having car- tridge-guideways extending down to the 13C
1,424,653 0 Б 10 16 20 26 SO 36 40 46 SO 65 60 •Дх 65 magazine, a carrier for forcing cartridges up the said guideways, and a magazine- spring for returning the carrier to normal position. 14. In a firearm, the combination of a car- rier pivoted at its front end and acting as a carrier and cartridge-stop, a sliding maga- zine and an action-slide having a fixed stud for elevating said carrier. 15. In a firearm, the Combination of a sliding magazine, a pivoted carrier the front end of which functions as a cartridge-stop, and a cam in operative relation to said car- rier for raising a cartridge-head when the magazine is moved in a forward direction to clear the end of the carrier. 16. In a firearm, the combination of a slid- ing magazine, a breech-block, a pivoted car- rier the front end of which functions as a cartridge-stop, and a cam in operative rela- tion to said carrier for raising a cartridge- head when the magazine is moved in a for- ward direction to clear the end of the car- rier and into position against the breech- block. 17. In a firearm, the combination of a slid- ing magazine, a breech-block having a down- wardly extending projection, a pivoted car- rier the front end of which functions as a cartridge-stop, and a cam in operative rela- tion to said carrier for raising a cartridge- head when the magazine is moved in a for- ward direction to clear the end of the car- rier, and into position against the projection of the breech-block. 18. In a firearm, the combination of a sliding-magazine, a pivoted carrier the front ₽nd of which is provided with a squared sur- face functioning as a cartridge-stop, and a cam in operative relation to said carrier for raising a cartridge-head when the magazine is moved in a forward direction to clear the squared surface of the carrier. 19. In a firearm, the combination of a sliding magazine, an action-slide, a breech- block carried thereby, a pivoted carrier the front end of which functions as a cartridge- stop, and a cam carried by the action-slide for raising a cartridge-head when the maga- zine is moved in a forward direction to clear the end of the carrier. 20. In a firearm, the combination of a sliding magazine, an action-slide, a breech- block carried thereby and having a projec- tion extending into said action-sfide, a piv- oted carrier the front end of which functions as a cartridge-stop, and a cam carried by the action-slide for raising a cartridge-head when the magazine is moved in a forward direction to clear the end of the carrier and into position against the said projection on the breech-block. ' 21. In a firearm, the combination of an ac- tion-slide, a breech-block carried thereby having a projection co-operating with the action-slide and acting as a pivot about which the breech-block is swung. 22. In a firearm, the combination of a magazine, an action-slide, a breech-block carried thereby having a projection co-oper- 70 ating with the action-slide and acting as a sivot about which the block is swung, said ireech-block being provided with an un- iroken guideway for cartridges passing from the magazine. 75 23. In a firearm, the combination of a sliding magazine below the barrel of the fire- arm, a receiver to which the firearm barrel is secured and which is slotted through the front end below the barrel of the firearm so 80 that the magazine may be lifted out at the bottom of the receiver. 24. In a firearin, the combination of a sliding magazine, a receiver slotted through the front end below the barrel of the fire- 86 arm яр that the magazine may be lifted out at the bottom of the receiver, and an assem- bling slide for holding the magazine in place in the’receiver. 25. In a firearm, the combination of a so sliding magazine, an action-slide, a receiver slotted through the front end below the bar- rel of the firearm whereby the magazine and action-slide may be lifted out at the bottom of the receiver, an assembling slide for hold- 96 ing the magazine and action-slide in place in the receiver and provided with a spring arm co-operating with the action-slide for holding the assembling slide in place. 26. In a firearm, the combination of a slid- 100 ing magazine, a trigger-plate, and a receiver carrying the magazine and trigger-plate which receiver is slotted through the bottom and front end whereby the trigger-plate and magazine may be lifted out at the bottom 106 of the receiver. 27. In a firearm, the combination of a sliding magazine, a trigger-plate, a receiver for the magazine and trigger-plate slotted through the bottom and front end whereby ilu the tngger-plate and magazine may be lift- ed out at the bottom of the receiver, and an assembling-slide for holding the front end of the tngger-plate in position in the re- ceiver. 115 28. In a firearm, the combination of a sliding magazine, an action-slide provided with a earner-slot, a receiver slotted through the front end so that the magazine and ac- tion-slide may be lifted out at the bottom 120 of the receiver, an assembling-slide for hold- ing the magazine and action-slide in place ana provided with a spring arm acting as a cover for the carrier-slot and for holding the assembling-slide in place. 126 29. In a firearm, the combination of a sliding magazine, an action-slide provided with a carrier-slot, a receiver slotted through the front end so that the magazine and ac- tion-slide may be lifted out at the bottom of 130
1,424,663 5 10 15 20 25 в the receiver, an assembling-slide for holding the magazine, action-slide and front end of the trigger-plate in place and provided with a spring arm acting as a cover for the car- rier-slot and for holding the assembling- slide in place. 30. In a firearm, the combination of a re- ceiver, a trigger-plate slotted to receive a hammer, an assembling-screw for holding the receiver and trigger-plate assembled and provided with means co-operating with a wall of the slot in the trigger-plate to pre- vent removal of the screw. 31. In a firearm, the combination of a combined slide and trigger-lock and a ham- mer pivoted on a common pivot, the slide and trigger-lock being moved positively into trigger-locking position by the hammer. 32. In a firearm, the combination of a combined slide and trigger-lock and a ham- mer pivoted on a common pivot, the slide and trigger-lock being moved positively by the hammer into tngger-Iocking position when the hammer is near the limit of its rearward movement. 33. In a firearm, the combination of a hammer, and a combined slide and trigger- lock moved into trigger-locking position by the hammer when tne latter is near the limit of its rearward movement, and thrown out 30 of slide-locking position by the hammer when the latter is near the limit of its for- ward movement. 34. In a firearm, the combination of an action-slide, a hammer, and a combined slide 35 and trigger-lock, the latter being moved by the hammer to trigger-locking position when the hammer nears the limit of its rearward movement and thrown out of trigger-lock- ing position by the slide when the slide nears 40 the limit of its forward movement. 35. In a firearm, the combination of an action-slide, a hammer and a combined slide and trigger-lock, the latter being moved by the hammer to trigger-locking position when 45 the hammer nears the limit of its rearward movement and thrown out of trigger-locking position by the slide when the slide nears the limit of its forward movement, the slide and trigger-lock then moving automatically 60 into slide-locking position. This specification signed and witnessed this 23d day of June, A. D. 1919. JOHN M. BROWNING. Signed in the presence of— R. M. Markle, Val A. Browning.
May 15, 1923. 1,455,071 J. M. BROWNING REAR SIGHT FOR FIREARMS
Patented May 15, 1923. 1,455,071 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. JOHN M. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH. REAR SIGHT FOR FIREARMS. Application filed May 13, 1922. Serial No. 560,757. 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 Tо all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, John M. Browning. a citizen of the United States, residing in Ogden, in the county of Weber and State of Utah, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rear Sights for Firearms, of which the following is a specification, ref- erence being had to the accompanying draw- ings, forming a part hereof. The invention generally relates to adjust- able rear sights for pistols, and it specially relates to the rear sights for automatic pis- tols which, when fired rapidly, are exposed to a succession of violent shocks due to their recoil after each shot. The main object of the invention is to provide for an automatic pistol an adjust- able rear sight the movements of which will be cushioned so as to minimize the shocks of recoil when the pistol is fired, and thereby prevent the sight from being thrown out of adjustment. The special object is to provide means for securely attaching an adjustable rear sight to a recoiling part of an automatic pistol in such manner that on firing the shocks of re- coil will not loosen said attachment. Another object is to provide on an auto- matic pistol a securely but lengthwise mov- ably attached rear sight, which carries an adjustable part, with cushioning means be- tween said movable sight and said pistol for preventing said adjustable part from being thrown out of its adjustment by the shock of recoil. These objects are attained by a rear sight of simple and practical construction, having few parts inexpensive of manufacture, but efficient and not liable to get out of order. The embodiment of the improvements rep- resented in the accompanying drawings is an adjustable rear sight attached to the re- coiling breech-slide of a well known maga- zine-pistol of my invention. In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an automatic magazine- pistol with my improved rear sight attached to the top of the breeeh-slide near the rear end of same, and with the front sight fixed near the forward end of said breeeh-slide; a portion of said breeeh-slide between the two sights being broken away. Fig. 2 represents, an a greatly enlarged scale, a vertical longitudinal section of the rear portion of the breech-slide, with the im- proved rear sight attached thereto. Fig. 3 represents a rear end view of the breech-slide, on the same scale as that of Fig. 1, with the rear sight attached upon said breech-slide. 60 Fig. 4 represents a plan view of the ad- justable rear sight, detached, seen from above. Fig. 6 represents a transverse section of the rear sight by a vertical plane, at the line 65 as—у of Fig. 2, as seen from the rear. Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views. The letter a denotes the frame, and Ъ the breech-slide of an antomatic pistol vertically 70 confined upon the frame by the usual inter- locking longitudinal ribs and grooves which also serve to guide the breech-slide Ъ in its lengthwise reciprocations upon the frame a. The top of the breech-slide is provided 75 with a longitudinal rib c extending from its rear end to its forward end, and said rib is T-shaped in cross section, its top extend- ing beyond its lower portion on each side. Se- curely fixed in the breech-slide b near the 80 forward encl is the front sight d, and the base-plate e of the rear sight is mounted upon the rear portion of the rib c said base- plate e having a coresponding longitudinal T-shaped slot in its under side. Near its 85 front end the base-plate e extends upward to form on each side a longitudinal rib f in the forward portion of which the transverse pivot-pin g is seated which, serves the pur- pose of pivotally attaching the adjustable so sight-leaf h to the base-plate e. At some distance in rear of the pivot-pin g the two ribs /, / being reduced in width, leave a somewhat wider longitudinal open- ing between them and the adjustable sight- 95 leaf 7i, being correspondingly widened, fills in its lowest folded-down position this wider space. Movably attached to the sight-leaf h is the sight-slide к with its projecting knurled ends adapted to be grasped and its loo lower edges extended inward below the un- dercut sides of the sight-leaf h. The rear- ward movement of the sight-slide к is limit- ed by a transverse upward projection j on the rear end of the sight-leaf A, and in 105 said projection j a central V-shaped sight- ing notch is cut through which the front- sight d may be seen in aiming the pistol. The ribs /, f on the sides of the base-plate e from their forward highest portion in- 110 cline rearward and downward to the front of the sight-slide к in its rearmost position,
2 1,455,071 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 and are provided with a series of V-shaped transverse recesses, and the sight-slide к has on each side a corresponding V-shaped downward projection Z, to engage any one of the said recesses in the ribs /, /, by which arrangement the sight-leaf h may be at will raised from its lowest rear position to its highest forward position, or to any of the intermediate positions. The upper surface of the sight-leaf h, be- tween the ribs /, /, is divided into two parts by a strong central longitudinal line, and on each side of this line a series of transverse graduation lines is cut, see Fig. 4, with spaces between the lines for numerals to in- dicate the range for which the sight-leaf h is raised when the downward projections, Z, Z of the sight-slide к rest in any of the series of recesses in the ribs. The entire construction of the sight as far as described is the usual well-known one and does not need further explanation. In Fig. 6 the central portion of the sight- leaf h pivotally attached to the base-plate e between the ribs /, f by the pivot pin g, carries a strong transverse downwardly pro- jecting tongue i which extends through a slot in the base-plate e and through a corre- sponding slot in the top of the breech-slide Ъ into a longitudinal hole m in the upper portion of the breech-slide Ъ; the rear por- tion of this hole m provides the seat for the spiral spring n and for the piston-pin o. the enlarged forward portion of which rests against the rear face of the tongue i, where- by the tension of the spring n-, transmitted through the piston о to the tougue tends to turn it on its pivot in forward direction, and thereby also tends to turn the sight- leaf h in rearward and downward direc- tion, and at the same time tends to yield- ingly hold the base-plate e and with it the entire rear sight in the forward position. As is clearly indicated in Fig. 2, the front end of the slot in the top of the breech-slide Ъ, coincides with that of the slot in the base- plate e, so that there may be a rotary move- ment of the sight-leaf h and its tongue on the pivot-pin g, but there cannot be any longitudinal movement in forward direc- tion of either the sight-leaf or of the base- plate e; however, the rear end of the ver- tical slot in the breech-slide Ъ is located con- siderably further to the rear than that of the slot in the base-plate e, and this enables the base-plate e and the entire rear sight to be moved to the rear of a certain distance. When the piston is fired the breech-slide recoils upon the frame supported in the shooter’s hand grasping the grip, then the recoil of the breech-slide is stopped and the rear sight, under its momentum, tends to move further rearwad upon the breech-slide. When several shots are fired in rapid succes- sion the base-plate e and with it the entire rear sight are exposed to violent shock liable to loosen the attachment of the sight and to disturb the adjustment of its movable parts. The spring n and piston о by their con- nection through the tongue i with the base- 70 plate e serve to cushion the shocks, to yield- ingly hold the base-plate e in place and after each shot to return it to its proper forward position, and also at the same time to yield- ingly hold the pivoted sight-leaf in its ad- 75 justed position by preventing it from being turned upward and forward by the shocks. An automatic pistol is therefore adapted to be fired rapidly and yet with great accu- racy, by being provided with the hereinbe- 80 fore described rear sight and its cushioning device. What I claim is: 1. In a rear sight for automatic pistols having a recoiling breech-slide, the combina- 85 tion of a recoil-actuated breech-slide, a base- plate lengthwise movably attached on said breech-slide, and a spring mounted in said breech slide and holding said base-plate yieldingly in its attachment on said breech- 90 slide. 2. In a rear sight for automatic pistols hav- ing a recoiling breech-slide, the combina- tion of a recoil-actuated breech slide, a base- plate lengthwise movably attached on said 95 breech-slide, said base-plate carrying a pro- jection extending inward into said breech- slide, and a spring in said breech-slide act- ing on said projection to, hold said base- plate yieldingly in its attachment on said 100 breech-slide. 3. A rear sight for automatic pistols hav- ing a recoiling breech-slide, comprising a breech-slide, a base-plate movably attached to the breech-slide of said pistol, a leaf pivoted 105 to said baseplate and having'a~projectibn extending into said breech-slide and a pis- ton yieldingly slidable within said breech- slide and acting on said projection for yield- ingly securing said base-plate on said breech- no slide. 4. A rear sight for automatic pistols hav- ing a recoiling breech-slide, comprising a breech-slide, a base-plate movably attached to said breech-slide, a leaf pivoted to said 115 base-plate and having a projection extend- ing into the breech-slide, and a piston yield- ingly slidable within said breech-slide and acting on said projection for yieldingly se- curing said base-plate on said breech-slide 120 and yieldingly holding said leaf adjusted on said base-plate. 5. A rear sight for automatic pistols having a recoiling breech-slide, compris- ing a breech-slide, a base-plate movably 125 attached to said breech-slide and having on its sides recesses, a leaf pivoted to said base-plate and carrying a sight-slide adapt- ed for engagement with said recesses, said leaf having a projection extending into 130
1,455,071 3 the breech-slide, and a spring-actuated pis- ton yieldingly slidable within said breech- slide and acting on said projection for yield- ingly securing said base-plate on said breech - 5 slide and yieldingly holding said leaf and said sight-slide adjusted on said base-plate. 6. In a rear sight for automatic pistols having a recoiling breech-slide, the combina- tion of a recoil-actuated breech-slide, a base- 10 plate lengthwise, movably attached on said breech-slide, and means within said breech- slide for yieldingly holding said base-plate in its attachment on said breech-slide. 7. In a rear sight for automatic pistols 15 having a recoiling breech-slide, the combina- tion of a breech-slide, a base-plate movably attached on said breech-slide, and a spring- pressed member within said breech-slide, said base-plate and said member co-operating to hold the base-plate yieldingly on said 20 breech-slide. 8. A rear sight for automatic pistols hav- ing a recoiling breech-slide, comprising a breech-slide, a base-plate movably attacheci to said breech-slide, an adjustable sight-leaf 25 pivoted to said base-plate, and a member yieldingly slidable within said breech-slide, said sight-leaf and said member co-operating to yieldingly secure said base-plate on said breech-slide and to yieldingly hold said 30 sight-leaf adjusted on said base-plate. This specification signed and witnessed this 4th clay of May, A. D. 1922. JOHN M. BROWNING. In the presence of— C. J. Ehbets, A. L. Ulkich.
June 5, 1923. 1,457,961 J. M. BROWNING FIREARM Filed April 13 . 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS
June 5, 1923. 1,457,961 J. M. BROWNING FIREARM Filed April 13 4 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet S ATTORNEYS
June 5, 1923.. 1,457,961 J. M. BROWNING FIREARM Filed April 13. 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEYS .
June 5, 1923. 1,457,961 J. M. BROWNING FIREARM Filed April 13 . 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEYS
June 5, 1923. 1,457,961 J. M. BROWNING FIREARM Filed April 13 . 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEYS
Patented June 5, 1923. 1,457,961 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. JOHN M. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH. FIREARM. 5 10 16 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 Application filed April 13, Tо all whom it may concern: Be it known that John M. Browning, a citizen of the United States, residing at Og- den, in the county of Weber and State of Utah, has invented certain new and useful Improvements in Firearms, of which the following is a specification. This invention relates to firearms and more especially to that class of firearms com- monly designated as auto loading or auto- matic, in which the force of the expanding powder gases is utilized to automatically perform the various operations of loading, firing, ejecting the empty case and cocking. I have a number of objects in view, among them being the provision of means of an effective nature whereby the retractive move- ment of an inertia-block and a co-operative breech-block in a receiver, are sufficiently retarded to insure the expulsion of the gases arising from an explosion, forwardly through the front of the barrel. Another object of the invention is to pro- vide efficient plunger mechanism which acts properly in connection with the inertia- block of the arm and which is in effect sup- plemental thereto. I also provide equally effective hammer, trigger, and cocking mechanisms. In fact all the novel features will be elaborated upon fully, in the following description. In the drawing acompanying and forming part of the present specification, I have shown in detail one of the several forms of embodi- ment of the invention which to enable those skilled in the art to practice the same will be set forth fully in the following descrip- tion. I may depart therefrom in a num- ber of respects within the scope of the in- vention defined by the claims following said description. Referring to said drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a firearm in- volving the invention with a portion of the stock removed and in section, to show the manner of attaching the stock. Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation of the receiver, and showing inertia and breech blocks in their advanced positions. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional side ele- vation on the line 3—3 of Fig, 4 looking in ths direction pf the arrows. 1921. Serial No. 460,907. Fig. 4 is a sectional top plan view on the line 4—4 of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows. 55 Fig. 5 is a view corresponding somewhat to Fig. 3 with the main moving parts how- ever in elevation, and the blocks having moved backward a short distance. Fig. 6 is a sectional side elevation of the 60 rear portion of the receiver, the plunger mechanism, the inertia block and certain as- sociated pants, the block having been ar- rested while certain of the elements of the retarding mechanism are moved backward 65 by inertia. Fig. 7 is a sectional side elevation of the trigger-guard and the parts of the firing mechanism carried thereby. Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the trigger 70 mechanism with the inertia-block thereon partially retracted and partly broken away to show the sear. Fig. 9 is a transverse section on the line 9—9 of Fig. 7 looking in the direction of the 74 arrows. Fig. 10 is an elevation of the trigger- guard appearing in Fig. 8 and from the op- posite side thereof, the inertia block being shown in its extreme backward position and 80 there locked by the safety. Fig. 11 is a transverse section on the line 11—11 of Fig. 12 looking in the direction of the arrows but with the part swung around slightly. 86 Fig. 12 is a top plan view partly in sec- tion, of the forward portion of the receiver showing by dotted lines the path of an ejected shell. Fig. 13 is a side elevation showing the 9( trigger-guard retaining pin in its effective position. Fig. 14 is a sectional elevation showing the relative positions of the hammer, the sear and the connector. 95 Fig. 15 is a perspective view of the in- ertia-block with the parts carried thereby. Fig. 16 is a similar view of the breech- block. Fig. 17 is a bottom plan view of the trig- 100 ger plate with the rear portion broken away. Fig. 18 is a sectional detail of the for- ward portion of the breeeh-block, showing a way of mounting the extractor,
1,467,961 Like characters refer to like parts through- out the several views which are on greatly different scales. The invention constituting the subject 5 matter of the present case, is of peculiar im- portance when incorporated in a shoulder arm or a piece that is fired from the shoul- der. Certain of the features may be incor- porated however in guns of different types. 10 In Fig. 1, I have shown a shoulder rifle. This comprises in its structure the barrel 2, the front stock 3 and the butt stock 4, the front stock and the butt stock being gener- ally of wood. Between the front stock 3 and 18 the butt stock 4, is positioned the receiver or frame 5 usually obviously of proper metal. The assemblage between the barrel 2 and the front stock 3 is in the usual man- ner of firearms of this class. The barrel 2 20 is in rigid coupled relation with the forward upper portion of the receiver or frame 5 in some usual and well-known manner, which forms no feature in itself of the present in- vention. I might note at this point- how- 25 ever that the operatively-associated inertia., block or momentum block and the breech- block have a compound movement of a novel character by virtue of which the receiver can be made much shorter than is possible 30 at the present time. It is not amiss to note that this compound movement which takes place in the receiver of course, is along straight lines, the initial movement generally being in a direction co- 35 inciding with the longitudinal axis of the bore of the barrel. After a certain retrac- tive movement of the inertia-block and breech-block, the breech-block is momen- tarily or temporarily delayed in order to 40 give the gases due to an explosion, ample time to escape to the atmosphere forwardly through the barrel and about the time or approximately at the time this function is accomplished, the backward motion of the 45 two blocks in the receiver is continued, but while still along a right or straight line it is in a direction diagonal or oblique to the first movement of the breech-block. At the time the breech-block is momentarily or tempo- 50 rarily delayed, the backward movement of the inertia-block under the power of the gas, is an accelerated and proper one. By hav- ing this compound movement of the breech- block, it is clear that a very much shorter 55 receiver or frame may be utilized which makes the gun more compact, obviously lightens it and reduces its cost of produc- tion. The inertia-block generally has but the one straight line movement which is the 60 second path followed by the breech-block in its backward motion. With these preliminary observations, I will describe somewhat in detail the re- ceiver, or frame 5. This receiver 5 has in it 65 the longitudinal chamber or space 6 divided into the rear portion 7 and the forward por- tion 8. In the present case, the inertia- block or momentum block is continuously or permanently situated in the part or portion 7 of the chamber 6, the breech-block how- 70 ever moving along both portions of the chamber, there being means to check the mo- tion of the breech block just before its en- trance into the portion 7 of said chamber, this portion 7 as shown best in Fig. 2 being 75 longitudinally of greater extent than the portion 8. An inertia or momentum block which meets my condition is such a one as that denoted in a general way by 9. For- ward of it is arranged a breech-block such 80 as that denoted in a general way by 10. The inertia-Ыоск in its movements backwardly and forwardly moves at all times in the larger portion 7 of the chamber of the re- ceiver. 85 The trigger plate 11 is set in the receiver 5 as shown best in Fig. 2 and its upper side supports the inertia-block and confines cer- tain of the parts therein, the inertia-block having a retractive movement until its rear 90 end abuts against the rear wall of the cham- ber 6, the upper surface of the trigger-plate 11 being diagonal to the longitudinal axis of the barrel 2 to properly support and guide the inertia block in its reciprocations. 95 The inertia-block as I have explained, strikes the rear w’all of the chamber 6, which is at the back of the portion 7 thereof, to arrest the movement of the said block while the plunger mechanism as I will hereinafter ex- Ю0 plain, continues its backward movement un- der the impetus given to it by the inertia- block. The magazine shown best in Fig. 2, is de- noted by 12, and it is removably set in a ver- 105 tical slot in the forward portion of the re- ceiver and has a tongue and groove slidable connection with the forward side of the trig- ger plate 11 as usual. The breech-block 10 (see Fig. 16) encloses 110 the firing-pin 13 with which is associated the firing-pin spring 14 for maintaining the firing-pin in its retracted position until the forward end of the hammer 15 strikes the butt end of the firing pin to secure firing. 115 The forward end of the breech-block 10 is furnished with the extractor 16 (Fig. 18) which functions after the well-known fashion. At the junction of the rear portion 7 and 120 the forward portion 8 of the chamber 6 and as shown on the upper wall or surface there- of, is situated a checking portion 17 (Figs. 2 and 3 for instance) which as shown, is in the nature of a face oblique or angular to the 125 longitudinal axis of the barrel and also oblique to the longitudinal axis of the for- ward portion 8 of said chamber. This check- ing portion or surface 17 is, in the construc- tion shown, encountered by the breech-block 130
1,457,861 8 so as to retard in the manner I have alluded to, its backward motion. The inertia-block 9 as shown has on its forward end the hook 18 (see for example 5 Figs. 2, 3, 5 and 15), the hook in question opening inwardly and upwardly and its bill 19 being pointed or somewhat acute and facing rearwardly. The breech-block 10 has at its rear end the downwardly facing 10 hook 20 (Figs. 2 and 3 for instance), the hooks 18 and 20 being constantly interen- gaged to thus present a convenient means for coupling the inertia-block and the breech-block. The inertia-block has on its 16 forward upper side the abutment face 21 co- operative with a face 22 on the back end of the breech-block. On firing, the thrust is transmitted by the breech-block 10 to the inertia-block, by the engagement of the face 20 22 with the face 21, the respective faces be- ing shown transverse to the axis of the barrel. The face 21 as represented, is at an acute angle to the transverse axis of the in- ertia-block 9 and the abutment face 22 is 25 practically flat, the result being that the initial shock on explosion is taken by a sur- face at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the barrel, the position of the inertia- block insuring this. 30 It will be remembered that I have men- tioned a checking portion 17 which is shown as being in the form of a face at the junc- tion of the two portions 7 and 8 of the cham- ber 6, the surface 17 being as shown straight 35 and in a plane at a downwardly-acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the barrel, this surface being engaged by a surface of the breech-block 10 to momentarily brake the motion rearwardly of the breech-block and 40 accelerate the corresponding motion of the inertia-block to which the breech-block is coupled, the surface at the same time tipping downwardly the rear portion of the breech- block. 45 The rear end of the breech block has above the face 22 the inclined face 23 (Fig. 3 for example), the angle of inclination of the face 23 being practically the same as that of the checking face 17. Upon firing 50 the breech block 10 is caused to recoil and the face 22 will in the manner I have noted, strike the face 21 in a substantial manner. After the breech block 10 has moved back- . ward a short distance and necessarily after 55 the inertia block has been correspondingly moved, the surface 23 will strike the sur- face 17 and the rear portion of the breech block will be cammed downwardly by the surface 17 until the breech block is verti- 60 cally aligned with the inertia block and is thus positioned to enter the rear portion 7 of the chamber 6. The backward motion of the parts is naturally checked for a short time so that the gases instead of being dis- 65 charged at the breach, will be discharged through the barrel to atmosphere from the front of the barrel. Below the abutment face 21 is a cam face 24, shown as being on an angle, the rear end of the breech block 10 having a co-operating cam surface 25. 70 On firing the breech block 10 is given a rearward movement and the face 22 by en- gaging the face 21 gives to the inertia block an initial rearward thrust. Obviously the breech block is moved rearwardly but its 75 rearward movement is momentarily slack- ened by the engagement of the face 23 with the face 17. The rear portion of the breech block 10 is cammed downward by the sur- face 17 and on the downward rock of the 80 rear portion of the breech block the surface 25 rides down the cam surface 24 so as to accelerate the backward movement of the inertia block. As I have stated the backward motion of 85 the inertia block 9 is limited by the rear wall of the chamber 6 which as noted, is in the rear division 7 thereof. On arrest of the inertia block, buffing means associated therewith has a further backward move- 80 ment, the buffing means when in its extreme forward position backing up the inertia block and this relation being maintained until the block strikes the back surface of said chamber 6. The buffing means is shown 85 partly in Figs. 2 and 3 and completely sepa- rated from the butt stock 4, in Fig. 6. The buffing means involves in its structure a buffing-tube 26, the forward end of which is externally threaded to fit internal threads 1°° in an opening in the rear portion of the re- ceiver 5, the front face of the buffing-tube being, when the parts are assembled,, flush or in the plane of the back or rear wall of the chamber 6 as shown best in said Fig. 6. 105 The buffing-tube receives in its rear end por- tion the block 27 which is ordinarily thread- ed to receive the customary bolt by which the butt stock is held in assembled relation with the other parts. As represented, the 110 block 27 presents a convenient bearing for several engaging disks as 28 generally of fiber. The buflmg-tube 26 encloses what I term a buffer plunger as 29 of tubular form open at its rear end and closed as at 30 at its 115 forward end the closed end 30 being virtu- ally of concavo-convex form in cross sec- tion, the concave face being in and the con- vex face out, the convex face at times, as I will hereinafter explain, occupying a con- 120 caved seat 31 in the rear end of the inertia block 9. The tubular plunger 29 encloses the recoil-spring guide 32 having a head 33 at its. front end which fits the concaved sur- face of the head 30, and may or may not be 125 rigidly secured thereto. The recoil spring guide 32 receives around its shank portion the coiled spring 34, the forward end of which engages the back of the head 33 and the rear of which engages the1 front one of 130
4 1,457,861 the disks 28. As shown in Fig. .2 the sev- eral parts including the inertia block 9 are. in their advanced positions, the block being maintained in such relation by the power of 5 the spring 34 which at this time is in ex- panded condition, the head 30 occupying the seat or concavity 31 at the rear of the in- ertia block 9. On firing as I have herein- before explained, the two blocks 9 and 10 10 are moved backward, the backward motion continuing until the inertia-block 9 strikes the rear surface of the chamber 6 which necessarily stops further backward motion thereof. On the rearward motion of the 15 block 9, the buffer plunger 29 and the re- coil spring guide 32 are thrust rearwardly thus contracting the spring 34, the motion continuing until the block 9 strikes the rear of the chamber 6 beyond which point how- 20 ever, the buffer plunger 29 and the recoil spring guide 32, can have a further but slight backward motion as shown best in Fig. 6, to thus further compress the spring 34 until the rear end of the plunger 29 25 strikes the disks 28. On the return or for- ward movement of the plunger 29 and spring guide 32, through naturally the ex- pansion of the spring 34, the heads 30 and 33 will be concurrently moved forwardly 30 until the head 30 enters its seat 31 thus as it were picking up the block 9 and block 10 and advancing them both to the positions they are shown as occupying in Fig. 2. As shown the receiver has threaded through it 35 the screw 35 as seen best in Fig. 6 and also in Fig. 2, the front plain reduced portion of the screw extending through the buffer tube 26 and fitting a longitudinal slot 36 through the buffer plunger 29 which provides a 40 simple way of preventing turning motion of said buffer-plunger and also prevents the plunger from! being accidentally dismounted when the parts are separated. The inertia-block 9 as shown carries the 45 hammer 15 which moves longitudinally thereof, the operative or forward motion of the hammer being secured for instance by a spring 40 as shown in Fig. 3 and also in Fig. 2, the hammer having a movement 50 through the longitudinal slot which is situ- ated depthwise of the inertia-block 9 for the major part of the length thereof. The head of the hammer 15 of course strikes the rear end of the firing pin 13 as shown for exam- 55 pie in Fig. 3 on firing. The necessary mo- tion of the hammer 15 is accomplished for instance through the agency of the spring 40 of coiled type, surrounding the shank portion of the hammer, bearing at its for- 60 ward end against the body of the hammer and at its rear end against the plug 41 fitted in the longitudinal bore of the inertia-block and in which the shank portion of the ham- mer 15 is situated. 65 Pivoted between its ends between the walls of the slot 39' is a cocking lever 43 the pivot 43' of which extends across the inertia-block and through the cocking lever between the upper and lower, ends thereof. The sear is denoted by 44 and as represented 70 it is pivoted at its tail between the side walls of the slot near the forward end thereof, the free end of the sear having on its upper side the tooth 45 to co-operate with a notch 46 in the forward portion of the hammer as 75 shown in Fig. 3 and in other views for in- stance Fig. 14. It will be seen that the sear- spring 38 holds the cocking lever pivot 43' in position against accidental withdrawal. The upper arm of the cocking lever 43 is SO situated in a longitudinal slot 47 in the body of the hammer 15 said upper arm co-operat- ing with a shoulder 48 at practically the rear of said slot 47. The trigger is desig- nated by 49 and it is practically of elbow 85 form pivoted as at 50 through its longer branch, in the trigger-guard or plate 11. The trigger, it will be seen, has two arms, a back or angular one and a forward and com- paratively straight one. To the short arm 90 of the trigger is flexibly connected as by the pivot 51, the connector 52 which has an off- set or projection 53 near its base to be en- gaged by the spring 54 to move the connec- tor into coupling relation with the sear. 95 The sear has at its lower portion near the back, the notch 55 to co-operate with the hook 56 at the upper end of the connector 52 as shown in Fig. 2 and as also appearing in Figs. 7 and 8. The trigger guard 11 has a 100 shoulder or abutment 57 to be engaged as shown for example in Fig. 3 by the lower arm of the cocking lever 43. It will be assumed that the gun has been fired. In such an event the inertia-block 9 105 moves backward and as a consequence of the lower arm of the cocking lever being against the abutment or shoulder 57, the cocking lever is rocked on its axis so that the upper arm of the cocking lever acts against the no shoulder 48 drawing back the hammer 15, compressing at the same time the hammer spring 40, this motion continuing until the tooth or nose 45 is projected into the notch 46 by the sear spring 38. This sear spring 115 38 is longitudinally bowed and is disposed in a channel or groove 39 in the side of the inertia-block 9 as shown for example in Figs. 10 and 15, the rear end of the spring fitting somewhat loosely a transverse open- 120 ing in the side of the inertia-block, the op- posite end of the spring having an extension fitting under the sear. When therefore the hammer 15 is cocked or moved backward through the intervention of the cocking 125 lever 43, and when the notch 46 is brought opposite the nose 45 of the sear 44, the sear- spring 38 by acting against the sear will project the tooth 45 thereof into the notch so as to hold the hammer in cocked condl- 1Э0
1,457,001 tion to be released by the tripping of th₽ sear which is brought about through the ac- tion of the trigger 49, and connector 52. It will be assumed that the sear is in position 5 to hold the hammer cocked and that the trigger is pulled. On pulling the trigger the forward short arm thereof is drawn downward so that the trigger connector 52 pulls down the sear 44 and withdraws the 10 tooth 45 from the notch 46 releasing the hammer 15 which is then advanced through the power of the compressed spring 40, the hammer on its advance striking the rear end of the firing pin 13 and the latter in turn 15 striking the cartridge. \ It will be assumed that the trigger 49 has been pulled thus in the manner I have described tripping the sear 44 and causing the advance motion of the hammer 15. , This 20 occurring when the two blocks are advanced, the hammer of course being cocked <again on the backward motion of the blocks. As the inertia-block 9 moves forward, the sear 44 will strike the upper portion of the connec- ts tor 52 and rock it slightly thus conditioning the spring 54 of the connector to cause the hook 56 to be projected into the notch 55, as soon as the trigger is released. I provide a safety having means by which ° the inertia-block 9 can be positively locked in either its forward or backward posi- tions the safety also, and what is possibly more important, functioning to lock the trigger against accidental discharge. The 35 safety is denoted in a general way by 60 and it slides sidewise in an opening or bore extending transversely of the rear portion of the trigger guard. It has the arm 61 extending upwardly therefrom and a com- 40 paratively small distance above the trigger guard 11, the inertia block 9 having in its lower side portion the longitudinal channel or rabbet 62 which receives this arm 61 that is capable of lateral movement by the 45 endwise movement of the safety. The in- ertia block has longitudinally separated notches 63 and 64 which intersect the chan- nel 62. During normal action the locking arm 61 is out of both notches or slots 63 50 and 64 thus permitting the free and proper motion of the inertia-block 9. Should it be desired to lock the inertia-block in its back- ward position the latching or locking arm 61 will be projected into the notch or slot 66 63 by the endwise movement of the safety 60. To release the inertia-block from the condition mentioned, the locking arm 61 is withdrawn from the notch or slot 63. To lock the inertia block in the forward 60 position the locking arm 61 is projected into the back slot 64 when the inertia block is in its forward position. The latching or locking arm or extension 61 performs in the present case an important function in 65 that when the parts are in assembled re- lation, it holds the safety in such relation. I might also call attention to the fact that the spring 54 is a highly advantageous fea- ture. It is more valuable than a coiled spring owing to its ease of assemblage and 70 its other qualities. The rear end of the spring seats in a notch in the trigger guard rendering it quite easy to assemble. It might be explained that the arm or ex- tension 61 of the safety positively prevents 75 the safety from being disassembled when the parts are in relation such as represented by Fig. 3, or when the trigger guard is in assembled relation with the receiver. There- fore, the extension 61 extends upwardly in- 80 side of the receiver so that the safety 60 cannot be dismounted from the trigger guard when the trigger guard is in assem- bled relation with the receiver. The trig- ger 49 as shown has on its rear side thereof 85 the nose 66 and the safety. 60 in turn is provided with a locking portion 65 which may be projected over the nose 65 as shown for instance in Fig. 3 to effectually prevent when desired the firing action of the trig- 90 ger 49. It is not amiss to describe the action of the firearm. It will be assumed that the magazine 12 is filled with cartridges and that the inertia-block 9, breech-block 10 95 and hammer 15 are in their advanced posi- tions as shown best in Fig. 3. Obviously the operating handle 67 is in its forward position. I should explain that the oper- ating handle is connected with the inertia- Ю0 block 9 and extends through a longitudinal slot 68 in the receiver or frame 5, the oper- ating handle being externally accessible as shown best in Fig. 4. It also appears in Fig. 5 and partly in other views. To cock 105 the piece, the operating-handle is grasped and drawn back, thereby correspondingly moving the inertia-block 9 and breech-block 10 and parts sustained thereby. The inertia-block is retracted until it strikes the 110 rear wall of the chamber 6. As the inertia- block 9 moves rearwardly and of course carries therewith the cocking lever 43, the cocking lever is rocked on its pivot by its engagement with the abutment shoulder 57, 115 the lower arm of the cocking lever being swung to the right in Fig. 3 and the upper arm or branch to the left so that said upper arm will engage the shoulder 48 and draw back the hammer 15 in order to bring the 120 notch 46 of the hammer opposite the nose or tooth 45 of the sear 44 at which point said tooth or nose is projected into the notch 4G by the power of the sear spring 38. The inertia-block 9 on its backward travel, 125 under the action of the hand, thrusts the plunger mechanism involving the tubular plunger 29 backward and as a result com- presses the recoil-spring 34. The top car- tridge of the series in the magazine, when 130
1,457,981 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 the parts are in the advanced position is in engagement with the under side of the breech-block 10 so that when the breech- block has moved rearwardly sufficiently to free the top cartridge the latter is elevated by the magazine spring 69 until the car- tridge is in the path of the breech-block. When therefore, the user releases the op- erating handle 67, the recoil or closing spring 34 advances the inertia-block 9 and the coupled breech-block 10 and when the parts have nearly concluded their advance or forward motion, the breech-block 10 can thrust the topmost cartridge into the cham- ber of the barrel. On the forward motion of the parts in loading, the trigger con- nector 52 is snapped into engagement with the sear 44 so that when the parts have concluded their forward movements the arm is ready to be fired. To accomplish this the trigger 49 is pulled thereby in the manner to which I have referred, drawing down the trigger-connector 52 and tripping the sear 44 and thus releasing the hammer 15 so that the hammer is at once projected forward by the spring 40 to fire the cartridge in the chamber of the barrel. After this the action becomes automatic ex- cepting that the trigger must be manually pulled and released for each shot. After the firing pin has encountered the cartridge in the breech of the barrel, the cartridge is exploded and at the breech are generated gases which force the breech- block 10 backwardly and as the breech-block is coupled to the inertia-block 9, the inertia- block also recedes. Tbe rear part of the breech-block is as I have observed tipped downwardly about the time that its rear- ward motion is momentarily interrupted, in order to give an accelerated camming mo- tion to the inertia-block to cause its quick backward movement. On the backward movement of the two blocks, the cocking lever 43 is rocked on its pivot 43' and the spring 34 of the buffer mechanism is com- pressed to render it effective for imparting the forward movement to the two coupled blocks. On the rearward movement of the inertia-block 10 the sear 44 passes wholly free of the connector 52. The sear on. the forward movement of the inertia-block 9 strikes and rocks the connector 52 the shoul- dered end of which is projected into the notch at the rear lower end of the sear when the trigger is freed. I deem it desirable to call attention to the fact that in the construction shown, the rear portion of the receiver 5 constitutes a part of the grip of the gun, this particular part being diagonal or oblique, or at least sufficiently so, to be in itself diagonal or oblique to the longitudinal axis of the bar- rel. This permits the receiver not only to function in the manner which I have just noted, but enables the rear diagonal por- tion 7 of the interior of the receiver to re-,, ceive the inertia-block. What I claim is: 1. A firearm comprising a receiver, a bar- 70 rel connected with the receiver, the receiver having a chamber the rear portion of which is diagonal to the axis of the barrel and the forward portion of which is coincident with said axis, an inertia-block located in 75 the rear portion of the chamber, a breech- block coupled to the inertia-block and oc- cupying when in its forward position the forward portion of the chamber, and means for checking the retractive movement of the 8^ breech-block between the ends of its stroke. 2. A firearm comprising a receiver, a bar- rel connected with the receiver, the receiver having a chamber the rear portion of which is diagonal to the axis of the barrel and 85 the forward portion of which is coincident with said axis, an inertia-block located in the rear portion of the chamber, a breech- block coupled to the inertia-block and oc- cupying when in its forward position the 90 forward portion of the chamber, and means for checking the retractive movement of the breech-block approximately at the time it is about to enter the rear portion of the chamber. 83 3. A firearm comprising a receiver, a bar- rel connected with the receiver, the receiver having a chamber the rear portion of which is diagonal to the axis of the barrel and the forward portion of which is coincident 100 with said axis, an inertia-block located in the rear portion of the chamber, a breech- block coupled to the inertia-block and oc- cupying when in its forward position the forward portion of the chamber, and means 105 for automatically checking the retractive movement of the breech-block and then re- leasing the same, the breech-block acting to impart an accelerated motion to the inertia- block. no 4. A firearm comprising a receiver, a bar- rel connected with the receiver, the receiver having a chamber, the rear portion of which is diagonal to the axis of the barrel and the forward portion of which is coincident with 115 said axis, an inertia-block located in the rear portion of the chamber, a breech-block cou- pled to the inertia-block and occupying when in its forward position the forward portion of the chamber, and means for checking the I20 retractive movement of the breech-block and approximately concurrently tipping down its rear end, the breech-block on its tipping movement acting against the inertia-block to impart an accelerated movement thereto. I25 5. A firearm comprising a receiver, a bar- rel connected with the receiver, the receiver having a chamber, the rear portion of which is diagonal to the axis of the barrel and the forward portion of which is coincident with 130
1,467,661 7 said axis, an inertia-block located in the rear portion of the chamber, a breech-block coupled to the inertia-block and occupying when in its forward position the forward 5 portion of the chamber, and means on the receiver, for checking the retractive move- ment of the breech-block and approximately concurrently tipping down its rear end, the breech-block on its tipping movement act- 10 ing against the inertia-block to impart an accelerated movement thereto. 6. A firearm comprising a receiver, a bar- rel connected with the receiver, the receiver having a chamber, the rear portion of which 15 is diagonal to the axis of the barrel and the forward portion of which is coincident with said axis, an inertia-block located in the rear portion of the chamber, a breech-block coupled to the inertia block and occupying 20 when in its forward position the forward portion of the chamber, and cam means on the receiver, for checking the retractive movement of the breech-block and approxi- mately concurrently tipping down its rear 25 end, the breech-block on its tipping move- ment acting against the inertia-block to im- part an accelerated movement thereto. 7. A firearm comprising a receiver, a bar- rel connected with the receiver, the receiver . 30 having a chamber, the rear portion of which is diagonal to the axis of the barrel and the forward portion of which is coincident with said axis, an inertia-block located in the rear portion of the chamber, a breech-block 35 coupled to the inertia block and occupying when in its forward position the forward portion of the chamber, cam means for checking the retractive movement of the breech-mock and at the same time tipping 40 down its rear end, the breech-block having a cam action against the inertia-block on said tipping motion to impart an accelerated backward movement to the inertia block. 8. A firearm comprising a receiver, a bar- 45 rel connected with the receiver, the receiver having a chamber, the rear portion of which is diagonal to the axis of the barrel and the forward portion of which is coincident with said axis, an inertia-block located in the 50 rear portion of the chamber and having a hook, a breech-block occupying when in its forward position the forward portion of the chamber and having a hook to engage that on the inertia-block to couple the two blocks 55 together, and means for checking the retrac- tive movement of the breech-block. 9. A firearm comprising a receiver, a bar- rel connected with the receiver, an inertia- block located in the receiver, a breech-block "0 coupled to the inertia-block, the inertia-block being adapted to travel in a direction diago- nal to the axis of the barrel throughout its complete movement, the breech-block ini- tially on its backward movement travelling 65 along a path co-inciding with the longitudi- nal axis of the barrel, and means for chang- ing the path of travel of the breech-block on its backward movement to coincide with that of the inertia-block and for causing through the action of the breech-block, an 70 accelerated backward movement of the in- ertia-block approximately at the time the direction of rearward movement of the breech-block has been changed. 10. A firearm comprising a receiver, a bar- 75 rel connected with the receiver, an inertia- block located in the receiver, a breech-block coupled to the inertia-block, the inertia- block being adapted to travel in a direction diagonal to the axis of the barrel throughout 80 its complete movement, the breech-block ini- tially on its backward movement travelling along a path co-inciding with the longitudi- nal axis of the barrel, and means on the re- ceiver, for changing the path of travel of 85 the breech-block on its backward movement to coincide with that of the inertia-block and for causing through the action of the breech-block, an accelerated backward move- ment of the inertia-block approximately at 00 the time the direction of rearward movement of the breech-block has been changed. 11. A firearm comprising a receiver, a barrel connected with the receiver, an iner- tia-block located in the receiver, a breech- 95 block loosely coupled to the inertia-block, the inertia-block being adapted to travel in a direction diagonal to the axis of the bar- rel throughout its complete rearward move- ment, the breech-block initially on its back- 100 ward movement travelling along a path co- inciding with the longitudinal axis of the barrel, the receiver having means to arrest the rearward movement of the breech-block and to tip down the rear portion thereof to 106 cause the breech-block to follow the path of the inertia-block, the breech-block hav- ing means to impart an accelerated rear- ward movement to the inertia block about the time its direction of movement is 110 changed. 12. A firearm comprising a receiver, a barrel connected with the receiver, an in- ertia-block, a breech-block coupled to the inertia-block and both blocks reciprocatory 115 in the receiver, the receiver having associ- ated with it means to guide the inertia-block in a direction diagonal to the axis of the barrel, and for also causing a compound motion of the breech-block respectively in 120 a direction corresponding to the axis of the barrel and in a path following the in- ertia-block, and means by which the breech- block gives the inertia-block an impetus ap- proximately at the time its direction of 125 backward motion is changed. 13. A firearm comprising a receiver, a barrel connected with the receiver, an in- ertia-block, a breech-block coupled with the inertia-block and both reciprocatory in the 18°
В 1,457,961 в 10 IB 20 2В 30 36 40 45 50 55 60 65 receiver, the latter having associated with it, means to guide the inertia-block in a direction diagonal to the axis of the barrel and for causing a compound motion of the breech-block respectively in a direction cor- responding to the axis of the barrel and in a path following the inertia-block, and cam means on the breech-block acting against the inertia-block to give it an im- petus approximately at the time the direc- tion or motion of the breech-block is changed on its backward action. 14. A firearm comprising a receiver, a barrel connected with the receiver, an iner- tia-block reciprocatory in the receiver anti disposed diagonally to the axis of the barrel, a breech-block in the receiver, coupled to the inertia-block for reciprocation there- with, and means for momentarily checking the breech-block at a predetermined point in the backward motion. 15. A firearm comprising a receiver, a barrel connected with the receive^ an in- ertia-block reciprocatory in the receiver and disposed diagonally to the axis of the barrel, a breech-block in the receiver, coupled to the inertia-block for reciprocation there- with, and means for momentarily checking the breech-block at a predetermined point in its backward movement, the breech-block, imparting an accelerated rearward motion to the inertia-block. 16. A firearm comprising a receiver, a barrel connected with the receiver, an in- ertia-block reciprocatory in the receiver and disposed diagonally to the axis of the barrel, a breech-block in the receiver, coupled to the inertia-block for reciprocation there- with, cam means on the receiver for mo- mentarily checking the breech-block at a predetermined point in the backward move- ment, the breech-block having cam means to act against the inertia-block during the time it is momentarily checked to thus im- part an accelerated backward movement to the inertia-block. ' 17. A firearm comprising a receiver, a barrel connected with the receiver, an in- ertia-block reciprocatory in the receiver and disposed diagonally to the axis of the bar- rel, a breech-block also in the receiver, the inertia-block and the breech-block having interengaging hooks, means in the receiver for momentarily checking the breech-block at a predetermined point in its backward motion, the breech-block having cam means which on such backward motion impart an accelerated corresponding motion to the in- ertia-block. 18. A firearm comprising a receiver, a barrel connected with the receiver, the re- ceiver having a chamber the rear portion of which is diagonal to the axis of the barrel and the forward portion of which is coin- cident with said axis, an inertia-block lo- cated in the rear portion of the chamber, a breech-block forward of the inertia-block, the inertia-block and the breech-block hav- ing interengaging hooks to couple them to- gether, and cam means on the receiver tor To tipping down the rear end of the breech- block approximately at the time it is about to enter the rear portion of the chamber, the breech-block and the inertia-block having cam surfaces which engage on the tipping 75 of the rear portion of the breech-block to thus impart an accelerated motion rearward- ly to the inertia-block. 19. A firearm comprising a receiver, a barrel connected with the receiver, the re- 80 eeiver having a chamber the rear portion of which is diagonal to the axis of the barrel and the forward portion of which is coin- cident with said axis, an inertia-block lo- cated in the rear portion of the chamber, 85 a breech-block forward of. the inertia-block, the inertia-block and the breech-block hav- ing interengaging hooks to couple them to- gether, and cam means on the receiver for tipping down the rear end of the breech- 90 block approximately at the time it is about to enter the rear portion of the chamber, the breech-block and the inertia-block having cam surfaces which engage on the tipping of the rear portion of the breech-block to 90 thus impart an accelerated motion rearward- ly to the inertia-block, the inertia-block and the breech-block having engaging faces which are at approximately right angles to the axis of the barrel when the blocks are 109 in their forward positions. 20. A firearm comprising a receiver, a barrel connected with the receiver, the re- ceiver having a chamber the rear portion of which is diagonal to the axis of the barrel J and the forward portion of which is coinci- dent with said axis, an inertia-block located constantly in the rear portion of the cham- ber and having at its forward end a hook, a breech-block having a hook at its rear end in interengagement with that of the in- ertia-block and occupying when in its for- ward position the forward portion of the chamber, both the blocks being reciproca- tory, a cam face in the receiver for en- gaging the breech-block to momentarily check and after checking release the back- ward motion of the breech-block and also to tip down the rear portion of the breech- block, the hook of the breech-block having a cam surface to engage the inertia block when the rear portion thereof is tipped downward to impart an accelerated rear- ward movement to the inertia-block. 21. A firearm comprising a receiver, a barrel connected with the receiver, an in- ertia-block reciprocatory in the receiver and disposed diagonally to the axis of the bar- rel, a breech-block in the receiver, coupled 130 to the inertia-block, for reciprocation there-
1,457,661 © with, means for momentarily checking the breech-block at a predetermined point in the backward motion, and buffing means co- operative with the inertia-block. 5 22. A firearm comprising a receiver, a barrel connected with the receiver, an in- ertia-block reciprocatory in the receiver and disposed diagonally to the axis of the barrel, a breech-block in the receiver, coupled to 10 the inertia-block, for reciprocation there- with, means for momentarily checking the breech-block at a predetermined point in the backward motion, and buffing means co- operative with the inertia-block, and having 16 a rearward movement beyond the rearward movement of the inertia-block. 23. A firearm comprising a receiver, an inertia block and a breech block, both slid- able in the receiver, and provided with in- 20 terengaged hooks to couple the blocks to- gether, and means for checking the retrac- tive movement of the breech block, said in- ertia block and said breech block having means which function to aid such checking 28 action, the firearm having means to cause an angular motion of the breech block on the retractive action thereof. 24. A firearm comprising a receiver, an inertia-block and a breech-block both slid- 30 able in the receiver, the inertia-block having a hook at its forward end and the breech- block having a hook at its rear end, the hooks being interengaged to couple the two blocks together, the firearm having means to 36 cause an irregular motion on the retractive movement of the breech-block. 25. A firearm comprising a receiver, an inertia-block, a breech-block both in the re- ceiver and capable of reciprocation therein, 40 the inertia-block and the breech-block hav- ing rigid interengaging hooks to couple the two blocks together, and means for retarding temporarily the backward motion of the breech-block, and the breech-block practi- 46 cally at the time it is retarded acting against the inertia-block to give to it an accelerated rearward movement. 26. A firearm comprising a receiver, a bar- rel connected with the receiver, an inertia- 50 block and a breech-block in coupled relation in the receiver for reciprocation therein, the inertia-block having a motion which is con- stantly oblique to the axis of the barrel, firing means associated with the blocks, the 55 inertia-block being of greater mass than that of the breech-block, the receiver having means to.positively cause a tipping motion of the breech-block on the retractive move- ment of the inertia block.’ 60 27. A firearm comprising an inertia-block, a hammer on the inertia-block, a cocking lever for the hammer, pivoted to the inertia- block, a sear on the inertia-block, co-opera- tive with the hammer, and a spring for oper- 65 ating the sear to cause it to engage the ham- jner, the spring acting against the pivot for the cocking lever to hold it in place. 28. A firearm comprising an inertia-block, a hammer on the inertia-block, a cocking lever, a pivot extending through the in- 10 ertia-block and also through the cocking lever, a sear on the inertia-block, co-opera- tive with the hammer, and a spring extend- ing longitudinally of the inertia-block, the free end of the spring acting against the sear 75 to cause it to engage the hammer, the spring between its ends acting against the pivot of the cocking lever to prevent accidental movement thereof. 29. A firearm comprising an inertia-block 80 and a safety slidable transversely of the firearm, the safety having an upward ex- tension and the inertia-block having longi- tudinally-separated slots into which the ex- tension may be alternately projected on the 85 movement of the safety laterally of the fire- arm, to hold the inertia-block respectively in its forward and backward positions, said up- ward extension acting to hold the safety against dismounting when the parts are in 00 assembled relation. 30. A firearm comprising an inertia-block and a safety slidable laterally of the fire- arm, the safety having an upward extension and the inertia-block having a longitudinal 05 channel in which said extension is disposed, the inertia-block having slots intersecting the channel and into which the extension may be alternately projected on the move- ment of the safety laterally of the firearm Ю0 to hold the inertia-block respectively in its forward and backward positions, said up- ward extension acting to hold the safety against dismounting when the parts are in assembled'relation. 105 31. A firearm comprising an inertia-block, a safety mounted for sliding movement lat- erally of the firearm and having an upward extension, the inertia-block having longi- tudinally-separated slots into which the ex- HO tension can be alternately projected on the sliding movement laterally of the safety, to hold the inertia-block respectively in for- ward and backward positions, and a trigger, the safety having means to hold the trigger H5 against action in one of the positions of the safety, said upward extension acting to hold the safety against dismounting when the parts are in assembled relation. 32. A firearm comprising a receiver, a 120 barrel, an inertia-block in the receiver and yieldable buffing means diagonal to the bar- rel of the firearm engaging the inertia-block, the receiver having means to arrest the back- ward movement of the inertia-block, the 125 buffing means having a rearward motion be- yond the point at which the inertia-block is stopped in its backward movement, the buffing means on the continued backward movement involving means to store energy И0
IO 1,467,961 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 50 65 to impart a return movement to the buffing means and also to impart a forward move- ment to the inertia-block when it is acted on by the buffing means, the barrel being sta- tionary with respect to the moving parts during the action set forth. 33. A firearm comprising a receiver, a bar- rel, a reciprocatory inertia-block in the re- ceiver, and yieldable buffing means diagonal to the barrel of the firearm engaging the inertia-block, the receiver having means to arrest the backward motion of the inertia- block and the buffing means having a rear- ward motion beyond the point at which the inertia-block is stopped in its backward movement said barrel being stationary dur- ing such buffing action. 34. A firearm comprising a receiver, a re- ciprocatory inertia-block in the receiver, adapted on recoil to be arrested by the re- ceiver, and yield able 'buffing means to en- gage the inertia-block, the buffing means comprising a fixed buffer tube, a tubular plunger slidably disposed in the buffer tube and engaging the inertia-block, a spring- guide plunger in the tubular plunger, and a recoil spring enclosed in the buffer tube and the tubular plunger, acting against the spring-guide plunger, and also against a fixed part of the firearm, the buffing means having a backward motion after the inertia- block is arrested. 35. A firearm comprising a receiver pro- vided with a fixed barrel, the rear portion of the receiver being oblique to the axis of the barrel, a reciprocatory inertia-block in the receiver, adapted on recoil to be arrested by the receiver, and yieldable buffing means diagonal to the barrel of the firearm to en- gage the inertia-block, the buffing means ex- tending into the diagonal portion of the receiver and comprising a fixed buffer tube, a tubular plunger slidably disposed in the buffer tube and acting against the inertia- block, and a recoil spring enclosed in the buffer tube and the tubular plunger acting against a fixed part of the firearm and also against the spring plunger, the buffing means having a backward motion after the inertia- block is arrested. 36. A firearm comprising a receiver, a fixed barrel connected with the receiver, an inertia block in the receiver, the rear por- tion of the receiver being oblique to the axis of the barrel, and yieldable buffing means engaging the inertia block, the firearm hav- ing means to resist the backward motion of the inertia block, and the buffing means hav- ing a rearward motion beyond the point at which the inertia block is stopped in its backward movement, the firearm having con- nections to positively cause diagonal move- ment of the inertia block on its backward stroke. 37. A firearm comprising a receiver, a barrel connected with the receiver, an iner- tia-block in the receiver, the receiver hav- ing means for positively causing a recipro- cation diagonally to the axis of the barrel of the inertia block, said inertia-block adapted on recoil to be arrested by the receiver, and yieldable buffing means comprising a fixed buffer tube, a tubular plunger slidably dis- posed in the buffer tube, closed at its forward end, the inertia-block having a seat to re- ceive the closed end of the tubular plunger, and a recoil spring enclosed by the buffer tube and the tubular plunger acting against the spring guide plunger and also against a fixed part of the firearm, the forward end of the spring guide plunger engaging the closed end or the tubular plunger. 38. A firearm comprising a receiver, a fixed barrel connected with the receiver, an inertia block in the receiver, reciprocative diagonal to the axis of the barrel, the fire- arm having means to arrest the backward motion of the inertia block and yieldable buffing means comprising a fixed buffer tube, a tubular plunger slidably disposed in the buffer tube, the inertia block being engaged by the tubular plunger, and a recoil spring enclosed by the buffer tube, the tubular plunger acting against a fixed part of the firearm, the buffer tube and the recoil spring enclosed thereby being disposed to conform to the motion of the inertia block. 39. A firearm comprising -a receiver, a barrel connected with the receiver, an iner- tia-block in the receiver, reciprocative diag- onal to the axis of the barrel, the firearm having means to arrest the inertia-block on its backward movement, and yieldable buf- fing means comprising a fixed buffer tube, a tubular plunger slidably disposed in the buf- fer tube, closed at its forward end, the inertia-block having a seat to receive the closed end of the tubular plunger, and a recoil spring enclosed by the buffer tube and the tubular plunger acting respectively against a fixed part of the firearm and also against the tubular plunger, the tubular plunger engaging the inertia-block, the buf- fer tube and the recoil spring inclosed there- by being disposed to conform to the motion of the inertia block. 40. A firearm comprising a receiver, a barrel connected with the receiver, a coupled inertia-block and breech-block, both recipro- catory in the receiver, the inertia-block be- ing movable backwardly and forwardly di- agonal to the axis of the barrel, buffing means engaging the inertia-'block, and means for momentarily checking and then releas- ing the backward movement of the breech- block, the latter when released applying a rearward thrust to the inertia-block and the inertia-block in turn transmitting a rear- ward thrust to the buffing means, the receiver having means to arrest the backward move- 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120 125 130
1,467,661 11 б 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 ment of the inertia-block, the buffing means having a backward movement after the backward movement of the inertia-block is arrested. 41. A firearm comprising a receiver, a barrel connected with the receiver, a coupled inertia-block and breech-block both recipro- catory in the receiver, the inertia-block be- ing movable forwardly and backwardly in the receiver diagonal to the axis of the bar- rel, the receiver having means to positively arrest the backward movement of the in- ertia-block, buffing means acting against the inertia-block and means for arresting mo- mentarily the backward movement of the breech-block, the breech-block on its back- ward movement applying a rearward thrust to the inertia-block and the inertia-block in turn transmitting a rearward thrust to the buffing means, the buffing means having a backward movement after the inertia-block is arrested. 42. A firearm comprising a receiver, a barrel connected with the receiver, a cou- pled inertia-block and breech-block both re- ciprocatory in the receiver, the inertia-block being diagonal to the axis of the barrel, buff- ing means co-operative with the inertia- block, and means for arresting and tipping downwardly the rear portion of the breech- block, the breech-block when tipped apply- ing a rearward thrust to the inertia-block, the. inertia-block transmitting in turn a rearward thrust to the buffing means, the latter having a backward movement after the inertia-block is arrested. 43. A firearm comprising a receiver, a barrel connected with the receiver, an in- ertia-block and a breech-block in hooked coupled connection with each other, both re- ciprocatory in the receiver, the inertia-block being diagonal to the axis of the barrel, buffing means co-operative with the inertia- block, and means for momentarily check- ing the rearward motion of the breech-block, tipping it downward, the breech-block on said tipping motion acting to apply a rear- ward thrust to the inertia-block which in turn is transmitted to the buffing means, the. buffing means having a backward movement after the inertia-block is arrested. 44. A firearm comprising a receiver, a barrel connected with the receiver, the rear portion of the receiver being diagonal to the axis of the barrel to constitute a part of the grip of the arm, the receiver having interi- orly a chamber, the forward portion of which coincides with the axis of the barrel and the rear portion of which conforms ap- proximately with the oblique disposition of the grip part of the receiver, an inertia-block and a coupled breech-block both in the re- ceiver, the breech-block being reciprocatory therein, the inertia-block being constantly re- ciprocative in the rear portion of the re- ceiver, and means for momentarily check- ing the breech-block and tipping down the rear portion thereof, the breech-block when thus tipped, imparting an accelerated rear- ward movement to the inertia-block. 7о 45. A firearm comprising a receiver, a barrel connected with the receiver, the rear portion of the receiver being diagonal to the axis of the barrel to constitute a part of the grip of the arm, the receiver having 75 interiorly a chamber, the rearward portion of which conforms approximately with the oblique disposition of the grip part of the receiver, an inertia-block and a coupled breech-block both in the receiver, the breech- 80 block being reciprocatory therein, the in- ertia-block being constantly reciprocative in the rear portion of the receiver, and means for momentarily checking the breech-block and tipping down the rear portion thereof, 85 the breech-block when thus tipped impart- ing an accelerated rearward movement to the inertia-block, buffing means co-operative with the inertia-block, the arm having means to stop thediackward motion of the inertia- 90 block, and the buffing means having a rear- ward motion after the inertia-block is thus stopped. 46. A firearm comprising a reciprocatory inertia-block, a hammer on the inertia-block, 85 a sear on the inertia-block, a trigger, a con- nector pivotally mounted directly on the trigger, and a spring to act against both the trigger and the connector, the spring func- tioning to project the connector into en- 100 gagement with the sear. 47. A firearm comprising a reciprocatory inertia-block, a hammer on the inertia-block, a sear on the inertia-block, a trigger and its guard, a connector pivotally mounted on the 1 trigger, and a leaf spring supported at its end in a notch in the trigger guard and act- ing against both the trigger and the con- nector, the spring functioning to project the connector into the engagement with the sear when the inertia-block is in a predetermined position. 48. A firearm comprising a receiver hav- ing a trigger-guard and also having a bar- rel and an inertia-block in the receiver, mov- able. obliauely to tbe axis of the barrel and supported by the trigger-guard, the firearm having means to cause said oblique move- ment of the inertia block. 49. A firearm comprising a receiver hav- ing a trigger-guard and also having a barrel, an inertia-block in the receiver, movable obliquely to the axis of the barrel and sup- ported and positively guided in said oblique direction by the trigger-guard. 50. A firearm comprising a receiver, an inertia block located in the receiver, a breech block forward of the inertia block, the in- ertia block and the breech-block having in- terengaging hooks to couple them together,
10 1,457,961 cam means on the receiver for tipping down the rear end of the breech-block, the breech- block and the inertia block having cam sur- faces which engage on the tipping of the rear portion of the breech-block to thus im- part an accelerated motion rearwardly to the inertia block, and said cam surfaces; en- gaging during the forward motion of the blocks to elevate the rear end of the breech- block. io In testimony whereof I affix my signature. JOHN M. BROWNING. Witnesses: V. A. Browning, R. M. Markle.
Aug. 14, 1923. 1,464,864 J. M. BROWNING FIREARM
Aug. 14, 1923. 1,464,864 J. M. BROWNING FIREARM Filed Sept. 27. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY
Patented Aug. 14/1923. 1,464,864 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. JOHN 31. BBOWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH. FIBEAB3I. Application filed September To all whom, it may concern: Be it known that I, John M. Bbowning, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ogden, in the county of Weber and State of 5 Utah, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Firearms, of which the following is a specification. This invention relates to firearms and particularly to magazine firearms in which 10 the cartridges are contained in magazines, either fixed or detachable. Among the objects are to improve tfie manner of feeding the cartridges from the magazine to the chamber, so as to obviate 15 feed jams; to facilitate the filling of maga- zines, and to facilitate the loading of re- movable magazines into the gun. Usually the cartridges in the magazine, (especially in autoloading firearms) actu- 20 ated by a spring or by the force of gravity, press against some part of the recoiling mechanism, causing friction during the re- coiling movement. An object of the present invention is to do away with such friction. 25 Usually in all box magazine firearms, the top cartridge in the magazine bears against the breech block, or breech bolt, so that when the latter is moved rearwardly in the open- ing of the breech of the firearm, the car- 20 tridge in the magazine cannot jump into po- sition to be caught by the return movement of said breech bolt, and forced into the chamber, until the front of the breech bolt has passed the rear of the cartridge in the 25 magazine. This jumping of the cartridge then cannot take place until the breech bolt has nearly reached the limit of its rearward travel, and if it is returned to its forward position quickly, the cartridge in-the maga- <0 zine may not have time to jump up into po- sition to be caught and loaded into the cham- ber. To insure this jumping of the car- tridge, the magazine spring is sometimes strengthened, but to do so, increases the dif- 45 ficulty in loading. In the improved firearm the aforemen- tioned objections have been wholly overcome in a novel and peculiar way. In the drawings accompanying and form- 50 ing part of the present specification, I have shown in detail one of the several forms of embodiment of the invention, which to en- able those skilled in the art to practice the invention will be set forth fully in the fol- 55 lowing description. Clearly I am not re- stricted to such disclosure; I may depart 27, 1921. Serial No. 503,802. therefrom in a number of respects within the scope of the invention defined ,by the claims following said description. Referring to said drawings: 60 Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of the re- ceiver of a firearm involving the invention, and illustratinir the breech bolt in practi- cally its backward position. Figs. 2 and 3 are virtually similar views, ee but with less of the arm showing, and illus- trate the breech bolt, in a mid position and forward position, respectively. Fig. 4 is a view somewhat like Fig. 3, showing the breech bolt as retracting and 70 the manner of extracting a shell. Figs. 5 and 6 are horizontal sectional, top plan views of the intermediate portion of the receiver and show particularly the ac- tion of the ejector and breech-bolt guide. 75 Fig. 7 is a transverse section through the receiver and looking rearwardly. Fig. 8 is a rear elevation of the upper por- tion of the magazine with the corner re-, moved. 80 Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the breech bolt from, the front and left side. The receiver or frame of a fire arm em- bodying the invention is represented by the numeral 2. Adapted to reciprocate back 88 and forth in the receiver 2 is the inertia block 3, carrying the hammer 4 which is ac- tuated by a spring so as to strike the firing pin 5 in a well known manner. The breech bolt 6 is linked to the inertia block 3 in the 00 manner described in my prior application, Serial No. 460,907, filed April 13, 1921, and has a rib, as 17, the purpose of which will be hereinafter more fully described. The combined breech-bolt guide and ejector 9 05 fits into a slot cut into the side wall of the receiver 2 and has a pivot pin 16 extending through it. The lug on its rear end is forced yieldingly inwardly by the spring 9', so as to project into the path of the 100 breech bolt 6. Breech bolt supports 10 are riveted or otherwise fastened on each side of the receiver 2. The trigger guard 12 is removably mount- ed in an opening in the bottom of the re- 108 eeiver 2, and just forward of said trigger guard 12 is situated the magazine 14, which is of the box type, having a spring 14' and a follower 15 to force the cartridges toward the entrance of the magazine. The car- 110 tridges are prevented from escaping by the inturned lips at the top of the magazine,
£3 1,464,864 best shown in Figs. 1 and 6. The first or top cartridge, that is, the last one loaded into the magazine, may be removed by slid- ing out at the front of the magazine, and B if so removed, the spring 14' expands and forces another cartridge into the ready-to- be-removed position. The breech bolt de- pressor 7 is secured in the top of the receiver 2 and when the breech bolt 6 is in its for- 10 ward position the depressor 7 rests in the slot 18 cut in the top of the breech bolt 6. The operation is as follows: Starting with the recoiling parts in a re- tracted position as shown in Fig. 1, the in- 18 ertia block 3 moves forward under action of a spring bearing against its rear end and forces the breech bolt 6 forward in front of it. As the latter member advances, its lower front surface strikes the base of the top car- 20 tridge in the magazine 14 and starts mov- ing it forward toward the entrance of the chamber 11. During this forward move- ment the front of the breech bolt is held down so as to engage the cartridge, on ac- 28 count of the rib 17 sliding underneath the projecting lug of the breech bolt guide 9, as shown in Fig. 4, until it comes to the up- wardly inclined surfaces of the breech bolt supports 10, shown in Fig. 1. As the breech 30 bolt 6 continues forward, the cartridge is forced out of the magazine and well on its way into the chamber 11 allowing another cartridge to take its place at the top. At this stage, the breech bolt can raise at its 88 forward end, the rib 17 being cut away at this point to allow it to pass the breech bolt guide 9, so upon further advance, the front of the breech bolt 6 rides up over the in- clined surfaces of the supports 10. The 40 rear end of the breech bolt then is raised up in front of the inclined abutment in the re- ceiver 2, and the inertia-block 3 presses upon the rear end of the breech bolt 6 so that a . cartridge is held tightly and securely 45 enclosed in the chamber 11 ready to be fired. Assuming that the cartridge in the cham- ber is fired, the expanding powder gases press rearwardly on the breech bolt 6, whose rear end is lowered by striking the inclined 60 abutment in the receiver 2. The breech bolt then speeds to the rear, forcing back the in- ertia block, which in turn compresses a spring for the return movement, until the rearward excursion is stopped by the inertia 68 block 3 striking a part of the receiver 2 (not shown). As the breech bolt retreats the extractor grasps the rim of the empty case in • the chamber 11 and draws it out, the said case 60 being held in the counter bore in the face of the breech bolt 6 until it strikes the eject- ing shoulder 19, when it is ejected through an opening in the receiver 2. This process of ejecting is common to a number of fire- 88 prms. The rib 17 comes in contact with the front inclined face of the breech bolt guide 9 and pushes it outward, swinging the mem- ber 9 on its pivot 16 and compressing the spring 9', Figs. 5 and 6. The front end of the breech befit 6, after it has retracted be- 70 yond the inclined surfaces of the supporting shelves 10, rests on the top of the cartridge at the entrance of the magazine. When the front end of the breech bolt has passed back of the breech bolt guide 9, the spring 9' is 75 free to expand, the member 9 is turned on its pivot 16, and the breech bolt guide 9 snaps in front of the rib 17 as in Figs. 1 and 5, so that when the breech bolt moves forward again the front end of the rib act- 80 ing on the cam surface on the breech bolt guide 9, tips the breech bolt downward whereby the rib 17 passes underneath the guide 9. Thus the breech bolt guide acts as a switch to tip the front end of the breech 85 bolt down so that a portion of it is lower than the top of a cartridge against one of the lips of the magazine, in order that, said cartridge will be carried into the chamber of the firearm by the advance of the breech 90 bolt. If, when the rearward motion of the breech bolt is stopped, the front end which carries the rib 17 is caused to vibrate or for any other reason, such as friction, or dirt in 98 the mechanism, it is prevented from drop- ping down so as to be switched by the guide 9 into a track lower than the one in which it moved to the rear, the depressor 7 comes into play, and positively maintains the front 100 end of the breech bolt depressed until the rib 17 is under the guide 9. It is thus readily seen, that the breech bolt guide 9 serves to divert the front end of the breech bolt from a track of recoil which 108 is in one plane, to a track of advance, which is in a lower plane than the track of recoil; that the depressor 7 positively assures the tipping down of the front of the breech bolt; that the sloping surfaces on the sup- 110 ports 10 raise the front of the breech bolt from the track of advance to the track of recoil, on which raised track it moves for- wardly a short distance to close the breech of the firearm, and on which it recoils; and 118 that the ejector and the breech bolt guide are one and the same piece. It will be readily seen that if the maga- zine were entered into the top or side of the receiver instead of at the bottom, the breech 128 bolt would be made to tip upward or to one side when at the rear of its backward stroke, instead of downward as shown. The inven- tion then is not necessarily limited to a downward tipping motion of the breech 188 bolt. It will of course be clear that the inven- tion involves certain fundamental relations and I have merely described rather in de- tail one of the many ways ii, which the ip-
1,464,864 8 vention can be carried into effect. For in- stance it will be evident that the invention comprises as to one of its broad features a breech bolt and means for causing the auto- 6 matic travel bodily of the breech bolt through an orbital path. I generally effect the transverse movement bodily of the breech bolt practically at the conclusion of its backward and forward strokes. In the 10 organization shown and hereinbefore de- scribed, this transverse movement bodily of the breech bolt is advantageously utilized for loading. What I claim is: 18 1. A firearm provided with a barrel and with a cartridge magazine, a reciprocatory breech bolt which when in a forward posi- tion is above the magazine, the magazine having spring means to advance the car- 20 tridges upwardly, and means for causing th® breech bolt to pass along the cartridges on recoil and without acting on said spring, and to engage the topmost cartridge on the ad- ’ vance thereof and cause said cartridge thus 25 engaged to be projected into the barrel, the firearm having means to positively prevent downward movement of the forward portion of the breech bolt on its initial rearward motion. 30 2. A firearm provided with a barrel and with a cartridge magazine, a reciprocatory breech bolt which when in active relation is above the magazine, and means for tipping down the rear end of the breech bolt to un- 35 lock it aftei^ the rearward stroke thereof has been inaugurated, for tipping down the front end of the bolt in a position, to engage a cartridge in the magazine, during the rear- ward stroke, and for tipping up the front end of the breech bolt to free it of the car- tridges in the magazine, and for tipping up the rear end to lock the breech bolt, the last mentioned tipping actions occurring near the end of the forward stroke of the breech bolt. 3. A firearm having a receiver, a recipro- catory breech bolt in the receiver, the fire- arm having means to cause a tipping move- ment of the rear end of the breech bolt for locking and unlocking it and having means 6® for causing a tipping movement at its for- ward end to engage cartridges in the maga- zine, and a movable member in the receiver, for causing the tipping movements of the front end of the breech bolt. 55 4. A firearm having a receiver, a recipro- catory breech bolt in the receiver, the fire- arm having means to cause a tipping move- ment of the rear end of the breech bolt for locking and unlocking it and having means 60 for causing a tipping movement at its for- ward end to engage cartridges in the maga- zine, and a movable member in the receiver, for causing the tipping movements of the front end of the breech bolt, said movable 65 member functioning with the breech bolt to eject the spent shell from’the firearm. In testimony whereof I affix my signature. JOHN M. BROWNING. Witnesses: V. A. Browning, E. A. Ensign.
1,502.658 July 29, 1924. J. M. BROWNING FIREARM Filed May 21, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 1

Patented July 29, 1924. 1,502,658 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. JOHN M. BROWNING, OB OGDEN, UTAH. FIREARM. Application filed May 21, 1920. Serial No. 383,063. To all whom it, may concern: Be it known that I, John M. Bbowning, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Ogden, county of Weber, and 5 State of Utah, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Firearms, of which the following is a specification. This invention relates to magazine-fire- arms, an object of the invention being to 10 provide a firearm in which cartridges of different lengths can be used with the one model, as distinguished from firearms as now manufactured wherein different models must be employed to accommodate the fire- 15 arm to different lengths of cartridges. The receiver of the present firearm is adapted to take both short and long car- tridges and cartridges of various calibers, which is very advantageous from a manu- 20 facturer’s standpoint inasmuch as the re- ceiver is usually the most expensive part of the firearm to manufacture. In the accompanying drawings wherein I have illustrated an embodiment of my in- 25 vention,— Fig. 1 is a part sectional elevational view taken through the chamber, magazine and receiver of a firearm with the action locked; Fig. 2 is a part sectional elevational view 30 of the apparatus of Fig. 1 with the action- lever in its forward position and the -breech- block in its extreme rearward position; Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but taken from the opposite side of the receiver; 38 Fig. 4 is a view taken substantially on the line 4—4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a section of Fig. 1 taken on the line 5—5; Fig. 6 is a view of what will hereinafter 40 be termed a combined cartridge-stop and . bullet-guide; and Fig. 7 is a view of a bushing which func- tions to receive the end of the magazine and also as a guide for guiding the passage of 45 a cartridge from the receiver into the maga- zine in filling the magazine. Referring to the drawings in detail, 1 designates a receiver which is adapted to be secured in any suitable manner to the barrel 50 2 of a firearm, the barrel being chambered at 3. The receiver is also adapted to re- ceive a magazine 4, the connection of the magazine to the receiver being described more in detail hereinafter. 5 designates an action-lever pivoted at 6 to a locking block 7, 55 the upper end of the action-lever engaging a breech-block 8 so that when the lever is moved from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 2 and vice versa, the breech-block 8 will be reciprocated in a 50 well known manner, the breech-block being guided in its movement by suitable guides 9. A carrier 10 pivoted in the receiver at 11 is provided for the purpose of receiving a cartridge from the magazine 4 and raising 65 it into position to be forced into the cham- ber 3 by movement' of the breech-block 8 as the same is moved forward from the posi- tion shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 1. This carrier is provided with a 70 downwardly extending lug 12 to which is pivoted a short rod 13 adapted to be recipro- cated. in a short tube 14, the forward end of which tube engages at all times a recess 15 provided for that purpose near the front 75 end of the receiver. The rod 13 carries a coil-spring 16 extending longitudinally of the carrier 10 and adapted to be placed under compression as the rod 13 is recipro- cated in the tube 14. 80 The receiver 1 is provided with a loading opening 17 through which the firearm may be charged with a supply of cartridges. This loading opening is here shown in the side of the receiver but it is to be understood 85 that it may be located in any other con- venient position. A spring-closed loading- trap 18 is carried at the loading-opening and supported in the receiver in the usual way, this loading-trap, as will be seen from 90 Fig. 4, carrying a flat spring 19 provided for the purpose of maintaining the trap closed‘when the firearm is in operation, the loading opening being closed at all times except when charging a supply of cartridges 05 into the firearm. Carried on the loading- trap is a lug 20 functioning as a cartridge arrester and provided for the purpose of limiting rearward movement of a cartridge relative to the receiver 1, the carrier 10, and 100 action-lever 5. When it is desired to employ the receiver 1 in а йреагт using cartridges of small- caliber, it becomes necessary, of course, to provide a smaller magazine 4 and as the 10° opening in the forward end of the receiver 1 is bored to receive a large magazine to ac- commodate cartridges of a larger caliber, I
1,602,668 have provided a bushing 21 which is adapt- ed to be inserted in the opening 22 at the forward end of the receiver and which will receive the magazine 4. This bushing, is- 5 shown in Fig. 7 and from an inspection of this figure it will be seen that it is provided with a key 23 which is adapted to engage a keyway in the opening 22 in the receiver. In order that the cartridge may be properly 10 guided as it is forced into the magazine through the receiver in filling and 'then from the magazine into the receiver pre- paratory to being lifted by the carrier 10 (for it is to be remembered now that the 15 cartridge being used is of a small caliber) I have provided the bushing 21 with a rear- . wardly extending projection 24. It will be understood, of course, that when it is desired to use the firearm for larger caliber car- 80 tridges the magazine will be of a size corre- sponding to the opening 22 in the receiver and that the bushing will then be unneces- sary. The receiver is also provided with a com- 25 bined cartridge-stop and bullet-guide shown in detail in Fig. 6 and designated 25, this cartridge-stop and bullet-guide being piv- ’ oted in the receiver at 26. This device is provided for the purpose of controlling the SO feed of cartridges to the receiver from the magazine and for guiding the passage of a cartridge into the magazine in filling es- pecially, and also from the magazine to the receiver, and is controlled by movement of 23 the breech block 8 and the locking block 7, the latter being offset at 27, from the action- lever, as indicated in Fig. 3, to engage a projection 28 provided on the rear end of the combined cartridge-stop and bullet- 40 guide 25 when the action-lever is moved to closed position as indicated in Fig. 1, this engagement of the block 7 with the projec- tion 28 causing the combined cartridge-stop and bullet-guide 25 to move about its pivot 45 26 from the position shown in Fig. 3 which is indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 5 to the position shown in full lines in said figure, the lower part of the curve of the end of the member 25 when in the dotted line po- 30 sition shown in Fig. 5 preventing cartridges from passing from the magazine into the re- ceiver, the curve when the member is moved to the full line position of Fig. 5 guiding the bullet of a cartridge being forced into и the magazine, or the head of a cartridge passing from the magazine to the receiver. The firearm illustrated is provided with the usual firing mechanism comprising the hammer 29, trigger 30 and firing pin but inasmuch as these parts form no part of the present invention their operation will not be described as they are well known in this art. Assuming now that it be desired to op- erate the firearm and that the firearm is to be employed with short small caliber car- tridges: the bushing 21 will have been in- serted in the opening 22 in the forward end of the receiver in order to accommodate the receiver to the small sized magazine 4. The 70 receiver will also under these conditions have been provided with the loading-trap 18 carrying a cartridge-arrester 20. With the parts in the position shown in Fig. 1 cartridges may now be fed into the maga- 75 zine 4 through the loading-opening, the car- tridges being properly guided into the mag- azine by the projection 24 formed on the bushing 21, and the bullet guiding portion 34 of the cartridge-stop 25, as already de- 80 scribed; and as the last cartridge is fed into the magazine it will assume the dotted line position upon the carrier 10 shown at 31 in Fig. -1 with the cartridge-head resting against the shoulder 36 formed for this pur- 83 pose on the action-lever. This shoulder 36 is made to stop cartridges of large caliber or whose heads are of larger diameter and it is possible for cartridges with smaller heads to slip past it. In order, however, 00 that the cartridge may not slide rearward past the action lever far enough to jam the .action of the firearm, I have provided" the cartridge-arrester 20 already referred to, so that if the cartridge should escape the 83 shoulder 36 on the action-lever 5 it will stop against the cartridge-arrester 20 in position to be raised by the carrier. The carrier 10 at this time is held in the position shown in Fig. 1 by the expansion of the spring 16 as 100 the. force exerted by this spring with the carrier in this position is below the pivot 11 about which the carrier moves. At this time also the curved end of the combined cartridge-stop and bullet-guide is in the full 103 line position shown in Fig. 5, having been forced into that position by engagement of the offset 27 of the locking-block 7 with the projection 28, and I might here mention that movement of the combined cartridge- 1,0 stop and bullet-guide in this position forces the lug 32 formed on the rear end of the member 25 into a concave depression 33 formed in the breech-block 8. If the action- lever 5 be operated from the position shown 113 in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 2 it will be seen that the first movement of this lever will force the breech-block 8 rearwardly and this rearward movement of the breech- block will cause the cam surface at the 120 front end of the depression 33 in the breech- block to force the rear end of the combined cartridge-stop and bullet-guide 25 down- wardly swinging the same about its pivot 26 until the curved forward end of this mem- 123 ber assumes the dotted line .position shown in Fig. 5 from which it will be seen that the bottom 34 of this curved portion will be moved into cartridge-stopping position to prevent the next cartridge in the mag- 130
1,602,668 8 azine 4 from being fed into the receiver. Movement of the action-lever 5 allows the . cartridge 31 to be forced back by the maga- zine spring into position on the carrier, 5 with its front end clear of the magazine, at the same time causing the breech-block 8 to travel rearwardly. The lug 37 of the latter will engage the tail 35 formed on the carrier 10 to cause the forward end of the 10 carrier to be lifted to elevate the cartridge 31 carried thereby, this movement of the carrier compressing the spring 16 and when the force exerted by the tendency of this spring to expand passes above the center 15 line of the pivot 11 about which the carrier 10 is moving, the carrier will be forced up under this action of the spring to the posi- tion shown in Fig. 2 and be maintained in this position by the spring. The cartridge 20 is now in an inclined position as indicated in Fig. 2, with its bullet abreast of the chamber 3. The reverse movement of the action-lever 5 to force the cartridge into the chamber 3 will cause the breech-block 8 to 26 move forwardly and engage the cartridge to force the same into the chamber 3 and as the locking-block 7 moves upwardly due to rearward movement of the action-lever, it will engage the tail 35 on the carrier 10 to 30 force the rear end of the carrier upwardly until finally the force exerted by the spring 16 which is compressed due to this move- ment of the carrier passes below the pivot 11 of the carrier when the spring will 33 cause the carrier to snap downwardly into the position shown in Fig. 1 which is its cartridge-receiving position as will be ob- vious. The carrier will be held in this po- sition by the spring until the next move- 40 ment of the action-lever. Inasmuch as it is desired at this time to have the next car- tridge in the magazine fed into the receiver to rest against the shoulder 36 of the action-lever 5 it is necessary to move 46 the combined cartridge-stop and bullet- guide 25 out of cartridge-stopping position, that is to say, out of the dotted line position shown in Fig. 5 and this is accomplished by the offset 27 of the locking block 7 engaging 50 the projection 28 on the rear end of this member as the locking-block is moved up- wardly which will cause the member 25 to rock about its pivot 26 into the full line po- sition shown in Fig. 5. 55 It will be obvious from the foregoing that I have provided a firearm with a receiver which is adapted for use with cartridges hot only of different calibers but also of different lengths for obviously if it be de- 60 sired to use this receiver for a longer car- tridge than was used in the operation of the firearm as above described it would merely be necessary to substitute a loading- trap for the loading trap 18 which would 65 not be provided with the cartridge-arrester 20, and to shorten the lug 37 on the breech- block 8 to allow the latter to travel far- ther to the rear. It will be obvious also that by merely removing the bushing 21 and providing a ‘A magazine 4 of the proper'size as well as substituting the proper size of barrel, car- tridges of a larger caliber may be used with this same receiver. ’ In short, it will be obvious that the re- 75 ceiver here described is adapted for use in a firearm with cartridges „ of different lengths as well as different calibers which as pointed out is very advantageous inas- much as the receiver is very expensive. 80 It will be seen also that I have provided a cartridge-arrester which is operative in- dependently of the action lever for posi- tively limiting movement of a cartridge rearwardly of the receiver relative to said 83 lever. While I have herein illustrated and de- scribed a preferred embodiment of my in- vention it is to be understood that changes may be made in the details thereof within the. purview of the present invention. What is claimed as new is: 1. In a firearm adapted to be used with cartridges of different calibers, a receiver provided with a loading-opening through 96 which the firearm is charged with car- tridges, a loading-trap in said opening for maintaining the loading-opening closed when the firearm is in operation, a stop for limiting rearward movement of a cartridge 100 of one caliber when the action is locked, and an auxiliary stop for positively limiting the rearward movement of a cartridge of dif- ferent caliber. 2. In a firearm adapted to be used with 103 cartridges of different calibers, a receiver provided with a loading-opening, a loading- trap in said opening, a cartridge-carrier, a stop for preventing a cartridge of one cali- ber moving rearwardly in the receiver when 110 the action is locked, and an auxiliary stop for positively limiting the rearward move- ment of a cartridge of a different caliber. 3. A receiver for a firearm adapted to be used with cartridges of different calibers 115 comprising in combination an action lever having a stop for engaging a cartridge of one caliber when the action is locked and a cartridge arrester operative independently of said lever for positively limiting the rear- 120 ward movement of a cartridge of a different caliber in said receiver. 4. A receiver for a firearm adapted to be used with cartridges of different calibers comprising in combination a cartridge-car- 2 rier, an action-lever having a stop for engag- ing and preventing rearward movement of a cartridge of one caliber when the action is locked, and a cartridge-arrester operative independently of said lever for positively 1
1,602, бвй limiting the rearward movement of a car- tridge of a different caliber relative to said carrier. 5. A receiver for a firearm adapted to be. 5 used with cartridges of different caliber comprising in combination a cartridge-car- rier, an action-lever having a stop for nor- mally engaging a cartridge of one caliber when the action is locked, a loading-trap, 10 and a cartridge-arrester carried by said loading-trap and operative independently of said lever for positively limiting a move- ment of the cartridge of different caliber rearwardly relative to said carrier. 15 6. A receiver for a firearm comprising a loading trap, and a pivoted member, said pivoted member functioning as a cartridge stop and its forward end being shaped to form a bullet guide for guiding a cartridge -0 being fed through the receiver into the mag- azine of the firearm past said loading trap. 7. In a firearm, a receiver and a com- bined cartridge-stop and bullet-guide sus- tained thereby, the forward end of said stop -5 and guide being curved to serve as a bullet- guide, the lower edge of said curve func- tioning as a cartridge-stop. 8. In a firearm ' the combination of a breech-block, a locking-block and a com- 30 bined cartridge-stop and bullet-guide con- trolled by said blocks. 9. In a firearm the combination of a slid- ing breech-block, a sliding locking-block and a combined cartridge-stop and bullet-guide 35 moved to cartridge-stopping position by rear- ward movement of the breech-block and to cartridge-releasing and bullet-guiding posi- tion by closing movement of the locking- block. 40 10. In a firearm the combination of a magazine, a sliding breech-block, a sliding locking-block and a combined cartridge-stop and bullet-guide actuated by the breech- block in opening to stop a cartridge fol- 45 lowing in the magazine and actuated by the locking-block in closing so as to release the cartridge in the magazine and function as a. bullet-guide. 11. In a^ firearm the combination of a u0 magazine, a receiver having a loading- opening therein, a loading-trap at said opening, a carrier, a sliding breech-block and an action-lever sustained by said re- ceiver, a cartridge-arrester carried by said uo loading-trap for limiting movement of a cartridge rearwardly relative to said re- ceiver and‘said carrier and a combined car- tridge-stop and bullet-guide acted on by the said breech-block in opening to stop a 00 cartridge following .in said magazine and a locking-block acting on said cartridge-stop and bullet-guide in closing to move the same out of cartridge-stopping position to release the cartridge in the magazine. 12. In a firearm having a magazine and a 66 pivoted carrier for transferring a cartridge from the magazine to the chamber of the firearm, a sliding breech-block which in its rearward movement moves said carrier into loading position, a locking block which in 70 its closing movement moves said carrier to receiving position, and a coil spring ex- tending longitudinally of said carrier for maintaining the carrier in said respective loading and receiving positions. 76 13. In a magazine-firearm the combina- tion of a magazine, a receiver having an opening therein, a bushing in said opening for receiving said magazine, said bushing being provided with a rearwardly extending •• projection for guiding a cartridge passing into said magazine. 14. In a firearm having a magazine and a pivoted carrier for transferring a car- tridge from the magazine to the chamber of 86 the firearm, a sliding breech-block which moves said carrier into loading position, a locking-block which- moves said carrier to receiving position, and a coil spring ex- tending longitudinally of said carrier for 90 maintaining the. same in loading position during forward movement of the breech- block. 15. In a firearm having a magazine and a pivoted carrier for transferring a car- 95 tridge from the magazine to the chamber of the firearm, a sliding breech-block which moves said carrier into loading position, a locking-block which moves said carrier to receiving position, and a coil spring ex- 100 tending longitudinally of said carrier for maintaining the same in receiving position after being forced to such position by the locking-block. 16. In a firearm having a magazine, a 105 pivoted carrier for transferring a cartridge from the magazine to the chamber of the firearm, and a coil spring for holding the carrier in loading position and in receiving position. HO 17. In a firearm having a magazine, a pivoted carrier for transferring a cartridge from the magazine to the chamber of the firearm and a coil spring exerting an actu- ating force upon the carrier below the pivot- 115 al point thereof when the carrier’ is in re- ceiving position and above said pivotal point when the carrier is in loading position. This specification signed this 17th day of May, 1930. JOHN M. BROWNING.
1,511,262 Oct. 14 , 1924. J. M. BROWNING
Patented Oct. 14, 1924. 1,511,262 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. JOHN M. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH. AUTOMATIC FTRF.ABIff. Application filed September 21, 1923. Serial Ko. 664,066. To all whom it may concent: Be it known that I, John M. Bbowning, a citizen of the United , States, residing in Ogden, in the county of Weber and State 6 of Utah, have invented certain new and use- ful Improvements in Automatic Firearms, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof. 10 The invention is for improvements in ma- chine guns and the like in which all opera- tions of the mechanism, except that of the trigger, are automatically effected, and has for its object to provide means for regulat- 16 ing or retarding the rate of firing, while re- taining the automatic action. It has been found that in automatic ma- . chine guns, and particularly in automatic machine rifles, as heretofore constructed, the 20 rate of firing may be so rapid when the gun or rifle is being operated with its full auto- matic action, that is, when the trigger is being held back, as to be a positive disad- vantage. The rate of firing may be so rapid 26 that the shooter can not properly aim his gun or rifle, ammunition is wasted and the rapid succession of recoils is so severe, par- ticularly in the case of a machine rifle being shot from the hip or shoulder, that the ac- 30 curacy of the shooter is much decreased. Also, particularly in the case of the auto- matic rifle, the gun heats up too rapidly and the rifling in the barrel wears out quick- ly. It has therefore been found advisable ЗБ to retard the rate of firing by insuring that there should be a lapse of time between suc- cessive shots greater than the time required for the usual recoil and return to battery of the recoiling parts. 40 To that end I provide novel means which retard or slow down the rate of firing by preventing the return of the firing mecha- nism to battery after recoil until after the lapse of a desired period of time. Accord- 45 ing to my present invention, on the firing of a shot the retarding mechanism is moved into operative position to insure that the firing mechanism shall be cocked on the re- coil thereof and to positively prevent the 50 firing mechanism from being released to fire the next shot until the retarding mechanism has moved from operative to inoperative position, and the time taken for this move- ment of the retarding mechanism from operative to inoperative position can be 80 regulated to insure the desired lapse of time between shots. I illustrate my invention as applied to the automatic machine rifle such as is shown and described in my United States Patent 80 No. 1,293,022, and the accompanying draw- ings show those parts of the machine rifle of said patent to which my new invention is applied. In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 w represents a longitudinal vertical section of the central portion of the machine rifle with the parts in firing position and certain parts in elevation. Fig. 2 represents a plan view of the trig- 70 ger casing and its accompanying parts. Fig. 3 represents a vertical longitudinal section of the retarding mechanism with the sear and action-slide in cocked position after recoil. 75 Fig. 4 represents a longitudinal vertical section of a portion of the action-slide, a portion of the trigger-guard, and the trigger and sear in cocked position. Fig. 5 represents a left hand side view of 80 the retarding lever latch and of the right hand rear portion of the retarding lever, with a portion of the retarding lever in sec- tion. Fig. 6 represents a front view of the es- 35 capement ratchet and pawl. Fig. 7 represents a vertical transverse section in the line 7—7 of Fig. 1. The following main parts of the machine rifle shown and described in the Patent No. 90 1,203,022 are shown in the drawings: The hammer 1; the action-slide 2; piston- rod 3; piston 4; reaction spring 5; buffer plate 6; breech casing 7; butt stock 8; maga- zine release 9; magazine catch 10; magazine 05 11; trigger 12; trigger-plate or guard 13; and sear 14. The trigger is pivoted at its forward end on pivot-pin 12“, which extends transversely through the trigger-guard. In Figs. 1, 3 and 4 the trigger is shown in its normal in- operative position, to which it is returned by the sear spring after being pulled back to unlock the firing mechanism as herein- after described. Rearward projection 12” 100 engaging the trigger-guard prevents the trigger from swinging down beyond the position shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4.
1,511,262 5 10. 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 а The sear 14 is pivoted on pin 14* seated in the ears 13a projecting upwardly from the trigger guard on each side. The pin 14a passes through a longitudinal slot 14b in the sear, whereby the sear can not only rotate on its pivot but can have a limited longitudinal movement for purposes herein- after described. A sear spring 14c is seated in a recess in the under side of the sear and engages at its forward end the fixed pin 15 which projects transversely through the trigger-guard under the pin 14". As shown in Tig. 1, said spring normally holds the sear in its rearward position with its rear arm in raised position and the pivot pin 14a in engagement with the front face of the slot 14b, whereby the end of the rear arm of the sear will engage the cocking shoulder 2a on the bottom face of the action- slide when the action-slide moves forward after its recoil, and hold the action-slide and hammer cocked until the front arm of the sear is raised by the trigger as hereinafter described. In Figs. 1, 3 and 4 the trigger is in its normal, inoperative position, and if the retarding lever 19 is in its inoperative position, as hereinafter described, a rear- ward pull on the trigger will bring the top of the upwardly projecting arm 12c of the trigger into engagement with the end of the forward arm of the sear, rock the sear on its pivot and free the action-slide and ham- mer for forward firing movement under the action of the spring 5. Pivoted on pin 17, which projects trans- versely through the trigger guard, is the combined ratchet 17b and escapement wheel 17° (Fig. 6). An escapement pawl 18 is pivoted on pin 18a, which projects trans- versely through the trigger guard below pivot pin 17. Said escapement pawl is posi- tioned for engagement with the teeth of the escapement wheel 17е. 19 is a retarding and trigger-locking lever pivoted at its rear end and centrally of the trigger guard on pin 19a which projects transversely through the trigger guard. Pivotally mounted on the forward end of the retarding lever and projecting down- wardly therefrom is the ratchet pawl 20 having teeth 20a to engage the teeth of the ratchet 17b. Seated in the head of the re- tarding and trigger-locking lever is the ratchet pawl spring 20b having its upper end seated against a rearward projection on the ratchet pawl and thereby pressing the lower end of the pawl rearwardly and holding the teeth of said pawl in engagement with the ratchet 17b. It will be noted (see Fig. 2) that the retarding lever is not parallel with the sides of the trigger-guard throughout its length, but for. a portion of its length is inclined to the left, whereby its front end is in a vertical line with the ratchet 17b, so that the ratchet pawl 20 can properly en- gage said ratchet. 19b is the retarding lever spring mounted on the pivot pin 12a, on which the trigger is pivoted. One end of the spring rests on the top of the trigger- guard and the other end bears against the 7(> К 19е which projects laterally from the hand side of the retarding lever, for- wardly of pivot pin 19a. Pin 19е is under- cut to hold said spring and pin in engage- ment. This spring therefore exerts its pres- 75 sure to rotate the forward end of the retard- inglever upwardly, from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 3. Projecting laterally from the right hand side of the rear end of the retarding lever 80 and integral therewith is lever-piece 19d with longitudinally extending front and rear arms (Figs. 2 and 5). Between the upwardly projecting arm 12е of the trigger and the right hand side of the 85 trigger-guard, and just forward of the lever piece 19d, is the retarding lever latch 21, pivoted on a fixed pin 21a, which projects inwardly from right hand side of the trig- ger-guard. Seated in said latch is the latch 90 spring 21b bearing at its lower end against the trigger-guard, as shown in Fig. 5. In the rear face of said latch is a recess 21е. As will be seen by reference to Fig. 5, the latch spring normally holds said latch in 95 its rearward position with the shoulder of said recess 21е engaging the top face of the shelf 19е on the end of the front arm of the lever piece 19d when the retarding lever is in its lowered position (Fig. 1), thereby ЮС holding the retarding lever in its lowered or operative position, as shown in Fig. 1. The shelf 19е on the end of the front arm of the lever piece 19d projects laterally and to the right, beyond the inner edge of the Ion- l°s gitudinal right hand ledge 13b on the top right hand side of the trigger-guard, as shown in Fig. 2. The upward movement of retarding lever 19 is limited by the rear end of lever piece 19d engaging the top face of llc the trigger-guard, as shown in Fig. 3. The downward movement of retarding lever 19 is limited by engagement of the shelf 19е with the top of the said longitudinal ledge 13b. lie The top of the trigger adjacent the arm 12е forms a shoulder 12d (Fig. 7) which, un- less the retarding lever is in its uppermost or inoperative p>osition, will engage the bot- tom face of said lever before the top of the 12C arm 12е will engage the front arm of the sear. The pivot pins 14a, 19’, 12a and 17 are held in their seats when the rifle is assembled by the sides of the breech casing. 12E The operation of the retarding device can now be readily understood. In Fig. 1 the parts are in the position which they assume when a shot is being fired. Upon the firing of a shot the action-slide immediately re- 13C
1,611,262 coils and just as it moves forward after the limit of recoil, the rear end of the sear en- gages the cocking shoulder 2a, holding the action-slide and hammer cocked. The ac- 5 tion-slide, by its cocking shoulder, strikes the rear end of the sear a sharp blow as the ac- tion-slide shoots forward under the pressure of its reaction spring 5. The force of this blow will be buffered and the danger of in- 10 juring the parts thereby avoided by the lon- gitudinal movement of the sear, permitted by its pivot slot 14b, against the rearward pressure of the sear spring. Moreover, the front end of the sear in moving forward 15 from the position of Fig. 1 to that of Fig. 3, will strike the rear face of latch 21, ro- tate it on its pivot against the pressure of its spring and disengage the shoulder of recess 21° from engagement with the shelf 19е on 20 the forward arm of the lever piece 19a. Re- tarding lever 19 is now free to swing up- wardly under the influence of its spring 19b. On the upward swing of the retarding lever the teeth on the ratchet pawl 20 engage the 25 ratchet 17b, rotating the ratchet and the es- capement wheel 17е, the teeth of which en- gage with the escapemerit pawl 18, which operates in a well-known manner to retard the rotation of the escapement wheel, there- to by retarding the upward movement of the retarding lever. Until the retarding lever has reached its uppermost position, pull on the trigger can not bring arm 12е on the trigger into engagement with the sear to :i5 rotate the sear and release the action-slide because of the position of the retarding lever overlying the shoulder 12a on the trigger. When the retarding lever has reached its uppermost position, however, as in Fig. 3, 40 upon pulling the trigger the projection 12е will engage the front end of the sear before the shoulder 12a will strike the bottom of the retarding lever and the action-slide and hammer will be released to move forward to 45 fire the next cartridge. On the forward motion of the action-slide the bottom of the slide engages the top of the retarding lever, forcing it down to its low- ered position (Fig. 1) against the pressure 5° of its spring. The retarding lever will swing downward so rapidly that the teeth on pawl 20 will ride over the teeth on ratchet 17b and there will be no appreciable retarding of the forward movement of the action-slide. If 55 the trigger is being held back for full auto- matic action the retarding lever, on its down- ward swing, will engage the shoulder 12a on the trigger and force the trigger down- wardly against the pull of the operator and 00 thereby insure that the sear will return to and remain in cocking position until the re- tarding lever has again returned to its up- permost and inoperative position. By con- tinuing to pull back on the trigger the rate 65 of firing can be made as rapid as the opera- tion of the retarding mechanism permits. When the action slide moves forward, the sear, actuated by its spring, is returned to its rearward position with its rear end raised __ for again engaging the cocking shoulder of 70 the action-slide on the next recoil thereof. Rotation of the sear on its pivot pin under the influence of its spring is limited by the stud 22, which projects upwardly from the top face of the trigger-guard and which is 75 engaged by the bottom face, of the. front arm of the sear when the sear is in its nor- mal position, as shown in Fig. 7. - When the retarding lever is lowered, the front face of the shelf 19е rides over the rear- 80 wardly inclined face of the catch 21, rotat- ing said catch forwardly against its spring, until the retarding lever reaches the limit of its downward movement, when said shelf registers with the recess 21° of the latch and 85 the latch snaps back with its shoulder en- gaging the end of the shelf, holding the re- tarding lever in its downward position as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, until the latch is again engaged and pushed out of locking position by the longitudinal movement of the sear, as hereinbefore described. The minimum length of time elapsing, therefore, between shots (without counting the very brief time consumed in, the recoil 95 and return of the firing mechanism) will be the length of time taken by the retarding lever in rising from its lowered or operative position to its raised or inoperative position, and this will be governed by the weight of 100 the escapement pawl and by the number of teeth in the ratchet pawl and escapement wheel. The retarding lever and its spring can be removed from the trigger-guard without af- 195 fecting the operation of the gun except that there will then be nothing to retard the rate of firing. By holding back the trigger the sear will be kept from any cocking engage- ment with the action-slide, permitting full automatic action. It will be noticed that when my retarding mechanism is operating, a continued pull on the trigger is essential for full automatic ac- tion, as is the case when the retarding mech- H5 anism is dispensed with. What I claim and desire to secure by Let- ters Patent is:— , . 1. In an automatic fire-arm the combina- tion of recoiling firing mechanism, a sear, a 12° trigger, and firing retarding mechanism comprising trigger locking means rendered operative on the forward firing movement of the firing mechanism to lock the trigger from sear actuating movement, means to I25 move said locking means to inoperative posi- tion, means which render said moving means operative on the motion of the firing mech- anism following discharge and means for retarding the movement of said locking 1:10
4s 1,511,262 means from operative to inoperative posi- tion, whereby the minimum time elapsing between shots may be increased. 2. In an automatic fire-arm the combina- 5 tion of recoiling firing mechanism, a sear, a trigger, and firing retarding mechanism comprising trigger locking means rendered operative on the forward firing movement of the firing mechanism to lock the trigger from 10 sear actuating movement, means for auto- matically locking said trigger locking means in said operative position and which is re- leased by the cocking of said firing mecha- nism following discharge, means for'moving 15 said trigger locking means to inoperative po- sition upon the release of said locking ineans, and means for retarding the move- ment'of said trigger locking means from op- erative to inoperative position. 20 3. In an automatic fire-arm, the combina- tion of recoiling firing mechanism, a sear, a trigger, and firing retarding mechanism comprising trigger-locking means rendered operative to lock the trigger from sear-actu- 25 ating movement on the forward firing move- ment of the firing mechanism and means rendered operative by the cocking of said firing mechanism following recoil to move the trigger-locking means to inoperative po- 30 sition, whereby after each shot the trigger will be locked from sear-actuating movement until after the firing mechanism has been cocked by the sear. 4. In an automatic fire-arm, the combina- 35 tion of recoiling firing mechanism, a sear, a trigger, and firing retarding mechanism comprising a trigger-locking element ren- dered operative on the forward firing move- ment of the firing mechanism to lock the ll) trigger from sear-actuating movement, means rendered operative by the cocking movement of said firing mechanism to move said trigger-locking element from operative to inoperative position, and means for re- tarding the said movement of said trigger- locking element, whereby on the firing of each shot said trigger will be locked from sear actuating movement until said element has moved from operative to inoperative po- dl) sition and whereby the time taken for such movement will be increased. 5. In an automatic fire-arm, the combina- tion of recoiling firing mechanism, a sear, a trigger and firing retarding mechanism com- prising a spring-pressed trigger-locking ele- ment moved to operative position against the pressure of said spring on the forward firing movement of the firing mechanism to lock the trigger from sear-actuating movement, (,f) means for locking said element in its said operative position rendered inoperative on the cocking movement of said firing means, and means for retarding the rate of move- ment of said element from operative to in- 6:’ operative position, whereby on the firing of each shot said trigger will be locked frdm sear-actiiating movement until after the fir- ing mechanism has been cocked by the sear and whereby there will be a lapse of time between shots at least equal to the time taken 70 for said trigger-locking element to move from operative to inoperative position. 6. In an automatic fire-arm, the combina- tion of recoiling firing mechanism, a trigger, a sear mounted for limited longitudinal 75 movement, a spring-pressed trigger-locking lever actuated by the firing mechanism bn, its forward firing movement to operative po- sition against the pressure of its spring, a lever catch to engage said lever and hold it 80 in trigger-locking position and which is po- sitioned to be disengaged from said lever by the forward movement of said sear, whereby when the firing mechanism engages the sear on its cocking engagement therewith 85 said sear will engage said catch to release said lever for movement to inoperative posi- tion under the influence of its spring. 1 7. In an automatic fire-arm, the combina- tion of recoiling firing mechanism, a sear, a 90 trigger, and fire-retarding mechanism com- prising a movable trigger-locking element, a spring therefor, means for retarding the movement of said trigger-locking element from operative to inoperative position, 05 means for locking said element in its opera- tive position, said element being moved to operative position against the pressure of its spring by said firing mechanism on its forward firing movement and being held in 100 said position by said locking means, and means actuated by said firing mechanism on its cocking movement to disengage said lock- ing means. 8. In an automatic fire-arm, the combina- 105 tion of recoiling firing mechanism, a trigger, a sear having limited longitudinal move- ment, yielding means for normally holding said sear in its rearward position, a trigger- locking lever actuated by the firing mecha- 110 nism on its forward firing movement to lock the trigger from sear-actuating movement, lever-locking means which locks said lever in its operative position, said locking means being positioned to be engaged by. the sear 115 when said sear is in its forward position, whereby when the sear and firing mechanism come into cocking engagement the sear will be moved forwardly and will engage said locking means, thereby unlocking said 120 lever. 9. In an automatic fire-arm. the combina- tion of recoiling firing mechanism, a trigger, a sear, a trigger-locking lever, means for moving said lever to operative position on 125 the firing of a shot, means for moving said lever from operative to inoperative position, escapement means engaged by said lever which retards said movement of said lever from operative to inoperative position, a 130
1,511,262 3 latch for locking said lever-in its operative position, and means actuated by the firing mechanism on its cocking movement for dis- engaging said latch from locking engage- б ment with said lever, as and for the purpose described. 10. In an automatic fire-arm, the combina- tion of recoiling firing mechanism, a trigger, a sear having limited longitudinal move- 10 ment, a trigger-locking lever, means for moving said lever away from operative posi- tion, means for retarding said movement of said lever, and a latch which locks said lever in its operative position and which is actu- 16 ated to unlock said lever by the forward movement of the sear following cocking en- gagement with the firing mechanism. 11. In an automatic fire-arm, the combina- tion of recoiling firing mechanism, a trigger, 20 a sear having limited longitudinal move- ment, yielding means to normally hold said sear in its rearward position, a trigger-lock- ing lever actuated by the firing mechanism on its forward firing movement to operative 25 position to lock the trigger from sear-actu- ating movement, means for moving said lever from operative to inoperative position, a •yieldingly mounted latch which locks said lever from movement when in its operative 30 position and which is positioned to be en- gaged by the sear when said sear is in its forward position, whereby the firing mecha- nism will be cocked by the sear after each recoil and whereby the forward motion of 35 the sear following the cocking engagement of sear and firing mechanism will both buf- fer the blow of said engagement and will disengage said latch from said lever, permit- ting said lever to move to inoperative posi- 40 tion to unlock the trigger. 12. In an automatic fire-arm, the combina- tion of recoiling firing mechanism, and fir- . ing retarding mechanism comprising a lock- ing lever, means rendered operative by the 45 firing mechanism on its initial forward movement following recoil to move said lever from locking to unlocking position, means for retarding said movement of said lever, and means for moving said lever to 50 locking position on the further forward movement o* said firing mechanism. 13. In an automatic fire-arm, combination of recoiling firing mechanism, a sear, a trig- ger, a locking lever which is moved by the firing mechanism on its forward firing 55 movement to operative position overlying the trigger, a latch to engage and' lock said lever in said position, a lever spring, means actuated by the firing mechanism on its ini- tial forward movement following recoil to 60 disengage said latch from said lever, es- capement means engaged by said lever to retard the movement of said lever from oper- ative to inoperative position. 14. In an automatic fire-arm, combination 65 of recoiling firing mechanism, a sear having limited longitudinal movement, a trigger, and firing retarding mechanism comprising a locking lever, a lever spring, a lever lock- ing latch and escapement mechanism en- 70 gaged by said lever, as and for the purpose described. 15. In an automatic fire-arm, combination of recoiling firing mechanism and firing re- tarding mechanism comprising a lever ren- 75 dered operative on the forward firing move- ment of the firing mechanism to prevent ac- tuation of the firing mechanism to fire a shot, means to move said lever from opera- tive to inoperative position, and means for 80 retarding said movement of said lever com- prising a toothed pawl carried by said lever, a ratchet wheel, an escapement wheel and pawl actuated by said ratchet, and a spring holding said toothed pawl in yielding en- 85 gagement with said ratchet, the teeth on said pawl and ratchet being so organized that when in the operation of the fire-arm said lever moves from operative to inoperative position said pawl will rotate said ratchet, 90 and when said lever is moved from inopera- tive to operative position the teeth on said pawl will slide over the teeth on said ratchet without any appreciable rotation of the same. 95 This specification signed and witnessed this 19th day of Sept., A. D. 1923. JOHN M. BROWNING. In the presence of: C. J. Ehbets, Aethur L. Ulbioh.
Feb. 3. 1925. 1,525,065 J. M. BROWNING AUTOMATIC FIREARM Filed Dec. 15, 1923 6 Sheets-Sheet 1
Feb. 3. 1925. 1,525,065 J. M. BROWNING AUTOMATIC FIREARM Filed Dec. 15, 1923 6 Sheets-Sheet й
Feb. 3. 1925. 1,525,065 J. M. BROWNING AUTOMATIC FIREARM Filed Dec. 15, 1923 6 Sheets-Sheet 3
Feb. 3. 1925. 1,525,065 J. M. BROWNING AUTOMATIC FIREARM Filed Dec, 15, 1923 6 Sheets-Sheet 4
Feb. 3. 1925. 1,525,065 J. M. BROWNING AUTOMATIC FIREARM Filed Dec. 15, 1923 6 Sheets-Sheet 5
Feb. 3. 1925. 1,525,065 J. M. BROWNING AUTOMATIC FIREARM Filed Dec. 15, 1923 6 Sheets-Sheet 6
Patented Feb. 3, 1923. 1,525,065 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. JOHN M. BROWNING, OF OGDEN. UTAH. AUTOMATIC FIREARM. Application filed December 16, 1923. Serial No. 680,963. To dll whom it may concern: Be it known that I, John M. Browning, a citizen of the United States, residing in Ogden, in the county of Weber and State 5 of Utah, have invented certain new and use- ' ful Improvements in Automatic Firearms, of which the following is a specification, ref- erence being had to the accompanying draw- ings, forming a part hereof. 10 The invention relates to an automatic gun of the recoil-operated type in which all the operations of the mechanism, except that of the trigger, are afitomatically effected. A mam object of the invention is to pro- 15 vide an automatic gun of this character which is adapted to fire large caliber pro- jectiles such as can be loaded with a high explosive charge (37 mm. or larger cartridge for instance) but so light in weight as to be 20 mobile, adapted to be mounted on aircraft and fired from any position and yet most durable. This object is attained by provid- ing a novel construction and combination of parts, including, amongst other things, new 25 and novel means for holding and feeding, the cartridges, a novel form of lock frame and co-operating parts and novel means for actuating the breech block to close and open the breech. Moreover, I have provided a 30 construction so simple that the gun can be entirely taken apart and assembled quickly and without the. use of any tools, so light that it can be easily carried or moved from place to place, and can be mounted on any 35 airplane or aircraft of a usual, type and can be fired in any position, and yet strong, re- liable and safe in operation, and capable of withstanding the severe shocks and strains which accompany the firing of large caliber 40 projectiles. While a main object of my invention is to provide an automatic gun for firing large . caliber projectiles, the invention is equally applicable to small caliber guns. 45 Other and further objects and advantages will appear from the following disclosure. The inventions in their preferred form are shown in the drawings in which, Fig. 1 represents a top plan view of the 50 gun. ’ Fig. 2 represents a right hand side eleva- tion of the gun. Fig. 3 represents a vertical transverse sec- tion in the lines 3—3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 represents a horizontal section of 55 the dust cover and feed box in the line 4 —4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 represents a left hand side eleva- tion of the gun. Fig. 6 represents a right hand view of a fio central longitudinal vertical section showing the reciprocating parts in their forward po- sition ready for firing. The barrel and re- cuperator are broken away, certain parts in- cluding the buffer are in elevation, and cer- tain parts including the cocking lever pivot pin spring arm and the feed pawl lever, are not shown. Fig. 7 represents a right hand view of a central longitudinal vertical section showing 70 the reciprocating parts in a rearward po- sition. The barrel and recuperator are broken away, certain parts are in elevation and certain parts including the cocking lever pivot pin Spring arm and the feed pawl 75 lever, are not shown. Fig. 8 represents the trigger, detached, in top plan view and front view. Tn the top plan view a portion of the trigger bar is also shown. 80 Fig. 9 represents a front sectional view showing the top of the casing, the trigger bar and the trigger in the line 9—9 of Fig. 10. Fig. 10 represents a right hand side ele- 85 vation of the trigger bar with the trigger and portions of the casing and feed box in section. Fig. 11 represents a, front view of the trigger bar with a portion of the top flange 90 of the left hand side plate in section, in line 11—11 of Fig. 10, showing the connection between- the front end of the trigger bar and said flange. Fig. 12 represents a left hand view of a 95 central vertical longitudinal section, with the lock frame and other parts in elevation. This view shows the parts when the barrel is in its forward position and the lock frame . is being held in its rearward position, ready 100 for the insertion of cartridge into the gun. Fig. 13 represents a left hand v\ew of a vertical longitudinal section showing the parts shown in Fig. 12 in position to inject a cartridge into the breech of the barrel, 105 Fig. 14 represents a top plan view of the, gun with the top cover of the feed box and its latch removed and the trunnion block
SI 1,мв,овб and casing broken away at front and rear. The parts are in the position which they oc- . cupy in Fig. 12 with the first cartridge being fed into the gun. The barrel extension ana 5 breech block are not shown. Fig. 15 represents a top plan view of the gun with the top cover of the feed box and its latch removed and the trunnion block and casing broken away at front and rear. 10 The parts are in the position which they oc- cupy when a cartridge is about to be in- jected into the breech as shown in Figs. 13 and 17. Fig. 16 represents a vertical transverse 10 section in the line 16—16 of Fig. 12. In this figure the cartridge carrier is not shown. Fig. 17 represents a vertical transverse section in the line 17—17 of Fig. 13, with a cartridge being cammed from its recess 20 in the feed plate and the cartridge guide lever in its upper position; in Fig. 17 the cartridge earner is omitted, and the car- tridge is in an earlier stage of its progress from the feed plate to the breech than in 2« Fig. 13. Fig. 18 represents a plan view of the feed plate. Fig. 19 represents a front view of the feed plate with one cartridge in locked position 30 in the plate. Fig. 20 represents a bottom view of the feed plate with one cartridge locked in position in the plate. Fig. 21 represents a vertical transverse 35 section of the feed plate in the line 21—21 of Fig. 19. Fig. 22 represents a front view, bottom view and a right hand end view of the spring catch which locks the cartridges io in the feed plate. Fig. 23 represents a top view of the feed pawl lever and feed pawl. Fig. 24 represents a left hand side view of the feed pawl lever and feed pawl. 45 Fig. 25 represents a front view, a right hand side view and a horizontal section of the feed lever in the line 25—25 of the right hand side view. Fig. 26 represents a perspective view of 50 the feed lever spring. Fig. 27 represents a top view and a front view of the cartridge loading tool. Fig. 28 represents a top view of the barrel (broken away) and the barrel exten- 55 sion ana the parts carried thereby. Fig. 29 represents a right hand side view of the barrel (broken away) and the barrel extension and the parts carried thereby. Fig. 30 represents a rear view of Fig. 29, 80 with the several parts in their respective positions. Fig. 31 represents a front view of Fig. 29, with the several parts in their respec- tive positions. •• Fig. 32 represents on an enlarged scale a section of the right hand arm of the barrel extension and parts carried thereby in the line 32—32 of Fig. 29. Fig. 33 represents a top view and a right hand side view of the ejector. 70 Fig. 34 represents a top view and a right hana side view of .the cartridge guide stop lever. Fig. 35 represents a rear view of Fig. 36. Fig. 36 represents a right hand side view 75 of the right hand arm of the barrel exten- sion showing, in dotted lines, the cartridge guide lever in its intermediate position. Fig. 37 and Fig. 38 are the same, respec- tively, as Figs. 35 and 36, with the car- 80 tridge guide lever in its lowest position. Fig. 39 represents top, rear and right hand side views of the breech block. Fig. 40 represents top, rear and right hand side views of the breech block stop. 85 Fig. 41 represents top and right hand side views of the cartridge guide lever. Figs. 42, 43, 44 and 4J represent respec- tively, top, rear, right hand side and front views of the lock frame, with its associated 00 parts. Fig. 46 represents a fragmentary hori- zontal section in the line 46—46 of Fig. 44. Fig. 47 represents a left hand side view of the upper front portion of the lock frame 05 and charger, showing the ejector stud. Fig. 48 represents a top view of the charg- er, showing the extractor and extractor spring. Fig. 49 represents a central vertical sec- inn tion of the front portion of the charger, with the extractor and extractor spring in elevation. Fig. 50 represents a front view of the charger and extractor. 105 Fig. 51 represents top, right hand side and front views of the breech block actuat- ing lever. Fig. 52 represents a top view, a rear view and a right hand side view of the trigger 110 lever and trigger lever connector. Fig. 53 represents top, rear, right hand side and front views of the hammer. Fig. 54 represents top, right hand side and front views of the sear. .115 Fig. 55 represents top, right hand side and front views of the trip lever. Fig. 56 represents a right hand and a bottom view of the cocking lever pivot pin. Fig. 57 represents a right hand side and 120 a front view of the cocking lever. Fig. 58 represents a top, a right hand side and a front view of the sear spring. Fig. 59 represents a rear view of the gun with the rear plate broken away, showing 125 the reaction spring and the shoulder on the guide rod (in dotted lines), the rear pro- jection on the guide rod, the guide plate and a portion of the buffer housing. The gun represented by the drawings 130
1,635,065 О ' comprises a frame of breech casing 1, rec- tangular in form, and adapted to contain the breech and firing mechanism. The said casing is made up of two strong vertical side 5 plates provided, except at their front end portions, with inturned flanges la at top and bottom, as shown in Figs. 16 and 17. The casing is closed at the top and ends as here- inafter described. io A trunnion block 2 is located between the forward ends of the side plates, where the inturned flanges la are omitted, and said block is firmly secured to the side plates at top and bottom, as by a plurality of trans- it verse rivets 2a. Rearwardly of said trun- nion block the bottom of the casing Ц, left open in the space between the lower in- turned flanges of the side plates for the ejection of the empty shells and for other 2ii purposes as will hereinafter appear. Pro- jecting laterally from the trunnion block are the usual trunnions 2b for mounting the gun on a carriage or other supporting means. 2 > The top of the casing is closed at the rear by the fixed top plate 3 rigidly secured to the inturned flanges at the top of the side plates, as by means of screws 3a (Fig. 1). From the front end of the top plate 3 forward to a point a short distance back of the rear end of the trunnion block 2, the casing is closed at the top by the upwardly projecting feed box 4, secured on both sides to the side plates of the casing and at front and back to the top side plate flanges in any well knowm manner, as by screws 4a. This feed box contains members of the cartridge feeding mechanism and is pro- vided with a transverse feed channel into 40 which the cartridges and the feed plate car- rying the same may be fed from left to right into the gun, the feed plate being fed out at the right hand side as the firing proceeds. When the gun is not in use, this 45 channel is closed by outwardly swinging doors to prevent the entrance of foreign matter, such as snow or dirt, the door 4b on the left-hand side swinging upward and permitting the entrance of the cartridges 50 and feed plate and the smaller door 4® on the right hand side swinging back and per- mitting the exit of the feed plate. To per- mit access to the parts of the mechanism in the box 4, the top of the box is closed by 55 a cover 4a, hinged at the rear at 4е and held in its closed portion at the front by a latch 4f. The door 4b is hinged to this cover so as to swing outwardly and upwardly. Spring plungers of a usual type (see Fig. 60 4) co-operate with the doors 4b and 4C to hold them either in their open or closed positions. The top of the casing between the front end of the feed box 4 and the trunnion 65 block 2 is closed by a small plate 3b fas- tened as by screws 3® to the top flanges of the side plates, which top flanges run for- ward to this point. The front end of this ) plate projects downwardly and fits into the groove at the top of the trunnion block to JO keep out foreign matter (see Figs. 12 and, 13). At the rear end, the breech casing 1 is closed by a vertically slidable rear plate 5 (Figs. 12 and 13) which is guided and held against longitudinal movement be- 75 tween the side plates by having ribs on its sides engaging corresponding grooves in the side plates. As shown, the rear plate 5 is slid upwardly into position and held there- in by a guiding plate and rearward pro- 80 jection on the end of the reaction spring guide rod as hereinafter described^ Between the top side flanges of the side plates at their forward ends is the bridge plate 6 (Figs. 12, 13 and 14). This plate is 85 rigidly attached to said side flanges as by rivets not shown, the side flanges being cut away on their under faces to receive the side portions, correspondingly cut away on their upper faces, of this plate whereby the ,JU same is flush with said nages at top and bottom. This plate has rearwardly extend- ing shoulders 6a against which the breech block abuts on its upward movement and which limit said upward movement as here.-. 05 inafter described. The inner upper edge of the left hand shoulder 6a slopes downwardly and inwardly to accommodate the cartridge as it is fed into the gun as hereinafter described. 100 The barrel 7 is supported for longiudinal movement in a seat therefor in the trunnion block 2 and in order to minimize friction said seat is preferably slightly counterbored from its rear end so that the barrel sildably юз engages only the forward portion of said seat. At its rear end the barrel is firmly secured as by screw threads (Figs. 12, 13 and 29) to the barrel extension 8, which, near its forward end, is of a size and shape no to slidingly fit the inside of the breech casing. The rearward extending arms 8a and 8b of the barrel extension are spaced from the side walls of the casing for the greater portion of . their lengths, as shown 115 clearly in Figs. 16, 17 and 28; they are also cut away at the bottom for the greater por- tion of their lengths fov,;reasons which will become apparent as the-description pro- ceeds. Thus the combined barrel and bar- 120 rel extension are supported and guided in their reciprocations at two spaced points only, thereby greatly lessening the friction between said parts and the breech casing. To check the recoil of the heavy barrel 125 and barrel extension and to return them to their forward firing position as soon as they have reached the limit of their recoil move- ment, a recuperator 9 is provided. This re- cuperator has the usual internal construe- 130
4 1,525,060 tion which is well known and therefore need not be further described. The re- cuperator is conveniently secured to the under side of the trunnion block 2, by 5 forming T-shaped grooves on the bottom of the trunnion block adapted to receive corre- sponding T-shaped ribs on the top of the rear portion of the recuperator, and said members are rigidly secured against rela- 0 tive longitudinal movement by transverse pins 9* (Figs. 2 and 3). At the rear of the trunnion block the barrel extension is formed with a down- wardly, projecting lug 8C having a longi- • tudinal hole to receive the screw threaded rear end of the recuperator piston rod 9b. Said hole is counterbored from each end, thereby forming shoulders adapted to be damped between forward and rear nuts, 9° !0 and 9d, respectively, (Fig. 6), each having cylindrical portions to fit the counterbores and locked against rotation when in their operative position, by the breech block stop ns hereinafter described, or by any other » suitable means. In this manner a very strong connection between the piston rod and the barrel extension is obtained, said connection permitting the easy disassembly of the parts by simply unscrewing the rear to nut 9d when the breech block stop has been removed. The breech block 10 is formed as shown in Fig. 39, with vertical ribs 10a on each side which have a sliding fit in vertical 55 grooves or mortises 8d in the barrel exten- sion 8 (Figs. 12 and 28). At its lower rear end the breech block is widened longitudi- nally at 10b (Fig. 39), this widened lower end having a T-shaped slot 10° therein for о a purpose hereinafter described. Rigidly attached to or integral with the rear face of the breech block, near its top, is the lock- ing rib IO*1 hereinafter more fully described. The breech block 10 is adapted to open and 5 close the breech of the barrel by vertical reciprocation in the barrel extension, and is reciprocated for this purpose by the breech block actuating lever 11 in a manner now to be described. о Mounted for longitudinal reciprocation in the casing is the lock frame 12, shown de- tached in Figs. 42, 43, 44 and 45. At 12a (Figs. 43 and 45) are longitudinal grooves on opposite sides of the horizontal portion 5 12° of the lock frame to receive the inwardly projecting bottom flanges la of the side plates of the casing 1 (see Figs. 16 and 17), and thereby guide and support the lock frame for longitudinal movement therein. 10 As shown in Figs. 16 and 17 the upper portion of the lock frame takes its position and reciprocates between the arms 8a and ,8b of the barrel extension. Depending from the bottom of the front end of the lock •3 frame are two lugs 12b (see Figs. 44 and 45) in which the transverse breech block ac- tuating lever pin lla is made fast. Pivot- ally mounted between the lugs 12b on the pin lla is the breech block actuating lever 11, of the form shown in Fig. 51. The 70 forward arm of this lever ends in two diverging branches llb and 11°. The end of upwardly projecting branch llb is formed with two short lateral studs lld of a size and form to enter the transverse opening 75 of the T-slot 10° of the breech block. When the studs lld are in the slot 10е of the breech block, the Crocking of the lever 11 on its pivot will cause the vertical reciprocation of the breech bolt. In Fig. 6 the parts are 80 shown in full firing position, with the breech block in its raised position, closing the breech. When the cartridge is fired the barrel, barrel extension, breech block and lock frame recoil and during this recoil 85 the lever 11 is rotated on its pivot, by means hereinafter described, causing the studs 11* to enter the transverse opening in the slot 10 of the breech block and move the breech block downwardly from the position shown 00 in Fig., 6 to its lowered position shown in Fig. 7, when the barrel and barrel extension are substantially at the end of their rear- ward movement. The barrel and barrel ex- tension now move f о ward again under the 95 tension of the recuperator spring carrying with them the breech block, but the lock frame with its accompanying parts con- tinues its recoil until stopped by the buffer, hereinafter described, and after a short for- 1IJIJ ward movement it is temporarily held in a rearward position by means hereinafter de- scribed, .the barrel, barrel extension and breech block and the lock frame and its accompanying parts thereby separating and lt»5 permitting the ejection of the discharged cartridge and the feeding into place of a new cartridge. (See Figs. 12 and 13.) As the breech block moves forward with the barrel and barrel extension, leaving the lock no frame in its rearward position, the studs lld will be withdrawn from the slot 10°, leaving the parts as shown in Figs. 12 and 13. When subsequently the lock frame moves forward after the barrel has reached the 115 limit of its forward movement and a new cartridge is in position to be inserted into the breech, the studs lld will again enter the slot 10°, the lever 11 will be rotated on its pivot and the breech block will be moved i-u vertically to its raised position shown in Fig. 6, closing the breech. The rocking of the lever 11 during the longitudinal reciprocation of the lock frame is brought about by a plurality of cam sur- 1-5 faces on cam plates fastened to the bottom of the side plates co-operating with studs on the lower branch 11° of the breech block actuating lever 11 and similar studs on the rear arm of said lever. Rigidly fastened 130
1,686,066 ай by screws to the bottom inturned flange of the left hand side plate of the casing and depending therefrom is the cam plate 13 (see Figs. 2, 5 and 6). The bottom edge б of this plate beginning at its front end first slopes rearwardly and downwardly, then runs for a distance substantially parallel with the bottom of the casing, then slopes rearwardly and downwardly again for a 10 short distance, then slopes upwardly and rearwardly. and then runs parallel to, and a short distance below, the bottom of the casing. At 13a is a cam groove on the inner side 15 of the cam plate; commencing at the rear this cam groove runs horizontally for the greater part of its length and ends in a downwardly and forwardly curving por- tion 13b. The. upper surface of the straight 20 portion of this groove is the under surface of the bottom inturned flange of the left hand side plate. At 13° is an upwardly and rearwardly inclined cam groove opening into the cam groove 13a. The top of this 25 groove 13® is closed by a spring pressed switch 13d (Fig. 6). Firmly attached to and depending from the bottom flange of the right hand side plate of the casing and just to the rear of the breech block when it is 30 in its lowered position is the cam plate 14 (see Figs. 12 and 13) which is of the same size and shape as that portion of cam plate 13 forward of cam groove 13b. The cam surfaces and grooves just de- 35 scribed cooperate with studs on the breech block lever 11 to rock said lever to raise and lower the breech block. The end of the lower branch IIе of the forward arm of lever 11 is formed with two long lateral 40 studs 11®. The end of the rear arm of the lever 11 is formed with two long lateral studs llf. When the parts are in full firing position with the breech closed as shown in Fig. 6 the forward arm of the lever 11 is 45 in a raised position with the studs 11® in contact with the bottom flanges of the side plates of the casing forwardly of the front ends of the bottom edges of the cam plates 13 and 14, the studs 11® being long enough 50 to make this contact. As the parts, includ- ing the lock frame 12 and lever 11, move rearwardly on the recoil following the firing of a cartridge the contact between the studs 11® and the rearwardly and downwardly 55 sloping bottom edges or cam surfaces of the - cam plates 13 and 14 will cam down the front arm of the.lever 11, rocking the lever on its pivot. The initial movement of the lever carries the studs lld forwardly and oo downwardly into the slot 10е of the breech block, and further movement of the lever 11 about its pivot carries the breech block vertically downward. Meanwhile the rear •arm of the lever is swinging upwardly and 05 before the studs 11® leave the rearwardly and downwardly sloping cam surfaces on the bottom of the cam plates 13 and 14 the left hand stud 11‘ on the rear arm of lever 11 enters the upwardly and rearwardly in- clined cam groove 13® on the inside of plate 70 13 which acts on said stud llf to continue the swinging of lever 11 about its pivot on . the further rearward movement of the parts, carrying the breech block to its lowest po- sition, as shown in Fig. 7. As hereinafter 75 described, the lock frame thereafter con- tinues its rearward movement and the stud llf presses aside the switch 13d (Fig. 6), and passes into the rear portion of cam groove 13a (Fig. 7), permitting the switch so to snap back and close the top of groove 13°. When the stud llf passes into groove 13a, the breech block will have reached its lowest position and the right hand stud llf will come into contact with the bottom 85 inturned flange of the right hand side plate. The rearward movement of the barrel and barrel extension is stopped by the recuper- ator before the lock frame has reached its limit of recoil and the recuperator returns 90 the barrel and barrel extension to battery. The recoil and the forward movements of the barrel and barrel extension are buffered by the recuperator. On its forward move- ment the barrel is stopped by engagement of 95 the front face of the barrel extension with the rear face of the trunnion block. After the barrel has stopped its recoil the lock frame continues its recoil under its own momentum against the reaction spring, the loo barrel and lock frame drawing apart from each other, and any excess of recoil will be finally absorbed by a suitable buffer ar- ranged on the rear plate of the casing and ' hereinafter described. The lock frame is 105 held in a rear position as shown in Fig. 7 by means hereinafter described and the bar- rel, barrel extension and breech block return to their forward firing position under the action of the recuperator spring in the us- no ual manner. Upon such separating move- ment of the barrel and its accompanying parts from the lock frame, the breech block and the breech block lever are disconnected (see Figs. 12 and 13), the studs lld having 115 withdrawn rearwardly from the T-slot 10®. While these members are so disconnected it is necessary to hold the breech block in its lowest position, so that on the subsequent re- turn movement of the lock frame the studs 120 lld will enter the T-slot 10® of the breech block and raise the block to its breech closing position. To this end, a breech block, stop 15 (see Figs. 6, 7, 12, 13 and 40) is secured to the lower end of the downwardly projecting 125 portion 8® of the barrel extension 8, said stop being provided with a rearwardly pro- jecting shoulder 15a on which the bottom of the breech block, when the same is in its low- est position, is adapted to rest. The breech 130
О 1,бМ,(Юб block is frictionaJly but firmly held in this position by a spring pressed plunger 15b mounted in said stop end projecting into a recess 10* on the front face of the breech 5 block. I find this friction plunger adequate to hold the breech block in its lowered po- sition under any unusual conditions, such as when the gun is fired upside down. The sides of said plunger are beveled and the io sides of the recess in the breech block are correspondingly formed, thereby permitting the plunger to be automatically pressed aside by applying substantial force to the block to raise it. The breech block stop 15 is se- 15 cured to the end of the portion 8C of the barrel extension by a longitudinal rib and groove connection (see Fig. 31) and a trans- verse pin 15c passing through said members to secure them against relative longitudinal 20 movement. By removing the pin the stop can be rearwardly withdrawn and the breech block can then be downwardly re- moved from the barrel extension. By the means just described I make certain that 25 the breech block will not move from its low- est position except when actuated by its ac- tuating lever 11, even though the gun be fired upside down as in an aeroplane. This stop 15 may. also prevent turning of the "0 nuts 9° and 9d, which may be square-headed for this purpose, thereby locking said nuts until stop 15 is removed. On the return of the barrel, barrel ex- tension and breech block to forward posi- 35 tion, if any cartridges remain in the feed plate, the lock frame will be automatically released and under the tension of the reac- tion spring will be returned to its forward position, pushing a fresh cartridge into the 40 barrel chamber, all of which will be herein- after more fully described. During the for- ward movement of the lock frame the left hand stud llf on the rear arm of the breech block actuating lever 11 will first be guided ‘15 in the horizontal cam groove 13a of the cam plate 13, the switch 13d now closing the en- trance to cam groove 13c. When the stud llf reaches the downwardly and forwardly curved cam groove 13b, the studs lld at the 50 forward end of lever 11 will have entered the slot 10е in the breech block and the cartridge will have been almost fully in- serted into the chamber, and as the lock frame completes its forward movement the 55 studs llf will be guided, downwardly by the cam groove 13b, and the rear cam surface on the cam plate 14 which at their lower ends are substantially vertical, rocking the lever 11 about its pivot to raise the front arm of the lever and thereby raise the breech bolt at a rapidly increasing rate. The passage of the studs 11' through cam groove 13b and along said cam surface serves to raise the breech block about half way of its full up- 05 ward movement while the lock frame is completing its forward movement and push- ' ing the cartridge into the barrel. The studs 11* leave the cam groove 13* and the rear 5- cam surface on cam plate 14 just as the lock frame completes its forward movement and ’ the final upward movement of the breech block to its upper closing position is com- pleted partly under its own momentum and partly by the continued rotation of the lever 11 about its pivot by the action of the ' breech block lever spring 16 on the breech block lever strut 16*. The said breech block lever spring is seat- ed in a longitudinal seat provided therefor centrally of the under side of the lower hori- f zontal portion 12е (Figs. 16, 42, 43 and 44) of the lock framed Said spring’ abuts at its rear end against a collar on the end of a spring guide pin, and at its front end against another circular collar which, when * the parts are assembled, abuts against the rear end of the lever strut 16*. There are in- turned flanges at the front end of the spring seat to hold the spring in its seat in case the strut is removed. The rear collar has a slot 1 in its rear face allowing it to be turned on its axis, and forward of its rear face has a lat- erally projecting stud. The spring is in- serted into its seat from the rear, and the rear collar may be pushed in against the ten- c sion of the spring, the stud passing through a groove cut therefor on the side of the rear portion of the spring seat, until the rear face of the rear collar is flush with the rear face of the portion 12е of the lock frame, 1 when by a partial rotation of the collar the stud will engage in a recess cut therefor in the bottom face of the lock frame, locking the spring in its seat. 'The front face of the front collar is recessed forming a seat for 1 the rear end of the breech block lever strut 16* which is pivoted at 16b (Figs. 6 and 7) in a longitudinal groove 16е-cut in the top face of the rear arm of the breech block lever (see Fig. 51). When the breech block lever 1 is rotated to lower the breech block, the struct 16b will compress its spring 16 and for this purpose a slot is cut in the front portion of the bottom face of the spring seat. Fig. 44 shows the strut and spring 1 when the rear arm of the breech block lever has been raised to its upper position. The strut 16a has now passed dead center posi- tion and will serve to hold the breech block lever in the position shown. When the 1 breech block lever is rotated in the opposite direction to raise the breech block, the rota- tion is first effected as above described by the engagement of the studs 11' in the cam groove 13b and rear cam surface on cam 1 plate 14. Before said studs leave said cam groove and cam surface the strut 16a has passed dead center position and the pressure of the spring is transmitted to the breech block lever by said strut and the rotation 1
1,&2б,0вб thereof completed, which together with the momentum already acquired by the breech block raises the breech block to its upper- most position. When the breech block lever 5 has reached the, limit of its rotation in this direction by the engagement of the.studs IIе with the bottom faces of the lower flanges of the side plates of the breech casing as shown in Fig. 6, the pressure of the spring 10 against the strut will serve to hold the breech block lever in the position there shown. The spring and strut therefore serve to hold the breech block lever in position after rotation in either direction. 15 The parts are so organized that there is a lost motion connection between the breech block and its actuating lever when the breech block has reached the limit of its up- ward movement. When the breech block 20 stops in its uppermost position, the actuat- ' ing lever continues to rotate until it is stopped by engagement of studs IIе with the bottom faces of the lower inturned flanges of the side plates. In this further slight ro- 25 tation of the breech block actuating lever 11, the studs lld pass rearwardly from the T- slot 10= in the breech block and the then downwardly and forwardly sloping surface 11s (Figs. 6, 12, 13 and 51) at the forward 30 end of the arm llb engages the rear edge of the top of the T-slot holding the breech block firmly in place, as shown in Fig. 6. Although the pressure of the breech block lever spring 16 prevents any substantial re- 35 bound of the actuating lever, such rebound might occur and if it does, the lost motion connection just described prevents such re- bound from moving the breech block from its uppermost position which might cause a 40 misfire. Furthermore, as hereinafter de- scribed, the hammer is retracted and cocked by the movement of the actuating lever on the recoil and the lost motion connection permits an initial retraction of the hammer 45 before any downward movement of the breech block. Thereby the hammer and fir- ing pin are freed from contact with each other and the forward end of the firing pin is freed from contact with the shell and the 50 breech block is free to be. lowered without any friction from the hammer or firing pin or injury to said firing pin. Again this lost motion connection offers a convenient means for permitting the parts to recoil a 55 short distance before there is any movement of the breech block. The breech block is un- der tremendous pressure from the expansion of gases at the moment of firing and if, on the initial recoil of the parts the breech block 60 was moved downwardly, it would resist movement to such an extent as to cause a se- vere strain on the operating parts. With the lost motion connection there is a suffi- cient initial recoil before ,the breech block is 63 engaged for downward movement by the studs on the breech block lever to permit the shell or projectile to leave the barrel and relieve the pressure on the breech block. If there were no lost motion connection, however, this same result could be secured by so organizing the engagement of the for- ward parts of the cams 13 and 14 with studs IIе that the lever 11 would not commence to rotate until after the initial recoil of the parts. The upward movement of the breech block is limited by the top of the breech block coming in contact with shoulders 6a (Figs. 14 and 15) of the bridge plate 6. Suitable means are provided to lock together the lock frame and the breech block when the lock frame is in its forward position and the breech block is in its upper closing position. Such locking means may comprise a vertical rearwardly projecting T-shaped rib 10d arranged centrally and near the top of the rear face of the breech block 10 and adapted, when the breech block is in its raised position, to engage in a corresponding shaped groove 10е (Figs. 44 and 46) on the front face of the lock frame. On the final upward movement of the breech block, immediately on the lock frame reaching its final forward position, the T-rib 10a engages in the groove 10е in the front face of the lock frame, locking the parts firmly together at the moment of fir- ing. This prevents the lock frame from rebounding, after it has reached its forward position and insures that the parts will be in firm engagement at the moment of fir- ing and on their initial recoil. It also insures that the lock ' frame can not be retracted manually without lowering the breech block. For the manual operation of the breech mechanism the breech block actuating lever 11 is provided with a finger piece llh which depends from the rear portion of the rear arm of said lever (Figs- 44 and 51) and which is adapted to be engaged by the hand of the operator. A rearward pull on the finger piece when the parts are in the for- ward position shown in Fig. 6 acts to first swing the actuating lever 11 about its pivot, the initial pull seating the Studs lla in the slot 10° in the breech block and the con- tinued pull rotating the lever 11 and lower- ing the breech block vertically. Since the pull required to retract the lock frame is insufficient to move the heavy barrel against the recuperator spring, the barrel and its accompanying parts are not moved rear- wardly on manual retraction of the lock frame. , But since tbe breech block and lock frame are locked together when in fir- ing position, the lock frame can not be dis- engaged from the breech block until the block has been lowered, thereby insuring that the initial pull on the breech block 70 76 80 S5 00 05 100 105 no 115 no' 125 130
1,826,066 actuating lever will move the breech block downward and insuring that the lock frame will not be retracted without lowering the breechblock. 5 As explained above, the initial pull on the. finger piece llh seats the studs lld in the slot 10° of the breech block and starts the breech block downward without sepa- rating the lock frame from the breech 10, block. Just as the breech block reaches the position where it becomes unlocked from the lock frame the left hand stud 11' at the rear of the lever 11 enters the cam groove 13b, the lock frame up to this time being 16 held in its forward position by its locking engagement with the breech block. On con- tinued pull on the finger piece the stud 11' passes rearwardly and upwardly, guided by cam groove 13b, moving the lock frame rear- 20 wardly ana swinging the lever 11 about its pivot to fully lower the breech block. As the breech block reaches its fully lowered position the stud llf passes into the hori- zontal cam groove 13*, and on continued 25 pull on the finger piece the said stud-will follow this cam groove, the studs lld on the forward arm of lever 11 being withdrawn from the slot 10° in the breech block and the entire lock frame being moved rear- 30 ward against the pressure of its reaction spring. On manually returning the parts to forward position, the members go through the same cycle of operations and movements as in the automatic operation. 35 It will be seen that in the manual opera- tion, since the barrel remains forward, the rearwardly and downwardly inclined bot- tom cam edges of cam plates 13 and 14, as . well as the cam groove 13е, perform no func- 40 tion, their normal function of moving the breech block to its lower position being per- formed manually and by the cooperation of the cam groove 13b with the stud llf which insures that the breech block is moved to 45 the limit of its lowered position on the manual retraction of the lock frame. By this construction and arrangements of parts, it is evident that the breech of the barrel can be manually opened and the lock 50 frame brought into a rearward position, ready to push a cartridge into the barrel chamber on the succeeding forward move- ment, in a minimum of time and with a single operation, namely, a rearward pull 55 on the finger piece llh of the breech block actuating lever 11. The forward movement of the lock frame is slowed down and buffered by the cam operations on the breech block lever above 60 described and by its energy being- trans- ferred to the breech block and cartridge. The form of these cam surfaces and the weight of the breech block, which is raised to breech closing position during this for- ward movement of the lock frame offer a 65 powerful retarding action on the movement of the lock frame and bring it to rest with- out any violent blbw. The lock frame comes to a full stop by the front face of the lower horizontal portion 12е coming in con- 70 tact with the rearwardly facing shoulders 8* on the barrel extension (Figs. 12, 13, 28 and 29). The reaction spring 17 is provided with a telescopic guide rod 17* (Fig. 13), the 75 forward section of which is provided with a removable collared plug 17b to receive the thrust of the front end of the spring, while the rear section of the said rod' is formed with a similar collared plug 17е providing 80 a shoulder (Figs. 12 and 13) to take the thrust of the rear end of said spring. By this construction the combined spring and its guide rod can be readily removed as a unit from the casing. A small central pro- 85 jection 17d providing a shoulder (Figs. 12 and 13) on the front end of the front section of the guide rod extends through and forwardly of said washer and normally projects into a hole 00 formed in an upwardly projecting arm 18 at the forward left-hand side of the lock frame (see Figs. 12, 16, 17, 43 and 45), while the rear section of the guide rod is similarly formed with a rearward projec- 1,5 tion 17е which engages a hole in the rear plate 5 (Fig. 12), to hold the guide rod in position laterally. To hold the rear plate firmly in its closed position, and to. assist in holding the guide rod in position and to 10® facilitate assembly of the parts, the rear end of the guide rod 17* is provided, with a guid- ing or locating plate 17' (Figs. 12, 13 and 59) positioned between plug 17е and the rear end of projection 17е and adapted, when the 105 rod is in position in the casing, to rest against the inner face of the left hand side of’ the rear plate and to engage the inner face of the left hand side plate of the cas- ing and the upper and lower inturned no flanges of said side plate as shown in Fig. 59. When the projection 17е therefore en- gages in the hole in the rear plate, the rear plate cannot be slid downwardly out of position because of the engagement of the 115 bottom edge of the guide plate 17f with the bottom intiirned flange of the left hand side plate. The forward end of the spring 17 is further guided and seated in a seat formed therefor by the top surface of the 120 lower horizontal portion 12е of the lock frame 12, the lower left hand face of the centrally arranged upwardly projecting portion 12d (Figs. 12, 13, 16 and 17) of said lock frame and the arcuate guide 8f on the 125 bottom of the left hand arm 8* of the bar- rel extension (see Figs. 16, 17 and 30). To disassemble the rear plate 5 and the com-
1,баб,овб bined reaction spring, guide rod and guide plate, it is only necessary to press against the rear projection 17* on the guide rod and move it forwardly beyond the front 5 face of the rear plate by the point of a cartridge, and at the same time slide the rear plate downwardly to move the hole out of registry with the projection 17е. When this is done the rear plate can be slid down- 10 wardly and completely withdrawn from the casing, and the combined spring, guide rod and guide plate can be rearwardly removed. The firing pin 19 (Fig. 39) is mounted for longitudinal movement in a seat arranged 15 centrally of the breech block in posi- tion to strike the center of the primer of a cartridge in the barrel chamber when the breech block is in its top- most position. The pin is held normally 20 in its rear position with the firing point withdrawn into the breech block ana its rear end protruding from the rear face of . said breech block under the action of its spring and its longitudinal movement is 25 limited in a usual manner by a transverse pin 19a passing through a longitudinal re- cess formed in the cylindrical body of said pin (see Figs. 13 and 39). The hammer 20 (Fig. 53) for cooperation 30 with said firing pin is mounted for longi- tudinal sliding movement in a seat provided therefor in tne central upwardly project- ing portion 12d of the lock frame 12 (see Figs. 6, 43 and 44). At their rear portions 35 the hammer and hammer seat are substan- tially rectangular in cross section, the ham- mer seat having at its rear end a seat for the head of the guide pin as hereinafter de- scribed. The hammer is guided in its seat 40 at the rear by ribs 20a (Fig. 53) projecting from each side which engage corresponding grooves in the hammer seat and at their for- ward ends the hammer and its seat are cylindrical and the hammer has a sliding 45 fit in its seat. At its forward end the ham- mer terminates in a flat nose 20b (Fig. 53), to strike the firing pin. The main spring 20c is seated in a cylindrical seat drilled in the hammer as shown in Fig. 53, abutting at 50 its forward end against the end of the seat and at its rear end. against the shoulder of the short guide rod 20d (Fig. 53), which for this purpose is of a larger diameter at its rear than at its forward portion in 55 the spring. The rear enlarged head of the guide rod has a slot, allowing the rod to be turned on its axis, and also carries two small lugs which project from opposite sides. Tne rear end of the hammer seat, eo which is cylindrical, is provided with a hori- zontal slot through which these lugs may be made to enter. Slightly in front of the rear end of the hammer two partly-circular recesses are cut into the wall of the seat & which the lugs of the guide rod may be 8S made to enter by the rotation of the rod, locking the guide rod, spring and hammer in the hammer seat. This is a well known and usual construction and need not be fur- ther described. The recess 20е (Fig. 53) is 70 cut in the bottom face of the hammer form- ing a cocking notch to co-operate with the sear to hold the hammer cocked. The hammer is held rearwardly in its cocked position against the tension of the 76 mainspring by the sear 21, also carried by the lock fiame 12. The form of the sear is shown in Fig. 54, and as there shown, it has two lugs, projecting from each side centrally of the sear, a downwardly inclined 80 rear arm and a nose forming a shoulder at the top of the front end. Under the lugs is a downwardly and forwardly inclined sur- face 2 Iе to co-operate with the sear spring, as hereinafter described. 86 Immediately under the hammer seat the rear centrally and upvrardly projecting por- tion 12d of the lock frame has a longitudinal recess 12е (Fig. 43). Cut longitudinally into the rear faces of the sides of this recess, 00 just below the hammer seat is a slot, which slot makes a seat for the two lateral lugs rigid with said sear, pivoting the sear within the recess, with its downwardly inclined rear arm projecting rearwardly of said portion 05 12d of the lock frame and its front arm pro- jecting forwardly under the hammer (Fig. 44). The sear is normally held in its cocking position as shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 44, with the'nose at its front end in engagement with 100 the bottom of the hammer, by the sear spring 21a (Figs. 6, 7 and 58). The sear spring is an ordinary wire spring, the rear end of which is seated in a shallow recess on the right hand top surface of the later- 105 ally widened portion 12° of the lock frame, as shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 42. The up- wardly projecting forward arm of the spring is bent at right angles at the top, forming a horizontally disposed arm 21ь HO (Fig. 56) which engages the forwardly and downwardly inclined under surface 21е of the sear 21 (see Figs. 6, 7, 44 and 54), pressing it forwardly, thereby serving to keep the sear in its seat and yieldingly in its operative 115 position. The rear downwardly inclined arm of the sear is adapted to co-operate with the trigger lever 22, shown detached in Fig. 52, which is of bell-crank shape and pivoted on a fixed 12° pivot stud projecting laterally from the right hand side of the lug 22a which pro- jects upwardly from the rear end of the horizontal portion 12е of the lock frame just left of center (see Figs. 42, 43 and 44). 128 The lever 22 is normally held on its pivot stud by the head of screw 22b (Fig. 44). One arm of the trigger lever projects for-
IO 1,526,065 wardly under the rear, arm of the sear, while the other arm projects substantially ver- tically to a point adjacent the inner edge of the inwardly projecting top flange of the * left hand side plate of the casing (Fig. 17). To insure that the sear will not be tripped and disengaged from the cocking shoulder on the hammer, until the breech block is in its full upper locked position, the forward 10 arm of the trigger lever 22 does not directly engage the rear arm of the "sear, but has pivoted to it, at its forward end, a two- armed trigger lever connector 22° (see Fig. 52) the rear arm of which is adapted to 15 engage the sear, while the forward arm is adapted to co-operate with a trip lever 23 (Fig. 55). Centrally of the trip lever is a laterally inwardly projecting pivot pin 23a, whichis pivotally mounted in a corre- 20 spending hole in the right hand side of the lock frame. At its rear end the trip lever is formed with a laterally and inwardly projecting arm 23b (Figs. 42 and 55), adapted to overlie the forward arm of the 2B trigger lever connector 22е, while its for- ward end projects beyond the front face of the lock frame and is there formed with an inwardly and downwardly extending pro- jection 23°, which extends into the path of 30 the top surface of the forward arm of the breech block actuating lever 11. When the breech block actuating lever rotates and moves the breech block to its uppermost closing position, the top surface of the for- 35 ward arm of said actuating lever engages said projection 23е, raises it and thereby lowers the rear arm of said trip lever. The two positions are shown in Figs. 6 and 7. With the parts in the position shown in M Fig. 6, when the trigger lever 22 is actuated by pulling it rearward, its forwardly ex- tending arm is raised, the forward arm of the connector 22е engages the arm 23b of the trip lever and is held thereby while the 46 rear arm of the said connector engages the rear arm of the sear; further movement of the trigger lever will now raise the rear arm of the sear and actuate the sear to release the hammer. When the parts are in 50 the position shown in Fig. 7, with the breech block in its lowered position, and the rear arm of the trip lever 23 raised the normal movement given the trigger lever 22 is not sufficient to engage the front arm of the 55 connector 22е with the rear arm 23b of the trip lever 'to trip the sear and release the hammer. The trip lever being actuated by the breech block actuating lever 11 as it ends its 50 rotation to raise the breech block, it is evi- dent that the gun can not be fir6d until the breech block is in its uppermost position, the breech block lever thereby serving both to raise the breech block and to control the W time of flring. The trigger lever 22 projects at its upper end into the path of a lateral inwardly pro- jecting lug 24a at the forward end of the trigger bar 24 (Figs. 10, 11 and 16). The trigger bar, at its front end, is slidably se- to cured to the top flange of the left hand side plate of the casing, as by a tongue and groove connection as shown in Fig. 10. At its rear end said trigger bar has an upward extension projecting through a longitudinal 75 slot in the top plate 3, and provided with a lateral stud sliding on the top surface of said top plate to hold the rear end of said trigger bar from dropping down (Fig. 9). The trigger 25 (Fig. 8) is pivoted on the 80 top of the top plate 3 by its pivot stud 25a (Fig. 1) with its free end extending lateral- ly beyond the left hand side plate of the casing. In the bottom face of the trigger is a slot 25b (Fig. 8) into which-the top of 85 the upwardly projecting rear end of the trigger bar extends, so that when the free end of the trigger is swung rearwardly about its pivot, stud the trigger bar will be moved rearwardly and will engage the trig- 90 ger lever by its lug 24a, thereby rocking the trigger lever and actuating the sear, if the . parts are in their firing position as shown in Fig. 6. • < A trigger spring 25е (Fig. 8) is housed in 95 a longitudinal recess at the pivoted end of said trigger, said spring acting through a plunger 25d, whose inner end is also guided in said recess, against a fixed stud 25е (Figs. 1 and 6) projecting from the top plate of 51111 the casing. The tension of this said spring acts to normally maintain the trigger and trigger bar in their forward positions, the forward movement of these, parts being limited by the engagement of the upwardly H>5 projecting rear end of the trigger bar with the front end of the longitudinal opening in the top plate through which said rear end of the trigger bar projects (Fig. 10). The outer end of the plunger 25d projects into 119 a recess on the stud 25е and this serves to maintain the trigger in position on its pivot stud 25a. Also projecting upwardly from the top casing is the stud 25f (Figs. 1 and 6) positioned to limit the rearward swing 115 of the trigger so that the trigger lever can not be rocked sufficiently to actuate the sear unless the front end of the trip lever has been raised by the breech block actuating lever and the parts are in the position shown 120 in Fig. 6. The trigger can be actuated by the direct engagement of the shooter’s hand with its knurled free end, or by a lanyard or other means attached near its free end, or otherwise. 12i5 From the foregoing description of the ar- rangement of the parts of the firing mecha- nism on three relatively, movable parts of the gun, namely, the vertically movable breech block, the longitudinally movable lock frame 130
1,в2в,0вб and the fixed casing, it will be evident that a number of safety factors are introduced which prevent firing until and unless the breech block is at its uppermost breech б closing position and the lock frame is in its foremost position and the parts are locked in full firing position. In this connection it is to be noted that the lost motion connection between the breech 10 block and its actuating lever, when the breech block is in its uppermost position, provides against the possibility of a mis- fire if the actuating lever should rebound when the lateral studs IIе at the end. of the 15 upward stroke of the forward arm of said lever strike the bottom of the side plates of the breech casing. If such lost motion were not provided, it might happen that the re- bound of the actuating lever would lower 20 the breech block sufficiently so that the ham- mer would fail to transmit its full blow to the firing pin because out of line therewith; or the firing pin might fail to strike the center of the primer. Either of these re- 25 suits might cause a misfire. The cocking of the hammer 20 is auto- matically effected during the rearward movement of the lock frame. For this pur- pose the hammer is provided just forward 30 of its center, with a vertical slot 26a (Figs. 44 and 53) of gradually increasing width from top to bottom of the hammer. Into this slot projects the upper arm of the cock- ing lever 26 (Fig. 57) which is pivotally 35 mounted in a vertical slot in the forward part of the lock frame, opening downwardly into the space between the lugs 12b which support the breech block actuating lever. The lower arm of said cocking lever projects 40 into said space where it is in position, when the hammer is in its forward position, to be actuated by the front face of shoulder 26b (Fig. 51) formed on the top face of said actuating lever, whereby when said actu- 45 ating lever is swung about its pivot to lower the breech block after a cartridge has been fired, or when the lock frame is manually pulled to its rearward position, the lower arm of the cocking lever is moved forward 50 and the upper arm of the same is moved rear- ward (Fig. 7), the engagement of the top of said upper arm with the rear face of the slot 26a forcing the hammer rearwardly in its seat against the tension of the main- 66 spring until it is cocked by the engagement of the sear in the cocking recess 20е on the blottom face of the hammer. When the parts are in a rearward position, as shown in Fig. 7, the lower end of the cocking lever is resting on the top rounded surface of the shoulder 26b, so that when the parts return to forward position and the actuating lever swings on its pivot to raise the breech block the lower end of the cocking lever will ride over the shoulder 26b, which will pass from engagement therewith, and when the ham- mer has been released the cocking lever will be rotated on its pivot so that the lower end thereof will be returned to a position rear- wardly of that shown in Fig. 6 (where the 70 hammer has not been released) and project- ing into the path of the shoulder 26b so that it will be actuated by the front face of said shoulder to again cock the hammer on the recoil of the lock frame. 75 The cocking lever is pivoted on the pivot pin 26° (Fig. 56) which has a rearwardly projecting spring arm 26d, the rear end of which is adapted to be seated in an arcuate Soove at the right' hand forward portion of 80 e rearward and upwardly extending por- tion 12d of the lock frame (Fig. 44). By springing or snapping the end of arm 26d into the arcuate groove, the pivot 26° is held firmly but removably in place and the cock- 85 ing lever can be readily disassembled. The downwardly projecting lip portion 26е (Fig. 56) of the spring arm engages the forward portion of the trip lever 23 and retains it in place (see Fig. 44); oo The movable members of the firing mecha- nism hereinbefore described as mounted in the lock frame are conveniently arranged so as to permit their ready assembly or dis- assembly from said frame. By lifting, the 95 rear end of the sear spring 21a from its recess, the spring can be readily removed from the frame. The sear will then be free to be rearwardly withdrawn, its trunions being withdrawn rearwardly from their 100 seat. After withdrawal of the sear, the trig- ger lever can be swung about its pivot stud beyond the normal limit of its movement and laterally removed from its pivot stud on which it is normally held by the head of 105 screw 22b. By swinging or snapping the end of the spring arm 26d from engagement in its groove in the lock frame this arm and the pivot 26е can be laterally withdrawn and the trip lever will be made free to be HO withdrawn. The hammer can now be with- drawn. By turning the head of the guide rod 20d a partial revolution the lugs thereon will become disengaged and the guide rod and spring can be withdrawn rearwardly. 116 The hammer can then be withdrawn rear- wardly from its seat in the lock frame and the cocking lever withdrawn from its slot. When it is desired to fire automatically, the trigger is held back and on each forward 120 movement of the lock frame the top of the trigger lever 22 engages with the stud 24a on the trigger bar, raising the pivot of the trigger lever connector 22° slightly higher than the position shown , in Fig. 6. The 125 , forward arm of the breech block actuating lever 11 at the end of its breech block rais- ing movement engages the inward and down- ward projection on the forward end 23° of the trip lever 23, raising said forward 130
18 1,625,066 arm and depressing the rear arm, which actuates the front arm of the trigger lever connector (which is held in actuating posi- tion by the trigger and trigger lever) to ac- 5 tuate the sear to release the hammer. The hammer will therefore be released automati- cally, so long as there are cartridges in the gun, just as the breech block and lock frame come to full firing position on each forward 10 return of the parts. The cartridges are fed transversely, from left to right, to the-vertical central longitu- dinal plane of the gun. My invention com- prises novel means for holding a plurality » of cartridges and for automatically feeding them into firing position in the gun. To this end I provide a cartridge holder or feeder, such as the feed plate 27 (Figs. 18, 19, 20 and 21) which comprises a sub- 20 stantially flat piece of metal or metal alloy (aluminum may be used to advantage) pro- vided with longitudinal flanges 27* (Fig. 21) at top and bottom, which extend rear- wardly when the feed plate is in position in 25 the transverse channel adapted to receive it. The front face of the feed plate is provided with seats such as the recesses 27b to receive the heads of cartridges, these recesses, as herein shown being open at the bottom and 30 rounded at the top to conform to the curva- • ture of the cartridge case as shown in Fig. 19. Said recesses are formed at their edges with overhanging flanges adapted to receive the projecting annular rims of the cartridge 35 heads. A cartridge is shown seated in the center recess in Figs. 19 and 20. It will be noted (see Figs. 19 and 21) that the bottom portions of recesses 27b are cut deeper than the top portions and formed with a rounded 40 Avail. This is to make easy the withdrawal of the cartridges as hereinafter described, by permitting some play, between the car- tridge and the feed plate as the cartridge is withdrawn downwardly therefrom. 45 From the foregoing description it will be apparent when a cartridge head is in- serted from the open end of a recess until it engages the rounded upper or inner end of said recess, it will be firmly held from 50 longitudinal displacement with its axis sub- stantially at right angles to the plane of the feed plate. To prevent the cartridges from dropping down out of the plate, means are provided for engaging the rims of said 56 cartridge heads on the sides facing the open sides of the recesses. Said means may com- prise a flat spring catch securely fastened to the lower portion of the rear face of the feed plate in such manner that its free and 90 or ends will have a spring action relative to the rear face of the plate. 27®, (Fig. 22), is such a catch adapted to be fastened at its center, as by a rivet as shown, giving two free ends; At each free end the catch 27c is formed with a forwardly projecting «5 stop projection 27d, adapted to extend through a slot formed in the body of the r plate, just below the point of tangency of the cartridge rim and the side of the recess, thereby projecting into the path of the car- 70 tridge and holding it from dropping down until the end of the catch is raised and the stop projection 27b withdrawn rearwardly from its slot. The catch may be as shown at 27е (Figs. 19 and 20) riveted to the platens at one end, and having only one free end bearing a stop projection. In the embodi- ment of the invention illustrated in which the plate is adapted to carry five cartridges, I may use one single catch like 27* and one 8° double catch like 27®, the single catch 27е having at its free end a stop projection of a size to project into the adjoining re- cesses of the first and second cartridges and hold them therein, and a double catch like 86 27® with a stop projection at its right hand free end to project into the right hand side of the recess of the third or middle car- tridge and a stop projection on its left hand free end to project into adjoining sides of 90 the recesses of the fourth arid fifth cartridges and hold them in place. In order to readily withdraw said stop projections from the recesses to permit the insertion of cartridges therein and their v8 successive withdrawal as the plate is fed through the gun as hereinafter described, the catches are provided near their free ends with rearwardly curving projections 27', hav- ing their side edges bent outwardly and rear- 100 wardly so that by inserting a tool having an inclined cam surface so as to bring said cam surface under one of the outwardly bent sides of a projection, the catch will oe pressed or cammed rearwardly and the stop 105 projection withdrawn from the recess ana into inoperative position. This leaves the recess free and clear for the insertion or withdrawal of a cartridge. In some cases, as when loading the plate, it may be de- 110 sirable to move all the stop projections to their inoperative positions simultaneously and for this purpose a tool may be con- structed of such length and provided with a sufficient number of properly positioned 115 cam surfaces, whereby the movement of the tool endwise will cause the cam surfaces to engage and lift all the latches simultane- ously. 28 (Fig. 27) is a convenient form of such a tool, having three camming sur- 120 faces 28®, arranged so that they will simul- taneously engage and cam rearwardly the three projections 27' shown in Figs. 19 and 20 and having an upstanding end 28b which offers fl, convenient shoulder for exerting 126 pressure on the tool to push it into place, camming rearwardly the spring catches. After the recesses have been filled, the tool
1,696,066 X® will be withdrawn and the latches will spring into operative position to retain the car- tridges in place in the feed plate. For the automatic feeding of the feed 6 plate transversely of the gun, there are pro- vided on the rear face of the upper flange 27* of the feed plate a plurality of equally spaced notches 29, (Fig. 18) forming shoulders at their right hand ends, said 10 shoulders being adapted to be engaged by the feed pawl 30 (Fig. 23) operated by each reciprocation of a longitudinally mov- able element such as the barrel and barrel extension. 1® A convenient . means for effecting the operation of said feed pawl may comprise a horizontally disposed feed pawl lever 31 (Figs. 14,' 15, 23 and 24) of 'substantially bell crank shape, pivoted on a vertical pin 20 31* on brackets 31b arranged on the right hand side of the feed box (Figs. 14 and 16). ' The top of pin 31® is engaged by the cover of the feed box and thereby held down in its seat (see Fig. 12). The front arm of the 26 said feed pawl lever extends forwardly to a point adjacent the top of the transverse feed channel 32 (Fig. 12), and carries, on a vertical pivot at its forward end, the feed pawl 30, the free hooked end of which is 30 actuated toward the feed channel and into engagement with the upper flange of the feed plate, when the same is in position in the gun, by the tension of the pawl spring 30a (Fig. 23) housed in a seat therefor in 38 the front arm of said feed pawl lever and acting through a plunger against the rear face of the pawl.' The rear arm of said feed pawl lever 31 extends laterally toward the left hand side of the feed box and is formed 40 at its end, which is thickened vertically by a downward extension 31° (Fig. 24), with a vertically extending groove 31d of substan- tial width and depth. This groove 31d is adapted to co-operate 48 with an elongated stud 33a (Fig. 25) which , rocks with the swivel stud 33b integral therewith and seated in a pivot hole formed some distance below the upper end of a vertical feed lever 33 (Figs. 6, 7 and 25). 50 This feed lever 33 is pivoted on a trans- verse pivot pin 33d (Figs 6 and 16) in a bracket 33° (Figs. 14 and 15) secured in- side the left hand side wall of the feed box. Below said stud 33a the feed lever 58 extends downward through a longitudinal slot 33е (Fig. 16) formed in the upper in- wardly projecting flange of the left hand' side plate of the breech casing and ’close to the inner surface of said side plate. 60 Means are provided for yieldingly hold- ing said lever between certain limits of movement and this means may comprise a spring wire 34 (Fig. 26) having its cen- tral portion coiled about a groove fornied on the: inner end of the feed lever pivot 65 pin 33d (see Figg. 14 and 15) which! is headed on its outer end. The spring ex- tends from its seat on said pivot pin both forwardly and rearwardly along the outside of the bracket 33®, in which said feed lever 10 is pivoted. At the ends of said bracket, each branch of the spring is placed under some tension to hold the spring and the pivot pin 33d in assembled relation, by pass- ing each end of the spring under an in- 75 wardly projecting stud 34a (Figs. 6 and 15) provided at each end of the bracket. Each branch of the spring is then bent at right angles to bring it into the path of the. feed lever 33, when it is bent downwardly, as 30 at 34b (Fig. 26) and then inwardly, so that the opposite ends of the spring will be located in the’ path of the feea lever on opposite sides of the lever bracket, to yield- ingly limit the movement of said lever in 85 each direction. The lower end of the feed lever extends downwardly for some dis- tance into the breech casing (Figs. 16 and 17) and lies in the. path of a lateral out- wardly projecting stud 34® on the left' hand 90 arm 8a of the barrel extension (Figs. 16, 17 and 28) the rear portion of which, as hereinbefore described, is spaced some dis- tance from the adjacent side wall of the breech casing. 95 The stud 34® and the end of the feed lever are so positioned that during the last portion of the recoil of the barrel and bar- rel extension, after a shot is fired, the stud 34® will engage the lower end of the feed 100 lever 33 to swing it rearwardly, this in turn , through the stud 33“ (as the same is located below the pivot point of the feed lever) swinging the feed pawl lever 31 to actuate the feed pawl 30 to the left, from the posi- 105 tion shown in Fig. 15 to that shown in Fig. 14, so as to cause the hooked end of the feed pawl to ride idly toward the left along the rear face of the top flange of the feed plate, to a point to the left of the next sue- 110 ceeding notch > 29 where it slips into posi- tion to engage the shoulder of said notch on the counter recoil of the barrel and bar- rel extension. During the last part of the rearward movement of the feed lever, it en- 115 gages the inwardly projecting end of the rear arm of feed lever spring 34, and by its further rearward movement places said spring under tension. When the barrel,ex- tension is almost at the limit of its recoil, 120 the lower end of the feed lever snaps past its engaging stud 34® and the spring 34, being under tension, returns it forward some distance, to insure that on the counter re- coil of the barrel and barrel extension the 125 stud 34® will engage the lever on its rear face and swing it forwardly, thus swing- ing the horizontal feed pawl lever 31 to
1,636,066 actuate the' feed pawl 30 to the right, from the position shown in Fig. 14 to that shown in Fig. 15, the hooked end of the feed pawl catching on the shoulder of the adjacent 5 notch 29 and feeding the feed plate a prop- er distance from left to right in the trans- verse feed channel_32, to position the next cartridge to be projected into the barrel chamber. During the last of the forward 10 movement of the vertical feed lever, the in- wardly projecting end of the front arm of the spring 34 engages the end of said feed lever, is placed under tension, and when the end of said lever is released by the stud w 80 85 20 barrel extension. At the time the lever 33 engages the front arm of spring 34 and places it under tension, the pawl spring 30* is also placed under tension (see Fig. 15) so that when the stud 34° finally passes 25 beyond the lever 33, spring 34 and spring 30* both act to swing the lever 33 rear- wardly to substantially the position shown in Fig. 6 and act to swing lever 31 from the position of Fig. 15 toward the posi- tion of Fig. 14. To prevent any movement of the feed plate toward the left, a stop pawl 35 (Figs. 6, 7 and 17) is provided. This pawl may be conveniently, mounted to move m a vertical plane about a pivot pin supported under the top coVer of the feed box 4, and be- ing actuated to its normal position by a spring. The pawl co-operates with a series, of equally spaced notches 35* (Fig. 18) formed in the top of the feed plate. By lifting the cover of the feed box the stop pawl will be disengaged from the feed plate and the same can be withdrawn to the left if the hooked end of the feed pawl 30 is swung back. It will be noted, by reference to Fig. 18, that in addition to the recesses 29 which form the shoulders for engagement by the feed pawl, there are additional recesses 36 50 at the right and adjacent each shoulder. _ These are for the purpose of weakening jnent on the side of the~feed box. Pivotal- these shoulders so that in case anything. ' jams in the feed channel during the forward movement of the barrel, the shoulder on the 55 feed plate would give way and prevent fur- ther destruction. The damaged feed plate can be discarded and replaced with a fresh one. The means for automatically feeding the 60 cartridges into the barrel chamber and the manner in which said means operate will now be described. A cartridge carrier 37 (Figs. 6, 7, 12 and 13) is pivoted in the rear of the transverse 65 channel 32 in the feed box 4 on a transverse 30 •10 45 pivot pin 37* (Figs. 2, 5, 12, 18, 14 and 15) passing through said, carried and the sides of the feed box. The car- rier is held centrally of the gun by hav- ing spaced forward projections 37b (Figs. 70 6, 12 and. 13) on its hub straddle a rear- ward projection 38 (Figs. 12, 18 and 16) at the bottom of the transverse wall forming the rear wall of the transverse feed channel 32 and also by having its long for- wardly projecting arm, which is shaped so ________________ - - as to pass over the feed channel and is in- laced under tension, and when dined downwardly and forwardly, pass ______________________________________1" "__________________________________'_________________________________\ 1 through a space formed between the inner 15 34= during the final forward movement of ends of forward guide members 38* and 38b the barrel extension, swings said lever back (Figs. 14, 15 and 17) for the feed.plate, one a short distance, thereby bringing it into projecting inwardly from the right hand position to be again engaged on its front side of the feed box, and the other from the face by said stud on the next recoil of the left hand side. Member 38* which projects ’ ’ '_‘_- 1-"° inwardly from the right hand side of the feed box has a cam surface on its inner edge, shown in Fig. 17, for camming down the car- tridges out of the feed plate, as hereinafter described. The projections ST* have ad- ditional functions hereinafter set forth. 00 When the parts are in the postion shown in, Figs. 12, i. e., with the barrel and barrel, extension in forward position and the lock frame in its rearward position ready for the injection of a new cartridge, a notch 37е 05 (Figs. 6 and 15) having a rearwardly and downwardly inclined shoulder formed m the forwardly and downwardly extending for- ward arm of the carrier and on the right hand side thereof, is engaged by the nose of a carrier latch 39 (Figs. 14 and 15) pivotally mounted on a vertical pivot pin 39* in a bracket on the right hand side of the feed box. The top of this pivot pin engages the feed box cover or a stud pro- jecting downwardly therefrom and is there- by held in its seat (Fig. 12). This latch is actuated inwardly to bring its nose into engagement with said notch on the carrier by a spring 39b (Fig. 14) seated in a recess in the latch and bearing at its outer end against the side pf the feed box. The swing of the latch 39 under the influence of its spring is limited by the engagement of the shoulder 39е (Fig. 14) with an abut- ly mounted by means of a transverse pin 40*, on a short rearwardly projecting, arm of said carrier is a dog 40 (Figs. 6, 7, 12 and 13) adapted, when the carrier is in its nor- mal position and the lock frame is in for- ward position (Fig. 6) to project rearward- ly and downwardly into the path of the lock frame. A strong helical spring 40b (Figs. 6 and 13), seated in a recess in said earner, acts to depress the dog by acting through a plunger against an upward pro- jection on said dog. When the parts are in firing position, shown in Figi 6, and the lock frame is either 100 35 105 110 115 120 125 130
1,бг&,овв xst manually or automatically retracted, during such rearward movement the upwardly pro- jecting central portion of the lock frame, which is rounded at its upper rear portion 5 as shown (Figs. 6 and 7) engages the under surface of said dog and raises it against the tension of its spring until, in the further rearward movement of said frame, the rear lower edge of the dog slides on the flat hori- 10 zontal top surface of said frame. The rounded upper rear portion of the lock frame acts as a cam to raise the dog and compress the spring gently, avoiding severe strain on these parts. Also the raising of 15 the dog and compressing of its spring helps to absorb the recoil and slow up the rear- ward movement of the parts. A notch 40c (Figs. 6 and 13) is formed'in the top surface of the lock frame, against the rear vertical 20 shoulder of which s,aid lower edge of the dog engages to arrest the forward movement of the frame following recoil and hold said frame in a rearward position as shown in Figs. 7 and 12. 25 When the dog 40 engages in the notch 40е to arrest the forward movement of the lock frame following recoil, there is a substantial impact and to assist in buffering the shock thereof the pivot pin 37a should preferably 30 be spring tempered. This pivot pin takes its bearings at its ends in the sides of the feed box, and I counterbore at each end the hole in the carrier 37, where me carrier is pivoted on the pin, whereby the carrier takes 3j its bearing on the center of the pin which being spring tempered acts as a spring to take up the shock of impact between the dog and the lock frame. Also, as appears in Fig. 5, one end of said pin has a stud which 40 is positioned in a corresponding recess in the side of the feed box whereby the pin cannot turn in its bearings, so that the lock frame will always be stopped at the same point even though a pin which is somewhat 46 bent should be used for this pivot pin. Assume now that the lock frame has been manually drawn rearwardly against the tension of the reaction spring until the dog engages in the notch 40° and is held in its 50 rearward position by the dog pivoted to the carrier in the manner above described (see Fig. 12), and-that a feed plate, carrying cart- ridges, is inserted into the feed channel from the left hand side. After the plate has been 55 inserted a distance sufficient to bring the second cartridge therein over a laterally pro- jecting ledge 41 (Figs. 14, 15 and 17) se- cured to the left hand side of the breech casing, the spring catch 27е (Fig. 19) hold- 60 ing the first two cartridges in their recesses is cammed back by a cam plate 42 (Figs. G, 7 and 12) fixed in the feed channel, thus re- leasing said cartridges. With the further inward movement or the plate, the first car- 65 tridge comes into engagement at its right hand side and near its rear end with the downwardly inclined inner cam surface of the plate 38a (Figs. 12, 13 and 17) secured to right hand side wall of the feed box, and z is thus positively cammed downward out of 70 the feed plate into the space between the side arms of the barrel extension (see Fig. 17). As the cartridge commences its downward movement under the influence of the cam 75 face of the plate 38a it engages a downward- ly projecting stud 394 (Figs. 12, 13 and 14) at the end of the carrier latch 39 and swings the latch outwardly against the tension of its spring so that it passes out of engage- 80 ment in the notch 37® in the forwardly ex- tending aria of the carrier 37, from position shown in Fig. 14 to that shown in Fig. 15. Thereby the forward end of the carrier will be moved downwardly by the expansion of 85 the strong helical spring 40b (Fig. 13) ar- ranged between said carrier and the dog 40, and, by its engagement with the cartridge (Fig. 13), force the same downwardly until it rests on the cartridge guide lever 43 90 (Figs. 12,13 and 41) which co-operates with said forward end of the carrier and with the ejector hereinafter described to hold said cartridge against any but endwise move- ment with its nose in position to enter the 05 barrel chamber upon forward movement of said cartridge. The cartridge guide lever 43 is loosely pivoted at its rear end on a fixed stud 43a (Fig. 28) projecting inwardly from the rear 100 end of the right hand arm 8b of the barrel extension. At the rear end of the said lever is a lateral extension 43f (Fig. 41) which fits into a recess 43е (Fig. 36) in the side of said arm 8b, the forward end of said extension 105 engaging in a curved groove at the front end of said recess. In assembling, the lever is placed on its pivot stud with its free end pointing downwardly and is then swung up- wardly into place, the lateral extension 43f 110 engaging in the recess 43g and its forwardly projecting end registering in the groove in said recess, which limits the upward swing of said lever and prevents lateral displace- ment thereof. The downward swing of the 116 lever is limited by the stop lever 44 (Fig. 34) when the same is in assembled position as hereinafter described. The cartridge guide lever is normally held yieldihgly in a raised position (Figs. 12 and 29) by a 120 spring pressed ball 43b (Fig. 32) located in a recess in the arm 8b of the barrel extension and adapted to engage in a rounded depres- sion in the adjacent side of said lever. When the carrier 37 is depressed as above explain- 125 ed, and the cartridge strikes the cartridge guide lever 43, the lever is moved from its raised position to an inclined position (Figs. 13 and 36) with the right hand side of the cartridge resting on the ledge 43® (Figs. 32 130
Хв 1 ввб.оев and 41J of said guide lever and. in position to be inserted in the barrel chamber, as shown in Fig. 13. . The cartridge guide lever 43 is held in this • forwardly and. downwardly inclined inter- mediate position as shown in Fig. 13 by the stop lever 44 (Fig. 13), which is pivoted under the bottom face of the right hand arm 8b of the barrel extension on a vertical stud 1® 44a (Figs. 28 and 29) projecting downward from said bottom face of said arm 8b. The head of the stud is substantially rectangular and is fixed at an angle to the plane of the arm 8b. By passing this rectangular head 15 through the corresponding opening 44b (Fig. 34) in the stop lever, the lever can be swung into position under the arm 8b. This stop lever 44 is formed at its forward end with an inward projection 44° (Fig. 34) 8® adapted to project inwardly beyond the in- side face of the arm 8b of the barrel exten- sion and into the path of the cartridge guide lever 43 to hold it in its intermediate in- clined position, as shown in Fig. 13. The 26 stop lever 44 is normally held in its operative position, with its projection 44c in the path of the cartridge guide lever, by the flat spring 45 (Figs. 28 and 29) secured by a common form of bayonet lock to the outside 30 face of the arm 8b of the barrel extension as at 45a (Fig. 36). At its forward end said spring has a downwardly projecting lip 45b (Figs. 36 and 38) which engages the right hand side of the forward arm of the stop 36 lever 44, holding it in its operative position, with its projection 44° in the path of the cartridge guide lever 43. The inward movement of the front arm of the stop lever 44 under the influence of spring 45 is lim- 40 ited.by a pin 44a (Figs. 28, 29 and 34) which projects upwardly from the top face of the stop lever 44 and into a shallow recess in the bottom face of the arm 8b of the barrel ex- tension. By engaging the inner end of this 45 recess the pin limits the movement Of the stop lever under the influence of the spring 45. At its rear end the stop lever 44 has a downward projection 44е (Fig. 34) formed with an inclined surface on its rear outer 50 edge, for a purpose hereinafter described. When the forward arm of the carrier 37 is released by the catch 39 and forced down- ward under the influence of spring 40b as hereinbefore described, the angular relation 55 between the carrier and its dog 40 is neces- sarily changed (Fig. 13) and this change in the relation of these parts is conveniently made use of to automatically release said dog from the notch in the lock frame, per- 00 mitting the lock frame to move forwardly under the influence of the reaction spring. For this purpose said dog is provided with a rearward extension or tail 40е, projecting from the rear face of the dog. Simultane- 05 ously with the downward swinging of the forward arm of the carrier, the end of this tail is pressed downwardly against the top face of the loch;, frame, liftihg the dog out of the notch '40° and thereby releasing the lock frame to piove forward under the ten- 70 sion of the reaction spring 17. The tail is preferably longitudinally adjustable, as by a screw-threaded connection making it pos- sible to vary the time elapsing between the' release of the carrier by; its latch 39 and the 75 release of the lock frame and thereby insure that the lock frame is not released until the cartridge is in position to be fed into the chamber of the barrel. The right hand pro- jection 37b (Fig. 6) on the hub of the car- 80 rier engages the top of the right hand arm 8b of .the barrel" extension and serves to hold the carrier from downward movement, un- less the barrel and barrel extension are in their forward firing position. At the rear 85 end of the arm 8b of the barrel extension is a cut-away portion. 46 (Figs. 12 and 36) which underlies said right hand projection 37b when the barrel has moved to its for- ward position, permitting the downward ro- 90 tation of the carrier and the release of the lock frame. Therefore the carrier cannot be lowered to unlock the lock frame and position a shell for injection into the cham- ber until the barrel is in battery. This is 95 a safety device. During the forward movement of the lock frame a forward extension or charger 47 (Figs. 44 and 13) at the top of said frame engages, through a downward projection loo 47a formed at its forward end, the base of the cartridge and pushes it into the barrel chamber (Figs. 6 and 13). For this purpose the cartridge guide lever 43 is formed with a suitably shaped longitudinal seat 43° 105 (Figs. 12 and 32) on which the right side of the cartridge will rest and be guided in its forward movement. After the forward portion of the cartridge has been inserted some distance into the barrel chamber, the no rear end of the cartridge is permitted to drop to bring its axis into substantial align- ment with the barrel axis. In order to drop the rear end of the cartridge it is necessary to further lower the cartridge guide lever 43, ns which is held in its forwardly and down- wardly inclined intermediate position above described by the projection 44c of the stop lever 44. To further lower said guide lever, there is mounted on the front right hand 120 end of the lower widened horizontal portion 12° of the lock frame an upwardly project- ing plate 48 (Figs. 6, 42 and 43) its inner face forming a cam surface as shown in Fig. 42. When the lock frame reaches the 125 position in its forward motion where it is desirable to have the rear end of the car- tridge lowered to substantial alignment with the axis of the barrel, the cam surface of plate 48 engages the outer face of the down- 130
5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 с’о 65 1,535,005 X"F wardly projecting rear end 44® of the stop mounted in a forwardly and downwardly lever 44 and, as the lock frame moves for- ‘ inclined seat therefor in the front face of wardly (see Figs. 16 and 17) the rear arm the charger, and guided for up and down of the stop lever is cammed inwardly, there- ” K 1 ’’ ’’ "’‘° /T7,’~ by swinging outwardly the front arm and withdrawing the projection 44® from under the cartridge guide lever and permitting the latter to drop until it is arrested by a pin 49 (Figs. 30, 34 and 38) , which projects in- wardly and upwardly from the rear arm of said stop lever into the path of the guide lever 43 and which limits its downward movement as shown in Fig. 38. The drop- ping of the guide lever to its lowest position (Fig. 38) lowers the rear end of the car- tridge which is now part way in the cham- ber so that the axis of the cartridge is in substantial alignment with the barrel axis. The cartridge guide stop lever 44 being of substantial length and being pivoted near its center, has considerable spring at both ends and when the cartridge guide lever 43 bearing a cartridge engages said stop dever on its downward movements to both its inter- mediate and lowest positions, the engage- ment is a yielding one, preventing any sud- den jar on the cartridge which might cause a' premature explosion of cartridges of a sensitive character. It will be noted that the cartridge forcing means, i. e., the lock frame, also actuates the stop lever to permit the cartridge guide lever to drop into its lowest position for positioning the cartridge for complete injec- lever and breech block as above exnlainedT. tion into the barrel chamber, whereby the thereby slowing down th moment for dropping down the cartridge ment of the cartridge into the chamber, head during the forward movement of the ' 1 ~ ' ,1 ’ ’ ’ lock frame can be accurately timed by the action of the cartridge forcing means itself. The lock frame meanwhile continues its forward movement, inserting the cartridge fully into the chamber, and raising the breech block as hereinbefore described. By reference to Fig. 6 it will be noted that when the lock frame is in its forward position the charger and the extractor (hereinafter described) project forwardly of the breech block and beyond the rear face of the barrel into a recess 7® cut into the rear face of the barrel and barrel extension, just above the chamber (see Figs. 6, 7, 12, 13, 29 and 30). In rising, the breech block will return the cartridge guide lever to its highest position by the engagement of a rearwardly project- ing stud 50 (Figs. 28 and 30) on said breech block with the under side of the forward end Of said lever as shown in Fig. 28. xiaiue, aa иегешиещге aescrwea, saia ex- The breech block is formed at the top tractor, being in the position as shown in with a forwardly and downwardly sloping top surface, which engages the face of the cartridge and seats it firmly in the chamber. For the extraction of the empty shells, the said forward extension or charger 47 on the lock frame is provided with an ex- tractor 51 (Figs. 44, 48 and 49) slidably movement therein by lateral ribs 51® (Fig. 50) thereon engaging in corresponding 70 grooves in the front face of said charger. The extractor is normally pressed down- wardly to its operative position by a flat spring 51” (Figs. 48, 49), one end of which bears upon the upper end of the extrac- 75 tor at 51c (Figs. 48 and 49) while its other end is rigidly secured m a T-slot 47b (Fig. 48) formed in the top sur- face of the lock frame. The lower pro- jecting end of the extractor 51 which is 80 adapted to engage in front of the projecting rim of the cartridge head, is bevelled on its forward face as shown in Fig. 49 whereby, in the forward movement of the lock frame to push the cartridges into the barrel the engagement of said bevelled surface with the cartridge rim.cams the extractor upward- ly to permit it to pass over said rim and snap down in front of the same into the position shown in Fig. 6. The rim of the cartridge is now held between the head of the charger and the point of the extractor, which, on the forward movement of the lock frame to insert the cartridge in the chamber, prevents the cartridge from getting ahead of the charger. The forward movement of the lock frame is slowed down and buffered by the action of the breech block actuating Lluvk «s above explained, thereby slowing down the forward move- The cartridge stops when the lock frame stops and the final forward movement of the cartridge is effected by the front face of the breech block wedging along the rear face of the cartridge. If the rim of the cartridge were not held by the extractor from moving in advance of the lock frame, it might be thrown ahead of the lock frame and into the chamber with great force which 1 might start the projectile from its case, decreasing the efficiency of the cartridge when fired. Also if the lock frame were stopped too suddenly and with too violent an impact, the projectile might be started ] from its case. Now, after the recoil of the barrel and lock frame on the firing of a cartridge, when the barrel moves forward, the lock frame remaining in its rearward position locked against forward movement 1 by the engagement of dog 40 with the lock frame, as hereinbefore described, said ex- - _i Fig. 7, holds the shell against forward movement and the shell is thereby with- drawn from the forwardly moving barrel. During such withdrawal the rim of the shell is guided horizontally and until com- pletely withdrawn from the barrel, by the inwardly projecting ledges 52 (Figs. 16 ! 85 90 05 100 105 no 115 120 125 130
хе 1,ВЗВ,0вВ projection 53b of said ejector is engaged by ejector stud 54, it is moving forwaraly at high speed, and is therefore rotated to strike the shell with great force, thereby positively throwing said shell clear of the gun even 70 should the gim be fired upside down. Dur- ing the subsequent forward movement of the lock frame, when the same has been released, the ejector stud 54 thereon engages the for- ward downward projection 53е of said 75 ejector and cams the' forward arm of the same into its upper position, where it is held in position by the spring 53d, to engage over the rear end of the next shell to be . ejected. 80 • During the last portion of the forward movement of the lock frame the forward arm of the carrier 37 is raised and held in such raised position while the lock frame is forward by the longitudinal top surface of 85 the carrier cam 55 (Figs. 6, 7, 12, 13, 43 and 44) projecting rearwardly of said frame and slightly to the left of the central plane of the gun, said can! surface co-operating for this purpose with the left hand one of the 80 spaced projections 37b on the hub of the carrier. Fig. 13 shows the projection 37b in position to be thus engaged by the carrier cam 55 on the forward movement of the lock frame, and Fig. 6 shows them in 85 engagement with the forward arm of the carrier 37 raised thereby. When the carrier arm is brought to its upper position the carrier latch 39, under the action of its spring engages in the notch 37° provided 100 for the same to hold said carrier in this po- sition. During the forward movement of the bar- - rel and barrel extension after their recoil, the feed plate is fed transversely as herein- 105 before described and the next cartridge therein is brought against the downwardly projecting stud 39d on the carrier latch 39 to automatically trip the same and permit the carrier 37 to rotate, and this cartridge will HO then be fed into the chamber of the barrel in the manner hereinbefore described. From the foregoing description it will be seen that the firing will continue automati- cally as long as there are cartridges in the l15 feed plate, if the trigger is held back, and that any number of cartridges can be fired continuously by holding back the trigger and supplying a new feed plate loaded with cartridges as soon as the cartridges in one 120 plate are exhausted. Also when the last cartridge has been fired the breech will remain open since the car- rier latch will not be disengaged from the carrier to permit the carrier to rotate and 125 unlock the lock frame from engagement with the dog 40, thereby avoiding the neces- sity of manually retracting the. breech mechanism, if it is desired to recommence firing. A new feed plate loaded with car- 130 and 17) on the inside bottom portion of the barrel extension arms and by the under side 43d (Fig. 12) of the cartridge guide lever 43, which is now in its uppermost position, 5 having been raised by the breech block, as hereinbefore described. As the barrel and barrel extension approach their forward josition, the rear ends of the aforesaid edges 52 supporting the cartridge shell 10 head at the bottom pass forwardly beyond said head, and since the shell is entirely withdrawn from the chamber, it is free to fall downwardly through the open bottom of the. breech casing. 15 To positively eject the shell, there is pro- vided a shell ejector 53 (Fig. 33) comprising a two-armed lever pivoted at 53a (Fig. 28) to the left hand arm 8a of the barrel exten- sion near the rear end thereof. Said shell 20 ejector has a long forward 'arm and a short rearward arm, and is provided on opposite sides of its pivot with downward projec- tions 53b and 53е (Fig. 33) which are formed with inclined cam surfaces and 'are adapted 25 to co-operate, in effecting the movements of the ejector, with a lateral ejector stud 54 (Figs. 12, 13 and 47) on the left hand for- ward side of the upwardly projecting por- tion of the lock frame. The ejector is fric- 30 tionally held in 'all positions, thereof by means of a frictional spring 53d (Fig. 28) housed in a recess in the ejector and bear- ing at one end against the adjacent side of the barrel extension. When the barrel on 35 its counter recoil has reached the position where the rear ends of the supporting ledges 52 on the barrel extension arms have passed beyond the shell, the ejector is in the posi- tion shown in Fig. 29 with its forward end 40 projecting over the rear end of the shell, and in the further forward movement of the barrel (the lock frame being held in a rear- ward position by the dog 40), the ejector stud 54 on the lock frame engages the rear 45 downward projection 53b on said ejector, which is moving rapidly forward with the barrel and barrel extension, and Cams it up, ' thus rapidly moving the forward arm of the ejector down to strike the top of the shell 50 and forcibly eject it down and out through the open bottom in the breech casing. While in this lower position, where it remains under the influence of the spring 53d until again engaged by the ejector stud, the for- 55 ward arm of the ejector assists in guiding the succeeding cartridge head during the first part of its movement from the feed plate, preparatory to being inserted in the barrel chamber by the lock frame. By 60 mounting the ejector on the barrel extension and actuating it by a fixed stud on the lock frame the moment of actuation of the ejec- tor can be properly timed so that it will op- er'ate at the proper moment to strike and 65 positively eject the shell. When the rear
1,вйв,овй I© tridges may be inserted into the feed chan- nel to automatically 'actuate the mechanism as above described. / It will be noted that the gun will operate 6 without the carrier latch 39 except that the lock frame will not remain locked in its rearward position hfter the firing of the last cartridge and it would be necessary to manually pull back the lock frame and hold 10 it in rearward position while a new feed pl'ate is being inserted and the first cartridge . fed into position for insertion into the barrel chamber. If the carrier latch were omitted, on each recoil of the parts after 15 firing the carrier would remain in its upper position locking the lock frame during the forward movement of the barrel, by the engagement of the right hand projection 37b on the hub of the c'arrier with the top 20 face of the right hand barrel extension arm. This projection 37b engages this arm, hold- ing the carrier raised until near the end of the forward movement of the barrel when the cut away portion 46 of the barrel exten- 25 sion 'arm permits the carrier to rotate, press- ing the cartridge down into inclined posi- tion and releasing the lock frame for for- ward movement. The shoulder 7b projecting forwardly of 30 the top of the barrel extension and project- ing over the top of the barrel (Figs. 6, 12, 28, 29 and 31) is a safety device. In case the next cartridge to be fed into the barrel drops prematurely from the feed plate while 35 the barrel is in its rearward position with its rear end under the feed box as shown in Fig. 7, the cartridge will engage the shoul- der 7b instead of the barrel and any jam- ming of the cartridge on the forward move- 40 ment of the barrel and barrel extension will be avoided. The buffer may comprise a plunger 56 (Fig. 7) mounted for longitudinal move- ' ment in the bottom of the buffer housing 56s. 45 The buffer housing is integral at its rear with the front face of the back plate, to the right of the guide plate 17f (see Fig. 59). The housing is rectangular with two side plates with grooves at front and top in 50 which the front plate 56b and top plate or cover 56е can slide into position. A stud (not shown) projects into one side groove to limit the downward movement of. the front plate when slid into position so that 55 the bottom of the plate will just touch the top of the rear raised portion of the plun- ger. The ledge projecting forwardly from the front plate at the bottom prevents dirt or foreign matter from getting into the 60 buffer housing when the plunger is in its forward position. The forward movement of the plunger is limited: by a fixed stud 56a projecting upwardly from the bottom of said housing into a longitudinal groove in 65 the bottom face of said plunger. Said plunger projecting forwardly from the lower portion of the buffer housing is in position to be struck by the rear end of the, lock frame, as Said lock frame recoils. At its rear end said plunger is formed with a 70 downwardly and rearwardly inclined sur- face arranged to contact with a similar sur- face on the lower front end of a vertically slidable brake block 56е, which is formed at its upper end with a forwardly and down- 75 wardly inclined surface adapted to contact with a similar surface on a second brake block 56f. Between the upper surface of the second brake block and the top closure 56® of the buffer housing is provided a so powerful coiled spring 57. It will be seen that any rearward movement of the plunger 56 will act to compress the coiled spring and the brake blocks will press against the back and front sides of the buffer housing 85 to powerfully brake such rearward move- ment and bring the lock frame to rest grad- ually and without violent shock and start the same on its return movement in co-opera- tion with the reaction spring. The top 56е 90 of the housing slides rearwardly in grooves at the top of the housing side plates and may be slid forwardly to disassemble and remove the spring and brake blocks. The pressure of the spring keeps it normally in 0;j place. Preferably I make the plunger of steel, brake block 56е of brass and block 56f of fiber. If these were all of steel they might stick and wear even though well oiled, but the brass and steel, and the brass-and J()0 fibre contacts form easy sliding surfaces. Also the use of fibre decreases the weight. I also preferably make the bottom plate of the housing of bronze so that there will be an easy slide between it and the plunger. 11! l By the buffer action just described, in which the action of the spring is supple- mented by the braking action resulting from the frictional engagement of the buffer blocks with each othpr and with the bottom 1 l‘l and rear walls of the buffer housing, the buffer is rendered comparatively “dead,” that is, it prevents a too rapid expansion of the spring in returning the blocks to their normal position, thereby avoiding the strain lb’ and breakage which might result from a too violent forward return of the lock frame against the dog. If the lock frame is locked in its rearward position, as it will be after the ejection of 1-') the last cartridge, to disassemble the gun the top of the feed box 4 should be raised and the carrier catch 39 snapped back man- ually out of engagement with the cartridge carrier 37. The action of the spring 40" and the tail 40d, as hereinbefore described, will lift the dog 40 from locking engage- ment with the lock frame which will be returned to its forward position under the influence of the reaction spring. The 130
ЙО 1,ВЙ5,0вВ tension of the reaction spring is now at its minimum and the end of its guide rod can be readily pushed in by apply- ing the point of a cartridge to the end 5, of the head 17®, until it passes from its seat in the hole in the rear plate 5 and the rear plate slid downwardly and withdraw^ from the casing. The spi ing and guide rod and guide plate can now be withdrawn as io a unit. Also by pulling back on the finger piece of the actuator lever 11 the lock frame and the parts mounted thereon can be with- drawn rearwardly from the casing. I have described above the disassembly of the parts 15 mounted on the lock frame. The pin 33a on which the feed lever 33 is mounted can be readily withdrawn against the tension of the spring 34 and the spring and feed lever withdrawn upwardly through the top 20 of the feed box. The pin 31a on which the feed pawl lever is mounted can be with- drawn vertically from its seat and the feed pawl lever withdrawn. The carrier catch and its pivot pin can be withdrawn verti- 25 cally from the bracket in which said pin is seated. The pin 15° can now be knocked out, the breech block manually raised and the breech block stop removed rearwardly from the barrel extension. The breech block 30 will now slide down and out of engagement with the barrel extension. The rear lock nut 9d of the barrel extension lug can now be taken off and the barrel and barrel extension slid rearwardly through the casing. The 35 parts carried by the barrel extension can easily be disassembled therefrom. What I claim and desire to secure by Let- ters Patent is:— 1. In an automatic firearm, the combina- 40 tion of a breech casing, a barrel supported therein, a reciprocating member mounted at the rear of said barrel, a breech block movable transversely of the axis of the bar- rel to open and close the breech of the bar- 45 rel, and means actuated by the movements of said reciprocating member to move the breech block into and out of breech closing position. 2. In an automatic fiream, the combina- 50 tion of a breech casing, a barrel supported therein, a reciprocating member mounted at the rear of said barrel, a breech block movable transversely of the axis of the bar- rel to open and close the breech of the same, 55 and means carried by said reciprocating member to move said breech block to open and close said breech. 3. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a breech casing, a barrel supported co therein, a reciprocating member mounted at the rear of said barrel, a breech block mov- able transversely of the axis of the barrel .to open and close the breech of the same, means carried by said reciprocating mem- ber to move said breech block to open and 85 close said breech and means to interlock said barrel, block and reciprocating member when said block is in breech closing posi- tion. 4. In an automatic firearm, the combine- 70 tion of a breech casing, a barrel supported therein, a reciprocating member mounted to the rear of said barrel, a breech block movable transversely of the axis of the bar- rel to open and close the breech of the same, 75 means actuated by the rearward movement of said member to move said breech block from breech closing to breech opening po- sition and actuated by the forward move- ment of said member to return the breech 80 block to breech closing position, and means to interlock said barrel, breech block and member when the breech block is in breech closing position. 5. In an automatic gun, the combina- 85 tion of a breech casing, a barrel supported therein, a member mounted for longitudinal movement at the rear of said barrel, a breech block mounted for sliding movement in a plane transverse to the axis of the bar- 80 rel, means for feeding a cartridge between the rear end of the barrel and said member when said member is in its rearward po- sition whereby said cartridge will be en- gaged by and inserted into said- barrel on 85 the forward movement of said member, and breech block actuating means rendered op- erative on the rearward movement of said member to slide the breech block from breech closing position and out of the path loo of movement of said cartridge and on the forward movement of said member to slide said breech block into breech closing position after said cartridge has been inserted into the barrel chamber. 105 6. In an’ automatic gun, the combination Of a breech casing, a barrel mounted for longitudinal movement therein, a member mounted for longitudinal movement at the rear of the barrel, a breech block mounted for no sliding movement in a plane transverse to the axis of the barrel, means actuated by the rearward movement of said member to slide said breech block from breech closing po- sition to a position outside said casing and П5 actuated by the forward movement of said member to slide the breech block to breech, closing position, and means to interlock said barrel, breech block and member when the breech block is in breech closing position. 120 7. In a an automatic firearm, the combi- nation of a breech casing, a barrel and bar- rel extension mounted for longitudinal movement therein, a reciprocating member mounted in the rear of said barrel, a breech l25 block mounted on the barrel extension and movable transversely to the axis of the bar- rel, means actuated by the movement of said
1,ВЯВ,06В <3rr reciprocating member to move the breech block into and out of breech closing position, and means to interlock said breech block and said reciprocating member when said 5 block is in breech closing position. 8. In an automatic firearm, the combi- nation of a breech casing, a barrel mounted therein, a reciprocating member mounted at the rear of said barrel, a breech block mov- 10 able transversely of the axis of the barrel to open and close the breech of .thfe same, and means to impart said movement to said breech block comprising an actuating lever mounted on said reciprocating member and 15 adapted to engage said' breech block and - move it into breech closing and breech open- ing position during the forward and rear- ward movements of said member. 9. In an automatic firearm, the combina- 20 tion of a breech casing, a barrel mounted therein, a reciprocating member mounted at the rear of said barrel, a breech block mov- able transversely of the axis of, the barrel to open and close the breech of the same, 25 and an actuating lever adapted to operat- ively connect said reciprocating member and said breech block, and means to actuate said lever on the forward and rearward move- ments of said member whereby the breech Ю block is moved into breech closing and breech opening position on the reciprocation of said member. 10. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a breech casing, a barrel and barrel 5 extension mounted for longitudinal move- ( ment therein, a lock frame also mounted for longitudinal movement in said casing, a breech block movable transversely of the axis of said barrel to open and close the 40 breech, of the same, and means for moving said breech block during the movements of said lock frame comprising a lever and cam means for operating said lever. 11. In an automatic firearm, the combina- 45 tion of a breech casing, a barrel mounted therein, a reciprocating member mounted at the rear of said barrel, a breech block mounted for movement transversely to the axis of the barrel to open and close 50 the breech of said barrel, means for auto- matically imparting said movement to said breech block comprising an actuating lever mounted on said member and adapted to engage said breech block, and cams secured 55 to said casing adapted to co-operate with said lever. 12. In an automatic firearm, the combina^ tion of a breech casing, a barrel and barrel extension mounted for longitudinal move- •i() ment therein, a reciprocating member mounted at the rear of said barrel, a breech block mounted on said barrel extension for movement transverse to the axis of the barrel to open and close the breech of said .barrel, and means actuated by the move- W ment of said reciprocating member to im- part said opening and closing movements to said breech block. 13. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a breech casing, a barrel and barrel 70 extension mounted therein, a reciprocating member mounted at the rear of said barrel, a breech block mounted on said barrel ex- tension and haying vertical reciprocatory movement thereon to open and close the 75 breech of said barrel, and means to impart said movement to said breech block com- prising an actuating lever mounted on said reciprocating member and adapted to en- gage and move said .breech block into and 80 out of breech closing position during the reciprocation of said member. 14. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a breech casing, a barrel and barrel extension mounted for longitudinal move- 85 ment therein, a reciprocating lock frame mounted at the rear of said barrel, a breech block mounted on said barrel extension and having vertical sliding movement thereon to open and close the breech of said barrel, 80 and means for automatically imparting said movement to said breech block comprising an actuating lever mounted on said, lock frame and adapted to engage Said breech block and cams secured to said casing adapt- 88 ed to co-operate with said lever. 15. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a breech casing, a barrel and barrel extension mounted for longitudinal move- ment therein, a reciprocating member Ю0 mounted at the rear of said barrel, a breech block slidably mounted on the barrel ex- tension, an actuating lever pivotally mount- ed on said reciprocating member and adapted to engage said breech block to move Ю5 it into and out of breech closing position on the forward and rearward movement, respectively, of said member, cam means on said lever and said casing, respectively, adapted to co-operate to actuate said lever, no a lever strut mounted on said lever and a spring on said member engaging said strut, as ana for the purpose described^ 16. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a breech casing, a recoiling barrel 115 and barrel extension, a breech block slid- able transversely of the axis of said barrel to open and close the breech of the same, a longitudinally sliding member at the rear of said barrel, a lever carried by said mem- 120 ber for moving said block, and cams secured to said casing and cooperating with said lever to, positively actuate it during the reciprocatory movements of said member, and means for yieldingly holding said lever 125 at either limit of its throw. 17. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a breech casing, a barrel and barrel
QQ 1,636,066 extension mounted for. longitudinal move- ment therein, a reciprocating member mounted at the rear of said barrel, a breech» block mounted for movement transverse to 5 the axis of the barrel, an actuating lever pivotally mounted on said member and adapted to engage said breech block, cam means on said lever and casing, respectively, adapted to cooperate to rock said lever to 10 move the breech block to breech closing and breech opening positions on the forward and rearward movements respectively of said member, a spring mounted on said member and a strut mounted on said lever and en- 16 gaged by said spring, said strut being adapted to pass dead center position on each rock of said lever to raise and lower the breech block, whereby said lever will be yieldingly held in position at the end of 20 each said rock. 18. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a breech casing, a barrel and barrel extension mounted for longitudinal move- ment therein, a reciprocating lock frame 25 mounted at the rear of the barrel, a breech block mounted for vertical sliding move- ment on the barrel extension, means mount- ed on said lock frame for engaging the breech block on the forward movement of "° the lock frame and raising said block into breech closing position and for lowering said block on the recoil of said frame, means for yieldingly holding said block actuating means in raised position and in lowered 35 position, and means for interlocking said frame and block when the block is in its raised position and the frame is in its for- ward position. 19. In an automatic firearm the combina- 40 tion of a breech casing, a barrel mounted therein, a reciprocating member mounted at the rear of said barrel, a breech block mounted for movement transversely of the axis of said barrel to open and close the 45 breech of same, and breech block actuating means for operatively connecting said block and said member, means for rotating said actuating means to move said block to breech closing position on the forward move- 50 ment of said member, said connection be- tween said actuating means and said block having a lost motion at the limit of the breech closing movement of said block, whereby said actuating means may rebound 55 without moving said clock from the limit of its breech closing position. 20. In an automatic firearm, the combi- nation of a breech casing, a barrel mounted therein, a reciprocating member mounted at CO the rear of said barrel, a breech block mounted for movement transversely of the axis of said barrel to open and close the breech of said barrel, and breech block ac- tuating means engaging said block on the forward and rearward movements of said W member to move said block, said engage- ment between said actuating means and said block having a lost motion connection at the limit ot the breech closing movement thereof whereby said actuating means will To not engage and move said block on the ini- tial movement of said frame and actuating means following discharge. • 21. In an automatic firearm, a breech casing, a barrel and barrel extension mount- Тб ed for longitudinal movement therein, a re- ciprocating lock frame mounted at the rear of said barrel, a breech block mounted for transverse movement on said barrel exten- sion to open and close the breech of said 80 barrel, a breech block actuating lever mounted on Said frame and adapted at its forward end to engage said block, and means whereby the forward end of said . lever engages said block on the forward 85 movement of said frame, raises said block to breech closing position and holds it in said position until after the initial recoil movement of said frame following dis- charge. 80 22. In an automatic firearm, the com- bination of a breech casing, a barrel sup- ported therein, a breech block movable transversely of said barrel to open and close the breech of the same, a member at the 06 rear of said barrel mounted for longitudinal reciprocatory movement in said casing, a lever carried by said member and adapted to operatively engage said breech block, said engagement having a lost motion con- 100 nection at the limit of the breech closing movement, whereby said lever moves inde- pendently of said breech block during the initial portion of the movement of said lever in the direction for opening the breech and 105 during the final portion of the movement of said lever in the opposite direction, and a locking shoulder on said lever for engage- ment with said breech block during such in- dependent movement for holding said block no in its closed position. 23. In an automatic firearm, the com- bination of a breech casing, a barrel mount- ed therein, a reciprocating member mount- ed at the rear of said barrel, a breech block П5 mounted for movement transversely to the axis of the barrel, and breech block actuat- ing means mounted on said member adapted on the forward movement of said member to engage said block and move it to breech 12() closing position, and on the rearward move- ment of said member to engage said block, move it from breech closing position and on further rearward movement to pass from engagement with said breech block. 125 24. In an automatic firearm, the com- bination of a casing, a recoiling barrel and barrel extension, and a lock frame mounted
1,636,066 ©a for reciprocatory movement in said casing, means for returning said recoiling members to their forward position after recoil, means for holding said lock frame in rearward posi- . 5 tion while said barrel and barrel extension are returning to forward position, a breech block mounted on said extension for trans- verse movement to open and close the breech of said barrel, breech block actuating means 10 mounted on said lock frame and adapted to engage and move said breech block to its open and closed positions on the movements of said lock frame, whereby said actu- ating means will engage and move said 15 breech block to its open position on the re- coil of said recoiling members, Tjjill pass from engagement with said breech block when said lock frame is being held in its rearward position and will again engage 20 and move said breech block to its breech closing position on the subsequent forward movement of the lock frame. 25. In an automatic firearm, the com- bination of a breech casing, a recoiling bar- 2-5 rel and barrel extension mounted for re- ciprocatory movement therein, a recoiling lock frame mounted for reciprocatory move- ment at the rear of said barrel, means for returning said recoiling members to their forward position after recoil, means for holding said lock frame in rearward position while said barrel and barrel extension are returning to forward position, a breech block mounted for transverse movement on the 35 barrel extension, an actuating lever mounted on said lock frame adapted to engage and move said breech block to open and close the breech of said barrel on the reciproca- tory movements of said lock frame, and io means to guide said lever, whereby said lever will engage and move said block to its open position during the recoil of said re- coiling members, will pass from engagement with said breech block while said lock frame 15 is being held in its rearward position and will again engage and move said breech block to breech closing position on the subsequent forward movement of said lock frame. 2(5. In an automatic firearm, the combina- .->0 tion of a breech casing, a recoiling barrel and barrel extension mounted therein, means for returning said members to their forward position after recoil, a breech block mounted for transverse movement on said 55 barrel extension to open and close the breech of the barrel, a member at the rear of said barrel also mounted for longitudinal re- ciprocatory movement and carrying an ex- tractor adapted to engage the rim of the en cartridge in the barrel chamber, a lever carried by said member and having its for- ward arm adapted to operatively engage said breech block, means for rocking said lever to move the breech block to open posi- tion during the recoil of said member, means 65 for keeping the said member in rearward ' position on return movement of said barrel and barrel extension, thereby withdrawing the empty shell from the barrel chamber, the engagement between the lever and the 70 breech block permitting the separation of these members, and means for guiding said lever during the forward movement of said reciprocating member, whereby said lever is again brought into engagement with said 75 breech block and cam means for swinging said lever during the final forward move- ment of said member to move the breech block to its brfeech closing position. 27. In an automatic firearm, the combina- 80 tion of a breech casing, a barrel supported therein, a reciprocating member mounted at the rear of said barrel, a breech block movable transversely of the axis of the barrel to open and close the breech of the 88 same, a slot in said breech block, a breech block actuating lever pivotally mounted on said member and having a stud at its for- ward end for engagement in said slot, and means for rocking said lever during the 00 movements of said reciprocating member, whereby the engagement of said stud in said slot effects the opening and closing move- ments of said breech mock. 28. In an automatic firearm, the combina- l,i’ tion of a breech casing, a barrel and barrel extension mounted for longitudinal move- ment therein, a reciprocating frame mem- ber, a breech block mounted for transverse movement on the barrel extension, a slot in 100 said block, a breech block actuating lever pivotally mounted on said frame member and having a stud at its forward end to engage in said slot, means to rock said lever on the movements of said frame member 105 whereby said stud will engage in said slot and moye the breech block into breech clos- ing position on the forward movement of said frame, and will move said block to breech opening position on the rearward 110 movement thereof. 29. In an automatic firearm, a breech casing, a barrel and barrel extension mount- ed for longitudinal movement therein, a re- coiling lock frame, a breech block mounted 113 for vertical movement on said barrel ex- tension, a slot in said block, means for rais- ing said breech block into breech closing position comprising an actuating lever having a stud at its forward end to engage 120 in said slot, means for engaging said stud in said slot on the forward movement of said lock frame, means for rocking the for- ward end of said lever upwardly on the further forward movement of said lock 123 frame to move said block into breech closing position, a locking shoulder adjacent said stud, and a lost motion connection between
1,535,08 В said stud and slot whereby on the final up- ward movement of the forward end of said lever said stud will disengage from said slot and said shoulder will engage and hold 5 said block in its raised position. 30. In an automatic firearm, a breech casing, a barrel and barrel extension mount- ed therein, a recoiling member at the rear of said barrel,'. a breech block slidably 10 mounted in said barrel extension, a lever for engaging said breech block and sliding it into and out of breech closing position, and means for actuating said lever on the forward and rearward movements of Said 15 member, comprising a cam plate having cam surfaces mounted on the breech casing and studs on said lever to engage said cam plate and cam surfaces. 31. In an automatic firearm, a breech 20 casing, a barrel and barrel extension mount- ed for longitudinal movement therein, a reciprocating lock frame mounted at the rear of the Ъагге!, a breech block mounted for vertical sliding movement on the barrel .”> extension, a breech block actuating lever operatively connected with said frame, cam means for rocking said lever during the movement of said frame, and a spring pressed strut for actuating said lever to :;o move said block to its breech closing posi- tion and to hold said block thus positioned pending discharge. 32. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a breech casing, a recoiling barrel 35 and barrel extension mounted therein, a breech block movable transversely to the axis of the barrel to open and close the breech of the same, a recoiling lock frame, a breech block actuating lever mounted on io said lock frame, and cams on said casing co-operating with said lever in the move- ment of said lock frame to automatically effect the opening and closing movements of the breech block, said cams permitting 45 the manual operation of said lever to open and close the breech of the barrel, when desired, without moving said barrel and barrel extension. 33. In an automatic firearm, the combina- 50 tion of a breech casing, a barrel and barrel extension mounted for longitudinal recip- rocatory movement therein, a breech block mounted in said barrel extension for move- ment transversely to the axis of said barrel 55 to open and close the breech of the same, a member in rear of said barrel also mounted for longitudinal reciprocatory movement in said casing, a two-armed lever pivoted to said member arid having its forward arm co adapted to engage with said breech block, a cam on said breech casing, a lateral projec- tion on the forward arm of said lever adapt- ed to cooperate with said cam to start the breech block toward its open position during 65 the first part of the recoil of said barrel and barrel extension and said member, a cam plate having a cam groove in rear of said cam, and a lateral projection on the rear arm of said lever arranged to enter the forward end of said cam groove before the lateral 70 projection on said forward arm has left its cooperating cam, whereby, during the fur- ther recoil, the breech block is moved to its full open position. 34. In an automatic firearm, the combina- 75 tion of a recoiling barrel and barrel exten- sion, a transversely movable breech block for opening and closing the breech of the bar- rel, ana means whereby said breech block is automatically moved to its open position 80 during the recoil of said members, said means permitting the manual operation of said breech block when the barrel and bar- rel extension are in their forward positions. 35. In an automatic firearm, a breech cas- 85 ing, a barrel and barrel extension mounted for longitudinal movement therein, a recoil- ing member, a breech block mounted for transyerse movement on the barrel exten- sion, means actuated by the forward and 1,0 rearward movements of said member to move said breech block into and out of breech closing position, a stop on said barrel extension to limit the breech opening move- ment of the breech block, and means to 05 yieldingly hold said breech block at the limit of said movement. 36. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a breech casing, a barrel and barrel extension mounted for longitudinal move- 100 ment therein, a reciprocating lock frame mounted at the rear of said barrel, a breech block mounted for transverse movement on the barrel extension, a locking groove in the forward face of said lock frame and a cor- 105 responding locking rib on said breech block, adapted, when the lock frame moves for- wardly to firing position and the breech block moves to close the breech, to engage in said groove and lock together said lock no frame and breech block. 37. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a breech casing, a barrel and barrel extension mounted for longitudinal move- • ment therein, a reciprocating lock frame П5 mounted at the rear of said barrel, a breech block mounted, for transverse movement on said barrel extension, means to absorb the recoil of said barrel and barrel extension following discharge and to return tiie same 120 to forward position, a reaction spring for said lock frame, means to hold said lock frame in rearward position following its re- coil while said barrel and barrel extension return to forward position, a spring pressed 125 hammer mounted on the lock frame, means actuated by the recoil of said lock frame to cock said hammer, means which, on the first portion of the recoil of the lock frame, engage the breech block and move it from 130
breech closing position, said breech block actuating, means disengaging from said block when said lock frapie is held rear- wardly and the barrel and barrel extension 5 return to forward position and engaging said block and raising it to breech closing position on the subsequent forward move- ment of the lock frame, means to eject the spent cartridge on the separation of said 10 actuating means from said block, means to feed a new cartridge into the gun between the lock frame and the barrel while the lock frame is being held rearwardly, whereby, when the lock frame is released for forward IS movement said new cartridge will be in- serted into the breech of the barrel and the breech block will be moved to breech closing position, and trigger operated means to re- lease the hammer to fire said cartridge. 20 38. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a breech casing, a barrel and barrel extension and a lock frame mounted for re- eiprocatory movement in said casing, means for returning said members to their forward 25 position after recoil, a breech block mounted for transverse movement to open and close the breech of said barrel, an extractor mounted on said lock frame for withdraw- ing an empty shell from the barrel chamber, 30 means operatively connected with said lock frame for moving said breech block to its open position during the recoil of said re- coiling members, means for holding said lock frame in rearward position while said 35 barrel is returning to its forward position whereby the cartridge shell is extracted from the barrel chamber, and cooperating means on said barrel extension and said lock frame for ejecting said shell from said 40 casing. 39. In an automatic firearm, the combi- nation of a breech casing, a barrel and bar- rel extension mounted for longitudinal movement therein, a reciprocating lock 45 frame mounted at the rear of said barrel, a breech block mounted for transverse move- ment on the barrel extension, breech block actuating means mounted on said lock frame, and cam means on the breech casing 50 adapted to engage said actuating means to move the breech block from breech closing position on the recoil of said lock frame and to move said breech block to breech closing position on the forward movement of said 56 frame following recoil, said lock frame be- ing adapted to be manually retracted, said actuating and cam means cooperating on manual retraction of the lock frame to move said breech block from breech closing po- 60 sition. 40. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a breech casing, a barrel and barrel extension mounted for longitudinal move- ment therein, a lug projecting from said 65 barrel extension having a hole therethrough counterbored at each end, a recuperator for said barrel having a piston with its rear end seated in said hole, nuts adapted to screw on said rod and into the counterbores of said hole at front and rear thereof to se- 70 cure said piston rod therein, a breech block mounted for sliding movement on said bar- rel extension and a stop detachably mount? ed on said lug to limit movement of said block and to lock said nuts from rotation. 76 41. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a breech casing, a barrel and barrel extension mounted for longitudinal move- ment therein, said barrel extension having a depending lug at it forward end, a recupera- 80 tor having a piston with its rear end de- tachably mounted in said lug, a breech block mounted for vertical sliding move- ment on said barrel extension, means for au- tomatically raising and lowering said breech 85 block to close and open the breech, a stop on said lug to limit the downward movement of said breech block and means on said lug to engage and yieldingly hold said breech block in its lowered position. 90 42. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a breech casing, a barrel and barrel extension mounted for longitudinal move- ment therein, a reciprocating lock frame mounted at the rear of said barrel, a breech 95 block mounted for vertical sliding move- ment in said barrel extension and having a slot therein, means to raise and lower said block comprising an actuating lever pivot- ally mounted on said frame and having a loo forward arm with two branches, studs on one branch to engage in said slot on the for- ward movement and recoil of said frame, cam surfaces on said casing, and studs on the second of said forward branches and on 105 the rearward arm of said lever respectively, to engage said cam surfaces whereby on the forward movement of said lock frame said first-named stud is guided into said slot and said lever is then rocked to raise said breech no block and whereby on the recoil of said frame and barrel and barrel extension said lever is first rocked to engage said first-named stud in said slot and lower said breech block and means to hold said frame in rearward 115 position while said barrel and barrel exten- sion return to forward position whereby said studs will be withdrawn from said slot in said block and said lock frame and lever will be completely disengaged from said breech 120 block and barrel extension. 43. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a recoiling barrel and barrel exten- sion, a recoiling lock frame at the rear of said barrel, a breech block mounted for 125 transverse movement on said extension, an element mounted on said frame to engage and move said block to and from breech clos- ing position on the forward and rearward movements of said frame, means to hold l?0
1,М5,0вв said frame in rearward position following recoil while said barrel and barrel extension move to forward position, said breech block actuating element being adapted to be 5 disengaged from said breech block when said barrel and barrel extension return to for- ward position whereby said lock frame be- comes completely disengaged from said bar- rel and barrel extension and breech block. 10 44. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a breech casing, a barrel mounted therein, a reciprocating lock frame mounted at the rear of said barrel, a hammer mount- ed thereon, a hammer spring, a breech block 16 mounted for sliding movement in a plane transverse to the axis of said barrel, a firing pin mounted in said block, actuating means rendered operative on the rearward and for- ward movements of said lock frame to move 80 the breech block out of and into breech clos- ing position, means actuated by said breech block actuating means on the recoil of said lock frame to move said hammer rearwardly against its spring, a sear to hold said ham- 26 mer in its rearward position, and means to release the hammer to fire a shot. 45. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a breech casing, a barrel mounted for longitudinal movement therein, a recipro- 30 eating lock frame, a breech block mounted for sliding movement in a plane transverse to the axis of the barrel, a breech block ac- tuating lever mounted on the lock frame, a spring actuated firing member mounted 38 on the lock frame, a sear, a cocking lever, and means whereby said cocking lever is actuated by said breech block actuating lever on the recoil of said lock frame to move the firing member to cocked position. 40 46. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a barrel, a reciprocating lock frame, a breech block movable transversely of the axis of the barrel to open and close the breech of the same, a breech block actuat- 45 ing lever mounted on the lock frame, a spring actuated firing member carried by said lock frame, a sear for holding said member in cocked position, and means whereby, on the recoil of said lock frame, 50 said breech block actuating lever moves said firing member to its cocked position. 47. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a barrel, a reciprocating lock frame, a breech block movable transversely of the 55 axis of the barrel to open and close the breech of the same, a breech block actuating element to engage and move said block to close and open the breech on the forward and rearward movements, respectively, of 60 said frame, a spring actuated firing member carried by said frame, means to hold the same in cocked position, and means, where- by, on the recoil of said frame, said breech block actuating element moves said firing es member to its cocked position. 48. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a breech casing, a barrel mounted therein, a lock frame mounted for longitu- dinal movement therein, a breech mock mounted for sliding movement in a plane 70 transverse to the axis of the barrel, a breech block actuating lever mounted on the lock frame, means whereby said lever slides said breech block into and out of breech closing position on the forward and rearward move- 75 ments of said lock frame, a hammer carried by said lock frame, a hammer spring, a sear, a cocking lever pivotally mounted on the lock frame with one end engaging the ham- mer and the other end in position to be 80 engaged by said actuating lever when it operates to move the breech block from breech closing position, whereby on the re- coil of said lock frame said hammer will be cocked. 85 49. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a barrel, a breech block movable transversely of the axis of said barrel to open and close the breech of said barrel, a firing pin carried by said breech block, a 99 longitudinally movable member carrying a hammer, and means on said member for moving said breech block to closed position upon the forward movement of said member, whereby the hammer and the firing pin will 95 be in their proper cooperative relation only when the breech block is in its fully closed position. 50. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a breech casing, a barrel, a breech 100 block movable transversely of the barrel axis to open and close the breech of said . barrel, a firing pin carried by said block, a longitudinally reciprocatory lock frame, a hammer carried by said lock frame for co- 105 operation with said firing pin, a trigger mounted on said breech casing and connect- ing means between said trigger and said hammer for releasing the same for firing movement and means whereby said connect- 110 ing means are operative only when the lock frame is in its forward firing position. 51. In a firearm, the combination of a barrel, a reciprocating member, a breech block, a breech block actuator for operatively 115 connecting said member and said breech block, a firing member carried by said recip- rocating member, a sear for holding said firing member in cocked position, means for automatically cocking said firing member on 120 the recoil of said reciprocating member, a trigger, connecting means between said trig- ger and said sear which are inoperative to move the sear to release the firing mem- ber when the breech block is in its breech 125 opening position, and means to render said connecting means operative only when the Iireech block is in full breech closing posi- tion, said means comprising an element in- terposed between said actuator and said con- 130
1,баб,оев 5 10 15 20 25 го 35 40 50 55 О 65 necting means and adapted to be engaged and held in its operative position by said actuator when the same has moved the breech block to breech closing position. 52. In a firearm, the combination of a barrel, a reciprocating lock frame, a breech block mounted for movement in a plane transverse to the axis of the barrel to open and close the breech of said barrel, a ham- mer carried by the lock frame,, a hammer spring, a sear for holding said hammer in cocked position, means whereby said ham- mer is moved to cocked position on the те- coil of said lock frame, a trigger, connect- ing means between the sear and the trigger, and means operative on the closing of the breech to render .said connecting means op- erative, whereby said sear cannot be released from operative engagement with the hammer until the breech block is in its full breech closing position. 53. In a firearm, the combination of a barrel, a reciprocating member, a breech block, a breech block actuator, firing mecha- nism mounted on said reciprocating mem- ber, a sear, means to automatically cock the firing mechanism on the recoil of said mem- ber, a trigger, connecting means between said trigger and said sear which is inopera- tive to actuate said sear to release the firing mechanism, and means to gender said con- necting means operative only when the breech block is in full breech closing posi- tion, said means comprising an element in- terposed between said actuator and said con- necting means and adapted to be engaged and held by the said actuator when said actuator has moved said breech block to breech closing position and when so held to render said connecting means operative. 54. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a reciprocating member, a breech block, firing mechanism mounted on said re- ciprocating member, a sear, means to auto- matically cock said firing mechanism on the recoil of said member, a trigger, connecting means between said trigger and said sear which is inoperative to actuate said sear to release the firing mechanism, and means to render said connecting means operative only when the breech block is in full breech clos- ing position, said means comprising a piv- oted trip lever in position to render said connecting means operative on the closing of the breech. 55. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a barrel, a breech block movable to open and close the breech of said barrel, firing mechanism, a sear for holding said mechanism in cocked condition, means for actuating said sear to release said mech- anism comprising a trigger, connecting means between said trigger and said sear which are normally inoperative to actuate the sear, and means pperative on the closing of the breech to render said connecting means operative, whereby premature firing is avoided and firing may be effected auto- matically by the closing of the breech if said trigger is held back. . 70 56. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a barrel, a breech block movable to open and close the breech of the barrel, an actuator for moving Said breech block a fir- ing pin carried by said block, a hammer for 75 cooperation with said firing pin, a sear for holding said hammer in cocked condition, and means for actuating said sear to release the hammer comprising a trigger, connect- ing means between said trigger and said sear 80 which is normally inoperative, and a trip lever which renders said connecting means operative and which is automatically actu- ated by said breech block actuator when the latter moves the block to its breech closing 85 position, whereby premature firing is avoided, and firing will be effected auto- matically by the final breech closing move- ment of the actuator if the trigger is held back. 0° 57. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a barrel, a breech closing member, a firing member, a mainspring therefor, a sear for holding said firing member in cocked condition, means for actuating said 95 sear to release said firing member compris- ing a trip lever and a trigger lever having a connecting lever pivoted thereto, said con- necting lever having a cooperative relation bothwith the sear and with the trip lever, 100 and means for causing said trip lever to operatively engage said connecting lever when said member closes the breech of said breech closing barrel, as and for the purpose described. Ю5 58. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a firing member, a mainspring there- for, a sear for holding said member in cocked condition, a trigger lever, a connect- ing lever pivoted thereto and having one HO arm adapted to engage said sear, and a trip lever adapted to engage the other arm of ‘said connecting lever, as and for the purpose described. 59. In a firearm, the combination of a re- П5 ciprocating lock frame, a breech block, breech block actuating means operative on the rearward and forward movements of the lock frame, a firing member mounted on the lock frame, a main spring, a sear, a trigger, 12o a two-armed trigger lever, connecting means between said trigger and said trigger lever which, engage and actuate one arm of said lever when the lock frame is in its forward firing position and the trigger is actuated, 125 .a connector pivoted on the other arm of said trigger lever, said connector having a free arm and a sear engaging arm, a trip lever having one arm overlying the free arm of said connector and another arm posi- 130
as 1,620,086 tioned. to be engaged and held by the breech block actuating means when it has moved the breech block to full breech closing posi- tion, whereby said sear engaging arm of 5 said connector can actuate the sear to release the firing member only when the breech is closed and the lock frame is in forward position. 60. In an automatic firearm, the combina- 10 tion of a breech casing, a lock frame mounted for longitudinal movement therein, a breech block, a firing member mounted on said lock frame, a sear, a sear spring, a trigger, a trigger lever, means for actuating said trig- 10 ger lever by said trigger, a trigger lever con- nector, and a trip lever positioned to oper- atively engage said connector on the closing of the breech, as and for the purpose de- scribed. 80 61. In an automatic firearm, a breech casing comprising side plates each having inwardly projecting flanges at the top and the bottom, a removable rear plate to close the rear of the casing having a sliding en- M gagement with said side plates, a reciprocat- ing lock frame, a reaction spring therefor, a hole in said rear plate, a projection at the ..rear end of the guide rod of said spring adapted to seat in said hole, a guiding plate 00 on said guide rod forward of and adjacent to said projection, said guiding plate resting against said rear plate and engaging a side flange of the breech casing to prevent with- drawal of said rear plate until said pro- 35 jection is withdrawn from said hole. 62. In an automatic firearm, a breech casing comprising side plates each having inwardly projecting flanges at the top and the bottom, a top cover plate secured thereto, 40 a removable rear plate having a sliding en- gagement with said side plates, a recip”ocat- ing member, a reaction spring therefor, a hole in said rear plate, a projection at the rear end of the guide rod of said spring 45 adapted to project into said hole, a guiding plate at the rear end of said guide rod, said guiding plate resting against said rear plate with its rear face, and engaging with its top, bottom and side edges the flanges and so the inner face of the adjacent side plate, as and for the purpose described. 63. In an automatic firearm, the com- bination of a breech casing having a trans- versely removable rear plate, a member 55 mounted for longitudinal reciprocation in said casing, a reaction spring for returning said member to forward position, a guide rod for said spring having a positioning means adapted to rest against the top, one co side and the bottom of said casing, and a rearward projection on said rod adapted to enter a hole in said rear plate and adapted to be held therein by the tension of said spring, whereby said rear plate and the reaction spring guide rod are held in their •>'> assembled relation. 64. In an automatic firearm, the combi- nation of . a breech casing having a rear plate slidable transversely for mounting and dismounting it, a member mounted for 70 longitudinal reciprocating movement in said casing, a reaction spring for returning said member to. forward position, a guide rod for said spring having a projection at its rear end normally extending into a hole 75 in said rear plate, and a lateral projection on said rod adjacent said rear plate, said lateral projection cooperating with a wall of said casing to keep said rear plate in assembled position. 80 65. In an automatic firearm, a breech casing, a lock frame mounted for longi- tudinal movement therein, a reaction spring therefor, a buffer secured at the rear of said casing comprising a plunger mounted for 85 limited longitudinal movement in the path of said lock frame and having an inclined rear face, a brake block mounted for ver- tical sliding movement and having a simi- larly inclined front face to engage said rear 00 face of the plunger and an inclined top face, a second brake mock mounted for vertical movement on said first brake block having an inclined face to engage the top face thereof, a coil spring acting on the second 05 brake block, a housing for said plunger, blocks and spring, as and for the purpose described. 66. In an automatic firearm, the com- bination of a breech casing having a remov- 100 able rear plate, a recoiling member mounted for reciprocating longitudinal movement, a buffer secured in the rear portion of said casing for absorbing any excess of energy of recoil of said member, said buffer com- 105 prising a casing enclosing a longitudinally movable ;metal block adapted to be struck by said member, said block being formed at its rear end with an incline adapted to engage a corresponding incline, a trans- 110 versely movable brass block which is formed with another incline adapted to engage a corresponding incline on a fiber block mov- able transversely to said first mentioned block and resilient means backing said last 115 mentioned block, whereby a blow on the longitudinally movable block will tend to compress the resilient means and force the said blocks against the bottom and side of the buffer casing to exert a braking action. 120 67. In an automatic firearm, a breech cas- ing having side plates with inwardly pro- jecting flanges at top and bottom, a rear plate to close the rear end of said casing and having a sliding engagement with the 126 rear ends of said side plates, a recoiling member mounted for longitudinal recipro- cating movement in said casing, a reaction
i,mb,обе ое spring therefor, a guide plate on the end'of the guide rod of said spring which engages the rear plate at one side thereof and the adjacent side plate, a buffer for said recipro- 5 eating member positioned beside said guide plate and having a casing of which the said rear plate forms the rear end, said buffer comprising a plunger and one or more brake blocks and a spring, as and for the purpose 10 described. 68. In an automatic firearm, a breech cas- ing having a transverse cartridge feed open- ing and a transverse channel, a barrel' having its breech normally forward of said IS opening, a feed plate adapted to hold a plurality of cartridges comprising a sub- stantially flat plate having a plurality of seats, each seat adapted to engage the rim of a cartridge and hold the same from 20 longitudinal displacement therefrom, resil- ient means to engage said cartridge and hold the same from vertical displacement from said seat, means to automatically feed said plate step-by-step through said chan- 25 'nel to successively position said cartridges centrally of the casing, means to move the resilient means from engaging the cartridge thus positioned, means to withdraw said cartridge from its seat and means to move 30 it into position to be injected into the cham- ber of said barrel. 69. In an automatic firearm, a breech cas- ing having a transverse cartridge opening, and a cartridge feed plate adapted to hold 35 a plurality of cartridges to be fed through said opening, comprising a substantially flat plate haying a plurality of seats, each seat having overhanging flanges at its edges adapted to receive the rim of a cartridge 40 head and hold said cartridge against longi- tudinal displacement therefrom, and resil- ient means projecting into each said seat to engage said rim, whereby a cartridge can be secured in said seat and withdrawn there- 45 from by moving said resilient means from said seat. 70. Tn an automatic firearm, a breech cas- ing having a cartridge feed opening and means to hold a plurality of cartridges and 50 to feed the same successively through said opening, said means comprising a substan- tially flat feed plate having a plurality of seats, each seat having overhanging flanges - at its edges adapted to receive the rim of a 55 cartridge head, a plurality of spring catches having stop projections adapted to project through slots into said seats, as and for the purpose described. 71. In an automatic firearm, a breech cas- 50 ing having a cartridge feed opening, means to hold a plurality of cartridges and feed them successively into said casing, said means comprising a substantially flat feed plate having a plurality of seats in its front face, each seat formed at its edges with SB overhanging flanges adapted to receive the rim of a cartridge head, slots in said seats adjacent the open mouths thereof, spring catches secured to the rear face of said plate and having stop projections extending 70 through said slots and into said recesses, as and for the purpose described. 72. In an automatic firearm, a breech casing having a transverse cartridge feed opening and a cartridge feed plate chan- 76 nel, a cartridge feed plate comprising a substantially flat plate having a plurality of seats, each seat adapted to engage the head of a cartridge, slots in said seats, spring catches having stop projections projecting 80 through said slots, cam faces on said catches and a cam surface in said channel adapted to co-operate with said cam faces as the feed plate is fed therethrough, as and for the purpose described. 85 73. In an automatic firearm having re- coiling mechanism, a breech casing having a transverse cartridge feed opening, a trans- verse channel, a cartridge feed plate in- sertable in said channel, said feiet plate com- 90 prising a substantially flat plate, means thereon comprising seats having side walls for preventing movement of the cartridges in a direction lengthwise of said plate to removably hold a plurality of cartridges in 95 substantial parallelism with the longitudi- nal axis of the firearm, said plate having a rearwardly projecting flange provided with spaced shoulders, and means actuated by the recoiling mechanism of the firearm to 100 engage one of said shoulders on each recoil' movement of said recoiling mechanism and thereby feed said feed plate step by step transversely through said channel. 74. An automatic firearm having a trans- 105 verse feed channel, an elongated cartridge feed plate adapted to be fed through the channel edgewise, said plate having a plu- rality of cartridge seats in its forward face to receive the heads of cartridges, and re- no silient catches for holding said cartridges in said plate, and a cam in said feed chan- nel co-operating with said catches to with- draw the same to release the cartridges suc- cessively as they approach the center line 115 of the firearm. 75. In an automatic firearm, the combi- nation of a breech casing having a trans- verse feed channel, a cartridge feed plate having seats adapted to receive the heads 12® of cartridges and hold said cartridges , against endwise movement therein, catches for positively holding said cartridges in said plate, said plate being insertable in said feed channel, means for automatically moving said plate transversely through said channel to successively position said car- tridges centrally of said casing, and means
ВО 1,бЗб,овб for automatically and successively releasing said catches and withdrawing a cartridge thus positioned from said plate. 76. A cartridge holder for automatic fire- S arms, comprising a substantially flat elon- gated plate having on one side thereof a plurality of seats, each seat adapted to en- gage the head of a cartridge and hold the' same from longitudinal displacement there- 10 from, and resilient means to engage said cartridge heads and hold the same against displacement from said seats. 77. A cartridge holder for automatic fire- arms, comprising a substantially flat elon- 15 gated plate having on one side thereof a plurality of seats opening in a direction at right angles to the length of the plate, each seat having overhanging flanges at its edges adapted to receive the heads of cartridges 20 and resilient spring catches on the other side of said plate, said catches having stop projections adapted to project through slots into said seats -to retain said cartridges therein. 25 78. A cartridge holder for automatic fire- arms, comprising a substantially flat elon- gated plate having on its front side a plu- rality of seats opening in a direction at right angles to the length of the plate, each •io seat formed at its edges with overhanging flanges adapted to receive the rim of a car- tridge head, slots in said seats, spring catches secured to the rear face of said plate and having stop projections extending through 35 said slots and. into said seats, as and for the purpose described. 79. In an automatic firearm, the combi- nation of a breech casing, a feed box mount- ed on said casing and having a transverse 40 feed channel therethrough, hinged doors for closing the ends of said feed channel when the same is not in use, and a pivotally mounted top cover for said feed box, one of said doors being hinged to said top cover. 45 80. In an automatic firearm, the combi- nation of a frame having a hinged top cov- er and a transverse, feed, opening through said frame, a feed plate carrying cartridges and adapted to be moved through said open- 50 ing, means to automatically move said plate step by step through said opening, spaced notches on said plate, a stop pawl mounted on the underside of said top cover to en- gage said notches and prevent retrograde 55 movement of said plate, whereby, when the top cover is lifted said stop pawl will be automatically removed from its engagement with the plate to permit manual withdraw- al of said plate when desired. ao 81. In an automatic firearm, the combi- nation of a recoiling member, a casing, a transverse feed channel therein, a cartridge feed plate adapted to hold a plurality of cartridges and insertable in said channel, spaced notches on said plate forming shoul- #8 ders, a feed pawl actuated by the movement of the recoiling member and adapted to en- gage in said notches to feed said plate step- by-step through said channel, additional notches adjacent said shoulders to weaken 70 the same, as and for the purpose described. 82. In an automatic firearm, the combi- nation. of a breech casing having a trans- verse feed channel, a recoiling member in said breech casing, a feed plate carrying a 75 plurality of cartridges insertable into said feed channel, and means for moving said plate transversely step by step to succes- sively bring the cartridges into position for insertion into the barrel chamber, said 80 means comprising a lever projecting into the path of a stud on said recoiling mem- ber, and a second lever swinging in a plane substantially at right angles to said first lever and canwing a feed pawl at one end 85 thereof, said first named lever carrying a swivel stud engaging loosely in a corre- sponding groove in said second lever where- by to actuate the same. 83. In an automatic firearm, the combi- 00 nation of a breech casing carrying a feed box. on the top thereof, said feed box hav- ing a transverse feed channel therethrough, a holder carrying cartridges and adapted to be moved through said channel, and means 05 for automatically moving said holder trans- versely with a step by step movement, said means comprising a feed lever having its lower free end depending into said breech casing, a reciprocating member having a loo stud for engaging said lever alternately on its opposite sides, and a spring for swing- ing said lever back from its extreme posi- tions when released by said stud near the limit of movement of said reciprocating 105 member in each direction, and connecting means between said feed lever and said holder. 84. In an automatic firearm, the combi- nation of a frame having a transverse feed no channel, a cartridge feed plate adapted to be moved through said channel, and means for automatically moving said plate trans- versely through said channel by a step by step movement, said means comprising a 115 reciprocating member, a feed lever with its free end positioned in the path of said mem- ber, means for yieldingly limiting the move- ment of said lever when engaged by said member, whereby, on the limit of movement 120 of said lever in either direction, said mem- ber will pass from engagement therewith and said lever will be positioned to be en- gaged by said member on the reverse move- ment thereof, arid means connecting said 125z lever with said plate, as and for the pur- pose described. 85, In an automatic firearm, the combi-
1,636,066 811 nation of a frame having a transverse feed channel, a feed plate adapted to hold a plu- rality of cartridges and to move through said channel, and means to automatically . 6 move said plate step by step through said channel, said means comprising a reciprocat- ing member having a stud, a feed lever with its free end positioned in the path of said stud, a spring which yieldingly engages said 10 lever at the desired limit of movement there- of in each direction whereby the stud will pass from engagement therewith and the le- ver will be positioned to be engaged and ac- tuated by the stud on the reverse movement 15 of said stud, and a feed pawl actuated by said lever, as and for the purpose described. 86. In an automatic firearm, the combi- nation of a breech casing having a feed box, a transverse feed channel therein, a 20 cartridge feed plate insertable in said chan- nel, and means for automatically moving said plate through said channel by a step b^ step movement, said means comprising a feed pawl, a feed pawl lever, a feed lever, 25 a feed lever spring and a reciprocating member having a stud adapted to engage said feed lever, as and for the purpose de- scribed. 87, In an automatic firearm, the combina- 30 tion of a breech casing having a feed box, a feed channel therein, a cartridge feed plate insertable in said channel, and means to automatically move said plate through said channel, said means comprising a re- 35 ciprocating member having a projecting stud thereon, a feed lever pivotally mount- ed in said box and having its free end depending into the breech casing and posi- tioned in the path of said stud, a spring 40 positioned to yieldingly engage the lever at the desired limit of movement thereof in each direction, whereby when said lever is engaged by said spring said stud in its continued movement will pass from engage- 45 ment with said lever and said lever will be positioned to be engaged by said stud on the reverse movement thereof, and means actuated by said lever to engage and move said plate step by step, as and for the pur- 50 pose described. 88. In an automatic firearm, the combi- nation of a recoiling barrel, a reciprocat- ing member mounted at the rear of said barrel and adapted to recoil with said bar- 55 rel after the firing of a shot, mean's for returning said barrel to its forward posi- tion following recoil, means for holding said member in a rearward position while said barrel returns to its forward position, 60 means for positively feeding a cartridge between said member and the rear end of said barrel while said member is in its rear- ward position, and mechanism rendered op- erative by the said feeding of the cartridge to release said holding means, whereby said 65 member moves to its forward position and ' pushes the cartridge into the barrel cham- ber. 89. In an automatic firearm, the combi- nation of a recoiling barrel, a recoiling 70 member mounted at the rear of said bar- rel, means to return said recoiling parts to their forward positions following recoil, means for holding said recoiling member \ in a rearward position while said barrel 75 returns to its forward position, said means comprising a dog positioned in the path of a part of said recoiling member and adapted to engage said part and hold said member from forward movement, means 80 for positively feeding a cartridge between said recoiling member and said barrel while said recoiling member is in its rearward position, and means rendered operative by the said feeding of a’ cartridge to release 85 said dog from engagement with said re- coiling member when a cartridge has been positioned between said member and said barrel, whereby said member will move for- wardly and push said cartridge into the 80 chamber of said barrel. 90. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a barrel, a recoiling member mount- ed at the rear of said barrel and adapted on its forward movement to push a car- 85 tridge into the chambey of said barrel, means for holding said member in a rear- ward position following its recoil, means for positively positioning a cartridge in sub- stantial alignment with the axis of said bar- loo rel and between said member and said bar- rel, and means actuated by said position- ing of the cartridge to release said hold- ing means whereby said member moves for- wardly and pushes said cartridge into said 105 chamber. 91. In an automatic firearm, the combi- nation of a barrel, a recoiling member at the rear of said barrel, means for holding said member in a rearward position fol- 110 lowing recoil, means for positively posi- tioning a cartridge in substantial alignment with the axis of said barrel and between said member and said barrel, meins actu- ated by said cartridge to release said hold- 115 ing means when said cartridge is thus posi- tioned whereby said member moves for- wardly and pushes said cartridge into the chamber .of said barrel. 92. In an automatic firearm, the combi- 120 nation of a barrel, a recoiling member at the rear of said barrel, means for holding said member in a rearward position fol- lowing recoil, said means comprising a pivotally mounted dog adapted to engage 125 a shoulder on said member, means to posi- tively position a cartridge between said member and said barrel in substantial align-
1,В2В,06б ment with the axis of said barrel, and means actuated by said positioning of said car- tridge to move said dog from engagement with said shoulder, whereby said member 5 is released to move forwardly arid push said cartridge into the chamber of said barrel.' 93. In an automatic firearm, the combi- nation of a,breech casing, a barrel, a re- 10 coiling member at the rear of said barrel, . means for feeding a cartridge into said cas- irig, means for holding said member in a rearward position following recoil, means for positively moving said cartridge into 15 substantial alignment with the axis of said barrel and between said member and said barrel while said member is held retracted, and means whereby said holding means is released when said cartridge is thus posi- 20 tioned thereby allowing said member to move forwardly and push said cartridge into the chamber of said barrel. 94. In an automatic firearm, the com- bination of a breech casing, a barrel, a re- 25 coiling member at the rear of said barrel, means for feeding a cartridge into said cas- ing, means for holding said member in a rearward position following recoil and mov- ing said cartridge into substantial , align - 30 ment with the axis of said barrel and be- tween said member and said barrel while said member is held retracted, said moving and holding means comprising a pivoted spring actuated cartridge carrier to engage •5 said cartridge, a dog pivoted to said carrier and adapted to engage said member, and means for locking said cartridge carrier with said spring under compression adapted to be released from locking engagement with 40 said carrier by said feeding of said car- tridge, whereby said spring will actuate said carrier to move said cartridge and re- lease said dog to permit the recoiling mem- ber to move forwardly and push the car- 40 tridge into the chamber of said barrel. 95. In an automatic firearm, the combi- nation of a breech casing, a barrel, a recoil- ing member at the rear of said barrel, means for feeding a cartridge into said cas- 50 ing, means for holding said member in' a rearward position following recoil, means for moving said cartridge into substantial alignment with the axis of said barrel be- tween said member and said barrel, said *5 holding and moving means comprising a pivoted cartridge carrier and a dog piv- oted thereto adapted to engage said member to hold it retracted, a spring between said carrier and said dog adapted to swing said *0 carrier into engagement with said cartridge to move it toward the barrel axis and simul- taneously to release said dog from engage- ment with said member, and means for locking said carrier with said spring under compression adapted to be released by the feeding of said cartridge into said casing. 96. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a breech casing, a barrel, a recoiling member at the rear of said barrel, means for feeding a cartridge into said casing, 70 means for holding said member in a rear- ward position following recoil, means for moving said cartridge into substantial alignment with the axis of said barrel be- tween said member and said barrel, said 75 holding and moving means comprising a pivoted cartridge carrier and a dog piv- oted thereto adapted to engage said mem- ber to hold it retracted, a spring between said carrier and said dog adapted to swing 80 said carrier into engagement with said car- tridge to move it toward the barrel axis and simultaneously to release said dog from engagements with said member and a latch for locking said carrier with the spring 85 under compression, said latch being posi- tioned to be tripped by said cartridge when the same is fed into said casing. 97. In an automatic firearm, the combi- nation of a breech casing, a barrel, a re- 80 coiling member at the rear of said barrel adapted to push a cartridge into the cham- ber of said barrel, a transverse feed channel positioned outside the path of travel of said member, a feed plate adapted to hold a plu- 05 rality of cartridges and to be inserted in said channel, means to automatically feed said plate step by step through said chan- nel, means to disengage a cartridge from said plate and position it in substantial Ю0 alignmerit with the axis of said barrel whereby it may be pushed into the chamber of said barrel by said member, said means comprising a cam surface adapted to engage a cartridge being fed through said casing 105 and move the same from its position in said plate and a carrier adjacent said cartridge, and means to actuate said carrier to engage said cartridge and move it into substantial alignment with the chamber of said barrel. HO 98. In an automatic firearm, the combi- nation of a breech casing, a barrel, a recip- rocating member at the rear of said barrel, means to hold said member in a zrearward position following recoil, a transverse feed H5 channel in said casing, means to feed a plu- rality of cartridges one by one into said casing, said means comprising a feed plate adapted to hold a plurality of cartridges and insertable into said channel, means to 120 lock said cartridges in said plate, means to move said plate step by step through said channel, means to> disengage said cartridges one by one from said plate and position them in substantial alignment with the 125 axis of said barrel while said member is held retracted, said means comprising an element adapted to actuate said locking
1.686,066 'Мт means to unlock a cartridge fed into said casing, a cam surface positioned in the path of travel of said cartridges adapted to en- gage said unlocked cartridge and move it • from its position in said plate, a carrier* adapted to engage said cartridge and co- operate with said cam to move said car- tridge into substantial alignment with the axis of said barrel and between said re- 10 tracted member and said barrel, and means whereby said member will be released when said cartridge is thus positioned whereby said member will move forwardly and push said cartridge into the chamber of said 16 barrel. ' 99. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a breech casing, a barrel, a recoiling member adapted on its forward movement to push a cartridge into the chamber of 20 said barrel, means for holding said member in a rearward position following recoil un- til a cartridge is fed into position for in- sertion into said barrel, said means com- prising a pivoted cartridge engaging mem- 25 ber, a dog pivoted thereto and adapted to engage said member to hold it retracted, means to actuate said cartridge-engaging member into engagement with a cartridge to move it toward the barrel axis and simul- 30 taneously to release said dog from engage- ment with said member, and a latch for locking said cartridge-engaging member with said spring under compression, said latch being arranged to be automatically 35 tripped by a cartridge on its movement into the breech casing. 100. In an automatic firearm, the com- bination of a breech casing, a barrel, a re- coiling member adapted on its forward 40 movement to push a . cartridge into the chamber of said barrel, means for hold- ing said member in a rearward position following recoil until a cartridge is fed in- to position for insertion into said barrel, 45 said means comprising a pivoted cartridge- engaging member, a dog pivoted thereto and adapted to engage said member to hold it retracted, a spring between said cartridge- engaging member and said dog tending to 50 swing said cartridge-engaging member into engagement with a cartridge to move it toward the barrel axis and simultaneously to release said dog from engagement with said member, and a latch for locking said 55 cartridge-engaging member with said spring under compression, said latch being ar- ranged to be automatically tripped by the cartridge on its movement into the breech casing. ,i0 101. In an automatic firearm, the com- bination of a breech casing, a barrel, a re- coiling member adapted on its forward movement to a push a cartridge into the . chamber of said barrel, means for feeding a cartridge into said casing outside the ®® plane of movement of said. member, means for holding said member in a rearward po- sition and moving a cartridge into position between said member and said barrel cham- ber, said' means comprising a pivoted car- 70 tridge carrier having a forwardly project- ing arm adjacent said cartridge, a dog piv- oted thereto adapted to engage a shoul- der on said member and having a rearward- ly projecting tail piece, a spring mounted 75 between said carrier and said dog, said dog when said recoiling member is in its for- ward position projecting into the path of said member, a latch for locking said car- tridge carrier against movement arranged 80 to be automatically tipped by the cartridge being fed into the casing, whereby when said member is retracted it will engage said dog and lift it against the compression of said spring and said dog will engage said 85 shoulder with its tail member engaging the top of said member and whereby when a cartridge is fed into the casing said latch will be disengaged from said carrier whicli will be actuated by said spring to engage 90 said cartridge to move it into a position between said recoiling member and Said bar- rel chamber and simultaneously said tail piece will press on the top of said mem- ber and lift said dog from engagement with 98 said shoulder, permitting said member to move forwardly and push said cartridge in- to the chamber of said barrel. 102. In an automatic firearm, the com- bination of a breech casing, a recoiling bar- loo rel, a recoiling member at the rear of said barrel, means to feed a cartridge into the casing outside the plane of said recoiling member, means to hold said member in a rearward position following recoil, a mem- 105 ber to engage said cartridge and move it to a position between said barrel and said re- coiling member when said member is being held in its rearward position, means to ac- tuate said cartridge-engaging member and 110 means to positively hold said member from cartridge-engaging movement until the bar- rel has returned to forward position fol- lowing recoil. 103. In an automatic firearm, the com- 115 bination of a breech casing, a recoiling bar- rel, a recoiling member at the rear of said barrel, means for returning said barrel and said member following recoil, means for holding said member in rearward position 120 while the barrel returns forward, means for positively positioning a cartridge between said barrel and said member when said member is being held in rearward position, said holding means being releasable in the 125 movement of said cartridge positioning means, means to actuate said positioning means, and means to positively hold said
Й4 1,525,066 positioning means against cartridge posi- tioning movement until the barrel has re- turned forward. 104. In an automatic firearm, the com- 5 bination of a breech casing, a recoiling bar- rel and barrel extension, a recoiling mem- ber at the rear of said barrel, means to feed a cartridge into the casing outside the plane of said members, means to hold said 10 member in a rearward position following recoil, a pivoted member to engage said cartridge and position it in substantial alignment with the axis of said barrel while said member is held rearwardly, means to 15 actuate said cartridge-engaging member and means to hold said member from cartridge- engaging movement until said barrel and barrel extension have returned to forward position, said holding means comprising a 20 projection on said cartridge-engaging mem- ber which overlies and is held from move- ment by said barrel extension except when said barrel extension is in its forward po- sition. 25 105. In an automatic firearm, the com- bination of a breech casing, a recoiling barrel and barrel extension, said barrel extension having a rearwardly extending arm, a re- coiling member at the rear of said barrel, 80 means to feed a cartridge into the casing outside the plane cf said recoiling member, means to hold said frame in a rearward position following recoil, a pivoted member to engage said cartridge and position it in 35 substantial alignment with the axis of said barrel while said recoiling member is held rearwardly, means to actuate said cartridge- engaging member and means to hold said member from cartridge-engaging movement 40 until said barrel and barrel extension have returned to forward position, said holding means comprising a projection on said mem- ber which overlies and is held from move- ment by said arm of said barrel extension 45 except when said barrel'extension is in its forward position. 106. In an automatic firearm, the combi- nation of a recoiling barrel and barrel ex- tension, said extension having a rearwardly 50 extending arm, a recoiling member at the rear of said barrel, means to engage and hold said member in a rearward position following recoil, means to position a car- tridge between said barrel and said member 55 when said member is held in its rearward position, actuating means to automatically release said holding means from said mem- ber when said cartridge is thus positioned, and means to prevent a release of said mem- 50 ber until said barrel and barrel extension have returned to forward position, said means comprising a projection on said actuating means overlying and held from movement by said arm of said barrel exten- sion except when said extension is in its 65 forward position. 107. In an automatic firearm, the com- bination of a recoiling barrel, a recoiling member at the rear of said barrel adapted on its forward movement to push a car- 70 tridge into the chamber of said barrel, means for holding said member in a rearward posi- tion following recoil until a cartridge is fed into position for insertion into said barrel chamber, said means comprising a pivoted 75 cartridge-engaging member, a dog pivoted thereto and adapted to engage said recoiling member to hold it retracted, means to swing said cartridge-engaging member into en- gagement with a cartridge to move it to- 80 ward the barrel axis and simultaneously to release said dog from holding engagement with said recoiling member, ana means which prevent said movements of said car- tridge-engaging member and said dog unless 85 the barrel is in its forward position. 108. In an automatic firearm, the com- bination of a recoiling barrel and barrel ex- tension, said barrel extension having a reaf- wardly projecting arm, a recoiling member 00 adapted on its forward movement to push a cartridge into the chamber of said barrel, means for holding said member in a rear- ward position following recoil until a car- tridge is fed into position for insertion into 95 said barrel chamber, said means comprising a pivoted cartridge carrier, a dog pivoted thereto and adapted to engage said member to hold it retracted, means to swing said carrier into engagement with a cartridge to too move it toward the barrel axis and simul- taneously to release said dog from holding engagement with said member, and means which prevent said movements of said car- rier and dog unless said barrel and barrel 105 extension are in their forward position, said means comprising a projection on the hub of said carrier which overlies and is held from movement by said arm of said barrel extension except when said barrel extension HO is in its forward position. 109. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a recoiling barrel and barrel exten- sion, said extension having a rearwardly projecting arm, a recoiling member adapted 115 on its forward movement to push a car- tridge into the chamber of said barrel, a cam surface on said member, means to hold said member in a rearward position following recoil, a pivoted cartridge carrier adapted to 120 engage a cartridge and move it toward the barrel axis while said member is retracted, a projection on said carrier which overlies and is held from movement by said arm of said barrel extension except when said bar- 125 rel extension is in its forward position, and which lies in the path of said Cam surface when said carrier has swung on its pivot
1,626,086 to position said cartridge, whereby when the member moves forwardly to insert said cartridge into said barrel chamber said cam surface will engage said projection and • swing said carrier back to position to engage a new cartridge. ( 110. In an automatic firearm, the combi- nation of a barrel, a recoiling member, a . breech casing having a transverse cartridge 10 feed opening outside the path of said re- coiling member, a cartridge holder adapted to hold a plurality of cartridges, means to feed said holder and cartridges transversely through said opening and into said casing, 16 means to hold said member retracted fol- lowing recoil, means to simultaneously dis- engage a cartridge from said holder and move it toward the axis of said barrel and between the chamber of said barrel and said 20 member when said member is retracted, and means to release said member, whereby said member may be moved forwardly to engage said cartridge and push it into the chamber of said barrel. 25 111. In an automatic firearm, the combi- nation of a breech casing, a barrel, a recoil- ing cartridge pushing member mounted at the rear of said barrel, a cartridge holder adapted to hold a plurality of cartridges, 30 means to feed said holder step by step trans- versely into said casing above the path of said recoiling member whereby said car- tridges will be successively positioned cen- trally of said casing, means to hold said re- 35 coiling member retracted following recoil, means to successively disengage said car- tridges from said holder and simultaneously to depress a cartridge thus disengaged into position to be inserted into the chamber of 40 said barrel, said depressing means compris- ing a pivoted carrier having an arm overly- ing said cartridge and means to swing said arm rendered operative on the removal of said cartridge from said holder, and means 45 to release said recoiling member on the de- pression of said cartridge, whereby said member will move forwardly and push said cartridge into the chamber of said barrel. 112. In an automatic firearm, the combi- 50 nation of a breech casing having an opening through its top, a barrel, a longitudinally movable cartridge pushing member mounted in said casing at the rear of said barrel, means for holding said member rearward 55 following its retraction, a feed box mounted on said casing to cover said opening, means for feeding cartridges transversely into said box to position them successively above said opening, means to move a cartridge thus po- oo sitioned through said opening into position to be inserted into the chamber of said bar- rel operative while said member is held rear- ward, and means to release said member when said cartridge is thus positioned, № whereby said member may be moved for- 65 wardly and push said cartridge into said chamber. 113. In an automatic firearm, the combi- nation of a barrel, a breech casing having an opening through its top, a feed box mounted 70 on saia casing to cover said opening, means for feeding cartridges transversely into said box to position them successively above said opening, means to move a cartridge thus po- sitioned into position to be inserted into the 75 chamber of said barrel, said means compris- - ing a cartridge carrier pivotally mounted in said box and having an arm overlying said cartridge, and means to swing said arm to engage said cartridge and move it through 80 said opening and into said casing. 114. In an automatic firearm, the combi- nation of a barrel, a breech casing having an opening through its top, a feed box mounted on said casing to cover said opening, means 85 for feeding cartridges transversely into said box to position them successively above said opening, a cartridge carrier mounted in said box having an arm overlying a cartridge thus positioned, means for actuating said 80 carrier to engage a cartridge thus posi- tioned and move it through said opening into position to be inserted into the chamber of said barrelj means to support said cartridge in said position and means to push said car- 05 tridge into said chamber. 115. In an automatic firearm, the combi- nation of a barrel, a breech casing having an opening through its top, a feed box mounted on said casing to cover said open- Ю0 ing, means for feeding cartridges into said box to successively position them above said opening, means to move a cartridge thus po- sitioned through said opening into position to be inserted into the chamber of said bar- 105 rel, means to support said cartridge in said position and means to push said cartridge into said chamber. 116. In an automatic firearm, the combi- nation of a barrel, a barrel extension having П0 rearwardly extending bifurcated arms, means for feeding cartridges transversely into said firearm to successively position them above the opening between said arms, means to move a cartridge thus positioned 115 into the space between said arms and in po- sition to be inserted into the chamber of said barrel, means for supporting said cartridge in said position and a member mounted for reciprocation between said arms to engage 12° and push said cartridge into said chamber. 117. In an automatic firearm, the combi- nation of a recoiling barrel, means to feed cartridges transversely into said firearm to successively position them in the central 125 plane thereof and above the path of said re- coiling barrel, a cartridge engaging member to move a cartridge thus positioned into po-
8Ci 1,82В,0бв sition to be inserted into the chamber of said barrel, actuating means for said mem- ber rendered operative by the feeding of a- cartridge into said central position, and • means to push said cartridge into said cham- ber. 118. In an automatic firearm, the com- bination of a barrel, a breech casing having an opening through its top, means to feed 10 cartridges into the firearm to successively position them above said opening, means to move a cartridge thus positioned through said opening into position to be inserted into the chamber of said barrel, means located in 15 the path of said cartridge in such lowering movement to support, said cartridge thus positioned for such insertion, and means to insert said cartridge into said chamber. 119. In an automatic firearm, the com- 2® bination of a barrel, a breech casing having an opening through its top, means to feed cartridges into the firearm to successively position them above said opening, means to move a cartridge thus positioned through 25 said opening into a downwardly inclined position with its nose in position to enter the chamber of said barrel, means located in the path of said cartridge in its lowering move- ment to support said cartridge in said posi- 30 tion, and means to engage the rear end of said cartridge and push it into said chamber, said supporting means permitting the rear end of said cartridge to drop as said car- tridge is moved forwardly. 35 120. In an automatic firearm, the com- bination of a breech casing having a car- tridge feed opening through its top, a barrel means for feeding cartridges through said opening, a lever for supporting a cartridge 40 thus fed through said opening in a forward- ly and downwardly inclined position with its nose in position to enter the chamber of said barrel, means for supporting said lever to hold the cartridge in such a position, a •15 member reciprocably mounted in said cas- ing for engaging the base of the cartridge to push it into the barrel chamber, and means on said member for rendering said supporting means inoperative on the initial co forward movement of said cartridge thereby permitting the Base .of the cartridge to drop to bring the axis of the cartridge into sub- stantial alignment with the barrel axis, in which position it is fully inserted into said 55 chamber by the further forward movement . of said member. 121. In an automatic firearm, the com- bination of a breech casing having an open- ing through its top, a barrel and barrel ex- 60 tension, said extension having a rearwardly extending arm, means to feed cartridges suc- cessively through said opening into a for- •wardly and downwardly inclined position with the nose in position to enter the barrel w chamber, a guide lever pivotally mounted on said arm to underlie and support a car- tridge thus positioned, a stop mounted on said arm and positioned to support said guide lever, a reciprocating cartridge pushing member adapted on its forward movement 7о to engage^ the base of a cartridge thus posi- tioned, and having means to engage said stop, whereby on the initial forward move- ment of said cartridge by said member, said stop avill be disengaged from said guide 75 lever and said guide lever will move down- wardly permitting the base of the cartridge to drop to. bring the axis of the cartridge into substantial alignment with the barrel axis in which position it will continue its 80 movement into the barrel chamber on the further forward movement of said recipro- cating element. 122. In an automatic firearm, the com- bination of a breech casing having an open- 85 ing through its top, a barrel and barrel extension, said extension having a rearward- ly extending arm, means to feed cartridges successively through said opening into a for- wardly and downwardly inclined position 80 with the nose in position to enter the barrel chamber, a guide lever pivotally mounted on said arm to underlie and support a car- tridge thus positioned, a stop lever pivotally mounted on said arm and positioned to sup- 05 port said guide lever, a reciprocating car- tridge pushing member adapted on its for- ward movement to engage the base of a car- tridge thus positioned, and having a cam sur- face to engage said stop lever, whereby on the 100 initial forward movement of said cartridge by said member said stop lever will be dis- engaged from said guide lever and said guide lever will move downwardly permit- ting the base of the cartridge to drop to 105 bring the axis of the cartridge into sub- stantial alignment with the barrel axis, in which position it will continue its move- ment into the barrel chamber on the further forward movement of said reciprocating no member. 123. In an automatic firearm, the com- bination of a breech casing having an open- ing through its top, a barrel and barrel extension, said extension having a rearward- 115 ly extending arm, means to feed cartridges successively through said opening into a for- wardly and downwardly inclined position with the nose of a cartridge in position to enter the barrel chamber, a guide lever piv- 120 otally mounted on said arm and projecting into the path of said cartridge to engage and support the cartridge thus positioned, a stop lever pivotally mounted adjacent its center on the bottom face of said arm and having 125 its forward end adapted to underly and sup- port said guide lever, a reciprocating car- tridge pushing element adapted on its for- ward movement to engage the base of a car- tridge thus positioned and having means to 180
1,5®В,О85 ВТ 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 •15 50 55 00 65 engage and swing inwardly the rear end of said stop lever whereby the forward end of said stop lever will be withdrawn from en- gagement with said guide lever permitting said guide lever and cartridge to move downwardly to bring the axis of the car- tridge into substantial alignment with the barrel axis, in which position it will con- tinue its movement into the barrel chamber on the further forward movement of said reciprocating element. 124. In an automatic firearm, the combi- nation of a breech casing having an opening through its top, a barrel and barrel exten- sion. said extension having.a rearwardly ex- tending arm, means to feed cartridges suc- cessively through said opening, a guide lever pivotally mounted on said arm and project- ing into the path of said cartridge and adapted to support said cartridge in its downward movement, a stop lever pivotally and yieldingly mounted on the bottom face of said arm with its front end adapted to engage and yieldingly stop said guide lever ami cartridge with the nose of said cartridge in position to be inserted into the barrel chamber, a reciprocating cartridge pushing member adapted on its forward movement to engage the base of a cartridge thus posi- tioned and having an element adapted to engage and swing said stop lever from en- gagement with said guide lever, and a pro- jection on the rear end of said stop lever adapted to project into the path of said guide lever, whereby on the initial forward movement of said reciprocating element the nose of the cartridge will enter said cham- ber. the stop lever will be swung away from engagement with the guide lever, said guide lever and cartridge will be lowered to bring the axis of the cartridge into substantial alignment with the axis of the barrel and said guide lever will be stopped from fur- ther movement by yielding engagement with said projection, and on further forward movement of said reciprocating member the cartridge will be inserted fully into said chamber. 125. In an automatic firearm, the combi- nation of a breech casing having an open- ing. a recoiling barrel and barrel extension, a member mounted for reciprocating move- ment at the rear of said barrel, a shell ex- tractor mounted thereon adapted to engage the rim of a shell, means to hold said mem- ber retracted during the forward movement of said barrel and barrel extension follow- in.e recoil whereby the empty shell will be withdrawn from said barrel, a shell ejector comprising a lever mounted on said barrel extension and adapted to overlie said with- drawn shell during said forward movement, and means carried by said retracted mem- ber adapted to engage said lever when thus positioned and rotate it on its pivot to strike said shell and positively eject it through said opening. 126. In an automatic firearm, the combi- nation of a breech casing having an open- ing through its bottom, a recoiling barrel to and barrel extension, a reciprocating mem- . ber mounted for longitudinal movement at the rear of said barrel, a shell extractor mounted thereon, means for, holding said member retracted during the forward move- 7S ment of said barrel and barrel extension fol- lowing recoil whereby the empty shell will be withdrawn from said barrel, a shell ejec- tor comprising a two armed lever pivotally mounted on said barrel extension and adapt- 80 ed to have one arm thereof overlie said with- drawn shell during the forward movement of said barrel extension, cam surfaces on the other arm thereof, a stud on said retracted member adapted to engage one of said cam 85 surfaces when said lever is in said overlying position to rotate the same to strike said shell and positively eject it through said opening and on the subsequent forward movement of said member to engage the 80 other cam surface and return said ejector to its original position. 127. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a breech casing having an opening through its top, a barrel, a reciprocating 95 cartridge pushing member at the rear of said barrel, means to hold said member rear- ward following its retraction, means to feed cartridges successively through said top opening in the casing ’into position to be in- 100 serted into the barrel chamber while said member is retracted, a member to support the forward portion of said cartridge when thus positioned, and a cartridge ejector ' adapted to support the rear portion of said 188 cartridge. 128. In an automatic firearm, the combi- nation of a breech casing having an opening through its top, a recoiling barrel, a re- ciprocating cartridge pushing member at 110 the rear of said barrel, means to hold said member rearward following retraction, means to return said barrel to forward posi- tion following recoil, means to feed car- tridges successively through said top open- 118 ing in the casing into position to be inserted into the barrel chamber while said member is retracted, a member to support the forward portion of said cartridge when thus posi- tioned, a cartridge ejector adapted to sup- 120 port the rear portion of said cartridge, and a shell extractor on said cartridge pushing member to engage the rim of said cartridge. 129. In an automatic firearm, the combi- nation of a breech casing, a barrel mounted 126 for recoil movement therein, a breech block movable transversely of the axis of said barrel to open and close the breech of same, a longitudinally reciprocable member for withdrawing the shell from the barrel 180
gg i.sae.oee chamber and inserting a new cartridge therein when said breech block is in breech opening position. 130. In an automatic firearm, the combi- б nation of a recoiling barrel, a breech block movable transversely of the axis of said barrel to open and close the breech of the same, a member mounted for longitudinal reciprocation at the rear of said barrel, said 10 member carrying an extractor for extract- ing empty shells from the barrel chamber, a breech block actuating lever mounted on said member and adapted to engage said block, means whereby said lever actuates 15 said block to open said breech dur- ing the recoil of said barrel and said mem- ber, means for returning said barrel to forward position and means for simultane- ously holding said member retracted, where- 20 by the empty shell is withdrawn from the barrel chamber during said return move- ment of the barrel. 131. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a recoiling barrel, a breech block 25 movable transversely of the axis of said barrel to open and close the breech thereof, a member mounted for longitudinal recipro- cation at the rear of said barrel, means mounted thereon to engage and move said 30 block, a cartridge engaging and pushing element on said member which projects for- wardly of and overlies the path of move- ment of said block when said member is in its forward position, means for holding said 35 member retracted following recoil, means , for feeding a cartridge between said re- tracted member and said barrel, means for releasing and returning said member to forward position whereby said element will 40 engage said cartridge and push it into the chamber of the barrel and simultaneously through said block engaging means move said block to breech closing position, and means to lock together said barrel, block and 45 reciprocating member when the breech is closed and said member is in its forward position. 132. In an automatic firearm, the combi- nation of a barrel, a breech block movable 50 transversely of the axis of said barrel to open and close the breech thereof, a re- coiling member at the rear of said barrel, a cartridge pushing element and a shell extrac- tor mounted thereon and each projecting 55 forwardly thereof and adapted when said member is in its forward position to extend forwardly of and without the path of move- ment of said breech block, breech block actuating means rendered operative in the 60 rearward and forward movements of said _ member to open and close the breech, means for holding said member retracted follow- ing recoil, means for feeding a cartridge between said retracted member and the 65 barrel chamber, means for releasing said member for forward movement whereby said pushing element will engage and push said cartridge into said chamber and said extractor will engage the rim of said car- tridge and said block will be moved to close 70 the breech, and means for locking together said barrel, block and recoiling member when said block is in breech closing position and said member is in forward position. 133. In an automatic firearm, the combi- 75 nation of a barrel, a breech block movable transversely of the axis of the barrel to open and close the breech thereof, a recoiling member mounted for longitudinal recipro- cation at the rear of said barrel, an element so mounted on said recoiling member adapted to engage and move said block to and from breech closing position on the forward .and rearward movements of said member, and means to actuate said, element to move said 85 block which buffers the forward and rear- ward movements of said recoiling member. 134. In an automatic firearm, the com- bination of a breech casing, a barrel, a breech block movable transversely of the ,JI) axis of the barrel to open and close the breech thereof, a recoiling member mounted for longitudinal reciprocation at the rear of said barrel, a breech block actuating lever mounted on said member to engage and °5 move said block, and cam means on said cas- ing which cooperate with said lever to move said block to breech opening and breech clos- ing positions on the rearward and forward movements of said recoiling member and loo which buffer said movements of said mem- ber. _ 135. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a barrel and barrel extension, a breech block slidably mounted on said exten- 105 sion for movement transverse to the axis of said barrel, a member mounted for longitu- dinal reciprocating movement at the rear of said barrel and adapted to engage and push a cartridge into the barrel chamber on its i1() forward movement, a lever mounted on said member to engage and move said block to breech closing position on the forward move- ment of said member, and cooperating ele- ments on said block and said member which 115 come into locking engagement on the breech closing movement of said block to lock to- gether said block and said member. 136. In an automatic firearm, a breech cas- ing having a transverse cartridge feed open- 120 ing, a feed plate adapted to hold a plurality of cartridges and to be fed through said opening, means for positively holding said cartridges in said plate, said means compris- ing seats which positively secure said car- 125 tridges against endwise movement and hold- ing means which hold said cartridges against transverse movement, means to auto- matically feed said plate to successively posi- tion said cartridges within said casing, and 130
1,626,066 means to successively release said holding means from holding engagement with a car- tridge thus positioned. 137. In an automatic firearm, a breech 5 casing having a transverse cartridge feed opening, a feed plate adapted to hold a plurality of cartridges and to be fed through said opening, means for holding said car- tridges in said plate, said means comprising 10 seats which positively secure said cartridges against endwise movement and holding means which hold said cartridges against transverse movement, means to automati- cally feed the plate to successively position is said cartridges within said casing, means to release said holding means from holding engagement with a cartridge thus posi- tioned, and means to disengage said car- tridge from said plate and insert it into the 20 chamber of the barrel. 138. An automatic firearm having a trans- verse feed channel, an. elongated cartridge feed plate adapted to be fed through said channel edgewise, said plate having a 25 plurality of cartridge seats in its forward face to receive the heads of cartridges and hold said cartridges against endwise move- ment, means for positively holding said cartridges in said seats, yielding means for 30 keeping said holding means in operative position, and means in said feed channel for withdrawing said holding means from their operative position to release the cartridges successively as they approach the vertical 35 central plane of the firearm. 139. A cartridge holder for automatic fire- arms comprising a substantially flat elongat- ' ed plate adapted to be fed edgewise through a feed channel on, the firearm with which it 40 is to be used, said plate having on its front side a plurality of seats for receiving the cartridge heads and hold the cartridges against endwise movement, said seats having openings to admit or discharge cartridges in 45 a direction at right angles to the length of the plate, and means, for retaining said car- tridges against movement through said open- ings, said means being- adapted to be moved to inoperative position for placing the car- 50 tridges into their seats or removing them therefrom. 140. A cartridge holder for automatic fire- arms comprising a substantially flat elongat- - ed plate adapted to be fed edgewise through 55 a feed channel on the firearm with which it is to be used, a plurality of seats on the front face of said plate for receiving the heads of cartridges and preventing endwise move- ment of said cartridges, said seats opening eo transversely of the length of said plate to receive or discharge cartridges; and means for positively holding the cartridges in said plate against , discharging movement, said means being yieldingly held in operative 65 position. BO' 141. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a casing, a barrel and barrel exten- sion supported therein, a reciprocating mem- ber mounted at the rear of said barrel, a breech block mounted on said barrel exten- 70 sion and having transverse sliding move- ment thereon to open and close the breech of said barrel, and means for imparting said movement to said breech block comprising a lever carried by said member and adapted 75 to engage said breech block and cams on said casing adapted to co-operate with said lever. 142. In an automatic firearm, the combi- nation of a casing, a barrel supported therein, 80 a reciprocating member mounted at the rear of said barrel, a breech block movable trans- versely to the axis of the barrel to open arid close the breech of the same, means actuated by the movements of said reciprocating mem- 85 ber to move the breech block into and out of breech closing position, and an extractor car- ried by said reciprocating member for ex- tracting a shell from the barrel when the . breech block has been moved to its open po- sition. 143. In an automatic firearm, a barrel, a breech block movable transversely to open and close the breech of the barrel, a member mounted for longitudinal movement and ®5 adapted to push a_ cartridge into the barrel chamber in its forward movement, and a common means for manually moving said breech block to its open position ana said member to a rearward position. 1®® 144. In an automatic firearm, a barrel, a breech block movable transversely of the axis of said barrel to open and close the breech of the same, a member mounted for longitudinal movement and adapted to push 105 a cartridge into the barrel chamber in its forward movement, and a lever for manual- ly moving.said breech block to its open po- sition and said member to a rearward po- sition. 110 145. In an automatic firearm, a barrel, a breech block movable transversely of the axis of said barrel to open and close the breech of the same, a member mounted for longitudinal movement and adapted to push 115 a cartridge into the barrel chamber in its forward movement, and an element carried by said member for moving said breech block to its open position and said member to a rearward position by the manual re- 120 traction of said eleinent. 146. In an automatic firearm, the combi- nation of a breech casing, a barrel and bar- rel extension mounted for longitudinal movement therein, a longitudinally movable 125 element adapted to push a cartridge into the barrel chamber in the forward move- ment of said element, a breech block mov- able transversely of the axis of said barrel to open and close the breech of the same, 180
40 1,525,066 means whereby the breech block is auto- matically moved to its open position on move- ment of said longitudinally movable mem- bers, and a common means for manually 6 moving said breech block to its open posi- tion and said element to a rearward posi- tion when the barrel and barrel extension are in their forward position. 147. In an automatic firearm, the combi- 10 nation of a casing, a barrel supported there- in, a reciprocating member mounted at the rear of said barrel and carrying.a firing element, a breech block movable transversely of the axis of the barrel to open and close 15 the breech of the same, a firing element car- ried by said breech block and adapted to co-operate with said first-named firing ele- ment, and means actuated by the movements of said reciprocating member to move the 20 breech block into and out of breech closing position. 148. In an automatic firearm, the combi- nation of a casing, a barrel supported there- in, a reciprocating member mounted at the 25 rear of said barrel and carrying a hammer, a breech block movable transversely of the axis of the barrel to open and close the breech of the same and a firing pin carried by said breech block and adapted to be 50 struck by said hammer. 149. In an automatic firearm, the combi- nation of a casing, a barrel supported there- in, a reciprocating member mounted at the rear of said barrel and adapted to push a 85 cartridge into the barrel on its forward movement, a hammer carried by said mem- ber, a breech block movable transversely of the axis of the barrel to open and. dose the breech of the same, and a firing pin carried 40 by said breech block and adapted to be struck by said hammer when the breech block is in its operative position closing the breech and the reciprocating member is in its for- ward position. 45 150. In an automatic firearm, the combi- nation of a barrel, a breech block movable transversely to the axis of the barrel to open and close the breech thereof, a firing mem- ber, a sear for holding said member in 50 cocked position, means for actuating said sear from holding engagement with said firing member which is normally inopera- tive, and means operative on the closing of the breech to render said actuating means 55 operative whereby premature - firing is avoided and firing may be effected automa- tically by the closing of the breech. 151. In an automatic firearm, the combi- nation of a recoiling barrel, a breech block co movable transversely to the axis of said bar- rel to open and close the breech of the same, means for moving said breech block and means for bringing a cartridge into position for insertion into the barrel on the forward movement of said barrel, said means com- •# prising a feeder carrying a plurality of car- tridges and adapted to be moved transverse- ly to the axis of said barrel. 152. In an automatic firearm, the combi- nation of a barrel, a breech block movable 70 transversely to the axis of said barrel to open and close the breech of the same, means for moving said breech ’ block, means for positioning a cartridge in substantial align- ment with the axis of said barrel, said means 75 comprising a transversely movable feeder carrying a plurality of cartridges and mech- anism for advancing said feeder step-by- step and a member for positively removing • the cartridge from said feeder and bringing 80 it into said position, and means for automat- ically moving the cartridge so positioned into the chamber of the barrel. 153. In an automatic firearm, the com- bination, of a casing, a barrel supported 85 therein, a breech block mounted for move- ment transversely-to the axis of said barrel to- open and close the breech of the same, means for automatically pushing a cartridge into the barrel chamber when the breech is 80 open, and means for feeding cartridges suc- cessively between said pushing means and tiie breech of the barrel, said means com- prising a transversely movable feeder adapt- ed to carry a plurality of cartridges and •• mechanism for advancing said feeder step by step. 154. In an automatic firearm, the com- bination of a casing, a barrel mounted for recoil movement therein, a breech block loo mounted for movement transversely of the axis of said barrel to open and close the breech of the same, means for feeding car- . tridges successively into substantial align- ment with the bore of the barrel, said means 105 comprising a transversely movable feeder adapted to carry a plurality of cartridges and mechanism actuated by the movements of said barrel for advancing said feeder step by step, and means for automatically push- 110 ing the cartridges successively into the bar- rel chamber. 155. In an automatic firearm, the com- bination of a breech casing, a barrel sup- ported therein, a breech block mounted for 115 movement transversely to the axis of said barrel to open and close the breech of the same, a transverse feed channel in said cas- ing, a cartridge feed plate insertable in said channel and means for automatically feed- 120 ing said plate step by step through the feed channel, said means comprising a recoil- ing member, a feed pawl for feeding said plate and connections Between said recoiling member and said feed pawl whereby the 125 pawl is reciprocated to feed said plate. 156. In an automatic firearm, the com- bination of a breech casing, a barrel sup-
2,б25,Овб ported therein, a breech block mounted for movement transversely to the axis of said barrel to open and close the breech of the same, a member for carrying a plurality 5 of cartridges adapted to be moved through said feed channel, a reciprocating member, and means operated by said reciprocating member for automatically feeding said cartridge carrying member transversely step 10 by step, said means comprising a lever car- rying a feed pawl for engaging said car- tridge carrying member, and a second lever for actuating said feed pawl carrying lever and actuated by said reciprocating member. 15 157. In an automatic firearm, the com- bination of a barrel, a transversely movable breech block adapted to open or close the breech of the barrel, means for moving said breech block, a recoiling member at the rear 20 of said barrel, means for positioning a car- tridge in substantial alignment with the axis of the barrel when said member is in a rearward position, said cartridge position- ing means comprising a transversely mov- 25 able feeder carrying a plurality of cartridges and mechanism for advancing the said feeder step by step, and means for returning said . member forwardly to, push said cartridge into the chamber of said barrel. 30 158. In an automatic firearm, the com- bination of a barrel, a transversely movable breech block adapted to open or close the breech of the barrel, means for moving said breech block comprising a recoiling member 35 at the rear of said barrel, means for hold- ing said member in a rearward position following recoil, means for positioning a cartridge in substantial alignment with the axis of said barrel and between said mem- 40 ber and said barrel, and means actuated in so positioning a cartridge to release said holding means whereby said member moves forwardly, pushes said cartridge into the chamber of said barrel and effects the clos- 45 ing movement of said breech block. 159. In an automatic firearm, the combi- nation of a barrel, a barrel extension hav- ing rearwardly extending bifurcated arms, means for feeding cartridges to successive- 50 ly position them above the opening between said arms, means to move a cartridge thus positioned into the space between said arms and in position to be inserted into the cham- ber of the barrel, means including said mov- 55 ing means for supporting said cartridge in said position against any but endwise movement, and a member mounted for re- ciprocation between said arms to engage and push said cartridge into said chamber. 60 160. In an automatic firearm, the combi- nation of a breech casing, a barrel, a recoil- ing member at the rear of said barrel, means for feeding a cartridge into said casing, and means for holding said member in a rearward position following recoil and mov- ®S ing said cartridge into substantial align- ment with the axis of said barrel and be- tween said member and said barrel while said member is held retracted, said moving and holding means comprising a cartridge 70 /carrier, actuating means therefor, means for locking said carrier against movement adapted to be released from locking en- gagement with said carrier by said feeding of said cartridge, a dog adapted to engage 75 said recoiling member and connecting means between said carrier and said dog whereby said carrier is moved by its actuating means to move said cartridge into position to be inserted into the breech of the barrel and 80 to release said dog from engagement with the recoiling member, permitting the same to move forward and push the cartridge into the barrel chamber. 161. In an automatic firearm, a breech 85 casing having a transverse cartridge feed opening, a cartridge holder adapted to hold a plurality of cartridges to be fed through said opening, means for holding said car- tridges in said holder? said means compris- oo ing downwardly opening seats and resilient means projecting therein to hold said car- tridges from vertical displacement in said seats,’ means to hold said cartridges against endwise movement, means to automatically feed said holder to successively position said cartridges within said breech casings and means to successively disengage said car- tridges and their said holding means where- by said cartridges may be withdrawn down- loo wardly from said seats and inserted into the chamber of the barrel. 162. A cartridge holder for an automatic firearm having a plurality of seats opening downwardly, means adjacent the mouths 105 of said seats, and movable relatively to the holder to normally prevent vertical dis- placement of said cartridges, and means to hold said cartridges from endwise move- ment in said holder. . no 163. In an automatic firearm, a breech casing having a transverse cartridge feeji opening, a cartridge holder adapted to hold a plurality of cartridges to be fed through said opening, means for holding said car- 115 tridges in said holder, said means compris- ing downwardly opening seats having non- resilient walls ana resilient means project- ing therein to hold said cartridges from vertical displacement in said seats, means 120 comprising said walls to hold said car- tridges against endwise movement, means to automatically feed said holder to suc- cessively position said cartridges within said breech casing, and means to successively 125 disengage said cartridges and their said holding means whereby said cartridges may be withdrawn downwardly from said seats
1,525,086 4LQ and inserted into the chamber of the barrel. 164. A cartridge holder for an automatic firearm having a plurality of seats opening downwardly and having non-resilient walls, 5 means adjacent the mouths of said seats and movable relatively to the holder to nor- mally prevent vertical displacement, of said cartridges, and means comprising said walls to hold said cartridges from endwise move- ment in said holder. This specification signed and witnessed this 8th dav of December. A. D. 1923. JOHN M. BROWNING. In the presence of — K. S. Browning, Lionel B. Farr. 1» Certificate of Correction. It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,525,065, granted February 3, 1925, upon the application of John M. Browning, of Ogden, Utah, for an improve- ment Automatic Firearms,” errors, appear in the printed specification requiring- correction as follows.- Page 3, line 1, for the word “of” read or; page 6, line 112, for the word “struct” read strut; page 8, line'86, strike out the words “providing a shoulder” and insert the same to follow after “17b” in line 77; page 27, line 103, claim 57, before the word “member” insert the words breech closing, and line 104, strike out the words “breech closing”; page 28, line 110, claim 66, strike out the comma and insert, the word on; page 32, line 84, claim 96, for the word “engage- ments” read engagement,; page 33, line 81, claim 101, for the word “tipped” re*d tripped; page 36, line 37, claim 120, after the wof-d “barrel” insert a comma; page 40, line 85, claim 153, after the word “combination” strike out the comma; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same' may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office. Signed and sealed this 28th day of July, A. D. 1925. [seal.] KARL PENNING, Acting Commissioner of Patents.
Feb. 3. 1925. 1,525,066 J. M. BROWNING AUTOMATIC FIREARM
Feb. 3. 1925. 1,525,066 J. M. BROWNING AUTOMATIC FIREARM Filed April 11, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet ?.
Feb. 3. 1925. J. M. BROWNING AUTOMATIC FIREARM Filed April 11, 1924 1,525,066 4 Sheets-Sheet 3
Feb. 3. 1925. 1,525,066 J. M. BROWNING AUTOMATIC FIREARM Filed April 11, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Invsninr
Patented Feb. 3, 1925. 1,525,066 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. JOHN M. BBOWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH. AUTOMATIC FIBEABM. Application filed April 11, 1924, Serial No. 705,895. 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 To dll whom, it may concern: Be it known that I, John M. Bbowning, a citizen of the United States, residing in Ogden, in the county of Weber and State of Utah, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Fire- arms. of which the following is a speci- fication, reference being had to the accom- panying drawings, forming a part hereof. The invention relates to automatic fire- arms and more particularly to automatic firearms of the recoil-operated type in which all the operations of the mechanism, except that of the trigger, are automatically effected. In my prior application for Letters Pat- ent of the United States, Serial No. '.680,963, filed December 15, 1923, for automatic fire- arms, there is shown and described an im- proved automatic gun of this character adapted to fire large caliber projectiles such as can be loaded with a high explosive charge, but so light in weight as to be mobile, adapted to be mounted on aircraft and fired from any position, and yet most durable. It is an object of the present invention to improve certain features of the automatic gun disclosed in said prior application ami guns of similar character whereby said guns are rendered still more efficient and reliable in operation, simple in construction, and easier of manufacture. The improved fea- tures by which this object is attained com- prise novel means for pushing the car- tridges into the chamber of the barrel and for supporting and guiding said cartridges before and during such movement, novel means for extracting the empty shell and for steadying and guiding it during extrac- tion, novel means for locking together the transversely movable breech block and the longitudinally movable lock frame, novel means for readily positioning, supporting and guiding a transversely movable feeder carrying a plurality of cartridges for quick insertion into the transverse feed channel of the gun, and various other details of construction, and combinations and con- structions of parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed. In the accompanying drawings: Fig. 1 represents a right-hand side ele- vation of a gun in which the novel, im- proved features of the invention are em- 55 bodied. Fig. 2 represents a central, vertical, longi- tudinal section through the gun as seen from the right and on an enlarged scale; the barrel and barrel extension and the co upper portion of the breech block are shown in section, while the lock frame and parts carried thereby are shown in elevation. The front portion of the breech casing, and the greater portions of the barrel and of B5 the recuperator have been broken away. Fig. 3 represents a partial central verti- cal longitudinal section through the gun as seen from the left, the breech block being shown in its open position and the lock 70 frame in its rearward position. Fig. 4 represents a vertical transverse section through the gun in the line 4—4 of Fig. 3 as seen from the rear; the mechanism within the breech casing is shown in eleva- 75 tion and a portion of the breech block actuating lever is broken away. Fig. «5 represents a partial central verti- cal longitudinal section through the gun showing the parts of the mechanism at the 80 instant when the lock frame is released and with a cartridge in position to be pushed into the barrel chamber. Fig. 6 represents a vertical transverse sec- tion through the gun in the line 6—6 of 85 Fig. 5 as seen from the front, the carrier has been omitted and the cartridge about to be inserted into the barrel is shown in elevation. Fig. 7 represents the gun in a partial 00 horizontal section through the axis of the barrel as seen from above and on an enlarged scale; a portion of the lock frame is broken away to show the mounting of the extractor and the extractor spring. A 05 portion of the breech block is also broken away. Fig. 8 represents a partial vertical longi- tudinal section through the gun as seen from the right and on the same scale as 100 Fig. 7, showing the breech block and its actuating lever in an intermediate position during the manual opening of the breech. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the breech block and the extractor, detached, showing 105 the cooperative relation between these parts when the breech block is in its raised breech-closing position.
е 1,625,066 Fig. 10 represents in a perspective view a loading shelf, detached. Fig. 11 represents a partial vertical trans- verse section through the gun in the line « 11—11 of Fig. 12, showing the loading shelf in assembled position and a loaded cartridge feed plate on said shelf in position to be . inserted into the transverse feed channel of the gun; the outer portion of the feed plate 1® is broken away. Fig. 12 represents a partial left-hand side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 11. Fig. 13 represents a plan view of a por- tion of the gun and of the loading shelf in 1* assembled position thereon. Fig 14 represents a longitudinal section in the line 14—44 of Fig. 12, showing the means for detachably securing the loading- shelf on the gun. Similar reference numerals refer to sim- ilar parts throughout the several views. The gun represented by the drawings is similar generally to the gun fully disclosed in my prior application, hereinbefore re- se ferrod to. It comprises the breech casing having side plates 1 provided, except, at their front end portions where they are se- cured to the trunnion block 2, with intnrned flanges la at top and bottom, 'as shown in 80 Figs. 4 and 6. The top of the casing is closed at the rear by the top plate 3, from the front end of said top plate to a point some distance in rear of the re'ar end of the trunnion block 2 by the feed box 4 and bo- 8S tween the front end of the feed box and the trunnion block by the small plate 3a. The feed box 4 contains members of the cartridge feeding mechanism and is pro- vided with a transverse channel into which 40 the Cartridges and the feed plate carrying the same may be fed from left to right. When the gun is not in use this channel is closed by outwardly swinging doors, one of which 4a is shown in Fig. 1, the other one being omitted in the drawings. To permit access to the parts of the mechanism, the. feed box 4 is provided with a hinged top cover 4b, normally held in closed position by a latch 4е, see Fig. 2. 50 At the rear the Casing is closed by the vertically slidable rear plate 5 which is held in place by suitable means, not shown. The bottom of the casing in the. space between the lower intnrned flanges la of the side бб plates is loft open for the ejection of the cartridge Cases and for other purposes as will hereinafter appear. The barrel 6 and barrel extension 7, Avhich are firmly secured together, as by screw no threads, are supported and guided for lon- gitudinal reciprocation in the trunnion block 2 and by the inside walls of the side plates 1 of the breech casing. In rear of the breech end of the barrel 6, the barrel exten- es sioii comprises the laterally spaced arms 7a and 7b, which 'are also each spaced from the side plates 1 of the casing and the bottom flanges la of the side plates 1 for the greater, portion of their length, as shown in Figs. 4 and 6, to minimize friction and to accom- 70 modate certain members of the mechanism. To check the recoil of the barrel and barrel extension and to return them to their forward firing position after recoil, a re- cuperator 8 of a usual construction is pro- 75 vided, the same being securely attached to the under side of the trunnion block 2 and having the rear end of its piston rod re- movably secured in a downwardly project- ing lug 7е of the barrel extension by suit- 80 able means, such as that clearly shown in Figs. 2, 3 'and 5 and fully described in my prior application, hereinbefore referred to. The breech block 9, as in said prior ap- plication, is arranged to slide transversely 85 between the arms 7a and 7b of the barrel ex- tension, being formed for this purpose with ribs 9a fitting corresponding grooves 7a in the arms of the barrel extension, see Fig. 7. The breech block 9 is provided at its lower 80 portion with a rearward projection 9b, see Figs. 3, 5, 8 and 9, and in the thus longi- tudinally widened lower portion of the breech block the T-shaped slot 9е, forming a part of the means for raising and lowering 05 the breech block to close and open the breech of the barrel, is provided. Mounted for longitudinal reciprocation in the breech casing in rear of the barrel, is the lock frame 10 guided, as cle'arly shown 100 in Fig. 4, by the engagement of the in- wardly projecting flanges l.a of the side, plates in corresponding longitudinal grooves provided in the lower widened por- tion of said lock frame. As shown in Fig. 105 4, the upper portion of the lock frame, takes its position and reciprocates between the arms 7a and 7b of the b'arrel extension. Pivotally mounted between the. down- wardly projecting lugs 10a of the, lock frame HO is the breech block actuating lever 11, hav- ing its forward arm ending in two diverging branches lla and llb, the upper arm lla having short later'al studs 11° adapted to enter the wide portion of the T-shaped I15 slot 9е in the breech block and the lower branch having long lateral studs lla adapt- ed to cooperate with cam surfaces formed on cam plates 29. see Figs. 1 'and 2, and 30, see Figs. 3 and 5, secured, respectively, to the 120 bottoms of the left-hand and right-hand side-plates 1 of the breech casing. The rear arm of the lever 11 is also provided with long lateral studs IIе adapted co cooperate with cam surfaces on the cam 125 plates 2C and 30. The manner in which the breech block 9, breech block actuat- ing lever 11 and the cam surfaces on the cam plates 29 and 30 cooperate to move the breech block from the closed position, shown ls0
1,625,088 в б 10 IS 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 in Fig. 2, to the open position shown in Figs. 3 and 5, during the recoil and subse- quent return forward of the barrel and barrel extension and the lock frame, has been fully disclosed in the prior application hereinbefore referred to, and will not be further described herein. After recoil, the lock frame 10 is kept in a rearward position, as shown in Fig. 3, by means to be hereinafter described, said means being also disclosed in my prior ap- plication above referred to, while the barrel (> and barrel extension 7 are returned to their forward firing position by the recuperator spring. In this separating movement of the barrel and barrel extension from the lock frame, the breech block and breech block actuating lever are disconnected, see Figs. 3 and 5, and, while so disconnected, the breech block is frictionally but firmly kept in its lowest position, where it rests against the stop 12 carried by the lug 7C of the barrel extension, by the cooperation of the spring- pressed plunger 13 with the corresponding notch 14, Fig. 9, in the front face of the breech block in a manner fully described in my prior application hereinbefore referred to. On the return of the barrel, barrel exten- sion and breech block to forward position, if any cartridges remain in the feed plate 16, the lock frame will be automatically re- leased, and under the tension of the reaction springs 17 will be returned forward, push- ing a fresh cartridge into the barrel cham- ber, and finally raising the breech block 9 to the breech closing position, as shown in Fig. 2. On such return of the barrel and barrel extension after firing a shot, the empty shell is extracted from the barrel, and the present invention provides novel improved means for extracting and guiding said shell dur- ing extraction until it is finally forcibly ejected downward through the opening be- tween the bottom flanges la of the side plates. As is most -dearly shown in Figs. 2, 7 and 8, the extractor 18 is pivoted on a vertical pin 18a fitting a hole in a laterally extending boss 10° near the forward end of the right-hand side of the lock frame 10. The extractor is of a strong, rugged con- struction and is arranged to swing in a hori- zontal plane passing substantially through the axis of the barrel. A portion of said extractor is positioned, in the relative re- ciprocation of the barrel and barrel exten- sion and the lock frame, in a longitudinal groove 7е. see Figs; 3, 4, 6 and 7, provided in the inside face of the right-hand arm 7a of the barrel extension. The extractor has a strong hook 18ъ at its forward end adapted to engage in front of the rim of a cartridge case, as shown most clearly in Fig. 7. The forward face of the hook 18b has the usual forward and outward incline to permit it to ride over the rim of the cartridge head, if the same is in front of the extractor in the for- ward movement of the lock frame. The rear end of the barrel is recessed at 6a to receive TO the forward hooked end of the extractor when the parts are in the forward firing position, see Fig. 7. The extractor has a short rear arm, against the rear end of which a strong coiled spring 18c seated in the boss 10е of the lock frame acts to swing said lever on its pivot to move the long hooked forward arm of the extractor inwardly so as to firmly en- gage the cartridge head. In the separation of the lock frame and barrel, with the breech* block in the open position, the empty cartridge case is with- drawn from the barrel chamber by the ex- tractor 18. Means have been provided for • guiding the head of the cartridge case to 85 insure that the same, after it has been with- drawn some distance from the barrel, will resist any tendency the shell head may have to roll upwardly between the arms of the barrel extension which might cause the rim ®0 of the cartridge head to move from engage- ment with the extractor hook and thus re- sult in imperfect extraction. Such means may comprise, as shown in Figs. 4, G and 7, a wide shallow groove 7f in the inner face 05 of the left-hand arm 7b of the barrel exten- sion into which groove the head of the shell being extracted is pressed by the tension of the extractor spring 18c acting through the extractor, thereby yieldingly resisting any 100 rolling tendency and insuring the full ex- traction of the cartridge case. The car- tridge case is further guided during extrac- tion by the inwardly extending guiding- ledges 7s provided on the inside bottom por- 105 tion of the barrel extension arms, see Figs. 3 and 6. As shown in Fig. 3, said ledges extend retarwardly only a distance sufficient to insure that the cartridge case is fully ex- tracted before the case is left unsupported no by said ledges, when it can fall downwardly or be forcibly ejected from the gun in the manner fully described in my prior applica- tion hereinbefore referred to. Suffice it to state here that when the empty cartridge П5 case has been brought under the forward arm of the two-armed, ejector level-19 pivot- ally mounted at 19a on the left-hand arm 7b of the barrel extension 7, see Fig. 2, the said arm is swung downwardly to strike the 120 top of said cartridge case and thereby forc- ibly eject the same. The ejector lever 19 is so swung because of the engagement of a downward projection 19b on its rear arm with a lateral.stud 10a, see Figs. 3 and 5, on 125 the lock frame. When the lock frame moves forward to insert a cartridge into the bar- rel chamber, the said ejector lever is again swung on its pivot to bring its forward arm to its raised position because of the engage- 130
4 1,525,066 ment of the stud 10d on the lock frame with a second downward projection 19c on the ejector lever forward of its pivot. The ejector lever 19 is yieldingly held in all 5 positions by means of a spring indicated at 19a, Figs. 2 and 5, in a manner fully de- scribed in my said prior application. In addition to its normal function just described, the extractor 18 lias several other 10 important functions which will presently be described. / During the last of the forward move- ment of the barrel and barrel extension, said members operate the mechanism for 15 moving the feed plate 16 carrying the car- tridges one step forward that is. from left to right, through the gun so as to bring a cartridge in such plate centrally over the ' casing, where it is automatically released 20 from the feed plate, and moved downward between the arms of the barrel extension to the position shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The mechanism for performing these operations is that fully disclosed in my prior applica- 25 tion above referred to and will consequently be only briefly described herein. The mechanism for moving the feed plate transversely with a step-by-step movement comprises a feed pawl 20 adapted to co- 30 operate with a series of equally spaced notches, not shown, on the feed plate. Said pawl is carried by a feed pawl lever 21 pivoted on a vertical pivot pin 21a at the right hand side of the feed box 4, see Fig. 4, 35 and the lever 21 is actuated by a feed lever 22 pivoted on a horizontal pivot pin 22a at the left-hand side of the feed box. This feed lever 22 extends downwardly into the space between the left-hand arm 7b of the 40 barrel extension and the left-hand side plate 1 of the breech casing and into the path of a stud 7b on said arm of the barrel exten- sion. A spring 22b returns the feed lever to a position intermediate the limits df move- 45 ment to which it is swung by the stud 7h on the barrel extension, which stud passes beyond the end of the lever in both direc- tions of movement of said barrel extension. In this manner the movements of the barrel 80 extension produce, through the feed lever 22, feed pawl lever 21 and feed pawl 20, the automatic step by step movement of the feed plate 16. As the cartridge nears the central posi- 88 tion, it is automatically released from the feed plate by suitable means, not shown herein, and started downward by the fixed cam 23, see Fig. 6. In this downward movement, the cartridge engages and oper- 80 ates a spring pressed latch 24, see Fig. 3, which normally locks the long bent forward arm of the carrier 25, pivoted at 25a in the feed box 4, in raised position against the action of the spring 25b seated in the short 88 rear arm of the carrier 25. When the lock frame is held rearward, as shown in Fig. 3, the forward carrier arm is raised, and the spring 25” is compressed between said short arm and an upwardly extending lug, on a dog 26 pivoted to the lower portion of said 70 short arm of the carrier and having its rear end cooperating with a notch 16е in the upper surface of the lock frame to keep the same rearward. When the latch 24 is operated by the 75 downwardly moving cartridge to release the carrier 25, the spring 25b expands and swings the forward arm of the carrier down- ward, thereby positively lowering the car- tridge to the position shown in Fig. 5. At 80 the same time, by the engagёment of a tail 26a, extending rearward from the dog 26, with the top of the lock frame the dog is swung out of the notch 10е, thereby releas- ing the lock frame for forward movement 85 under the tension of the reaction spring 17, see Fig. 5. The invention comprises as one of its features novel means for supporting and guiding a cartridge while being inserted 80 into the barrel chamber, and also novel means for injecting it into said chamber, which will now be described. Some distance in rear of the breach end of the barrel so as to leave sufficient space 95 for the operation of the breech block 9 and its actuating lever 11, a transverse tie mem- ber 27 connects the lower portions of the arms 7“ and 7b of the barrel extension. The top of this tie member has a semi-circular 100 depression to accommodate the cylindrical cartridge case and its central portion, see Figs. 3 and 5, is slightly below the level of the bore of the barrel and thus supports the forward end of the cartridge in position 105 for insertion into the barrel, see Fig. 5. The rear end of the cartridge is at the same time supported between the top of the ejector lever 19 and the side of the barrel extension arm 7a. 110 To cooperate with the tie member 27 in properly guiding and supporting the for- ward end of the cartridge during its in- sertion into the barrel, the breech block is provided with the rearwatd projections 9е 115 on opposite sides of a central slot 9£ in its top. These projections 9е serve together with the top of the breech block and the top of the tie member 27 to form a sub- stantially continuous guiding and support- 120 ing surface from the rear face of said tie member to the breech of the barrel, whereby the forward end of the cartridge is guided into the barrel chamber. As best shown in Fig. 9, the portions of the top of the 125 breech block 9 and of the rearward pro- jections 9е adjacent the central slot 9£ are chamfered as at 9s, and at the rear, the projections 9е are correspondingly cham- fered as at 9b, thereby eliminating the possi- 130
1,626,066 о bility of any part of the cartridge catch- ing on a sharp corner while being inserted into the barrel. By the time the nose of the cartridge has been inserted some dis- 5 tance into the barrel chamber, the rear end Avill have left the ejector and the cartridge will have assumed a substantially horizontal position with its rear end now resting on the inwardly projecting ledges 7s on the 10 barrel extension arms. The tie member 27 also serves to strongly brace the spaced rearwardly extending arms 7a and 7b of the barrel extensions. It will be noted that the upper portion and, to a slight extent, 15 the lower portion of the forward wall of said member, are cut away so as not to in- terfere with the full, upward movement of the forward arm of the breech block actu- ating lever, see Figs. 2, 3 and 5. 20 Tile cartridge is pushed into the cham- ber of the barrel from the position shown in Fig. 5 by the combined action of a for- ward extension or charger 28 on the lock frame and the shell extractor 18. For this 25 purpose, the charger 28 has a downward projection at its forward end which en- gages the bead of the cartridge to start its forward, movement. The extractor has, for this purpose, an inward projection 18d 30 a short distance in rear of its hook 18b, and the forward face of this projection is in substantially the same vertical plane as the forward face of the charger 28, so that as the cartridge is moved forward by the 35 charger, the rim of its head moves into the space between said inward projection 18d and the rear face of the hook 18b until, when the. cartridge rim is firmly seated in said space and the cartridge nears the horizontal 40 position, the head of the cartridge falls be- low the downward projection on the charger and the. cartridge is pushed home by the extractor alone in the forward movement of the lock frame. 45 In its final forward movement, the lock frame is slowed down and buffeted by the action of the breech block, the breech block actuating lever, and the cam surfaces co- operating with said lever as fully disclosed 50 in my prior application hereinbefore re- ferred to. If the cartridge were not se- curely held by the extractor, its momentum would carry it forward more rapidly than the lock frame and throw it into the barrel 55 chamber with great force, which might start the projectile from the case or cause a pre- mature explosion of the charge in cartridges of a highly sensitive character. The arrangement of the extractor 18 at 50 the side of the lock frame with its hooked end pressing against the loaded cartridge head or the empty cartridge case head, as the case may be, combined with the guid- ing groove 7f in the inper face of the left- 15 hand side wall, in which that part of the cartridge case head opposite the part en- gaged by said extractor is held by the ten- sion of the extractor spring, has the further advantage of making it possible, under cer- tain conditions, to dispense with the inwardly 70 projecting guiding ledges 7s on the arms of the barrel extension, a cartridge case head being then solely supported against upward or downward movement between the arms of the barrel extension during a portion 75 of the inserting movement of a cartridge and during a portion of the withdrawing movement^ of an empty cartridge case by the cooperation of the spring-actuated extractor and the said guide groove. The extractor 80 spring must of course be powerful enough, in such case, to keep that portion of the head of a loaded cartridge opposite the ex- tractor in the guiding groove against the action of gravity. es Another important function performed by the extractor 18 is that of serving to lock the lock frame and breech block to- gether when these parts are in the firing position to permit the manual opening of 90 the breech and'the retraction of the lock frame by a continuous rearward pull on the finger piece on the rear arm of the actuating lever 11. To this end, the rear face of the inward projection 18d of the extractor 95 is adapted when the parts are in the posi- tion shown in Figs. 2, 7 and 9, to co-operate with a corresponding vertically extending shoulder 91 on the breech block 9 to lock these parts against relative longitudinal 100 movement. Some distance in rear of said shoulder the extractor is considerably thinner laterally, to accommodate the right- hand rib 9a on the breech block when the same is in raised position. A shoulder 18е 105 is thus formed on the extractor which is spaced as shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9, a slight distance, from the front face of the rib 9a on the breech block. It is evident that, as an alternative con- 110 struction, the shoulder 18е might be made to co-operate with the forward face of the rib 9a to lock the breech block and lock frame against relative longitudinal move- ment while the rear face of the inward 115 projection 18d of the extractor could be spaced from the vertically extending shoul- der 91 on the breech block. In the construction shown, the shoulder 18® inclines forwardly and downwardly at 120 its lower portion, see Fig. 8, to provide clearance for the upper end of rib 9a on the breech block in the initial longitudinal separating movement of the breech block and lock frame during the manual operation 126 now to be described. In the manual operation of the actuating lever 11 to open the breech and move the lock frame to its rearward position, the barrel and barrel extension being kept in
О 1,020,066 5 10 20 25 30 35 40 15 50 60 65 forward position by the powerful recuper- ator spring, not shown, the rearward pull on the finger piece of the actuating lever, causes the breech block to be lowered be- cause of the engagement of the lateral studs IIе on the forward arm. of said lever in the wide portion of the T-shaped slot 9е in said breech block in the manner described in my prior application hereinbefore referred to. The lock frame is prevented from moving rearwardly by the engagement of tire rear face of the inward projection 18a thereon with the shoulder 91 on tire breech' block until the parts reach substantially the posi- tion shown in Fig. 8, where these surfaces are represented as about to pass out of en- gagement with each other. In this position of the parts, the left-hand lateral stud 11® on the rear arm of the actuating lever has entered the cam groove 29a in the left-hand cam plate 29. On continued pull on the finger piece the stud 11® passes rearwardly and upwardly, being guided by the cam groove 29a, thereby moving the lock frame rearwardly and'swinging the lever 11 about its pivot to fully lower the breech block. On the return forward of the lock frame and the extractor carried thereby^ just be- fore the breech block has been raised to the position shown in Fig. 8, the lock frame and extractor will have reached their full forward position, so that on the further swinging of the lever 11 to raise the breech block to its upper breech closing position, the vertically extending shoulder 9* of the breech block again engages with the rear face of the inward projection 18a of the extractor, thereby once more locking the breech block and lock frame against relative longitudinal movement. In the upper breech closing position of the breech block, the charger 28 is seated in the central slot 9f in the top of the breech block. The extractor 18 may be readily disas- sembled from the lock frame when said frame has been rearwardly withdrawn from the breech casing, after the removal of the rear plate. To disassemble it, the long forward arm of the extractor is swung out- wardly a distance sufficient to clear a short stud 31 projecting from the side of the lock frame near the end of the same and nor- mally adapted, by its engagement with the under side of the extractor, to keep the same from downward movement on its pivot pin 18a, which is fixed at its upper end in the boss 10° of the lock frame. After the ex- tractor has been so swung outwardly it may be slipped downwardly off its pivot pin 18a. This also frees the extractor spring 18° for removal. To reassemble the extractor, the operations are reversed. The firing mechanism of this improved gun is substantially similar to that fully disclosed in my prior application above re- ferred to and, since said mechanism forms no part of the present invention, no de- scription thereof in this application is necessary. Another feature of the invention com- 70 prises novel improved means for quickly locating a loaded cartridge feed plate 16, which for use in large caliber guns of this class preferably contains five cartridges, in alignment with the transverse feed channel 75 in the feed box 4, whereby said feed plate with the cartridges therein can be pushed with the least possible delay into the feed channel of the gun and thus the. firing con- tinued automatically without interruption 80 even though the cartridges in one feed plate are rapidly exhausted. Where the fire is directed against rapidly moving objects, such as airplanes, this uninterrupted auto- matic fire is highly desirable so that the 85 greatest possible number of shots may be directed at the object in the short time during which it remains within range. As shown in Figs. 10 to 14, inclusive, such means comprises a loading shelf 32 adapted 0° to be detachably secured to the left-hand side plate 1 of the breech casing. Said shelf has a horizontal portion 32a, which is of sub- stantially rectangular form, with its longest side at right angles to the axis of the gun, 95 a vertical portion 32b extending upwardly at the rear of said horizontal portion, and a downwardly extending vertical portion 32° for attaching the shelf to the .gun. When the shelf is in assembled position. 190 the top of the horizontal portion 32a is some- what below the level of the top of the left- hand side plate 1 and of the small ledge 33 forming a lateral extension of the. top of said plate, all as clearly shown in Figs. 11 105 and 12. To bring the lower surfaces of the cartridges in a loaded feed plate resting on the loading shelf substantially to the level of the top of the side plate so that they may enter smoothly and easily into the feed no channel, the top of the horizontal portion of the shelf is provided at the front and some distance forward of its rear, with two upwardly projecting guiding and support- ing ribs 32a. See Figs. 10, 11, 12 and 13. 115 An important advantage in having the feed plato and cartridges so supported by the pro- jecting ribs 32a on the loading shelf instead of by the flat surface of a shelf raised to the level of the transverse feed channel con- 120 sists in greatly diminishing the possibility of dust, dirt or snow, which might collect on the loading shelf, being pushed with the loaded feed plate into the breech casing of the gun. The rear guide rib 32d has the 125 top of its forward face inclined to aid in guiding a loaded plate placed on the shelf from the front. The vertical rear portion 32b of the shelf facilitates the placing of a loaded feed plate. j:u>
1,626,066 16 in a position transversely aligned with the feed channel and in maintaining such alignment while pushing said loaded plate into the feed channel of the gun. This is 5 particularly advantageous if the gun is be- ing fired at a high angle of elevation, the weight of the cartridges and plate keeping the feed plate resting against said rear portion 32b which then forms with the por- 10 tion 32a a tray-like supporting and guid- , ing member. The feed plate 16 shown is that fully de- scribed in my prior application hereinbe- fore referred to, and has rearwardly pro- jecting flanges 16a at top and bottom, see Fig. 12. The invention further comprises means co-operating with the bottom flange 16a in guiding the feed plate vertically into the gun. Such means may comprise a for- 20 wardly projecting lug 32е having its outer face inclined inward and downward, where- by, if the inner end of the plate should hap- pen to be tipped up slightly, when pushed transversely into the gun this incline co- 25 operates with said bottom flange of the feed plate to lower said plate and thereby align it vertically with the transverse feed chan- nel of the gun. Since the loading shelf when attached to 30 the gun projects laterally a considerable dis- - tance, it is preferable to have it attached to the gun only when the same is in use. In order that it may be quickly detached and with equal speed again attached to the gun 35 when the same is suddenly needed for use in active service, a means for quickly mounting or dismounting the same has been provided. Such means may comprise the vertical plate 34. T-shaped in cross section, 40 see Figs. 13 and 14, secured to the left-hand side plate 1 of the breech casing and over which the correspondingly shaped groove formed by the under cut ribs 32f at the rear of the vertical portion 32° of the loading 45 shelf are adapted to be slid from the bot- tom. When mounted on the gun, the load- ing shelf is held in place by a latch 36 mounted on a vertical pin 36a supported by brackets on the outside face of the vertical 50 portion 32е of the loading shelf. This latch 36 has an inward projection 36b on the for- ward arm thereof passing through a slot in said vertical portion 32е and projecting into a corresponding notch 34b in the plate 55 34, see Fig. 14. To move the latch into its operative position and keep it in said posi- tion, a spring 36е is provided, said spring resting at its outer end in a seat in the rear arm of the latch and at its inner end, so against the plate 34. When sliding the loading shelf vertically into its operative position, the inward projection 36b on the latch is automatically moved outward by the engagement of its upper inclined sur- 55 face with a corresponding surface at the bot- tom of the plate 34, and is kept in such posh tion by said plate until it comes opposite the locking notch in said plate when it is automatically caused to enter said notch by the tension of the spring 36е. 70 To remove the loading shelf 32 the rear arm of the latch is! manually pressed in- ward to withdraw the inward projection 36b on its forward arm from its co-operating notch, after which the shelf can be down- 75 wardly removed from its engagement with the T-shaped plate 34. While the invention has been described herein as applied to an automatic gun adapted for firing large caliber projectiles, 80 it is equally applicable to small caliber guns. What I claim and desire to secure by Let- ters Patent is: 1. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a barrel, a barrel extension having 86 rearwardly extending spaced arms, means for feeding cartridges to successively move them into the space between said arms and in position to be inserted into the chamber of said barrel, means for supporting a car- ®® triclge in said position comprising a member connecting said arms at the rear of the breech of the barrel and means mounted for reciprocation between said arms to engage and push said cartridge into said chamber. 0t‘ 2. In an automatic gun, the combination of a barrel, a barrel extension secured there- to and having spaced rearwardly extending arms, means to feed a cartridge between said arms to position it in substantial align- 100 ment with the bore of the barrel, and means for supporting and guiding a cartridge so positioned, said means comprising a member connecting said arms at the rear of the breech of the barrel and a pivoted guiding 105 and supporting lever on one of said barrel extension arms. 3. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a barrel, a barrel extension having rearwardly extending spaced arms, means HO for feeding cartridges to successively posi- tion them between said arms in a down- wardly inclined position with the cartridge nose in position to enter the chamber of said barrel, means to support a cartridge in said 115 position comprising a member connecting said arms at the rear of the breech of the barrel and a guiding and supporting mem- ber on one of said arms, and means to en- gage the rear end of said cartridge and push 120 it into said chamber, said guiding and sup- porting member permitting the rear end of said cartridge to drop as said cartridge is moved forwardly. 4. In an automatic gun, the combination I25 of a barrel, a barrel extension secured there- to and having openings in its top and in its bottom, respectively, for the feeding of a cartridge into position for insertion into the barrel chamber and for the ejection of 130
8 1.525,066 the empty shell from said barrel extension after its withdrawal from the barrel, means for moving a cartridge so positioned into the barrel chamber, and means for sup- t porting a cartridge in such position and guiding the same in such movement, said ineans comprising a substantially contin- uous support for the cartridge extending from the forward end of said ejection open- 10 ing to the breech of the barrel and a mem- ber carried by said barrel extension in rear of said substantially continuous support. 5. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a breech casing having an opening 1* through its top, a barrel and barrel exten- sion, said extension having rearwardly ex- tending spaced arms, means to feed car- tridges successively through said opening into a forwardly and downwardly inclined 20 position with the nose df a cartridge in posi- tion to enter the barrel chamber, means for moving a cartridge so positioned into the barrel chamber, said means comprising a member connecting said arms at the rear 25 of the breech of the barrel and an ejector lever carried by one of said arms in the . rear of said connecting member. 6. In an automatic gun, the combination of a barrel, a barrel extension secured there- 30 to, a transversely movable breech block mounted on said barrel extension and adapt- ed to open and close the breech of the barrel, means for feeding a cartridge into position for insertion into the barrel chamber, a 35 pusher in rear of said barrel for moving a cartridge so positioned into the barrel cham- ber, and means for supporting a cartridge in said position and for guiding it in such movement, comprising the top surface of -io said breech block and a member carried by the barrel extension. 7. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a barrel and a barrel extension se- cured thereto, a transversely movable breech 45 block mounted on said barrel extension, means for feeding a cartridge into position for insertion into the barrel chamber, a pusher in the rear of said barrel for moving a cartridge so positioned into the barrel 50 chamber and means for supporting a car- tridge in said position and for guiding it in such movement, said means comprising the top surface of said breech block and a piv- oted cartridge ejector lever carried by said 55 barrel extension. 8. In an automatic gun, the combination of a barrel, a barrel extension secured there- to and having a,n opening in its top and in its bottom, respectivelv, for the feeding of 60 a cartridge into position for insertion into the barrel chamber and for the ejection of an empty shell after its withdrawal from the barrel, a transversely movable breech block to open and close the breech of the barrel, 65 and means including said breech block pro- viding a substantially continuous support- ing and guiding surface for the forward end of a cartridge when so positioned and dur- ing the first part of the forward movement of said cartridge to insert it into the barrel 70 chamber, and a forwardly and downwardly inclined guide for the rear portion of said cartridge during such movement. 9. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a barrel, a barrel extension hav- 75 ing lateral arms spaced apart a distance suf- ficient to permit a cartridge to be fed there- between to position it in substantial align- ment with the bore of the barrel and to per- . init an empty shell to be ejected downwardly 80 therebetween, a vertically slidable breech block to open and close the breech of the barrel, means for moving a cartridge so posi- tioned into the barrel chamber, and means for supporting and guiding the cartridge in 88 such movement, said means comprising a member connecting the arms of said barrel extension and forming with the top of said vertically slidable breech block a substan- tially continuous supporting and guiding 80 surface extending for sonie distance in rear of the breech of the barrel, and a forwardly and downwardly inclined surface on a mem- ber carried by an arm of said barrel ex- tension. 88 10. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a barrel, a barrel extension having laterally spaced arms, a member mounted for longitudinal movement in the space be- tween said arms, means for feeding a car- 100 tridge into the space between said arms when said member is in rearward position, and means for supporting and guiding said cartridge in the space between said arms for insertion into the barrel chamber, said 105 means comprising a'member connecting said arms some distance rearward of the front ends of the same thereby serving also to brace the said arms. 11. In an automatic gun, the combination 110 of a barrel, a barrel extension, said barrel extension having rearwardly extending spaced arms, a transversely movable breech block to open and close the breech of the barrel, said breech block being mounted be- 115 tween said arms directly in rear of the breech of the barrel, a member in rear of said breech block connecting said arms be- low the bore of the barrel, and an ejector carried by one of the arms of the barrel ex- 120 tension, said breech block connecting mem- ber and ejector together forming means for supporting and guiding a cartridge while the same is being inserted into the barrel chamber. 128 12. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a barrel, a barrel extension secured thereto and having laterally spaced arms, a longitudinally reciprocating member mov- able in the space between said arms and 180
1,525,086 adapted on its forward movement to push a cartridge into the barrel chamber, and means to guide the head of the cartridge in such movement comprising -a depression in 5 the inside surface of one of said arms, and means for yieldingly keeping a portion of the head of the cartridge in said depression. 13. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a barrel, a barrel extension having 10 laterally spaced arms in rear of the breech of said barrel, a longitudinally reciprocat- ' ing member movable in the space between said arms and adapted on its forward move- ment to push a cartridge into the chamber of 15 the barrel and in its rearward movement to extract the empty shell from the barrel, means for guiding the head of said cartridge or shell in their respective movements com- prising a longitudinal depression in the in- 20 side face of one of said arms and a spring- actuated extractor carried by said member, said extractor yieldingly keeping a portion of the head of said cartridge or shell seated in said depression. 25 14. In a firearm, the combination of a bar- rel, a receiver in which said barrel is secured at the breech, said receiver having an open- ing at the top and at the bottom, respec- tively, to permit placing a cartridge therein 30 through the top and the ejection of an empty shell through the bottom, means for pushing a cartridge so placed into the barrel chamber and for withdrawing an empty shell from said chamber and means for guid- 38 ing the head of a cartridge or shell in such movements, said means comprising a lon- gitudinal groove in a side wall of the re- ceiver and an extractor carried by said member and arranged to yieldingly keep 40 said cartridge or shell partly seated in said groove. 15. In an automatic firearm, the combi- nation of a barrel, a barrel extension having rearwardly extending spaced arms, a longi- 48 tudinally reciprocating member movable in the space between said arms, means for holding said member rearwardly following discharge while the barrel and barrel exten- sion return to forward position, means for 60 feeding a cartridge between said member and the breech of the barrel while said mem- ber is held rearwardly, means carried by said member for engaging the rim of the head of a cartridge thus positioned where- 86 by on the forward movement of said mem- ber the cartridge is pushed into the barrel chamber and whereby, when said member is held rearwardly following discharge, the empty shell is extracted from said cham- 80 ber, said extractor member comprising a lever pivotally mounted on said reciprocat- ing member, a spring engaging the rear arm of said extractor and guiding means on one of the barrel extension arms against which 06 the head of the cartridge is pressed by said extractor lever during the insertion of the cartridge and the extraction of the shell, whereby the head of said cartridge or shell is held from movement transverse to the axis of the firearm. 70 16. In an automatic firearm, the combi- nation of a barrel, a member mounted for reciprocation at the rear of said barrel, a breech block movable transversely of the axis of the barrel to open and close the 75 breech of the same, means carried by said reciprocating member to move said breech block to open and close said breech, and means to interlock said reciprocating mem- ber and breech block when said block is in 80 breech closing, position, said interlocking means comprising a shell extractor carried by said member. 17. In an automatic firearm, the combi- nation of a barrel and barrel extension, a 88 breech block slidably mounted on said ex- tension for movement transverse to the axis of said barrel, a member mounted for longi- tudinal reciprocating movement at the rear of said barrel and adapted to engage and 80 push a cartridge into the barrel chamber in its forward movement, and cooperating ele- ments on said block and said member which come into locking engagement on the breech closing movement of the block to lock to- 85 gether said block and said member, said cooperating elements comprising a shell ex- tractor carried by said member and a shoul- der on said breech block. 18. In an automatic firearm, the combina- 100 tion of a barrel, a reciprocating member mounted at the rear of said barrel, a breech block movable transversely of the axis of the barrel to open and close the breech of the same, and means for interlocking said mem- 105 ber and said breech block when the breech is closed, said means comprising a shell ex- tractor carried by said member and a shoul- der on the breech block cooperating there- with. . 110 19. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a barrel, a reciprocating member mounted at the rear of said barrel and car- rying a shell extractor, a breech block mova- ble tansversely of the axis of said barrel to 115 open and close the breech of the same, a common means for manually moving said breech block to its open position ana said member to a rearward position, and means for interlocking said breech block and said member whereby rearward movement of said member is prevented during the first portion of the opening movement of said breech block, said interlocking means comprising a shoulder on the breech block cooperating * with the shell extractor. 20. In an automatic firearm, the combi- nation of a barrel, a breech block movable transversely of the axis of said barrel to open and close; the breech of the same, a
IO 1,625,068 member mounted for longitudinal movement and adapted to push a cartridge into the barrel in its forward movement, an extrac- tor carried by said member and having a 5 shoulder thereon, and a shoulder on said breech block cooperating with said shoul- der on the extractor to prevent relative lon- gitudinal movement of said member and said block when the parts are in firing position 10 and during the first portion of the opening movement of said breech block. 21. In an automatic firearm, the combi- nation of a barrel and barrel extension, a member mounted for longitudinal recipro- 15 cation at the rear of said barrel, means for feeding a cartridge between said member and the barrel when said member is in rear- ward position, means for supporting said cartridge in a forwardly and inwardly in- 20 clined position for insertion into the barrel chamber, and means for inserting said car- tridge into the barrel on the forward move- ment of said member, said inserting means comprising a charger adapted to engage the 25 head of the cartridge to start the inserting movement and an extractor carried by said member and adapted to complete the inser- tion of the cartridge after the head of the same has moved inward in its forward move- 30 ment out of the path of said charger. 22. In an automatic firearm, the combi- nation of a barrel, a member mounted for longitudinal reciprocation at the rear of said barrel, an extractor carried by said member 35 and having an inward projection adapted to engage the head of a cartridge, and means for feeding a cartridge between said mem- ber and the breech of said barrel when said member is in rearward position, whereby on 40 the forward movement of said member the said inward projection on the extractor en- gages the head of said cartridge and pushes it into the barrel chamber. 23. In an automatic firearm, the combina 45 tion of a barrel, a breech block movable transversely of the axis of the barrel to open and close the breech of the same, a longi- tudinally reciprocating member, and a piv- oted extractor carried by said member and 50 adapted to engage the rim of a cartridge to insert said cartridge into the barrel cham- ber on the forward movement of said mem- ber. 24. In an automatic firearm, the combina- 55 tion of a barrel, a member mounted for lon- gitudinal reciprocation in rear of said barrel, means for moving a cartridge into a for- wardly and inwardly inclined position ready for insertion into the barrel chamber when 80 said member is in rearward position, in- wardly inclined means for supporting said cartridge in such positioh which permits the head or the cartridge to be moved inward to bring the cartridge axis in substantial 85 alignment with the barrel axis as it is moved forward into said chamber, and means on said member for so moving the cartridge forward, said means comprising a charger for engaging the head of the cartridge dur- ing the first of such movement, and an ex- 70 tractor having a groove therein adapted to receive the rim of the cartridge head as the same is moved inward in the forward move- ment of the cartridge by said charger and to thereby control the movements of the 75 cartridge during the last of the inserting movement. 25. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a barrel and barrel extension, a breech block mounted for transverse move- 80 ment on said barrel extension to open and close the breech of the barrel, a longitudi- nally reciprocating member at the rear of said barrel, a pivoted extractor carried by said member, and a groove in said barrel 85 extension for receiving a portion of said extractor in the movements of said member and adapted to guide said extractor in such movements. 26. In an automatic firearm, the combina- 90 tion of a barrel and barrel extension, a breech block mounted for transverse move- ment on said barrel extension to open and close the breech of the barrel, a longitudi- nally reciprocating member at the rear of 85 said barrel, a pivoted extractor carried by said member, said extractor being provided with a hook and an inward projection a slight distance in rear of said hook to form therewith a transverse groove, said groove 100 being adapted to receive the head of a car- tridge being pushed into the barrel, thereby controlling tne movement of said cartridge. 27. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a casing having a transverse feed 106 channel adapted to receive a loaded cartridge feeder and to guide the same in its move- ments transversely of the gun, and a readily detachable loading shelf at the entrance to. said feed channel, said shelf being construct- 110 ed and arranged to support and guide a load- ed feeder while the same is being pushed into said feed channel. 28. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a casing having a transverse feed 116 channel adapted to guide a cartridge feed plate through the gun, and a readily de- tachable shelf at the side of said casing for positioning a loaded feed plate in align- ment with said channel and for guiding the 120 same in its lateral movement into the feed channel. 29. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a casing having a transverse feed channel adapted to receive a loaded car- 126 tridge feed plate and guide the same in its movement through the gun, and a loading shelf at the entrance to said feed channel, said shelf having transverse ribs for sup- porting the feed plate and the Cartridges
1,626,066 carried thereby in transverse alignment with said feed channel, whereby extraneous mat- ter collecting on said shelf is prevented from being pushed into said casing with the 5 movement of the loaded feed plate into said feed channel. 30. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a casing having a transverse feed channel having a bottom and a rear wall, 10 a loading shelf adapted to be detachably mounted at the side of said casing for re- ceiving and guiding a loaded cartridge feeder into said feed channel, said shelf having guiding portions in lateral align- ment, respectively, with the bottom and the 15 rear wall of said transverse feed channel. This specification signed and witnessed this 10th day of April A. D., 1924. JOHN M. BROWNING. In the presence of: J. Calvin Bright, Mary Speirs.
Feb. 3. 1925. 1,525,067 J. M. BROWNING CARTRIDGE FEEDING DEVICE FOR AUTOMATIC FIREARMS Filed April 28, 1924
Patented Feb. 3, 1925. 1,525,067 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. JOHN M' BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH. CARTRIDGE-FEEDING DEVICE FOR AUTOMATIC FIREARMS. Application filed April 28, 1924. Serial No. 709,49В. To all whotn it may concern: Be it known that I, John M. Browning, a. citizen of the United States, residing in Ogden, in the. county of Weber and State 5 of Utah, have invented certain new and use- : ful Improvements in Cartridge-Feeding De- vices for Automatic Firearms, of which the following is a specification, reference be- ing had to the accompanying drawings, 10 forming a part hereof. The invention relates generally to auto- matic firearms, and more particularly to a cartridge feeding device adapted for use with the class of automatic firearms shown, 15 for example, in my pending application Se- rial No. 680,963, filed December 15, 1923, for automatic firearm. In that class of firearm, the cartridges are supplied to the gun by a feed plate adapted 20 to be automatically fed step by step through a transverse feed channel of the gun to bring the -cartridges successively into the central plane of the gun, where they are automati- cally removed from the plate and inserted. 25 into the barrel chamber. It is an object of the invention to provide a feed plate of this character which can be readily inserted into said feed channel and fed therethrough with either end first, thereby requiring less atten- 30 tion on the part of the operator supplying the loaded feed plates to the gun, and thus aiding in keeping up a continuous automatic fire, when necessary or desirable, as for ex- ample, when the gun is being used against 35 a rapidly moving target, such as an airplane. This object is attained by the novel im- proved feed plate shown in the accompany- ing drawings and representing a preferred embodiment of the invention. 40 In the drawings: Fig. 1 represents a top view of the im- proved feed plate, showing the rear portion of a cartridge seated therein. Fig. 2 represents a front view of said feed 45 plate, showing a cartridge seated therein. Fig. 3 represents a rear_yiew of said plate. Fig. 4 represents a partial longitudinal vertical section, as seen from the right, through the transverse feed channel of the 50 gun with the improved feed plate therein; the rear portion of a cartridge is shown re- leased ready for downward removal from the plate. . Fig. 5 represents in perspective one of the 55 spring catches for locking the cartridges in the feed plate, Fig.. 6 represents a partial horizontal sec- tion through the feed plate, showing the co- operative relation between the cam in the Feed channel and the spring catches on said 60 plate. The novel improved feed plate 10 com- prises a substantially flat piece of metal or metal alloy provided with the longitudinal flanges 11 at top and bottom which extend 65 rearwardly when the feed plate is in posi- tion in the transverse channel in the gun adapted to receive it. The front face of the feed plate is pro- vided with seats 12 for receiving the heads 70 of cartridges. These seats are formed by transversely extending ribs 13, having over- hanging flanges 13a for engagement in front of the rims 14 of the cartridges, see Figs. 1 and 2. The two ribs 13 at the ends of the 75 feed plate are provided on their inner sides only with such overhanging flanges 13a, while the remaining ribs have such flanges on both sides. By this construction, it will be evident 80 that a cartridge when seated in the feed plate as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is held against longitudinal displacement there- from, and that a cartridge can be inserted into or removed from its seat only in a 85 transverse direction but from either of the open ends of said seat. Thus the feed plate is adapted to be fed with either end first through the feed channel of the gi.ui with which it is used, each cartridge. being re- 90 moved from its seat, in either case, through the open end of said seat nearest to the bar- rel axis. To make easy the withdrawal bf the car- tridges from their seats, the greater portion 95 of each seat is of greater depth, see Figs. 1 and 2, than the thickness of the annular rim 14 of the cartridge but, when the car- tridge is fully seated centrally of the plate, see Fig. 2, the cartridge rim is firmly held Ю0 between the overhanging flanges 13a and the substantially triangular-shaped raised por- tions 15 provided centrally of the feed plate, one at each side of each cartridge seat, as : clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. 105 To. hold the cartridges against transverse movement from their seats in the plate 10, means are provided for engaging each car- tridge at the opposite sides thereof facing the open ends of its seat. Such means may comprise a series of spring catches 16, one of which is shown detached in Fig. 5. This
1,636,067 catch comprises an elongated spring portion 16a adapted to be secured at one end as by a rivet 16b, centrally of the rear face of the feed plate, see Fig. 3. This elongated por- 6 tion is normally held by its tension against the rear face of the feed plate and has, near its free end, lateral projections 16°. Each of these lateral portions 16° is bent at right angles to form stop projections 16d, which 10 are adapted to extend forwardly through slots in the feed plate and project into the , path of the rim of a cartridge, one on each side of the longitudinal axis of the feed plate, thereby holding said cartridge against 10 movement from its seat through either open end thereof. In the embodiment of the invention se- lected for, illustration, the feed plate is adapted to hold five cartridges, and three 2<J spring catches 16 are employed to keep these five cartridges in their seats. The two end catches, one of which is shown de- tached in Fig. 5, each have wide stop pro- jections 16d extending through correspond- 25 ing slots in the feed plate so as to cause the opposite sides of the stop projections to co- operate with two adjacent cartridges to-keep the same in. their seats. The intermediate catch, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 6, has a 30 narrow stop projection 16d which extends into the central cartridge seat only for co- operation with the central cartridge. This construction and arrangement of the spring catch 16 permits one stop projection 35 16d thereon to be withdrawn rearwardly from a corresponding seat in the feed plate to allow of the insertion into, or removal from, said seat of a catridge through the adjacent Open end of the seat, while the 40 other stop projection 16d remains in opera- tive position thereby preventing removal of a cartridge from the opposite end of said seat. In order to so withdraw the inner Stop 45 projection 16d on a catch 16 rearwardly out of a cartridge seat, as shown in Fig. 4, when said seat reaches the desired position rela- tive to the longitudinal central plane of the gun in the transverse movement of the feed 50 plate through the gun in the manner fully described in my prior application herein- before referred to, said catch is provided, at its free end on the opposite sides thereof, with laterally extending rearwardly curved 55 projections 16е; the inner one of said projec- tions 16е is arranged to co-operate with a fixed cam bracket 17 secured, as by rivets 17*, to the rear wall 18 of the transverse feed channel of the gun, see Fig. 4. Said bracket co 17 is spaced from the bottom of the feed channel so as to permit the inner flange 11 of the feed plate to pass through the space so formed, and it is provided at the front with an upwardly projecting flange 17b, the 06 forward face of which is in close proximity td the rear face of the feed plabe when the same is positioned in the feed channel, see Figs. 4 and 6. This flange has, at each end thereof, a cam surface 17° inclined forward- ly and outwardly. 70 As the feed plate is moved toward the right hand side of the gun from the posi- tion shown in Fig. 6, for example, the left- hand cam surface 17c engages the inner curved projection 16е on the catch 16 and 76 thereby moves the inner stop projection 16d rearwardly to the position in which the low- er stop projection of another catch 16 is shown in Fig. 4, where it is kept by the flange IT” until after the cartridge released by said movement of the stop projection, has been moved through the inner open end Of its seat in the manner fully disclosed in my prior application hereinbefore referred to. 85 In this way, all the cartridges in the feed plate will be released, at the proper inter- vals in the movement of said feed plate through the feed channel of the gun, to per- mit them to be successively removed there- 80 from in transverse direction toward the barrel axis as they near the central vertical longitudinal plane Of the gun. To prevent the released cartridge from moving down- ward prematurely, the bottom of a trans- 85 verse feed channel may be extended lateral- ly: toward the left, as fully disclosed in my prior application hereinbefore referred to and also in my prior application Serial No. 705,895, filed April 11, 1924. 100 The right-hand cam surface 17° on the flange 17b, see Fig. 4, is provided so as to permit withdrawal of the feed plate toward the left, when it is desired to do so, after one of said curved projections 16е has passed to 105 the right beyond the right-hand end of the flange 17b. The construction and arrangement of the spring catches 16 which permit one of the stop projections 16d thereon to be moved 110 from its corresponding seat or seats is ad- vantageous also in loading the feed plate, when it is obviously desirable to prevent movement of a cartridge through the oppo- site end of the seat from that through which 11э it is inserted. For this purpose, a suitable tool having cam surfaces to co-operate with the rearwardly curved projections 16е on the catches 16 and similar to that fully dis- closed in my prior application Serial No. 1211 680,963 may be provided for simultaneous- ly moving each of the stop projections 16d adjacent one side of the feed plate to in- operative position. To further adapt the feed plate for being 120 moved through the feed channel edgewise either end first, both the flanges 11 are pro- vided at the rear with a series of equally spaced notches 19 adapted to co-operate alternately with the feed pawl of the gun, 130
1,626,067 firearm with which it is to be used, said plate having seats in its front side to re- ceive the heads of cartridges and hold said cartridges against longitudinal displace- ment therefrom, but which permit car- 70 tridges to be placed therein or removed 10 15 20 25 40 45 50 not shown, to advance the plate step by step through the gun. A series of equally spaced notches 20 is also provided in each flange, in the outside face thereof, for co- 5 operation with the stop pawl (not shown) of the gun. It will be noted that weakening ~ notches 21 are provided opposite the therefrom by movement transverse to said shoulders formed by the notches 19, where- plate and alternatively in opposite direc- ' by, if the feed plate should jam in the tions. . operation of the gun, no serious damage would result, as fully described in my prior application Serial No. 680,963. gated prate, saia prate navrng cartridge re- The notches 19, 20 and 21 on the flanges ceiying seats in its front face which prevent 11 of the feed plate are reversely arranged, ”1 on one flange, from their arrangement on the other flange so that they co-operate in like manner with the feeding mechanism of- the gun, irrespective of which end of the „ ________ feed plate is foremost. . arms, comprising a substantially flat elon- Ah additional notch 20? has been pro- f, " ' 1’ " ; vided near the end of each flange 11 for on its front face having overhanging co-operation with the stop pawl of the gun. flanges, thereby forming seats for the heads These notches are provided to prevent ac- of cartridges which prevent longitudinal cidental withdrawal of the feed plate after displacement of said cartridges therefrom it lias been manually inserted into the feed but permit removal of said cartridges from 90 channel far enough to bring the first of the said plate transversely thereof and alter- notches 19 thereon into co-operative rela- natively in opposite ^directions, tion with the feed pawl of the gun.. To assist in guiding the feed plate 10 through the feed channel of the gun it is provided with guide grooves 22, one at the top and one at the bottom of the plate, one of said grooves being adapted to co-operate with a corresponding rib 23 forming a part, of the wall of said transverse feed channel of the gun when one end of the feed plate is foremost and the other groove 22 being likewise adapted to co-operate with said rib when the other end of said plate is fore- most. While I have described im this specifica- „ ___ ____ tion and shown in the drawings a rever- gated plate adapted to be fed edgewise sible cartridge holder or feed plate par- through a transverse feed channel on the ticularly adapted for use in connection with firearm with which it is to be used, said a gun of the class described in my prior applications, hereinbefore referred to, it is evident that it may be applied to other classes of automatic firearms. What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: 1. A cartridge holder for automatic fire- arms comprising a substantially flat elon- gated plate having seats in one side there- of to receive the heads of cartridges and hold said cartridges against longitudinal displacement therefrom, said seats opening in transverse directions to permit the in- sertion of cartridges therein or their re- moval therefrom alternatively in opposite directions, whereby the holder can be moved through the gun either end foremost. 2. A cartridge holder for automatic fire- arms comprising a substantially flat elon- gated plate adapted to be fed edgewise 3. A cartridge holder for automatic fire- 75 arms comprising a substantially flat elon-. gated plate, said plate having cartridge re- end wise movement of the cartridges seated therein and are open at top and bottom, so and means for normally keeping said car- tridges in said seats. 4. A cartridge holder for automatic fire- gated plate provided with transverse ribs «5 5. A cartridge-holder for automatic fire- arms comprising a substantially flat elon- gated plate, said plate having a plurality 95 of seats in its front face adapted to receive the heads of cartridges and hold said car- tridges against longitudinal displacement therefrom, said seats being open at top and bottom, and means for normally, pre vent ing movement of said cartridges through said openings, said means comprising. spring- actuated catches adapted to engage said cartridges on opposite sides thereof. 6, A cartridge holder for automatic fire- arms comprising a substantially flat elon- 105 plate having in its front face a plurality of seats adapted to receive the heads of cartridges and hold said cartridges against longitudinal displacement therefrom, said seats being open at top and bottom for the insertion of cartridges into or their removal from said seats by movement transversely of said plate in either direction, and means for holding said cartridges in said seats comprising spring-actuated catches secured to the rear face of said plate and having stop projections extending through slots in said plate into said seats to engage the car- tridges on opposite sides thereof. 7. A cartridge holder for automatic fire- arms comprising a substantially flat elon- gated plate, said plate having in its front face a plurality of seats adapted to receive the heads of cartridges and hold said car- „ , tridges against longitudinal displacement through a transverse feed channel on the therefrom, said seats being open at tpp and 110 115 120 GO 125 65
1,ввв,0вТ bottomland means' for normallyprevent-tridges,saidseatsopeningtransversriyof, ing transverse1 movement' of saidcartridges the plate in opposite directions, and means through either ofsaid openings, said means on said plate adapted to co-operate with the to comprising resilient:s catches r; each having feeding mechanism, of the .&earm to move з stop projections thereon extending into a said plate step i by step through the feed corresponding seat for engagement with a channel of the arm alternatively with, either cartridge on opposite sides thereof. end foremost. 8. A cartridge holder for automatic fire- 11. A cartridge holder for automatic fire- 55 arms comprising a substantially flat elon- arms comprising a. substantially flat elon- m gated plate having in one side thereof a gated pla^e having in one side'thereof a plu- plurality of seats adapted to. receive the rality.of seats adapted to receive the heads heads of cartridges arid hold said cartridges of cartridges and hold said cartridges against longitudinal displacement there- against longitudinal displacement therefrom, во from, said seats being open at top and bot- said seats being open at top and bottom, and <•> tom, and means for holding said cartridges means .forholding said cartridges in their in their seats comprising spring catches each' seats comprising catches ; each having an having stop projections spaced transversely elongated thin.spring portion secured at one of eaid plate and extending into a oorre- end to the rear face of the plate and. carry- 65 sponding seat for engagement with a car- ing at its opposite end lateral projections tridge on opposite sides thereof ,each of said provided with stop projections .extending : catches bring constructed and arranged to through corresponding slots in the plate permit withdrawal of one of its stop projec- into a cartridge seat to engage the cartridge tions from its corresponding seat without; seated therein on opposite sides thereof to to withdrawing the other of its stop projections prevent movement of the same through said < -j from said seat openings, said elongated spring portion per- 9. A cartridge holder for automatic fire- mitting one of said stop projections to be arms comprising a substantially flat elon- withdrawn from holding engagement with gated plate adapted to be fed edgewise said cartridge while the other of said stop 75 through a transverse feed channel on the projections remairis in operative engage- 30 firearm with which it is to be used, said ment with said cartridge. plate having seats in its front side to receive 12. A cartridge holder comprising, a sub- the heads of cartridges and hold said car1 stantially flat elongated plate having car- tridges against longitudinal displacement tridge receiving seats in its front face open- 80 therefrom, but which permit cartridges to ing transversely of said plate in opposite 35 be placed therein or removed therefrom by directions to permit removal of the car- ; movement transverse to said plate alterna- tridges therefrom alternatively through tively in opposite directions, and means for either of said openings^ whereby said plate is holding said cartridges against transverse adapted to be ted through the feed channel 85 movement from said seats comprising of a -firearm with which it is to be used -»’1 spring-actuated catches engaging said car- either end foremost. tridges. This specification signed and witnessed 10. A cartridge holder for automatic fire- this 26th day of April A. D. 1924. arms comprising a substantially flat elon- тгптхг iv gated plate adapted to be moved through a JOHN M. BROWNING. i/; transverse feed channel on the firearm with In the presence of— which it is to be used, said plate having, teats J. Calvin Bright, in its front face to receive the heads of car- Mary J. Speths.
April 14, 1925. 1,533,966 J. M. BROWNING AUTOMATIC RIFLE Filed Dec. 6, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1
April 14, 1925. 1,533,966 J. M. BROWNING AUTOMATIC RIFLE
Patented Apr. 14, 192EL 1ДОЙ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. .'ОИК M. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH. AUTOMATIC RIFLE. Application filed December 6, 1922. Serial No. 605,229. To dll whom, it may concern: the action-slide is firmly attached; some dis- Be it known that I , John M. Beowning, tance in rear the action-slide enters the frame a citizen of the United States, residing in Ogden, in the county of Weber and State, of 5 Utah, have invented certain new and use.- ' 'ful Improvements in Automatic Rifles, of which the following is a specification, refer- ence being had to the accompanying draw- ings, forming a part hereof. 10 The invention relates to improvements in automatic rifles, such as are shown and de- scribed in the Letters Patent of the United States No. 1,293,022, granted to me on Feb- ruary 4, 1919. 15 The invention generally relates to auto- matic rifles in which all operations of the breech mechanism, except that of the trigger, are automatically effected, and in which the form and weight of the rifle adapt it for 20 firing modern highly-charged military am- munition, the shooter either lying prone upon the ground, or standing erect with only his hands and shoulder supporting the rifle. The invention relates specially to novel 23 improvements in that class of gas-operated magazine rifles in which a vent m the barrel leads into a gas cylinder mounted below and alongside the barrel, in which cylinder the powder gases may expand. 30 The forward end of said gas cylinder is closed; the rear end of the same has the form of a strong integral block from the under side of which a flat guide-bar extends into the lower forward portion of the breech 35 casing where it is detachably secured by a transverse locking pin; to said bar a wooden handle for supporting the rifle is firmly at- tached, its sides extending upward to cover the sides of the gas cylinder and of the 4 о barrel in order to positively protect the shooter’s hand, when grasping said handle, from being burned by contact with either the gas cylinder or the barrel, both of which become highly heated during the rapid auto- 45 matic operation of the rifle. The powder gases expanding in the gas cylinder exert pressure upon a movable pis- ton therein; the piston rod extends to the rear from the piston and out of the cylinder, 50 and bears at its end a cross-head to which of the rifle and is bifurcated for the passage through it of the cartridge magazine located in the usual magazine seat in the rifle. The 55 movements of the action-slide are trans- mitted to1 the breech mechanism of the rifle, thereby actuating said mechanism. In the butt-stock of the rifle a strong helical reaction-spring is contained in a suit- go ably mounted tube, the rear end of said spring resting against a plug screwed into said tube, the forward end of the spring being attached to a shouldered piston fitted to slide lengthwise in said tube but pre- «5 vented from escaping therefrom; in its for- ward surface said piston has a central cup- shaped depression and a rod loosely resting in said depression extends forward there- from into a similar depression in the rear 7o end of the action-slide, both ends of said rod being kept in their respective positions by the pressure of. said reaction-spring. A sec- ond tube considerably larger in diameter surrounds the reaction-spring tube and con- 75 tains a suitable annular elastic packing, which, by co-operating with the reaction- - spring, will cushion and absorb any excess of energy of recoil of the action-slide when thrown rearward by the pressure of the so powder gases in the gas cylinder. The main object of the present invention is, to provide an automatic rifle with a novel and improved magazine-latch mechanism,, which, while simple and reliable in construe- ss tion and operation, is sufficiently strong and durable to withstand the exposure and abuse which it is liable to meet in the trenches and the field of modern warfare ... This ob- ject is attained by providing the following go novel constructions. In the accompanying drawings: Fig. 1 is a front view of the frame or breech casing of an automatic rifle, with the barrel and forward end of the action-slide 05 and rear end of the guide-bar in cross sec- tion. ’ Fig. 2. is a central vertical section through the frame of an automatic rifle which con- tains an embodiment of the present in ven- юо
1,633,066 tion; the frame of the rifle, the barrel, the trigger-plate and the forward and rear cross- bars or the action-slide being shown in section, as is also the hammer forming part 5 of said action-slide. Fig. 3. shows a top view of the trigger- plate, detached, on a greatly enlarged scale compared with Figs. 1 and 2, and of sub- stantially actual size, which, being of a 10 width to fit between the side walls of the frame of the rifle, closes the same at the bot- tom, and contains the greater part of the members of the magazine-latch mechanism. This figure also shows a top view of the 15 magazine in its position in front of the trigger-plate. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section of certain portions of the rifle frame, on the same scale as Fig. 3, and of the trigger- 20 plate, the members of the magazine-latch mechanism being shown in their proper positions in said trigger-plate; in front of the trigger-plate the cartridge magazine is represented in its proper operative position; 25 its lowest portion is broken away. Fig. 5 is a side view of certain members of the magazine-latch mechanism, detached, on the same scale as Fig. 4, but showing only the rear portion of the magazine and 30 the forward portion of said latch mecha- nism. Fig. 6 is a top view of certain members of the magazine-latch mechanism, detached, on the same scale as Fig. 4. 35 Fig. 7 shows a side view of the magazine- latch mechanism, detached, in its relation to .the action-slide, on the same scale as Fig. 4. Fig. 8 is a side view of the cartridge mag- azine, the upper, portion of which is shown 40 in section to expose to view the magazine- follower with one cartridge thereon, and the follower-actuating inward indentation of the front wall of the magazine causing the narrow rearmost portion of said follow- 45 er to project beyond said magazine. Fig. 9 shows a top view of the sear, trigger and trigger-pawl, detached. Fig. 10 shows the trigger-plate with the trigger, trigger-pawl, sear, latch-spring, 50 shell-ejector and shell-ejector plate, and shell-ejector plate locking plunger located therein; a portion of the trigger-plate is broken away. Fig. 11 is a front view of the trigger- 5i’ plate, with the shell-ejector and shell- eject cr plate removably attached thereto and ’ocked in place by the shell-ejector plate locking plunger; a portion of said plate between its upper and lower parts is broken 00 away. Fig. 12 is a rear view of the cartridge- magazine with one cartridge upon the follower; the lowest portion is broken away. Similar numerals refer to similar parts 05 throughout the several views. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the frame or receiver 1 of the rifle carries, as usual, the barrel 2, and, in rear thereof, the breech closing part in the form of the reciprocating breech block 14 and pivotally attached there- 70 to a locking brace 15, the frame- having a corresponding locking abutment to co-oper- ate with said brace. The breech block con- tains a firing pin, and the locking brace is connected to the action-slide 12 of the rifle 75 by an intermediate link 16 pivoted to both the brace and the action-slide. The action- slide 12 carries the hammer 13, as usual. As usual in this class of automatic fire- arms, the action-slide depends, for its rear- 80 ward movement on firing a shot, upon the pressure of the powder gases in the barrel before the projectile leaves the muzzle of the same, said gases, being admitted through a vent communicating with the closed for- 85 ward end of the gas cylinder, act therein rearwardly upon a gas piston, to the piston - rod of which the forward end of the action- slide is secured. The return movement of the action-slide in forward direction results 90 from the expansion of a reaction-spring 21 located in rear of said action-slide, said spring having been compressed during the rearward movement of the same and re- acting through the rod 20 upon the action- 9° slide. Below the action-slide are mounted most of the members of the magazine-latch mechanism in the trigger-plate .3, which closes the bottom of the frame of the rifle. 10(> In front of said trigger-plate the magazine 17 is, as usual, removably secured in its vertical seat in the frame, and contains a number of cartridges in two columns and in staggered relation in the way well known 105 and embodied in my prior patent, hereinbe- fore cited. These cartridges are fed up- ward, as usual, by the magazine-follower 18 and the follower-spring 19. During the automatic operation of the 110 rifle while the trigger 5 is kept pulled back and the sear 6 is in its inoperative position, it is necessary for continuous firing that, as soon as the last cartridge has been removed from the magazine ana fired, the magazine 115 be automatically released and ejected from its seat, to make room for the insertion of another magazine containing cartridges, with the least possible delay. The releasing of the magazine is per- formed by moving forward the upper arm of the two-armed magazine-latch lever, which is fitted on a transverse pivot pin 8b located a slight distance in rear of the for- ward face of the trigger-plate 3, and there- by moving rearward the lower arm 8 which is yieldingly pressed forward by the latch spring 8a seated in the trigger-plate 3, as shown in Figs. 2, 4, 5, 7 and 10, and the end of the lower arm 8 of said latch lever is pro-
1,633,966 ® vided with a finger piece and with an inte- gral hook-shaped forward projection adapt- ed to engage under the locking shoulder 17a in the rib 17b projecting from the rear face 5 of the magazine 17; in Fig. 4 the latch lever is shown in the operative position in which the projection on its lower arm 8 locks the magazine, as hereinbefore stated; but in Fig. 7 the latch lever is shown as having released io the magazine, the lower arm 8 being swung to the rear so as to ‘withdraw the hook- shaped forward projection from the locking shoulder 17a pf the magazine, because the upper arm 8° of the latch lever is shown as 15 pressed forward by the front end of the aux- iliary sear 7, which has, for this purpose, on the right-hand side of its forward end a laterally extending projection 7a. The auxiliary sear 7 is adapted for length- 20 wise movement by having an elongated piv- ot-hole for the fixed pivot pin 7a. While cartridges remain in the magazine during tne automatic firing, the auxiliary sear 7 is kept in its rearward position, in which its 25 rear end extends some distance under the ac- tion-slide 12, by the latch spring 8a, and by the action of the upper arm 8° of the latch lever against the forward end of the auxil- iary sear 7. See Figs. 2. 3 and 4. 30 While the last cartridge in the magazine is being raised to the top of the same by the magazine-follower 18 and spring 19, the forward end of said follower is engaged by the central cam-shaped inward indentation 35 .17a, (see Figs. 3, 4, 8 and 12), in the forward wall of the magazine and cammed rearward so as to cause the rearward projection 18a of the follower 18 to protrude through a cen- tral slot in the upper part of the rear wall 40 of the magazine. As soon as the last cartridge has been transferred from the magazine 17 to the bar- rel and fired, the follower 18, under the ac- tion of the spring 19, continues to rise and 45 in nearing its uppermost position causes its rearward projection 18a to engage a lateral shoulder on the upper end of a sliding con- nector 10, thereby forcing said connector up- ward ; by this upward movement of the con- 50 nector 10 a rearward shoulder at the lower end of the same engages the forward end of am actuating lever 9. Said lever 9 is piv- otally mounted upon the pivot pin 9a fixed in the trigger-plate and has a rear arm 55 which carries a lateral projection on its left- hand side, this projection entering' into a corresponding lengthwise recess in the right- hand side of the forward arm of the aux- iliary sear, and therefore, when the forward G(1 arm of said actuating lever rises its rear arm descends and positively depresses the for- ward arm of the auxiliary sear 7, and there- by raises the rear arm of said auxiliary sear 7 before the forward movement or counter- 55 recoil of the action slide 12 can carry the same over said rear end of the auxiliary sear; the said rear end of the auxiliary sear 7 being thus carried into the path of the ac- tion-slide 12, the said auxiliary sear is forced forward by said slide 12 to operate the mag- 70 azine-latch, and thereafter positively pre- vents . further forward movement of said action-slide 12, until said rear end of the auxiliary sear is depressed out of the path of said action-slide 12; thus the two-armed 75 lever 7 is properly termed an auxiliary sear. The forward end of the auxiliary sear 7 carries a plunger 7b with a spring 7C yield- ingly holding it in its forward position, see . Figs. 2, 3 and 4. Fig. 11 shows a front view 80 of the trigger-plate 3, and mounted in a T- shaped recess therein, the shell-ejector plate 22a which is removably locked therein by a spring-actuated plunger 3-a, and is provided at its upper end with the shell-ejector 22, 85 as is also clearly shown in Fig. 10; this fig- ure also shows mounted on said plate 22a the vertically sliding connector 10 with the lateral and rearward shoulders thereon; it also shows the forward end of the plunger 00 7b, carried in the auxiliary sear, projecting into a vertical slot in the said ejector-plate. When the auxiliary sear 7 is in its operative position and the magazine has been auto- matically released and ejected, the plunger 95 7b projects some distance forward of the front face of the plate 22a in such a manner that, when another filled magazine is being inserted and has nearly reached its upper- most position, a square lug 17c on the rear 100 face of the magazine at the left-hand side of the central rib 17b, which lug is shown in a rear view in Fig. 12 and in a vertical section in Fig. 8, engages the projecting end of said plunger 7b, raises the forward arm of the 105 auxiliary sear 7, depresses the rear arm of the same and releases the action-slide 12, and thus continues the automatic firing with the renewed supply of cartridges. If, how- ever, the trigger 5 has been released and has 110 returned forward, it has allowed the rear arm of the sear 6 to be raised by the sear spring 6b, and, by this action the sear point has entered the sear recess and engaged the cocking shoulder in the action-slide 12, and 115 holding the same, will prevent continuation of the firing though the auxiliary sear 7 has released said action-slide. As soon as the rear end of the auxiliary sear 7 is depressed, said auxiliary sear is 120 again returned to its rearmost position in which its rear end lies under the action- slide 12, and in which the plunger 7b is re- moved out of the path of the lug 17c on the magazine, under the action of the latch 125 spring 8a and the cooperation of the upper arm 8C of the latch-lever, the latch 8 being simultaneously returned to its operative po- sition in which its locks the magazine in place. 130
1,633,088 The upward movement of the forward arm of the auxiliary sear 7 also raises the’ rear arm of the actuating lever 9, depresses the forward end of said lever 9 and through 5 it the sliding connector 10, lever 9 and con- nectorlO being kept in this position by the combined trigger and actuating lever spring. 9b. Another important improvement embod- ied in the mechanism hereinbefore de- scribed is that, though constructed to auto- matically release and eject the magazine when emptied for being replaced, it does not prevent the manual releasing and with- 15 drawal of the magaine when desired, either empty or containing a number of cartridges. Nor does it prevent, after such manual re- lease and withdrawal, the manual re-intro- duction of another magazine and the usual spring-actuated locking of the same in place. In Fig. 5 a magazine containing several cartridges is shown partly in the magazine seat but not locked in place. It will be obvious that this Fig. 5 illus- ’-> trates the magazine either in the act of being introduced to or in the act of being withdrawn from the magazine seat; I claim: 1. In an automatic firearm, the combina- 30 tion of a frame having a magazine-receiv- ing seat therein, a cartridge magazine in- sertable in said seat and having a spring- actuated follower, a latch for releasably locking said magazine in said frame, an ЗД action-slide mounted for longitudinal re- ciprocatory movement in said frame, and means movable into the path of said action- slide by said follower after said magazine has become empty, said means having an 40 operative connection with said latch and being movable, when engaged by said action- slide on the counter-recoil of the same after the firing of the last cartridge taken from said magazine, for operating said latch to 45 release the magazine. 2. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a frame, a cartridge magazine, a latch for releasably locking said magazine in said frame, means for automatically moving said 50 latch to release the magazine when it has become empty, said means comprising a magazine follower, an action-slide, and a member having an operative connection with both said follower and said action-slide, the 55 connection with said follower comprising a slidable connector and an actuating lever xo-operating with said member and with said connector. 3. In an automatic firearm, the combina- 60 tion of a frame, a cartridge magazine hav- ing a vertical slot in its rear wall, a latch for releasably locking said magazine in said frame, and means for automatically moving said latch to release said magazine when it 65 has become empty, said means comprising a vertically slidable connector having a shoulder thereon, a magazine follower hav- ing a rearward projection, and a cam-sur- face on the forward wall of said magazine, whereby the follower, in nearing its upper- 70 most position, is moved rearward causing said rearward projection to engage under said shoulder, thereby moving said con- nector upward. 4. In an automatic firearm, the combina- 75 tion of a frame, a cartridge magazine, a latch for releasably locking said magazine in said frame, an action-slide mounted for longitudinal reciprocatory movement in said frame, and a member constructed and 80 arranged to be automatically moved into the path of said action-slide on its counter- recoil after the last cartridge has been re- moved from said magazine and fired, said member, after such movement, being actu- 85 ated by said action-slide to operate said latch to release said magazine, and there- after preventing further counter-recoil of said action-slide until said member is again moved out of the path of said action-slide. 80 5. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a frame, a cartridge magazine? a latch for releasably locking said magazine in said frame, an action-slide mounted for longitudinal reciprocatory movement in said 85 frame, and a two-armed lever having a lengthwise as well as a swinging movement, and being normally held in an inoperative position, out arranged to have its rear arm automatically swung into the path of said 100 action-slide, before the counter-recoil of said slide, after the last cartridge taken from the magazine has been fired, carries it over said rear arm, said lever, after such swing- ing movement? being actuated lengthwise by 105 -said action-slide to operate said latch to release said magazine, and thereafter pre- venting further counter-recoil of said ac- tion-slide until said lever-arm is again, swung out of the path of said action-slide. no 6. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a frame, a’ cartridge magazine having a spring-actuated follower movable therein, a latch for releasably locking said magazine in said frame, an action-slide mounted for 115 longitudinal reciprocatory movement in said frame, a reaction-spring for moving said action-slide forward, a two-armed lever pivoted on a transverse pin and having a short lengthwise movement on said pin, 120 means for yieldingly holding said lever rear? ward with the rear arm lowered to permit free movement of said action-slide while there are cartridges in said magazine, and a connection between the forward arm of said 125 lever and said follower whereby, after the last cartridge has been removed from said magazine, the further rise of the follower causes the rear arm of said lever to move into the path of said action-slide, before th© 130
1,533,966 10 15 20 25 30 40 45 50 55 60 65 forward movement of said slide, after the firing of said last cartridge, can carry said, action-slide, over the rear arm of said lever, said lever, after such movement, being ac- tuated lengthwise under the action of said action-slide and its reaction spring to oper- ate said latch to release said magazine, and thereafter preventing further forward movement of said action-slide until said lever arm is again moved out of the path of said action-slide. 7. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a frame having a magazine-receiving seat therein, a cartridge magazine insertable in said seat, a spring-actuated latch for re- leasably locking said magazine in said frame, means for automatically moving said latch to, and retaining it in, its magazine- releasing position to permit the ejection of said magazine after the same has become empty, means for automatically ejecting said magazine after the release of the same, said moving means comprising a member con- structed and arranged to co-operate with a device on a succeeding magazine, whereby said latch is automatically freed, to allow the same to return to its operative position, by the act of fully inserting said succeeding magazine into said magazine-receiving seat in the frame. 8. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a frame having a magazine-receiving seat therein, a cartridge magazine insertable into said seat, a latch for releasably locking said magazine in said frame, an action-slide mounted for longitudinal reciprocatory movement in said frame, a two-armed lever having a lengthwise as well as a swinging movement, and being normally held in an inoperative position, but arranged to have its rear arm automatically swung into the path of said action-slide before the counter- recoil of said slide, after the last cartridge taken from the magazine has been fired, car- ries said slide over said rear arm, said lever, after such swinging movement, being actu- ated lengthwise by said action-slide to oper- ate said latch to, and retain the same in, its magazine-releasing position to permit the ejection of the empty magazine, and there- after preventing further counter-recoil of said action-slide, and means for moving said lever to swing it out of the path of said ac- tion-slide and thereby allow said latch to return to its operative position, said means comprising a spring-actuated plunger on the forward arm of said lever arranged to pro- ject into the path of a shoulder on a succeed- ing magazine when said magazine is manu- ally inserted in the magazine-receiving seat in the frame. 9. In an automatic firearm, the combi- nation of a frame having a magazine-receiv- ing seat, a cartridge magazine normally posi- tioned in said seat, means for releasably locking said magazine in said seat, and , means comprising an action-slide and a stop therefbr for automatically moving said lock- ing means to release said magazine after the same has become empty, and means oper- 70 ativc after such release for automatically ejecting said magazine. 10. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a frame, a cartridge magazine, means releasably locking said magazine in said 75 frame, means for automatically moving said locking means to release the magazine after the same has become empty, said moving means comprising a magazine follower, an ac- tion-slide and a stop for said slide actuated by 80 said follower, and means operative after such release for automatically ejecting said magazine. 11. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a frame, a cartridge magazine hav- 86 ing a spring-actuated follower, means for releasably locking said magazine in said frame, an action-slide mounted for longitu- dinal movement in said frame, and means for automatically moving said locking means 00 to release the magazine comprising a stop movable by said follower into the path of the action-slide and by said slide to actuate the locking means. 12. In an automatic firearm, the combina- 08 tion of a frame, a cartridge magazine, means for releasably locking said magazine in said frame, an action-slide mounted for longi- tudinal reciprocating movement in said frame, a stop lever for said action-slide hav- 100 ing lengthwise as well as swinging move- ment and being normally held in inoperative position/ but arranged to have a shoulder thereon swung into the path of said action- slide after the last cartridge has been taken 106 from the magazine, and fired, said lever after such swinging movement, being ac- tuated lengthwise by said action-slide to operate said locking means to release said magazine. 110 13. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a frame,, a cartridge magazine hav- ing a slot in its rear wall, means for releas- ably locking said magazine in said frame, and means for automatically moving said 118 locking means to release said magazine when the same has become empty, said moving means comprising a magazine follower hav- ing a rearward projection and a cam surface on a wall of the magazine, whereby the fol- 120 lower, in nearing its uppermost position, is moved rearward causing said rearward pro- jection to extend through said slot in posi- tion to actuate another element of said mov- ing means. 125 14. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a frame, a cartridge magazine hav- ing a slot in a wall thereof, means for re- leasably locking said magazine in said frame, and means for automatically moving
1,533,968 в said locking means to release said magazine when the same has become empty, said mov- ing means comprising a magazine follower having a projection thereon adapted to ex- 5 tend through said slot and means for cam- ming said follower, in nearing its upermost position, toward the wall of the magazine having said slot therein and thereby causing said projection to extend through said slot in position to actuate another element of 10 said moving means. This specification signed and witnessed this 29th day of November, A. D. 1922. JOHN M. BROWNING. In the presence of: D. Sellick, T. S. Bbowning.
April 14, 1925. 1,533,967 J. M. BROWNING AUTOMATIC RIFLE Filed Dec, 29, 1922
Patented Apr. 14, 1926. 1,533,367 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. JOHN №. BROWNING,, OF OGDEN, tTTAH. AUTOMATIC RIFLE. Application filed December 29, 1922. Serial No. 609,675. To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, John M. Browning, a citizen of the United States, residing in Ogden, in the county of Weber and State of 5 Utah, have invented certain new arid useful Improvements in Automatic Rifles, of which the following is a specification, reference be- ing had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof. 10 This invention relates to novel and useful Improvements in Automatic Rifles, such as are shown and described in Letters Patent of the United States, No. 1,293,022,' granted to me on February 4, 1919. 15 The invention generally relates to auto- matic rifles in which all operations of the breech mechanism, except that of the trigger, are automatically effected, and in which the form and weight of the rifle adapt 20 it for firing modem highly-charged military ammunition, the shooter either lying prone upon the ground or standing erect with his hands and shoulder supporting the rifle. The invention specially relates to novel 25 improvements in that class of gas-operated magazine rifles in which a vent in the barrel leads into a gas cylinder mounted below and alongside the barrel, in which cylinder the powder gases may expand before the bullet 30 leaves the muzzle of the barrel. The forward end of the gas cylinder is closed, and an extension from the open rear end of the same is detachably secured to the lower forward portion of the frame or 35 breech casing of the rifle. The powder gases expanding in the gas cylinder exert pressure in rearward direction upon a pis- ton fitted therein, a piston rod extending to the rear from the piston and at its end 40 taking the form of an action-slide which enters the frame of the rifle; during the rear- ward movement of the action-slide under the pressure of the powder gases, a reactiori spring, located in rear of the action-slide 45 and connected with the same, is compressed and by its subsequent expansion said spring returns the action-slide forward again. The central portion of the action-slide, which enters the frame of the rifle, is bifurcated 50 for the passage through it of a cartridge magazine located in a vertical magazine seat in the frame, but in rear of said bifurcated central portion of the action-slide arid in front thereof the two sides of the action- 55 slide are united by integral transverse bars. The movements of the action-slide are trans- mitted to the breech mechanism of the rifle, thereby actuating said mechanism, the greater portion of which is located above the action-slide in the rifle frame and com- 60 prises a reciprocating breech-block for clos- ing and opening the firing chamber of the barrel, and a cartridge-shell extractor car- ried by the breech-block. The rifle frame is provided with an injection-opening 65 through which the empty cartridge-shells are. ejected during the last of the opening movements of the breech-block in a well known manner. \ In modern warfare the use of automatic 70 rifles of this class by military parties is re- quired in the trenches arid in the field under conditions which make it necessary to pro- vide a cover-plate over the ejection-opening in order to prevent the entrance of rain, 75 snow or dirt into the rifle; but the said cover-plate must be positively removed whenever the breech mechanism is opened in order to allow the cartridge shell to be ejected. 80 The object of the present novel improve- ment is to provide a rifle of this class with a manually operated means for covering or uncovering the ejection-opening, such, as for example, a lever for at will raising or lower- 85 ing the cover-plate for said opening, com- bined with a safety device to prevent the fir- ing of the rifle by positively locking the action-slide and, thereby, the means trans- mitting its movement to the breech mecha- Ot) nism, while the ejection-opening is closed. ’ This object is attained by providing mechanism of simple and strong construc- tion, inexpensive and not liable to get out of order, but positive and effective in opera- 95 tion. In the accompanying drawings: Fig. 1 is a side view of the rifle frame, with the forward lever-arm and the ejection- opening cover-plate lowered. ICO Fig. 2 is a side view of the rifle frame, with the forward lever-arm and ejection- opening cover-plate raised,- and the action- slide neat its rearmost position. Fig. 3 also is a side view of the rifle frame, 105 with the forward lever-arm and ejection- opening cover-plate raised, but with the ac- tion-slide some distance forward of its rear- most position., • Fig. 4 is a side view of the two-armed no lever, detached, carrying on its inner side the ejection-opening cover-plate. This Fig. 4
Q| X,033,907 also shows.a rear end view of the rear arm of said lever, and a front end view of said cover-plate. Fig. 5 is a bottom view of the two-armed lever, detached; this figure also shows the cover-plate, detached, seen from below. Fig. 6 is a rear end view of the action- slide and its integral handle. Fig. 7 is a side view of the action-slide, i detached, with its integral handle. Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views. The main part of this device is a lever 9 having two arms 9b and 9C and an integral transversely projecting pivot 9a, by which said lever is detachably held upon the out- side of the right-hand side wall of the rifle frame 1. To the forward lever arm 9° the cover-plate 10, for the ejection-opening in • rear of the barrel 2, is attached by a pivot stud on the outer surface of said cover-plate 10 which projects into a corresponding pivot hole in the lever-arm 9°. The cover-plate 10, provided with the integral pivot stud > 10a, has at its upper edge an inwardly pro- jecting longitudinal lip 10b which holds said plate parallel to the ejection-opening by en- gaging either the upper or the lower edge of said opening, in such a manner that the ! cover-plate 10, when raised or lowered by the raising or lowering of the lever-arm 9C, remains parallel to the edges of the ejection- opening in both positions. The inner surface of the rear lever-arm 9b, 3 as well as that of the forward lever-arm 9C, is perfectly plain, with the exception that the rear lever-arm 9b at the center of its end, is provided with an inward low rounded longitudinal rib, formed by an indentation । in the outer surface of the lever by which the metal of the same has been forced to project inward, and in the outer surface of the rifle frame a corresponding shallow longitudinal groove is cut; this rib and this groove serve to frictionally hold the lever 9 in its horizontal position, see Fig. 1, in which the forward lever-arm 9C is depressed and the cover-plate 10 is lowered and the ejec- tion-opening is uncovered. At the top of its rear end the rear lever-arm 9b is also pro- vided with an outwardly projecting finger piece 9f, by pressure against which with his thumb the shooter may at will raise or de- press the rear lever-arm 9b, thereby covering or uncovering the ejection-opening. Within the rifle frame 1 the usual longi- tudinally reciprocated action-slide 8 is lo- cated, said action-slide being bifurcated in its central portion for the free passage through it of the usual cartridge-magazine 7 arranged in its magazine seat, but at both ends the action-slide 8 has an integral cross- bar uniting the two side bars of its bifur- cated portion. ’ In its under side the rear cross-bar of the action-slide 8 has a recess Gb for the point of the sear, and at the rear end of said re- cess is the cocking shoulder Gc. At the bot- tom the rifle frame 1 is closed by the trigger plate 3 and at the rear by the butt stock 4. to In the trigger-plate 3, the trigger 5 is mounted on the trigger-pin 5a and carries the trigger pawl 5b for engaging and for re- leasing the forward arm of the sear 6 mount- ed on the sear pin Ga in the trigger-plate; 75 the rear point of said sear 6 being adapted to engage the cocking shoulder 6C of the ac- tion-slide, unless the sear 6 is engaged and its point depressed by the trigger 5 and the trigger pawl 5b when the trigger is pulled 80 back. This arrangement is the usual one in rifles of this class, and it is fully shown and described in my prior patent cited herein- before. Fixed in the right-hand side bar of the 85 action-slide 8 is an outwardly extending handle 8a by which the action-slide 8 may at will be manually moved to its rearward or to its forward position, the portion of said handle next to the action-slide being verti- 00 cally narrow but lengthwise of considerable width, and the right-hand side wall of the rifle frame 1 has a corresponding slot la, vertically narrow, cut through it. This slot in the frame wall is open at the front and 05 extends rearward sufficiently to allow said handle and with it the action-slide 8 to freely make one complete stroke such as is required for the actuating of the mechanism of the rifle. 1"° By this construction the right-hand outer surface of the action-slide 8 within the rifle frame closes the slot la in the side wall of said frame 1 and thereby prevents the en- trance into the frame through the slot of 105 rain, snow or dirt, or any disturbing matter. The portion of the handle projecting beyond the side of the frame is cylindrical in form and of a size adapted to be grasped l>y the shooter; in order to lighten said 110 handle without weakening the same, it may be bored out for some distance inward from its outer end. On its lower edge and slightly forward of its pivot 9a the two-armed lever 9 carries 115 an integral strong downwardly and for- wardly extending portion 9d, the forward end 9е of which projects upward and is adapted to engage the cylindrical lower part of the action-slide handle 8a if the action- 120 slide 8 and its handle 8a are in their rear position and if the rear lever-arm 9b is manu- ally depressed and thereby the forward lever-arm 9е and the cover-plate 10 attached to it by the pivot stud 10a, are raised to close 125 the ejection-opening as hereinbefore de scribed, see Fig. 2. This engagement of the said handle 8a by the forward and upward projection 9е on the extension 9a serves to positively lock the handle and the action- 130
1,633,96’}’ a slide in their rear position, and prevents the breech block of the rifle from being closed and thereby adapted-for firing, until after the rear lever-arm 9b is again raised and the б ejection-opening is uncovered. While-these parts, that is, the action-slide 8 and its handle 8a are in the rearward locked posi- tion, the pulling of the trigger produces no effect, even though the breech mechanism of 10 the rifle may be in the cocked condition, until said breech block has been closed and locked. The upper rear corner of the upward pro- jection 9е on the lever 9, which, when raised, 15 engages the action-slide handle 8a and locks the same, is slightly rounded over in such a manner that when said corner first engages the handle 8a it cams the handle and the action-slide a short distance to the rear, 20 thereby producing a clearance for the point of the sear 6 which remains raised in the sear recess 6b of the action-slide, and insur- ing the sear 6 to take its hold against the cocking shoulder 6е of the action-slide. 25 If, after the action-slide handle 8a has reached its most forward position, (in which it is indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3 at 8е,) and the handle 8a has then been again moved rearward until it encounters the forward 30 end of the upward projection 9е of the lever 9, as shown in Fig. 3, the upwardly and rear- wardly inclined form of said forward end will cause continued rearward movement of said handle 8a to automatically depress the 35 forward arm 9е of the lever 9 and through it uncover the ejection-opening and thereby also automatically raise the rear arm 9b of the lever 9 and thus adapt the rifle for being fired. 40 The two-armed lever 9, if detached from the frame, is slightly sprung or bent in its length, but being thin and elastic it yields to pressure against it and becomes straight when it is attached to the side of the frame 45 1 of the rifle. The integral pivot 9a of the L lever 9 has on the sides of its end two oppo- site thin spline-shaped projections, and the i pivot hole in the side of the frame has corre- f spending grooves, one above and one below 50 its center. In order to removably attach the lever 9 to the frame 1 of the rifle, the lever 9 is turned through an angle of sub- stantially 90° until its two arms extend ver- tically at substantially right angles to their 55 operative position on the frame, then the pivot may be readily inserted into the pivot hole, the projections on the pivot passing inward through the grooves in the pivot hole, until, under the pressure against the «0 outside surface of the lever 9, the projections on the pivot pass inwardly beyond the pivot hole; then the lever 9 may be turned back again on its pivot until its arms resume their operative positions, while its integral pivot 55 is held locked in the pivot hole, and in this position the resiliency of the lever will cause the same to be frictionally and yieldingly held. When in the act of mounting the lever 9, it is placed upon the side of the frame 1, 70 care must be taken to have the pivot hole in the forward lever arm 9е engage the stud 10a upon the outer surface of the cover-plate 10, then the resiliency of the lever 9 will also serve to press the cover-plate 10 against the 75 side of the frame to prevent the separation of said cover plate 10 from the lever arm 9е and to frictionally hold the cover plate in either of its two positions. In order to detach the lever 9 and the 80 cover plate 10 from the side of the frame 1 of the rifle, it is only necessary to proceed in the reversed order, lift the forward lever- arm from the pivot stud 10a of the cover plate, then turn the lever until the lever arms 85 again extend vertically, when the lever may be readily removed from the side of the frame. While I have herein disclosed the novel improved device as applied to an automatic 00 rifle of the class shown in my prior patent hereinbefore referred to, it will be under- stood that said device is applicable to other classes of automatic firearms. What I claim is: 05 1. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a frame having an ejection-opening, a firing member, means for closing said open- ing, and means positively actuated in the closing of said opening to lock said firing 1,111 member against firing movement. 2. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a frame having an ejection-opening, a firing member, a cover for said opening, means for moving said cover to operative or J05 inoperative position, and means positively actuated in the movement of said cover to its operative position to lock said firing member, whereby firing movement of the same is prevented when the ejection-opening no is closed. 3. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a frame having an ejection-opening, a cover for said opening, a member mounted for longitudinally reciprocating movement, 115 manually-operable means to move said cover to a position covering said opening, and means positively actuated in such movement of the cover to lock said member in rear- ward position. 120 4. An automatic firearm comprising a frame having an ejection-opening, a slid- able cover-plate for said opening, a member having longitudinal reciprocatory movement in said frame, and a manually-operable lever 125 for actuating said cover-plate, said lever carrying means co-operating with said mem- 'ber for locking the same in rearward posi- tion while said cover-plate is in a position covering said opening. 130
'4> 1,1533,967 5. An automatic firearm comprising a frame having an ejection-opening and hav- ing a longitudinal slot in a side wall, a mem- ber mounted for longitudinal reciprocatory б movement within said frame and construct- ed and arranged to close said slot in all op- erative positions of said member, an actu- ating-handle on said member projecting out- ward through said slot, and means for cov- 10 ering said ejection-opening and simulta- neously engaging said handle to lock it and the member in rearward position. 6. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a frame having an ejection-opening 13 and having a longitudinal slot in a side wall, a member mounted for longitudinal recip- rocatory movement within said frame and having an actuating-handle projecting out- ward through said slot, and a combined ejec- 20 tion-opening cover and lock for said mem- ber comprising a lever having a projection thereon co-operating with said handle when the same is in rearward position to keep said handle and the member in such position 25 while the ejection-opening is covered. 7. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a frame having an ejection-opening, a firing member mounted for longitudinal movement in said frame and having a han- 30 die projecting through a longitudinal slot in said frame for the manual operation of' said member, a cover-plate for said ejection- opening, and a lever for actuating said cover-plate, said lever having a hook-shaped 35 projection for engagement with said handle to lock said member in rearward position while said ejection-opening is covered. 8. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a frame having an ejection-opening, a 40 firing member mounted for longitudinal re- ciprocatory movement in said frame and having a cocking shoulder, a sear having a sear point for co-operation with said shoul- der to hold said member in rearward cocked 43 position, and means for covering said ejec- tion-opening and for simultaneously lock- ing said firing member, independently of said sear, against firing movement, said means, when moved to its operative posi- 50 tion while said member is in rearward cocked position, causing said member to move rear- wardly a short distance thereby forming a clearance between said shoulder and said sear point, and thereafter locking said mem- 55 ber in such rearmost position. 9. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a frame having an ejection-opening, a firing member provided with a cocking shoulder, a sear having a sear point in en- 60 gagement with said shoulder when said member is in cocked position, and a com- bined ejection-opening cover and safety de- vice, said device comprising a part con- structed and arranged for engagement with 65 said firing member, when the same is in its cocked position, to move said member a short distance in a direction to retract said shoulder from said sear point, and there- after, to lock said member in such retracted position, the moving and locking of said 70 member taking place simultaneously with the covering of said ejection-op ling, there- by positively preventing the firing of the arm while the ejection-opening is covered. 10. In a firearm, the combination of a 75 frame having an ejection-opening, a cover for said opening, a lever for, at will, moving said cover to either its operative or its inop- erative position, a member mounted for lon- gitudinal reciprocatory movement in said 80 frame, and co-operating devices on said lever and said member comprising a cam surface on the one and a lateral projection on the other of said parts, whereby, during the rearward stroke of said member, said 85 lever is automatically actuated to move said cover from its operative to its inopera- tive position. 11. In a firearm, the combination of a frame having an ejection-opening in a side 90 wall, a cover-plate for said opening slidable on the outside face of said wall, a lever hav- ing a pivotal connection with said plate for actuating it, and inwardly extending means on said plate arranged for co-operation with 95 the upper and lower edges of said opening to limit the movements of said plate and to hold the same parallel to the said edges of the opening when in either its operative or inoperative position. 100 12. A firearm comprising a frame having an ejection-opening, in a side wall, a cover- plate slidable on the outside face of said wall to cover and uncover said opening, and a lever pivoted to said side wall and con- 105 nected to said cover-plate for actuating the same, said lever being formed with a lat- eral outward projection for the manual op- eration of the same and of the connected cover-plate, and with an inward rounded rib 119 for engagement with a corresponding groove in the adjacent side Avail of the frame for frictionally holding said lever and cover- plate in inoperative position. 13. In a firearm,, the combination of a 115 frame having an ejection-opening, a slid- able cover-plate for said opening, a lever pivotally attached to a side wall of said frame and operatively connected to said cover-plate, said connection comprising a 120 stud on one, and a pivot hole in the other of said parts, one of said parts being yieldable laterally to permit making or breaking said connection in assembling or disassembling, respectively, without disturbing the pivotal 12’’ connection of said lever to said frame. 14. In a firearm, the combination of a frame having an ejection-opening in a side wall, a cover-plate for said opening ar- ranged for vertical sliding movement on ]3U
1,533.967 Q 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 the outside face of said wall, a stud on the outside surface of said cover-plate, and a manually-operable lever pivoted to said side wall of the frame and having an end thereof formed with a pivot hole to receive said stud, said lever being resilient, thereby permitting lateral flexing of said end to en- gage it with or disengage it from said pivot stud in assembling or disassembling, respec- tively, without disturbing the pivoted con- nection of the lever to the frame. 15. In a firearm, the combination of a frame having an ejection-opening in a side wall, a cover-plate for said opening, a lever for actuating said plate pivotally attached to said side wall, said attachment compris- ing an integral pivot on said lever having radial projections at the end thereof, and a pivot hole extending through said side wall and having grooves corresponding to said projection to permit, when said lever is an- gularly displaced from its operative posi- tion, insertion of said pivot into said pivot hole with the end of said pivot carrying said projection passing inward beyond the inner edge of said pivot hole, whereby, when said lever is turned about its pivot to its opera- tive position, said radial projections, by resting against the inside face of said side wall, operatively lock said lever to said frame. 16. A firearm, comprising a frame hav- ing an ejection-opening, a cover-plate slid- able on the outside surface of said frame to cover and uncover said opening, and a lever for actuating said plate pivotally attached to said frame, said lever being resilient whereby, in co-operation with the outside surface of said frame, said lever and said cover-plate are frictionally held in either of their positions. 17. A firearm, comprising a frame hav- ing an ejection-opening in a side wall, a cover-plate slidable on the outside of said wall to cover and uncover said opening, and having a lateral pivot stud, and an actuat- ing lever for said cover-plate having a pivot hole at one end for releasably engaging said stud, said lever being resilient thereby in- suring the connection between the same and said cover-plate and, at the same time, press- ing said plate against the side wall of the frame, whereby said lever and said plate are frictionally held in either of their posi- tions. 18. A firearm comprising a frame having an ejection-opening therein, mechanism for covering said opening, an action-slide mounted for longitudinal reciprocatory movement in said frame, co-operating de- vices on said mechanism and said action- slide for automatically moving said mecha- nism to its inoperative position during the rearward stroke of said slide, and means comprising co-operative parts on said gj mechanism and said frame for yieldingly holding said mechanism in such position. 19. An automatic firearm, comprising a frame having an ejection-opening, a mem- ber mounted for longitudinal reciprocatory 70 movement in said frame, manual means for covering said ejection-opening when the member is either in a rearward position or in a forward position, said means serving to lock said member in the rearward position 75 when the ejection-opening is covered with the member in such position, but if said member is in the forward position when the ejection-opening is covered, said means be- ing automatically actuated to uncover said 80 opening on the rearward stroke of said member. 20. In an automatic firearm, the combiiia- — tion of a frame having an ejection-opening, a firing member, a closure for said ejection- 85 opening, and means for moving said closure to operative or inoperative position, said moving means being constructed and ar- ranged to directly lock the firing member against firing movement when said closure 90 is in its operative position, whereby firing is positively prevented when the ejection- opening is closed. 21. In an automatic firearm, the combi- nation of a frame having an ejection-open- 95 ing, a firing member movable to cocked po- sition, a closure for said opening, and lock- ing means for said firing member, said lock- ing means being positively actuated to its operative position in the closing of said 100 ejection-opening while the firing member is in cocked position, thereby preventing firing while the ejection-opening is closed. This specification signed and witnessed this 21st day of December, A. D. 1922. 105 JOHN M. BROWNING. In the presence of— D. Sellibk, T. S. Bkowning.
April 14, 1925. 1,533,963 J. M. BROWNING AUTOMATIC RIFLE
Patented Apr. 14, 1925. 1,533,968 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. JOHN Iff. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH. AUTOMATIC RIFLE. Application filed January 6, 1923. Serial No. 611,011. To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, John M. Browning, a citizen of the United States, residing in Ogden, in the county of Weber and State of 5 Utah, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Rifles, of which the following is a specification, refer- ence being had to the accompanying draw- ings, forming a part hereof. 10 The invention relates to additions and im- provements in automatic rifles, of the class, shown and described in the Letters Patent of the United States, No. 1,293,022, granted to me on February 4, 1919. 15 The invention generally relates to auto- matic rifles in which all operations of the breech mechanism, except that of the trigger, are automatically effected, and in which, without change of the form or weight of the 20 rifle, it is adapted for firing modern highly charged military ammunition. The invention specially relates to novel additions in that class of gas-operated maga- zine rifles in which a vent in the barrel leads 25 into the gas cylinder mounted below and alongside of the barrel, in which cylinder the powder gases may expand, the forward end of the gas cylinder being closed and the rear end of the same forming a block with so an extension into the breech casing detach- ably secured therein. The powder gases expanding in the gas cylinder and exerting pressure in rearward direction upon a. movable piston therein, 35 drive the same and its piston rod to the rear, and thus also drive rearward the action-slide of the rifle attached to said piston rod. The action-slide enters into the frame of the rifle and, while bifurcated to clear the io cartridge magazine in the usual magazine seat within the frame, it has an integral cross bar both at its forward and at its rear end. The action-slide reciprocates lengthwise 45 in the frame and its movements are trans- mitted to the breech mechanism of the rifle, thus actuating said mechanism. The rear- ward movement of the action-slide under the pressure of the powder gases compresses a 50 reaction-spring, and the expansion of said spring effects the forward movement of the action-slide. All these parts are arranged as usual and in the manner shown and described in my prior patent hereinbefore referred to. 55 When the rifle is in use by a party in a trench, or in the field, it should be kept closed against rain, snow or dirt. For this reason it is necessary that rifles originally manu- factured with the heretofore usual unpro- 60 tected opening in the frame in rear of the. firing chamber of the barrel, through which the cartridge shells and unfired car- tridges are thrown out during the rearward opening movement of the breech block, 05 should be altered and have added to them a device by which entrance of disturbing foreign matter into the frame will be made impossible: this must be done, however, with the least possible changes in construction 70 and operation of the interior mechanism of the rifle. The object of the present improvement and addition is to provide a previously manufactured rifle of this class with a 75 manually operated device for at will cover- ing or uncovering the ejection-opening, com- bined with a safety device which shall posi- tively prevent the firing of the rifle while the said ejection-opening is covered. so This object is attained by providing mech- anism of very simple but strong construc- tion, inexpensive and not liable to get out of order and positive in operation. In the accompany drawings: 85 Fig. 1 is a right-hand side view of a rifle frame with a two-armed lever mounted thereon, the forward arm being lowered and a cover plate connected with said arm being also lowered, and the action-slide being near 90 its rear position. Fig. 2 is a side view similar to that shown in Fig. 1, but with the rear arm of the two- armed lever depressed and the forward arm and the cover plate raised, and the action- 95 slide in its rearmost position. Fig. 3 is a similar view of the rifle frame, showing the rear arm of the two-armed lever depressed and its forward arm and the cov- er plate raised, but with the action-slide loo moved, some distance forward. Fig. 4 shows the two-armed lever with the cover plate pivoted thereto, detached, in a side view and a rear view.
1,533,968 Fig. 5 shows a longitudinal section of the two-armed lever, detached, as seen from be- low. Fig. 6 represents the detachable fastener • holding the two-armed lever upon the side of the frame, detached, in a side view and in a top view. Fig. 7 shows the cover plate detached in a side view, front end view and bottom view. 10 Fig. 8 shows a rear end view of the action- slide, detached. Fig. 9 shows a side view, of the action- slide, detached, and a top view of the rear portion of said action-slide. 15 It is a. fact, and it must be obvious to parties learned in the art of manufacturing firearms, that to add a device to previously fully manufactured rifles without changing the interior mechanisms of the same to any ?o great degree is a much more difficult task than to manufacture new rifles in which members of the interior mechanism may be specially constructed and adapted to co-op- erate with the novel improvement. 25 As shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, in the pres- ent improvement, a two-armed lever 10 is pivotally attached upon the exterior surface of the right-hand side wall of the rifle. The inner’ and the outer surfaces of this lever 30 10 are perfectly plain from the front and rearward to the pivot hole 10a of the lever and for quite a distance beyond said hole. The pivot hole 10a in the thin lever 10 has above and- below its center two grooves, and .35 in the side wall of the rifle frame a similar pivot hole is cut with similar rectangular grooves above and below its center; these holes, that in the lever and that in the side wall of the frame, correspond exactly with 40 each other. As shown in Fig. 6 the pivot for the lever 10 is carried by a separate lever fastener 13 which has on its inner surface an integral inwardly projecting pivot 13a and this pivot carried by the fastener is 15 provided at its inner end with two spline- shapeci projections, one in front and one in rear of its center, these projections are thin and leave under them a considerable portion of the pivot cylindrical in form. 50 With the lever 10 held against the side of the frame in the position in which the pivot hole 10a in the lever corresponds with the hole in the side of the frame, and, with the fastener 13 turned on its axis through 55 an angle of 90°, the projections on the inner end of the pivot 13a of the fastener will readily pass inward through the grooves in the lever 10 and through those in the side of the frame. If then the fastener 13 is 50 turned until it occupies the position relative to the lever 10 shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the fastener 13 will bo locked against outward movement by the engagement of the projec- tions on the. encl of its pivot 13a with the 35 inner surface of the side wall of the frame. At its rear end the fastener 13 has a slight circular projection on its inner surface, formed by an indentation of the metal of the fastener, and the lever 10 has a correspond- ing small hole 'with which the pro jection of 70 the fastener 13 engages, thereby holding the fastener frictionally in its position upon the lever 10, but. allowing the lever 10 and the fastener 13 to vibrate together upon the side of the rifle frame. 75 Slightly in. rear of said small hole the le- ver 10 carries on its inner surface an inte- gral cylindrical laterally projecting stud 11, and a corresponding segmental slot IIя is cut through the wall of the frame in such 50 a manner that, when the lever 10 is attached to the side of the frame as hereinbefore ex- plained, the stud 11 extends through the slot IIя into the interior of the rifle frame and projects inward a distance beyond the 33 inner surface of said wall, for the engage- ment of said stud 11 by the action-slide 8 and for the consequent co-operation between the action-slide 8 and the lever 10. As seen in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, the rear por- 1'0 tion of the lever 10 is vertically considerably broader than the forward portion of said lever; by this construction the lever 10 en- tirely covers the segmental slot IIя in the side wall of the frame when the rear portion t’5 of the lever 10 is in its lowest position, see Figs. 2 ancl 3, as well as when said rear por- tion of the lever is in its highest position, see Fig. 1, and in this manner the lever 10 posi- tively prevents entrance of any disturbing юо matter into the frame of the rifle. Near the end of its forward portion the lever 10 has a hole for the stud 12я of the cover plate 12; as clearly shown in Fig. 7 the cover-plate 12 carries the stud 12a on its 105 outer surface and it also carries on its up- per edge an inwardly projecting rib 12b; when the lever 10 and the plate 12 are opera- tively assembled, the cover-plate 12 is pivot- ally and detachably connected with the for- 110 ward portion of the lever 10. When said forward portion of the lever 10 is in its low- est position, see Fig. 1, the cover-plate 12 also is lowered and thereby has uncovered the ejection-opening in the rifle frame, 115 whereas, when the forward portion of the lever 10 is raised, see Figs. 2 and 3, the cov- er-plate 12 also is raised ancl thereby has covered the ejection-opening in the rifle frame; in both of these positions the longi- 120 tudinal inwardly projecting rib 12b holds said cover-plate parallel to the ejbetion- opening by engaging either the upper or the lower edge of said opening. At its rear encl the lever 10 is provided at 125 the top with an outwardly projecting finger piece 10b, by pressure against which with his thumb the shooter may at will raise or de- press the rear portion of the lever 10, and thus depress or raise the forward portion of 130
1,533,968 the lever 10 and thereby uncover or cover the ejection-opening in the frame. Below the outwardly projecting finger piece 10b, the rear end of the lever 10 has a 6 low rounded inwardly projecting longitu- dinal rib, formed by an indentation in the surface of the lever, and in the outer surface of the rifle frame a corresponding longitu- dinal groove is cut; this rib and this groove 10 are parallel to the upper edge of the lever 10, see Fig. 1, and serve to frictionally hold the lever 10 in its horizontal position in which its rear portion is raised, and its front portion depressed, and the cover plate 12 is 15 lowered and thereby the ejection-opening is uncovered. The inwardly projecting stud 11 on the rear portion of the lever 10 is so located that, when this portion of the lever and with 20 it the stud 11 are raised, the stud 11 stands just above the upper edge of the rear portion of the action-slide 8 reciprocatorily mount- ed within the frame, and therefore, the stud does not interfere with either the free rear- 25 ward or forward stroke of the action-slide 8, see Fig. 1; but when the action-slide 8 is in the rearward position, the stud 11 may be lowered, by depressing the rear portion of the outside lever 10, and thereby raising the so forward portion and with it the cover-plate 12 so as to cover the ejection-opening. This downward movement of the rear por- tion of the lever 10 and of the stud 11, when the action-slide 8 is near its rearmost posi- tion, is made possible by a recess 9 cut in the right-hand portion of the action-slide 8 into which the stud 11 may enter, see Fig. 1; the rear wall of the recess 9 is substan- tially vertical and of such a form that when 40 the stud has entered said recess it positively locks the action-slide 8 in its rear position, thereby making it impossible to fire a shot while the forward portion of the lever 10 is raised and the ejection-opening is covered by the cover-plate 12. In this position of the parts, the trigger 5 of the rifle may be pulled without producing any effect. If now the rear portion of the lever 10 is raised, and with it the stud 11, the forward portion of the lever 10 is lowered and with it is lowered the cover-plate 12 so as to un- cover the ejection-opening, and at the same time the stud 11, rising out of the recess 9 in the action-slide 8, frees said action-slide and J' allows it to be forced forward to close and lock the breech closing part, and thus adapt the rifle for being fired. Even when the firing mechanism of the rifle is in the cocked condition, but with the ejection-opening <:i' still remaining covered, the stud 11 on the lever 10 having fully entered into the recess 9 in the top of the action-slide 8, positively locks said action-slide 8 as -hereinbefore de- scribed. If now the rear portion of the 65 lever 10 is raised to uncover the ejection- opening, the sear 6, the point of which re- mains raised in the recess 8a in the under side of the integral rear cross bar of the ac- tion-slide 8, at once takes its hold against the cocking shoulder 8b of the action-slide, 70 thereby causing the sear 6 and the trigger 5 to become again operative. In order that the sear point may freely rise in front of the cocking shoulder when the trigger is released, the rear angle formed 75 at the junction of the rear wall of the recess 9 with the top of the action-slide 8 is rounded over, and so shaped that the lower- ing of the stud 11 into said recess, when the rear portion of the lever 10 is depressed, so cams back the action-slide 8 a short dis- tance and thereby insures an endwise clear- ance for the raised sear point to take its hold against the cocking shoulder 8b of the action-slide, thus making the sear as well as the trigger operative for at will firing a shot when the breech of the barrel of the rifle is closed and locked. When the action-slide 8 is moved to its forward position, the rear portion of the ю lever 10 and the stud 11 may be lowered, because then the stud 11 is some distance in rear of the rear end of the action-slide which, therefore, does not prevent the low- ering of the stud 11 and of the rear por- 65 tion of the lever 10. At its right-hand side the rear end of the action-slide is provided with a recess 9a inclining in the forward and upward direction, see Figs. 8 and 9; when, during its rearward movement, the K>o end of the action-slide encounters the lower stud 11 of the lever 10, the stud 11 will enter said recess and, by the incline of the same, the stud 11 will be forced up- ward so as to resume again its position 105 above the top edge of the action-slide. As indicated in Fig. 5, the lever 10 is slightly curved or bow-shaped in its length, and, as shown in Fig. 6, the lever fastener 13 is also curved or bow-shaped; both the no lever 10 and the fastener 13 are elastic and, when pressed from tha outside against the surface of the wall of the rifle frame, these parts readily become straightened, and in that condition they are frictionally held in 115 their raised or lowered position to- either of which they may have been moved manu- ally. While I have herein described the novel improved device as applied to previously 120 manufactured automatic rifles of the class shown in my prior patent hereinbefore re- ferred to, it will be understood that it is also applicable to rifles of this class in process of manufacture and to other classes 125 of automatic firearms. I claim: 1. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a frame having an ejection-opening, a firing member, and means for covering iso
1,533,968 said ejection-opening and siinultanedusly locking said member against firing move- ment, said means comprising an. element mounted for movement on the outside of c said frame and having a projection extend- ing into said frame for co-operation with said firing member to positively lock the same against firing movement while the ejection-opening is coveted. i'-‘ 2. In an automatic firearm, the: combina- tion of a frame having an ejection-opening', a firing member having a locking shoulder thereon, and means for covering said open- ing comprising a lever mounted for move- 13 ment on the outside of said frame, said lever having a lateral projection thereon extending into said frame for co-operation with said shoulder to lock said member against firing movement while said ejec- tion-opening is covered. 3. In an automatic firearm, comprising a frame having an ejection-opening, a mem- ber mounted for longitudinal reciprocatory- movement in said frame, a cover plate for 25 said opening, and a lever for actuating said cover plate, said lever, being mounted for movement on the outside of said frame and having a lateral stud thereon extending through a slot in the frame for co-operation 50 with said member to lock the same in a rearward position while said ejection-open- ing is covered. 4. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a frame having an ejection-opening 35 and having a segmental slot in a side wall, a member mounted for longitudinal recip- rocatory movement in said frame-, and means ' for covering said opening comprising a lever mounted for swinging movement on the out- 40 side face of said side wall aud having an integral stud thereon projecting through said slot into the frame for co-operation with said member to lock the same in a rearward position while said ejection-opening is cov- 45 ered,'said lever being of a width to close said slot in all operative positions of the lever. 5. A firearm, comprising a frame having an ejection-opening, a member mounted for 50 longitudinal reciprocatory movement in said frame, a cover-plate for said opening, a lever for actuating said cover-plate, said lever being arranged for movement on the outside of said frame, and having a lateral 55 stud projecting inside of said frame and into the path of said member when said opening is covered, and a cam surface on said member for co-operation w-ith said stud whereby the. ejection-opening is automat- eo ically uncovered during- tire rearward stroke of said member. 6. In a firearm, the combination of a frame having an ejection-opening,, a mem- ber mounted for longitudinal reciprocatory G5 movement in said frame, a cover-plate for- said opening, a two-armed lever arranged for movement on the outside of said frame and having its forward arm connected to said cover-plate whereby the cover-plate can be manually moved to cover said opening to when the member is in a forward position, and means for automatically moving said lever and the connected cover-plate to un- cover said opening during the rearward stroke of said member, said means compris- 75 ing an inward projection on the rear arm of said lever extending into the path of said member when said opening is covered, and a forward and upward incline: at the rear end of the member. so 7. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a frame having an ejection-opening therein, a member mounted for longitudinal reciprocatory movement in said frame, and manually operable means for covering and S3 uncovering said ejection-opening, said means comprising a lever mounted for move- ment on tbe outside of said frame, a stud on said lever projecting inside said frame and, when said ejection-opening is covered.while t-0 said member is in a rearward position, ar- ranged to co-operate with said member to lock the same rearward, said stud, when said opening is covered while the member is in a forward position, being- also arranged to ',5 co-operate with a cam surface at the rear end of said member for automatically un- covering said opening during the rearward stroke of said member. 8. In an automatic firearm, the combina- i0'1 ticn of a frame having an ejection-opening, a member mounted for longitudinal recip- rocatory movement in said frame and having a locking recess, a cover-plate for said open- ing, anti means comprising a lever mounted Ю5 for movement on the outside of said frame for actuating said cover-plate, said lever being formed with a lateral projection ex- tending into said frame and movable into said recess to lock said member while said 1!iJ opening is covered, but permitting free movement of said member while said ejec- tion-opening is uncovered. 9. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a frame having an ejection-opening, 1J5 a member mounted for longitudinal reeipro2 catory movement in said frame and having a locking recess, a cocking shoulder on said member, a sear haying a sear point for en- gagement with said shoulder to hold said 120 member in rearward cocked position, and moans for covering said ejection-opening and simultaneously locking said member in such position, said means comprising a lever mounted for movement on the outside of !~5 said frame and having a rounded, stud pro- jecting into said frame and arranged to en- gage the rear wall of said locking recess in the member with a camming action as said lever is moved to cover the ejection-opening, ’:J:I
1,633,968 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 thereby causing a clearance between said cocking shoulder and said sear point and simultaneously locking said member rear- ward while said opening is covered. 10. In a firearm, the combination of a frame having an ejection-opening, means for covering and uncovering said opening, a lever for actuating said means, and means for pivotally and detachably securing said lever to said frame, said means being con- structed and arranged to permit a portion thereof to be passed through registering openings in said lever and said frame, re- spectively, when said means is angularly dis- placed from its normal position, and there- after, by rotation back to its normal posi- tion, securing said lever to said frame, said means further comprising a device co-oper- ating with said lever for frictionally hold- ing said means and said lever against rela- tive rotation, when assembled. 11. In a firearm, the combination of a frame having an ejection-opening, a closure for said opening, a lever for actuating said closure and means for pivotally and detach- ably securing said lever to said frame, said means comprising a pivot member passing through registering opening in said lever and in said frame, respectively, and having radial projections at its inner portion for co-oper- ation with the inside surface of said frame to secure said lever to said frame, and also hav- ing a resilient lateral arm at its outer por- tion. said arm being formed with a rounded projection engaging a recess in said lever for frictionally holding said lever and pivot member against relative rotation, when as- sembled, but permitting said rotation for dis-assembling the parts. 12. In a firearm, the combination of a 40 frame having an ejection-opening, a cover for said opening, a lever for actuating said cover, and means for pivotally and detach- ably securing said lever to said frame com- prising a pivot member haring radial pro- 45 jections at its inner end and constructed and arranged, when it is angularly displaced a given amount from its normal position, to be inserted into registering openings having grooves corresponding to said projection 50 and formed in said lever and said frame, re- spectively, a distance sufficient to cause said inner end with the projections thereon to pass inwardly beyond the inner surface of said frame, said member comprising resil- 55 ient means placed under tension by the act of inserting said member, whereby after said member is rotated back to its normal position, it is frictionally held against ro- tation relative to said lever and simultane- 60 ously presses said lever against the ad- jacent surface of the frame, thereby fric- tionally holding said lever and said cover in either their operative or their inoperative position. 65 This specification signed and witnessed this 28th day of December, A. D. 1922. JOHN M. BROWNING. In the presence of— D. SnbbicK, T. S. Browning.
4ug. 4, 1925. 1,548,708 J. M. BROWNING RECOIL BUFFER FOR AUTOMATIC GUNS Filed Sept. 24. 1923 Inventor
Patented Aug. 4, 1925. 1,548,708 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. JOHN M. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH. RECOIL BUFFER FOR AUTOMATIC GUNS. Application filed September 24, 1923. Serial No. 664,509. ' To all whom, it may concern: Be it known that I, John M. Browning, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ogden, in the county of Weber and State of 5 Utah, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Recoil Buffers for Auto- matic Guns, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the ac- companying drawings, forming a part 10 hereof. My invention relates generally to auto- matic guns having a heavy longitudinally recoiling member, such as a breech block, and more particularly to a novel improved 15 buffer for cushioning the blow of such mem- ber at the end of its recoil. The main object of my invention is to pro- vide a recoil buffer for automatic guns which is of compact-and rugged constriic- 20 tion, durable, efficient in operation, and easy of manufacture. This object is attained by the features of construction illustrated in the accompany- ing drawings in which: 25 Fig. 1 is a top view of the rear portion of a machine gun having my invention applied thereto; Fig. 2 is a rear end view of said gun; Fig. 3 is-a side elevation of the rear por- 30 tion of said gun; and Fig. 4 is a central vertical longitudinal section through the rear portion of the breech casing of said gun showing the breech block near the end of -its recoil. 35 In the drawings, the breech casing of the !gun comprises side plates 1, 1, the top plate 2 and the bottom plate 3 all rigidly and per- manently interconnected to provide a strong hollow structure • for receiving the breech 40 mechanism. At the rear the breech casing is closed by the rear plate 4, which slides downward in mounting it and upward in dismounting it, between the side plates 1, 1 of the casing. 45 During these movements the rear plate is guided by a rib 4a, see Fig. 1, on each of its sides fitted into a corresponding groove in each of the side plates of the casing. At the top, the rear plate has a forwardly project- 50 ing transverse flange, see Figs: 1 and '4, which fits in a corresponding recess in the top plate 2. The rear„ plate 4 is locked in its lower closing position by the latch 5 pivoted therein on a transverse pin, said 55 latch having a forward extension engaging Under the rear end of the bottom plate 3. The spring 5a normally keeps the latch in its locking position. Within the breech casing, the breecb block 6 is mounted for longitudinal reciprocating 60 movement, being slidably supported, near its rear end, upon the stationary breech block guide 7. During its recoil the breech block compresses the reaction spring,8, the forward end of which (not shown) trans- 60 mits the tension of said spring to the breech block, while the rear end transmits its ten- sion to the rear plate 4 through the guide rod 9 about which the spring is coiled and against a shoulder on which its rear end 70 bears, see Fig. 4. To cushion the blow of the breech block at the end of its recoil, the rear plate 4 is provided with my improved buffer; for this purpose, the rear plate has a central rear- 75 ward bulge extending in vertical direction from approximately the horizontal plane of the top of the'breech block guide 7 to the top of the rear plate 4, thereby providing a thickened portion of said plate. A chamber 80 whose axis extends transversely to the line of movement of the breech block and prefer- ably at an angle of substantially 90° to said - line of movement, is provided in this thick- ened portion to receive the cushioning means 85 for the breech block, and near the inner end of this chamber, an opening is provided in its forward wall. Through this opening the horizontally movable buffer' block 10 pro- jects forward some distance, its forward end 00 being thus in position to be struck by the rear end of the breech block at the end of its recoil. This buffer block 10 has a downward pro- jection 10a within the buffer chamber, said оз projection resting upon the bottom of the chamber to support the rear end of the block 10, while the forward face of said downward projection forms a shoulder to. limit the forward movement of said block. ioo The portion of the block 10 within the chamber is formed at the top with a rear- ward and downward inclined surface, which . in the preferred form of the invention shown, makes an angle of substantially 45° 105 with the direction of movement of said block. This surface contacts with a corre- sponding surface on the under side of the transversely sliding block 11, which fits within the chamber in the rear plate and has no a flat horizontal outwardly facing surface, see Fig. 4. Within the chamber above the
1,548,70g block 11 is arranged any suitable elastic means, such as the compressible fiber disks 12, which are kept under some compression between the block 11 and a screw plug 13 5 closing the outer end of the buffer chamber. By adjusting the screw plug 13, the elas- ticity of the disks may be varied, thus vary- ing the action of the buffer. The operation of the novel improved 10 buffer will now be described. When the breech block, in recoiling, moves rearward from the position shown in Fig. 4, its rear end strikes the front face of the buffer block 10 and drives it rearward. The rear portion 15 of the block 10 being held against downward movement by the bottom of the chamber in the rear plate, thus, through the co-opera- tion of the inclined surface thereon with the corresponding surface on the block 11, forces 20 said block 11 in a transverse direction, there- by compressing the elastic disks 12, Aand in this manner cushioning the blow of the breech block. When the breech block has thus been 25 brought to a stop, it is at once returned forward under the combined action of the reaction spring 8 and the buffer, the parts of which are then returned to their original position by the elastic disks 12, where they 30 are ready to cushion the next succeeding blow of the breech block. By the construction and arrangement of the parts hereinbefore described, the action of the elastic disks 12 in bringing the breech 35 block to rest is supplemented by the brak-. ing action resulting from the frictional en- gagement of the buffer blocks 10 and 11 with each other and with the bottom and rear walls of the buffer chamber, respec- 40 tively. This braking action also renders the buffer comparatively “ dead ”, that is, it pre- vents a too rapid expansion of the disks 12 or other resilient means in returning the buffer blocks 10 and 11 to their normal po- 45 sition, thereby avoiding a too violent for- ward return of the breech block or other re- coiling member. While I have hereinbefore described the buffer chamber as preferably extending 50 transversely substantially at right angles to the direction of the breech block, I do not wish to be limited to this precise angular relation, since it will be obvious to those ekilled in the art that said chamber may be 55 inclined rearwardly and outwardly at a substantial angle to the right-angular .posi- tion shown and still come within the spirit and scope of my invention as set forth in the claims. 60 What I claim and desire to secure by Let- ters Patent is: 1. In an automatic gun, the combination of a recoiling member and a buffer therefor supported, in a seat whose longitudinal axis ; extends transversely to the direction of movement of said recoiling member, said buffer comprising yielding means and a pair of blocks, said yielding means backing one of said blocks which has an inclined sur- face in contact with a similar surface on the 70 other of said blocks, said last-named block being in position to be struck by said recoil- ing member as said member nears the limit of its recoil movement. 2. In an automatic gun, the combination 75 of a recoiling member and a buffer therefor supported in a chamber whose longitudinal axis extends transversely to the direction of movement of said recoiling member, said buffer comprising yielding means and a pair 84 of blocks, said blocks having inclined con- tacting surfaces and also surfaces having frictional contact with the walls of said chamber, one of said blocks being backed by said yielding means, and the other of said 85 blocks being in position to be struck by said recoiling member as said member nears the limit of its recoil movement. 3. In an automatic gun, the combination of a casing having a rear wall, a member 90 mounted for longitudinal reciprocating movement in said casing, and a buffer car- ried by said rear wall, said buffer compris- ing a block mounted for longitudinal move- ment, a second block mounted for trans- 05 verse movement, inclined contacting sur- faces on said blocks, respectively, and elas- tic means opposing movement of said transversely movable block. 4. In an automatic gun, the combination TOO of a recoiling member, a block adapted to be struck by said member near the end of its recoil movement, said block being guid- ed for longitudinal movement in the same direction as said member and having an in- TO5 dined surface, a second block. guided for transverse movement at an angle to the di- rection of. movement of said first named block and having a correspondingly inclined surface contacting with the inclined sur- ITO face on the first named block, and elastic means backing said second named block. 5. In an automatic gun, the combination of a casing having a rear wall, a member mounted for longitudinal movement in said П5 casing, and a buffer carried by said rear wall for cushioning the last of the rearward movement of said member, said buffer com- prising an element movable in a direction parallel to the direction of movement of 120 said member, a second element movable transversely to the direction of movement of said member, inclined contacting sur- faces on said elements, respectively, and elastic means backing said second named 125 element. 6. In an automatic gun, the combination of a casing having a rear wall, a member mounted for longitudinal movement in said casing, and a buffer carried by said rear 130
1,548,708 Q wall, said buffer comprising a block mount- ed for longitudinal movement, a second block mounted for transverse movement, in- clined contacting surfaces on said blocks, 5 respectively, elastic means opposing outward movement of said transversely movable block, and a device for adjusting the elas- ticity of said means. 7. In an automatic gun, the combination 10 of a breech casing having a rear wall, a re- coiling member in said casing, and means for cushioning the blow of said member as it nears the limit of its recoil, said means comprising a block movable in a direction 15 parallel to the direction of movement of said member and adapted to be struck by said member, a second block movable sub- stantially at right angles to the direction of movement of said first named block, con- 20 tacting surfaces on said blocks, respectively, inclined at an angle of substantially 45° to the direction of movement of said recoiling member, and elastic means backing said sec- ond named block. 25 8. In an automatic gun, the combination of a recoiling member and a buffer at the rear of said member, said buffer comprising a casing enclosing a longitudinally mov- able block adapted to be struck by said re- 30 coiling member, said block being formed at its rear with an incline adapted to engage a corresponding incline on a second block movable transversely to the direction of movement of said first block, and resilient means backing said second block, whereby 35 a blow on the first block will tend to com- press said resilient means and force said second block against the side of said buffer casing to exert a braking action. 9. In an automatic gun, the combination 40 of a recoiling member and a buffer at the rear of said member, said buffer comprising a casing, a longitudinally movable block normally seated on the bottom of said cas- ing and projecting therefrom in position to 45 be struck by said recoiling member, said block being formed at its rear with an in- cline, a second block within the casing hav- ing a corresponding incline in frictional contact with said first incline and a face in 50 frictional contact with one side of the casing, and resilient means backing said second block, whereby a blow on said first block will tend to compress said resilient means and where- by the frictional contact between said 55 blocks and the bottom and side of the cas- ing will exert a braking action; This specification signed and witnessed this 14th day of Sept. A. D. 1923. JOHN M. BROWNING. In the presence of— Christian Pfeiffer, Howard A. Trenn.
Aug. 4, 1925. 1,548,709 J. M. BROWNING MAGAZINE FIREARM Filed March 13, 19Ё4 /nvenbDjr
Patented Aug. 4? 1925. l?548?709 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE, ’ JQHN M, BWWUINO, OF QGDEN, UTAH, MAGAZINE FIBEABM, Application filed March 13, 1924. Serial No, §98,935. 5 30 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 ,65 To дД, whom it гулу concern: Be it knpwn that I, John M. Bkowning, a citizen of the United States, residing in Qgden, in the county of Weber and State of Utah, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Magazine Firearms, of which the fpllpwing is a specification, refer- enpe being had to the accpmpanying draw- ings, forming a part hereof. The invention relates to firearms of the class having a detachable cartridge-magazine arranged in an opening ip thp wall of the breech casing, and more particularly to au- tomatic firearms of this class, such as are shown, for example, in my prior Patent No. 1,293,022, dated February 4, 1919, for autp- matic machine rifle. . Firearms of this class have sometimes to Jbe carried without the magazine, in which case the opening in the wall of the breech casing is Jeft uncovered, and dust, dirt, snpw, or other extrapeous matter may enter the breech casing through said opening. The presence of such foreign matter within the .casing is liable to interfere with the smooth functioning of the firearm if the same should be required for service, and rpay even rpnder the arm entirely unfit for servjce until it has been fidly disassembled and denned. It is an object of the invention to over- come these difficulties by providing a novel, improved means for closing said opening in the breech casing while the magazine has -been removed. This object is attained by providing on the arm a closure for said opening, which is arranged to be moved readily, at will, from its inoperative posi- tion, in which it does not interfere with the use of the arm, to its operative position in which it eJoses said opening, or vice versa. Other and further advantages will appear from the following disclosure. A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying .drawings, in which— Fig- 1 is a central vertical longitudinal section through a portion of a firearm simi- lar to that disclosed'in tl\e prior patent here- inbefore referred to, showing the invention applied thereto; the magazine is sho.wn’seat- ,ed ip the opening through the wall of the breech casing anct the closing means for sai,d opening is shown in its inoperative position. Fig. 2 is a view similar to that yhown in Fig. 1, but with no magazine, and .with tfie closing means in its operative position clos- ing said opening. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan of a portion of the arm with the closing means in the opera- 60 tive position as shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail view, being a vertical transverse section in line 4—4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a detail view showing the closing member in perspective. ' ’ 65 The automatic firearm to which the inven- tion is shown applied comprises the follow- ing main parts; the breech casing 1 having near its forward end a downward opening to receive the upper end of the cartridge 70 magazine, the barrel 2 secured to the for- ward end of said casing, the breech block 3 - and the action slide 4 both mounted for lon- gitudinal reciprocating movement in said casing, the locking brace 5 pivoted to the 75 breech block, the link 6 connecting said brace pnd the action slide, the firing pin 7 carried by the breech block, the hammer 8 carried by said action slide, the extractor 9, the trig- ger plate 10 closing the bottom of the breech 80 casing in rear of the downward opening which receives the upper end of the maga- zine, the detachable cartridge magazine 11 and the magazine latch 12. All of these parts are constructed and ar- 85 ranged substantially as shown and described in my prior patent hereinbefore referred to, and further description thereof, except as they co-operate with the novel improved construction now to be described, is unnec- 90 essary. To close the downward opening in the breech casing, when the magazine has been removed therefrom, a closing member 16 is provided, said member being preferably 95 pivotally supported by a transverse pivot bolt 16a in a downwardly projecting lug 13b at the end of the -breech casing in front of the magazine opening therein. This lug 13b, as clearly shown in Fig. 4, is of some- 100 w’hat less width than the rear end of the gas cylinder extension 13, and is preferably in- tegral with said extension to permit mount- ing or dismounting of the gas cylinder and the closing member as a unit. At its -rear 105 end extension 13, enters into a vertical ‘,slpt in the breech casing, in which it is secured in the .usual nmnner by a .transverse pin. 13a, .seeFigs. '1, 2 and 4. , ,the closing npember 16 is in its op- no eyaldye position shown in "Figs. 2 and 3, jit efTeytually .prey^rits foreign matter, ,s,upli. 9S
2 1,548,709 mud or snow, from entering the magazine opening, the thin plate of said member hav- ing a substantially rectangular shape to fit the corresponding magazine opening. The 5 rear wall of said opening has a wide vertical central groove which normally receives a corresponding rib on the magazine 11. To close said groove, the end of the' closing plate has a short extension of a width to fit 10 into said groove, see Fig. 3. The closing member 16 is prevented from swinging inward too far by a shoulder 16b striking the lower portion of the forward wall of the magazine opening. 15 In its operative position the thin closing plate of the member 16 is protected from in- jury or deformation, as by blows, because it is enclosed within the breech casing. Even in its inoperative position, it is, of 20 course, desirable that it be out of the way so as not to interfere with the use of the arm, and at the same time be protected. By the improved construction, these desirable fea- tures are attained by having the closing 25 plate so bent some distance from the pivot 16a as to cause the greater portion of its length, when it is brought to its inoperative position as shown in Fig. 1, to extend par- allel to the bottom of the lower surface of 30 the forearm 14 which is secured, as by screws 14a only one of which is shown, to the extension 13 of the gas cylinder; the forearm 14 is provided in said lower sur- face of its rear end with a central longi- 35 tudinal recess 14b to receive said parallel portion of the closing plate when the mem- ber 16 is in its inoperative position, whereby said portion lies within the external contour of the forearm and is thus out of the way 40 and protected against injury. The closing member 16 is yieldingly kept either in its operative position, see Figs. 2 and 3, or in its inoperative position, see Fig. 1 by a device comprising a spring-actuated 45 plunger 17 seated in the hub of said member and fitted to enter a shallow recess 17a in the lug 13b corresponding to either of its two positions. That portion of said closing member 16 50 adjacent its pivot 16a in which the plunger 17 and its spring are mounted is of consid- erable height but of less width than the thin closing plate, see Figs. 3, 4 and 5, and forms a shoulder 16°, which is preferably knurled u5 nr otherwise roughened, to provide a means whereby the operator may readily swing the closing member 16 out of the opening in the casing when moving it from its operative position to its inoperative position. 60 To facilitate the starting of the closing member 16 from its inoperative. position shown in Fig. 1, the forward end of the re- cess 14b in the forearm extends beyond the end of said member and i s cut somewhat ° deeper than the rest of said recess, thereby permitting the operator to place the tip of his finger under the end of member 16 to swing the same out of the recess. What I claim and desire to secure by Let- ters Patent is: 70 1. In a firearm, a breech casing having an opening through its wall, cartridge holding means removably seated in said opening, and a hinged member for closing said open- ing when said cartridge holding means is 75 removed, said member being constructed and arranged, on being brought to its opera- tive position closing said opening, to swing inwardly between the side walls of said opening whereby it is protected against in- 80 jury and having means for limiting said in- ward movement to positively prevent the en- trance of solid foreign matter into the breech casing through said opening. 2. In a firearm, a breech casing having 85 an opening through its wall, a detachable cartridge magazine normally seated in said opening, and a hinged member for closing said opening when the magazine has been removed, said member comprising a thin 90 plate arranged to swing between the side walls of said opening when the member is moved to its operative position and to lie flat against a portion of the firearm when swung out to its inoperative position, where- 95 by it is at all times protected against injury, and means for limiting the inward move- ment of said member to positively prevent the entrance of solid foreign matter into the breech casing through said opening. 100 3. In a firearm, a breech casing having an opening through its wall, a longitudinally extending element removably supported at its rear end by said casing; and a closure for said opening carried by said element, where- 106 by said element and closure may be mounted or dismounted as a unit. 4. In a firearm, a breech casing having an opening through its wall, a longitudinally extending member removably supported at 110 its rear end in said casing, a forearm carried by said member, and a closure for said opening also carried by said member where- by said member, forearm and closure may be mounted or dismounted as a unit. 115 5. In a magazine firearm, a breech casing having an opening through its wall, a de- tachable cartridge magazine normally seated in said opening, a member for closing said opening when the magazine is detached, said 120 member being pivotally supported by said casing forward of the magazine opening, and an element of said firearm forward of said casing and provided with a recess there- in adapted to receive a portion of said 125 member when the same is moved to its in- operative position. 6. bi a magazine firearm, a breech casing having an opening through its wall, a car- tridge magazine normally detachably seated 130
1,548,709 3 ill said opening, a member supported by said casing for movement to close said opening when the magazine has been removed, and to open said opening for insertion of the maga - 5 zine, a forearm supported forward of said casing, and a recess in said forearm to re- ceive a portion of said member when the same is moved to its inoperative position, whereby the said portion is out of the way 10 and protected against injury. 7. In an automatic firearm, a breech cas- ing having a magazine opening to receive a detachable cartridge magazine, a gas cylin- der supported at its rear end in said casing, and a member pivotally carried by said 15 cylinder for closing said opening when the magazine is detached. This specification signed and witnessed this 11th day of March, A. D. 1924. JOHN M. BROWNING. In presence of— C. J. Ehbets, J. Calvin Bright.
Oct. 13, 1925 1,557.414 J. M. BROWNING
Patented Oct. 13, 1925. 1357,414 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. JOHN M. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH. FIRING MECHANISM FOR GUNS. 1, 1824. Serial No. 696,528. secured to the forward portions of the side plates. The rear end of the casing is closed by the upwardly removable rear- plate 5 kept in its lower operative position by a 60 latch-5a; the forward portion of the top of the casing is closed by the hinged top cover 6 locked in closed position by the latch 6a. The barrel 7, see Fig. 1, and the barrel extension 8, see Fig. 2, are mounted for 05 longitudinal reciprocating movement in said breech casing and the breech block 9 has longitudinal reciprocating movement in the barrel extension, being guided in such move- ment by the usual rib and groove connection 70 witli said barrel extension and also by the plane top surface of the breech block guide 10 located in the lower portion of the rear end of the casing and by a; guide strip 11 secured to the right-hand side of the casing 75 just above the path of the breech block, see Figs. 2 and 3. ' , The breech block is normally locked to the barrel in the usual manner by the vertically sliding locking block 12, a portion of which 80 is shown in Fig. 2, and said breech block is returned to its forward position after recoil by the reaction spring 13. The mechanism for unlocking the breech block from the barrel and barrel extension 85 during the recoil of said parts and for mov- ing said breech block rearward, after it has been so unlocked, at an accelerated rate of speed, for returning it and the barrel and barrel extension forward to the firing posi- 90 tion, and for again locking said breech block to the barrel and barrel extension, has not been fully disclosed herein, because it forms no part of the present invention and is simi- lar to that fully shown and described in my 95 pending application for automatic machine gun, Serial No. 654,955, filed July 31, 1923. The firing pin 14, the rear portion of which is shown in central vertical longitu- dinal section in Fig. 2, is carried in a usual 100 manner in a longitudinal seat in the breech block 9 and is actuated by a spring 14a bear- ing at its forward end (not shown) against an abutment on the firing pin and at its rear end against a vertical abutment pin 15 Ю5 in the breech block. The firing pin is moved to the cocked position by the cocking lever 16 pivoted in the breech block by a trans- verse pin 16a and having its lower arm in position to co-operate with the firing pin 110 and its upper arm extending above the breech block for co-operation with a recess Application filed March < To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, John M. Browning, a. citizen of the United. States, residing in Ogden, in the county of Weber and State of 5 Utah, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Filing Mechanism for Guns, of which the following is a specifica- tion, reference being had to the accompany- ing drawings, forming a part hereof! 10 The invention relates generally to firing mechanisms for automatic guns and more particularly to such mechanisms which are applicable to automatic machine guns adapted to be fixedly mounted on an air- 15 plane and pointed to fire through the field swept by the propeller blades and which are adapted to be operated from a distance by impulses generated in synchronism with the propeller driving means. 7 20 It is an object of the invention to provide a firing mechanism of the class described which is simple in construction, reliable in operation, durable, easy of manufacture, and which .is readily applicable to existing 25 types of machine guns. With this and other objects in view, the invention also consists in certain devices, arrangements and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and *0 more particularly pointed out in the ap- pended claims. In the accompanying drawings: Fig. 1 is a left-hand side elevation, on a greatly reduced scale, of an automatic ma- 35 chine gun of a known type adapted for air- craft use showing the invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a partial central vertical longi- tudinal section through said gun, parts of 40 the mechanism being shown in section, parts in elevation,, and parts being broken away. Fig. 3 is a partial vertical transverse sec- tion through the gun on the line 3—3 of Fig. 2, as seen from the rear. 45 Fig. 4 is a fragmentary central vertical longitudinal section showing parts of the firing mechanism in different positions from the position of these parts as shown in Fig. 2. 50 The machine gun to which the invention has been shown applied comprises a breech casing having side plates 1, a fixed top plate 2 and a fixed bottom plate 3 all rigidly and strongly interconnected to form a hollow 65 steel beam of great strength. At the front, the casing is closed by the front block 4
S3 1,367,414 in the bracket 17, not shown in Fig. 2 but shown in Fig. 3, depending from the top plate 2 of the casing, whereby the firing pin is cocked during the recoil of the breech 5 block in a manner fully described in the application hereinbefore referred to. The sear 18, which holds the firing pin cocked, as shown in Fig. 2, is’mounted for sliding movement in a corresponding verti- 10 cal central seat at the rear end of the breech block, see Fig. 3, and is moved upward to its operative position by a spring 18*. On its right-hand side, the sear is widened laterally and provided to the right of and 15 consequently out of the path of the cocking, lever with an upward extension 18b. Said extension is adapted to be engaged for ac- tuating the sear to release the firing pin to fire a shot by the novel improved mechanism 20 now to be described. This mechanism is shown mounted on a plate or support 19 which, is detachably se- cured to the fixed top plate 2 of the breech casing, by suitable means, such as the bolts 25 19a. This arrangement on the top plate of the casing makes said sear actuating mech- anism specially adapted for use with either right-hand fed guns or left-hand fed guns or with guns adapted for either right-hand or 30 left-hand feed. . _ ' Said mechanism may comprise a sear ac- tuator 20 carried by said support 19 and ex- tending through a slot in the top plate of the casing downwardly to a position slightly 38 above the upward extension 18b of the sear 18, when the breech block 9 is in its forward position and the sear is holding the firing pin cocked, as shown in Fig. 2. In the" em- bodiment of the. invention selected for il- W lustration, this sear actuator 20 comprises a two-armed lever, "hereinafter called the ac-. tuator lever, pivoted in a vertical slot in the forward portion of the support 19 on the transverse pin 20a, and is normally held 15 in inoperative position with its forward arm raised, see Fig. 2, by a spring 20b, which has its upper end seated in a recess in said arm of the lever and its lower end in a recess in the top plate df the breech casing. That 80 part of the sear actuator 20 which directly engages the sear is arranged, to yield in for- ward direction for a purpose to be later ex- plained. To permit such yielding, said part has the form of a second lever 20®, herein- 55 after called the connecting lever, which is pivoted in a vertical slot near the end of the forward arm of the actuator lever on the transverse pin 20d. This connecting lever is kept in its normal operative position with 60 its long lower arm in rearward position, as shown in Fig. 2, where it rests against a suitable stop, such as the pin 21, by the ten- sion of a spring 20® seated in a longitudinal1 recess in the forward arm of the actuator 66 lever and bearing with its forward end against the upper short arm of said lever 20°. With the parts in the position shown in Fig. 2 and with a cartridge seated in the chamber of the barrel, if the rear arm of 70 the actuator lever is. raised the forward arm is thereby lowered and the lower end of the connecting lever 20® engages the upward projection 18b-Of the;: sear 18 and depresses the same to release the firing pin, thereby 75 firing a shot. The gun will now be auto- matically reloaded, assuming that cartridges have been supplied to the feed mechanism, and the parts will again assume the position shown in Fig. 2 ready to fire the next shot, 80 that is. if the actuator 20 is operated at the rate of speed at which the gun would fire automatically or at a slower rate. Since, however, the impulses generated by the propeller driving means of an airplane S5 •are usually of a higher frequency than the firing rate of the gun when firing automati- cally, it mav and does happen that the ac- tuator 20. which is adapted to be operated in synchronism with such impulses, will some- °0 times be in the position shown in Fig. 4 when the recoiling parts of the gun are com- pleting their forward movement to the firing position. In that event, no harm will result because of the yieldable mounting of the 05 connecting lever 20°. which permits its lower end, when engaged by the forward face of the upward extension 18b of the sear, to be moved forwardly against the tension of the snring 20® as shown in Fig. 4. The depres- 100 sion of the sear cannot occur until the next downward stroke of the forward arm of the- actuator lever, when the connecting lever will have been returned to its operative po- sition by the spring 20®. 105 This construction of the sear actuator 20 also positively insures that the sear will be depressed to release the firing pin to fire a shot each time at the same angular position. of thb actuator lever when moving in one 110 direction, which is an essential requisite to secure nerfect svnchronization. Various devices can he used to move the sear actuator 20 in synchronism with the propeller driving means: certain parts of one form of such‘a device which are imme- diately associated with the gun, are shown in the drawings and will now be described. This device may comprise a plunger 22 slidably supported at its considerably re- duced and rounded forward end in a corre- sponding hole formed in the rear vertically enlarged portion of the support 19, which forms also the forward wall of a cylindri- cal casing produced by securing the screw- threaded open forward end of a cup-shaped member 23 within a correspondingly thread- ed annular flange projecting rearward from said vertically enlarged portion of the sup- port 19; the similarly reduced rear end of 115 120 126 130
1,667,414 said plunger is slidably supported in a cen- tral bearing therefor in the integral rear wall of said member 23. To keep the plunger 22 normally in its 5 rearward inoperative position and to return it to such position after it has been moved forward, a strong helical spring 24 is pro- vided, the forward end of which rests against the interior wall of the cylindrical 10 casing and the rear end bears against a col- lar on the plunger 22. - The rear arm of the actuator lever inclines upward. some distance and beyond this in- clined portion it extends horizontally to a 16 point near the forward wall of the cylindri- cal casing through which the forward end of the plunger 22 projects; the end of said lever arm is beveled to co-operate with the forward rounded end of the plunger 22. It M is to be noted that said end of the plunger 22 is supported against downwardly yield- ing forward of the wall of the cylindrical casing by resting upon the top surface of the support 19. «5 By this construction, it will be evident that the reciprocating movement of the plunger 22 produces a rocking movement of the actuator lever. The casing containing the plunger 22 is, •Q in the embodiment of the invention select- ed for illustration, constructed and arranged for connection with a liquid impulse gener- ator and has, therefore, a suitable chamber 30 in its rear portion into which the reduced *8 rear end of the plunger extends. To prevent leakage of liquid around said plunger in forward direction the forward end of said chamber is tapered inwardly and a suitable packing 27 surrounding the plun- 40 ger is forced into engagement with said taper and, by the wedging action of the same, against the plunger by a spring 28, the forward end of which bears against a thin washer in rear of this packing and the 45 rear end against another packing 26 fitted into the conical rear end of the chamber. This rear packing 26 is provided to serve for the connection to the cylindrical casing 23 of the tube of a liquid impulse generator, 50 and in order to make said connection tight against leakage the packing 26 is of conical shape at both ends; the forward end of said packing 26 fits the corresponding conical seat in the rear end of the chamber. The 80 rear portion of the casing 23 forms on its ' outside a projecting boss 23a which is screw- threaded and the threaded nut 25 is fitted upon said boss; the rear portion of the in- terior of said nut is conical and fits upon the conical rear portion of the packing 26. By this construction the packing 26 and its seats in the nut 25 and in the rear end of the chamber in the casing 23, co-operate to com- e5 press the packing upon the tube of the liquid unpulse generator. 8 An air relief valve 29 normally closes a port connecting the chamber 30 with the atmosphere. When the system is being filled with liquid, any air trapped in this cham- ber may; by opening the valve .29, be al- 70 lowed to escape. It is evident that various changes in the form and arrangement of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. 75 What I claim and desire to secure by Let- ters Patent is: 1. In an automatic machine gun, the com- bination of a breech casing, a barrel, a breech block mounted for longitudinal reciprocating 80 movement in said casing to open and close the breech of the barrel, a transversely mov- able sear carried by said breech block, a support mounted on the outside of said cas- ing, and a sear actuator pivoted in said 85 support and extending into said casing for engagement with said sear to move the same in one direction! 2. In an automatic machine gun, the com- bination of a. breech casing, a breech block eo mounted for longitudinal reciprocating movement in said casing, a transversely movable Sear carried by said breech block, a support mounted on said casing, and a sear actuator pivoted in said support and e5 having a portion thereof in position for en- gagement with said sear to move the same in one direction, said portion being adapted to yield forwardly, as and for the purpose specified. 100 3. In an automatic machine gun, the combination of a breech casing, a breech block mounted for longitudinal reciprocat- ing movement in said casing, a transversely movable sear carried by said breech block, 105 a support mounted on said casing, a lever pivoted on said support and carrying a member adapted to yield forwardly at its inner, end which is normally arranged to . engage and move the sear in one direction, 110 and means constructed and arranged to be operated from a distance for. imparting a rapid rocking movement to said lever. 4. In an automatic machine gun, the combination of a breech casing, a breech 15 block mounted for longitudinal recipro- cating movement in said casing, a trans- versely sliding sear carried by said breech block, a support mounted on a wall of said casing, a sear actuator movably supported in said support and extending into said casing for engagement with said sear to move the same in one direction, and means carried by said support and adapted to be operated from a distance for imparting rapid movement to said sear actuator. 5. In a synchronized firing mechanism for automatic machine guns, the combina- tion of a casing, a breech block movable in said' casing, a transversely movable sear
4 1,667,414 carried by said breech block, a sear actu- ator pivoted outside said casing, and hav- ing a portion extending into said casing for engagement with the sear to move the S same in. one direction, said inwardly ex- tending portion being adapted to yield for- wardly at its inner end, and means adapt- ed to be operated from a distance for im- parting to said sear actuator a rapid rock- 10 mg movement. 6. In an automatic machine gun, the com- bination of a breech casing, a breech block mounted for longitudinal reciprocating movement in said casing, a vertically slid- 15 able sear carried by said breech block, a support mounted on the top of said casing, a lever pivoted iu said support, a connector pivoted to said lever, said connector hav- ing its lower end normally in position for SO engagement with the sear when the same is in its forward firing position to move said sear in one direction, means permit- ting said end to yield forwardly if the con- nector happens to be depressed during the *5 final forward movement of the sear, and means for imparting a rapid rocking move- ment to said lever, comprising a recipro- cating plunger carried by said support and co-operating with, a cam surface on said •° lever. 7. In a synchronized firing mechanism for automatic machine guns having a re- ciprocating breech block, a transversely movable sear carried by said block, a sup- port removably mounted on the easing, a 35 sear actuator movably mounted on said support and arranged to directly engage said sear to move it in one direction, and means carried by. said support for impart- ing a rapid vibrating movement to said 40 sear actuator. 8. In an automatic machine gun, the combination of a breech casing, a breech block mounted for longitudinal reciprocat- ing movement in said casing a transversely 45 movable sear carried by said breech block, a support secured to said casing, an actu- ator movably mounted in said support and arranged to engage said sear to move the same in one direction, and means whereby 50 the sear engaging portion of the actuator can yield in forward direction, as and for the purpose specified. 9. In an automatic machine gun, the combination of a breech casing, a breech 55 block longitudinally movable in said cas- ing, a sear carried by said breech block, a sear actuator movably mounted on said cas- ing and arranged to engage said sear to move the same in one direction, means 60 whereby the sear engaging portion of the. actuator can yield in forward direction, and means adapted to be operated from a dis- tance for moving said actuator. This specification signed this 27th day of 65 February, 1924. JOHN M. BROWNING.
BEST AVAILABLE COPY March 30,1926. J. M. BROWNING 1,578,638 FIREARM Filed Oct. 15, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 1
March 30,1926 1,578,638 J. M. BROWNING FIREARM Filed Oct. 15, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 2
1,578,638 March 30,1926. J. м. browning FIREARM Filed Oct. 15, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 3
Patented Mar. 30, 1926. 1,578,638 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. JOHN M. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH. FIREARM. < Application filed October 15, 1923. Serial No. 668,575. To all whom it may concern: Be. it known that I, John M. Browning, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Ogden, county of Weber, State of Utah, 5 have invented certain new and useful Im- provements in a Firearm, of which the fol- lowing is a specification. This invention relates to firearms of the shotgun class, and certain features of the 1(> invention find peculiar adaptation in fire- arms of the “over and under” type hav- ing two barrels, one over the other. A firearm of the “over and under” type possesses certain advantages but, at the same 15 time, presents peculiar problems and it is the aim of the present invention to solve the latter. Among the advantages of a gun of this type may be mentioned the follow- ing : In aiming, only one barrel is presented 20 to the eye of the shooter, thus giving but a single line of sight and consequently making for greater accuracy; since the barrels are one over the other, the breech section and the receiver therefor may be relatively nar- 25 row, thus permitting of a wide field of vision while aiming; and the under or lower bar- rel and a portion, if desired, of the over or upper one may be enclosed in a hand piece or forearm of such size as to provide a com- зо fortable and convenient grip and afford am- ple protection to the shooter’s hand against the heat of the barrel without being bulky or wide in construction or appearance. An over and under gun gives the appearance or 35 impression of good balance and lightness in weight and, in use, it has what may be termed a good “feel”. It is desirable that guns of the over and under type be jointed between the receiver 40 and the barrel section so that the gun may be opened or, as it is commonly termed, broken to insert and extract shells from the cartridge chambers. In this type of gun, the breech piece, to which the barrels are 45 connected one over the other, is relatively high as compared to width, and the receiver and breech piece are pivotally connected ad- jacent the under side of the barrel section. The shocks and strains, exerted by the ex- 50 plosion of shells in the breech piece, tend to separate the breech piece from the receiver and, particularly, does the force of an ex- plosion in the upper bore, on account of the distance which it is spaced from the pivotal connection between the receiver and- the bar- 55 rel section, exert considerable leverage tend- ing to force the parts apart and develop looseness therebetween. One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an over and under gun where- 60 in the breech piece, which constitutes a por- tion of what may be termed the barrel sec- tion, and the receiver therefor are. so locked and joined together, when the gun is closed, that the pivotal connection between the 65 breech piece and the receiver is relieved of all strains, the parts being held together very effectively by a simple and economical arrangement, and the development of loose- ness and wear on the parts being substan- 70 tially eliminated. A further object of the invention is to pro- vide an improved take-down construction between the receiver and barrel section which is characterized by its simplicity in 75 construction, and the facility with which it may be operated, the arrangement being such that the breech piece may be quickly disconnected from the receiver without de- taching or removing, with the resultant pos- 80 sibility of misplacing, any other part of the gun; for instance, without taking the fore- arm off of the barrel section, as has hereto- fore been required in double barrel guns of the “side by side” type. 85 Another object of the invention is to pro- vide an improved firing .mechanism having various features of novelty, and advantage and, particularly, to provide firing mecha- nism which is very simple and strong in con- 00 slruction, and effective in operation, and wherein damage to the parts is guarded against. Other objects of the invention will be in part obvious and in part pointed out in the 05 following detailed description. The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of ele- ments and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction herein- 160 after set forth, and the scope of the appli- cation of which will be indicated in the ap- pended claims. In the accompanying drawings, wherein
1,578,638 б 10 13 20 25 30 35 40 45 60 55 СО 65 13 I have shown, for purposes of illustration, one embodiment which the present invention may take: Figure 1 is a-left hand, side elevation of the gun with the front portion of the barrels and the shoulder portion of the butt stock broken away; Fig. la is a transverse view through the barrels and forearm, this view being taken on line la—la of Fig. 1; Fig. 2 is a bottom view of what is shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal section of the gun looking at the left hand side thereof and with certain parts shown in elevation; Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing the positions of the parts when the gun is in opened, or what is commonly known as “broken”, condition; Fig. 5 is an elevation looking at the right hand side of the breech piece and the re- ceiver, the butt stock and forearm being omitted and the parts being shown in the position which they take when the gun is broken; Fig. 6 is a central longitudinal section through the receiver looking at the right hand side thereof; Fig. 7 is a right hand side elevation of the receiver with the right hand side wall there- of broken away and showing the firing mech- anism with the left hand hammer uncocked and the right hand one cocked; Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the cocking lever; Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the rear end of the barrel section" Fig. 10 is a section on line 10—10 of Fig. 5 through the under barrel; Figs. 11, lla and llb are top, side and rear end views, respectively, of the extractor; Fig. 12 is a right hand side elevation of the breech piece together with the rear ends of the barrels; Fig. 13 is a front view of what is shown in Fig. 12; Fig. 14 is a right hand side elevation of the take-down lever, showing the manner in which it cooperates with a lug on the under barrel; Fig. 15 is a bottom view of the take-down lever; Fig. 16 is a top view of the take-down bracket secured to the forearm, the latter being shown in longitudinal, horizontal sec- tion ; Fig. 17 is a right hand side elevation of the take-down lever and the cocking lever link carried thereby; Fig. 18 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 18—18 of Fig. 17 through the take- down bracket and looking in the direction of th.e arrows; Fig. 19 is a transverse section through the take-down bracket, this view being taken on line 19—19 of Fig. 17 and looking in the direction of the arrows associated with that line; Fig. 20 is a right hand view, a front view and a left, hand view, respectively, of the 70 right hand hammer; Fig. 21 are corresponding views of the left hand hammer; Fig. 21a is a rear projected view of the left nand hammer showing the shoulder 75 which holds a certain part of the trigger mechanism in a position to prevent actuation of the right hand hammer when the left hand hammer is cocked; Fig. 22 is a front view of the stem or 80 post of the top lever; Fig. 23 is a left hand side view of the top lever with a portion of the stem or post in vertical section; Fig. 24 is a bottom view of the top lever 85 post; Fig. 25 is a perspective view of the lock- ing bolt; Fig. 26 is a front view of the trigger mech- anism including the trigger and the con- 00 nector adapted to cooperate with the sears; Fig. 27 is a left hand side elevation of what is shown in Fig. 26; Fig. 28 is a rear view of the same mech- anism ; 05 Fig. 29 is a central longitudinal section through the rear portion of the receiver with the parts carried thereby shown in the posi- tions which they have immediately after firing a shot from the over barrel; Ю0 Fig. 30 is a view similar to Fig. 29, show- ing the manner in which a trigger safety plunger permits breakage of the gun with- out damaging the trigger in the event that the latter should be held in actuated or 105 “pulled” position; Fig. 31 is a view similar to Fig. 29 with the left hand hammer fully cocked; Fig. 32 is a perspective view of the sears; and 110 Fig. 33 is a rear view and right hand side view, respectively, of the inertia block which functions to prevent “involuntary pull”. Referring to the drawings in detail, what may be termed, for convenience, as the bar- 115 rel section includes a breech piece 1 having two longitudinal holes bored through it, one above the other, and the respective over and under bar re’s 2 and 3 screwed or otherwise secured in the forward ends of these bores. 120 The breech piece 1 is cut away on either side adjacent its lower edge and for the greater part of its length back from the front end so as to leave ав somewhat narrow portion having in its forward end, and just 125 below the under barrel, a semi-circular re- cess or groove lb which forms one-half part of a separable multi-part bearing for a hinge member, here shown as being in the form of a pin 4a, carried by the receiver 4. 130
1,578,638 в The other half of the bearing for the Hinge pin is provided by a take-down bracket 5 slidably positioned on the under side of the under barrel 3. This bracket may have, at 5 its rear end, a semi-circular recess 5b which, when the bracket 5 is in operative position cooperates with the recess lb to form a closed round bearing for the hinge pin. The take-down bracket 5, as shown in 10 Figs. 9, 16, 17, 18 and 19, is a relatively narrow rectangular piece or block having, at its rear end, a portion of greater width with its upper face curved to conform to and fit against the under barrel and provided on 15 its forward face with dowel pins 5a which take into suitable recesses in the rear end of the forearm 6 which is provided with a slot in which the narrow portion of the take- down bracket is seated. The bracket may 20 be secured to the forearm by a screw 6a. The forearm 6, as will be seen from Figs. 1 and la, is hollow throughout its entire length, it being substantially U-shape in cross section, and the sides being curved 25 inwardly adjacent their upper ends so that the under barrel will fit snugly in the bottom of the rounded groove, and the sides of the groove will fit in and fill up the concave space between the two barrels and closely 30 fit and partly surround the over barrel. To assemble the forearm on the barrels, the former is slipped over the forward ends of the latter and then slid back into place. It will be seen that the forearm is of such size 3;’ and shape as to present a very convenient, full, but not bulky, grip which adequately protects the hand of the shooter against the heat of the barrel. The forearm fits the bar- rels and the space between the barrels very 40 closely so that there are no unsightly gaps between itself and the barrels in which dirt or the like is liable to collect. The take-down bracket 5, together with the forearm to which it is secured, is, as has 45 been stated, slidably mounted on the barrel section so as to permit separation of the bearing parts lb and 5b when it is desired to dismount the barrel section from the re- ceiver. To suitably support the take-down 50 bracket for such sliding movement, and limit the extent of such movement, there is provided on the under side of the barrel S a depending lug 3a (see Figs. 5,10 and 14) having a groove 3b at each side immediately 55 beneath the under barrel, and the narrow rectangular portion of the take-down brack- et, which is hollowed out to receive this lug, has on the forward upper portions of its in- ner faces ribs 5C slidably mounted in the GO- grooves 3b in the lug 3a. Rearwardly of the rear ends of the ribs 5°, the opening, or slot in the bracket 5 is of sufficient width and length to permit the take-down bracket to be slipped into and from position on the G5 lug 3a. The numeral 7 designates a take- down lever pivoted on a pin or pivot 7d in the hollow portion of the take-down bracket behind the lug 3a. This take-down lever carries a plunger 7a retained in place by a retaining pin 7C and normally urged for- 70 wardly into engagement with the lug 3a by a spring 7b. The rear end of the lug 3a is preferably transversely notched, as clearly shown, in Fig. 14, to receive the front end of the plunger 7a, thereby preventing the 75 lever 7 from accidentally swinging out of operative position. The spring 7” resilient- ly urges the bearing part or bracket 5 to- wards the breech piece, and takes up wear between the parts. 80 It will be seen that, with the arrangement so far described, the take-down bracket 5 may l>e assembled on the under barrel by en- tering the lug 3a in the hollowed portion of the bracket rearwardly of the ribs 5C and 85 then sliding the bracket rearwardly to en- gage the ribs 5C on the bracket in the grooves 3b in the lug 3a. The take-down lever 7 is secured in place by the pivot pin 7d, and this lever then constitutes means for prevent- 00 ing the bracket 5 from being slid forwardly far enough to disengage it from the lug 3a. The forearm 6 is slipped over the forward end of the barrels and moved back into prop- er relation to the bracket 5 and secured in place thereto by the bolt or screw 6a. To assemble the receiver onto the barrel section, the bracket 5 is brought into the position shown in Fig. 9 by sliding the forearm for- wardly on the barrels; the receiver is pcsi- 100 tioned with the hinge pin 4a between the sep- arated bearing surfaces lb and 5b; then the forearm, together with the bracket 5, is nipved rearwardly to bring these bearing surfaces together,, and then the lever 7 is 1!!’’ thrown upwardly and forwardly into the position shown in Fig. 5 so as to bring it into engagement with the lug 3a, and thereby se- curely lock the forearm 6 and the bracket 5 from moving forwardly. Dismohntal of the ' receiver from the barrel section is accom- plished by a forward sliding movement of the forearm after the lever 7 has been thrown down to the position shown in Fig. 9. It u will be seen that the operations of mounting ° and dismounting the receiver from the bar- rel section are very readily accomplished in an extremely quick and simple manner by sliding the forearm cn the barrel section: the construction is comparatively simple and the parts may be readily assembled, and there is no necessity of removing the fore- arm or other part ‘to accomplish tairing down of the gun so that any likelihood of misplac- 12S ing the forearm is entirely eliminated. In accordance with the present ihvention, the breech piece 1 is very securely held in the receiver when the gun is closed so that there is no play or looseness between the bar- 13Q rel section and the receiver; the hinge pin 4я
4 1,678,838 and the.bearing therefor are relieved of sub- stantially all strains to which they might otherwise l>e subjected when the gun is dis- charged; and a very strong union or joint 5 is provided which is fully enabled to with- stand the strains and shocks to which the parts are subjected when the gun is fired. The receiver 4 is hollowed out at its forward end to provide two side walls which are con- 10 nected at their forward lower ends by the transverse hinge pin 4a. Provided in the rear ends of the inside face of each of the side walls is an arcuate slot 4е, the center of curvature of which is the axis of the hinge 18 pin 4a. The breech piece is provided at each side with a rib la corresponding in curvature and position to the arcuate grooves 4е so that the latter closely receives these ribs when the gun is closed. These ribs are preferably 20 formed, to effect economy in manufacture, by milling away the sides of the block from which the breech piece is formed, leaving the ribs la. Further provided on the sides of the breech piece, adjacent the rear lower 28 corner'thereof, are forwardly facing shoul- ders Iе which engage and bear against shoul- ders 4е, one provided on the inner side of each wall of the receiver adjacent the lower ends of the arcuate slots 4е. The shoulders 30 Iе, as well as downwardly facing shoulders Iе, are formed on the breech piece by cutting away the sides thereof- at their lower edges, as previously described. The shoulders Iе are adapteid to engage shoulders 4a on the 38 breech piece when the gun is closed. If de- sired, the forward lower corners 4b of the side Avails of the receiver may be curved concentrically to the hinge pin 4a so as to fit similarly curved faces 5a on the bracket, as 411 shown most clearly in Fig. 5. These curved faces 5a may be considered as constituting bearing faces on the take-down bracket, and the curved corners 4b may be considered as forming a part of the hinged connection 4 ’ and, in effect, as enlargements of the hinge pin. . It. will be understood that when the gun is discharged there is a considerable force exerted tending to separate the receiver from 50 the breech piece ana, with the present ar- rangement, the strains exerted by this force are taken by the interengaging arcuate shoulders provided by the ribs la and grooves 4® and by the contacting shoulders 4° and Iе, 65 thus relieving the hinged connection of ex- cessive shocks. The interengaging shoulders are such as to provide relatively large bear- ing surfaces so that the strains are more or les$ distributed and wear upon the parts is C() minimized, thus, substantially eliminating looseness or play. The arrangement de- scribed provides a structure which makes for economy in manufacture and effective- ness in operation, in that the necessity of ex- J pensive hand fitting of the parts is eliminat- ed while, at the same time, a tight joint or union is obtained. The arrangement de- scribed finds peculiar advantage in a gun of the over and under type to which the pres- ent’invention appertains for the reason that 70 the line of force exerted, when a cartridge in the over barrel is discharged, is at a con- siderable distance to the.line of pivot be- tween the receiver and the breech piece. Since the ribs la extend up alongside of .the 75 upper bore, the shocks and strains are prop- erly taken care of. The gun is locked in its closed position by a locking bolt 9 mounted for sliding move- ment in the receiver immediately beneath the 80 portion 4f thereof, and which portion forms a vertical bearing in which the stem or post 10f of the top lever 10 is journaled. The upper face of the locking bolt 9, as shown most clearly in Fig. 25, has a recess or notch 85 9е adapted to receive a lug 10е on the bottom of the post 10f of the top lever (see Figs. 22, 23 and 24) so that when the top lever is swung outwardly to the right, the locking bolt is moved rearwardly and out of engage- 80 ment with the transverse groove la provided adjacent the bottom of the rear face of the breech piece 1, whereupon the gun is free to be broken. The locking bolt is normally urged into operative or locking position by 88 the action of a spring 10a which bears at one end against a pin 10b extending laterally from the top lever post and through a slot in the bearing portion 4f of the receiver. The other end of the spring rests against the 100 bearing portion 4f. It will be noted that the pin 10b maintains the top lever post in position in the receiver. The locking bolt 9 has at each side a laterally projecting lug 9a which cooperate 108 with the cocking lever 12 in such manner that when the gun is broken the locking bolt is held in withdrawn or inoperative position by the cocking lever. This cocking lever has a body portion 12° pivoted by 110 means of a pin 12a in the receiver 4 beneath the top lever post 10f. Extending rear- wardly and upwardly from each side of the body portion 12° is an arm 12a, and these arms or side members are suitably spaced ° apart to accommodate between them the locking bolt 9, the top lever post and its bearing portion, and the body portions of the hammers 13 and 14. The firing mechanism, of which the hammers constitute parts, is 1 located in an opening of a frame-like por- tion 4E of the receiver extending rearwardly from the bearing portion 4f. Both of these hammers are pivoted at the forward lower corner of said opening and immediately “a above the locking bolt by means of a com- mon pivot member or pintle 15 which is straddled by the arms 12a of the cocking lever. When the left hand hammer 13 is released, it is actioned by a left hand main
1,578,638 S spring 16 (see Figs. 3 and 4) to explode the shell in the over bore of the breech piece. When the right hand hammer 14 is released, it is actioned by a right hand main spring 5 17 (see Figs. 5 and 6) and causes the firing of shell in the under bore. Associated with the respective coiled springs 16 and 17 are plungers 16a and 17a which respectively bear at the forward ends against the hammers 13 10. and 14. The rear ends of the plungers pivotally and slidably extend into suitable apertures in the rear wall of the frame-like portion 4s. The springs 16 and 17 bear at the rear ends against the rear wall of the 15 frame portion of the receiver and at their forward ends against suitable collars or abutments, on the respective plungers 16a and 17a. The left hand hammer 13 lias a later- ally extending projection 13a (Figs. 3 and 20 21) positioned in the path of movement of the left hand arm 12d of the cocking lever, and the right hand hammer is provided with a similar projection 14a (Figs. 5 and 20) located in the path of movement of the right 25 hand arm 12d of the cocking lever. Each of the arms 12d is provided with a projection 12b and these projections, as described here- inafter more in detail, are adapted to co- operate with the respective lateral projec- tions 9s extending from the opposite sides of the locking bolt 9. Extending forwardly from the body portion 12° of the cocking lever is a centrally disposed arm 12® adapted to lie in a longitudinally extending slot l1 on the bottom surface of the breech 1 piece 1. This arm is provided with a hook 12f which is adapted to interlock with the rear end of an element, here shown as being in the form of a link 8, pivoted, as at 8a, to the fear end 40 of the take-down bracket 5. This element or. link 8 is provided, adjacent its free end and at each side, with a rib 8b and these ribs are received by grooves Is provided in the . forward ends of the sides of the groove lf, 4j and making the latter, in effect, undercut. As previously stated, to assemble the breech piece and barrel section, the forearm 6 is slid forwardly of the barrels so as to insert the hinge pin 4a between the bearing parts, J and then the forearm is moved rearwardly and secured in position by the lever 7. When moving the forearm rearwardly. the link 8 is held upwardly in the position r. shown in Fig. 17 so that the ribs there- on will ride into the grooves Is. It will be seen that, since the link is connected to the bracket 5, which bracket is carried by the barrel section, accidental misplacement of the. link is guarded against. When the fore- arm is slid forwardly on the barrel, the bear- ing parts for the hinge pin 4a are separated and, at the same time, the link is moved out of operative relation to the cocking lever 0 so as to permit the receiver to be taken down from the barrel section. When the forearm is moved rearwardly, the bearing parts are brought into proper relation to the hinge pin 4a and, at the same time, the link 8 is brought into operative relation to the cocking lever. To When the gun is closed, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the cocking lever link 8 and the forwatdly extending arm 12® of the cock- ing lever 12 close the groove lf in the bot- tom of the breech piece 1, and have their 75 hooked ends in position for engagement with one another when the gun is broken. The locking bolt 9, under the influence of the top lever spring 10% is normally urged into advanced or operative position with its 89 front end engaging in the groove ld of the breech piece, thereby securely holding the re- ceiver and breech piece against pivoting relative to one another. To break the gun, the top lever is manually operated to the 85 right, turning the top lever post and the lug 10® carried thereby, in a direction to force the locking bolt rearwardly out of engagement with the breech piece. When the bolt is so moved rearwardly, the lugs 00 9a thereon pass from under the projections 12b on the cocking lever so that the latter is free to turn, on its pivot. In the opera- tion of breaking the gun, the cocking lever, owing to the sliding engagement of the for- 85 wardly extending arm 12® thereof with the link 8, is caused to swing on its pivot 12a so that the arms 12d swing backwardly and downwardly, and in so doing engage the lugs 13a and 14a on the hammers, if the 100 latter are uncocked, thereby camming these hammers into cocked position. When the gun is in broken condition the projections 12b on the cocking lever are in front of the lugS 9я on the-locking bolt and thereby main- 105 tain the latter in its rearward or inoperative position, as shown in Fig. 5. This ar- rangement is of advantage in that in closing the gun no force is required to push the locking bolt out of the way as would be the 110 case if the locking bolt extended into the path of swinging movement of the breech piece requiring that the latter cam the lock- ing bolt back. The breaking movement of r the gun is limited by the engagement of J the hook 12f on the cocking lever with the hooked or notched end of the link 8. Referring now more particularly to the firing mechanism, the respective hammers 13 and 14 are held in cocked condition by sears 18 and 19 which are actuated by a single trigger 21 operating through the connector 22. The sears are pivoted above the ham- mers on a common pin 20 located in the upper Avail of the frame-like portion 4s of 1 Q the receiver, and cooperate with sear notches provided on the outer face curved ends of the hammers. The sear notches on the left hand hammer are designated by 13b 13 and 13°; and those on the right hand ham-
© 1,578,838 mer by 14b and 14°. The respective sears are urged downwardly by coiled springs 18a and 19a positioned ihereabove. The trigger 21 is pivoted on a pivot pin 5 21a in a slot in the bottom wall of the por- tion 4s of the receiver. Pivotally mounted on the trigger, as is clearly shown in Figs. 27 and 29, is a connector 22 having on its lower end a forwardly extending toe 22b 10 normally urged downwardly by a spring 21b carried by a recess or bore in the trigger so that the connector 22 is normally held in operative relation with the sears. The connector is provided with laterally extend- 15 ing shoulders or lugs 22a adapted to re? pec- tively engage rearwardly extending fingers 18b and 19b on the respective sears. It will be noted, particularly from Figs. 7 and 32, that the rearwardly projecting finger 18b 20 of the left hand sear is longer than the finger of the right hand sear and that the left hand hammer 13, when cocked, has a shoulder 13d engaging and holding the connector in such position that, when the connector is raised, 26 the left hand lug 22a thereon will engage the finger 18b of the left hand sear, but the connector will be free of and not engage the right hand sear. When the left hand sear is raised out of engagement with the 30 left hand hammer, . the latter will snap forward under the influence of spring 16 causing the firing of the cartridge in the over bore. When the left hand hammer is thrown to uncocked position, the shoulder 36 13d thereon no longer bears against the connector and when the trigger is released, the connector is lowered and under the in- fluence of the spring 21b is brought forward under the finger 19b of the right hand sear. 40 A second pull on the trigger will again raise the connector, causing the same to move the right hand sear upwardly, thereby releas- ing the right hand hammer and resulting in the firing of the shell or cartridge in the 45 under bore. Thus, two successive pulls on the trigger will fire two shots, first, one in the over and then one in the under bar- rel. The spring 21h, in addition to urging the connector forwardly, serves the office of 60 returning the trigger to normal position. It will be seen, from the foregoing de- scription, that the hammers, the sears, the trigger, and parts cooperating therewith are so constructed and arranged on the receiver 65 that ready access may be had to any one of the parts. Each of the parts is relatively simple in construction, and the elements, which are relatively few in number, may be v0ry readily assembled on the receiver. The 00 hammers and sears are so relatively posi- tioned that the latter engage the hammers at points relatively remote from the pivotal points of the hammers, which is of advan- tage in that the sears may be disengaged 06 from the hammers with nicety and pre- cision and without exerting a heavy pull on the trigger. The arrangement makes for compactness and economy in construc- tion. The use of coiled springs, in com- bination with the sears and the hammers, is 70 of advantage in that the likelihood of break- age is reduced to, a minimum. In order to prevent pulling of the trigger when the gun is not in full closed condi- tion, the locking bolt is arranged, when in 75 retracted position, to hold the trigger in nor- mal position and against actuation. To this end, the trigger has a forwardly ex- tending finger 21d under which the bolt 9 lies so that the trigger cannot be pulled 80 when the gun is open or partly open. As previously stated, the locking bolt is held in inoperative or retracted position by the cocking lever when the gun is open. In order to permit the locking bolt to be moved 85 to retracted or inoperative position without injury to the parts, in the event that the trigger should stick or be held, for any rea- son, in pulled condition, the locking bolt is provided with a plunger 9b normally urged 90 rearwardly by a spring 9C and retained in place by a pin 9d. This plunger, as shown in Fig. 29, is in alinement with the toe 21d when the trigger and locking bolt are in op- erative positions. When the locking lever 05 is retracted to permit of breaking of the gun, the plunger engages the trigger (as shown in Fig. 30) and is pushed forwardly into the locking bolt, whereby injury or jam- ming of the trigger is prevented. loo The hammers 13 and 14, respectively, op- erate through firing pins 23 and 24 to fire the shells in the upper and under bores, re- spectively. These firing pins 23 and 24 are mounted for sliding movement in suitable 105 apertures in the bearing portion 4' of the receiver and respectively extend through en- larged openings 10“ and 10d in the top lever post. These openings 10“ and 10d are of sufficient size to permit of rotation of the HO post to move the locking lever out of en- gagement with the breech piece without en- gaging or interfering with the operation of the firing pins. This arrangement is of advantage in that it provides for simplicity 115 and economy in construction. The firing pins are retained against withdrawal by suitable pins 23a and 24a, respectively, and the lower pin, which is inclined downward- ly and forwardly, may have about, it a coil 120 spring 24b for normally urging the pin backwardly. On the upper surface of the portion 4s of the receiver and behind the top lever 10, is an undercut groove in which is slidably 125 mounted a safety device or piece 26 having on its under face a recess 26' . Beneath the safety piece, the receiver is slotted to accom- modate the upper end of the connector 22. When the safety piece is in “off” or unsafe 13u
4,578,638 7 position, as shown in Fig. 31, the trigger may be pulled, since the recess 26c will re- ceive the upper end of the connector 22. To make the gun safe, the safety piece is moved j rearwardly into the “safe”- or “on” position so as to bring the nnrecessed portion of the safety piece above the connector. The safe- ty piece may be held in either “on” or “off” position of adjustment by a plunger 26a be- iu hind which is a spring 26b. With guns provided with two barrels and a single trigger, there is danger of “dou- bling”, that is, having the shots in both bar- rels go off at substantially the same time, 15 due to what is know as “involuntary pull” on the trigger. Not infrequently, when a shooter pulls the trigger to fire one shot, the gun recoils so quickly that the trigger is moved backwardly relative to the shooter’s 20 fingers, and the trigger will act as if the shooter had deliberately released the same. This happens so quickly, however, that the shooter does not have time to cease pulling and actually, but unconsciously, pulls the 25 trigger a second time, the two shots being fired in such rapid succession that it often sounds as if both barrels were fired at once. To prevent such “doubling” there is pro- vided an inertia member or block 25 so "0 arranged that, when the trigger is pulled to fire one shot, the block will automatically prevent an “involuntary pull” of the trig- ger. This inertia block is here shown, for illustrative purposes, as being in the form 35 of a lever or arm 25 pivoted, as at 25a, in the receiver and having a step or ledge 25е against which bears a plunger 25a about which is a spring 25c interposed between the collar on the plunger and the receiver. 40 The upper end of the plunger is, in effect, supported for pivotal and sliding movement, and the arrangement is such that the spring will snap the inertia block past dead center, that is to one or the other side of the line 43 passing through the pivot 25a and the point at which the upper end of the plunger is in effect pivoted. The inertia block, ad- jacent its lower end and on one side, is provided with a shoulder 25d which, when 50 the trigger is in pulled condition and the inertia block is advanced, takes in under a projection or heel 21c provided on the rear of the trigger, thereby preventing the trigger from moving, under the influence 55 of the spring 21b, to is normal or unpulled position. When a shot is fired, causing the gun to recoil violently, the inertia block, owing to its tendency to remain at a state of rest, lags behind the gun and, owing to Go this lagging movement and aided by the spring pressed plunger, the inertia block will assume the position shown in Figs. 29 and 30 before the trigger can assume its unpulled or normal position. In this posi- м tion of the block, the shoulder 25е is beneath the heel 21е of the trigger so that, even though the trigger be momentarily moved, by the kick of the gun, away from the shooter’s finger, the trigger is blocked from returning to normal position. Thus, when 70 the shooter’s finger involuntarily resumes pressure on the trigger, there is no danger of “doubling” or accidentally firing a second shot. Owing to the sudden stopping of the gnn against the shoulder, for instance, and, 75 because of the inertia of the block, it will lag behind to such an extent that it will assume, under the influence of the spring pressed plunger, its normal position out of engagement with the trigger so that the 80 trigger is now free to be released and then deliberately pulled to fire the second shot, if desired. In the' event that the leveir should, for any reason, stick in operative position, that is in locking engagement with 88 the trigger, as shown in Fig. 29, the lever will be positively returned to inoperative position by the engagement therewith of the left hand hammer when the latter is cocked upon breaking of the gun. 90 The means for extracting shells from the bores of the breech piece is shown most clearly in Figs. 9, 11, lla and llb. The extractor includes a head 27 having a pair of stems 27е slidably fitting in suitable holes 95 in the receiver. Pivoted to one of the stems is a retractable part in the form of a pawl 27a pivoted as at 27a and normally urged by a spring 27е and plunger 27b outwardly through a slot in the side of the 190 breech piece into the path of a camming surface on the receiver. This camming sur- face, designated by the numeral 4h (see Fig. 5), is formed by providing a groove ad- jacent the upper forward corner of the 195 right hand side wall of the receiver. It will be seen that when the gun is opened, the camming surface 4h will engage the pawl and force the extractor rearwardly a short distance, drawing with it the shells which 110 are in the chambers of the breech piece. The withdrawn shells are shown in dotted lines Fig. 4. The extractor does not in. any way interfere with the positioning or the _ assembling of the breech piece on the 1 5 receiver, for it will be seen that, should the extractor be in such position that the pawl is not in registry with the groove having the shoulder or camming surface 4h, the pawl will be forced inwardly of the breech piece by the receiver and then, when the pawl is in proper relation to the groove, it will snap thereinto. The butt stock 28 is attached to the receiver in any suitable manner as by means 1""> of the bolt 28a. The trigger guard 29 is secured in place by a screw 29a. I claim as my invention: 1. In a firearm of the over and under type, a receiver, over and under barrels de-
8 1,678,638 mountably pivoted to said receiver, a fore- arm slidably mounted on said barrels, and means cooperating therewith for permitting the barrels to be dismounted from the re- 6 ceiver by a pure sliding movement of said forearm and without removing said fore- arm from said barrels. 2. In a firearm of the over and under type, a barrel section having over and under 10 barrels, a receiver having a hinge member, and a multi-part bearing on said barrel sec- tion for said hinge member, one of said parts of said bearing being movable, while main- tained on said barrel section, into and out 15 of operative relation to the remainder of the bearing. f 3. In a firearm of the over and under type, a barrel section having over and under bar- rels, a receiver, and a hinged connection be- 20 tween said barrel section arid receiver and including a two-part bearing on said barrel section, one part of said bearing parts being slidable relative to the other and normally fixed against removal from said barrel sec- 25 tion. ,4 . In a firearm of the over and under type, a barrel section having over and un- der barrels, a receiver? and means,for de- mountably pivoting said section to said re- 20 ceiver and including a multi-part bearing on said barrel section, one part of said bearing being slidable into and out of operative re- lation to another part, means for maintain- ing said slidable part on said barrel section ;>5 in operative and inoperative positions, and means for locking said slidable part in op- erative position. 5. In a firearm of the over and under type, a barrel section having over and under 40 barrels, a receiver, and means for demounta- bly pivoting said section to said receiver and including a multi-part bearing on said bar- rel section, one part of said bearing being slidable into and out of operative relation 45 to another part, means for maintaining said slidable part on said barrel section in opera- tive and inoperative positions, means for locking said slidable part in operative posi- tion, and a forearm for housing, at least 50 in part, said slidable bearing part and fitting in the concave spaces between the barrels. 6. In a firearm of the over and under type, a receiver, over and under > barrels 55 demotintably pivoted to said receiver, a forearm slidably mounted on said barrels, means cooperating therewith for permitting the barrels to be dismounted from the re- ceiver by a sliding movement of said fore- o.” arm and without removing said forearm from said barrels, and means associated with said forearm for locking the same in posi- tion to hold said receiver and barrels in as- sembled relation. 05 7. In a firearm of the over and under type, a.barrel section having over and un- der barrels, a receiver having a hinge pin, a two-part bearing on said barrel section for said hinge pin, one part being slidable rela- tive to'the other, means for maintaining said 70 slidable part in operative and inoperative positions on said barrel section, and means carried by said slidable part for locking the same in operative position. 8. In a firearm of the over and under 75 type, a barrel section having over and under barrels, a receiver, and a hinged connection between said barrel section and receiver and including a bearing part slidably mounted on said barrel section and. maintained in 80 operative and inoperative positions on said section while mounting said section on, and dismounting it from, said receiver, means on said barrel section for supporting said slidable bearing part, and means carried by 85 said slidable part and cooperating with said last mentioned means for locking said slida- ble part in operative position. 9. In a firearm of the over and under type, a barrel section having over and under 00 barrels, a receiver, a forearm supported for sliding movement on said barrel section and held against removal from said section when mounting said section on, and dismounting the same from, said receiver, and a hinged 05 connection between said receiver and barrel section and including a bearing part carried by said forearm and movable therewith, and means 'for locking said forearm against movement relative to said barrel section. 100 10. In a firearm of the over and under type, a receiver, over and under barrels de- mountably pivoted to said receiver, a fore- arm slidably mounted on said barrels, means cooperating therewith for permitting the 109 barrels to be dismounted from the receiver by a sliding movement of said forearm, means for limiting the extent of sliding movement of said forearm and for holding the same against detachment from said bar- 110 rels when mounting the barrels on, and dis- mounting the barrels from, said receiver, and means for locking said forearm in opera- tive position to hold the receiver and barrels in assembled relation. • 119 11. In a firearm of the over and under type, a receiver, over and under barrels de- mountably pivoted to said receiver, a fore- arm slidably mounted on said barrels, means cooperating therewith for permitting the 120 barrels to be dismounted from the receiver by a sliding movement of said forearm, means for limiting the extent of sliding movement of said forearm, and means for locking said foreagm in operative position 123 to hold the receiver and barrels in assembled relation, said last mentioned means being detachable to permit removal of said fore- arm from said barrels. 12. In a firearm of the over and under
1,578,638 О type, a barrel section having over and under barrels, a receiver having a hinge member, a multi-part bearing on said barrel section for said hinge member, one of said parts 5 being supported for sliding movement, and a lever for locking said movable part in its operative position. 13. In a firearm of the over and- under type, a barrel section having a breech piece 10 and a pair of barrels connected thereto one above the other, a receiver, and a hinged con- nection between said barrel section and re- ceiver and including a bearing part movable into and out of operative position while 15 mounted on said barrel section, and a lock on said barrel section and means cooperating with said movable bearing part and lock Jor holding said bearing part in operative position. 20 14. In a firearm of the over and under type, a barrel section having a breech piece and a pair of barrels connected thereto, one over the other, a receiver having a hinge member, a multi-part bearing on said bar- 25 rel section for said member, a lug on said barrel section, one of said bearing parts be- ing movable into and out of operative posi- tion while mounted on said barrel section, and a lever cooperating with said movable 55 part and lug and pivotally mounted on one of them to hold said movable part in opera- tive position, said lever being removable to permit of detachment of said movable bear- ing part from said barrel section. 15. In a firearm of the over and under type, a barrel section having a pair of bar- rels, one over the other, a receiver having a hinge member, a multi-part bearing on said barrel section for said hinge member. 40 a depending lug on said barrel section hav- ing grooves in its sides, one of said bearing parts being adapted to straddle said lug and having longitudinally extending ribs slidably mounted in the grooves thereof, and 4d a lever pivoted in said movable bearing part and adapted to cooperate with said lug to hold said bearing parts together. 16. In a firearm of the over and under type, a barrel section having a pair of bar- •5'* rels, one over the other, a receiver having a hinge member, a multi-part bearing on said barrel section for said hinge member, one part of said bearing being slidably mount- ed and retained in operative and inopera- tive positions on said barrel section, and means for locking said slidable bearing part in operative relation to, and resiliently urg- ing the same towards, the other bearing part. 17. In a firearm of the over and under G" type, a barrel section having a pair of bar- rels, one over the other, a depending lug on the under barrel, a receiver having a hinge member, a multi-part bearing on said barrel section for said hinge member, one of G,J said bearing parts being supported for slid- ing movement relative to said lug, and a lever pivoted on. said slidable bearing part and having a spring pressed plunger en- gaging said lug when said lever is in opera- tive position. 70 18. In a firearm of the over and under type, a barrel section having a pair of bar- rels, one over the other, and a breech piece provided on its under surface with a lon- gitudinally extending undercut groove, a ?5 receiver having a hinge member, a multi- part bearing on said barrel section for said hinge member, one part of said bearing be- ing provided in said breech piece above the forward end of said groove therein and 80 another part of said bearing being slidably secured to said barrel section, a cocking link carried by said slidable bearing part adapted to slide into said undercut groove, and means for locking said movable bearing part in 85 operative position with said link engaged in said groove. 19. In a firearm of the over and under type, a pair of barrels positioned one over the other, and a forearm fitting the under 80 barrel and a portion of the over barrel and curved inwardly between the barrels to closely fit the ’concave surfaces therebetween. 20. In a firearm of the over and under type, a pair of barrels secured together one 85 above the other, and a forearm having a groove of substantially the same cross sec- tion throughout its length, said groove being rounded at its bottom to closely receive the under barrel and having its sides adjacent 100 their upper edges curved inwardly and then outwardly to fill the concave spaces between the barrels and snugly fit the under portion of the over barrel. 21. In a firearm of the over and under lt)o type, a barrel section having a breech piece and a pair of barrels connected thereto, one over the other, a receiver hinged to said breech piece adjacent the forward lower end thereof and having side walls adapted to 110 receive between them said breech piece, rela- tively long arcuate ribs on the sides of said breech piece adjacent the rear end thereof and curved concentrically to the line of pivot between said receiver and breech piece, 115 said receiver having in its side walls similar- ly curved grooves in which said ribs closely engage when the gun is closed, said breech piece having, forwardly of the lower ends of said ribs, forwardly facing shoulders, and 120 said receiver having rearwardly facing shoulders against which said forwardly facing shoulders engage when the gun is closed. 22. In a firearm of the over and under 12° type, a barrel section having a breech piece and a pair of barrels connected thereto one over the other, a receiver, and a hinged con- nection between said receiver and barrel sec- tion and including a multi-part bearing on 130
IO 1,578,638 said barrel section, one of said parts of said bearing being movable, hammers on said barrels, a cocking lever for said hammers, and means carried by said movable bearing S part for cooperating with said cocking lever when the gun is broken. 23. In a firearm of the over and under type, a barrel section having a breech piece and a pair of barrels connected thereto, one 10 over the other, a receiver for said breech piece, hammers carried thereby, a cocking lever for said hammers pivoted to said re- ceiver and having an arm extending for- wardly beneath said breech piece, and an 16 element removably carried by said breech piece beneath the forward end of said arm of said lever and on which said arm has sliding movement when the gun is broken. 24. A cocking lever for use in a firearm 20 of the over and under type and including a body portion, an arm extending forwardly therefrom, and a pair of spaced arms ex- tending upwardly and rearwardly frcm said body portion and having hammer engaging- 25 portions and a lock engaging portion. 25. In a firearm of the over and under type, a barrel section having a breech piece and a pair of barrels connected thereto, one oyer the other, said breech 30 piece having a groove in its under surface, an element slidable into position in said groove, a receiver for s-aid breech piece, hammers carried thereby, and a pivoted cocking lever extending into said groove 35 and cooperating with said piece to cock said hammers when the gun is broken, said element and lever normally closing said groove when the gun is closed. 26. In a firearm of the over and under 40 type, a receiver, over and under barrels de- mountably pivoted to said receiver, ham- mers and a cocking lever on said receiver, a forearm slidably mounted on said barrels, means cooperating with said forearm for 45 permitting the barrels to be- dismounted from the receiver by a sliding movement of said forearm, and means carried by said forearm and co-operating with said lever when the gun is broken. 6” 27. in a firearm of the over ami under type, a barrel section having a breech piece and a pair of barrels connected thereto, one over the other-, a receiver having a hinge member, a multi-part bearing on said barrel 55 section for said hinge member, one of said parts of said bearing being movable, ham- mers on said receiver, a cocking lever for said hammers, and means carried by said movable bearing part for cooperating with so said cocking lever when the gun is broken. 28. In a firearm of the over and under type, a barrel section having a breech piece and a pair of barrels connected thereto, one over the other, a receiver having a hinge member, a multi-part bearing on said barrel 55 section for said hinge member, one of said parts of said bearing being slidably mounted on said barrel section, hammers on said re- ceiver, a cocking lever for said hammers, and an element on said slidable bearing part 70 adapted, when the latter is in operative position, to cooperate with said cocking lever when the gun is broken. 29. In a firearm of the over and under type, a barrel section having a breech piece 75 and a pair of barrels connected thereto, one over the other, a receiver provided with a hinge member and having a groove in its bottom surface, a multi-part bearing on said barrel section for said hinge member, one 80 of said parts of said bearing being movable relative to another part, hammers on said receiver, a cocking lever for said hammers pivoted to said receiver and adapted to ex- tend into said groove, and an element car- 85 ried by said movable part and adapted to engage in said groove when said movable bearing part is in operative position, said element being adapted to cooperate with the arm of said cocking lever when the gun is 90 broken/ 30. In a firearm of the over and under type, a barrel section having a breech piece and a pair of barrels connected thereto, one over the other, a receiver having a hinge, °- member, a multi-part bearing on said barrel section for said hinge member, one of said parts of said bearing being movable rela- tive to another part, hammers on said re- ceiver, a cocking lever for said hammers 100 pivoted to said receiver and having a for- wardly extending arm, said breech piece having a groove in its bottom surface adapted to receive said arm, and a pivoted link carried by said movable part and io; adapted to slide into and be locked within said groove when said movable bearing part is moved into operative position, said link being adapted to cooperate with the arm of said cocking lever when the gun is 111 broken. 31. In.a firearm of the over and under type, a barrel section having a breech piece and a pair .of barrels connected thereto, one oyer the other, a receiver provided with a 515 hinge member and having a groove in its bottom surface, a multi-part bearing on said barrel section, one of said parts of said bearing’ being slidable relative to another part, hammers on said receiver, a cocking l-° lever for said hammers pivoted to said re- ceiver and having a forwardly extending arm positioned in said groove, and a link pivoted to the rear end of said slidable hearing part and adapted to slide into and 12,J be locked within said groove when said slidable bearing part is moved into opera- tive position, said link and arm having
1,578,638 11 hooked engagement with one another when said gun is broken to limit the extent of breaking action thereof. 32. In a firearm of the over and under 5 type, a receiver, a top lever post therein, hammers pivoted to said receiver rear- wardly of said post, and a cocking lever having a pair of side members straddling said post and adapted to cooperate with the 1(J respective hammers. 33. In a firearm of the over and under type, a receiver, a top lever post therein, a pair of hammers, a pintle for pivoting said hammers in said receiver, and a cocking ,5 lever pivoted to said receiver and having a pair of spaced arms adapted to straddle said post and pintle and arranged to co- operate with the respective hammers. 34. In a firearm of the over and under 20 h’Pe> a receiver having a substantially ver- tical bearing portion, a top lever post there- in, a pair of hammers pivoted side by side rearwardly of said beaing portion, and a cocking lever pivoted in said receiver be- n neath said bearing portion and having a pair of spaced arms straddling said bear- ing portion and arranged to respectively cooperate with said hammers. 35. A cocking lever for use in a firearm 30 of the over and under type and including a body portion, an arm extending forwardly therefrom, and a pair of spaced arms ex- tending upwardly and rearwardly from said body portion, said forwardly extend- о.-, ing arm having a hook at its forward end, and said upwardly and rearwardly extend- ing arms having hammer engaging portions and locking bolt engaging poitions. 36. In a firearm of the over and under jo type, a receiver, hammers pivoted therein, a locking bolt, means for operating the same, and a cocking lever pivoted in said receiver beneath said bolt and having a pair of spaced arms straddling said bolt and adapt- - ed to respectively cooperate with said ham- mers. 37. In a firearm of the over and under type, a receiver, a top lever post therein, hammcis pivoted in said receiver rearwardly c of said post, a locking bolt beneath said post and adapted to be reciprocated there- by, and a cocking lever pivoted in said receiver having a pair of spaced arms straddling said bolt and post and arranged 5-j to respectively cooperate with said ham- mers. 38. In a firearm of the over ашГ under type, a receiver having a vertical bearing portion, a top lever post journalled in said ic portion, hammers pivoted in said receiver rearwardly of said post, a locking bolt slid- ably mounted beneath said post and adapted to be reciprocated thereby, and a cocking lever pivoted beneath said locking bolt and adapted to straddle said locking bolt and ®5 cock said hammers when the gun is broken. 39. In a 'firearm of the over and under type, a receiver, a top lever post having a bearing therein, a pair of hammers posi- tioned side by side rearwardly of said post, 70 a locking bolt beneath and actuated by said post;-and a cocking lever pivoted in said receiver and having a body portion, a for- wardly extending arm, and a pair of up- wardly and rearwardly extending arms 75 straddling said bolt and adapted to cooper- ate with said hammers to cock the same when the gun is broken. 40. In a firearm of the over and under type, a barrel section, a receiver pivoted 80 thereto, a locking bolt carried by the re- ceiver and adapted to lock the.gun in closed condition, firing mechanism provided with a trigger, and means between said trigger and locking bolt whereby the latter prevents 86 actuation of the trigger when the gun is open. 41. In a firearm of the over and under type, a barrel section and a receiver pivoted thereto, a reeiprocable locking bolt for se- 00 curing the receiver and barrel section in closed condition, and firing mechanism in- cluding a pivoted trigger, said trigger and bolt being so arranged that the bolt, when in inoperative position, is in the path of 95 movement and prevents actuation of said trigger. 42. In a firearm of the over and under type,, a barrel section, a receiver pivoted thereto, a locking bolt in the receiver and 100 adapted to engage said barrel section to lock the gun in closed condition, and firing mechanism carried by the receiver and in- cluding a trigger, said locking bolt and trig- ger being so arranged that the locking bolt 105 prevents actuation of the trigger when the locking bolt is in inoperative position, and said locking bolt may be moved to inoper- ative position when the trigger is in pulled position. 11 ° 43. In a firearm of the over and under type, a barrel section, a receiver pivoted thereto, a locking bolt member carried by the receiver and adapted to engage said barrel section to lock the gun in closed con- 115 dition, filing mechanism including a trigger member, and means for preventing actuation of said trigger member when said bolt mem- ber is in inoperative position, said means being movably carried by one of said mem- ~ hers to permit said locking bolt member to be moved into inoperative position when said trigger member is in pulled position. 44. In a firearm of the over and under type, a barrel section, a receiver hinged 1“а thereto, a locking bolt on said receiver and adapted to engage said barrel section to lock the gun in closed condition, firing
12 1,578,638 mechanism including a trigger, and a spring pressed / plunger carried by said locking bolt and lying in the path of movement, to prevent actuation, of the trigger when the 6 locking bolt is in inoperative position, said plunger permitting of movement of the locking bolt to inoperative position when said trigger is in pulled position. 45. In a firearm of the over and under 10 type, a barrel section having a breech piece and a pair of barrels connected' thereto one above the other; a receiver for said breech piece; and firing mechanism carried by said receiver and including a pair of hammers, a 15 sear for each hammer, a single trigger, a connector pivoted on said trigger and ar- ranged to successively actuate said sears on repeated pulls of the trigger, and a spring between said trigger and connector normally 20 urging the latter into operative relation to said sears. 46. In a firearm of the over and under type, a barrel section having a breech piece and a pair of barrels connected thereto, one 25 above the other; a receiver for said breech piece; and firing mechanism carried by said receiver and including a pair of hammers, a sear for each hammer, a single trig- ger, a connector pivoted to said trig- 30 ger and: arranged to successively actuate said sears on repeated pulls of the trigger, and a spring between said trigger and con- nector normally urging the connector into operative relation to said sears and said 35 trigger into normal position. 47. In a firearm of the over and under type, a barrel section having a breech piece and a pair of barrels connected thereto, one above the other; a receiver for said breech 4:1 piece; and firing mechanism carried by said receiver and including a pair of hammers, a tear for each hammer, a single trigger, a connector pivoted to said trigger and ar- ranged to successively actuate said sears on J ’ repeated pulls of the trigger, and a spring carried by said trigger and exerting force against said connector for urging the latter into operative relation to said sears and said trigger into normal position. 50 48. In a firearm of the over and under type, a barrel section having a breech piece and a pair of barrels connected thereto, one above the other; a receiver for said breech piece; and firing mechanism including a pair of hammers, a sear for each hammer, a single trigger, and a connector on said trig- ger arranged to successively engage and re- lease the sears and maintained out of op- erative relation to one of said sears by the hammer, when cocked, associated with the other sear. 49. In a firearm of the over and under type, a barrel section having a breech piece and a pair of barrels connected thereto, one above the other ; a receiver for said brsa«h piece; and firing mechanism including a pair of hammers, a sear for each hammer, a single trigger, a connector pivoted on said trigger and adapted to engage first one sear and then the other sear on successive pulls 70. of the trigger, and means on the hammer as- sociated with the first sear for holding said connector out of operative relation to the second sear when said hammer is in cocked condition. 15 50. In a firearm of the over and under type, a barrel section having a breech piece and a pair of barrels connected thereto, one above the other; a receiver for said breech piece, and firing mechanism including a pair 80 of hammers, a sear for each hammer, a single trigger, a connector pivoted on said trigger and arranged to engage first one sear and then the other sear on successive pulls of the trigger, a cam on the hammer associated 85 with the first sear for holding said connector out of operative relation to the second sear when said hammer is in cocked condition, and a spring normally urging said connector into operative relation to said sears. 00 51. In a firearm of the over and under type, a barrel section having a breech piece and a pair of barrels connected thereto, one above the other; a receiver for said breech piece; and firing mechanism including a 05 pair of hammers pivoted side by side, a pair of sears, one for each hammer and piv- oted side by side and extending one beyond the other, a trigger, a connector pivoted thereto and arranged on successive pulls of 100 the trigger to successively engage the pro- jecting sear and then the other one, and a cam on that hammer associated with the projecting sear for holding said connector out of operative relation to the other sear 105 when said hammer is in cocked position. 52. In a firearm of the over and under type, a barrel section having a breech piece and a pair of barrels connected thereto, one above the other; a receiver for said breech 110 piece; and firing mechanism including a pair of hammers, a sear for each hammer, a single trigger, a connector’ carried by said trigger and adapted to actuate said sears, and a safety device cooperating with said JjS connector to prevent pulling of the trigger. 53. In a firearm of the over and under type, a barrel section having a breech piece and a pair of barrels connected thereto, one above the other; a receiver for said breech piece; and firing mechanism including a pair of hammers, a sear for each hammer, a single trigger, a connector carried by said trigger and adapted to actuate said sears, and a safety device slidably carried by- the receiver above said connector and arranged to be moved into and out of the path or movement of the latter. 54. In a firearm of the over and under type, & barrel section having a breech piece ’''L
1,*78,888 ia 5 10 15 20 26 20 40 45 50 55 00 65 and a pair of barrels connected thereto, one above the other; a receiver for said breech piece; and firing mechanism positioned in a transverse opening in said receiver and including a pair of hammers, a sear for each hammer, a pivoted trigger, an upwardly ex- tending connector pivoted to the trigger and adapted to actuate the sears, the upper wall of the opening in said receiver having a slot idapted to accommodate the upper end of the connector, and a slidable safety device clos- ing said slot and having a recess adapted to register therewith when the safety device is in “off” position to permit actuation of the trigger. 55. In a firearm of the over and under type, a barrel section having a breech piece and a pair of barrels connected thereto, one above the other; a receiver pivoted to said barrel section; a locking bolt carried by said receiver and adapted to cooperate with said breech piece to lock the firearm in closed condition; said receiver having a bearing portion provided with a slot in its wall, a post journalled in said bearing portion and operatively connected to said bolt, a pin projecting from said post through said slot in said bearing portion, and a spring en- gaging said pin and normally urging said post in a direction to move said locking lever into operative position. 5G. In a firearm of the over and under type, a barrel section having a breech piece and a pair of barrels connected thereto, one above the other, a receiver pivoted to the barrel section and having an extractor cam- ming surface, and an extractor carried by the breech piece ard having a part normally in the path of movement of said camming surface and arranged to be pressed inwardly of the breech piece by the receiver in the event said part and camming surface, are not in proper relation when the breech piece is moved into the receiver. 57. In a firearm of the over and under type, a barrel section having a breech piece, a pair of barrels connected thereto, one above tbe other; a receiver pivoted to said barrel section and having an extractor cam- ming surface; and a longitudinally movable extractor carried by said breech piece and having a pivoted part and a spring normally urging said pivoted part into the path of movement of said camming surface. 58. In a firearm of the over and under type, firing mechanism having a pair of hammers, a single trigger operatively asso- ciated with said hammers to successively actuate the same on repeated pulls, means actuated by the “kick” of the gun for pre- venting “involuntary pull” of the trigger, and means associated with said last men- tioned means for aiding movement thereof into and out of operative position. 59. In a firearm of the over and under type, firing mechanism having a pair of hammers, a single trigger operativly asso- ciated therewith for successively actuating the same on repeated pull of the trigger, a pivoted inertia lever adapted to be thrown ’0 by the “kick” of the gun into momentary locking relation to the trigger to prevent “involuntary pull”, and a spring associated with said lever and arranged to snap the same to its extreme positions after move- 75 ment of the lever has been initiated by the “kick” of the gun. 60. In a firearm of the over and under type, firing mechanism having a pair of hammers, a single trigger operatively asso- 80 dated therewith for successively actuating the same on repeated pulls of the trigger, a pivoted inertia lever arranged to.be thrown by the “kick” of the gun into momentary locking relation to the trigger to prevent 85 “involuntary pull”, a pivoted part engaging said lever, and a spring for snapping the point of engagement between said part and > lever past a line intersecting the pivots of said lever and part. । 90 61. In a firearm of the over and under type, firing mechanism having a pair of hammers, a single trigger, operatively as- sociated therewith to successively actuate the same on repeated pulls, inertia means auto- 83 matically thrown by the recoil of the gun into operative relation of the trigger for preventing “involuntary pull” of the latter, and means associated with said hammers and arranged to positively move said last 100 mentioned means out of operative relation to the trigger when the hammers are cocked. 62. In a firearm of the over and under type, firing mechanism having a pair of hammers, a single trigger operatively asso- 105 dated therewith to successively actuate the same on repeated pulls, an inertia member automatically thrown by the recoil of the gun into operative relation to the trigger to prevent “ involuntary pull” of the latter, 110 and means on one of said hammers, for moving said inertia member out of operative relation to the trigger when said hammer is cocked. 63. In a firearm of the over and under 118 type, firing mechanism having a pair of hammers, a single trigger operatively asso- ciated therewith to successively actuate said hammers on repeated pulls, a pivoted inertia lever thrown by the “kick” of the gun into 120 momentary locking engagement with the trigger to prevent “involuntary pull” of the latter, and a cam on one of said hammers arranged, when said lever is cocked, to engage said lever and return it to inopera- 128 tive position. 64. In a firearm of the over and under type, firing mechanism having a pair of hammers, a single trigger operatively asso- ciated therewith for successively actuating 130
the same on repeated pulls of the trigger, a pivoted inertia lever adapted to be thrown by the “kick” of the gun into momentary locking relation to the trigger to prevent 5 “involuntary pull” of the latter, a spring associated with said lever and arranged to snap the same to its extreme positions, and a cam on one of said hammers adapted, when cocked, to engage said lever, in the JO event the latter should stick in operative position, and positively return the same to inoperative position. 65. In a firearm of the over and under type, a barrel section, a receiver pivoted 35 thereto, a locking bolt in said receiver and adapted to engage said barrel section to lock the gun in closed condition, a pair of hammers, a trigger operatively associated therewith to successively actuate the same 20 on repeated pulls, means between said lock- ing bolt and trigger for preventing actuat- ing of the trigger when the locking bolt is in inoperative position and for petmitting operation of the locking bolt when tfie trig- 23 ger is in pulled position, and an inertia mem- ber automatically thrown by the' ykick” of the gun into operative relation, to said trigger to prevent “involuntary pull”. G6. In a firearm of the over and under 30 type, a barrel section, a receiver pivoted thereto, a locking bolt in said receiver adapt- ed to engage said barrel section to lock the gun in closed condition, a pair of hammers carried by said receiver, a trigger operative- 35 ly associated with said hammers to succes- sively actuate the same on repeated pulls, means between said bolt and trigger for pre- venting actuation of the latter when the bolt is in inoperative position and for per- $,688 mitting the bolt to be moved into inopera- 40 tive position when the trigger is in pulled position, an inertia member automatically thrown by the “kick” of the gun into op- erative relation to the trigger to prevent “involuntary pull”, and means on one of 45 said hammers for returning said inertia member to inoperative position when said hammer is cocked in the event that said member should stick in operative position. 67. In a firearm of the over and under 50 type, a barrel section, a receiver pivoted thereto, firing mechanism including a ham- mer and a trigger, a locking bolt for lock- , ing the gun in closed condition, a cocking member for cocking said hammer when the 55 gun is broken, interengaging means between said locking bolt ancl cocking member adapt- ed to hold said locking bolt in retracted po- sition when the gun is open, and means be- tween said locking bolt and trigger for pre- (iu venting actuation of the trigger when the gnn is open. G8. In a firearm of the over and under type, a barrel section, a receiver pivoted thereto, a locking bolt in the receiver for (1’’ locking the gun in closed condition, firing mechanism including a hammer and a trig- ger, a cocking lever for said hammer, means between said cocking lever and bolt for ho ding the bolt iu inoperative position 1" when the gun is open, ancl means between said locking bolt and trigger for preventing actuation of the trigger when the bolt is in inoperative position and permitting the bolt to be moved to inoperative position when the *•’ trigger is in pulled position. JOHN M. BROWNING.
March 30,1926 1,578,639 J. M. BROWNING FIREARM
1,578,639 March 30,1926 J. M. BROWNING FIREARM Filed Sept. 29, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 2
1,578,639 March 30,1926. J. M. BROWNING FIREARM Filed Sept. 29, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 3
March 30 , 1926 1,578,639 J. M. BROWNING FIREARM Filed Sept. 29, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 4
BhST AVAILABLE COPY Patented Mar. 30, 1926. 1,578,639 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. JOHN M. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH. FIREARM. Application filed September 29, 1924. Serial No. 740,454. To dll whom it may concern': Be 5t known that I, John M. Bbowning, a citizen of the United States, and a resi- dent of Ogden, county of Weber, State of 5 Utah, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Firearm, of which the following is a specification. This invention relates to firearms of the shotgun type-, and certain features of the in- 50 vention find peculiar adaptation in firearms of the “over and under” type, such as is disclosed in my со-pending application, Se- rial No. 668,575, filed October 15,1923. The aim of the present invention is to 10 provide a firearm of the character described, having various features of novelty and ad- vantage. A more particular object of the invention is to provide a gun of the over and under 20 type with the forearm adapted to fit the under barrel and a portion of the over bar- rel in a manner generally similar to that shown in my said со-pending application, the present invention, however, being such that 25 the forearm will closely fit throughout its length against the barrels, substantially ob- viating all spaces between the barrels and the forearm; the forearm may be assembled on and dissembled from the barrels with- 80 out slipping the same over the forward end of the latter, a feature which is particularly advantageous where the forward end of the barrel i& of increased diameter, to provide additional strength on account of the choke; 3.r> and the forearm (which is preferably slid- ably mounted on the barrels to permit the latter to be dismounted from the receiver) may be caused to frictionally engage the barrels with such pressure that the forearm 40 will be held against rattling or vibrations, and there will be sufficient “drag” on the forearm to permit it to be manually shifted in a most agreeable manner. •A further object of the invention is to pro- 48 vide an improved firing mechanism which is simple and economical in construction, and effective in operation, the arrangement being such that the barrels may be fired selectively, in either order; that is, the over barrel first 80 and then the.under one, or vice versa. A still further object of the invention is to provide improved mechanism by means of which a discharged shell is autonratically ejected from tho barrel in which it is fired, 55 and an unfired shell is retracted, but not ejected, when the gun is “broken.” Other objects of the invention will be in part obvious and in part pointed out in the following detailed description. - The invention accordingly consists in the 80 features of construction, combination of ele- ments, and arrangements' of parts wdrich will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter . set forth, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the appended 88 claims. In the accompanying drawings, wherein I have shown for the purposes of illustra- tion one embodiment which the present in- vention may take, 70 Figure 1 is a left hand side elevation of the gun with the front portion of the barrels and the shoulder portion of the butt stock broken away, a portion of the forward end of the stock being’also broken away to ex- 70 pose the firing mechanism; Fig. 2 is a similar view but showing the parts in their positions when the gun is in an opened, or what is commonly termed “broken” condition, the forearm being omit- 80 ted; Fig. 3 is a right hand side elevation of the receiver and the rear end of the barrel section, the right hand side wall of the re- ceiver being broken away and the firing 88 mechanism being illustrated with the right hand hammer cocked and the left hand one uncocked; Fig. 4 is a Anew similar to Fig. 3 but with the barrel section entirely omitted and both 90 hammers uncocked; the parts may be given the positions shown by taking down the gun and then pulling the trigger twice; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the rear end of the barrel section; 96 . Fig. 6 is a view in front elevation of the stem or post of the top lever with its lower end partly in section; Fig. 7 is a left hand side view of the top lever and its stem or post; 100 Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the connec- tor or element through which the trigger operates the sears; Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a member, herein termed a “shifter”, for setting or 105 turning the connector so that the barrels will be fired in the desired order; Fig. 10 js an exploded view showing in bottom elevation the parts of the forearm and that portion of the barrel section to ПО which the forearm is connected; Fig. 11 is a transverse sectional view taken
2 1,678,639 substantially on the line 11—11 of Fig. 1 through the barrels and. forearm; Fig. 12 shows a right hand view, a front view, and a left hand view’, respectively, of Б the right hand hammer; Fig. 13 shows corresponding views of. the left hand hammer; Fig. 14 is a view in top plan of the right hand extractor actuator or ejecting lever and io the catch or bolt associated therewith; Fig. 15 is a left hand side view of the parts shown in Fig. 14; Fig. 16 is a perspective view of the cock- ing lever; 15 . Fig. 17 is a perspective view of the lock- ing bolt; Fig.-18 is-а perspective view of the sears; Fig. 19 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on line 19—19 of Fig. 3, 20 through the receiver and breech piece; Fig. 20 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 20—20 of Fig. 4; Fig. 21 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 21—21 of Fig. 2; 25 Fig. 22 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through the receiver substantially on the line 22—22 of Fig. 3; and Fig. 23 is a view taken on the line 23—23 of Fig. 4, and illustrates the position which 3t' the connector takes after the trigger is pulled the first time to uncock the right hand ham- mer, and the trigger then released. Referring to the drawings in detail, the “barrel section” (so termed for convenience) 86 includes a breech piece 25 having two longi- tudinal holes bored through it, one above the other, and the respective over and under barrels 26 and 27 screwed or otherwise se- cured in the forward ends of these bores. 40 The breech piece 25 has at its forward lower corner and just below the under barrel, a forwardly facing reeess or groove 28 which receives a hinge pin or member 29 extending between the side walls 30 of the receiver, the 45 lower forward corners of these side walls being curved as at 31, concentrically to the hinge pin 29. Adapted to engage against these curved surfaces 31 are curved surfaces 33 provided on the rear end of a take-down 5° bracket 32, which is of like construction and of similar operation to the corresponding take-down bracket described and claimed in my said со-pending application. The take- down bracket, as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 5, is 5® a relatively narrow rectangular piece or block having at its rear end a portion of greater width provided on its forward face with dowel pins 36 which take into suitable recesses 37 in the rear end of the forearm 80 designated generally by the numeral 38. The forearm is provide at its rear end with a slot 39 in which the narrow portion of the take-down bracket is seated. - The forearm 38 is similar to the forearm 88 shown in my со-pending application in that it is hollow throughout its entire length and is substantially U-shape in cross-section, its sides being curved inwardly adjacent their upper edges so that the under barrel will fit snugly in the bottom of the rounded 70 groove, and the sides of the groove will fit in and fill up the concave spaces between the two barrels and closely fit and partly surround the over barrel. In accordance with the present invention, the forearm, in- 75 stead of being made in a single piece, is formed of two parts or halves connected to- gether by a bolt 41 passing through the parts and through a slot 42 between the over and under barrels adjacent their rear 80 ends. Guns of the type here disclosed are made with their barrels of increased diam- eter at their forward ends where the pres- sure of the shot is relatively high on ac- count of the choke, the intermediate portions 85 of the barrels having relatively thin walls for the sake of lightness in weight. It will be seen that by making the forearm in two sections; that is, longitudinally splitting the same, the forearm may be assembled on 80 the barrels without slipping the same over the forward ends of the latter, and the sec- tions may be drawn closely against the bar- rels (although the latter vary in diameter) ’ so that there will be no unsightly spaces be- 85 tween the forearm and the barrels, and in which spaces dirt or the like might collect. A further object in making the forearm in two sections is that the frictional engage- ment between the forearm and the barrels 180 may be adjusted to prevent looseness there- between, and there will be sufficient “drag” on the forearm to permit an agreeable man- ual sliding movement thereof. The fore- arm is secured to the forward end of the 105 take-down bracket by means of a screw 42, the sections being longitudinally grooved, as shown in Figs. 10 and 11, to accommodate this screw.- The forward end of the screw passes through a union cap 43 countersunk 110 into the forward ends of the forearm sec- tion, and having at each side a fin 44 which take into corresponding grooves 45 in the ends of the forearm sections so as to further hold the sections together. 115 The take-down lever bracket 32, together with the forearm to which it is secured, is slidably mounted on the barrel section so as to permit separation of the bearing parts of the hinged connection between the bar- 120 rel section and receiver when it is desired io dismount the barrel section from the re- ceiver. To slidably support tire take-down bracket for such movement and to limit the extent of such movement there is provided 12 on the underside of the under barrel 27 a depending lug 50 having a groove 51 at each side immediately beneath the under barrel; and the narrow rectangular portion of the take-down bracket, which is hollowed 30
1,578,039 5 10 15 20 25 out to receive this lug, has, on the forward upper portions of its inner faces, ribs 52 slidably mounted on the grooves 51. Rear- wardly of the ribs 52 the opening or slot in the take-down bracket 32 is of sufficient width and length to permit this bracket to be slipped into and from position on the lug 50, as is fully described in my said co-pend- ing application. The numeral 53 desig- nates a take-down lever suitably pivoted in the bracket and carrying a plunger 54 nor- mally urged forwardly into engagement with the lug by a spring 55. It will be seen, with the arrangement so far described, that to assemble the receiver onto the barrel section the lever 53 is thrown down to the position shown in Fig. 5, and the bracket'32 is moved forwardly by . slid- ing the forearm forwardly on the barrels; the receiver is- positioned with the hinge pin 29 engaging- the bearing or recess 28; the forearm, together with the bracket, is moved rearwardly to bring the bearing surfaces 33 and 31 into engagement, and then the take- down lever is thrown upward у and for- 30 35 40 46 60 55 60 wardly into the position shown in Fig. 2 so as to bring it into engagement with the lugs 50 and thereby securely lock the forearm and the bracket from moving forwardly. Dismountal of the receiver from the barrel section is accomplished by a forward. slid- ing movement of the forearm after the take-down lever 53 has been thrown down. As disclosed in my со-pending application, for the purpose of securely holding the breech piece and receiver together against the force of an explosion of a shell, the inside faces of the side walls of the re- ceiver may have arcuate slots 60 which re- ceive corresponding curved ribs 61 on the sides of the breech piece when the gun is closed. Further provided on the sides of the breech piece adjacent the rear lower corner thereof are forwardly facing shoul- ders 62 which engage and bear against rear- wardly facing shoulders 63, one provided on the inner side of each wall of the receiver adjacent the lower end of the arcuate slots 60. The gun is locked in its closed position by a locking bolt 65 mounted for sliding movement in the receiver beneath the por- tion 66 which forms a vertical bearing in which the stem or post 67 of the top lever 68 is journaled. The locking bolt is pro- vided at one side, as most clearly shown in Fig. 17, with a notch 69 which receives a projection or pawl 70 pivoted in the lower end of the post 67 so that when the top lever is swung outwardly to the right the locking bolt is moved rearwardly and out of en- gagement with a transverse groove-72 pro- vided adjacent the bottom of the rear face of the breech piece 25, whereupon the gun is free to be broken. The locking bolt is normally urged into operative or locking position by the action of the spring 73 which bears at one end against a pin or screw 74 extending laterally from the top lever post and through a slot in the bearing portion 66 of the receiver. The other end TO of the spring rests against the bearing por- tion 66. The serew or pin 74 maintains the top lever post in position in the receiver. The construction of the top lever post and the bearing therefor is generally similar TO to that disclosed in my со-pending appli- cation. In the present instance, however, "the connection between -the top lever post and the locking bolt is such that the post 67 and the opening in the portion 66 in 80 which the post is journaled may be of rela- tively small diameter to effect economy in weight and space in the receiver, while at the same time the post may be inserted into and be withdrawn from the bearing por- 86 tion 66. To this end the member 70 is piv- oted in the lower end of the post so that it will assume the dotted line position shown in Fig. 6 when inserting or withdrawing the post. The member will be cammed out and held in the full line position of Fig. 6 by an inclined rear face 75 of the notch 69 in the locking bolt. The cocking lever,. designated generally by the numeral 80, has a body portion pivoted, by means of a pin 81, in the re- ceiver beneath the top lever post 67. Ex- tending rearwardly and upwardly from each side of the body portion of the cocking lever is an arm 82 suitably spaced apart to accommodate the locking bolt 65, the top lever post and its bearing portion, and the body portions 'of the hammers 83 and 84. The firing mechanism, of which the ham- mers constitute parts, is located in an open- ing of a frame-like portion 85 of the receiver 05 100 105 110 extending rearwardly from the bearing por- tion 66. Both of these hammers are pivoted at the forward lower corner of said open- ing and immediately above the locking bolt by means of a common pivot member or pin- tle 86. When the left hand hammer 84 is re- leased, it is actioned by a left hand main spring 87 to explode the shell in the over bore of the breech piece. When the right hand 115 hammer 83 is released, it is actioned by a right hand main spring 88 and causes the firing of the shell in the under bore. Associ- ated with the respective springs are plungers 89 and 90 which, respectively, bear at the for- 12 ward ends against the hammers 84 and 83, as will be clear from the drawings. The left hand hammer has a laterally extending projection 92 positioned in the path of move- „r ment of the left hand arm 82 of the cock- ° ing lever, and the right hand hammer is provided with a similar projection 93 lo- cated in the path of movement of the right hand arm of the cocking lever. The cocking lever has a forwardly extending portion 95 1 65
1,678,639 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 00 05 positioned between the side walls 30 of the receiver adjacent their lower edges. This forwardly extending portion is provided with a central rib 96 having a hooked end 97 adapted to interlock with the rear hooked end 91 of an element here shown as being in the form of a link 98 pivoted, as at 99, to the rear end of the take-down bracket 32. This element or link is provided, ad- jacent its free end, with a pair of lugs 100 which are adapted to interlock with oppositely disposed lugs 101 depending from the breech piece, as shown most clearly in Figs. 3 and 5. As previously stated, to as- semble the breech piece and barrel section, the forearm is slid forwardly of the barrels and, after the hinge pin 29 is brought into position-withrn the bearings 28, the fore- arm is moved rearwardly and secured in position by a take-down lever 53. When thus moving the forearm rearwardly, the link is held upwardly so that the lugs 100 will be properly engaged with the lugs 101. This arrangement is generally similar to that disclosed in my said со-pending application. When the gun is closed, as shown in Fig. 3, the cocking lever link 98 and the forward- ly extending portion 95 of the cocking lever close the bottom of the space between the side walls 30 of the receiver and have their hooked ends in position for engagement with one another when the gun is broken. The locking bolt 65, under the influence of the top lever spring 73, is normally urged into advanced or operative position with its front end engaging in the groove 72 of the breech piece, thereby securely holding the receiver and breech piece against pivoting relative to one another. To break the gun, the top lever is manually swung to the right, turn- ing the top lever post and the pawl 70 carried thereby in a direction to force the locking bolt rearwardly out of engagement with the breech piece. In the operation of breaking the gun, the cocking lever, owing to its engagement with the link 98, is caused to swing on its pivot 81 so that the arms 82 swing backwardly and downwardly, and, in so doing, engage the lugs 92 and 93 on the hammers, if the latter are uncocked, thereby camming these hammers into cocked posi- tion. For the purpose of causing the cock- ing level- to maintain the locking bolt in its rearward or inoperative position when the gun is in broken condition, as shown in Fig. 2, an undercut shoulder 105 is provided on the rear end of the rib 94 on the cocking lever, and the forward end of the locking bolt has an inclined surface .or shoulder 106 adapted to take in under the shoulder 105. The locking bolt is normally urged forward- ly by the spring 73 so that the shoulders 106 and 105 will be held in engagement. This arrangement is very simple and effective, and is of advantage in that, in closing the gun, no force is required to push the lock- ing bolt out of the way, as would be the case if the locking bolt extended into the path of swinging .movement of the breech piece, requiring that the latter cam the 70 locking bolt back. Referring now, more particularly, to the firing mechanism, the respective hammers 83 and 84 are held in cocked condition by sears 108 and 109, which are actuated in the de- 75 sired sequence by a single trigger 110 oper- ating through a connector 111. The sears are pivoted above the hammers on a pin 112 and are urged by springs 113 into co-oper- ating relation with sear notches 114 and 115 80 on the outer curved ends of the respective hammers 83 and 84. The trigger 110 is pivoted on a pin 116 and in a slot in the bottom wall of the frame-like portion 85 of the receiver. Ex- 85 tending laterally from the trigger is a short stud 117 having a recess (see Fig. 21) which receives the lower round end of the con- nector 111. The upper end of the connector is positioned between and guided by rear- 80 wardly extending fingers 118 on the sears so that the upper end of the connector is held against lateral movement. The con- nector i£ urged forwardly towards the ham- mers by a spring 119 about a plunger 120, 85 the lower end of which is seated on a shoul- • der 121 on the connector; the upper end of the plunger being slidably mounted in an opening 122 in the upper wall of the frame- like portion 85 of the receiver. The con- 100 nector has a forwardly extending portion 123 adapted to be brought into selective en- gagement with the outer curved surfaces of the hammers when the latter are in cocked condition. The top edge of this portion 123 105 constitutes a shoulder or abutment adapted by turning the connector on a longitudinal axis to be selectively positioned beneath and to engage projections 124 and 125 on the rear ends of the respective sears 108 and 109, 110 but just forwardly of the fingers 118. The connector is further provided with lateral- ly extending lugs 126 adapted to be respec- tively engaged with the lugs 124 and 125 of the respective sears, depending on the П5 position of the connector. Extending later- ally from the connector adjacent its lower end is a fin 127 engaging in a notch 128 in the shifter 129 mounted for sliding move- ment in the slot in the bottom wall of the 120 frame-like portion 85 alongside of the trig- ger. This shifter has a knurled or rough- ened surface 130 against which the finger or thumb may be pressed when it is desired to move the shifter from one position to 125 another. In the present instance, the shifter is very simply -and effectively held in position by a spring 132, one end of which extends into a recess 133 in the receiver and the other end of which is turned over 130
1.678,639 В to engage a longitudinally curved surface 134 on the shifter. This surface 134 is transversely inclined, as shown in Fig. 21, and that end of the spring which engages В the surface is similarly inclined so that the surface 134 tends to cam and hold the spring . in position. The spring serves to hold the shifter in place on the receiver and also to retain the shifter in each of its extreme or 10 operative positions. The operation of the firing mechanism so far described is briefly as follows. Assum- ing that it is desired to fire the shell in the over bore first, the shifter 129 will be 16 moved to its forward extreme position, thereby turning the connector about a verti- cal axis to a position where the forwardly extending portion 123 engages the left hand hammer and is positioned beneath the pro- 20 jection 124 of the left hand sear. When the trigger is pulled the first time, the con- nector will be raised, causing the projection 123 to lift the left hand sear, whereupon the left hand hammer will be released and the 26 cartridge in the over bore will be fired. When the left hand hammer is thus re- leased, it moves out of engagement with the projection 123, and the .connector will swing forwardly until the right hand lug 30 126 engages the rear end of the projection 125 on the right hand sear (see Fig. 3) and the parts will retain this position as long as the trigger is held in pulled con- dition. When the trigger is released, the 35 connector, under the influence of the spring 119, will move downwardly, whereupon the right hand lug 126 will be disengaged from the rear end of the projection 125, permitting the connector to swing forwardly 40 so that' the right hand lug 126 will be be- neath the projection 125 of the right hand sear, as shown in Fig. 4. When the trigger is pulled a second time, the right hand sear will be raised to permit release of the 45 right hand hammer and firing of the shell in the under bore. Both barrels having been fired, the gun will be broken for re- loading, and the hammers, when they are swung back into cocked position by the 50 cocking lever, will cam the connector to the position shown in Fig. 2. If it is desired to fire the under barrel first, the shifter will be moved to its rearmost position so that the connector will be turned to a posi- 0 tion where the projection 123 engages the right hand hammer and is positioned be- neath the lug 125 of the right hand sear, as shown in Figs. 21 and 22. In the latter figure, it will be seen that the left hand 0 lug 126 is not in position beneath the pro- jection 124 of the left hand sear. When the trigger is pulled, the right hand hammer will be released, and then, when the trigger c5 is released, the connector will swing for- ward to bring the left hand lug beneath the projection 124 of the left hand sear, as shown in Fig. 23. It will be noted that the arrangement for effecting selective fir- ing is extremely simple. It comprises but relatively few parts which may be cheaply 70 manufactured and readily assembled. The connector may be very easily and quickly set to fire either barrel first by merely slid- ing the shifter from one position to the other. The hammers 83 and 84, respectively, 75 operate through firing pins 140 and 141 to fire the shells in the under and over bores, respectively. These firing pins are mounted for sliding movement in suitable apertures in the bearing portion 66 of the receiver, 80 the post 67 being cut away as at 142 to accommodate the pins. . On the upper sur- face of the frame portion 85 of the receiver and behind the top post lever is an under- cut groove in which is slidably mounted a 88 safety device or piece 143 having, on its under surface, a recess 144 which, when the safety device is in “off” position, is in alinement with the upper end of the plunger 120, permitting this end of the plunger to 00 project into the recess when the trigger is pulled. To make the gun safe, the safety device is moved rearwardly into the safe or “on” position, where the unrecessed por- tion of the safety device is above the 08 plunger so that the plunger, together with the connector, cannot be raised when it is attempted to pull the trigger. In order to prevent pulling of the trigger when the gun is not fully closed, the trigger is pro- 100 vided with a forwardly extending finger 146 under which the rear end of the lock- ing bolt lies when the latter is in retracted position, as shown in Fig. 2. In order to permit the locking bolt to be moved to re- 105 tracted or inoperative position without in- jury to the parts, in the event that the trigger should stick or be held, for any reason, in pulled condition, the locking box is provided with a plunger 147 normally 110 urged rearwardly by a spring 148. This plunger, as shown in Fig. 3, is in alinement with the finger 146 when the trigger is in pulled position and the locking bolt is in operative position. When the locking bolt 116 is retracted to permit breaking of the gun, the plunger engages the trigger and is pushed forwardly into the locking bolt, whereby injury or jamming of the trigger is prevented. 1-0 For illustrative purposes, the gnn is shown as being provided with an inertia block or member 145 which operates to prevent what is known as “involuntary pull” or “doubl- ing.” This block is similar in construction 1 ° to the block shown in my со-pending appli- cation and need not be here described in detail. The mechanisms for ejecting fired shells, and retracting, without ejecting, unfired 1
в 1,678,639 shells, from the bores of the breech piece will now be described. Separate ejecting mechanism is provided for each barrel, but, as these mechanisms are similar in construc- 5 tion and operation, a description of one is il- lustrative of the other. For convenience, the ejecting mechanism associated with the “over” barrel will here be described and the corresponding parts of the ejecting mecha- 10 nism for the “under” barrel will be desig- nated by similar reference numerals primed. Each of these mechanisms is so arranged that, -when the gun is broken while an un- fired shell is in a bore, the ejecting mecha- 15 nism associated with that bore will retract (but not eject) the unfired shell to a posi- tion where it may be gripped by the fingers. If the gun is broken after a shell has been fired, the ejecting mechanism will entirely 20 eject or throw the spent shell out of the bore. Referring to the drawings, 150 desig- nates an extractor associated with the over bore, this extractor being in the form of a plate having a lip 151 adapted to engage in 25 front of the head or rim of a shell positioned in the over barrel. It is carried by a rod or stem 152 slidably mounted in a groove 153 in the left hand side of the breech piece, the forward end of the stem having a later- 30 ally extending lug 154 adapted to be en- gaged by an actuator when the gun is broken. In the present instance, the actu- ator is in the form of a lever 156 having a forwardly extending arm 155 adapted to en- 38 gage the lug 154. The rod 152 and the Cor- responding rod 152' on the right hand side of the breech piece are both held in place by a single retaining pin 149 which, as shown in Fig. 19, is diagonally disposed, with one 49 end engaging the upper surface of the rod 152' and the other end engaging the under surface of the rod 152; thus, the rods are very simply and cheaply held in place. The lever 156 is pivoted on the inside and at the 45 forward end of the left hand wall 30 of the receiver. This lever is normally urged, in a direction to engage the. arm 155 with the lug 154, by a spring 157 which may be gen- erally of U form with one end 158 upturned 50 to seat in a recess in the side wall 30 of the receiver. The other end of the spring en- gages the ejecting lever rearwardly of its pivotal point. Pivotal movement of the lever, under the influence of the spring 157, 55 is limited by a shoulder 159 on the receiver, as shown most clearly in Figs. 4 and 5. Pro- vided on the side and adjacent the forward lower corner of the breech piece is a lug or cam 160 which, during the operation of 00 closing the gun, engages an extension 161 of the lever, resulting in the lever being turned from the position shown in Fig. 2, which may be termed the “operated” position, to the position show in Fig. 3, which may be 03 termed the “cocked” or “operative” position. In the latter position, the spring 157 is under increased compression. Release of the eject- ing lever 156 from cocked position is con- trolled by the cocking movement of the left hand hammer 84 which acts through a To catch 162, here shown as being in the form of a rod formed of spring material. The catch 162 is slidably mounted in an open- ing 163 in the receiver and has, adjacent its rear end, an offset 164 against which the T5 left hand arm 82 of the cocking lever en- gages when the gun is closed. The extreme rear end of the catch is adapted to be en- gaged by a forwardly extending portion 165 on the left hand hammer when this ham- 80 mer is in uncocked position. The forward end of the catch is adapted to engage a shoulder 166 at the lower end of a.curved surface 167 on the rear end of the lever 156. The arrangement is such that, during 85 the breaking action of the gun, and when the catch is free to move rearwardly, the lever 156 will cam the catch rearwardly and out of engagement with the shoulder 166. To this purpose, the surface 168, which en- 00 gages the shoulder 166, is bevelled or in- clined, as shown in Figs. 3 and 15. To flex the spring, so that when the lever has been brought to cocked position the free end of the spring will swing beneath the shoulder 166, 05 as shown in Fig. 3, the curved surface 167 is transversely bevelled or inclined, as shown most clearly in Fig. 14, and the forward end of the catch is similarly inclined or ta- pered, as indicated by the numeral 169. For the purpose of permitting movement of the catch relative to the lever 156, when the latter is not in cocked position, and thus allow for desired tolerances in manufacture and prevent jamming of the hammer against 1 the catch in the event that the left hand hammer were released, the surface 167 is curved eccentrically to the pivotal point of the lever, its lowest end 166 being farthest n away from the pivotal point. The forward 1 end of the catch is suitably guided by studs 170 and 171 extending from the inside face of the side wall 30 of the receiver. Adja- cent the forward upper corner of the side 115 wall of the receiver is a camming surface 172 adapted to engage the lug 154 during the operation of closing the gun so as to move the extractors forwardly. The operation of the ejecting mechanism 120 for the over barrel will полу be described, it being understood that the corresponding mechanism for the under barrel лл-ill oper- ate in a like manner. When the gun is in the broken condition shown in Fig. 2, the 125 actuator or ejecting lever is in operated con- dition with its arm 155 holding the ex- tractor retracted. During the operation of closing the gun, the lug 160 on the barrel section will engage the extension 161 of the 130 ejecting lever, thereby turning this lever
1,578,639 «7 5 10 16 20 25 30 36 40 45 50 55 00 05 from operated position to the cocked posi- tion shown in Fig. 3. The left hand arm 82 of the cocking lever will engage the off- set 164 of the catch and move the catch forwardly so that the rear end of the catch will be out of the path of movement of the portion 165 of the hammer, thus permitting the hammer to be released to uncocked posi- tion upon pulling the trigger. Assuming now that the gun is broken without first pulling the trigger to release the left hand hammer, the arm 82 of the cocking lever will be withdrawn from the offset portion of the catch, permitting the ejector lever to cam the catch rearwardly out of the way at the start of the breaking movement and, during the entire breaking movement, the extension 161 on the ejecting lever will be in engagement with the lug 160 so that the ejecting lever will slowly swing from opera- tive to operated position, thereby slowly retracting the extractor, which means that the shell in the over bore will be slightly retracted but not entirely ejected. As- suming now that, after the gun has been closed, the trigger is pulled to fire the shell in the over barrel, the hammer will be in uncocked position with its portion 165 hold- ing the catch in forward position with its fonvard end beneath the shoulder 166 of the ejecting lever. Upon breaking the gun, the catch will hold the ejecting lever in its cocked position for the major portion of the breaking operation and, just before this operation is completed, the cocking lever will have thrown the left hand hammer toward its cocked position to such an extent that the portion 165 of the hammer Avill be withdrawn from behind the catch with the result that the actuator will cam the catch rearwardly, which means that the actuator is released and, under the force of the spring 157, this lever will be thrown with a quick or snap movement from operative to operated position, thereby imparting a sharp or fast movement to the extractor so that the fired shell in the over barrel is completely ejected. When the actuator or ejecting lever 156 thus cams the catch rear- wardly, the forward end of the catch will take in behind the rear end of the lever owing to the bevelled faces or inclined sur- faces 167 and 169. As previously stated, the surface 167 is curved eccentrically with re- spect to the pivotal point of the ejecting lever so as to allow for tolerances in manu- facturing the parts. This eccentric curva- ture is also of advantage in that it will pre- vent jamming of the hammer against the catch as, for instance, in the event that the receiver were removed from the barrel sec- tion and the left hand hammer was then released to uncocked position while the ejecting lever was in operated position, as shown in. Fig. 4. I claim as my invention: 1. In a firearm of the over and under type, a pair of barrels positioned one over the other, a forearm fitting the under barrel and a portion of the over barrel and curved 70 inwardly between the barrels to fit the con- cave surfaces therebetween, said forearm be- ing in two longitudinally extending sections and being slidable with respect to said bar- rels, and means for securing the sections to- 75 gether. 2. In a firearm of the over and under type, a pair of barrels positioned one over the other, a forearm having a groove rounded at its bottom portion to closely receive the 80 under barrel and having its sides, adjacent their upper ends, curved inwardly and then outwardly to fill the concave spaces between the barrels and closely fit the under portion of the over barrel, said forearm being di- 85 vided on its longitudinal medial line into two sections and being slidable with respect to said barrels, and means for securing said sections together and against the barrels. 3. In a firearm of the over and under type, 80 a pair of barrels positioned one over the other, a forearm fitting about the under bar- rel and the lower portion of the over barrel and being slidable with respect to said bar- rels, said forearm being longitudinally di- 08 vided into two sections, and means for draw- ing the sections against the barrel with the desired pressure. 4. In a firearm of the over and under type, a pair of barrels positioned one over the 100 other and having a slot therebetween, a fore- arm fitting the under barrel and the lower portion of the over barrel and being slidable with respect to said barrels, said forearm being divided in two longitudinal sections, Ю5 and a bolt extending through said sections and said slot. 5. In a firearm of the over and under type, a pair of barrels positioned one over the other, a slidable bearing part on the under side of the under barrel, a forearm fitting the under barrel and a portion of the over barrel and divided longitudinally into, two sections, a union cap on the forward end of said forearm and having fins embedded in 115 said sections for holding the same together, and a screw passing through said union cap and between said sections and threaded into said bearing part. 6. In a firearm of the over and under1 type, 120 a pair of barrels positioned one over the other and having a slot therebetween, a slid- able bearing part on the under barrel, a forearm fitting the under barrel and a por- tion of the over barrel and curved inwardly 125 between the barrels to closely fit the con- cave surfaces therebetween, said forearm be- ing in two longitudinally extending sections, a bolt passing through said sections and said slot and holding the sections together and 130
в 1,573.636 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 CO 65 against the barrels, a union cap on the for- ward ends of said sections, and a screw ex- tending through said union cap and between said sections and screwed into said part. 7. In a firearm of the over and under type, a barrel section having over and under bar- rels, a receiver, means for demountably piv- oting said section to said receiver and in- cluding a bearing part slidably mounted on the under barrel, means for maintaining said slidable part on said barrel section in opera- tive and inoperative positions, means for locking said slidable part in operative posi- tion, a forearm housing, at least in part, said bearing part and fitting the under barrel and a portion of the over barrel, said fore- arm being divided into longitudinally ex- tending sections to permit assembly and dis- sembly thereof on said barrels, and means for removably securing the sections together and permitting of sliding movement of the forearm on the barrels. 8. In a firearm of the over and under type, a breech piece, a receiver pivotally connected thereto, a hammer pivoted on said receiver, a reciprocable locking bolt carried by said receiver and adapted for locking engagement with said breech piece when the gun is closed, means for reciprocating said bolt, a pivoted cocking lever for cocking said hammer when the gun is broken, and inter- engaging means on the forward end of said bolt ana said cocking lever whereby the cocking lever holds the locking bolt in in- operative position when the gun is open. 9. In a firearm of the over and under type, a breech piece, a receiver pivotally connected thereto, a hammer pivoted in said receiver, a reciprocable locking bolt carried by said receiver and adapted for locking engagement with said breech piece when the gun is closed, means for reciprocating said bolt, means for normally urging the same into locking posi- tion, and a pivoted cocking lever for cock- ing said hammer when the gun is broken, said locking bolt having at its forward end a forwardly and downwardly inclined sur- face, said cocking lever having an undercut shoulder adapted to engage said surface whereby to hold the locking bolt in inopera- tive position when the gun is open. 10. In a firearm of the over and under type, a barrel section having a breech piece and a pair of barrels connected thereto one over the other, a receiver for said breech piece, and firing mechanism carried by said receiver and including a pair of hammers, a sear for each hammer, a single trigger, a connector carried by and movable relative to said trigger and arranged to successively actuate said sears on repeated pulls of the trigger, a shifter associated, with said con- nector for selectively setting the same rela- tive to said sears so that the latter will be operated in the desired selective order on re- peated pulls of the trigger, and a spring act- ing on said connector for holding the same in operative position and for urging said trigger into unpulled position. 11. In a firearm of the over- and under 70 type, a barrel section having a breech piece and a pair of barrels connected thereto one over the other, a receiver for said breech piece, and firing mechanism carried by said receiver and including a pair of hammers, a 75 sear for each hammer, a single trigger, a vertically extending connector supported at its lower end on said trigger for swinging movement relative to the trigger towards the sears and for turning about a longitudinal 80 axis, said connector being arranged, on re- peated pulls of the trigger, to successively actuate said sears, and means for turning said connector about its longitudinal axis so as to set the same to operate on the sears in 85 selective order on repeated pulls of the trig- ger. 12. In a firearm of the over and under type, a barrel section having a breech piece and a pair of barrels connected thereto one 00 over the other, a receiver for said breech piece, and firing mechanism carried by said ’ receiver and including a pair of hammers, a sear for each hammer, a single trigger, a connector having one end supported on said 95 trigger and mounted for turning movement, means on said sears for guiding the other end of said connector, said connector being arranged to successively actuate said sears on repeated pulls of the trigger, means for 100 turning said connector so as to set the same to actuate said sears in selective order upon repeated pulls of the trigger, and a spring holding said connector on said trigger and normally urging said trigger into unpulled 105 position. 13. In a firearm of the over and under type, a barrel section having a breech piece and a pair of barrels connected thereto one over the other, a receiver for said breech 110 piece, and firing mechanism carried by said receiver and including a pair of hammers, a sear for each hammer, a single trigger, and a connector having one end supported oh said trigger and mounted for turning move- 118 ment, means on said sears for guiding the other end of said connector, said Connector being arranged to successively actuate said sears on repeated pulls of the trigger, means for turning said connector so as to4set the 120 same to actuate said sears in selective order upon repeated pulls of the trigger, a longitu- dinally movable plunger having one end en- gaging said connector between its ends, and a spring about said plunger for maintaining 125 said connector in position and urging said trigger into unpulled position. 14. In a firearm of the over and under type, a barel section having a breech piece and a pair of barrels connected thereto one 130
1,678,630 б 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 65 GO 65 over the other, a receiver for said breech piece, and firing mechanism carried by said receiver and including a pair of hammers, a sear for each hammer, a single trigger, a connector supportd on said trigger and ar- ranged to successively actuate said sears on repeated pulls of the trigger, a longitudinal- ly movable plunger having one end engaging said connector between its ends, a spring about said plunger and urging the same in a direction to maintain said connector in en- gagement with said trigger and normally urging said trigger into unpulled position, and a safety device adapted, in one position, to cooperate with said plunger to prevent pulling of the trigger and, in another posi- tion, permiting movement of said plunger when pressure is applied to the trigger. 15. In a firearm of the over and under type, a barrel section having a breech piece and a pair of barrels connected thereto one over the other, a receiver for said breech piece, and firing mechanism carried by said receiver and including a pair of hammers, a sear for each hammer, a single trigger, a connector having one end supported on said trigger and mounted for turning movement, means on said sears for guiding the other end of said connector, said connector being arranged to successively actuate said sears on repeated pulls of. the trigger, means for turning said connector so as to actuate said sears in selective order upon repeated pulls of the trigger, a longitudinally movable plunger having one end engaging said con- nector between its ends, a spring about said plunger and urging the same in a direction to maintain said connector in proper relation to said trigger and said sears and normally urging said trigger into unpulled position, and a safety device adapted, in one posi- tion, to cooperate with said plunger to pre- vent pulling of the trigger and, in another position, permitting movement of said plunger when pressure is applied to the trigger. 16. In a firearm of the over and under type, a barrel section having a breech piece and a pair of barrels connected thereto one over the other, a receiver for said breech piece, and firing mechanism carried by said receiver and including a pair of hammers, a sear for each hammer, a single trigger, a connector associated with said trigger and arranged to successively actuate said sears on repeated pulls of the trigger, said con- nector being supported on said trigger for swinging movement about its lower end and for turning movement about its.longitudinal axis, said connector having a laterally ex- tending fin and being movable to position the same to actuate said sears in selective order, and a shifter having a notch in which said fin engages. 17. In a firearm of the over and under type, a barrel section having a breech piece and a pair of barrels connected, thereto one over the other, a receiver for said breech piece, and firing mechanism carried by said receiver and including a pair of hammers, a 70 sear for each hammer, a single trigger, a connector mounted for turning movement and arranged to successively actuate said sears on repeated pulls-of the trigger, a slidable shifter mounted in a slot in said receiver 75 and cooperating with said connector to turn the same for selective operation on said sears, said shifter having a longitudinally- curved transversely-inclined surface, and a spring having one end fixed to said receiver 80 and having the other end inclined corre- spondingly to and engaging said surface. 18. In a firearm of the over and under type, a barrel section having a breech piece and a pair of barrels connected thereto one 85 over the other, a receiver for said breech piece, and firing mechanism carried by said receiver and including a pair of hammers, a sear for each hammer, a single trigger, and a connector mounted on said trigger for turning movement from one position where, upon repeated pulls of the trigger, one sear and then the other sear will be actuated, and to another position where the sears, upon repeated pulls of the triger, will be actuated 95 in the reverse order, said connector, when both of said hammers are cocked, being in operative relation to the sear to be first actuated and being held out of operative relation relative to the other sear by the 1n° hammer associated with the sear to be oper- ated first. 19. In a firearm of the over and under type, a barrel section having a breech piece and a pair of barrels connected thereto one 105 over the other, a receiver for said breech piece, and firing mechanism carried by said receiver and including a pair of hammers, a sear for each hammer, a single trigger, a connector mounted on said trigger for turn- 110 ing movement from one position where, upon repeated pulls of the trigger, one sear and then the other sear will be actuated and . to another position where the sears, upon repeated pulls of the trigger, will be actu- 115 ated in the reverse order, said connector, when both of said hammers are cocked, be- ing in operative relation-to the sear to be first actuated and being held out of opera- tive relation relative to the other sear by the 120 hammer associated with the sear to be oper- ated first, and a spring normally urging said connector into operative relation to said sears. 20. In a firearm of the over and under 126 type, a barrel section having a breech piece and a pair of barrels connected thereto one over the other, a receiver for said breech piece, and firing mechanism carried by said receiver and including a pair of hammers, 180
1© 1,678,639 a sear for each hammer, a single trigger, and a connector mounted on said trigger for movement from one position where, upon repeated pulls of the tigger, one sear and 6 then the other sear will be actuated arid to another position where the sears, upon re- peated pulls of the trigger, will be actuated in the reverse order, said connector, when both of said hammers are cocked, being in 10 operative relation to the sear to be first actuated and being held out of operative relation to the other sear by the hammer associated with the sear to be operated first, each of said sears having means for main- 15 taining said connector out of operative rela- tion therewith when the hammer, which has engaged said connector, is fired and while the trigger is held in pulled position. 21. In a firearm of the over and under 20 type, a barrel section having a breech piece and a pair of barrels connected thereto one over the other, a receiver for said breech piece, and firing mechanism carried by said receiver and including a pair of hammers, a 25 sear for each hammer, a single trigger, a connector mounted for turning movement on said trigger, means for moving said con- nector into one position where it will actu- ate first one sear and then the other, and to so another position where the connector will actuate the sears in reverse order upon re- peated pulls of the trigger, said connector having a sear engaging portion adapted, when the connector is turned, to be moved 35 out of relation to . one sear and into rela- tion with another sear, said connector also having an individual sear engaging portion for each sear, said first portion being ar- ranged to engage the hammer, when cocked, 40 associated with the sear with which said portion is set to cooperate whereby the indi- vidual sear engaging portion adapted to cooperate with the other sear is held out of operative relation thereto. 45 22. In a firearm of the over and under type, a barrel section having a breech piece and a pair of barrels connected thereto one over the other, a receiver for said breech piece, and firing mechanism carried by said 60 receiver and including a pair of hammers, a sear for each hammer, a single trigger, a connector mounted for turning movement on said trigger, means for moving said con- nector into one position where it will actuate 55 first one sear and then the other, and to another position where the connector will actuate the sears in reverse order upon re- peated pulls of the trigger, said connector having a forwardly extending portion adapt- 00 ed, when the connector is turned, to be moved out of relation to one sear and into, relation with another sear, said connector also having a pair of laterally extending lugs, one for each sear, said portion being arranged to engage the hammer, when 65 cocked, associated with the sear with which said portion is set to cooperate whereby the lug adapted to cooperate with the otherjsear is held out of operative relation thereto. 23. In a firearm of the over and under 70 type, a barrel section having a breech piece and a pair of barrels connected thereto one over the other, a receiver for said breech piece, and firing mechanism carried by said receiver and including a pair of hammers, a 75 sear for each hammer, a single trigger, a connector mounted for turning movement on said trigger, means on sard sears for guiding the upper end of said connector, means for turning said corinector into one 80 position where it will actuate one sear first and then the other, and to another position where the connector will actuate the sears in reverse order upon repeated pulls of the trigger, said connector having a sear en- 85 gaging portion adapted, when the connec- tor is turned, to be moved out of relation to one sear and into relation with another sear, said connector also having an individual sear engaging portion for each sear, said 00 first portion being arranged to engage the hammer, when cocked, associated with the sear with which said portion is set to co- operate whereby the individual sear engaging portion adapted to cooperate with the other 05 sear is held out of operative relation thereto, and a spring holding said connector in place. 24. In a firearm of the over and under type, a barrel section having a breech piece and a pair of barrels connected thereto one over the other, a receiver for said breech piece, and firing mechanism carried by said receiver and including a pair of hammers, a sear for each hammer, a single trigger, a con- 103 nector mounted for turning movement on said trigger, means for moving said connector into one position where it will actuate first one sear and then the other, and to another position where the connector will actuate 110 the sears in reverse order upon repeated pulls of the trigger, each of said sears having a finger and a projection forwardly thereof, said connector having its upper end between and guided by said fingers and provided 115 with a forwardly extending portion adapt- ed to be selectively positioned beneath the projections on said sears, said connector also having a laterally extending lug at each side adapted to cooperate with the respective 120 sears. 25. In a firearm of the over and under type, a receiver having a top lever post bearing, a locking bolt beneath said bearing, a top lever post in said bearing, and a part 12э connected to said post and engaging said bolt, said part normally projecting laterally beyond said post and arranged to be in aline-
1,678,038 3LX 5 10 16 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 ment with said post when inserting or with- drawing the post into and from said bear- ing. 26. In a firearm of the over and under type, a receiver having a top lever post bearing, a locking bolt beneath said bearing, i. top lever post in said bearing, and a pivot- ed member on the lower end of said post and cooperating with said bolt, said member normally extending laterally beyond said post and adapted to be in alinement with said post when the latter is inserted into or withdrawn from said bearing. 27. In a firearm of tbe over and under type, a receiver having a top lever post bearing, a locking bolt beneath said bearing and having a notch provided with a cam surface, a top lever post in said bearing, and a pivoted member on the lower end of said post adapted to be cammed outwardly into said notch by said surface when the post is inserted in said bearing. 28. In a firearm of the over and under type, a barrel section having a breech piece, a pair of barrels connected thereto one over the other, a receiver pivoted to said barrel section, an extractor for each barrel and each having a rod, said rods being supported for longitudinal movement in the respective opposite sides of the breech piece, and a single pin for retaining said rods in place. 29. In a firearm of the over and under type, a barrel section having a breech piece, a pair of barrels connected thereto one over the other, a receiver pivoted to said barrel section, an extractor for each barrel and each having a rod, said rods being sup- ported for longitudinal movement in the re- spective opposite sides of the breech piece, and a retaining pin passing diagonally be- tween said barrels and having one end en- gaging the upper surface of one rod and the other end the under surface of the other rod. 30. In a firearm, a receiver, a barrel section pivoted thereto, firing mechanism including a hammer, means for cocking the hammer when the firearm is broken, an extractor as- sociated with the barrel for withdrawing shells therefrom, an actuator movably mounted on said receiver adapted to retract said extractor during the operation of break- ing the firearm, a spring normally urging the actuator in a direction to retract said extractor, and means adapted to hold said actuator in operative position, said hammer being arranged to retain said means in hold- ing position when the hammer is uncocked and during the major portion of the break- ing operation of the firearm, said hammer being free of said means when the former is in cocked position. 31. In'a firearm, a receiver, a barrel sec- tion pivoted thereto, firing mechanism in- cluding a hammer, means for cocking the 65 hammer when the firearm is broken, an ex- tractor associated with the barrel for with- drawing shells therefrom, an actuator mov- ably mounted on said receiver adapted to retract said extractor during the operation 70 of breaking the firearm, a spring normally urging the actuator in a direction to retract said extractor, and a member on the receiver adapted to engage and hold said actuator in operative position, said hammer being ar- 75 ranged to engage and retain said member in holding position when the hammer is un- cocked and during the major portion of the breaking operation of the firearm, said ham- mer being free of said member and said 80 member being free of said actuator when the hammer is in cocked condition. 32. In a firearm, a receiver, a barrel sec- tion pivoted thereto, firing mechanism on said receiver including a hammer, an ex- 85 tractor on said barrel section for withdraw- ing shells therefrom, an actuator lever pivot- ally mounted on said receiver and adapted to move said extractor outwardly during the operation of breaking the firearm, means 00 carried by said receiver and controlled by said hammer for controlling the ejecting movement of said actuator lever, and a fixed abutment on said barrel section adapted to directly engage said lever for moving the 90 same to operative position when the fire- arm is closed and in any condition of the firing mechanism. 33. In a firearm, a receiver, a barel sec- tion pivoted thereto, firing mechanism on 100 said receiver including a hammer, an ex- tractor assobiated with the barrel for with- drawing shells therefrom, an actuator mov- ably mounted on the receiver and adapted to retract said extractor during the opera- 100 tion of breaking the firearm, a cam on said barrel section for moving said actuator into cocked or operative position, said cam being fixed to said barrel section and adapted to directly engage said actuator during each 110 and every operation of closing the firearm, a spring normally urging the actuator into operated position, and means controlled by said hammer for holding said actuator in cocked position during the major portion 110 of the breaking movement of the firearm and to then release the same. 34. In a firearm, a receiver, a. barrel sec- tion pivoted thereto, a hammer, an extractor associated with the barrel for withdrawing 120 shells therefrom, an actuator pivotally mounted on said receiver and adapted to move said extractor during the operation of breaking the firearm, means on the barrel section for moving said actuator into cocked 126 position when the firearm is closed, a catch carried by said receiver and adapted to en- gage and hold said actuator in cocked posi-
1,578,630 о 10 15 20 25 30 35 4 Л 45 50 о5 00 05 tion, said hammer having a portion ar- ranged to retain said catch in holding posi- tion with respect to said actuator when the hammer is not cocked. 35. In a firearm, a receiver, a barrel sec- tion pivoted thereto, firing mechanism on said receiver including a hammer, a longi- tudinally movable extractor associated with the barrel for withdrawing shells therefrom, an ejecting lever pivoted on said receiver and adapted to actuate said extractor, a spring normally urging said lever in a di- rection to engage the same with said ex- tractor, means on the barrel section for turn- ing said lever into cocked position and to compress the spring when the firearm is closed, a longitudinally movable catch car- ried by said receiver and adapted to hold said lever in cocked position, and a portion on said hammer for controlling the move- ment of said catch. 36. In a firearm, a receiver, a barrel sec- tion pivoted thereto, firing mechanism in- cluding a hammer, means for cocking the hammer when the firearm is broken, an ex- tractor associated with the barrel for with- drawing shells therefrom, an actuator mov- ably mounted /on said receiver and adapted to retract said extractor during the opera- tion of breaking the firearm, a spring nor- mally urging the actuator in a direction to retract said extractor, and means adapted to hold said actuator in operative position when the hammer is uncocked and during the major portion of .the breaking operation of the firearm, said hammer having a por- tion cooperating with said means and ar- ranged to control the disengagement thereof from said actuator when the firearm is bro-- ken, said means for cocking said hammer be- ing in engagement with said actuator hold- ing means when the firearm is closed to re- tain said holding means out of the path of the firing movement of the hammer. 37. In a firearm, a receiver, a barrel sec- tion pivoted thereto, a hammer, a lever for cocking the hammer when, the firearm is broken, an extractor associated with the barrel section for withdrawing shells there- from, an actuator pivotally mounted on said receiver and adapted to move said extractor during the operation of breaking the fire- arm, means on the barrel section for moving said actuator into cocked position when the firearm is closed, and a catch carried by said receiver and adapted to engage and hold said actuator in cocked position, said ham- mer having a portion arranged to retain said catch in holding position with respect to said actuator when the hammer is not cocked, said cocking lever having a portion engag- ing said catch when the firearm is closed to retain the same out of the path of firing movement of the hammer. 38. In a firearm, a receiver, a barrel sec- tion pivoted thereto, a hammer, an extractor associated with the barrel for withdraw- ing shells therefrom, an actuator pivotally mounted on said receiver and adapted to move said extractor during the operation of 70 breaking the firearm, means on the barrel section for moving said actuator into cocked position when the firearm is closed, a catch carried by said receiver and adapted to en- gage and hold said actuator in cocked posi- 75 tion, said hammer having a portion arranged to retain said catch in holding position with respect to said actuator when the hammer is not cocked, said actuator being arranged to move said catch from holding position. 80 39. In a firearm, a receiver, a barrel sec- tion pivoted thereto, firing mechanism on said receiver including a hammer, a longi- tudinally movable extractor associated with the barrel for withdrawing shells therefrom, 85 an ejecting lever pivoted on said receiver and adapted to actuate said, extractor, a spring normally urging said lever in a di- rection to engage the same with said ex- tractor, means on the barrel section for turn- 00 ing said lever into cocked position and to compress the spring when the firearm is closed, a longitudinally movable catch car- ried by said receiver and adapted to hold said lever in cocked position, and a portion 05 on said hammer for controlling the move- ment of said catch, said catch having a sur- face adapted to engage said lever and so in- clined that the lever will cam the catch out of holding position when the catch is free to 100 be thus moved. 40. In a firearm, a receiver, a barrel sec- tion pivoted thereto, firing mechanism on said receiver including a hammer, a longi- tudinally movable extractor associated with 105 the barrel section for withdrawing shells therefrom, an ejecting lever pivoted on said receiver and adapted to actuate said ex- tractor when the firearm is broken, a spring normally urging said lever in a direction to 110. engage the same with said extractor, means for turning said lever into cocked position and to compress the spring when the fire- arm is closed, and a longitudinally movable catch carried by said receiver and adapted 115 to hold said lever in cocked position, said lever being arranged to cam said catch lat- erally when the lever is moved from cocked position. 41. In a firearm, a receiver, a barrel sec- 120 tion pivoted thereto, firing mechanism on said receiver including a hammer, an ex- tractor associated with the barrel section for withdrawing shells therefrom, an ejecting lever pivoted on said receiver and adapted 125 to actuate said extractor and having a sur- face terminating in a shoulder, a spring nor- mally urging said lever in a direction to en- gage the same with said extractor, means for turning said lever into cocked position 30
1,678,639 5 10 15 20 25 and to compress the spring when the firearm is closed, and a longitudinally movable spring carried by the receiver and having one end adapted to engage said shoulder to hold said lever-in cocked position, said sur- face and the adjacent end of said catch be- ing laterally inclined in a direction to spring said catch laterally when the catch is re- leased from said shoulder. 42. In a firearm, a receiver, a barrel sec- tion pivoted thereto, firing mechanism on said receiver including a hammer, an ex- tractor associated with the barrel section for withdrawing shells therefrom, an ejecting lever pivoted on said receiver and adapted to actuate said extractor and having a sur- face terminating in a shoulder, a spring nor- mally urging said lever in a direction to en- gage the same with said extractor, means for turning said lever into cocked position and to compress the spring when the firearm is closed, and a longitudinally movable spring carried by the receiver and having one end adapted to engage said shoulder to hold said lever in cocked position, said surface and the adjacent end of said catch being 13 laterally inclined in a direction to spring said catch laterally when the catch is re- leased from said shoulder, and said surface being eccentrically curved with respect to 30 the pivotal point of said lever. 43. In a firearm, a receiver, a barrel sec- tion pivoted thereto, a hammer, a lever for cocking the hammer when the firearm is broken; an extractor associated with the bar- 35 rel section for withdrawing shells therefrom, an actuator lever pivotally mounted on said receiver and adapted to move said extractor during the operation of breaking the fire- arm, means on the barrel section for moving 40 said actuator lever into cocked position when the firearm is closed, and a longitudinally movable rod carried by said receiver and adapted to engage and hold said lever in cocked position, said hammer having a por- 45 tion arranged to retain said rod in holding position with respect to said lever when the hammer is not cocked, said hammer be- ing free of said rod and said rod being free of said lever when the hammer is cocked. JOHN M. BROWNING.
1,580,406 April 13,1926. J. M. BROWNING SUPPORT FOR FIREARMS Filed May 31. 1924
Patented Apr. 13, 1926. 1,580,406 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. JOHU №. BBOWNING, OR OGDEN, UTAH. SUPPORT BOR BIREARMS. 6 10 16 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 Application filed May 31, To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, John M. Browning. a citizen of the United States, residing at Ogden, in the county of Weber and State of Utah, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Supports for Firearms, of which the following is a specification, refer- ence being had to the accompanying draw- ings, forming a part hereof. The invention relates generally to sup- ports for firearms and more particularly to bipod rests for automatic rifles such as are used to support the forward end of a rifle when the operator of the same is firing from the prone position. It is an object of the invention to provide a. device of this class which is simple in con- struction and light in weight but yet most durable, which may be easily attached to and detached from the firearm, and which may be readily folded to extend along the firearm and held in folded position where it does not interfere, with the carrying or with the use of the firearm when the same is being fired from the shoulder or the hip, or speed- ily unfolded for use when desired. With this and other objects in view, the invention comprises the new and useful com- binations of elements and arrangement of parts which are fully described herein, illus- trated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the appended claims. In the drawings: Fig. 1 represents, in a perspective view, the forward portion of a firearm showing the novel improved bipod support applied thereto with the legs of said support in their operative position. Fig. 2 represents, on an enlarged scale, a front view of the barrel of the firearm and the bipod support mounted thereon, the bar- rel ancl the right hand half of said support being shown in section. Fig. 3 represents a front view, on the same scale as Fig'. 2, of the barrel of the firearm and a bracket mounted thereon, the barrel being shown in section and the bracket, in elevation. Fig. 4 represents a side elevation, on the same scale as Fig. 2, of a portion of the bar- rel with said bracket ancl said bipod support in their assembled relation. Fig. 5 represents, on a reduced scale, a top view of a portion of the firearm with the support applied thereto, showing the legs of 1924. Serial No. 716,966. said support in their inoperative folded po- sition. Fig. 6 represents a side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 5. In the embodiment of the invention se- 60 looted for illustration, the novel improved bipod rest is shown applied to a firearm of the. class shown in my prior Patent No. 1,293,022, for automatic machine rifle, granted February 4, 1919, which comprises 65 a barrel 1, a breech casing 2, in which the breech end of the barrel is secured, a bracket 3 mounted on the barrel and adapted to carry at its top the front sight, a gas cylin- der 4 slidably supported at its front end in 7° the bracket 3 and having a rearward exten- sion fastened in the breech casing by the transverse pin 4'1, see Fig. G; ancl the fore arm 5 secured to said rearward extension of the gas cylinder 3. 75 The bracket 3 is fixedly secured to the barrel 1 by suitable means, such as the key 3b fitting in corresponding key ways in the barrel and the bracket for preventing rela- tive rotary movement between said parts, 80 and the transverse pin 3° for locking the bracket 3 in position with a portion of its rear surface resting against a shoulder on the barrel, see Figs. 3 ancl 4. The bipod rest of the invention comprises 85 a trunnion sleeve G carrying legs 7? said sleeve being rotatably mounted on the barrel 1 of the firearm and" held in position longi- tudinally of the barrel by the engagement of a depending segmental tongue 3a on a 90 forward projection at the top of the bracket 3 in a corresponding' groove G'1 in the trun- nion sleeve 6, see Fig. 4. As is clearly shown in Figs. 2 ancl 4, the lower portion of the sleeve 3 is cut array thereby forming a cylin- 93 clrical surface the radius of which is equal to or less than the radius of the bottom of the groove 6a. By comparing Figs. 2 and 3, it will be seen that this cylindrical surface extends through a greater arc than the seg- 100 mental tongue 3a on the bracket 3. By this construction, it will be evident that the bipod rest can be readily attached to the firearm by sliding the trunnion sleeve 6 over the forward end of the barrel, moving 103 it against the front face of the bracket 3 while in an inverted position, and then ro- tating it until the groove 6a passes over the segmental tongue 3a on the bracket and into the position shown in the drawings. To 110
1,580,406 5 10 15 20 25 30 40 45 50 55 GO .65 detach the bipod rest from the firearm, the operations are reversed. In order to prevent accidental detachment of the bipod rest, the rotation of the trun- nion sleeve in either direction from the po- sition shown in Fig. 1, is limited. In the present embodiment of the invention, such limiting means comprises the forward end of the gas cylinder 4 which normally pro- jects some distance for Avar d of its support- ing bracket 3 and in this position co-operates with the legs 7 carried by the trunnion sleeve 6 to limit the rotation of said sleeve. The gas cylinder 4 of this class of firearms is readily attached to or detached from the firearm, being slidably supported at its for- ward portion by a T-shaped rib thereon fit- ting a corresponding groove in the lower portion of the bracket 3, and having its rearward extension secured in the receiver by a transverse pin, the withdrawal of which permits the gas cylinder to be removed in forward direction from the firearm. By first removing the gas cylinder in this man- ner the bipod rest can be attached to or de- tached from the firearm in the manner here- inbefore described. The legs 7 of the improved bipod rest are pivotally secured at their upper ends to the trunnions 6b projecting outwardly at right angles to the upwardly and inwardly in- clined surfaces provided on the opposite sides of the trunnion sleeve 6. The trun- nions are preferably arranged, as shown in Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 6, above the plane of the barrel of the firearm, and each of said trun- nions is reduced in diameter at its outer portion, see Fig. 3, thereby forming a shoul- der against which a retaining washer 6° fit- ting said reduced portion is secured by suit- able means, sueh as the peened over end of said reduced portion. The outer portion of the hole in the leg receiving the trunnion is counterbored, as shown in Fig. 3, to receive the inner portion of the washer 6°. By this construction, it will be seen that the legs 7 may be readily folded to an inop- erative position along the barrel as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, or quickly extended to their operative position, shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4. The forward swinging movement of the legs 7 is limited by the lateral projections 6d at the forward portion of the trunnion sleeve 6, and the upward and rearward swinging movement of said legs is limited by the engagement of shoulders 7a on said legs with the respective top surfaces of the lateral projections 6d. The legs 7 are preferably steel rods hav- ing a spring temper, which permits them to be flexed or sprung for a purpose now to be described. This elastic property of the legs is conveniently made use of for locking them in inoperative position without the provision of additional parts. To this end the shoes 7b which are rigidly secured near the lower end of the legs to limit their sink- ing into the ground are so constructed and arranged as to co-operate with a longitudi- nally extending element of the firearm, such 70 . as the barrel, to keep the legs in folded po- sition, the elasticity of the legs serving to keep said parts in their co-operative rela- tion. In the present embodiment of the in- vention, each of the shoes 7b has an inwardly 75 projecting portion provided with a concave forward face, see Fig. 1, and to permit these portions of the shoes 7b to overlap when the legs are in the folded position, see Fig. 5, one of said shoes is arranged a slight dis- 80 tance further from the pivot of its leg then the other of said shoes. In swinging the legs rearwardly and up- wardly from the position shown in Fig. 1, their outer ends will automatically move in- 85 wardly toward each other and when the legs approach a position where they are almost parallel, but before they have reached the position shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the stop shoulders 7a thereon engage the correspond- 90 ing top surfaces of the lateral projections to on the trunnion sleeve 6. To bring the legs to the folded position shown in Figs. 5 and 6, they are then flexed by moving their free ends outwardly and upwardly so as to 95 cause the ends of said inward projections of the shoes 7b to clear the barrel 1, when said free ends are moved inward and allowed to snap, due to the elasticity of said legs, into the position shown in Figs. 5 and 6 with the lco concave surfaces on the inward projections of the shoes 7b resting on the barrel where they are automatically held by the elasticity of the legs 7. In order to lessen the amount of lateral Ю5 flexing of the legs-7 to clear the barrel 1 and the forearm 5 of the firearm, when moving them to and from their inoperative position, a certain amount of play may be provided, as shown in Fig. 2, in the pivotal connections 310 of the legs to the trunnion sleeve 6. Such play in the connections is also of advantage in permitting a larger angle of lateral train- ing of the firearm when supported by the rest, without changing the position of the 115 lower ends of the legs. The elasticity of the legs also contributes to this end, by permitting the legs to be flexed. By the construction hereinbefore de- 320 scribed, it will be evident that I have pro- vided a bipod rest of exceedingly simple construction but by which, when in its op- erative position, the forward portion of the firearm is supported to allow of vertical and I25 lateral training and of keeping the sight line vertically above the bore of the barrel. When in its inoperative position, the legs are fold- ed in approximately parallel relation to each other and to the barrel above the plane of 130
1,580,406 8 the top of the forearm, where they do not in- terfere with the grasping of the forearm when the firearm is fired from the shoulder or the hip. 5 What I claim and desire to secure by Let- ters Patent is: 1. A bipod rest for firearms comprising legs foldable to inoperative position, said legs being elastic thereby permitting flexing l() of the same, and means whereby said legs are kept in inoperative position by their elasticity. 2. A bipod rest for firearms comprising a member supported by the barrel of a firearm, 35 legs pivotally carried by said member to per- mit them to be moved to operative position or to inoperative position adjacent said bar- rel, said legs being elastic thereby permit- ting flexing of the same, and means where- 20 by "said legs are kept in inoperative posi- tion by their elasticity. 3. A bipod rest for firearms comprising hinged legs adapted to be folded into an in- operative position along the barrel of the 25 firearm to which said rest is applied, said legs being elastic thereby permitting flex- ing of the same, and means whereby the elas- ticity of said legs keeps them in inoperative position. so 4. A bipod rest for firearms comprising a sleeve rotatably mounted on the barrel of a firearm, a pair of legs pivoted to said sleeve to form an angle between them when in op- erative position and to lie in substantially 35 parallel relation to each other and to the barrel of the firearm when in inoperative po- sition, said legs being elastic thereby per- mitting flexing of the same, and means for keeping said legs in inoperative position 40 comprising laterally extending elements near the free ends of said legs co-operating with the barrel of said firearm to keep said • legs flexed and thereby hold the same in in- operative position by their elasticity. 45 5. In a support for firearms, the combi- nation of a member mounted on the barrel of a firearm, a pair of legs pivoted to said member so as to diverge when extended to their operative position and to lie adjacent 50 the barrel when folded to their inoperative position, said legs being elastic thereby per- mitting flexing of the same, and means whereby said legs are flexed when brought to their inoperative position and kept in 55 said position by their elasticity. G. In a support for firearms, the combina- tion of a sleeve in which the barrel of a fire- arm is rotatably mounted, a pair of legs pivoted to said sleeve and adapted to be folded in inoperative position adjacent the 80 barrel of the firearm, said legs being elastic thereby permitting flexing of the same, and means comprising stops on said sleeve and lateral projections adjacent the free ends of said legs for engagement with the barrel 65 whereby the legs are flexed when brought to the inoperative position and held in said position by their elasticity. 7. In a support for firearms, the combina- tion of a member mounted on the barrel of a 70 firearm, a pair of legs pivotally mounted on said member and adapted to be swung on their pivots to operative position or to in- operative position adjacent the barrel, said legs being elastic thereby permitting them 75 to be flexed, and shoes fixed on said legs and having inwardly extending portions adapt- ed to be brought into a position overlying the barrel by flexing said legs, whereby the legs are kept in their inoperative position by 80 their elasticity. 8. In a support for firearms, the combina- tion of a member mounted on the barrel of a firearm, a pair of legs pivoted to said sleeve and adapted to be folded to inoperative po- 85 sition adjacent the barrel of the firearm, said legs being elastic thereby permitting flexing of the same, and means comprising stops on said member and lateral projections having- curved surfaces near the free ends of said 90 legs for engagement with the barrel whereby the legs are flexed when brought to the inop- erative position and held in said position by their elasticity. 9. In a support for firearms, the combina- 95 tion of a member rigidly secured to the bar- rel of a firearm, a sleeve carrying supporting legs rotatably mounted on said barrel, means for interlocking said sleeve and mem- ber in all operative positions of said sleeve, loo said means permitting the separation of said member and sleeve when the sleeve is rotated beyond its operative positions, and means for normally preventing rotation of said sleeve beyond said operative positions. 105 10. In a support for firearms, the combina- tion of a sleeve adapted to be rotatably mounted on the barrel of a firearm and hav- ing on its opposite sides inclined trunnions, legs pivoted on said trunnions to permit 110 them to be freely moved to operative or in- operative positions, and lateral projections on said sleeve forming stop shoulders for limiting the movement of said legs in both directions. 115 This specification signed and witnessed this 29th dav of May, A. D. 1924. JOHN M. BROWNING.
1,618,510 Feb. 22, 1927. J. М. BROWNING AUTOMATIC FIREARM Filed June 28, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1
1,618,510 Feb. 22, 1927; J. M. BROWNING AUTOMATIC FIREARM filed June sg, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2
Patented Feb. 22, 1927. 1,618,510 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. JOHN M. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH. AUTOMATIC FIREARM. Application filed June 28, 1923. Serial No. 648,275. My invention relates to automatic firearms of that description in which all operations of the mechanism, except that of the trigger, are automatically effected by the energy of 5 recoil of movable parts. A main object of the present invention is to provide an automatic pistol of this character which is strong, simple in con- struction, accurate, reliable and safe in oner- 10 ation, and easy and economical of manufac- ture. ' This object is attained by simplify- ing the mechanism employed in firearms of this class by providing a novel improved construction and co-ordination of certain 15 members of the mechanism, thereby enabling these parts to perform several distinct func- tions and thus reducing the number of com- ponent parts and by giving to all parts such form and organizing them in such manner 20 that they may be readily assembled or dis- ’ assembled without requiring the use of any tools or accessories. Other and further objects and advantages of my new improvements will appear from 25 the specifications and drawings in which I show and describe an automatic pistol in- corporating my improvements in a preferred form. Also the utility and value of some of my improvements are not limited to their .‘io use in an automatic pistol but they are equally valuable and useful in any automatic firearm of the recoil operated type. In the accompanying drawings: Fig. 1 is a front view of the forward por- 35 tion of the frame, the breech slide and the barrel of a pistol embodying my new im- provemeu ts. Fig. 2 is a left-hand side elevation of said pistol. 40 Fig. 3 is a central vertical longitudinal section through the forward portion of the arm, showing the barrel and breech slide in their forward locked position, and the trig- ger in its normal position. Certain of the 45 parts are shown in elevation. Fig. 4 shows the trigger and the parts mounted thereon detached, in a front view and in a left-hand side view; in the side view, the rear portion of the trigger is shown 50 in a vertical longitudinal section. Fig. 5 is a central vertical longitudinal section of a portion of the frame, including the trigger guard, showing the trigger in elevation ana in position for bodily down- ward movement to withdraw it from its 55 seat in the frame, the barrel having been removed from the frame. Fig. 6 is a central vertical longitudinal section through the upper portion of the arm, showing the barrel and breech slide in 60 their rearward positions, and the trigger in its normal position. Certain of the parts are shown in elevation. Fig. 7 is a bottom view of the breech slide with the breech bolt in place in the rear 65 portion of said slide. Fig. 8 is a top view of the frame, showing the cartridge magazine, having a cartridge remaining therein, in its seat in the frame and also showing the slide stop in its rela- 70 tion to the magazine follower. •' Fig. 9 is a central vertical longitudinal section through a portion of the arm, show- ing the movable parts in the position they occupy at the instant when a shell is being 75 ejected; in this view the forward portion of the breech bolt is vertically sectioned in the plane of the ejector and the ejector with the part of the frame with which it is inte- grally formed are shown in elevation. 80 Fig. 10 shows the ejector and the part of the frame with which it is integrally formed, detached, in a top view, in a left-hand side view and in a front view. Fig. 11 is a left-hand side view of the 85 magazine detached. Fig. 12 is a central vertical longitudinal section through the upper rear portion of the arm, showing the barrel, breech slide and breech bolt in their forward position 90 and the firing pin in the uncocked position, certain of the parts being shown in elevation. • Fig. 13 is a central vertical longitudinal. section through the upper rear portion of the arm, showing the breech slide and breech 95 bolt some distance rearward of their forward position and the firing pin and sear in the cocked position. Certain of the parts are shown in elevation. Fig. 14 is a central vertical longitudinal 100 section through the upper rear portion of the frame, as seen from the right, showing the breech bolt in its forward position and showing also the connections between the trigger and the sear. Certain parts are 105 shown in elevation. ' Fig. 15 is a central vertical longitudinal section through the rear, portion of the
J2 1,618,(510 breech slide and through the breech bolt with the safety piece in its lower position locking the sear and the breech bolt; an ad- jacent portion of the frame and a portion 5 of the safety piece cooperating with the frame and with the sear, being each shown in vertical section but slightly to the left of the vertical central plane of the arm. Fig. 16 shows the extractor, detached, in io a top view and in a right-hand side view. Figs. 1 to 16, inclusive, each show the parts on a scale slightly reduced from their actual size. ч Fig. 17 shows the sear connecting lever, J 5 detached, and in its actual size, in a top view and in a right-hand side view. Fig. 18 is a left-hand side elevation of the breech slide, detached. Fig. 19 is a vertical longitudinal section 20 through the upper portion of the magazine and the adjacent portion of the frame, show- ing the relative position of the slide stop and the magazine follower with one cartridge remaining in said magazine. Certain parts 25. are shown in elevation. Fig. 20 is a vertical longitudinal section through the upper portion of the magazine and the adjacent portion of the frame, showing the relative position of the breech 30 slide, slide stop and magazine follower after the last cartridge has been removed from the magazine and fired. Certain parts are shown m elevation. Figs. .18 to 20 are on the same scale as 35 Figs. 1 to 16. Fig. 21 shows the slide stop, detached and on an enlarged scale, in a top view, in a rear view, and in a left-hand side view; the side view shows the lower portion of said 40 stop in section and its upper portion in its operative relation to the breech slide. Figs. 22, 23, 24 and 25 show the safety piece, detached, respectively in a front view, m a left-hand side view, in a rear view 45 with a portion broken away to clearly show parts mounted therein, and in a bottom view. Fig. 26 is a front view of the firing pin, detached. Fig. 27 is a left-hand side view of the 50 firing pin and sear in the cocked position, held together by the pressure of the main- spring. Fig. 28 is a rear, view of the firing pin, detached. 55 Figs. 29 and 30 show the sear, detached, respectively in a top view and in a rear view. Fig. 31 shows the mainspring extended and a portion of the firing pin and the sear, in longitudinal vertical section and in their 80 cooperative relation with said mainspring. Figs. 32, 33,' 34, 35, 36 and 37 show the breech bolt, detached, respectively in a cen- tral vertical longitudinal section, in a rear end view, in a bottom view, in a front end 85 view, in a transverse section some distance back of its forward end, and in another transverse section slightly forward of the middle of the bolt. Figs. 22 to 37, inclusive, show the parts in their actual size. 70 Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views. The pistol represented in the drawings comprises a frame 1 having vertical longi- tudinal flanges la prolonging its sides up- 75 wardly. Between the flanges the longi- tudinally movable breech slide 2 is secured against vertical movement and guided in its longitudinal movements by rib and groove connections, as shown. See Figs. 1, 2, 3, 7, 80 8, 18, 19 and 20. The slide 2 is recessed to receive, at its forward portion the barrel 3 between its side walls, and in its rear por- tion the breech bolt 4, detachably secured therein. The barrel 3 is supported and 85 guided at its forward end by an inwardly projecting annular flange 2a on the slide and, at its rear end, by the sides of a cam groove 3b formed in the downwardly projecting barrel lug 3a, the sides of the cam groove 90 cooperating, for this purpose, with a fixed part of the frame, such as the transverse pin 5 extending through the rear portion of a recess formed in the frame 1 to receive the barrel lug 3a. See Figs. 3, 6, 9 and 12. 95 When in their forward firing position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the breech slide 2 and the barrel 3 are interlocked by the usual transverse ribs and grooves formed, respec- tively, on the upper rear portion of the 100 barrel and in the under surface of the top wall of the breech slide (Fig. 3). In this position of the parts, a horizontal rearward extension of the upper surface of the cam groove 3b engages the top surface of the 105 transverse pin 5 in the manner clearly shown in Fig. 3. The top surface of pin 5 is pref- erably flattened as shown. Upon the firing of a shot, the breech slide 2 and the barrel 3 recoil together until the 110 forwardly and upwardly inclined lower sur- face of the cam groove 3b engages the pin 5, after the bullet has left the barrel, thereby causing the rear portion of the barrel to be cammed down during the further recoil 1 movement and thus 'effecting the unlocking of said breech slide from said barrel. The rearward travel of the barrel is now stopped by the engagement of the front wall of the cam groove 3b with the transverse pin 5 “ (Fig. 6), but the momentum of the breech slide carries it rearward, as usual, its energy of recoil being utilizec to extract and eject the shell and to cock die firing mechanism 12- as hereinafter described. ° During the rearward movement of the breech slide 2, the reaction spring 6, seated partly in a longitudinal seat formed in a downward projection 2b at the forward end of the breech slide and partly in a longitu-
1,618,610 8 5 JO 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 dinal recess in the forward portion of the frame and bearing through its guide rod 7 against the wall lb in the frame, is com- pressed and said spring reacts to return the recoiling parts to their forward position as soon as the rearward movement of the slide 2 is arrested. The barrel 3 remains in its rearward position, shown in Figs. 6 and 9, until the forward end of the breech bolt 4, during the return movement thereof with the slide 2, strikes the rear end of the barrel, whereupon the parts move forward together, and said rear end of the barrel is, during such movement, again raised to its inter- locked relation with the breech slide by the inclined upper surface of the cam groove 31’ and is there held in such raised position by the hereinbefore mentioned horizontal exten- sion of said cam surface, engaging the top surface of the pin 5. The forward move- ment of the barrel 3 and slide 2 is limited by the engagement of the front rounded face of the barrel lug 3a with the corresponding rear face of the transverse wall lb of the frame. See Figs. 3 and 8. The inwardly projecting annular flange 2a at the forward end of the slide 2, in which the forward portion of the barrel is sup- ported and guided, is of small width and there is sufficient play between said flange and the barrel to permit the slight tilting movement of the barrel for locking and un- locking said barrel and slide and also to permit the relative longitudinal movement between these parts, when unlocked, without binding or undue friction. In order to facilitate the dismounting and inspection of the firing mechanism of the arm, all the parts of said mechanism are so constructed and arranged that they may be readily detached and withdrawn from the frame 1. To this end, the trigger 8 is removably pivoted in a vertical slot formed in the frame below the recess which receives the barrel lug 3a, and a trigger pawl 9 is pivoted to the trigger to transmit the ac- tion of said trigger to the other parts of the firing mechanism, said pawl being located in a vertical slot provided therefor in the frame from which it may be removed with the trigger. To this end also, the remain- ing parts of the firing mechanism, which comprise the firing pin 10, the main spring 11, the sear 12, and the sear connecting lever 13 for connecting the sear with the trigger and trigger pawl, are all mounted on the breech bolt. 4 so as to be readily removable rearwardly from the frame. Also mounted on the breech bolt is the extractor 16. The trigger 8 and its pawl 9 are in oper- ative relation with the remaining parts of the firing mechanism only when the breech slide 2 is in its forward position with the breech slide and barrel locked and the breech closed. Then, the forward end of the sear connecting lever 13 (see Fig. 14) is,located just above the upper end of the trigger pawl 9, so that pulling back the trigger 8 and thereby raising the pawl 9 causes the upper end of said pawl to engage said lever 13 and 70 move it for actuating the sear 12 to fire a shot. In all other positions of the breech slide 2 the forward end of the lever 13 is removed from its operative relation with the trigger pawl 9; thus the arm cannot be 75 fired, even if the trigger is pulled back, until , the breech slide and barrel are fully locked . and the breech closed. The trigger pawl 9 is normally held in a rearward position, as shown in Figs. 3, 4, 6,. S(> 8 and 14, under the action of the trigger spring 8a which has one end thereof bearing ou a rearward projection (Figs. 4 and 14) formed on the integral pivot 9a of said pawl. If the trigger is held back, after 85 firing a shot, until the breech slide 2 and the parts movable therewith return to their forward position, the upper end of the pawl 9 will be swung forwardly against the ten- sion of the spring 8a during the last portion !l° of such return movement by the engagement of the forward end of the sear connecting lever 13 with said pawl, and it will there- fore be impossible to fire another shot until the trigger is released. The release of the 95 trigger 8 will allow its return forward under the tension of its spring 8a (Figs. 3, 4, 6 and 14) and during such return of the trigger, the pawl 9 will be lowered until its upper- end moves below the forward end of the j;>:> lever 13, thereby permitting said upper end to return rearward, also under the tension of the trigger spring 8a, to its normal posi tion beneath the forward end of said lever- 13, thus positioning the firing mechanism for ' firing another shot by again pulling the trigger, back. It will be seen, by referring to Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6 and 14, that the trigger 8, trigger pawl 9 and trigger spring 8a form a unitary 11 n organization of elements adapted for re moval as a unit from the. frame; the trigger- spring being for this purpose, secured to the trigger between its ends and cooperating, at its forward end, with the. frame and, at its 11 rear end, with the trigger pawl, as hereinbe- fore described. For the purpose of easily dismounting said organization of elements, the cylindrical seats in the frame for the trigger pivot are connected with the under 1"1' surface of the frame by vertical slots of less width than the diameter of said seats. (Figs. 2, 3, 5 and 12). The trigger 8 is formed on opposite sides thereof with in- tegral trunnions 8b arranged to turn freelj in said cylindrical seats and these trunnions are formed with flattened surfaces on op- posite sides thereof to permit the passage of said trunnions through the vertical slots when the trigger is swung forwardly be- 30
4г 1,618,610 yond its normal position, as shown in Fig. 5, against the tension of the trigger spring 8a, which by pressing the trigger pawl against the rear face of the vertical slot, in 5 the frame in which said pawl is located yieldingly opposes such movement of the trigger. In order to positively prevent the trigger from becoming detached accidental- ly by forward pressure on the lower finger 10 engaging portion thereof, or otherwise, the trigger has a forwardly extending portion 8C, which by engaging the lower surface of the. barrel lug 3a limits the forward move- ment of the. trigger and thus prevents dis- 15 assembling of the trigger unless the barrel is first dismounted. See Figs. 3 and 6. The forward end of the spring 8a protrudes forwardly from the slot in which it is seated in the upper forward portion of the trigger, 20 and this end rests upon a shoulder formed for that purpose in the forward Avail near the bottom of the trigger seat in the frame, thereby said spring 8a performs the func- tions of a trigger spring by yieldingly hold- 25 ing the trigger finger piece in its normal forward position and by returning it to that position when released after each pull by which a shot has been fired. By normal po- sition of trigger and pawl I mean the posi- 30 tion shown in Figs. 3, 4, 6 and 14 when they are in position to actuate the sear connector to fire a shot. The breech bolt 4, shown detached in Figs. 32 to 37 inclusive, is substantially cylin- 35 drical in form and is provided at its rear end with an enlarged portion which projects rearwardly beyond the breech slide 2, as shown in Figs. 2, 6 and 7. In order to se- cure the bolt 4 rigidly to the breech slide 8, 40 so that they may together form a heavy breech closure, a known fastening means is provided, comprising a series of ribs on the bolt adapted to interlock, by giving the bolt a rotary motion after it has been inserted 45 into the slide, with a corresponding series of grooves formed in the slide, as shown in Figs. G and 7. To prevent accidental ro- tary movement of the breech bolt in the breech slide, the breech bolt is locked by a 50 safety piece 14, shown detached in Figs. 22 to 25 inclusive, and in its assembled relation in Figs. 2, 6, 7 and 12 to 15 inclusive, this piece .serving at the same time to close the rear end of the longitudinal seat formed 65 substantially in the axis of the bolt 4 to re- ceive the firing pin and the sear. The safety piece 14 slides, for these and other purposes, as will be described later, in a vertical groove formed in the rear end of the breech 00 bolt, being guided therein and locked against movement in a horizontal direction by the well known rib and groove connection. A forward extension 14a at the upper end of piece 14 is adapted to extend into a corre- ee spending recess formed in the top wall of the breech slide, as shown in Figs. 2 and 6, thereby locking the breech bolt against ro- tary movement. As is clearly shown in Figs. 26, 27 and 28, the body portion of the firing pin 10 is cy- 70 lindrical in form and mounted for longi- tudinal movement in the afore-mentioned seat in the breech bolt 4, said seat being of cylindrical form at its forward portion and substantially rectangular in cross section 75 throughout its rear portion, as is clearly shown in Figs. 32, 33, 36 and 37. The firing point 10a is adapted to protrude through an opening 4a (Figs. 15 and 32) therefor in the forward Avail of the firing so pin seat of the breach bolt and the firing point and the opening therefore are posi- tioned to be in line with the axis of the bore of the barrel when the barrel is in locked position and to strike the center of a car- 85 tridge seated in the barrel chamber. In the particular embodiment of my invention here shown, the firing point 10a is eccentri- cally disposed above the center of the for- ward cylindrical portion of the pin in order 00 that it may properly contact with the primer of a cartridge seated in the barrel chamber. The firing pin 10 is formed on the under side of its rear portion with a longitudinal guide rib 10b which projects into a slot »r> formed in said breech bolt below the firing pin seat therein. See Figs. 12,13,15, 32, 33, 34, 36 and 37. This rib forms a cocking shoulder at its forward end for engagement by the sear 12 when the parts are in the loo cocked position. The sear 12 consists, as shown in Figs. 12, 13, 15, 27, 29 and 30 of a member having two arms arranged substantially at right angles to each other and is mounted for Ю5 sliding movement longitudinally of the breech bolt, as well as for the usual pivotal movement to release the firing pin. Said sear is supported vertically on said breech bolt by the laterally enlarged upper end 12* no of its vertical arm, which is guided in the rearward rectangular portion of the longi- tudinal seat in the breech bolt (Figs. 12, 13, 30, 34 and 37). This laterally enlarged up- per end of the sear arm serves also as the 115 abutment for the main spring 11, being adapted to receive the thrust of said spring through a collar 15a formed at the rear end of the guide rod 15, a small tit-shaped pro- jection on the rear surface of said collar 120 entering a recess in the upper end 12* of the vertical rear arm of the sear (Fig. 31) to position the guide rod 15 and spring 11. The forward end of the spring extends into a seat therefor in the firing pin 10. (Fig. 125 31). The upper portion of the horizontal arm and also an intermediate portion of the vertical arm of the sear are guided in the aforementioned vertical slot in the breech bolt, and, at its forward end, the horizontal 13®
1,618,610 В б ю 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 arm is formed with an upward projection 12b forming a rearward shoulder which co- operates with the hereinbefore described cocking shoulder on the guide rib 10b of the firing pin 10. From the foregoing descrip- tion and the showing in Figs. 13, 15 and 27, it will be seen that, wheu the forward end of the sear is swung upwardly to bring the rearward facing shoulder thereon in 1 front of the cocking shoulder on the firing pin, the main spring 11 will be under com- pression and will operate to keep the firing pin and sear engaged. The comparatively deep cocking shoulder on the rib 10b slopes downwardly and for- wardly and co-operates with the correspond- ing cocking shoulder on the sear when the sear is in cocking position under the tension of the.main spring to hold the firing pin and sear so firmly united that they cannot be sep- arated by any unusual jars to which the pistol may be subjected. It will be noted that my form of sear, in its relation to the firing pin and other co-operating parts, acts not only to cock and uncock the firing pin, but serves also, by its rear vertical arm, as the seat against which, the rear end of the main spring bears, „thereby permitting this spring to function not only aS the main spring but also as a sear spring. This organ- ization of sear and firing pin makes a unit of these two parts when they are in cocked position, whereby the sear partakes of a por- tion of the longitudinal movenient of the firing pin, whereby these two parts occupy a minimum of space, and whereby they may be readily inserted into and removed from the breech bolt as a unit. Also, when the parts are cocked and the breech bolt has re- turned to its forward position, the rear ver- tical arm of the sear is in position to be en- gaged by the safety piece 14 to be locked by said piece against movement to release the firing pin, as hereinafter described. Along the lower portion of its horizontal arm the sear 12 is widened to form longitud- inal ledges 12е on the opposite sides thereof, the upper surfaces of these ledges, when the horizontal arm of the sear is raised at its forward end, acting to guide and steady the sear in its longitudinal movement by their engagement with the under side of the breech bolt, 4 at the opposite sides of the ver- tical slot therein. The ledge 12е formed on the. right hand side of the sear 12 has the additional function of providing a shoulder of substantial width and length (Fig. 29) positioned to project under the lateral in- ward extension 13a (Figs. 7 and 17) at the rear end of\ the sear connecting lever 13. This lever is pivoted on a stud 13” (Figs. 14, 34 and 36) formed on the right hand side of the breech bolt. To hold the lever on its top of the frame from the transverse recess pivot stud when the breech bolt is removed 17 to the rear of the frame. During the re- from the breech slide said lever may be turn movement of the breech slide 2 the formed with a thin lip 13е at its upper edge adapted to project under a portion of the extractor 16, thereby preventing removal of the lever without first removing the extrac- tor. , 70 The automatic cocking of the arm is brought about during the rearward move- ment of the slide 2 and breech bolt 4 by means now to be described. The sear is formed at its forward end with a downward projection 12d, which is located above a transverse recess 17 formed in the upper surface of the frame, as shown in Fig. 14, when the parts are in the firing position. If now, the trigger 8 is pulled back, it oper- ates in the manner hereinbefore described, to raise the forward end and lower the rear end of the sear connecting lever in such man- ner that the inward projection 13a bears upon the forward end of the ledge 12е of the sear (Fig. 14) and thus depresses the forward end of tiie sear 12 to release the firing pin 10 to fire a shot, assuming that a cartridge is located in the batrel chamber. When the fir- ing pin strikes the primer, the parts will oc- cupy the positions shown in Fig. 12, the for- ward end of the sear being there shown de- pressed with its downward projection 12d lowered into the transverse recess 17, and be- ing held in this position against the tension of the main spring 11 by the engagement of the flat surface formed on the upward pro- jection 12b with the under surface of the fir- ing pin rib 10”. During the first part of the rearward movement of the breech slide, the sear 12 is accordingly held stationary be- cause of the engagement of the rear surface of its downward projection 12d with the rear wall of the recess 17 and the engagement of the upper surface of projection 12b with the under surface of firing pin rib 10b, and since the firing pin 10 is constrained to move rear- ward with the breech slide 2 and breech bolt 4 the main spring 11 will be compressed against the vertical rear arm of the sear un- til the rearward movement of the firing pin has brought the cocking shoulder on its guide rib 10” opposite the co-operating shoul- der on the sear 12. When the parts arrive in this position, the camming action of-the in- clined rear surface on the downward pro- jection 12d of the sear against the correspond- ingly inclined rear wall of the recess 17 in the frame and tWtension of the main spring 11 together cause the sear to swing upwardy at its forward end to assume the position shown in Fig. 13. The downward projection 12d having left the recess 17 in the frame, the sear will now participate in the further rearward movement of the breech slide, the lower portions of the sear being guided in a shallow longitudinal groove formed in the 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120 125 130 65
е 1,618,610 10 15 downward projection 124 at the forward end of the sear 12 comes into engagement with the upper portion of the forward wall of the recess 17 in the frame, the forward Avail being higher than the rear Avail of said recess (Figs. 6,14 and 15), and the sear and firing pin are thus prevented from taking part in the final movement of the breech slide, thereby bringing them in the cocked condition to a rearward position in the breech bolt 4 as shown in Figs. 14 and 15. It will be seen by reference to Figs. 14 and 17 . that the lateral inward extension 13a at the rear of the sear connecting lever 13 is formed with a lower surface which slopes upwardly from front to rear in a gradual curve. It is this surface of the extension 13a 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 05 which engages the ledge 12° on the sear and this construction provides in a convenient and simple form for a “double pull” whereby . the user of the arm is warned of the approxi- mate point in the pull of the trigger when the firing pin will be released. By making the engaging surface of the extension 13a slope upwardly in a gradual curve from front to rear, the point of contact between extension 13tt and the sear ledge will move rearwardly along the sear ledge as the trig- ger is drawn rearwardly and the sear is de- pressed, thereby decreasing the leverage force exerted on the sear and requiring in- creased pull on the trigger as the firing point is approached. This necessity for an in- creased pull on the trigger gives the shooter warning of the time of release of the firing pin. If, while the parts are in the cocked posi- tion, shown in Figs. 14 and 15, it is desired to lock , the firing mechanism, this may be done through the co-operation of the safety piece 14 with a part of the firing mecha- nism, namely, the sear 12, whereby said sear is locked against movement to release the firing pin. For this purpose the safety piece 14 can be moved to a lower position, as shown in Fig. 15. Inwardly projecting ribs 14b are provided at the opposite sides of the upper portion of a vertical, groove (Figs. 15, 22 and 25), into which groove the rear portion of the vertical arm of the sear 12 projects Avhen the parts are in the firing position as shown in Figs. 14 and 15. The ribs 14” engage in corresponding grooves 12® (Figs. 15 and 29) formed in the oppo- site sides of the upper portion of said sear arm, and thereby lock the sear against swinging movement to release the firing pin. When moved to its lower position (Fig. 15) not only does the piece 14 lock the firing mechanism, but it also serves to lock the breech bolt 4 and consequently the breech slide 2 against rearward movement. For this purpose, the bifurcated lower end of the safety piece 14 see Figs. 15, 22 and 24, is adapted to enter corresponding recesses 18 in the frame (Figs. 8, 10 and 15) when the safety piece is in its lower position. In order to retain the safety piece 14 either in its upper or in its loAver positions and to allow it to be readily shifted from 70 one position to the other at the will of the shooter, co-operating means are provided on said piece 14 and the breech bolt 4 for yield- ingly holding the piece in either position. To this end, the safety piece is provided 75 with a transverse, seat in which are arranged opposed plungers 19 actuated to project laterally from the safety piece 14 by a com- mon spring 20 (Fig. 24) the outward move- ment of said plungers being limited by the so engagement of stop shoulders formed there- on with the heads of the screws 21. The ' provided with the follower 25 which is plungers 19* are adapted to engage corre- sponding recesses 22 and 23 (Figs. 32 and 33) formed in the side walls of the A-ertical s;i groove in which the safety piece 14 is guided in the rear end of the bolt 4. These re- cesses are shallow and have their edges rounded or beveled (Fig. 33), and the por- tions of the plungers engaging said recesses 00 are correspondingly formed (see Figs. 22, 23 and 24), whereby it is possible for the shooter by simply pressing upwardly on the piece 14 to move it from its loiver position where the plungers 19 are in engagement 93 with the lower recesses 22 to the upper po- sition, the plungers being cammed out of the lower recesses 22 in so moving the safety -piece 14 and finally snapping into the upper recesses 23 when they are moved opposite said recesses, and vice versa. Provision is made to prevent the accidental movement of the safety piece 14 upwardly above the po- sition shown in Figs. 2, 6, 12 and 13, and such limiting means may consist in having 108 the vertical grooves at the sides of the safety piece 14 terminate short of the loAver end of said member, as shown in Figs. 22 and 23. In order to prevent injury to the parts, if the safety piece 14 should be accidentally 11C moved to its lower position while the slide 2 is in its rearward position, the loAver for- ward portion of said piece is formed with a beveled surface (Figs. 6,13,15 and 23) and a corresponding surface is formed at the 115 rear of the frame (Figs. 2, 6, 9 and 12 to 15) so that even if the slide 2 is permitted to return forward under the tension of the re- action spring 6 when the safety piece 14 is in its lower position, no harm will result, 120 because said piece will be automatically cammed up to its upper position by the en- gagement of its beveled surface with the corresponding surface on the frame. The usual magazine is shown as held by 126 the catch 31, Fig. 2, in a seat formed to re- ceive said magazine in the downwardly ex- tending grip’'portion of the frame, and is moved toward the top of the magazine, as 130
1,618,510 •7 the cartridges are removed, by tbe follower spring 26 which is guided at its upper end by the downward projection 25a on the fol- lower, and which bears at its lower end 5 against the bottom 24a of the magazine. As shown in Figs. 11, 19 and 20 the forward portion of the magazine is of less height than the rear portion which permits the front portion of the follower to project 10 above the forward edge of the magazine when the last cartridge is gone. This is for a purpose about to be described. To indicate to the shooter that the maga- zine has become empty, means are provided 15 to co-operate with the follower 25. when it rises to its highest position (Fig. 20) after the last cartridge has been removed from the magazine and fired., to stop the breech slide 2 in its rearward position, as 20 shown in Figs. 6 and 20. Such means may comprise a substantially cylindrical slide stop 27 having its lower portion extending into a hole formed in the frame just forward of the magazine seat and adjacent the left 25 hand side of the frame. A light spring 27a secured at one end to the body of the slide stop, as shown in Fig. 21, and bearing with its opposite end against the wall of the hole, frictionally holds said stop either in its op- 30 erative or in its inoperative position. Near its upper end the stop 27 is formed with, a rearward projection 27c which extends over the low forward wall of the magazine 24 into the path of the magazine followers 25. See 35 Fig. 8. Normally the slide stop 27 is in its inoper- ative position shown in Fig. 19, where it permits unobstructed movement of the slide 2, but after the-last cartridge has been re- 40 moved from the magazine, the follower 25 in rising to its uppermost position shown in Fig. 20, engages the rearward projection 27е on the slide stop and lifts the same, when the breech slide recoils after the firing of 45 said last cartridge, so that its upper end pro- jects into a recess 2C formed in the bottom, of the left-hand wall of the breech slide 2, and holds the slide retracted near its- rear- most position by the engagement of a flat 50 rearwardly facing surface on the stop 27 with the vertical rear wall of said recess 2° (see Figs. 20 and 21). The shooter can now remove the empty magazine and replace it with a magazine containing cartridges, after 55 which the slide stop 27 is depressed by sim- ply grasping the slide 2> and retracting it to its rearmost position, during which move- ment an inclined surface at the forward end of the recess 2C in the slide engages a cor- 60 responding surface on the forward side of the upper end of the slide stop 27, thereby camming the stop to its lower inoperative position. The breech slide 2 can now be - moved forward to firing position, at the same 65 time forcing the) topmost cartridge from the magazine into the chamber of the barrel and thus again conditioning the arm for continued firing as long as there are any cartridges in the magazine. It will be noted that tbe frame is wider than customary and 70 the slide is carried inside the frame. The stop 27 can therefore cooperate with the slide and yet be entirely concealed within the frame where it can not be tampered with. A flattened extension on the lower end 75 of the slide stop 27 permits the slide stop to serve as a small screw driver if one is de- sired. The cartridge extractor 16 (Figs. 14 and 16) is provided with the usual hook-shaped SO forward end for engaging the groove at the base of a cartridge and is formed at its rear end as shown in Fig. 16 with a thin rounded extension 16b adapted to be inserted into a longitudinally extending bole on the breech S5 bolt (Figs. 14 and 37). The extractor is held against longitudinal movement by an inwardly projecting stud 16a near its front end engaging in a recess therefor in the bolt 4, and it is also held against vertical move- 00 ment at its forward end by reason of its lo- cation between two projecting lugs on the bolt 4 (Figs. 14 and 35). The side of the bolt opposite, the extractor is formed with the usual forward projection (Figs. 34 and 95 35) to support the head of a cartridge on the side thereof opposite said extractor. The ejector 29 as clearly shown in Fig. 9, projects upwardly into a vertical longitudi- nally extending groove formed in the under 100 side of the left-hand side of the breech bolt 4, and when the breech bolt recoils with the breech slide 2 after the firing of a shot, the extractor 16 withdraws the cartridge case from the barrel chamber and carries it rear- H>5 wardly until it reaches the position shown in Fig. 9, where the ejector is shown pro- jecting from the front face of the breech bolt and engaging the base of the cartridge to swing it out laterally through the ejection 119 opening in the right-hand side of the breech slide in the usual manner. For convenience of manufacture, the"ejector is, as shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10, integrally formed at the forward portion of a piece 29a, constituting 115 a part of the frame 1 of the arm but formed separately from the main body of said frame, being securely united to said body by any suitable means, such as the screws 30, shown in Fig. 8. . 120 The main parts of the arm can be readily disassembled as follows: The magazine 24 is removed by pressing in the magazine catch 31 allowing the magazine to drop out of the frame. The breech slide 2 is now 125 drawn rearwardly to its rearmost position, where the safety piece 14 can be removed by downward pressure thereon. This leaves the rear end of the breech bolt 4 open for the withdrawal of the firing pin 10 and sear 12 130
8 1,618,610 in the cocked condition shown in Fig. 27. After the withdrawal of these parts from the bolt 4, it can be rotated through ap- proximately 90° to disengage the rib and 5 groove connection, locking the bolt to the breech slide, thereby permitting said bolt to be withdrawn rearwardly. By raising the forward end of the arm so as to cause the barrel 3 to remain in its rearward posi- • f) tion, the breech slide 2 can now be slid off the frame in a forward direction, permitting the removal of the reaction spring 6 and its guide rod 7 and allowing the barrel 3 to be lifted off the frame. The trigger 8 ’•> and the parts attached thereto can now be removed from the frame 1 in the manner hereinbefore described. The arm can be re-assembled by proceed- ing in the reverse order. -* It will be evident that though I have chosen a pistol as an embodiment of my im- provements and for the purpose of explain- ing the nature of my improvements, vari- ous features of my invention may be em- z~> ployed independently of the rest and in hand-operated or other firearms of a dif- ferent kind from that which I have de- scribed herein, and that various changes in the form and arrangement of the parts may 39 be made without departing from the spirit of my invention. What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: 1. In an automatic firearm, the combina- 35 tion of a frame, a recoiling breech slide mounted for longitudinal movement on said frame, a recoiling barrel mounted for longi- tudinal movement relative to said frame, means for interlocking said barrel, and 40 frame, a cam on said barrel and a trans- verse pin on said frame adapted to cooper- ate with said cam to render said interlocking means operative when said barrel and frame. are in their forward firing position, to main- 45 tain said parts in their locked relation dur- ing the initial recoil of said parts and there- after to unlock said parts during their fur- ther recoil. 2. In an automatic firearm, the combina- s0 tion of a frame, a recoiling breech slide mounted for longitudinal movement on said frame, a recoiling barrel mounted for longi- tudinal movement relative to said frame, means for interlocking said barrel and 55 frame, a cam on said barrel, and a trans- verse pin on said frame adapted to cooperate to render said interlocking means operative when said barrel and frame are in their forward firing position, to maintain said 60 parts interlocked during their initial recoil, thereafter,to unlock said parts during their further recoil and to limit the rearward movement of the barrel. 3. In an automatic firearm, the combina-n 55 tion of a frame having a recess, a recoiling breech slide and a recoiling barrel mounted thereon, said barrel being so mounted as to be capable of being tilted relative to said slide, means for interlocking said barrel and slide, a lug on said barrel extending into said <0 recess in said frame and having a cam groove, and a fixed transverse pin in said recess positioned to cooperate with said cam groove, whereby said barrel and slide' are held interlocked when in their forward fir- 75 ing position and during their initial recoil, whereby the barrel is tilted out of inter- locked relation with said slide during their further rearward movement and whereby the rearward movement of the barrel is 80 limited by engagement of said pin with the front end of said groove. 4. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a frame, a breech slide mounted for longitudinal movement on. said frame, a 85 barrel also mounted for longitudinal move- ment relative to said frame, means for in- terlocking said barrel and slide, a lug on said barrel having a cam groove, a cam pin on said frame, and an abutment on said frame, 90 said cam groove and pin cooperating dur- ing the rearward movement of said barrel and slide to unlock said barrel and slide and to limit the rearward movement of said barrel and said lug engaging said abutment 95 on the frame on the forward movement of said barrel and slide and limiting the for- ward movement of said barrel and slide. 5. In a firearm, the combination of a frame, a trigger pivotally mounted therein, loo means whereby said trigger may be dis- mounted from said frame by rotating it a predetermined distance beyond its normal movement in one directioh, and means to yieldingly oppose such rotation of the trig- Ю5 ger. 6. In a firearm, the combination of a frame having a seat for the trigger pivot and a slot narrower than the diameter of said seat extending from said seat to the 110 outer surface of the frame, and a trigger having a pivot with flattened sides permit- ting said pivot to be passed through said slot for assembly or disassembly of the trig- ger when the same has been rotated a pre- 115 determined distance beyond its normal limit of movement in one direction. 7. Ini a fireairm, the 'combination of a frame, a trigger pivotally mounted therein, a trigger pawl pivotally mounted on said 120 trigger, a common spring for said trigger and said pawl also mounted on said trigger, and means whereby the trigger and the parts mounted thereon may be disassembled as a unit from the frame by rotating said trigger 125 a predetermined distance beyond its normal limit of movement in one direction. 8. In a firearm, the combination of a frame, a barrel removably mounted there- on, a trigger pivotally mounted in said 130
1,618,610 О frame, means whereby the trigger may be dismounted from the frame by rotating it a predetermined distance beyond its normal limit of movement in one direction, and 5 means comprising a part of said barrel for preventing such abnormal movement while the barrel is in assembled position on the frame. 9. In a firearm, the combination of a 10 frame having a recess therein, a barrel hav- ing a lug projecting into said recess, a trig- ger mounted in said frame below said lug, and means whereby said trigger may be disassembled from the frame by rotation 15 beyond its normal limit of movement in a forward direction, said barrel lug being so positioned as to prevent such rotation of the trigger while the barrel is in assembled posi- tion in the firearm. 20 10. In a firearm, the combination of a frame having an abutment, a trigger pivot- ally mounted in said frame and demount- able by rotating it a predetermined distance beyond.its normal limit of movement in one 25 direction, a trigger pawl mounted on said trigger in co-operative relation with said abutment, and a spring mounted on said trigger and normally holding said pawl against said abutment, as and for the pur- 30 pose specified. 11. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a frame, a recoiling breech slide, a recoiling barrel, means for interlocking said barrel and slide when in their forward 36 pos'tion, a lug on said barrel having cam surfaces, a cam pin on said frame, and a trigger pivotally mounted in said frame, means whereby said trigger may be re- moved from said frame when it has been ro- 40 tated a predetermined distance beyond its normal limit of movement in one direction, said lug being so positioned as to co-operate with said cam pin to unlock the barrel and . frame during their recoil and to engage said 48 trigger when it is rotated beyond its normal position and thereby prevent disassembly of said trigger from said frame when the barrel is in assembled position in said firearm. 12. In an automatic firearm, the combina- 60 tion of a frame, a trigger mounted in said frame, a breech closure mounted for longi- tudinal reciprocatory movement on said frame, a spring-actuated firing pin and a sear for holding said firing pin in cocked 65 condition, both carried by said breech clos- ure, a sear connecting lever mounted on said closure, and means operatively connecting said trigger and said lever only when the breech closure is in its forward position. rt" 13. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a frame, a trigger mounted in said frame, a breech bolt mounted for lon- gitudinal movement on said frame, a firing pin and a sear carried by said bolt, a sear connecting lever mounted on 65 said bolt, and means operatively connect- ing said lever with said trigger, said means comprising a trigger pawl pivotally and yieldingly mounted on said trigger whereby it will yield longitudinally of the frame if 70 the trigger is held back when the bolt moves to its forward position and will return into operative relation with said lever upon the release of said trigger. 14. In a firearm, a breech bolt having a 75 longitudinal seat, a firing pin mounted for longitudinal movement in said seat, a main spring therefor, and a sear mounted in said seat and forming an abutment for said main spring. 80 15. In a firearm, a breech bolt having a longitudinal seat open to the rear, a firing pin mounted for longitudinal movement in said seat, a main spring therefor, a sear mounted, in said scat and forming an abut- 85 ment for. said main spring, and a closure for tbe rear end of said seat for retaining said firing pin, main spring and sear in assembled relation with said breech bolt. 16. In a firearm, a breech bolt having a oo longitudinal seat open to the rear, a firing pin, main spring and sear independent of said firing pin insertable as a unit into said seat through said open rear end, and a clo- sure for the rear end of said seat for re- 95 taining said firing pin, main spring and sear in assembled relation with said bolt. 17. In a firearm, a breech bolt, a firing pin having a cocking shoulder, a main spring having one end thereof bearing against said too firing pin, a sear serving as an abument for the other end of said mainspring and hav- ing a shoulder for operative engagement with the cocking shoulder on said firing pin, whereby said mainspring serves to hold the ЮЫ firing pin and the sear together in the cocked condition, and a seat in said breech bolt in which the firing pin, mainspring and sear are mounted for longitudinal movement whereby said bolt and said pin, spring and liq sear may have relative longitudinal move- ment. 18. In a firearm, a breech bolt having a longitudinal seat, a firing pin, main spring and sear insertable as a unit into said seat Щ in the cocked condition, a closure for the rear end of said seat for retaining said firing pin, main spring and sear mounted in said seat, said closure being adapted to lock the sear against movement to uncock the firing 124 pin. 19. In a firearm, the combination of a breech bolt, a firing pin and sear mounted in said breech bolt, said firing pin and said sear having cooperating cocking shoulders, 12$ said sear having an abutment, and a main spring bearing at one end against the firing pin and at the other, against the sear abut-
3.0 1,618,610 ment, whereby said spring will yieldingly hold said cocking shoulders in cocking en- gagement. 20. In a firearm, the combination of a 6 firing pin having a cocking shoulder, a float- ing sear having a horizontal arm with a cocking shoulder to cooperate with said shoulder on the firing pin and a vertical arm, and a spring abutting at one end against 10 the firing pin and at its other-end against said vertical sear arm, whereby when the cocking shoulders are in cocking engagement said spring will be compressed and yield- ingly hold said shoulders in firm engage- 16 ment. 21. In an automatic firearm, the combi- nation of a frame, a breech bolt mounted for longitudinal movement on said frame, firing mechanism movably mounted in said 20 bolt, and means carried by said bolt for simultaneously locking said mechanism against firing movement and said bolt against longitudinal movement on (he frame. 22. In an automatic firearm, the combina- 25 tion of a frame, a breech bolt mounted for longitudinal movement on said frame, a spring-actuated firing pin carried by said bolt, a sear also carried by said bolt and operative to hold said firing pin in cocked 30 condition, and a slidable safety member mounted on said bolt and movable to lock said sear against movement to uncock said firing pin and to lock said breech bolt against longitudinal movement. 33 23. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a breech bolt, a spring-actuated fir- ing pin mounted in said bolt, a sear mounted for pivotal movement in said bolt and oper- ative to cock said firing pin, and a slidably 40 safety member on said bolt, said sear and said safety member being formed with cor- responding locking grooves and ribs, respec- tively, whereby said safety member may be moved to interlock said grooves and ribs 45 and thereby to prevent movement of said sear to uncock the firing pin. 24. In an automatic firearm, combination of a frame, a breech bolt mounted for longi- tudinal movement on said frame, a firing 50 pin and a sear mounted for longitudinal movement relative to said frame, and means for holding the sear against rearward move- ment during the initial rearward movement of said firing pin after firing a shot, where- 55 by the firing pin in its rearward movement engages with said sear to automatically cock said pin. 25. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a frame having a shoulder, a breech 1,0 bolt mounted for longitudinal movement on said frame, and a spring-actuated firing pin and a sear having cooperating cockmg shoulders and both mounted for longitudinal, movement, said sear having a shoulder co- 85 operating with the shoulder on the frame to hold the sear against rearward movement during the rearward movement of said bolt and firing pin after firing a shot and until said cocking shoulders engage each other, whereby the firing pin in its rearward mo- 70 tion with said bolt engages with said scar to automatically cock said pin. 26. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a movably mounted firing pin, a movably mounted sear having an upwardly 76 extending arm and a forwardly extending arm, a main spring abutting at one end against said firing pin and at its other end against said upwardly extending sear arm, and cooperating cocking shoulders on said 80 forwardly extending sear arm and said fir- ing pin, whereby the said spring will hold said shoulders m firm cocked engagement and whereby the firing pin and sear, when cocked, can be moved as a unit. 85 . 27. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a recoiling firing pin, a longitudinal- ly movable sear, cocking shoulders on said firing pin and sear, an abutment on said sear, a main sprihg bearing at one end against said firing pin and at the other against said scar abutment, means for holding said seal' against rearward movement on the initial recoil of said firing pin, whereby said cock- ing shoulders will engage to cock said pin and said pin and sear will thereafter move rearwardly together, means for arresting the forward motion of said firing pin and sear and means for uncocking said pin whereby it will move to full forward position to fire юо a shot. 28. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a frame; a breech bolt mounted for longitudinal reciprocatory movement on said frame, a firing pm and a sear both mounted 105 for longitudinal movement in said bolt, cock- ing shoulders on said pin and sear, an in- clined surface on said frame and a like in- clined surface on said sear, said surfaces co- operating to hold the scar against move- lit) ment during the initial recoil of said bolt and pin and until said pin has reached a position where said cqcking shoulders can engage each other and then moving said sear to cock said pin. • 115 29. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a frame having a transverse recess formed in its upper surface, a longitudinal- ly movable breech bolt, a firing pin mounted tor longitudinal movement in said bolt and i‘-° having a depending longitudinal rib form- ing a cocking shoulder, a main spring for actuating said firing pin, and a sear mounted for longitudinal and pivotal movement in said bolt and serving as an abutment for the 125 main spring, said sear having a forwardly extending arm below said firing pin pro- vided with a rearward facing shoulder for engagement with the cocking shoulder on the4 firing pin and provided also with a down- I30
1,618,610 11 ward projection near its forward end ar- ranged above said transverse recess in the frame when the parts are in the firing posi- tion, said projection entering said recess 5 when the sear is moved to uncock the firing pin and being held therein by the engage- ment of said sear arm with the under sur- face of said depending rib on the forward movement of the firing pin to fire a shot and 10 said sear projection being held in said re- cess during the initial rearward movement of the firing pin and bolt whereby the auto- matic cocking of the arm is effected. 30. In an automatic firearm, combination 15 of a frame haying a transverse recess with a high front Avail and a low rear wall, a longi- tudinally movable breech bolt, a longitudi- nally movable firing pin, a main spring, a longitudinally movable sear, co-operating 20 cocking shoulders on said sear and pin, a downward projection on said sear positioned above said recess when the parts are in -their cocked firing position, said projection enter- ing said recess when the sear is moved to un- 25 c’ock the firing pin, the said low rear wall of said recess engaging said projection to hold the sear against rearward movement during the initial recoil of said bolt and pin whereby said c ocking shoulders engage each other and 50 said high front wall engaging said projec- tion on forward motion of said pin and sear to hold said sear against full forward mo- tion and to hold said pin from full forward motion until said cocking shoulders are dis- ‘f5 engaged, and means for disengaging said cocking shoulders. 31. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a frame, a breech slide mounted for longitudinal reciprocatory movement on said 40 frame, a breech bolt adapted to be secured in said slid >y a rotary movement, and a safety memuer movably mounted on said breech bolt and adapted to be at will moved into either of two operative positions, said 45 safety member, when in one of said posi- tions, being adapted to lock said breech bolt against rotary movement and, when in the other of said positions, being adapted to also lock said bolt and slide against longitudinal 60 movement on the frame. 32. In an'automatic firearm, the combina tion of a frame having a locking recess, a breech slide mounted for longitudinal recip- rocatory movement on said frame, a breech 55 bolt adapted to be secured in said slide by a rotary motion, a vertically slidable mem- ber at the rear end of said bolt and adapted to be at will moved into either of two opera- tive positions, said member, when in its up- 00 per position, locking said breech bolt against rotary movement and, when in its lower po- sition, also locking said bolt and v slide against longitudinal movepient by reasbn of the engagement of its lower portion with 95 said locking recess in the frame, and means for yieldingly holding said member in either position. 33. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a frame having a recess at its rear end, a breech bolt mounted for longitudinal 70 reciprocatory movement on said frame, a safety member mounted for vertical move- ment at the rear end of said bolt, said safety member being constructed and arranged, when in its loyyer position, to cooperate with 75 said recess iii the frame to lock the breech bolt in its forward position, and corre- sponding cam surfaces at the lower end of said member and at the rear end of said frame, respectively, said surfaces coopcrat- 80 ing, if the safety member is moved to its lower position while the breech bolt is in a rearward position, to automatically move said safety member to its upper position dur- ing the forward movement of said bolt. 85 34. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a frame, a breech slide mounted for longitudinal movement on said frame, a breech bolt adapted to be secured in said slide,, firing mechanism movably mounted in 90 said bolt, a safety member slidably mounted on said breech bolt and adapted to be at will moved into either of two operative positions, said safety member, when in one of said po- sitions, being adapted to lock said breech 95 bolt from movement, relative to said slide and to also lock said firing mechanism against firing movement, and means for yieldingly holding said member in either position. 199 35. In an automatic firearm, the combina tion of a breech bolt having a longitudinal seat, open at the rear, a firing pin mounted for longitudinal movement in said seat, a main spring therefor, a sear mounted for 195 longitudinal movement in said seat and forming an abutment for said main spring, a closure movably mounted on said bolt at the rear of said seat for retaining said firing pin, main spring and scar in assembled rela- 119 tion in said bolt, and means on said closure for locking said sear against movement to uncock the firing pin. 36. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a reciprocatory breech slide, a 115 breech bolt, means for interlocking said breech bolt with said slide, a longitudinal seat in said bolt open at the rear, a firing pin and sear mounted for longitudinal move- ment in said seat, a closure for the rear end 129 of said seat movably mounted at the rear end of said bolt, means on said closure for lock- ing said bolt from disengagement with, said slide, and means on said closure for locking r said sear from movement. 120 37. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a frame having a substantially ver- tical magazine seat therein, a cartridge magazine removably held in said seat and having a low forward wall, a spring actu- 130
12 1,618,610 ated magazine follower having a portion adapted, when the follower is in its upper- most position, to project above the low for ward wall of the magazine, a breech slide 5 of less width than the frame mounted for longitudinal reciprocatory movement on said frame and having an elongated recess formed in the bottom of a side wall thereof, a slide stop mounted for sliding movement io in a substantially vertical direction in said frame forwardly of said magazine seat and below said side wall of the breech slide, a spring for frictionally holding said stop against movement, said stop having a rear- 15 ward projection extending over the low for- ward wall of said magazine into the path of said follower, whereby said follower, after the last cartridge has been removed from the magazine and tired, lifts the slide 20 stop to cause its upper end to project in. front of the rear wall of said recess, there- by stopping said slide in a rearward posi- tion, and cooperating surfaces on the upper end of said stop and on the forward wall 2^ of said recess, respectively, whereby the stop may be automatically depressed to its in- ojierative position by manually retracting said slide rearwardly on the frame. 38. In an automatic firearm, the combina- 30 tion of a frame, recoiling mechanism mount- ed on said frame, a cartridge magazine and a follower therein^ means mounted inside the frame and positioned to be actuated by en- gagement, by said follower when in its raised M position and the magazine is empty to en- gage said recoiling mechanism and stop its normal return movement after recoil, and means on said recoiling mechanism which will engage said stop means on retraction 40 of said mechanism and return it to its nor- mal nonengaging position when free from engagement by said follower. 39. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a trigger, a firing member, a sear, 45 means for engaging said sear with said fir- ing member to cock the same, means for operatively connecting said trigger wjth said sear, said means comprising a connecting lever positioned to engage said sear and to 60 be engaged by said trigger, and means whereby the point of contact between said lever and said sear is, during the pull of the trigger, shifted in such manner as to de- crease the leverage exerted by said lever and 88 thereby necessitate an-, increased pull on the trigger as the moment of uncocking the fir- ing member is approached. 40. tn an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a trigger, a firing member, a sear, •° means for engaging said sear with said fir- ing member to cock the same, a connecting .lever positioned to transmit motion of the trigger to said sear to uncock said firing member and engaging surfaces on said lever and said sear, one of said surfaces being G5 substantially convex whereby the point of contact between said surfaces is, during the pull on the trigger, shifted to decrease the leverage exerted by said lever on said senr to thereby necessitate an increased pull on 70 the trigger as the moment of uncocking the firing mechanism is approached. 41. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a breech bolt, a firing pin, a sear, a sear connecting lever removably and pivot- 76 ally mounted on said bolt, an extractor re- movably mounted on said bolt, and means for securing such extractor against move- ment relative to said Iwlt, said extractor overlying a portion of said lever and thereby 80 holding the same in operative ixisition on said bolt. 42. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a breech bolt, a sear, a sear connector pivotally mounted on said bolt, said con- 86 noetor having a projecting lip portion, anti means on said bolt to overlie said lip por- tion and hold said connector in operative position on said bolt. 43. In an automatic firearm, the combina- w tion of a breech bolt, a sear connector pivot- ally mounted on said bolt and having a projecting lip portion, and an extractor mounted on said bolt, said extractor having a rearwardly extending portion overlying 05 said lip and thereby holding said connector in operative position on said l>olt. 44. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a frame, a trigger mounted in said frame, a breech closure mounted for longi- 100 tndimil reciprocatory movement on said frame, a spring actuated firing pin and a sear for holding said firing pin in cocked condition both carried by said breech clo- sure, a sear connecting lever, and means 106 operatively connecting said trigger and said lever only when the breech closure is in its forward position. 45. In a firearm-, a combination of a fir- ing pin having a cocking shoulder, asear H* having a horizontal arm provided with a shoulder to co-operate with the shoulder on the firing pin and a vertical' arm, and a spring bearing nt one end against the firing pin and at its other end against said vertical U* sear arm, whereby, when said shoulders are in engagement, said spring will be com- pressed and yieldingly keep said firing pin and sear together to permit assembling or disassembling these parts as a unit. This specification signed and witnessed this 26th day of June, A. D. 1923. JOHN M. BROWNING.
1,628,226 May 10,1927. J. M. BROWNING AUTOMATIC FIREARM Original Filed July 31. 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 1
1,628,226 May 10,1927, J. M. BROWNING AUTOMATIC FIREARM Original Filetf July 31. 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor
May 10,1927. 1,628,226 J. M. BROWNING AUTOMATIC FIREARM Original Filed July 31, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 3
Patented May 10, 1927. 1,628,226 UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE. JOHN M. BROWNING, OE OGDEN, UTAH; JOHN BROWNING ADMINISTRATOR or SAID JOHN M. BROWNING, DECEASED. AUTOMATIC FIREARM. 5 10 15 CO -3 3(1 35 40 45 50 55 Application filed July 31, 1923, Serial The invention relates generally to. auto- natic machine gnns of that description in which all operations of the mechanism are automatically effected by the energy of the recoil of the movable parts. The invention relates particularly to novel’ improvements in recoil-operated machine guns, smilar to that disclosed in the Letters Patent of the United States granted to John M. Browning, No. 1,293,021, dated February 4. 1919, in which the barrel and breech clos- ing block, while interlocked recoil together a limited distance, are then unlocked and the movement of the barrel is arrested; the breech closing block alone continues its re- coil during which energy is.stored in reac- tion springs or similar means by which all parts are finally returned to their forward firing positions. The main object of the present invention is to produce a machine gun of this class specially adapted for modern military serv- ice. Experience during the war, and experi- ments since under actual field conditions, have led the United States War Department to adopt for use in certain branches of the service, such as the. Anti-Air-Craft Service and for service in tanks, bullets or projec- tiles greatly increased in caliber, length and weight, and cartridge cases of increased size capable of holding correspondingly in- creased charges of most powerful explo- sives for driving said projectiles and for giving to them greatly increased ranges and power of penetration. The machine gun of the present invention is adapted to fire these modern service car- tridges; and while it has necessarily in- creased dimensions in diameter and length of certain of its parts, such as the barrel and breech mechanism, and of the length- wise reciprocating movement of its breech opening and closing mechanism, these in- creases and the necessary strengthening of the entire structure of the machine gun are attained without a nearly proportional in- crease of the weight of said machine gun. This object is attained by providing a composite brake or buffer in rear of the heaviest recoiling members of the breech mechanism, said brake consisting of the combination of a spring actuated recoil cushion combined with a brake chamber for holding a liquid by which any excess of energy of recoil is entirely absorbed; and No. 854,955. Renewed May 15, 1926. by which even an excess of recoil, such as may possibly be caused by variations in the rate of speed of the ignition of the powder charges by the primers of the cartridges, will be absorbed without disastrous effect on 60 the structure or the mechanism of said ma- chine gun. ,. For furthering the attainment of this ob- ject there are also provided in rear of the breech closing block cushioning devices for 65 absorbing any excess of energy of recoil of said breech block; as well as devices for strengthening the breech casing of the ma- chine gun supporting said cushioning de- vices. 70 Other and further objects and advantages will appear from the following disclosure. By the foregoing and other novel con- structions which will be hereinafter fully described and pointed out in the appended 75 claims, an improved machine gun. is pro- duced, adapted for firing the modern power- ful military ammunition, reliable, accurate, strong and absolutely safe under all con- ditions. 60 In the accompanying drawings: Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the left-hand side of the gun, the forward portion of the barrel and of the tubular barrel casing being broken away. 88 Fig. 2 is a top view of the gun, the greater portion of the barrel and of the barrel cas- ing being broken away. Fig. 3 is a front end view of the barrel^ of the tubular barrel casing and of the in- 90 ternal fixed disk closing said barrel casing and guiding the muzzle of the barrel. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of the fore- most portions of the barrel and the barrel casing, and of the internal fixed disk. 95 Fig. 5 shows the pivoted switch lever, de- tached, respectively in a top view and in a left-hand side view; it also shows similar views of the switch lever spring. Fig. 6 is a rear end view of the gun. 100 Fig. 7 is a rear end view of the gun with the rear pla'e removed, showing the breech casing and the mechanism therein. Fig. 8 is a vertical transverse section through the breech casing on the line 8—8 Ю5 of Fig. 12; seen from the rear. Fig. 9 is a vertical transverse section through the breech casing in the plane indi- cated by the line 9—9 of Fig. 12, seen from the front and showing the forward end of П0
в 1,628,326 tiie breech block and parts of the cartridge feeding mechanism; members of the mecha- nism attached to the under side and to the top side of the top cover of the casing have 5 been omitted. Fig. 10 is a vertical transverse section through the breech casing in the plane indi- cated by the line 10—10 of Fig. 13, seen from the.front and showing parts of the mecha- 10 nism for feeding cartridges and for eject- ing the cartridge shells in their lowest po- sition; members attached to the top cover have been omitted, as in Fig. 9. Fig. 11 shows a rear portion of the barrel 15. extension, detached, respectively in a left- hand side view, in a top view and in a rear end view. Fig. 12 is a central vertical longitudinal section through the breech casing, interior 20 members of the mechanism and the rear plate of the casing being shown in eleva- tion ; the barrel, barrel extension, and breech block are in their forward closed positions, the forward portions of the barrel and of 25 the tubular barrel casing being broken away. Fig. 13 is a central vertical longitudinal section through the breech casing and some of the members of the interior mechanism, the rest of said members being shown in 30 elevation; the barrel', barrel extension and breech block are in their rearmost open posi- tions, the forward portions of the barrel and of the barrel casing being broken away. Fig. 14 is a top view of the breech block, 35 detached, and of parts carried thereby. Fig. 15 is a left-hand side view of the breech block and other parts shown in Fig. 14. Fig. 16 is a front end view of the breech 40 block, detached, showing the feed extractor and the shell ejector mounted thereon. Fig. 17 is a rear end view of the breech block, detached, showing the sear and the cocking lever. 45 Fig. 18 shows the sear detached from the breech block, respectively in a rear end view and in a left-hand side view. Fig. 19 is a right-hand side view of the detached breech block. 50 Fig. 20 is a left-hand side view of the feed extractor, detached, and of the shell ejector pivotally attached thereto, on an enlarged scale; this figure also shows in connection with the side view of the feed extractor, a 55 portion of the top cover of the breech eas- ing in longitudinal section and with parts mounted thereon for co-operation with the feed extractor; the feed extractor cam is also shown in this figure, detached and in a rear 30 view. Fig. 21 is a front end view, on the same scale as Fig. 20, of the feed extractor, de- tached, and of the shell ejector pivotally at- tached thereto. 55 Fig. 22 is a top view of the combined breech block guide and brake body, with the rear portions of the adjacent side walls of the breech casing in horizontal section. Fig. 23 is a left-hand side view of said combined breech block guide and brake 70 body. Fig. 24 is a rear end view of said com- bined breech block guide and brake body, with the rear portion of the adjacent right- hand side wall of the breech- casing in a 75 vertical section. Fig. 25 is a vertical longitudinal section through said combined breech block guide and brake body, showing the. interior mech- anism and the interconnection of said mech- 8o anisrn with the barrel extension, the rear portion of which is shown in elevation. Fig. 26 is a vertical transverse section, seen from the rear, of the brake tube, detached from the breech block guide, said section 85 being taken slightly" forward of the closed integral rear end of said tube, showing the interior of said tube and a rear view of the compound piston therein. Fig. 27 is a side view showing the detached 00 brake tube with the compound piston there- in, the piston rod extending in front of said tube through the separated flanged dia- phragm which normally serves to close the forward end of said chamber. The piston <>5 rod is surrounded by a helical buffer spring, the rear end of said spring resting against the face of said diaphragm with the forward end of said spring bearing against a front bearing washer. wd Fig. 28 is a front end view of the com- bined guide and brake-body and associated parts. Fig. 29 shows the spring-supporting wash- er, detached, respectively in a front view and n>5 in a bottom view. Fig. 30 shows the rear disk of the com- pound piston, detached, respectively in a rear view and in a left-hand side view; this figure also shows one of the T-shaped pins 110 carried by said disk, detached and in two views. Fig. 31 shows the forward disk of said piston, detached, respectively in a rear view, in a central vertical longitudinal section, И® and in a left-hand side view. Fig. 32 shows the piston rod, detached, respectively in a left-hand side view, in a front end view and in a partial top view. Fig. 33 shows the flanged, threaded dia- 120 phragm, detached, respectively in a front view, in a left-hand side view, and in a cen- tral vertical longitudinal section. Fig. 34 shows the stuffing box gland for said aiaphragm, detached, respectively in a 325 front view and in a central vertical longitu- dinal section. Fig. 35 shows a washer for the compres- sion of the packing in the stuffing box in views similar to those in Fig. 34. 13u
1,628,336 Fig. 36 is a central vertical longitudinal section of the upper portion of the diaphragm and of a portion of the brake tube, showing the safety valve on an enlarged scale. 5 Fig. 37 shows the sear, detached and on 1 a greatly enlarged scale, respectively in a left-hand side view, in a rear view, and in a top view. Fig. 38 shows, on an enlarged scale, the 10 vertical pin forming the rear abutment for the main spring and the integral horizontal arm carried at its upper end by said pin, de- tached from the breech block, in a top view and in a left-hand side view; the side view 15 shows said vertical pin in its relation to the main spring and also shows the transverse pin forming the forward abutment for said spring. Fig. 39 shows, on the same scale as Fig. -° 38, the compound firing pin, assembled, re- spectively in a longitudinal vertical section, in a front view, in a rear view and in several transverse sections. Fig. 40 shows the rear part or body of said firing pin, detached, respectively in a top view, in a front view and in a rear view. Fig. 41 shows the forward pointed portion of the firing pin, detached, in a top view, in a front view and in a rear view. 30 Fig. 42 is a front view of the rear part or body of said firing pin, detached, with the transverse pin seated in its position therein to serve as the forward, abutment for the main spring. Fig. 43 shows a flat spring in the same position in which it is shown in Fig. 22. but detached, and' it also shows a top view of said spring. Fig 44 shows the nut for limiting the rear- 40 ward movement of the rear piston disk, de- tached, respectively in a rear view, in a side view and in a front view. Fig. 45 shows, detached from the breech block guide, the spring pawl for holding the 45 liquid brake in adjusted position, which pawl has an integral forward extension for co-operation with the accelerator, respec- tively in a left-hand side view and in a rear view. 60 Fig. 46 is a horizontal, longitudinal sec- tion of portions of the rear plate and of the right-hand side wall of the breech casing, showing the co-operative relation between these parts and the reaction spring guide 65 rod, seen from above. Fig. 47 shows the cocking lever pivot pin, detached, in a side view and in a rear view. Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views. 60 The machine gun represented in the draw- ings comprises the following main parts. The casing 1 enclosing the breech mecha- nism is rectangular in form or cross section; and its two strong vertical side plates are, at 65 the front, firmly attached by. rivets at a number of points to the front block 2 of the casing. To further unite the sides of the breech casing with said front block, a series of strong transverse rivets has been added in a plane parallel to the axis of the gun but 70 a distance below it with their centers pref- erably distributed in said plane, the fore- most rivet being some distance in rear of the face of said block 2, and the rearmost one being near the rear end of the rearward ex- 75 tension of said block. For some distance in rear of said block 2, the , breech casing is downwardly open at la for the ejection of the cartridge cases. As shown in Figs. 1, 12, and 13, the rear so half of the breech casing is offset, being ex- tended downwardly, thereby providing a greater depth of said casing to accommodate certain elements of the novel improved con- struction; Beneath this downwardly ex- 85 tended portion of the casing, a strong bot- tom plate, 3 is provided which extends on each side beyond the casing and carries on each side a strong upwardly projecting flange clasping the outside of the casing. »o On each of its flanges the bottom plate 3 is provided in its entire length with an inward- ly projecting longitudinal rib, and the strong side plates of the easing 1 have each 1 a corresponding longitudinal exterior groove »5 near its bottom, so that the bottom plate can only be placed in position beneath the breech casing by being slid forwardly thereunder, thereby vertically interlocking said plate with said breech casing. In order to inter- 100 lock them also longitudinally, the flanges aye permanently tied to the casing by a se- ries of strong rivets through each of the flanges and each of the side plates. In a similar manner, the top of the casing 105, 1 is closed, for some distance forward of its rear end, by a permanently fixed top plate 4 which extends on each side beyond the casing and carries on each side a strong downwardly projecting flange clasping the П0 outside of the casing. On each of its flanges, the top plate 4 is provided in its entire length with an inwardly projecting longitu- dinal rib, and the side plates of the casing have each a corresponding longitudinal ox- ns terior groove near its top, so that the top plate can only be placed in position above said breech casing by being slid forwardly thereover, thereby vertically interlocking said plate with said breech casing. In order 120 to interlock them also longitudinally, the flanges are permanently tied to the cqsing by a series of strong rivets through each of the flanges and each of the side plates. As the best of steel is employed for its pro- 125 duction, and with the construction herein- .above specified, the breech casing has been given the form of a very strong rectangular hollow steel beam, all parts of which are rigidly and permanently fixed together and 13®
1,628,336 thus best adapted to resist the strains to which they are liable to be exposed by the firing of the powerful modern ammunition hereinbefore described. This construction s makes the breech casing in this present case, much superior in strength over those of ma- chine guns as heretofore produced, because, in the latter, the parts composing the breech casing are but lightly interconnected and are 10 liable to yield under the strains due to the firing of the modern powerful ammunition. Though the strength of the breech casing has been greatly increased, as explained, its weight has been increased much less than 15 proportionally. The forward portion of the breech casing 1 is closed at the top by the cover 4a which is pivoted at its forward end to the block 2 by a transverse pin 4b; this cover, when 20 lowered to the closed position, rests upon the top of the casing and, extending on each side beyond the casing, has two downwardly projecting flanges which clasp the casing, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 9 and 16. In Fig. 1, 25 the forward portion of the top cover is shown, in dotted lines, turned fully forward; in Fig. 12 it is similarly shown turned for- ward, but, in addition, it is also shown in an intermediate position between its closed and 30 its fully forward positions. The top cover 4a is locked in its closed position by the latch 12 carried thereby and rotatable in a forward direction on its hori- zontal transverse pivot pin located beneath 35 the rear end of said cover, said latch being held in its cover-locking position with a shoulder thereon engaging under the for- ward end of the fixed top plate 4 by the spring 12a. See Figs. 12 and 13. In Fig. 13, •io the forward portion of the latch 12 and its spring 12a are represented by dotted lines, because said parts are covered by a longi- tudinal cam 51 located on the lower surface of the cover and on the left-hand side of 45 said latch 12 and its spring 12“. In Fig. 12, the forward portion of the latch 12 and the rear end of the spring 12a are clearly shown in full lines, as the upper rear portion of the cam 51 has, for this purpose, been broken 50 away. In the present case, the breech casing can be opened at its rear end only by the re- moval in upward direction of the rear plate 5 closing said casing. Said rear plate 5 55 slides downward in mounting it and upward in dismounting it, between the side plates of the casing 1, which are strengthened at their rear ends by outward reinforcements; dur- ing these movements the rear plate is guided 60 by ribs 5a, see Fig. 2, on its respective sides fitted into corresponding grooves in the respective side plates of the breech casing. It must be obvious that the hereinbefore described fixed, rigid and permanent inter- 65 connection of the side plates of the casing 1 by means of the flanged bottom plate 3 and the flanged top plate 4 and by the rivets through said flanges and side plates, is of the greatest importance. In machine guns as heretofore produced in which the parts 70 composing the breech casing are but lightly interconnected, the rear plate, which must perform the functions of securely support- ing the recoiling members of the breech mechanism in their rearmost position and 75 also of absorbing any strain due to an ex- cess of recoil, cannot perform these most im- portant functions if, oy bending or laterally yielding outward, the side plates should fail to support the rear plate in its operative 80 lowest position, thus making it and the re- coiling members in the casing liable to be thrown violently rearward out of the gun. By the present construction, such bending or lateral yielding of the side plates is posi- 85 tively prevented by the fixed, rigid and per- manent interconnection hereinbefore de- scribed. Centrally on the rear face of the plate 5 a strong circular hub is provided for sup- 00 porting the tube 6 in which a shouldered plunger for cushioning the breech block is located, said plunger being forwardly sup- ported by an inward shoulder in said hub. The tube 6 is closed at its rear end by a 05 screw plug between which and said plunger is arranged an elastic packing, the effective- ness of which may be varied by adjusting said plug. At the top the rear plate 5 has a for- 100 wardly projecting transverse flange which fits into a recess in the top plate 4, see Figs. 2 and 12, the upper surface of said flange lying in the same plane as that of said plate 4. 105 Projecting rearwardly from its rear face, the plate 5 has two strong transverse double flanges 5”, one at its top, the other near its bottom, see Figs. 1, 2, 6, 12 and 13. The spaces formed between the parts of the re- 110 spective flanges are adapted for receiving re- spectively upper and lower handle plates 7, which, when thus located, are rigidly se- cured by suitable means to said flanges and extend laterally and rearwardly outward 115 from the plate 5 and serve for the attach- ment to them of the two strong vertical han- dles 8. These handles 8 are adapted to be grasped by the operator of the machine gun for giving to the same the necessary eleva- 120 tions or depressions and the desired lateral training in aiming the gun. Centrally between the handles 8 and just below the top portion of the upper double flange 5b of the rear plate 5, the trigger 9 of 125 the gun is mounted upon a transverse pivot pin 9*a. Below and forward of said pivot pin 9a a downward and forward extension serves to connect said trigger operatively with the firing mechanism, to be described. 130
1,628,326 A small helical spring 10 is seated between a shoulder on said trigger extension and the under side of the forward flange on said rear plate 5, which spring serves to yielding- 5 ly keep said trigger in its inoperative posi- tion. The outside rearmost portion of the trigger 9 extends downward and is made of a sufficient width to adapt it for being oper- ated, at will, for firing the gun by either 10 thumb of the operator’s hands grasping the handles 8 and by exerting downward pres- sure upon the top of the trigger. As shown in Figs. 1, 6,12 and 13, centrally at the bottom of the real’ plate 5 the locking 15 latch 11 is seated therein on a transverse pivot pin. The lower end of said latch has a hook-shaped forward extension which takes a positive and secure hold under the rear end of the bottom plate 3 of the casing, thereby •20 locking the rear plate 5 vertically in its seat. Said latch 11 has also a rearward extension the under side of which is serrated and forms a finger piece by upward pressure against which the latch ’ll may be turned rearward 25 and upward, thereby releasing its hold on the casing and freeing the rear plate 5 for upward removal from the same. A small helical spring is seated within the latch 11, its lower end resting upon the bottom of its зо seat in said latch, its upper end bearing against the lower handle plate 7, thus serv- ing to return said latch to its operative lock- ing position whenever the rear plate 5 is re- turned to its lowest position; to permit such 35 return of said plate the lowest forward por- tion of said latch is inclined forwardly and upwardly. It will be observed that the construction is such that the operator can re- lease the latch and by continuing the up- 40 ward movement of his hand remove the rear plate. The barrel’ 13 is slidably supported near its rear end in the front block 2 and extends forwardly therefrom through the cylindrical 45 tubular barrel casing 14, in which its for- ward end is lengthwise movably Supported as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, by the disk 14a fixed in said barrel casing, preferably by indenting the metal of the barrel casing into 50 an annular groove formed in the periphery of said disk. The tubular barrel casing 14 is secured at its rear end, preferably by screw threads, upon a correspondingly threaded forward projection of the front block 2; 55 said barrel casing 14, throughout its length, is provided with numerous elongated open- ings for the free admission of air for cool- ing said barrel, said openings being in stag- gered relation to each other to insure the air co to contact with the entire surface of said barrel, which,' moreover, is divided into numerous alternating projections and re- cesses in order to increase its surface. Directly in rear of said screw-threaded 65 forward extension of the front block 2 to В which the rear end of the barrel casing 14 is secured, is a second cylindrical threaded por- tion, of somewhat larger diameter, of the front block 2. This serves to provide the seat for a ring 2“ which bears on each of its 7o sides a trunnion projecting at right angles to the axis of the barrel and thus adapting this machine gun to be, at will, mounted upon a gun mount provided with suitable trunnion boxes. 75 In order to further adapt this machine gun to be, also at will, mounted upon an- other mount of different construction, a transverse pivot hole 2b is provided through the side plates and the front block 2 of the so breech casing 1 adjacent to the front face and the bottom side of said casing and the bottom plate 3 has depending from it, adja- cent its sides, lugs 3U provided with trans- versely aligned perforations adarpted to re- 85 eeive a transverse pin of the mount (not shown). For the same purpose for which the open- ings in the barrel casing are made, the front block 2 also is provided with large openings 90 for the free entrance of the cooling air. As shown in Fig. 1, two circular air openings penetrate both the side plates and the block 2; and, as shown in Figs. 2, 12 and 13, a similar circular air opening is provided 93 through the top of the block 2. A consider- ably larger opening is made downward through the block 2 below the barrel. The location of these vertical and transverse openings is such that it coincides with that 100 portion of the barrel most exposed to be- come heated by the firing of the gun, being just forward of the firing chamber. Be- tween the rear end of the said large down- ward opening through the front bloek 2 and 1,13 the shell ejection opening of the breech cas- ing hereinbefore described, an integral por- tion of said block 2 remains below the bar- rel to support and guide the same in its re- coil and counter recoil. The usual barrel extension 15 is adjust- ably secured to the breech end of the barrel 13. The barrel extension comprises two sep- arated side members 15b with a transverse front connecting member 15c which receives 115 and is connected to the end of the barrel and with a rear transverse connecting mem- ber 15a. The two side members at their outer surfaces are in contact with or at least im- mediately adjacent the side plates 1 of the 120 casing. For some distance forward of their rear ends the said side members of said bar- rel extension have downward projecting por- tions of considerable length and depth, the offset rear half of the under side of the 12,> breech casing hereinbefore described pro- viding space above the bottom plate 3 for receiving said portions, see Figs. 12 and 1\ The bottom plate 3 of the breech casing has on its upper surface in rear of the ejection 130
О 1,628,226 opening 1“ of said casing, a wide, central, upwardly projecting rib 16, and said rib is T-shaped, being widest at the top; the low- est part of said downwardly projecting por- 5 tions of the side members of the barrel ex- tension are slotted to fit over said rib 16 on the bottom plate 3. Said T-shaped slot ex- tends lengthwise through the entire down- ward projecting portions of the side mem- 10 bers of the barrel extension, and the T- shaped rib 16 on the bottom plate is as much longer than said projecting portions as is necessary to guide the latter in their entire lengthwise movement. 15 The breech block 17 is supported and guided between the side members of the said barrel extension 15 for longitudinal move- ment to open and close the breech of the barrel. The breech block 17 has longitudi- 20 nal ribs 17b at its sides engaging correspond- ing grooves in the side members of said bar- rel extension. Said breech block is locked in its forward barrel-closing position by a . vertically sliding locking block 58 which is 25 located in a corresponding mortise in the rear portion of the barrel extension 15. For effecting the upward locking move- ment of said block 58 a central longitudinal upward projection 16a is provided on the top 30 of the bottom plate 3 of the breech casing, the vertical forward end of said projection being some distance in rear of the forward . end of the T-shaped rib 16. The said pro- jection 16a extends rearward some distance 35 and ends in a cam formed by an incline in rearward and downward direction. During the last of the forward movement, or coun- ter recoil, of the barrel 13 and barrel exten- sion 15, with the breech block 17 therein, 40 also in its forward position, the depending lower end of the locking block 58 is engaged by said inclined cam and forced upward, thereby positively locking said breech block in its forward position in said barrel exten- 45 sion and thus securely closing and locking the chamber in the breech of the barrel, see Fig. 12. During the rearward movement or recoil of the barrel and barrel extension with the 50 breech block therein, after firing a shot, the lower end of the locking block 58 is carried rearward beyond the inclined cam on the projection 16“, in which position said lock- ing block may be lowered from its breech 55 block locking position to its inoperative posi- tion. The lower portion of the breech block 17 in its forward locked position, see Fig. 12, is almost entirely contained between the side 60 members of the barrel extension 15, but in its open rear position, see Fig. 13, the greater . part of its length projects beyond the rear of the barrel extension, the rearmost down- wardly projecting portion of the breech 65 block then resting upon and being guided by suitable means supplemental to the bar- rel extension and carried directly by the casing. Preferably for this purpose I pro- vide a breech block guide 18, said guide being located in the breech casing 1 in rear 70 of the barrel extension 15 and having a plane top surface. It will be seen that, as in its rear position, Fig. 13, the under side of the breech block contacts only at its forward and its rear ends with guiding surfaces, the 75 breech block may be moved to and from said position with a minimum expenditure of force, comparatively a small amount of fric- tion having to be overcome. In order to permit, by the lowering of the 80 locking block 58, the unlocking'of the breech block 17 for movement in the barrel exten- sion 15, said locking block 58 is provided with a transverse pin, 58a, the ends of which project from the sides of said locking block 85 into corresponding vertical slots through the side members of the barrel extension, there- by keeping the locking block in its seat in the barrel extension while allowing it the necessary vertical movement. To effect the 00 lowering of the locking block 58, the breech block guide 18 in rear of the barrel exten- sion is provided with two horizontal arms 18a projecting forwardly from its vertical side Avails and rigidly connected therewith, 05 said arms fitting into corresponding hori- zontal grooves in the outer sides of said bar- rel extension which cross the vertical slots therein. The breech block guide 18 and the arms 18a thereof are stationary in the breech 100 casing and the forward ends of the arms 18“ are provided with downward and rearward, inclined surfaces forming cams. These cams engage the laterally projecting ends of the transverse pin 58“ during the last por- 105 tion of the recoil or rearward movement of the barrel extension 15 and force said lock- ing block 58 downward from the locked to the unlocked position and keep the same therein. See Figs. 12,13, 22, 23, 25 and 28. 110 In Fig. 11, the rear portion of the barrel extension 15 is represented, on a reduced scale, respectively in a top view, in a side view and in a rear view, the top view and the side view of this Fig. 11 clearly show the 115 vertical morti-e for the locking block, the top view, the side view and the rear view all show the vertical slots for the transverse pin, and the side view and the rear view also clearly show the horizontal grooves in the 120 outer sides for receiving the projecting arms of the breech block guide. Upon the firing of a shot, the heavy barrel 13 and barrel extension 15 together with the breech block 17 recoil under the pressure of 125 the powder gases unbalanced in rearward di- rection exerted against the clo'ed end of the cartridge shell and by it transmitted to the breech block 17. During the recoil of these parts interlocked, the locking block 58 is low- 130
1,636,336 •7 ered by the action of the cams on the arm 18* of the stationary breech block guide 18, thus releasing the breech block 17. The released breech block 17 then independently contin- 5' ues its movement in the barrel extension 15. Preferably in order to insure the movement of the breech block through a sufficient dis- tance a supplemental impuke is transmitted to it by an accelerator 35, which is mounted 10 on a stationary pivot at the rear of the bar- rel extension 15. The barrel extension, dur- ing its recoil, turns the accelerator 35 on its pivot, and thereby causes the tip of said ac- celerator to engage a projection on the bot- 15 tom of the breech block 17 and to throw the same to the rear at an increasing rate of speed. Said increasing rate of speed is caused by the pressure of the rear-face of the barrel extension 15 against the curved for- 20 ward surface of the accelerator 35, the point of contact between said parts lying, at first, at said tip of the accelerator, but progres- sively moving nearer to the center of the ac- celerator’s pivot, as clearly shown in Figs. 2!i 12 and 13. The impulse transmitted to the breech block 17 by the accelerator 35 car- ries it to its open rear position, any excess of energy of recoil of said breech block 17 be- ing absorbed by the cushioning means here- 30 inbefore described reinforced by the reaction- spring 36, see Fig. 12. The great length of the cartridges for the use of which the present machine gun is adapted necessitates a long breech block and 35 an opening movement of the same somewhat longer than the cartridge, as obviously lengthwise movement of the breech block must include the clearance necessary for the downward movement of the cartridge follow- 40, ing the lengthwise movement of the block; It is to insure this considerable lengthwise movement that the accelerator 35 is pro- vided. The cartridges are very powerful and the 45 barrel, barrel extension and breech block must therefore be of considerable size and strength and of considerable weight in order to accommodate them. The cartridges fired in the regular manner cause a very strong 50 recoil of the parts and the energy of this re- coil, at least in so far as contained in the bar- rel and barrel extension, must be absorbed. Some of the energy must be not .only ab- sorbed but also dissipated, and I therefore 55 provide a suitable braking device for absorb- ing and dissipating some of the energy. A part of the energy, however, must be stored for use in returning the barrel and barrel ex- tension during the counter recoil movement, 50 and I therefore combine with the braking device a suitable resilient device such as a spring. The energy absorbing njeans or mechanism which is provided is located immediately at 65 the rear of the barrel and barrel extension, and preferably below the path of movement of the breech block This arangement of parts brings the energy absorbing mechanism close to the parts with which it is' directly associated and also avoids any interference 70 with the free movement of the breech block. / Preferably the energy absorbing mech- anism is constructed as a self contained unit which is normally held in fixed position in the casing, but which is capable of being re- 75 moved therefrom. The removal of this mechanism is preferably effected through the opening at the' rear of the casing and the cover 5 preferably serves as a means for holding the energy absorbing mechanism in 80 place. The energy absorbing mechanism while normally connected with the barrel ex- tension is preferably detachable therefrom. In order that detachment may be readily ef- fected I preferably provide a construction 85 which permits these parts to be detached by a relatively lateral movement when they are 'removed from the casing. The before-mentioned breech block guide member 18 is preferably made hollow or 90 tubular and serves as a carrier or casing for the energy absorbing mechanism. The said guide member 18 fits between the sides of the breech casing with its flat bot- tom resting upon the bottom plate 3 of the 05 same, while its flap top guides and supports the breech block 17 and its rear end rests against the rear plate 5, see Figs. 12 and 13. The member 18 is preferably provided with a longitudinal bore which forms a liquid Ю0 receiving chamber and a piston is provided which is longitudinally movable in the chamber. Connected with the piston is a piston rod 23 which is adapted to be con- nected at its front end with the barrel ex- 105 tension 15. Preferably as already stated, the connection is such that the parts can be readily disconnected by a relative lateral movement when they are removed from the casing. HO As show# and as preferred the barrel ex- tension has connected with the portion 15c thereof a central rearwardly projecting arm 26. The forward portion of said arm near- est the barrel extension corresponds in width H5 with a central vertical opening in the ac- celerator 35, thereby allowing said acceler- ator to freely move independently of said arm. At the rear of said forward portion the arm 26 has a lateral downward shoulder, l20 being considerably increased in width and height, and in front of its rearmost portion said arm 26 has a further downward exten- sion which provides a means of connection with a head 23a on the piston rod 23. The 12s said head 23“ carries an upward projection which interlocks with the said downward projection on the arm 26, see Figs. 13, 25 and 32. It will thus be seen that the parts are connected for longitudinal movement but 130
8 1,628,226 that they can be readily disconnected by moving the piston rod 23 and the head 23a transversely of the arm 26. A washer 27, guided in the cylindrical "> bore of the breech block guide 18, surrounds the rear portion of the head 23a of said piston rod 23, said washer being held against independent rotary or forward movement on the head 23a by radial projections 28 on said head and corresponding recesses 28a in the forward face of said washer 27, see Figs. 32 and 29. In rear of said washer 27, the piston rod 23 is surrounded by a helical reaction spring 15 20, the forward end of which- is supported by said washer 27, and the rear end by the forward face of a diaphragm 29. As shown in Figs. 25 and 27 the piston rod 23 passes rearwardly entirely through the diaphragm 20 29; and the rear portion of said diaphragm is threaded and screwed firmly into the cor- respondingly threaded forward end of a cylindrical brake tube 21 fitted in the some- what enlarged rear portion of the bore of 25 the breech block guide 18. A central flange on the diaphragm 29, having a diameter ap- proximately equal to that of the outside of the brake tube 21, is located between the for- ward end of said brake tube 21 and the, 30 shoulder formed in the. breech block guide 18 by the enlargement in the rear portion of the bore. The front view of the diaphragm 29, see Fig. 33, shows two shallow holes on oppo- 35 site sides of the axis of the diaphragm for • the projections of a spanner wrench to serve for screwing said diaphragm into the for- ward end of the brake tube 21. To insure a tight fit of the sliding piston rod 23 in the diaphragm 29, the diaphragm is counterbored and provided with a stuffing box 24. The front of the stuffing box 24 is closed in the usual manner by a gland, such, for example, as the one 24a shown in Figs. 45 12, 22, 27 and 34, and the space in rear of said gland is occupied by a suitable packing forced into said stuffing box by the glands At the rear of said packing a thick washer 24b is mounted on the piston rod 23, and in co rear of said -washer a strong helical spring 24c is seated, its forward end pressing against the washer and its rear end resting against the rear wall of the stuffing box 24 in said diaphragm 29, see Figs. 13 and 25. 55 By this construction and arrangement of these parts, and by making the Opening in the washer conical, inclining forwardly and outwardly, the pressure of the spring 24° causes the washer to compress the packing 00 inwardly tightly against the piston rod 23. The cylindrical brake tube is closed at the rear by an integral rear end, the forward end being closed by the plane rear wall of the diaphragm 29. The piston rod 23 ex- 05 tends through the diaphragm into this cham- ber and carries at its rear end a piston adapted to move longitudinally in the cham- ber’ within the tube 21. In the operation of the device fluid is al- lowed to pass from one side of the piston to 70 the other to retard the movement of the pis- ton and connected parts, and provision is made for adjustably regulating the rate of flow. To this end. the piston is preferably compound and comprises a forward disk 22 75 fixed against longitudinal as well as rotary movement upon said piston rod 23 and a rear disk 32 mounted for limited longitudi- nal as well as rotary movement on said rod, see Figs. 25 and 26. 80 In Fig. 31, the forward disk 22 is shown, detached, in a side elevation, in a central vertical section, and in a rear end view; and -in Fig. 30, the rear disk 32 is shown, detached, in a side elevation and in a rear 85 end view. The forward disk 22 has a hub 22* pro- jecting from its rear face, and said hub is provided with a threaded bore adapted to be screwed upon the correspondingly thread- 90 ed rear end of the piston rod 23, see Fig. 32. A pin 31. is driven into a transverse hole in said piston rod 23 leaving its ends projecting from said piston rod. The hub 22a of the forward disk 22 has a slot 22“ 95 in its rear end for receiving the portions of the projecting pin 31 nearest to the pis- ton rod 23 when said disk 22 is mounted on the piston rod 23, thereby preventing the disk 22 from either rotating or moving 100 lengthwise on the piston rod 23; the pro- jecting ends of said pin 31 extend beyond said hub 22a. This disk 22 has two oppo- sitely located segment-shaped recesses 22c.’ As shown in Fig. 30, the rear disk 32 also 105 has two oppositely located segment-shaped recesses 32a in its periphery, and it has a smooth circular central opening, which is large enough to allow said disk 32 to be quite loosely mounted upon the hub 22a of 110 the forward disk 22. I provide means whereby relative rotation can be effected be- tween the two disks so as to cause the said openings or recesses of one disk to overlap those of the other to a greater or less ex- 115 tent and thus vary the rate of flow of the liquid from one side of the piston to the other as the piston is moved. The means for effecting this relative rotation is prefer- ably operable from the exterior of the 120 chamber thus making it possible to effect the adjustment without opening the chamber and losing the liquid contained therein. The specific means which I prefer and have shown for effecting the relative rotation 125 will now be described. On its rear sur- face the disk 32 has, near its edge, two oppositely located raised projections. Cen- trally in each of those parts in the edge of the disk 32 thickened by said projections, 130
1,628,226 О a small radial hole is drilled and into each of these holes a corresponding pin is fitted projecting some distance beyond the edge of the disk and thereby adapted to prevent 5 rotation of said disk; as represnted in Fig. 30, preferably each of said pins is provided at its outer end with a T-shaped flat head fitted into a corresponding longitudinal groove cut into the edge jf said disk 32 10 transversely to the pin seat, thus forming a spline stronger for preventing rotation than the pin would be without the head; in Fig. 30 the pins provided with heads, 32b, are shown seated in the disk 32, and one 15 of said T-shaped pins 32b is also shown detached. . . In Fig. 26, the compound piston is rep- resented, as seen from the rear, seated in the liquid chamber of the brake tube 21, 20 said brake tube being shown in a vertical transverse section taken in a plane slightly forward of the integral rear end of said tube. The two pins 32b on the rear disk 32 arc there .shown with their T-shaped heads 25 seated in two corresponding grooves in the interior surface of the brake tube in which, therefore, said disk 32 is prevented from rotating independently; but when the brake tube 21 is rotated in the breech block guide 30 18, the rear disk 32 of the compound piston is compelled to rotate with said tube 21. It will thus be seen that when the tube is rotated in the manner to be described the rear disk 32 is also rotated, thus causing 35 the openings 32a to overlap the openings 22° to a greater or less extent and thus vary the braking action. In Fig. 26, a nut 33 is shown screwed upon the threaded rear por- tion of the hub 22a on the forward disk 22, 40 . said nut serving to limit the movement in • rearward direction of the rear disk 32; this nut is locked in position against rotation and consequent longitudinal movement on said hub 22a by the pin 31, the ends of 45 which are received for the adjustment of said nut 33 in either of two corresponding grooves in the rear face of the nut, said grooves being semi-circular at their inner ends and slightly deeper than the radius of so the pin 31. In Fig- 25, and in the front and side views of Fig. 44 are shown two wide grooves 33a cut into the forward surface of Said nut 33. The forward movement of the pis- 55 ton simultaneously with the forward move- ment of the barrel and barrel extension, re- quires the free passage of the liquid from the front to the rear of the piston in the liquid chamber, and this free passage is GO attained by the co-operation of a series of holes 22d in the forward disk 22, of the large central hole in the rear disk 32, of- the grooves 33a in the nut 33 and of the segment-shaped recesses 22c and 32* in said об forward and rear disks, respectively. It will be seen that during the rearward movement of the piston the disk 32 is in contact with the disk 22 thus entirely clos- ing the holes ,22d, but that during the for- ward movement of the piston the disk 32 to is slightly separated from the disk 22 thus permitting the liquid to pass freely through the said holes 22a and-between the disks and through the openings 22° and 32*. As stated, the forward disk 22 of the com- 75 pound piston is prevented from rotating on the piston rod 23, being fixed thereon, and said piston rod 23 and its head 23* are non- rotatably connected with the washer 27 by the projections 28. As shown in Fig. 29, 80 the washer 27 is provided with a raised projection on its forward face near its cir- cumference, at right angles to the recesses 28a, said forward projection providing a thickened portion carrying a spline 27a. 85 This spline may be integral with the washer 27, but, as shown in Fig. 29, it preferably comprises the T-shaped head-of a pin fitted and fastened in a radial hole drilled into said thickened portion. In the same plane 90 which passes through the axis of the washer 27 and the spline 27a, the central hole in the washer which fits over the cylindrical head 23a of the piston rod 23, has two opposite grooves, see Fig. 29. The grooves are 95 necessary merely for the assembling of the washer 27 on said piston rod head 23a to allow the washer to pass rearwardly on said head beyond the projections 28 there- on, whereupon a quarter turn of the washer 100 27 will bring the recesses 28a into the posi- tion to receive said projections 28. As shown in Fig. 22, the spline 27a pro- jects into a longitudinal groove 27b in the adjacent right-hand side wall of the breech 105 block guide 18, said groove 27b being also shown, by dotted lines, in Fig. 23. By this construction the washer 27 is held against rotation and it prevents । rotation of thfe piston rod head 23a and of the piston rod 110 23; and, because the forward disk 22 of the compound piston is fixed upon the rod 23, said disk also is prevented from rotating. For convenience of manufacture, the groove 27” is preferably cut clean through the wall 115 of the breech block guide 18. The integral rear wall of the brake tube 21 rests against the rear plate 5 of the cas- ing, and is provided in its rear surface with, a transverse slot 21b to which a screw driver 120 may be applied for rotating said tube, see Fig. 24. In said integral rear wall of the tube 21 is also provided a hole for filling the liquid chamber, said hole being threaded 125 and closed by a screw plug 30. Connected with the liquid chamber and preferably located in the diaphragm 29 is a safety valve 25, see Figs. 25, 33 and 36. This safety valve consists of a conical valve 180
IO 1,628,226 head fitted to close a valve seat which com- municates with the liquid chamber and a guide stem which loosely fits into the cen- tral bore of a screw bushing which closes 5 the forward end of the hole in the dia- phragm. Between the rear of the bushing and the front of the valve head a spring 25a is fitted, the tension of which keeps the valve closed under normal conditions of 10 operation. However, should the brake chamber be filled with more liquid than is required for its proper operation, the safety valve will be opened and enough of the liquid will escape to permit the proper oper- 15 ation of the brake device. Cut into the outer surface of the rear wall of the rotatable tube 21 near its circum- ference is an index mark pointing outward, and in the rear surface of the stationary 20 breech block guide 18, two short radial lines are cut, marked respectively о and c and spaced apart slightly more than 90°, see Figs. 24 and 7. From the foregoing description of the 25 construction of the liquid brake, it will be seen that, by turning the brake tube 21 in a clockwise direction, see Figs. 7 and 26, the effective area of the openings permitting the liquid to pass from one side to the other of 30 the compound piston 22, 32 is diminished, and by turning said tube in a counter-clock- wise direction, the effective area of said openings is increased. This adjustment of the liquid brake provides for the proper 35 braking action under widely varying con- ditions of operation, such as wide differ- ences in the angles of elevation of the gun and a broad range of temperature changes; it also permits the control, within limits, 40 of the rate of firing of the gun when firing automatically. For yieldingly holding the brake tube 21 after adjustment, a portion of the cylin- drical surface has cut in it shallow longitu- 15 dinal serrations 21a, see Figs. 24, 26 and 27, and a flat spring 34 seated in the breech block guide 18 is provided with an inward . projection 34a the inner surface of which is similarly serrated, whereby the spring and 50 the projection on it yieldingly keep said tube 21 from rotation. As already stated the member 18 and the parts associated therewith are normally held in place by the rear cover 5. In order 55 to prevent the parts from prematurely mov- ing rearward as soon as the cover is removed a latch is preferably provided as shown in Figs. 24 and 43. A flat latch spring 19 is carried by the member 18 and its rear end 60 is normally seated in a recess in the side wall of the casing. A hole 19a is provided in the casing adjacent the recess, and this allows inward pressure to be exerted on the spring to release it. The point of a bullet may be used for this purpose. When the latch 19 65 is released the member 18 and associated parts, including the barrel and barrel exten- sion, may be removed. The accelerator 35 has the additional func- tion of locking the barrel and barrel extension 70 in rearward position against the tension of tiie spring 20 as illustrated in Fig. 13. For this purpose the accelerator is provided with rearwardly projecting lugs 35a which have rearward and downward inclined surfaces 75 adapted to co-operate with correspondingly inclined shoulders on the opposite sides of the rearwardly projecting arm 26 of the bar- rel extension. It will be apparent that when the accelerator is in the position shown it 80 serves to hold the barrel extension and bar- rel against the counter recoil movement until such time as the breech block has moved for- ward and engaged the accelerator to release it from engagement with the arm 26. The 85 spring 34 already' mentioned also serves to yieldingly hold the accelerator in one or the other of its extreme positions. In Fig. 45, the spring 34 is shown, de- tached, in a side view and in a rear end view. 90 The side view of the detached spring clearly shows that it is curved, the shorter rear por- tion being bent outward, but the longer for- ward portion having a double bend, its for- ward end 34b being bent inward; when in 95 place in the breech clock guide 18, said for- ward end rests in a shallow recess in the bottom of the accelerator 35, see Fig. 25. By this arrangement the spring 34 yielding- ly holds the accelerator 35 in either of its loo two positions, shown in Figs. 12 and 13. In Fig. 12, the breech block 17 is shown in its forward firing position to which it has been returned by the tension of a long reac- tion spring 36, said spring 36 being coiled 105 around a guide rod 37 which is seated in a longitudinal hole located in the right-hand side portion of the breech block near the to]), said hole and rod extending entirely through said breech block so that the ends of the rod 110 37 protrude from the breech block in front and in rear. This lengthwise hole for the rod 37 is counterbored or enlarged from its rear end to a point near the forward end of the breech block thus forming a shoulder 115 against which the end of the spring 36 rests and transmits its tension in forward direc- tion directly to the breech block 17, while the rear end of said spring 36 on the rod 37 rests against a shoulder formed by an enlarged I2C head 37a provided on the rod 37 near its rear end and transmits its tensio/i in rear- ward direction through said head 37a to the rear plate 5. The rear surface of said enlarged head 37a 125 of tlm rod 37 is provided with a narrow cen- tral rib 37b and the inner surface of the rear plate 5 has cut in it a correspondingly nar-
1,628,226 11 row vertical groove extending downwardly through and out of said plate 5. This ar- rangement of the groove in the rear plate 5 and the rib 37b on the rod head 37a positively 5 prevents lateral movement, to either side, of the rod iiead 37“ as long as the rear plate 5 is in its normal position. The head 37я of the rod 37 is also provided with a lateral auction 37c which extends into a hole tly larger than said projection in the adjacent right-hand side wall of the breach casing 1. The withdrawal of this projection 37° is positively prevented, when the rear plate is in its normal position, by the engage- 15 ment of the rib 37b on the rod head 37a m the groove in the rear plate 5. Vertical movement of the rod head 37a is thus posi- tively prevented by the projection 37c. After the rear plate has been upwardly withdrawn 20 in the manner hereinbefore described, the guide rod 37 with its head 37a is held by the projection 37° resting against the rear of the hole in the side wall of the breech casing 1 under the tension of the reaction spring 36, 25 thereby preventing the rod 37 and the spring 36 from being projected rearwardly out of the breech casing. Such rearward ejection of said rod and spring would even be pre- vented should the breech block 17 happen to 30 be at the rear and, therefore, the reaction spring 36 be under its maximum tension. However, it is to be understood that nor- mally the rear plate 5, is to be removed only when the breech block is in its forward 35 position, as then the reaction spring 36 is hot under its maximum tension, so that the rod 37, if then freed, will not be thrown rearward with dangerous violence. In this forward position of the breech block 17, the 40 lateral play a of the long reaction spring guide rod 37 and of the only partly com- pressed reaction spring 36 in their seat in the breech block 17 allows the rear end of the rod 37 and the projection. 37° thereon 45 to be easily moved to the left sufficiently to withdraw said projection from the hole in the breech casing 1, after which the rod 37 and the spring 36 may be rearwardly re- moved. In contrast to the easy removal of 50 the rod 37 and spring 36 with the breech block-forward, their removal becomes so difficult as to be almost impossible when the breech block is in rear and the spring fully compressed. There are several reasons for 55 this difficulty. The maximum tension of the compressed spring 36 holds the projection 37° of the rod 37 very securely in its seat in the side.wall of the casing, but in addition to this, ttie compression of the spring 36 во within its seat in the breech block 17 causes said spring to expand radially so as to be- come almost rigid in said seat and thereby diminish the play of the rod 37 and its pro- jection 37° so much that said projection can- es not be moved out of its seat in the wall of the breech casing without the use of great force. The forward end of the spring 36 has been described hereinbefore as resting against the shoulder formed by the counterbore in To the breech block 17 and as thus transmitting the tension of said spring directly to said breech block; but in Figs. 12 and 14 1 have shown, merely for the purpose of assembly and disassembly, a strong washer, which is 75 inserted between said shoulder and the for- ward end of the spring 36 and which serves to transmit the tension of said spring to. the breech block. A removable lateral pro- jection 37d is provided on the' rod 37 for- 80 ward of the washer and within the breech , block when the latter is in forward position. The projection 37d extends laterally from the rod 37, only for a distance equal to the difference between the radius of the conn- 85 terbore and the radius of the rod. With the breech block in the forward position, the projection 37d extends into a short lon- gitudinal slot cut in the breech block rear- wardly far enough to allow said projection !)0 to enter the counterbored seat beyond the shoulder against which the washer rests, see Figs. 9, 10, 16 and 19. In this condition the rod 37 with the spring 36, washer, and projection 37d thereon щау be rearwardly 95 withdrawn from the breech block. In order to separate these parts, the projection 37d is removed from the rod and the washer and spring are dismounted in forward direction from the same. 10* For assembling, the spring 36 and the washer are remounted on the rod 37 and the projection 37d is replaced to hold them on the rod, and then these parts together are replaced in the breech block and the pro- и,5 jectlon 37d is entered into the lateral slot in the forward portion of said breech block. With the breech block in the forward posi- tion in the breech casing 1, the projection 37° is easily entered into the hole in the side 110 wall of the breech casing where it is yield- ingly held by the tension of the spring 36 as hereinbefore described. This permits the rear plate 5 to be entered in the top of the casing 1 and moved downward to its 1 normal position, the lower ends of the two side walls of the groove in the rear plate 5 being beveled to incline outwardly, Fig. 6, to readily slide over the rib 37b on the rear end of the rod head 37a, and the upper rear 12,> comers of the head 37a and the ribs 37” being beveled upwardly and forwardly for the same purpose, see Figs. 12 and 46.' Fig. 17 represents a rear end view of the breech block 17 and Fig. 19 a right-hand 12a side elevation of the same, and in both of these figures is shown a slot 38 cut through the right-hand side wall of the breech block and extending inwardly, into the counter- bored seat therein and forwardly a distance 130
121 1,628,226 entering said shouldered end of the part 39 into the tubular part 39“ to connect and in- terlock these two parts of the firing pin lon- gitudinally. When the two-part firing pin, in this condition, is inserted into its longi- 70 tudinal seat in the breech block 17, the inner surface of said seat fits over the shouldered end of the forward part 39 and thereby pre- vents the same from moving transversely and the two parts of the firing pin from separat- 75 ing. As clearly shown in the transverse sec- tions which are parts of Fig. 39, and in the top view, Fig. 40, the vertical slot 39b is only as wide as is necessary to admit into so it the pin 45 clearly shown in Fig. 38, and both the pin 45 and the slot 39” are consider- ably smaller than is the bore or seat for the main spring 40 in the tubular part 39a of the firing pin. The forward end of this vertical 85 slot 39b lies somewhat forward of the rear end of said bore or seat, and said slot ex- tends from thfere rearward to a point some distance forward of the rear end of the firing pin. Said rear end of the tubular part 39“ 90 of the firing pin and the forward end of the same are both increased in dimension to fit the seat in the breech block 17, but the ex- treme rear end is neither' tubular, nor cut away upwardly, nor slotted, but its under 95 side is flattened and has an upward recess cut in it thereby forming the cocking shoul- der slightly forward of the rear end, for its engagement by the sear. The pin 45 has at its upper end an integral 100 arm 45a, and, with said pin and arm placed in the breech block 17, said arm lies in a cen- tral vertical longitudinal recess in the top of the rear portion of said breech block; said pin and integral arm may be turned, thereby Ю5 moving the projection 45°. see Fig. 38, to the left to cause it to enter into a lateral recess IT1*, see Fig. 17, thus locking the pin and arm against vertical movement. The cocking lever 42 is pivotally mounted no in said vertical recess oh the removable trans- verse pin 42“, shown detached in Fig. 47. The head of said pin is approximately trian- gular in shape and is located within a re- cess provided for it in the left-hand side of I15 the breech block, as shown in Figs. 12, 13 and 15. The upper cocking lever arm 42 lies to the right of the integral arm 45“ there- by preventing movement of the latter in that direction, which would withdraw its pro- 120 jection 45° from the recess 17b: the lower arm of the cocking lever projects downwardly in- to the vertical slot 39b in the firing pin. A projection 45b on the right-hand side of the integral arm 45“, see Fig. 38, lies, when 125 these parts are assembled in the breech block, in the path of the cocking lever 42 and thus limits the rearward movement of its upper arm. The sear 41, shown detached in Fig. 18 130 sufficient to insure clearance for the projec- tion 37c on the rod head 37“ when the breech block is in its rearmost position. It will be understood that during the rear- 5 ward movement of the breech block the empty cartridge is ejected from the firing chamber and-a cartridge to be fired is ex- tracted from the feed belt. During the re- turn forward movement of the breech block io the extracted cartridge is moved into the firing chamber in position to be fired by the firing mechanism. The ejecting and ex- tracting mechanism will hereinafter be de- scribed in detail but the description of the 15 firing mechanism will next follow. The breech block 17 is provided with a longitudinal seat therein which is so located , that its axis coincides with the prolongation of the longitudinal axis of the barrel. Po- 20 sitioned in the said recess is a firing pin made in two parts 39, 39a, and its main spring or firing spring 40, see Figs. 13, 14, and 15. This two-part firing pin and co-operating parts are shown, detached and on an enlarged 25 scale, in Figs. 38 to 42, inclusive. In Fig. 38 arc shown the main spring or firing spring and its co-operating abutments. Fig. 39 shows the two-part firing pin assembled, in a front end view, in a rear end view, and in a 30 side view, in said side view, the rear tubu- lar part is shown in a vertical longitudinal section. Beneath said longitudinal section are also shown four transverse sections taken, respectively, at the places of the lon- 36 gitudinal section directly above them. Figs. 40 and 41 show, respectively, the two parts of the firing pin separated from each other. Fig. 41 shows a front view, a side view and a rear view of the forward part 39 of the fir- 40 ing pin. Fig. 40 shows a front end view, a top view, and a rear end view of the tubu- lar rear part of said firing pin, the inner bore of which is indicated in dotted lines in said top view, but the vertical longitudinal 45 slot 39b is clearly shown in full lines; also indicated in dotted lines is the horizontal transverse hole for receiving the pin 43, as clearly shown in Figs. 38 and 39, to serve for the abutment of the forward end of the 5(i main spring 40. Fig. 42 represents also a front view of the rear tubular part of the firing pin in which the transverse pin 43 is more clearly shown as seated in the hole pro- vided for it in said, part. 55 In assembling, the main spring 40 is in- serted from the front into its seat in the rear tubular part 39a of the firing pin and is then fixed therein by placing the transverse pin 43 in front of it. Forward of said pin 43, co the bore of the tubular rear part 39“ is, for some distance, increased in diameter to cor- respond with the shouldered rear end of the forward part 39 of said firing pin, and the top portion of the tubular part is cut away 65 upwardly, thereby providing the opening for
1,828,226 ftnd, on a greatly enlarged scale to more clearly show its construction, in Fig. 37, and also in its position in the breech block in Figs. 7, 8, 13, 14, 15 and 17, is slidably 5 mounted in a. central vertical seat at the rear end of the breech block. At its lower end said sear has a forward extension 41a with an upward projection at its forward end; this upward projection is beveled at the front 10 to permit the rear end of the firing pin to ride over it and depress the sear, after which its rear surface engages the cocking shoulder of the firing pin to hold the same in cocked position until the sear 41 is depressed. In 15 the flat lower surface of the sear an upward recess is provided to receive the upper end of the short helical sear spring 44, the lower end of said spring 44 resting in a similar recess provided for jt in the breech block 17 20 under the - seat of the sear, whereby the sear spring 44, when in its seat, yieldingly holds the sear 41 in its raised position. The upward movement of the sear 41 under the tension of its spring 44 is limited by a shoul- 25 der 41° in the front surface of the sear meet- ing the under side of the integral arm 45a. The length of the sear 41 permits its vertical operation without interfering with the cock- ing lever; but, on its right-hand side, said 30 sear 41 carries a narrow upward projection 41b which serves for the depression of the sear by the trigger mechanism. The trigger mechanism for actuating the sear is located above the path of movement 33 of the breech block. One of the advantages of the location is that it leaves the space be- low the path of movement of the breech block available for the mechanism for ab- sorbing the energy of recoil as already de- 40 scribed. As hereinbefore described, the trigger 9 has a forward and downward extension adapted, when raised by the depression of the outside rear portion of the trigger, to 43 actuate the sear through a suitable connect- ing member. This member is shown as being a lever 46 pivotally supported from the top plate of the casing. This lever is of con- siderable length and extends forward far 30 enough to transmit the movements of the trigger 9 to the sear 41 when the breech block 17 is in the forward position. This lever 46 is pivotally attached near its center to the fixed lug 47 projecting downward 55 from the top plate 4. of the casing by the pivot pin 46a. The pin passes transversely through said lever 46, and through the fixed lug 47 and out through the left-hand side plate of‘the casing 1, as clearly shown in 60 Figs. 1 and 7. The pin 46a has on the out- side of said side plate an integral handle extending rearwardly and downwardly when it and the pin 46a are in their locked posi- tion. The handle is of uniform width, but C5 sufficiently thin to be flexible, and carries at its end a slight inward projection which engages in a corresponding recess in the outer surface, of the side plate of the breech casing, thus yieldingly holding the pin and handle in their locked position. On the in- 70 side of the side plate, the pin 46a carries a short spline, the radial center line of which coincides with that of the handle j at an angle preferably of 90° from the position of the landle and pin shown in Fig. 1, a groove 75 s cut in the side plate of the breech cas- ing corresponding in width and depth with said spline on the pin 46a. By this arrange- ment, the pin and handle are yieldingly locked in position when the handle extends 80 rearward, while, with the handle and pin turned until the handle extends forward, they are unlocked and may be withdrawn from the breech casing, thereby releasing the trigger lever 46, which may then be removed 83 downwardly from its seat in the breech casing. " . The cocking lever 42, above its central part, its pivot and its lower arm, extends upward and projects a considerable distance °o from the top of the breech block 17. The right-hand surface of the fixed lug 47 de- pending from the top plate 4, is perfectly plane and the trigger lever 46 rests on this plane surface. However, the under side of 95 said lug 47 has just in rear of its front end a downwardly projecting shoulder, and in rear of it an opening which is produced by a recess 47a cut into the right-hand sur- face of said lug 47, and laterally of a depth 100 slightly greater than the thickness of the cocking lever 42. The forward and rear walls of. this recess 47a incline, respectively, in forward and upward direction and in rearward and upward direction, and, at their 105 intersection with the under side of .the lug 47, produce said opening and the shoulder in front of it. When the breech block is moved by the reaction spring 36 from its rear position, 110 see Fig. 13, in which the cocking lever 42 projects above the top of the breech block and inclines forward, to its forward posi- tion, the projecting end of the cocking.lever is carried, during the latter part of said for- 115 ward movement, against the shoulder on the under side of the fixed depending lug 47, and by the continued movement of the breech block, said end of the cocking lever is forced to turn from its forwardly inclined 120 position to the rearwardly inclined position, see Fig. 12. By this arrangement, the lower arm of the cocking lever is forwardly removed from its contact with the cocked firing pin and leaves 125 said firing pin held cocked solely by the sear 41; therefore, if then the trigger is depressed, a shot is fired. On the now following rearward opening movement of the breech block 17, the cock- 130
14 1,628,226 manner in machine guns of this class, to bring the cartridges successively to a central position over the barrel. This movement is. effected by the feed slide 55 with its depend- - ing pawl, said slide being supported and 70 guided for transverse reciprocating ’ move- ment in the under side of the top cover 4a. A stop is provided on the left-hand side of the gun below the feed channel, which prevents movement of the belt in the wrong 75 direction. In its rear surface the slide 55 has a recess adapted to receive the forward end of the two-armed feed lever 56, which lever is pivoted on a vertical pivot project- ing downward from the top cover 4a. The 80 upwardly flexible rear arm of,this lever is provided at its end with a downwardly pro- jecting stud, which normally extends into the cam groove 57 in the top of the breech block 17, see Figs. 12, 13 and 14, whereby 85 the longitudinal reciprocating movement of said breech block produces a lateral move- ment of said lever and this causes a trans- verse reciprocating movement of said slide 55, thus moving the cartridge belt stepwise 90 through the feed channel. The feed extractor 48 is pivotally at- tached to the left-hand side nf the breech block 17 some distance in rear of the face of the same, and extends forward beyond 95 said face, see Figs. 12, 13 and 15. At its forward end, said feed extractor 48 carries on its right-hand or inner side a lateral pro- jection extending inward some distance be- yond the longitudinal axis of the breech io® block 17. Its rear end is party-circular and has ex- tending beyond it a projecting concentric rib, a corresponding under-cut recess in the rear side of the seat in the breech block be- Ю5 ing provided for said rib. By this construc- tion, the feed extractor 48 may be readily attached to and detached from the side of the breech block 17, which, for receiving said feed extractor 48, is reduced in" width and forms a shoulder in rear of the seat, party- circular with an under-cut recess. For mounting and attaching the feed extractor 48, its pivot is partly inserted into the pivot hole, then said extractor 48 is turned up- 115 ward until its body stands at an angle of substantially 90° above the top of the breech block, then pivot and body of the extractor 48 may be fully pressed inwardly home and turned to their normal position, by which 120 they will be properly mounted on and locked to the breech block, and said extractor 48 will extend forward beyond the face of said breech block. The lower side of this inwardly projecting part of the feed ex- 125 tractor 48 is provided with a downward pro- jection 48a, the lower edge of which is curved to correspond substantially with the curvature of the cartridge just forward of its head. 130 ing lever is carried with it and during the first part of such movement,, the upper end of said cocking lever is, by reason of its engagement with the rear wall of the recess 5 47a in the fixed lug 47, moved from the rear- wardly inclined position to the forwardly inclined position, thereby again cocking the firing pin. The lever is kept in this position during the further rearward .movement, and io during the greater portion of the succeeding forward movement of the breech block, by the piane under side of said lug 47 in rear of the opening therein. Thus the entire cocking operation is concluded. 15. When the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 12-, with the breech block closed, a single shot may be fired by depressing the trigger 9 and at once releasing it; thereby the sear is lowered by the lever 46 and it so releases the firing pin, which fires one shot. By the resulting recoil, the parts are changed from their positions shown in Fig. 12 to their positions shown in Fig. 13, with the breech open, from which position they are S5 at once returned forward again by the reac- tion spring 36, see Fig. 12. During the last of this forward movement of the sear 41, being yieldingly held by its spring in its raised position, engages and lifts the for- *0 ward end of the lever 46-and lowers its rear end ready to be again operated by the trig- ger 9. \ If it becomes necessary to fire, instead of single shots, a volley, that is numbers of 55 shots in rapid succession, the operation is as follows: the trigger is depressed and kept- depressed, thereby the rear end of the trig- ger lever is raised and kept raised and the forward end of said trigger lever is kept 10 in its lowered position and in the path of the top of the sear. In order to insure that the sear will not be lowered until the very last of the forward movement of the breech block closing the breech, the trigger lever i5 46 is provided at the forward end with a- projection inclining in forward and down- ward direction, which serves to depress the sear at the proper time. These operations are automatically repeated as long as the i0 trigger is kept depressed arid cartridges are supplied. In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, the cartridges are fed into a horizontal transverse feed channel pro- i5 vided in the front block 2 of the breech cas- ing above the barrel seat therein, and, since this channel is closed at the top only by. the hinged cover 4a hereinbefore described, by raising said cover a cartridge belt is readily 50 placed in position in the gun or removed therefrom as required. With the loaded . cartridge belt placed in position and the cover closed down thereon the belt 'is fed with a step by step movement preferably M from the left to the right side in the usual
1,628,286 IB Just before the breech block 17 reaches the end of its forward closing movement, the rounded top of the head of the feed ex- tractor 48 has been raised against the flat 5 spring 50 above it attached to the top cover 4a, and the depending part 48a of said feed extractor is brought into contact with the top of the head of the cartridge in the feed belt central above the barrel. Then the last io of the forward movement of the breech block causes the upper edge of the central cartridge to co-operate with the forward, rearwardly and downwardly,inclined, surface of the projection 48a, thereby allowing said i-> projection to pass over the cartridge head. Thereupon the top of the feed extractor 48 will be depressed by the spring 50 and the projection 48a will be entered into the groove in the cartridge forward of its head, the so projection, being inclined downward and rearward thus secures a firm hold upon the cartridge. By the ensuing rearward move- ment of the breech block, the cartridge is withdrawn from the feed belt; at the very 25 first part of such movement, the feed ex- tractor 48 is kept down with its projection 48a extended into the groove forward of the cartridge head, by the spring 50, then the rounded top of said'feed extractor 48 is caw- •"o ried under the horizontal forward portion of the depending feed extractor cam 51, thereby positively keeping said extractor from upward movement. With the further rearward movement of said breech block, •’•5 the top of the feed extractor is carried be- low the downwardly and rearwardly in- clined under side of the cam 51, which serves, during the continued rearward move- ment of the breech block and feed extractor, > to partly depress the feed extractor, and the cartridge to the position in'which they are shown in Fig. 13. In this position, the car- tridge head and groove have been introduced into the vertical flange-way on the front 15 face of the breech block, the top opening of which is flaring to facilitate the entrance of them. It must be understood that during the en- tire operations of the gun mechanism herein- 30 after described, the head and the groove of each cartridge» after it has been drawn out of the feed belt and has been introduced into the flange-way. remains firmly and securely held in the grasp of said flange-way and even 55 after each of tbe cartridges has been fired, the head and groove of its emptied shell still remain held in tbe flange-way till, at last, it is downwardly ejected from the gun. Having now described the longitudinal co rearward movement of the breech block and also its return movement forward, there re- mains, to be explained the difference of ac- tion of the feed extractor during its.,forward movement, from its action during its rear- 65 ward movement. This difference in the action of the feed extractor 48 during its forward movement is mainly cine to three features of construc- tion, two of which are entirely novel impor- tant improvements. 70 The switch-lever 52 is pivotally attached to the inside surface of the left-hand side wall of the breech casing 1; said switch lever has an integral, shouldered pivot stud 52a and, beyond said shoulder, said stud is 75 smaller in diameter and screw threaded. When in position in the breech casing, see Fig. 1, the threaded portion of the stud 52a extends beyond the outside surface of said breech casing 1, and on this outside end of so the stud is fitted a nut which removably fastens the Switch lever 52 in its place, with- out, however, interfering with the free vi- brating movement of lever, stud and nut, be- cause the stud, between its shoulder and the 85 surface of the switch lever, is slightly longer than the thickness of the side wall of the cas- ing. Said switch lever 52 is clearly shown, detached, in a side elevation and in a top view, in Fig. 5 above Fig. 1. »o On the left-hand or outer surface of its rear arm the switch lever 52 has a project- ing longitudinal rib 52b below its upper edge, and, in the inner surface of the side wall of the casing, a recess is cut into which said rib 05 52b enters; besides making room for said rib 52b, said recess also serves for the reception of a two-armed spring 53, the longer lower arm of which rests upon the horizontal lower side of said recess, and the shorter upper 100 arm of the spring bears upwardly against the under side of the rib 52b, see Figs. 1 and 5. A short distance in front of the forward end of the switch lever 52 a flat piece 54 is 105 fixed by two rivets to the inside surface of the side wall of the breech casing, there- fore lying in the same vertical plane with the switch lever 52; the rear surface of said piece 54 inclines upward and forward, see 1Ю Fig. 1. On its left-hand or outer surface, the pivoted feed extractor 48 has, near its head, an integral lateral projection 48b, see Figs. 12, 13, 15, 9 and 10; this projection is more 116 clearly represented in Figs. 21 and 20, where the feed extractor 48 is shown, detached, and on a much enlarged scale. This integral projection 48b is of considerable horizontal length, narrow in height, and projects lat- 120 erally from the surface, of the feed extractor almost to the inside surface of the side wall of the breech casing, thereby insuring its engagement by the switch lever 52 and the piece 54. 125 During the last of the rearward movement of the breech block, the head of the feed extractor 48 is depressed, and carried rear- wardly beyond. the rear end of the switch lever 52; while the feed extractor is being WQ
- ю 1,628,айв so depressed, the lateral projection 48b there- on engages the top of the rear arm of the switch lever 52 to lower it against the ac- tion of its spring 53 which returns the lever 5 again to its normal position after said pro- jection has been carried rearwardly beyond said lever. On the succeeding' forward movement of the breech block, the lateral projection 48b on the head of the feed ex- 10 tractor strikes the downward and forward inclined end of the lever 52 and said feed extractor head is thereby depressed to its lowest position, indicated in Fig. 10, with the cartridge substantially in line with the 15 axis of the barrel. By the continued for- ward movement of the breech block-and feed extractor, the integral lateral projection 48b on said extractor is carried through the opening beneath the straight lower edge of 20 the switch lever 52 and above the straight top surface of the barrel extension 15. Thereby the feed extractor head n kept in its lowest position and the cartridge is be- ing inserted into the barrel; nearing the last 25 of the forward movement, the front end of the lateral projection 48b on the feed ex- tractor head strikes against the upward, and forward inclined edge of the fixed piece 54, whereby said feed extractor head is raised. 30 While the feed extractor head is thus be- ing raised, the rear end of the integral lateral projection 48” engages the under side of the forward arm of the switch lever 52, and thereby also raises said lever arm against 35 the tension of the spring 53, until, by the last of its forward and upward movement, tho rear end of said projection 48b is car- ried above and forward of said lever arm and thus releases said lever arm, which is at 40 once returned to its lowered normal position by the spring 53. By this return of the lever arm. it assumes a position below the rear end of the integral lateral projection 48b of the feed extractor, and thereby closes 45 the opening between the fixed piece 54 and the forward end of the lever arm in such a manner that the integral lateral .projection 48b cannot possibly return downward into' said opening, but must move above the up- 50 per edge of the switch lever during the ensu- ing rearward' movement. A vertical longitudinal slot is cut in the head of the feed extractor 48 some distance below its highest portion and laterally some S5 distance to the left of the downward pro- jection 48a in the vertical plane through the axis of the gun barrel, hereinbe'ore referred to, said slot forming the seat for the upper portion of the depending ejector 49. This во upper portion of the ejector is considerably thinner than the width of said slot, it being clearly shown in Fig. 21 that the left-hand side of said upper portion is reduced in thickness, down to a shoulder formed on 65 said left-hand side of the Ejector below its seat in the feed extractor head. Said ejec- tor 49 is pivotally mounted in said seat on a transverse pin 49“, which passes through said feed extractor head from the left to the right side thereof. The said pin 49“ 70 is shown in Figs. 21 and 20, with a thin head seated in a recess provided for it, and at its other end split for some distance, so that it may be readily placed in position in, or removed from said feed extractor head, but 75 is frictionally held in place therein. The hole in the ejector 49 which receives the pivot pin .49“ is slanting and the bottom of said hole is inclined downward towards the left to allow the lower end of the ejector 80 to swing to the left side. The said ejector is normally kept yieldingly in its substan- tially vertical position by a small helical spring 49” seated in the head of the feed extractor 48 and bearing on the ejector in 85 rear of the pivot pin 49a. While the ejector 49 is shown in Fig. 21 in its laterally sub- stantially vertical position, in Fig. 16 it is represented with its lower end moved to the left against the tension of the spring 49b. 90 When the feed extractor 48 is raised, see Figs. 12, 15 and 20, the front edge of the long lower arm of the ejector 49 is substan- tially vertical and is chamfered to both sides in its entire lengthy and thus has a wedge- 05 shaped form. This wedge-shaped form of the edge of the ejector 49 adapts it, at the end of its forward movement, to enter be- tween the heads of two cartridges in front of it, to wedge said cartridge heads apart, Ю( and thereby to insure that the downward projection 48“ of the feed extractor will grasp and, on the ensuing rearward move- ment, withdraw only one of said cartridges from the belt. 105 At its lower end the ejector 49 has an inward or right-hand projection, see Fig. 16, which extends laterally beneath the cartridge when the same is grasped by the feed extractor, and below said inward pro- no jection, the end of the ejector is inclined downward and to the left, until said incline jneets the vertical longitudinal plane through the center of the ejector. On the left side of said plane the end of the ejector is n5 rounded off. When the head of the feed extractor 48 and the ejector 49 are being lowered from the position shown in Fig. 9 to the position shown in Fig. 10, if the ejector happens to 12° be swung outwardly as shown in Figs. 9 and 16, the rounded outer end of said ejector strikes the inclined upper corner 15“ on the left-hand side of the central ejection open- ing through the barrel extension 15, where- 125 by the end of the ejector is forced inward and kept in that position until, during its father descent, the end of the ejector strikes the empty cartridge shell and expels it from the gun, see Fig. 10. In Figs. 9 and 130
1,628,226 10 is shown, forward ,of the inclined upper corner 15a, a lateral and vertical recess in the left-hand wall of the ejection opening in the barrel extension 15. The recess allows 5 the ejector, on its upward movement, to swing laterally sufficiently for, allowing its inward projection to pass upwardly by the body of the cartridge. For the initial opening of the breech of IO the gur, the breech block must be once drawn to the rear; for this purpose the usual handle, such as 59, is removably attached to the breech block, and a longitudinal slot registering with said handle is cut Through 15 the right-hand side plate of the breech cas- ing 1 of a sufficient length to permit the necessary full rearward movement of the handle and breech block. Said handle 59 has a cylindrical stem which is fitted into 20 a corresponding seat extending a consider- able distance into the body of the breech block. Inside of the breech casing, said handle has a concentric circular collar which occupies a corresponding recess in the side 25 of the breech block, and, as said collar has a diameter much larger than the width of the slot, it, prevents the detachment of the handle 59 from the breech block. At a point some distance forward of the rear end 30 of said slot, concentric segmental recesses of the same diameter as the collar on the handle are formed in the edges of the slot, thereby providing at that point an opening for, at will, attaching said handle to the :'> breech block or detaching it therefrom. Ac- cidental detachment of the handle at this place during the automatic operation of the gun is impossible, because such detachment would require a pause or stoppage in the 4ii longitudinal movement of the breech block and handle on account of the close fit of the collar in said opening and the necessary transverse movement of the handle; where- as, the breech block and the handle are auto- 45 matically moved rearward at such a rate of speed that nothing like a pause could pos- sibly take place until they reach their rear- most position. During the automatic for- ward movement under the tension of the re- 50 action spring, accidental detachment of the handle is likewise impossible. The procedure to be followed in disassem- bling the gun will now be described. It will be understood that the handle 59 55 may be, at will, detached from the breech block without previously removing the rear plate 5 from the casing; but for the insertion into or withdrawal from the breech casing of the lengthwise movable members of the H0 breech mechanism, it is, of course, necessary previously, to remove said rear plate. Preparatory to the withdrawal of the breech block, the same is first moved to' its forward position in the casing, then the re- 1*7 action spring 36 and the guide rod 37 are 65 withdrawn from the breech casing. The top cover 4a is then raised and the breech block is pushed rearwardy out of the casing. The combined breech block guide and 70 energy absorbing mechanism is released by passing the spring latch 19 inward as al- ready described. With the mechanism thus released for rearward removal, pressure is exerted against the muzzle of the barrel and 75 thereby the barrel 13, the barrel extension 15 and the breech block guide 18 with asso- ciated parts are pushed rearwardly out of the breech casing, where they may be proper- ly adjusted and, thereafter, may be returned 80 to their, position in the breech casing, in which the stop spring 19 will again hold them. In this position and with the rear plate 5 still removed, the rear face of the brake tube 85 21 is uncovered and, by removing the plug 30, the brake tube may be filled with liquid and then closed again. Should the brake mechanism require adjustment this may be accomplished by turning the tube 21 as al- 00 ready described. With the foregoing description of the con- struction and operation of the parts of the gun, the operation of the gun as a whole may be readily understood. ' 08 After a filled cartridge feed belt has been placed in position in the feed channel and the top cover 4a closed, thereby insuring the transverse movement of the feed belt, the breech block is once moved by hand to the 10» rear, thereby withdrawing from the feed belt the first cartridge and, at last, lowering it to the axis of the barrel for its insertion therein, on the ensuing forward movement of the breech block by the tension of the 105 reaction spring 36. If the gun has been previously fired and an empty shell has remained in the cham- ber of the barrel, said shell is withdrawn and, by the downward movement of the ex- 110 tractor is ejected from the gun casing. On depressing the trigger 9 and releasing the same, the first cartridge is fired and the oper- ation of the breech mechanism is then au'o- matically repeated thereby seating another 115 cartridge in the barrel ready for firing. While a specific embodiment of what is considered the best reduction of the inven- tion to practice has been disclosed in the specification, it is to be understood that va- 120 rious changes in the form and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. What I claim and desire to secure by Let- ters Patent is: , 126 1. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a breech casing, a recoiling member supported and guided for longitudinal
18 1,628,226 movement in said casing, means within said casing for absorbing a portion of the energy of recoil of said member, said member and means being removable rearwardly from the 5 casing, and a connection between said mem- ber and said means which positively keeps them operatively connected while in the breech casing but permits them to be readily disconnected by relative movement in a 10 transverse direction after said means has been withdrawn from the breech casing. 2. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a breech casing, a recoiling member supported and guided for longitudinal 15 movement in said casing, mechanism within the casing for absorbing a portion of the energy of recoil of said member, said mecha- nism being bodily removable as a unit rear- wardly from the casing, a removable rear 29 plate normally closing the rear end of the casing and normally engaging the said mechanism to hold it against rearward movement, and a manually releasable flat spring'latch normally serving to hold the 25 energy absorbing mechanism against im- mediate rearward movement when the rear plate is removed. 3. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a breech casing, a barrel and barrel 80 extension supported and guided for longitu- dinal movement in said casing, a breech block supported and guided for longitudinal movement in said barrel extension, a remov- able tubular breech block guide in said cas- 35 ing, said casing having a removable rear plate for locking said movable members and the breech block guide in said casing, and means in said tubular breech block guide for absorbing a portion of the energy of recoil 40 of said longitudinally movable member. 4. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a breech casing, a barrel and barrel extension supported and guided for longi- tudinal movement in the casing, a unitary 45 mechanism including an energy dissipating brake detachably connected with the barrel extension for absorbing a part of the en- ergy of recoil, the said mechanism being centrally located within the casing at the 50 rear of the barrel extension and being re- movable rearwardly from the casing, and means removably engaging the said mecha- nism to hold it against rearward movement. 5. In an automatic firearm, the combi- 55 nation of a' breech casing, a barrel and barrel extension supported for longitudinal movement in said casing, a breech block supported for longitudinal movement in said barrel extension, a mechanism includ- 00 ing a liquid brake connected with the barrel extension for absorbing a part of the en- ergy of recoil, the said mechanism being lo- . cated within the casing at the rear of the barrel extension and below the path of 65 movement of the breech block and being re- movable rearwardly from the casing, and means removably engaging the said mecha- nism to hold it against rearward movement. 6. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a breech casing, a barrel and barrel 70 extension supported and guided for longi- tudinal movement in said casing, a breech block supported and guided for longitudi-y nal movement in said barrel extension, a removable breech block guide in said cas- 75 ing, said casing having a removable rear plate for locking said movable members and the breech block guide therein, and means comprising a liquid brake in said breech block guide for absorbing a portion 80 of the energy of recoil of said longitudi- nally movable members. 7. In an automatic firearm, the combi- nation of a breech casing, a barrel and barrel extension supported for longitudinal 85 movement in said casing, a breech block supported for longitudinal movement in said barrel extension, and a mechanism con- nected with the barrel extension for absorb- ing a part of the energy of recoil, the said 80 mechanism being located within the casing and comprising a composite spring buffer and liquid brake. 8. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a breech casing, a barrel and barrel 95 extension supported and guided for longi- tudinal movement in said casing, a breech block guide within said casing in rear of the barrel extension, a breech block sup- ported and guided for longitudinal move- 100 ment by said barrel extension and said guide, and a composite spring buffer and liquid brake in said guide and operatively connected to said barrel extension for ab- sorbing a portion of the energy of recoil 155 of said longitudinal members. 9. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a breech casing having a removable rear plate, a barrel and barrel extension supported and guided for longitudinal 110 movement in said casing, a breech block supported and guided for longitudinal movement in said barrel extension, a breech block guide in rear of said barrel extension and resting against said rear plate, and а ЦВ composite spring buffer and liquid brake in said guide and connected with said barrel extension for absorbing a portion of the en- ergy of recoil of said longitudinally mova- ble members. 120 l(k In an automatic firearm, the combi- nation of a casing, a barrel and barrel ex- tension supported and guided for longi- tudinal movement in said casing, a breech block supported and guided for longitudi- 125 nal movement in said barrel extension, a removable breech block guide in said cas- ing, said casing having a removable rear plate for locking said movable members and the breech block guide in said casing, 130
1,628,226 Ю and means carried in said breech block guide for absorbing a portion of the energy of recoil of said barrel and barrel exten- sion, the said means comprising a combined 5 resilient device and liquid brake. 11. In an automatic firearm, the combi- nation of a casing, a barrel and barrel ex- tension supported and guided for longitudi- nal movement therein, a breech block sup- 10 ported and guided for longitudinal move- ment in said barrel extension, and a com- bined breech block guide and cushioning device for aiding in guiding the breech block and for absorbing a portion of the 15 energy of recoil of said longitudinally mov- able members, said combined guide and cushioning device comprising an outer tu- bular part together with a buffer spring within the forward portion thereof and a 20 liquid brake within the rear portion there- of. 12. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion with a breech casing and a heavy recoil- ing member supported and guided for longi- 25 tudinal movement therein, of means within the casing for absorbing a portion of the energy of recoil of said member comprising a brake chamber containing a liquid, and a piston connected with said recoiling member 30 and guided in said chamber, the said piston including two disks provided with corre- sponding openings ana so arranged that one disk may be rotated relatively to the other to vary the amount of overlapping of the 35 openings and correspondingly vary the ac- tion of the liquid brake. 13. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion with a breech casing and a heavy recoil- ing member supported and guided for longi- Ю tudinal movement therein, of means within the casing for absorbing a portion of the en- ergy of recoil of said member comprising a brake chamber containing a liquid, a piston connected with said recoiling member guided 45 in said chamber, the said piston including two disks provided with corresponding openings and so arranged that one disk may be rotated relatively to the other to vary the amount of overlapping of the openings and so correspondingly Vary the action of the liquid brake, and means operable from the exterior of the chamber for rotating the rotatable disk. 14. In an automatic firearm, the combina- 55 tion with a breech casing and a heavy recoil- ing member supported and guided for lon- gitudinal movement therein, of means within the casing for absorbing a portion of the en- ergy of recoil of said member comprising a eo rotatably mounted brake tube containing a ' liquidj a piston connected with said recoiling member and guided in said tube, said piston including a disk fixed against rotation and a second disk rptatable relative to the first 65 disk and connected to said tube to rotate therewith, said disks having corresponding openings with those of one disk overlapping those of the other, and means for rotating said tube and said second disk, whereby the amount of overlapping of the openings is 70 varied and the action of said liquid brake is correspondingly varied. 15. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion with a breech casing and a heavy recoil- ing member therein, of means for absorbing 75 a portion of the energy of recoil of said member comprising a chamber containing a liquid, a piston connected with the recoiling member and guided in said chamber, ad- . justable means for restricting and regulat- so ing the flow of liquid in one direction from one side of the piston to the other when the piston is moved in one direction, and means automatically operable to permit the fluid to pass freely in the other direction when the 85 piston movement is reversed. 16. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion with a breech casing and a heavy recoil- ing member therein, of means for absorbing a portion of the energy of recoil of said mem- 90 her comprising a rotatably mounted brake tube containing a liquid, a piston connected with said recoiling member and guided in said tube, said piston comprising a disk fixed against rotation and a second disk rotatable 95 relative to said first disk and connected to said tube to rotate therewith, said disks hav- ing corresponding openings with those of one disk overlapping those of the other, and means for rotating said tube and said second 130 disk whereby the action of the liquid brake is varied, said second disk having a limited longitudinal movement relative to said first disk whereby the disks are allowed to sepa- rate longitudinally on the return forward of 105 said piston and thereby permit the fluid to pass freely from the front to the rear of said piston. 17. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion with a breech casing and a heavy recoil- Un ing member supported and guided for longi- tudinal movement therein, of means for ab- sorbing a portion of the energy of recoil of said member comprising a chamber adapted to be filled with a liquid, a piston co-operat- 1.15 ing with said chamber and connected to said recoiling member to move with the same, one of said co-operating parts being provided with , a channel or channels to permit the gradual passage of the liquid from one side 120 of the piston to the other, and a safety de- vice for relieving excessive pressure within said chamber. 18. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion with a breech casing and a heavy recoil- 125 ing member supported and guided for longi- tudinal movement in said casing, of means for absorbing a portion of the energy of re- coil of said member comprising a chamber adapted to be filled with a liquid, a piston 130
20 1,628,226 co-operating with said chamber and connect- ed with said recoiling member to move there- with, one of said co-operating parts being provided with a channel or channels to per- 5 mit the gradual passage of the liquid from the rear to the forward side of said piston during the recoil of said member, and a safety valve in a wall of said chamber for relieving excessive pressure within the same. 10 19. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion with a breech casing and a heavy re- coiling member supported and guided for longitudinal movement therein, of means for absorbing a portion of the energy of recoil is of said member comprising a chamber con- taining a liquid and having a forward end wall, a piston guided in said chamber and having a rod extending through and some distance forward of said wall, a buffer 20 spring bearing at its rear end against said wall, and means on said piston rod for re- ceiving the thrust of the forward end of said spring. 20. In an automatic firearm, the combina- 25 tion with a breech casing and a heavy re- coiling member supported and guided for longitudinal movement in said casing, of means for absorbing a portion of the energy of recoil of said member comprising a cham- 30 ber containing a liquid and having a for- ward end wall, a piston guided in said cham- ber and having a rod extending through a stuffing box in said wall and projecting some distance beyond said wall, a spring sur- 35 rounding said projecting portion of the pis- ton rod and resting with its rear end against said wall, and detachable means at the for- ward portion of said piston rod for receiv- ing the thrust of the forward end of said 40 spring. 21. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a breech casing, a barrel and barrel extension supported and guided for longi- tudinal movement in said casing, means com- 45 prising a resilient device for absorbing a portion of recoil of said barrel and. barrel extension, a lever constructed and arranged to lock the barrel and barrel extension in rearward position against the tension of said 50 resilient device, said lever being yieldingly kept in locking position by the tension -of said resilient device, and additional means for yieldingly opposing movement of said ’ lever from either of its extreme positions. 55 22. In an automatic firearm, a casing, a barrel and barrel extension supported and guided for longitudinal movement in said casing, a rocking lever having an operative connection, with said barrel extension to lock 00 said barrel and barrel extension in rearward position, and means for yieldingly holding said lever in locking relation with said bar- rel extension, said means comprising a flat spring co-operating with a recess in the hub 05 of said lever. 23. In an automatic firearm, a casing, a barrel and barrel extension supported and guided for longitudinal movement in said casing, means comprising a brake for ab- sorbing a portion of the energy of recoil of 70 said barrel and barrel extension, a rocking lever for locking the barrel and barrel ex- tension in rearward position, means for adjusting said brake to vary its action, and a device common to said brake adjusting 75 means and said rocking lever for yieldingly holding the adjusting means in adjusted po- sition and the rocking lever in locking po- sition, respectively. 24. In an automatic firearm, a casing, a so barrel and barrel extension supported and guided for longitudinal movement in said casing, means comprising a brake for .ab- sorbing a portion of the energy of recoil of said barrel and barrel extension, a rocking ss lever for locking the barrel and barrel ex- tension in rearward position, means for adjusting said brake to vary its action in- cluding a rotatable member, and resilient means for frictionally holding said member 90 against rotation and said rocking lever in locking position. 25. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a breech casing, having a removable rear plate, a member mounted for longitudi- 05 nal reciprocatory movement in said casing, a reaction spring for returning said mem- ber to its forward position after each recoil thereof, a guide rod for said spring resting against said rear plate, and means whereby me said spring and its guide rod may be to- gether withdrawn as a unit from the breech casing after the rear plate has been removed, said means comprising abutments carried by said rod and limiting the movement of 105 the respective ends of said spring and thus retaining the spring on the rod. 26. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a breech casing, having a removable closure at its rear end, a member mounted 110 for longitudinal reciprocatory movement in said breech casing, a reaction spring for re- turning said member after each recoil there- of, said spring being normally under some tension, a guide rod for said spring having 115 its rear end resting against said closure, the forward end of said rod projecting beyond the forward end of said spring, and means carried by said rod whereby the spring is held substantially at its normal tension after 120 said closure has been removed, thereby pre- venting rearward projection of said rod and said spring. 27. In an automatic firearm, the combi- nation of a breech casing, having a remov- 125 able rear plate, a member mounted for lon- gitudinal reciprocatory movement in said casing, a guide rod resting against said rear plate and extending forwardly into a longitudinal seat in said member, a reaction 13Q
1,628,326 QI spring surrounding, said rod and bearing at its rear end against an abutment on said rod and at its forward end against a shoul- der in said seat, and a lateral projection on 5 the rod normally located forward of said shoulder and adapted to receive the thrust of the forward end of said spring after said rear plate has been removed, thereby pre- venting violent rearward projection of said 10 rod and said spring and permitting the manual withdrawal of said rod and said spring’ as a unit from said member and the casing. 28. In an automatic firearm, the combina- 15 tion of a breech casingj having a removable rear plate, a member mounted for longitu- dinal reciprocatory movement in said casing, a rod resting at its rear end against said rear plate and supported and guided at its 20 forward end in a longitudinal seat in said member, a reaction spring coiled about said rod, the rear end of said spring bearing against an abutment on said rod and the for- ward end of . said spring against a shoulder 25 in said member, and lateral projection on the rod forward of the said, shoulder, where- by after the rear plate has been removed said rod and said spring can be together withdrawn from the said member. 30 29. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a breech casing, having a removable rear plate, a member mounted for longitu- dinal movement in said casing and having a longitudinal seat extending therethrough, 35 said seat being counterbored from its rear end to a point near its forward end thus forming a shoulder, a guide rod resting against the rear plate and extending for- wardly through said seat in said member, 40 a reaction spring coiled about said rod and transmitting its tension at its forward end to said shoulder and at its rear end to a shoulder on the guide rod, and means on said rod. forward of the shoulder in said 45 member for receiving the thrust of the fore- word end of said spring to permit the easy withdrawal of said rod and spring as a unit after the rear plate has been removed. 30. In an automatic firearm, the combina- 50 tion of a breech casing having a removable rear end closure, a member mounted for re- ciprocating movement in said casing, a reac- tion spring for returning said member after each recoil of the same, a guide rod for said 55 spring resting against said rear end closure of the casing, the forward end of said spring transmitting its tension to said member and the rear end transmitting its tension to the rear closure, and means whereby the spring 60 and its guide rod are kept together after the rear closure has been removed, thus per- mitting their ready withdrawal as a unit from the casing independently of said mem- ber. 65 31. In an automatic firearm, a casing hav- ing side walls and a removable rear plate, a member supported and guided for longi- tudinal movement in said casing, a reaction spring and a guide rod therefor arranged adjacent a side wall of said casing and sup- 70 ported by said member at their forward por- tions, a rear portion of said rod being formed with a shoulder to take the thrust of said spring, a lateral projection on said rod near its rear end arranged to extend into a 75 recess therefor in the adjacent side wall of the casing, and co-operating means on the rear end of said rod and on said rear plate for preventing lateral movement of the rear end of said rod and the lateral projection so thereon but permitting the removal of said rear plate, said .lateral projection when the- rear plate is removed being frictionally held in said recess by the tension of the reaction spring. 85 32. Jin an automatic firearm, a casing hav- ing side walls and a rear plate slidably re- movable in a vertical direction, a member supported and guided for longitudinal movement in said casing, a reaction spring 90 and a guide rod therefor arranged adjacent a side plate of said casing and supported at their forward portions by said member, the rear portion of said rod being formed with an abutment to take the thrust of said 95 spring, a lateral projection on said rod near 4 its rear end arranged to extend into a recess therefor in the adjacent side wall, and a rib at the rear end of said rod co-operating with a groove in said rear plate for preventing 100 lateral movement of the rear end of said rod and the lateral projections thereon but per- mitting .the removal of said rear plate, said lateral projection when the rear plate is re- moved being frictionally held in said recess 105 by the tension of said reaction spring. 33. In an automatic firearm, a casing hav- ing side ivalls and a removable rear plate, a- member supported and guided for longi- tudinal movement in said casing, a reaction no spring and a guide rod therefor arranged adjacent a side wall of said casing and sup- ported at their forward portions by said member, the rear portion of said rod being formed with a shoulder to take the thrust 115 of said spring, a lateral projection near the rear end of said rod and extending into a recess therefor in the adjacent side plate, and co-operating means on the rear end of said rod and on said rear plate for prevent- 120 ing lateral movement of the rear end of said rod and the projection thereon, said pro- jection when the rear plate is removed being frictionally held against the rear wall of said recess by the tension of the reaction spring. 125 34. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion with a breech block, a firing pin car- ried thereby, and a main spring having one end thereof bearing against an abutment on said firing pin, of means in said breech 130
22 1,628,226 5 10 16 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 05 block to take the thrust of the other end of said spring, said ineans comprising a re- movable pm, an arm attached to said pin,- a lateral projection on said arm adapted to engage in a recess in said breech block, and means for holding said arm against lat- eral movement whereby the pin is secured in its operative position. 35. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion with a breech block, a firing pin car- ried therebyj a main spring< having one end thereof bearing against an abutment on said firing pin, and a cocking lever mount- ed in said breech block, of means in t said breech block to take the thrust of the other end of said spring, said means comprising a removable pin, an arm attached to said pin, and a lateral projection on said arm co-operating with a recess in the breech block to hold said pin against removal, said cocking lever locking said arm against lat- eral movement in a direction to withdraw said projection from said recess. 36. In an automatic firearm, the com- bination of a breech block, a firing pin carried thereby, a main spring having one end: thereof bearing against an abutment on said firing pin; a cocking lever mount- ed in said breech block for limited swing- ing movement, a removable pin in said breech block to take the thrust of the other end of said spring, an arm extending at a right angle from said pin, and projec- tions at opposite sides of said arm, one of said projections normally underlying a shoulder on the breech block to hold said pin against removal and the other of said projections limiting the movement of the cocking lever in one direction. 37. In an automatic firearm, the com- bination of a breech block,- a firing pin carried thereby, a main spring having one end thereof bearing against an abutment on said firing pin, a sear movably mounted in said breech block, a spring for mov- ing said sear in one direction, and a unitary means carried by said breech block for taking the thrust of the other end of said main spring and for limiting the movement of said sear under the action of its spring. 38. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a breech block having a vertical seat near its rear end, said seat being open at the top and closed at the bottom, a sliding sear adapted to be inserted into said seat, a sear spring arranged between the sear and the bottom of said seat in the breech block, an upward shoulder on said sear, and re- movable means in the path of said shoulder for limiting the upward movement of said sear. •39. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a breech block, a fifing pin carried thereby, a spring for actuating said firing pin, an abutment on said firing pin for one end of said spring, a cocking lever mount- ed in said breecn block, a sear also carried by said block, and unitary means for per- forming the functions of taking the thrust 70 of the other end of said spring and limit- ing the movement in one direction of both the sear and the cocking lever. 40. In an automatic firearm, the com- bination of a breech block, a firing pin and 75 a main spring carried by said breech block,. an abutment on said firing pin for one end of said spring, a cocking lever pivotally mounted in said breech block, a sear also carried by said breech block, a removable 80 pin in said breech block forming, an abut- . ment for the other end of said spring, and an arm fixed to said pin. and co-operating with a recess in said block, with said cocking lever and with said sear respectively, where- 85 by the pin is held in its operative position, the cocking lever is limited in its movement in one direction and the sear is also limited in its movement in one direction respec- tively. 80 41. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a breech casing, a barrel and barrel extension supported and guided for longi- tudinal movement in the casing, a breech block supported for longitudinal movement 95 in said barrel extension, an energy absorb- ing mechanism connected with the barrel ex- tension at the rear thereof and below the path of movement of the breech block, a spring-actuated firing pin carried by said 100 breech block, a sear on said breech block co- operating with the firing pin,, and trigger mechanism carried by the casing and located above the path of movement of the breech block for engaging the sear to release it. 105 42. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a breech casing, a breech block sup- ported and guided for longitudinal move- ment in said casing, and removable rear- wardly therefrom, a spring-actuated firing 110 pin carried by said breech block, a sear on said breech block co-operating with the fir- ing pin, and a member carried by the casing and located above the path of movement of the breech block for engaging the sear to 115 release it, the said member being held against bodily movement with the breech block and permitting the free rearward removal thereof. 43. In an automatic firearm, the combina- 120 tion of a breech casing, a breech block sup- ported and guided for longitudinal move- ment in said casing and removable rear- wardly therefrom, a removable rear cover plate normally preventing rearward removal 125 of the breech block, a spring-actuated firing pin carried by said breech block, a sear on said breech block cooperating with the firing pin, and mechanism carried by the casing and located above the path of movement of 13ft
1,628,226 аа the breech block for engaging the sear to release it, the said mechanism including a trigger projecting rearward beyond the rear face of the cover plate and being arranged 5 to permit the, removal of said plate in a di- rection transverse to the line of movement of the breech block. 44. In an automatic firearm, a breech cas- ing' having a vertically removable rear plate jo ana a fixed top plate, a breech block sup- ported and guided for longitudinal move- ment in said casing, a spring-actuated firing pin carried by said breech block, a sear co- operating with said firing pin, a trigger 15 mounted on said rear plate, and a member supported from said fixed top plate and op- eratively connecting said trigger and sear but permitting the removal in upward direc- tion of said rear plate and said trigger in 20 their assembled relation. 45. In an automatic firearm, a breech cas- ing having a removable rear plate and a fixed top plate, a breech block supported and guided for longitudinal movement in said 25 casing, firing mechanism including a seal- carried by said breech block, a trigger car- ried by said rear plate, and a trigger lever pivotally supported beneath said fixed top plate and operatively connecting said sear 30 and said trigger. 46. In an automatic firearm, a breech cas- ing having a removable rear plate and a fixed top plate, a breech block supported and guided for longitudinal movement in said 35 casing, a spring-actuated sear carried by said breech block, a trigger carried by said rear plate, and a trigger lever operatively con- necting said trigger and said sear, said trig- ger lever being pivoted under said fixed top 40 plate and returned to its normal position by the tension of said sear spring after it has been operated to depress the sear. 47. In an automatic firearm, a breech cas- ing having a fixed top plate and a remov- 45 able rear plate, a breech block supported and guided for longitudinal movement in said casing, a trigger mounted on said rear plate, a sear carried by. said breech block, and a trigger lever forming the operative connec- 50 tion between said trigger and said sear and pivoted to a bracket depending from said top plate, said trigger lever having an in- clined surface at its forward end to engage and actuate the sear automatically when the 55 > trigger is in its operative position as the breech block nears its forward position. 48. In an automatic firearm, a breech cas- ing having a fixed top plate, a lug depend- ing from said top plate, a trigger lever lying e0 along the side of said lug and being pivoted on a transverse pin passing through said lever and also through said lug and a side wall of the casing, and means for-releasably locking said pin in its operative position. 49. In an automatic firearm, a breech cas- 05 ing having a fixed top plate, a lug depending from said top plate, a trigger lever lying along the side of said lug and pivoted on a transverse pin passing through said lever _ and also through said Tug and a side wall of 70 the casingj and means for locking said pin in its operative position or removing it there- from comprising a projection on said pin renting against the inside surface of the side wall of the casing and an integral resilient 75 handle on said pm resting against the out- side surface of said wall, said handle being provided with an inward projection co-op- erating with a corresponding recess in the . side wall of the casing to yieldingly hold said 80 handle and pin against rotation, and a groove angularly removed from said locking position of the handle to permit the passage of said projection on the pin for withdraw- ing or inserting it after the handle and pin 85 have been rotated through said angular dis- tance from their normal locking position. 50. In an automatic firearm, the combi- nation of a breech casing including a rear cover plate which is removable in a direc- 00 tion transverse of the longitudinal lines of .the gun, a recess being formed in a wall of the casing adjacent the said rear plate, and a trigger mounted on the rear plate and hav- ing a portion thereof projecting forwardly of said plate and registering with the said recess whereby the forward projecting por- tion may pass through the recess when the cover plate is removed. 51. In an automatic firearm, a breech cas- 100 ing having a top plate and a vertically re-' movable rear plate, said rear plate having a forwardly projecting flange at its upper end and said top plate being formed with a . rece~s to receive said flange, and a trigger 105 .mounted on said rear plate and having a portion thereof projecting forwardly of said plate but not beyond said flange, whereby the rear plate and the trigger can be up- wardly removed in their assembled relation HO without interference by said top plate. 52. In an automatic firearm, a breech cas- ing having a bottom plate and a vertically slidable rear plate adapted to be removed in an upward direction, and a latch carried I15 by said rear plate and constructed and ar- ranged to interlock with said bottom plate for keeping the rear plate in its assembled position, said latch having a rearwardly di- rected portion in position to be lifted by the 120 hand of the operator to release the latch and by continuing the upward movement of the hand to remove the rear plate. 53. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a casing having a rear plate, rear- 125 wardly projecting transverse flanges at the upper and lower portions of said rear plate, handle plates separately formed from but
J3-4L 1,628,226 attached to said upper and lower flanges re- spectively, and a handle extending between and supported by said handle plates. 54. In an automatic firearm, the combi- 5 nation of a casing having a rear plate, trans- verse rearwardly projecting flanges at the upper and lower portions of said rear plate, upper and lower handle plates separately formed from but attached to said flanges to respectively, said handle plates extending la4erally and rearwardly at the opposite sides of their points of attachment to said flanges, and handles extending between and supported by the free ends of said handle 15 plates at opposite sides of the gun respec- tively. . 55. In an automatic firearm, a breech cas- ing having a top plate, a breech block sup- ported and guided for longitudinal move- 20 ment therein, a spring-actuated firing pin carried by said breech block, a cocking lever also carried by said breech block, and a lug depending from the under side of said top plate and having a cocking recess therein, 25 that portion of the top plate above said re- cess being imperforate, said recess having a rear wall for engaging said cocking lever and moving it into position to hold the fir- ing pin retracted and having also a down- 30 wardly projecting front wall for engaging the cocking lever during the last portion of the forward movement of the breech block, thereby positively moving said cocking lever to its initial position. 35 56. In an automatic firearm, a breech cas- ing having a fixed top plate, a breech block supported and guided > for longitudinal movement therein, a firing pin and a main spring carried by said breech block, a cock- 40 ing lever alsoa carried by said breech block, and a lug connected to the underside of said top plate and having a cocking recess there- in, that portion of the top plate above said recess being imperforate, said recess having 45 a rear wall for engaging said cocking lever and moving it into position to hold the fir- ing pin retracted and the under side of said lug having a surface for thereafter engag- ing said cocking lever and holding it in said 50 position during the further rearward and the greater portion of the forward move- ments of said breech block, and the said re- cess also having a downwardly projecting front wall for engaging said cocking lever 55 during the last portion of the forward move- ment of said breech block and positively moving said cocking lever to its initial po- sition out of the reach of said firing pin. 57. In an automatic firearm, the combi- 00 nation of a breech casing having a top plate, a breech block supported and guided for longitudinal movement in said casing, a spring actuated firing pin and its co-operat- ing sear carried by said breech block, a oa cocking lever mounted on said breech block, a member for actuating the sear, and a de- pending lug carried by said top plate and serving as a support for said member and comprising means for actuating a cocking lever in the movement of the breech block. 7о 58. In an automatic firearm, a breech cas- ing having a top plate, a breech block sup- ported and guided for longitudinal move-1 ment in said casing, a spring-actuated fir- ing pin and its cooperative sear carried by 75 the breech block, a cocking lever mounted on said breech block, a trigger, a member operatively connecting said trigger and said sear, and a depending lug carried by said top plate and serving as a support for said 80 member and comprising means for moving the cocking lever into position to hold the firing pin retracted during the rearward movement of the breech block. 59. In an automatic firearm, the combi- 85 nation of a barrel, a longitudinally mov- able niember to open and close the breech of the barrel, means for feeding cartridges transversely of the arm, and means for transferring a cartridge from the said feed- 00 ing means into the barrel chamber during the itiovements of said member, the said transferring means comprising an element with a lateral projection thereon both mov- • able transversely of the movement of said 95 member arid in planes parallel with the direction of the said movement, the said element and projection being restrained against movement transversely of the said planes, a cam engaging and. cooperating 100 with the said projection, and means for causing the said projection to move over and under the cam at its respective rear- ward and forward movements. 60. In an automatic firearm, the combi- nation of a barrel, a breech block supported and guided for longitudinal movement to open and close the breech of said barrel, a feed extractor carried by . said breech block, means for feeding cartridges into position 119 to be engaged by said extractor, whereby upon the rearward movement of the breech block a cartridge is withdrawn from the feeding means, and means for moving said extractor to bring a cartridge into substan- 115 tial alignment with the barrel axis, said moving means comprising a movable switch lever and a lateral projection on said ex- tractor co-operating with said lever, said lever preventing the return of said lateral 120 projection on the same side' of the switch lever after the projection has passed rear- wardly ..beyond the switch lever in the re- coil of the breech block. 61. In an automatic firearm, the combina- 125 tion of a breech block supported and guided for longitudinal movement to open and close the breech of said barrel, a feed ex- tractor carried by said breech block, means for feeding cartridges into position to be 130
1,628,226 QB 25 30 50 engaged by said extractor, whereby upon breech block a cartridge is withdrawn from the rearward movement of the breech block the feeding means, and means for moving a cartridge is withdrawn from the feeding means, and means for moving said extractor 5 to bring a cartridge in substantial align- ment with the barrel axis, said moving means comprising a movable switch lever and a lateral projection on said. extractor co-operating with said lever, said lateral 10 projection, in its rearward movement with the breech block passing over said switeh lever but in its forward movement being constrained to move under the switch lever. 62. In an automatic firearm, the combi- 15 nation of a barrel, a breech block supported and guided for longitudinal movement to open and close the breech of said barrel, a feed extractor carried by said breech block, means 'for feeding cartridges into position 20 to be engaged by said extractor, whereby upon the rearward movement of the breech block a cartridge is withdrawn from the extractor to bring a cartridge into substan- said means comprising a si tial alignment with the barrel axis, said oted to a side plate of said moving means comprising a movable switch , J 1 ' - ’ * lever pivoted between its ends, a lateral pro- jection on said extractor co-operating with said lever, and two fixed cams serving dur- ing the respective rearward and forward movements of the extractor to cause the pivotal movement of said movable cam, said movable cam automatically returning to normal position after each such movement and thereby causing the projection to suc- cessively move over and under it. 63. In an automatic firearm, a barrel, a breech block supported and guided for lon- gitudii breech ui saiu иапш, a iccu y,.- oted to said breech block and having car- tridge-engaging means, feed mechanism for successively feeding cartridges to a position for engagement by said extractor, whereby 45 upon rearward movement of said breech block a cartridge is withdrawn from said feed mechanism, means for depressing the free end of said extractor to lower the car- tridge engaged thereby during the rearward movement of said breech block, and means for further depressing said free end of the extractor during the return movement of said breech block, said last-mentioned means comprising an integral lateral pro- jection on said extractor and a switch leter yieldingly held in the path of said projec- tion on its rearward stroke. 64. In an automatic firearm, a casing hav- ing side plates, a barrel, a breech block sup- ported and guided for longitudinal move- ment to open and close the breech of said barrel, a feed extractor on said breech block, means for feeding cartridges into position to be engaged by said extractor, whereby on the rearward movement of the said extractor to bring a cartridge in sub- stantial alignment with the barrel axis, said means comprising a switch lever piv- 70 oted to a side plate of said casing and a lateral projection on said extractor for, op- erative engagement with said switch lever to move the extractor toward the barrel axis in the forward movement of said breech 75 block. . 65. In an automatic firearm, a casing hav- ing side plates, a barrel, a breech block sup- ported and guided for longitudinal move-. ment to open and close the' breech of the barrel, a feed extractor on said breech block, means for feeding cartridges into position to be engaged by said extractor, whereby, on the rearward movement of said breech block, a cartridge is withdrawn from the feeding means, and means for moving said _____ _ _______e_ _ ______ # extractor to bring a cartridge into sub- feeding means, and means for moving said stantial alignment with the barrel axis, switch lever piv- Л casing, a recess on the inner side of said side plate, a pro- jection on said switch lever extending into said recess, a spring in said recess bearing against said projection to hold the switch lever yieldingly in its normal position, and a lateral projection on said extractor co-operating with said switch lever during the movement of said breech block. 66. In an automatic firearm, a breech cas- ing, a barrel, a breech block supported ana guided for longitudinal movement to -----______ x x open and close the breech of said barrel, a jtudinal movement to open and close the feed. extractor movably mounted on said reech of said barrel, a feed extractor piv- -breech block and having cartridge-engaging SO 85 90 95 35 40 100 105 means thereon, feed mechanism for succes- sively feeding cartridges into position for en- gagement by said extractor, whereby, upon rearward movement of said breech block, a cartridge is withdrawn from the feed mech- anism, and means for moving said extractor with the cartridge engaged thereby towards the axis of the barrel comprising an inte- gral lateral projection on said extractor, an arm mounted for swinging movement along 115 the inner face of the breech casing wall and substantially covering a recess formed in said, face, a projection on said arm extend- ing into said recess, a spring housed in said recess and confined therein by said arm, said spring operating to hold said arm yieldingly in its. normal position where it lies m the path , in which said integral lat- eral projection is positively constrained to move during a portion of the rearward movement or the breech block, whereby the arm is pressed aside during said movement but released to be returned to its normal position by said spring during the remain- ing portion of the rearward movement of 110 55 12© 00 125 65 130
ae 1,628,326 said breech block, and a cam surface on said arm for engaging said lateral projec- tion to move the extractor and a cartridge engaged thereby toward the axis of the bar- 5 rel during the forward movement of said breech block. 67. In an automatic firearm, the combi- nation of a breech casing, a barrel, a breech block mounted for reciprocatory movement 0 to open and close the breech or the barrel, a feed extractor pivotally carried by said breech block and projecting ror'wardly be- yond the face of the same, means fpr feed- ing cartridges transversely into position to 15 be engaged by said extractor when the breech block is in its forward position, whereby, when the breech block moves rear- ward, a cartridge is withdrawn from the feeding means, and means for controlling го the path of movement of the free end . or , said feed extractor during the movements of the breech block comprising an integral lateral projection on said feed extractor and a two-armed switch lever extending sub- 25 stantially horizontally and pivoted to a side Avail of the breech casing, said lever co- operating with said projection, to cause the same, on its rearward and return move- ments, to move, respectively, over and under 30 said lever. 68. In an automatic firearm, a barrel, a breech block supported and guided for lon- gitudinal movement to open and close the breech of said barrel, a feed extractor piv- 35 oted to said breech block and having a cartridge-engaging projection near its free end, feed mechanism for successively feed- ing cartridges into position for engagement by said extractor, whereby, upon rearward io movement of the breech block, a cartridge is withdrawn from said feed mechanism, and a shell ejector pivoted near the free end of said extractor^ said shell ejector having a limited swinging movement longitudinally 45 of the gun. 69. Ln an automatic firearm^ a barrel, a breech block supported and guided for lon- gitudinal movement to open and close the breech of said barrel, a feed extractor pivot- 50 ed to said breech block and having a car- tridge-engaging projection near its free end, feed mechanism for successively feed- ing cartridges into position for engagement by said extractor, whereby upon rearward 55 movement of the breech block, a cartridge is withdrawn from the feed mechanism, and a shell ejector pivotally mounted near the free end of said extractor for limited move- ment in two directions. 60 70. In an automatic, firearm, a barrel, a breech block supported and guided for lon- gitudinal movement to open and close the breech of said barrel, a feed extractor pivoted to said breech block and having a “ cartridge-engaging projection near its free end, feed mechanism for successively feed- ing cartridges into position for engagement by said extractor, whereby, upon. rearward movement of the breech block, a cartridge is withdrawn from the feed mechanism, and a 70 shell ejector pivotally mounted on a trans- ' verse pin hear the free end of said .extractor, said ejector being constructed and arranged to have a limited movement both transverse- ly and longitudinally of the gun. 75 71. In ap automatic firearm, a barrel, a breech block supported and‘guided for lon- gitudinal movement to open and close the breech of said barrel, a feed extractor pivot- ed to said breech block and having a car- 80 tridge-engaging projection near its free end, feed mechanism for successively feeding cartridges into position for engagement by said extractor, whereby, upon rearward movement of said breech block, a cartridge 88 is withdrawn from the feed mechanism, a shell ejector loosely pivoted on a transverse pin near the free end of said extractor, whereby said ejector has a limited movement in two directions, and a yielding means for 80 normally holding said ejector at one limit of its movement in both directions. 72. In ah automatic firearm, a barrel, a breech block supported and guided for lon- gitudinal movement to open and close the 85 breech of said barrel, a feed extractor pivot- ed on said breech block and having a car- tridge-engaging projection near its tree end, means for feeding cartridges transversely of the gun into position for engagement by 100 said extractor, whereby, upon rearward movement of said breech block a cartridge is withdrawn, from said feeding means, and an ejector depending from the free end of said extractor on that side of said cartridge- 105 engaging projection from which the car- tridges are supplied by the feeding means, said ejector having its forward face so formed as to facilitate entry of the ejector between the first two cartridges of the feed- 110 ing means on the return movement of the breech block. 73. In an automatic firearm, a barrel, a breech block supported and guided for Ion- „ gitudinal movement to open and close the 115 breech of said barrel, a feed extractor pivot- ed on said breech block and having a car- tridge-engaging projection near its free end; means for feeding cartridges transverse- 120 ly of the gun into position for engagement by said extractor, whereby, upon rearward movement of said breech block, a cartridge is withdrawn from said feeding means, and an ejector depending from the free end of 125 said extractor on that side of said cartridge engaging projection from which the car- tridges are fed by said feeding, means, said ejector haying a wedge-shaped forward face, whereby the first two cartridges in the jjq feeding means may be positively separated
1,628,826 5 10 15 20 25 30 to permit entry of the ejector therebetween on the return movement of the breech block. 74. In an automatic firearm, a barrel, a breech block supported and guided for lon- gitudinal movement to open and close the breech of said barrel, a feed extractor pivot- ed on said breech block and having a car- tridge-engaging projection near its free end, means for feeding cartridges transverse- ly of the gun into position for engagement by said projection, whereby, upon rearward movement of said breech block, a cartridge is withdrawn from said feeding means, an ejector depending from the free end of said extractor on that side of said cartridge-en- gaging projection from which the cartridges are fed by said feeding means, said ejector having a wedge-shaped forward face and being pivotally mounted near its upper end for limited longitudinal movement, and means for yieldingly holding it in its for- ward position whereby it can yield rear- wardly when its lower portion comes into engagement with the first two cartridges in the feeding means on the return movement of the breech block, thus presenting its wedge-shaped face to the cartridge heads at an inclination to the vertical and thereby facilitating the entry of the ejector between said cartridges» 75. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a breech casing closed at its forward end by a block located between the sides of the casing and rigidly and permanently connecting the two sides, a forward projec- 35 tion on said block, and a trunnion ring se- cured to said projection. 76. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a breech casing closed at its forward end by a block located between and rigidly 40 and permanently secured to the sides of the casing, said block having an annular for- ward projection, and a trunnion ring carry- ing trunnions on its opposite sides and re- movably connected to said projection. 45 77. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a breech casing having a front block closing the forward end of said casing, a longitudinally movable barrel, said block having a seat for supporting and guiding 60 the rear portion of said barrel and having also an annular forward projection, a barrel casing secured to said forward projection, and a disk secured in the forward portion of said barrel casing for supporting and 65 guiding the forward end of the barrel. This specification signed this 18th day of July, A. D. 1923. JOHN M. BROWNING.
1,628,227 May 10, 1927. J. M. BROWNING FIRING CONTROL FOR AUTOMATIC MACHINE GUNS
1,628,227 May 10,1927. J. M. BROWNING FIRING CONTROL FOR AUTOMATIC MACHINE GUNS Filed July 14. 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 2
1,628,227 May 10? 1927. J. M. BROWNING FIRING CONTROL FOR AUTOMATIC MACHINE GUNS Filed July 14. 19'24 3 Sheets-Sheet 3
Patented May 10, 1927. 1,628,227 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. tion on the line 8—8 of Fig. 9, as seen from the rear, through the breech casing of the eo guii and through the trigger mechanism unit, showing the breech 'block in elevation and in its forward firing position, and the parts of the firing mechanism in the position they occupy the instant the sear is released; 65 the lower portion of the gun and a portion of the cocking lever are broken away. Fig. 9 represents a portion of the breech casing of the gun and of the firing control as seen from the left and in a vertical longi- 70 tu’dina] section on the line 9—9 of Fig. 7; the parts are shown in their inoperative position tor synchronized firing. Fig. ,10 represents a vertical transverse sec- tion through the gun on the same plane as 75 Fig. 8, the parts of the firing mechanism be- ing shown in their inoperative position for synchronized firing. Fig. 11 represents in a left-hand side view system having been , the rear portion of the breech block and so parts carried thereby, the rear portion of the firing pin being shown in dotted lines in a central vertical longitudinal section and held in a rearward cocked position by the cocking lever. 85 Fig. 12 represents the breech block and parts carried thereby in a rear view. Fig. 13 represents a view similar to Fig. 9, the section being taken oii the line 13—13 of Fig. 7. ,. so Fig. 14 represents a perspective view of the trigger lever actuated by the impulse transmitting means, detached.* Fig. 15 is a similar view of the connector, 05 JOHN M. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH; JOHN BROWNING EXECUTOR OF SAID JOHN M. BROWNING, DECEASED. FIRING CONTROL FOR AUTOMATIC MACHINE GUNS. Application filed July 14, 1924. Serial No. 725,868. The invention relates to a firing control to, the breech casing, the fixed part of the for automatic machine guns and more par- frame of the trigger mechanism unit, and ticularly to such a control for guns adapted also a portion of the breech block within the to be mounted on aircraft to tire through the breech casing being shown in a section taken 5 plane swept by the blades of the airplane, on the line. 7—7 of Fig. 10; the parts are 55 propeller. ? shown in their inoperative position for syn- It is an object of the invention to provide ehronized firing. such a control which is simple in construe- Fig. 8 represents a vertical transverse sec- tion and light in weight, yet reliable in oper- io ation and most durable, which, can be readily adjusted and adapted to fit it for use with different types of airplanes, and for changes in the relative location of the gun and the power unit of the airplane, and which adapts и the gun to be, at will, fired in synchronism with the rotation of the propeller or at its normal rate when firing automatically. Other and further objects will appear as the description proceeds. These objects are attained by the provision of the novel improved means now to be de- scribed in connection with the accompanying drawings, and njore specifically pointed out in the claims appended hereto. In the drawings: Fig. 1 represents in side elevation a por- tion of the. left-hand side of the breech cas- ing of an automatic machine gun showing the invention applied thereto; parts of the impulre transmitting s broken away, j , Fig. 2 represents in a front view a portion of the impulse transmitting systeift. Fig. 3 represents a rear view of a portion 35 of said impulse transmitting system showing its co-operative relation with the impulse generating, means. Fig. 4 represents a sectional view through the portion of the transmission system 40 shown in Fig. 3. and on its natural scale, the impulse transmitting rod being shown in its inoperative position. . • Figs. 5 and 6 represent a part of the frame of the trigger mechanism unit adapted to be 45 fixedly secured to the breech casing of a detached. gun, detached, and with parts carried there- Fig. 1G is a similar view of the sear catch, by, respectively, in a front view and in a left- detached. hand side view. In the drawings, the invention is shown Fig. 7 represents a plan view of a portion applied to an automatic machine gun of the 5и of the gun with the invention applied there-, class shown in my prior Patent No. 1,293,021 100 3<J
О 1,628,227 for automatic machine gun, dated February 4, 1919, but it will be understood that cer- tain features thereof are equally applicable to other classes of automatic macnine guns. 5 For convenience of description, the means forming the preferred embodiment of the invention may be divided into three units, namely^ (1) the impulse generating and transmitting unit, (2) the trigger mechanism 10 unit, and (3) the breech block unit. The impulse generating and transmitting unit comprises means whereby the trigger lever G of the trigger mechanism unit is oscillated in synchronism with the rotation is of the propeller of the aircraft upon which the machine gun is mounted. The impulses are preferably mechanically transmitted from a cam shaft 2 suitably mourtted on the motor 1 of the aircraft and tarrying a cam 20 sleeve 3 having two opposed earn projections 3“. The cam sleeve 3 is preferably adjust- ably secured to the end of the shaft 2 there- by permitting the proper angular position- ing of the cam projections 3“ with r'elittion 25 to the propeller blades. To keep the cam sleeve 3 securely in its adjusted position, it is provided with line teeth 3b adapted to interlock with corresponding teeth on a col- lar 2“ on the shaft 2, see Fig. 1. A castel- 30 bited nut 4 screwed onto the corresponding end of the shaft keeps the said teeth in en- gagement with each other and the nut is locked by suitable means, such as the cotter pin 5. By this construction, a fine adjnst- 35 ment of the cam sleeve 3 relative to the shaft 2 can be readily made. In the embodiment of the invention se- lected for illustration, the trigger lever G is rocked on its transverse pivot pin 61’ in one 10 direction by a strong helical spring G% see Fig. 9, but to move it in the opposite direc- tion against the tension of said spring, im- pulses generated by the cam projections 3“ r- on the cam shaft 2 are transmitted to said 45 lever by a pair of push rods .7, 8 of small diameter and ah intermediate cocker 9, see Figs. 1 and 9. The rods 7, 8 and the inter- mediate rocker 9, while relatively light and consequently having little inertia, are yet 5U capable of transmitting a considerable thrust, and are, because of their lightness, readily returned, after actuation by one cam projection 3“, into position for actuation by rr the next, cam projection 3a by the spring G'1. )J 'Ihe end of the rod 7 adjacent the cam sleeve 3 has an enlarged portion 7я having a rounded end which normally projects be- yond the face of a bracket 1,0 secured to (.o the lotor 1 by any suitable means such as the screws 10“, see Fig. 3, into the. path of tbe cam projections 3“ (see Figs. I and 3). '[’he opposite end of the rod 7 engages one ’ arm 9a of the two right-arignhirlv arranged il5 arms of the rocker 9, while the adjacent end J of the rod 8 rests against the other arm 9" of the rocker. The other end of the rod 8 normally rests against the trigger lever (i, see Fig. 9. By this construction, for each rotation of the cam shaft 2 the trigger lever G will be oscillated twice. 7o To prevent the relatively light rods 7 and 8 from bending or buckling, they are guided for the greater portions of their lengths by the spacing tubes 11 and 12,'respectively. The tube 11 has one end secured as by screw 75 threads, see Fig. 4, in the bracket 10 while its other end is adjustably secured, as oy clamping means comprising u split clamp- ing element 13, and a bolt 13% to a suitable bracket 14. which may be detachably se- но cured to some part (not shown) at the mo- • tor of the aircraft, as by the bolt 14я. The form of this bracket and (he manner of its connection to the aircraft motor will vary with the type of motor used. The adjacent S5 end of the tube 12 is likewise adjustably secured to the bracket. 14 by a split clamping element 15, and a bolt 15я, and the. rocker 9 operatively connecting the rods 7 and 8 is also pivotally mounted on said bracket on 110 the pivot stud 9“. The surfaces of the arms of the rockerO engaged by the rods 7 and 8, if extended, would intersect in the axis of tin* pivot stud 9я. The end of the tube 12 adjacent the trigger mechanism unit of the gun is secured in a block 16 titling be- tween the breech casing and the forward portion of the frame part 24. of the trigger mechanism unit, see Fig. 7. and said block is releasably secured to said part 24 of tbe 1<lU trigger mechanism unit by a spring actuated stud 17 on the block 1G, which projects into a corresponding hole 24“ in said portion nf the frame of the trigger mechanism unit, see Figs. I, 7 and 13. By inserting the l:i5 bullet end of a cartridge, or other suitable tool in said hole, the stud 17 may be pressed back to permit the gun with the trigger mechanism, unit thereon to be disconnected from the impulse transmitting system by\110 relative longitudinal movement of said parts. The foregoing construction provides a highly flexible system of transmissiun from the cam shaft 2 to the trigger meejhanism ll,‘ unit mounted on (he gnu, such flexibility adapting it for use with gnus mounted in various positions with ielation to the. cum shaft 2 driven by (lie aircraft motor. More- over, such flexibility is attained by the pres- 1'" ent const iaction without the inconvenience inherent in all Bowden wire or cable trans- mission systems of making adjustments from time to time to allow for the stretching of the wire or cable.. 1 -' The means whereby the transmission sys- tem may be readily detached from (he trig- ger mechanism unit on the gnn, permits of the toady dismounting of a gun from the aircraft and the substitution of another ,''<l
,227 8 through a groove in the enlarged portion 7“ of said rod, s^e Fig. 4. The trigger mechanism unit is detachably secured to the left-hand side plate 21 of the breech casing of the gun, as by the bolts 70 22, see Figs. 1 and 9. This unit is shown as compiising two frame parts 23 aud 24, the part 23 being rigidly fixed to the breech casing 21 by the bolts 22 and the part 24 being connected to the part 23 by a longi- 75 tudinally extending T-slot and groove con- nection which permits relative longitudinal movement of said parts. Such relative lon- gitudinal movement is limited, however, by the engagement of a spring-pressed stud 23° so on one of said parts, as 23, see Fig. 5, with a corresponding groove 24b in the part 24, shown in dotted lines in Figs. 7 and 9. The .mechanical transmission system is connected to the movable part 24 of the trigger meeh- 85 anism unit by the ineans hereinbefore de- scribed. This limited movement between the parts 23 and 24. allows for the vibration or kick of the gun during the firing. Since the trig- l)i> ger lever 6 is mounted on a transveise pivot pin 6b in the movable part 24, by this con- struction the distance between it and the motor of the aircraft cannot vary regardless of die longitudinal vibration of the gun, u.> which is necessary for the proper timing of the shots. This limited movement between the paits 23 and 24 also permits the sub- stitution of one gun for aAptherlvithout ne- cessitating any adjustments in the'^yaiismis- i°o sion system. \’ As is dearly sho^j£*in Figs. 9 and 14. the trigger lever 6 has’Trs-'t^’irjarms (>' and G" arranged substantially alight angles to each other and offset along the pivot, the arm 6C m."> extending in a substantially vertical direc- tion and being engaged near its lower end tihd on its forward face by the rear end of the .push rod 8. of the transmission system, and on its rear face by the forward end of the helical spring 6a seated in a reccss in the frame part 24, see Figs. 7 and 9: the other arm (i1* extends rearwardly substantially hor- izontally and is.adapted to engage the outer arm of the connector 25. pivoted on a longi- 115 tudinallly extending pin 25" in a transverse slot, in the frame part 23 of the trigger mech- anism unit, to lift said arm and thereby de- press the inner arm of the connector, which projects through a slot, in the side wall of the 1-’" breech easing, to operate, the firing mech- anism carried by the breech block unit. The. trigger lever arm Gd has a long curved bear- ing surface 0® for operative engagement with the connector 25 regardless of thu loiigitn- 1-’ dinal vibration of the gun and consequent relative movement of the parts 23 and 24 of the trigger mechanism unit... The connector 25, shown detifebeil in Fig. 15, is normally kept oil its ISOt- pin and 130 1,вЙ8 without necessarily disturbing the adjust-, ments of the transmission system. : While I have hereinbefore descried a transmission system involving two Rush rods 5 arranged at right angles to eaclw'other, it will be understood that the tods will be ar- ranged at the angle necessitated by thw par- ticular installation and in some cases only a single rod extending from the cam shaft to to the. trigger mechanism unit will be re- quired. In sueh eases, the cam projections and cam shaft are so arranged with relation to the gun, that the cam projections will be in a position adjacent the axis of the gun, 15 so that the lod can be arranged substantially parallel to said axis as is the rod 8 in the embodiment of the invention shown. To minimize friction between the inner surfaces of the spacing tubes 11 and 12 and -•> the rods 7 and 8, respectively, the bore of each of said-tubes is of considerably larger diameter than the rods 7 and 8, and said bore is provided, at intervals sufficiently close to pievent bending or buckling of the rods, -5 with supporting and guiding bushings 18 for the rods. These bushings, one of which is shown in Fig. 4, are held in place by fric- tional engagement with the wall of the tubes or by any suitable,means. • ::i) When the gun is not being fired in syn- chronism with the propeller of the airplane, it is desirable that the transmission means be withdrawn from the action of the rotating cam pi ejections 3? on the shaft 2. To this 33 end. the tube 11 is provided with a bushing 19, see Fig. 4, which, is fixed in the tube by. suitable means, such as the pin 19a passing thiough a hole in the tube and having a part thereof seated in an annular groove .40 19b in said bushing. Л reduced end 19е of this bushing is surrounded?; by and has fixed to it the end of a helical spring 20, the other end of which surrounds and is fixed to a cor- respondingly reduced pait 7b at the inner 45 end of the enlarged portion 7?, the rounded end of which co-operates with the cam pro- jections 3“. This spring 20 constantly tends to withdraw said end of the rod 7 into its inoperative position shown.in Fig. 4, but f'!> is opposed, when tbe gun is being fired in synchronism with the rotation off the pro- peller of the aircraft, by the strong spring O'1 of the trigger lever, which renders the weaker spring 20 inoperative for this pur- 55 pose. However, when the firing control of the invention is rendered inoperative for' synchronized firing by the means to be here- inafter described, the spring Ga is rendered inoperative and the spring 20, being unop- c? jjosetl by the stronger spring, moves the rod 7 to the position shown in Fig. 4, where its lend is withdrawn from the path of the cam projections 3я on the cam sleeve 3. The movement of the rod 7 is limited by the transverse pin 7“ in the bracket 10 passing
4 1,628,33? swung to its inoperative position by a spring 25“ seated in a recess in the part 23 and hav- ing one end thereof bearing against. a pro- jection 25" on the member 25 below its pivot •’> while, its opposite end rests against an abut- ment 25'1 projecting forward from the rear wall of the transverse slot in. the frame part 23 and provided with a groove to receive the end of said spring 25 and thereby keep‘it l i in place, fee Figs. 5 and G. When the trigger lever G is swung on its pivot pin 6" by (he rearward movement of the rod 8 its rearwardly extending arm en- gages the downwardly offset portion 25r afL i‘> the outer end of the connector and moves (he? same to the position shown in Fig. 8, where it is represented as having just released the tiring mechanism on the breech block 20 to fire a shot. The connector 25 has endwise as well as pivotal movement for reasons which will now be described. After firing, the. breech block 25 recoils in the usual .manner compressing the, reaction spring'26". In such recoil, a cam surface 26a at the left-hand side of the breech block 26 engages the inner end of the, connector 25 and moves it endwise outwardly slightly be- yond the. position shown in Figs. 7 and 10, with the downwardly offset portion 25' ont- :: 1 side the path of the rearward arm of the trigger lever 6. (hereby breaking the opera- tive connection between the trigger lever and tin* connector 25. The. synchronized firing, may be startl'd or Г-1 stopped, al 'will, from (he operator’s- position in the aircraft by means of a stop lever 27 which is pivotally supported on a traiisvyr-x' pivot, pin 27“ in a vertical slot in the movable, frame part 24, see Fig. 9. 'Phis lever 27 is in normally moved to and held in its operative position wb<'r<' a shoulder 27" on its upward , and rearward extending arm 27J engages um '•dvr the end of the. rearward trigger lever arm GJ and locks (lie same in the. raised po- •i.’i .sition as shown in Fig. !). The menus for so moving said'stop lever to and .holding it in its operative position comprises II strong helical spring 27" seated in a verficnl recess in the bottom of tin1 frame' part 24 and hear- 5i> ing willi its lower end against the short for- wardly extending arm 27" of said stop lever. When (he. trigger lever 6 is in the position shown in Fig. 9, its rear, arm G11 is raised above the. downwardly offset, portion *25' of the connector 25 and. by its engagement with (he vertical shoulder formed by sitid offset, keeps said connector in its outer posi- tion. The rearward arm 2711 of (he stop lever 27 ,:o is provided with an eye 27K to which is se- cured an operating enhle 28, see Fig; 1, or other suitable means leading to the opera- tor’s position. A pull on this cable swings the lever 27 about, its pivot and withdraws 05 the stop shoulder 27е thereon, from beneath the trigger lever 6, thereby permitting the latter to be swung by its spring Ga into posi- tion for oscillation ny the impulse generat- ing and transmitting means hereinbefore de- scribed, and thus starting the synchronized 7i> firing. If the stop lever 27 is held in its inoperative position, (he synchronized firing will continue as long as ammunition is sup- plied to the gun. When it is desired to stop the synchronized "•'> firing the stop lever 27 is released to the ac- tion of its spring 27”, wbi<;h, if the rear arm <>'* of the. trigger, lever i> is in the raised po- sition, swings the cum surface 27' iinme- dintely forward of the. locking shoulder 27" so and merging thereinto, against the. under side of the end of the lever arm G‘* and raises (he same slightly higher until the locking shoulder 27" struck substantially on a curve from the pivot axis of the. lever 27 moves mi- «5 der said end mid thereby locks the lever 6 in its inoperative po-ition shown in Figs. 9 and 111. If the rear arm (>•' of the trigger lever is' in its lowered position when the.stop lever is released, the substantially vertical portion "<> of (he upward and rearward arm 27d is first swung forward into engagement with the end of mid arm <>•', but as soon as the same is raised by the next impulse of the impulse transmitting means, the slionlder 2<" is »5 I rolight tinder (he rear end (if said itrin 6lt to lock the' trigger lever 6 in inoperative posi- tion in the maimer already’ described. . tin the recoil of the breech'block 26 fol- lowing the firing of the shot caused by the raising nf the rein: arm 6d of the trigger lever (> imni:diately prior to its being locked in inoperative position, the connector 25 is moved out ward by the ram surface 26’ on the breech block from the position shown in 105 Fig. 8 until the downwardly offset-portion 25' at the outer end of the connector moves beyond the trigger lever arm 6d, thereby permitting .(lie. spring 25” to return the con- nector to the position shown in Figs. 7. 9 no and 10, where it is kept in nn outer position by the. engagement of the shoulder formed by the downwardly offset portion 25' with the outside surface of the. raised trigger lever arm 6d. .11“ In order that the gun may be fired auto- matically, when desired. as for-example, when the same is dismounted from an air- craft and used as a ground gun, the. con- nector 25 is in position for operatively en- gaging the firing mechanism on the breech block even when in its outer position shown in Fig. 10. and by depressing tire inner arm and holding it depressed, as shown in Fig. 8. the gun will be fired automatically. 'Го ties end, the invention provides u trigger mechanism unit having in addition to the trigger lever operated for synchronized fir-: ing. u nuniiinlly-opcrated means for moving the connector 25 to the firing position. Said 1:lu
1,638,237 trigger mechanism. To provide an easy release of the firing pin, the vertically sliding sear 33 mounted in a Corresponding’ seat at the rear of the breech block 26 is not provided with the 76 10 20 25 30 means may comprise a manually operable position in the usual manner. After the re- trigger 29, see Figs. 1, 7 and 13, pivoted on lease of the firing pin by the cocking lever, the transverse pin 6b, which forms also the. the firing pin moves forward a slight dis- pivot pin of the trigger lever 6, and haying, tance until it engages the sear 33, and is 5 a vertical arm 29b formed with a finger piece thereby held cocked, until released by the 70 at its lower end and a horizontal arm 29° " : ’ extending under* the outer end of the con- nector 25. A-spring 291 seated in a longi- tudinal recess in the part 24 and bearing with its forward, end against the vertical arm 29b of the trigger 29 serves to keep it usual square shoulder for engaging a cotre- in its inoperative position. A rearward pull spending shoulder forming the rear wall of on the finger piece raises the rear end of the the cocking notch on the firing pin, but has horizontal arm 29е of the trigger and there- instead, a forwardly and upwardly inclined by swings the connector 25 to the position shoulder 33a, Fig. 11, for engagement with shown in Fig. 8 to fire a shot. The connec- a corresponding shoulder 30b on the firing tor 25 is formed at its inner end at the rear pin, The sear is moved to its raised posi- with- a forwardly and downwardly inclined tion, as usual, by the spring arm 31* extend- cam surface 25е which operates the firing ing’ rearward from the upper end--of the mechanism on the breech block 26 as the abutment pin 31 and having its rear end en- same nears its forward firing position, if the gage under a shoulder 33b at the upper end trigger 29 is held back and the inner arm of. of the sear, the connector 25 is thereby kept depressed, thus continuing the fire automatically as ..m. uu «ivuc uvv umau long as the ammunition is supplied to the pin cocked, the ipain Spring 80» tending to gun. force the sear down to release the filing pin A cover plate 23b is rigidly secured to the because of the action of the inclined sur- top of tli£ laterally widened portion of the fatjes on the firing pin and sear, respectively, frame part 23 of the trigger mechanism unit The sear is held raised in its operative posi- by suitable means such as the screw23°, see tion against this tendency by a sear catch Fig. 6. This plate has a clearance groove 34 shown, detached, in h'ig. 16, and in as- cut in its under side to avoid interference sembled position on the breech block in Figs, .with the movements of the outer arm of the 7, 8, 10, 11 and 12. Ti.l_______ 21____ connector 25, see Fig. 8. .....____IL.w The two frame parts 23 and 24 may be on its integral trunnions 34я in correspond- 80 By this construction it Will be seen, that the sear 33 alone doe» hold the firing force the sear down to release the filing*"pin 90 95 7, 8, 10, 11 and 12. This sear catch 34 com- prises a two armed lever pivotally supported ing seats provided therefor and extending _________ , longitudinally of the breech block, see Figs. 24е in the part 24, said hole being of slightly’ 8, 10, 11 and 12. smaller diameter than said stud, and then On its left hand side the sear 33 is pro- . 40 pressing said stud back so as to withdraw it vided with a notch having a shoulder 83* at from the' groove 24" by inserting the bullet its upper end.,struck on a curve with the end of a- cartridge or.other tool into said axis of the trunnions of the sear catch as hole. The part 24 inay then be slid off the a radius. The inner arm 34е of the sear part 23 in forward direction. The parts are catch has a correspondingly curved locking 45 reassembled by proceeding in the reverse shoulder adapted to be swung under the .order. ’ shoulder on the sear to keep the same in The firing mechanism on. the breech block raised position. A small helical spring 34b may comprise the usual longitudinally mov- seated in a vertical seat in the breech block able firing pin 30 seated in a longitudinal and bearing at' its upper end against the аз seat on the breech block, see Fig. 11, and .Outer arm 34d of the, sear catch 34 tends to actuated in forward firing’ direction by the move the same to its operative position, main spring 30я, the rear end of which rests When the breech block is in its forward against a vertical abutment pin 31 extend- firing position, see Figs. 7, 8 and 10, the end ing through a vertical slot in rear portion of of the inner arm of the connector 25 is lo- •Г> the firing pin and the forward end bearing- cated above the end of the outer arm of the against a shoulder on the firing pin, not sear catch 34, so that when said connector shown. The firing pin is moved to the arm is depressed, the sear catch is-swung to cocked position shown in Fig. 11, as usual, 'withdraw the curved shoulder on its arm 34” ’ ' ' ’ "л 1 -- — from beneath the corresponding shoulder 33е on the sear, thereby releasing the sear to be. cammed down under the action of the main spring 30* and the co-operating cam surfaces 33°- and 30b on the sear and firing ________ __________ ________________._____y . pin, respectively, thus permitting the firing 65 .cocking lever is moved to its inoperative, pin to be thrown forward to-fire a shot. 100 35 readily disassembled by bringing.the spring- pressed stud 23я on part 23 opposite a hole . The inner arm 34е of the sear catch has a correspondingly curved locking shoulder on the sear to keep the same in bv the cocking lever 32 pivoted on the'trans- GO verse pin 32я, which holds .the firing pin in ’rocked portion by. the engagement, of a shmilder.c® its lower arm with a shoulder bn said firing pin until, in the last of the for- ward indveinent of the breech block, the 105 ПО 120 125 130
1,628,337' On the subsequent recoil of the breech ilock the firing pin is moved to the cocked position by the cocking lever 32, tiie sear re- turned to its raised position by thespring inn 31a, and the sear catch 34 is swung to its operative position with the end of its in- ner arm 34r under the shoulder on the sear, so that the parts will be. in position to lire lhe next shot after the breech block has re- turned to its forward firing position. While the firing mechanism carried by the breech block described hereinbefore is par- ticularly adapted for use with the improved trigger mechanism and impulse generating and transmitting unit, it will be understood that it. can also be advantageously used, with other types of trigger mechanisms. Furthermore, while the three units de- scribed form a particularly efficient flying control for automatic machine gnus when used together, it. will be understood that the trigger mechanism could readily be adapted for use with other impulse transmitting means, sueh as hydraulic or electrical transmitting means, and the particular me- chanical transmitting means might be used with other types of trigger mechanisms. What I claim and desire to secure by Let- ter Patent is:— -Tn a firing control for an automatic ma- chine gun, the combination of a breech cas- ing and a trigger mechanism unit carried by said casing and constituting’ a part addi- tional thereto, the said unit comprising means whereby the gun to which if is ap- plied may be fired, at will, either in synchro- nism with a rapidly rotating element or au- tomatically at the normal rate of fire of the £nn- . , . 2. In a firing control for an automatic ma- chine gun, the combination of a breech eas- ing. a trigger mechanism unit carried by said casing and constituting a part addi- tional thereto, a firing member in said cas- ing, movable means carried by said unit and extending into said casing for controlling said firing member, and ineans whereby said movable means may be operated, at will, either manually or in synchronism with a rapidly rotating member. / /' 3. Tn a firing control Дог an automatic gun adapted to be monntt’d/on an aircraft to fire through the 'field swept by the propeller blades, a firing member, a,'trigger mechanism unit detachably secured to the gun. and means for controlling said firing member from said trigger mcch'anism unit to fire the gun, at will, either in synchronism with the aircraft propeller 'or automatically at the normal rate of fire of the gnn. 4. In a firing control fur an automatic machine gun adapted to fire in synchronism with the rotation of the propeller of an air- craft, the combination of a breech casing, a detachable frame carrying trigger media-. nism supported by said casing, a firing mem- ber controlled by saiii trigger mechanism; said mechanism comprising manual means and synchronized means for rendering said firing member operative, and means where- 7o by saitl synchronized menus may be. at will, rendered operative or inoperative. ,5. In a firing control for an antdimjtic machine gnn, the combination of a breech casing, a firing member within said casing, a “•’> trigger mechanism frame removably, sup- ported by said casing, a movable element carried by said frame and extehding into said casing to control sa.id lining' member, and means whereby said element may be. al <4I> will, operated manuallv or in synchronism with a rapidly rotating member. (>. In a- firing control for an automatic machine gnn adapled to be mounted on an aircraft to (ire through the field swept by the -4' propeller blades, the cmiijiination of a breech casing.- a breech block reciprocable within said casing, a firing member and re- leasing means therefor carried liy said breeyli.block, a synchronized trigger ami a !,n maniinJ operated (rigger <m said easing, ami for operatively connecting either of said triggers with said releasing ineans whereby the.gun may be. at will, tired syn- chronously or automatically nt its normal ”' rate of fire. 7. In a fire control for an automatic ma- chine gnn adapted to be mounted tin an air-, cfaft and fired through the field swept by the propeller blades, the combination of 1'"> means for generating impulses in synehro- nisni'with the rotation of the ргщюНег. im- pulse transmitting mentis actuated by said generating means. :i firing member, and :i trigger mechanism on the gun operatively n>5 associated with said transmitting means anil with said firing member, said trigger mech- anism comprising means for, at will, render- ing said transmittiiig..means inoperative and thus permitting the gun tube fired automati- H” rally nt its normal rate ami also comprising manually controlled means for causing the automatic operation of said firing member, 8. In a fire control for an automatic machine gun, (he eouihindion of a longi- l!'' • tiidimdly reciprocating breech block, a firing nieiidier carried by said breech block, a mem- her-having pivotal as well as endwise move- ment for controlling said firing ififniilier. • meaus/for operating said control ling'membet/ J-1* movable in synchronism with tho rotation at a rapidly rotating elemeifi. and/means for manually operating ‘aid controlling mem- • her., said synchronized o'peratijig means be- ing automatically disconnected from said controlling ipember after the firing of a shot but said mtliimd operating means being at all times in operative relation to said con- trolling member. 9. In a .firing control for an automatic 130
1,928,337 machine gun adapted to be mounted on an means and also between said element and 05 aircraft to fire through the field swept by said connecting means. the propeller blades, the combination of a 13. In a firing control for an automatic breech'casing, a breech block mounted for firearm, th<? combination of a firing member. □ longitudinal reciprocating movement in said: means for holding said member m cocked casing, a spring-actuated firing pin on said position, ipeans for releasing said holding m breech block, means for holding said pin in means comprising a lever having a com- cocked position, means for. actuating., eaid - pound movement and an element for im- holding nieans comprising a'manuallj-opecr ; parting movement to said lever about an io ated trigger, a synchronized trigger and a l axis parallel with the firearm axis to thereby lever operatively connecting, said triggers .release said holding means to fire a shot, ts with said holding means, said connecting and a longitudinally reciprocating member lever having endwise as well as pivotal move- adapted to impart another movement to said ment, and cam means on said breech block fever to bredk the connection between said is vflhereby said lever is moved endwise after lever.and said element, whereby said element firing a shot to break its operative conn^-is inoperative to fire another shot until it is so tion with the synchronized'trigger but. with- returned again to its original position. out breaking the connection between it and 14. In a firing control for an automatic -the manually-operated trigger. . firearm, the combination of a firing member, co 10. In a firing control for an automatic means for holding said member in cocked gun adapted to be mounted on an aircraft to position, means for releasing said holding *5 fire through the field swep,t by the propeller means comprising a lever having endwise blades, the combination wfth-the bre^Kta^s- movement as-well as pivotal movement about ing of the gun and the reciprocalifigdi^ih -an axis parallel with the tirearm axis, a trig- 25 block therein: of а-firing mechanism Csifeed. ger for swinging said lever about its pivot by the breech block, a trigger carried d>y the . thereby releasing said holding means to fire casing independently of the breiwh block un 1 u shot, and a longitudinally reciprocating movable into and out of a positmi; for cans- member adapted to recoil after the firing of ing filing when the breech block and firing : ii shot and to break the connection between 30 mechanism arc in their forward positions, said lever and said trigger by moving the impulse transmitting means for nioving the Jeve.i- endwise, whereby said trigger is in- trigger into and out of the*aid position in. bperative to lire another shot until it is i‘c- synchronism with the rotation of the propel- finned to its oviginld'position. ler. and a spring-actuated element having a .<15, In a firing control for an automatic 35 cam surf: 'e for moving the trigger to iind hiaehine gun adapted to be mounted on an bolding it in a position nt which'the trans- aircraft and. fired through the field swept 190 milting means is inoperative to.move it, the • by the propeller blades, the combination of said element being manually movable to re- h bieecli caring, g longitudinally recipro- lease the trigger from the List said position, - eating breech block,.a living member, means •u> 11. In a lire control for an automatic ma- for controlling. the release of eaid firing , chine gun adapted to be mounted on an air-member: comprising , u lever mounted to 105 craft to fire through the field swept by the . swing in a vertical transverse plane mid to propeller blades, the combination of a fyiing have also a limited endwise movement, an member, nieausjov holding said firing mem- element operated in .synchronism . with the •13 ber in cocked position, uri element adapted rotation of the. aircraft propeller to swing to oscillate .in-synchronism with the rota- said lever aliout its pivot to release the firing no . tion of the propeller of the aircraft, means nieniher, and a cam surface on said breech operatively connecting said holding means. block whereby said l.eVer is moved endwise and “aid element, ami means for rendering after the firing of a shot to break the oper- 50 the same connection inoperative comprising ntive connection between the same and said a manually-controlled part mid a longitudi- element until said element is again returned 115 nally reciprocating member. to its inoperative position. 12. In a fire control for an automatic ma- • 1(1. In a.,firin&j:pntrol for nn automatic chine gun adapted to be. mounted on an air-, machine gun, the combination of a breech г»э craft to fire th rough, the field swept bv the ' e:v ing, n . firing member within said casing, propeller blades, the combination of afir- a frame ineinber mounted on the outside of 120 ' ing member, means for holding said firing; said casing .for limited longitudinal luovc- meinber in cocked position, an'element mov- mention element movable in a plane parallel able in synchronism with the. rotation of.the to the axis of the gun carried by said frame aircraft propeller, means for so moving said member, and means, operatively connecting clement,1 means operatively connecting said said firing member with said clement for all i-’J holding ‘means and said element, and means positions of said frame member within (he • for, nt will, breaking the operative, connec- .limits of its movement. tion between said element and said moving 17. In a firing control for an automatic
i,«28,227 machine gun,, the. combination of a bfcech to said trigger mechanism, and means for casing, a trigger mechanism frame mounted iiut'oinaticnllv withdrawing said rod from thereon, said frame comprising a part fixed Operative relation with the impulse genera- te the casing and a part having a limited dor when the synchronized fire is stopped, 5 longitudinal movement relative thereto, a said last-named means comprising a dielical .7' breech block, a ' ’ means for controlling : aid tiring member end operative . carried by said fixed pari, and means for, and the other to the rod. moving sa'_.’ 10 said movable part, sa... . . „ v . and said moving means being so constructed including nspring fending to bold the mech- /and arranged as to maintain (heir co-oper-. anisni in its inoperative position, an impulse ative relation for all operative positions of generator, mechuniciil means fur Upending said parts of the frame. ’ J »’ 18.j In a firing control 'Tor an iiutonuitie machine gnu adapted to Ije fixedly lumuited ort an aircraft to fire through the tiekl swe.pt by the propeller blades, tiring mechanism oil the. gun comprising an element mounted on a frame part having limited- longitudinal movement relative to the gun. an impulse generator driven from the aircraft motor. 15 , CO no operatively secured to the spacing tube and the other to (he. rod. 23. In u tiring control for un automatic 1 aircraft to fire through the field swept by the propeller blades, (he combination Svitli the breech easing of (he gun, a trigger lurch- 'd easing, a :<> inn :o I'.O ______________ . _ ._Jill Н11П \........................<1 tn <11, I tiring member thereon, spring surrounding said rod and haying one nid tiring member end operatively secured to (he spacing tube ........................................................................ t__ and the other to the rod. . iiid controlling means mounted bn 22. In ti firing control for an automatic 1 said controlling means gum the eouibinution of (rigger mechanism 7;> anisni in its inoperative position, an impulse , medianiciiI means fur Operating said trigger mechanism,in opposition (o the said spring in response to the impulses sti transmitted from said generator, said means . comprising a spacing tube having one end (hereof adjacent to said generator and a rod guided ill said spacing tube and adapted to transmit impulses from said generator to .s:> said trigger mechanism, and means Дог anto- matirnlly withdrawing said rod from opera- medianical means for trim niitting impulies tive relation with the impulse generator from said generator to said clement, and when the (rigger mechanism is manually rigid spacing means connecting said frame moved to. its inoperative position, said last- part to said impulse generator, whereby tbe named means comprising a helical spring time of firing of the gun is not affected by surrounding said rod and having one end longitudinal vibrations thereof. 19. In ir firing control for an nntmiintic machine gun, the combination of a breech ш u uruig c-ouiroi io> пи .пиоишис cnsing. a breech block having longitudinal machine gim adapted to be mounted on an movement within said cubing, an element of the firing mechanism carried by said breech block’, an actuator for said element mount- r. ed on a part having limited movement Ion- anisni frame carried by the said'easing, a gitudimdly of said casing, an impulse gene- firing member and an element for control- rator. means comprising a push rod connect-1 ling said member carried by said frame, of ing said impulse generator and actuator* and means for actuating said trigger mechanism spacing means whereby sajd movable part, is comprising a cam shaft rotating in svu- kilpt nt a constant distance from said impulse chronism with the rotation of the propeller generator thereby insuring the proper tnn- of the aircraft,.a pair of push rods arranged ing of the tiring of the gun. ‘ .' ____'..........’. /.. 7 .... ..; 20. In. a firing control for nil automatic extending substantially parallel to said ele- imichine gun. trigger mechanism, an im- ---------x 7 pulse generator, and mechanical means for operating said trigger liiechanism in nr- spouse to the impulses transmitted from said generator, said means comprising a spacing tube between said generator and the gun, a rod within the. tube and of smaller diameter than tint bore of said tube for transmitting .'lie impulses from said generator to the trig- ,____ ger mechanism, and means for guiding and/. 24. Th a firing control for an niitoimitic supporting said rm] within said tube coin- machine gun adapted to be mounted on an prising bearing bushings Arranged nt inter- aircraft to fire through (lie field swept by 1 vals in said tn hi*. 'j the propeller blades, the combination with 21. In a tiring control for an automatic fhe breech casing of the. gun. a trigger mech- giin. trigger inechnnism, an impulse genera: anisni frame carried by the said casing, a tor. mechanical means for operating said firing member and an "element for routr<il- triggc" mechanism in response to the iinT ling said member carried by said frame, i pulses transmitted from said generator, said of means for actuating said trigger merlin- means comprising a spacing tube having one, nism comprising a cam shaft rotating in epd thereof adjacent to said generator and synchronism with the rotation of the pro- n rod guided in said spacing tube and adapt-, peller of the aircraft, a pair of push rods ed to transmit impulses from said generator arranged at an angle to each other, one of j::ii 105 at an angle to each oilier, one of said rods СЛ1СЩ1П1^ OllMOtUllIKKIJ I illH'l Ю Й.1ДЧ 4U" ment ami the other of said rods having its end remote from the (irst-nnined rod and in operative relation with the cum shaft, a rocker operatively connecting the adjacent ends of the rods, a support .for the roeker, and spacing means between the actuating means and the rocker support and between the. roeker support and the trigger niechn- /hism. i io 115 12<l 05
1,628,827 О for transmitting impulses from said gen- erator to said element, the said mechanical means being supported and guided by said spacing means, and a readily detachable connection between said spacing means and 70 said frame part, whereby a gun connected, . with said impiilse transmission means may be readily dismounted and another gun sub- stituted therefor without necessitating any change in the adjustments of said transmit- ?e ting ineans. 28. In a firing control for an automatic machine gun,, an impulse transmitting rod, a tube for guiding said rod, a trigger mech- anism frame on the gun having a movable 80 part and carrying an element adapted to be act uated by the impulses transmitted by said rod, and means whereby said tube may, at will, be readily connected or disconnected from the movable part of the trigger rnecha- nism frame, said means comprising a spring- actuated locking member. 29. In a firing control for an automatic machine gun adapted to be mounted on an aircraft to fire through the field swept by 90 the propeller blades, a trigger mechanism unit having a movable part attached to the gun, an impulse transmitting unit having a portion thereof extending substantially parallel to the gun, and adapted to be de- 88 tachably connected to said movable part of the trigger mechanism unit, whereby a gun with a trigger mechanism unit thereon may be readily dismounted or mounted' in posi- tion on the aircraft without disturbing the 400 adjustments of the impulse transmitting unit. • 30. In a firing mechanism for an auto- matic machine gun, the combination of a breech block, a spring-actuated firing pin 105 having a beveled cocking shoulder, a ver- tically sliding sear having a correspondingly beveled shoulder for engagement with said cocking shoulder, and means for preventing lowering movement of the sear when the fir- 130 ing pin is held cocked, said means compris- ing a sear catch pivoted on the breech mock and having a shoulder thereon for engage- ment with a corresponding shoulder on the sear. 31. In a firing mechanism for an auto- matic machine gun, the combinaton of a breech block, a spring-actuated firing pin carried by said, breech block and having an inclined cocking shoulder, a sear also car 120 ' ried by said breech block and having a cor- respondingly inclined shoulder’for engage- ment with said cocking, shoulder, said in- clined shoulders and said firing pin spring tending to move the sear to inoperative 125 .position, and means normally preventing such movement of the sear comprising a lever mounted on the hiwli block and op. eratively engaging said sear. . 32. In a firing mechanism for an auto. 180 said rods extending substantially parallel to the gun and having its rear end in operative relation to said element and the other of said rods having its end remote from the 5 first-named rod and, in operative relation. with the cam shaft, a rocker operatively connecting the adjacent ends of the rods, a support for the rocker, and two tubes enclos- ing and guiding the respective rods, the said 10 tubes serving as spacing ineans between the actuating ineans and the rocker support and between the rocker support and the trigger mechanism. 25. In a firing control for an automatic 35 machine gnii adapted to be mounted on an aircraft to fire through the field swept by the propeller blades, the combination with tbe breech casing of the gun. a trigger _mech-. anism frame carried by the said casing,'a 20 firing member and an element for control- ling said member carried by sa'id frame, of means for actuating said trigger mechanism comprising a earn shaft rotating in synchro- nism with the rotation of the propeller of 25 the aircraft, a pair of push rods arranged at an angle to each other, one of said rods extending substantially parallel to said ele- ment and the other of said rods having its ends remote from the first-named rod and 30 in operative relation with the cam shaft, a rocker operatively connecting the adjacent ends of the rods, a support for said rocker, and spacing tubes for guiding the said rods, the adjacent ends of the said spacing tubes 35 being adjustably secured to said support to permit rotary as well as endwise adjustment of the said tubes relatively to the said sup- port. 26. In a firing control for an automatic 40 machine gun. an impulse transmitting unit, a trigger mechanism, unit on the gun com- prising a fixed part and a movable part, and means whereby said impulse transmitting unit may, at' will, be readily connected or 45 disconnected from the- movable part of .the trigger mechanism unit, said means com- prising a spring-actuated element on one of said units adapted to interlock with the other unit. 50 27. In a firing control for an automatic machine gun adapted to be mounted on an aircraft to fire through the field swept by the propeller blades, the combination of "a firing member, a trigger mechanism unit 55 mounted on the gun and comprising a frame part having limited longitudinal movement relative to the gun, an element movably - mounted on said part and operatively con- nected with said firing member, an impulse 60 generator spaced longitudinally from said trigger mechanism frame and driven in synchronism with the rotation of. the air- craft propeller, spacing means for maintain- ing a constant, distance between said frame °® part and said generator, mechanical means
1,028,237 c machine guu, the combination of a said means comprising a lever adapted to ch blocK,- a spring-actuated firing pin swing in a vertical 'transverse plane and 10 ied thereby, and having an inclined having integral trunnions fitting in corre- ing shoulder, a sear movable to bring a spending seats on the breech block, espondingly inclined shoulder thereon : This specification signed this 2nd day of • the path of said cocking shoulder, and July, A.D. 1924. ns for lacking the sear m such position nst the action of the firing pin spring, . JOHN M. BROWNING.
CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent No. 1,628,22? Granted May 10, 1927, to JOHN M. BROWNING. It is hereby certified that the above numbered patent was erroneously issued to John Browning, Executor of the Estate of said John M Browning, Deceased, whereas said Letters Patent should have been issued to John Browning, Adminis- trator of the Estate of said John M. Browning, Deceased, as shown by the records of assignments in this office; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office. Signed and sealed this 7th day of June, A. D. 1927. Seal. M. J. Moore, Acting Commissioner of Patents.
1,629,651 May 24, 1927, J. M BROWNJNG FIRING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC FIREARMS Filed Sept. 19, 1924
Patented May 24, 1927. 1,629,651 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. JOHN M. BBDWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH; JOHN BBOWNING EXECUTOR OF SAID JOHN K. ' BROWNING, DECEASED. FIRING MECHANISM FOB AUTOMATIC FIREARMS. Application filed September The invention relates generally to firing mechanisms for automatic machine guns, and more particularly to such mechanisms adapt- ed for use with, automatic machine guns •!> mounted on aircraft and synchronized to fire through the. plane swept by the propeller blades without injury 'to .§aid blades. It is an object of the havention to provide . a firing mechanism of . this class in which Ж> the firing member, while secnrely held in the • cocked position, is nevertheless/adapted to be released by the application of a small force, thereby malting said mechanism es- pecially adapted for use with an 'electrical Ш synchronizing gear or under other conditions in which an easy release of the firing mem-- her is necessary or desirable.' . ' , Other afid further objects will become ap- parent as the description proceeds. 20/ These objects are attained by the. provision of the novel improved means now to be de- scribed' in connection with the accompany- ing drawings, and more specifically pointed out in the daiins appended hereto. 25’" ' In the drawings: Fig. 1 represents in left-hand side eleva- tion .a portion of the breech casing of a gun having the invention applied thereto; the left hand side of the breech casing is broken so away to show the rear portion of the breech block in elevation; the rear portion of the firing pin is shown in dotted lines in central vertical longitudinal section and the parfs of the mechanism are in the firing position. 33 ' Fig. 2 represents the upper portion of the gun ni a vertical transverse section taken ap- proximately on the line &•-—2 of Fig, 1, as . • seen from the front. Fig. 3 represents the upper portion-of the 40 gun in a vertical transverse section taken approximately on the line 2—3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 represents the rear portion of the breech block in a left hand side elevation allowing the position of the parts after the 45 recoil of the breech block, when the firing pin is held cocked by the cocking lever. Fig. 5 is a detail view of parts of the firing mechanism as -seen when looking in the direction indicated by the arrow in oo Fig. 2. ypFig. 6 represents, in a perspective view and on an enlarged scale, the sear catch and the spring pressed plunger co-operating therewith to move it in one direction. 65 In the drawings, the. invention is shown 19, 1924. Serial No. 738,-975. applied to an automatic firearm of the class shown and described in the patent to J. M. Browning, No, 1,293,021, dated Feb. 4, 1919, for automatic machine gun, in which the breech closing block recoils together with во the barrel and barrel extension a limited dis-. tance, after which said block is unlocked and continues its rearward movement against the tension of a reaction spring to open the breech; after the. recoil of the breech block, 65 the reaction spring returns it forward and in its final forward movement it is again locked against the breech of the barrel. In such movements of the breech block, the fir- ing member is cocked, the .spent shell is ex- 70 tracted from the barrel and ejected, and a now cartridge is inserted into the barrel chamber so that everything is in readiness to fire the next shot. The breech casing within which the breech 75 block reciprocates is designated as a whole by the reference numeral 1 and the breech block by the reference numeral 2. Parts of the firing mechanism to which the invention relates are carried by the breech block and so parts by tiie breech casing. In a longitudinally extending seat in the - lower portion of tiie breech block, the firing pin 3 has a longitudinal reciprocating move- ment, being actuated in forward direction 85 by the main spring 3%'which transmits its tension at its forward end to said pin and at its,rear end against a vertical abutment pin 4. The firing pin is moved rearwardly to its cocked position in a usual manner by go the cocking lever 5, which is pivoted on the transverse pin 5a and has its short lower arm extending into a longitudinal slot in the fir- ing pin and its long upper arm into co-oper- ative relation with a cocking slot in the top 95 plat e 1" of tbe breech easing 1. • During the recoil of the breech block 2 after firing a shot, the cocking lever 5 is moved from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 4, where its lower arm is 100 shown resting against an inclined shoulder • 3b on the firing pin to hold the same in ' cocked position. The breech block is re- turned forward by the usual reaction spring 11 guided by the rod 13; in the last of the 105 forward movement of the breech block, the cocking lever is again moved to its inoper- ’ ative position. To hold the firing pin cocked after its re- lease by the cocking lever novel, improved ^
г 1,629,651 30 40 45 50 55 СО means are provided, which are so constructed 3 and 6. The head, of this plunger 7P also and arranged as to provide a very easy re- ----------J ’ ’ • " " - - lease of the firing pin. Such means may comprise a sear having 5 the form of a lever 6 pivoted on, a trans- verse pin 6a at the rear end of the breech block and having a forwardly extending arm 6b and a vertically extending arm 6е, the latter arm being preferably much longer 10 than the former. The arm 6b is provided with an upward projection at its forward end forming a shoulder. Gd for co-operation with a corresponding cocking ,$lioukler 3е on the firing pin. The „co-operating 15 shoulders 6d and 3е on the sear and firing pin, respectively, ате so inclined forwardly and inwardly, that the tension of the main- spring Зл 20 position. The arm 6° of the sear lever pro- jects upwardly in rear of the firing pin, and is adapted to be engaged by the end of said firing pin when the same is moved to its cocked position, thereby swinging the sear 2S to its operative position. By this construc- , tion, the usual spring for moving the sear into its operative position is dispensed with, thus facilitating the releasing movement of fife spar. __—_e------------,__________________________ To'keep the sear from being swung toils gated top surface of the upward projection, inoperative position, as Soon as the firing on the forward arfii.6b pi the sear 6, and. pin is released to the action of its main- spring by the movement pf the cocking lever from the position shown in Fig. 4 to its in- operative position, a sear catch 7 is provided which positively locks the sear in its opera- tive position. In the embodiment Of the invention se- lected for illustration, this sear catch has the shape of a bell crank lever having an in- tegral pivot stud 7a seated in a hole extend- ing longitudinally of tne breech block and in the upper left hand side thereof. One arm of said sear catch extends inwardly for'co- operation with the upper end of the sear lever arm Ge to normally prevent forward swinging movement of said arm, see Figs. 2 and 3, and the other arm of the catch 7 extends upwardly and projects some dis- tance above the top of the breech block, where it is in position to be actuated by suit- able means, such as the trigger mechanism to be described later oh. It will be evident that the sear catch might readily be given other forms so as to adapt it for operation by a trigger mechanism mounted.at- the side of the breech casing, such, for example,- as the mechanism disclosed in my prior appli- cation, Serial No. 725,868, filed July 14,1924. Tlie sear cinch 7 is moved to its operative position by the tension of a light helical tending, arm of the sear catch 7 engages the spring 7° seated in a vertical recess in the upper-chi! of the sear arm 6е to normally breech block, and acting through a plunger' limit the'clockwise movement of said catcli. 7е against a, shoulder fbrmed by a recess cut see Fig. 3, Because of the difference in the into the side of the pivot pin 71, see Figs. 2, length of the arms of the sear lever 6, a serves to limit the movement of the catch 7 in a clockwise direction, see Fig. 3, when the sear has been removed from the breech block. The sear catch is kept in its seat , by the in- 70 ward projection 2% see Fig.' 3, on the breech block which extends some distance across the rear side of the upwardly extending arm of the catch. _ After the sear has been removed by driv- 75 ing but its pivot pin, the sear catch can be readily disassembled from the breech block by inserting a thin rod or wire or other tool . into the upper end bf the seat for the spring 7b and its plunger 7°, which seat extends to M the top of the breech block, and then depress- ing the plunger 7° until it is clear of the 1 automatically swings the sear, recess in the pivot 7b_, when the sear catch when the same is released, to its inoperative can be turned clockwise to swing its upper —__ mi------------- . p xi----i--------- arm from уд front of the inward projection 85 2a on the’breech block, and the sear catch can then be rearwardly withdrawn from its seat. The operation of the parts of the firing mechanism mounted on the breech block wifi ,80 now be briefly described. When iha firing pin is .in the uncocked position, the down- ward projection thereon rearward of the cocking shoulder. 3° rests on top of the elon- ' ’ ’ ' * ” ' ’ ’ ’ " ' W thus keeps said arm depressed and the upper arm 6° of the sear in .its,forward positionj where its end engages the under side of the inwardly extending arm of the sear catch, too and keeps tlie same in its raised inoperative position. When the breech block is moved rearwardly, the -cocking fever moves the fir- ingpin to cocked position, and in such move-, ment, the rear end of the firing pin engages 105 the upwardly extending arm 6C of the sear find moves it rearwardly, see Fig. 4, there- by raising the cocking shoulder Gd on the sear in front of the cocking shoulder 3° on the firing pin and releasing the inwardly- extending arm of the sear catch 7 to permit it to, be moved, by its spring 7C in front of tbe tipper end of. the arm 6C of the sear. After the firing pin is released by the cock- ing lever in the . forWard movement of the breech block, the firing pin moves forward a slight distance until the inclined cocking shoulders Gd and 3° on the sear and firing pin and the forward face of the end of tlie. lever arm 6° of the sear and the rear face of thci inwardly extending arm of the sear cutch :7 are Brought into engagement as shown in Fig. 1. A stop projection 7’’ extending rearwardly from the upper portion of the inwardly' ex- 35 110 115 12(! 130 05
1,688,651 this'end a pawl S'- is pivoted on the pin 9° near the end. of said trigger arm so as to have a limited swinging movement thereon in a plane extending longitudinally ..of the gun. A spring 9' tends constantly to keep i’(' .said pawl 'in its operative position, shown .in Fig. 1, and to return it. to such position, if it has been moved therefrom by the- en- gagement of the sear catch 7 with the rear face of ;said pawl, at the next movement of the trigger lever 9 to its inoperative position. . What I claim and desire to secure by Let- ters’ Patent of the United States is:-— 1., In tin .automatic firswnn,. the combina- tion .of a reciprocating breech block, a to spring-actuated firing pin carried thereby and .-haying'.'.a forwal-dly and ii.v.vdrdly iu- clined'Yibck’ng. shoulder, a two-urnied sear pivoted, pn said breech, plwk and having a short'arm extending substantially in tbe di- -rection of movement of ths firing pin and a long arm substantially ль right angles to said, short arm, said short arm having mi inclined shoulder adapted lo co-operate with the. inclined- shoulder oa the firing pin to to . prevent firing movement of said pin, and •means to engage the l.mg- arm of the sear to keep the same in its operative position against the tension of the firing pin spring. ,2. In an automatic firearm, (be combina- 1,iS tion of a reciprocating breech block; a spring-actuated firing pin, -meang to> mov- ing said firing pin .to corked posit, km in (fiii . movements of said btewJj block, a wear on . s.u'jd breech block, and means wnerehy said 'sear is 'autoirmtieally and posil.jvely moved to its operative position in the waking of said. firing pin. ' 3. In an ji-utwnuuc fii'caym,'the combina- tion. of a<-rcciproeating .n'reech block, a 19 spring-actuated 'firing ..pin. ca.tried thereby, and having a choking, shpulde'v, ». two-armed sear pivoted о» said breech blech. and having oiie arm. extending substantia l.ly parallel 'to tiie. movement of said firing pin and pro- 11 vided with' a. •.Corresponding’'cocking shoul-'. 'der and, the other arm extending"transverse- ly of the path of said firing pin, whereby, in the movement of ssaid firing pin to choked position, it engages said seebud-named arm 11 to positively move said cocking shoulder оц.-’ the sear in front of the cocking shoulder Kon • the firing pin. ... . 4. In an automatic, firearm, the combine- ; tion of a spring-actuated, firing member, i! means for. automatically moving said mem- ber to cocked position, a sear tor engage- ment with said, firing" member-'to hold, the same in. cocked position, and means whereby» in ths cocking movement of said member; i5 •said scar is positively moved to its operstiv» position. . 5. In an automatic firearm, the ccmbir.a- tion of a reciprocating firing element, s.' •spring for actuating said element in one Si- very small force acting against that portion of the sear catch 7 which projects above the breech block, suffices to move it outwardly and to simultaneously raise the inwardly 5 extending, arm of said catch thereby releas- ' ing the ‘sear, which is then free to be moved to its inoperative position under the com- .bined action of the mainspring and the in- clined shoulders G11 and 3е, thus permitting № the firing pin to move forward to fire a ci.ot. In the embodiment of the’invention-se- lected for illustration the meaps for actuat- ing the parts of the firing mechanism car-, ried by'the breech block is shown -'nioufifed !•'> on top of the breech casing,, and to avoid ' interference with existing elements .of the .. .gun. such as the hinged top cover and the latch therefor (not shown), such means is arranged in a very compact manner to give to it. as small, a longitudinal . dimension as . possible. ‘ To this end, a bracket 8 having an arched formation, see Figs. 2 and 3, fests on top of the breech casing of the gun and has flanges . extending downwardly outside, the side plates lb of the -casing, which are se- cured.to said Casing by any suitable means such as the bolts 8". A trigger lever fl is pivoted in this bracket on a longitudinally extending pivot pin 9“ and has an arm ex- tending'down through h slot in the top plate 1“ of the breech easing into position for co-operation .with the upwardly project- ing arm of the sear catch 7. .The.lever- !i :::} is moved to its inoperative position, shown in Figs. 2 and 3, .by a spring 9b- seated in a • recess in the bracket 3 and bearing against the upper laterally inclined- arm of the trigger lever 9. To actuate the lever 9 in a direction to cause its lower arm to swing outwardly and thereby engage the upper arm of the sear catch fo move it outwardly to trip the sear, any suitable, means operated in synchronism 'to with the rotation of the propeller shaft may be provided; Such means which may be controlled electrically, hydraulically or mechanically, is represented in the draw- ings by a plunger 10 adapted to be, recip- 60 rocatea, in a cylindrical casing 12 secured in the upper portion of the bracket 8, in synchronism with the propeller shaft. The forward portion of this plunger 10 is sup- ported and guided by a hole in the bracket 5n 8,. and its end , is rounded and cooperates with an inclined cam face 9°, 'see Figs. 1 . and.5, on the.upper arm of the lever & to move said leyer against the action of its spring to fire"’ the gun. 80 The lower end of the' downwardly ex- tending lever arm of the trigger lever 9 is so constructed as to yield forwardly if it should happen to be swung to its oper- i atiye position when the breech block 'ap- W'.pronlthes its : forward firing position. To
1,629,651 said element having an inclined shoulder, a pivoted two-armed sear и corresponding shoulder on one arm adapted to he positioned in front of L'lined shoulder on the firing pin, ms whereby, in the movement of said lenient to the. cocked position, said engages said sear and positively aid shouhh-r. on the same in front of esponding shoulder on the firing pin, Kimber for automatically locking the such position.. an automatic firearm, tho combina- i reciprocating breech block, a firing ng-ai'tiiiilrd in ont- diimi and car- said breech block', said pin having a ly and inwardly inclined cocking , a pivoted sear carried by said dock, and having a correspondingly shoulder Tor co-operation with the on said tiring pin. whereby, when ' pin is in cocl.cd position, the firing ng tends to swing the scar to its ive position, ineans Гог positively the sear to its operative position in ing of said firing pin. and an ele- positively locking mid sear in op- josition. . . in automatic iircarni. the combina- tion of a reciprocating breech block,. a 30, spring-actuated firing pin parried thereby, a sear pivotally carried by Said breecJV block, . means for moving said firing pin to cccked position in the movements of said breech block, menus whereby said sear is positively 35. moved to its operative, position in the last of the cocking movement of said firing pin, and a spring-actuated catch for automati- cally locking said sear in its operative posi- tion. 40 8. In an automatic firearm, the combina-. ‘ tion of a breech casing, a breech block mounted for longitudinal reciprocating; . movement within said casing, a firing mem- ber carried by said breech block, an element 46 for rendering said firing member operative, ', said element being pivoted on said breech block to swing on an axis parallel to the di- rection of movement of. said breech block, a lever for actuating said element nlounted on 60 said casing to swing on a longitudinally ex- tending axis, said lever carrying a spring- pressed pawl for engagement with said ele- ment, smd pawl being adapted to yield for- wardly, us and for the purpose specified. 65 This specification signed and witnessed this 18th day of September. A. D. 1924. ; JOHN M. BROWNING.
E’FST A."7A CABLE COPY May 24, 1927. J. M. BROWNING 1,629,652 CARTRIDGE FEEDING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC FIREARMS Filed July 8, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1
1,629,652 May 24, 1927. J. M. BROWNING CARTRIDGE FEEDING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC FIREARMS Filed July 8, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2
Patented May 24, 1927. 1,629,652 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. JOHN M. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH; JOHN BROWNING ADMINISTRATOR OF SAID JOHN M. BROWNING, DECEASED. CARTRIDGE-FEEDING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC FIREARMS. Application filed July 8, The invention relates generally to car- tridge feeding mechanisms for automatic firearms and more particularly to such feed- ing mechanisms involving the use of a car- б tridge magazine of the rotary drum type. The main object of the invention consists in the provision of this type of feed in an automatic firearm of the recoil-operated class, such as is shown, for example, in the' 10 Letters Patent of the United States, No. 1,293,021 granted to me on February 4,1919, for automatic machine gun. Said class of automatic firearm has heretofore usually been provided with a feeding arrangement 15 whereby the cartridges are supplied, to the arm in the operation thereof by means of a flexible belt. Under certain conditions of operation, as for example, when a gun is flexibly mounted 20 so as to give it a wide range of movement or in installations where two guns are fixedly mounted on opposite sides of an airplane fuselage in position to fire through the plane swept by the blades of the airplane pro- 25 peller, the rotary drum type of feed is more desirable than the belt feed, because it avoids, in the case of a flexibly mounted gun, the provision of a belt container mov- able with the gun or of special guiding 30 means from the belt container to the feed channel on the gun or both, and, in the case of the fixedly mounted guns, it avoids the necessity of providing for this purpose, either both right- and left-hand fed guns 35 or guns which have a feeding mechanism reversible, at will, for either right or left- hand feed. While a main object of my invention is to provide the rotary drum type of feed in a 40 firearm of the class shown in my prior pat- ent, certain features of my invention are equally applicable to other types of auto- matic firearms. Other and further objects and advantages 45 will appear from the following disclosure. The preferred form of the invention is shown in the drawings in which: Fig. 1 represents, in a partial top plan view, a Browning air-cooled machine gun 50 with the invention applied thereto; the mag- azine is shown more or less diagrammati- cally, part of the drum being shown in sec- tion, and the central fixed part of the maga- 1925. Serial No. 42,301. zine being omitted. A cartridge is shown in position for rearward removal from beneath 65 the magazine drum. Fig. 2 represents, in a side elevation, the portion of the gun shown in Fig. 1, the mag- azine being shown in a central vertical longi- tudinal section and parts of the mechanism 60 within the breech casing being indicated by dotted lines. Fig. 3 represents a front view of a par- tial vertical transverse section on the line 3—3 of Fig. 1 showing a means for releas- 65 ably securing the magazine on the gun. Fig. 4 represents a rear view of a partial vertical transverse section through the gun taken on the line 4—4 of Fig. 2, the rear and side portions of the magazine drum being 70 broken away; this figure shows the relative positions of the foremost cartridge in the magazine and the cartridge fed therefrom into position for rearward removal. Fig. 5 represents a front view of a partial "5 vertical transverse section through the gun casing and the barrel extension taken on the line 5—5 of Fig. 2; the breech block and parts of the cartridge feeding mechanism are shown in elevation. so Fig. 6 represents a top plan view of a par- tial horizontal section through the breech casing and the magazine drum on the line 6—6 of Fig. 2; the relative positions of the cartridge ready for rearward removal and 85 of the foremost cartridge in the magazine are clearly shown in this figure. Fig. 7 represents a view similar to Fig. 6, the section being taken on a lower plane, as represented by the line 7—7 of Fig. 2, and oo the cartridges being omitted. Fig. 8 represents a view similar tn Fig. 6, the section being taken on the same plane, but parts of the feeding mechanism being shown in different positions. 95 Figs. 9, 10 and 11 represent the breech block and parts mounted thereon, respec- tively, in a left hand side view, in a front view and in a top plan view. - The machine gun to which the invention юо is shown applied comprises, as usual, a frame or breech casing having the general shape of a rectangular box formed by side plates 1, 1, a fixed top plate 2 at the rear portion ana a movable top cover 2a at the forward portion, Ю5 a fixed bottom plate 3, a rear plate (not
a 1,629,852 shown) and a trunnion block 4 closing the front of the casing. To a threaded forward extension of the trunnion block is secured the usual barrel casing 5, see Figs. 1 and 2. 5 The barrel 6 and barrel extension 7 are supported and guided for limited longi- tudinal movement in the trunnion block 4 and portions of the casing in rear thereof in a usual manner. The breech block 8 is guided for longitudinal reciprocating move- ment in said barrel extension and, when the parts are in forward firing position, it is locked to the barrel and barrel extension by a transversely movable locking block 7a on the barrel extension 7. After the firing of a shot, the barrel, barrel extension and breech block recoil together a short distance, in which movement the breech block is un- locked and is then thrown rearwardly <2'J against the tension of a reaction spring 9, Figs. 2 and 7, which, together with a buffer on the rear plate (not shown) and an addi- tional spring (not shown) acting on the bar- rel and barrel extension, which are held in a 25 rearward position until the breech block has passed through the greater portion of its forward stroke, returns said breech block, barrel and barrel extension to their forward fifing positions, in which return the breech 30 block is again locked to the barrel and bar- rel extension, all in a usual manner as fully disclosed in the prior patent above re- ferred to. In the rearward and forward movements 35 of the breech block a cartridge is transferred from a position above the barrel into the chamber of the barrel, and the empty shell in the barrel chamber is extracted ana eject- ed downwardly through an opening in the 40 bottom of the breech casing. By the present invention the type of gun disclosed in my prior patent hereinbefore re- ferred to is modified in a number of impor- tant respects to provide a construction where- 45 by the cartridges may be. successively brought into the position above the barrel by the use of a rotary drum magazine, and transferred from said position into the bar- rel chamber. 50 In order that the rotary drum magazine, designated generally by the numeral 10, may be brought as near as possible to the hori- zontal plane through the barrel axis and thereby facilitate the feeding of the car- 55 tridges from the magazine into a position for rearward removal, the front portion of the side plates 1, 1 of the breech casing, and the trunnion block 4 are made of reduced height, At its forward portion the trunnion во block 4 is provided with a vertical post 4я to receive the magazine 10. Rearwardly of said post the top of the block is formed with a seat inclining slightly in rearward and downward direction, as shown in Fig. 2, 05 upon which a cartridge is adapted to rest prior to its rearward removal in the man- ner to be described later on. The magazine comprises the usual sta- tionary central member 10a and the rotary member or drum 10b. The stationary mem- 7о ber 10® has a height dependent upon the number of cartridges the magazine is de- signed to hold and is provided with a con- tinuous guide way for the bullet ends of the cartridges, which guide way opens down- 75 wardly into the discharge opening through which the cartridges pass from the maga- zine. The stationary member has a central opening which fits over the post 4a, the proper location of the discharge opening and so the non-rotation of the member 10® on the post being assured by a rib on the post, which co-operates, for this purpose, with a corresponding groove in the member 10®. The rotary drum 10” has its outer cylindri- S3 и cal portion corrugated in a usual manner to provide vertical guiding grooves, on the in- side thereof, for the heads of the cartridges, the heads being retained in said guiding grooves by any suitable means, as the flanges 90 10е engaging the grooves forward of the heads of the cartridges, see Figs. 1, 6, 7 and 8. Adjacent the periphery of the fixed cen- tral member 10® additional vertical spacing means, such as the pins 10d secured to the 95 top of the rotary arum, are provided be- tween the vertical rows of cartridges. By this construction, the cartridges in the magazine are advanced toward and succes- sively moved through the discharge opening loo in the stationary member 10® of the maga- zine in the rotary movement of the drum: In the embodiment of the invention shown in . the drawings, inclined portions of tiie guideway in the member 10® are inclined in in.-, a direction, whereby the cartridges are dis- charged from the magazine by rotating the drum 10” in a clockwise direction, as indi- cated by the arrow in Fig. 1. To lock the magazine on the gun, any suit- no able means may be provided. As shown in Fig. 3, such m.ans may comprise a latch 11 pivoted at 11“ in a recess in the trunnion block 4, and having an upwardly extending portion provided with a locking projection J IF 11” adapted to co-operate, for this purpose, with a shoulder 10е on the stationary mem- ber 10a of the magazine. The projection llb is bevelled at the top to allow it to be cammed back, when the magazine is placed on the gun, against the tension of the latch spring 11° seated in a recess in the latch and bearing at one end against the trunnion block. In order to release the latch 11 when it is 1?5 desired to remove the magazine 10 from the gun, a slidably mounted element 12 is pro- vided on the top of the stationary member 10® of the magazine. This element 12 is actuated in one direction by a spring 12” 33f>
1.е2е.вБй seated in a recess in said element and having one end thereof bearing against a plunger 12° extending Into said recess and supported at its outer end by an abutment on the sta- 6 tionary member 10a of the magazine. The slidable element 12 has a downward projec- tion 12a adapted to co-operate with a shoul- der lla on the latch 11. The element 12 also serves to yieldingly oppose relative rotation io of the members 10a and 10b by the engage- ment of its rounded or V-shaped nose 12a into corresponding spaced notches formed in the reinforced portion 10f of the rotary drum 10” surrounding the central opening therein, 15 see Fig. 3, thereby providing a frictional lock to prevent relative rotation of the mem- bers when the magazine is off the gun but not appreciably affecting the rotation of the drum by the mechanism to be hereinafter de- 20 scribed when the magazine is on the gun. Sufficient lost motion is provided between the downward projection 12a on the slidable ele- ment 12 and the co-operating shoulder lla on the latch 11 to prevent the actuation of -•> the latch in. the rotation of the magazine drum by said mechanism. By this construction the magazine can be readily removed from the gun with one hand by first pressing the slidable element 12 30 back against the action of its spring 12b with the thumb of the hand grasping the maga- zine drum, and then lifting the magazine off the post 4a. To permit the mounting of the magazine 35 10 as near as possible to the horizontal plane passing through axis of the barrel, and yet allow the rearward removal of the cartridge positioned centrally on the trunnion block, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 6, the outer cylin- 40 drical portion of the drum 10b is made of less height than the stationary member 10a of the magazine, see Figs. 2, 3 and 4. From this it results that the cartridges in the low- est tier project for a distance approximately 45 equal to one half their diameters below the cylindrical portion of the drum 10b and, to prevent the premature passing of the heads of the cartridges in said tier from the guide- ways provided therefor on said cylindrical 50 portion of the drum, the lower flange of the guideway on the fixed member 10a for said lowest tier of cartridges is extended out- wardly, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, toward the heads of the cartridges a distance suffi- 56 cient to prevent any appreciable downward tipping of the heads of said tier cartridges. The vertical spacing pins 10a on the rotary drum 10b, on the other hand, do extend downward as near .to the bottom of the fixed 00 member 10* as may be, and to provide clear- ance for the lower ends of. these pins, {he outwardly extended flange at the bottom of . the fixed member 10a is preferably formed with an annular groove, as is clearly shown cs in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. This construction permits the pins 10a, in co-operation with the guiding and holding means now to be described, to perform the important function, in the rotary movement of the drum, of moving the foremost car- 70 tridge in the nfagazine into the'central po- sition in which a cartridge is shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 6, and of holding said cartridge in this position until the same is rearwardly removed. 75 The forward edge of the discharge open- ing of the magazine 10 is so arranged rela- tive to the breech casing of the gun that the foremost cartridge in the magazine is free to pass downwardly from the magazine, as so soon as the head of the cartridge has been moved, in the rotation of the drum, inwardly slightly beyond the position of said cart- ridge, as shown in Fig. 4. At substantially this same position in the movement of the 85 drum the forward end of the cartridge is brought into engagement with the down- wardly and inwardly inclined surface 16f, see Fig. 4, on the, stationary member 10a of the magazine to start the cartridge down- 00 wardly. If the gun is upright this down- ward movement will also -he assisted by gravity. To prevent the head end of the cartridge from dropping down to its lowest position as soon as, in the rotation of the 85 drum, the cartridge passes inwardly beyond the forward edge of the discharge opening, a small horizontal shelf 13, see Figs. 5, 6 and 7, is provided, this shelf extending inward some distance from the right hand side plate 1 J 1, of the breech casing. To prevent prema- ture rearward movement of a cartridge whose head has been lowered below the cylindrical portion of the drum 10b, said shelf is preferably provided with a vertical 105 rear wall 13a of sufficient height and ex- tending inward from the side plate a suffi- cient distance, see Figs. 5 and 7, to effectually prevent such movement until the cartridge has been moved inwardly into the central 110 position-shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 6. When the cartridge has been moved in- wardly, in the rotation of the drum 10b, until the cartridge head can pass off the shelf 13, the top surface of said cartridge is brought 115 into engagement with a downwardly and in- ' wardly inclined surface 14a provided on the combined cartridge guide and stop-14 which is secured in any suitable manner to the trunnion block 4 as by means of a~screw 120 14b, see Figs. 1, 2, 4, 6 and 7. The cartridge is, in the further rotation of the magazine drum, now positively cammed down at the front and at the rear, because it is forced into engagement with 125 the fixed cam surfaces 10f and 14a, until it is brought into engagement with the sub- stantially vertical faces of the rear imd front cartridge stops 14 and 15. The' front stop 15 is shown projecting upwardly from the 130
1,629,653 trunnion block adjacent the post 4a and the stop surface thereon is shown inclined rear- wardly and inwardly to conform to the taper of the projectiles, see Figs. 1, 6 and 7. This 5 stop 15 is preferably formed, as shown, on a separate piece secured in a recess in the top of the trunnion block as by the screws 15a. It will be seen that, by this construction, I»’ the foremost cartridge in the magazine is positively brought by the co-operation of the cam surfaces 10f and 14a and the spacing and driving pin 10” in engagement with said cartridge, into a position centrally above the 15 barrel and inclining slightly rearwardly and downwardly so as to permit it to be readily rearwardly removed, and after having been brought into this position as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 6, it is held therein by the cartridge 20 stops 14 and 15 engaging it, respectively, at the rear and at the front on one side there- of, and the said spacing pin 10d engaging the opposite side thereof at an intermediate point. 23 It will be evident that this provides an ex- ceedingly simple yet highly efficient and re- liable construction for removing a cartridge from the magazine and transferring it into position for rearward removal without the 30 use of any movable parts other than the magazine arum 10b and’ the mechanism for driving it step by step, which will now be described. For rotating the drum of the magazine 33 stepwise in the operation of the gun, mech- anism actuated by the reciprocating move- ment of a recoiling member of the gun is provided. This recoiling.member is prefer- ably the breech block because of its long 40 stroke and its weight. To this end, the breech block is provided in its top surface with a cam groove 16, the approximate shape of which is clearly shown in Figs. 7 and 11. A feed lever 17 having two arms of approxi- 45 mately equal lengths is pivoted on the under side of the movable top cover 2a of the breech casing on a pivot pin 17a and has at the end of its rear arm a downwardly projecting stud 17” which extends into the cam groove 16 50 on the breech block. The forward arm of the feed lever extends to a point adjacent the periphery of the drum 10b of the magazine and has a laterally offset portion at its end. This end of the arm is provided with a hori- 55 zontal slot in which the feed pawl 18 is pivoted on the pin 18a. A spring 18**, Figs. 7 and 8, seated in a recess on the lever arm, moves the pawl to its operative position. As hereinbefore stated, the cylindrical Go portion of the magazine drum 10” is cor- rugated, and these corrugations form op- posed series of equally spaced shoulders on the periphery thereof. The point of the feed pawl 18 is m a position to cooperate with 66 one of these series of shoulders, so that on each rearward and forward movement of the breech block, the magazine drum 10b is ro- tated one step. By reference to Figs. 7 and 8 the action of the feed mechanism just described will be 70 evident. In Fig. 7 the feed lever and feed pawl are shown at the end of a feeding stroke, or at the beginning of an idle stroke, and the breech block is in its forward firing position. In Fig. 8 the feed lever and pawl 75 are shown at the beginning of a feeding stroke, or at the end of an idle stroke, and the breech block is in its rearward position. It will be understood, as most clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 7, that the right hand side 80 plate 1 of the breech casing is cut away to provide the necessary clearance for the for- ward end of the feed lever and the feed pawl when moved to the position shown in Fig. 8. By the construction shown, the feeding 85 stroke occurs during the forward or return movement of the breech block, which is de- sirable because the forward movement df the breeeh block is less violent than the rear- ward movement thereof after the firing of a 90 shot, and it is necessary, to prevent exces- sive strain on the parts, that the full drum, which lias considerable inertia, be started from a position of rest gradually. This con- dition is attained by the shape of the cam 93 in the breech block and by the less violent return of the breech block under the action of its reaction spring 9 and the buffer (not shown). It has also been found desirable that a 199 positive stop be provided to bring the drum to rest at the end of each feeding stroke. .This is particularly desirable when the magazine is almost empty with only one or several cartridges remaining therein, for if in'’ no other stopping means were provided, the momentum of the drum would have to be taken up at the end of the feeding stroke by just one or two spacing pins 10d and such pin or pins might,, under these, condi- 11,1 tions, be bent or broken so as to render the magazine unfit for further use without correcting the injury thereto. To this end a stop pawl 19 is provided, this pawl being adapted to co-operate with the series of 115 shoulders on the drum opposed to the series engaged by the feed pawl 18. This stop pawl, as clearly shown in Figs. 1, 5, 6 and 8, is mounted to swing, in a horizontal slot formed in the forward vertically thickened 120 portion of the top cover 2* of the breech cas- ing, on the pivot pin 19*. It is moved to its operative position with the nose thereof ill engagement with the periphery of the drum by the spring 19b, see Fig. 6. 126 In order to move the stop pawl 19 to its in- operative position and to hold it in said posi- tion during the first portion of the feeding stroke of the feed lever 17 and feed pawl 18, cooperating means are provided on said feed 130
1,628,662 О suitable means, such as a transversely sliding latch 21 mounted in a corresponding slide- way in the top cover near its forward end, the latch being actuated to its operative posi- tion, in which a nose thereon projects into 70 a recess in the lefthand side plate 1 of the breech casing, by a spring 21a, see Fig. 1. The means for transferring the cartridges from the position centrally over the barrel into the chamber of the barrel has been 70 modified in several important respects from the prior construction to adapt them to the rotary drum. feed. Because of the neces- sarily small vertical height between the head of a cartridge so positioned and the periph- 80 ery of the drum, it was not found feasible, as in the prior patent, to combine the func- tion of an extractor and a carrier in one element, because, to obtain the required strength for the rearward withdrawal of the 86 cartridges from the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, it would require making such ele- ment vertically too high to pass under the periphery of the magazine. To this end a separate extractor 22 is pro- 00 vided, which is pivoted at 22a in a longitudi- nal recess on the left hand side of the breech block! see Figs. 9, 10 and 11, and has its for- ward hooked end 22b arranged substantially vertically above the left hand one of a pair 08 of overhanging flanges forming a vertical guide way 23 in the face of the. breech block, which flanges grasp the head of a cartridge in a usual manner as the same is moved downwardly from the grasp of the extractor 10® hook 22b toward the barrel axis. The ex- tractor 22 is actuated to its operative posi- tion by a spring 22c, see Fig. 11. In the last of the forward movement of the breech block the extractor hook 22b 105 passes over the head of the cartridge cen- trally positioned above the barrel, and en- gages into the usual groove therein forward of its head, whereby, on the succeeding rear- ward movement of the breech block the car- tridge is rearwardly removed from said posi- tion. To move the cartridge transversely to bring it into alignment with the barrel axis, a carrier 24 pivoted preferably by:, an inte- 118 gral pivot 24a to the left hand side of the breech block in a plane slightly below the extractor 22 and having its forward free end extend forwardly beyond the face of the breech block, is provided. The carrier has a 120 lateral inward projection 24b at its forward end which is adapted to overlie a cartridge being transferred- into the barrel chamber, see Figs. 2 and 5, and also carries at its for- ward end a pivoted ejector 25 similar in 128 function and mode of operation to the ejec- tor disclosed in my prior patent. The ejec- tor is, in this case, mounted so as to engage the cartridge being transferred to the barrel on the left hand side instead of as in the 130 lever and stop pawb Such means may com- prise a downward projection 19c near the free end of the stop pawl 19 which passes through a slot in the portion of the top cover below 6 said stop pawl and extends into the path of movement of the feed lever. The rear surface of the laterally offset portion on the front end of the feed lever provides a cam surface 17° for cooperation with said down- ward projection 19c whereby the stop pawl is moved to its inoperative position, shown in Fig. 8, in the idle stroke of the feed lever, and is kept in said position during the first portion of the feeding stroke of said lever, but is released before the feed lever com- pletes its feeding stroke, to allow the spring 19b to return to its operative position with 1 its nose in front of the succeeding stop shoul- der on the magazine drum. The downward 20 projection 19c on the stop pawl also serves to limit the forward movement of said pawl when the magazine has been removed. To prevent rearward movement of the car- tridge magazine drum 10b, a stop pawl 20 25 is. pivoted on a pin 20a to swing preferably in the same horizontal slot as the pawl 19,. see Figs. 5 and 8. The pawl 20 co-operates with the same series of shoulders on the drum 10b as the feeding pawl 18, but engages 30 them in a different plane. It is actuated to its operative position by a spring 20b. Its movement is limited in forward direction by a shoulder 20c thereon co-operating with a corresponding shoulder 2b on the top cover 38 2a, see Fig. 1. By reference to Figs. 1, 2, 5, 6, 7 and 8, it will be seen that the noses of the pawls 18, 19 and 20 are each formed, at the top, with a forward and downward incline. This 40 construction facilitates the placing of a mag- azine on the gun, the pawls being, in the downward movement of the magazine, cammed back by the engagement of the bot- tom of the cylindrical portion of the maga- 43 zine drum with said inclines on the pawls. The mounting of the feed-lever carrying the feed pawl and the stop pawls in the manner shown and described on the movable top cover 2a of the breech casing, which cover 50 is preferably hinged, as shown, at its rear end on the transverse pin 2C, provides a con- venient and compact arrangement of these parts which permits easy access thereto and to the mechanism within the gun casing. 55 The top cover 2a is aiTanged to swing downwardly between the side plates, when in the closed position, so that its top, except at its vertically thickened forward portion, is flush with the tops of the side plates 1, 1 60 of the breech casing; The top of the thick- ened forward portion of the top cover 2a is laterally extended on both sides, these lateral extensions resting on top of the side plates, when the cover is in closed position. 85 The cover is locked in said position by any
1,630,663 prior construction, on the right hand side. To control the transverse movements of the carrier a system of cams is provided, but in- stead of having one of the cams mounted on 5 the top cover and acting on the rounded top of a combined extractor and carrier, as in the prior construction, the entire system of cams is, in the present construction mounted on the left hand side plate of the casing, an 10 arrangement which makes for greater sim- plicity .of construction. This system of cams comprises an elon- gated upper cam plate 26, a switch lever 27 and a lower cam plate 28, see Figs. 2 and 5. 15 Cam surfaces on these elements cooperate with an elongated integral lateral outward projection 24° on the forward portion of the carrier 24. The under side of the elongated upper cam plate 26 inclines rearwardly and 20 downwardly, the inclination being very slight at its forward portion but increasing gradually toward the rear. In the recoil of the breech block, the lateral projection 24° on the carrier engages this inclined surface 25 thereby gradually lowering the cartridge en- gaged by the extractor toward the barrel axis and causing its head to pass from the hook 22b of the extractor into the vertical flangeway 23 on the face of the breech block. 30 In the continued rearward movement of the breech block, the lateral projection 24c en- gages the rear end of the switch lever 27, pivoted between its ends at 27a and depresses the same against the action of its spring 27” 35 until, in the last of the rearward movement of the breech block, the projection 24° passes rearwardly beyond the switch lever, when the same will be snapped back by its spring 27b into the position shown in Fig. 2, where 40 it closes the passageway between it and the upper elongated cam plate 26. On the for- ward movement of the breech block, the lat- eral projection 24° on the carrier engages the forwardly and downwardly inclined rear 45 surface of the switch lever 27 whereby the cartridge is brought into alignment with the axis of the barrel, and in the further for- ward movement of the breech block is in- serted in the barrel chamber. 50 In this last transverse movement of the carrier, if an empty shell remains in the grasp of the flangeway on the face of the breech block, it is downwardly ejected by the engagement therewith of the lower end 55 of the ejector 25 in a usual manner. In the forward movement of the breech block while the cartridge is being partly in- serted in the barrel the lateral projection 24c on the carrier is guided between the bot- 60 tom of the switch lever 27 and the top of the left hand portion of the barrel extension 7, but, in the further forward movement of the breech block to fully insert the car- tridges into the barrel, the lateral projection 65 24е engages the forwardly and upwardly in- clined rear surface of the cam plate 28,, which lifts the carrier, in the continued for- ward movement of the breech block, to its highest position to allow its lateral inward projection 24b to pass over the head of the 70 succeeding cartridge in position to be en- gaged by the extractor 22, see Figs. 2 and 5. In so moving to its highest position, the lat- eral projection 24° engages tne under side of the forward arm of the switch lever 27, and 75 raises the same against the action of its spring 27b which as soon as the projection 24е passes forwardly beyond the lever, re- turns the same to its normal position closing the passageway between the forward end of 80 the lever and the cam plate 28. By this construction, the transverse move- ments of the carrier are controlled entirely, both in the rearward and forward move- ments of the breech block, by the engage- 85 ment of its lateral projection 24° with a sys- tem of cams arranged on the side plate of the casing. While I have hereinbefore described the novel improved feeding mechanism in con- 90 nection with an automatic machine gun of the Browning type, it will be understood that certain features thereof are equally ap- plicable to other types of firearms, and I do not desire to be limited to the application of 95 my invention to any particular type of auto- matic firearm except to the extent indicated by the claims appended hereto. I claim: 1. In an automatic firearm having a re- 100 coiling member carrying an extractor for suc- cessively removing the cartridges in rear- ward direction from a position laterally of the barrel in the recoil of said member, the combination of a cartridge,magazine having. 105 a rotary element provided with spacing means for the cartridges, means for rotating said element step by step, and means co- operating with the spacing means on the ele- ment for transferring the foremost cartridge 110 in the magazine into position for engage- ment by the extractor on said recoiling mem- ber ana for holding the cartridge in such position until it is removed in rearward direction. 115 2. In an automatic firearm having a re- coiling member carrying an extractor for successively removing cartridges in rear- ward direction from a position laterally of the barrel in the recoil of said member, the 120 combination of a frame, a cartridge maga- zine mounted thereon ana having a discharge opening and a rotary element for causing the discharge of the cartridges successively through said opening, and means co-operat- 125 ing with said rotary element for guiding the foremost cartridge in the magazine through said opening and into position for engage- ment by the extractor on the recoiling mem- ber and for holding said cartridge in said 130
1,629,662 7 position until it is removed in rearward di- rection by said extractor, said means com- prising stop projections on the frame to en- gage the cartridge, respectively, at its for- 6 ward and rear portions, the rear projection having, an inclined surface, whereby the head of the cartridge is brought into posi- tion for engagement by the extractor while the rotary element is rotated a step. . io 3. In as automatic fire arm having a re- coiling member carrying an extractor for successively removing cartridges in rear- ward direction from a position laterally of the barrel in the recoil of said member, the 15 combination of a cartridge magazine having a rotary drum provided with spacing ele- ments for the cartridges, means for rotating said drum step by step, and means co-oper- ating with said spacing elements whereby, 20 in the stepwise rotation of said drum, a cartridge is transferred from the magazine into position for engagement by said ex- tractor on the recoiling member and is held in such position until it is rearwardly re- 25 moved, said holding means comprising abutments engaging one side of said car- tridge, respectively, at the front and at the rear thereof and a spacing element of the magazine engaging the opposite side of said 30 cartridge. 4. In an automatic firearm, the combi- nation of a frame, a barrel, a cartridge magazine mounted on said frame and hav- ing a rotary drum, means for rotating said 35 drum, means for moving the foremost car- tridge in the magazine into a position in substantial parallelism with the axis of the barrel and holding it in said position until it is removed in the general direction of its 40 axis, and means for so removing it and placing it into the chamber of the barrel, said moving and holding means comprising a fixed element having a cam surface and a cartridge spacing element on the rotary <5 drum. 5. In an automatic firearm having a re- coiling member carrying an extractor for successively removing cartridges in rear- ward direction from a position laterally of 50 the barrel in the recoil of said member, the combination of a cartridge magazine having a rotary drum provided with spacing means for the cartridges, means for rotating said drum, and means co-operating directly with 55 said spacing means for transferring the fore- most cartridge in the magazine into posi- tion for engagement by said extractor on the recoiling member and for holding said car- tridge in said position until it is rearwardly 60 removed comprising a fixed cam-faced ele- ment. 6. In an automatic firearm^ the combi- nation of a breech block carrying an ex- tractor and a carrier and having a vertical 66 flangeway on its forward face adapted to receive and grasp the head of a cartridge, the hook of said extractor being in vertical alignment with one side of said flangeway . ana the carrier being adapted to overlie a cartridge engaged by said extractor when 70 the breech block is in forward position, and means whereby, in the movements of said breech block, the carrier is actuated to lower the cartridge from the grasp of the extrac- tor into the vertical flangeway. 75 7. In ah automatic firearm in which the cartridges are successively removed in rear- ward direction from a position above the barrel, the combination of a frame, a car- tridge magazine supported thereon and 80 having a rotary drum, means for rotating said drum step by step to bring the car- tridges therein successively into said posi- tion, a breech block having a vertical flange- way oh its face adapted to receive and grasp 85 the head of a cartridge, an extractor carried by said breech block and having a hooked portion to engage the head of a cartridge located in said position when the breech block is forward, a carrier mounted for oo transverse movement on said breech block and having a portion adapted to pass be- tween the bottom of the drum and the top of said cartridge so as to overlie the same when it is engaged by the extractor, the hook of said extractor and one side of said flange- way being substantially vertically aligned, whereby, in the lowering of the carrier to bring the cartridge in line with the barrel axis, the cartridge is transferred from said I co extractor into said flangeway.- 8. In an automatic firearm in which the cartridge is transferred from a position sub- ' stantially parallel to the barrel and later- ally thereof into the barrel chamber during 105 the recoil and return of a longitudinally re- ciprocating breech block, the combination of a flangeway in the face of said breech block adapted to grasp the head of a cartridge, an extractor on said breech block having a Ho hooked portion for engaging a cartridge when the breech block is in forward barrel- closing position, the hooked portion of said extractor being in substantial alignment with one side of said flangeway, thereby H5 forming with -said flangeway a substantially continuous guideway, a carrier having trans- verse movement on said breech block, and means for actuating said carrier in the move- ments of said breech block to move the car- 120 tridge engaged by said extractor into said flangeway. 9. In an automatic machine gun having a recoiling breech block carrying an extractor for successively removing cartridges in rear- 125 ward direction from a position laterally of the barrel in the recoil of said block, the combination of a cartridge magazine having a rotary drum, a feed lever carrying a pawl for actuating said drum step by step to I30
1,629,653 bring the cartridges therein successively into said position, and means for operating said lever comprising a stud thereon projecting into a cam groove in the top of said recoil- 5 ing breech block. 10. In an automatic machine gun having a recoiling breech block provided with means for successively removing cartridges in rear- ward direction from a position laterally of io the barrel in the recoil of said block, the combination of cartridge magazine having a rotary drum, a two-armed feed lever having a feed pawl at one end for engage- ment with the drum to rotate it step by step to bring the cartridges in the magazine suc- cessively into said position, and a stud at its other end projecting into a cam groove in the top of the breech block, the lever, pawl and cam groove being arranged to cause the stepwise movement of the maga- zine drum in the forward movement of said breech block. 11. In an automatic machine gun having a recoiling breech block carrying an ex- tractor for successively removing cartridges in rearward direction from a position later- ally of the barrel in the recoil of said breech block, the combination of a pivoted carrier mounted on said breech block and adapted 30 to engage the cartridge being so rearwardly removed, said carrier having an integral projection thereon, and cams arranged on a side plate of the breech casing in co-opera- tive relation with said projection to control 35 the transverse movements of the carrier for bringing the cartridge engaged thereby into alignment with the barrel axis. 12. In an automatic machine gun having means for feeding a cartridge into a posi- 40 tion laterally of the barrel and substantially parallel thereto, the combination of a recip- rocating breech block carrying an extractor for removing a cartridge so positioned in rearward direction in the recoil of said 45 block, a pivoted carrier on said breech block for bringing said cartridge, in the recoil and return movements of said breech block, into a position for insertion into the barrel chamber on the forward movement of said 5C breech block, and means for imparting trans- verse movement to: said carrier comprising fixed cams and a switch co-operating solely with a lateral projection on the carrier to effect such transverse movement. 13. In an automatic firearm having a re- 55 coiling breech block and means for remov- ing a cartridge in rearward direction from a position laterally of the barrel in the re- coil of said breech block, the combination of a cam groove in the top of said breech block, 60 a magazine having a rotary drum for suc- cessively bringing the cartridges therein into said position, and an operative connec- tion between said drum and said cam groove for rotating the drum a step to bring the 85 foremost cartridge therein into said position on each forward movement of said breech block. 14. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a casing carrying a post, a magazine 70 seated on said post and having a fixed mem- ber and a rotary member, a latch on said casing for releasably securing the magazine on the gun, and means on the magazine and separate from,the latch for disengaging the 78 said latch to permit the removal of the magazine. 15. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a casing carrying a post, a magazine seated on said post and having a fixed mem- 80 ber and a rotary member, a latch on said casing for releasably securing the magazine on the gun, and means on the magazine and separate from the latch for disengaging the said latch to permit the removal of the 85 magazine, the said means comprising a slide carried by the fixed member of the magazine and movable transversely of the post. 16. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a casing carrying a post, a magazine 8° seated on said post and having a fixed mem- ber and a rotary member, a latch on said casing for releasably securing the magazine on the gun, and means on the magazine and separate from the latch for disengaging the 95 said latch to permit the removal of the ~ magazine, the said means also serving to frictionally oppose relative movements of the two members of the magazine. This specification signed and witnessed this 7th day of July, 1925. JOHN M. BROWNING.
April 24, 1928. 1,666,887 J. M. BROWNING BARREL COOLING DEVICE FOR FIREARMS
April 24, 1928. 1,666,887 J. M. BROWNING BARREL COOLING DEVICE FOR FIREARMS' Filed Oct. 15, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2
Patented Apr. 24, 1928. 1,666,887 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. JOHN M. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, ITT AH; JOHN BROWNING ADMINISTRATOR OF SAID JOHN M. BROWNING, DECEASED. BARREL-COOLING DEVICE FOR FIREARMS. Application filed October 15, 1925. Serial No. 62,672. The invention relates to a barrel cooling device for automatic machine guns having a recoiling barrel, and more particularly to a device of this kind in which water is used 5 as the cooling medium. In machine guns of this class a tubular water cooling jacket surrounds the barrel and is suitably connected at its rear end to the breech casing of the gun. At the front, io the jacket is provided with a closing cap having a bore within which the barrel slides. To prevent leakage of water along the bar- rel suitable stuffing boxes are provided at the rear end and at the front closing cap of is the jacket. After using such a gun, the water must be drained from the jacket and the barrel cleaned and greased to prevent its rusting. Failure to effect this cleaning operation may 20 result in the subsequent malfunctioning of the gun due to the rusted condition of the barrel which particularly interferes with the smooth movement of the barrel and tends to tear the packing in the front and rear stuff- 25 ing boxes with a resultant leakage of the water from the casing. Heretofore it has been necessary, in order to effect this nec- essary cleaning and treatment of the barrel, to open the rear end of the breech casing, 30 remove the mechanism in rear of the barrel and to finally withdraw the barrel from the water jacket and breech casing in rearward direction. It is an object of my invention to provide 35 a construction whereby ready access can be had to the barrel for this purpose without the necessity of handling the barrel by dis- mounting it from the gun. Such a construc- tion is particularly desirable in guns of rel- 40 atively large caliber (say 37m/m or over) because of the weight of the barrel. This object is attained by providing a water cool- ing casing which can be easily attached to and detached from the breech casing and 45 slid forwardly off the barrel, after which the barrel can be cleaned in situ. A further object of the invention resides in the provision of means whereby the used packing in the stuffing boxes can also be 50 readily removed and new packing inserted. In automatic machine guns of this class, it has also been found that the extreme for- ward portion of the barrel, which necessarily projects forwardly beyond the front closing cap of the water jacket a distance substan- 55 tially equal to the length of the recoil of the barrel, is not as effectively cooled as may be, because not immersed in the water -of the jacket for a sufficient length of time, if at all. This is particularly true, when the bar- 60 rel is tapered and when the gun is fired at a high angle of elevation, as at an aerial target, because the level of the water in the casing then drops an appreciable extent at each recoil of the barrel due to the de- 65 creased displacement of the barrel when in the recoiled position. It is, therefore, a further object of the in- vention to provide for the more effective cooling of the barrel at its forward portion, 70 and this object is attained by providing means for preventing the drop of the level of the water in the forward portion of the jacket when the gun is at a high elevation, and during the recoil and return movements 75 of the barrel, thereby insuring that the for- ward portion of the barrel is sufficiently sub- jected to the cooling action of the water. In the accompanying drawings, there is shown a preferred embodiment of the inven- 80 tion as applied to an automatic gun of large caliber, such as is shown and described, for example, in my prior Patent, No. 1,525,065 dated February 3, 1925, for an automatic firearm, but it will be obvious that it is 85 equally applicable to other guns and to guns of smaller caliber. In the drawings: Fig. 1 is the partial left side elevation of the gun having mounted thereon a cooling 90 device embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the forward portion of the gun and cooling device mount- ed thereon; Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of 05 the forward portion of the gun with parts broken away; Fig. 4 is an enlarged front elevation of the front stuffing box and the hose connection therefor, the barrel being shown in section; 100 Fig. 5 is an enlarged central longitudinal vertical section through the front stuffing box; Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical transverse section taken on the line 6—6 of Fig. 3, show- Ю5 ing the novel check valve for holding the water in the extreme forward portion of the casing when gun is elevated to high angles;
Q 1,666,887 Fig. 7 is an enlarged central vertical lon- gitudinal section through water jacket and valve; Fig. 8 is an enlarged vertical transverse r section taken on the line 8—8 of Fig. 3 show- ing the positions of rear hose connection and rear stuffing box; and Fig. 9 is an enlarged partial vertical lon- gitudinal section and elevation of the gun showing the rear stuffing box, recoil spring, and means for readily releasing the water jacket from the gun casing. The following main parts of the gun shown and described in Patent No. 1,525,065 i л are shown in the drawings; the breech casing 1, trunnion block 2, barrel 3 and recupera- tor 4. In the gun to which the invention is shown applied, the rear portion of the long slidable 2n barrel 3 is supported and guided in a seat in the trunnion block 2 closing the front end of the breech casing 1. The barrel 3 is preferably tapered in accordance with the customary practice. 2Л As clearly shown in the drawings, there is provided a water jacket 5 which sur- rounds the barrel 3. Preferably the in- ternal diameter of the tubular jacket 5 is but slightly larger than the external diameter 30 of the rear portion of the barrel and sur- rounds the same from the breech casing for- ward to a point some distance rearward of the muzzle of the barrel. This small diam- eter of the cooling jacket is desirable to 33 avoid unnecessarily increasing the weight of the gun and the water is conveniently sup- plied to the jacket through a port 6 at the rear end of the tubular casing and leaves the jacket through a similar port 7 at the 40 top of the forward portion of the jacket, the said ports being respectively provided with suitable fixtures 6* and 7a. The con- tinuous or substantially continuous supply of cold water to the jacket is assured by the 45 provision of an external reservoir (not shown) from which the water is pumped through a conduit to the jacket ancl, if de- sired, the warmer water leaving the jacket may again be led back to the reservoir 30 through a flexible conduit 8. Obviously, other suitable means for circulating the cool- ing water through the jacket bringing it into contact with the barrel might be used, the manner in which the circulation of the water 33 is effected forming no part of the present in- vention. To provide a readily detachable connec- tion for the water jacket to the breech casing of the gun so as to permit its convenient re- 80 moval I provide a suitable connecting means which is operative while the casing is held against rotative movement, the said means serving to draw the casing rearward into its proper relationship with the breech casing. 33 It will be obvious that the avoidance of ro- tary movement is highly important as other- wise the hose connections would have to be removed before the jacket would be de- tached. A suitable means such as a stuffing box is TO provided for preventing the leakage Of water from the water jacket into the breech casing and preferably this stuffing box is so ar- ranged that it can be adjusted while the jacket is secured to the. casing as already 75 stated. Preferably and as shown the trunnion block 2 forming a part of the breech casing is formed with an annular recess surround- ing the barrel and the water jacket is pro- 80 vided with a bushing adapted to enter the said recess and to serve as the bushing of a stuffing box or gland. Preferably there is an annular flange into which the rear end. of the tubular portion of the jacket is thread- 85 ed and the aforesaid gland bushing 9a is formed as an integral part of the flange 9. An anntilar packing 10 is located in the said recess and preferably a second bushing 9b is provided in the recess for forming a rear 80 abutment for holding the packing 10. When the water jacket 5 is moved rearward by the attaching means the said packing 10 is com- pressed between the bushing 9a and the rear abutment, which has already been stated, ®s may be a second bushing 9b. Preferably the rear face of the bushiiig 9a is inclined rearward and outward and the front face of the bushing 9b is inclined forward and out- ward, the result being that there is a tend- 100 ency to force the packing 10 inward and into firmer contact with the barrel 1. The means for drawing the water jacket rearward and for holding it in the assem- bled position is preferably located entirely 10Л at one side of the jacket, preferably at the top thereof, so as to be more conveniently ac- cessible. The attaching means may com- prise a single bolt 11 arranged conveniently at the top of the gun and passing as shown 110 through an opening in an upwardly pro- jecting lug 12 on the flange 9 and through a similar lug 13 secured to the top of the trunnion block of the breech casing, as shown in Fig. 8. Since the water jacket 5 115 is centered on the barrel at the front, by means to be described, and at the rear by the bushing 9a, it will be evident that this connection is sufficient and provides means whereby the water jacket can be read- 120 ily detached and slid off the barrel in for- ward direction, after which the rear packing is free to be removed and replaced. It will be observed that the bolt 11 serves as a com- mon means for detachably holding the water 125 jacket in place and for adjusting the stuffing box, that is, for compressing the packing 10. At its forward reduced portion the water jacket is centered and guided on the barrel by an end cap 14, (see Fig. 5) having a 130
a rearwardly., projecting.- internally, .threaded' flange 15 screwing over the; forward end of the tubtilar’portion of:the jacket.. .This end cap carries. a( stuffing .box', to prevent leakage 5 of: water and -the construction? of'.this .stuffing: box'ds such that the removal and replacing of' the packing is facilitated. To form the stuffing- box the end. cap 14 has ah internal rearward flange 16-the'rear io end of which is extended; iiiwardly to fit. the barrel and this: inwardly extended por- tion has a rearwardly and inwardly inclined forward face 17-.against which'the packing 17a is adapted' to be forced. • Tile'- end cap 13 has also a . forwardly extending- flange IS, the’ outside of which is .screw threaded to receive a cap nut 19,' this cap nut' being op- erative to force' a' sliding-, g’la'hd'-bushing' 20 having a' rearwardly and outwardly inclined 20 surface against, the packing 17a,- thereby forming- a water tight joint around the'bar- rel. The gland-bushing'may have, as slioWri, a flange 21 at its outer eridj.which, if the cap nut is screwed home, will be' clamped be- 2» tween' the nut arid' the outer end of tiie for- wardly extending flange on the end cap of the water jacket. By this construction it will'be evident that the packing can be readily removed1 and' re'-' 3o placed'with fresh packing by unscrewing the cap nut and sliding' the gland-bushing for- wardly, thereby -exposing the packing; An advantage of this arrangement resides in the fact that no internal' screw: threads tiin- 35 der the insertion' or: fenioval of the packing' as in stuffing boxes lia.'virig-a screw threaded gland fitting such internal thffeads;. To effectively, cool the forward end’ of the barrel, particularly when the giuf is being 4'0 fired while pointed upward, I provide ineang surrounding, the barrel and- forniirig? two water compartments, one of which is in front of the other and adjacent file front encl of. the barrel. The1 front; compartment serves 45 to retain the water, and.to-prevent it frbiri flowing' backward toward’, tile rear as ihi^ht; happen if only one long cbjnpaftnienf were provided. Preferably when a single water jacket such as 5 is. provided, the tWo com- 50 partmerits are formed .by means of a trans- verse partition 22 (see Figs. 6 and 7) posi- tioned some distance to the' rear of the, for- ward end of the water jacket, Preferably there is associated with the partition 22 a 55 check valve which is so Constructed; as , to prevent, tiie flow of water1 from the forward compartment to the rear coinpartmynt, on the recoil of the barrel, but to otherwise, per- mit free passage of tiie water in the oppb- ,:r> site direction. In the embodiment of the invention shown this partition comprises nri apriulaf member 22a secured to the, tubular portion of tiie water jacket as’’by rivets 23, jia^ihg,through 05 a’ flange 24 extending Й right angles to tiie main - body , of said, member , and . parallel with :the tubular portion of the j acket.' This annular, member has .its. inner periphery spaced.: some distance front the barrel there- by, when- the valve is open, leaving a: free to passage, for the: water and’forming a valve seat’. . Tiie- movable member ..of the valve comprises, a second annular. member 25 fit- ting the barrel-but of smaller external diam- eter than the internal diameter of 'the jacket. 75 This movable' valve member. 25. is located forward of: the fixed member: 22a and has limited longitudinal movement to open and close' the passage between the fixed member and' the' barrel. Suitable means, are pro- 80 vided to guide and support said’, movable member in. its iriovements, and such means nlay coin'prise, as shown, studs 26,' say two' iir nuinber, projecting forwardly from the fixed- merilber through Holes in’ the movable »5 member,’ the forward ends of' the studs, be- ing^ headed: or otherwise provided .’with means for limiting the forward movement of -said member. It will be understood that without , the w partition' 22' and the associated check valve the' level of the water in-the. water jacket would be lowered upon each recoil movement of the barrel, this being-due to the fact that the bafrel is tapered as- shown. With-the described г construction, however, it will be- evident that at- the beginning of recoil' of the barrel- after firing a shot, the movable member 25 will seat against the fixed mem- fief 22a and thereby, prevent the passage: of the water in the forward' compartment to the rear. This' insures that the forward encl\of the barrel will be subjected' to the cooling action of the viator by being im- mersed'' in-, it for an appreciable period' of. 105 time while the barrel is in the recoiled posi- tion arid during its less rapid return to battery; , , . On re,urn of the barrel to battery the- movable' valve member 25 .is carried to its HO forward, position, opening: the valve and again permitting the normal circulation of the; water; , While I have herein shown arid described a preferred, embodiment of the invention, 115 it will be understood that various- changes may be niacle tfith'duf departing from the spirit of tile invention as covered by the loll.owing .claims; Г claim: 120 , 1. In an automatic gun having a. recoilirig barrel’, a.frame,.a jacket for maintaining a epdling'fliricl surrounding' the barrel, a read- ily detachable connection securing said'jack- et; to said' frame, (packing for preventing 125 leakage of said cobling, fluid, and' means lo- cated outside of the . frame and .the jacket for compressing said packing,' the said means' .being adjustable when said' jacket is secured to' sai'd frame. 130
<1 1,600,887 2. In an automatic gun having a re- coiling barrel, a frame supporting the bar- rel, a cooling jacket surrounding said bar- rel and slidable off the barrel in a. forward f direction, and a readily detachable connec- tion between said jacket and said frame, the said connection being operative while the jacket is held against rotative movement. 3. In an automatic gun having a re- lo coiling barrel, a frame supporting the barrel, a cooling jacket surrounding said barrel and. slidable oft’ the barrel in forward direction and a readily detachable connection between said jacket and said frame, the said connec- tion being located entirely at one side of the said jacket and frame. 4. In an automatic gun, having a recoil- ing barrel, a frame supporting the barrel, a cooling jacket surrounding said barrel and 20 slidable off the barrel in a forward direction,- and a readily detachable connection between said jacket and said frame, the said connec- tion comprising lugs on the jacket and the frame respectively, and a bolt extending 25 through holes in the said lugs. 5. In an automatic firearm having a re- coiling barrel, a frame supporting the. bar- rel, a cooling jacket surrounding said barrel and slidable off the barrel in a forward di- sc rection, a readily detachable connection be- tween said jacket and said frame, the said connection being operative while the casing is held against rotative movement, and a stuffing box surrounding said barrel and 35 forming a fluid tight joint between said jacket and said barrel. 6. In an automatic firearm having a re- coiling barrel, a frame, a cooling jacket sur- rounding said barrel and slidable off the bar- 41) rel in a forward direction, a stuffing box sur- rounding said barrel and adapted to form a fluid tight joint between said jacket and said barrel, and a common means for de- tachably connecting the jacket to the frame •i."> and for adjusting the said stuffing box. 7. In an automatic firearm having a re- coiling barrel, a frame, a cooling jacket sup- ported by said frame and said barrel, the rear wall of said jacket forming a bearing 50 bushing for the barrel, an abutment in the rear of said bushing in fixed relation to the frame, a packing between said abutment and the rear wall of the jacket, and means for moving the said jacket to compress said as packing between the rear wall of said casing and said abutment. 8. In an automatic gun having a recoil- ing barrel, a frame supporting and guiding said barrel, a cooling jacket surrounding said fin barrel forwardly of said frame, a bush- ing surrounding said barrel adjacent to the rear wall of said jacket, a packing be- tween said bushing and the front wall of said frame, means for securing said 05 jacket to said frame, the actuation of said securing means compressing said packing to form a fluid-tight joint. 9. In an automatic gun having a recoiling barrel, .a breech casing, the forward wall of which is provided with an annular recess 7 о surrounding the barrel, a cooling jacket sup- ported on said barrel at the front and at . the rear, a packing in the recess, means on the rear wall of the jacket for compressing said packing when the jacket is attached 75 to the breech casing, and a readily detach- able means for attaching said cooling jacket to said breech casing. 10. In an automatic firearm having a re- coiling barrel, a breech casing, a cooling 80 jacket supported by said breech casing and said barrel, the rear wall of said, jacket forming a bushing, an annular abutment at the rear of the said bushing, a packing be- tween the bushing and the abutment, and 85 a readily detachable connection between the said jacket and the said breech casing, the said connection being operative while the casing is held against rotative movement and serving not only to hold the jacket but also oo to compress said packing to form a fluid- tight joint. 11. In an automatic firearm having a re- coiling barrel, a breech casing, a cooling- jacket supported by said breech casing and '>'> said barrel, the rear wall of said jacket forming a bushing, an annular abutment at the rear of the said bushing, a packing be-, tween the bushing and the abutment, and a readily detachable connection between the Ю" said jacket and the said breech casing, the said connection comprising lugs on the jacket and the frame respectively and a bolt extending through holes in the said lugs and the said connection serving not only to hold ids the jacket but also to compress the said packing to form a fluid-tight joint. 12. In an automatic gun having a recoil- ing barrel, a frame, a cooling jacket detach- ably secured to said frame and surrounding 110 said barrel, a front wall on said jacket, a bushing surrounding said barrel adjacent to said front wall, packing in said bushing, an annular member detachably secured to the front portion of said jacket by longi- 115 tudinal movement of said member, and a gland-bushing supplemental to the said member whereby said packing is compressed to form a. water-tight joint when said mem- ber is secured, to said jacket. 120 13. In an automatic gun having a recoil- ing barrel, a cooling jacket surrounding the barrel having a front wall adjacent the for- ward end of the barrel, an annulus surround- ing the barrel adjacent the front, wall and 125 secured thereto, external screw threads on said front Avail portion of the jacket, a cap with internal threads engaging said external threads, packing forwardly of said annulus, and a gland-bushing between said packing
1,666,88? 5 and said cap whereby when said cap is se- cured to said front wall portion the gland- bushing will compress the packing against the annulus forming a fluid-tight joint. r> 14. In an automatic firearm having a bar- rel adapted to recoil upon the firing of a shot, of a single tubular jacket surrounding the barrel and adapted for holding cooling water, and a one-way valve associated with 10 the partition for permitting free flow of the water from the rear compartment to the front compartment and for preventing free flow from the front compartment to the rear compartment. 15 15. In an automatic firearm having a bar- rel adapted to recoil upon the firing of a shot and being of larger diameter at its rear portion than at its forward portion, a tubular water-cooling jacket surrounding 20 the barrel, and means for retaining the water in the front portion of the jacket upon the recoil when the arm is fired at angles of elevation. 16. In an automatic firearm adapted to be 25 fired at angles of elevation and having a recoiling barrel of larger diameter at its rear portion than at its forward portion, a cooling jacket surrounding the barrel, a one-way valve forming a partition some dis- 30 tanee in rear of the . forward wall of said jacket to prevent the drop of the water level in the forward portion of the casing when the barrel recoils while being fired at angles of elevation. 35 17. In an automatic firearm having a bar- rel adapted to recoil upon the firing of a shot and being of larger diameter at its rear portion than at its forward portion, a tubular water-cooling jacket surrounding the barrel, and means for preventing the drop 4q of the water level in the front portion of the jacket upon the recoil of the barrel when fired at angles of elevation, said means com- prising an annular member secured to the inside of the jacket and extending inward 45 toward the barrel, but leaving a passage be- tween it and the barrel for the free passage of water past said member, and a second annular member forward of the first mem- ber and adapted to have limited longitudinal 50 movement to open and close said passage, whereby in the recoil of the barrel said passage is closed and the water retained in the forward portion of the jacket to effec- tively subject the forward end of the barrel 55 to its cooling action. 18. In an automatic firearm having a bar- rel adapted to recoil upon the firing of a shot and being of larger diameter at its rear portion than at its forward portion, a tubu- 60 lar water-cooling jacket surrounding the barrel, and means for retaining the water in the front portion of the jacket upon the recoil and return of the barrel when the arm is fired at angles of elevation, said 65 means comprising a fixed annulus secured to the wall of the jacket, and a movable annu- lus forward of said fixed annulus and mov- able to open and close an annular passage for the water between the fixed annulus and 70 the barrel, ancl means on the fixed annulus for guiding the movable annulus in its move- ment and for limiting such movement. This specification signed and witnessed this 30th day of September A. D. 1925. JOHN M. BROWNING.
Patent No. 1,666,887. Granted April 24, 1928, to CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. JOHN M. BROWNING. It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 1, lines 89 and 90, for the article "the" read "a"; page 2, line 52, for the word "bringing" read "to bring"; page 4, line 55, claim 7, and page 5, line 32, claim 16, for the word "casing" read "jacket"; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office. Signed and sealed this 3rd day of July, A. D. 1928. (Seal) M. J. Moore, Acting Commissioner of Patents.
Nov. 20, 1928, 1,692,328 J. M. BROWNING CARTRIDGE FEEDING DEVICE FOR AUTOMATIC FIREARMS
Patented Nov. 20, 1928. 1,692,328 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. JOHN M. BBOWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH; JOHN BBOWNING ADMINISTBATOB OF SAID JOHN M. BBOWNING, DECEASED. CABTBIDGE-FEEDING DEVICE FOB AUTOMATIC FIBEABMS. Application, filed January 2r 1925, Sei The invention relates generally to cair1- tridge feeding devices for automatic firearms, and more particularly to such devices in which a holder carrying a plurality of car- 5 tridges is moved transversely of the axis of the firearm and the cartridges are successive- ly removed from the holder and transferred into the chamber of the barrel. It is an object of the invention to provide an 10 improved cartridge holder of this class which is simple in construction and easy of manu- facture, light in weight and yet most durable, and which is particularly adapted to hold a number of cartridges of large caliber, say 15 37 m/m or over, in such manner that they are securely held therein in transport or when placing the holder in the firearm, but can be readily removed from the holder by the means provided for this purpose on the firearm. 20 Another object of the invention is to pro- vide an improved cartridge unit consisting of a holder and a plurality of cartridges therein, the said holder and cartridges being held in the required relationship by improved arid 25 novel means. A further object of the invention is to pro- vide simple yet highly efficient means for moving the holder transversely of the firearm and for supporting and guiding the holder 30 with the cartridges therein in such movement, and in combining said supporting and guid- ing means with means' for removing the car- tridges successively from the holder. These and other and further objects, which 35 will become more apparent with the follow- ing disclosure, are attained by the novel im- proved means illustrated in the accompany- ing drawings, described in detail in the speci- fication and pointed out in the claims append- 40 ed hereto. In the drawings: Fig. 1 represents in a plan view .a portion of the feed box of the firearm to which the invention is shown applied, the top cover of 45 the feed box being omitted. Fig. 2 represents a vertical transverse sec- tion through the feed box and a portion of the breech casing of the firearm on the line 2—2 of Fig. 1 and as seen from the rear, the 50 spring clips for yieldingly keeping the car- tridges seated in the holder being shown in elevation. ial No. 141. Bcnewed August 18, 1928. Fig. 3 represents a vertical longitudinal section through a portion of the feed box of the firearm oh the . line 3—3 of Fig. 1 and 55 as seen from the left. Fig. 4 represents the cartridge holder in a vertical transverse, section through a car- tridge seat thereof and showing a portion of the cartridge seated therein. 60 Fig. 5 represents the novel improved car- . fridge holder in a perspective view. The novel cartridge holder 10 embodying the invention preferably consists of an elon- gated. piece of sheet metal of small width as 65 compared with the length of the cartridges which it is adapted to hold and has depending flanges 10a at the front and rear arranged sub- stantially at right angles with the top of the holder, see Figs. 2, 4 and 5. The flanges 10a 70 are provided with cut-out recesses 10b form- ing seats for the cartridges. These recesses are preferably of somewhat greater depth than the radius of the parts of the cartridges seated therein, as is clearly shown in Figs. 2 75 and 4, and conform to the curvature of the cartridges through a substantial arc, which may be, as in the preferred form of holder shown, an arc of approximately 180°. To permit the easy insertion and removal of the 80 cartridges from their seats, the lower open . ends of the recesses are preferably slightly . outwardly flaring or rounded, see Figs. 2 and 5. . In orddr to yieldingly keep the cartridges 85 seated in the holder, spring clips 10° are pro- vided, these clips being secured to the under side of the top portion of the holder in any suitable manner, as by the rivets 10a. The clips are curved as shown in. the drawings to 90 bring their free ends to bear against the under sides of the cartridges seated in the re- cesses 10b of the holder, thereby keeping the cartridges in the holder, see Fig. 2. It will be observed that each of the said elements or 95 clips 10° is positioned to engage the corre- sponding cartridge near one side thereof and below the level of the eeriter thereof so that the cartridge is gripped between the said element or clip and the, opposite portions of ioo the corresponding seats 10b formed in the flanges 10a. In order to produce a very compact con- struction, when the holder is filled with "
2 1,692,328 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 во 65 cartridges of the long bottle neck type con- taining powerful charges of propellant, it is preferably applied to the cartridges at their forward reduced portions, as shown in the drawings, which causes the center of gravity of a cartridge to be located to the rear of .the holder. This unbalanced arrangement of the cartridges in the holder has, moreover, an important advantage to be described later on. In order to properly align the cartridges in the holder and keep them in alignment when seated therein, suitable means are provided which prevent placing the cartridges into the holder unless the cartridges are in the proper endwise relation thereto and, when the cartridges are seated in the holder, said means prevent endwise movement of the cartridges. Such means may comprise the edges of the recesses 10b in one of the flanges. 10a of the holder, preferably the forward flange, which recesses are of somewhat less diameter than the diameters of the adjacent parts of the cartridges to be seated therein, and corresponding grooves 11 formed in these parts of the cartridges, said grooves being of a width to snugly receive the edges of the recesses therein when the cartridges are seated in the holder, see Figs. 2 and 4. These grooves may be conveniently formed in the usual rotating band on the projectiles, as shown in Fig. 4. By this construction, it will be evident that the cartridges cannot be inserted in the holder except when in their proper endwise relation thereto, nor can they have any endwise move- ment to bring them out of alignment when seated therein. This construction has the further im- portant advantage of opposing the removal of the cartridges from the holder except by the means provided on the firearm with which the holder is adapted to be used. Be-° cause of the unbalanced arrangement of the eartridges in the holder, the rear ends there- of, because of their greater weight and inertia will tend to move down against the action of the spring clips more readily than the for- ward ends. But because of the engagement of the edges of the recesses in the forward flange of the holder in the grooves of the cartridges any such sagging or downward movement of the rear ends of the cartridges at once causes a binding action between the walls of the forward recesses 10b and the for- ward and rear walls of the grooves 11 in the cartridges to prevent, further downward movement of the rear ends of the cartridges and thus' assist the spring clips in keeping the cartridges in their seats, and thereby per- mit the use of spring clips, of less strength than would otherwise be required. The horizontal top portion of the holder 10 is preferably indented, as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 5 for the greater portion of its width, for strengthening purposes and also for other purposes as will presently appear. The holder is formed with suitable means for engagement with the feeding mechanism of the firearm with which it is adapted to be used. In the embodiment of the invention 70 selected for illustration, transverse slots 10® are cut at equally spaced points along the length of the holder through its top, and on the forward side of these cuts, the metal has been struck up to form shouldered feed lugs 10f adapted to cooperate with the feed pawl of the firearm. These shouldered lugs 10f are preferably made by striking up a rela- tively small portion of the metal of the holder whereby, while they are sufficiently strong 80 for ordinary feeding purposes, they may, should unusual resistance to the feeding movement of the holder be encountered, give way and thus prevent possible injury to other parts of the feeding mechanism of the fire- 85 arm. The damaged holder can be discarded and replaced with'a whole one. Since the lugs 10f are formed in the in- dented portion of the top of the holder and do not project above the lateral raised por- 90 tions of the holder, they are protected from injury in the careless handling of the loaded holders, or otherwise. Notches 10е are provided at the top edge of the forward part of the holder for co-opera- 95 tion with a stop pawl of the firearm to pre- vent rearward movement of the holder. In Figs. 1, 2 and 3 are shown portions of a firearm with which the novel improved holder is adapted to be used although its use is not юо restricted to any particular type of firearm. The breech casing 12 of the firearm here shown and the mechanism generally (not shown) is similar in construction to that shown and described in my patent for an 105 automatic firearm, No. 1,525,065 dated Feb- ruary 3, 1925. As in the said patent, the side plates of the breech casing are provided at the top with inturned flanges 12a, between which is an opening through which the car- 110 tridges are adapted to be fed downwardly into position for insertion into the chamber of the barrel. The feed box 13, which is of a modified con- struction from that shown in the said patent 115 to adapt it to receive and cooperate with the novel improved holder, is mounted, on the top of the breech casing 12 and secured there- to by any suitable means (not shown). In its left hand side wall the feed box is pro- 120 vided with an elongated opening adapted to permit the passage transversely thereinto of a loaded cartridge holder, and on its right hand side wall, an opening 13a, see Fig. 3, is provided for the, exit of the empty holder. 125 Novel improved means are provided to co- operate with the holder for supporting and guiding it in its passage through the feed box. In the embodiment of the invention se- lected for illustration, such means are com- uq
1,692,828 3 bined with the means for removing the car- tridges from a holder and starting them downward into the breech casing, and com- prise a pair of vertically arranged cam plates & 14, see Figs. 2 and 3, extending transversely of the feed box 13, and having means, such as the laterally extending lugs 14a, at the bot- tom of their right-hand ends through which the cam plates are secured to the inturned 10 flanges 12a of the right-hand side plate of the breech casing, as by screws 14b. These cam plates are vertically thin at their left-hand ends to permit these ends to enter . the space between the cartridges and the top 15 of the cartridge, holder as the latter is moved from left to right through the feed box. The under sides of the cam plates, from a point some distance removed from the left hand ends, extend downwardly and toward the 20 right on a gradually increasing curvature un- til they meet the horizontal lowest surfaces of the cam plates adjacent the inner edge of the inturned flange 12a of the right hand side plate of the breech casing. The top surfaces 25 of the cam plates are flat and are spaced ver- tically a distance below the bottom of a hori- zontal transverse web 13b of the feed-box ' sufficient to receive therebetween the top of the cartridge holder 10, and guide the same 30 through said box. When the cartridge holder is applied to the firearm the cam plates are located, respective- ly, just inside the front and rear depending flanges 10a, the space between the cam plates 35 permitting the spring clips 10° to pass, see Fig. 3. The top of the holder then rests upon the flat top surfaces of the cam plates and is thus supported and guided by said cam plates in its transverse feeding movement. To fur- 40 ther guide the holder the transverse guiding brackets 15 and 16 are arranged, respectively, at the rear and at the front of the respective cam plates. These guiding brackets are se- cured to the under side of the transverse web 45 13b by any suitable means, such as the rivets 15a and 16a, respectively, see Fig. 1. By the foregoing construction it will be seen that, while the top surfaces of the cam . plates 14 support the cartridge holder against 50 downward movement in its passage through the feed box of the firearm, the camming ac- tion of the curved under sides of said plates upon the cartridges at points forward and tearward of the spring holding clips 10° suc- 55 cessively depresses said cartridges at the same rate of speed at their front portions as at their rear portions, thereby removing said cartridges" downwardly .from the recesses 10b against, the tension of the spring clips smooth- 60 ly and without any tendency to bind. The means for advancing the cartridge holder with a step by step motion may com- prise a feed-slide 17 having transverse recip- rocating movement in a suitable slide-way provided in the transverse web 13b of the 65 • feed box. The feed slide 17 carries a feed pawl 17a pivoted in the slide at 17b and actu- ated to its operative, position by a helical spring 17е. The nose of the feed pawl is ar- ranged to co-operate with the shouldered pro- 70 jections 10f on the cartridge holder to move said holder one step to the right on each feed- ing stroke of the slide 17. The slide is automatically reciprocated transversely in the operation of the firearm 75 in any usual manner, being connected by suit- able means, such as a system of levers similar to those shown in my said patent, to a recoil- ing part of the firearm, such as the barrel and barrel extension. In the drawings, the first 80 lever 18 of such a system is shown, pivoted in the feed box on the vertical pin 18a, the for- ward arm of this lever being connected to the feed slide 17 in any suitable manner, as by a stud 18b on the end of the lever arm project- 85 ing into a groove 17a, see Fig. 3, in the top of the feed slide. Rearward movement of the holder is pre- vented by a stop pawl 19 pivoted on the under side of tbe transverse web 13b of the feed box 90 by means of a vertically extending pivot stud 19a rigidly connected to said pawl as by a riveted’ connection. Said stud is formed at its upper end with a reduced screw-threaded extension adapted to receive a nut 19b, which 95 is adapted to be turned against the shoulder- formed by said reduced end and locked in place. The forward guide bracket 16 is made in two parts to allow clearance for the stop pawl loo 19. The pawl 19 is moved to its operative po- sition to co-operate with the shoulders formed by the notches 10s on the holder 10 by a spring 19е seated in a recess in the pawl and bearing at one end against ah abutment in the feed 1()“> •box, see Fig. 1. The left hand part of the guide bracket 16 limits the movement of the pawl in one direction. A finger or extension 19d permits the pawl 19 to be manually moved to its inoperative po- ПО sition, if it is desired to withdraw a cartridge holder in which some cartridges still remain from the left-hand side of the feed box. The feed pawl 17 is also provided with a stud or projection 17® haying an enlarged head which И-'5 passes through a hole in the feed slide and projects some distance above the same, see Fig. 2, where it can be readily grasped be- tween the thumb and forefinger to lift the feed pawl to its inoperative position. By 120 the arrangement shown and described, the operator can move both pawls to their inop- erative position and hold them in such posi- . tion with one hand, while he withdraws the cartridge holder toward the left with his other 125 hand. . While I have hereinbefore described a' spe- cific embodiment of my invention, it is evi-
1,692,828 4 dent that various changes in the form and ar- rangement of parts’ may be made without de- parting from the spirit of the invention. What I claim and desire to secure by Let- 6 ters Patent is: 1. A cartridge holder for automatic fire- arms comprising a normally horizontal top plate, and cartridge engaging means depend- ing from the top plate and adapted to engage LO a plurality of cartridges near the front ends thereof, the said means serving by such en- gagement to prevent relative endwise move- ments of the cartridges. 2. A cartridge holder for automatic fire- 15 arms comprising a normally horizontal top plate, and cartridge engaging means depend- ing from the top plate and including a flange extending longitudinally of the holder and having seats for receiving a plurality of car- 211 tridges, the portions of the flange at the edges of the seats being adapted to enter annular- grooves in the cartridges to prevent relative endwise movements of the cartridges. 3. A cartridge holder for automatic fire- 25 arms comprising an elongated body having front and rear downward directed flanges provided with downward opening cartridge seats adapted to receive cartridges, and means to prevent endwise movement of the car- 30 tridges in said holder. 4. A cartridge holder for ahtomatic fire- arms comprising a normally horizontal top plate, and two spaced depending flanges ex- tending longitudinally of the holder and each 35 having seats for receiving a plurality of cartridges, the portions of one of the'flanges at the edges of the seats therein being adapted to enter annular grooves in the cartridges to prevent relative endwise movements of the 40 cartridges. 5. A cartridge holder for automatic fire- arms comprising an elongated body having front and rear downward directed flanges and provided with pairs of downward open- 45 ing cartridge seats formed therein, and re- silient elements corresponding in number to the pairs of seats for holding cartridges in the said seats, each of the said elements being positioned to engage the corresponding car- 50 tridge near one side thereof and below the level of the center thereof so that the car- tridge is gripped between the said element and the portions of the corresponding seats at the opposite side of the cartridge. 55 6. A cartridge holder for automatic fire- arms comprising a normally horizontal top plate, two spaced depending flanges extend- ing longitudinally - of the holder and each having a plurality of pairs of seats for re- 60 ceiving a plurality of cartridges, and resilient elements corresponding in number to the pairs of seats secured to the plate between the flanges for holding cartridges in the said seats, each of the said elements being posi- es tioned to engage the corresponding cartridge near one side thereof and below the level of the center thereof so that the cartridge is gripped between the said element and the portions of the corresponding seats at the opposite side of the cartridge. 70 7. A cartridge holder for automatic fire- arms comprising a normally horizontal sheet metal top plate, and cartridge engaging- means depending from the top plate and adapted to engage and hold a plurality of 75 cartridges, the aforesaid top plate having transverse slots therein and also having feed lugs struck up from the body thereof adja- cent the respective slots. 8. A cartridge holder' for automatic fire- 80 arms having an elongated sheet metal body provided with depending flanges having downward opening cartridge seats, the top of the said holder being formed with raised por-,. tions at the front and rear thereof respec- 85 tively, means for holding cartridges in the said seats, and feed lugs projecting upward from the body between the said raised por- tions thereof, the said lugs lying below the said raised portions and being thus protected 00 against injury. 9. A cartridge unit for automatic firearms including in combination, a cartridge holder having a plurality of seats open in the down- ward direction, and a plurality of cartridges 05 in the respective seats and projecting at both sides/bf the holder, the said holder and the said cartridges having cooperating interfit- ting parts intermediate the ends of the latter for preventing endwise movement of the car- 100 tridges in the holder. 10. A cartridge unit for automatic firearms including in combination, a cartridge holder having a plurality of seats open in the down- ward direction, and a plurality of cartridges 105 in the respective seats and projecting at both sides of the holder, the said holder and the said cartridges having cooperating interfit- ting parts intermediate the ends of the latter for preventing endwise movement of the car- 110 tridges in the holder and the said cartridges having their centers of gravity widely spaced from the center line of the holder so that the said, interfitting parts also serve to oppose premature downward movements of the car- 115 tridges from their seats. 11. A cartridge unit for automatic firearms including in combination, a cartridge holder comprising an elongated member having downward extending recessed flanges at the 120 front and rear thereof, and a plurality of cartridges positioned in the respective re- cesses and projecting at both sides of the holder, the said cartridges having annular grooves therein which receive portions of one 125 of the flanges at the edges of the recesses therein to prevent relative endwise move- ment.of the cartridges. 12. A cartridge unit for automatic firearms including in combination, a cartridge holder 130
1,692,328 5 flanges with cartridge seats formed therein, 65 and cartridges engaging the said seats in an unbalanced relation and formed with annu- lar grooves therein, the edges, of the seats formed in one of said flanges being adapted to enter the corresponding grooves formed in the cartridges, whereby endwise movement of the cartridges is prevented and whereby the unbalanced relation of the cartridges tends to oppose their premature removal from the holder. 17. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a frame having a transverse feed chan- nel therethrough, a cartridge holder adapted to be fed through the channel, the said holder comprising-a normally horizontal top plate together with depending means for holding ______________________________ ____o.._ cartridges, means for feeding the holder cartridge receiving seats formed therein, car- . through the.channel, and common means pro- ______________________________ ” ’ viding the sole support for the under side of the holder as it is fed and for successively 85 removing cartridges therefrom. 18. In an automatic firearm, the combina- , tion of a frame having a transverse feed chan- nel therethrough, a cartridge holder adapted to be fed through the channel, the said holder 90 comprising a normally horizontal top plate together with depending means at tire sides thereof for maintaining cartridges in spaced relation and centrally located means for yieldingly holding the said cartridges against 95 removal, nieahs for feeding the holder through the channel, and two cams mounted in fixed relation to the frame for removing the cartridges successively from the holder as it is fed, the cams being positioned to engage the cartridges between the depending spacing means and. at opposite sides of the centrally located means. 19. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a frame having a transverse feed chan- jqs nel, a holder comprising an elongated mem- ber having front and rear downward directed flanges provided with cartridge seats and means between said flanges for yieldingly holding cartridges in the said seats, means for feeding the holder through the said chan- nel, and means extending between the respec- tive flanges and the holding means in the passage of said holder through said channel, and serving as a support and guide for the holder, the said means also serving to re- move the ’ cartridges successively from the holder during the feeding movement thereof. 20. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a frame having a transverse feed channel, a holder comprising an elongated member having front and rear downward di- rected flanges provided with cartridge seats and means between said flanges for yieldingly holding cartridges in the said seats, means for 10 15 20 35 40 45 50 55 60 comprising an elongated member having downward extending recessed flanges at the front and fear thereof, and a plurality of cartridges positioned in the respective re- 5 cesses and projecting at both sides of the holder with the. weight at one side much greater than at the other, the said cartridges having annular grooves therein which re- ceive portions of one of the flanges at the edges of the recesses therein to prevent rela- tive endwise movement of the cartridges and also by a binding action to prevent prema- ture removal of the cartridges from the re- cesses. 13. A cartridge unit for automatic firearms including in combination, a cartridge holder comprising an elongated body having front and rear downward, directed flanges with < „ tridges positioned with their forward por- tions engaging the said seats, resilient mem- bers for holding the cartridges in said seats, and co-operating means on said front flange and the cartridges tending to prevent pre- 25 mature downward removal of the cartridges from their seats. 14. A cartridge unit for automatic firearms including in combination, a cartridge holder comprising an elongated body having front 30 and rear downward directed flanges with cartridge seats formed therein, and cartridges engaging the said seats with their weight forward and rearward of the holder un-. equally distributed, the cartridges being formed with recesses therein and the edges of tbe seats formed in one of said flanges being adapted to enter the corresponding re- cesses in the cartridges thereby holding the cartridges against endwise movement, the edges of said seats and the recesses in the cartridges co-operating also to prevent pre- mature downward movement of the car- tridges from their seats. 15. A cartridge unit for automatic firearins including in combination, <a cartridge holder comprising an elongated sheet metal body having front and rear downward directed flanges with cartridge seats formed therein and cartridges engaging the said seats in an unbalanced relation and having recesses formed therein, the seats formed in the flanges adjacent the lighter ends of the car- tridges being adapted to enter the corre- sponding recesses formed in thb cartridges, whereby the tendency for the heavier ends of the cartridges to move downwardly from their seats in advance of the lighter ends causes a binding action which prevents pre- mature downward movement of the car- tridges from their seats. 16. A cartridge unit for automatic firearms including in combination, a cartridge holder moving the holder through said channel, and comprising an elongated sheet metal body common means for guiding and supporting having front and rear downward directed said holder in such movement and for remov- 70 75 80 no 115 120 125
6 1,692,828 ing the cartridges successively from said holder. 21. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a frame having a transverse feed chan- 5 nel therethrough, a cartridge holder adapted to be fed through the channel, the said holder comprising a normally horizontal top plate together with depending flanges at the sides thereof provided with cartridge receiving re- 10 cesses, means in fixed relation to the frame for engaging the holder between the flanges to support it as it is fed and for successively removing the cartridges therefrom, and othex means also in fixed relation to the frame 15 for engaging the holder at the sides thereof to guide it. 22. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a frame having a transverse feed chan- nel therethrough, a cartridge holder adapted 20 to be fed through the channel, the said holder comprising a normally horizontal top plate together with depending means at the sides thereof for maintaining cartridges in spaced relation, feed lugs projecting upward from 25 the top of the holder, a feed slide located above the feed channel and movable longi- tudinally thereof, a pawl projecting down- ward from the slide and adapted to engage the said lugs to feed the holder through the 30 feed channel, and cam means in fixed relation to the frame for successively removing the cartridges from the holder as it is fed. 23. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a frame having a transverse feed chan- 35 nel therethrough, a cartridge holder adapted to be fed through the channel, the said holder comprising a normally horizontal top plate together with depending means at the sides thereof for maintaining cartridges in spaced relation,, feed lugs projecting upward from 40 the top of the holder, a feed slide located above the feed channel and movable longi- tudinally thereof, a pawl projecting down- ward from the slide and adapted to engage the said lugs to feed the holder through the feed channel, cam means in fixed relation to 4 the frame for successively removing the car- tridges from the holder as it is fed, and means carried by the pawl and projecting up- ward through the feed slide for withdrawing the pawl from operative relation with the holder. 24. In an automatic firearm, the combina- tion of a frame having a transverse feed chan- nel therethrough, a cartridge holder adapted „ to be fed through the channel, the said holder ° comprising a normally horizontal top plate together with depending means at the sides thereof for maintaining cartridges in spaced relation, feed lugs projecting upward from the top of the holder, a feed slide located above the feed channel and movable longi- tudinally thereof, a pawl projecting down- ward from the slide and adapted to engage the said lugs to feed the holder through-the feed channel, a second pawl at one side of the feed channel for preventing backward movement of the holder, and means carried by the first said pawl and projecting upward through the feed slide for withdrawing the pawl from operative relation with the holder, 7 the last said means and the second said pawl being so positioned that both pawls can be simultaneously moved to inoperative posi- tions by one hand of the operator. This specification signed and witnessed 1 this 31st day of Dec., 1924. JOHN M. BROWNING.
April 14, 1931. 1,800,594 J. M. BROWNING CARTRIDGE FEEDING MECHANISM Original Filed Nov. 1, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1
April 14, 1931. 1,800,594 J. M. BROWNING CARTRIDGE FEEDING MECHANISM Original Filed Nov. 1, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2
Patented Apr. 14, 1931 1,800,594 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOO M. BROWNING, OS’ OGDEN, UTAH; JOHN BROWNING, EXECUTOR OF Я Д ТП JOHN It. BROWNING, DECEASED, ASSIGNOR TO J. M. & M. S. BROWNING COMPANY, OF OGDEN, UTAH, A dO'RPOilAtiON OF UTAH CARTRiDGE-FEEDING MECHANISM Application filed November 1, 1923, Sferial No. 672,210. Renewed October 19, 1928. The invention relates generally to a car- tridge feeding mechanism, and more particu- larly to a cartridge magazine for use with firearms of the class having a belt feed and в a feed chaniiel through which the cartridge belt is adapted to be fed, such as is shown, for example, in the Letters Patent of the United States to John M. Browning, No. 1,293,021, dated February 4, 1919, for Auto- 10 matic machine guns. Heretofore, in arms of this class, consider- able time was lost in applying a filled car- tridge belt to the arm to replace an empty belt, because after the box or magazine con- 15 taining the filled cartridge belt had been brought into its proper operative relation to ‘the arm or, in cases where a box fixed with relation to the arm was used, after the filled belt had been placed therein, the end of the 20 feed belt was then brought into the feed channel of the arm into operative relation with the means for moving the belt through said channel, in some cases, by threading said end through the feed channel and in 25 other cases where the arm was provided, as in the patent hereinbefore referred to, with a hinged top cover closing the feed channel, by lifting said cover and placing the end of the belt in the channel, and then closing the so Cover down. Such loss of time in bringing a fresh cartridge supply to the arm is ob- viously objectionable where continuous oper- ation of the arm is necessary or desirable. The number of manual operations heretofore 35 necessary to bring a new cartridge supply into operative relation to the arm is also ob- jectionable, especially in the use of such arm on aircraft, such asconibat planes, where the pilot has to attend to the control of his plane 40 as well as to the operation of the arm. It is an object of the invention to overcome these objections by providing a novel im- proved construction whereby a cartridge belt can be easily brought into operative relation * J with the arm with which it is adapted to be used with a minimum of manual handling and with the utmost dispatch. This object is attained by providing a magazine for said cartridge belt, readily as- - sembled on and locked to the arm and having means whereby the end of the flexible car- tridge belt which extends some distance out- side the exit opening of said magazine, is supported and automatically brought into operative relation with the feed mechanism 55 of the arm in the act of assembling said maga- zine on the arm. With this and other objects in view, as will appear from the following disclosure, the invention resides in the combination of 60 parts set forth in the specification and cov- ered by the claims appended thereto. In the accompanying drawings: Fig. 1 is a front view of a machine gun with a magazine embodying the invention 65 applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a left-hand side view of a portion of the guii with a magazine embodying the invention applied thereto. Fig. 3 is a rear view of the gun with a 70 magazine embodying the invention applied thereto. Fig. 4 is a top view of a portion of tire hinged top cover of the gun casing with parts for securing the magazine mounted thereon. 75. Fig. 5 is a right-hand side view of the top cover, and a portion of the magazine show- ing the connection between said members. Fig. 6 is a rear end view of the spool car- rying the cartridge belt, detached; the last so cartridge in the belt is shown in dotted lines. Fig. 7 is a right-hand view of said spool, detached, with the last cartridge in the belt indicated in dotted lines. Fig. 8 is a rear view of the retaining pawl, 83 detached. Fig. 9 is a right-hand view of .said pawl, de- tached. Fig. 10 is a rear view of the gun and the magazine, showing them in the relative posi- 90 tion they occupy !in the act of assembling the magazine on the gun. Fig. 11 is a vertical transverse section, on an enlarged scale and as seen from the rear, through the transverse feed channel of the 95 gun with the detachable magazine in place thereon; the rear closing disk or cover df the magazine has been removed to show the arrangement of the cartridge belt within the magazine. 100
1,800,694 Fig. 12 is a right-hand side view of the magazine, detached, with the rear closing cover removed, a portion of the casing be- ing broken away. 5 Fig. 13 is a front view of a portion of the magazine adjacent the exit opening thereof. Fig. 14 is a rear view of the rear closing cover of the magazine, detached, and with the parts carried thereby. 10 Fig. 15 is a right-hand view of said cover, detached, and with the parts carried there- by ; a portion- of the cover has been broken away to more clearly show certain features of construction. 15 Figs. 12 to 15 inclusive, are shown on the same scale as Fig. 11. In the drawings, the parts of the gun to which the invention has been shown applied are shown more or less diagrammatically in 20 dot and dash lines, while the novel features are shown in full lines. The gun shown comprises the usual breech casing 1 having the hinged top cover la which closes the transverse feed channel 2 provid- 25 ed through the front block 3 of the casing above the barrel 4. The feed slide 5 carrying the spring-actu- ated depending feed pawl 6 is mounted, as usual, for transverse reciprocating movement 30 in the under side of the laterally-widened portion of the top cover la for advancing the cartridge belt with a step-by-step movement through the feed channel from left to right to bring the cartridges successively into the 35 central longitudinal plane of the gun, where they are withdrawn from the belt and trans- ferred to the barrel chamber by the usual mechanism (notshown). The usual stop pawl 7 engages the car- 40 tridges successively to prevent retrograde movement of the cartridge belt after the same has been operatively connected with the gun. To provide for the rapid and convenient bringing of a full cartridge belt into posi- 45 tion with its end in the transverse feed chan- nel 2 in position to be actuated by the feeding mechanism of the gun, such as the feed slide 5 and the feed pawl 6, a magazine 8 is pro- vided for carrying the cartridge feed belt 9 50 and connected to the gun so as to substan- tially maintain the lateral balance of the gun even when the magazine is full of cartridges, the center of gravity of the cartridges and magazine being substantially in the vertical 55 longitudinal plane of the gun The cartridge feed belt 9 is shown in the drawings as comprising a metal disintegrat- ing belt in whieh the cartridges 10 form the pivotal connection between the belt links, 60 but it is to be understood that other types of belt are equally adapted for use in connec- tion with the invention. The magazine 8 is detachably secured to ; the casing 1, in the form of the invention se- 66 lected for illustration, by a connection which permits the same to be quickly connected to the gun by simply moving it laterally rela- tive to the gun from the position shown in Fig. 10 to the position shown in Fig. 3. Such connection may comprise a member 70 11, T-shaped in cross section, see Figs. 4 and 5, secured transversely to the top cover la of the casing, as by the screws lla; said member, cooperates with a corresponding groove, see Figs. 5 and 12, in the downward projection 75 8a at the side of the magazine 8. The magazine is in this way locked against vertical and longitudinal movement. To lock it also against transverse movement when in its assembled position, a spring- 80 actuated latch 12 is provided, said latch be- ing pivoted on a pivot stud 12a secured in the top cover, and having a forwardly pro- jecting nose 12b adapted to enter a notch 12c in the downward projection 8a of the maga- 85 zine, see Fig. 11. As clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the latch 12 is actuated to its opera- tive position by the spring 12a seated in a recess in the latch and acting at its outer end through a plunger against the abutment pin 90 12е. A pin 12f limits the movement of the latch under the tension of its spring. To guide the groove in the downward pro- jection 8a of the magazine, in assembling said magazine on the gun, over the T-shaped 05 member 11, said member is formed with for- ward and rearward inclined surfaces at its left-hand end, see Fig. 4. The nose 12b of the latch 12 is also formed with an inclined surface to allow it to be automatically 100 cammed back against the tension of the spring 12a when the magazine is being as- sembled on the gun until, when said maga- zine is in its assembled position, the nose of the latch has come opposite the notch 12c, i°5 into which it is moved by its spring 12a, there- by locking the magazine in place. The latch 12 is provided with a rearwardly extending arm having at its end an upward projection 12s, see Figs. 4 and .5, which is no adapted to be engaged by the hand of the operator to press the latch to its inoperative position, thereby releasing the magazine for removal. The magazine 8 may be of any suitable 115 shape, but as shown in the drawings, it com- prises a casing of generally cylindrical form. To permit easy insertion of the cartridge belt within the same, the magazine has a flanged removable cover 8b closing its rear end. 120 The body portion of the magazine casing has connected with it parts 8k forming a belt passage having its exit opening 81 so located that it is adapted to connect with the trans- verse feed channel 2 of the firearm when the 125 magazine is in assembled relation thereto. Secured centrally to the forward end of the cylindrical magazine casing is a stud 8° on which is rotatably mounted the spool 13, shown detached in Figs. 6 and 7, upon which 130
1,®од,бё4 3 the cartridge belt 9 is wound. The stud 8° extends rearwardly through and projects some distance beyond the closing cover 8b of the magazine, see Figs. 2, 3 and 10, and is 5 formed just outside said cover with an an- nular locking groove 8d, see Fig. 12. This groove is adapted to cooperate with the sides and rounded inner end of an arcu- ate slot formed in one side of a thin spring io latch 8е pivoted at 8£ to the outside of the cover 8b, said latch being shown in its op- erative position in Figs. 3 and 10, where it keeps the closing cover locked in assembled position; and in its inoperative position, in 15 Fig. 14. It is yieldingly held by its spring tension in either of said positions by having a low rounded inward projection 8s adjacent its free end engage alternately in correspond- ing holes 8h in the cover 8b. See Figs. 14 20 and 15. The flanged closing cover 8b is held against rotation, as shown, by having a short por- tion of its flange cut away to form a recess 8‘, see Figs. 14 and 15, which is adapted to 25 fit a corresponding projection 8J extending outwardly from the cylindrical surface of the magazine casing, see Fig. 11. The flange of the cover 8b is also cut. away to provide clearance for the curved passage way 8!t lead- 30 ing from the cylindrical chamber of the magazine to the magazine exit opening 81. The flanged closing cover 8b of the maga- zine is provided with a plurality of peep openings 8m arranged at varying distances 35 from the center of the cover to enable the operator to readily ascertain the approximate number of cartridges still remaining in the magazine without removing said closing cover. 40 The spool 13 is provided, as clearly shown in Figs, fl and 7, with curved projections 13a on its hub, which are adapted to co-operate with the first cartridge in the belt to keep the belt from sliding off the spool when winding it on the same. The hub of the spool 13 is also provided with suitable means for fric- tionally opposing the rotary movement of the spool on the stud 8C. Such means may comprise the means shown in Figs. 6 and 7, 50 which is formed by longitudinally slitting the hub of the spool at slightly spaced longi- tudinal lines and pressing the metal of the hub between said slits inwardly to form an indentation 13b which does not appreciably 55 interfere with the placing of the spool on the hub, hut exerts a sufficient drag on the rota- tion of the spool to prevent a too rapid un- winding of the belt during the operation of the gun. 60 It is necessary that the end of the belt leav- ing the exit opening of the magazine extend some distance from said exit opening in order that when the magazine is applied to the gun, the belt with the cartridges therein may OS enter a sufficient distance into the transverse feed channel 2 to be operated upon by the feed mechanism of the gun. In the gun to which this invention is shown applied, this means that the first two cartridges in the cartridge belt will be outside the exit open- 70 ing of the magazine, and, if unsupported, would hang down and consequently interfere with the expeditious assembling of the maga- zine on the gun. It has been found necessary and desirable 7s therefore, in the practice of the invention, to provide supporting and guiding means for the portion of the belt and cartridges so ar- ranged outside the exit opening of the maga- zine, and the provision of such means forms 80 an important feature of the invention, as, by such provision, the attachment of the magazine to the gun with the cartridge belt in operative relation with the feeding mech- anism of said gun, is greatly facilitated. 8S In accordance with the invention I pro- vide means carried by the magazine adja- cent the passage 81C and adapted to engage the belt therein at a position separated from the forward end of the belt. The said means so is transversely movable relatively to the fire- arm for the purpose of moving the forward end portion of the belt into the feed channel 2. The magazine is also provided with means for engaging the said forward end 95 portion of the belt between the belt moving means and the entrance to the feed channel in order to support it prior to its movement into the said channel. The details of con- struction can be widely varied, but I prefer loo and have shown a pawl 14 which is pivoted to the magazine and which is movable rela- tively to the firearm for the purpose stated when the magazine is as an entirety moved relatively to the firearm during assembly 105 therewith. The supporting and guiding means will presently be described in detail, but it will be understood that the purpose or function of the supporting and guiding means is to so hold the forward end portion of the И0 belt that it can be moved into the feed chan- nel by the said pawl when the pawl is bodily moved relatively to the firearm as already described. The said pawl has its inner end projecting 315 into the passage way 8k for the cartridge belt for cooperation with the said cartridge belt, and its outer end is in position to be actuated by the operator against the tension of the pawl spring 14a to remove the inner end of 120 the pawl from its engagement with the car- tridge belt when desired. The supporting and guiding means for the cartridge belt preferably comprises two sep- arate members. One of these members is a 125 fixed guide which supports the bullet end of the cartridges and is adapted to project into the feed channel of the firearm. The other of the members engages the head ends of the cartridges and is preferably movable with 130
1,800,594 5 10 15 20 25 20 40 45 CO 65 respect to the magazine. The last Said mem- ber is so constructed and arranged that it is automatically moved to an inoperative posi- tion as the magazine is assembled on the firearm. To support and guide the head ends of the two cartridges in the belt outside the exit opening while the magazine is separated from the gun and during the act of assem- bling said magazine on the gun, movable means, such as a lever 15, is provided, said lever being pivoted at 15a on the rear clos- ing cover 8b of the magazine 8, as shown in Figs. 3,10 and 14. The said lever has at the end of its lower arm two forwardly extend- ing transverse guide flanges 15a to properly guide and support the head ends of the two cartridges outside the exit opening of the curved passage-way 8k leading from the in- side of the magazine, as shown in Fig. 10. To support and guide the forward or bullet ends of said two cartridges, the horizontal guiding extension 16, see Figs. 12 and 13, is provided at the forward end of exit open- ing of the magazine. This guiding exten- sion is of a vertical height such as to permit its entry into the transverse feed channel of the gun and has a V-shaped guide groove 16b into which the bullet ends of the car- tridges project. This groove is flaring at its outer end to facilitate entry of the cartridges thereinto if, for any reason, the cartridge belt is manually moved in reverse direction. While the guiding flanges 15a on the lever 15 for the head ends of the cartridges have been shown, Fig. 15, extending forwardly a relatively short distance, it is to be under- stood that they may be extended forwardly to the rear edge of the belt 9, if desired, and thus form a channel of sufficient depth to support and guide the entire length of the cartridges, in which case, the forward guid- ing extension 16 may be dispensed with. Means are provided to hold the lever 15 in its operative position when the magazine is not assembled on the gun but to permit said lever to be automatically released and moved to inoperative position when the magazine is assembled on the gun. Such means may comprise a short arm of the lever 15 extending above its pivot 15a, which arm is of spring temper and has near its end a low rounded inward projection 15b adapted to co-operate to alternately hold the lever yieldingly in either its operative position, shown in Fig. 10, or in its inoperative posi- tion shown in Fig. 3, with either of two cor- responding holes 15е in the closing disk 8b, see Figs. 14 and 15. With the parts in the position shown in Fig. 10, the filled magazine can be readily assembled on the gun by simply moving it toward the right to cause the T-shaped groove on the downward projection 8a on the bottom of the magazine to engage with the corresponding member 11 on the top cover la, as hereinbefore described. In this position the end of the belt and the first two cartridges therein are supported and guided in the horizontal plane of the transverse feed 70 channel 2 of the gun and with the continued assembling movement, they will be caused to enter said channel, since retrograde move- ment is prevented by the retaining pawl 14. At the beginning of the entering movement 75 of the first cartridge, the lower end of the guide lever 15 strikes the side of the gun and in the further entering movement, it is auto- matically swung from its operative position shown in Fig. 10, to its inoperative position, 80 shown in Fig. 3. To provide clearance for such movement of the lever 15, the rear por- tion of the passage way 8k is cut away for some distance back from the exit opening 81, see Figs. 11 and 12. 85 From this construction and arrangement of parts it results that, when the magazine is locked fully home in its assembled posi- tion on the gun, the first cartridge in the feed belt will have been automatically en- so tered into the transverse feed channel of the gun a distance sufficient to bring it into oper- ative relation with the feed slide 5 and feed pawl 6 of the gun, so that, if the mechanism of the gun is now actuated in the usual man- 95 ner, the cartridge belt will be withdrawn from the magazine and moved through the feed channel of the gun with a step by step movement until the operation of the gun is stopped or the supply of cartridges in the loo magazine is exhausted. It will be seen that, when the magazine is in position on the gun both the usual stop pawl 7 on the gun and the retaining pawl 14 on the magazine operate to prevent retro- 105 grade movement of the feed belt. It is thus made possible by the invention, to dispense with the regular stop pawl 7 on the gun if desired, and rely only on the retaining pawl 14 for preventing retrograde movement of 110 the belt. While I have shown the invention as ap- plied to a machine gun, such as shown and described in my prior patent above referred to, the invention is not limited to use with 115 this particular type of gun, for it will be evi- dent to those skilled in the art that with minor changes and alterations it may be adapted to other types of firearms. Also, while the magazine is being shown mounted 120 on top of the gun, it will be understood that it could, if desired, be readily adapted for mounting in other positions on the gun with- out departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims. 125 What I claim and desire to secure by Let- ters Patent is: 1. The combination with a firearm having a breech casing provided with a channel for the passage of a cartridge belt and means for 130
1,800,594 5 feeding said belt through said channel, of a magazine for said belt detachably mounted qii said casing, and an element carried by said magazine for guiding and supporting the 5 outer end of the cartridge belt in position to cause it to automatically enter said channel when the magazine is assembled on the casing, said element being movable from its operative to its inoperative position in such IP assembling of the magazine. 2. The combination with a firearm having a transverse feed channel for allowing a cartridge belt to be fed therethrough, of a detachable magazine for said belt having a 15 passage communicating with the entrance to Said feed channel, and a member movable either to an operative or to an inoperative position and forming, when in its operative position, an extension of said passage, said 2° member being adapted to support and guide the outei’ end of the belt when the magazine is detached, whereby said end with the car- tridges therein is caused to enter said channel and the member itself is moved to its inoper- 2? ative position as the magazine is attached to the arm. 3, The combination with a firearm having a breech casing provided with a transverse feed channel and means for feeding a car- ЗР tridge belt through said channel, of a maga- zine for said belt detachably secured to said casing, and means whereby the foremost por- tion of said cartridge belt is automatically caused to enter said channel in the act of з5 assembling the magazine, said means com- prising a pawl for preventing rearward movement of said belt and a movable mem- ber for supporting and guiding said foremost portion of the belt, 4° " 4, In a firearm having a belt feed, the combination of a breech casing haying a channel for the passage of a cartridge belt, means for feeding said belt through said channel, a magazine for said belt detachably 45 mounted on said casing, said magazine hav- ing an exit opening in position to communi- cate with the entrance, to said channel, and means whereby the outer portion of said belt may project from said exit opening and be • 50 automatically guided into said channel in the act of assembling the magazine on the eating, said means comprising a lever pivot- ally carried by said magazine and movable from is operative to its inoperative position 55 ip assembling the magazine, and means for normally holding said lever against such movement. 5, The combination with a firearm having a transverse channel for a flexible cartridge belt and means for feeding a belt through the said channel, of a detachable magazine for the said belt adapted to be supported on the firearm and having a passage communi- cating with the entrance to the feed channel when the magazine is in operative position, 60 the sajd magazine being transversely movable relatively to the firearm while being as- sembled thereon or removed therefrom, a member pivotally mounted on the magazine and arranged adjacent the exit opening of the 70 said passage for supporting and guiding the forward end portion of the cartridge’ belt outside of the exit opening in order to auto- matically bring it into operative relation with said feeding means while the magazine 75 is being assembled on the firearm, the said member being moved from an operative posi- tion to an inoperative position during such assembling movement, and a releasable detent means normally tending to hold the said 8° member in its operative position. 6. The combination with a firearm having a transverse channel for a flexible cartridge belt and means for feeding a belt through the said channel, of a detachable magazine .85 for the said belt adapted to be supported on the firearm and having a passage com- municating with the entrance to the feed channel when the magazine is in operative position, the said magazine being transverse- ly movable relatively to the firearm while be- ing assembled thereon or removed therefrom, and a member pivotally mounted on the magazine and arranged adjacent the exit opening of the said passage for supporting .95 and guiding the forward end portion of the cartridge belt outside of the exit opening in order to automatically bring it into opera- tive relation with said feeding means while the magazine is being assembled on the fire- • 1°° arm, the said member being moved from an operative position to an inoperative position during such assembling movement and a por- tion of the said member being resilient and formed to cooperate with compleniental por- 105 tions of the magazine in order to tend to hold the member in either of the said po- sitions. 7. The combination with a firearm having a transverse channel for a flexible cartridge 110 belt and means for feeding a belt through the said channel, of a detachable magazine for the said belt adapted to be supported on the firearm and having a passage com- municating with the entrance to the feed П5 channel when the magazine is in operative position, the said magazine being transverse- ly movable relatively to the firearm while being assembled thereon or removed there- from and the said magazine comprising a 120 cover adapted to be removed in order to per- mit a cartridge belt to be put in place, and a member movably mounted on the cover so as to be adjacent the exit opening of the said passage when the cover is in closed po- 126 sition, the said member serving to support and guide the forward end portion of the cartridge belt outside of the exit opening in order to automatically bring it into opera- tive relation with said feeding means while 13° 65
6 1,800,594 cent the said exit opening for supporting the forward end portion of the belt outside of the exit opening and guiding it in a trans- verse direction, whereby the belt is automat- ically brought into operative relation with 70 the feeding mechanism of the gun when the magazine is moved transversely of the fire- arm during assembly therewith. 12. In a cartridge belt magazine adapted to be detachably assembled with a firearm 75 having a transverse belt feed, the combination of a casing having a passage with an exit opening for the belt, and a relatively movable member adjacent the said exit opening for - supporting the forward end portion of the 80 belt outside of the exit opening and guiding it in a transverse direction, whereby the belt is automatically brought into operative rela- tion with the feeding mechanism of the gun : when the magazine is moved transversely of 85 the firearm during assembly therewith, the said member being automatically movable from its operative position to an inoperative position during the transverse assembly - movement. so 13. In a cartridge belt magazine adapted to be detachably assembled with a firearm having a transverse belt feed, the combina- tion of a casing having a passage with an - exit opening for the belt, and a member piy- 85 otally mounted on the casing and arranged adjacent the said exit opening for supporting the forward end portion of the belt outside of the exit opening and guiding it in a trans- - verse direction, whereby the belt is auto- 100 matically brought into operative relation with the feeding mechanism of the gun when the magazine is moved transversely of the firearm during assembly therewith, the said .member being automatically movable from 105 its operative position to an inoperative posi- tion during the transverse assembly move- ment. 14. A detachable magazine for cartridge-. belts comprising a casing having an exit opening for the belt, means for guiding and supporting the end of the belt adjacent said opening, said means comprising a member movable from operative to inoperative po-, sition and means to normally hold said mem- П5 ber in its operative position, said holding means being automatically releasable, when the magazine is assembled on a firearm with which it is adapted to be used, to permit movement of said member to its inoperative 120 position. 15. In a cartridge belt magazine adapted to be detachably assembled with a firearm having a transverse belt feed, the combina- tion of a casing including a body portion and 123 a removable cover therefor, the said body portion of the casing having a passage with an exit opening for the belt, and a member relatively movably mounted on the cover and arranged adjacent the said exit opening for the magazine is being assembled on the fire- arm. 8. The combination with a firearm, having a transverse channel for a flexible cartridge 5 belt and means for feeding a belt through the said channel, of a detachable substan- tially cylindrical magazine for the said belt adapted to be supported on the firearm and having a passage extending from the cylin- 10 drical portion thereof and communicating with the entrance to the feed channel when the magazine is in operative position, the said magazine being transversely movable relatively to the firearm while being as- 15 sembled thereon or removed therefrom and the said magazine including a flat end cover adapted to be removed in order to permit a cartridge belt to be put in place, a member movably mounted on the cover so as to be 20 adjacent the exit opening of the said pas- sage when the cover is in closed position, the said member serving to support and guide the forward end portion of the cartridge belt outside of the exit opening in order to 25 automatically bring it into operative relation with said feeding means while the magazine is being assembled on the firearm, and inter- engaging parts on the body portion of the magazine and on the cover for holding the 30 cover and the said supporting and guiding member against relative rotative movement out of proper relationship with the body por- tion. 9. In a firearm having a belt feed, the 35 combination of a breech casinghaving atrans- verse feed channel, means for feeding a cartridge belt through said channel, a maga- zine for said belt detachably secured to said casing, and means whereby the foremost por- 40 tion of said belt is automatically caused to enter said transverse channel in the act of assembling the magazine, said means com- prising a fixed guide for the bullet ends of the cartridges and a guiding and supporting 45 member for the head ends of the cartridges. 10. In a firearm having a belt feed, the combination of a breech casing having a trans- verse feed channel, means for feeding a cartridge belt through said channel, a maga- 50 zine for said belt detachably secured to said “casing, and means whereby the foremost por- tion of said belt is automatically caused to enter said transverse channel in the act of assembling the magazine, said means com- 55 prising a fixed guide for the bullet ends of the cartridges and a movable guiding and sup- porting member for the head ends of the cartridges, said movable member being auto- matically moved to its inoperative position 60 in the act of assembling the magazine. 11. In a cartridge belt magazine adapted to be detachably assembled with a firearm hav- ing a transverse belt feed, the combination of a casing having a passage with an exit open- 65 ing for the belt, and means arranged adja-
1,800,694 7 supporting the forward end portion of the belt outside of the exit opening and guiding it in a transverse direction, whereby the belt is automatically brought into operative re- 6 lation with the feeding mechanism of the gun when the magazine is moved transverse- ly of the firearm during assembly therewith. 16. In a cartridge belt magazine adapted to be detachably assembled with a firearm hav- 10 ing a transverse belt feed, the combination of a casing having a passage with an exit opening for the belt, and means arranged adj acent the said exit opening for supporting the forward end portion of the belt outside 15 of the exit opening and guiding it in a trans- verse direction, whereby the belt is automat- ically brought into operative relation with the feeding mechanism of the gun when the magazine is moved transversely of the fire- 20 arm during assembly therewith, the said means comprising a guide for the bullet ends of the cartridges in fixed relation with the casing and also comprising a guiding and supporting member for the head ends of the 25 cartridges. This specification signed and witnessed this 10th day of October, A. D. 1923. JOHN M. BROWNING. 30 35 40 46 50 55 60 65
April 14, 1931. j. м. browning 1,800,595 MAGAZINE FEED MECHANISM FOR MACHINE GUNS Filed Jan. 25, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor
April 14, 1931. J. M. BROWNING 1,800,595 MAGAZINE FEED MECHANISM FOR MACHINE GUNS Filed Jan. 25, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2
Patented Apr. 14, 1931 1,800,595 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN M. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH; JOHN BROWNING, ADMINISTRATOR OF SAID JOHN M. BROWNING, DECEASED, ASSIGNOR TO J. M. & M. S. BROWNING OOMPANT, OF OGDEN, UTAH, A CORPORATION OF UTAH MAGAZINE-FEED MECHANISM FOR MACHINE GUNS Application filed January 25, 1Э28. Serial No. 83,584. A mechanism embodying the invention in- cludes a feed box or magazine adapted to be readily attached to or removed from an automatic machine gun, especially an auto- 5 matic machine gun of the Browning type, and the invention relates more particularly to a construction of the type- wherein a car- tridge feed belt is withdrawn from the mag- azine by means of the mechanism of the gun. 10 The invention is of peculiar advantage when applied to guns which are ordinarily or frequently carried or operated in various positions, not only at various angles of eleva- tion but at various angles of transverse in- 15 clination. A gun mounted upon an airplane constitutes an example of the class referred to, and such a gun may be at times com- pletely inverted. One object of the invention is to provide 2o a relatively light magazine of the type re- ferred to having a large capacity and capable of being attached to the gun or removed therefrom quickly and easily by the use of one hand only, and .so constructed that there 25 is a mirtimum possibility of any misfitting or jamming which might cause delay. Another object of the invention is to pro- vide improved means for advancing the initial or forward end of the cartridge feed 30 belt from the magazine into the gun where it can be engaged by the gun mechanism, and also to provide a safety locking device for' the said mechanism. In accordance with the invention a guide 35 channel is provided which communicates with the magazine and which extends laterally ap- proximately to the entrance end of the feed channel. One of the objects of the invention is to provide means whereby the portion of 40 the belt in the said feed channel may be released to permit access to be had to the feed mechanism of the gun in case of any stoppage or jamming inside of the gun. A still further object of the invention is 45 to provide a feed box of the type described having means therein for preventing parts of the feed belt from accidentally shifting by gravity or otherwise from one side of the magazine to the other. Additional objects of the'-invention will 60 be apparent from the following specification and claims. In the accompanying drawings I have shown the embodiment of the invention which is now deemed preferable and in the 55 following description this embodiment will be described in detail; but it is to be under- stood that the drawings and the detailed description are merely for the purpose of fully illustrating and disclosing the inven- 50 tion and are not to be construed as defining or limiting the scope thereof, the claims forming a part of this specification being relied upon for that purpose. In the embodiment of the invention herein 55 disclosed certain novel elements are mounted on the gun and certain other novel elements are mounted upon the feed box or magazines so as to be removable therewith from the gun. It will be understood, however, that I do not 70 necessarily limit myself to the specific loca- tion or mounting of the several parts except in so far as the location or mounting there- of is specifically included in the claims. Of the drawings, 75 Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a magazine embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a left side view showing the maga- zine and a part of the gun to which the maga- zine is about to be attached, the magazine and 80 the gun being'shown separated. Fig. 3 is a view in some respects similar to Fig. 2, but showing the magazine in oper- ative position on the gun and also showing the position of the operator’s hand when 85 about to release the magazine and remove it from the gun. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the magazine and a part of the gun, the cover of the box heing omitted and the magazine being shown empty. 00
S,800,695 Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken along the line 5—5 of Fig. 3, but showing the magazine in the position which ' it occupies just before reaching its final oper- 6 ative position on the gun. Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the movable1 bottom section with the parts in, the position shown in Fig. 5, the bottom section itself be- ing shown in phantom in order that the parts 10 attached thereto may more clearly appear. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary elevational view taken from the right and showing the de- pending portion of the magazine at the left side of the gun. 15 Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 5, but Showing the magazine in its final operative position. Fig. 9 is a view somewhat similar to Fig. 6, but showing the parts in the position shown 20 in Fig. 10 and also showing certain parts of the gun. Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 8, but showing the end of the cartridge feed belt advanced into the gun. 25 Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 10, but showing the movable bottom section moved to an open position so as to permit the feed belt to be removed from the magazine. Referring to the drawings 1 represents the 3o casing or box constituting the major portion of the magazine, this box being adapted to contain a cartridge feed belt as already stated and to be mounted on a gun. As concerns some of the features of the invention it is 35 preferable that the magazine be mounted on the gun at the top thereof but as to other features the invention is not necessarily so limited. As concerns some of the features of the invention the exact shape of the box is 40 not essential, but I prefer a saddle-shaped box having a longitudinal recess 2 therein which adapts it to fit over and partly sur- round the gun. A saddle-shaped box has a reasonably large capacity and the weight is 45 balanced with respect to the center line of the gun. The recess 2 is made large enough to permit the free functioning of the gun mecha- nism. In order that the box may be loaded, the 60 top cover 3 thereof is made movable with re- spect to the other parts. Preferably the cover is hinged to the box proper, hinges 4, 4 being provided for this purpose, but it will be understood that I do not necessarily limit 53 myself to a hinged connection. When a hinged cover is provided as shown, one or more latches 5, 5 are provided for normally holding the cover in closed position. For convenience in handling the magazine, 60 and particularly for use in attaching it to the gun and removing it therefrom, a handle 6 is provided which is connected to the cover as shown. I have illustrated a handle which consists of a flexible strap, but other forms 65 of handle may be substituted, if preferred. The magazine embodying my invention is so constructed that it can be grasped in one hand and moved into its final operative po- sition on the gun by a simple generally down- ward movement, this being in contrast with 70 other belt holding magazines heretofore pro- posed which have required horizontal move- ment in one direction or another in order to , bring the magazine into its final operative position. In order that the magazine may be 75 properly directed into its final position on the gun, both the magazine and the gun are provided with parts adapted to cooperate for this purpose. As illustrated and as preferred, the con- 80 struction is such as to involve a minimum modification of the standard Browning gun. The gun illustrated is that set forth m my patent for automatic machine guns, No. 1,293,021 dated February 4, 1919,. but it is 85 to be understood that the invention is not limited to use with this particular gun. As shown most clearly in Figs. 2 and 5, the gun comprises a breech casing 7 and a barrel 8 preferably surrounded by a barrel casing 90 8a. The breech casing 7 is provided with a cover 9 which is pivoted to the casing prop- er at 10, this cover being adapted to be swung upward to expose the cartridge feed channel and also the cartridge extracting 95 and firing mechanism of the gun. I provide suitable devices for guiding the magazine downward into operative position on the gun and I do not limit myself as con- cerns the details of these devices. However, 100 I prefer and have shown two brackets 11 and 12 on the gun, the bracket 11 being secured to the breech casing proper and the bracket 12 being secured to the cover 9. Preferably, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4, the box 1 is 105 provided with a tongue 13 which is adapted to enter and loosely fit a vertical groove 14 formed in one of the brackets, as for instance the bracket 11. Thus the two brackets 11 and 12 serve to determine the position of the mag- 110 azine longitudinally of the gun and the tongue 13, cooperating with the walls of the groove 14, serves to determine the position of the magazine laterally of the gun. In put- • ting the magazine in place it may be grasped 115 by one hand, as shown in Fig. 2, and then quickly lowered or dropped into place, it be- ing guided by the brackets and tongue as already described. An automatically acting latch 15 is pref- 120 er ably provided for holding the magazine in its final operative position, and by pref- erence the latch is so located that it can be released by the operator’s hand while engag- ing the magazine to lift it. Preparatory to 125 removing the magazine from the gun, the op- erator places his hand under the handle 6 with his fingers extending downward along the front side of the box, as shown in Fig. 3. With his hand in this position his fingers nat- 130
1,800,595 3 urally engage the latch so that a slight pres- sure will release it. Then the magazine can be lifted off... Preferably the latch 15 is carried by the 5 gun rather than the magazine and, as illus- trated, the latch is carried by the bracket 11, being horizontally pivoted thereto at 16. The lower end of the latch is adapted to snap over and engage the top of the tongue 13, and a 10 spring 17 is provided for the purpose of auto- matically throwing the latch into its opera- tive position and for yieldingly holding it in such position. As already stated, the magazine embody- 15 ing my invention is particularly adapted for a gun of the Browning type, such a gun being provided with a transverse feed chan- nel 18 therethrough for receiving a cartridge feed belt. The feed box, whether saddle- 20 shaped or otherwise, has a portion which is located laterally beyond the gun at the side thereof corresponding to the entranee end of the feed channel. Associated with the box are means forming a guide channel adjacent 25 the said laterally located portion of the box and communicating with the interior thereof. The said guide channel has a portion extend- ing laterally approximately to the entrance end of the feed channel in the gun and it may 30 also have a portion extending vertically along the side wall of the box. The means form- ing the guide channel may be variously con- structed but as illustrated the guide chan- nel has the said vertical portion formed by 35 the side wall of the box and by a partition 25 and it has the said laterally extending' por- tion formed by a bottom plate 28 of the box and by a horizontal plate 25a constituting an extension of the partition 25. 4o As illustrated the box projects downward to a position adjacent the extrance end of the feed channel of the gun and is there provid- ed with an exit opening 19 for the cartridge belt at the end of the guide channel as shown 45 in Fig. 8, this opening registering with the said feed channel when the magazine is in its operative position. When the gun is con- structed to feed the cartridge belt from left to right, as is customary, the part of the 50 magazine box having the said exit opening will be positioned at the left side of the gun. The gun has the usual transverse feed Side which is shown at 20, this slide being provid- ed with a pawl 21 which engages the succes- 55 sive cartridges to give the feed belt a step- by-step movement from left to right as the gun is fired. A pivoted pawl 22 is provided to prevent any movement of the belt in tbe reverse direction. 60 As shown most clearly in Fig. 5, the par- tition or guide 25 is-recessed at 27 to provide a clearance for the feed slide 20 vof the gun. In loading the magazine, the feed belt is ar- ranged in layers in the chamber 23 and is 65 then carried across and arranged in layers in the chamber 24. The advance end of the belt is then threaded into the guide channel 26 to the position shown in Fig. 5. I have shown a metallic belt A of the disintegrat- ing type, but the invention is not limited to 70 use with such a belt. After the magazine has been moved into its final position on the gun as shown in Fig. 8 it is necessary to advance the forward end of the feed belt into the feed channel 18 in 75 the gun so that it can be engaged by the pawl 21 yieldingly held by the slide 20. For this purpose I provide a device movable relative- ly to the box, this device being-located adja- cent the guide channel 26. When the guide 80 channel is formed in part by a section of the bottom of the box as illustrated the said de- vice is preferably carried by the said bot- tom plate 28. As illustrated the belt, advancing means 85 comprises a slide 29 which is movable trans- versely of the gun and longitudinally of the feed belt in a slot, preferably a T-slot, formed in the said bottom section 28. The slide carries a spring pressed pawl 30 which 8° extends into the channel 2'6 so as to engage the belt. It will be observed that in loading the magazine the belt is advanced to a posi- tion such that a predetermined number of cartridges, preferably three, are in front of 05 the pawl 30, as shown in Fig. 8. For operat- ing the slide 29 there is provided a lever 31 pivoted to the bottom section 28 at 32. This lever engages at one side with a lug 33 on the slide and at the other side with the down: 100 ward projecting portion 34 of the slide. The end of the lever 31 extends far enough to- ward the rear to permit its easy engagement by the thumb of the operator’s hand immedi- ately after the box has been put in place as Ю5 already described. The operator by engag- ing the lever 31 with his thumb can move the lever toward the right, thus moving the slide 29 and advancing the feed belt far enough to move two cartridges into the feed no channel 18 as shown in Fig. 10. The belt is then in position to be engaged by the pawl 21, so that the gun can be operated and fired in the usual manner. It is to be noted that the guide 25, except 115 for the recess 27 therein, extends to a point closely adjacent the gun, thus guiding the cartridges until they enter the feed channel of the gun. For the purpose of assisting in guiding the belt and the cartridges into the 120 feed channel of the gun, I preferably provide a supplemental guide rib 35 on the partition or guide 25, this rib being most clearly shown in Figs. 7 and 8. The rib 35 engages the cartridges at the smaller ends thereof and 125 serves to prevent any twisting or misalign- ment of the belt as it enters the feed channel of the gun. I prefer to provide a safety device for pre- venting the premature operation of the belt 130
1,800,595 advancing means which has been described. Obviously if this means were operated be- fore the magazine were put in place on the gun the projecting end of the feed belt would 5 interfere with the movement of the magazine into its operative position. I therefore'pro-' vide a latch 36 which is pivoted to the bot- tom section 28 at 37 and which engages the slide 29 to hold it in its outer position. A 10 spring 38 tends to hold the latch in its oper- ative position and the movement of the latch under the influence of the spring is limited by means of a pin 39. The latch 36 is pro- vided with a tail 40 having a cam face 41 at 15 the end thereof, this cam face being so lo- cated as to be engaged by a part 42 on the gun when the magazine is moved into its final position. This engagement of the part 42 of the gun with the cam face 41 serves to 20 move the latch 36 in the clockwise direction sufficiently to disengage it from the slide 29. It will thus be seen that the slide can be freely operated by the lever 31 after the magazine has been put in position on the gun, but that 25 the slide cannot be so operated before the magazine has been put in such position. It is necessary to make provision for ob- taining access to the interior of the gun in case the gun jams or fails for any reason to 30 operate. With a gun of the type illustrated access to the interior is obtained by pivot- ally raising the cover 9. From an inspec- tion of Fig. 3 it will be clear that the cover 9 can be raised to expose the interior of the 35 gun only by also moving the magazine from its normal operative position, and from an inspection of Fig. 10 it will be apparent that the magazine cannot be so moved with the several parts in operative positions as shown 40 and with the feed belt entered in the feed channel. In order to permit the belt to be moved out of its normal position in the lat- erally extending portion of the guide chan- nel and to therefore permit the magazine 45 to be moved upward, I so construct and mount the said plates forming the said por- tion of the guide channel that one of them 'bnay be moved away from the other. This movement of one plate away from the other 50 permits the belt to be moved out of the guide channel with the end thereof remaining in the feed channel of the gun, and with the belt thus moved the magazine can be moved upward to permit access to the feed mecha- 55 nism of the gun. As concerns this phase of the invention the details of construction can be varied, but as illustrated the lower plate 28 is movable downward so as to provide a bottom opening through which a portion so of the feed belt remaining in the guide chan- nel can move or be moved downward and outward. As illustrated the plate 28 is piv- oted to the box proper. I have shown a piv- otal connection at 43 having its axis parallel 65 with the gun axis, but I do not limit myself as concerns the exact arrangement or loca- tion of the pivot. The location shown at the lower left corner of the box has been found satisfactory, but there may be vari- ations from this location without departing from the spirit of the invention. For hold- ing the pivoted bottom section 28 in its closed position, a suitable latch 44 is pro- vided. As shown, this latch is pivotally mounted on the bottom section 28 at 45 and 75 is adapted to fit into a notch 46 formed in an extension on the rear wall of the feed box. Preferably a stop 28a is carried by the bot- tom section 28 to limit the upward move- ment thereof. 80 In case it becomes necessary for any reason to obtain access to the interior of the gun, the operator moves the latch,44 to release the bottom section 28 which is then swung downward to the position shown in Fig. 11. 35 A portion of the belt will ordinarily move by gravity to a position approximating that shown in Fig. 11, and this movement of the belt from the magazine may be assisted manually if necessary. As soon as enough 99 of the belt is free from the magazine the magazine can be removed and the gun opened. If desired, the entire belt can be removed from the magazine before the magazine is removed from the gun, but this e5 is not essential. When the belt advancing means and the parts associated therewith are mounted on the bottom section 28, as preferred and as shown and 'described, these parts will be carried 100 downward with the bottom section when the said section is moved as above described. This movement of these parts is unobjection- able and may even be advantageous as they are thus gotten out of the way so as not to 105 interfere with the expeditious movement of the belt from the magazine. The provision of the pivoted bottom sec- tion 28 has the further advantage that the loading of the magazine is facilitated. In no practice the front end of the belt is pushed through the channel 26 until the back side of the pawl 30 is engaged. Then this section 28 is swung downward and the belt is ad- vanced manually to bring three cartridges 115 ahead of the pawl as already stated. After that the section 28 is returned to closed po- sition and locked. With a saddle-shaped magazine such as has been shown and described, there has here- 120 tofore been a tendency for the belt to jam inside of the box when the gun is tilted later- ally, particularly when tilted, towards the left. With a magazine of this type as here- tofore constructed the parts of the feed belt 125 located in the right hand chamber frequently moved by gravity into the left chamber thus clogging or jamming the entrance into the channel leading to the exit opening. Tn ac- cordance with my present invention I pro- 130
1,800;695 ide means whereby this difficulty is entirely liminated. Between the two chambers 23 and 241 pro- ide means which form a narrow passageway 7 for the belt, this passageway being only ride enough to receive a single strand of the ielt. In conjunction with the passageway I irovide means engaging the belt and resist- ng the movement thereof, this means being uffieient to prevent any movement of the belt hrough the passageway by' the action of gravity or as the result of any whipping ac- ion of the belt, but not sufficient to prevent he belt from being pulled through the pas- ageway by the ordinary operation of the gun nechanism. As illustrated, a partition 48 is >rovided which extends upward between the wo chambers 23 and 24, the before-men- ioned passageway 47 being formed between he top of the partition and the under side of he cover 3. As shown, means for resisting he movement of the belt through the pas- ageway 47 comprises a spring 49 which nor- nally projects into the passageway so as to ngage the belt and to be flexed thereby at he passage of each cartridge. Preferably he spring is a leaf spring carried by the cover ; and projecting downward through a notch 0 therein. The operation of the magazine in relation о the gun will be fully understood from the oregoing description and a very brief sum- nary will suffice. Preparatory to firing the pin the operator places the magazine on the pm, moving it to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 8. The latch 15 automatically operates о lock the magazine in place, and the latch 16 is automatically released to permit the belt idvancing means to be moved. As soon as the nagazine is in place the operator advances he feed belt into the gun by moving the lever il with his thumb. The gun is operated in the usual manner, mt in case of any jamming or other trouble naking it necessary to obtain access to the in- ;erior of the gun, the bottom section 28 is noved downward and the belt partly re- noved from the magazine as shown in Fig. 11. When the feed belt has been entirely with- Irawn from the magazine by the normal op- eration of the gun, or has been at least partly withdrawn by the opening of the bottom sec- don, the magazine is removed by engaging it vith one hand as shown in Fig. 3. Without shifting his hand the operator can both re- ease the magazine and remove it. What I claim is: 1. The combination with an automatic nachine gun having a transverse feed chan- nel therethrough for a cartridge belt, of a cartridge magazine box normally detachably mounted on the gun, the said box being adapted to contain a cartridge feed belt and aeing provided at one side with a guide chan- nel for the belt associated with the said feed s channel of the gum, cooperating means asso- ciated with the gun and the box respectively for guiding the box in a downward direction into its final operative position on the gun, and means movable relatively to the box for 70 advancing the cartridge feed belt through the guide channel of the box and into the feed channel of the gun. 2. For an automatic machine gun having a transverse feed channel therethrough for a 75 cartridge belt, a cartridge magazine adapted to engage the gun at the top thereof and com- prising in combination a box adapted to con- tain a cartridge feed belt and provided with an exit opening therefor positioned to regis- 80 ter with the said feed channel of the gun when the magazine is in operative position, means associated with the box and adapted to cooperate with parts on the gun for guid- ing the magazine in a downward direction 85 into its final operative position, and means carried by the box and movable relatively thereto for advancing the end of a cartridge feed belt through the said exit opening and into the said feed channel. 90 3. The combination with an automatic machine gun having a transverse feed chan- nel therethrough for a cartridge belt, of a cartridge magazine box normally detach- ably mounted on the gun at the top thereof, 95 the said box being adapted to contain a car- tridge feed belt and being provided with an exit opening for the said belt positioned in register with the said feed channel of the gun, cooperating means associated with the 100 gun and the box respectively for guiding said box in a’ downward direction into its final operative position on the gun, and means carried by the box and movable relatively thereto for advancing the end of a cartridge 105 feed belt through the said exit opening and into the said feed channel. 4. The combination with an automatic ma- chine gun provided with a breech casing hav- ing a transverse feed channel therethrough 110 for a cartridge belt and also having a cover pivoted thereto near the front end, of a car- tridge magazine box normally detachably mounted on the gun at the top thereof, the said box being adapted to contain a cartridge US feed belt and being provided with an exit opening for the said belt positioned in regis- ter with the said feed channel of the gun, lugs carried respectively by the front part of the breech casing and by the pivoted cover 120 for guiding the said box in a downward di- rection into its final operative position on the gun, and means carried by the box and movable relatively thereto for advancing the end of a cartridge feed belt through the said 125 exit opening and into the said feed channel. 5. The combination with an automatic ma- chine gun having a transverse feed channel therethrough for a cartridge belt, of a car- tridge magazine box normally detachably 130
1,800,805 mounted on the gun at the top thereof, the said box being adapted to contain a car- , tridge feed belt and being provided at one side with a guide channel for the said belt в associated with the said feed channel of the gun, cooperating means associated with_the gun and the box respectively for guiding the said box in a downward direction into its final operative position on the gun, and a 10 releasable latch for holding the box in the said operative position, the said latch being positioned to be released by the operator’s hand while engaging the magazine to lift it. 6. The combination with an automatic 16 machine gun having a transverse feed chan- nel therethrough for a cartridge belt, of a cartridge magazine box normally detach- ably mounted on the gun at the top thereof, the said box being adapted to contain a car- 20 tridge feed belt and being provided at one side with a guide channel for the belt asso- ciated with the said feed channel of the gun, cooperating means associated with the gun and the box respectively for guiding the said 25 box in a downward direction into its final operative position on the gun, and a releas- able latch carried by the gun for holding the box in the said operative position, the said latch being positioned to be released by the 30 operator’s hand while engaging the box to lift it. 7. The combination with an automatic machine gun having a transverse feed chan- nel therethrough for a cartridge belt, of a 35 cartridge magazine box normally detach- ably mounted on the gun at the top thereof, the said box being adapted to contain a car- tridge feed belt and being provided at one side with a guide channel for the said belt 40 associated with the said feed channel of the gun, cooperating means associated with the gun and the box respectively for guiding the said box in a downward direction into its final operative position on the gun, a handle 45 on the top of the box adapted to engage the back of the operator’s hand to facilitate at- tachment and removal of the magazine, and' a releasable latch for holding the box in its aforesaid operative position, the said latch 50 being positioned to he released by the op- erator’s hand while engaged by the said handle. 8. The combination with an automatic machine gun having a transverse feed ehmi- 55 nel therethrough for a cartridge belt, of a cartridge magazine box normally detach- ably mounted on the gun at the top thereof, the said box being adapted to contain a car- tridge feed belt and being provided with an 80 exit opening for the said belt positioned in register with the said feed channel of the gun, cooperating means associated with the gun and the box respectively for guiding the said box in a downward direction into its 65 final operative position on the gun, a re- leasable latch for holding the box in the said operative position, the said latch being posi- tioned to be released by the operator’s hand while engaging the magazine to lift it, and means carried hy the box.and movable rela- tively thereto for advancing the end of a cartridge feed belt through the said exit opening and into the said feed channel. 9. The combination with an automatic machine gun having a transverse feed chan- nel therethrough for a cartridge belt, of a cartridge magazine box normally detachably mounted on the gun with a portion located laterally at the side of the gun correspond- ing to the entrance end of the feed channel, means carried by the box forming a guide channel communicating therewith and ex- tending laterally approximately to the en- trance end of the feed channel in the gun, and a device carried by the box and manu- ally movable bodily with respect to both the box and the gun and transversely of the latter for engaging the cartridge belt and moving it longitudinally of the guide chan- nel into the feed channel of the gun. 10. The combination with an automatic machine gun having a transverse feed chan- nel therethrough for a cartridge belt, of a cartridge magazine box normally detachably mounted on the gun with a portion thereof projecting laterally beyond the gun at the side thereof corresponding to the entrance end of the feed channel, means forming a guide channel adjacent the said laterally projecting portion of the box and commu- nicating therewith and extending laterally approximately to the entrance end of the feed channel in the gun, and a manually op- erable device located below the guide chan- nel and adapted to engage the cartridge belt at the under side thereof, the said device being movable with respect to both the box and the gun and transversely of the latter for moving the cartridge belt longitudinally of the guide channel into the feed channel of the gun. 11. For an automatic machine gun having a transverse feed channel therethrough for a cartridge belt., a cartridge magazine adapted to engage the gun and comprising in combination a box adapted to contain a cartridge feed belt and provided with an exit opening therefor positioned to register with the said feed channel of the gun when the magazine is in operative position, means as- sociated with the box and adapted to cooper- ate with parts on the gun for guiding the magazine into its final operative position, and means carried by the box and bodily movable transversely thereof for advancing the end of a cartridge feed belt through the said exit opening and into the said feed channel. 12. For an automatic machine gun having a transverse feed channel therethrough for a
1,300,505 •Т cartridge belt, a cartridge magazine adapted to engage the gun at the top thereof and com- prising in combination a box adapted to con- tain a cartridge feed belt and provided with 5 an exit opening therefor positioned to reg- ister with the said feed channel of the gun when the magazine is in operative position, means carried by the box and movable rela- tively thereto for advancing the end of a 10 cartridge feed belt through the said exit opening and into the said feed channel, a latch device serving to hold the last said means against movement when the magazine is not in operative position, the said latch de- 15 vice being constructed to be automatically released by engagement with the gun when the magazine is moved into operative posi- tion thereon, and a bottom section for the box located immediately adjacent the said 20 exit opening and movable to expose the cor- responding portion of the feed belt. 13. For an automatic machine gun having a transverse feed channel therethrough for a cartridge belt, a cartridge magazine adapted 25 to engage the gun at the top thereof and comprising in combination a box adapted to contain a cartridge feed belt and provided with an exit opening therefor positioned to register with the said feed channel of the 30 gun when the magazine is in operative posi- tion, a bottom section for the box located im- mediately adjacent the said exit opening and pivoted for movement downward about an axis parallel with the gun axis so as to ex- 35 pose the portion of the feed belt adjacent the exit opening, means carried by the said bottom section for advancing the end of a cartridge feed belt through the said exit opening and into the said feed channel, and 40 a latch device also carried by the said bot- tom section and serving to hold the last said means against movement when the magazine is not in operative position, the said latch device being constructed to be automatically 45 released by engagement with the gun when the magazine is moved into operative posi- tion thereon. 14. The combination with an automatic ma- chine gun having a transverse feed channel 50 therethrough for a cartridge belt, of a car- tridge magazine normally detachably mount7 ed on the gun at the top thereof and com- prising a box adapted to contain a cartridge feed belt and provided with an exit opening 55 therefor positioned in register with the said feed channel of the gun, means carried by the box and movable relatively thereto for ad- vancing the end of a cartridge feed belt through the said exit opening into the said 60 feed channel, a latch device serving to hold the last said means against movement when the magazine is not in operative position, the said latch device being constructed to be automatically released by engagement with 65 the gun when the magazine is moved into operative position thereon, and a bottom sec- tion for the box located immediately adja- cent the said exit opening and movable to ex- pose the corresponding portion of the feed belt. ' to 15. For an automatic machine gun having a transverse feed channel therethrough for a cartridge belt, a cartridge magazine adapt- ed to engage the gun at the top thereof and comprising in combination a box adapted to 75 contain a cartridge feed belt and provided with an exit opening therefor positioned to register with the said feed channel of the gun when the magazine is in operative posi- tion. a guide within the box forming a belt 80 channel leading to and terminating at the said exit opening, and a rib carried by the guide and adapted to engage cartridges in the belt at the smaller ends thereof to pre- vent twisting and misalignment of the car- 85 tridge belt. 16. The combination with an automatic ma- chine gun having a transverse feed channel therethrough for a cartridge belt, of a car- tridge magazine box normally detachably 9® mounted on the gun with a portion thereof projecting laterally beyond the gun at the side thereof corresponding to the entrance end of the feed channel, and means forming a guide channel adjacent the said laterally pro- 95 jecting portion of the box and communicat- ing therewith, the said means including two plates forming a portion of the said guide channel which extends laterally approximate- ly to the entrance end of the feed channel 100 in the gun and one of the said plates being movable away from the other to permit the feed belt in the said portion of the channel to move out of its normal position. 17. The combination with an automatic ma- 105 chine gun having a transverse feed channel therethrough for a cartridge bejt, of a car- tridge magazine box normally detachably mounted'on the gun with a portion thereof projecting laterally beyond the gun at the HO side thereof corresponding to the entrance end of the feed channel, means forming a guidgchannel adjacent the said laterally pro- . jecting portion of the box and communicat- ing therewith, the said means ineluding two H5 plates forming a portion of the-said guide channel which extends laterally aproxi- mately to the entrance end of the feed chan- nel in the gun and one of the said plates be- ing movable away from the other to permit 120 the feed belt in the said portion of the chan- nel to move out of its normal position, and a device carried by one of the said plates and movable longitudinally of the guide channel for moving the belt along the guide channel 125 and into the feed channel of the gun. 18. For an automatic machine gun having a transverse feed channel therethrough for a cartridge belt, a cartridge magazine adapted to engage the gun at the top thereof and com- 130
«5 1,800,695 s 10 18 20 ‘.5 30 33 40 45 50 55 GO 05 prising in combination a box adapted to con- lain a cartridge feed belt and provided with an exit opening therefor positioned to regis- ter with the said feed channel of the gun when the magazine is in operative position, means carried by the box and movable rela- tively thereto for advancing the end of a car- tridge feed belt through the said exit opening and into the said feed channel, and a bottom section for the box located immediately ad- jacent the said exit opening and movable to expose die corresponding portion of the feed belt. 19. For an automatic machine gun having a transverse feed channel therethrough for a cartridge belt, a cartridge magazine adapted to engage the gun at the top thereof and com- prisin'' in combination a box adapted to con- tain a cartridge feed belt and provided with an exit opening therefor positioned to regis- ter with the said feed channel of the gun when tire magazine is in operative position, means carried by the box and movable rela- tively thereto for advancing the end of a car- tridge feed belt through the said exit opening and into the said feed channel, and a bottom section for the box located immediately ad- jacent the said exit opening and pivoted for movement downward about an axis paral- lel with the gun axis so as to expose the por- tion of the feed belt adjacent the exit open- ing. 20. For an automatic machine gun having a transverse feed channel therethrough for a cartridge belt, a cartridge magazine adapted to engage the gun at the top thereof and com- prising in combination a box adapted to con- tain a cartridge feed belt, and provided with an exit opening therefor positioned to regis- ter with the said feed channel of the gun when the magazine is in operative position, a bottom section for the box located immedi- ately adjacent the said exit opening and piv- oted for movement downward about an axis parallel with the gun axis so as to expose the portion of the feed belt adjacent the exit opening, and means carried by the said bot- tom section for advancing the end of a car- tridge feed belt through the said exit opening and into the said feed channel. 21. For an automatic machine gun having a transverse feed channel therethrough for a cartridge belt, a cartridge magazine adapted to engage the gun at the top thereof and com- prising in combination a box adapted to con- tain a cartridge feed belt and provided with an exit opening therefor positioned to regis- ter with the said feed channel of the gun when the magazine is in operative position, a bottom section for the box located immedi- ately adjacent the said exit opening and piv- oted for movement downward about an axis parallel with the gun axis so as to expose the portion of the feed belt adjacent the exit opening, a slide on the bottom section mov- able toward and from the exit opening, a pawl on the slide for advancing the end of a cartridge feed belt through the opening and into th« aforesaid feed channel, and a manu- ally operable lever pivoted on the bottom sec- tion and engaging the slide to operate it. 22. The combination with an automatic machine gun having a transverse feed chan- nel therethrough for a cartridge belt, of a cartridge magazine normally detachably 75 mounted on the gun at the top thereof and comprising a box adapted to contain a car- tridge. feed belt and provided with an exit opening therefor positioned in register with the said feed channel for the gun. means car- so ried by the box and movable relatively there- to for advancing the end of a cartridge feed belt through the said exit opening and into the said feed channel, and a bottom section for the box located immediately adjacent the 85 said exit opening and movable to expose the corresponding portion of the feed belt. 23. The combination with an automatic machine gun having a transverse feed chan- nel therethrough for a cartridge belt, of a 90 cartridge magazine normally detachably mounted on the gun at the top thereof and comprising a. box adapted to contain a car- tridge feed belt and provided with an exit opening therefor positioned in register with 95 the said feed channel of the gun, a bottom section for the box located immediately adja- cent the said exit opening and pivoted for movement downward about an axis parallel with the gun axis so as to expose the por- loo tion of the feed belt adjacent the exit opening, and means carried by the said bottom section for advancing the end of a cartridge feed belt through the said exit opening and into the said feed channel. 105 24. For an automatic machine gun having a transverse feed channel therethrough for a cartridge, belt, a cartridge magazine compris- ing in combination a box adapted to engage the gun at the ton thereof and projecting По laterally at both sides of the gun, the said box being adapted to contain a cartridge feed belt and being provided along one side wall with a guide channel communicating with the interior and associable with the said feed 115 channel of the gun when the magazine is in operative position, ancl means within the box between the side walls thereof and spaced laterally from the said guide channel and forming a narrow passageway for the belt 120 between the two side sections of the box. 25. For an automatic machine gun having a transverse feed channel therethrough for a cartridge belt, a cartridge magazine compris- ing in combination a saddle-shaped box 125 adapted to fit over and engage the gun at the top thereof, the said box being adapted to contain a cartridge feed belt and being pro- vided along one side wall with a guide chan- nel positioned to be associated with the said 130
1,800,595 9 feed channel of the gun when the magazine is in operative position, and means within the box between the side walls thereof and spaced laterally from the said guide channel and 6 forming a narrow passageway for the belt between the two side sections of the box. 26. For an automatic machine gun having a transverse feed channel therethrough for a cartridge belt, a cartridge magazine coin- 10 prising in combination a saddle-shaped box adapted to fit over and engage the gun at the top thereof, the said box being also adapted to contain a cartridge feed belt and being provided along one side wall with a guide 15 channel communicating with the interior and positioned to register with the said feed channel of the gun when the magazine is in operative position, and means within the box between the side walls thereof and spaced 20 laterally from the said guide channel and forming a' narrow passageway for the car- tridge belt between the two side sections of the box, and means adjacent the said pas- sageway for yieldably resisting the move- 25 ment of the cartridge belt therethrough. 27. For an automatic machine gun having a transverse feed channel therethrough for a cartridge belt, a cartridge magazine com- prising in combination a saddle-shaped box 30 adapted to fit over and engage the gun at the top thereof , the said box being also adapted to contain a cartridge feed belt and being provided along one side wall with a guide channel communicating with the interior and 35 positioned to register with the said feed channel of the gun when the magazine is in operative position, a top cover for the box movably connected therewith so as to be adapted to expose the interior, means within <0 the box between the side walls thereof and spaced laterally from the said guide channel and cooperating with the cover when the lat- ter is in closed position to form a narow pas- sageway for the cartridge belt between the 45 two side chambers of the box, and means ad- jacent the said passageway for yieldably re- sisting the movement of the cartridge belt therethrough. 28. For an automatic machine gun having 50 a transverse feed channel therethrough for a cartridge belt, a cartridge magazine com- prising in combination a saddle-shaped box adapted to fit over and engage the gun at the top thereof, the said oox being also 55 adapted to contain a cartridge feed belt and being provided at one side with a belt chan- nel terminating in an exit opening positioned to register with the said feed channel of the gun when the magazine is in operative posi- 00 tion, a hinged cover for the box, means with- in the box spaced from the said belt channel and cooperating with the cover when the latter is in closed position to form a narrow passageway for the cartridge belt between 55 the two side chambers of the box, and a spring adjacent the said passageway for en- gaging the cartridge belt to yieldably resist its movement through the said passageway. 29. For an automatic machine gun having a transverse feed channel therethrough for a 70 cartridge. belt, a cartridge magazine com- prising in combination a saddle-shaped box adapted to fit over and engage the gun at the top thereof, the said box being also adapt- ed to contain a cartridge feed belt and being 75 provided at one side with a belt channel terminating in an exit opening positioned to register with the said feed channel of the gun when the magazine is in operative posi- tion, a hinged cover for the box, a partition -80 within the box spaced from the said belt chan- nel and cooperating with the cover when the latter is in closed position to form a nar- row passageway for the cartridge belt be- tween the two side chambers of the box, and 85 a spring carried by the cover adjacent the partition for engaging the cartridge belt to yieldably resist its movement through the said passageway. 30. For an automatic machine gun having 00 a transverse feed channel therethrough for a cartridge belt, a cartridge magazine compris- ing in combination a saddle-shaped box adapted to fit over and engage the gun at the top thereof, the said box being also adapted 95 to contain a cartridge feed belt and being pro- vided at one side with a belt channel termi- nating in an exit opening for the said belt positioned to register with the said feed chan- nel of the gun when the magazine is in op- 100 erative position, means carried by the box and movable relatively thereto for advancing the end of a cartridge feed belt through the said exit opening and into the said feed channel, means within the box spaced from the said J 05 belt channel and forming a narrow passage- way for the cartridge belt between the two side chambers of the box, and means adjacent the said passageway for yieldably resisting the movement of the cartridge belt there- 110 through. 31. For an automatic machine gun having a transverse feed channel therethrough for a cartridge belt, a cartridge magazine com- prising in combination a saddle-shaped box И5 adapted to fit over and engage the gun at the top thereof, the said box being also adapted to contain a cartridge feed belt and being provided at one side with a belt channel ter- minating in an exit opening for the said belt 120 positioned to register with the said feed chan- nel of the gun when the magazine is in op- erative position, a bottom section for the box located immediately adjacent the said exit opening and pivoted for movement down- l25 ward about an axis parallel with the gun axis so as to expose the portion of the feed belt adjacent the exit opening, means carried by the said bottom section for advancing the end of a cartridge feed belt through the said 130
1,800,605 exit opening and into the said feed channel, means within the box spaced from the said belt channel and forming a narrow passage- way between the two side sections thereof, g and means adjacent the said passageway for yieldably resisting the movement of the car-. tridge belt therethrough. This specification signed this 12th day of December, 1925. 10 JOHN M. BROWING. io '• 20 Л5,- 30 36 40 45 CO C5 CO Cj
April 14, 1931. 1,801,070 J. M. BROWNING BREECH MECHANISM FOR FIREARMS Filed June 12, 1929
Patented Apr. 14, 1931 1,801,07® UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN I,I. BROWNING, DECEASED, LATE OF OGDEN, UTAH, BY JOHN BROWNING, AD- MINISTRATOR, OF OGDEN, UTAH, ASSIGNOR TO J. E. BROWNING COMPANY, OF OGDEN, UTAH, A CORPORATION OF UTAH BREECH MECHANISM FOB FIREARMS Application filed June 12, 1929. Serial No. 370,324. Tlie invention is applicable to firearms generally and more particularly to firearms of the class wherein the barrel and barrel ex- tension and also .the breech slide or bolt move 5 rearward upon recoil to a limited extent, and wherein the breech bolt is then permitted to move rearward separately from the barrel and barrel extension and to a. greater extent, being returned to its forward locked posi- 10 tion automatically. In firearms of the class referred to it is known practice to provide toggle links for locking the breech bolt in its firing position and further to provide means operative upon 1.5 recoil for breaking the toggle to permit the breech bolt to move rearward. Such toggle link mechanisms are objectionable, as they in- volve the transmission of the recoil pressure through two separate links and through three so separate pivotal connections. In accordance with the present invention the objections in- cident to the earlier mechanisms are avoided by providing a single pivoted lock link or bolt which directly engages the breech bolt to 3 normally hold' it in firing position. Upon re- coil the lock bolt is automatically moved out of obstructive relationship with the breech bolt, and there is preferably provided a con- necting means between the breech bolt and 30 the lock bolt for transmitting motion from the former to the latter. The said connect- ing means, however, is normally so positioned as to be incapable of moving the lock bolt. In the accompanying drawing there is 35 shewn a diagrammatic embodiment of the invention, but it will be understood that the drawing is for illustrative purposes only and •is not to be construed as defining or limiting the scope of the, invention, the claims form- 40 ing a part of this specification being relied upon for that purpose. Of the drawing: Fig. 1 is a plan view, largely diagram- matic, of a barrel extension, breech bolt and 45 breech mechanism embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a side view of the parts shown in Fig. 1, the said parts being shown in their forward firing positions. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but show- 50 ing the parts moved rearward to the position. where the unlocking action of the breech mechanism begins. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but show- ing the parts in intermediate positions. Fig. 5 is a Anew similar to Fig. 2, but show- 65 ing the parts in the positions of complete re- coil. Referring to the drawing, 1 represents a breech slide or bolt which normally closes the rear end of the barrel 2 as shown in Figs. 60 1 and 2, but which is movable rearward rela- tively to the barrel during the recoil action of the firearm. There is also provided a barrel extension 3 which is connected with the barrel 2, the said barrel extension and eg barrel preferably being movable rearward to a limited extent upon recoil following the discharge of the firearm. The breech bolt 1 is suitably guided between the side walls 4, 4 of the barrel extension 3 for rearward move- 70 ment as stated, being provided at its sides with tongues 5, 5 which enter grooves 6, 6 in the said side walls. The breech bolt 1 is normally held in its forward locked position by means of a lock- 75 ing bolt 7 which is pivotally mounted at the rear thereof for movement about a trans- verse horizontal axis. This pivotal axis is preferably out of the path of rearward move- ment of the breech bolt. When the barrel ex- so tension and breech bolt are both movable rearward, as is preferred, the bolt 7 is piv- oted to the barrel extension. As shown there is a transverse pivot pin 8 which extends through the bolt 7 and through the side walls 85 4,4 of the barrel extension. When the parts are in normal positions as shown in Fig. 2, the breech bolt 7 directly engages at its front with the rear end of the breech bolt at 9 and serves to firmly lock the 90 breech bolt against rearward movement rel- atively to the barrel extension. The rear- ward thrust on the breech bolt, resulting from the discharge of the firearm, is trans- mitted directly to the lock bolt. This thrust 95 may be taken entirely upon the pivot pin 8, but it is usually desirable to provide addi- tional means for taking a part of the thrust and for thus assisting in resisting the rear- ward pressure exerted on the lock bolt by the 109
1,801,070 breech bolt. I have shown such additional means in the form of an abutment 10 which extends transversely between the two side Avails 4, 4 of the barrel extension and which ; is positioned to be engaged by a shoulder 11 on the lock bolt. The engaging surfaces of the abutment 10 and the shoulder 11 are preferably concentric with the pivotal axis of the bolt at 8. } Preferably, the engaging surfaces of the lock bolt 7 and the breech bolt 1, as shown at 9 in Fig. 2, are not concentric with the pivotal axis at 8, but are at a slight angle to a concentric arc as clearly indicated. Thus 5 when the lock bolt 7 is moved downward, there is a wedging action between the sur- faces at 9 and the concentric surface on the abutment 10. This wedging action serves to force the breech bolt forward to its ex- 0 treme position and further serves to limit downward movement of the lock bolt. Should this wedging action fail, by reason of wear or otherwise, to limit the downward movement of the lock bolt, a shoulder 12 on 5 the said bolt is positioned to engage the upper- surface of the abutment 10 and thus posi- tively limit the movement. There is provided a connecting means be- tween the breech bolt and the lock bolt which jo is normally inoperative, but which upon re- coil automatically becomes operative to piv- otally move the lock bolt out of its locking or obstructive relationship with the breech bolt. Preferably this connecting ineans is a 5 link 13 pivotally connected with the breech bolt 1 with the lock bolt 7. This link 13 is preferably centralbp located, being pivoted to the breech bolt 1 by means of a pivot pin at 14 and being pivoted, to the lock bolt 7 by :0 means of a pivot pin at 15. At least one of the link bearings, as for instance that at 15, has sufficient play to prevent the transmis- sion of any pressure through the said link 13 when the parts are in normal position, the 15 construction being intentionally such that all pressure will be transmitted directly through the engaging surfaces at 9 as already de- scribed. There is provided a suitable means op- 50 erative upon recoil to render the connecting ineans operative for the purpose described. When the said means is a link such as 13, the said link is automatically moved about its pivotal connection with the breech bolt 55 to a position enabling it to transmit pressure from the breech bolt to the lock bolt so as to move the latter out of its obstructive relation- ship. When the connecting link and lock bolt are pivotally connected with each other 60 as shown, this upward movement of the con- necting link may be effected by giving the lock bolt an initial upward movement toward a position out of its locking or obstructive relationship with the breech bolt 1. It will 65 be obvious from an inspection of Fig. 4 that as soon as the lock bolt has been swung up- ward to a slight extent, the angular position of the operating link 13 is changed and that any lost motion in the bearings of the said link 13 is taken up. The recoil action of the 70 breech bolt is then transmitted through the link 13 to move or at least assist in moving the lock bolt to a position entirely out of the path of the breech bolt as shown in Fig. 5. When the barrel and barrel extension move rearward to a limited extent upon recoil, as is preferred, advantage is taken of this move- ment to relatively move the lock bolt to ef- fect unlocking. The particular means where- by this result is obtained may be varied but go as shown the lock bolt is provided with a rearward extension or arm 16 carrying a transverse bearing pin 17 on which are mounted rollers 18, 18. Two cam plates 19, 19 are provided in relatively fixed positions ss on the main frame of the firearm, and each of these two plates 19, 19 is provided with a cam surface 20 in position for engagement by the corresponding roller. Preferably there is an initial combined co rearward movement of the barrel extension and breech bolt in fixed relationship with each other, the parts moving rearward from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 3. As soon as the position cs shown in Fig. 3 is reached, the rollers 18, 18 engage the cam surfaces at 20 and the lock bolt is forced to turn in the clockwise direc- tion, the rear arm 16 thereof moving down- ward and.the front end moving upward. As loo the front end of the lock bolt moves upward, the angular position of the operating link 13 is changed, and thereupon the recoil action of the breech bolt is transmitted through the link 13 to assist in the upward and rearward iqs movement of the lock bolt. The action of the cams upon the rollers 18,18 is combined with the thrust through the link 13 to continue the movement of the lock bolt in the clockwise direction, the parts finally reaching the rela- no tive positions as shown in Fig. 5 which is the fully recoiled position. It will be ob- served that the arm 16 engages the bottom of the abutment 10 to prevent any relative movement beyond the position shown in 115 Fig. 5. In accordance with customary practice, the breech bolt is properly biased, as for in- stance by a spring (not shown), for forward return movement to its normal locked posi- 120 tion as shown in Fig. 1. It will be under- stood that during return movement the mo- tions heretofore described are reversed, the parts passing through the position shown in Fig. 4, then through the position shown in 125 Fig. 3 and finally reaching the position shown in Fig. 2. What is claimed is: 1. In a breech mechanism for a firearm, the combination of a breech bolt movable 130
1,801,070 3 rearward upon recoil, a lock bolt pivoted behind the breech bolt and normally directly engaging the breech bolt to obstruct rear- ward movement, means operative upon recoil 5 to initially move the lock bolt about its -pivot toward a position out of obstructive relationship with the breech bolt, and a con- necting means operative after the said ini- tial movement of the lock bolt and serving 10 as the result of the recoil action of the breech bolt to continue the said movement of the lock bolt. 2. In-a breech mechanism for a firearm, the combination of a breech bolt movable 15 rearward upon recoil, a lock bolt pivoted be- hind the breech bolt and normally directly .engaging the breech bolt to obstruct rear- ward movement, a connecting- link pivotally connected with the lock bolt and the breech bolt respectively and normally inoperative to pivotally move the lock bolt as the result of rearward pressure transmitted from the breech belt, and means operative upon re- coil to move the connecting link about its 25 pivotal connection with the breech bolt to a position enabling it to move the lock bolt out of obstructive relationship with the breech bolt. 3. In a breech mechanism for a firearm, 30 the combination of a breech bolt movable rearward upon recoil, a lock bolt pivoted behind the breech bolt and normally direct- ly engaging the breech bolt to obstruct rear- ward movement, a connecting link pivot- 33 ally connected with the lock bolt ancl -the breech bolt respectively and normally inop- erative to pivotally move the lock bolt as the result of rearward pressure transmitted from dhe breech bolt, and means operative upon recoil to initially move the lock bolt about its pivot toward a position out of ob- structive relationship with the breech bolt and to thus move the connecting link to a position enabling it to continue the said 45 movement of dhe lock holt as the result of the recoil action of the breech bolt. 4. In a breech mechanism for a firearm, .the combination of a breech bolt movable rearward upon recoil, a pivoted lock bolt 60 normally directly engaging the breech bolt to obstruct rearward movement, the pivotal axis of the lock bolt being behind the normal position of the breech bolt ancl out of the path of rearward movement thereof, means 55 operative upon recoil to initially move the lock bolt about its pivot toward a position out of obstructive relationship with the breech bolt, and a connecting means oper- ative after the said initial movement of the 60 lock bolt and serving as the result of the recoil action of the breech bolt to continue the said movement of the lock bolt to a po- sition permitting the rear portion of the breech bolt to move rearward beyond the 65 said pivotal .axis. 5. In a breech mechanism-for a firearm, the combination of a breech bolt movable rearward upon recoil, a pivoted lock bolt normally directly engaging the breech bolt to obstruct rearward movement, the pivotal -уд axis of the lock bolt being behind the nor- mal position of the breech bolt and below ths path of rearward movement thereof, means operative upon recoil to initially move the lock bolt upward about its pivot toward 75 a position out of obstructive relationship with the breech bolt, and a connecting means operative after the said initial movement of the lock bolt and serving as the result of the recoil action of the breech bolt to continue ;so the said movement of the lock bolt upward and rear Avar d to a position permitting'the rear portion of the breech bolt to move rear- ward beyond the said pivotal axis. 6. In a breech mechanism for a‘firearm, '85 the combination of a breech bolt movable rearward upon recoil, a lock bolt pivoted be- hind the breech bolt and normally directly engaging the breech bolt to obstruct rear- ward movement, an abutment mounted in 00 fixed relation to the axis of the lock bolt pivot and engaging a shoulder on the lock bolt to resist rearward pressure on the said lock bolt, means operative upon recoil to initially move the lock bolt about its pivot toward 95 a 'position out of obstructive relationship with the breech bolt and out of engagement with the abutment, and a connecting means operative after the said initial movement of the lock bolt and serving as the result of the loo recoil action of the breech bolt to continue the said movement of the lock bolt. .7. In a breech mechanism for a firearm, the combination of a breech bolt movable rearward upon recoil, a lock bolt pivoted 105 behind the breech bolt and normally direct- ly engaging the breech bolt to obstruct rear- ward movement, an abutment mounted in fixed relation to the axis of the lock bolt pivot and engaging a shoulder on the lock no bolt to resist rearward pressure on the said lock bolt, a connecting link pivotally con- nected with the lock bolt and the breech bolt respectively and normally inoperative to piv- otally move the lock bolt as the result of 115 rearward pressure transmitted from the breech bolt, and means operative upon recoil to initially move the lock bolt about its pivot toward a position out of obstructive rela- tionship with the breech bolt and to thus 120 move the connecting link to a position en- abling it to continue the said movement of the lock bolt as the result of the recoil action of the breech bolt. 8. In a breech mechanism for a firearm, the 125 combination of a breech bolt movable rear- ward upon recoil, a lock bolt pivoted behind the breech bolt and normally directly engag- ing the breech bolt to obstruct rearward movement, the surfaces of engagement be- 130
1,801,070 tween the lock bolt and breech bolt being at an angle to an arc concentric with the axis of lock bolt movement so as to provide a wedg- ing action as the said bolt moves into its lock- Б ing position, means operative upon recoil to initially move the lock bolt about its pivot toward a position out of obstructive relation- ship with the breech bolt, and a connecting ineans operative after the said initial move- 10 ment of the lock bolt and serving to continue the said movement of the lock bolt as the re- sult of the recoil action of the breech bolt. 9. In a breech mechanism for a firearm, the combination of a barrel extension movable 15 rearward upon recoil, a breech bolt movable rearward upon recoil, a lock bolt pivoted to the barrel extension behind the breech bolt and normally directly engaging the breech bolt to obstruct rearward movement thereof 2o relatively to the barrel extension, means oper- ative upon the combined rearward recoil movement of the barrel extension and breech bolt to initially move the lock bolt about its pivot toward a position out of obstructive re- 25 lationship with the breech bolt, and a con- necting means operative after the said ini- tial movement of the. lock bolt and serving as the result of the recoil action of the breech bolt to continue the said movement of the co lock bolt. 10. In a breech mechanism for a firearm, the combination of a barrel extension mov- able rearward upon recoil, a breech bolt mov- able rearward upon recoil, a lock bolt pivoted 35 to the barrel extension behind the breech bolt and normally directly engaging the breech bolt to obstruct rearward movement thereof relatively to the barrel extension, a connect- ing link pivotally connected with the lock 40 bolt and the breech bolt respectively and nor- mally inoperative to pivotally move the lock bolt as the result of rearward pressure transmitted to the link from the breech bolt, and means operative upon the combined rear- 45 ward recoil movement of the barrel extension and breech bolt to move the connecting link about its pivotal connection with the breech bolt to a position enabling it to move the lock bolt out of obstructive relationship with the 50 breech bolt. 11. In a breech mechanism for a firearm, the combination of a barrel extension mov- able rearward upon recoil, a breech bolt mov- able rearward upon recoil, a lock bolt pivoted 55 to the barrel extension behind the breech bolt and normally directly engaging the breech bolt to obstruct rearward movement thereof relatively to the barrel extension, a connect- ing link pivotally connected with the lock 50 bolt and the breech bolt respectively and normally inoperative to pivotally move the lock bolt as the result of rearward pressure transmitted to the link from the breech bolt, and means operative upon the combined rear- 65 ward recoil movement of the barrel extension and breech bolt to initially move the lock bolt about its pivot toward a position out of ob- structive relationship with the breech bolt and to thus move the connecting link to a position enabling it to continue the said move- ment of the lock bolt as the result of the re- coil action of the breech bolt. 12. In a breech mechanism for a firearm, the combination of a barrel extension mov- able rearward upon recoil, a breech bolt mov- able rearward upon recoil, a lock bolt pivoted to the barrel extension and normally directly engaging the breech bolt to obstruct rear- ward movement thereof relatively to the bar- rel extension, the pivotal axis of the. lock bolt g0 being behind the normal position of the breech bolt and out of the path of rearward movement thereof, means operative upon the combined rearward recoil movement of the barrel extension and breech bolt to initially 85 move the lock bolt about its pivot toward a position out of obstructive relationship with the breech bolt, and a connecting means oper- ative after the said initial movement of the lock bolt and serving’.as. the result of the 95 recoil action of the breech bolt to continue the said movement of the lock bolt to a posi- tion permitting the rear portion of the breech bolt to move rearward relatively to the bar- rel extension to a position beyond the said 95 pivotal axis. 13. In a breech mechanism for a firearm, the combination of a barrel extension mov- able rearward upon recoil, a breech bolt mov- able rearward upon recoil, a lock bolt piv- 100 oted to the barrel extension behind the breech bolt and normally directly engaging the breech bolt to obstruct rearward movement thereof relatively to the barrel extension, an abutment fixedly mounted on the barrel ex- 105 tension and engaging a shoulder on the lock bolt to resist rearward pressure on the said lock bolt, means operative upon the combined rearward recoil movement of the barrel ex- tension and breech bolt to initially move the ~ no lock bolt about its pivot toward a position out of obstructive relationship with the breech bolt, and a connecting means operative after the said initial movement of the lock bolt and serving as the result of the recoil action of 115 the breech bolt to continue the said movement of the lock bolt. 14. In a breech mechanism for a firearm, the combination of a barrel extension mova- ble rearward upon recoil, a breech bolt mov-' 120 able rearward upon recoil, a lock bolt pivot- ed to the barrel extension behind the breech bolt and normally directly engaging the breech bolt to obstruct rearward movement thereof relatively to the barrel extension, an 125 abutment fixedly mounted on the barrel ex- tension and engaging a shoulder on the lock bolt to resist rearward pressure on the said lock bolt, a connecting link pivotally con- nected with the lock bolt and the breech bolt 130
1,801,070 S 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 10 55 60 65 respectively and normally inoperative to piv- otally move the lock bolt as the result of rearward pressure transmitted to the link from the breech bolt, and means operative upon the combined rearward recoil movement of the barrel extension and breech bolt to initially move the lock bolt about its pivot toward a position out of obstructive relation- ship with the breech bolt and to thus move the connecting link to a position enabling it to continue the said movement of the lock bolt as the result of the recoil action of the breech bolt. 15. In a breech mechanism for a firearm, the combination of a barrel extension mov- able rearward upon recoil, a breech bolt mov- able rearward upon recoil, a lock bolt pivoted to the barrel extension behind the breech bolt and normally directly engaging the breech bolt to obstruct rearward movement thereof relatively to the barrel extension, an arm ex- tending rearward, from the lock bolt, means engaging said arm and operative upon the combined rearward recoil movement of the barrel extension and breech bolt to initially move the lock bolt about its pivot toward a position out of obstructive relationship with the breech bolt, and a connecting means oper- ative after the said initial movement of the lock bolt and serving as the result of the re- coil action of the breech bolt to continue the said movement of the lock bolt. 16. In a breech mechanism for a firearm, the combination of a barrel extension mova- ble rearward upon recoil, a breech bolt mov- able rearward upon recoil, a lock bolt pivot- ed. to the barrel extension behind the breech bolt and normally directly engaging the breech bolt to obstruct rearward movement thereof relatively to the barrel extension, a connecting link pivotally connected with the lock bolt and the breech bolt respectively and normally inoperative to pivotally move the lock bolt as the result of rearward pres- sure transmitted to the link from the breech bolt, an arm extending rearward from the lock bolt, and means engaging said arm and operative upon the combined rearward re- coil movement of the barrel extension and breech bolt to initially move the lock bolt about its pivot toward a position out of ob- structive relationship with the breech bolt and to thus move the connecting link to a position enabling it to continue the said movement of the lock bolt as the result of the recoil action of the breech bolt. 17. In a breech mechanism for a firearm, the combination of a barrel extension mova- ble rearward upon recoil, a breech bolt mova- ble rearward upon recoil, a lock bolt pivoted to the barrel extension behind the breech bolt and normally directly engaging the breech bolt to obstruct rearward movement thereof relatively to the barrel extension, a cam fixed against recoil movement and cooperative with the lock bolt upon the combined rear- ward recoil movement of the barrel extension and breech bolt to initially move the said bolt about its pivot toward a position out of obstructive relationship with the breech bolt 70 and a connecting means operative after the said initial movement of the lock bolt and serving to continue the said movement of the lock bolt as the result of the recoil action of the breech bolt. 75 18. In a breech mechanism for a firearm, the combination of a barrel extension mov- able rearward upon recoil, a breech bolt mov- able rearward upon recoil, a lock bolt piv- oted to the barrel extension behind the breech 80 bolt and normally directly engaging the breech bolt to obstruct rearward movement thereof relatively to the barrel extension, a connecting link pivotally connected with the lock bolt and the breech bolt respectively 85 and normally inoperative to pivotally move the lock bolt as the result of rearward pres- sure transmitted to the link from the breech bolt, an arm extending rearward from the lock bolt, and a cam fixed against recoil move- 90 ment and cooperative with the said arm upon the combined rearward recoil movement of the barrel extension and breech bolt to in- itially move the said bolt about its pivot to- ward a position out of obstructive relation- 95 ship with the breech bolt and to thus move the connecting link to a position enabling it to continue the said movement of the lock bolt as the result of the recoil action of the breech bolt. 100 In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 31 day of May, 1929. JOHN BROWNING, Administrator of the Estate of John M. Browning, Deceased. 105 110 115 120 125 130
May 26, 1931 J. M. BROWNiNG FIREARM 1,806,736 Filed Feb. 24, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1
1.806,736 May 26, 1931 J. M. BROWNING FIREARM Filed Feb. 24, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2
Patented May 26, 1931 1306Д36 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN M. BROWNING, DECEASED, LATE OF OGDEN, UTAH, BY JOHN BROWNING, AD- MINISTRATOR, OF OGDEN, UTAH, ASSIGNOR TO J. M. & M. S. BROWNING COMPANY, OF OGDEN, UTAH, A CORPORATION OF UTAH FIREARM Application filed February 24, 1928. Serial No. 258,754. This invention relates to firearms of the shotgun type, and certain features of the in- vention find peculiar adaptation in firearms of the over and under type, such as disclosed 5 in the John M. Browning Patents Nos 1,- 578.638-9. The aim of the invention is to provide a firearm of the character described with va- rious features of novelty and advantage, io thereby providing a better firearm and reduc- ing its cost of manufacture. An important object of the invention is to provide, in a gun of the over and under type, an improved, simplified and effective 15 arrangement by means of which the extrac- tion of a discharged shell from the barrel in which it has been fired, and the retraction (but not the ejection) of an unfired shell are effected when the gun is broken. 2Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out more in detail hereinafter. The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of ele- ments and arrangement of parts which will 25 be exemplified in the construction herein- after set forth, and the scope of the appli- cation of which will be indicated in the ap- pended claims. In the accompanying drawings, wherein is 30 shown, for illustrative purposes, one of the many embodiments which the present inven- tion may take: Figure 1 is a view looking at the left hand side of the firearm, the stock being broken 35 away to show the firing mechanism within the receiver, the left hand side wall of the receiver being taken in longitudinal verti- cal section substantially on line 1—1 of Fig. 3, parts of the take-down bracket being 40 , , a broken away; Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but show- ing the gun in broken condition; Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken 45 substantially on line 3—3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a similar view taken on line 4—4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a detailed view showing the rear- ward end of the take-down bracket and one 50 of the actuators carried thereby; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the locking bolt; Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view through the receiver, this view being taken substantially on line 7—7 of Fig. 2; 55 Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken sub- stantially on line 8—8 of Fig. 2, the top post lever and the triggers being omitted; Fig. 9 is a view showing, in section, the safety device, this view being taken substan- 6G tially on line 9—9 of Fig. 2; Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the latching block of the safety device; and Fig. 11 is an enlarged detail view of the rear end of one of the rods through which 6& a hammer controls the ejecting mechanism. Referring to the drawings in detail, the “barrel section” and the receiver are generally similar in construction to the corresponding parts illustrated in the said Browning pat- 70 ents. The barrel section (so termed for con- venience) has a breech piece 25, an over bar- rel 26, and an under barrel 27. The receiver has a pair of forwardly extending parallel side walls 28 at the forward lower corners of 7a which is a hinge element comprising a hinge pin 29 and a cross portion 23 having a curved bearing surface 24. The bearing element is adapted to be received by a two-part bearing- on the barrel section. One of these parts is so provided by the forwardly facing recess or groove 30 at the forward lower corner of the breeeh piece and adapted to receive the pin 29. The other part of the bearing is pro- vided by a semi-circular recess 31 on the rear 8a end of the take-down bracket 32 and adapted to receive the correspondingly curved surface 24 of the receiver. This take-down bracket is generally similar in construction, arrange- ment and operation to that disclosed in the 90 said Browning patents. It comprises a rela- tively narrow rectangular piece or block slid- ably mounted on the barrel section so as to permit of separation of the bearing parts for the hinge element. To this end, there is pro- 95 vided on the under barrel, just forwardly of the breech piece, a depending lug 33 hav- ing a longitudinal groove 34 at each side. Slidably engaging in these grooves are ribs 35 on the bracket. Pivoted to the bracket is 100
2 1,806,736 a take-down lever 36, the forward end of which has a sliding catch 37 provided with a hook 38 adapted to cooperate with a ledge 39 on the bracket. The lever has a locking 5 lug 40 which is adapted to take in behind the lug 33 when the lever is in the locking posi- tion shown in Fig. 1. Pivoted to the rear end of, and extending rearwardly from the bracket, is a cocking lever link 41 which is jo generally similar in construction and func- tion to the corresponding link, designated by the numeral 8, in the Browning Patent No. 1,578,638. The numeral 45 designates the forearm which is connected to, so as to slide 15 with, the take-down bracket by a screw or bolt 46. The gun is locked in its closed position by a locking bolt 50 mounted for sliding movement in the receiver beneath the portion 51 which 20 forms a vertical bearing in which the stem or post 52 of the top lever 53 is journalled. The locking bolt is provided with a trans- verse notch 54 which receives an eccentrically positioned pin 55 depending from the lower 25 end of the top lever post 52. This arrange- ment is generally similar to that shown in the said Browning Patent No. 1,578,638. The locking bolt further has a longitudinally extending and centrally positioned slot 56 so through which extends the rear end or arm 60 of a cocking lever 61. This cocking lever is pivoted on a pin 62 beneath the top lever post and has a forwardly extending arm 63 which is adapted to cooperate withthe hereto- 35 fore described link 41 in a manner similar to that disclosed in the said Browning pat- ents. Reference will now be had to the firing mechanism which is located in an opening of -40 the frame-like portion 70 of the receiver. In the present instance, this firing mechanism is shown as having a left hand hammer 71 and a right hand hammer 72 which are respective- ly controlled by separate triggers 73 and 74. 46 It is to be understood, however, that this dis- closure is by way of illustration only and. if desired, a single trigger, such as shown in the said Browning patents, may be employed for controlling both of the hammers. The 50 hammers are pivotally mounted between a pair of ears 75 on a pintle 76. The opposed faces of the hammers are re- cessed so as to accommodate the rear up- wardly extending end of the cocking lever 55 which is rearwardly of the pintle 76,-as clear- ly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The rear end of the cocking lever has a toe 79 which is adapted to engage shoulders 80 on the hammers so that, when the gun is broken, each hammer, t-:c in the event that it has been fired, will be moved to cocked position, shown in Fig. 2. The rear encl of the cocking lever, when the gun is broken, engages in the slot 55 in tho locking bolt so as to hold the locking bolt ,1" in retracted position (see Fig. 2). Associated with each hammer is a sear 81 respectively controlled by ineans of the trig- gers through connectors 82. It will be noted that each trigger has a lug 83 which is be- neath the rear .end of the locking bolt when 70 the latter is retracted so that the triggers cannot be pulled when the gun is broken. The sears are urged into operative position by springs 85, and the hammers are actioned, -when released, by springs 86 about the 75 plungers 87. Slidably mounted on the frame rearwardly of'the top lever 53 is a safety device which has a particularly simple and effective ar- rangement. It has a thumb-piece 90 with 80 a pin 91 extending through a slot 92 in the top portion of the frame. On the under side of this top portion is a groove 93 in which is slidably mounted a latch block 94 which is resi'liently held in .place by a spring 95 85 about the pin 91. The block has, at its for- ward end, a depending lug 96 which, when the safety device is in “safe” or “on” position (as shown in Fig. 2) lies above the upper ends of the connectors so that the triggers cannot be pulled. When the safety device is moved forwardly to the “off”.position shown in Fig. 1, this lug is forwardly of the connectors so that the triggers may be pulled to fire the gun. The rear encl of the block has aligned 85 projections 97 (see Fig. 10) which are adapt- ed to engage in a notch 98 when the safety is in “on” position and to engage in a for- ward notch 99 when the safety is in “off” position. >00 Reference will now be had to the mecha- nisms for ejecting fired shells and retracting, without ejecting, unfired shells from the bores of the breech piece when the gun is -broken. Separate ejecting mechanism is pro- "°5 vided for each barrel, but as these mecha- nisms are similar in construction and opera- tion, a description of one will apply to the other. For convenience, the ejecting mecha- nism, associated with the over barrel, will ’ VJ here be described, and the corresponding parts of the ejecting mechanism for the under barrel will be designated by similar ref- erence numerals primed. The extractor proper for the over barrel has a plate 105 U3 of the usual form with a flat stem 106 which fits in a longitudinally extending dovetail groove 107 in the breech piece. Both the groove 107 and the stem or shank 106 are dovetailed or undercut so as to hold the extractor in position for sliding movement. The forward end of the stem 106 has an enlarged portion 108 which over- lies and engages the side of the breech piece so as to prevent excessive wobbling or cant- 125 ing movement of the extractor, it being nec- essary to have sufficient play between the stem of the extractor and the groove 107 to pre- vent sticking. In order to prevent the ex- tractor from being withdrawn lengthwise 130
1,806,736 3 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 GO 65 from the groove, the bottom of the groove has an elongated recess 109 and extending through the enlarged portion 108 of the stem is a screw 110, the inner end of which en- gages in this recess. Immediately in front of the extractor and mounted for sliding movement in the same groove 107 is an aux- iliary piece 111 through which the extractor is operated. In the present illustrative dis- closure, this auxiliary piece has an under- cut rib 112 slidably engaging in the groove 107 and the extent of movement of this piece is limited by a screw 113 which engages in the recess 109. The auxiliary piece has a notch or cutaway portion 114 in its lower edge providing a rearwardly facing cam sur- face 115 and a forwardly facing cam sur- face 116. On the inner side of the left hand wall 28 of the receiver and at the forward end thereof is a cam portion 117 adapted to extend into the notch 114 of the auxiliary piece when the gun is closed. This cam por- tion 117 has cam surfaces 118 and 119 adapt- ed to respectively engage the cam surfaces 115 and 116 on the auxiliary piece. It will be understood that, when the gun is opened or broken, the rear cam surface 119 will en- gage the cam surface 116 on the auxiliary piece so as to move the auxiliary piece and the extractor rearwardly and, during the operation of closing the gun, the cam sur- face 118 will engage the cam surface 115 so that the auxiliary piece will be cammed for- wardly to the position shown in Fig. 1. . Provided on the barrel section, and, more especially, upon the take-down bracket 32, are actuators 125 and 125', one for each ex- tractor. These actuators are pivoted to the rearward end of the bracket 32 and straddle the barrels, as illustrated in Fig. 3. It will only be necessary to describe the left hand actuator 125 for, as stated, the ejecting mech- anisms for the two barrels are similar. The actuator 125 is pivoted, at its lower end, on a pin 126, the take-down lever being notched as at 127 so as to accommodate the actuator. Between the actuator 125 and a lug 128 on the bracket 32 is a plunger 129 and a spring 130 which normally tend to throw the actu- ator to the “operated” position shown in Figs. 2 and 5. The actuator is adapted to engage the forward end of the auxiliary piece. It has a shoulder 131 with which a sear 132 is adapted to cooperate to hold the actuator in the “operative” or “cocked” position shown in Fig. 1. This sear is pivoted on a pin 133 in a. notch or slot 134 in the bracket 32 and is normally urged into operative position by a spring 135. The sear 132 has a rearwardly and downwardly projecting finger 136 which extends into a recess or groove 137 in the curved face 31 on the rear end of the take- down bracket. The bottom surface of this groove 137 constitutes a cam. The sear for the actuator 125 is controlled by the left hand hammer 71 acting through a rod 140. This rod is made of spring mate- rial and is located for sliding movement in an opening or bore 141 in the left hand side wall 28 of the receiver. It, owing to its own 70 flexibility, frictionally holds itself in any po- sition of adjustment. The forward end of the rod is adapted to project beyond the curved face 24 at the forward lower corner of the receiver and into groove 137. The rear encl of the rod has a head 142 provided with a slot 143 which receives the left hand pro- jecting end of the pintle 76 on which the ham- mers are pivoted. The slot 143 is of such length as to properly limit the extent of so movement of the rod. The rear end and up- per edge of the head 142 has a cam surface 144 with which a pin or lug 145 extending laterally from the left hand hammer is adapt- ed to engage so as to cam the rod 140 for- ss wardly upon the cocking movement of the hammer. The head of the rod, at its rear end and at its lower edge, is bevelled or in- clined upwardly and inwardly as at 147, and the lug 145 has a bevelled face 148 which is oo adapted to engage the bevelled face 147 of the rod when the hammer is released to fire the gun. The operation of the ejecting mechanism for the over barrel will now be described, it cs being understood that the corresponding mechanism for the under barrel will operate in a like manner. When the firearm is in the closed position shown in Fig. 1, the actu- ator 125 is held in cocked position by the sear 100 132. The left hand hammer 71 is shown as having been released to fire the shell. When so released, the cam surface 148 on the pro- jection 145 will cooperate with the upwardly and inwardly inclined surface 147 on the con- ioj necting rod 140 to flex the rear end of this rod laterally and without moving the rod longitudinally. When the hammer is in the released position shown in Fig. 1, the projec- tion 145 is in operative relation to the cam no surface 144 on the head 142 of the rod. When the gun is broken, the cocking lever will move the released hammer back to cocked posi- tion, and when the hammer is so moved, the projection 145 thereon, due to its engage- 115 ment with the cam surface 144, will move the rod 140 forwardly, thereby projecting the forward end of the rod into the groove 137 and into operative relation with the tail end 136 of the sear 132. Also during the oper- mo ation of breaking the gun,the cam surface 119 on the side wall of the receiver engages the camsurface 116 of the auxiliary piece,thereby moving this auxiliary piece and the extractor rearwardly and withdrawing the spent shell 125 partly from the barrel in which it has been fired. The initial withdrawal of the shell is thus positively effected. As the breaking movement of the gun is completed, the for- ward end of the rod 140 engages the sear 132 130
4 1,806,736 so as to disengage it from the shoulder 131 of the actuator, thus releasing the actuator and permitting it, under, the force of the spring 130, to fly rearwardly, engage, the s auxiliary piece and, through the auxiliary piece, impart a sharp or quick movement to the extractor, thereby causing the shell which has already been partly retracted to be thrown clear of or entirely ejected from the barrel. Upon closing movement of the gun, the earn surface 118 engages the cam surface 115 of the auxiliary piece thereby moving this piece forwardly independently of the extractor and positively moving the actuator from the “operated” position shown in Fig. 2 to the “operative” or “cocked” position shown in Fig. 1. Also, the cam surface at the bottom of the groove 137 in the rear face of the take-down lever will positively cam 20 the connecting rod 140 rearwardly from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 1. Furthermore, upon closing movement of the gun, the surface 160 of the breech piece (and through which the firing pins 161 ex- 25 tend) will engage the rear face of the plate 105 of the extractor and force the extractor to the forward position shown in Fig. 1. In. the event that one of the barrels has not been fired before the gun is broken, the eject- 50 ing mechanism associated with that barrel will not be effected; that is to say, the actu- ator associated with that barrel will be held in cocked position. For example, if the trig- ger associated with the left hand hammer 55 lias not been pulled, and the gun is broken, the projectionl45on that hammer will remain below the head 142 of the rod. Therefore upon breaking movementof the gun, the rod is not advanced to the position shown in Fig. 2, but on the other hand, will retain the re- tracted position shown in Fig. 1. Upon breaking of the gun, the cam surface 119 will engage the cam surface 116 and thereby move the extractor to extract the shell with- л5 out, however, ejecting it. Upon closing movement of the gun, the auxiliary piece will be moved forward into operative rela- tion to the cocked actuator by the cam sur- face 118, and the extractor will be moved 5-:j forward by its engagement with the face 160 of the receiver. It will be noted that the improved eject- ing mechanisms herein disclosed are charac- terized by their extreme simplicity in con- es struction and their effectiveness in operation. When the gun is taken down, the space be- tween the side walls 28 of the receiver is clear and there are no projections extending from these side walls which are adapted to «•5 be caught and broken when handling or car- rying around the receiver in taken down con- dition. The actuators or ejecting levers are carried by the barrel section and particularly by the take-down lever. Access may be read- с.': ily bad to these levers. They are very com- pactly arranged on opposite sides of the bar- rel section, and the assembly and construc- tion are such that they clo not require an increase in the width of the forearm in which they are housed when tlie gun is assembled. The force required to move the connecting rod into operative position by the cocking movement of the hammer or out of operative position upon closing movement of the gun is substantially negligible, a feature of im- 75 portance as it is desirable to permit the gun to be closed and opened with as little effort as possible. The rod 140, when in operative position, positively engages and releases the sear 132 from the actuator. It will be ob- so served that the rod 140 is moved positively in both directions so that, in the event it should tend to stick, due to dirt or corrosion, it will be caused to slide in the direction in which it is urged. 85 Each actuator or ejecting lever is positive- ly cocked upon closing movement of the gun, and such cocking movement is effected through the auxiliary piece. By the use of this separate auxiliary piece 111, the actuator 90 may be given a relatively large movement without the use of distance multiplying de- vices, and the cocking movement of the ac- tuator is effected independently of, and with- out throwing any duty onto, the extractor or 95 shell when the same are cammed forwardly by the anvil face 160 upon closing movement of the gun. Upon initial closing movement, the auxiliary piece and actuator are moved forwardly by the cam portion 117 with a 100 relatively quick movement leaving the ex- tractor 105 behind, and upon further closing movement the anvil face 160 will engage the bead of the extractor (or the shell) camming the same forwardly, and during the entire io5 closing movement of the gun there is always a space between the extractor and the aux- iliary piece. The auxiliary piece engages the actuator adjacent the free encl of the latter, and the interengaging cam surfaces 115 and 110 118 are spaced a considerable distance from the pivot pin 29 which means that relatively large leverages are employed in cocking the lever so that the gun may be more easily closed. The actuator has a swinging move- 115 ment through a relatively large arc, thus per- mitting the spring 130, when the actuator is cocked, to be properly compressed, and in- suring’ that the actuator, when released, will impart a movement to the extractor which 120 will surely and completely eject a fireci shell. The spring 130, when the actuator is cocked, exerts a force along a line which is slightly off the center or pivot 126 of the actuator so that (while the spring is compressed and 125 ready to do its work) the spring does not urge the actuator against the sear 132 with such force that the sear cannot be easily tripped by the rod 140 when the gun is broken. 130
1,806,736 5 . As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of this inven- tion could be made without departing from $ the scope thereof, it is intended that all mat- ter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. It is also to be understood that the lan- guage used in the following claims is in- tended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the inven- 15 tion which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween. What is claimed is: 1. In a firearm of the over and under type, a receiver, a barrel section pivoted thereto and having over and under barrels, an ex- tractor on said barrel section, firing mech- anism on said receiver having a hammer, means for cocking said hammer during the operation of opening the firearm, an actuator 25 for said extractor on said barrel section, a connecting rod on said receiver between said hammer and actuator and frictionally held in all of its positions, and means on said hammer for positively moving said rod into 30 operative relation to said actuator during the operation of cocking the hammer upon break- ing the gun. 2. In a firearm of the over and under type, a receiver, a barrel section pivoted thereto 35 and having over and under barrels, an ex- tractor on said barrel section, firing mecha- nism on said receiver having a hammer, an actuator for said extractor, a connecting rod between said hammer and extractor, and co- 40 operating surfaces on said hammer and rod for moving the latter when the hammer is cocked, said hammer, when released from cocked position, having no operative effect on said rod. ,• 5 3. In a firearm of the over and under type, a receiver, a barrel section pivoted thereto and having over and under barrels, an ex- tractor on said barrel section, firing mecha- nism on said receiver having a hammer, an 50 actuator for said extractor on said barrel sec- tion and comprising a spring pressed lever, a connecting rod on said receiver between said hammer and actuator, and a projection on said hammer, one end of said rod being 55 in the path of movement of said projec- tion both on the cocking movement and the releasing movement of the hammer, said projection when said hammer is cocked caus- ing said rod to move to operative position •30 with respect to said actuator, and said pro- jection when the trigger is released riding past said rod without longitudinally moving the same. 4. In a firearm of the over and under type, 35 a receiver, a barrel section pivoted thereto and having over and under barrels, an ex- tractor on said barrel section, firing mecha- nism on said receiver having a hammer, an actuator for said extractor on said barrel section, a connecting rod on said receiver be- ?0 tween said hammer and actuator, and a pro- jection on said hammer cooperating witn the rear end of said rod, said rod having a cam surface against which said projection en- gages for camming the rod forwardly upon cocking- movement of the hammer, said rod and projection having cooperating camming surfaces for camming the rear end of the rod out of the path of movement of said pro- jection without longitudinally moving the go rod upon releasing the hammer from cocked position. . 5. In a firearm of the over and under type, a receiver, a barrel section pivoted thereto and having over and under barrels, an ex- g5 tractor on said barrel section, firing mecha- nism on said receiver having a hammer, an actuator for said extractor on said barrel section, a connecting rod on said receiver be- tween said hammer and actuator and having 90 a slot adjacent its rear end, a pintle on which said hammer is pivoted and extending into said slot, and means on the hammer for mov- ing said rod. 6. In a firearm of the over and under type, 05 a receiver, a barrel section pivoted thereto and having over and under barrels, an ex- tractor on said barrel section, firing means on said receiver having a hammer, an actu- ator for said extractor on said barrel section, 100 a connecting rod on said receiver between said hammer and actuator, and means on said bar- rel section for positively camming said rod out of operative position with respect to said actuator upon closing movement of the gun. 105 7. In a firearm of the over and under type, a receiver, a barrel section pivoted thereto and having over and under barrels, an ex- tractor on said barrel section, firing mecha- nism on said receiver having a hammer, no means for cocking said hammer during the opening movement of the gun, an actuator for said extractor on said barrel section, a connecting rod on said receiver between said hammer and actuator, means on said hammer 115 for positively moving said actuator into op- erative relation to said actuator during the operation of cocking the hammer upon open- ing the gun, and means on the barrel section for camming said rod out of operative posi- 120 tion upon closing movement of the gun. 8. In a firearm of the over and under type, a receiver, a barrel section pivoted thereto and having over and under barrels, an ex- tractor on said barrel section, firing mecha- 195 nism on said receiver having a hammer, an actuator for said extractor on said barrel sec- tion, a sear for holding said actuator in cocked position, a connecting rod on said re- ceiver between said hammer and actuator and
€> 1,Й06,736 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 adapted when in operative position to engage said sear, and ineans on the hammer for posi- tively moving said rod into operative posi- tion during the operation of cocking the ham- mer upon opening movement of the gun. 9. In a firearm of the over and under type, a receiver, a barrel section pivoted thereto and having over and under barrels, an ex- tractor on said barrel section, firing mecha- nism on said receiver having a hammer, an actuating lever on said barrel section for said extractor, a spring pressed pivoted sear on said barrel section for holding said ac- tuating lever in cocked position, a connect- ing rod on said receiver between said hammer and actuating lever and adapted when in operative position to engage said sear to re- lease it from the actuating lever upon open- ing movement of the gun, means on said ham- mer for positively moving said actuating le- ver into operative position during the op- eration of cocking the hammer upon the open- ing movement of the gun, and means on-said barrel section for camming said rod out of operative position during the closing move- ment of the gun. 10. In a firearm of the over and under type, a barrel section having over and under bar- rels, a receiver, a forearm slidably mounted on said barrel section, interengaging means between said forearm and barrel section for permitting sliding movement therebetween while the forearm is maintained on said bar- rel section, an extractor on said barrel section, firing mechanism on said receiver having a hammer, an actuator on said forearm, and an operative connection between said actuator and hammer. 11. In a firearm of the over and under type, a barrel section having over and under barrels, a receiver having a hinge element, a multi-part bearing on said barrel section for said hinge element, one of said parts of said bearing being slidable while maintained on said barrel section into and out of operative relation to the remainder of the bearing, an extractor on said barrel section, fifing mech- anism on said receiver having a hammer, an actuator on said movable bearing part for actuating said extractor, and a rod between said actuator and hammer and controlled by the latter. 12. In a firearm of the over and under type-, a barrel section having over and under bar- rels, a receiver, a forearm supported for slid- ing movement on said barrel section, a take- down bracket to which said forearm is at- tached, contacting bearing surfaces on said receiver- and bracket, the bearing surface on said bracket having a groove the bottom wall of which constitutes a cam,, an extractor on said barrel section, firing mechanism- on said receiver having a hammer provided with? a projection, a spring pressed actuating-lever pivoted on said bracket, a sear pivoted- on said bracket and extending into said gfoove and adapted to hold said lever in cocked po- sition, and a- longitudinally movable rod on said receiver adapted, to bo moved into op- erative position with respect to said sear by 73 said projection and adapted to be cammed out of operative position by the bottom wall of said groove. 13. In a firearm of the over and under type, a receiver, a barrel section having over and 75 under barrels, an extractor on said barrel section, a piece on said barrel section separate from said extractor, means for actuating said extractor through said piece to eject a shell, and means, acting through said piece for mov- go ing said actuating ineans to operative- posi- tion. 14. In a- firearm of the over and under type, a receiver, a barrel section having over and under barrels, an extractor- slidably 85 mounted on said barrel section, a separate slidable auxiliary piece following said ex- tractor, ineans on said barrel section f or actu- ating said extractor through said auxiliary piece to eject a shell, and ineans on said re- 90 ceiver and acting through said auxiliary piece for moving said actuating means to op- erative position. 15. In a firearm of the over and under type, a receiver, a barrel section having over 95 and under barrels, an extractor on said barrel section, an auxiliary piece on said barrel sec- tion, an actuating lever adapted to engage said auxiliary piece and to actuate said ex- tractor therethrough, and cooperating cam 100 surfaces on said piece and receiver for mov- ing said auxiliary piece in a direction to cock said lever. 16. In a firearm of the over and under type, a receiver, a barrel section having a 105 breech piece and over and under barrels, a groove in the side of said breech piece, an extractor slidably mounted in said groove, an auxiliary piece slidably mounted in said groove, an actuating lever acting through 110 said auxiliary piece to actuate said extractor and thereby eject a shell, and means upon closing movement of the gun for moving said auxiliary piece in a direction to cock said lever. 115 17. In a- firearm of the over and under type, a receiver, a barrel section pivoted thereto and having over and under barrels, an- extractor on said barrel section, a sepa- rate auxiliary piece, an actuator on said bar- 120 rel section for actuating said extractor through said auxiliary piece, means on said receiver for moving said auxiliary piece in a direction to cock said actuator, and means on said receiver for positively moving said 125 extractor in a- direction to extract a shell. 18. In- a firearm of the over and under type, a receiver, a barrel section hawing over and under barrels, an extractor on said barrel section, an auxiliary piece, an actuating lever .130
1,806,736 acting through said auxiliary piece to actu- ate said extractor and thereby eject a shell, cooperating cam surfaces between said re- ceiver and auxiliary piece for moving said 5 auxiliary piece in a direction to cock said lever during the closing movement of the gun, and cooperating cam surfaces between said receiver and auxiliary piece for moving said auxiliary piece and the extractor there- 10 through in a direction to extract a shell. 19. In a firearm of the over and under type, a barrel section having a breech piece and over and under barrels, an undercut groove in the side of said breech piece, and 15 an extractor part having a portion corre- sponding in shape to and slidably fitting in said groove, said extractor part also having a portion extending beyond the edge of said groove and slidably engaging the side face 20 of said breech piece. 20. In a firearm of the over and under type, a barrel section having a breech piece and over and under barrels, an undercut groove in the side face of said breech piece, 25 an elongated recess in the bottom of said groove, an extractor part having a portion corresponding in shape to and slidably fit- ting in said groove, and a screw extending through said part and into said recess. 30 21. In a firearm of the over and under type, a receiver, a pair of pivoted hammers having shoulders on their opposed faces, a locking bolt having a slot, and a cocking lever pivoted beneath said bolt and having an arm 35 extending upwardly through said slot and between said hammers, said arm being adapt- ed to engage said shoulders. 22. In a firearm of the over and under type, a receiver, a barrel section pivoted thereto 40 and having over and under barrels, an ex- tractor on said barrel section, firing mecha- nism on said receiver having a hammer, an actuator for said extractor, a sear for holding said actuator in cocked position, and a con- 45 necting rod adapted, when in operative rela- tion, to directly engage ancl trip said sear during the operation of breaking the gun, said hammer being arranged to positively move said rod into operative relation to said sear 50 during the operation of cocking said hammer upon opening movement of the gun. 23. In a firearm of the over and under type, a receiver, a barrel section pivoted thereto and having over and under barrels, an extractor 55 on said barrel section, firing mechanism on said receiver having a hammer, an actuator for said extractor on said barrel section and comprising a pivoted lever, a. pivoted sear for holding said actuator in cocking posi- 60 tion, and a. longitudinally movable connecting rod on said receiver between said hammer ancl sear, said hammer having means for posi- tively moving said rod into operative relation to said sear during the operation of cocking 65 said hammer upon breaking the gun, ancl the forward end of said rod, when in operative relation to said sear and upon opening move- ment of the gun, being adapted to directly engage said sear to trip the same and release said actuator. 70 24. In a firearm of the over and under type, a receiver, a barrel section pivoted thereto and having over and under barrels, an extractor on said barrel section, firing mechanism on said receiver having a ham- 75 mer, an actuator for said extractor on said barrel section ancl comprising a pivoted lever, a pivoted sear for holding said actuator in cocking position, and a longitudinally mov- able connecting rod on said receiver between 80 said hammer and sear, said rod being fric- tionally held in all of its positions, ancl said hammer having means for positively moving said rod into operative relation to said sear during the operation of cocking said hammer 85 upon breaking the gun, and the forward end of said rod, when in operative relation to said sear and upon opening movement of the gun, being adapted to directly engage said sear to trip the same ancl release said actua- 00 tor. 25. In a firearm of the over and under type, a receiver, a barrel section pivoted thereto and having over and under barrels, an extractor on said barrel section, firing mechanism on 95 said receiver having a hammer, an actuator for said extractor, a sear for holding said actuator in cocked position, a connecting rod adapted, when in operative relation, to di- rectly engage and trip said sear during the 100 operation of breaking the gun, said hammer being arranged to positively move said rod into operative relation to said sear during the operation of cocking said hammer upon open- ing movement of the gun, and means for mov- 105 ing said rod out of operative relation to said sear upon closing movement of the gun. 26. In a firearm of the over and under type, a receiver, a barrel section pivoted thereto and having over and under barrels, an ex- no tractor on said barrel section, firing mecha- nism on said receiver having a hammer, an actuator for said extractor, a sear for hold- ing said actuator in cocked position, a con- necting rod adapted, when in operative rela- 115 tion, to directly engage and trip said sear during the operation of breaking the gun, and cooperating surfaces on said hammer and rod arranged to positively move said rod into operative relation to said sear during the 120 operation of cocking said hammer upon open- ing movement of the gun, said hammer when released from cocked position, having no operative effect on said rod. JOHN BROWNING, 125 Administrator of the Estate of John M. Browning, Deceased. 130