US2901853A - Repeating firearm with pivoted locking bolt - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 1, 1959 J. FONTVIEILLE I REPEATING FIREARM WITH PIVOTED LOCKING BOLT Filed July 5, 1957 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 1, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 J. FONTVIEILLE 2,901,853 7 REPEATING FIREARM wrrn EIVOTED LOCKING BOLT Filed July 5, 1957 p 1, 1959 J. FONTVIEILLE 2,901,853

REPEATING FIREARM WITH PIVOTED LOCKING BOLT Filed July 5, 1957 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Sept. 1, 1959 J. FONTVIElL-LE REPEATING FIREARM WITH PIVOTED LOCKING BOLT Filed July 5, 1957 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 S p 1, 1959 J. FONTVIEILLE 2,901,853

REPEATING FIREARM WITH PIVOTED LOCKING BOLT Filed July 5, 1957 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Sept. 1, 1959 .1. FONTVIEILLE REPEATING FIREARM WITH PIVOTED LOCKING BOLT 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed July 5, 1957 United States Patent REPEATING FIREARM WITH PIVOTED LOCKING BOLT Jean Fontvieille, Saint-Etienne, France, assignor to Manufacture Francaise dArmes et Cycles de Saint-Etienne, Saint-Etienne, France, a French joint-stock company Application July 5, 1957, Serial No. 670,087

Claims priority, application France February 12, 1957 25 Claims. (Cl. 42-21) This invention relates generally to a repeating hunting or sporting gun, and more particularly is directed to improvements in a hunting gun of the so-called pump type having a tubular magazine for containing several cartridges which is housed within a reciprocable manually displaceable part slidable relative to the receiver and the remainder of the gun.

It is an object of the invention to provide a repeating gun of the described character which is adapted for precision manufacture in accordance with modern mass production techniques.

Another object is to provide a gun of the described character which is adapted to have its various parts or components produced as subassemblies which can be easily assembled together, thereby to provide a simple and economical means of production.

Still another object is to provide a gun of the described character which is completely safe and reliable in operation.

In accordance with an aspect of this invention, a gun of the described character has a tubular magazine for containing several cartridges which is releasably secured, at its back end, to the front of the receiver, while an actuating assembly is slidable along the tubular magazine and carries control means for operating mechanisms within the receiver which cause insertion of the cartridges one by one into the chamber of the gun, bolting and unbolting of the gun, ejection of a used cartridge, and automatic setting of a safety device to positively prevent firing of the gun while the latter is in its unbolted condition.

The above, and other objects, features and advantages of the invention, will be apparent in the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment thereof which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, and wherein:

Fig. l is a side elevational view of a repeating hunting or sporting gun embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, enlarged, longitudinal sectional view of the gun of Fig. 1, shown with its several operating assemblies in condition for firing;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the back end portion of a tubular magazine included in the gun of Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the forward end of a receiver of the gun shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and adapted for receiving the back end portion of the tubular magazine of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a partial longitudinal sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of the tubular magazine and receiver of Figs. 3 and 4, respectively, shown in assembled relation, along with parts of an actuating assembly carried by the tubular magazine;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of a trigger guard included 2 in the gun of Figs. 1 and 2 and of operating mechanisms assembled therewith;

Figs. 9, 10, 11 and 12 are diagrammatic, longitudinal sectional views illustrating various phases of operation of a locking mechanism included in the gun of Figs. 1 and 2, with the broken lines in Fig. 12 showing the locked position of the locking bolt following the reloading of the gun;

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the mechanisms which are assembled together with the trigger guard in Fig. 8 and which include a catch, a cock or hammer, a scar and a safety device;

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the safety device and sear of Fig. 13, but with such par-ts being viewed in the opposite direction;

Figs. 15 and 16 are diagrammatic sectional views showing two different stages of the operation of the automatic safety device shown in Figs. 13 and 14;

Fig. 17 is a view similar to those of Figs. 15 and 16, but illustrating the arrangement provided in a gun embodying the present invention for prevetning premature firing;

Fig. 18 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the means embodied in the gun of Figs. 1 and 2 for effecting rocking of the cock in the direction for causing firing of the gun, and with a catch which is also included in the gun of Figs. 1 and 2 being shown in broken lines;

Fig. 19 is a diagrammatic longitudinal sectional view showing an arrangement provided in the gun of Figs. 1 and 2 for permitting the removal of the cartridges, one at a time, from the tubular magazine, and with the parts being shown in their positions corresponding to the foremost position of a breech block;

Fig. 20 is a fragmentary, detail side elevational view of parts included in the arrangement of Fig. 19;

Fig. 21 is a diagrammatic, horizontal sectional view of the arrangement shown in Fig. 19;

Fig. 22 is a diagrammatic, longitudinal sectional view similar to that of Fig. 19, but showing the related parts when the breech block has been moved to its rearmost position;

Fig. 23 is a view similar to that of Fig. 20, but with the corresponding parts positioned as in Fig. 22; and

Fig. 24 is a diagrarmnatic, horizontal sectional view similar to that of Fig. 21, but with the parts positioned as in Fig. 22.

Referring to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that a repeating sporting gun embodying the present invention includes a gun barrel 1 which is secured at its back end in a receiver 2 (Figs. 1 and 2), and a magazine tube 3 which is also secured to the front end of the receiver.

In accordance with a feature of the present invention, a generally semi-circular flange 3 extends from the lower portion of magazine tube 3 adjacent the back end of the latter and carries elongated pins 4 which extend parallel to the axis of tube 3 and project beyond the back end of the "latter. The receiver 2 is provided with bores 4a (Fig. 4) opening at the front end thereof to receive the pins 4 when the back end portion of magazine tube 3 is inserted into the receiver, whereby the magazine tube is accurately positioned with respect to the receiver. The magazine tube is held in its assembled position with respect to the receiver 2 by only two screws 5 (Fig. 5) which! extend through suitable openings 5a in the flange 3 (Fig. 3) and into suitable registering tapped openings or bores 5b in the receiver 2 (Fig. 4). Accordingly, the assembly of the gun, as well as its disassembly for cleaning, repairs and the like, are facilitated.

The front end of the magazine tube 3 is embraced by a clamp 1 (Fig. 2) which is firmly connected to the gun barrel 1. Further, the front end of tube 3 is closed by a plug or cover 6 which forms an abutment for one end of a helical spring 7 disposed within the magazine tube. The opposite end of the spring7 seats within, and is centered by, a pusher 8 which is slidable in the magazine tube 3 and is yieldably urged toward the back end of the magazine tube by the spring 7.. It will be noted that, when the supply of cartridges within the magazine tube 3 has been exhausted, the pusher 8 is retained within the magazine tube and abuts against a circular lip defined, in its lower portion, by a semi-circular rim 2 formed within the receiver (Figs. 2 and 4) and, in its upper portion, by a semi-circular rim 9 (Figs. 2 and 3) formed along an edge of a plate 9 secured to the back end portion of the magazine tube 3.

A metal sleeve 10 (Figs. 2 and 5) is 'slidable on the magazine tube 3 between the clamp 1 and the flange 3 Two laterally spaced apart arm-s and 10 extend rearwardly from the sleeve 10 parallel to the direction of sliding movement of the latter and are slidably received in corresponding grooves 2 formed within the receiver 2 (Figs. 6 and 7).

A manually actuable part 11 formed of wood or any other materials suitable for this purpose is firmly con-' nected to the sleeve 10, for example, by an integral open-ended portion 11a (Fig. 2) embracing the sleeve 10 and held thereon by a nut 11. Preferably, the manually actuable part 11 is of U-shaped cross-section and of sufficient length so that it simultaneously covers the entire length of magazine tube 3 and the front portion of receiver 2 while avoiding interference with the necessary reciprocating movement of the sleeve 10 along the magazine tube. Thus, the magazine tube, on which the sleeve 10 is slidable is completely protected, while the relatively long part 1-1 facilitates handling of the gun and provides a wider and more convenient manual grip for the hunter.

The ends of the arms 10 and 10 extending from sleeve 16 are connected, for example, by suitable studs or the like (not shown), to a plate 12 (Figs. 2, 6 and 10) which has a semi-circular boss 12 extending therefrom and slidably engaged in a laterally centered slot formed in a locking bolt 13.

The locking bolt 13, which is free to pivot about a laterally extending axis, is set in and held by a breech block 14 (Figs. 2, 6and 10) which is slidably mounted and guided within the receiver 2. The boss 12 of the plate 12 carries a pin 12 which extends out of the opposite sides of the boss and is engageable with a shaped surface formed on the locking bolt 13 at the opposite sides of the central slot of the latter and including a portion 13 extending generally parallel to the direction of the movement of the sleeve 19 and a portion 13 which is inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the direction of displacement of the sleeve 10 (Fig. 10).

A firing pin is slidably mounted with-in the breech block 14 and passes freely through the central slot of the locking bolt 13. A spring 15a (Figs. 2 and 11) acts against the pin 15 and urges the latter backward to a non-firing position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 11. The back end portion of the locking bolt 13 is formed with a notch 13 (Fig. 2) adapted to receive an enlarged diameter back end portion 15 of the firing pin at the moment when bolting and firing of the gun occurs. Preferably, the notch 13 is slightly wider than the enlarged diameter portion 15 of the firing pin. In the unbolted position of the locking bolt 13, the notch 13 of the latter is moved upwardly with respect to the firing pin (Fig. 11) so that the enlarged diameter back portion 15 of the firing pin is then stopped by the back edge of the locking bolt 13, thereby to prevent firing of'the gun in the unbolted position.

The locking bolt 13 has a lug 13 extending upwardlyfrom the front end portion thereof and adapted to en= gage, in certain stages of the operation of the gun as will hereinafter be described in detail, in a mortise 1 formed in a rearward extension of the gun barrel 1. Preferably, the mortise 1 extends across the entire width of the extension of the gun barrel and the lug 13 is correspondingly wide, thereby to provide a stronger and more reliable locking action.

A trigger guard 16 is fitted into, and secured to, the lower portion of the receiver 2 and receives the safety and locking mechanisms of the gun. For this purpose, the trigger guard 16 carries a transverse shaft 17 adjacent its forward end and on which a catch 18 and a hammer 19 are pivotally mounted. The catch 18 includes a front arm 18 which engages against a corresponding sloping end of the arm 10' extending from sleeve 10, when the gun is closed and bolted (Fig. 2). The catch 18 also has a rearwardly directed arm 18 which is formed with a laterally bent end adapted to cooperate, as a simple support, with an automatic safety device 20 (Fig. 13). Finally, the catch 18 has a laterally bent flange 18 at right angle to the plane of the arms 18 and 18 During firing, the cock or hammer 19 acts against the back end of the firing pin 15 (Fig. 10), and a helical compression spring 21 (Fig. 18) is fitted within a suitable recess in the trigger guard 16 and acts against a cylindrical pusher 21 which in turn bears against the cock 19 to urge the latter to pivot in the direction (counter-clockwise as viewed in Fig. 18) for causing the cock to engage against the firing pin. The spring 21 and its pusher 21 are laterally located between the cock 19 and the arm 18 of catch 18, so that the pusher 21 can act successively, at the time of firing, against a back boss 19 of the cock 19 and then against the flange or lug 18 of the catch 18.

A transverse shaft 22 is carried by the back portion of the trigger guard 16, and a trigger 23 is pivotally mounted on the shaft 22 (Fig. 15). The pivoted trigger 23 is pivotally connected to one end of a control rod 24, while the other end of the latter is pivotally connected to a sear 25 which is pivotally mounted, as at 27. The sear 25 is of a known type of generally U- shaped configuration having barbs 25 and 25 at the inner sides of the opposite legs thereof and adapted to cooperate with hooks 19 and 19 respectively, formed on an extension of the cock 19. The cooperative functioning of the barbs 25 and 2'5 with the books 19 and 19 will be recited in detail in the following description of the operation of the gun.

A helical compression spring 26 (Fig. 15) is interposed between the trigger guard 16 and the trigger 23 to yieldably urge the latter in the clockwise direct-ion, as viewed in Fig. 15, so that the finger engageable portion at the bottom of the trigger 23 is normally urged forwardly.

In accordance with this invention, the automatic safety device 20 is preferably made of stamped and bent sheet metal and is pivotally mounted, as at 28. The safety device 20 has a generally inverted U-shaped configuration, as viewed from the front, and has one side formed as an extended arm 20 which extends under, and is engageable with the bent end of the arm 18 of catch 18 (Fig. 13). The other side of the safety device 20 is in the form of a lug 20 which is engageable, from above,

-with a rearwardly directed extension 25 of the sear 25 (Fig. 14).

An important feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a double-spring system acting on the catch 18 and the safety device 20 so that the catch and the safety device mutually support each other. This double-spring system includes a helical compression spring 29 which is interposed between an abutment 2 of the receiver and a guide lug formed on the arm 18 of catch 18 (Fig. 15) thereby to urge the arm 18 in the downward direction. The above mentioned double-spring system further includes a helical compression spring 30 (Fig. 13) which, at its upper end, bears against the safety device 20, by way of a guide finger, and at its lower end rests against the trigger guard 16 (not shown in Fig. 13). The springs 29 and 30 are selected so that the force of the spring 29 is dominant. Thus, the spring 29 causes the catch 18 to rock in the clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 15, so that the bent end of arm 18 bears downwardly upon the extended arm 20 of the safety device, while the spring 30 also urges the safety device 20 to rock in the clockwise direction, but the downward force exerted by arm 18 upon the extended arm 20 is greater than the upward force exerted by the arm 20 Accordingly, the difference between the forces resulting from the springs 29 and 30 causes counterclockwise rockin-g of the safety device 20 about its axis 28 whereby the lug 20 of the safety device is rocked rearwardly out of the path of travel of the rearward extension 25 of the sear 25, thereby to free the latter for rocking about its axis 27.

Another transverse shaft 31 is carried by the receiver 2, and a cartridge lifting device 32 (Fig. 12) is pivotally mounted adjacent its back end on the shaft 31. The forward portion of the lifting device 32 is of generally U-shaped cross-section, and the lifting device is rockable between a lowered position (Fig. 2) where its forward portion registers with the magazine tube 3 to receive a cartridge from the latter, and a raised position (Fig. 12) where a cartridge is delivered into the chamber of the gun. A control lever 33 is pivotally connected to the back end of the lifting device 32 in back of the pivoting axis of the latter defined by the shaft 31, and a pusher 35 is urged by a helical compression spring 36 against the control lever 33 in order to urge the latter to an upright position wherein the upper end of the latter engages against the control plate 12 and is adapted to hook into a notch,12 (Fig. 12) in the control plate.

The U-shapecl forward portion of the lifting device 32 has an upstanding part 32 at one side thereof to prevent lateral removal of a cartridge from the lifting device while the cartridge is being conveyed by the latter from the magazine tube 3 into the chamber of the gun, and particularly while passing an ejection opening 2 (Fig. 6) formed in the receiver 2.

Two leaf springs 34 and 34 are arranged within the receiver 2 at the opposite sides of the latter and extend generally parallel to the axis of the magazine tube 3. The leaf springs 34 and 34 have their back portions received in grooves 2 formed in the receiver and opening laterally toward each other, the grooves 2 being disposed below the paths of movement of the arms 10 and 10 extending rearwardly from the sleeve 10 slidable on the magazine tube (Figs. 6 and 21 to 24). The back portions of the leaf springs 34 and 34 are secured within the corresponding grooves 2 by a laterally extending pin 34 (Figs. 21, 22 and 24). The grooves 2. open, at their forward ends, into deeper grooves 2 (Figs. 21 and 24) thereby to permit flexing of the forward portions of the leaf springs 34 and 34 laterally away from each other. The forward ends of the leaf springs 34 and 34 are bent inwardly, as at 34 to form stop tongs at the open back end of the magazine tube 3 for retaining engagement with the rearmost cartridge in the magazine tube. Further, the front ends of the leaf springs 34 and 34 forming the stop tongs 34 are offset upwardly, as can be seen in Figs. 19, 22 and 23 for engagement by the lower edge portions of the arms 10 and 10 When the stop tongs 34 at the forward ends of the leaf springs 34 and 34 are engaged by the lower edge portions of the arms 10 and 10 respectively, the forward portions of the leaf springs are flexed laterally away from each other so that the stop tongs 34 no longer obstruct the rearward discharge of a cartridge from the open back end of magazine tube 3. However, the arms 10 and 10 are provided with release cut- outs 10 and 10 respectively,

"extending along predetermined portions of their lower edges so that, as the arms 10 and 10 are moved rearwardly with the sleeve 10, the release cut- outs 10 and 10 reach positions where the upwardly offset parts of the stop tongs 34 can be received in the release cut-outs thereby to permit the stop tongs to move laterally inward to their operative positions where the stop tongs retain the rearmost cartridge within the magazine tube. Referring to Figs. 22 and 23, it will be seen that the release cut-out 10 of the arm 10 begins at a point which is spaced only a relatively short distance from the back end of the related arm, while the release cut-out 10 of the arm 10 begins at a relatively large distance from the back end of the related arm so that initially both stop tongs 34 are moved laterally apart to their inoperative positions and, as the sleeve 10 and arms 10 and 10 move rearwardly, the stop tongs on the springs 34 and 34 are successively permitted to move toward their operative positions.

The operation of the above described semi-automatic sporting gun will now be detailed with particular reference to the individual phases of such operation.

Firing Assuming that a cartridge is already present in the chamber of the gun and that the various elements of the firing mechanism are disposed as shown in Fig. 15 with the barb 25 of the sear 25 engaging the hook 19 of the cock or hammer 19 to hold the latter against counterclockwise swinging by the spring 21 (Fig. 18), it will be seen that a rearward pull exerted on the finger engageable portion of the trigger 23 will rock the latter counterclockwise in opposition to the action of the spring 26. Such rocking of the trigger 23 is transmitted, by way of the connecting rod or link 24, to the sear 25 which also rocks in the counter-clockwise direction about its pivot 27, thereby to release the barb 25 from the hook 19 Thus, the cock or hammer 19 is released and the spring 21 (Fig. 18) then strongly rocks the cock or hammer from the position of Fig. 18 to the position of Fig. 9 where the cock strikes against the back end of the firing pin 15. The impact of the cock 19 against firing pin 15 displaces the latter forwardly with respect to the breech block 14 so that the forward end of the firing pin then projects from the breech block, as in Fig. 10, to fire the cartridge within the chamber of the gun.

Although the usual recoil occurs at the moment of firing, such recoil cannot influence the bolting of the block 14. In fact, as shown in Fig. 10, the recoil resulting from firing of the gun causes a rearward displacement of the plate 12 and the pin 12 through a distance n, and during such recoil movement of the pin 12 the latter continues to engage the surface portion 13 of the locking bolt 13 which extends parallel to the direction of movement of the breech block 14 within the receiver. The surface portion 13 is located so that, as long as the pin 13 engages the surface portion 13 the locking bolt 13 is held against the top of the receiver 2 with its lug 13 fully engaged in the mortise 1 Thus, the breech block 14 is held safely in its bolted condition during recoil, and any leaking of gas and consequent loss of thrust against the projectile is avoided.

Unbolting or unlocking As is shown in Fig. 15, prior to firing the end of the arm 18 of the catch 18 engages against the back end of the arm 10 extending from the sleeve 10 slidable on the magazine tube, thereby to prevent rearward movement of the sleeve 10 and the hand engageable part 11 connected thereto. However, as the cock or hammer 19 is rocked by the spring 21, during firing, the pusher 21 urged by the spring 21 comes into engagement with the flange 18 on catch 18 and rocks the latter in the counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 15, thereby to disengage the end of arm 18 from the back end of the arm 10 Then, it is possible for the user of the gun to pull the part 11 rearwardly, whereby the sleeve 10 is displaced in the same direction along the magazine tube 3.

It is apparent that the arms 10 and 10 the plate 12 and the pin 12 carried by the latter all move as a unit with the sleeve 10 and the hand engageable part 11. During the initial rearward movement of the plate 12, the pin 12 engages against the inclined surface portion 13 of the locking bolt 13 and causes rocking of the latter within the breech block '14 to the position shown in Fig. 11, wherein the lug 13 of the locking bolt is withdrawn from the mortise 1 of the gun barrel.

Immediately after firing the spring 15a pushes back the firing pin 15 and produces a corresponding increment of rearward rocking of the cock or hammer 19. During rocking of the locking bolt 13 to its unbolted position (Fig. 11), the notch 13 of the locking bolt is elevated with respect to the enlarged diameter rear portion 15 of the firing pin, and the back face of the locking bolt 13 then forms a stop for the enlarged diameter portion 15 of the firing pin so that forward movement of the firing pin, as during firing, is prevented so long as looking bolt 13 is in its unbolted condition.

Ejection and reception of a new cartridge When the pin 12 reaches the upper end of the inclined surface portion 13 of locking bolt 13 and the locking bolt is in its unbolted condition (Fig. 11), the pin 12 .and the surface portion 13 then cooperate to provide a coupling for transmitting further rearward movement of the plate 12 to the locking .bolt 13 and to the breech block 14. Thus, following unbolting of the locking bolt 13, the sleeve 10 manipulated by the hand engageable part 11, the arms 10 and 10?, the plate 12, the locking bolt 13 and the breech block 14 move rearwardly as a unit carrying along the fired cartridge which strikes against a conventional ejector (not shown) fixed on one side of the receiver 2 and operative to eject the fired cartridge through the opening 2 of the receiver.

At the commencement of the rearward movement of the locking bolt 13 and breech block 14 as a unit with the sleeve 10, the lower edge portion of the arm extending from the sleeve 10 engages the upwardly ofiiset part of the leaf spring 34 to outwardly deflect the stop tong 34 of the latter (Fig. 21). Toward the end of the backward displacement of the sleeve 10, the lower edge portion of the arm 10 engages the upwardly offset end portion of the leaf spring 34 and thereby outwardly deflects the stop tong 34 of the leaf spring 34 (Fig. 24). Thus, while the stop tongs 34 of both leaf springs 34 and 34 are deflected laterally outward to their inoperative positions, the rearmost cartridge in magazine tube 3 is released and pushed, by the action of the spring 7, onto the lifting device 32. However, the two stop tongs 34 are simultaneously in their inoperative positions only for a relatively small portion of the rearward travel of the arms 10 and 10 At the conclusion of .the rearward travel of the sleeve 10, the upwardly offset portion of the leaf spring 34 is again received in the release cut-out 10 of the arm 10 so that the corresponding stop tong 34 is returned to its operativeposition to retain the next cartridge in line within the magazine tube.

Loading 0r cocking However, even though the force of the spring .21 no longer acts upon the catch 18, the latter is held against return rocking to theposition of Fig. under .the influence of its spring 29 by reason of the engagement of the rearwardly moving arm 10 above them 18 ofthe catch 18, as shown in Fig. 16. Thus, the spring 30 (Fig.

.of the gun barrel.

8 13) can turn the automatic safety device 20 in the clockwise direction to the position as shown in Fig. 16, wherein .the lug or stop 20 of the safety device is disposed above the extension 25 of the trigger release 25 to prevent turning of the trigger release in the direction for freeing the cock 19, thereby making it impossible to cause firing of the gun. Thus, the gun embodying the present invention cannot he accidentally discharged so long as the arms 10 and 10 are ,rearwardly displaced from the positions that they occupy upon complete closing of the breech block 14 and boltingof the latter by the locking bolt 13.

Introduction of a cartridge When the hand engageable part 11 and the sleeve 10 are returned forwardly along the magazine tube 3, the pin 12 entrains the locking bolt 13 and breech block 14 and transmits such forward movement to the latter until the lug 13 of the locking bolt again registers with the mortise 1 of-the gun barrel. During such forward movement of the breech block 14, the notch 12 of the plate 12 catches the lever 33 to turn the latter in the counter-clockwise direction relative to the lift device 32, whereby the back end of the lift device 32 is depressed and the lift device pivots about the shaft 31 in the clockwise direction, as

viewed in Fig. 12, to raise the forward portion of the lift device. Thus, a cartridge carried by the forward portion of lift device 32 is raised to a position before the chamber Further forward movement of the breech block 14 causes the latter, at its front face, to push.

against the raised cartridge and thereby to introduce the latter into the chamber of the gun. At the conclusion of its forwardmovement, the plate 12 engages, at its lower surface, against the upstanding projection 32 on the forward portion .of the lifting device 32 thereby to depress such forward portion and cause counter-clockwise rocking of the lifting device.

Further, when the sleeve 10 reaches its foremost positionon the magazine tube 3, the back end of the arm 10 extending from sleeve 10 clears the free end of the arm 18 of .catch 18 to free the latter for clockwise rocking under theinfluenceof the spring 29, whereupon the catch 18 returns to the position of Fig. 15 and the end of its arm 18 is again engaged against the back end of the arm .10 to prevent rearward movement of the sleeve 10.

It should be noted that the breech block 14 reaches its foremost position against the back end of the gun chamber shortly before the sleeve 10 reaches its foremost position as limited by the clamp 1 Thus, after the breech block 14 has reached its foremost position (Fig. 11) the final increment of forward movement of the sleeve 10, arms 10 and 10 and plate 12, as a unit, causes the pin 12 to ride against the inclined surface portion 13 of locking bolt 13 and, since the lug 13 is then registered with the mortise 1 the locking bolt 13 is rocked to engage the lug 13 within the mortise 1 Then, the pin 12 rides along the surface portion 13 of the locking bolt 13 to complete the locking of the locking bolt in its bolted condition (Fig. 10) during the final forward movement of the sleeve 10 through the distance n. It should be noted that the above described rocking of locking bolt 13 to its bolted condition occurs prior to the release of the arm 18' of catch 18 by the back end of the arm 10 extending from sleeve 10. Thus, the breech block 14 is securely bolted in place at the time when catch 18 is returned to its position shown in Fig. 15 wherein the safety device 20 is rocked to its inoperative or released position by reason of the domination of the spring 30 by the spring 29.

At this point attention is directed to the function performed by the described double-hook system embodied in the sear 25 and the cock 19. More specifically, if the user of the gun, having fired a shot, keeps his finger inadvertently pressed against the trigger 23 while manipulating the hand engageable part 11 in order to cook the hammer 19 and introduce a new cartridge into the chamber of the gun, the double-hook system formed by the barbs 25 and 25 of the sear and by the hooks 19 and 19 of the cock will prevent premature firing. Under the stated conditions, continued pressure on the trigger 23 rocks the sear 25 so that the back barb 25 engages the back hook 19 of the hammer or cock 19 when the latter is returned to its cocked position (Fig. 17). If the user of the gun then releases the trigger 23, the sear 25 is rocked backwardly and the barb 25 then engages the hook 19 as in Fig. 15, so that the cock or hammer 19 is held in its cocked condition after only a small increment of rocking movement in the direction toward the firing pin.

Extraction of a cartridge from the chamber of the gun barrel In order to permit withdrawal of a cartridge from the chamber of the gun barrel -1 prior to the firing thereof, the gun embodying the present invention includes a push button 37 (Figs. 2 and passing upwardly through a suitable bore in the trigger guard 16. The button 37 carries a transverse pin 37 which, upon upward movement of the button 37, acts upwardly against the arm 18 of catch 18 thereby to rock the latter in the counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 15, so that the arm 18- of the catch is lowered away from the back end of the arm 10 extending from sleeve 10. Thus, the locking action against rearward movement of the sleeve 10 is released, and the latter can be moved rearwardly, along with the plate 12 and with the locking bolt 13 and breech block 14 to cause ejection of the unused cartridge through the opening 2 of the receiver.

1 Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described in detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be noted that the invention is not limited to that precise embodiment, and that various changes and modifications may be effected therein without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention, except as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a repeating hunting gun; the combination of a gun barrel having a chamber at its back end, a receiver connected to the back end of said barrel and opening into said chamber, a hollow breech block slidable longitudinally within said receiver, a pivot pin fixed in transverse relationship with respect to said breech block and defining a transverse axis, a locking bolt fitted in said breech block for longitudinal movement with the latter and being free to pivot about said transverse axis relative to said breech block between operative and inoperative positions, an extension on said barrel disposed in said receiver and having a mortise therein, a lug on said locking bolt extending fron'rsaid breech block in said operative position of the locking bolt and engageable in said mortise when said breech block is moved forward to close said chamber of the gun barrel, said locking bolt being held against pivoting in said inoperative position by said receiver when said breech block is displaced rearwardly from said chamber, said locking bolt having a cutout opening downwardly therein and defining first and second control surfaces which are respectively parallel and inclined with respect to the direction of the sliding movement of said breech block when said locking bolt is in said operative position, and actuating means for said locking bolt including a plate slidable longitudinally in said receiver, said pivot pin being mounted on said plate and extending into .said cutout to engage said control surfaces, said pin holding said locking bolt in said operative position, when engaged with said first control surface, and moving off said first control surface and along said second control surface to'pivot said locking bolt to said inoperative position and then to displace said locking bolt and breech block rearwardly in response to rearward sliding of said plate.

2. In a repeating hunting gun; the combination as in claim 1, wherein said mortise extends through said extension of the gun barrel and said lug projects from said 75 10 breech block a distance equal to the thickness of said extension when said locking bolt is in said operative position, so that said lug is engageable in said mortise over the entire thickness of said extension.

3. In a repeating hunting gun; the combination as in claim 1, wherein said locking bolt has a laterally centered slot therein, and further comprising a firing pin longitudinally slidable in said breech block and passing through said slot of the locking bolt, and cooperating means on said locking bolt and firing pin limiting the forward movement of the latter relative to said breech block when said locking bolt is in said inoperative position, thereby to prevent firing of the gun except when said breech block fully closes said chamber and is locked by engagement of said lug in said mortise.

4. In a repeating hunting gun; the combination as in claim 1, wherein said locking bolt has a laterally centered slot therein and a recess at the upper back end thereof, and further comprising a firing pin longitudinally slidable in said breech block and passing through said slot of the locking bolt, said firing pin having an en-- larged back end portion with a diameter larger than the; width of said slot so that the forward movement of said. firing pin relative to said breech block is limited by en-- gagement of said back end portion of said firing pin: with the back end surface of said locking bolt except: when said locking bolt is in said operative position to dispose said recess for reception of said enlarged back; end portion, thereby to prevent firing of the gun except; when said chamber is fully closed by said breech block: and the latter is locked against longitudinal sliding by engagement of said lug in said mortise.

5. In a repeating hunting gun; the combination of a: gun barrel having a chamber at its back end, a receiver connected to the back end of said barrel and opening into said chamber, a breech block slidable longitudinally in said receiver toward and away from a forward position wherein said breech block closes said chamber, a pivot pin defining a transverse axis fixed in transverse relationship with respect to said breech block and movable in said receiver, a locking bolt pivotable within said breech block between inoperative and operative positions about said pivot pin and movable to said operative position to lock said breech block against longitudinal displacement away from said forward position, said locking bolt having a cutout opening therein defining first and second control surfaces which are respectively parallel and inclined with respect to the direction of sliding movement of said breech block, when said locking bolt is in said operative position, a rearwardly opening magazine tube for receiving a plurality of cartridges, means for mounting said tube below said barrel with the back end of said tube being secured to, and opening into said receiver, manually operable actuating means slidably supported from said magazine tube, and control means for said locking bolt and breech block disposed within said receiver and connected to said actuating means to move said pivot pin off from said first control surface and along said second control surface to pivot said locking bolt to said inoperative position and displace said breech block from said forward position in response to rearward movement of said actuating means and to return said breech block to said forward position and then restore said locking bolt to said operative position in response to forward movement of said actuating means.

6. In a repeating hunting gun; the combination as in claim 5, wherein said manually operable actuating means includes a sleeve slidable on said magazine tube and having an axial length substantially shorter than the length of said tube, a hand engageable wooden part of generally U-shaped cross-section which is joined to said sleeve and embraces said tube along the entire length of the latter as wellas the forward portion of said receiver, and a pair of parallel arms extending rearwardly from said,

sleeve into said receiver and supporting said control means for the locking bolt and breech block.

7. In a repeating hunting gun, the combination as in claim 6, wherein a laterally centered slot is formed in said locking bolt, a plate coupled'to said sleeve and provided with a semi-circular boss extending therefrom, said pivot pin being mounted on said semi-circular boss and extending therefrom in said transverse direction, said locking bolt having a shaped surface for engagement with said pivot pin and remaining in engagement therewith during recoil at the moment of firing in order to hold said breech block in its bolted condition during recoil.

8. In a repeating hunting gun; the combination as in claim wherein said receiver has a forwardly opening recess receiving the back end portion of said magazine tube; and said means for mounting the magazine tube below the barrel includes a flange on said tube adjacent the back end thereof abutting against the front of said receiver to limit the movement of said tube into said re cess, a pair of guide pins extendingrearwardly from said flange, said receiver having forwardly opening bores receiving said guide pins to positively locate said tube relative to said receiver, and a screw'extending through said flange into said receiver to hold said tube against the removal of its back end portiorrfrom said recess.

9. In a repeating hunting gun; the combination as in .claim 5, further comprising yieldable means in said magazine tube for urging cartridges in the latter out of the open back end thereof, stop means for holding cartridges in said tube and operative to permit the rearward discharge of the cartridges one at a time from said tube into said receiver, lifting means operative to raise a cartridge discharged from said tube to the level of said chamber, and control means for said stop means and for said lifting means synchronously actuated by said manually operable actuating means to operate said stop means for permitting the discharge of a single cartridge from said magazine tube and then to operate said lifting means for raising the single discharged cartridge to the level of said chamber.

10. In a repeating hunting gun; the combination as in claim 9, wherein said stop means includes two leaf springs mounted at the opposite sides of said receiver and having stop tongues at their forward ends which are yieldably urged to operative positions obstructing the open back end of said magazine tube.

11. In a repeating hunting gun; the combination as in claim 10, wherein said control means for said stop means includes a pair of arms projecting rearwardly from said manually operable actuating means into said receiver, said rearwardly projecting arms being engageable with said leaf springs during sliding movement with said actuating means to successively flex said leaf springs laterally outward for-removing said stop tongues from said operative positions obstructing the open back end of said tube, so that, during the simultaneous laterally outward flexing of said leaf springs, a cartridge can be discharged from said magazine tube.

12. In a repeating hunting gun; the combination as in claim 9, wherein said lifting means includes a lifting member rockable within said receiver so that its forward end portion can move between a depressed position in line with said magazine tube where said forward end portion can receive a cartridge from said tube, and a raised position in line with said chamber where said receiver can displace a cartridge from said forward end portion of the lifting member into said chamber.

13. In a repeating hunting gun; the. combination as in. claim 12, wherein said control means for said lifting means includes a pair of arms projecting rearwardly from said manually operable actuating means intosaid receiver and carrying a control plate within the latter, anda con.-

member and engageable with the underside of said control plate, said control plate having a notch therein for catching said control lever during forward displacement of said manually operable actuating means, thereby to pivot said control lever relative to said lifting member for rocking the latter in the direction moving said forward portion toward said raised position.

14. In a repeating hunting gun; the combination as in claim 13, wherein said stop means includes two leaf springs mounted at the opposite sides of said receiver below the paths of travel of said arms projecting rearwardly from said actuating means and having stop tongues at the forward ends of said leaf springs which are yield ably urged to operative positions obstructing the open back end of said magazine tube, and wherein said rearwardly projecting arms have contoured lower edges cooperating with said leaf springs to successively flex said leaf springs laterally outward for removing said stop tongues from said operative positions of the latter during rearward movement of said arms with said actuating means so that said contoured lower edges constitute said control means for the stop means and a cartridge can be discharged from said magazine tube into said receiver during the simultaneous laterally outward flexing of said leaf springs.

15. In a repeatinghunting gun; the combination as in claim 14, wherein said control means for said locking bolt and breech block includes a boss on said control plate carrying said pivot pin, said locking bolt having a cam surface thereon engageable by said pin and contoured to effect forward and backward movement of said locking bolt and breech block, as a unit, during forward and backward movement of said control plate with said arms projecting from the actuating means and to rock said locking bolt to and from said operative position of the latter during the final increment of forward movement and during the initial increment of rearward movement, respectively, of said control plate.

16. In a repeating hunting gun; the combination as in claim 5, further comprising a firing pin slidable in said breech block, a trigger guard mounted at the under side of said receiver, a hammer rockably mounted on said trigger guard, to swing upwardly and forwardly against said firing pin from a cocked position for firing a cartridge in said chamber, a manually actuable trigger rockably mounted on said trigger guard, a sear connected to said trigger and rockably mounted on said trigger guard for movement between first and second positions wherein said sear is engageable with, and retains, said hammer in said cocked position and wherein said sear frees said hammer for upward and forward swinging against said firing pin, a rockable safety device mounted on said trigger guard and movable between a safe position to which it is yieldably urged and wherein said safety device engages said sear to prevent rocking of the latter to said second position, and a release position, wherein said sear is free to rock between said first and second position, a. catch member rockably mounted on said trigger guard coaxially with said hammer for movement between first and second positions wherein said catch member engages said safety device and rocks the latter to said release position thereof and wherein said safety device is freed for movement to said safe position, respectively, means continuously urging said catch member to said first position of the latter with sufiicient force to overcome the yieldable urging of said safety device to said safe position of the latter, and spring actuated means bearing against said hammer to move the latter forwardly and upwardly against said firing pin and, during such movement, to engage said catch member and displace the latter to said second position of the catch member, said hammer being returned to said cocked position by rearward movement of said breech block thereagainst so that said spring actuated means is removed from engagement with said catch member for permitting return of the latter to said first position of the catch member.

17. In a repeating hunting gun; the combination as in claim 16; wherein said manually operable actuating means includes a sleeve slidable on said magazine tube and a pair of parallel arms projecting rearwardly from said sleeve into said receiver and supporting said control means for the locking bolt and breech block, and wherein said catch member, in said first position thereof, engages the back end of one of said arms to prevent the rearward movement of said actuating means, thereby to prevent movement. of said breech block away from said forward position so long as said safety device is in said release position...

18. In a repeating hunting gun; the combination as in claim 17, further comprising a manually depressable button mounted in said trigger guard and effective, when depressed, to pivot said catch member to said second position while said hammer remains in said cocked position of the latter, so that said manually operable actuating means can then be moved rearwardly to permit withdrawal of an unfired cartridge from said chamber.

19. In a repeating hunting gun; the combination as in claim 17, wherein said catch member has a forwardly directed arm which, in said first position of the catch member, abuts in end-wise relation with said back end of said one arm projecting from said sleeve, said forwardly directed arm of the catch member being displaced downwardly when said catch member is rocked to said second position of the latter to permit rearward movement of said one arm projecting from the sleeve and being then engaged from above by said one arm to retain said catch member in said second position until said sleeve is returned forwardly to restore said breech block to said forward position of the latter, thereby to ensure the positioning of said safety device in said safe position except when said breech block is in said forward position closing said chamber.

20. In a repeating hunting gun; the combination as in claim 19, wherein said sear is of U-shaped configuration and has two barbs extending toward each other from the opposite legs thereof, and wherein said hammer has an extension projecting between said two legs of the sear in said cocked position of the hammer, said extension of the hammer having hooks at the opposite sides thereof engageable with the related barbs to hold said hammer upon the return of the latter to said cocked position in each of said first and second positons of the sear, thereby to prevent premature firing of the gun.

21. In a repeating hunting gun; the combination as in claim 19, furthercomprising yieldable means in said magazine tube for urging cartridges in the latter out of the open back end thereof, stop means for holding cartridges in said tube and operative to permit the rearward discharge of the cartridges one at a time from said tube into said receiver, lifting means operative to raise a cartridge discharged from said tube to the level of said chamber, and control means for said stop means and for said lifting means synchronously actuated by said manually operable actuating means to operate said stop means for permitting the discharge of a single cartridge from said magazine tube and then to operate said lifting means for raising the single discharged cartridge to the level of said chamber.

22. In a repeating hunting gun; the combination as in claim 21, wherein said lifting means includes a lifting member rockable within said receiver so that its forward end portion can move between a depressed position in line with said magazine tube where said forward end portion can receive a cartridge from said tube, and a raised position in line with said chamber where said breech block can displace a cartridge from said forward end portion of the lifting member into said chamber.

23. In a repeating hunting gun; the combination as in claim 22, wherein said stop means includes two leaf springs mounted at the opposite sides of said receiver below the paths of travel of said arms projecting rearwardly from said actuating means and having stop tongues at the forward ends of said leaf springs which are yieldably urged to operative positions obstructing the open back end of said magazine tube, and wherein said rearwardly projecting arms have contoured lo wer edges cooperating with said leaf springs to successively flex said leaf springs laterally outward for removing said stop tongues from said operative positions of the latter during rearward movement of said arms with said actuating means so that said contoured lower edges constitute said control means for the stop means and a cartridge can be discharged from said magazine tube into said receiver during the simultaneous laterally outward flexing of said leaf springs.

24. In a repeating hunting gun; the combination as in claim 23, wherein said control means for said lifting means includes a control plate carried by said arms projecting rearwardly from said sleeve, and a control lever pivoted on the back end of said rockable lifting member and engageable with the underside ofsaid control plate, said control plate having a notch therein for catching said control lever during forward displacement of said manually operable control means, thereby to pivot said actuating lever relative to said lifting member for rocking the latter in the direction moving said forward portion toward said raised position.

25. In a repeating hunting gun; the combination as in claim 24, wherein said control means for said locking bolt and breechblock includes a boss on said control plate carrying a laterally extending pin, said locking bolt having a cam surface thereon engageable by said pin and contoured to effect forward and backward movement of said locking bolt and breech block, as a unit, during forward and backward movement of said control plate with said arms projecting from the actuating means and to rock said locking bolt to and from said operative position of the latter during the final increment of forward movement and during the initial increment of rearward movement, respectively, of said control plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 618,033 Hemming Jan. 17, 1899 1,105,467 Swebilius et al July 28, 1914 2,090,340 Browning Aug. 17, 1937 2,418,946 Loomis Apr. 15, 1947 2,480,074 Browning Aug. 23, 1949 2,719,375 Crittendon et a1 Oct. 4, 1955 2,791,855 Simmons May 14, 1957

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