US477128A - lantz - Google Patents

Description

Qsheets sheet 1.

(No Model.)

F. W. LANTZ. MAGAZINE GUN.

Patented June 14, 1892.

(No Model.)

2. MW e h S V .w e e h S 2 Z T N A L W L MAGAZINE GUN.

Pateted June 14 um l.

m. nk" ce UNiTsD TATES PATENT Fries.

FRANKLIN lV. LAN'IZ, OF \VASIIING'I`()N, DIS'IRIC'l 0F COLUMBIA.

MAGAZINE-GUN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 477,128, dated June 14, 1892.

Application tiled January 27. 1892. Serial No. 419,446. (No model.)

To rL/ 11i/zout it may coil/cern:

lie it known that I, FRANKLIN W. LAN'IZ, a citizen ot' the United States, residing in the city of lVashington, District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Firearms, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to breech-loading tirearms in which the breech is opened and closed by a longitudinally-reciprocating bolt.

It relates more especially to manually-operated magazi11e-firearms in which th'e cartridges are arranged laterally in a magazinechamber below the breech-bolt and are successively fed to a tiring-chamber during the reciprocating movements of the bolt- The principal objects of my invention are to provide for the automatic closing of the breech'when there is a cartridge inthe receiver, to provide for automatically locking the breech mechanism open when the receiver is empty, to provide for the automatic feeding of the cartridges from the magazine to the axial line of the barrel, and to insure the automatic upward expulsion of the cartridgeholder after it has been emptied.

The details of construction and the subjectmatter claimed are hereinafter set forth and designated.

The accompanying drawings show so much of the mechanism of a breech-loading magazine-firearm as is deemed necessary to illustrate my invention. I have shown my improvements embodied in the best way now known to me. Obviously, however, some of my improvements may be used without the others, and the details of construction and some parts of the mechanism may be modilied in various ways without departing from the novel features of my invention. y

I `igure 1 is a side elevation ot' t-he breech portion of a gun constructed according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal central section, some of the parts being shown in elevation and the mechanism being shown as it appears immediately after firing. Fig. 3 isa similar view,the mechanism beingshown in the position it assumes just before a cartridge is fed to the tiring-chamber. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal transverse section on the line 4 -t of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a detail view in section showing the mechanism half -coeked.

Fig. 6 is a similar View with the parts in fulleock position. ltigs. 7, 8, Il, and 10 are respectively cross-sections on the lines 7 7, S 8, t) Si, and 10 10 of Fig. 2. Fig. ll is a detail view, partly in section, showing the breechbolt locked-back by the carrier. Fig. lf3 is a detail view in cross-section to show the guide for a lng on the sear. Fig. 13 is aside elevation, Fig. 14 a rear end View, Fig. 15 a' vertical section, and Fig,1t a transverse section, of the cartridge holder or case.

The stock A is suitably recessed and grooved to contain the operating mechanism, andthe breech end of thebarrel l; is provided witha tiring-chamber B', as in other guns of this class. The receiver C, which is secured at its front end to the barrel and extends backwardl y a suitable distance on the stock teaccommodate the breech-boit, is formed with an opening c,through which the cartridges are admitted and ejected, and it is open along the bottom from its rear end to the end ofthe barrel. The rear end of the reeeiveris provided with extensions C, which are secured to the stock, as shown in Fig. 4.

A magazine-chamber l), closed at bottom by the casing d, is arranged immediately below the front end of the receiver. The casing d extends rearwardly and is bifurcated at d', the arms (Z2 extending rearwardly and downwardly along the bottom of the stock. The receiver and the casing (l, wit-h its bifureated extensions d2, may be secured to the stock in any suitable way. 'lhe carrier is shown as consisting of a tabled", a curved lever-arm d3, and a spring (Z5. The lever-arm d3 is pivoted at one end to the casing of the magazine and at its opposite end is pivotally connected to the cartridge table or feeder (1,which bears against. the under side of the lowerlnost cartridge in the series. The spring d, which is secured to the casing d, bears against the lever d and tends to move the table vertically to feed the cartridges successively into position in front of the bolt, by which each cartridge is inserted into the firing-chamber. 'lhe arrangement issuch that the cartridges are fed successivelydirectly into the line of tire, so that the forward movementot' the bolt moves-a cartridge in the axial line ofthe barrel directly into the tiring-chamber.

The cartridges are carried in a case, holder,

or packet E of a novel construction. (Shown in detail in Figs. 13 to 1G, inclusive.) The case is preferably made of suitable sheet metal and is formed with inclined front and rear edges. The sides are closed and the case is open at each end and at bottom. At top the case is provided with an opening or chamber e, closed at top, into which a cartridge is fed just before it is inserted into the firingchamber. The chamber e is open only at the bottomand at each end. A cartridge may thus be fed into it from below and moved laterally from it, but cannot be moved upwardly beyond the axial line of the firing-chamber. The lower edges e of the case are turned inwardly slightly, and one of the rear edges is provided with a notch e2 to receive a retaining-catch, hereinafter referred to. A crosspiece e3 serves to prevent the two sides of the case from spreading too far apart. It also forms a bearing or abutment for the carrier when the carrier is actuated to eject the case from the receiver. Flanges or ribs e4, formed on the sides of the case, ti't in corresponding grooves in the receiver and the magazinechamber and prevent any movement of the case other than its substantially vertical movement .in being inserted and expelled from the magazine.

A catch F, pivoted at itslowerend f in the magazine-chamber, is provided with a rearwardly-extending finger-piece f and at its upper end with a tooth or hook' f 2, which engages with the notch e2 in the cartridge-case when it is in position in the magazine. A springfg, which may be an extension of the spring d5, bears against the catch and tends to'move it into engagement with the case. The ribs e4 of the case are formed with corresponding interior grooves e5, and in these grooves the rims of the cartridges lie.

As is clearly seen in Figs. 2 and 3, the cartridges have only about one-third of their bodies Within the ease, this being sufficient for all purposes.

NVhen the bolt is retracted and there is no packet of cartridges in the magazine, the earrier d3 bears, by means of its shoulder d, against the shoulder b of the receiver C, near the rear end of the barrel. of the carrier bears against the front end of the bolt, as shown in. Fig. l1, the carrier being provided with a shoulder, as there illustrated, to engage the end of the bolt.

A packet of cartridges may be inserted by pressing the lower end of the case against the table d, which is thereby depressed, the case then sliding against the front end of the bolt,

through the receiver, and into the magazinechamber, heilig guided during this movement by grooves in the side walls thereof. 'lhe construction and operation of this part of the mechanism will be further described hereinafter.

The trigger-guard G is secured to or formed with a sliding bar G', having suitable bearings in the guide-casing G2. A coiled spring 'lhe opposite end G3, housed in a easing in the stock, bears against the rear end of the slide G' and normally holds it in its front position and returns it to this position when moved out of it and when free to act. The trigger I extends through the casing G2 and through a mortise in the slide G', being pivoted at z' in the slide. The inner end of the trigger extends forwardly and upwardly, being formed with a hooked end t" foroperating the firing mechanism. The slide is formed atits upper front end with a hook g and a laterally-projecting lug or stud g. It is also formed with alongitudinal groove g2, which connects with an upwardly and backwardly inclined groove and slot g3, the grooves and slot forming a cam for operating the breech-bolt abutment hereinafter referred to. Y

rlhe breech-bolt K is adapted to reciprocate without turning within the receiver. The rear end of the receiver is open at k and the bolt is adapted to pass through this opening and extend rearwardly therefrom, as shown in Fig. 3. An arm K', secured to or formed with the breech-bolt, extends through the open bottom ofthe receiver. It is provided witha slot vertical at 7c' and extending upwardly and forwardly at 7a2. Into this slot extends thelug or stud g 'on the upper end of the trigger-guard slide. A vertically-sliding abutment L is adapted to move in guides in rearof thebreechbolt. The abutment is slotted at Z to accommodate the stem of the ring-pin. A downwardly-extending arm Z of the abutment is provided with a laterally-projecting lug or stud Z2, engaging the cam-slot and groove in the trigger-guard slide. As the trigger-guard slide is reciprocated, the abutmentis moved vertically at the proper times.I

The breech-bolt is formed of a single piece of metal. It is perforated from. end to end, being formed with suitable chambers for the firing-pin and its operating mechanism. Tile front end of the firing-pin M Works through a screw-plug m and is operated by a coiled spring fm. 'lhe rear end or stem m2 of the firing-pin extends beyond the rear end ofthe breech-bolt and is provided with a fingerpiece M. A Sear M2 is pivoted in the firingpin, and its front end is adapted to engage with a shoulder m3 of the bolt. Its downwardly-projecting arm m4 is adapted to engage with the front end of the trigger. 'lhe scar is provided with a lug m5, which rides along a flange or rail rm,6 in the receiver, by which arrangement the scar is prevented from turning on its pivot, except when the breech-bolt is closed and in firing position, the rail being cut away immediately in rear of the magazine-chamber to accommodate the proper movement of the scar. A shoulder mT on the firing-pin isadapted to receive the upper hooked end of the trigger when it is desired to half-cock the-gun.

The extractor N is arranged in a suitable recess rn in the receiver and is operated by the breech-bolt. As shown in Fig. 4, the ex- IOC IlO

however, notched ato', so that the tractor is provided with a heel n', which projects into a recess n2 in the bolt. Then the mechanism is in the position shown in Fig. 4, which is as it appears at the instant after tiring, the bolt may have a backward motion for a considerable distance before the extractor is operated. After moving through this distance the shoulder n3 on the bolt comes in contact with the heel n of the extractor, which is then moved a suliicient distance to extract the empty shell from the firing-chamber. The extractor is moved in the opposite direction by a corresponding shoulder nl. p

The trigger is pressed upwardly at its front end by a spring O. Its lower end is provided with lugs o, which slide along the guides in the casing, and the trigger is prevented from being operated when the slide is ont of its forward position, as the lugs embrace the guide-rail (Z2 and the trigger cannot turn on its pivot. The front end of the guide-rail is, lugs .can move freely and the trigger can be properly operated.

In Fig. 3 the mechanism is shown retracted, the triggerguard slide being held back against the force of the spring G3 by the hand which grasps the trigger-guard. As will be observed, the abutment- L is depressed out of the path of thebreech-bolt and the firing-pin is cocked. .lf now the hand be released, the spring forces the trigger guard slide upwardly and foiwardly along guides, and the lug or stud g', which extends into the slot in the downwardly'cxtending arm K of the bolt, moves the bolt forwardly and shoves the cartridge home into the tiringchamber, the extractor being caught by the rim of the cartridge and by the shoulder n4 of the bolt and carried into the position shown in Fig. 4. After the cartridge is driven hoine by the bolt the lug y enters the inclined slot in the arm K and the trigger-guard slide moves forwardly a short distance without moving the bolt. By this movement the hooked end of the slide assumes a position in front of the downwardly-projecting arm of the scar, asshown in Fig. 6, and the upper end of the trigger engages with the sear, as shown in the same figure. A bridge-piece a; of the bolt is arranged immediately beneath the front end of the sear and prevents the front end ot the slide from engaging with the scar should it tend to do so. While the lug g is moving in the inclined portion of the slot in the arm K the lug Z2 passes along the inclined groove and slot g3, and the abutment L is moved into position behind the breechbolt and in front of the finger-piece M of the firing-pin, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. The gun is then in firing position, and as soon as the trigger is pulled the scar is released from the shoulder m3 and the cartridge is discharged. lly then moving the trigger-guard slide against the force ot' the spring G3 the its inclined gun may be recocked and recharged, as will now be explained. The trigger-guard is first moved a short distance without moving the breech-bolt. Y the arm K and engages with the downwardly-projecting arm of the sear, draws the firing-pin backwardly, moves the sear on its pivot, and cocks it by causing its front shoulder m3. While the gun is being cocked and before the bolt is moved backwardly the abutment L is withdrawn from behind the bolt by the devices before described. After the gun has been cocked withdrawn the lug g engages with the vertical portion of the slot in the arm K', and the breech-bolt is drawn backwardly. At first it does not move the extractor N; but as soon as the bolt has moved a shoulder n3 engages the heel of the extractor. The shell is withdrawn and is ejected by the top cartridge in the series, which is fed upwardly into position to be shoved home into the firing-chamber. Thebackwardlnovement 9o of the breech-bolt is stopped when the arm K comes against the abutment L. When the last cartridge has been inserted into the upper end of the holder in line wit-h the firing-chamber, the carrier (Z4 will bear at its against the shoulder b and at its rear inclined end a bear against the catch F. After firing I the vlast cartridge and when the breech-bolt has been drawn back the catch F will be disengaged by the incline z on the rear end of roo the carrier, the shoulder z will engage the cross-piece e3 of the case, and the case with the extracted empty shell will both be ejected upwardly from the receiver. Immediately afterward the shoulder z2 engages the front `to end of the breecl1-boltand1ocks it back, holding it against the force of the spring Gr8 of the trigger-guard slide. It is obvious that the breech cannot be closed until the carrier is disengaged from the cartridges may be inserted in the manner before explained.

When the gun is used as a single-loader, the table d4 bears at all times at its frontend against the shoulder b. Its rear end b'ears 115 against the front end of the breech-bolt when it is retracted. By the insertion of a single cartridge the carrier is depressed, disengaged from the breech-bolt, and the breech-bolt shoots forward, the tiring-chamber.

The gun may be half-cocked by causing the hooked end of the trigger to engage with the shoulder mT on the firing-pin. This may be done by rctracting the firing-pin by means of 125' its handle and allowing the hooked en d of the triggcrto engage with the shoulder m7 when the breech is closed and when the trigger is free to move on its pivot. When thus halfcocked, the gun cannot, of course, be" red '13ol without manipulating thc handpiece M. The breech mechanism cannot be operated, as the During its movementthe lug 7o g rides along the inclined slot in end to engage With the and the abutment 8c suiicient distance the front end bolt. A new packet of no inserting the cartridge into 12o upper lug o is located in the notch o', and the trigger-guard slide is thus prevented from moving. I

My improved trigger mechanism insures great safety in operating the gun. In the first place, as before explained, the trigger cannot be moved except when the breech is closed and the lugs are free to move in the slot o. If the breech is to any extent openthat is to say, if the slide has moved out of its forward position and the lugs are away from the slot othe trigger cannot be moved on its pivot. When the breech is closed and the gun is ready for firing, the trigger when first pulled causes the lower lug o to enter the notch o', and this prevents any backward movement of the breech mechanism. continued movementof the trigger causes the lower lug o to pass upwardly into the notch, and then the trigger instantly operates the scar to release the firing-pin. v

When there is a packet of cartridges in the gun, it may readily be removed by opening the breech, withdrawing the catch F by means of its handle, and allowing the spring-actuated carrier to raise the packet out of the magazine-chamber. As the packet is thus raised it may be received by the hand of the operator. A

'lhe mechanism described is simple, efficient, and certain. I have shown and described my improvements in the best way known to me. I have, however, devised other ways of carrying out some vention, but do not deem it necessary to illustrate modifications or obvious changes in details of construction that might be' made.

I would state further that some features of my invention may be used in firearms of a different class from that to which they are herein shown as applied.

It will be observed that I am enabled by my improvements to operate the breech mechanism by simply drawingback the trigger-guard, thus making it unnecessary to remove the trigger-hand from the butt-stock or to make any inconvenient motions with the triggerarm. During the continuance of fire from the magazine the position of the weapon at the shoulder is unchanged. The motions of the hand and arm in firingfrorn the magazine are slight, natural, and easy to a degree which has not been approached in cases where it is necessary to remove the hand entirely from the butt-stock.

By the automatic return of the mechanism into position the weapon practically by only two motions. By locking back the breech-bolt whenever the breech is open, while the magazine is empty, the new charge, whether consisting of a full packet or a single cartridge, may be inserted and the weapon gotten ready for the resumption of fire by a single motion.

As a single-loader the weapon requires but three motions for charging and firing. It will be observed, also, that the breech-bolt is locked The v sliding breech-bolt, a sliding spring-actuated features of my inyinbefore set forth, of a pin therein,

'is prepared for firing and held open when the magazine is empty. The mechanism is thus automatically fixed'in position for recharging and at the same time the operator, finding that he cannot proceed,

receives notice that a recharge is necessary. Absolute safety is attained by so arranging the sear that it can be operated only when it is in proper firing position, and the trigger being disconnected from the sear, except when the gun is ready for firing, also contributes to this result. v

I claim as my invention- 1. A breech-loading firearm comprising a sliding breech-bolt and a sliding spring-actuated trigger-guard operatively connected with the breech-bolt.

2. A breech-loading firearm comprising a trigger-guard, a vertically-sliding abutment, a firing-pin sliding in the breech-bolt, and operative connections between the trigger-guard slide, the breech-bolt, sliding abutment, and the firing-pin. 1

3. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a reciprocating breechbolt, a spring-actuated slide, connections between the slide and a downwardly-projecting arm of the breech-bolt, a vertically-sliding abutment having a downwardly-extending arm engaging a groove or guide in the slide, a trigger pivoted in the slide, a firing-pin, and its scar adapted to engage with the trigger.

4. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a longitudinally-reciprocating breech-bolt carrying a sliding firingpin, a trigger-guard slide moving in inclined guides, a sear carried by the firing-pin and adapted to engage with a hook on the front end of the slide and with a shoulder on the breech-bolt, and a vertically-slidin g abutment operated by the trigger-guard slide.

l5. The combination, substantially as herelongitudinally-reciprocatin g breech-bolt, a spring-actuated irin ga sear pivoted to the firing-pin, a trigger-guard slide, connections between this slide and a downwardly-projectin g arm of the l breech-bolt, a vertically-sliding abutment operated by the slide, and a trigger adapted to engage with the Sear and with a shoulder of the firing-pin.

6. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a breech-bolt, a reciprocating firing-pin, a sear carried by the `firingand a trigger adapted to engage with the sear and with a shoulder of the firing-pin.

7. In a breech-loading gun, the combination of a longitudinally-reciprocating breechbolt, and an extractor mounted in a recess in the receiver and provided with a heel extending into a recess in the breech-bolt and moved by shoulders a`t opposite ends of the recess, the arrangement being such that the breech-bolt may move to a certain extent without moving the extractor.

S. In a magazine-firearm, the combination of areciprocatin g breech-bolt, means for feeding successively a series of cartridges vertically directly into the axial line of tire and into the path of the breech-bolt, and a spring-actu ated slide connected with the breech-bolt for breech-bolt, and a spring-actuated triggerv tomatical'ly-expelled cartridge case or 'holder having a chamber through which the breech guard slide connected with the breechbolt to shove the cartridge along the axial line of fire into thefiring-chamber.

10. The combination, in a magazine-rearm,

of a spring-actuated carrierlocated in a magazine-chamber below a receiver open' at top` and bottom, and a cartridge case or holder the upper end of which is arranged in there-v ceiver and has an opening or chamber into which the cartridges are successively fed and through which the breech-bolt passes.

11. A magazine-firearm comprising a reciprocating breech-b0lt and a cartridgel case or holder having its upper end arranged in the receiver andl having a chamber open at front=,-`v

rear, and bottom, but closed at top, into which the cartridges are successively fed aridthrough which the breech-bolt passes. p

12. A magazine-firearm comprising a cartridge case or holder having a chamber at vtop into which the cartridges are successively fed and through which the breech-bolt passes, a spring-actuated carrier, and a catch engaging the cartridge-case to hold it imposition.

18. In a magazine-firearm provided'v with a receiver open at top and bottom, the combination of a reciprocating breech-bolt and an aubolt passes.

14. A cartridge case or holder open at each end and at bottom, provided with grooves for the rims of a series of cartridges and having a chamber at the top adapted to receive a reciprocating breech-bolt.

15. In a magazine-drearm having a receiver open at top and bottom, the combination of a lcngitudinally-reciprocating breech-bolt, a detachable vertically-moving cartridge case or holder, a catch for retaining the holder 1n the magazine chamber, a cartridge table which engages with the catch to release it and permit the cartridge-holder to be auto'- matically expelled, and a spring which is operatively connected with the table and which forces it upwardly to feed the cartridges successively to disengage the catch and to engage With the cartridge-holder to expel it, substantially as set forth. 16. In a breech-loading firearm, the combination of a s ring-actuated breech-bolt and a spring-actua ed cartridge-table engaging the breech-bolt to hold it in its retracted position gun in the magazine-chamber, and means for moving the table into engagement with .the breech-bolt to hold it in its retracted posltion,

' Asubstantially as set forth.

18. In a magazine-firearm, the combination of aeartridge case or holder, a catch engagngtherewith, a carrier adapted to disengage the catch from the case and provided'with a shoulder to engage the breech-bolt to lock it back after the ejection of the last cartridgeshell.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name. j FRANKLIN W. LANTZ.

Witnesses:

LLOYD B. WIGHT, B. W. MILLER.

means for permanently connecting it to the

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