US998738A - Repeating firearm. - Google Patents

Description

P. ARPS.

REPEATING FL'REARM.. APPLICATION FILED 111111.23, 1911.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Patented July 25 @www REPEATING FIRBARM.

APPLICATION P11131) 111111.23, 1911.

Patented July 25, 1911.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

` 1". AHPS. n REPEATING FIREARM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 23, 1911.

' Patented Ju1y'25, 1911.

v4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

v10@ w15/ z F. A-RPS.

REPEATING FIREARM.

APPLICATION PILBD'MAR. 23, 1911.

Patented July 25, 1911.

l tion thereof.

. repeating firearm of -this type.

"weight of the barrel and vrender 1n carrying. Further,

UNTTED sTATEs PATENT oEEicE.

FRED ARPS, OF NEW HOLSTEIN, WISCONSIN.

REPEATING FIREA RM.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that L'FRED Anrs, a citizen of the United States, and resident of New Holstein, in the county of Calumet and State of lVisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Repeating Firearms; and l do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact descrip My invention refers to magazine or repeating fire-arms, its general object being to provide a simple, durable, safe and effective Specific features of my invention ar-e:

To provide means for locking the breech of a reciprocative barrel solidly to a receiver head; To provide means whereby the usual breech-bolt is dispensed vit-h and thus produce a gun having the same length of barrel as that of. the ordinary type but much shorter in'its entire length;

To provide means whereby the magazine is formed in the gun stock in place of being located. under the barrel as in ordinary cases, whereby the extra weight of the ammunition so placed will-counterbalance the theV gun capablel of being handled more effectively and accurately, this even distribution of weight. being also advantageous in carrying the gun as the extra load of the ammunition inthe'st'ock is disposed rearwardly of the point where the gun is usually'supported a gun so balanced can be made proportionately heavier throughout to resist recoil owing to its perfect poise;

To provide means for .cutting otfthe automatic magazine feed and inserting shells directly into the barrel whereby single shells varying in load from those in the magazine' may be used in emergencyV without resorting to extraction of a shellv that has previously 'been fed into the breech.. Thisvprovision for hand-loading also renders the gun much safer when used assingle loader in instances where the' vmagazine ammunition is exhausted;

To provide an'oscillatory shell-delivery bridgefblock'carrying a release plunger forl the firing mechanism7 the bridge-block bef ing capable of entering `and closing the mouth of the magazine when the breech is closed and coincident'thereto' actuates the loading sprihgof the hammer incidental to Sipecication of Letters Patent.

Application led March 23,

yabsolutely disconnected from a movement whereby the bridgefblock enl trating the shell ejector ters the magazine, thus economizing space when the breech is closed;

To provide an ammunition feed-movement where the pump stroke is first forward and then backward for repeating, which movement is the reverse of the action usually em ployed in firearms of this character. The above mentioned movement avoids awkwardness, it being the natural tendency of a person to involuntarily first throwhis arms outward in an emergency;

To provide a trigger mechanism that is the. firing mechanism and inoperative until such time as the breech is absolutely locked to the receiver, whereby premature explosion is avoided through manipulation of the trigger prior to the breech being closed and locked;

To provide a gun; the internal mechanism of which permits neat appearance andsymmetrical lines, this being due to the fact that the exposed and clumsy magazine tube of ordinary typcis dispensed with;

To provide an automatic shell guide whereby the shells are' positively alined with the bore of the barrel and thus shells. varying in length to a certain degree, or defectively crimped7 or shells out of shape from other causes can be entered into the bore without sticking; and lastly to provide a simple and effective automatic shell extractor.

l/Vith the above objects in view myiinvention consists in what is herein shown, described and claimed.

In the drawings Figure l represents a sectional elevation of a gun embodying the features of my invention with parts broken away and parts in section to more clearly illustrate structural features, the view being shown with the breech closed; Fig. 2, represents a similar view illustrating the breech in its open or loading position; lFig. 3, an exterior elevation of the gun in its closed position with certain partsY broken away to illustrate `details of construction; Fig. 4, a

detail plansectional view of the gripping strap and its connected mechanism, the view being .indicated upon line 1 -4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 45,-' a. detail sectional elevation of a portion of the gun chamber showing one of the Vshell guidewings in elevation in its position ofrest; F ig. 6, a detail plan sectional view, as indicated by line G-6 ot Fig. l2, illusmechanism; Fig. 7;

Patented July 25, 191i. 1911. Serial No. 616,475.

Los

a detail side elevation of the mouth portion of the breech; Fig. 3, detail cross-section as indicated by line 8-8 of Fig. 1; Fig. 9, a. detail central section "of a portieri of the bridge-blocl and shoe and the means for locking the same together, and Figs. 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15, cross-sections of the breech mechanism as indicated by the respective lines 10 to 15 inclusive upon Fig. 1.

Referring by characters to the drawings, 1 represents a receiver or breech that is in the form of an inverted iJ in cross-section, in which receiver the butt end of agian-barrel 2 is supported. The side-walls of the receiver are provided with longitudinal offset ways 3 for the reception of flats 3 of the barrel,-

which barrel is in telescopic union with the receiver and held against twisting therein by the sliding engagement of its iiats 3" with the receiver ways 3, the same constituting guides therefor. The mouth of the butt end of the barrel Q is provided with a depending lug 2 having an apertured ear, through whi h aperture a pin i projects, the same serv ng as trunnion for the bifurcated shank 6 of a bridge-blockj the bifurcated shank terminating with arms 6 that extend beyond its fulcrum point and have apertures in their ends for the reception of a stud 7,-

'which stud also passes through ears 3 of' a longitudinally disposed strap 9, whereby the same is heb in hinge connection with the bridgeblocs, which' bridge-block constitutes an elbow lever, its functions andr structural features being more particularly hereinafter referred to. r1"he strap 9 is adapted to lit within the open throat of the receiver and is in slidable union with a reciprocative grip-plate 10, the latter being secured to the strip by heads 11, 11', having gnide-necks that are fitted into longitudinal slots of the gripping-plate, the heads being securel by retaining screws thatpass through suitable apertures in the strap and are in threaded engagement with the is of heads, the head 11 being provided with an undercut beveled cam-face 11, the function ofwhich cam will be Astated hereinafter. By the connection between the strap and grip-plate just described a limited play or yield between said parts may be had, the grip-plate,in turn, being connected to the gun-barrel by'a pin 12 that is carried by and brii'lges side flanges 13 of said gripeplate. The pin 122 also engages a slot in a depending `guideflug 1li.- of the barrel, the lun' being interposed be- ,twcen the grip-plate side flanges. The outer end of the grip-plate 10 terminates a foot 10, to which is secured a suitable wood hand-grip 15, the same simulating 'thetermina] of an ordinary run-stoel( and when the breech is closed, the rear face of the hand-grip1 as shown in 1, is adapted to abut the adjacent' end or mouth of the receiver-1. f

loc-lr the barrel in its closed or firing position .engugeable witha ratchet-tooth l22 that is eeavee The receiver 1 carries a detachable transversely disposed stop-key 16 that is adapted to limit outward movement of the barrel by engageznentwith anotched recess of its breechlug 2', which outward or opening movement of said barrel is automatically locked to the receiver through the stop-key] 16 a spring-controlled dog 17 that fulcrumed 'to the breech Alug 2. The barrel is also locked to the receiver through the stop-key 16 in its inward or closed position by a tumbler 13, which tumbler is fulcrumed upon a spur of the barrel-lug and is provided with a rectangular notch 20 at its forward end for engagement with said stopkey, the 80 tun'ibler being flat upon its-under side and of such length to bridge the distance it traverses relative to the stopkey. Thus when the breech is opened, as indicated in Fig, 2, the stop-key being released by the dog 17 tov close said bridge, the tumbler will ride upon. the upper face of the aforesaid stop-key until its notch 2G registers therewith, at which time said tumbler will drop thereove1 and as shown iny Fie. 1. uThe tumbler 18 is loosely fulcrumed, as statefYA and is held against lateraliplay by an end finger 13 that abuts the end face of the guide-lug 14, the same being held against side play owing to its linger being litt/ed between the grip-plato side Atlanges 13..

The locking movement of the tumbler 18 with relation to the stop-hey 1G is poitively effected by a final inward movement of the grip-plate incidental to closure of the breech against a receiver l ead 21, which head is integral wit the breech 1. To accomplish this positive lock between the tumbler and stop-key, the side-flanges 13 of the grippin plate are provided withy beveled terminal faces constituting cams 13. The cante arel adapted toengage beveled ends 13 of the tumbler and force the saine downward whereby its rectangular notch 20 will en'- said stophty. The grip-plate, however, prior to its .final movement just mentioned, is locked to the strap 9 by a springcontrolled pawl Q2 carried by said strap and formed in the face of the aforesaid strap. Thus when the initial closing action of the breech is effected, the pawl 22 causes the strap and grlpping-plate'to moveinwardly as one and Just prior to the tumbler locking 'mov/ement, thetail of the paul will engage the stop-hey 1G whereby said pawl will be freed from the ratchet-tooth to thus permit independent movement of the grip-plate 10, causing the tumbler to drop. A tapered releasing nose 13", of which tumbler, simul-y taneously enters a corresponding tapered re? cess 10 of the grippingplate, it being un- `derstood that theJ reciprocating movement of said gripping pla-reis permitted through its 130 breech.

Ilimit-ed by the pin and slotv connection therewith. The first effect of this initial movevment of the gripjjiing-plate causes the tapered releasing nose 18 ot the tumbler to withdraw from the gripping recess l, whereby said tumbler is released from locking engagement with the stop-key and is `v'held in its lifted position bythe nose 18 stop-key having, in the meantime,

i axis.

'slotted ably formed with resting upon the adjacent face ot' the gripping-plate until such time as the latter has completed its forward movement, at the completion of which movement the pawl 22 locks said gripping-plate and strap 9 together by entering the'v ratchet-tooth 22 therein, the'bottom face of the tumbler resting upon the treed upper -ace of the stopkey. .l

In completing the outward stroke the barrel .and gripping-plate move together until chccked'byl the stop-key 16 abutting vthe notched recess of the barrel-lug 2', the said a tapered nose 17 of the dog 17 and deflected thev latter, whereby upon. its return under' spring control the aforesaid stop-key and barrel are locked together, the latter beingnow'in its full open position., The same initial independent movement of the grip-plate and strap 9 takes place when the this instance, said grip-plate andstrap are locked.together, as previously stated, for a time, one function of this movement being to eifecta release of the stop-keybylhis'release is accomplished by engagement of the cam-face l1 of the head 1l engaging the beveled nose of the locking dog 17, the gripping-plate and strap swinging as one piece between the pin that is supported in the guide-lug 14- and arms (3a of the shellbridge to whichl the strap 9 is hinged.

. Owing to the length` ot the receiver 1 the sliding engagement between its -ways and' the barrcletlats 3, there is ample support at all times to vprevent sagging of the barrel when the parts are in their forward or open position. 'llhebifurcated shank G of the .bridge-block terminates at a distance from approximately equal thc axis of'its trunnion to the distance between the trunnion axis `and bottom of the barrel bore, the mouth of. saidI which bore is4 vertically alincd with A shall-track 23 'forming part of the bridge-block projects rearward from its at this point, the length oiI the shell-track 4being approximately the sameflcngth of the longest shells to be used, its bottom being prefera Slight concave te .taciliengaged reech is closed with the exception that, inl

,shelltrack being the bottom face of the mouth of the maga-V Zine tube 27. The shoel 25 is thus'depresscd tate centering the shells which are to slide thereon. 4; has also hinged thereto branched arms ot a magazine cut-oli shoe 25, the branched arms merging into a concavo-convcxiwl skeleton shell-seat 2G that is disposed directly under the bridge-block track 223, thc said shell-seatforming part ot thc cut-ofi' shoe 25, which latter extends upwardly therefrom and is formed ,with a circular port-ion adapted to enter the mouth ot' a lmagazine tube Q7 thatv projects rearwardly from the adapted .receiver l, thasiiruct-ural features ol which A con-- 'tube will be stated hereinafter. tracted neck 2G extends from the upper edge of' the circular portion ot" the cut-ott' shoe 25,'from which neck oppositely disposed lateral wings '26 are branched, the wings being notched for matched lit with similar notches formed in the cnd of the bridge-block track 23. The shoe and free end Vot" the track are normally held in locked engagement by a. s jpiring-ciintrollcd dog 28 that ishoused in the slotted rib 26 of the shoe, the nose ot the dog'bcing arranged to engage the lower face ot the shelltrack while 'its tai'l projects through a slot in the shell-seat 26, whereby said dog may be tripped when it is desired to unlock the shell-seat and shell-track for the purpose ot reloading the magazine tube 27, which operation will be hereinafter described. The shell-track 23 is aperturcd at vits base for the reception olf a vertically disposed .springcontrolled hammer release-plunger 2), the lower end of which is connected to the stud 7 carried by the bridge-block arms (5, the connection being effected by means of a link SO that is hinged to said plunger and in slotted engagement with said stud 7. The opposing spring of'the release-plug 29 is arranged to normally hold the end o f the same flush with the upper face of the shelltrack and'also adapted to force the slotted link 30 forward upon its supporting stud, the double action of the spring being due to a tin 29 of the plunger which has locking engagement with the link, whereby these two parts move downwardly together.

llrlhcn the breech is open, as shown in Fig.` 2, the shell-track 23 is swung downwardly at an angle d ue `to its strap connection with the grip-plate l0, the end of said approximately alinedwith to present an unobstructed Apassage for a shell A and the same, as shown, is :Forced out ot the magazine tube upon the track'23 by a spring-ciultrollcd follower 2% ln the above mentiomid position the metallic bead l5 of the shell is caught by oppositely disposed delicaie arc-shaped webs 3Q that cxtend from the side-wallsI ot the receiver l, the are of the samc being described about The bridge-block trunnion.

thea'xesL of the bridge-block pin e and is of a radius equal to the length of its shell ltrack, assuming said bridge-block to be in trigger guard-bracket 33 that is attached to the bottom face of the magazine tube 27 adjacent lto its mouth, into which bracket is iulerumed `a trigger 34 and mounted within a recess of the latter upon a pin 35 is a tumbler 36, the same being in slotted union with the pin to permit end play, which play is rearwardly opposed by a leaf-spring 36 i that is seated within a recess of the trigger bracket haying one end in engagement with the tumbler. For economy in construction a single leaf-spring secured to the magazine v tube is arranged to oppose the trigger action and also the nose 36 of the tumbler,

which nose normally restsupon a shoulder of' said trigger, the tumbler being thus free to rise or recede as the case may require, it

lbeing understood that the tumbler isY disposed justi below the mouth of thev magazine tube. which is cut away at this point to permit clearance, ,whereby the release-plunger and the forward end of its link 30 may be brought into alinementover the nose 36 ot' the tumbler when the breech is closed. lThe magazine tube 27 is also slotted through its top surface whereby guide-rails 37 are formed, the space therebetween permitting the bridge-blockto enter said tube, the rails 37 'being alined with the'lower surface of thebridge-block track 23 when the latter is swung to its shell-inserting position. 'llhese rails 37 terminate in the receiver chamber just below the breech head. 21 thereof and when said breech is closed the circularpor-l tion of the shoe 24 enters the tube 27, while its neck portion 26 passes between the rails 57 andthe wings 26 ride over said rails.

l Thus tlie entire bridge -bloclfenters the magazine tube and .is deflected therein by the rails to a slight angle, as shownA in Fig. 1, in order to conform to the angle or said magazine tube.

From the foregoing description with re erence to the shell-bridge 23, it..will be seen that when the breech is closed, as shown in `Fig: 1, the release-plunger 29 is positioned just over the nose of the trigger tumbler 36,

whereby action of the trigger 34 and tumbler will cause. said plunger'to rise and releaser the firing mechanism. The liring position of the release plunger is effected by the linal backward independent motion of thegrip-plate 10, which movement causes its end 10 to engage the release plunger link 30 and force the same backward a suftlcient distance to place its plunger carrying head over the tumbler. Should it hap-g pen that the operator incidental to this move had inadvertently held the trigger back in its tiring position, the head of the link 30 will abut the nose 36 of the tumbler and thrust the same backwardly, whereby no damage can be done. In order to tire the gun, however, the operator must first relieve the betere mentionedl trigger pressure and when thisL is done said trigger and tumbler under spring control will drop, causingthe tumbler nose to clear the bottom face of the link 30 and said tumblerunder its independent spring pressure will be forced forward to its tiring position thereunder, as shown in Fig. 1.

The receiver head 21 is provided with the usual tiring pin 38, which pin is acted upon bv a rearwardly disposed spring-controlled hammer-bolt 39 that is slidably mounted in guides d0, 40, ot a bracket tl-secured to the receiver. The head of the hammer bolt) carries a loading tumbler 42, the nose rof which normally lies in the path of travel of the bridge-block track 23, which latter abuts theloading tumbler as it enters the magazine tube 27 and in its travel backward therein pushes' the hammer-bolt back past its full cock position. They last part of the backward movement of the `hammer-bolt causes the" tumbler to ride upward and over the face of the bracket-guide 40', which tace is now alined with and upon the same plane as the upper face of the shell-track 23,

the latter having come to rest. The hammer is now freed by the tumbler from en gagementwith thetrack and will -shoot forward a slight distance, said tumbler traveling upon the upper faces of the guide 4G" and track until such time as the hammer is caught by a 'springcontrolled trip-dog 43,

the nose of which engages the second of a:

pair of notches'all in the face ot the hammer-bolt, whereby the same is locked in its loading position. The irst notch of the hammer-bolt is provided `for the purpose of permitting thetrip-dog 43 to assume its normal position after the hammer has been shot forward vin a firing movement. The .tail 43 ot' the trip-dog extends into a recess formed in the receiver head 21 and is, as shown in'y Fig. 1, arranged to be alined 'over the end ot the release-plungerA 29 when the breech is' closed, whereby said plungerpwill release the tiring mechanism under control 'oifzthe trigger action. A safety lock for theiiiiingmechanism is also provided, the `same comprising a transversely disposedV hand-coin` trolled slidable bolt 45 that is mounted in Vrendered inoperative, whereby i ot the an aperture of the receiver head 2l, which bolt has a notch therein so arranged that when the bolt is pushed in one direction, the notch registers with the tail 43 ot the tripdog and thus permits clearance for its movement incidental to a ring operation. Should the safety bol-t be shift-ed in the opposite direction, the uninterrupted face of the latter will be alined with the tail ot the trip-dog and the same is thus locked and a firing movement cannot be e'tlected, access t'or manipulation oit the safety bolt 45 being had by means of its ends which protrude through the walls ofthe receiver in either direction alternately, it being understood that a suitable inscription is placed upon the receiver walls adjacent to the bolt ends to indicate sa'lety and tiring position, As shown, the usual wood stock Q7 is secured about the rear end ot' the receiver, the same being provided with a bored aperture that is adapted to lit the niagazine tube 27, whereby ammunition is all stored in the stock.`

A pair ot oscillatory' guard wings G are pivoted to the inner side walls ot' the receiver chamber, each being adapted to operate in conjunction with the bridge-block and arranged 'to rise and 'tall incidental to swing latter, whereby a shell is lirmly clamped atkits sides and centered;prior to its entrance into the bore of the barrel, in which instance the lower face of the shell rests upon the traf-i923 and its diametrically opposite edge guided by a tapered hoger 5 Athat extends outwardly from the mouth of the barrel, there being a recess iu the receiver head to permit seating ot' the finger therein when said breech is closed. lllaeh guard -wing t6 is in the shape of a thin skeleton frame having an upper curved arm `47 anda `lower straight arm 47 that are .branched `trom a shank which carries a lplvot-stiul 48 that is Journaled in a recess in 'the wall' of the receiver, the outer end ot the arms 47, 4:7 being connected by a web 47, which web struck from an are of a circle` described about the guard-wing axes.

Each arc-shaped web is arranged to travel 50` past adjacent shell stop' web 32 ot` the kirecei'ver, being liush therewith and ust torward of the receiver head. 'The bottom ot each guard-wing web dfiterminates with -an inturned oti'set lip 49 andthe upper end ot said web has a stop-finger 49 that is adapted to seat upon .the top edge of the "shell" stop web 32 lwheirthe guard-wing is fdepressed. whereby downward moven'ient ot the same is limited. The curved upper arm ot' each guard wing is split in width to l'orm '-fa guard `linger 50, the end section thereof beting parallel wilhl theV are-shaped weh 47 and is slightly llared or bowed inwardy `lor the purpose of engagement with the upper lace ofthe shell-track 23, whereby the latter lifts each guard-wing when the free end of the l'iridge-bloek is swung upwardly to deliver an alined shell to the bore of the barrel.

In the eormolete operation of the guardwings when the breech is closed, depressed shoulders 5l of the barrel-lug 2 engage the curved arms 47 of said guard-wings and Vtorce the latter downward so as to present a clea r field above the shell-track t'or the incoming shell and primarily tor the purpose a rectangular teed and shell discharge aperture 52 that is formed in one wall ot the receiver l, through which aperture spent shells are ejected and single shells inserted when niagazine fed shells are not desired. The guard-wings 4,6 are also held in their depressed position by the lips 4f!) that engage longitudinal grooves 51 formed in the edges of the strap l), which grooves extend bach a sutlicient distance to permit cl zarance of the lips when the breech is entirely closed, it being understood that when the breech is open the grooves 5l recede clear ot' said lips. rl`he initial opening movement ot the breech has no etl'ect upon the guard-wings but when the bridge-block has cleared the mouth ot' the magazine lube and swings downwardly, ledges 5l that extend .from the outer edges ot the shell-track 223 and expand the spring-lingers 5l) until such time as the ledges 5l pass under the lingers when the same will spring bach' therefrom preparatory to being engaged by said ledges and in the meantime a shell has been discharged trom the tube upon the traehV 23 and is gripped between the contracted spring-fingers 50, whereby said shell is eentered. v lise ol' the tree end oi the bridgeblock and guardwings containing the gripped shell is then eli'eeted by the initial return or closing moven'ient ot the gripplate 10 and during the remainder ot' the breech-closing movement the ledges 5l of the shell-track recede from the gers :s said bridge-block enters the 'magazine tube whereby the spring-lingers 50 are cleared to permit a downward swing ot' the guard-wings, which swing is ell'eeted as t previously stated by engageimnt ot' the curved arnis 417 with the depressed shoulders 5l ot' the barrel-lug, it being understood that the lips 4l) of the wings are just under the shell-track when the guard-wings are swung up, wl'iereby overthrow ot the saine is prevented and that the downward movement of said guard-wings is limited by engagement; o't' the stop-finger 49 with the receiver web 32,

When the gun is used as a single loader, the wood hand-grip l5 that is carried by the gi'i}')| i:ig-plate l() and barrel are simultaneously securely gripped together by the operator when the gun breech is to be broken or opened and hence the final independent engage f spring fmthen be inserted into the receiver chamber .through Aits aperture 52, the shell being dropped upon the bridge-block and thereafter a linalmovement of the gripping-plate beingcompleted independent of the breech movement, said shell will be alined with the l Vbore of the breech preparatory to entering the same by a closing movement,

In order to eject an empty shell the breech head 2i.; is provided with a vspringcontrolled ejector` plunger 53,7which plunger isduopsed'ini a line intermediate of i the receiving aperture 52r and tiring pin,

' cally opposite there being a barbed head 53 also extending plunger` and receiving aperture. 'orner inte ejector At the section ofthe inner faces of the Aarrel-hea '2l and surface of the receiver diametrically V:opposite the barbed head 53, thereis a projecting Ytapered lug 54, which -fro'rn saidreceiver head between'the lug engages the metal bead B of the shell i whenthe latter is forced to its seat against the receiver head. `Said lug 54 thus positively centers the cap of thecshell with the firingV pin, while at the same; tin e the slight lateral movement imparted Vth reto 'forces the point of the shell bead that is diametrithe lug under the barbed head now seated-for iring .53', :Said shell being b b 1 1 d .th th ar eo hea ,wr e

and Ylocked under the spring controlled ejector pressed. As the breech is opened it follows i c that the ejector plunger 58E-will' exert pressure upon the shell and thelsame will there: by be thrown out through the receiver aperture, its bead heilig engaged by the barbed head 53 which a'cts a fulcrum point about which the shell is twisted as its mouth is cleared from the bore of the barrel causing said shell te describe an arc of a circle as it is ejected through the receiver aperture 52.

ln loading the magazine tube 2 the gun is inverted so that the openjthroat of the receiver l is j iresented to the operator and the breechgbeing open, the Voperator pieces a shell upon the shell-seat 26 that is carried' by'V the `bridge-block.

shell is then pressed forwardly, whereby it engages the tail of the spring-mntrolled dog 28 and actuates the latter te thus unlock the shell-seat. and shoe from the track portion of the bridge-block. The shell-scat 26 together with its integral shoe then depressed, whereby the shoe will close the'lnouthnf the magazine tube and said shell together with any number of such may be then iuecrtcd intothe magazine tube, there being sullicieut spring in the shell-seat 26 when the latter is closed te cause the heel of the lslice 25 to catch over the mouth plunger com-V` The bead B of the of each shell as itis inserted into the magazine tube, whereby each shell is held in the tube in opposition tothe .spring-pressed follower 31.

claim: Y

l. 4In agrepeating fire-arm having a stock, .a magazine therein, .a receiver secured to the stock, and abarrel reciprocatively mountedr within the receiver; the combination of abridge-block in 'hinge connection with the barrel and a reciprocative grip-plate in yielding connection with the bridge-block and barrel whereby'the free end of said bridge-block is adapted to swing upward and enter the magazine when the breech is closed and to clear said magazine and swing Yputwardly when the breech isopened.

2. In a repeating lire-arm having a stock, a magazine tube fitted therein, a spring- Vcontrolled follower mounted inthe tube, an inverted '1J-shaped receiver secured to the stock having a head VVdisposed above the Ymouth of the Itube, a barrel reciprocatively,`

mounted Within the receiver, and-fa guidelug depending from the barrel; the combinationoi a bridge-block in hinge with the barrel-lug, and a grip-plate reciproeatively connected to th'ebarrel, and afyielding connection between said grip-plaiev and' bridgeblock whereby the freend of the bridgeblock is swung upwardly from a registering position with thertubebottom to alinementivith the lower face of the barrel-bore during` an initial breech-closing movement, the bridge-block being thereafter orced into the tube during the remainder of said closing movement, and means for eiiecting automatic release and locking engagement between the barrel' and receiver incidental to opening and-closing of the breech.

3. In a repeating fire-arm having a stock, la magazine-tube fitted therein, a spring controlled follower mounted in the tube, an inverted ill-shaped receiver secured to the stock having a breech head disposed above the mouth of the tube, aV barrel-.reciprocatively mounted within the receiver, and a lug depending from the mouth of the barrel; the combination of a' bridgeblock adapted toV enter the tube comprising a shank portion in pivotal union with the barrel-lug, a shell-track extending from the shank portion, a shoe secured to the free end of the track, manually controlled means con.- necting the barrel and bridge-block, whereby its shoe portion is retracted from the tube 4and swung to a position below the Same incidental te' a breech-opening movement and is raised in an initial breech-closing movement to eii'ect a closing of the magazine tube and bore Yor the barrel, the inal closing movement'heing adapted to force Vthe bridgeblock intoY the tube, a spring-controlled release plunger carried the bridge-block,

-a carin-controlled trivier mechanism disi Y, ab f cli posed below the mouth of said magazine tube, whereby the release-plunger is brought into an engaging position with the trigger meclnmism incidental to' full closure of the breech against the breech-head of the breech, and a spring-controlled tiring mechanism located rearwardly of the receiver head arranged to be cocked by engaging the bridge-block when the breech is closed and released b ,v the trigger action operated through the interposed release-plunger' carried by said bridge-block.

4.' In a repeating fire-arm having a Stock, a magazine tube fitted therein, a spring-controlled follower mounted in the tube, an' inverted U-shaped receiver secured tothe stock having a Side aperture therein, and a breech head disposed above the mouth of the magazine tube, a barrel reciprocatively lmounted within the receiver, a lug depending from the mouth of the barrel; the combination ot' a bridge-block adapted to enter the tube comprising a shank portion in pivotal union with the barrel-lug, a shell-track *Xtending from the. shank, a shell-Seat in hinge connection with the shank provided with a shoe extension dctachably secured to the end ot' the track, arms extending 'troni the AShank, a st `ap in hinge connection with the arms, a gripping-plate slidably secured to the strap and gun barrel, means for locking the strap and gripping-[date against relative movement, a transversely disposed key carried by the receiver, a spring-controlled locking dog carried by the barrel for eti'ecting locking engagement between the key and barrel when the breech is open, a tumbler carried by the barrel 'for effecting locking engagement with the key when the breech is closed, means carried by the gripping strap for releasing the locking dog and tumbler from engagement. with said key, a spriiig-controlled releasing plunger' carried by the shank o'l. the bridge-block, a trigger mechanism disposed under the magazine tube for engagement with the releasing plunger when the breech is closed, a springcontrolled tiring mechanism disposed above lthe tube. and rearward ot' the receiver head, and a spring-cmitrolled trip-dog for the tiring mechanismadapted to be engaged by said release plunger when the barrel is closed. g

i .In a repeating tire-arm having a lStock, n inagazine tube titted therein, a spring-cont"ollcd follower mounted in thetube, a receiversecm'cd to the stock having a breech head and shell-discharge aperture located above the mouth. of the tube, a barrel reciprocatively mounted within the receiver, and a lug depending from the mouth of the barrel; the combination offa bridge-block 4comprising a depending Shank 'portion in pivotal union with the barrel-lug, a track portion extending from the shank,'a Shellseat in pivotal union with the shank, a Shoe extending from the shell-seat, means for detachably securing the shoe to the end of the track portion, whereby the shell-seat may be collapsed upon the track portion, actuating means connecting-the shank of the bridgeblock with the barrel, whereby the Shoe of' .the same may be alined with and forced intothe tube incidental to a breech-closing movement and retracted from and swung downwardly incidental to a breech-opening movement, means for locking the breech to the receiver when said breech is closed, a trigger mechanism disposed below the tube, a itiring mechanism disposed above the tube, a `trip-dog for the tiring mechanism, and a release-plunger carried by the .ljaidgeblock adapted to be interposed betwe n trip-dog ot' the firing mechanism ano ger mechanism, whereby movement o the trigger' mechanism is exerted upon Said tripdog.

6. n a repeating hre-arm having a stock, a magazine tube therein, a receiver secured to the stock having a breech head, a barrel reciprocatively mounted in the receiver, and a shell ejector carried by the breech head; the combination of a bridge-block in hinge connection with the breech, a reeiprocative grip-plate in yielding connection .with the bridge-block and barrel whereby the free end of said bridge-block is adapted to rise from a point below the magazine tube, aline with and enter said tube in a breech-closing movement and retract lrom said tube and swing downwardly when .said breech is opened, and shell-guard-wings in pivotal union with the receiver side-walls adapted to be engaged by and swung upwardly and downwardly incidental to movement of the aforesaid bridge-block.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand at New Holstein in the county of Calumet and State of `Wis consin in the presence ot' two witnesses.

FRED AHPS.

iVitnesees:

IJonN SANsoN,

Fnnnniuor; BULmviN ann.

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