USRE6025E - Improvement in breech-loading fire-arms - Google Patents

Description

E. F. auNN. Breach-*Loading Fire-Arms.\

UNITED -STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWIN F. GUNN, OF CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA.

IMPROVEMENT IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 85,442, dated December 29, 1868; reissue No. 6,025, dated August 25, 1874; application filed July 10, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN F. GUNN, of Charleston, in the district of Charleston and State of South Carolina, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Breech-Loading Fire-Arms, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification.

My invention consists in a keeper or retainer to the cartridge after its insertion, and while thebreechis open, the same being closed by the action of an independent spring, and opened, When it is required to extract the discharged shell, by or through a special movement of the breech-block or its spring; and the invention also consists in a shell-extractor, arranged for operation in connection with a shell keeper or retainer by or through the breech-block or its spring; and, furthermore,thein vention consists in a shell-extractor, arranged for operation in connection with a downwardly-swinging breech-block, said breech-block being operated by or through the medium of a thumb-piece projecting above the frame, substantially as hereinafter described.

Figure 1 represents a longitudinal sectional elevation of the rear portion oi' a breech-loading fire-arm. Fig. 2 is a plan of the breechreceiver With barrel in part attached. Fig. 3 is atransverse section through line a: win Fig. 1.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, A4

represents a gun-stock of any suitable description; B, the breech-chamber fitted therein, arid into the front end of which the barrel C is screwed. D is the hammer; E, the trigger; F, the sear, and Gr the firing-pin. I represents a cartridge in the position it occupies when inserted in the gun. J is the breech block or piece pivoted as at a. This breech-block is Worked inward to open the breech, and vice versa to close it, the same being geared by a toothed segment or curved rack, K, attached to it, with a part pinion, L, fast on the hammer-shaft b, said rack having a spring, c, pressing on the back of it. Thus geared with the hammer, the breech-block is opened on or by the act of cooking the hammer, and closed, throughV spring-pressure, by a reverse-action of the latter in iiring. N is a keeper or retainer for holding the cartridge in place after insertion, when the breech is open. This keeper, which, when down, projects slightly in rear of the head of the shell at its top, has a vertical-sliding action, and is connected, by a bent arm and cross-pin, d, with a slotted guide, e, around Which is a light spring, f, that operates to hold the keeper N down. To raise said keeper, when it is necessary to remove an exploded shell, and to operate the shell-extractor P, the breech-block J is made to carry a spring, Q, of sulicient strength to operate the keeper, shell-extractor, and to lift the breech-block, said spring being caused first to act upon the keeper, and afterward on-the extractor, by or through a jaw-shaped lever, R, pivoted as at g, and connected with the keeper. This is done, when required, by working the hammer slightly past full-cock, such action, by the gear of the hammer with the breech-block, causing the spring Q to press on the lever R, so as to elevate the keeper, and subsequently, through the lever, to operate the shell-extractor. On letting the hammer ily back again to full-cock, the keeper N and extractor P assume their normal or closed positions. The keeper N is so shaped that the cartridge, in being inserted, lifts it without any special movement of thehammer or breechblock, but after the cartridge has been inserted, said keeper forms a perfect guard to the cartridge, to keep it from dropping out when the hammer stands at full-cock and the breech is open.

The breech-block, it will be observed, closes simultaneously with thestriking action of the hammer, only completing its closing action before the cartridge is red, and is opened again on cooking the hammer. This gear and action of the hammer and breech-block admit of a rapid repeated firing, while the entire mechanism is eiectually protected from injury by the Weather.

What is here claimed, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is

1. The cartridge keeper or retainer N, constructed for operation by the breech-block, or by the hammer, in working the latter back, to eiIect the lift of said keeper, substantially as specified.

2. l The combination, with the breech-block parts being arranged substantially ,as "d'e- J and its spring Q, of the lever R, or-ts equivscribed, whereby the breech can be: opened alent, keeper or retainer N, and shell-extractor and the extractor opera-ted by a movement of P, for operation together essentially as herein the thumb-piece, as set forth. set forth.

3. The combination, in a breech-loading re- EDWIN F' GUNN' arm, of e thumb-piece, projecting above the Witnesses: frame, a swinging breech-block, pivoted at or GEO. F. GUNN, near its rear end, and. an extractor, the said C. A. JOHNS.

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