Single Shot Rifle Having Falling Breechblock Integral With Stock

Single shot rifles having falling breechblocks are quite common in the art and go back quite a long period of time. The so-called falling breechblock generally comprises a breechblock assembly which is mounted for somewhat vertical movement between the barrel receiver and the stock usually in a sort of cavity or space which is defined between the receiver and the stock and sometimes covered with metal plates. This arrangement requires the construction and assembly between the ends of the stock and the end of the barrel or receiver with sufficient structural characteristics to provide the cavity for the falling breechblock and the extractor, trigger and hammer mechanism if indeed the rifle has an extractor mechanism and exposed hammer. There is the possibility of the structural weakness at this point unless properly reinforced and designed and also the cost of producing a single shot rifle with the usual falling breechblock. The present arrangement avoids any of the disabilities or drawbacks of the falling breechblock single shot rifle by an arrangement wherein the breechblock is not actually a falling breechblock in the sense of the aforementioned devices but rather is the forward portion or one end of the stock whereby the entire breechblock and stock move for a limited upward or downward distance to allow the extraction of the shell and insertion of a new cartridge or for mechanical operation of an extractor if there is one. It is also an interesting and attractive firearm for a sportsman who likes a single shot rifle.

The arrangement in a single shot rifle with or without a built-in extractor and/or exposed hammer wherein the block or similar member which closes the end of the barrel during firing is supported on and attached to the stock of the rifle whereby a control lever operates the breech and stock upwardly and downwardly.

Another advantage resides in the ease of barrel removal so that other barrels of different cartridge size may be installed. This is possible because the extractor stays with the barrel assembly.

A primary object of this invention is to provide a single shot rifle wherein the breech and the stock are mounted together and attached for simultaneous movement.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of an actuating lever which is connected to the barrel and also to the breech which is attached to the stock so that the actuating lever causes upwardly or downwardly movement thereof to provide access to the chamber for insertion of the cartridge, closing of the breech and opening of the breech for removal of the cartridge.

Another object of this invention resides in the simplicity of the construction both from the standpoint of manufacture and assembly as well as subsequent disassembly for repair, cleaning or otherwise and resulting from the arrangement of the barrel and assembly with the breechblock.

Other and further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent upon reading the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of the breech portion of the rifle with parts thereof broken away.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the breech assembly shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially vertically and medially thru the breech portion of the rifle shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view the same as that shown in FIG. 3 except that the breechblock and stock has been lowered to open the breech.

The rifle 10 shown in FIG. 1 comprises a barrel 12, which may have a removable forepiece 13 of wood or other material, and which is constructed and made by any suitable process with a bore 14 of any desired calibre. A receiver 16 receives the threaded end 18 (see FIG. 4) of the barrel 12 into a threaded opening 20 in the receiver 16 which is conventional construction for a single shot rifle. Thus the barrel 12 and receiver 16 are an assembly known as a barrel assembly. The barrel 12 is made by conventional methods and has been chambered in size and shape to accommodate a cartridge 22 which may have a rim 24 thereon. Barrel 12 is easily removed and replaced by another one of different cartridge size. The bottom portion of the receiver 16 is shaped to provide an extractor cavity for an extractor 28 which is pivoted to the receiver 16 on a pivot pin 30. The upper end 32 of the extractor 28 is shaped in conventional fashion to engage the rim 24 of the cartridge 22 and extract same from the chamber and the lower end has a projecting tip 33. The extractor 28 remains with the receiver 16 which makes it easier to remove and replace the barrel 12.

The receiver 16 is shaped as seen in FIG. 2 to provide opposing grooves 34 defined by sides 36 of the receiver providing vertical guides having respective faces 38.

The breechblock 40, which is connected to the receiver 16 through pin 30 by a means to be described, comprises vertical sides 42 which are somewhat complementary to and fit into the grooves 34 in the receiver 16 between the sides 36 so as to slide upwardly and downwardly in the grooves 34 without becoming detached from the receiver 16 thereby bringing the face 44 of the breechblock 40 into position to open or close the chamber to insert or extract the cartridge 22.

The breechblock 40 includes an elongated flat plate portion 46 in which there is formed a large cavity 48 in which there is mounted a hammer 50 and trigger 52 which are attached by respective pivots 54, 56.

Breechblock 40 is attached to a stock 58 by a long screw 60 screwed into threaded hole 61 whereby the breechblock 40 is a rigid assembly with the stock 58 and the stock 58 and breechblock 40 are rigidly attached together and connected to each other whereby both must move together or not at all unless disassembled.

There is a notch 62 in the face of breechblock 40 having an edge 63 which trips the extractor 28 upon downward movement of the breechblock 40 and the notch 62 operates on the tip 33 of extractor 28.

An action lever 64 of conventional curvature and shape to provide a cover 66 around trigger 52 is mounted within the cavity 26 on pivot pin 30 and has a projecting portion 68 attached by pin 70 to a link 72 which is attached by pin 74 to the breechblock 40 and (as seen in FIG. 3) with the action lever 64 closed around the trigger 52 the link 72 extends with the three pins 30, 70 and 74 almost in a straight line but as seen in FIG. 4 upon the rotation and movement of the action lever 64 about its pin 30 the entire breechblock 40 is caused to move downwardly which motion pulls the breechblock 40 downwardly sufficiently to expose the cartridge 22, or the empty chamber as the case may be, to allow extraction of any spent cartridge 22 or the insertion of a fresh cartridge. The rotation of the link 72 is against the curved head 78 of detent 80 which is like a pin. Head 78 of detent 80 moves against a spring 82 confined in a space within the breechblock 40 to engage the face of the hammer 50 forcing hammer 50 to rotate beyond the half-cock or safe position which brings the hammer 50 out of position against a firing pin 84 which operates against a confined spring 88 therein thru a small opening 91 to strike the cartridge upon release of the hammer 50 which takes place when the tip 90 on trigger 52 disengages from the small hammer notch 92 in the hammer.

A hammer coil spring 94 is mounted within a space 96 in breechblock 40 and has a spring compressor 100 mounted therein which is connected to the bottom of the hammer 50 by pin 102 so that cocking of the hammer 50 compresses spring 94 which is released suddenly upon disengagement of the trigger 52 in order to fire the rifle.

There is provided a small coil spring 104 in a cavity 106 in breechblock 40 and bearing against the face of the trigger 52 for smoother and more controlled operation thereof and to force the trigger 52 into the hammer notch 92.

The details and description of the extractor 32, the action lever 64, the hammer 50 and the trigger 52 is for purpose of disclosure of an operable device and is not the only arrangement which may be used. It is possible to use any conventional action in this rifle and to, among other things, eliminate the hammer altogether while providing some means to translate movement from the trigger 52 to the firing pin 84 and also to eliminate the extractor if one is willing to extract catridges by fingernail, fingertip, or small implement. It is important to note, however, that an action and arrangement has been provided which rigidly connects the breechblock 40 to the stock 58 and in operation both the combined breechblock 40 and stock 58 move from an upwardly position closing the chamber in which is mounted cartridge 22 to an open position of the action which exposes the cartridge 22 or the chamber to receive the first cartridge.

The receiver 16 and barrel 12 are easily removed from the breechblock 40 by removing pin 30 and the barrel 12 is easily removed from the receiver 16 for replacement by another barrel of different cartridge size. The extractor 28 remains on and stays with the barrel 12 and receiver 16 assembly.

While I have shown and described a particular embodiment of this single shot rifle this is by way of illustration and as mentioned above is not limited for example to a particular type of action or extractor and contemplates the use of any well known substitutable mechanism and there are various other alterations, changes, deviations, eliminations, additions, substitutions and departures which may be made in the preferred embodiment without departing from the scope of this invention as defined only by a proper interpretation of the appended claims.