US3287842A

US3287842A - Knockdown repeating lever action rifle

Info

Publication number: US3287842A
Application number: US399131A
Authority: US
Inventors: Denhoff Alice
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1964-09-23
Filing date: 1964-09-23
Publication date: 1966-11-29
Anticipated expiration: 1983-11-29

Description

N 1966 w. H. B. SMITH KNOCKDOVQN REPEA TING LEVER ACTION RIFLE 4 SheetS -Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 23, 1964 INVI-ENTOR.

WALTER H.B. SMITH, Deceased. By ALICE DENHOFF,Execuhix BY W (A- if J A 2 E. n v r w W N Q mm uh a 2 NM w,

ATTORNEY Nov. 29, 1966 w. H. B. SMITH xnocxnov'm REPEATING LEVER ACTION RIFLE Filed Sept. 25, 1964 4 SheetS-Sheet 2 INVENTOR WALTER H. B. SMITH, Deceased. ALICE DENHOFF, Execuirix ATTO NEY aviwmlwr a. Q

Nov. 29, 1966 w. H. B. SMITH 3,287,342

KNOGKDOWN REPEATING LEVER ACTION RIFLE Filed Sept. 23, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR WALTER H. B. SMITH, Deceased. 'By ALICE DENHoFflExecufirix BY 6614mm 4 5 1;?

ATTORNEY Nov. 29, 1966 w. H B. SMITH KNOCKDOWN REPEATING LEVER ACTION RIFLE Filed Sept. 25, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. WALTER H.B. SMITH, Deceased. By ALICE DENHOFF,Executrix MW 4.

ATTO NEY United States Fatent ()fiflce 3,287,842 Patented Nov. 29, 1966 3,287,842 KNOCKDOWN REPEATING LEVER ACTION RIFLE Walter H. B. Smith, deceased, late of New York, N.Y., by Alice Denhoif, executrix, 150 W. 58th St., New York,

Filed Sept. 23,1964, Ser. No. 399,131 7 Claims. (CI. 4216) about the pivotal axis of the leverin order to retract the bolt from, and project it into the breech structure. Such a large angular traverse of the lever delays the rapidity of loading and firing and tends to cause clumsiness in operation. In such rifles the receiver is of such construction that it is diflicult to attain access to the action for purposes of inspection, lubrication and replacement of parts and the like.

A major object of the present invention is to provide a knockdown, lever action rifle characterized by a relatively small angle of traverse of the lever for loading and firing operations.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rifle of the type described which is characterized by very effective action embodying a minimum of components.

A further object of the invention is to provide a receiver for a knockdown type rifle which is so designed as to make the entire action readily available for inspection or repair.

Yet another object of the invention is 'to provide an action in a lever type rifle which is characterized by great simplicity and high mechanical advantage for operation of the bolt.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a knockdown type lever action rifle in which barrels of selected different lengths may readily be assembled in the receiver.

Another object of the invention is to devise a lever type rifle which may readily be disassembled for transportation and/or storage.

A further object is to devise a rifle of the type described which is so designed as to permit ready visual inspection and fitting.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a lever action type rifle in which the breech is readily opened to expose and make accessible all working frame parts of the action.

A further object of the invention is to provide a lever action rifle having a straight line movement of the firing mechanism.

The above and collateral objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of a specific embodiment thereof, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of the rifle of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the receiver portion of the rifle illustrating the small degree of operative movement of the lever;

FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6 are similar longitudinal sectional views of the action mechanism in different phases of the loading and firing operations;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are enlarged detail views illustrating the action of the trigger safety mechanism;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 9-9 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 1010 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 111l. of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 12 is an exposed perspective view. of the novel breech frame structure and the components of the associated action.

Referring particularly to FIGURES 1, 2 and 6 of the drawings it will be seen that the improved lever action rifle of the invention comprises a breech frame or receiver, designated generally at 1, in which the novel action mechanism is assembled, a barrel 2 detachably secured to the breech frame and a supporting stock 3, indicated in broken lines, which may include a forearm (not shown) suitably secured to the frame 1 by a stock bolt (not shown). As is shown in detail in FIGURE 12 the breech frame comprises two plate-like members 5 and 6 of mating profile which are adapted to behinged at their rear portions and are dapted to be brought into abutted mating position to form a closed breeched chamber for receiving the total action mechanism of the rifle and which may readily be opened to permit inspection, dismantling or replacement of any of the component parts of the action.

The member 5 embodies a vertical elongated relatively shallow wall 7, a forwardly inclined rear wall 8 vformed with an arcuate recess 9 at its upper end, an inclined forward wall 10 and a top wall 11. The member 5 may be economically produced by brazing or welding an L-shaped plate 12 to the upper portion of flat vertical plate 13 and by brazing or welding the forward and rear walls 8 and It) to the inner face of plate 13 to thereby define a rectangular recess for the reception of the action and magazine. The member 5 also embodies a segmental cylindrical extension 14 which is screw-threaded on its lateral surface as indicated at 15. This extension may be formed by brazing or welding a short piece of tube stock to adjacent inner surfaces of the L-shaped plate 12 and to the upper portion of the forward wall 10. As will be seen in FIGURE 12 the interior of the extension 14 is of generally cylindrical or circular configuration and is formed with the longitudinal groove 16 which provides a guideway for the bolt mechanism in a manner to be more fully described. The inner portion of this extension terminates at the ledges or abutments 17 formed by the too flat portion of the vertical wall 10 and the edges of the L-shaped top wall or plate 12.

The rectangular recess formed by the rear wall, forward wall and top wall of the bolt frame is adapted to receive the complete action including the trigger and bolt mechanism for reciprocation of the latter therein and to permit ready inspection, easy disassembly or replacement of any of the components of the action. As is illustrated, particularly in FIGURE 12, the vertical plate 13 is formed with a cam slot 18 extending from a position closely adjacent the bottom edge of such plate up to closely adjacent the upper edge of said plate. From its lower end the slot inclines upwardly at substantially a 45 degree angle and terminates in the upper substantially vertical portion 19. The vertical plate 13 is also cut-away as shown at 20 in FIGURES 4 and 12 to form an elon gated slot in which the bolt mechanism 21 is received and in which it is guided during its reciprocating motion in loading and firing of the rifle. The plate 13 is also tapped at 22 to receive the screw 23- securing the plate 24 to the frame and with an aperture 25 registering with aperture 26 in plate 24 for the reception of a pivot pin 27 of scar lever 28.

The breech frame is designed to embody a magazine for the reception of a cartridge clip. This is accomplished by attaching a channel-shaped member 29 to the vertical wall 13. As shown the parallel vertical flanges of memher 29 are formed with aligned apertures which register with apertures in vertical offset flanges 30 of a magazine casing 31. The member 29 and the magazine casing are secured to the side wall 13 of member 5 by means of the pin 32 the opposite ends of which may be peened to anchor the opposite ends to the member 29 and plate 13 respectively and screw 33. The rear portion of the magazine casing is provided with a channel-shaped extension 31' (see FIGURE 3) which receives the springbiased latch or magazine catch 34 adapted to engage the projection 35 on the clip 33 for locking the clip in operative position in the magazine holder.

As is shown in FIGURES 3, 4, 6 and 12, a plate 135 is secured by means of the screw 36 in the arcuate aperture in the rear wall 8. The forward lower edge of the plate 35 is formed as a cam surface 35' for a purpose to appear.

Member 6 of the breech frame comprises a vertical plate 39 which carries a hinge 49 whereby the plate 6 is hingedly connected to the member 5 by means of a hinge pin 41. The member 6 embodies an L-shaped plate 42 having an upper ledge 4-3 for mating engagement with the similar ledge on the member 5. The member 6, similarly to member 5, is provided with an extension 44 of segmental cylindrical configuration which is screwthreaded on its lateral surface and is attached to the member 6 by brazing, welding or the like and with cut-out portion 45 corresponding to and registering with the cut-out portion 20 of plate 13. It will be observed that when the member 5 and 6 are swung into mating position the extension 14 on member 5 and 44 on member 6 form a continuous screw-threaded cylindrical extension which provides for the attachment of barrel 2 to the breech frame in a manner subsequently to be described. Extension 44 is similarly formed with a longitudinal groove 16' providing a guideway for the bolt mechanism. Member 6 is provided with an aperture 46 which, when the breech member is in assembled or closed position registers with a similar aperture 47 in member 5 to provide a journal mounting for the trigger mechanism 37. This member is also formed with an aperture 48 which registers with a similar aperture 49 in the channel mounting 29 of the magazine casing to provide a duct for lubrication of the magazine. The plate 39 is cut out to provide the cam slot 50 which mates with or conforms to the cam slot 18 in member 5. As in member 5, the upper substantially vertical portion or section of the cam slot is closed by the vertical flange of upper L-shaped plate member 42. The plate member 39 is apertured to receive the safety locking cam 51 which is attached to lever arm 52 positioned exteriorly of the breech frame as shown in FIGURES 1 and 9. At its upper forward portion the member 6 is cut away as at 53 to provide a slot for the egress of an ejected cartridge shell.

As noted previously the breach frame is adapted to I receive and house the total action mechanism of the rifle. This mechanism generally includes the bolt assembly 21, the actuating lever and incorporated trigger mechanism 37 and the sear lever 28.

As previously noted the bolt 21 is adapted to be mounted in and to operate within the guide channel formed by the registering cut out portions 20 and 45 of members 5 and 6 respectively. The bolt 21 is thus adapted to be longitudinally reciprocated in the upper portion of the breech frame from advanced breech locking position to a retracted breech open position. In moving towards the retracted position the bolt extracts the shell of a fired cartridge from the chamber and ejects such shell from the breech structure through the aperture 53.

In the loading and cocking operation the bolt is moved forwardly in the guide channel of the breech frame to feed a live cartridge from magazine clip 33 into firing position within the chamber of barrel 2.

As is shown particularly in FIGURES 9 and 12 the bolt mechanism embodies laterally spaced elongated matching

members

54 and 55 which are secured in parallel spaced operative relationship by the pin 56 which, as is shown for example, in FIGURE 6, is formed with a lateral straight face at its front portion. As is illustrated in FIGURE 9 the members 54- and 55 are of general L-shaped cross-section and each incorporate an upper thick section 54 and 55' and lower dependent

vertical flanges

54 and 55". As will be observed in FIGURE 9 at their interior the thick upper sections 54' and 55 are each formed with an arcuate surface and thus establish a substantially cylindrical channel 56 for the reception of the firing pin biasing spring 57. At the forward portion of the bolt a hammer guide plate 58 is retained between the parallel lower vertical flanges of

members

54 and 55 and is adapted to support the hammer or rim fire striking pin 59. As will be seen in FIGURE 9 the striking pin is formed with forward edge cartridge rim striker dd. At such forward section'of the bolt the lateral Walls of

members

54 and 55 are provided with longitudinal slots 61 and 62 respectively in which springbiased cartridge extractor pins 63 and 64 are operatively mounted. As shown each such pin is formed at its forward end with a detent for overlying engagement with the rim of a cartridge shell. The hammer 59 is formed at its rear portion with a depending arm 65 the lower edge 65 of which is tapered for operative engagement with the sear lever in a manner to be described.

At its rear end the bolt unit incorporates a lever arm 67 having a forward portion of such width as to readily nest between

members

54 and 55 and a rear portion 68 of reduced lateral section which is provided with an aperture 69 for the reception of a cam pin or follower 70. It is to be observed that upper rear edge of arm 68 is of arcuate shape and as will be seen is adapted to operatively engage the cam surface 35 during a phase of operation of the action.

In assembling the bolt unit the hammer 59 is inserted between

plates

54 and 55 with its longitudinal portion abutting plate 58, the lever arm is similarly inserted between the matching members with the aperture '71 at its forward end registering aligned apertures in

members

54 and 55, the biasing firing pin spring 57 is inserted between the members with its forward end nesting in a receiving depression in rear arm 65 and a pin 56 having a flat surface is inserted in aligned apertures in

members

54 and 55 with such flat surfaces abutting the rear end of the spring and the

members

54 and 55 are secured as a unit by peening or otherwise frictionally securing the pin to the

members

54 and 55. A pivot pin 73 is then inserted in the lower aligned apertures to pivotally mount the lever 67 in the assembled bolt.

The above described straight line action bolt is adapted to coact in a novel manner with a simple sear and trigger mechanism to insure an eminently smooth operation with optimum power multiplication and minimal movement of the lever.

Important aspects of the invention are the provision of a novel simplified comopsite trigger and lever mechanism 37 associated with a similarly simplified sear mechanism and facile dismantling of the action,

The novel power multiplying mechanism embodies specially designed compound lever action associated with the bolt. As shown particularly in FIGURE 12, such lever mechanism includes spaced parallel vertical plates 74 and 75 of suitable gauge steel of the configuration illustrated. The plates are integrally secured in spaced parallel relationship by attachment to a lever designated generally at 76. Such lever element includes an integral operating handle 77, with an integral trigger guard portion together with a rear projecting section 78 having a rear edge of arcuate shape and a longitudinally extending portion 79. The plates may be secured to the lever element in any suitable manner as by being riveted, spot welded or brazed to the lever sections 78 and 79. It will be observed, as

- vergent front wall 83 forming with the top wall a searengaging projection 84. The trigger as shown is biased by the spring 85 the ends of which fit in recesses in trigger lever 81 and the rear wall 76 of the lever element. The curved rear wall of extension 76 is provided with a springbiased ball detent 86 for a purpose to appear. The composite lever-trigger element is apertured at its'lower foremost edge to receive a pivot pin 86. At their upper rear end sections plate members 74 and 75 are provided with registering slots 87 and 88.

The sear lever 28 comprises an elongated body portion 89 having a. narrowed rearwardly extending finger 90, a front section comprised of a flat vertical wall 91 and adjacent forwardly extending lug 92. At an intermediate portion of its length the top surface of the sear 28 is formed as a curved portion '93 terminating in th detent edge 95. The lug 92 is tapped to receive the pin 27 by which it is pivotally connected to the breech frame at the foremost portion of the lever and at a point forwardly of the lever pivot 86. The sear lever is biased by means of a spring 96 fitting at one end in a recess in forward wall 91 and abutting channel member 29 at its other end.

The method of assembling the action in the breech frame will have been appreciated from the foregoing description. The bolt 21 and bolt lever 67, having been preassembled in the manner described is fitted into its guide channel in breech frame member and the plate 24 is attached to member 5 by means of countersunk screw 23. The upper flat portion of plate 24 is thus interposed between the vertical flange 55 and the hammer supporting ledge 58 and serves as a lower guide plate for the bolt during reciprocation of the latter and also retains the bolt laterally in position with the frame member 5. Thereafter the sear lever is assembled by inserting the sear pin through aperture 26 and into an aligned aperture in the wall 13 and is secured to such wall with the sear spring abutting the rear vertical face of channel member 29. The composite lever-trigger unit is then operatively con nected with the bolt by inserting the pivot pin 86 in the aperture 47 in plate 5; swinging bolt lever portion 68 into nested position between the parallel plates 74 and 75 inserting pin 70 into slots 87 and 88 and the aperture 69 at the rear end of the bolt lever whereupon the breech frame member 6 is swung into mating Contact with member 5 to form a closed breech frame.

It will be observed that plates 74 and 75 of the composite lever-trigger element are each cut away at their upper median section to form laterally aligned slotted apertures 75 and 76' through which the safety cam 51 projects when the breech is in closed position.

As noted previously one of the features of the present invention is the provision of a lever action rifle which may be quickly knocked down int-o a barrel assemblage and breech iframe assemblage. As has been described previously the breech frame is formed with the externally screw threaded

extensions

14 and 44 whereby a rifle barrel of a selected length may be quickly assembled to the breech frame. As is shown in FIGS. 3 and 12 the barrel 2 is formed closely adjacent its Ibreech end with an integral circular collar 97 and is cut away at its inner end to form the diametric notches 98 for the reception of the cartridge extractor deten-ts 63. A portion of the barrel between its breech end and [the collar 97 is cutaway to form a flattened section 99 for frictional engagement with a cartridge ramp or guide 100. This ramp is formed with a flat central plate portion terminating at one end 6 in a arcuate depending lip 101 and at the other end in a cam lip 102 of reduced width.

In assembling the barrel to the bolt frame the action is mounted in breech frame and the latter is closed in the manner previously described. The plate is then inserted in the screw threaded extension of the breech (frame with the inner face of the lip 101 abutting the contiguous edge of the extension and the cam lip projecting into the chamber of the breech adjacent the top of the magazine 31 as is shown for example in FIGURES 3 and 4. Suitable means are provided to firmly secure the barrel to the breech frame. In (the preferred embodiment such means comprises a knurled coupling nipple 103 which is internally screw threaded as at 104 for a portion of its'length and is formed with an internal collar or ledge 105 adapted to engage the collar 97 on the barrel. With this structure the barrel is rapidly and securely attached to the breech frame by inserting the chamber end into the extension and overlying the plate 100 and tightly screwing the coupling home.

The operation of the action of the present invention will be apparent from the foregoing description considered particularly with reference to FIGURES 3 to 6 illustrating the sequence of operations. Assuming that the rifle has been discharged and the elements of the action occupy their respective positions as shown in FIGURE 6, when it is desired to cock the piece the lever handle 77 is manually depressed and the combined lever-trigger unit is rotated counterclockwise about its pivot 86' through an arc of approximately 30. In the initial phase of this movement, as shown in FIGURE 3, the rear cam-shaped end of bolt lever arm moves vertically downwardly, its pin 70 then operating in the vertical upper section 19 of cam slot 18, to disengage such end from its erstwhile tight frictional locking engagement with the cam abutment plate 35. As downward movement of lever handle continues the-cam follower pin 70 rides a sloped section of the cam slot and rapidly retracts its pivotally connected bolt in guideway. In the initial phase of movement the exploded cartridge shell is ejected through ejection slot or aperture 53 by contact of its rim with front upper edge of plate 24. During this bolt retraction the lower detent edge 66 of the hammer 65 rides rearwardly over the upper surface of lug extension 92, the curved median section 93 and over the rear portion of scar lever 28 to a position shown in FIGURE 3, compressing sear biasing spring 96.

As is shown in FIGURE 4, as the lever handle is moved upwardly the lever-trigger element is rotated clockwise about its pivot 86' and the cam follower pin 70 riding upwardly in the associated cam slot urges lever 68 and its pivotally connected bolt 21 forwardly toward breech closing position. During this movement the depending arm 65 of the hammer moves forwardly above the upper surface of sear lever 28 and sear stop pin 28' until it engages detent 95 of :the sear. Continued forward movement of the bolt under the urge of the upwardly moving lever compresses spring 57 thereby spring loading the hammer as is shown in FIGURE 5. During the latter phase of forward cocking movement of the bolt the forward end of the bolt ledge plate 58 engages a cartridge 106 in the upper end of magazine clip 33' and urges such cartridge over the cartridge ramp surface 102 for guidance into the chamber of the barrel. As the upward movement of the lever is terminating, as is illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 5, the cam follower pin 70 is rammed into the vertical section of the cam slot causing the cam shaped rear edge of lever 63 to ride up the cam surface 35' of abutment lug 35 to give a powerful thrust to the bolt firmly seating the cartridge in the chamber of the barrel. The bolt arm 68 is held in this tight frictional contact with lug 35 by the locking action of the spring pressed ball detent 86 fitting in an adjacent depression 81 in the rear wall 8 of bolt frame number 5.

During the described cocking action, as is shown particularly in FIGURE 5, the upper forward end 84 of the trigger 81 moves upwardly and when the handle 77 is in its nested position against the stock it occupies a position slightly vertically displaced above the rear curved end of the sear lever and is biased in this position by the spring 85. Such displacement is established by the abutting engagement of the lower end of front wall 83 of the trigger with the lower edge of the inclined rear edge of plate 79.

Simple and effective means are provided to lock the cocked piece and to unlock the action for firing. As will be seen in FIGURES 1, and 12 the member 6 of the receiver is apertured at a position above and closely adjacent the trigger finger 80 and is adapted to receive the safety lug 51 for rotation. As noted previously the log is fixed to a safety lever 52 having a lateral knurled projection at its upper end for convenient engage-ment by the thumb of the operator. The lug 51 is cut away to form an outer semi-cylindrical segment having a flat portion or face 51 and an inner smaller segment 51". When the lever 52 is on F or firing position shown in FIG- URE l the face or surface 51' is in a horizontal position and as is shown in FIGURE 6 is spaced sufficiently below sear lever 26 to permit depression of the rear end of the sear by the trigger 84 o actuate the hammer striker. When such lever is moved to S or safety position the lug is rotated and the face occupies a vertical position such that the edge of the face 51 is closely spaced to or abuts the bottom of surface of the sear lever, as shown in FIGURE 8 preventing its depression by the trigger. In such safe position of lever 52 the arcuate surface of lug segment 51" underlies the rear arcuate edge of plate aperture 75' of the composite lever-trigger element and serves to lock the lever in the receiver and prevent operation of the lever handle,

When the lever 52 is moved to fire position and the rifle is discharged the elements of the action are in the position shown in FIGURE 6 and the rifle may be loaded and cocked by repeating the series of operations previously described.

It is apparent that the apparatus of the invention is extremely simple and presents the major advantages of ready accessibility of the elements of the action merely by removing the barrel 2 and opening the receiver in the manner described. It will be seen that the elements of the action may be rendered accessible for inspection, lubrication and replacement by swinging the member 6 about its hinge connection and removing the cam follower pin 70 and then removing the composite levertrigger element. This exposes the sear lever 28, bolt 21 and the cam lug locking mechanism for purposes of lubrication determination of the degree of wear of the units and the like.

A particular advantage of the invention is the degree of power multiplication achieved by the action insuring smooth operation with minimum physical effort on the part of the operator for cocking the piece. The composite lever trigger element is pivoted at its foremost portion thus establishing a long lever arm; this combined with contour and position of the cam slot and the long rear lever arm or the sear enables complete operation of the piece with but substantially 30 movement of lever handle 77. The special construction of the breech frame -or receiver permits ready knock down of the piece into :a barrel assembly and receiver assembly facilitating transportation and storage as Well as utilization of barrels of different length.

A further important feature of the invention is the novel dimensional characteristics of the receiver insuring optimum compactness coupled with extreme simplicity and optimum effectiveness of the action. In this regard it is to be noted that the depth of the breech frame of the present invention, i.e. the distance from the top of the breech frame to the lever pivot 86' is of the order of 2 inches as compared to a breech depth of the order of 3.25 inches in conventional lever action rifles. Furthermore the action of the present invention is characterized by 8 short operative bolt travel distance which is of the order of 1.5 inches as compared to about 3.25 inches in conventional lever action rifles.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described it is to be understood that this is given didactically to illustrate the underlying principles involved and not as limiting the useful scope of the invention short of such limitations as are clearly imposed by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

i. A firearm comprising a breech frame formed with a cartridge chamber at its upper forward portion, a bolt reciprocable in the frame for opening and closing the chamber, a straight bolt driving lever pivoted to the bolt at one end, a cam slot formed in the frame, means to move the rear end of said lever in the slot to effect reciprocation of the bolt, said means including a combined lever-trigger element pivotally mounted on the forward lower portion of the frame, said element embodying a lever arm and vertical spaced plates secured to the lever, said plates being formed with ali ned slots at their rear upper portions, the rear portion of said bolt driving lever being received between said spaced plates and a cam follower pin projecting through the rear end portion of the bolt driving lever and operatively engaging the said cam slot of the frame and the said aligned slots of the lever-trigger element whereby elevation and depression of the levertrigger element about its pivot reciprocates the bolt in a straight line path.

2. A firearm according to claim 1 in which angular displacement of the lever-trigger element of substantially 30 effects total operative travel of the bolt.

3. A firearm according to claim 1 in which a spring biased sear lever is pivotally mounted on the frame forwardly of the lever mounting of the lever-trigger element and is formed with a rearwardly extending, elongated arm received between said spaced plates for operative engagement with a spring biased trigger pivotally mounted between said spaced plates.

4. A firearm comprising a breech frame provided with a cartridge chamber at its upper forward portion, a bolt reciprocably movable on the frame for opening and closing the chamber and upwardly and forwardly extending cam slots formed in the rear portion of the frame, a straight bolt actuating lever pivoted to the bolt at one end and apertured at its other end for the reception of an operating pin a lever trigger element pivotally mounted at its foremost portion on the frame, said lever trigger element embodying an operating handle, an intermediate trigger guard and spaced parallel vertical plates fixedly secured to the lever, said plates being of generally triangular shape with their apexes at their foremost portions, aligned slots formed in the rear upper portions of the plates, a spring biased trigger pivotally mounted between the plates, said spaced plates defining a channel in which the rear portion of the sear lever is vertically operable and the rear portion of the bolt lever is received; a cam follower pin mounted in the bolt lever and adapted for sliding engagement with the cam slot of the breech frame and the slots of the lever-trigger unit whereby vertical displacement of the lever-trigger element reciprocates the bolt, a sear lever pivotally mounted on the frame below and closely adjacent the bolt for vertical pivotal action within the frame, means operatively interconnecting the lever-trigger element and the bolt lever for reciprocating the bolt.

5. A firearm according to claim 4 in which the frame member is provided with a manually operable locking lug mounted for rotation in one side wall and adapted to be positioned closely subjacent the rear portion of the sear lever, said lug being cut away at its forward portion adjacent the inner face of the said side wall to form a cylindrical segment somewhat greater than and with an integral adjoining cylindrical segment of substantially 180 and providing a flat diametric surface, and the parallel plate remote from said side wall is formed at its upper median portion with a substantially vertical slot and the parallel plate contiguous said side Wall is formed with a slot aligned with the slot in the first parallel plate, said latter slot being formed with an arcuate portion whereby on rotation of the lug to a limiting point in one direction the said flat surface assumes a position parallel to and spaced below the lower surface of the overlying sear lever to permit depression of said lever and on rotation in the opposite direction to a limiting point the said flat surface assumes a position normal to the lower surface of the sear lever to prevent depression of said sear lever.

6. A lever-trigger composite unit for a straight sliding bolt action, lever-operated rifle comprising, a lever provided with a pivot at its foremost portion and formed with an integral rear handle extension and an intermediate integral trigger guard, a pair of spaced upstanding plates formed with a lower straight portion and generally arcuate portion secured to the lever, a spring biased trigger pivotally mounted between the plates, lever locking sur- 10 faces at the upper median of said plates and a sear lever receiving slot defined by said plates.

7. A firearm according to claim 6 in which the spaced plates at their rear upper portions are formed with aligned slots adapted for operative engagement with a sliding bolt lever arm.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 619,132 2/1899 Browning.

833,898 10/1906 Risley 4217 864,940 9/ 1907 Whittier 4221 2,776,513 1/1957 Neal 4216 2,961,791 11/1960 Morris 4216 3,153,295 10/1964 Allyn 4275 3,163,952 1/1965 Into 42--75 BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. A FIREARM COMPRISING A BREECH FRAME FORMED WITH A CARTRIDGE CHAMBER AT ITS UPPER FORWARD PORTION, A BOLT RECIPROCABLE IN THE FRAME FOR OPENING AND CLOSING THE CHAMBER, A STRAIGHT BOLT HAVING LEVER PIVOTED TO THE BOLT AT ONE END, A CAM SLOT FORMED IN THE FRAME, MEANS TO MOVE THE REAR END OF SAID LEVER IN THE SLOTS TO EFFECT RECIPROCATION OF THE BOLT, SAID MEANS INCLUDING A COMBINED LEVER-TRIGGER ELEMENT PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON THE FORWARD LOWER PORTION OF THE FRAME, SAID ELEMENT EMBODYING A LEVER ARM AND VERTICAL SPACED PLATES SECURED TO THE LEVER, SAID PLATES BEING FORMED WITH ALIGNED SLOTS AT THEIR REAR UPPER PORTIONS, THE REAR PORTION OF SAID BOLT DRIVING LEVER BEING RECEIVED BETWEEN SAID SPACED PLATES AND A CAM FOLLOWED PIN PROJECTING THROUGH THE REAR END PORTION OF THE BOLT DRIVING LEVER AND OPERATIVELY ENGAGING THE SAID CAM SLOT OF THE FRAME AND THE SAID ALIGNED SLOTS OF THE LEVER-TRIGGER ELEMENT WHEREBY ELEVATION AND DEPRESSION OF THE LEVERTRIGGER ELEMENT ABOUT ITS PIVOT RECIPROCATES THE BOLT IN A STRAIGHT LINE PATH.