The Colt Automatic Gun
The gun will swing horizontally through a complete circle of 360 degrees. The muzzle may be depressed 39 degrees and elevated 31 degrees, giving a vertical range of 70 degrees.
The barrel, which is detachable, is connected with the breech casing in which the mechanism for charging, firing and ejecting is contained.
Cartridges are automatically fed into the gun by means of a belt containing 250, running from a box attached to the left side of the breech casing.
The automatic action of the gun is effected by means of the pressure of the powder gases in the barrel. There is a small radial vent in the barrel near the muzzle, opening downward from the bore. This vent is closed by a piston which fits in the gas cylinder surrounding the outer edge of the vent. The piston is pivoted to the gas lever so that it adjusts itself to the gas cylinder while the lever swings in a vertical plane.
The belt is inserted from the left; the lever thrown downward and rearward as far as it will go. This opens the breech and feeds the first cartridge from the belt to the carrier; the lever is then released, and the spring causes it to swing forward, close the vent and transfer the cartridge from the carrier to the barrel; also cocking the hammer, closing and locking the breech.
Plate VIII.Gun mounted on Tripod, showing Belt passing out.(Right Side.)
Plate VIII.Gun mounted on Tripod, showing Belt passing out.(Right Side.)
Plate VIII.Gun mounted on Tripod, showing Belt passing out.(Right Side.)
Plate VIII.Gun mounted on Tripod, showing Belt passing out.(Right Side.)
On pulling the trigger the cartridge is fired. After the bullet has passed the vent and before its exit from the muzzle, the powder gases expand through the vent upon the piston and gas lever, which in turn act on the breech mechanism, opening the breech, ejecting the shell and feeding to the carrier another cartridge. The gas lever, returning, under the action of the retractor spring, forces the cartridge into the chamber, closing and locking the breech. If, instead of releasing the trigger, it is held back, the same operation will be repeated as long as cartridges are supplied, producing continuous fire at the rate of 400 shots or more per minute.
A safety lock secures the hammer, the latter being also used as a piston for an air-pump, forcing a strong jet of air into the chamber and through the barrel, removing all residue after the empty shell is ejected.
The mainspring, firing-pin and extractorcan be easily replaced.
The mountconsists of two principal parts:—
The saddle, in which the gun rests, is pivoted to the yoke by means of the axis bolt, so as to swing in a vertical plane. The gun is held in position on the saddle by the gun pin, which is inserted with its handle vertical; in any other position of the handle the gun is held secure by the gun pin lock screw.
Changes of elevationare made by means of the worm gear, which engages in the teeth of the arc, and is operated by the hand wheel, being secured at any angle by the arc clamp.
The lower part of the yoke is in the form of a spindle, and fits in the socket of the tripod, being secured by a spindle washer and spindle washer bolt.
The tripodconsists of a socket to which the legs are hinged. The two front ones being interchangeable, brass shoes are attached to prevent their sinking into the ground during firing.
A seat is attached to the lower portion of the rear leg, also a leather tool bag containing spare parts, etc.
4 feed belts (capacity 250 rounds per belt).
4 feed boxes, for feed belts.
1 leather tool bag, containing the spare parts and accessories.
Spare Parts.
Attach box in firing position on the left side of mount.
To Load.—Push belt through opening above the box from the left and draw it as far as it will go. Let go the belt. (Never pull on the belt while the gas lever is being operated.) Swing the gas lever downward to the rear until it strikes the bottom plate of the gun. Release gas lever, when it will resume its normal position.
The gun is now ready to fire.
To Fire.—Hold back trigger. The firing will continue until the trigger is released or until all the cartridges in the belt are fired.
To hold the gun ready for firing, push the safety latch on right side of gun below rear sight from “fire” to “safe.”
To Draw Belt and Cartridges from the Gun.— Push forward the knurled head on the right side of the gun near the belt exit and draw the loaded belt out to the left. Then operate the lever once by hand, as in loading, ejecting the loaded cartridge that remains in the chamber.
Missfires.—Wait a moment in order to make sure that it is a missfire and not a hangfire. Then operate the gas lever by hand, as in loading, which will eject the unexploded cartridge and will re-load ready for continued firing.
Stoppage from any Cause.—Whether the stoppage occurs from the jamming of a cartridge, missfire, or breakage of a part of the gun, operate the lever once by hand before making any effort to free the mechanism.
If the stoppage occurs when the lever is partially retracted, push it backward until it strikes the bottom plate. Never push it forward. This will generally free the mechanism, unless a broken part stops it. If not freed, draw belt and cartridges from the gun and examine for breakages.
In case of jamming, due to failure to eject empty shell, draw back the lever until it strikes the bottom plate, letting the live cartridge and carrier descend into the bottom position, and remove shell with cleaning rod. The lever is now free to resume its normal position. In this case, examine the extractor, and, if broken or chipped, or the spring does not work well, replace it.
Precautions to be observed.—After dismounting mechanism and before firing is begun, a belt of cartridges (preferably dummies) should be placed in the gun and the lever operated several times by hand, as in loading, to see if mechanism is in proper working order.
Caution.—With the gun hot from rapid firing, a cartridge should not be allowed to remain in the chamber longer than six or seven seconds, as it may be discharged by the heat. In case it is not possible, from any cause, to withdraw the cartridge within this time, and the lever is in its normal position, no harm will be done; but if lever is partially retracted, the bolt is then withdrawn and a “blow back” may occur. In either event, keep away from in front of the muzzle until satisfied that the danger from the explosion of the cartridge by heat is passed.
1. Take hold of the gas lever pin and throw the gas lever rearward until it strikes the bottom plate. Then release the gas lever, when it will fly forward to its original position. This movement cocks the hammer.
Plate IX.COLT AUTOMATIC GUN—Sectional ViewMODEL 1914COLT AUTOMATIC GUNshowing position of Gas Lever when disengaging Barrel Lock, A, to remove Interchangeable Barrel.
Plate IX.COLT AUTOMATIC GUN—Sectional ViewMODEL 1914COLT AUTOMATIC GUNshowing position of Gas Lever when disengaging Barrel Lock, A, to remove Interchangeable Barrel.
Plate IX.COLT AUTOMATIC GUN—Sectional ViewMODEL 1914COLT AUTOMATIC GUNshowing position of Gas Lever when disengaging Barrel Lock, A, to remove Interchangeable Barrel.
Plate IX.COLT AUTOMATIC GUN—Sectional ViewMODEL 1914COLT AUTOMATIC GUNshowing position of Gas Lever when disengaging Barrel Lock, A, to remove Interchangeable Barrel.
2. On the right-hand side of the gun, in front of the trigger, is the handle lock, which is a pin with a small projecting lever resting in a horizontal position. Turn this lever upward and backward as far as possible. Withdraw the handle lock. This releases the handle, which then can be removed rearward. The handle contains the mainspring, hammer, sear, sear spring, trigger and trigger spring. To remove the hammer and mainspring from the handle, pull back the trigger, release the sear by pulling the nose down, when the hammer and mainspring will fly out, as the sear holds them in place.
3. To remove the bolt, throw the gas lever rearward as far as possible, and while holding it in that position insert the small end of the handle lock in the hole on the right hand side of gun, pushing the handle lock in as far as it will go. This removes the bolt pin from the bolt. Withdraw the handle lock pin, but leave the bolt pin in the position in which it now is—i.e., projecting from the left side. The bolt is now free to be removed from the rear of the gun.
4. The extractor and firing pin can be removed from the bolt by pushing out the small pins that hold them in place.
To Assemble.
1. Insert the bolt and push forward as far as it will go.
2. Place hand on gas lever, holding it up against bottom plate.
3. Push in bolt pin from left hand side as far as it will go.
4. Then release the gas lever.
5. Replace handle, locking it in position with handle lock.
Take hold of gas lever pin and throw the gas lever rearward until it strikes the bottom plate, and hold in this position. Withdraw handle lock and insert small end of same in small hole in rear end of gun, and on right side, pushing handle lock in as far as it will go. This causes the bolt pin to lock slide to receiver and to hold gas lever back. Bolt pin will then project from left-hand side. Leave in this position. Replace handle lock.
Attached to gas cylinder will be found barrel lock; place small end of combination wrench under point of barrel lock and press down and out until it clears barrel. Engage combination wrench in slot in under side of barrel just forward of gas cylinder and unscrew; then pull barrel forward and out.
To Replace Barrel.
Push barrel in as far as it will go and engage threads; complete this operation with wrench until lines on top of barrel and receiver coincide. Swing barrel lock up into slot. Release gas lever by pushing in bolt pin from left-hand side as far as it will go with handle lock. Replace handle lock. Do not remove or replace barrel until gas lever has been thrown to rear and locked in that position.
Lay gun on right side, muzzle to left. Turn side plate lock screw to left to bring cut in same clear of groove in side plate screws. Unscrew side plate screws and remove. Place right hand on rear of left-hand side plate, press downward, and with the left hand raise front of plate. Turn gun over and remove right-hand plate in same manner. Turn gun so as to bring bottom plate upward. Raise gas lever slightly with left hand, and lift bottom plate out. Raise gas lever again and pull out slide pin. Push slide to rear until it remains. Remove retracting spring tubes by pulling nearest tube toward you and pushing other away from you. Pull or push out gas lever bracket pin, then lift gas lever and connections out of bracket. Push carrier pin out with pointed end of screwdriver and lift carrier out of receiver. Unscrew locking screw and belt guide screw in belt guide. Lift belt guide out. If belt guide should stick, push the point of screwdriver under the slide at rear of belt guide and gently pry upward. Remove handle lock and pull handle out to rear. Push slide to rear and insert end of handle lock in small hole in rear of receiver in side nearest to you, and push out bolt pin. Pull slide to front and out and then push bolt out to rear with finger. Remove safety and trip.
Hold gun with slot in receiver upward. Insert bolt, front end first. Replace slide, pushing to rear as far as it will go. Replace bolt pin, pushing it in as far as it will go by using end of handle lock. Replace belt guide and screw, having locking screw engage groove in belt guide screw. Replace carrier, having flat side or bottom up and carrier dog down. Insert pin. Replace gas lever, having piston drop into hole in gas cylinder. Adjust gas lever until large pin holes in gas lever and gas lever bracket are opposite each other, then insert gas-lever bracket pin.Next place retracting spring tubes in position having slot in followers align with long slot in retracting spring tubes. Force follower over projecting end of retracting connection by pressing follower end inward, at the same time slightly compressing retracting springs until pilot at end of tube clears bracket. Press tube inward at bracket end and into hole for pilot. Place bottom plate in position by putting tongue at rear end in receiver first and flush with rear end of receiver. Place safety in position. Right-hand side plate should be next placed in position, taking precaution to have slide pushed to rear as far as it will go and the feed lever on plate carried to rear as far as it will go, so that feed lever will lay between projections on slide when plate is in position. To place plate in position, have the dowel at rear of plate enter hole for same, in receiver, at the same time having groove near edge of plate engage rib on bottom plate and gas lever bracket pin enter hole in front end of plate. Turn gun over to rest on plate, draw slide forward, having slot at forward end of slide engage end of gas-lever connection. Hold gun at rear end with right hand to prevent moving. Take hold of gas-lever pin with the left hand and swing gas lever outward until slide pin can be pushed into hole in slide through gas-lever connection, having flattened end of slide pin enter slot in side plate. Place trip in holes and slot in receiver. Place left-hand slide plate in position by the same method as right-hand plate. Place side plate screws into holes in front and rear of side plates. If screws do not enter freely see that bottom plate is flush with rear of receiver; if not, tap bottom plate gently on front end until it is flush with rear end of receiver. Screw plates together and lock with locking screws, making a quarter turn of these screws to engage grooves in side plate screws. Push handle into hole in rear of receiver and lock with handle lock. Handle lock is placed in position by inserting large end into hole with the stem held upward and then turned toward front and downward to have projection engage locking cut in side plate and until handle lock stop springs over stem. Place gun in mount and run a few cartridges in a belt through gun to see that mechanism works properly. Keep hand away from trigger during this latter operation, and be sure to work gas lever until all cartridges are out of gun.
LIST OF PARTS.