Feb.

20, 1962

P. C. BERETTA
3,021,763
MECHANISM FOR CONVERTING A RIFLE FROM SEMI-AUTOMATIC
TO AUTOMATIC FIRING
Filed April 6, 1960
6 Sheets-Sheet 1

@vlnnr:
42- Cut 91"

Feb. 20, 1962

P. c. BERETTA

3,021,763

MECHANISM FOR CONVERTING A RIFLE FROM SEMI-AUTOMATIC

T0 AUTOMATIC FIRING
Filed April 6, 1960
v
6 Sheets-Sheet?

*2a
FIG.

Altar-Ila)!

Feb. 20, 1962

P. c. BERETTA

3,021,763

MECHANISM FOR CONVERTING A RIFLE FROM SEMI-AUTOMATIC

T0 AUTOMATIC FIRING
Filed April 6, 1960
6 Sheets-Sheet 3

amrntj

Feb. 20, 1962

' _

P. C. BERETTA

3,021,763

MECHANISM FOR CONVERTING A RIFLE FROM SEMI-AUTOMATIC

Filed April 6, 1960

TO AUTOMATIC FIRING

6 Sheets-Sheet 4

?aw.
7291 aria genita

n'bmjjh I

Feb. 20, 1962

P. c. BERETTA

3,021,763

MECHANISM FOR CONVERTING A RIFLE FROM SEMI-AUTOMATIC

TO AUTOMATIC FIRING

Filed April 6, 1960

'

6 Sheets-Sheet 5

innit?!"

Feb. 20, 1962

P. c. BERETTA

3,021,763

MECHANISM FOR CONVERTING A RIFLE FROM SEMI-AUTOMATIC

TO AUTOMATIC FIRING
Filed April 6. 1960
6 Sheets-Sheet 6

Federated Feb. 20, 1962

2
vention. It should be understood furthermore that the

3,021,753

operations ensuring the successive hammer setting and

releasing steps, the introduction of the cartridges'and the

MECHANHSM FOR CONVERTING A RIFLE FROM

SEMI-AUTOMATIC T0 AUTGMATHC FIRING

extraction of the cartridge case after ?ring, etc. are ex

Pier Carlo Beretta, Via Siepi 6, Gardone

ecuted in conformity with the original design of the regu

lar rifle with a reciprocation of the bolt and of the operat
Filed Apr. 6, 1960, Ser. No. 20,394
ing rod simultaneously with the action exerted by the
Claims priority, application Italy May 23, 1959
marksman on the trigger. In particular, the following ref
2 Claims. (Cl. 89-140) _
erence letters designate the following parts:
The regular Italian ri?e of the Garand 30 Ml type is a 10 a designates the bolt progressing and receding alternating
semi-automatic rifle and it ?res in succession shots corre
ly under the action of the recovering springs acting
sponding to single operations of the trigger by the marks
against the thrust exerted by the shot.
b designates the receiver extending above the trigger

Valtrompia, Italy

man.

>

The present invention has for its object an arrangement

"casing.
for obtaining selectively with the same ri?e, such as said 15 c designates the hammer.
,
'
~
Garand ri?e, a semi-automatic operation shot by shot, or
d designates a plunger on the spring acting on the hammer

else, an automatic operation. Obviously, it is possible to

and enclosing said spring.

obtain, through an automatic operation of the ri?e, a
e designates the trigger with the projection e (primary
larger volume of ?re and, thereby, a much higher e?i
sear) there for engagement with the hammer.
ciency than that provided with semi-automatic operation. 20 f designates
the secondary sear provided with a projection
On the other hand, it is also desirable to retain on a rifle ~
f, the sear being pivotally secured to the body of the
the characteristics of semi-automatic operation which may
trigger.
be undoubtedly useful in the caseof an accurate and pre
g designates the operating rod on which the recovering
cise ?ring. In order to ensure a number of shots corre
spring acts.
sponding to the requirements of automatic operation, the 25
.As already mentioned, FIG. 1 is a side view of the ri?e
arrangement considered has been provided for its applica
as seen from the right hand side, the bolt being in its
tion to a Garand ri?e with a box-shaped magazine in place
closed or forward position.
.
Turning now to the reference numerals relating to the
According to the invention, there is incorporated with
the components of the semi-automatic ri?e and with the 30 novel incorporated parts, 1 designates the automatic con
box-shaped magazine a member adapted for a preliminary _ trol lever pivotally secured to the side of receiver b at point
3, the front end of said lever forming a shaped projection
stage of automatic operation to disconnect the sear or de
2. The lever is urged by a spring 4- (mounted in a recess 4
tent with reference to the trigger when the bolt and the

of the original clip charger.

in lever 1 and guided by a pin 4" on receiver 12 tobear

the end of the introduction of a cartridge into the barrel. 35 against the latter) so as to constrain the projection 2 to
engage the lower side of the operating rod 'g which is
The disconnection of the hammer and, consequently, the
subjected to the action of the conventional recovering
?ring of the cartridge are performed automatically and are
spring which is not illustrated for sake of clarity.
repeated in succession until themagazine is exhausted
operating rod have reached the position corresponding to .

It should be remarked that the lever 1 pivoting round

or else until the marksman has released the pressure ex

erted by him on the trigger.

40 the point 3 may assume dilferent angular positions in a

"

The accompanying drawings illustrate a preferred em

bodiment of'the invention, to wit:
FIG. 1 is an elevational view of one side of a gun with

vertical plane under the action of the spring 4 according

to the position assumed by the rod g which reciprocates
simultaneously with the bolt.

'

FIG. 2 is a view of the ri?e from the left hand side and
45 in addition to the parts illustrated in FIG. 1, it shows a
closed position;
'
>
selector lever 7 which is adapted to assume as required by
FIG. 2 is a similar side view of the rifle as seen from

part thereof shown in section, and with the bolt in its

the opposite side together with a cross-section through the

pivot of the selector lever;

FIG. 2a is a partial sectional view taken along the line

2a-2a of FIG. 2 and looking in the direction of the ar 50
rows;

'

. FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 illustrate the successive stages of the 7

automatic operation of the ri?e;

the marksman one of two angular positions designated

by In and Ila respectively corresponding to semi-auto
matic shot by shot operation and automatic operation.
The lever 7 has a slot 7' which engages with a rectan

gular portion 8' at one end of pivot 8 which passes through

the forward end of the receiver b and carries at its opposite
end a small plate or guidebracket 9 folded into channel

shape at its lower end 10 for engagement by the front end _

FIG. 6 illustrates a type of control lever employed in
55 of the lever 1 controlling automatic ?ring. The lever 7 is
this gun;
subjected to the action of the over-center type spring
FIG. 7 illustrates a selectorlever of the type employed
7' guided in recess 7 in the lever and secured to the
in this gun;
'
'
receiver lathe spring holding 7 in either of its positions
FIG. 7a is a view looking at the left side of the lever in

FIG. 7;
FIG. 8 is a view of the device which interconnects the
selector lever and the automatic control lever;
FIG. 8a is a view looking at the left side of the device
shown in FIG. 8;

.. '. "

Ia or Ila. It will be remarked that upon shifting by hand

the lever 7 from the position Ia into the position Ila there
is obtained a rotary movement of the pivot 8 and con

sequently of the small plate 9.

v The different positionsassumed by the latter de?ne

through its projecting end or else through its upper nose

FIG. 9 illustrates in contradistinction the semi-auto
65 i1 dilferent angular positions in a vertical plane for the
matic operation of the rifle shot by shot.
lever 1. The front end of the lever 1 is raised in fact by
In the accompanying drawing, the reference letters
the projecting end 10 or else it is urged downwardly by
designate the original parts of regular Garand ri?es and
the arrows indicate the direction in which parts move

the upper nose or log 111, Thus the rear end 1 of said

(unless ortherwise indicated), while the reference num

lever 1 has a sloping camrned surface (FIG. 1) which
bers designate the different components of the novel ar 70 engages or disengages the sear f with reference to the
rangement incorporated with the ri?e, according to the in
hammer, the projection or lug l0 limiting the pivotal

anew/es

at

r- d,

f ' complete disengagement; (see Ix) between the lever; end. I1'I I I
I I and the sear If at anymoment, so that said Is'ear is hence- i

-' 'D'iQ?DHiCf leverliduring automatic? operation. so end. I1

. - will not become disengaged from the sear If; j I f I I I

I ' I

I . I . IFICL. 3. is alview from: they right hand side of the first - ' ' forward-adapted to exeeute,II without any/further .conneo; I
tions, the operations provided in ' accordance with the . f . I

3 stage of auto natie operation; the selector lever isIiset by.

corlgiuahdesign' ofthe. fire-arm Ii.e._ the semi-automatic

. - Ethel marksman IinI theposjitioniia. for autorhatie: ?ring-I I

I 3 Themarksman has drawn thetriggerf e? rearwardly iwhiile- :

operation controlled ?sher: by :shot by the action of the

marksman an the trigger,

I , the-bolt a and the'rod g are atithe Irearmost. end of their ' '
I

'
..
I
l receding ntotiongafter the firing of a shot; : The hammer; e. I eI-vv'ha-rcaim isposition and is; not engaged by I 1 I I . ; .1I.; In a semiautomatic rifle oIfItheGar'and, type or? the
I has} entered it inverted
I

I projection 'IeZI The endiof the ievercontrolling automaticf

like wherein? upon the ?ring ofsaid Iireja bolt and. opera: I

I I the positions assumed? by thele'ver 7

bythe froId I'g and 3
' ' :by the thrustiexerted by: the spring 4.- Consequently the

I . hammer and their move forwardlyitozchambera cartridge } I ,

' andlooksaid bolt before release-ofthe cocked hammer; I . '

I I '?'ring'is' raised to the maximn'ma'or the motion allowed :by I >' I 3 ing red I reciprocate-in a; receiver: lrearwardly to; cook; a; I I I

' rear-end 1? of thelleve'r 11. is loweredrto a maximum landlits. ; i ;

a device for: reprint g said rifle'fully automati'cgcompris-I . j

I
; ing a trigger-fasten

I I carnmed surface engage's'tlie sloping isnrfacef formed on

pivotaliy ,mountedon; said triggerIandi ' I , _ I

' movable 'ther witi ,' upon movementjtoiand retention of .I . I .

lthe'seeondary sear 1. The rear ends o? the-hammer has

I I not yet engaged lthe protection fij on :the sear I state the : I - saidI trigger in its I?redIposition, to engage an'l hold said I
I bolt engages in its jrearr'nost position 'thejbfack {of said I I I ; hammer inits eoekedposition,a earn ISJIfQtZE o 1 said open;
I
. .I I
' :hammer, and? :holdsi it 1 completely reversed and I facing. ' emigre , a springiloadedilever ext eiidi lg
III

' .20 said. ri?e and pivoted intermediate its ends? tojthe'side fof ' I ' I
Ijdownwardlyrm.
'I
I I I I
i . I PEG. 4' illiistrate's

the 'seeondsta'ge of autoxnaticIoper'a-I I 1 r

surface.I on the , I I
j said receiver; s d? leverhavingf a dammed
I

rear endth'ereofgdisposed to? engage Ssaijd sear when said I I

" 1 tion? I Il1eb01t 1a andthe operating rod .g move forwardly

Itriggergis; in: its tired position, said lever having aprojece I' : : f 3

. 3 .nnder-theaetion of the recovering: spring and are about; 1 '

'ositioned to be inthe peer I

} .to reach theirI?nalI closing-position. In such apositi'on; f : I I Ition onithefdrward and hereeffg
citing; rod? when
said
trigger is r
:of I'mfovernentIoffsaido e I
I
I I

-ihe'rddg?

ncrthe?ever 1 are in contact with each other

'

'

'

'

I25;

'

'

' . iufriderthe .Iactioiri er the spring; 4-: along the sloping} planes I I

'

is ?red; position, 3. mt r1 ally adjustable selector bracket ; I

I : IoIrI CamIsurfacesISIIand 6 formed onsaid rod andlon said} : ' % mounted. on one side} of said; reeeivierI and :adiustablej to I
I hraeltet j ' f
. lever, respectively; 1 Consequently,; gthe lever I II has a ' ; render said ri?e iautomaitie orIseImh-automanesaid

I ihaving-spac-edupper and lower lateral lugs ltnereon, which, I

' Itendenoyto = .e lowered? aritsifrfem 'andfto penises at its. f

. I irear end. Asairesult'oi the shape. given? toItIhe rear end :lfi '
. I
.
I
_ .I
' '

:
.
,
'I
I

or level, i the sear; 1]. pivoted IonI trigger Ie ' is shifted for;
I waydly so as to: engage its projection f with the coopejrat-f
Iing projection e Ionithehammer Iand-tosetthe latter in. its
'rearly-toe?re position, ' The. engagement of; said hammer
:with the sear has for 'ijtsobjeettop'reventi said hammer

I :Wil?tl :said

' i

bracket?I i's'adju ted ifriautomatie operation of ' I

ri?e; extend .gespectivelyovjeri and under tlieiforward j

; .endof said. lever,= whereby upon the ?ring? of:

I said ritle and

. ' 1 the eockingof said- hammer; during; automaticii?e opera I

? ' ltioni, said operating rod moves forwardly: so that :the .cam I , I 1 f , 1
1 , surface thereon engages said 'proieetioni,;thereby; eausing I ; ' I

_ ,frohij?ririg a further cartridge? before the holtghas'reachjed: . I said lever: to, be pivotediagainst its spring. load, theIfor-I ' I

3 theendl of sIclIoIsin'g motion; This, outsfoutthe possibility]

1 ; for: premature ?ring er; ii'ringl outside} theIharreLI , i 3 .

award; end thereof to be urged downwardly against said .I

I f I lower dug, and theeammedsurfiace on the; rear; end. ofIsaiId i I I . I

FIG. 5 illustrates the thirdjandi ?nalf stageLo-fa temIati'c? ' 40' lever to pivot said . sear? on 'jsaidtrigger to release: said I I j

. I i operation. ' The .boltiaI and the operating Irodj g have I I

3 reacheditheir ?nalicios'inglpositionx -I As a result- of the l f I 1

?nal stroke executed by the rod g, the end 2 of the lever

is now in contact with the underside of the rod g so that

forward end of the lever 1 has turned by a further angle

downwardly while its rear end has raised and urged again
rearwardly the sear f, which latter has therefore dis
engaged the hammer. The hammer in its turn hits the

striker and produces the ?ring of the cartridge simul

taneously with the closing of the ri?e by the gas check.
The cycle of operations is then resumed starting from
the position illustrated in FIG. 3.
FIG. 9 illustrates the operation of the ri?e ?ring shot
by shot in a semi-automatic manner. The marksman sets

hammer Ifrom its ,eoeked positiom. . -

lever in the front section of the latter.

Thus the lever 1 sinks through its front end and is no
longer subjected to the action of the operating rod g while 60
its rear end rises and this shifting movement provides a

I I I

. _I , _ . I . I

ably mounted in said receiver, said shaft having a handle

?xed to the opposite end thereof, whereby upon rotation
of said handle toward the rear of said ri?e from its auto

matic to semi-automatic position, said bracket is pivoted

and moves its lower lug from beneath the forward end of

said lever while urging said upper lug against the upper
side of said lever to thereby pivot the latter to remove its

projection from the path of said operating rod and its

cammed rear end from engagement with said soar and

rendering the ri?e semiautomatic in operation.

References Cited in the ?le of this patent

vfor such an operation the selector lever 7 in its position la.

The pivot 8 turns consequently together with the small 55

plate 9 rigid therewith and the upper nose 11 projecting

with reference to said plate engages the upper side of the

. I

I I2. lament-stems; as at the typede?riedin slain": I' 3 I I

1 wherein said bracket is ?xed toone end of a shaft rota't '

UNITED STATES PATENTS

2,452,617
2,464,418
2,465,487

Wechsler _____________ .._. Nov. 2, 1948

Sefried ____________ .._I-_ Mar. 15, 1949
Sampson et a1 __________ i- Mar. 29, 1949

2,568,198

Loomis et a1 __________ __ Sept. 18, 1951

2,572,872

Ketterer ______________ __ Oct. 30, 1951

2,715,355

Garand 7.._,_-___I_I____..I_ Aug. 16, 1955