Claim: William Ellis Metford's form of explosive rifle bullet, designed with the help of artist and illustrator Robert Taylor Pritchett,  was declared obsolete within 15 years of adoption by the government.
Evidence: In 1857, the select committee found his form of explosive rifle bullet the best of those submitted to them, and in 1863 it was adopted by government. In March 1869, however, it was declared obsolete in accordance with the resolution of the St. Petersburg convention against the employment of such missiles in warfare.