A CERTAIN IMPROVEMENT IN BALLS, BULLETS, OR OTHER PROJECTILES TO BE EMPLOYED IN FIRE-ARMS OR ORDNANCE
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John William Edge, of Manchester, in the County
of Lancaster, Gun Maker, for the Invention of "A CERTAIN IMPROVEMENT
IN BALLS, BULLETS, OR OTHER PROJECTILES TO BE EMPLOYED IN FIRE-ARMS OR
ORDNANCE."
Sealed the 14th June 1859, and dated the 16th December 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John William Edge at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
16th December 1858.
I, JOHN WILLIAM EDGE, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Gun
Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "A CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENT IN BALLS, BULLETS, OR OTHER PROJECTILES TO BE EMPLOYED IN FIRE-
ARMS OR ORDNANCE," to be as follows:-
This Invention is designed for the purpose of greasing or lubricating the
internal surface of the barrel from which the projectiles are expelled, by the
employment of a self-lubricating ball or projectile. The ball, bullet, or
projectile to be employed is of that description which is partially hollow, or
has a cavity formed therein, and the improvement consists in filling such cavity
with a composition of wax and tallow, or other lubricating material, and in so
perforating or cutting the sides of the projectile, that upon the explosion of
the powder, such lubricating medium may be forced through the apertures,
and coming into contact with the barrel will effect its lubrication, and prevent
its becoming "foul" or clogged with dirt and unconsumed powder. This
improved description of projectile may either be employed with or without
the usual cup or plug, as the apertures in the side allow the metal of the

page_text: bullet to expand more readily, the lubricating material having a similar effect
to the plug, such apertures being also so formed at such an angle as to cause
the ball to partake of a spiral course.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John William Edge in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 15th June 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
WILLIAM EDGE, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-second
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said John William Edge, Her special license that I,
the said John William Edge, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said John William Edge, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from
time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein ex-
pressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands,
and Isle of Man, an Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN BALLS,
BULLETS, OR OTHER PROJECTILES TO BE EMPLOYED IN FIRE-ARMS OR ORDNANCE,"
upon the condition, amongst others, that I, the said John William Edge,
by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office. within six calendar months next. and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent. i.
• NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John William Edge, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the. same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement (and, accompanying Drawings), that is to say:
This Invention is designed for the purpose of greasing or lubricating the
internal surface of the barrel from which the projectiles are expelled, by the
employment of a self-lubricating ball or projectile. The ball, bullet, or
projectile to be employed is of that description which is partially hollow, or
has a cavity formed therein, and the improvement consists in filling such

page_text: cavity with a composition of wax and tallow or other lubricating material, and
in so perforating or cutting the sides of the projectile, that upon the explosion
of the powder, such lubricating medium may be forced through the apertures,
and coming into contact with the barrel, will effect its lubrication, and prevent
it becoming "foul" or clogged with dirt and unconsumed powder; or if
preferred, the said cavity may be dispensed with, and the grooves may be
filled with and contain the lubricating material. This improved description of
projectile may either be employed with or without the usual cap or plug, as
the apertures in the side allow the metal of the bullet to expand more readily,
the lubricating material having a similar effect to the plug, such apertures
being also so formed at such an angle as to cause the ball to partake of a
spiral course.
In order that the Invention may be better understood and explained in
detail, I have hereunto attached a Sheet of Drawings illustrative of the same,
and having corresponding letters of reference on all the Figures.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the projectile; Fig. 2 is an end view shewing
the groove; and Fig. 8 is a vertical section taken through the line A, B. In
the three Figures, a, a, is the projectile; b, b, are the grooves, incisions, or
perforations, through which the lubricant escapes to lubricate the barrel; c
is a cup or cavity which is to contain the lubricating material, and from which
the slots or perforations b, b, diverge outwards towards the periphery of the
projectile.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, together with the
method of performing the same, I wish it to be distinctly understood that I
claim forming slots, grooves, incisions, or perforations in the direction or
plane of the length of projectiles employed in fire-arms, either to contain the
lubricant or for the purpose of conveying such lubricant to the interior surface
of the barrel at the instant of the explosion of the propelling agent; and also
the peculiar form and construction of such projectiles consequent upon these
improvements, which have been herein-before described, set forth, and fully
illustrated in the Drawings attached.
In witness whereof, I, the said John William Edge, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of June, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.
JOHN WILLIAM EDGE. (L.S.).