IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH CARTOUCH CASES OR BOXES, STRAPS CONNECTED THEREWITH, AND OTHER MILITARY APPENDAGES OR APPLIANCES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Ernest Alexandre Crosnier, of Paris, France, but tempo-
rarily of 33, Chancery Lane, London, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
AND CONNECTED WITH CARTOUCH CASES OR BOXES, STRAPS CONNECTED
THEREWITH, AND OTHER MILITARY APPENDAGES OR APPLIANCES."
A com-
munication from abroad by Louis André Lion, of Paris, France,
Sealed the 21st October 1879, and dated the 23rd April 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Ernest Alexandre Crosnier at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd April 1879.
ERNEST ALEXANDRE CROSNIER, of Paris, France, but temporarily of 33, Chancery
Lane, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH CARTOUCH CASES OR
BOXES, STRAPS CONNECTED THEREWITH, AND OTHER MILITARY APPENDAGES OR
APPLIANCES." (A communication from abroad by Louis André Lion, of Paris,
France.)
The object of this Invention is to reduce the encumbrance produced by the
amunition advisable to be carried by the soldier in the field and on the march,
enabling him at the same time to carry more, and to have the same more under his
command than heretofore; reserve amunition can also be carried without appreciable
inconvenience. For this purpose the heavy amunition, or what may be called the
reverse amunition, is according to my Invention carried on the shoulders of the
soldier or volunteer, because I have from experience found, and in fact it is known
that greater weight can be carried there, and the arms are free, and their action is
not impeded. According to this Invention, the cases carried on the shoulders aro
divided from one another, but connected by leather piece fitting smoothly on or
between the shoulders; the space between the two cases is occupied by a flexible
cartouch case or box hereafter described, and there secured by strap and buckle. At
or near the outer inner end of each case straps are stitched; on one side (the fire-
arm side preferably) I provide a flap or enlarged piece, carrying a hook or hook
shaped catch for the purpose hereafter described. To the straps, which are stitched
to the flap or flaps, one or both, I connect by buckle, hook, or preferably by studs, n
brace shaped strap or straps, the two ends of which pass over the shoulders, and
meeting on the chest, are united to a strap carrying a hook for securing it in front
to the waist belt. Other straps are connected to the lower outer edges of the cases,

page_text: which pass under the armpit, and are secured at the other end to the breast strap
by a stud or other convenient means. There are several stud holes to enable the
straps to suit any size man. This belt supports on the right and left sides a cartouch
case, free to slide thereon, the belt strap passing through metal loops, which are
secured to the ends of the cartouch cases by themselves passing through leather-
loops forming hinges stitched thereto; that portion of the metal loop where the
strap passes is broader than the other side passing through the leather loop, and the
latter being at or about midway between the two end edges of the cartouch case,
the half end of the case acts as a stop to the metal loop, and prevents it from
extending more than to about a right angle to the edge of the case, so that when
the waist belt is buckled tightly round the waist the cartouch box is drawn tightly
against the same, and thereby prevented from itself shaking, or the contents thereof,
and this is a source of great comfort to the wearer, as it prevents chafing and other
attendant inconveniences incidental thereto. The waist strap is connected to the
metal shield or fastening by passing the end of strap under two fixed metal loops
on back of same, one (the innermost loop) being preferably of V shape; the end is
then brought back over first loop and inserted under second; the shield then
fastened, the end of strap is or becomes more securely held as the pressure increases.
The waist belt can be adjusted to suit the waist of any wearer by pulling it in the
first instance sufficiently far through the loops on the shield, which latter is provided
with slots for studs on the other end of strap to slip into, or of course other modes
of fastening may be adopted if preferred.
The flexible cartouch case before referred to is made of leather, say, when
expanded about six inches long, and of breadth and depth to suit the cartridges to
be carried; it is made with internal compartments, the divisions therein forming
partition like guides, which at the same time act as guards to the cartridges which
are intended to be contained within the partitions. The top of case has flexible
cover, which is supported and kept in position for the easy entry of the fingers to
the interior by the coutinuations of the divisions; the whole case itself when
empty closes up like a bellows, and can be reduced to about a third of its bulk.
To encli end a metal loop is secured (acting as the other loops before described) by
passing same through leather loop, and the metal loop is split or divided at bottom,
having an opening sufficiently wide to admit the width of an ordinary leather strap
when required, which for the purposes of the Invention should be capable of being
slipped in and out with facility; as before stated, this collapsible flexible case,
when not in use, is secured between the amunition cases that are carried on or
between the shoulders.
The soldier or volunteer provided with the foregoing equipments, supposing him
to be on the march in search of the enemy, has with him the two amunition reserve
cases on his shoulders, and two cartouch cases at his sido filled with cartridges.
When the enemy is discovered, and the men are ordered to prepare for action, the
flexible cartouch case on the shoulder is unstrapped and opened, and immediately
slipped on to the waist belt by means of the split metal loop. It is then forthwith
filled with cartridges from the shoulder cases, and the soldier has then under his
command the contents of two cartouch boxes, those of the flexible case, and a second
flexible case, if thought necessary. The contents of one flexible case expended, it
is collapsed and pushed along the belt out of the way to make room for the next
full cartouch case, and so on. In this way a large store of amunition is provided
ready for use when required, and at the same time capable of being carried with
ease and great facility by the soldier. With such a store of amunition an ordinary
breech loading fire arm becomes capable of being utilized almost as quickly as a
magazine gun, without the disadvantage of being compelled to stop to reload so
often, for I am able to carry at any rate sixty six rounds, which can be fired one
after the other until all are expended, instead of about fifteen, as with the magazine
fire arms now in use
The fire arm itself is slung by strap from loops thereon, and the strap carries a
leather or metal loop, with a pin secured therein or thereto, the loop being capable

page_text: of being slid along the strap to suit any required position thereon. The soldier on
the march places the strap over his shoulder, and places the strap in the hook or
projection on the flap connected to the shoulder cartouch reserve cases; the fire
arm thus hung from the shoulder, the other end of the strap is slipped under a
metal looped piece on the waist belt, which piece is free to slide thereon, so as to
adjust its position as may be required. The metal loop is outside the belt, the lower
end being slightly bent to facilitate the introduction and withdrawal of the strap of
the fire arm. By this arrangement the fire arm is carried from the shoulder without
inconvenience, and with apparently reduction of weight to the soldier; the arms
are quite free, as it is not necessary to take hold of the strap, as at present is the
case.
The Invention for carrying the fire arm by a slung strap, allowing the movements
of the arms free, consists therefore in the combination of the three following
points
:-
1st. Securing the strap of the gun to the shoulder by a hook or other fastening.
2nd. To a leather or metal loop, which extends to the waist belt, to be fastened
there according to the size of the wearer's waist.
3rd. The employment of mechanical means for stopping or fixing the strap to
prevent the jolting or undue movements of the fire-arm. Many modifications may
be employed for obtaining the above results, viz., to adjust the position of strap on
the shoulders, to regulate at will the gun touching the hips, connecting the waist-
belt to the gun strap by mechanical means, which enables the placing of the gun
in the position most suitable to the ease and comfort of the soldier.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Ernest Alexandre Crosnier in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
23rd October 1879.
"
ERNEST ALEXANDRE CROSNIER, of Paris, France, but temporarily of 33, Chancery
Lane, London. IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH CARTOUCH CASES OR
BOXES, STRAPS CONNECTED THEREWITH, AND OTHER MILITARY APPENDAGES OR
APPLIANCES." (A communication from abroad by Louis Andre Lion, of Paris,
France.)
The object of this Invention is to reduce the incumbrance produced by the
ammunition advisable to be carried by the soldier in the field and on the march,
enabling him at the same time to carry more, and to have the same more under his
command than heretofore. Reserve ammunition can also be carried without appre-
ciable inconvenience.
First, in the distribution of the load calculated in relation to the power of the
man in such manner that he may be able to support the weight on those parts most
capable of bearing same.
In fact, what are those parts of the man which are most capable of supporting
weight?
The shoulders, the head, and the shoulder blades. What, on the contrary, are the
weakest parts, and consequently the most sensible to a load
The chest and the flank.
And how is the load of the soldier distributed at present?
The traction of the straps on the shoulders entirely compresses the muscles of the
chest; the load on the back especially draws the man backwards; all the fatigue
is then on the chest, and very little on the shoulders.
As to the flanks, they are loaded by the waist belt, the sword, the cartridges, and
so forth.
The shoulders support only very little of the load of the knapsack and that of
the gun. Again, this latter is unsteady, varying from one point to another according
to the requirements of the service.
The shoulder blade, that is to say, the part of the man the least sensitive, carries
the head and supports nothing else.
It is then easy to understand how the progress of this new method of subdivision
s great, not only because the weight is carried by the insensitive parts heretofore
neglected, but also because it is divided instead of being in a compact mass, bearing
only on a single point, while by this new system each part of the body supports
but a certain number, consequently the independence of the body follows the
movements of the independence of each weight supported. Thus it will be seen
that the number of, say, 108 cartridges, can be carried as follows:-30 on the left
shoulder, 30 on the right shoulder, 30 on the left flank, 18 behind the back or the
right flank.
These four different weights are entirely independent the one of the
other, and bear on four different points, each having their muscles, &c. This result
then enables a larger number of cartridges to be carried without more fatigue than
with a less number carried by the arrangement usually adopted. It need hardly be
added that with this system the result is that all the movements of the soldier are
entirely free, and there is hardly any pressure on the chest, and that of the flanks
is rendered very light.
The accompanying Drawings illustrate the manner in which the Invention is
carried into effect, and will be best understood by reference thereto. Figures 1, 2,
3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 are details of the separate parts of my Invention; and at
Figure 11 is a view shewing the mode of equipment as applied to a soldier, by
which the accompanying Drawings will be inore easily understood.
According to this Invention the cartridge holders are carried on the shoulder,
and are divided one from another and united by means of a strip of leather fitting

page_text: comfortably on the shoulders. I also employ a flexible cartridge box a (Figures 9
and 10), hereafter described, which is fastened to the chambered cartridge box j by
means of a strap and buckle. At the inside end (or near it) of each holder b straps c
(Figure 4) are sewn at one side, that of the fire arm preferably there is a flap d
(Figure 4) carrying a hook or catch e for the following purposes:-To the straps c,
which are sewn on the flap or flaps d, there are other straps 2, which are sewn to
the cases b, and passing under the arm pits are fastened or buttoned at c' to the
stud fixed on the braces & in order to attach them with the brace ƒ placed on the
chest provided with a hook h, all shewn in Figure 4, in order to fasten it in front
to the belt i. This belt i carries right and left a cartridge box j, as shown in
Figure 1, sliding thereon, the strap sliding through the metal buckles k, which are
fastened on the cartridge box ends by means of pieces of leather acting as hinges.
The part of the metal buckle through which the strap passes is wider than the
other side which turns in the leather loop; this latter being placed about the centre
between the two outer ends of the cartridge box, the half of the case acts as a stop
for the metal buckle, and prevents it extending further than at right angles with
the edge of the cartridge holder in such manner that when the belt i is buckled
round the waist the cartridge box or holder is consequently fastened tight, and
cannot be shaken about, and is a source of great comfort to the wearer, as the
shaking and rubbing and the consequences inherent therefrom are entirely sup-
pressed. The belt is united to the metal fastening by passing the end of the strap
under two metal buckles which are placed at the back of same, one of which, the
inside buckle, preferably made of a shaped form, has its end pushed backwards
on the first buckle and inserted into the second; the plate being then closed the
end of the strap becomes more and more secured, according as the pressure
increases.
The belt may be made to fit any body by pulling it, for instance, sufficiently
through the plate buckles, this plate being provided with slots to receive the studs
placed at the other end of the strap. Any other mode of fastening may be employed
if desired.
The before mentioned flexible cartridge case a is made of leather. When expanded
it is of about 6 inches long; its width and depth must be made according to the
cartridges to be carried. It is provided with internal compartments, the divisions
of which form guides or partitions for the cartridges which are intended to be
placed in the compartments shown at Figures 9 and 10. The top of the cartridge
case is provided with a flexible covering, which is kept in placo (and to allow of
the introduction of the finger) by the prolongations of the divisions. When the
whole cartridge case is empty it closes like a bellows, shown at Figure 10, and may
be reduced to about one third of its size. It is provided at each end with a metal
buckle a' (for the same purpose as those before described) fixed by a leather loop.
The metal buckle has a slot on its under side sufficiently large to admit the belt.
The soldier or volunteer provided with these equipments, if we suppose him to be on
the march in search of the enemy, carries on his shoulders the two reserve cartridge
cases, and at his side two cartridge cases full. The enemy in sight, and order
given to prepare for action, the flexible cartridge case is detached and opened, and it
is immediately caused to slide on the belt; then it is filled up with cartridges from
the reserve cartridge case on the shoulder, and thus the soldier has at hand the
contents of two cartridge cases and those of the flexible cartridge case. The flexible
cartridge case being empty it is pushed back on the belt to make, room for the
next full cartridge case, and so on. By this means a great supply of ammunition
is at hand, and at the same time the soldier can carry it with facility and without
fatigue. With such supply of ammunition an ordinary breech loading firearm may
be utilized very nearly as quickly as a magazine gun, without having to stop to
recharge the magazine so often, for under all circumstances 108 rounds may be
carried, and which may be fired one after the other until all are expended, instead
of fifteen, as with the magazine gun at present in use.
The gun is suspended to a strap by means of buckle, and the strap is provided

page_text: with a hook or stud. The buckle is made to slide on the strap in order to be shifted
to any desired position. The soldier on march places the strap on his shoulder,
and by means of the sliding buckle he places the pin on the hook or projection of
the flap attached to the reserve cartridge case on the shoulder; thus the firearm
hangs from the shoulder, the other end of the strap sliding under a metal piece K,
Figure 8, which is placed on the belt. This piece is made to slide on the belt in
order to be fitted to it if found necessary. The metal buckle is placed on the outside
of the belt, and has the form of a reversed elongated U, its base being slightly bent
to facilitate the introduction and the taking out of the gun strap. By this
arrangement the fire-arm is supported by the shoulder without inconvenience,
and reduction of weight for the soldier to carry, which reduction is due to the
equilibrium of the firearm.
The arms of the soldier are quite free, as it is not necessary for him to hold the
straps of the gun, as is now the case.
Having ascertained the nature of this Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to tho
precise details as herein described, as modifications may be made to obtain the same
results; for instance, in the adjustment of the shoulder strap, the position of the
gun, and adjusting the belt with the strap of the gun by mechanical means; but
what I claim as the improvements in and connected with cartouch cases or boxes,
straps connected therowith, and other military appendages or appliances are,-
First. Securing the gun to the shoulder by means of a hook or other equivalent
means, substantially as set forth.
Second. The metal or leather buckle which reaches the belt, fixed thereon
according as the size of the soldier may require, substantially as set forth.
Third. The employment of mechanical means to stop or fix the strap, thereby
preventing unnecessary movements or shaking of the gun, different means for fixing
the straps to the gun by means of a link hooking on to the metal loops of the
cartridge cases to secure it on to the belt, substantially as set forth.
Fourth. The means employed for the distribution of the load, said load being for
the most part on the shoulder blades, substantially as set forth.
Fifth. Facilitating the various movements whereby the soldier can readily obtain
his ammunition, and comply with the exigencies of quick firing, substantially as
set forth.
Sixth. The general arrangement, substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof I, the said Ernest Alexandre Crosnier, have hereunto set
my hand and seal this Twentieth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.