IMPROVEMENTS IN CENTRAL-PIRE CARTRIDGES
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Fusnot, of Curighem-lez-Bruxelles, in
the Kingdom of Belgium, Manufacturer, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CENTRAL-PIRE CARTRIDGES."
Sealed the 3rd November 1868, and dated the 22nd May 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Fusnot at the
Office of tlie Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
22nd May 1868:.
I, CHARLES FUSNOT, of Curighem-lez-Bruxelles, in the Kingdom.
of Belgium, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said:
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CENTRAL-FIRE CARTRIDGES," to be as
follows, that is to say:-
This Invention consists in improvements in the manufacture of
central-fire cartridges exploded either by a hammer or pin, and is.
applicable to cartridges for rifles, guns, and revolvers.
In manufacturing these cartridges I employ the means described in-
the Specification of Letters Patent granted to me and dated the Twenty-
second day of October, One thousand cight hundred and sixty-three,.

page_text: Number 2597, and make the cartridge case or the cartridge bottom of
one piece, but I dispense with the internal packing ring or washer, the
copper cup, the various kinds of pins, and the paper cylinder supporting
the igniting portion of the cartridge. The cartridge bottom carries the
cap externally in a central hollow, in the middle of which rises a nipple
serving to press on the fulminate to produce the deflagration, two or
more vent holes serving for the communication of the fire from the cap
to the charge. The base of the cartridge bottom is so made that a
cleanly cut dise is obtained forming a projection which allows of
dispensing with the plate employed in the Boxer cartridge. The
external projection on this disc is obtained by placing at the end of
a punch a piece of cardboard, india-rubber, or other elastic material.
The punch on arriving at the end of its stroke presses heavily on the
cardboard or india-rubber, which expands and produces in the interior a
hollow which forms a projection or rim on the outside.
By my improvements I can make cartridges for revolvers of one
piece, requiring only the cap to complete them. I can also by taking a
cartridge bottom, made as herein-before described, apply in it a metal
tube which is attached by forcing it out in the interior of the projection
so as to form one body with the bottom. When a foil tube is to be
applied I operate in a similar manner by forcing out the previously
curved part of the tube into the rim or projection.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Charles Fusnot in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 21st November 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
FUSNOT, of Curighem-lez-Bruxelles, in the Kingdom of Belgium,
Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of May, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the
thirty-first year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Charles Fusnot, Her special licence,
that I, the said Charles Fusnot, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Charles Fusnot, my executors,

page_text: administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time, and at all times thereafter during the term therein
expressed, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN CENTRAL-
FIRE CARTRIDGES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Charles Fusnot, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Charles Fusnot, 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, reference being had to the Drawing hereto
annexed, and to the figures and letters marked thereon, that is to
say:-
The object of my Invention is to simplify the construction and
manufacture of central-fire cartridges exploding either by the per-
cussion of a hammer or of a pin or striker, and applicable to guns,
rifles, and revolvers.
In carrying out my Invention I make the cartridge bottom or the
cartridge case of one piece as described in the Specification of Letters
Patent granted to me on the Twenty-second day of October, Onc
thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, No. 2597, and dispense with
the internal packing ring or washer, the copper cup, the pin or needle,
and the paper cylinder supporting the igniting portion of the cartridge.
The cartridge bottom carries the cap externally in a central hollow or
sink, in the centre of which is formed a projection or nipple on which
the deflagration of the fulminate is effected, two or more vent holes
serving to communicate the fire from the cap to the charge. The
cartridge bottom is made of one piece and of any suitable metal by
means of a stamping machine and dies. The base of the cartridge
bottom is made by an improved process, by which a cleanly cut disc with
a rim or projection is obtained, and by which I dispense with a plate
now.employed in the Boxer cartridge. This improved process consists
in placing at the end of a punch a piece of cardboard, india-rubber, or

page_text: other elastic material and forcing the punch to the end of its stroke, so
as to press heavily on the cardboard or india-rubber and cause it to
expand, thereby producing in the interior a hollow which forms the
projection or rim on the outside..
By my improvements cartridges for revolvers can be made of onc
piece requiring only the caps to complete them, I can fit into a cartridge
bottom made as herein-before described a metal tube which is attached
to the bottom by forcing it out in the interior of the rim by the means
herein-before described, so as to form one piece with the bottom. When
it is wished to apply a foil tube I operate in a similar manner to that
last-before described, by forcing out the tube (a part of which has been
previously curved) into the rim or projection of the cartridge bottom.

page_text: Firstly. The mode or process of forming the base of the cartridge
bottom and cartridge case, as herein-before described.
Secondly. The fixing tubes in cartridge bottoms, as herein-before
described and represented in the accompanying Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Fusnot, have hereto
set my hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of November, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-
eight.