Improvements in and relating to Targets and Mantlets for Rifle Practice.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Sept., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 15th May, 1899-Accepted, 6th Sept., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Targets and Mantlets for Rifle
Practice.
CHARLES ALBERT DUKE GEORGE, of "Wolseley House," Lansdowne Road,
Bournemouth, in the County of Hants (Captain 4th V.B. Hants Regiment),
Builder and Contractor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:--
My invention relates to improvements in the mounting of targets and a safety
mantlet for rifle practice and has for its object to provide a means whereby the
target proper and the dummy target upon which the value of the shot is shewn
may both be actuated by the operator from the safety mantlets without the
necessity of having to provide a pit for the protection of the said operator, such
provision being especially suited and of great advantage in districts where it is
difficult to provide drainage for a pit.
For the purpose of my invention I provide and fix in a suitable position on the
ground level a concrete, wooden or other fixing base upon or in which runs a
wooden cill, by means of a metal grooved wheel working upon a spindle running
in a slot in a metal case morticed into the said cill, the wheel being flanged to
work upon the metal runner rail.
The target proper and the dummy target are fitted on the wooden cill, so
arranged that on the target proper being moved horizontally upon the runner bar
until in a position to be covered by the mantlets, the dummy target is projected
on the opposite side for observation; this dummy target has painted or otherwise
outer," "inner,"
delineated upon it certain words or letters, such as "bull"
magpie," examine," having reference to the quality of the shot scored on
target proper.
<:
66
"
The value of such shots will be indicated to the marksman by the operator
placing a black or other colored disc upon the dummy target.
Also while the target proper is behind the mantlets the operator will place
thereon discs shewing the position of the shot made by the marksman which will
be exhibited when the target proper is again exposed to marksman and the
dummy replaced behind the mantlets.
The operator while protected by the metal or other material mantlets is able
to observe the target proper through a sheet of thick plate glass sufficient for
protection, and also is prevented from leaving the mantlets during the time the
target proper is exposed to marksman by means of a metal arm fixed to frame-
work of dummy target, which closes and secures the door of mantlets until such
time as the target proper is withdrawn and the dummy target exposed.
Dated this Fifth day of September 1898.

page_text: Improvements in and relating to Targets and Mantlets for Rifle
Practice.
I, CHARLES ALBERT DUKE GEORGE, of Wolseley House, Lansdowne Road,
Bournemouth, in the County of Hants (Captain 4th V.B. Hants Regiment),
Builder and Contractor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer
tained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to that class or type of targets for rifle practice, in which
means is provided for removing the same after each shot out of the range of firing
for the purposes of repair, and consists of certain improvements in the mechanism
for operating the movements of the said target or targets for the purpose stated,
by means of which I am enabled to dispense with chains, levers, and other ex-
pensive & cumbersome gear, hitherto employed for this purpose and to effect
economy in the erection and manipulation of the targets, and the manual power
needed for operating the same.
In order that my invention and the manner of and means for operating the
same may be fully understood, I have hereunto appended 3 sheets of drawings,
of which:-
Fig. 1, is a front elevation of such a target according my invention in which
the target proper is shown behind the mantlet and the dummy target in full
view of marksman.
Fig. 2, is a plan illustrating the position of the dummy target when exposed to
view of marksman, with target proper behind the mantlet and also the plan of
the safety mantlet.
Fig. 3. Is an end elevation of the safety mantlet shewing operator's door and
section of framing in which targets run & section of target.
Fig. 4. Is an elevation showing the target proper exposed to marksman with
the dummy target behind the safety mantlet for operator to record the marking
'on.
Fig. 5. Is an elevation of the runner wheel which is placed on the underside
of the targets and which runs the targets back & forward on the runner rail
shown on Figure 6.
Fig. 6. Is a section shewing the foundation for, and the runner rail and runner
wheel on which the targets are mounted and drawn backward and forward.
In carrying my invention into effect I excavate sufficient earth to form a
trench C. of such length and breadth as to provide a clearance for the movements
of the targets, and on the bed of the said trench, I place and fix by suitable means
an iron or other base rail suitable fixed in the concrete by means of cranked
bolts & nuts which are securely embedded in the concrete base C. On the 2 ends I
erect wooden or other stops L which are secured by the pins M. In positions
marked FI also fix standards or uprights with head to same which is grooved
out so that the targets may run in the said groove. The targets Figure 1, & 4
are mounted on the runner rail C, and run in the framed standards & head F
with the runner wheel E, on the rail C. The dummy target B Figure 1, is con-
structed in the same way as the target proper and in fact the same framing forms
the dummy & target proper which is all of one construction. The said targets
are usually composed of a wooden or other frame upon which canvas or other
like and penetrable material is stretched, the practice or proper target having
painted thereon the usual disc and rings to indicate "bulls eye.'
39.66 inner" "
outer ??
and magpie in the usual way, while the dummy target B is provided with

page_text: horizontal rods such as H upon which the marker suspends a black disc in such a
way or position as to indicate to the marksman the value of his shot in the manner
well understood.
In practice the marker will stand in the safety mantlet A and would first place
the target proper in front of him inside the mantlet and repair or patch any
holes left therein from the previous firing, and when so repaired push this from
left to right as at Fig. 4 by means of the iron arm T which is fixed on the targets.
The marksman having fired his shot, the marker would note the value of his
shot and would suspend the before mentioned black disc J on to the iron bar H
in such a position and manner upon one or other of the bars H as would indicate
the same when the marker would push the dummy target B out drawing the
target proper behind the mantlet and exposing the dummy target B to the marks.
man, and assuming that the shot had struck the target, the hole therein made
by the said shot, would now be covered by the marker with a black or white patch
as the case may be, when the marker would again run out the target proper
drawing the dummy target B behind the mantlet again and so on each time a shot
was fired. It will thus be seen that no simpler way could be devised for the
purpose in question.
The safety mantlet A is formed of wood or other suitable material as is covered
with metal to the sides and roof so as to be shot proof and thoroughly secure
for the marker inside. In the sides at K thick glass panels are inserted of such
thickness as to prevent the shots penetrating through it. Operator's door N is also
constructed in the side for him to get access to the safety mantlet and the door
of which is automatically closed by means of the iron arm D which is fixed on
the dummy target B in such a way as to always close the door N when pushing
the target proper into position for firing by the marksman.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1st. In targets for rifle practice, the combination of a pair of targets both
mounted on a runner rail on proper base suspended in framing and running
backwards and forwards on a pair or more of wheels, and by means of which,
motion imparted to either target in one direction, will convey the other target
or dummy target which is part of the construction of the other target (proper)
in the same direction substantially as herein described and shewn.
2nd. In an improved target_for rifle practice, the combination of a pair of
targets such as target proper Fig. 1 & 4, and a dummy target B of approved
dimensions supported on a runner rail C in concrete bed with runner wheel E
fixed on to the target & dummy target B, the runner rail C having stop ends or
posts L secured by pins M, and the targets running in a frame F, substantially
as herein described and shewn by the accompanying drawings.
3rd. In an invention of a safety mantlet A, having door to same N for operator's
use which is automatically secured by means of the arm D which is fixed on the
dummy target B. The safety mantlet being fixed on the ground obviates the
necessity of digging and forming pits for the safety of the marker and effects
great economy and expense.
Dated this Thirty first day of August, One thousand eight hundred &
CHARLES ALBERT DUKE GEORGE.