IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH LOADING FIRE-ARMS AND ORDNANCE, AND IN CARTRIDGES."
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Wilson, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH
LOADING FIRE-ARMS AND ORDNANCE, AND IN CARTRIDGES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Wilson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 29th
June 1860.
I, THOMAS WILSON, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS
IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS AND ORDNANCE, AND IN CARTRIDGES," to be as
follows:-
My Invention consists, firstly, of the following method of constructing
breech-loading fire-arms. I attach to the rear end of the fire-arm or gun
barrel a breech frame having a vertical slot, which receives a hollow tongue
piece or moveable nut. The said tongue-piece is hinged to the lower part of
the breech frame, and is capable of being moved up and down at that end
nearest the breech of the barrel. The hollow tongue-piece is screwed
internally, and is fitted with a steel plug for closing and opening the breech
of the barrel. The forward end of the breech plug is made to fit the end of
the barrel. The screwed end of the said plug passes through and projects
beyond the end of the breech frame, and has a fly-handle or thumb-piece, by
[Price 8.1.]

page_text: which it may be turned, and made to advance to or recede from the end of
the barrel. To load the gun, the breech plug is withdrawn by turning the
handle, so as to unscrew and withdraw it. Its forward end is depressed, and
the charge introduced into the barrel. The said breech plug is then raised,
and fixed to its bearing in the barrel by being turned. when the gun is ready
for discharge. The back end of the breech plug bears against shoulder in
the breech frame during discharge. This part of my Invention is also appli-
cable to breech-loading ordnance.
.
My Invention consists, further, in the following method of constructing
breech-loading fire-arms. I attach to the rear end of the barrel a breech
frame having a vertical slot, in which a moveable charge chamber is fitted,
the forward end of which opens to the barrel. The forward end of the
charge chamber is hinged to the breech frame by a projection on its under
side. The said charge chamber can be raised and lowered at its closed end
by turning upon its hinge. When the rear or solid end of the charge
chamber is depressed, the forward or open end is exposed, and the charge
may be introduced. By raising and securing the rear end. the gun is made
ready for discharge. The said charge chamber may be moved up and down
by means of the trigger guard or otherwise, and it may be fixed during dis-
charge by a bolt passing through the sides of the breech frame. and bearing
against the end of the charge chamber, or by means of a screw bolt pressing"
it up from behind. I form the percussioning on the solid end of the charge
chamber, and so arrange it as to secure a central fire for the cartridge.
My Invention consists, further, in the following method of constructing
breech-loading ordnance. I make a slot or opening through the rear or
breech end of the cannon, and at right angles to its axis. Into the said slot,
which is somewhat larger than the bore of the cannon, I fit a sliding block
of steel or iron, which is capable of being moved in he said slot, and across
the bore of the cannon. I make a hole through the sliding block, in a line
with the axis of the cannon, and screw into the said hole a steel or iron breech
plug, the front of which is somewhat larger than the bore of the cannon, and
is made conical to fit on a conical seat in the breech of the cannon. The
screwed end of the breech plug is smaller than its front end, and its whole
length is a little less than the length of the sliding block, which enables it to
be introduced with the sliding block into the slot or opening. The rear end
of the hole in the sliding block is enlarged to receive a strong key or wrench
which fits on the square end of the plug. by which the said plug is screwed
and unscrewed. A charge hole is bored in the sliding block of the same size
as the chamber of the cannon through which hole the charge is introduced. In

page_text: loading, the sliding block is raised until the charge hole is in a line with the
chamber of the gun. The charge is introduced through the said hole, and
the sliding block lowered so as to bring the breech plug in a line with the
chamber of the cannon. The key or wrench is then introduced, and the
breech plug screwed forward, so as to close the chamber when the cannon is
ready for firing.
.
In making cartridges for. breech-loading fire-arms and ordnance according
to my Invention, I place the powder in front of the ball, instead of behind,
as is ordinarily done, and I attach the wad to the base of the ball. By this
method of construction the wad is not so likely to affect the flight of the ball
on leaving the muzzle of the gun. Instead of attaching the wad to the base
of the ball, it may be placed in front of the powder with nearly the same
effect; or a wad may be used both in front of the powder and at the base of
the ball. The chamber of the gun with which these cartridges are used should
be made long enough to hold a complete cartridge and a ball. A cartridge
is first introduced, and discharged, whereby a ball is left behind; a second
cartridge is then introduced, which pushes forward the first ball, and when
discharged drives out the ball with a lubricating wad or wads in its rear.
My improvements in cartridges consist further in enclosing the powder,
ball, and wad in a paper or thin metal case, with a hollow conical end or
bottom, in which is deposited a little percussion powder. The cartridge may
be fired by means of a striker striking direct upon the percussion powder, or
the said percussion powder may be ignited by an ordinary percussion cap.
When the case of the cartridge is of paper, I deposit the detonating powder
in a separate metal case, which I fix to the end of the cartridge.
My improvements in cartridges consist, further, in making them with an
additional external casing of paper at the base, which casing is expanded on
the explosion of the cartridge, and being pressed against the sides of the
chamber prevents escape of gas at the breech. When a short cap. or external
casing is used to. prevent the escape of gas at the breech, the cartridge may
be ignited by a percussion cap in the usual way, the cap striking or piercing
the cartridge a little forward of the casing; or it may be ignited from behind
by perforating the centre of the cap or casing, and allowing the fire to strike
through the cartridge.
.:
My improvements consist, lastly, in lubricating cartridges with a mixture of
stearine and petrolium oil, or bees' wax and petrolium oil, or bees' wax,
stearine, and petrolium oil in various proportions. The last-described improve-
ment is applicable to the lubrication of all kinds of cartridges.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Wilson in the Great Scal Patent Office on the
27th December 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
WILSON, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-fourth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Thomas Wilson, Her special licence that I, the said 'Thomas Wilson,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Thomas Wilson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others. from time to time and at all times there-
after 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 "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS AND ORDNANCE, AND IN CARTRIDGES," upon
the condition (amongst others), that 1, the said Thomas Wilson, my exe-
cutors or adminis ators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their,
or one of their hands and scals, 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 Thomas Wilson, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say:-
My Invention consists, firstly, in the improvement or improvements in con-
structing breech-loading fire-arms, represented in Figures 1 and 2 of the
accompanying Drawings.
Figure represents, in vertical longitudinal section. a part of a rifle con-
structed according to this part of my Invention; and Figure 2 represents a
plan of the same. To the rear end of the barrel a. I attach a breech-frame b
or the said breech frame b may be made in one piece with the barrel a. which
last method of construction I prefer. In the breech frame b is a hollow tongue
piece c, jointed to the breech frame bat d, the said hollow tongue-piece c

page_text: being capable of moving in a vertical plane on the joint at d, and assuming
when depressed the position indicated by dotted lines in Figure 1. The
hollow tongue-piece c is screwed internally, and receives a steel plug e, which
by advancing and retiring opens and closes. the breech end of the barrel a.
The front end of the breech plug e is made conical, so as to fit on the conical
seat at the end of the barrel a. The breech plug e has a screw thread in the
greater part of its.length, as represented, the said screw thread being-by pre-
ference double so as to be quick acting, and taking into the concave screw in
the interior of the hollow tongue piece c. The rear end of the plug e pro-
jects beyond the end of the breech frame, and has a fly handle or thumb-piece f,
by which it may be turned, and made to advance or recede in the hollow
tongue piece c, and close or-open the end of the barrel a. A slot is made in the
rear of the breech piece at b, through which the rear end of the plug e passes.
In order to load the rifle, the breech plug e is withdrawn from its seat in the
end of the barrel a by turning the thumb-piece, the said breech plug retiring
into the hollow longue piece c... The forward end of the moveable tongue
piece c is then depressed into the position indicated in dotted lines in Figure 1,
and the cartridge g is introduced into the barrel a at the open breech end.
The moveable tongue piece c is then raised, and the breech plug e is made to
advance to its bearing on the seat of the barrel by turning, the-thumb-piece f.
The moveable tongue piece c and plug é are thereby fixed in their respective
positions, and the breech end of the barrel is securely closed; the rifle is now
ready for firing. When the moveable tongue piece and breech plug are in
the respective positions represented in Figure 1, the back end of the said
tongue piece c is firmly supported against the shoulders h, h, of the breech
frame b. After firing, the breech plug e is withdrawn from the open breech end
of the barrel a by turning the thumb-piece, when the moveable tongue piece c
may be depressed, and the rifle charged again. The moveable tongue piece c'
may be raised and lowered by a lever trigger guard, or by a separate lever
connected to the said tongue piece at i by a strap or link: I sometimes
modify this part of my Invention by making the tongue piece c solid and with-
out the plug e, and causing it to close the breech end of the barrel by its
end. being presented thereto. In this case, the front end of the solid tongue
piece as well as the open breech end of the barrel are curved, the curves being
struck from the centre d on which the tongue piece turns. This part of my
Invention and its modification are also applicable to ordnance, and may be
used with loose powder, or with consolidated or caked powder, in which last
case a disc of wax or grease may be attached to the said consolidated or
caked powder for lubrication, and to prevent the escape of gas.

page_text: My Invention consists further in the improvements in the construction of
breech-loading fire-arms represented in Figures 3 and 4 of the Drawings.
Figure 3 representing a longitudinal vertical section of a rifle constructed
according to this part of my Invention; and Figure 4, a plan of the same.
I attach to, or by preference form on the rear end of the barrel k, a breech
frame. In a vertical slot in the breech frame is a moveable charge
chamber m, having an internal diameter, the same as or a little larger than
that of the barrel k. The forward open end of the charge chamber m is so
shaped as accurately to fit the open breech end of the barrel k. The said
charge chamber is hinged at its forward or open end to the breech end of the
barrel by a hinge joint n, the form of which will be readily understood by
an examination of Figure 3. The said charge chamber m can be readily
raised and lowered by turning upon the joint n. When the closed end of
the charge chamber is depressed through a slot in the stock until the
axis of the said charge chamber assumes the position indicated by a dotted
line in Figure 3, the forward open end of the said charge chamber is exposed,
and the cartridge o may be inserted therein, the powder end of the cartridge
being first introduced. The charge chamber m being again raised into the
position represented in Figure 3, it is fixed in its place, and firmly sup-
ported during discharge by a screw p, turned by a thumb plate q, the said
screw p working in the end of the breech frame 1. The screw p should be
double, so as to be quick acting; the charge chamber m may be moved up and
down by means of a lever trigger guard or otherwise, and instead of fixing the
said charge chamber during discharge by the screw p, it may be fixed by a
bolt passing through the sides of the breech frame, and bearing against the
end of the charge chamber. I form the percussioning on the solid end of
the charge chamber, and so arrange it as to secure a central fire for the
cartridge, as will be understood by an examination of Figure 3.
My Invention consists further of the improvement in breech-loading ordi-
nance illustrated in Figure 5, which represents, in vertical longitudinal section,
a portion of a breech-loading cannon constructed according to my Invention.
In the rear or breech end r of the cannon I make a slot or opening at t.
at right angles to the bore s, and somewhat wider than the said bore s of
the cannon. Into the said slot t1 fit a sliding block u, of iron or steel,
which said block u is capable of being moved in the said slot across the bore
of the cannon. A hole is made in the sliding block u, which said hole
is in a line with the axis of the cannon. The said hole is larger at its front
than at its rear end, as represented; a breech plug
screw made in the hole of the sliding block u.
screws in the concave
The said breech plug w

page_text: is somewhat larger at its front end than the bore of the cannon, and is made
conical to fit the conical seat of the open breech end 8 of the cannon. The
whole length of the breech plug w is somewhat less than the thickness of
the sliding block u in the direction of the bore of the cannon. In the rear
end of the breech plug w, is a square hole z, into which a square key or wrench
can be introduced for the purpose of turning the said breech plug, and making
it advance or retire in the sliding block u. In the upper part of the sliding
block u, is a second opening or charge hole y, of the same diameter as tho
chamber of the cannon. When the sliding block is depressed until the charge
hole y, is brought into a line with the bore of the cannon, the bore of the cannon
is open from end to end, and the charge can be introduced from behind through
the part z of the borc. The several parts are represented in the positions they
respectively occupy when the cannon is ready for firing or immediately after
discharge. In order to recharge the cannon a key or wrench is introduced
through z, into the hole in the breech plug 10, and by turning the said key or
wrench the breech plug to is unscrewed from its scat in the open breech end of
the cannon, and made to retire into the hole in the sliding block u. The said
sliding block u is now depressed until the hole y is coincident with the bore s
of the cannon: The charge is now introduced through the opening z and
hole y, into the charge chamber at s. The sliding block u is again raised
into the position represented and the breech plug screwed forward by
means of the key or wrench described, until it is firmly embedded in the seat
or bed at the open breech end of the cannon. The several parts being in the
respective positions represented, the cannon is again ready for firing. The
sliding block u may be raised and lowered by a lever, or screw, or excentric,
which may be connected with the said sliding block on the under side of
the cannon at 2, in any convenient manner. I do not however limit myself
to any particular method of raising and lowering the sliding block u.
My Invention consists further of the following improvements in constructing
cartridges for breech-loading fire-arms and ordinance. It is necessary and
customary to use with breech-loading fire-arms a cartridge having a felt wad
attached to its rear end for cleaning and lubricating the barrel. In the.
ordinary method of making such cartridges the powder is enclosed in a paper
case attached to the base of the ball, and the felt wad is glued or cemented
to the end of the said case in rear of the powder. After firing a cartridge
so made, the felt- wad is left behind in the chamber-of-the-gun, and-is-driven-
out in front of the ball by the cartridge next fired. This method of expelling
the lubricating wad in front of the ball is found in practice to be prejudicial
to the true flight of the said ball through the air; the said wad being carried

page_text: some distance in front of the ball after it has left the barrel of the gun gives
an oblique bias to the ball. thereby greatly interfering with its true flight.
In making and using cartridges for breech-loading fire-arms and ordnance
according to my Invention, as herein-after explained, the evil effects of the wad
in front of the ball are avoided.
In carrying this part of my Invention into effect, I place the powder in
front of the ball, instead of at its base as in ordinary cartridges, and I attach
the felt wad to the base of the ball, by which method of construction the
ball and wad of each cartridge are left in the chamber after the discharge
of the gun, and are projected from the barrel by the explosion of the next
cartridge. By this arrangement the felt wad is invariably expelled from
the barrel in rear of the ball, and the said wad being left behind or detached
from the ball immediately it leaves the muzzle of the gun, the true flight of
the ball is not interfered with. Figure 6 represents in longitudinal section
a cartridge constructed according to this part of my Invention, the said cartridge
being represented in the breech end or charge chamber of a barrel of a
breech-loading fire-arm. I make the base of the ball flat for the purpose
of securing the more direct action of the powder upon it, and for convenience
in attaching the felt or lubricating wad, which said wad is so attached to
the rear of the ball as to readily separate from it after leaving the gun.
[ effect these objects by the method of construction represented in the
Drawings. I form a cup or hollow at 3 in the base of the ball 4, in which
cup or hollow a wooden or other suitable plug 5 is inserted so as to fill up
the said hollow or cup. The said plug 5 is finished off flush with the base
of the ball 4, as represented; I next wrap one or two folds of paper round
the ball, and turn down the said paper over the end of the ball at 6. I
afterwards cement or glue a felt wad 7 to the turned over paper at 6: I next
paste or attach to the paper surrounding the projectile a suitable paper
casing 8, for holding the powder in front of the ball 4. After the said
casing 8 has been filled with the requisite charge of powder 9, its open end
is turned down and cemented or fastened in any convenient manner. The
chamber of the fire-arm or cannon with which the cartridges described in this
part of my Invention are used, is made long enough to hold a ball and a
complete cartridge, and the loading of the said fire-arm or cannon is performed
as follows: A cartridge constructed in the manner represented in Figure 6
is introduced into the gun and discharged. which leaves a ball and wad behind
in the chamber. Another charge or cartridge is then introduced, which
pushes forward the first ball into the position represented at 4°. which said ball
4", on the discharge of the second cartridge, is projected from the barrel with

page_text: its lubricating wad 7 in the rear, instead of in front of the ball as in the
ordinary method of construction. The paper 8, wad 7, and plug 5, of my im-
proved cartridge, represented in Figure 6, are very lightly attached to the ball 4,
so that the said ball 4 on leaving the barrel of the gun is instantly detached
from the paper 8, wad 7, and plug 5, thereby ensuring the true flight of the
projectile through the air. A portion of the plug closing the breech of the
gun is marked 21, in Figure 6. I sometimes use a wad attached in front
of the charge of powder, as well as or in place of a wad at the rear of the ball.
When the wad is in front of the powder, it is expelled at the base of the ball,
left in the barrel by the discharge of the cartridge previously used.
I believe it has before been proposed to employ a lead ball in rear of the
charge of powder in breech-loading fire-arms, but the sole object in the case
referred to, was to prevent the escape of gas at the breech, the explosion of
the powder forcing back and expanding the rear end of the lead ball in the
breech of the gun, and thereby making a tight joint, and preventing the escape
of gas, but this proposed arrangement has, I believe, never been put into
practice, or if tried has been found not to answer the purpose contemplated,
and has therefore been abandoned as impracticable and of no utility.
The essence of the last described part of my Invention consists not in the
use of a soft metal ball in rear of the powder for preventing the escape of
gas at the breech, but in constructing and arranging the ball 4, plug 5,
paper 8, wad 7, and powder 0, as represented in Figure 6, whereby the wad 7
is caused invariably to leave the barrel of the gun in rear of the ball 4, thus
ensuring the accurate flight of the said ball, as already described.
Instead of constructing my improved cartridges for breech-loading fire-arms
and ordnance with the powder attached to the ball, as represented in Figure G,
I sometimes prefer to construct them separately, that is to say, I enclose the
powder in a separate paper case, not attached to the projectile. I form the
projectile in this modification with a wood or other plug, and fell wad
attached precisely in the same way as in Figure 6, and I explode the cartridge
or powder between two of the said projectiles, as represented in Figure 7;
where 1 and 2 represent the projectiles; and 3 the powder, in a separate paper
case in the positions they respectively occupy in the charge chamber or breech
end of a barrel of a breech-loading fire-arm. On exploding the powder 3,
the ball is projected from the barrel with the lubricating wad 7 in its rear.
On pushing forward the projectile 2, and introducing a second case of powder
and a ball, the operation may be repeated. A. wad. may be placed in front of
the separate case of powder 3, in place of or in addition to the wad 7 at the

page_text: base of the projectile. A portion of the plug closing the breech end of the
gun is marked 22 in Figure 7.
Instead of introducing the powder and paper case together into the chamber,
I sometimes prefer to open the case and pour the powder loose into the cham-
ber, and to explode the said powder between the two projectiles, as represented
in Figure 7. Instead of enclosing the powder in a separate case, or opening
the said case and pouring the powder loose into the chamber as last described,
I sometimes prefer to use consolidated or caked powder, prepared on Captain
Brown's principle or method, and explode the said consolidated or caked
powder between two projectiles, as represented in Figure 7. Instead of
exploding the consolidated powder between two balls, as represented in
Figure 7, sometimes prefer to explode the said powder behind one projectile,
as represented in Figure 8. When using the consolidated or caked powder as
represented in Figure 8, I attach to the rear or base of the said powder 3 a
disc of wax or grease 20, for lubricating the chamber of the gun and prevent-
ing the escape of gas at the breech. The lubricating wax or grease I enclose
in thin paper, or any suitable casing or material for protecting the grease and
powder, and I attach the said wax or grease to the base or rear of the powder
in any convenient way. The ball and parts of the cartridge in Figure 8 are
marked with the same letters as corresponding parts in Figure 7. A portion
of the plug for closing the breech of the barrel is marked 23 in Figure 8. The
three methods of construction last described are more suited to the loading of
heavy ordnance than that described with reference to Figure 6.
My Invention consists further in making cartridges in the manner repre-
sented in Figure 9, which represents in longitudinal section a cartridge con-
structed according to this part of my Invention. The ball 10 is inserted in a
thin metal case 11, the rear end 12 of which case is made of the form of a
hollow cone perforated at the apex. The said conical end 12 is partly filled
with detonating or percussion powder 13, which may be fired with a striker
driven into the hollow cone direct upon the said powder 13. or by any suitable
contrivance for discharging central fire cartridges. The powder charge 14 is
placed in the case 11 before the ball 10. and after the insertion of the ball 10
the case its closed upon the
hown at
times
make a cartridge of the same essential construction as that last described and
represented in Figure 9. excepting that I employ a paper instead of a metal
case. Figure 10 represents in longitudinal section a cartridge of this descrip-
tion. A thin metallic hollow cone containing the percussion powder and per-
forated at its apex is inserted in a conical hole in the felt or other wad 16,

page_text: and which may be fired with a striker, or other contrivance, for discharging
central fire cartridges. 17 is the paper case or tube, and 18, the charge of
gunpowder; 19 is the ball inserted in the tube 17, and retained in its place
by contracting the open end of the said case or tube 17.
In constructing cartridges in which the powder is placed behind the ball
and the felt wad in the rear of the powder, as in the ordinary method of con-
struction, I sometimes make a small hole in the axis of the ball, so that a
portion of the gas generated by the explosion of the powder may escape through
the said hole, and expel the lubricating wad in advance of the ball; or, the
same effect may be produced by allowing a portion of the gas generated by the
explosion to escape through longitudinal grooves formed on the cylindrical
surface of the ball.
My Invention consists, lastly, in lubricating cartridges with a mixture of
stearine and petroleum oil, or of bees'-wax and petroleum oil, or of bees'-wax,
stearine, and petroleum oil in various proportions. This part of my Invention
is applicable to the lubrication of all kinds of cartridges. When I use stearine,
petroleum oil, and bees-wax', I prefer to employ a mixture of sixteen parts by
weight of stearine, twenty parts by weight of petroleum oil, and one part by
weight of bees'-wax. When, however, the cartridges are to be used in hot
climates, I employ less petroleum oil; and when the said cartridges are to be
used in cold climates, I employ more of the said petroleum oil. When I use
a mixture of bees'-wax and petroleum oil alone, I prefer to mix them in equal-
proportions by weight, but for hot climates I use more bees'-wax or less oil,
and for cold climates the contrary. .
i
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of
carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that I do not limit
myself to the precise details herein described and represented, as the same
may be varied without departing from the nature of my Invention; but I
claim as my Invention,-
Firstly, the improvement or improvements in breech-loading fire-arms and
ordnance herein-before described and illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the
accompanying Drawings.
Secondly, the improvement or improvements in breech-loading fire-arms
herein-before described and illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying
Drawings.
Thirdly, the improvements in breech-loading ordnance herein-before described-
and illustrated in Figure 5 of the accompanying Drawings.
Fourthly, the improvement or improvements in the construction of cartridges
for breech-loading fire-arms and ordnance herein-before described and illus-

page_text: trated in Figure 6 of the accompanying Drawings. whether a lubricating wad
be attached at the base of the projectile or in front of the charge of powder, or
a lubricating wad be employed both at the base of the projectile and in front
of the charge of powder.
Fifthly, the improvement or improvements in the construction and use of
cartridges for breech-loading fire-arms and ordnance herein-before described
and illustrated in Figure 7 of the accompanying Drawings, that is to say,
enclosing the powder in a separate paper case between two balls. the said case
being with or without a wad in front, or pouring the powder loosely into the
chamber between two balls, and also the use of consolidated or caked powder
between two balls.
Sixthly, the improvements in the construction and use of cartridges for
breech-loading fire-arms and ordnance herein-before described and illustrated
in Figure 8 of the accompanying Drawings, that is to say. the use of consoli-
dated or caked powder and a wax or grease disc or wad for lubricating the
chambers of fire-arms and ordnance, and preventing the escape of gas when a
felt wad is not used behind the charge.
Seventhly, the improvements in central fire cartridges herein-before
described with reference to Figures 9 and 10 of the accompanying Drawings.
Lastly. the improvements in lubricating cartridges herein last described.
In witness whereof. I, the said Thomas Wilson. have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of December. in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty.