IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CHARGING AND CAPPING THE NIPPLES OF FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Paton and Charles Frederick Walsh, of the
Town and County of Perth, North Britain, Gun Makers, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CHARGING AND CAPPING THE NIPPLES
OF FIRE-ARMS."
Sealed the 29th May 1857, and dated the 12th December 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Paton and
Charles Frederick Walsh at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 12th December 1856.
We, EDWARD PATON and CHARLES FREDERICK WALSH, of the Town and
County of Perth, North Britain, Gun Makers, do hereby declare tho nature
of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CHARGING AND
CAPPING THE NIPPLES OF FIRE-ARMS," to be as follows, that is to say :-
This Invention relates to a mechanical contrivance to be used for the double
purpose of charging the nipples or brecches of fire-arms with gunpowder after
"miss-fires," or after the inadvertant charging of the pieces with shot instead
of gunpowder, and the capping of the nipples with percussion.caps.
This apparatus consists of a small hollow metal cylinder or tube, closed at
one end, and having a second tube or cylinder inserted in it at its open
end, beyond which the inner tube or cylinder slightly projects. This
inner cylinder is capable of moving freely within the external cylinder,
but with an air-tight fitting, or nearly so, and it is held up or outwards by. an

page_text: internal helical spring, so that it has a constant tendency to remain at the outer
end of its traverse. The external cylinder has also soldered or otherwise
attached to its outer surface a parallel tube, of small diameter, containing a
blunt needle, carried at one end by a small projecting stud on the outside of
the inner cylinder. The needle extends along the whole length of the small
tube, which has a communication with the large external cylinder by a small
lateral passage made at the junction of the soldering. The inner cylinder has
also a small lateral aperture in it. The inner cylinder is filled with gunpowder
by a screwed head cap on its projecting end, and when the nipple of the
arm is to be charged with gunpowder, the inner cylinder is pressed down, so
ns to compress the air inside it, and when the hole in this tube comes opposite
to the passage through the outer cylinder into its external parallel small tube,,
a small portion of the powder is injected into the small external tube. The
open end of this small tube is bored out conically to fit upon the nipple,
so that as the compression upon the inner cylinder takes place, the powder
falling down by the side of the needle is injected at once into the nipple.
In this way the sportsman can pump the whole of the gunpowder in the
inner cylinder into the breech or chamber of the piece. The external cylinder
has also attached to it a second parallel external tube, of small diameter, on its
opposite side. In this tube are placed a few percussion or detonating caps,
these caps being disposed in regular order, with their open ends towards the
open discharge end of their containing tube. The caps are held by a check
spring, but they are also pressed down by a small helical spring. After
charging the nipple in the manner berciu-before described, the user of the
gun can at once put a cap on the nipple by the agency of the same apparatus.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Edward Paton and Charles Frederick Walsh in the Great,
Seal Patent Office on the 11th June 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, EDWARD.
PATON and CHARLES FREDERICK WALSH, of the Town and County of Perth,
North Britain, Gun Makers, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by IIer Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the twentieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the said
Edward Paton and Charles Frederick Walsh, Her special licenso that we,

page_text: the said Edward Paton and Charles Frederick Walsh, our executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said Edward Paton and Charles
Frederick Walsh, our executors, administrators, or 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 APPARATUS FOR CHARGING AND CAPPING THE NIPPLES OF FIRE-ARM3,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said Edward Paton and
Charles Frederick Walsh, by an instrument in writing under our bands 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 we, the said Edward Paton and Charles Frederick
Walsh, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be preformed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement in writing, reference being had to
the accompanying Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon,
that is to say-
Our said Invention relates to a mechanical contrivance to be used for tho
double purpose of charging the nipples or breeches of fire-arms with gun-
powder after "miss-fires," or after the inadvertent charging of the pieces with,
shot instead of gunpowder, and the capping of the nipples with percussion
caps. This apparatus consists of a small hollow metal cylinder or tube, closed
at one end, and having a second tube or cylinder inserted in it at its open end.
beyond which the inner tube or cylinder slightly projects. This inner cylinder
is capable of moving freely within the external cylinder, but with an air-tight
fitting, or nearly so, and it is held up or outwards by an internal helical
spring, so that it has a constant tendency to remain at the outer end of its
traverse. The external cylinder has also soldered or otherwise attached to its
outer surface a parallel tube, of small diameter, containing a blunt needle,
carried at one end by a small projecting stud on the outside of the inner
cylinder. The needle extends along the whole length of the small tube, which
has a communication with the large external cylinder by a small lateral.
passage made at the junction of the soldering. The inner cylinder has also a
small lateral aperture in it. The inner cylinder is filled with gunpowder by a.
screwed head cap on its projecting end, and when the nipple of the arm is to
be charged with gunpowder, the inuer cylinder is pressed down, so as to com-

page_text: press the air inside it, and when the hole in this tube comes opposite to the
passage through the outer cylinder into its external parallel small tube, a small
portion of the powder is injected into the small external tube. The open end
of this small tube is bored out conically to fit upon the nipple, so that as the
compression upon the inner cylinder takes place, the powder falling down by
the side of the needle is injected at once into the nipple. In this way the
sportsman can pump the whole of the gunpowder in the inner cylinder into the
breech or chamber of the piece. The external cylinder has also attached to it
a second parallel external tube, of small diameter, on its opposite side. In this
tube aro placed a few percussion or detonating caps, these caps being
disposed in regular order, with their open ends towards the open discharge end
of their containing tube. The caps are held by a check spring, but they are
also pressed down by a small helical spring. After charging the nipple in the
manner herein-beforo described, the user of the gun can at once put a cap on
the nipple by the agency of the same apparatus.
And in order that our said Invention may be properly understood, we shall
now proceed to describe the several illustrative Figures on the explanatory
Sheet of Drawings which we have hereunto appended, for the purpose of
shewing certain modifications under which our improvements may be judiciously
carried out in practice.
Figure 1 is an external view or elevation of one arrangement of our
improved nipple charger; Figure 2 is a vertical or longitudinal section of the
same; Figure 3 is a plan, corresponding to Figure 1; and Figure 4 is a
transverse section, corresponding to Figure 2. Figure 5 is an external eleva-
tion of another modification of our improved nipple charger, combined with an
arrangement for holding percussion caps, and fitting the same upon the nipples
of fire-arms; Figure 6 is a vertical or longitudinal section of the same;
Figure 7 is a plan, corresponding to Figure 5; and Figure 8 is a transverse
section, corresponding to Figure 6.
The nipple charger consists of a metal tube A, closed at its lower end, and
to one side of the tube A is soldered, or otherwise attached, a smaller tube B.
This second tube communicates with the larger tube or cylinder A by means of
the lateral aperture C. At the lower or closed end of the tube A is fitted a small
helical spring D, which presses against the lower part of a tube or chamber E
which slides up and down within the tube A. The tube or chamber E is
made to fit the tube A accurately, so as to slide within the tube A in an air-
tight or nearly air-tight manner. The tube or chamber E has at its upper
part a small stud F projecting from its side; this stud is made-to slide up and
down the tube B. For this purpose, the metal forming the junction of the
"

page_text: tubes A and B is cut away at the upper part, to admit of the vertical recipro-
catory movement of the stud. The upper end of the tube or chamber E has a
screw thread cut on its inner surface, to which is fitted a screw plug or milled
head G. A lateral aperture H is made at the lower part of the tube or
chamber E, by means of which the contents of the chamber E may be made
to pass into the tube B through the aperturo C when desired. In the lower
side of the stud F a piece of steel wire I is fastened, forming a blunt pin,
which extends nearly the whole length of the tube B. The pin I passes
through an aperture near the lower end of the tube B, where the internal
diameter of the tube is contracted and forms a shoulder, as shown at J,
Figure 2. The helical spring D pressing upwards against the bottom of the
tube or chamber E tends to thrust the tube E out of the tube A; the distance
of its traverse is, however, limited by a small screw which travels in a slot
made in the tube A. In the arrangement shown at Figure 1 tho slot is not
seen, but it is shown in the front view, Figure 5. The nipple charger may be
attached by means of a small cord or chain passed through the eye K to any
convenient part of the sportsman's dress. Prior to using the nipple charger,
the tube or chamber E is filled or partially filled with fine gunpowder, and
the screw plug G is then screwed into its place. Upon pressing down the.
screw plug G, the lateral aperture H is brought opposite the opening C in the
tube B; this action causes a portion of the gunpowder in the chamber to pass
into the tube B, which falls through the aperture at J. The shoulder, formed
by the contraction of the tube at J, forms a recess, which is made to fit the
ordinary nipples of fowling-pieces, so that when the powder falls through the
aperture J it passes down the central channel in the nipple, its passage into
which is assisted by the downward action of the pin I, which, acting in concert
with the tube E, descends as low as the mouth of the tube B every time the
screw plug is depressed. The resistance of the helical spring D forces the
tube E upwards the moment the screw plug G is released from the pressure
of the thumb or finger of the person, using the nipple capper. At the next
downward pressure of the tube E, a further portion of the powder is carried
through the apertures C and H into the nipple of the fowling-piece, from
which it passes into the breech. By successively depressing and releasing the
screw plug G, the whole of the gunpowder in the chamber or tube E may be
transferred to the breech and nipple of the fowling-piece. By this simple
means a gun may be readily and safely discharged when a "miss-fire" has
occurred in consequence of the absence of powder in the channel of the nipple,
or from other causes. The nipple charger is also highly usoful in cases whero
a ball or charge of shot has been inadvertently put down the barrel of a gun

page_text: before the powder. In this case the powder must be allowed to fall freely
into the breech of the gun through the nipple channel, and a cap is ther
placed upon the nipple and the small charge of powder fired; this drives out
the ball or charge of shot.
Another modification of our Invention is shown in Figures 5 to 8 of our
Sheet of illustrative Drawings. In this arrangement the nipple charger has
attached to it an accessory appliance for holding and fitting on percussion caps
by means of which the nipple of the gun may be capped with great facility and
despatch. The parts of the instrument which form the nipple charger are
precisely similar in construction to those before described in reference to the
arrangement shown in Figures 1 to 4; and are indicated by corresponding
letters of reference.
The additional appliance for holding a supply of percussion caps consists of
a short tube L parallel with and soldered to the tube E. The tube L is open at
the bottom, and at the upper part is fitted with a plunger or presser M, which
slides freely in the tubo L, and serves to force out the caps as they are required.
The upper end of the stem of the presser M is made with a milled head,
upon which the operator's finger rests when using the capper. The percussion
caps are retained in the tube L by means of the small blade spring N, which
is secured to the side of the tube L by means of a screw. or other suitable
fastening. The ends of the blado spring N are slightly bent inwards, the
upper end presses against the stem of the presser M, and the lower one passes
through a small slot made in the tube L. By means of the spring N, a certain
degree of pressure is exerted on the presser M to prevent its acting too
suddenly, whilst the lower end of the spring serves to retain the lowest cap in
the tube until the presser M is acted upon by a force sufficient to overcomo
the pressure of the spring. This little addition to the nipple charger is highly
useful to persons using fire-arms in cold or wet weather; in the one case the
nipple charger and capper can be readily handled, even if the fingers are
much benumbed with cold, and in wet weather the caps are effectually
preserved from rain.
'
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of our said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, we may observe, in conclusion, that we do not confine or restrict
ourselves to the precise details or arrangements which we have had occasion to
describe or refer to, as many variations may be made therefrom without
devinting from the principles or main features of our Invention; but what
we consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention
secured to us by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,—

page_text: First, the system or mode of charging or filling the nipples of fire-arms with
gunpowder by means of the apparatus herein-before described.
Second, the arrangement and construction of apparatus for conveying or
transferring gunpowder to the nipples of fire-arms, for the purpose of exploding
the charge when the piece has missed fire, as herein-before described.
Third, the system or mode of introducing gunpowder into the breech-end of
the barrel of fire-arms, for the purpose of driving out ball or shot inadvertently
placed therein, by means of the apparatus as hercin-before described.
Fourth, the application and use of a clearing needle, working in combination
with a gunpowder pumping, forcing, or injecting chamber, so as to clear out
the nipple and supply gunpowder simultaneously.
Fifth, the system or mode of capping the nipples of fire-arms by means of
a mechanical apparatus or capper, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, we, the said Edward Paton and Charles Frederick
Walsh, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Tenth day of
June, One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
EDWARD PATON.
(L.S.)
CHARLES FREDERICK WALSH. (L.S.)
EDWARD PATON.
(L.S.)
CHARLES FREDERICK WALSH. (L.S.)