IMPROVEMENTS IN PORTABLE CHARGE HOLDERS FOR BREECH-LOADING GUNS, WHETHER SINGLE OR DOUBLE BARRELLED, AS ALSO IN THE MEANS OF MANUFACTURING THE SAID HOLDERS AND IN EXPLODING THE CHARGE
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Rosson, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, and also of Warwick, in the same County, Gün Manufacturer, .
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PORTABLE CHARGE HOLDERS FOR
BREECH-LOADING GUNS, WHETHER SINGLE OR DOUBLE BARRELLED, AS ALSO
IN THE MEANS OF MANUFACTURING THE SAID HOLDERS AND IN EXPLODING
THE CHARGE."
Sealed the 16th January 1866, and dated the 20th July 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Rosson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
20th July 1865.
I, CHARLES ROSSON, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, and
also of Warwick, in the same County, Gun Manufacturer, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PORTABLE CHARGE
HOLDERS FOR BREECH-LOADING GUNS, WHETHER SINGLE OR DOUBLE BARRELLED, AS
ALSO IN THE MEANS OF MANUFACTURING THE SAID HOLDERS AND IN EXPLODING THE
CHARGE," to be as follows (that is to say):-
My Invention consists in forming a case of suitable iron, steel, of homo-
geneous steel in the following way :-I take a lump of the desired metal,
and place it in a heated condition in a die or base, and by suitable apparatus,
such as a common stamp, I displace the metal from the centre, causing it to
rise in the die around the punch, repeating the blow or blows until the punch
has descended nearly through the mass; from this process I further heat and
elongate the partially formed case by drawing it through a hole after the

page_text: fashion of drawing articles at a draw bench, or by passing it through grooved
rolls of various sizes, applying a mandril during such operation of rolling or
drawing, and as these operations tend much to solidify and improve the
condition of the metal, more particularly when using the description known
as Bessemer's steel, I by preference intend using the same, as additional
lightness with sufficient strength may be ensured. After being thus formed
I purpose drilling and clearing out the inside, leaving the base in a semi-concave
form or inverted cone shape, and clearing the outside to fit the interior of the
breech end of the gun with which such case is intended to be used, taking
care that a slight projecting flange shall be formed around the base of the
case to cront it entering too far into the barrel when applying it for use, as
also to offer additional means for preventing the escape of gas between the
interior of the barrel and the exterior of the cartridge or charge holder.
The solid metal left in the case from the conical shaped base affords me the
opportunity of tapping in a suitable nipple for the purpose of discharging, as
will be hereafter seen; the internal vent way of such nipple terminating
with the centre or apex of the concave conical base. In use these cases can
be charged and applied as an ordinary French cartridge into the breech end
of breech-loading fire-arms, and may either be charged before going to the
field, and used as ordinary cartridges (with the exception that they may be
re-charged as often and as continuous as may be desired, as they are not
subject to deterioration from repeated use) or they may be loaded in the
field with powder and shot, varying the charge as desired, or applied in the
.breech end of the barrel and the barrel put in position. The piece may be
charged from the muzzle after the manner of an ordinary muzzle-loader, the
discharging being effected by simply applying a percussion cap to the nipple
as now commonly practised when percussion caps and nipple are used as a
means for discharging fire-arms, as well as the facility of varying the charge
and loading in the field, still conserving the advantages secured by applying
the charge at the breech end of the barrel or barrels.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Charles Rosson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
20th January 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
Rosson, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, and also of Warwick, 3
in the same County, Gun Manufacturer, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-ninth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Charles Rosson, Her special license that I, the said Charles
Rosson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said Charles Rosson, my executors, administrators, or 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 PORTABLE CHARGE HOLDERS FOR BREECH-LOADING GUNS, WHETHER
SINGLE OR DOUBLE BARRELLED. AS ALSO IN THE MEANS OF MANUFACTURING THE SAID
HOLDERS AND IN EXPLODING THE CHARGE," upon the condition (amongst others):
that I, the said Charles Rosson, by an instrument in writing under my band
and seal, 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 Rosson, 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 (that is to say)
My Invention consists in. forming a case of suitable iron, steel, or hemo-
geneous metal known as Bessemer's steel in the following way :-I take a
sufficient quantity or lump of the desired metal, and place it in a heated con-
dition in a die or base, and by suitable apparatus, such as a common stamp, I
displace the metal radially from the centre causing it to rise in the die around
the punch in proportion as the punch is struck in it, repeating the blow or
blows until the punch has descended nearly through the inass; from this process
I further heat and elongate the partially formed case by drawing it through a
hole of suitable shape and size,.after the fashion.of drawing articles at a draw
bench, a process well understood by workmen accustomed to draw tubes, or
by passing it through or between grooved rolls, the grooves of which being
graduated or of various sizes, applying a mandril for the sake of interual
resistance during such operations of rolling, drawing, or otherwise shaping;
and which said operations tend much to solidify and improve the condition of
the metal, more particularly when using the description.known as Bessemer's
steel, as sound and perfect metal is important and essential in giving effect to

page_text: my Invention, additional lightness with sufficient strength being thereby insured.
After being thus or equivalently formed, such as by hammering and swaging, I
purpose drilling or clearing out the inside, leaving the base in a semi-concave
form or inverted cone shape, and clearing the outside to fit the interior of the
breech end of the gun with which such case is intended to be used, taking
care that a slight projecting flange shall be formed around the base of the
case to prevent it entering too far into the barrel when applying it for use, as
also to offer additional means for preventing the escape of gas between the
interior of the barrel and the exterior of the cartridge or charge holder.
The solid metal left in the case from the conical shaped base affords me the
opportunity of boring in a suitable inclination the touch hole, which I purpose
to project sufficient for receiving a cap or other means of explosion, or tapping
in or uniting a suitable nipple for that purpose, as will be hereafter seen, the
internal vent way of such touch hole terminating with the centre or apex of
the concave conical base of the case. In use these cases can be charged and
applied as an ordinary French cartridge into the breech end of breech-loading
fire-arms, and may either be charged before going to the field and used as
ordinary cartridges (with the exception that they may be re-charged as often
and as continuous as may be desired, as they are not subject to deterioration
from repeated use) or they may be loaded in the field with powder and
shot, varying the charge as desired, or applied in the breech end of the
barrel, and the barrel put in position. The piece may be charged after
the manner of an ordinary muzzle-loader if the convenience of a ramrod can
be readily obtained, the discharging being effected by simply applying a per-
cussion cap to the projecting touch hole or nipple as now commonly practised
when percussion caps and nipple are used as a means for discharging fire-
arms. Thus I ensure the advantage to sportsmen of additional facility of
cleaning and keeping clear the moans of discharging fire-arms, as well as the
facility of varying the charge and loading in the field, still conserving the
advantages secured by applying the charge at the breech end of the barrel or
barrels.
But in order to be fully understool as to the nature of my said Invention,
I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed, reference being
had to the figures and letters marked thereon.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 represents in a side and end view a lump or piece of rolled fron,
steel, or homogeneous metal as before referred to, which I prefer from its
additional strength and extra lightness to produce my improved charge holders.

page_text: Fig. 2 represents the ordinary bed of a stamp in section marked A, A,
with snugs and screws B, B, and C, C, for holding and setting the die
required, such as I have exhibited also in section marked D, D, in which die a
part is removed at a for the purpose hereafter to be referred to. Concentrio
with the circular hollow cavity in the die D I place what I term a peg die E,
capable of being removed and changed at pleasure by its fitting down in the
main bed of the stamp A, which may for convenience have a vertical hole
through it, as here represented marked b, for knocking the peg die out when
required.
Fig. 3 is simply a top view of the die D, shown above with the peg die E.
With these appliances I take the lump of metal as at Figure 1, and after
sufficiently heating I place it into the die D on the top of the pog die E, and by
a succession of blows imparted by the gravitating force or otherwise of the
stamp hammer, represented broken off for the convenience of space at F,
the metal will be driven out around the peg die, while the part receiving
the blow will spread out, not only filling up the cavity of the die D, but also
entirely or partially fill up the small cavity a, which is necessary when I
desire to make my charge holder with a projecting touch hole, but this
addition or hollow in the die will not be necessary when making my charge
holdors cylindrical on the outside and applying a nipple, as will be hereafter
seen.
After this operation is sufficiently developed I place the partially formed
case on a mandril, as exhibited at Fig. 4, the case or partially formed charge
holder being exhibited in section having undergone the operation of hammering,
swaging, drawing, or rolling to elongate it as here represented, and which
operations I have not thought it necessary to exhibit, as they are common and
well understood by workmen accustomed to the manufacture of such like or
similar kinds of articles. From this operation I prefer to again heat the
partially formed case or charge holder, still retaining it upon the mandril, and
lay it on a bed or bottom die, the form of which is nearer in a longitudinal
direction the form I desire to impart to it, the counter part being sunk in or
attached to the face of the stamp hammer, and by a few rapidly repeated
blows the true form of the die or matrix will be imparted to the case or
charge holder so operated on; the superfluous metal driven out between the
meeting of the dies being removed, the charge holder so treated will assume
the form exhibited at Fig. 5, the projection d being formed out of the solid
metal, after which I drill or bore out the interior, preferring the base of such
cavity to be concave or of an inverted cone shape, as exhibited at Fig. 6,
which represents a longitudinal section of a charge holder or portable case

page_text: completed and constructed with a solid projecting touch hole according to my
Invention with a reduced neck at e, for engaging or fitting into a corre-
sponding recess formed in the rear end of the barrel of a gun constructed for
using what is technically called pin cartridges, while the large part marked f
is intended for receiving the ordinary percussion cap by which the charge
would be exploded by the throw of the hammer and the flame passing down
the touch hole to centrally ignite the charge at 9. A complete side view of
this charge holder I have exhibited at Fig. 7, but at Figs. 8. and 9 I have
exhibited in section and side view my improved charge holder adapted for
receiving a nipple, as there shown marked h and h¹, in the latter case the
nipple is represented partly out, a square being formed at the base of the
nipple marked for the facility of screwing in and out.
Having now fully described the nature, object, and means I prefer adapting,
and which I believe to be best for carrying my Invention into effect, I wish
it understood that I do not claim the application or use of portable
charge holders, as the same has been used for particular kinds of breech-loaders
carried into effect with complication of construction and exploded in a par-
ticular way; but what I claim as of my Invention, and wish to protect by
these my in part recited Letters Patent is, the means of construction and
explosion herein described and exbibited which is new and of my Invention
in connection with portable charge holders for field charging.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Rosson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
Witness,
WILLIAM LOACH,
Clerk to James S. Cockings,
Patent Agent,
Birmingham.
CHARLES ROSSON. (L.S.)