A TRIGGER, ON AN IMPROVED PRINCIPAL, FOR ALL KINDS OF DOUBLE AND SINGLE BARRELLED GUNS AND PISTOLS; ALSO AN IMPROVED WADDING FOR ALL KINDS OF GUNS AND PISTOLS
Year: 1792

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME;
JOSEPH MANTON, of Davies Street, Berkeley Square, in the Parish of
Saint George, Hanover Square, in the County of Middlesex, Gun
Maker, sends greeting.
WHEREAS His present Majesty, by His Royal Letters Patent,
bearing date on or about the Fifth day of this instant July, in the
thirty-second year of His reign, was graciously pleased to grant to me,
the said Joseph Manton, my exors, adiiors, and assigns, the solo making
and vending "A TRIGGER, ON AN IMPROVED PRINCIPAL, FOR ALL KINDS OF
DOUBLE AND SINGLE BARRELLED GUNS AND PISTOLS; ALSO AN IMPROVED
WADDING FOR ALL KINDS OF GUNS AND PISTOLS," within that part of. His
Majesties Kingdom of Great Britain called England, His Dominion of
Wales, and Town.of. Berwick-upon-Tweed, for the term of fourteen
years; in which said Letters Patent. is contained a proviso for me, the
said Joseph Manton, to describe and ascertain the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, by an
instrument in writing under my hand and seal, and cause the same
to be inrolled in His Majesties High Court of. Chancery within one

page_text: calendar month next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent, as in and by the same, relation being thereunto had, may more
fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with and performance of the
said proviso I, the said Joseph Manton, do hereby describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, in manner following, that is to say:
To fix the cartridge
thicker to admit the
The trigger has a spring screwed to the frame; the end of the spring
is turned to act through a notch in the trigger, the utility of which is
that the trigger being kept close to the scar of the lock by the spring
prevents the trigger from shaking, and causes it to sound against the
frame the same, let the gun be held in any direction whatsoever. To
make the wadding:-Take wood of any sort, the straiter the grain
and the tougher the better it will answer the purpose, or any composition
or material fit for the purpose, and turn, form, or cast it into the formi
of a cup, of which Figure 1, above drawn and set forth is a section.
Then cut a round piece out of a board or plank, or any other thing of a
proper substance, and turn, press, or form it to the same diameter, which
is to be bradded, glued, or otherwise affixed to the bottom of the cup,
as A, A, Figure 2, also above drawn and set forth.
to these wadds the bottom of the cup must be
forming or turning of grooves in it to tye the paper or flannel to, as
B, B, Figure 3, likewise above drawn and set forth. Figure the 4th is
an elevation of the wadd without the grooves to tye the cartridge to. The
utility of these improved wadds is very great, inasmuch as by acting
as a circular wedge they keep the shott in the centre of the bores of
guns, and thereby prevent the shot from rolling, striking the sides, or
injuring the bores thereof, and likewise cause the shot to fly with greater
accuracy than anything that has been before discovered; they may be
applied to all kinds of guns, both rifled and plain, from a forty-two
pounder to a musquet or pistol; they likewise will have a very good
effect in throwing shells, and by lengthening them will answer for
grape shot, and will prevent small shot in fowling-pieces from leading
the barrels.
And I, the said Joseph Manton, do hereby declare and affirm that

page_text: e particulars above set forth do contain a full, true, and perfect
escription of the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
e same is to be performed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Manton, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, the Twenty-fourth day of July, in the thirty-
second year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord George the
Third, by the grace of God of Great Britain, France, and Ireland
King, Defender of the Faith, and so forth, and in the year of
our Lord One thousand seven hundred and ninety-two.
Sealed and delivered, being first duly
stampt, in the presence of
A. SAREL,
JOSEPH (L.s.) MANTON.