IMPROVEMENTS IN ORDNANCE AND WARLIKE PROJECTILES TO BE USED THEREWITH.
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Hobbs, of No. 196, Piccadilly, in the County
of Middlesex, Shop Fitter, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
ORDNANCE AND WARLIKE PROJECTILES TO BE USED THEREWITH.
Sealed the 1st March 1859, and dated the 1st September 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Hobbs at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
1st September 1858.
I, WILLIAM HOBBS, of No. 196, Piccadilly, in the County of Middlesex,
Shop Fitter, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN ORDNANCE AND WARLIKE PROJECTILES TO BE USED THEREWITH," to
be as follows:-
My Invention consists in making portable guns capable of being used either
as ships' guns, siege guns, field pieces, or long range guns, and when required
for easy
and speedy transit they can be taken apart and each portion conveyed
separately. For instance, I employ a parallel chamber formed of strong metal,
said chamber being screwed into the solid breech of the gun. Over this
chamber I place the outer casing of the gun formed in suitable lengths; on

page_text: one of these lengths the trunnions are formed, and either screws on to the
other end of the chamber or slides on the next length being screwed on, and
securing the other lengths, thereby forming the breech end of the gun. The
muzzle end of the gun I also form of different lengths, so that I can either
lengthen or shorten the gun at pleasure, to suit the carriages at hand, or for
whatever purpose required. Each joint being cut with the same thread, any
number of guns may be conveyed to various parts, and in pieces, a few men
being able to put a gun of the largest calibre together in a short space of
time.
In order to prevent the spiking of these guns the outer casing of the breech
is made to revolve by cutting a screw on the outside of the breech, or a flat
band may be placed on the outer casing, having a hole drilled in it corre-
sponding with the vent or touchhole, said band having a pin inserted in one
part thereof, and moving in a groove cut in the inner casing or breech imme-
diately under the band, thus covering the vent or touchhole when moved from
the centre, and preventing the spike entering. Instead of the sights in
ordinary use I place on the trunnion band an eye, into which I place the end
of a telescope or tube resembling a telescope, a rest or pin being placed on the
case of the telescope, which drops into the vent or touchhole of the gun, or a
rest may be placed on the upper portion of the breech, thus keeping the
telescope parallel with the bore of the gun; when the object is sighted the
telescope is to be removed, the gun primed, and is then ready for discharging.
The projectiles I purpose using with these guns are as follows:-I take a
strong hollow elongated shell with a stopper screwed into its back end, the
fore end being made conical shaped, and pierced for the insertion of a fusee.
This hollow casing is pierced all round with innumerable small holes of
sufficient size to insert a number of small balls or bullets, the holes in the centre
portion being bored at right angles with the case, while those at each end are
bored at an angle of about from 45 or 60 degrees, so that when the fusee ignites
the powder already placed within the sbell, the balls or bullets are scattered in
different directions, while the shell itself still proceeds to do execution to the
object aimed at.
I also propose using solid elongated balls pointed at their extremities, and
being cut at their points either octagon shaped, round grooved, or V-grooved,
in order that they may cut their way, and be more destructive on reaching
their destination. Another form of ball I propose to use is a solid elongated
parallel, with its front end hollowed out like a cup or punch; and another I
propose using is a solid ball, having three or more blades hinged and sprung

page_text: at its back end, so that when leaving the gun the blades simultaneously expand,
and will clear a passage for infantry in a light woody country. The forms
of the balls herein mentioned are well adapted to the guns before described.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Hobbs in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
1st March 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
HOBBS, of No. 196, Piccadilly, in the County of Middlesex, Shop Fitter,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the First day of September, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-second year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said William Hobbs, Her special licence that I, the said William Hobbs,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William
Hobbs, my executors, administrators, and 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 ORDNANCE AND
WARLIKE PROJECTILES TO BE USED THEREWITH," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said William Hobbs, my executors or administrators, by
an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands 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 I, the said William Hobbs, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say:
My Invention consists in making portable guns capable of being used either
as ships' guns, siege guns, field pieces, or long range guns, and when required
for easy and speedy transit they can be taken apart and each portion conveyed
separately.

page_text: In order to explain my said Invention as completely as possible, I now
proceed to describe the best means I am acquainted with for carrying the same
into practical effect, reference being had to the illustrative Sheets of Drawings
hereunto annexed, and to the numeral figures and letters of reference marked
thereon respectively, as follows:-
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Sheet 1 exhibits a side view of a long ship's gun at Figure 1, capable of
being converted into short guns, as at Figures 3, 6, and 7; Figure 2 being a
longitudinal section of Figure 1. The gun, it will appear, is formed in pieces,
numbered consecutively in the Drawing 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, said pieces passing
over an inner chamber a, a, which screws into the breech end or compartment
No. 6, as shewn at Figure 2. Each separate piece being tongued and grooved
either as at Figure 2, or in section at Figure 2*, where will be seen a pin b,
which is here placed at each joint in order to keep the different pieces in their
proper positions when on the chamber a, a, until the muzzle piece No. 1 is
screwed on to the other end of the chamber, thereby tightening the whole and
forming as it were a solid gun. The screws on the ends of the chamber a, a,
being cut, one right and the other left-handed for that purpose (or the screws
may be cut the reverse way). Where short guns are required for ships or
other purposes, another chamber shorter than the other, Figure 4, is employed,
screwing into the breech end No. 6, as before described, when, by leaving out
the pieces No. 5 and No. 3, a short gun is formed as at Figures 3 and 6,
where it will be seen that a short carriage is used. Another mode of shortening
this gun is exhibited at Figure 7, which is also used for a short carriage; the
same short gun can also be placed upon the long carriage at Figure 1, by
reversing the trunnion piece No. 4, thereby bringing the trunnions nearer the
muzzle, and lengthening the distance between the trunnions and breech end.
Another mode of making these guns for strength, and preventing expansion, is
by making the inner chamber of a greater thickness at the breech end, as at
Figure 5, and covering the stouter part with sections of metal bound together
by strong rings and turned down with shoulders, as at Figure 8*, and
double casing at Fig. 9*, the one shoulder passing into a channel in the
breech end of the gun, the other passing into a channel formed in the
trunnion piece for greater strength and security, shewn also in dotted lines at
Figure 3.
.
At Figure 2 it will be seen that the breech pieco No. 6 is covered with a
loose band c, (which can be taken off for a light appearance, as at Figure 6,)

page_text: having a hole drilled in it corresponding with the vent or touchhole, so that
by turning it round it will prevent the enemy from spiking the guns. On the
top of these guns I place a telescope or tube, which lays upon a loose adjusting
rest d at the muzzle end, the other end lying upon a nioveable reste let into
the breech end, which rest is raised or lowered as required, and firmly held in
a position by a set screw, as shewn at Figures 1 and 3. The object being
sighted, the telescope or tube may be easily removed previous to the charge
being fired.
At Sheet 2 will be seen another description of portable guns, but instead of
using a long chamber, as in the before-mentioned guns, I employ a short
chamber, as shewn in section at Figure 9, the end of which nearer the muzzle
is tapped with an internal screw, into which is screwed another piece of the
gun No. 2, and into that the muzzle piece No. 1, or, if required to shorten the
gun, No. 2 piece may be left out, and No. 1 screwed into the muzzle end of
the chamber. In this gun I also employ the rest d, as exhibited at Figure 11; 1
but for the purpose of raising or lowering the sight end of the telescope or
tube I employ a slide f, Figures 10 and 12, which is made like the ordinary
rifle or ordnance sights, but having the slide itself with a hole formed therein,
for the purpose of passing the telescope or tube through.
At Sheet 3 will be seen another mode of making portable guns intended
more especially for field purposes, where will be seen at Figure 13 a longi-
tudinal section of a portable gun, shewn in elevation at Figure 14, without
any additional internal chamber, the gun itself being made in solid sections, as
shewn, which screw one into the other. In this gun I also use the rest d
placed on any convenient part, but having the sliding sight piece b affixed to
the trunnion piece or other convenient part, which, when not in use, can be
turned down out of the way, the same being hinged thereto. The principal
objects of this gun, and those before described are, firstly, the greater case and
speed of transit, as separate pieces can be conveyed at various times where
convenience is not always at hand to convey a complete gun; secondly, a
number of the same portions, such as pieces of No. 1, or No. 2, or No. 6 may
be conveyed by different routes to their place of destination, by which means,
should the enemy capture any one of the lots, it will be completely useless to
them, and yet when all the various parts have arrived at their destination they
can be easily put together and worked by considerably fewer hands, providing
the breech end is also at hand; and, lastly, the simplicity of forming different
guns of different sections renders one complete long gun serviceable for many
purposes, such as ships' guns, siege guns, long range guns, field pieces, and,

page_text: where necessary, even for mortars. The trunnions are placed on the lower
part of the gun, instead of the centre line, as usual, whereby greater elevation
is obtained.
The different projectiles I intend using for these guns are exhibited at
Figures 15 to 31 inclusive, the various forms of which, as shewn on the
accompanying Sheet of Drawings No. 8, will be too readily understood to need
any explanation, with the exception of those at Figures 21, 22, and 23, where
at Figure 21 will be seen a perforated elongated shell, the back end of which
has a plug screwed therein after being charged with the necessary combustible
material.
The perforations are then charged with balls, bullets, slugs, or other
deadly materials, and being made at various angles, as shewn, it will appear
evident that upon its exploding (which is effected by a fusee being inserted at
the orifice in front) it will scatter its contents in various directions on passing
through the ranks of the enemy, the shell itself still continuing its course to do
further execution to the object aimed at, or, according to the length of the
fusee, the shell may not explode until entering a fortress. The projectile at
Figure 23 is intended more particularly for clearing a way or passage either
for infantry or cavalry in a woody country, and also doing fearful execution in
passing through the enemy's ranks, as it will be seen that blades are hinged
and springed to the heel of the projectile, so that upon insertion into the gun
they are shut down, but immediately upon being discharged from the gun the
blades simultaneously expand, as shewn.
Having now fully described and set forth the nature and objects of my said
Invention of "Improvements in Ordnance and Warlike Projectiles to be used
therewith," I would remark, in conclusion, that I do not confine or restrict
myself to the precise details herein-before mentioned, as many modifications
may be made therein without in any way departing from the principle of my
Invention; but what I claim as my Invention intended to be secured to me
by the herein in part recited Letters Patent is, making portable guns capable
of being elongated and shortened, converted into and used either as ships
guns, siege guns, field pieces, or long range guns, in the manner exhibited
in the accompanying illustrative Sheets of Drawings, and herein described; or
in lieu of screws other suitable modes of fastening may be adopted, such as
grooves, or sockets, and also of making projectiles to be used with these and
other guns in the form exhibited, and herein-before described for the said
purpose as set forth. I also use solid elongated balls pointed at their
extremities, and being cut at their points either octagon shaped, round

page_text: grooved, or V-grooved, in order that they may cut their way and be more
destructive on reaching their destination.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Hobbs, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this First day of March, One thousand eight hundred
and fifty-nine.
Witness,
CHARLES DOD, Sol.,
19, Great Portland St.
WILLIAM HOBBS. (L.S.)