Improvements in Rifled Barrels for Firearms.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Aug., 1889-Accepted, 28th Sept.. 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Rifled Barrels for Firearms.
I, THOMAS WILLIAM WEBLEY, of the Firm of P. Webley and Son, of Weaman
Street, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Gunmaker, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to produce improved rifled barrels for firearms of
such a form or forms as to combine in one and the same barrel the advantages of the
ordinary cylindrical bore, the choke bore, and the rifled bore; so that the barrels so
made shall give good shooting with either solid projectiles or small shot.
I bore my improved barrels as cylindrical barrels, and then rifle them in one or
other of the following ways.
From the breech ends of the barrels I cut grooves which are rectilinear for the
greater part of their length towards the muzzle; but, when approaching the muzzle,
each groove is gradually converted from a rectilinear to a helical groove, the helical
path of each groove being continued to the muzzle of the barrel.
When the straight groove has been converted into a helical groove, such helical
groove may be continued to the muzzle on a uniform twist, or the twist may be
progressively increased.
The depth of the groves is lessened as the muzzle is approached, and this lessening
of the depth of the grooves serves the purpose of a choke bore.
This lessening of depth in the grooves may be in the helical part only, or it may
be begun in the rectilinear part of the grooves, at any position of their length, and
be continued into and through the helical part.
Or, such lessening of the depth of the grooves may be confined to any part of
the length of the grooves, either helical or rectilinear.
It will be understood that the lands, between the grooves, form parts of the
original cylindrical bore of each barrel, and therefore afford a true guide to the projectiles,
and cause the said projectiles-when solid-to take the helical parts of the grooves
without any strain or jerk, because the said projectiles are truly centred all the way
along the barrel.
By suitable variations of depth along the grooves the amount and character of the
choke can be regulated. The grooves may be made of any desired section, as in an
ordinary rifle.
Barrels made according to this invention give good results with both shot and
ball, and are of light weight.
Dated this Third day of Novemban 1000
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Rifled Barrels for Firearms.
I, THOMAS WILLIAM WEBLEY, of the firm of P. Webley and Son, of Weaman
Street, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Gunmaker, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of my invention is to produce improved rifled barrels for firearms of
such a form or forms as to combine in one and the same barrel the advantages of
the ordinary cylindrical bore, the choke bore, and the rifle bore; so that the barrels
so made shall give good shooting with either solid projectiles or small shot.

page_text: I bore my improved barrels as cylindrical barrels, and then rifle them in one or
other of the following ways.
From the breech ends of the barrels I cut grooves which are rectilinear for the
greater part of their length towards the muzzle; but when approaching the muzzle
such groove is gradually converted from a rectilinear to a helical groove, the helical
path of each groove being continued to the muzzle of the barrel. When the straight
groove has been converted into a helical groove, such helical groove may be con-
tinued to the muzzle on a uniform twist, or the twist may be progressively
increased.
The depth of the grooves is lessened as the muzzle is approached, and this lessening
of the depth of the grooves serves the purpose of a choke bore.
This lessening of the depth of the grooves may be in the helical part only, or it
may be begun in the rectilinear part of the grooves, at any position of their length,
and be continued into and through the helical part.
Or, such lessening of the depth of the grooves may be confined to any part
length of the grooves, either helical or rectilinear.
of the
It will be understood that the lands, between the grooves, form parts of the
original cylindrical bore of each barrel and therefore afford a true guide to the projectiles,
and cause the said projectiles-when solid-to take the helical parts of the grooves
without any strain or jerk, because the said projectiles are truly centred all the way
along the barrel.
By suitable variations of depth along the grooves the amount and character of the
choke can be regulated.
The grooves may be made of any desired section, as in an ordinary rifle.
Barrels made according to this invention give good results with both shot and
ball, and are of light weight.
The accompanying drawing shews a plan of the mode of rifling barrels on my
system. For convenience of illustration the barrel is supposed to be cut longitudinally
and opened out to a flat plane.
From the breech end of the barrel the grooves and lands are rectilinear to a
point A. a short distance from the muzzle, and from A. to the muzzle B. the lands
and grooves assume a helical path of any desired pitch. The lands e form part
of the original cylindrical bore of the barrel, thus giving a steady bearing to solid
projectiles.
The grooves d are decreased in depth towards the muzzle of the barrel, thus acting
as a choke bore for shot, and increasing the steadiness of solid projectiles.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. Improved rifled barrels for firearms having grooves and lands rectilinear for
part of the length of the barrel, but following a helical path on nearing the
muzzle of the barrel, and having the lands cylindrical in bore, but the grooves
lessened in depth towards the muzzle.
Dated the Third day of August 1889.
For the Applicant,
W. E. GEDGE,
Agent.