IMPROVEMENTS IN GUNS AND PIECES OF ORDNANCE, AND THE PROJECTILES THROWN FROM THEM FOR THE PURPOSES OF WAR
Year: 1855

page_text: by the Act.)
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Robert William Sievier at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 20th
December 1855.
I, ROBERT. WILLIAM SIEVIER, of Upper Holloway, in the County of Middle-
sex, England, but now residing temporarily at the Hotel de la Grande
Bretagne, Brussels, Belgium, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN GUNS AND PIECES OF ORDNANCE, AND THE
PROJECTILES THROWN FROM THEM FOR THE PURPOSES OF WAR," to be as follows,
viz:-
The first part of the Invention consists in forming or casting a cannon of
any metal, with hollow spaces or interstices all over the outer surface. They
may be of any form, either circular, square, or otherwise; if square, the
gun would have the appearance of being enclosed in a strong lattice-work
of metal. By these means equal strength is obtained with less weight of
material.
The second part consists in forming a cannon in three pieces, so that it may
be more easy of transport on different roads, each piece being carried separately
if required. Each division is formed or cast with lugs or projections upon it,
having holes bored therein to allow of two, three, or more rods, (having screw

page_text: threads at their extremities,) which rods, passing along the exterior of the
cannon and through the projections, serve to screw or press together the three
pieces of the cannon, in order to render it serviceable as a long gun; when it
is desired to use a shorter gun, the end piece may be removed, and shorter rods
being used, the remaining two may be screwed together in a similar manner
to the three pieces. By removing both the end and middle portion of the gun,
a short cannon is left which may serve for a mortar. Other ways may be
adopted for fixing the pieces together: they may be screwed together in the
same way as the barrel of a pocket pistol. A separate breech may be made
to suit either of the two pieces of the cannon when removed, and being
screwed thereon a short gun is thereby formed.
The third part of the Invention consists in forming a cannon of wrought
iron or metal, riveted or welded together. The inside may be steel or any
other suitable metal; the cannon will thus be hollow, and the space between
the exterior and interior surfaces is then to be filled up with melted lead. By
the employment of a series of wrought or cast metal-rings, the smallest being
perfect and the larger ones which surround it having a piece cut out of their
circumference, I allow for expansion and contraction when the liquid metal is
poured around and between them, and by this method a cannon may be
formed, having its various parts of the most suitable different metals...
The fourth part of the Invention assists in forming a. cannon capable of
being loaded at the breech. Two breeches being formed in one piece of metal,
that is to say, one at each end or side, they may alternately by suitable
apparatus be made to apply themselves to the barrel of the cannon (which is
'made as in the first part of the Invention,) and thus is a more rapid loading
and firing may be effected.
The fifth part of the Invention consists in forming a cannon or pieces of
ordnance having a rod fixed along the centre of the barrel, for the purpose of
firing a shot having a hole through it which fits the rod; a rotation is given to
the shot to insure its direction, and the aperture or hole through the shot, not
forming any resistance to the atmosphere, a much longer range is effected.
The rod may be grooved or oval, so as to give the rotatory movement to the
shot. The rod may also be removed when desirable, and the hole in the
breach plugged up, in order that the gun may be used without it when
required.
The sixth part of the Invention consists in making the vent or touch-holes
of cannons or pieces of ordnance of any suitable preparation of clay or earth,
which will offer a much greater resistance to fusibility than metal, and it will

page_text: not be so liable to destructibility from the rush from the gun when it is
fired.
The seventh part of the Invention consists in forming a leaden rim round
the shot or missile to be projected from the gun; this lead will expand and fill
closely the bore of the gun as in the Minié rifle ball. Also in forming the
various shot or missiles with a hole through them, in order that they may be
fired from the rod. Also in forming shot or missiles of a combination of metal
and glass. Also in forming shots, shells, or missiles, with indentations and
grooves around them, in order that they may break into a greater number of
pieces than the ordinary shells. Also in a rocket which is to be fired from a
This rocket is made in the form of a Minié ball, having a leaden
rim round it. Also in polishing or smoothing the shots by abrasion with
one another in emery powder or any other suitable substance, by moving them
together in a vessel of iron or wood, by which means the asperities which cut
and destroy the lower part of the bore of the gun are removed.