A IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR CAPPING, LOADING, AND CLOSING CARTRIDGES FOR BREECH-LOADING FIRE- ARMO
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Augustus Munn, of Throwley House,
Faversham, in the County of Kent, late a Major in the East Kent
Regiment of Militia, for the Invention of "A IMPROVED APPARATUS
FOR CAPPING, LOADING, AND CLOSING CARTRIDGES FOR BREECH-LOADING FIRE-
ARMO "
Sealed the 6th March 1868, and dated the 11th September 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Augustus Munn
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 11th September 1862.
I, WILLIAM AUGUSTUS MUNN, of Throwley House, near Faversham, in the
County of Kent, late a Major in the East Kent Regiment of Militia, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS
FOR CAPPING, LOADING, AND CLOSING CARTRIDGES FOR BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS,"
to be as follows:-
The Invention is applicable to capping, loading, and closing cartridges for
breech-loading fire-arms, known as "Lefaucheux" cases, and all others of a
similar description, and its principal feature is that one apparatus serves for
capping, loading, and closing the cartridge, the apparatus being inexpensive,
and capable of being attached to a gun case or box for ammunition, which
forms the stand to steady it.
The following description of a convenient form of the apparatus, will shew
the nature of the Invention, but I do not limit myself to the precise form
herein-after described.

page_text: The apparatus when of the form above-mentioned, consists of a block of
box or other hard wood, the sides of which are longer than the front and back,
and having a perpendicular hole through it, the size of the largest sized
cartridge usually used. The block is cut or divided perpendicularly, the
division passing through the centre or axis of the hole. This cut is nearly
but not quite parallel to the front and back of the block. The back part of
the block is fixed to a piece of board or metal plate of the same width, but of
greater length than the block. The front part of the block is attached by a
perpendicular hinge to the back part of the block. Both halves of the block
are cut away on the under part, on the side opposite to the hinge, to allow
space for the lever herein-after mentioned. This lever works horizontally on
a perpendicular pin, fixed to the under side of the back part of the block. It
has a catch at its other end, which hooks round the front of the front part of
the block, and retains the front part of the block in its place, when filling,
ramming, and closing the cartridge. A piece of boxwood, which I call the
top, having a hole rather larger than the hole in the block herein-before
described, with a screw cut in it for part of its length, is attached to the back
of the back part of the block by a horizontal hinge. When this piece of wood
is shut down, the hole with the screw in it is perpendicular, and comes just
over the hole to hold the cartridge. There is a catch in the front part of the
top, which hooks under a stud on the front of the front part of the block. A
piece of hard wood or metal with a screw cut upon it, and having a circular
groove, turned on its lower end, screws into the hole in the top. It is pierced
lengthways with a hole, the upper part of which is square, and the lower part
larger and circular; a square bar of wood or metal, with a handle at its upper
end, which I call the rammer, works loosely in the square hole. The lower
end of the rammer is furnished with a spring claw, capable of holding the cap.
The lower part of the rammer is surrounded for about an inch of its length
with india-rubber or other elastic substance, and a metal tube open at both
ends or ferule, fits over the india-rubber, having a bayonet joint slot on each
side of its upper part. Two pins fixed at right angles to the rammer,
pass one through each slot in the ferule. The bayonet joint slots are so
contrived that by turning the ferule round in one direction, it is held fast, and
by turning in the opposite direction, it is allowed a sufficient play to permit
the spring claw above mentioned being forced out beyond the lower end of the
ferule. There is a roughened piece of metal on the under side of the top near
its hinge, and a corresponding roughened piece of metal on the top of the
block, immediately under that on the top, which act as a vice for holding the
pin, for the purpose of withdrawing it from the cartridge, after it has been

page_text: fired, and before reloading it. The hole in the block is large enough to hold
the largest sized cartridge case usually used, and there are metal tubes of
different sizes, which fit into it, to make it suitable for the different smaller
sized cartridges.
The mode of using the apparatus is as follows:-The end of the pin for
exploding the cap is inserted into the hole at the base of the cartridge case
intended for it, but not sufficiently far to prevent the cap going into its place.
The top of the apparatus being thrown back, and the front part of the block
turned back on its hinge, the cartridge case is placed in that part of the
perpendicular hole which is cut out of the back part of the block, with its
open end upwards, and the pin resting against the front of the back part of the
block, and pointing in the direction of the lever, attached to the back part of
the block. The front part of the block is then turned upon its hinge into its
place, and a cap placed in the spring claw of the rammer, the ferule being so
turned as to permit the claw to project beyond its lower end into the recess at
the bottom of the cartridge case intended for the cap. The top is then shut
down, and the screw turned so as to bring the open end of the cap opposite
the pin, when the cap descends into its place. This is shewn to be the case
when a mark on one side of the rammer comes opposite to a corresponding
mark on the top of the apparatus. The top is now shut down, and the rammer
pressed down, till the cap is brought into its place in the hollow at the bottom
of the cartridge case. The lever attached to the back part of the block is
pressed up to the block, until the catch at its end hooks round the front of
the front part of the block. In doing this it presses against the pin, and
forces it into its place, the point entering the cap. It also secures the front
part of the block in its place. The rammer is now withdrawn, the top turned
back, and the ferule adjusted, so as to withdraw the spring claw within the
ferule and retain it there, and the charge of powder poured into the case. A
wad is inserted in the case, the top closed, and the wad rammed into its place
by the rammer. The rammer is withdrawn, the top turned back, the charge
of shot poured into the cartridge case, and the wad rammed on the top of the
shot in the same way as on the powder, after which the top is secured by the
catch at its front part, and the square bar turned round, so as to screw the
screw down tightly upon the cartridge case. The circular groove on the lower
end of the screw is thus forced down upon the top of the case, over which it
fits, and doubles the paper down inwards upon the upper wad, and so closes
the cartridge.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Augustus Munn in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 11th March 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
AUGUSTUS MUNN, of Throwley House, Faversham, in the County of Kent,
late a Major in the East Kent Regiment of Militia, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of September, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-sixth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
William Augustus Munn, Her special licence that I, the said William Augustus
Munn, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said William Augustus Munn, 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 "AN IN-
PROVED APPARATUS FOR CAPPING, LOADING, AND CLOSING CARTRIDGES FOR
BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said William Augustus Munn, 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 Augustus Munn, 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, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed,
that is to say:-
The said Invention is applicable to the capping, loading, and closing of
cartridges for breech-loading fire-arms known as "Lefaucheux " cartridges, and
for all others of a similar description, and its principal feature is that by one
apparatus the whole operation of capping, loading, and closing the cartridge
may be performed, that such apparatus is inexpensive and portable, and may
be conveniently attached to a gun case or box for ammunition.
One method of performing the said Invention is as follows, reference being

page_text: had to the Figures shewn in the Drawing hereunto annexed, and marked
respectively A, B, C, D, E, F, and to the numbers thereon, the same number
being used to indicate a corresponding part in each Figure.
Figure A represents a box, Number 1, having a lid or top, Number 2, hinged
to it. The top and sides of the box may be made of any hard wood and the
bottom of the box constructed of a metal plate. The interior of the box is on
plan shaped like a dovetail, having its widest part at the back of the box.
The form of the interior is shewn in Figure A, by the lines Numbers 3 and by
the dotted lines, Numbers 4. It is intended for the reception of the cartridge
holder, Number 5, which can be dropped into or lifted out of the box at
pleasure, and which, by fitting the interior exactly, is retained in its place by
its dovetailed form. Figuro B shews the form of the cartridge holder when
removed from the box. The cartridge holder is furnished with a cylindrical
hole for the reception of the cartridge, shewn in Figure B by the Numbers 6,
and by the dotted lines, Numbers 7, of metal, so that the cartridge may
always be held tight in the cartridge holder. The cartridge holder is also
furnished with a notch, Number 8, through which the pin, Number 9, which
explodes the cartridge, protrudes when the cartridge, Numbers 10, 11, with
the pin inserted in it, but not so far as to prevent the percussion cap from
going into its place, as herein-after described, is introduced into the cartridge
holder, as shewn in Figure B. Number 10 is the bottom and Number 11 the
top of the cartridge. The empty cartridge having been inserted in the
cartridge holder, as shewn in Figure B, the cartridge holder is dropped into
the box, as shewn in Figure A, and in which the top of the cartridge,
Number 11, is shewn. The next process is to cap the cartridge, which is
accomplished in the following manner:-The lid of the box, Number 2,
Figure A, has a circular hole through it, shewn by the Numbers 12 and the
dotted lines, Numbers 18, 14, the axis of which hole when the lid of the box
is shut down, coincides with that of the cartridge in the cartridge holder. The
lower part of the hole, Numbers 18, is smooth, its upper part Numbers 14 is
in the form of a female screw; this part of the hole should be formed of brass
or other suitable material. The circular hole formed as described is intended
for the reception of the closer and rammer, which are partly shewn in Figure A,
and more particularly in Figures C, D, E, F. The closer, Number 15, is formed
of brass or other suitable material, and is furnished with a male screw to
work into the female screw in the lid of the box. It is perforated through
its upper part, as shewn by the dotted lines, Numbers 16, 17, with a square
hole through which the square shaft, Numbers 18, of the rammer can freely
move up and down. It is perforated through its middle part, as shewn by the

page_text: dotted lines, Numbers 17, 19, with a cylindrical hole, so as to admit the
ferule, Numbers 20, of the rammer, being drawn upwards into it, and thence
into its end as shewn by the dotted lines, Numbers 19, 21. It is perforated
with a cylindrical hole, the upper part of which, Numbers 19, is of the width
of the top end of the cartridge, having a groove at the top which fits over the
mouth of the cartridge case when closing the cartridge, and the lower part,
Numbers 21, is bell-shaped, gradually diminishing to the width of the top end
of the cartridge. The end of the shaft of the rammer terminates in a spring
claw, Numbers 22, for the reception of the percussion cap as herein-after
mentioned, and which spring claw can be protruded or withdrawn at pleasure
through the hole Figure F, Number 23, formed in the bottom of the ferule,
by pushing the ferule up or down the rammer shaft, in either of which positions
the ferule can be firmly held by means of the bayonet joint slot, Numbers 24.
In Figures E and F, the ferule is represented as pushed up, and the spring
claw as protruded; in Figure D the ferule is represented as pushed down and
secured, and the spring claw as withdrawn within the ferule. It is obvious
that when the spring claw is thus withdrawn within the ferule the flat bottom of
the ferule will serve as a cartridge rammer. In order to cap the cartridge the
closer, Numbers 15, must be screwed into the top of the box, as shown in
Figure A, by turning round the handle, Numbers 25, and which by reason of
the shaft Number 18 being square and occupying a square hole in the closer,
as before mentioned, will cause the closer to revolve. The rammer must be
thrust through the closer, the ferule pushed up so as to expose the spring
claw into which the percussion cap must be inserted horizontally; the lid of
the box must be closed, and the rammer thrust down the cartridge and so
turned about by means of the handle, Numbers 25, as to bring the open end
of the cap opposite the pin for exploding the cartridge, and which has already
been inserted in the cartridge, as above described, and as is shewn in
Figure B. The cap will be shewn to be in the proper position for inserting
the pin as herein-after described, when a mark on the shaft of the rammer
comes oposite to a corresponding mark on the lid of the box. The lever,
Figure A, Number 26, which works on a pin at the end, represented as being
beneath the box, must be pulled towards the box in the direction of the dotted
line and arrow quite into the notch, Numbers 27, so as to bring the nick in
the lever, Number 28, against the end of the pin for exploding the cartridge,
by which means the other end of the pin will be thrust into the cap and will
retain it in its proper place in the hollow at the bottom of the cartridge on the
rammer being withdrawn. In order to load the cartridgo the lid of the box
must be thrown back, the ferule pushed down the rammer shaft and secured

page_text: by means of the bayonet joint slot, the powder and wad put into the cartridge
and rammed home with the rammer, the top of the box being closed for that
purpose, and secured with the hook and pin, Numbers 29 and 80 respectively.
The shot and wad are in like manner to be put into the cartridge and rammed
home. In order to close the cartridge the rammer must be drawn up into the
hollow part of the closer, Numbers 17, 19, and the handle, Numbers 25,
turned round so as to screw the closer down tightly upon the top of the
cartridge; the groove in the hollow end of the closer is thus forced down upon
the top of the cartridge over which it fits, and by its pressure, form, and
rotary motion, doubles the paper down inwards upon the upper wad and so
closes the cartridge. The lid of the box is then lifted up, the cartridge holder
taken out of the box, and the cartridge removed from the cartridge holder
ready for use. The roughened part of the hinge, Figure A, Numbers 81,
will be found useful for withdrawing or inserting into the empty cartridge the
pin which explodes the cartridge.
Another and a preferable method of performing the said Invention is repre-
sented in Figure G, in which the box is shewn as divided diagonally into two
parts, Numbers 1 and 2, which are connected by the hinge, Number 3, and
can be closed together in the direction of the dotted line and arrow, so as to
embrace the empty cartridge in the hollow cylinder, Numbers 4, one half of
which is included in each of the parts, Numbers 1 and 2. A hole for the
protrusion of the pin which explodes the cartridge is shewn by Number 5.
Number 6 is the lid of the box; Numbers 7 the hole in it, through which the
closer and rammer pass, as shewn in Figure A, and as already described.
As soon as the percussion cap has, by means of the rammer, as before described,
been inserted in the cartridge, the pin is forced into it and made to retain it
by moving the end, Number 8, of the lever, Numbers 8, 9, towards the part
Number 1 of the box in the direction of the dotted line and arrow, which
brings the side of the lever into contact with the pin. The loading and
closing of the cartridge are performed in the same manner as already described,
the lid of the box being secured to the part, Number 2, of the box by a hasp
or other fastening at Numbers 10. The lever 8, 9, moves on a pin fixed in
the box, as shewn by the dotted lines, Numbers 11.
Another and a preferable method of performing the said Invention is repre-
sented in Figures H and I, in which the same Numbers are used to denote
corresponding parts. Numbers 1 shew the back of the box, to which the lid,
Numbers 2, is jointed; Numbers 3 shew the bottom of the box, to which are
jointed the lever, Numbers 4, 5, and the cartridge holder, Numbers 6;
Number 7, Figure H, shews the cylindrical hole for the reception of the

page_text: cartridge, and Number 8, the notch for the protrusion of the pin which
explodes the cartridge. The empty cartridge is inserted in the cartridge
holder when the latter is thrown back, as represented in Figure H. The
cartridge holder is then moved by the finger piece, Numbers 9, in the
direction of the dotted line and arrow into an upright position, as shewn in
Figuro I, in which Number 10 represents the cartridge. The lid is then shut
down, the closer and rammer are inserted as before mentioned into the holo
Numbers 11 in the lid, and the percussion cap is introduced into the cartridge
in the same way as before mentioned, the lever, Numbers 4, 5, is raised towards
the lid in the direction of the dotted line and arrow, and its end, Number 5,
is hooked into the lid at Numbers 12, and by the same motion the lever
presses against the pin, and by forcing it into the cap makes it retain the
latter within the cartridge in manner already described. The process of
loading and closing the cartridge are performed by means of the rammer and
closer as already described.
I do not claim as new and original the method of closing a cartridge, by a
bell-shaped and grooved covering caused to press and rotate against it by means
of a screw, but I claim as new and original the combination of such a means of
closing a cartridge with the methods herein-before described of capping and
loading it, and also the giving motion to a screw used for the purpose aforesaid
by means of a square bar or shaft running freely through the axis of such
screw which also acts as the shaft of the rammer as above described, and also
the rammer formed as above described, and the combination of the various
parts of the said Invention with each other as above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Augustus Munn, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of March, in the year of our
Lord 1868.