A New or Improved Target for Gun and Rifle Practice.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Sept., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 31st May, 1897-Accepted, 3rd July, 1897
A New or Improved Target for Gun and Rifle Practice.
I, WILLIAM JOSEPH STARKEY BARBER-STARKEY, of Aldenham Park, Bridgnorth
Salop, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to a new or improved target for gun and rifle practice, the
object of the invention being to provide a travelling or moving target of simple
construction, the central portion or that part designed to be shot at being of suitable
material so as to be readily perforated by the bullet or shots, and capable of being
quickly replaced when rendered useless.
In carrying my invention into practical effect, I provide a ring or hoop of iron,
wood, or other suitable material, and of sufficient size, across which I stretch
diametrically two parallel wires, either twisted around rings, hooks or suitable
projections formed on the rim or hoop, or passing through holes or perforations
provided for this purpose; the target being secured to the said wires in any
convenient manner, while in some cases the two parallel wires are crossed by a second
pair of wires, so as to form a rectangular space in the centre of the hoop, which may
be filled in with paper, canvas or other suitable fabric or material, either pinned to the
side wires or secured thereto in any suitable manner, or the crossing wires may be
arranged in such a manner that the said rectangular space is formed nearer one side
of the hoop than the other, or eccentrically.
According to a slightly modified form of my invention I arrange within the outer
rim or hoop a small ring secured by radial wires or the like to the outer rim or
hoop, said inner ring being designed to be filled in with the paper, canvas, or other
material to be shot at.
When required for use my improved target is preferably operated by two persons
arranged a sufficient distance apart behind shelters, who bowl the hoop backwards
and forwards to one another and renew the paper, canvas or the like as required.
Where the space containing the paper, or the like is arranged in the centre of the
hoop, the target has the effect of an object moving in a straight line, while in cases
where it is arranged eccentrically it rises and falls with the travel of the hoop.
As my improvements are capable of some modifications, I do not restrict myself
to materials, dimensions or to the precise form or placement of the several parts
thereof.
Dated thin 10th dose of Santambor 1000
F. G. CASSELL
(of Cassell & Co.),
22, Glasshouse Street, Regent Street, London, W., Agent for the Applicant.
New or improved Target for Gun and kine Practice.
1, WILLIAM JOSEPH STARKEY BARBER-STARKEY of Aldenham Park, Bridgnorth, Salop,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the

page_text: same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
My invention relates to a new or improved target for gun and rifle practice, the
object of the invention being to provide a travelling or moving target of simple
construction, the central portion or that part designed to be shot at being of suitable
material so as to be readily perforated by the bullet or shots, and capable of being
quickly replaced when rendered useless.
In carrying my invention into practical effect, I provide a ring or hoop of iron,
wood or other suitable. material and of sufficient size, across which I stretch
diametrically two parallel wires, either twisted around rings, hooks or suitable
projections formed on the rim or hoop, or passing through holes or perforations
provided for this purpose; the target being secured to the said wires in any
convenient manner, while in some cases the two parallel wires are crossed by a
second pair of wires, so as to form a rectangular space in the centre of the hoop,
which may be filled in with paper, canvas or other suitable fabric or material either
pinned to the side wires or secured thereto in any suitable manner, or the crossing
wires may be arranged in such a manner that the said rectangular space is formed
nearer one side of the hoop than the other, or eccentrically.
According to a slightly modified form of my invention I arrange within the outer
rim or hoop, a small ring secured by radial wires or the like to the outer ring or
hoop, said inner ring being designed to be filled in with paper, canvas or other
material to be shot at.
When required for use my improved target is preferably operated by two persons
arranged a sufficient distance apart behind shelters, who bowl the hoop backwards
and forwards to one another and renew the paper canvas or the like as required.
Where the space containing the paper, or the like, is arranged in the centre of the
hoop, the target has the effect of an object moving in a straight line, while in cases
where it is arranged eccentrically it rises and falls with the travel of the hoop.
As my improvements are capable of some modifications, I do not restrict myself to
materials, dimensions or to the precise form or placement of the several parts thereof.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
The revolving hoop targets illustrated in the accompanying drawings Figs. 1 to 8
may any of them be made of tubes, metal bars or wood, and the portion shot at may
be of canvas, covered with paper or wood scribed to indicate the value of the shots,
or alternatively the bull's-eye may be of metal as a sounding gong.
Fig. 1 shows the two parallel wires or rods A, A¹ supporting a canvas target B
having a concentric bull's-eye. In Figs. 2 & 3 a similar canvas target B, but a
timber hoop, is supported by a second pair of parallel wires C, C' and this bull's eye
is also concentric Fig. 3 being a transverse section. In Fig. 4 the wires or rods,
preferably stretched at right angles across each other in the manner shewn provides
for the canvas or other target being fixed eccentrically with regard to the hoop
as at D or E and this eccentricity may be varied at pleasure to any extent within the
hoop, the skill required in hitting this bull's eye revolving eccentrically with regard
to the hoop varying as the distance it may measure from the centre, or alternatively
a concentric metal ring P may pass through the centre of the bull's eye at any
determined radius as shewn in Fig. 4.
In a rolling hoop target acting under the circumstances of my Invention, I
modify Fig. 4 as shewn in Fig. 5 and for the Bull's-eye I substitute a figure such as
a rabbit F or other animal or bird which may be painted upon canvas or wood and
rolling behind a screen G, G¹ it will thus appear and disappear for such periods as
may be desired. These hoop targets may be stayed by two or more light
rods, R and S, bent to pass at their centres as shewn in Figs. 4 & 5.
I also construct these rolling hoop targets in the manner shewn in Figs. 6, 7 and 8.
In Figs. 6 and 7 by radial flexible wires or rods as at H, H, I support
concentrically with regard to the hoop an angle steel ring L adapted to receive

page_text: a gong M, in order that a hit may be audible from the firing point or in substitution
for the gong, I employ paper covered canvas or a simple disc of wood P¹, as shewn in
the transverse section Fig. 8.
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. A rolling hoop target substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated
in Fig. 1.
2. A rolling hoop target substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated
in Figs. 2 and 3.
3. A rolling hoop target substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated
in Figs. 4 and 5.
4. A rolling hoop target substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated
in Figs. 6, 7 and 8.
W. J. S. BARBER-STARKEY.