An improved Safety Target or Apparatus for Rifle Practice.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Jan., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 18th Oct., -1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 23rd Nov., 1888.
An improved Safety Target or Apparatus for Rifle Practice.
We FRANCIS LAWRANCE STEPHENSON of Hill House Hill Street Woolwich Kent
Master in Surgery and Batchelor of Medicine and Surgeon Commanding 3rd Division
Volunteer Medical Staff Corps and BENJAMIN HARDCASTLE of 15 Frederick Place
Plumstead Kent Pattern Maker do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
The objects of this Invention are to prevent splashing of lead and to catch the
metal of the bullet in one luap for future use: It consists of a frame work of wood
or metal supporting certain plates of steel or other metal which interrupt the bullet
in its flight and deflect or divert it to a place of safety for collection. On the front
of the frame work is painted or fixed or otherwise arranged the target proper or
aiming object which may be fixed or moveable or disappearing as required. From or
from near the floor or base of the front part of the frame work there rises a plate
called the Interrupting Plate which is carried backwards and upwards at a suitable.
angle to a point slightly above the level of the top of the front or aiming object part
of the frame work and from this point it is bent to continue backwards horizontally
in a line parallel to the base of the framework for a certain distance which varies
according to the weight, and velocity of the bullet. This Interruping Plate may be
bedded on concrete or other foundation for out of door use.
Above and adjacent to the higher end of the Interrupting Plate is fixed another
Plate called the Deflecting Plate. It lies in contact more or less with the horizontal
part of the Interrupting Plate and extends forwards a certain distance to make a
sufficient mouth or apperture to catch the bullet as it rises from the Interrupting
Plate It is continued backwards a variable, distance according to the weight required
and it is bent downwards posteriorly in the form of a quarter of a circle.
At or near
its anterior edge the Deflecting Plate is fixed to the frame work by hinges or similar
means so as to allow it to rise and fall like a flap when struck by the bullet as it

page_text: rises from the Interrupting Plate. The bullet forces its way between this Deflecting
Plate and the horizontal part of the Interrupting Plate and in doing so loses its
velocity and is caught in a tray or box beneath the bent part of the Deflecting
Plate.
.
0027 1
1000
We FRANCIS LAWRANCE STEPHENSON of Hill House Hill Street Woolwich
Batchelor of Medicine and Master in Surgery and BENJAMIN HARDOASTLE of 52
Hanover Road Plumstead late of 15 Frederick Place Plumstead, Pattern Maker 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:
It consists of a Set of Plates made of Iron, Steel or other suitable material here-
after called the Interrupting and Deflecting Plates supported and fitted on a
framework of wood or iron or other suitable material. The framework will vary in
construction according to the size of the Target and the nature of the service
required i.e. it may be made box-like for a small portable target or it may be a mere
skeleton framework for Gallery or Range use. It will also vary in construction
according as the Interrupting Plate is fitted to take the bullet on an upward or a
downward inclined surface. The front part of the framework is arranged at a fixed
or removeable screen of canvas or other soft material on which the aiming object is
fixed as seen at T in Figs. 1 & 2 in the accompanying Drawings, and this screen may
be made to present a disappearing surface for shooting purposes. The rest of the
framework may be made in moveable parts for purpose of transport.
The Interrupting Plate is fixed at such an angle that on the impact of the bullet
the latter skims along the surface of the Plate as seen at I in Figs. 1 & 2 and is thus
directed without splashing to the opening formed between the Deflecting Plates D) 1.
and D. 2. The bullet in passing between these Plates is deflected from one to the
other, and according to the velocity of the Projectile these Plates are approximated
more or less and can be fixed if necessary to any required degree of proximity by a
thumb screw as seen at S in Fig. 1. Or the velocity of the Projectile may be arrested
by a method of pivotting the Plates so that they act and re-act together as seen in

page_text: Fig. 2 A. By such means the velocity of the projectile is so reduced that it eventually
falls with safety in a flattened or altered shape into a box or receptacle containing
sawdust or sand as seen at R in Figs. 1 & 2 from which the lead or metal may be
collected for further use.
It is shown in Fig. 2 how the Interrupting Plate may be fixed so as to present a
downward inclined surface to the impact of the bullet; and also a method of altering
the angle of this Plate by means of a chain and windlass so that the Interrupting
Plate may be lowered down on to the framework when not in use or be raised to
any angle necessary for the varying requirements of rifle or revolver practice or
other purpose.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is
The Invention of an adjustment and mechanical arrangement of Plates as herein
described by which a Target or Target Apparatus is constructed which entirely
prevents the danger of "Splashing" and collects the metal of the projectile in a
convenient receptacle for further use.
Dated this 18th day of October 1888.
FRANCIS LAWRANCE STEPHENSON.
BENJAMIN HARDCASTLE.