Improvements in Cartridge Recappers and Decappers.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Nov., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 4th July, 1891-Accepted, 8th Aug.. 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cartridge Recappers and Decappers.
I, HENRY ARTHUR WARD of Russell Street, St. Marys, in the City of Birming-
ham, Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This relates to improvements in instruments for the re-capping and decapping of
central fire cartridges, or cartridge cases, as hereinafter described.
In a sleeve instrument, an upright thin tube is taken, closed at bottom, and with
an erect pillar up its middle, surmounted by a spike. This tube constitutes a
holder, and a chamber wherein a cartridge case, mouth downwards, is inserted, and
to the upper rear side of which, is a bracket, with a lever jointedly connected to it.
This lever, has a circular hole or loop about its middle, wherethrough the cartridge
is placed for recapping as hereinafter described, while immediately above the spike
as aforesaid, which protrudes beyond the top of the chamber or tube as aforesaid,
is an opening, wherethrough the spent cap is expelled, by the pressing of the
lever.
The end of the lever, may be made box-like, for containing additional spikes, or
the like.
The rear of the chamber or tube, below its junction with the bracket, is swelled,
and on the turning back and downwards of the lever so as to lie parallel with
the said chamber, the said swell comes opposite the middle of the hole or loop
of it.
In recapping a cartridge, insert the open end of the cap within the mouth of its
chamber, then place the handle erect or continuous with the bracket, and pass the
cartridge case through the circular hole or loop of it, up to the flange, when the
turning fully back of the lever in a hanging position, and pressing it home against
the back of the chamber or tube, the cap is forced into position, flush with the back
of the head.
To decap a fired case, place the same with in the chamber or tube, mouth down-
vards, when the bringing of the lever upon its head, forces the spike through the
Hash holes of the said case, and expels the cap.
In applying my invention to a pillar recapper, and decapper, I provide the
lecapping pillar thereof, which is surmounted by the spike, with an encircling
leeve, with a spring disposed interiorly, so as to give its return movement.
The middle of the top of the sleeve, wherethrough the spike passes, is sunken
r coned recessed, for taking any sized cap chamber of a cartridge case.
The recapping pillar is a plain fixed pillar, likewise coned recessed at its top,
nd between these pillars, a bracket, surmounted by a lever, comes.
By sinking the middles of the tops of the pillar and sleeve, with coned
ecesses, any sized cartridge case between 10 and 20 gauge, can be re- and
e-capped.
Dated this 14th day of November 1890.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cartridge Recappers and Decappers.
I, HENRY ARTHUR WARD of Russell Street, St. Marys in the City of Birming-
ham, Manufacturer, 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 :-
This invention relates to improvements in instruments for the recapping and
decapping of central fire cartridges, or cartridge cases, as hereinafter described.
The body part of the instrument consists of an upright tubular chamber, closed
at bottom, and open at top, and with a pillar surmounted by a spike, directed
upwardly from its bottom." This outside chamber or sleeve, constitutes both a
holder, and a chamber, wherein a cartridge case, mouth downwards is inserted,
and to the upper rear side of which, is a bracket, with a lever jointedly connected
to it. This lever, has a circular hole or loop about its middle, wherethrough the
cartridge is placed for recapping as hereinafter described, while immediately above
the spike as aforesaid, which protrudes beyond the top of the chamber or tube,
as aforesaid, is an opening, wherethrough the spent cap is expelled, by the pressing
home of the lever.
The end of the lever may be made box-like for containing additional spikes or
the like if necessary.
Ou the side of the hollow chamber, and a little below the bracket, is a swell,
or outstanding protruberence, against which the head of a cap comes, for recapping
on the handle, which carries the cartridge case, being thrown downwards parallel,
or nearly parallel with the said hollow chamber.
In recapping a cartridge, insert the open end of the cap, within the mouth of
its chamber, then place the handle erect, or continuous with the bracket, and pass
the cartridge case through the circular hole or loop of it, up to the flange, when the
turning fully back of the lever in a hanging position, and pressing it against the
side of the chamber or tube, the cap is forced home, flush with the back of the head
of the cartridge.
To decap a fired case, place the same with the chamber or tube, mouth down-
wards, when the bringing of the lever upon its head, forces the spike through the
flash holes of the said case, and expels the cap.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing, represents in side elevation, a recapping
and decapping instrument, constructed and arranged according to my invention.
Figure 2 represents partly in elevation, and partly in vertical section, the said
instrument Figure 1, with a cartridge case or shell, within the body of the same,
and a spent case shown in the act of being expelled, hence the exemplifying of the
said instrument as a decapper.
The instrument consists of a hollow tubular chamber, having up its middle, a pillar,
surmounted by a spike, which protrudes above the open top of the said chamber,
and with a looped and pierced handle jointedly connected to a bracket, directed
upwardly from one side of the said tubular chamber, whilst upon the bracket side,
and below the bracket, is a swell or anvil, aga nst which the head of the cap, comes,
when the instrument is employed as a recapper.
Figure 3 represents the instrument in use as a recapper,
Figure 4 is a back elevation of the same, and
Figure 5 is a topside plan of Figure 2.
a is the body part or holder of the instrument, consisting of an upright tubular
chamber, with a closed bottom a, and an open top a³, and within the interior of the
said hollow chamber, a cartridge is placed mouth downwards, as shown for
decapping, and with the bottom of the cartridge case, resting upon the bottom of
the chamber, hence the supporting of it.
c is a fixed and axially disposed pillar, directed from the bottom of the said

page_text: unamper, and surmounted by a spike d, adapted for expelling a spent cap, from the
cap chamber of a cartridge case.
e is a lever or handle, jointed at e², to the forked terminals of an upright
bracket, carried by or fixedly secured to, the side of the hollow chamber or body
part or holder of the instrument. This lever, is provided near its end, with a
rectangular or other shaped opening e³, which when the handle is over the instru-
ment, as in Figures 1 and 2, the said opening is coincident with the spike.
The sides of the opening, are of less breadth than the head of a cartridge case,
upon which it takes its bearing, for the removal of a spent cap.
Near the middle of the handle part, is a second and circular opening or loop es,
and which constitutes a holder or carrier for the cartridge case, when the same is
required to be recapped.
, is a swell or protruberance, upon the side of the body part, which when the
handle e, hangs downwards, or is turned in the direction, as indicated in Figure 3,
it comes opposite to the middle of the holder loop et, and forms an anvil against
which the head of the cap comes, for the pressing of the same home into the
cap chamber as represented Figure 3.
In recapping a cartridge, insert the open end of the cap g, in the mouth of the
cap chamber 6, then pass the said cartridge case through the loop e, of the handle e,
and with the inside shoulder of the rim ³, coming against the surrounding metal
of the said circular loop or hole e, then turn the lever downwards, in the
direction as indicated at Figure 3, and press the end of the lever towards the
body of the instrument, when the said cap is forced home.
To decap a fired case, place the same mouth downwards within the chamber a,
then place the lever upon the head of the cartridge case, and force the said
cartridge down thereby, when the spike passing through the flash hole of the
cap chamber, impinges against the handle, which is forced upwards, hence the
expelling of the fired cap.
Although I have described my invention, in connection with a tubular hollow
body part, with the cartridge taking within the interior of it, yet it
to recappers and decappers, in which a supporting pillar of the lever, is employed,
may be applied
and upon the side of this pillar, the swell or protruberance may come for
recapping, instead of upon the side of the hollow body part as aforesaid.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
ion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
laim is :-
First: A combined cartridge, or cartridge case recapper and decapper, con-
isting of a hollow tubular body part, having upon its side, a swell or protruberance,
or recapping, and a pillar, surmounted by a spike, up its middle, for decapping,
nd which tubular body part, has hinged or jointed to it, or a bracket directed
om it, a lever, having recapping and decapping openings or loops, substantially
s described and set forth.
Secondly-The combination with a hollow tubular body part, having a swell or
rotruberance, and a fixed pillar e, with spike d, of a jointed handle e, e², with
benings e³, e, substantially as and for the purpose as described and set forth.
Thirdly:-The combination with a decapping instrument, pillar or the like, of
swell or protruberance, carried by the instrument, or by a pillar of the lever,
da cartridge case carrier or loop e, of the lever, substantially as described and
t forth.
Fourthly: A combined cartridge, or cartridge case, recapper and decapper, as
Dated this 2nd dar of L1, 1063
t forth.
HENRY ARTHUR WARD.
By Henry Skerrett,
6, Livery Street, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant