Improvements in Breechloading and other Small Arms.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 14th May, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 14th Feb., 1893-Accepted, 25th Mar., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Breechloading and other Small Arms.
I THOMAS PERKES of 119 Jermyn Street St. James' in the County of London
Gunmaker do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention consists of the improvements hereinafter described in the barrel of
breechloading or other small fire arms so that the same gun may be fired either with
ball or shot cartridges with equal effect and without any other jump, kick, or recoil
than is usual in a rifle or shot gun as the case may be.
To effect this object I form in the barrel of a smooth bore gun a recess at a
convenient place therein. I then rifle the barrel from the breech end to the recess
leaving that part from the recess to the muzzle smooth. On firing the gun with
ball cartridge, the rifling of the barrel up to the recess gives the bullet the necessary
rotation which is not prejudicially affected either by the recess or the smooth bore
beyond. On firing the same gun with shot cartridge through at first the rifling of
the barrel injuriously affects the shot, the recess and smooth bore beyond
counteracts this, and causes the shot to concentrate and leave the barrel in the same
manner as they do out of an ordinary shot gun.
I do not confine myself to forming the recess in the bore prior to rifling the barrel
as the rifling may be done first and the recess beyond formed afterwards.
I also do not confine myself to forming the recess in the barrel prior to rifling the
same and leaving the part beyond the recess smooth. The barrel may be rifled to
its complete extent and either before or after such rifling the recess formed therein,
the barrel in this case being not only rifled up to the recess but also from the recess
to the muzzle.
My invention is applicable to single and double barrelled hammer and hammerless
small arms.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Breechloading and other Small Arms.
I THOMAS PERKES of 119 Jermyn Street Saint James in the County of London
Gunmaker, 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:-
My invention consists of the improvements hereinafter described in the barrel of
breechloading or other small fire-arms so that the same gun may be fired either with
ball or shot cartridges with equal effect and without any other jump kick or recoil
than is usual in a rifle or shot gun as the case may be.
To effect this object 1 form in the barrel of a smooth bore gun a recess at a
convenient place therein. I then suitably rifle the barrel from the breech end to
the recess leaving that part from the recess to the muzzle smooth. On firing the
gun with ball cartridge, the rifling of the barrel up to the recess gives the bullet
the necessary rotation which is not prejudically affected either by the recess or the
smooth bore beyond. On firing the same gun with shot cartridge though at first
the rifling of the barrel has a tendency to cause the shot to pass through it in an
erratic and irregular manner the recess counteracts and regulates this and causes
the shot to concentrate and leave the barrel in the same manner as they do out of
an ordinary shot gun.

page_text: I do not confine myself to forming the recess in the bore prior to rifling the barrel
as the rifling may be done first and the recess beyond formed afterwards.
I also do not confine myself to forming the recess in the barrel prior to rifling
the same and leaving the part beyond the recess smooth. The barrel may be rifled
to its complete extent and either before or after such rifling, the recess formed
therein the barrel in this case being not only rifled up to the recess but also from
the recess to the muzzle.
My invention is applicable to single and double barrelled hammer and hammerless
small arms.
Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings represent longitudinal vertical
sections of a gun barrel recessed according to my invention.
In Figure 1A is the barrel-B the rifling up to the recess.
and D the smooth bore beyond the recess to the muzzle.
C the smooth recess
In Figure 2 A, B and C, represent the same parts respectively as the corre-
sponding letters in Figure 1 and E is the rifling beyond the smooth recess to the
muzzle.
Having now 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 :-
The forming of a suitable recess in a barrel rifled either wholly or in part for
the purpose and substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
Dated this 14th day of February 1893.
THOMAS PERKES.