Year: 1896

page_text: We CARL VON WITZLEBEN, of 29, Frobenstrasse, Berlin, W. and MAX THORN
of 43, Ferdinandstrasse, Hamburg, Manufacturer, both in the Empire of Germany,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
.
In the wads or plugs which are placed upon the powder charge of a gun and by
means of which the shot or bullet is discharged, the constitution and 'formation
thereof for a given shot are of essential importance. The more regularly and
exactly the charging in the barrel of the gun is carried out, the greater is the
precision of aim. The objects sought are more in harmony and assume definite
shapes. The wad therefore ought to guide the charge throughout the whole course
of the barrel, afford a good check against the escape of the explosive gases and
give coherency to the small shot thereof, but at the same time be of sufficient
elasticity as not to be destroyed by the pressure of the gases.
Up to the present time, wads of cork and felt have been found to be the most
suitable, although they did not satisfy all requirements.
We have found that wads or plugs of linoleum fulfil all necessary requirements,
as combined with their cheapness they possess a lasting elasticity and great powers
of resistance. They can be made by pressure of any desirable length, calibre and
shape which they never lose of themselves. An evenness of form is thus produced
which is not attainable with other substances, so that their influence upon the
precision of aim and object aimed at is always the same. They therefore render
the shot more reliable and there is greater probability of the marksman taking
aim with precision.
To make the wad, linoleum or similar material is employed, such as ground or
pulverised cork, horn or cellulose, leather clippings, wool waste or similar light
elastic materials, to which a definite and lasting shape can be given by pressure.
Linseed oil is to be preferred as a binding medium for these materials, but any
other suitable medium can be used which serves to give coherency to the mass and
admits of pressure being applied to the same. The substance can be used with or
without a special stiffener.
These wads can be made simply solid or with a cavity or recess in one or both
ends.
As they are produced by pressure the wads are perfectly even, in this respect
far excelling all other elastic pads, especially as the shape of the latter is very
liable to be affected by atmospheric changes. The pads are so adapted that they
can be placed with their flat end upon the powder charge, thus enabling the shot
charge to lie partly in the cavity. On discharging, the shot charge is not pressed
towards the sides of the barrel, but towards the centre, as the wad, in consequence
of its elasticity, spreads out and is pressed forcibly to the front over the edges.
The charge of shot attains a greater density towards the centre and the regularity
of the pattern is thus especially enhanced.
The action of this wad is just as favourable when it is placed with its cavity
upon the powder charge. The powder gases can thus press the relatively weak
edges of the cavity along a greater length of the side of the barrel, thus producing
a better gas-check. These wads prevent, especially in the case of cylindrical

page_text: barrels, the arising of so called "wild" shots with which in experiments even with
the best English wads only one in about 10 shots succeeds.
In order to consolidate the charge of shot in the centre and secure the regularity
of the pattern, so-called culots have, up to the present time, been placed upon the
wads. Such culots are rendered unnecessary by the use of the linoleum wads, and
the present culot wad is more reliable as it only consists of one body.
If bullets are to be discharged from the gun, either a wad recessed at both ends,
or two wads recessed each at one end, may be used. The bullet is guided with
perfect security in the barrel, because the bullet on firing is pressed down firmly
in the hollow of the wad, which is never the case with felt or other wads and is the
reason why the linoleum wad affords greater precision in firing.
Dated this 8th day of June 1896.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicants.
Improvements in Gun Wads.
We, CARL VON WITZLEBEN, of 29, Frobenstrasse, Berlin, W. and MAX THORN,
of 43, Ferdinandstrasse, Hamburg, Manufacturer, both in the Empire of Germany,
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 :-
In the wads or plugs which are placed upon the powder charge of a gun and by
means of which the shot or bullet is discharged, the constitution and formation
thereof for a given shot are of essential importance. The more regularly and
exactly the charging in the barrel of the gun is carried out, the greater is the
precision of aim. The objects sought are more in harmony and assume definite
shapes. The wad therefore ought to guide the charge throughout the whole
course of the barrel, afford a good check against the escape of the explosive gases
and prevent the small shot spreading, but at the same time be of sufficient elasticity
as not to be destroyed by the pressure of the gases.
Up to the present time, wads of cork and felt have been found to be the most
suitable, although they did not satisfy all requirements.
We have found that wads or plugs of linoleum fulfil all necessary requirements,
as combined with their cheapness they possess a lasting elasticity and great powers
of resistance. They can be made, by pressure, of any desirable length, calibre
and shape which they never lose of themselves.. An evenness of form is thus
produced which is not attainable with other substances, so that their influence
upon the precision of aim and object aimed at is always the same. They therefore
render the shot more reliable and there is greater probability of the marksman
taking aim with precision.
To make the wad, linoleum or similar material is employed, such as ground or
pulverised cork, horn or cellulose, leather clippings, wool waste or similar light
elastic materials, to which a definite and lasting shape can be given by pressure.
Linseed oil is to be preferred as a binding medium for these materials, but any
other suitable medium can be used which serves to give coherency to the mass
and admits of pressure being applied to the same. The substance can be used
with or without a special stiffener.
These wads as shown in the accompanying drawings can be made simply solid
or with a cavity or recess in one end, see Figure 1, or both ends, see Figure 2.
As they are produced by pressure, the wads are perfectly even, in this respect

page_text: far excelling all other elastic pads, especially as the shape of the latter is very
liable to be affected by atmospheric changes. The pads are so adapted that they
can be placed with their flat end upon the powder charge, thus enabling the shot
charge to lie partly in the cavity. On discharging, the shot charge is not pressed
towards the sides of the barrel, but towards the centre, as the wad, in consequence
of its elasticity, spreads out and is pressed forcibly to the front over the edges.
The charge of shot attains a greater density towards the centre and the regularity
of the pattern is thus especially enhanced.
The action of this wad is just as favourable when it is placed with its cavity
upon the powder charge. The powder gases can thus press the relatively weak
edges of the cavity along a greater length of the side of the barrel, thus producing
a better gas-check. These wads prevent, especially in the case of cylindrical
barrels, the arising of so called "wild" shots with which in experiments even with
the best English wads only one in about 10 shots succeeds.
In order to consolidate the charge of shot in the centre and secure the regularity
of the pattern, so-called culots have, up to the present time, been placed upon the
wads. Such culots are rendered unnecessary by the use of the linoleum wads, and
the present culot wad is more reliable as it only consists of one body.
If bullets are to be discharged from the gun, either a wad recessed at both
ends, as shown in Figure 2, or two wads recessed each at one end as shown in
Figure 3, may be used. The bullet is guided with perfect security in the barrel,
because the bullet on firing is pressed down firmly in the hollow of the wad, which
is never the case with felt or other wads and is the reason why the linoleum wad
affords greater precision in firing.
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:-
Gun wads or plugs formed of linoleum or like substance and having a body
either solid throughout or hollowed at one or both ends, substantially as herein-
before set forth.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicants.