Adapting Fire-arms for Using Miniature Ammunition.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Nov., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Sept., 1888-Accepted, 19th Oct., 1888
Adapting Fire-arms for Using Miniature Ammunition.
JAMES O'KELLY Journalist M.P. 65 Bessborough Street S.W. do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a new form of Dummy Cartridge Case and extractor for
use with the Service, or other rifles, and for application to magazine guns and artillery
generally for the purpose of enabling instruction in rifle shooting and aiming and
sighting artillery to be practised in an ordinary shooting gallery or in any ground
where the range is limited, with ammunition of an inexpensive description and limited
power and in the case of rifles and machine guns without the intervention of or
necessity for any internal tube and in practice with field or other guns by means of
the Service rifle or artillery carbine or by an external tube temporarily fitted to the
gun, or on a mock gun, for the purpose.
The dummy cartridge case or extractor consists of a hollow tube which may be
placed in the breech of the rifle, in the manner in which the cartridge is usually
inserted; This tube,-from its smalier end, or where the miniature cartridge is.
affixed is divided for a certain distance, in the direction of the larger or outer end,
by a sufficient number of slits into what are made a series of springs some of those
springs are slightly bent or opened, or they may be all opened, for the insertion of the
cartridge; the ends of those springs are flanged or turned down in the direction of
the axis of the tube so that when the springs are depressed to their normal position
by insertion in the breech of a rifle or by a slide ring or other appliance for that
purpose, they will clasp the rim of the miniature cartridge and will on being ejected,
themselves withdraw the empty shell from the gun. These flanges also serve to prevent
the small cartridge from being driven bodily inward on receiving the blow of the
striker, and so obviate the danger of miss fire.
I sometimes shape the flanges of the springs so that only two springs open. When
by using ammunition with a rim of particular shape it can be made to interlock with
the stationary portions of the instrument by giving the cartridge a portion of a turn
in a plane at right angles to its axis: when it becomes held with sufficient steadiness
to enable its being inserted in a rifle or withdrawn therefrom whether it be fired or

page_text: "
not. In the outer shell in which the springs are formed is an inner tube closed at its
remote end by a "disc
of sufficient thickness to act as a bearing for and to guide a
striker, for this purpose it is perforated in the centre. This disc also acts as a stop
against the base of the miniature cartridge to prevent it blowing backward and is so
placed that the flange or rim of the small cartridge case is securely caught between it
and the "turn down on the springs.
Working in the interior of the tube is a striker having at the end which receives the
blow from the "Striker" of the of the rifle, a "head" of steel or other suitable metal in the
centre of which head is a tapered hole in which is inserted an anvil of hardened copper
or other substance, removable when required. The striker has suitable guides, a stop
with leather washer and in some cases a spiral spring to bring it to its normal position.
An outer "screw-on flange forms a ring of similar size and shape to that on the
service cartridge by it the "dummy" is extracted and the anvil head kept in its
proper position.
"2
I sometimes use a form of my invention wherein springs are dispensed with the
flange of the miniature cartridge being inserted in grooves for this purpose which are
at right angles to the axis of the bore and where a means may be used for distending
or widening the grooves to allow the exploded cartridge case to be taken out with ease this
is effected by a cover or "Thimble" whose outside diameter is that of the chamber of the
rifle where it reaches when in its position ready to fire, it fits as a socket over the "disc"
against which the base of the small cartridge is placed and through which the "striker"
works and is caused to slide in a direction parallel to the axis of the bore for the
purpose of readily fixing or extracting the ammunition. This sliding motion is effected,
either, by means of a bayonet joint with helical, spiral, sloping or cam shaped grooves
or sinkings working in pins or studs in the "dise" head, or by means of an adaptation
of the ordinary screw or without any of those by friction from a tight fit or otherwise.
I sometimes use a form of my invention in which what is above described as the
"Thimble" is made stationary the "disc" head being caused to travel or slide. within
it by adopting any of the means above described. The Thimble is in all cases cut and
shaped to admit the cartridge case.
AMMUNITION.
"6
This invention relates to a form of cartridge case in which the extracting rim or
flange is not circular but shaped to suit the requirements of the case of the form of
"Dummy" cartridge or extractor in which the insertion of the miniature ammunition
is described as requiring "a portion of a turn or revolution on its axis and might be
described as a rimless cartridge with two extracting "fins "
or wings."-The bullet
is inserted so that it will be "flush" with the sides of its case, for this purpose it
diameter is reduced where it enters the case, and when fixed in position the whole
miniature cartridge will be the size of and present the appearance of the bullet or pro-
jectile of the Service ammunition or could be made smaller or larger if required.
"
In the miniature ammunition for the service Martini Henry rifle or any other rifle
requiring bottle shaped cartridges or for rifles or tubes which may be chambered or
where the chamber is tapered to meet the bore without any shoulder or enlargement,
my invention relates to a form of cartridge case in which the base is contracted and
canelured so that the extractor "springs" or the "thimble" before described or any
other means of extraction may get a proper "grip" and yet not project beyond the
line of the diameter of the bullet or case.
The reduced end of this form of ammunition I shape in some cases to hold or
contain the cap or exploder and is sometimes made with the "fins” or wings
described in the other description of miniature ammunition requiring a partia
"turn" or revolution.

page_text: Figure 1 is a side elevation, and
Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of apparatus arranged in accordance with my
invention to serve in practice in the place of a cartridge. At the fore end is a
miniature cartridge, consisting of a cartridge shell or case a, a, priming chamber
and priming 6 of the ordinary description, powder charge c, a wad d and a miniature
projectile e. The base of the cartridge-case a is formed with a dove-tail projection a¹
upon it, as is clearly seen in the figures. Figure 3 also shows a rear view of the
miniature cartridga.
The block or part which holds this cartridge consists of a tube ƒ having at its rear
end a head g corresponding in form to that of the service cartridge. Within the
tube fat its rear end there is a loose plug h, the centre of which h¹ is of copper, so
that the striker of the gun may not be injured by coming into collision with it. 2 1S
a pin also contained within the tube f; a small wad of indiarubber is interposed
between the plug and the pin. k is a coiled spring embracing the pin and thrusting
it rearward, so that its point may not project through the hole in the fore part of the
block in which the extremity of the pin is held. is a cap upon the end of the tube f-
it has an inclined slot l' in its side, and a pin fixed into the tube f is contained in this
slot. An end view of the cap is shown by Figure 4; the cap has a dove-tail slot in
it to receive the projection a¹ on the rear of the miniature cartridge, and, when the

page_text: projection has been placed in the slot by turning the ring, the cartridge becomes
locked fast upon the end of the block. In place of the cap 7 I may employ a spring
clip to lay hold of the projection on the base of the cartridge.
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. Apparatus for adapting fire-arms for using miniature ammunition and consisting
of a block suitable to be placed into the chamber of the arm and ejected from in the
same way as the case of the service cartridge, such block being provided with parts to
retain a miniature or 'duminy cartridge upon its fore end and containing a pin to
transmit the blow from the striker of the fire-arm to the priming in the base of the
miniature cartridge substantially as described.
2. Apparatus substantially as described and illustrated by the annexed drawings for
adapting fire-arms for using miniature ammunition.
Dated this 3rd day of September 1888.
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agents.