MENTS IN GUNS, PROJECTILES, AND CARTRIDGES, AND IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE SAME
Year: 1867

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by George Clark at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 15th June
1867.
I, GEORGE CLARK, of No. 29, Arundel Street, Strand, in the County of
Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE
MENTS IN GUNS, PROJECTILES, AND CARTRIDGES, AND IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE
SAME," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists partly in some of the improvements in guns,
projectiles, and cartridges, described in the Provisional Specification of the
Invention for which I applied for Her Majesty's Letters Patent, and obtained
a Certificate of Provisional Protection, No. 189, dated the 25th January 1867,
and partly in further improvements in guns, projectiles, and cartridges which
I have since invented. I therefore intend not to proceed with my said
application for such above-mentioned Letters Patent in order to embody the
whole of the improvements above referred to as those in which this Invention
consists in one and the same Specification and Letters Patent, and I give the
following as a description of such improvements.
1st. An improvement in the arrangement of the moveable charge chambers
of breech-loading guns, consisting of a tube open at both ends on the plan of
my Invention of "Improvements in Guns, Gun Carriages, and Projectiles, and
in the Manufacture and Use of Materials employed in their Construction," for
which I obtained Letters Patent, No. 2226, dated the 12th September 1864,

page_text: and described as improvement No. 10 in the Complete Specification of such
Letters Patent. This improvement consists in causing the tube which con-
stitutes the chamber to revolve on pivots fixed on the longitudinal central line
of the tube, and at unequal distances from the two ends, so that the shortest
end shall be next to the chase, and the longest end next to the breech closer,
or vice versa, the extremity of each end being vertically the segment of a circle
of which the axis of the pivots are the centre.
2nd. An arrangement of the tube open at both ends forming the moveable
charge chamber referred to in the last improvement, No. 1, whereby the
tumbler of the lock or a spring or lever connected with the tumbler shall
serve to cock or half-cock the lock by the motion of either end of such chamber
tube.
3rd. A new mode of fitting the sliding bolt or plunger of the breech action
of any breech-loading gun on the plunger principle, such mode consisting in
shaping the section of the sliding bolt in such manner that the diameter of the
lower part of the bolt shall correspond to and fit the inside of the tube or
socket in which it slides, and that the diameter of the upper part of the sliding
bolt shall correspond to and be level with the outer diameter of the said tube
or socket. By this arrangement the opening formed in the tube or socket in
drawing back the bolt for the insertion of the projectile is effectually closed
and protected when the bolt is closed. The better to explain this plan I here
give Diagrams representing transverse sections of the bolt and its tube or
socket.
[See Drawings annexed.]
No. 1 shows the complete circumference of the tube in which the plunger
bolt works and is confined; No. 2 shows the opening in the tube or socket
for the insertion of the eartridge closed by the bolt; No. 3 shows the tube
open for the reception of the cartridge. (a) is the bolt; (b) is the lower part
of the tube or socket in which the bolt slides; (c) shows the top of the tube
at the rear end, where it is closed to confine and guide the bolt.
4th. A plan of rifling guns, which I term "non-resisting curvilinear guide
rifling" it is carried into effect by limiting the width of the rifled surface of
the bore of the barrel to balf or less than half of the circumference of the bore
in the spiral line of the rifling, leaving the unrifled part of the circumference
smooth-bored, and corresponding in diameter, to the largest diameter of the
rifling.
5th. A mode of causing rifled projectiles which have been previously rifled
to enter in issuing from the charge chamber into the rifling of the barrel of a
breech-loading gun readily and smoothly without shock or strain; this I effect

page_text: by tapering all the projecting ribs or lands of the barrel and the projectile to.
a point at the breech end of the chase as to the barrel, and at the front end as
to the projectile, and by opening the corresponding ends of the grooves or
channels which forms the recessed parts of the rifling of the barrel and pro-
jectile, so that the tapered end of the ribs and lands may enter freely into
such grooves or channels, and so that when the projectile issues from the
chamber into the chase the tapered ends of the projecting parts respectively of
the projectile and the bore shall lead into the opened ends of the recessed.
channels.
6th. Covering hard metal projectiles with a coating of softer metal for the
purpose of preventing or diminishing the abrasion of the surface of the bore of
the barrel by the passage of the projectile through the barrel in loading or.
firing the gun. My plan of so coating projectiles is to dip them in fused soft.
metal, and with the medium of a flux if required, or by galvanic or electro-
plating. In employing this method any kind of soft metal may be used, but,
for projectiles made of iron or steel I prefer coating or plating them with copper
or an alloy of that metal.
7th. Burnishing, polishing, varnishing, or enamelling projectiles in order to.
give them a smooth surface, so that in using such projectiles as ammunition
for guns their tendency to cause abrasion of the surface of the barrel in passing
through it may by their smoothness be counteracted or diminished. If any
kind of varnish or enamel be applied it must be of such a nature and so fixed
on the surface of the projectiles that it shall not be affected by heat when the
gun is fired to the extent of softening or detaching the varnish or enamel.
8th. Case-hardening the inside of the barrels of small arms and cannon for
the purpose of protecting the surface of the bore from abrasiou and wear by
the passage of the projectiles through the barrel. The mode of attaining this
object is to place and confine inside the barrel intended to be operated upon
the materials usually employed in the process of case-bardening, and submit
the barrel thus prepared to the required temperature during the time necessary
to complete the process.
9th. A mode of making rifled projectiles of which the following is a
description:-Draw a rod of a convenient length of the metal of which the
projectile is to be made by passing it between rollers having grooves of
the section and twist required for the plan of rifling determined upon. In the
case of soft metal being used these rods may be formed by casting; cut the
rods when thus drawn or cast into lengths corresponding to the intended length.
of the projectile; the ends of these lengths are then to be brought to the
form required for the front and base of the projectile either by turning in a

page_text: lathe or by compression in a die with or without the aid of heat, as may be.
found requisite or convenient according to the hardness or ductility of the
metal employed. Or by another process plain rods of metal, of the required
diameter, but not previously rolled or moulded to the section of the rifling, as
above described, may be cut into lengths corresponding to that required for
the projectile, and then these lengths of metal, heated or cold, may be moulded
in a die by pressure or stamping to the precise form, dimensions, and kind of
rifling required.
case.
10th. A plan for making cartridge cases when rifled projectiles are used for
ammunition. This plan consists in so forming the case that it shall be a
mechanical fit to the rifled projectiles corresponding inside exactly to the
diameter and rifling of the projectile, and having outside the same form of
rifling enlarged by the increased diameter resulting from the thickness of the
The charge chamber is then made of the proper diameter and contour
of circumference to correspond to the outer diameter and form of rifling of
the cartridge case, so that the latter may fit mechanically or nearly so into the
chamber. The object of this arrangement, the rifling in the chamber cor-.
responding in its lines of spiral direction to the rifling in the chase of the
barrel, is to cause the rifled ribs and grooves of the projectile when it issues
from the chamber to pass freely and smoothly into the rifled grooves and ribs
of the chase without shock or material resistance. The case may be of metal,
papier maché, cardboard, or other material, but I prefer thin sheet copper or
an alloy of that metal.
11th. A methods or methods of inserting cartridges in and extracting them
from the charge chamber of any description of breech-loading gun in loading
which a sliding bolt or plunger is used to push the cartridge into the chamber
and close the breech, of which method or methods the following is a descrip-
tion: To the front end and round the edge of such front end of any sliding
bolt or plunger intended to come in contact with and be pressed on the rear
end or base of the cartridge in loading the gun I attach and securely fasten
either a metal tray or trough in the form of part of a tube cut longitudinally
or a metal rim of the like form with a recess in such tray or rim correspond-
ing to a flange or enlargement of the base of the cartridge, as herein-after
described, such tray or rim (whichever may be used) extending round the
edge (the bottom is preferable) of the end of the plunger half or less than
half its circumference. When the tray or trough is inade use of the cartridge
is placed in it, and as the tray necessarily travels with the plunger the
cartridge is pushed into the chamber as the plunger is driven forward, and the
cartridge if not exploded or the exploded case if the charge has been fired is

page_text: extracted by means of the flange or enlarged base of the cartridge being
held in the before-mentioned recess in the tray, when the plunger is drawn
back. When the recessed rim, which may be regarded as a short tray, is
applied, the action and result are similar, only instead of the cartridge lying
in a tray. the flange or enlargement at the base of the cartridge takes into.
and is held by the recess in the rim, and the cartridge or the exploded case.
will, as in using the tray or trough, be extracted from the chamber. The tray
or the rim corresponds in diameter and circumference to half or less-than half
the diameter and circumference of the front end of the plunger bolt moving to
and fro in the tube or socket of the plunger bolt with the action of the latter
and fits into a. recess in the ammunition chamber; the cartridge case may be
of paper or metal separate or combined, or any other suitable material. The
enlargement of the base of the cartridge for the purpose of extraction may be
a flange or rim similar to that of the so called Suider cartridge or a conical
or other shaped enlargement of the base of the cartridge. In the case of a
tray there may be an enlargement of any part of the case fitting into a cor-
responding recess or indentation in the tray,. or in either case the cartridge
case may be of uniform diameter from. end to end, and a recess or indentation
of any kind may be made in the tray or rim attached to the plunger, into
which recess or indentation the enlargement of the cartridge case produced by
the explosion of the charge will be forced, and the case will thus be held in.
the tray or rim so as to be drawn out of the chamber with the plunger bolt;
or in lieu of a projecting rim on the edge of the face of the plunger bolt, as
above described, two projecting pieces, one on each side, may be fixed to the
edge of the plunger below its central horizontal line, such projecting pieces
being in the form of hooks, into which a flange or enlargement at the base of
the cartridge case may be engaged in inserting the cartridge in its place for
loading. When a recessed rim or hooked projections only, without a tray
attached to the plunger, are used I propose in some cases if found desirable
to place a spring at the bottom of that part of the plunger tube in which the
cartridge is inserted in loading, such spring being so placed and arranged.
that it shall form a rest for the cartridge to lie upon in loading, be pressed.
under the plunger when pushed forward and spring up, throwing out the case,
when the plunger is drawn back.
12th. A new plan of making up cartridges, consisting in enclosing the -
powder charge in a separate waterproof wrapper or case inserted into an outer.
case. The fulminate as a means of ignition may be placed inside or outside:
the powder wrapper or case in combination with an arrangement for explosion.
by perforating the wrapper with a piercer and so exploding a percussion cap

page_text: or
patch inside the wrapper, or by placing a percussion cap or patch outside
and causing the flash of explosion to pass through a hole or slit in such
wrapper. For this kind of wrapper or case I prefer a metallio tube of the
size to contain the exact charge, the base end of the tube tapering conically
to a smaller diameter and closed, the front end closed with a lid and sealed
with cement when the charge has been inserted. A small hole is made in
the base of the outer cartridge case, through which the blow of a striker
explodes the fulminate and sends the flash through the hole into the powder
charge, the base of the tube acting as an anvil.
13th. Two methods of making cartridge cases, namely, employing for that
purpose thin metal tubes or cases lined with paper or cloth, or making the
cases of metallic foil paper or of sheet metal and paper combined. For the
first-named method I make paper or cloth tubes or cases of the size required
to hold the charge of powder and bullet; I insert these inside metal tubes
or cases, placing each of the former on a mandril. I coat the paper tube or
case with cement (waterproof by preference), and whilst the cement is in a
liquid or moist state I pass a metal tube or case over the paper tube or case.
For the second method I take metallic foil paper made in the usual
way, having paper on one side and metal foil on the other; or I make
sheets of paper and thin metal combined of suitable sizes for the cartridges.
to be made by fastening sheets of paper and sheets of thin metal to each
other by means of any suitable cement or adhesive material between
them, and to render the adhesion of the paper and metal more complete
I subject the combined sheet to compression in a press or between rollers
with or without the aid of heat. I employ the metallic foil paper or the
combined metallic paper prepared in this or any other way to make tubes
for cartridge cases by forming such tubes on a cartridge former. The nature
of the Invention comprised in this improvement is the construction of
cartridge cases by the combination of paper and metal in the form of tubes,
cases, or sheets, in the manner above described.
14th. This improvement relates to the formation of cartridge cases by
means of two tubes either split or with joints closed by cement or solder, one
tube over the other breaking joint, as it is technically termned. The method
of making these cases is to roll thin sheet metal or combined paper and metal
into tubes, leaving the joint open or only closed sufficiently to make it water-
tight, then to insert one of such tubes into another, placing the joints on
opposite sides, closing the joint of the outer tube with cement and fastening
the whole together with paper or cloth cemented or pasted round the outer
tube. The object of this arrangement is to render the cartridge case elastic by

page_text: reason of the readiness with which the two tubes will yield to any pressure
inside and return to their original position when the pressure is removed, so
that when the explosion of the charge takes place both tubes will open, each
closing the joint of the other, and after the explosion will close, but without any
escape of gas, whilst the double tube, the joint of the outer one being
comented or soldered, will render the cartridge until exploded waterproof.
15th. Another improvement in cartridge cases is a mode of fastening
together the metallic base and the tube, whether of metal or paper, of which
the case is composed, by passing. a pin across and through the sides of the
base and tube, and through a millboard or other solid plug (if any) inside. To
effect this holes is drilled through and through the sides of the base, the
tube, and the plug, and into these holes are inserted the cross pin with a small
head countersunk on one side of the base and a flat or round point, which
slightly protruding through the hole is rivetted on the other side; thus the
base cap and the tube of the case, as well as any plug if used, are firmly
fastened together. To give greater solidity to this mode of fastening together
the base and the tube a ring or an inner base cap of metal with or without
a paper or cardboard lining, and of at least the same depth as the outer base
cap is inserted inside and rammed close to the rear end of the tube, and the
fastening cross pin above described is passed through this ring or inner base
cap when applied as well as through the outer base cap and the tube. The
use of the inner base cap is to be preferred to a ring, as the former will
effectually close the rear joint of the outer base cap and prevent any escape of
gas through the joint.
16th. This improvement consists in a mode or modes of igniting the powder
charge by utilizing the cross fastening pin described in the last-mentioned
improvement, or making use of a pin fastened across and inside a cartridge
case, when such pin is not employed for the purpose of fastening the tube and
base or bases of such cartridge case together, or in making use of any pin,
bar, disc, or plate fastened in the compressed paper pulp forming the base of
cartridges, or otherwise fastened inside the cartridge case as a base or anvil on
which to explode a fulminate primer by the blow of a striker on the outer
cartridge base having no perforation through it.
A good plan of applying the principle of this mode of ignition when the
aforesaid cross pin is used as a fastening is to place a fulminating cap or patch
in contact with or close to the rear side of the aforesaid cross pin, and
interpose a hard substance between the outer base cap and the fulminate, so
that when the outer base cap having no hole through it receives the blow of
the striker of a breech-loading gun (taking for example the Snider converted

page_text: Enfield rifle) the blow is transmitted to the fulminate and explosion immediately
follows.
Another mode of applying this improvement is to place a patch of fulminate
in a small recess inside the inner base cap, described in improvement No. 15,
and so to place and fasten the cross pin as to be nearly in contact with the
patch, which being inside the inner base cap and in close proximity to the
powder without the necessity of passing the flash through a small hole, as in
the "Potet" and other plans, explosion of the charge is more certain and
misfires will be rare. I propose to make use of a cross pin or bar placed
in its proper position as an anvil or base of resistance for front ignition.
17th. A mode of making a gas check or valve to be attached to the fore end
of any sliding bolt of a breech-loading rifle on the plunger principle for the
purpose of completely closing the breech end of the charge chamber and pre-
venting the escape of gas when explosion takes place. This gas check or valve
is on the same principle as the spring ring valve of a steam piston; it is
composed of two or more thin rings of steel cut through like a ring for a
bunch of keys so as to be capable of expanding or closing with the application
or removal of pressure inside the rings; these rings breaking joint at the lines.
of the cuts are fitted over a plug of vulcanized india-rubber or other suitable
elastic material or compound. This plug with a hole through its centre for
the passage of the striker will in its normal or uncompressed and unexpanded
state be of the same length as that of the steel rings superposed one over the
other. The rear end of this valve will abut upon and be fastened by means
of a collar or otherwise to the front end of the plunger bolt, and to the fore
end of the elastic plug will be attached a steel disc with a flange having
therefore a small and a large diameter. The small diameter will coincide with
that of the elastic plug and be fastened to it, so that pressure being applied to
the outer and larger end of the steel disc the smaller end will enter inside
the steel rings and compress the elastic plug, which will be diminished in.
thickness and enlarged in diameter. The large diameter of the steel disc will
correspond with that of the steel rings in their normal state, both being slightly
less than the plunger tube, so that they may work freely when the rings are
not expanded. From this combination of the parts of the valve it results
that the valve being fixed to the fore end of the plunger against which the
cartridge is exploded the force of the explosion acting on the front of the larger
diameter of the steel disc will drive the small end of the disc against the
elastic plug, and by compressing the latter in its thickness and expanding it in
its diameter will thereby cause the steel rings to expand and close the plunger
tube, thereby making a gas-tight joint and preventing escape of gas. The

page_text: novelty and advantage of this mode of applying an elastic plug acted upon by
the explosive force of gunpowder, as compared with other modes of using
india-rubber discs or plugs for a similar purpose, are that the elastic material
being confined inside steel rings is protected from the action of the ignited
gas which tends to destroy india-rubber or other elastic rings or plugs not so
protected. I also propose to construct a gas check or valve for the purpose
above mentioned by the use of steel rings in the manner just described without
an elastic plug inside on the plan of steam piston valves made of steel rings
with a provision for lubrication, or with a conical steel plug in lieu of the
clastic plug inside the steel rings, as above described.
18th. A plan for withdrawing the striker which works inside any plunger
bolt of a breech-loading rifle by means of an automatic motion produced by
making one or two spiral slots or channels (on opposite sides when two are
made) in the bolt handle or lever which turns the plunger bolt in its tube or
socket for the purpose of locking and unlocking such bolt, and by passing a
pin through the striker with one or both ends of the pin projecting so as to
take into one or both of such spiral slots, the effect of this arrangement being
that as the handle or lever is turned down to lock the bolt the striker is
released and may be propelled forwards by the action of the lock, and as the
handle or lever is turned up to unlock the bolt the striker is drawn back. The
object of this improvement is to insure the withdrawal of the striker from the
charge chamber after firing the gun, and prevent the possibility of the striker
protruding from the front end of the plunger when inserting the cartridge, an
incident which not unfrequently occurs when the withdrawal of the striker of
a central-fire or needle gun after discharge is made to depend on the action of
a spring which becoming fixed may not act, and thereby the protrusion of the
needle or striker may cause accidental explosion in pushing the cartridge into
the chamber, a mishap which is not of unfrequent occurrence.
19th. Another improvement in producing the ignition of the powder charge
of any cartridge in which an inner base cap is made use of, as above described
under No. 15, is to perforate a small hole through the base of such inner cap
and to place a fulminating patch over such hole and outside the said inner
base cap between it and the outer base cap, so that the blow of the striker
when it falls on the latter shall cause the fulminating patch to explode
and the flash of explosion to pass through the hole into the powder charge.
20th. With reference to the use of fulminate or other explosive compounds
in any of the modes above described or referred to, and generally for self-
igniting cartridges, I propose as an improved mode of applying the same to.
enclose a patch of such fulminate or other compound between two pieces of

page_text: paper, or cloth, or metal foil cemented together and to place the patch so
arranged immediately over the powder supported by a disc of card or metal
having a hole perforated through it or on any other base or anvil, and I mean
this plan to be adapted to cartridges with or without a metal base in lieu of
the ordinary mode of applying fulminate in copper caps or recesses in the form
known as percussion caps, the former plan being simpler, cheaper, and more
effective than the latter.
21st. In making use of felt wads at the base of cartridges, having no
metallic base, and intended after the gun has been discharged to be fired
through the barrel by the next discharge or to be extracted. I introduce one
or two felt wads inside the base of the paper case, or I introdu e one inside
and I fix another outside the base of such cartridge. Either of these
arrangements, especially the latter, materially contributes to prevent the escape
of gas through the breech closer of a breech-loading arm.
22nd. In addition to the foregoing description under the head of improve-
ment No. 15 of the mode of fastening together the base and tube of cartridge
cases by means of a cross pin I have to exp'ain that for the purpose of more
effectually preventing any escape of gas through the holes in which the cross
pin is inserted I intend to pass a tube into which the pin shall closely fit
across the inside of the before-mentioned inner base cap or ring from pin hole
to pin hole in such bace cap or ring with the ends of the tube projecting out-
side the holes and pressed down so as to become flanges externally round the
holes. This tube so secured will form a sheath for the pin to pass through,
leaving no joint at the pin holes in the aforesaid base cap or ring through
which gas can pass.
23rd. These improvements are especially applicable to and chiefly intended
for breech-loading small arms, but I mean any of such improvements as are
available for either purpose to be applied to muzzle-loading small arms or to
ordnance.
24th. To render more clear and intelligible my meaning in regard to the
plan (herein-before mentioned under improvement No. 16) of using pin,
bar, disc, or plate as a basis of resistance or anvil independent of any plan of
fastening the base and tube of the cartridge case together, I give the following
description of a mode of applying that plan:-The cartridge case is made
with a covered. base having its inner side or the central part thereof to the
extent of about half its diameter uncovered by any interior arrangement for
fastening the tube and base together. The cartridge case being thus made
and ready to be charged a disc or plate of metal, card, or other suitable
material having a patch of fulminate at its centre is placed inside the case in

page_text: contact with the inside of the base cap. The fulminate may be on either side
of the disc or plate, if on the side next to the base cap a hole or slit must be
made through the disc or plate. To support this disc or plate another disc or
plate having a hole in the centre and fitting closely into the rear end of the
case is tightly rammed or swaged, or it may be both rammed and swaged
over the disc or plate having the patch of fulminate on it; the powder
charge is then placed into the case and rammed down, the bullet being inserted
over the powder in the usual manner.
25th. As an addition to the improved method of applying a wad or wads
at the rear end of cartridges before described under improvement No. 20
I in some cases make use of a cap of thin metal (copper or brass by
preference) over an elastic or compressible wad at the base of the cartridge
when any such wad is made use of to prevent the escape of gas through the
joint of the breech closer; the expansion of this metal cap caused by the
explosion of the charge and by the expansion of the wad inside will effectually
close the joint of the breech closer. To facilitate the expansion of both I
propose if necessary to cut slits in the sides of the cap or to make the cap of
combined metal and paper in the manner above described as improvements
No. 13 and 14.
26th. In combination with or in lieu of the plan above described as im-
provement No. 15 I fasten the tube and base of cartridges together by using
a tube closed or partly closed at the rear end with an opening at the centre of
its base. Into this outer tube I insert and secure inside its rear end an inner
tube having its rear end closed and perforated if required for the passage of
the flash of a fulminate priming; over the rear end of the case thus formed
I place an outer base cap or dise, and I fasten all these parts together by
rivetting. Of this plan one mode is shewn in the following diagrams which are
not to scale, but enlarged for the sake of distinctness.
[See Drawings annexed.]
(a) is an outer base or disc; (b) is an inner base cap; (c) is a disc or strap
of metal fitting inside the inner base cap (b) with a patch of fulminate (d) at
its centre, and openings (e, e,) at its circumference or sides; (f, f,) are studs
on the disc or strap (c) serving to rivet it and the inner and outer base and
case (9) together. Holes corresponding in size and position to the studs on
the disc (c) are perforated through the inner and outer base caps for rivetting
the parts together. Detached rivets may be used in lieu of the studs.
27th. Another mode of attaining the same result is to substitute for
the inner base cap a ring of metal the inside of which is tapped to correspond
with a screw on a ring on the inner side of the outer base cap or tube. The

page_text: inner base cap has a bar across it forming an anvil on which the fulminate
priming rests.
28th. As an improvement on the construction of cartridges for muzzle-
loading guns in lieu of the twisted paper end which has to be torn off to allow
of the powder being poured out into the barrel I substitute a paper cap with
a rim outside or a wad inside to cover or plug the case, and I fasten this cap
with a paper strap so connected to the case that the cap may be easily detached
by tearing the strap with or without the aid of a string or tape. To protect
the powder from damp and facilitate the emptying of the powder out of the
cartridge I line the case with tin or other metallic foil.