IMPROVEMENTS IN SLUGS OR PROJECTILES FOR AIR GUNS OR PISTOLS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Marcus Quackenbush, of Herkimer, in the County
of Herkimer, and State of New York, in the United States of America, for the
Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN SLUGS OR PROJECTILES FOR AIR GUNS OR
PISTOLS."
Scaled the 12th April 1876, and dated the 23rd February 1876.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Henry Marcus Quackenbush
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd February 1876.
HENRY MARCUS QUACKENBUSH, of Herkimer, in the County of Herkimer, and
State of New York, in the United States of America. "IMPROVEMENT IN SLUGS
OR PROJECTILES FOR AIR GUNS OR PISTOLS."
In the manufacture of air guns or pistols, which are smooth bored generally, the
great nicety which is observed in the inanufacture of fire-arms to preserve a uniform
diameter of bore is not considered imperative, and the small sum for which the first
are sold will not permit of the expenditure of time and care requisite to obtain
perfect uniformity.
The purpose of my present improvement is twofold,
First. To provide a slug or projectile for air pistols or guns which shall adapt
itself to slight variations in the diameter of the bore of the barrel in which it is
inserted, and exert sufficient friction in the latter to retain itself in place therein
until expelled by the force of the escaping air.
And, Secondly. To compensate for the increased diameter of the body of the slug
which results from the wear and consequent enlargement of the matrix of the dies
in which the slugs are formed, and enable the dies, which are expensive, to be used
for a much longer time than heretofore.
My improvement consists in forming upon the periphery of the slug a series of
shallow ribs or burs, which in the event of the bore of the barrel being less in
diameter than their aggregate outer edges will flatten down upon being inserted
within such bore, but if the bore is equal in diameter to such edges or nearly so
the edges of the ribs will without flattening of the latter exert sufficient friction
within the barrel to prevent escape of the slug.
The Drawings accompanying this Specification represent in Figure 1 a side
elevation, and in Figure 2 a cross section of a slug embodying my improvements.
In these Drawings A represents the body of a slug or projectile, which in the
present instance is a pointed cylindrical bolt formed from lead or other soft and
ductile metal suitable for the purpose.

page_text: Upon the periphery of the body A I create a series of thin shallow ribs or kurs a, a
etc., which from the nature. of the metal and their small size are easily crowded
downward toward or flattened to or upon the periphery of said body A. These
ribs a may extend longitudinally of the slug, as shown in the accompanying
Drawings, or spirally or obliquely to the axis of the slug, as circumstances may
determine best, as I do not confine myself to the disposition or number of such ribs.
The method of manufacturing these slugs is by compression within or between
steel dies, which dies are difficult and expensive to produce, and which in a com-
paratively short time become worn to such an extent that the diameter of the slug
made by them is too large to be inserted within the barrel, and they are useless.
By the use of the ribs a I am enabled to begin with dies of smaller bore than
that of the barrel, as such ribs compensate for the discrepancy, while as the dies
become worn, and the body of the slug enlarged, the ribs will flatten down to a
greater or less extent when inserted within the barrel: I am thus enabled to greatly
prolong the service of the dies, and in so doing carry out one feature of these
improvements.
The ribs a also, as before stated, adapt the slug to such slight variations as would
naturally exist in the bore of the tube from which the barrels are made, as with the
largest bore the ribs would stand out nearly or quite intact and fill it, while with a
smaller bore such ribs would be lessened or compressed and flattened to a greater or
less extent.
CLAIMS.
First. A slug for air pistols or guns composed of a suitable body, upon the
periphery of which a series of thin ribs or burs are created, the metal composing the
bur or the entire slug being of such a soft or ductile nature that the said burs are
susceptible of being readily compressed or flattened to a greater or less degree upon
being inserted within the bore of the barrel, and adapt themselves to the latter,
substantially as and for purposes stated.
Second. In the manufacture of slugs for air pistols or guns, in which a series of
ribs or burs are formed upon the periphery of such slug for purposes stated, the
method of producing the dies as herein indicated, that is, with the matrix of the
die of a less diameter than the bore of the barrel in which the slug is to be used,
the result being a greatly prolonged wear of such dies, essentially as and for purposes
stated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Marcus Quackenbush, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this 8th day of February 1876.