IMPROVEMENTS IN RIFLE AND GUN STOPPERS AND OIL BOTTLES
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Francis John Bolton, of 7, Bolton Row, Mayfair, in
the County of Middlesex, Captain in H.M.'s 12th Regiment of Foot, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN RIFLE AND GUN STOPPERS AND OIL
BOTTLES."
Sealed the 5th August 1862, and dated the 11th February 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Francis John Bolton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 11th February 1862.
I, FRANCIS JOHN BOLTON, of 7, Bolton Row, Mayfair, in the County of
Middlesex, Captain in H.M's. 12th Regiment of Foot, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN RIFLE AND GUN STOPPERS
AND OIL BOTTLES," to be as follows:-
This Invention of improvements in rifle and gun stoppers and oil bottles,
consists in constructing a rifle or gun stopper of a tubular form, so as to
combine in one article a gun or rifle stopper and an oil bottle with pricker
and oil pin.
The stopper is made of a metal or other tube of suitable
length to contain the oil. The brass head which forms the top of the stopper
forms also the bottom of the oil bottle. The tubular stopper is covered
externally with vulcanized india-rubber, felt, gutta percha, cloth, or other
suitable elastic substance or fabric. This covering is made a little larger
than the bore of the gun so as to admit of compression, and when in the
muzzle will fit quite tight and fill up the grooves of rifles, and not be liable
to fall out when in use. At the other end of the tube is a female screw, intɔ

page_text: which is screwed the pricker or oil pin consisting of one or more wires, with
a suitable head or top, provided with a leather washer to prevent the oil
coming out into the rifle. The head of the stopper being flat and heavy,
forms a bottom for the oil bottle to stand upright upon. When the oil pin is
screwed in, the stopper is complete and ready to be placed in the bore of the
gun or rifle, and being of an elastic nature fits tight therein and excludes all
air or damp. The oil pin consists of several wires coming to one point, and
are placed at slight distances from each other, so as to admit of the capillary
attraction taking up a small quantity of oil.
From the foregoing it will be seen that the object of this Invention is the
combination of the stopper, oil bottle, and pricker, or oil pin in one article of
military appointment.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Francis John Bolton in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 11th August 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FRANCIS
JOHN BOLTON, of 7, Bolton Row, Mayfair, in the County of Middlesex,
Captain in Her Majesty's 12th Regiment of Foot, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said Francis John Bolton, Her special license, that I, the said
Francis John Bolton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Francis John Bolton, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and
at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN RIFLE AND GUN STOPPERS AND OIL. BOTTLES," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Francis John Bolton, by an instru-
ment in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was
to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Francis John Bolton, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
This Invention of "Improvements in Rifle and Gun Stoppers and Oil
Bottles," relates to an improved mode of constructing a rifle or gun stopper of
a tubular form so as to combine in one article a gun or rifle stopper, and an
oil bottle with pricker or oil pin. The body of the stopper is made of a
metal or other tube of suitable length to contain the oil, the brass head which
forms the top of the stopper is made flat and forms also the bottom of the oil
bottle. Metallic tubular stoppers have heretofore been covered externally
with cork or some other non-absorbent material, but I propose to provide my
improved stopper with a casing or covering of felt, woollen cloth, worsted, or
other suitable elastic absorbant substance or fabric, which will hold a small
"quantity of oil. This covering is also made a little larger than the bore of
'the gun so as to admit of compression, and when in the muzzle will fit quité
tight, and fill up the grooves of rifles, and not be liable to fall out when in
'use. At the other end of the tube is a female screw, into which is screwed
the block which carries the pricker or oil pin consisting of two, three, or more
wires, which are secured in the head or top piece. This latter is also provided
with a leather washer to prevent the oil from escaping from the bottle, and
running down the barrel of the rifle when the stopper is inserted in the muzzle.
The head of the stopper being flat and heavy forms a bottom for the oil bottle
to stand upright upon. When the oil pin is screwed into the tubular case or
oil bottle the stopper is complete and ready to be placed in the muzzle of the
gun or rifle, and the worsted covering which surrounds it being of an elastic
nature will fit tightly therein and will exclude the air and damp, and being
always kept slightly moist with oil, will prevent the muzzle of the rifle from
getting rusty. The oil pin consists of several wires coming to one point, and
are placed at slight distances from each other, so as to admit of the capillary
attraction, taking up a small quantity of oil from the bottle and holding it
suspended until it is applied to any part of the rifle which requires oiling.
When the stopper is removed from the muzzle of the rifle, as for instance,
when the latter is in use, the stopper is to be kept in a metal sheath, which
may be attached by means of a small strap, or in some other convenient
manner to the leather waistbelt or some other convenient part of the
accoutrements.
In the accompanying Drawing Fig. 1 is an external view of the improved

page_text: stopper, complete. Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken through the same.
Fig. 3 represents the stopper in the metal sheath D, which is provided with a
strap a, whereby the sheath may be attached to the accoutrements. The
cylindrical metal tube A, Figures 2, forms the body of the stopper, and
being hollow is made to contain oil, and therefore will act as an oil bottle as
well as a muzzle stopper. The cylindrical case A, is screwed or otherwise
fastened into the head piece or block 6, which being made with a flat top
admits of the stopper standing thereon on a table in a vertical position as
before mentioned. The cylindrical tube A is covered externally with a case C,
made of woollen or worsted, felt, or cloth. Tubular coverings of worsted
cloth of considerable substance, and woven in the form of a tube. with a thick
ribbed surface as shewn,at Fig. 1, forms the best and most suitable covering,
and as it possesses a considerable amount of elasticity and porosity, it will fit
the grooves of the rifle and will keep moist with oil for some time, so that the
muzzle of the rifle will always be kept well oiled. This ribbed covering can
also be applied with great facility as the ends of the tubular cover can be
easily secured to the metal case A, by the screwed ends of the latter as shewn
in Fig. 3; the oil pin or picker B, is composed of three wires brought close
together at their points so as to hold a drop.or two of oil. These wires are
secured in a brass end piece d, which screws into the open end of the oil
bottle or cylindrical metal case A, as shewn in Figure 3.
Having now described my Invention of "Improvements in Rifle and Gun
Stoppers and Oil Bottles," and having explained the manner of carrying the
same into effect, I claim as the Invention secured to me by Letters Patent as
aforesaid, the general arrangement and construction of parts constituting a
tubular rifle, and gun stopper, and oil bottle with elastic outer covering, and
case, or sheath, as herein set forth. I also claim the oil pin or pricker con-
structed, as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Francis John Bolton, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, the Ninth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
F. J. BOLTON. (L.S.)
Capt. 12th Reg.