CERTAIN IMPROVE- MENTS IN PROJECTILES FOR FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Mackay, of Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Timber Merchant, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVE-
MENTS IN PROJECTILES FOR FIRE-ARMS."
Sealed the 13th June 1862, and dated the 16th April 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Mackay, at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 16th
April 1862.
I, JAMES MACKAY, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Timber
Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN PROJECTILES FOR FIRE-ARMS," to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to projectiles of an elongated or "bolt" form, and is
more especially applicable when projected from fire-arms having a smooth
bore, and the Invention is designed to maintain the same position of the bolt
in its course as that in which it leaves the gun, so that it may strike the
object with its end. The improvements consist in making the bolt in the
form of a hollow cylinder or tube, the end next the powder being closed with
a plate which detaches itself upon leaving the barrel, the channel through the
bolt being then left open for the passage of the current of air which maintains
the true position of the bolt as it progresses, thus ensuring the proper part of
the bolt to strike the object. This form of bolt will also penetrate iron or
wood more readily than solid projectiles.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said James Mackay, in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
15th October 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
MACKAY, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Timber Merchant, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of April, 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 James Mackay, Her special license that I, the said James Mackay,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such other as I, the said James
Mackay, 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 "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN PRO-
JECTILES FOR FIRE-ARMS," upon the condition, amongst others, that I, the said
James Mackay, by an instrument 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 im-
mediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Mackay, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement,
and accompanying Drawings (that is to say) :-
My Invention relates to projectiles of an elongated or "bolt" form, and is
more especially applicable when projected from fire-arms baving a smooth
bore, and the Invention is designed to maintain the same position of the bolt
in its course as that in which it leaves the gun, so that it may strike the
object with its end. The improvement consists in making the bolt in the
form of a hollow cylinder or tube, the end next the powder being closed with
a plate which detaches itself upon leaving the barrel, the channel through the
bolt being then left open for the passage of the current of air which maintains
the true position of the bolt as it progresses, thus ensuring the proper part of
the bolt to strike the object. This fora of bolt will also penetrate iron or
wood_nore readily than solid projectiles. It will be evident that "sbells "

page_text: may be made in this peculiar form by placing the bursting charge in cavities
formed around the central channel.
In order that the Invention may be better understood and explained in
detail, I have hereunto attached a Sheet of Drawings made about full size.
Fig. 1 being the form of projectile as originally designed, and Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5,
6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17, represent modifications and
variations of the same, which have been designed from subsequent experiments
to assist in attaining the object of the Invention, that is ensuring the projectile
to strike the mark with its end. I have found that the peculiar formation of
the exterior surface of the projectile also enables me to dispense with the
central channel through the projectile if required. In the form shewn at
Fig. 3, the neck or thin end a is firmly embedded in the powder, which allows
of a supply of air to the centre of the powder, and consequently a rapid and
perfect combustion thereof, and greater strength in propulsive force. The
horizontal flight of the projectile may be further assisted by "rifling" or
grooving the external surface, as in Fig. 8, or the interior of the channel as
in Fig. 9, or as shewn in Fig. 15, wherein the plate at the end of the pro-
jectile is shewn "feathered" to assist in causing the "bolt" to assume its
proper spiral course. I would here remark that I do not find it requisite to
have the said channel of so large a diameter as shewn in the Diagram
accompanying my Provisional Specification, and consequently the plug or
plate as therein shewn may be dispensed with.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, together with the
method of carrying the same into practical effect, I would remark in conclusion
that I claim the employment and use of a channel, through the longitudinal
axis of projectiles, either together with or without the peculiar superficial
forms as shewn, or slight modification thereof, for the purpose of balancing
and steadying the projectile in its course, so as to cause it to strike the object
with its end as required, as herein-before described, set forth, and fully illus-
trated in the Drawings attached.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Mackay, bave hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
JAMES MACKAY. (L.S.)