A NEW CARTRIDGE FOR BREECH- LOADING SMALL-ARMS, WITH A NEW FORM OF BULLET AND A GREASED PASTE- BOARD BULLET CUP TO PREVENT FOULING."
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Phil. Dr. Karl Ludwig Hartwig Gercke, from
Berlin, in Prussia, at present residing 14, Alfred Place, Bedford
Square, London, for the Invention of "A NEW CARTRIDGE FOR BREECH-
LOADING SMALL-ARMS, WITH A NEW FORM OF BULLET AND A GREASED PASTE-
BOARD BULLET CUP TO PREVENT FOULING."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Phil. Dr. Karl Ludwig
Hartwig Gercke at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
his Petition, on the 14th February 1873.
I, Phil Dr. KARL LUDWIG HARTWIG GERCKE, from Berlin, in Prussia,
at present residing 14, Alfred Place, Bedford Square, London, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "A NEW CARTRIDGE FOR BREECH-
LOADING SMALL-ARMS WITH A NEW FORM OF BULLET AND A GREASED PASTEBOARD
BULLET CUP TO PREVENT FOULING," to be as follows:-
a.) Form of Bullet.-In order to obtain a bullet which combines all the
advantages of elongated projectiles with an axis always coincident with
the line of trajectory, I gave my bullet the following form (Fig. 1):
length 25 millimêtres, diameter 9 mm, weight about 33 bullets to à lb.,
'

page_text: with an ogive-elliptical form of both ends and a small flattening at the
tail, and with the centre of gravity precisely in the centre of the length
of the projectile. This form of bullet gives a remarkable accuracy of fire
even at the longest ranges, its trajectory being very flat, and its axis
being throughout its flight quite coincident with the line of trajectory.
b.) Greased Pasteboard Bullet Cup.-By this bullet cup I have suc-
ceeded in removing entirely the worst disadvantage hitherto attached
to breech-loading guns, viz., the fouling from powder or lead. The cup
has the following form (Fig. 2): height 16mm, with a bottom 3mm
thick, and a hollow fitting closely around the bullet up to the centre of
its length (12mm), and with 4 fine incisions from the top 12mm
downwards. It fits tightly into the grooves of the barrel and into the
cartridge, and being greased just before being put in by dipping it into
melted hot fat until it is nearly saturated, it is topped by a rim of fat
around the bullet, which securely closes up the whole cartridge. This
bullet cup keeps the bullet clear of the grooves and cleans the barrel
thoroughly after every shot, and after having imparted its own rotation
to the projectile lets it free when leaving the muzzle to follow its course
without any further impediment, the above-mentioned incisions serving
to open the cup by the force of the resisting air. The form of the
complete cartridge would be as represented in the diagram (Fig. 3).
The principal distinctions of this Invention are, after the above
explanation, as follows:-
1.) The qualities and peculiar new form of the bullet as described
above.
2.) The flat line of trajectory and great initial velocity of the bullet,
which in combination with its light weight give the possibility of ranges
of more than 2,000 yards with comparative accuracy of fire and small
angle of elevation.
3.) The form and construction of the greased pasteboard bullet cup
as described above.
4.) The composition of the fat, consisting of paraffine, Japanese wax,
and oil in equal parts.
5.) The complete absence of fouling even after hundreds of rounds, the
barrel being thoroughly cleaned after every shot by the greased bullet cup.
6.) The perfect protection of the powder from ever getting wet.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Phil. Dr. Karl Ludwig Hartwig Gercke in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 14th August 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, KARL
LUDWIG HARTWIG GERCKE, Doctor of Philosophy, of Berlin, in Prussia,
at present residing at 14, Alfred Place, Bedford Square, London, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of February, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-
sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Karl Ludwig Hartwig Gercke, Her special
licence that I, the said Karl Ludwig Hartwig Gercke, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Karl Ludwig
Hartwig Gercke, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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 "A NEW CARTRIDGE FOR BREECH-LOADING SMALL ARMS, WITH A NEW FORM OF
BULLET AND A GREASED PASTEBOARD BULLET CUP TO PREVENT FOULING," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Karl Ludwig Hartwig
Gercke, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing.
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Karl Ludwig Hartwig Gercke, 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 thereof, reference being had to the
accompanying Drawings, that is to say:-
My Invention chiefly consists of a new form of bullet for the cart-
ridges of breech-loading small-arms, and of a greased pasteboard bullet
cup to be employed in the said cartridges in order to prevent fouling..

page_text: In my new form of bullet I have sought to combine all the advantages
of elongated projectiles with an axis always coincident with the line of
trajectory.
For this purpose I make my bullet conical at both ends, and with
the centre of gravity precisely in the centre of the length of the
projectile.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings represents one of my bullets.
It will be observed that the portion from a to bis cylindrical, while the
two ends c and d are conical.
A bullet of this form gives a very great accuracy of fire even at the
longest ranges, its trajectory being very flat and its axis being throughout
its flight quite coincident with the line of trajectory.
If desired either or both of the conical ends may be slightly flattened.
The object of my greased pasteboard bullet cup is to entirely remove
the great disadvantage which has hitherto attended breech-loading small-
arms, viz., fouling from powder or lead.
My bullet cup fits closely around the cylindrical portion of the bullet,
the rear end of which should rest upon the bottom of the inside of the
cup. The cup is formed with four or other suitable number of fine
incisions extending longitudinally from its front end nearly to the
bottom. The cup fits tightly into the grooves of the barrel and into
the front of the cartridge case (which may be of metal or of paper, or
any other suitable material), and before being inserted into the cartridge
case it is greased by being dipped into melted hot fat until nearly
saturated therewith.
After having been inserted into the cartridge and having received the
bullet, the cup is topped by a ring or rim of fat placed around the
bullet, thus securely closing the whole cartridge.
Figure 2 is an elevation, and Figure 3 a longitudinal section of one
of my bullet caps; Figure 4 is a longitudinal section of a cartridge
provided with one of my bullets and one of my bullet cups. The ring
or rim of fat herein-before mentioned is marked e.
On reference to the last-named Figure it will readily be understood
that the cup keeps the bullet clear of the grooves of the barrel and
cleans the barrel thoroughly after every shot, and that after having a
imparted its own rotation to the bullet it leaves it free on issuing from

page_text: the muzzle to follow its own course without impediment, the incisions
herein-before mentioned allowing the resisting air to open out the
cup.
For greasing the cup I prefer to employ a fat composed of paraffin,
Japanese wax, and oil in equal parts, or only of Japanese wax and oil
in equal parts.
The cartridge represented in Figure 4 is a central fire-cartridge, but
the Invention of course equally applies to other cartridges.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,―
First. Constructing cartridges for breech-loading small-arms, as herein-
before described.
Second. The new form of bullet herein-before described for the cart-
ridges of breech-loading small-arms.
Third. The bullet cup herein-before described for the cartridges of
breech-loading small-arms.
In witness whereof, I, the said Karl Ludwig Hartwig Gercke, have
hereunto set my hand and scal, this Fourteenth day of August
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.
T GERARD