Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Jan., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 11th Oct., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 16th Nov., 1888
I MATTHEW MULLINEUX of 17 Maple Street Hightown, Manchester in the County
of Lancaster Piano-forte tuner, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:
This invention relates to the construction of cartridge cases used for practise with
rifles at short ranges, the principal object of the invention being to dispense with the
use of what are known as "Morris" tubes (which are liable to injure the rifling in
addition to their being expensive) to enable the practise to be carried on with a
projectile of the ordinary diameter and weight, and to afford facility for reloading the
cartridge case and using it over and over again.
The improved cartridge case is preferably made of gun metal and it is externally of
such form and dimensions as exactly to fit into the breech chamber and rear end of
the bore in the same manner as an ordinary ball cartridge.
Instead however of being made of thin sheet metal like an ordinary cartridge it is
made solid and bored out (preferably in a conical form) to such a diameter as will
contain only such a reduced amount of powder as will suffice to carry the bullet the
distance required for practise. The forward end or mouth of the cartridge case is so
formed that it can be attached to the bullet in the usual manner, and the rear end of
the same is provided with a nipple in the ordinary manner, the nipple being conical
and the recess round the same being sufficiently large to allow of the ready removal
of the exploded cap.
It will be evident that with a cartridge case of this improved construction the area
of the breech chamber is practically reduced so as to contain only a reduced charge
and that the bullet and the bore and rifling of the fire arm are not interfered with in
any way.
The cartridge case also being of comparatively solid metal can be recharged and
used over again for an indefinite number of times.

page_text: These cartridge cases can be made in sets bored out for different short ranges; or
if it be required to use the same cartridge case for different ranges, then it can be
bored out to suit the longest range required, and when wanted for a shorter range
the charge of powder can be reduced accordingly and the space between the
charge and the rear of the bullet can be filled in with a corresponding number of
wads.
Or, if the cartridge case should be required for very short ranges only it may be
made in two pieces screwed together in the centre, the forward piece forming the
cartridge and being provided with a nipple; and the rear piece being a breech block
fitted with a spring pin for exploding the cap.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cartridge Cases.
I MATTHEW MULLINEUX of 17 Maple Street Hightown Manchester in the County
of Lancaster Piano-forte-Tuner do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to the construction of cartridge cases used for practise with
rifles at short ranges, the principal object of the invention being to dispense with the
use of what are known as "Morris" tubes (which are liable to injure the rifling unless
very carefully used in addition to their being expensive) to enable the practise to be
carried on with a projectile of the ordinary diameter and to afford facility for reloading
the cartridge case and using it over and over again.
The nature of my said invention and the manner in which the same is to be
performed or carried into practical effect will be readily understood on reference to
the annexed sheet of drawings and the following explanation thereof.
Figs. 1. and 2. are longitudinal sections of the simplest form of my improved
cartridge-case, and Figs. 3 and 4 a similar section and an exterior elevation of a
modification of the same hereafter more particularly referred to.
The improved cartridge case a is preferably made of gun metal and it is externally
of such form and dimensions (see Figs. 1 and 2) as exactly to fit into the breech
chamber and rear end of the bore in the same manner as an ordinary ball
cartridge.
Instead however of being made of thin sheet metal like an ordinary cartridge it is
made solid (as shown at Figs. 1 and 2) and bored out (preferably in a conical form)
to such a diameter as will contain only such a reduced amount of powder as will
suffice to carry the bullet & the distance required for practise.
The forward end or mouth a' of the cartridge case is so formed that it can be
attached to the bullet b in the usual manner, and the rear end of the same is provided
with a nipple c in the ordinary manner the nipple being conical and the recess d
round the same being sufficiently large to allow of the ready removal of the
exploded cap.
It will be evident that with a cartridge case of this improved construction the area
of the breech chamber is practically reduced so as to contain only a reduced charge
and that the diameter of the bullet and the bore and rifling of the fire-arm are not
interfered with in any way.
The cartridge case also being of comparatively solid metal can be recharged and
used over again for an indefinite number of times.
These cartridge cases can be made in sets hored out for different short ranges; or
if it be required to use the same cartridge case for different ranges, then it can be
bored out to suit the longest range required, and when wanted for a shorter range
the charge of powder can be reduced accordingly and the space between the charge
and the rear of the bullet can be filled in with a corresponding number of extra wads e
as shown at Fig. 2.

page_text: Or, if the cartridge case should be required for very short ranges only, it may be
made in two pieces screwed together in the centre as shown at Fig. 3, the forward
piece forming the cartridge and being provided with a nipple, and the rear
piece being a breech block, fitted with a spring or other pin f for exploding
the cap.
Instead of screwing the two parts together they may be united by means of a
bayonet joint as shown at Fig. 4. or by other suitable means.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
The construction of cartridge cases for rifle practise at short ranges of solid metal
made externally to fit the breech chamber but bored out only so as to contain such a
quantity of powder as will be suitable for the purpose of practise whether the same be
made all of one piece or of two parts screwed or otherwise attached, substantially as
herein before described and illustrated by the drawings annexed.
Dated this 10th day of October 1888
GEORGE DAVIES,
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester,
Agent for the Applicant.