Improvements in Cartridges and Projectiles for Fire-arms.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Sept., 1897-Accepted, 20th Nov., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cartridges and Projectiles for Fire-arms.
I, TERJE AANENSEN FIDJELAND, of Fostvedt, near Christianssand S., in the
Kingdom of Norway, Gun Maker, 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: —
My invention relates to a projectile for fire-arms in which part of the projectile
forms the chamber containing the charge, and in which the ignition of the powder
takes place. This chamber has, as is well known, hitherto consisted of a larger
separate receiver or case whence the projectile itself has been discharged, and
which after the firing, has remained in the gun, cannon or fire-arm employed.
In ordinary musket cartridges for instance, the powder chamber consists of a
metal case, three to four times larger than the projectile inserted in the case. My
invention relates to the production of a projectile embodying also the powder
chamber, and which, after the ignition of the powder, still acts as an ordinary
projectile.
My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which :-
Figure 1 shews an end elevation and longitudinal section of one form of such a
musket projectile, drawn for the sake of distinctness, about three times the actual,
size.
Figure 2 shews similar views of another form drawn to the same scale.
Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 are longitudinal sections of the two forms of projectiles
shewn in Figures 1 and 2 and of two other modified forms. The projectile is
here illustrated as it appears before firing, and is drawn the actral size.
Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10 are similar views of the same projectiles after firing.
The projectile consists, as shewn in Figures 1 and 2, of an outer case one end of
which is closed. In the case of muskets or hand fire-arms, this case may be made
of nickel steel. The case a is here shewn filled for only about two thirds of its
length with lead, this part then forming the projectile proper, while the second
part forms the powder chamber. This latter is therefore almost entirely filled
with the charge c or explosive substance used, the back or third part being filled
with the priming d. Between the parts b and c may be placed an intervening
material e such as cardboard or the like.
The case and consequently the whole projectile can of course be of a different
shape to suit different kinds of fire-arms and different purposes. In Figures 1
and 3 the back part of the projectile has the form of a cap k containing the
priming . The cap khas on its inside a small loop or eye k¹. The ignition is
effected by the firing pin of the musket pressing the central portion of the cap in
against the loop or eye as shewn in Figure 7, where the projectile is shewn as
it appears immediately after firing. The loop or eye serves as an anvil for the
firing pin of the gun, and it must be so strong and firm that it will not become
loose when the firing pin strikes. Figures 2 and 4 illustrate another form of the
projectile. Instead of the cap k, the back edge f of the case is here pressed
inwards, leaving only a narrow opening for the firing pin of the musket. This
opening may be closed by means of a small plug i, that may be made of any suit-
able material. The annular groove g serves to receive the grip of an extractor, by

page_text: means of which, in case the shot should miss fire, the projectile can be withdrawn,
as with ordinary cartridges. Figure 8 shews the projectile represented at
Figure 4 as it appears after the discharge. The explosion, which takes place
between the part band the bolt or cylinder of the fire-arm, drives the part b with
the whole case a out of the barrel and thereby presses out the inwardly bent edge f.
Figures 5 and 9 shew a projectile before and after the discharge respectively
without the groove g. Figures 6 and 10 shew a projectile before and after the
discharge respectively wherein the powder chamber consists of a separate inner
tube h inserted in the case and containing both the priming and the charge.
The projectile can of course be made in several shapes suitable for the purpose
for which it is to be used, such as for cannons, muskets, etc.
The advantages of such a projectile as is herein described are many and great.
The principal ones are that the projectile, and therefore the shot, becomes much
cheaper than heretofore both as regards consumption of materials, and as regards
manufacture. The usual cartridge cases and the consequent ejecting devices of
the fire-arm are dispensed with and the magazine of the musket or fire-arm can
with these projectiles be made to receive a far greater number of cartridges than
has hitherto been possible. Cartridge boxes, and the like can also owing to the
small weight, receive a far larger supply of cartridges than has hitherto been the
case.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. A projectile for muskets, cannon or other fire-arms, that contains the charge,
which, when the shot is being fired, forces the projectile out of the barrel sub-
stantially as set forth.
2. A projectile for fire-arms of the kind described in Claim 1, made of an outer
case (a) which receives the lead or the projectile proper (b) in its closed fore part
and the charge in its rear part the priming proper (1) being enclosed in a cap (k)
having a loop or eye (¹), against which when the shot is being fired the firing pin
of the fire-arm, pressing in the central part of the cap, strikes, substantially as
herein before described and illustrated in Figures 1 and 3.
3. A projectile for fire-arms of the kind described in Claim 1, made of an outer
case (a), receiving the lead or the projectile proper (), in its closed fore part or
end and the charge in its back part, the back edge of the case beng bent inwards
and forming a narrow opening to the priming (), substantially as' hereinbefore
described and illustrated in Figures 2 and 4.
4. A projectile for fire-arms of the kind described in Claim 1, provided with a
groove (g) for the extractor of the fire-arm, and with an intermediate packing or
wad (e) between the part (6) and the charge (c), substantially as set forth.
5. A projectile for fire-arms of the kind described in Claim 1, wherein the charge
is contained in a separate tube (h) inserted in the case, substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated in Figure 6.
Dotad the 28th dow of Santember 1897
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.