AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BALL AND SHOT CARTRIDGES
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick Le Mesurier, of Guernsey, Gentleman,
for the Invention of "AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BALL AND
SHOT CARTRIDGES."
Sealed the 2nd February 1855, and dated the 30th November 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick Le Mesurier
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
30th November 1854.
I, FREDERICK LE MESURIER, of Guernsey, Gentleman, do hereby declare the
nature of the Invention for "AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BALL
AND SHOT CARTRIDGES" to be as
follows:-
This Invention has for its object to make ball or shot cartridges in such
manner that they will not require to have their ends bitten off. For which
purpose, when a ball cartridge has been filled with powder, a thin piece of
wood (or it might be other material) is introduced into the end of the case,
and cemented to the case, to close it powder-tight; and when the contents.of
the cartridge are to be emptied into the barrel of a fire-arm, by simply pressing
the edges of the wood or closing material at the end of the cartridge, part of it
will break away, and allow the powder to flow out of the case.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Frederick Le Mesurier in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 23rd May 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FREDERICK
LE MESURIER, of Guernsey, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria; by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the eighteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Frederick Le Mesurier, Her special licence that I, the said Frederick
Le Mesurier, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Frederick Le Mesurier, 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 "AN
IMPROVEMENT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BALL AND SHOT CARTRIDGES," upon the
condition (amongst others) that J, the said Frederick Le Mesurier, 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 saine 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 T, the said Frederick Le Mesurier, 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 thereof (that is to say):-
This-Invention-has-for-its-object-to-make-ball-or-shot cartridges -in such
manner that they will not require to have their ends bitten off. For which
purpose, when a ball cartridge has been filled with powder, a thin piece of
wood (or it might be other material) is introduced into the end of the case,
and when the contents of
and cemented to the case, to close it powder-tight;
the cartridge are to be emptied into the barrel of a fire-arm, by simply pressing
the edges of the wood or closing material at the end of the cartridge, part
of it will break away, and allow the powder to flow out of the case."
Having thus stated the nature of my said Invention, I will proceed to
describe the manner of performing the-same.

page_text: The case of a cartridge is made in the ordinary manner, consisting of a
cylinder of paper unclosed at the ends. Into each of which cases is placed
an elliptical or oblong end, which I prefer to be of thin wood (pine), with the
grain-in-the-direction of the shorter axis, and such bottom is brought to near
one end of the case; and the nature of the bottom thus used is such, that
when pressed between the finger and thumb in a direction of the longer axis,
the wood or other material will readily break across the shorter axis of the
wood or other material employed. The elliptical or oblong end thus inserted
into the case of the cartridge is fixed therein by any suitable cement at two
sides. I prefer to employ for this purpose a solution of india-rubber com-
bined with shellac, by which the two ends only of the elliptical or oblong piece
of wood is attached to the paper case. The powder is then introduced into the
case, after which a circular wad, and then the ball or shot, and the end of
the case is closed by twisting when a ball is introduced, and by a circular wad
when shot is employed. In loading a fire-arm with such a cartridge, the
cartridge is held (between the thumb and finger of the right hand) with its
end just entered in the muzzle of the barrel, when, by pressing on the elliptical
or oblong bottom in the direction of the longer axis thereof, the bottom will
give way, and produce such an opening as will allow the powder to flow into
the barrel. The cartridge may then be allowed to descend and be rammed
down in the barrel, when the loading will be complete.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner
of performing the same, I would have it understood that I do not confine
myself to the precise details herein described so long as the peculiar character
of my Invention be retained; but what I claim is, the manufacture of cartridges
herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick Le Mesurier, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five.
0
FREDERICK LE MESURIER. (L.S.)
Witness,
B. GOBEY,
4, Old Square, Lincoln's Inn.