IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ARMS AND AMMUNITION
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Norton, of Dublin, in the County of Dublin,
Ireland, Esquire, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ARMS AND
AMMUNITION."
Sealed the 17th July 1855, and dated the 8th March 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Norton at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 8th
March 1855.
I, JOHN NORTON, of Dublin, in the County of Dublin, Ireland, Esquire, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-
ARMS AND AMMUNITION " to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the dispensing with vents or touch-holes in fire-
arins, and particularly in heavy ordnance, by so arranging the ammunition and
the discharging or explosive apparatus that the discharge may be effected from
the muzzle. In carrying out this system of firing, a spring movement is fitted
up at the muzzle or mouth of the gun, and is made to act upon a vesuvian
match or other similar ignition contrivance in such manner as to direct a shower
of strong sparks down the muzzle to the bottom of the gun, where a few grains
of loose gunpowder catch the sparks and fire the charge. The mechanical con-
struction of the ignition apparatus may be variously modified, but an rrange-
ment resembling a spring letter holder, having a lively spring within a small

page_text: compass, answers extremely well for the purpose. A piece of cork is secured
to the front of such an apparatus, the cork having a small pricking aperture
in its front face for the reception of the tail of "vesuvian" match. This
forms what may be termed a "balista," and it is easily screwed or otherwise
attached to the face of the cannon. The vesuvian match is ignited prior or
after to being attached to the apparatus, and when entered into its holder its
glowing overlooks the mouth of the cannon. A cord with a loop at its end
is attached to the cocked tail of the spring apparatus, and this cord is passed
back to the hand of the gunner. When the gun is to be fired, the gunner
jerks this cord pretty suddenly, bringing the spring arm to the full cock, and
at the same time releasing it, when the smart shock shoots the burning match
head down into the gun, and thus fires the charge. The "vesuvian " match is
selected as the ignition apparatus because it is capable of giving off a great
mass of loose sparks, but other forms and kinds of ignition matters or surfaces
may be adopted.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Norton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th
September 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
NORTON, of Dublin, in the County of Dublin, Ireland, Esquire, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the eighteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said John Norton, Her special license that I, the said John Norton,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John
Norton, my executors, administrators, or 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN
FIRE-ARMS AND AMMUNITION," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said John Norton, 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
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that 1, the said John Norton, 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 state-
ment, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the letters
and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
"
My said Invention relates to the dispensing with vents or touch-holes in fire-
arms, and particularly in heavy ordnance, by so arranging the ammunition and
the discharging or explosive apparatus that the discharge may be effected from
the muzzle. In carrying out this system of firing, a spring movement is fitted
up at the muzzle or mouth of the gun, and is made to act upon a "vesuvian
match or other similar ignition contrivance in such manner as to direct a
shower of strong sparks down the muzzle to the bottom or towards the
breech of the gun, where a few grains of loose gunpowder catch the sparks
and fire the charge.
The mechanical construction of the ignition apparatus may be variously
modified, but an arrangement resembling a spring letter holder, having a lively
or quick spring within a small compass, answers extremely well for the purpose.
A piece of cork is secured to the front of such an apparatus, the cork having
a small pricker aperture in its front face for the reception of the tail of a
"vesuvian "match. This forms what may be termed a "balista," and it is
easily screwed or otherwise attached to the face or muzzle of the cannon. The
vesuvian match is ignited prior to being attached to the apparatus, and when
eutered into its holder its glowing head overlooks the mouth of the cannon.
A cord with a loop at its end is attached to the cocked tail of the spring
apparatus, and this cord is passed back to the hand of the gunner. When
the gun is to be fired, the gunner jerks this cord pretty suddenly, bringing
the spring arm to full cock, and at the same time releasing it, when the
smart shock shoots the burning match head down into the gun, and thus
fires the charge. The "vesuvian "match is selected as the ignition apparatus
because it is capable of giving off a great mass of loose sparks, but other
forms and kinds of ignition matters or surfaces may be adopted for the like
purpose.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I shall
now proceed to describe the explanatory Figure on the Sheet of Drawings
hereunto attached.
The single Figure on my Sheet of Drawings is a longitudinal section of a
gun or piece of ordnance as detached from its carriage or mounting, and
supplied with my explosive or discharging apparatus. The gun A, which may
be made according to any of the existing forms or systems of construction, has

page_text: no vent or touch-hole at the breech, the only opening into it being that of the
barrel or discharging bore from the muzzle to the breech. To the lower side
of the extreme muzzle end is attached a bracket piece B, answering to carry
the new discharging apparatus. This bracket has a front projecting arm C, for
carrying the spring lever match holder D, E. This spring lever is set upon a
stud centre F, in the bracket arm C, and it is fitted with a coiled spring so
adjusted as to give the upper short arm E of the lever a constant tendency to
turn over towards the gun's muzzle. Various spring arrangements may be
adopted for this purpose, but such a volute spring as is generally fitted up for
spring letter clips or holding files, or a sharp blade spring, may be judiciously
applied for this purpose. The upper short arm E of the match holding lever
is formed to answer as a socket for the reception of the tail of the "vesuvian "
match H, the explosive or combustible head of which stands up to about the level
of the longitudinal centre or axial line of the gun. The lower longer arm D of
the holding lever is notched or formed with a retaining edge to fit to a retain-
ing notch on the outer end of the disengaging catch or trigger I. This trigger
is hinged upon a stud centre at J, on the upper side of a sliding spring
spindle K. This spindle is fitted to slide by its after end in a long plain guide
eye L, on the lower part of the bracket A. The guide eye L is bored right
through, and the inner or after end of the spindle K, which is passed through
it, has an eye at M, to which is attached the gunner's discharging cord N,
passing back, beneath, or alongside of the gun to the station of the gunner, so
as to be convenient to his hand. The spindle K has upon it a helical spring
abutting between the front extremity of the guide eye L and the small front
projection on the spindle carrying the stud centre for the trigger I. The
trigger is a double lever, having a short curved after part projecting past its
centre of motion. This short end of the trigger has a slight blade spring fitted
to its under side, so as always to keep the longer arm down, and thus retain
its detaining catch in gear with the notch upon the lower arm D of the match
holder. The release of the detent is effected by an incline O upon the bracket
A, against which the tail of the trigger is pressed when the gun is fired.
The charge of powder P is applied and placed in the gun in the usual manner,
but a few grains of powder Q are sprinkled in front of the shot R in commu-
nication with the main body of the charge. Hence, if this internal priming
as it may be termed, is ignited, the fire is communicated to the main charge
behind the shot, so as to complete the discharge. Thus no other preparation
for firing is required.
The Drawing represents the discharging apparatus as cocked or set fully
ready for firing, the ignited match F being held steadily back by the trigger

page_text: detent. When all is ready for firing, the gunner jerks the cord N in the
direction of the arrow, when the tail of the trigger, being drawn forward along
with the spring spindle K, strikes against the incline O of the bracket. This
action necessarily elevates the front detaining end of the trigger, and thus
releases the spring lever match holder D, E, which has had its tail or longer
arm drawn forward to some distance so as to add effect to the reacting power
when released. The "vesuvian" match F, having a tuft-like or conical head
of combustible matter, as in the case of an ordinary cigar lighter, the shock
resulting from the sudden release of its spring holder causes the match tuft to
throw off a thick shower of firey sparks, sending them right down the gun's
bore so as to reach the scattered powder in front of the shot, and thus fire the
charge, as herein-before explained. Various other mechanical arrangements
may be adopted for effecting the throwing in of this explosive shower of sparks,
as all that is necessary is to fit up a spring or "balistic" or mechanical con-
trivance, which, when disengaged or put in action, will discharge a shower of
fire well into the gun's bore. The spring arrangement which I have described
supplies a most effective means of directing the fire, and greater effect may be
given to the spring action by attaching an india-rubber band to the lever
movement D, E, whilst the vesuvian match provides a good supply of sparks,
Instead of the
although other matches or sources of fire may be used.
scattered powder in front of the shot, a match or other combustible matter may
be laid in so as to afford a proper channel of communication from the open
barrel to the charge behind the gunpowder. By the adoption of this system
of discharging fire-arms, particularly those of large calibre, all the trouble,
difficulty, and loss of discharging force attendant upon the vent or touch-hole
system are avoided. There being no vent to blow out or widen, no repairs can
ever be required at that part of the breech, nor can miss-fires occur from the
vent thoroughfare closing up.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I would observe, in conclusion, that I do not confine or restrict
myself to the precise details or arrangements which I have had occasion to
describe or refer to, as many variations may be made therefrom without devi-
ating from the principles or main features of my said Invention; but what I
consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention
secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,-
First, the general arrangement and construction of fire-arms, ammunition,
and apparatus for firing or discharging without vents or touch-holes, as herein-
before described.

page_text: Second, the system or mode of effecting the discharge of fire-arms by an
igniting, shower or discharge of fire from the muzzle end of the bore.
Third, the application and use at the muzzles or front portions of fire-arms
of spring detent.or.trigger apparatus for directing explosive fire down the barrel
to the charge..
Fourth, the system or mode of insuring the communication of the front
discharging fire. with, the gunpowder charge behind the ball by means of gun-
powder or other combustible matter communicating between the front open
portion of. the gun's bore, and the charge to the rear of the ball.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Norton; have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Seventh day of September, One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-five.
JOHN NORTON. (L.S.)