IMPROVEMENTS IN THE FORMATION OF THE BORE OR INTERIOR OF GUN BARRELS
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine,
Lake, & Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE FORMATION OF THE BORE OR
INTERIOR OF GUN BARRELS."-A communication from abroad by
John Long Kerr, of Alleghany, Pennsylvania, United States of
America.
Sealed the 9th February 1875, and dated the 8th December 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 8th December 1874.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co.,
Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE FORMATION OF THE
BORE OR INTERIOR OF GUN BARRELS," a communication, to be as follows:-
°
:-
This Invention consists in enlarging the bore of the gun for about one-
fourth (4) or one-third (3) of its length, commencing at the muzzle end,
the larger bore being on parallel lines with the smaller bore,

page_text: The diameter and length of the enlargement must be varied in
accordance with the calibre of the gun, and to suit the size of the shot,
that is to say, in a twelve calibre bore thirty-two inches in length I make
the diameter of the enlarged part from about three one-hundreths (03)
to about twelve one-hundreths (12) of an inch, the length of the enlarge-
ment being from about eight (8) to ten and one half (10) inches. The
necessity of varying from about three one-hundreths (03) to twelve one-
hundreths (12) of an inch in the diameter of the enlargement, and from
eight (8) to ten and one half (10) inches in length, is probably due to
the character of the material used in the construction of the gun barrel,
some having more elasticity than others.
The object of these improvements is to obviate the bunching, welding,
and undue scattering, and to secure the desired concentration of the shot
in their discharge from the gun.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent 1
filed by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 5th June 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-
eiglith year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said William Robert Lake, Her special licence
that I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said William Robert Lake, 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
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE FORMATION OF THE BORE OR INTERIOR OF GUN BARRELS,"
a communication to me from abroad by John Long Kerr, of Alleghany,
2

page_text: A represents an ordinary gun barrel; B represents the smaller bore';
and O represents the enlarged bore, commencing at the muzzle end of the
gun and ending with an abrupt shoulder or off-set at e.
It has been demonstrated after a large number of experiments and
tests that the diameter and length of the enlargement C must be varied
in accordance with the calibre of the gun and to suit the size of the shot,
that is to say, in a twelve calibre bore thirty-two inches in length I
enlarge the diameter of the part C from about three one-hundreths (*03)
to about twelve onc-hundreths (12) of an inch, the length of the enlarge-
ment being from about eight (8) to ten and one half (10%) inches. The
necessity of varying from about three one-hundreths (03) to twelve
one-hundreths (12) of an inch in the diameter of the enlargement,
and from eight (8) to ten and one half (10%) inches in length, is
probably due to the character of the material used in the construction
of the gun barrels, some having more elasticity than others..
The object of my improvements is to obviate the bunching, welding,
and undue scattering, and to secure the desired concentration of the
shot in their discharge from the gun,

page_text: Having thus fully described the said Invention, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the
same, I wish it understood that I do not confine my Invention to any
single class of guns, but propose using it for all kinds of guns in which
a variety and multiplicity of shot are used, regardless of their character
and construction; and I claim a gun the calibre bore of which is
enlarged for about one-fourth (4) or one-third (3) of its length, com-
mencing at the muzzle end, the larger bore being on parallel lines with
the smaller bore, as herein-before described and for the purpose set
forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert. Lake, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Fifth day of June, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
five.
Witness,
HY. JAB. NOONE.
WM. ROBT. LAKE. (L.S.)