IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ARMS AND IN PROJECTILES FOR THE SAME
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Gardner, of the Firm of Robertson, Brooman, and
Company, of 166, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent Agents, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ARMS AND IN PROJECTILES FOR THE
SAME." A communication from abroad by George Evans Lidiard Dawson, of
Rangoon, British India.
Scaled the 9th September 1876, and dated the 10th June 1876.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION. filed by the said Henry Gardner at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th June 1876.
HENRY GARDNER, of the Firm of Robertson, Brooman, and Company, of 166,
Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent Agents. "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-
ARMS AND IN PROJECTILES FOR THE SAME." A communication from abroad by George
Evans Lidiard Dawson, of Rangoon, British India.
This Invention relates to improvements in fire-arms and in projectiles for the same.
Instead of what is now called the shot being discharged from a gun containing a
charge of explosive material the improved plan is to have a projectile containing its
own charge of explosive material fitted over a shaft which is fixed in the centre
and at the base of the interior of a heavy breech in the form of a mortar, but which
can on the side be either square or cylindrical. This breech is mounted on a gun
carriage or turntable by trunnions.
The projectile instead of being inserted into a gun is fixed on the shaft described
above for discharging it, and is made either round, oval, conical or cylindrical, or
partly one and partly the other, with spiral flanges on its outer surface, so as to
cause it to revolve in its flight and ensure greater accuracy of aim, or it can be rifled
to fit a corresponding grooving on the shaft.
When greater velocity or range is required a second charge of explosive material
is placed in the interior of the breech, round the base of the shaft, and it is ignited
simultaneously with the charge in the projectile by electricity or a fulminate.
The shaft alluded to is to be in section, either round, oval, or polygon in form, and
with the surface either plain or spirally grooved.
The advantage of this Invention over any method now in use is that with an
equal charge of explosive material a much heavier projectile can be used.
The Invention is clearly shown in the annexed Sheet of Drawings, in which Figures

page_text: 1 and 2 represent a shot a with vane blades b, b, on the outside of the body c, for
the purpose of causing the shot to rotate during its flight by the resistance of the
air to its progress. The back portion d of the shot is of rounded form to fit into a
corresponding hollow in the front d¹ of the arm e, from which the shot has to be
fired or discharged. The shot is hollow at the back, which hollow extends about
two-thirds of the entire length of the shot, for receiving the charge of powder or
other explosive body at the base or front end of the hollow, the other part of the
hollow serving for placing the shot over a shaft pin or stud f, which acts as a steadying
shaft or pin, and to hold the shot in position upon the front end of the arm, the
body of which is upon trunnions g, g, as an ordinary piece of ordnance mounted upon
a carriage or block, a casable ring h being on the rear for the adjustment, for eleva-
vation or depression of the arm.
Instead of placing or arranging vane blades upon the outside of the shot or pro-
jectile the vanes may be in the forin of projections upon the inside of the stud or
pin hollow, as in Figures 3, 4, 5, corresponding vane ribs being upon the stud or pin
f, to enable the shot, which is charged as in the preceding description, to be fired
from the arm.
The Invention is not limited to any particular form of shot capable of containing
its own charge of explosive. Figure 1 shows a front pointed and broad base shot;
Figure 4 an egg-shaped shot; and Figure 7 a broad fronted and narrowed base shot,
the taper from the belly i to the base corresponding to the taper on the inner face
or muzzle of the arm that a bearing can be had by it as well as by the pin or stud f
and the hollow of the shot. The face of the shot in this case has wings.
Figure 9 represents a long tailed shot with a bulb head, having hollows in the
bulb for the rotation of the shot during its flight.
Figures 10 and 11 represent a shot and arm, in which a charge of powder can be
inserted in each of them for the propulsion of the shot, the chamber of the arm
beyond the base of the shot serving as a charge chamber, to be fired at the same
time as the shot chamber, that the explosive force of the two charges may act in
conjunction for that purpose. The depth of the charge chamber in the arm is in
proportion to the size or weight of shot to be discharged, as will be understood by
reference to Figures 10 and 12.
Figure 14 represents a section of an explosive shell, the driving of the shell from
the arm being from an inner charge, acted upon by the percussion or striker k
under the control of the spring 1, when the striker is released by the lift of the
trigger m.
Figures 15 and 16 represent a bulb-shaped shot on a pin on the front of an arm,
having a bell-shaped mouth.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what inanner the
same is to be performed, I declare that I claim as the Invention communicated to
me by the said George Evans Lidiard Dawson aforesaid, the manufacture of fire.
arms and projectiles for the same, as described and as shown in the annexed
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Gardner, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Tenth day of June, One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.