IMPROVEMENTS ORDNANCE. FIRE-ARMS, AND PROJECTILES. AND IN MACHINERY EMPLOYED IN THEIR MANUFACTURE
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Whitworth, of the City of Manchester,
in the County of Lancaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
ORDNANCE. FIRE-ARMS, AND PROJECTILES. AND IN MACHINERY EMPLOYED IN THEIR
MANUFACTURE."
Sealed the 8th December 1857, and dated the 12th June 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Whitworth at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
12th June 1857.
1, JOSEPH WHITWORTH, of the City of Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN ORDNANCE, FIRE-ARMS, AND PROJECTILES, AND IN MACHINERY EMPLOYED IN
THEIR MANUFACTURE," to be as follows:-
They consist in improvements upon part of my Invention, for which I
obtained Letters Patent, bearing date October 29th, 1855, and relate to an
improved mode of arranging the breech piece and introducing the charge,
the part in which the receding breech works being removed when the piece
is loaded at the rear end. Also in making double barrel guns, I bore both
barrels out of a solid piece of metal, leaving the requisite thickness of metal
in certain parts to give the necessary rigidity, the object being to make the
barrels shoot parallel without making the piece unnecessarily heavy. In
making my improved projectiles, I make them of hard metal in a tubular
Γ.Ε

page_text: form, and so shaped that on striking against soft substances they cut out a
core, and leave an orifice that does not close up like that made by the
perforation of the ordinary solid projectiles. I also make these projectiles
solid, with flat fronts, for the purpose of perforating or punching holes in hard
substances like iron plates. I also employ improved apparatus in connection
with the machinery for boring the barrels, the cutter being lubricated from
the end opposite to that from which it works, thereby facilitating the removal
of the cuttings; and in drilling barrels out of the solid, I employ an improved
apparatus, in which the cutter is not rigidly attached to the forcing-up bar,
but is made to suspend the forcing-up motion whenever lubrication is necessary.
I also employ an improved construction of bed, having a main longitudinal
groove, in which the boring heads and guides are fitted. I also employ the
combination of rotatory and reciprocating motions for turning and shaping
my improved projectiles simultaneously, so that they may be finished before
being removed from the machine. Also in turning barrels, I use a concentric
stay, provided with right and left screws for noving the dies, the motion to
which can be imparted or suspended at pleasure; being improvements on the
Invention for which Letters Patent were granted to me April 23, 1855.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Joseph Whitworth in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 12th December 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOSEPII
WHITWORTH, of the City of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twentieth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give andgrant unto me,
the said Joseph Whitworth, Her special licence that I, the said Joseph
Whitworth, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Josépl: Whitworth, 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 ORDNANCE, FIRE-ARMS, AND PROJECTILES, AND IN MACHINERY

page_text: EMPLOYED IN THEIR MANUFACTURE," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said Joseph Whitworth, by an instrument in writing under my hand
and scal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manuer 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.
NOW KNOW YE. that I, the said Joseph Whitworth, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement (that is to say) :-
The said improvements consist in, firstly, improvements upon part of my
Invention for which I obtained Letters Patent, bearing date October 29th,
1855, as set forth and shewn in those parts of the Specification and Drawings
which describe the apparatus for breech loading as applicable to artillery and
fire-arms.
Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, Sheet 1, represent my improved mode of arranging the
breech piece and receding breech, and introducing the charge, as applied to
rifles or other fire-arms; Fig. 1 is a plan; Fig. 2, a side view; and Figs. 3
and 4, end views. A is the barrel, the breech end of which at A* is screwed
outside to receive the breech piece or cap B, which is screwed internally, and
advances or recedes upon the rear end of the barrel. Through B is passed
and screwed the breech pin C, which takes into and fits in the end of the
barrel. On the front end of this breech pin C are fixed the elastic wads a
and copper washer, by means of the screw c. D is an iron or brass fixing,
secured to the gun stock by the screw , and having a joint ate with a hinge
pin E. The breech pin C has a recess at its near end, corresponding with
the hinge pin E; on to which it is passed when the breech piece C recedes from
the barrel A. The barrel A is secured to the stock by the screw f, which
is screwed into the projecting part of the barrely, or itinay be fastened by
bands, as may be most convenient. It is further made secure endwise to the
stock F by neaus of the segmental out G, the screw threads of which take
into corresponding screw threads cut on the under side of the barrel A. .The
segmental nut G is fastened to the stock by the screw i, and has three pro-
jections, which are fitted into recesses in the stock F. The trigger, lock,
hammer, and nipple being the same as in ordinary use, their description is
unnecessary. The bore of the rifle barrel is shewn of a polygonal spiral
shape. It is enlarged at the breech end to provide for the consumption of
a large charge of powder, and it is made cylindrical in the part in which the
breech pin C with its wads and washers advances and recedes. To charge

page_text: the gun, the screwed cap or breech piece B is withdrawn from the barrel,
and passed by hand on to the hinge pin E, which is then raised and turned back
with the breech piece into the position shewn by the dotted sectional lines, so
as to leave the rear ends of the barrel open for the insertion of the charge.
When the charge is inserted the breech piece B is turned forward on the
hinge pin E. It is then passed by hand on to the end of the barrel A, and
screwed on in the position in which it is shewn, ready to be discharged. The
action of the breech piece may be described as follows:-The sudden shock
from the explosion is received by the copper shield band elastic wads a, which
are consequently compressed, and the force of the recoil becomes imparted to
the breech pin C, and the cap or breech piece B, to which it is attached,
causing it, by the action of the screw, to revolve and recede until it nearly
reaches the hinge pin E. It is then passed by hand on to the hinge pin, and
turned back, so as to allow of the introduction of a fresh charge. The elastic
wads, after firing about 50 or 60 rounds, require to be renewed.
Figs. 5 & 6 represent the improved breech-loading apparatus and re-
ceding breech as applied to ordnance. A is the barrel, which is made tubular
throughout, and the exterior of its breech end is screwed to receive the cap
or breech piece B. The bore of the barrel A is polygonal, but it has an
enlarged cylindrical powder chamber C. In this enlarged powder chamber
C, the breech pin D which is of the same diameter advances and recedes.
It has attached to it in front by the screw c the copper washer b, and elastic
media, as before described. The outer end of the breech pin D is screwed
into the cap or breech piece B, and it has an elastic collar d for an abutment.
A polygonal recess E is made in the end of D to receive a key or lever, by
which it is screwed fast in its place or removed therefrom. Instead of
employing a hinge pin, as before described, to receive the breech piece B, it
may be received and supported upon a frame attached to the gun carriage,
and adjustable to various elevations; or it may be attached to the piece itself,
or any other means may be employed for supporting it as may be found
suitable in practice. In order to insert the charge, B is unscrewed from the
barrel A, so as to leave the enlarged powder chamber exposed, and allow the
charge to be readily introduced. The piece is discharged in the ordinary
manner, and the recoil arising from the explosion is first received by the
copper washer and elastic wads, and, as before explained in the case of the rifle
is imparted to the breech pin D and the cap B, causing it by the action of the
screw to revolve and recede. Where the charge is intended to be always the
same, the threads of the breech picce B may be made of that angle which
would give the proper resistance for such charge; but where various charges

page_text: are to be used, then the receding screw may be made suitable to the minimum
charge, and for any greater charge a friction brake may be employed to
increase the friction to the amount requisite. Figs. 5 & 6 represent another
application of my improved breech piece. is the barrel, screwed at the end
to receive the breech piece B, through which is passed the pin C, having the
elastic wads D and copper shield E in front of it. The bore of the gun where
the pin enters, and for a distance beyond B, is enlarged so as to form the
enlarged chamber F for the better consumption of the powder; whilst the
bore extending from the chamber F to the muzzle of the gun is made of a
smaller diameter. I am thus enabled, where momentum is necessary for great
penetration, to use projectiles of great weight and length, as shewn in Fig. 5;
or where great momentum is not necessary, I can employ for shorter dis
tances several projectiles, as shewn in Fig. 7, of different lengths and weights,
according to the difference in distance they are required to be thrown, as will
be more fully explained hereafter.
Secondly, the improvements relate to the construction of double barrels for
rifled and smooth bore guns, as they are represented by Figs. 5, 10, 11, and
12; Fig. 9 being a plan, Fig. 10 a side view, and Figs. 11 and 12 end views.
A is the double barrel, which is made and bored out, by the machinery here.
after described, from a solid piece of metal instead of being made of two
single barrels bored separately, and joined together subsequently as has been
usually done; the thickness of metal varies from breech to muzzle, being
thickess at breech and gradually tapering towards the muzzle. The advan-
tages of this construction are, that the two bores are made alike with greater
certainty; one barrel forms a part of, and strengthens the other in a greater
degree, and the necessary rigidity is obtained with increased lightness. The
breech pieces B and nipples a may be the same as in ordinary use.
Thirdly, the improvements relate to projectiles; Figs. 13 and 14 represent
hard metal projectiles of a hollow tubular form suitable for ordnance and fire-
arms. A is the projectile, the exterior of which is of a spiral polygonal shape.
A tubular hole B passes through it from end to end; the front is conical,
and its edges may be made sharp or blunt according to the substances to be
penetrated. A cylindrical core is taken out of any matrial through which
the projectile passes. This form of projectile penetrates deeper into stone
than those which are solid; iu firing it, a disc of metal of hard wood should be
used as a wad. Solid projectiles with flat frouts are represented by Figs. 15
and 16; they are externally of the same spiral polygonal shape, as before
described in the case of the tubular projectile. At the front end they are a
little tapered, and terminate in a flat or slightly convex face. This shape is

page_text: best adapted for perforating plates of iron, and is less liable to glide off
rounded objects, such as floating batteries, iron ships' sides; the projectiles
are also effective below water line, as they pass directly through the water
and retain great penetrating power. For this reason, as well as for the
facility with which they will penetrate blubber and yielding substances, they
may be advantageously employed as shells for the capture of whales These
projectiles may be fired two or more together at the same time, as shewn in
Fig. 7.
The heaviest projectile is placed most forward, and as the initial
velocities are the same, the ranges vary with the weights; they may have
either flat or conical fronts.
:
I would here remark that the various improvements described in this
Specification, and in the Specifications of former Patents granted to me on
December st, 1854, and on April 23rd, 1855, and October 29th, 1855, have
all of them a relation to each other, and form parts of my general system of
rifled ordnance fire-arms and projectiles, which require to be considered
relatively and as a whole in order to be properly ascertained and understood.
Fourthly, improvements on part of the Invention described in the Specifi-
cation of Letters Patent granted to me, and dated April 2 ird, 1855, being
improvements in machinery for boring gun barrels, are represented by Figs.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9, Sheet 2. Fig. 1 is a front elevation; Fig. 2, a
plan; and Figs. 3 and 4, an end elevation and transverse section of the
machine. Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 represent detached views. A, the bed, is
-supported by the standards B, and has a main longitudinal groove Cextending
from end to end, except a portion a towards the middle, which admits the
driving pulley and apparatus in connection with it; bare two tee grooves to
receive the screws by which the several pieces are attached to the bed A.
The gun barrel E to be bored, being first correctly turned on its exterior
surface, is placed in the bearings F, which are fixed by the strips c and screws
-d to the bed A. The driving pulley D, see detached views, Figs. 7 and S,
.does not work on the barrel E, but runs freely on the tube G fastened in the
bearing H, which is secured to the bed by strips and screws. On the
barrel E is secured, by the carrier I and screws e, the two half busies f, by
which it is caused to revolve. The projecting arms of the carrier I come
in contact with the studs g* screwed to the face plate J, which latter is
fastened to (by screws g) and revolves with the pulley D. The bearings
F, through which the barrel E is passed, are bushed, so that various sizes
of barrels may be bored by the same machine. In boring double barrels
it is necessary to employ bushes of the shape K, shewn in Fig. 9, so
that the centres of the two barrels may be brought alternately in the

page_text: centre line of the machine by removing the balance bar h from one side
to the other of the opening i L are two drills or cutters, the mechanism
in connection with both which being similar, it is necessary only to explain
it in connection with one; the drill passes through a guide M, and at
its other end takes on to the centre where it has an ordinary carrier
screwed on to it, see detached view, Figs. 5 and 6. The projecting ends
of the carrier are in contact with the studs j. screwed to the plate k,
which latter is attached to a cone plate 1. This cone plate is in connection
with the conical friction ring m, which is fixed to the bush n, from and to
which it is adjustable by the screws o, so as to have friction sufficient to
prevent the drill L from revolving by the resistance of the cutting, as is
hereafter more fully explained. The bush is fastened to the slide N by
screws 2. and has passed through it the centre g, which supports the end of
the drill cutter L. O is a ratchet wheel, the upper part of which terminates
in a handle ; it is loose on the shaft P. but is fastened by the studs to an
elongated slot in the lever Q, which latter is pinned to the shaft P. A
stud u, attached to the slide N, carries the catch u, the upper end of which
takes into the ratchet wheel O, and the lower end projects below so as to
come within the influence of the studs. At 2 is a pin, screwed to the
arm 2 of the slide N, and around it is placed a caoutchouc spring 3, which
is also attached to the lever Q. To the other end of the slide N is fixed the
bearing R carrying the worm wheels w, spindles 4, and rollers 5. On these
latter are placed the friction brakes 6, which are brought together or sepa-
rated by the right and left screws a, cut on this end of the shaft P. S is the
propeller screw, passing through and working into the worm wheels w; it has
a bearing T (fastened to the bed A, and has keyed upon it the worm wheel U,
worked by the vertical worm and shaft V, on the lower end of which is keyed
the worm wheel W, worked by the worm and shaft Y and pulley Z On the
standards B is placed the shaft 7, having on each end a pulley S contected by
straps with the pulleys Z, and in the middle a pulley 9. Rotary motion
being imparted to the machine by a band passing round the pulley D placed
in the middle of the bed A, the gun barrel E to be bored is caused to revolve.
The band is continued down and round the lower pulley 9, causing it and the
shaft 7 also to revolve, and by means of the pulleys 8, worms Y and V, and
wheels Wand U, the screws S at each end of the machine are also made to
rotate. If, now, by pulling the handle the brakes 6 be tightened up on the
rollers 5, the worm wheels w will be prevented from turning and will act as
nuts to the screws S, and the slides N and drill cutters L will then be moved
forward so as to bore the barrel while revolving. If through want of oil

page_text: applied to the drill cutter, or the breaking of a cutter, the resistance of the cut
should overcome that of the friction between the cone plate / and ring m, the
drill cutter would be carried round with the barrel, and in doing so one of
the studs would strike the lower end 1 of the catch, and liberate it from
the ratchet wheel O. The spring 3 would then pull over the lever Q, and so
unscrew the brakes 6, and allow the rollers 5 and worm wheels w to rotate,
and thus the forward movement of the slide N and of the drill cutters L
would be suspended. The slide N should then be withdrawn, taking with it
the drill cutter L, so as to allow the insertion of a lubricating pipe into the
barrel E, the lubricant from which could be forced up by a pump or other
convenient means. It will thus be seen that the forward motion is not only
self-acting but self-arresting, this latter function being accomplished at the
time when, if the forward motion were continued, either the barrel or some
part of the machine would be injured. When the barrel is pierced from end
to end, the drill cutter is worked at one end only, the other being removed,
and the lubricating material is introduced at the other end by means of a
small tube entering the barrel, so as to facilitate the removal of the
cuttings.
Fifthly, improved machinery for shaping projectiles is represented by the
Drawings in Sheet 3, in which Fig. 1 is a plan, Fig. 2 a side, and Fig. 3 a
front elevation; Figs. 4 & 5, detached views. A is the bed, supported by
standards B, and having on its upper surface two longitudinal vee grooves C,
in which slide the table D, propelled by the screw E and nut F. On the
right hand end of the screw E are pulleys a and b of different diameters,
driven by crossed and open straps with strap guides c, worked by the strap
lever G, as in a planing machine. At the left-hand end of the machine is a
train of wheels H for imparting motion from the screw E to the grooved
shaft I, and from it to the bevil wheels J and transverse shaft K, on which
latter are placed the worms d, working into the worm wheels 6. L is the
dividing headstock frame bolted to the table D. The worm wheels e work
freely on the spindles M, but are attached to the levers, see Fig. 2, at both
ends of which is a detent g, taking into the retention discs N, which are keyed
to the spindles M. is a series of forks with curved points, by which, when
the detents come in contact with them, they are iifted out of the notches in
the retention discs N, which leaves the worm wheels e to revolve freely on the
spindles M. The forks h are fastened to the frame O, which is secured to
the bed A, and are adjustable in the circular slots i. On the other end of the
spindles M (see Fig. 2) are the face plates, with ratchet wheels P at the
back, in which the catches k take. The catches / work on eccentric studs

page_text: on the levers Q, by which they are raised from or lowered into the teeth of
the ratchet wheels P. mare jointed rods for connecting the ratchet levers Q
with the vibrating lever R, the lower end of which, as the table D traverses,
when cutting, comes in contact with the inclined spring lever S by which it is
moved. Trepresent the projectiles under operation, having a cylindrical endn
for the convenience of applying the carrier o. They are held between the
centres of the dividing headstock L and adjustable headstock U, and above
them are placed the cutting tools p in the tool holders V. The points of
the cutting tools are shewn of great width as for finishing, but for roughing
out are made with angular points in the ordinary manner. The cutting tools
are adjustable vertically by the screws for projectiles of various diameters,
and may all be moved simultaneously by the cross shaft r and worms & acting
upon the worm wheel t fixed to the screws q; or the worm wheels t can be set
to work freely on the screws q, and the tools may then be raised or lowered
separately by applying a handle to the squares u; they may also be traversed
across by the screw on the slide X, which may be effected by hand or by
self-acting means. The tool holders V and vertical slides W are carried by
the cross slide X, which has two vertical projections w that bear against the
front surfaces of the uprights a, being held in position by the strips y. The
uprights Y are bolted to the bed A, and are connected together at the top by
the stay Z. At are two brackets and pins to form joints for the upper
end of the connecting rods 1, their lower ends taking on the eccentrics 2
on the eccentric shaft 3; by this means the cross slide X and tools are
alternately lowered on to the work and raised therefrom, as is here-after
explained. On the right-hand end of the eccentric shaft 3 is an inter-
mittent cam 4, worked by the retention lever 5.
To the latter is fixed the bevil wheel 6, worked by the bevil wheel 7 on the
shaft 8, ou the other end of which is a second bevil wheel 9, worked by the
segment wheel 10, keyed on the shaft 11. On the right-hand end of the.
guide screw E is the worm 12, working the worm wheel 13 (loose on
the shaft), the front face of which is grooved to receive the stops 14, which
act alternately against the sides of the strap lever G (which is keyed to the
shaft), so as to shift the strap, and thus change the direction of motion of
the table, the length of its stroke or traverse being determined by the
distance apart of the stops 14, which is regulated according to the length of
the projectiles to be shaped. Rotary motion being imparted to the machine,
the projectiles are made to traverse longitudinally by the guide screw E, and
obtain rotatory motion from the train of wheels H. The cutting tools p being
then set to their work, a spiral cut is made along the projectiles as they pass

page_text: under and revolve, and on reaching the end of their traverse the cross slide
and tools are raised by the eccentrics 2. The detents g coming in contact
with the forks h will then be lifted out of the notches in the retention disc N,
and the vibrating lever R coming at the same time in contact with the
jointed incline S will cause the ratchet wheels Q to turn a division, so as to
present another face or side of the projectiles to be operated upon. The
driving straps will then be shifted by the lever G, and the projectiles will
be traversed backwards. The detents are pressed by their springs 15 into
the next notch now brought opposite to them, and the vibrating lever R
is restored to its former position by the spring 16. In this manner a
succession of cuts is made on the several sides of the projectiles, in
preference to finishing one side before proceeding with the next.
Sixthly, improvements upon part of the Invention described in the Speci-
fication of Letters Patent granted to me, and dated April 23rd, 1855, being
improvements in machinery for turning barrels; they are represented in
Sheet 4. Fig. 1 is a plan; Fig. 2 a front elevation; Figs. 3 and 4, end
elevations; and Fig. 5, a detached view on an enlarged scale. A is the
bed; B, the standards; C, the headstocks; 1) is a train of wheels for
communicating notion from the spindle e to the guide screw F; G is a
traversing carriage, on which is the duplex slide rest H, with the two
'cutting tools i, which are independently adjustable, longitudinally by the
upper slides and screws j, and transversely by the lower slides H. The
latter are worked by a right and left screw, I, J, that in front being
worked by the tubular screw J, and that at the back by screw I. The
tubular screw J has keyed to its front end the grooved disc l, with projecting
handles m. The back screw I, the front plain end of which passes through
the tubular screw J, has keyed to it, in front of the grooved disc 1, the plain
disc n. These two discs 7 & n may be united together by the bolt o, or
disconnected from each other. If united together, a handle applied to the
square P turns both screws I, J; if not so united, it would turn only the back
screw I, whilst the front screw J might then be turned separately by the
-projecting handles m of the grooved disc l. K is another train of wheels for
transmitting motion from the guide screw F to the grooved shaft L placed at
the back of the lathe; at M on the slide rest is a bearing N, in which is
placed the bevil wheel O keyed on and traversing along the grooved shaft L,
and gearing into the bevil %, k, on the vertical shaft Q. Ris a worm; also on
the vertical shaft Q, working into the worm wheel S on the right and left
screw I, J, on which it works loosely, but to which its action may be im-
parted by means of the conical clutch U, which is keyed to the screw I. On

page_text: the upper end of the vertical shaft Q is another bevil wheel V gearing into
one W on the transverse shaft X, and passes through the bearing p, and ends
in a conical hole, into which may be thrown the conical clutch Y keyed ou
the transverse shaft X, by which means the motion may be imparted to or
suspended from it. On its other end the worm Z is keyed, working into the
worm wheel, keyed on the vertical right and left screw r. The concentric
stay s is fastened to the traversing carriage G, and has a rectangular opening,
in which works a lower die t, which has also a rectangular opening to receive
the upper die . The upper and lower dies t, u, by the action of the vertical
right and left screw 7, will be made to approach or recede from each other, so
as to adjust themselves to the varying diameter of the barrel to be turned.
The gun barrel being placed in the lathe, and rotary motion imparted to it
in the ordinary manner, the following actions will take place simultaneously:
The cutting tools i will traverse longitudinally along the barrel o, and will
recede horizontally, whilst the dies of the concentric stay & will recede
vertically from the lathe centres. If the barrel be operated upon from
breech to muzzle, these actions will be reversed. The three actions will
proceed simultaneously unless any of them be suspended by disconnecting
either of the clutches U and Y.
-:
The lathe is described and shewn in the Drawings for turning barrels of
a taper form, but the ordinary form of barrel may be produced by imparting,
by means of a cam, a varying rotary motion from the guide screw F to the
shaft L, which would correspondingly vary the second and third actions above
mentioned. The requisite taper is acquired by the relative proportions
existing in the train of wheels K, imparting motion from the guide screw F
to the shaft L, and which may be varied at pleasure.
Having thus fully described the nature and particulars of my said Invention,
and the manner of carrying the same into practical effect, I desire it to be
distinctly understood that I do not confine myself to the exact details, as such
may be varied or modified without departing from the principle thereof; but
I claim, as herein described, and shewn in the Drawings,-
First, the improved mode of arranging and constructing the breech piece,
and introducing the charge, as applied to ordnance and small arms.
Second, the improved construction of double barrels for rifled and smooth
bore guns.
Third, the improvements in the construction of projectiles, and their
application to ordnance and small arms.
Fourth, the improved machinery for shaping projectiles.
Fifth, the machinery for shaping proiectiles.

page_text: And, sixth, the improved apparatus having the concentric stay for turning
barrels.
In witness wliereof, I, the said Joseph Whitworth, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the within-named
Joseph Whitworth, in the presence of
E. J. HUGHES, Patent Agent,
Manchester.