IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ARMS AND ORDNANCE FOR THE PURPOSE OF INSTRUCTING SOLDIERS, VOLUNTEERS, AND OTHERS, WITH A SHORT RANGE ONLY, TO FIRE WITH PRECISION OVER LONG RANGES, AND FOR OBTAINING A CORRECT REGISTER OF SUCH SHOOTING BY SHEWING THE RESULT OF EACH SHOT
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick Robertson Aikman, Lieutenant-Colonel,
Commanding 2nd City of London Rifle Volunteer Corps, for the Inven-
tion of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ARMS AND ORDNANCE FOR THE PURPOSE OF
INSTRUCTING SOLDIERS, VOLUNTEERS, AND OTHERS, WITH A SHORT RANGE ONLY,
TO FIRE WITH PRECISION OVER LONG RANGES, AND FOR OBTAINING A CORRECT
REGISTER OF SUCH SHOOTING BY SHEWING THE RESULT OF EACH SHOT."
Sealed the 31st December 1867, and dated the 3rd July 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said. Frederick Robertson
Aikman at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 3rd July 1867.
I, FREDERICK ROBERTSON AIKMAN, Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding 2nd
City of London Volunteer Corps, do hereby declare the nature of the said'
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ARMS AND ORDNANCE FOR THE PURPOSE OF
INSTRUCTING SOLDIERS, VOLUNTEERS, AND OTHERS, WITH A SHORT RANGE ONLY,
TO FIRE WITH PRECISION OVER LONG RANGES, AND FOR OBTAINING A CORRECT
REGISTER OF SUCH SHOOTING BY SHEWING THE RESULT OF EACH SHOT," to be as
follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in fire-arms intended to be
used in rifle and ordnance practice, and consists in forming the rifle or piece

page_text: in such a manner that long range firing may be successfully practiced over
short ranges.
The improvements in the rifle consist in boring out the barrel of an ordinary
rifle to the same thickness at the breech as at the muzzle, thereby forming a
cylinder, and inserting therein a second and smaller barrel, and cutting away
a sufficient portion of the under part of the larger or outer barrel to allow the
smaller one to work through the same. The outer or half barrel is fixed to
the stock and remains always stationary, while the smaller or inner one is
bolted to the metal abutment fixed in the stock at the rear of its breech by a
pin or bolt, which forms a hinge or centre of radiation. The breech of the
smaller barrel carrying the nipple on which the hammer strikes is made
sufficiently large to be flush with the outer or half barrel, the breech of which
is removed to make room for the same. The breech of the smaller barrel
rests against the metal abutment before mentioned fixed in the stock of the
rifle, which is curved or otherwise formed to fit or work upon a corresponding
concave portion of the breech of the said smaller barrel resting against it, and
which carries a tenon or tongue, which passes into a groove formed to receive
.it in the abutment, and is made fast by a pin or bolt which forms the hinge or
centre of radiation. The larger or half barrel is fastened to the stock by
means of three or more bands, and a sufficient portion of the under part of the
stock is also cut away to allow the small barrel to pass through. The band
nearest the muzzle is elongated underneath to any desired length, the two
sides thereof being made parallel, forming an even slot with a solid end or
basement, through which I pass a screw turned by means of a milled head,
and at the end of this screw I form a collar which is fitted into and works a
square slide or lump, which is bored to receive the muzzle of the small or
inner barrel, so that when the screw is turned this slide or lump working in
"the slot of the elongated band elevates or depresses the small barrel. To this
elongated band are fixed two tongues or clutches, running along and let into
the sides of the stock, and fastened thereto by means of screws, thus firmly
holding the elongated band in position. On the face of this elongated band
I engrave a scale to correspond with the scale of sight, so that when the
sighting is raised the small barrel is lowered or depressed proportionately by
means of the screw and slide before described, and regulated by the scale or
the elongated band, thus keeping the inner barrel always point blank to the
: target irrespective of the upper barrel being raised for the long range, so tha
when practising with the sighting fixed, say for 1,000 yards over a range o
only 100 yards, if the sighting and firing for the long distance be correct, the
bullet will strike the small or graduated target at the short range.

page_text: These improvements are equally applicable to breech and muzzle loaders.
In applying my Invention to ordnance I form a model gun of the ordinary
shape of metal, wood, or other substance, so that a small steel or other metal
gun or rifle barrel can be placed therein, and by means of screw or other.
suitable mechanism raise and lower the same, as in the case of the rifle,,
keeping it always point blank to the target at short range, while the sighting
or laying for the long range is regulated by the wooden gun or outer case.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Frederick Robertson Aikman in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 3rd January 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FREDERICK
ROBERTSON AIKMAN, Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding 2nd City of London
Rifle Volunteers Corps, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Third day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight bundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Frederick Robertson Aikman, Her special licence that I, the said
Frederick Robertson Aikman, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Frederick Robertson Aikman, 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 FIRE-ARMS AND ORDNANCE
FOR THE PURPOSE OF INSTRUCTING SOLDIERS, VOLUNTEERS, AND OTHERS, WITH. A
SHORT RANGE ONLY, TO FIRE WITH PRECISION OVER LONG RANGES, AND FOR
OBTAINING A CORRECT REGISTER OF SUCH SHOOTING BY SHEWING THE RESULT OF
EACH SHOT," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Frederick
Robertson Aikman, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should par-
ticularly 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Frederick Robertson Aikman, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is

page_text: to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in fire-arms used in rifle and
ordnance practice, and consists in forming the rifle or piece in such a manner
that longe range firing may be successfully practiced over short ranges.
The improvements in the rifle consist in boring out the barrel of an
ordinary rifle to the same thickness at the breech as at the muzzle, thereby
forming a cylinder, and inserting therein a second and smaller barrel, and
cutting away a sufficient portion of the under part of the larger or outer barrel
to allow the smaller one to work through the same. The outer or half barrel
is fixed to the stock and remains always stationary, while the smaller or
inner one is bolted to the metal abutment fixed in the stock at the rear of
its breech by a pin or bolt, which forms a hinge or centre of radiation. The
breech of the smaller barrel carrying the nipple is made sufficiently large to
be flush with the outer or half barrel; the breech of which is removed to make
room for the same. This breech of the smaller barrel rest against the metal
abutment before mentioned fixed in the stock of the rifle, which is curved or
otherwise formed to fit or work upon a corresponding concave portion of the
breech of the said smaller barrel resting against it, and which carries a tenon
or tongue which passes into a groove formed to receive it in the abutment,
and is made fast by a pin or bolt which forms the hinge or centre of radiation.
The larger or half barrel is fastened to the stock by means of three or more
bands, and a sufficient portion of the under part of the stock is also cut away
to allow the small barrel to pass through. The band nearest the muzzle is
elongated underneath to any desired length, the two sides thereof being made
parallel, forming an even slot with a solid end or basement, through which I
pass a screw turned by means of a milled head, and at the end of this screw
I form a collar which is fitted into and works a square slide or lump which is
bored to receive the muzzle of the small or inner barrel, so that when the
screw is turned this slide or lump working in the slot of the elongated band
elevates or depresses the small barrel. To this elongated band are fixed two
tongues or clutches running along and let into the sides of the stock, and fastened
thereto by means of screws, thus firmly holding the elongated band in position.
On the face of this elongated band I engrave a scale to correspond with the
scale of sight, so that when the sighting is raised the small barrel is lowered
or depressed proportionately by means of the screw and slide before described
and regulated by the scale on the elongated band, thus keeping the inner
barrel always point blank to the target irrespectively of the upper barrel being
raised for the long range, so that when practicing with the sighting fixed, say,

page_text: for one thousand yards over a range of only one hundred yards, if the sighting
and firing for the long distance be correct the bullet will strike the small or
graduated target at the short range.
These improvements are equally applicable to breech and muzzle loaders.
In applying my Invention to ordnance I form a model gun of the ordinary
shape of metal, wood, or other substance, so that a small steel or other metal
gun or rifle barrel can be placed therein, and by means of screws or other
suitable mechanism raise and lower the same as in the case of the rifle, keeping
it always point blank to the target at short range, while the sighting or laying
for the long range is regulated by the wooden gun or outer case; or the same
principle may be applied for practicing over long ranges by raising the muzzle
of the rifle above the point blank line of firing, or the rifle barrel may be
made a fixture in the sham and be used as an ordinary gun, the sighting
thereof being regulated by the inner barrel.
In the accompanying Drawing where similar letters appear in different
Figures they refer to the same parts.
EXPLANATION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1 shews a side elevation of my improved rifle; Figure 2, an under
plan of the same; Figure 3 shews the smaller barrel detached; Figure 4,
the breech against which the small barrel comes in contact, shewing the pin
or radiating centre of the smaller barrel; Figure 5, an end view of the same;
Figure 6 shews the elongated band with the screw passed through its base-
ment working in the collar of the slide which receives the muzzle of the inner
or smaller barrel and raises and depresses the same.
a is the stock of the rifle; b, the outter or half barrel or cylinder which
contains the inner or smaller barrel c, shewn in Figure 1, depresses d, the
elongated band, through the basement of which the screw e turned by the
Dillbead e¹ is passed, and works the slide f up and down in the slot of the
elongated band d; g,g, are the slide clutches or tenons fastened to the elongated
band, and screwed to the stock of the rifle a to keep the said elongated band
firmly in position; h is the concave portion of the breech of the inuer barrel
resting against and working on the convex portion i of the abutment; j is the
groove formed in the abutment to receive the tenon or breech of the inner
barrel; k is the pin or bolt passing through the abutment and tenon of the
breech of the smaller barrel forming the hinge or centre of radiation thereof;
is the nipple on the breech of the inner barrel; m is the sighting scale
corresponding to the divisions or scale on the elongated band, shewn at
Figure 6.

page_text: By using this rifle when practicing the slightest error in pointing or firing
can be detected, and the extent of the error calculated by many in connection
with the rifle two targets one above the other, and sighting the sham barrel
so that when pointed correctly at the bull's-eye of the upper the bullet from
the inner or smaller barrel will strike the lower target; the effect of this will
be that any wrong adjustment of the rifle when firing will be shewn by the
bullet striking above or below, or to the right or left, according to the
or crossing of the two lines of sighting and firing.
I claim as my Invention, the arrangement of an outer sectional cylinder
and inner barrel, and mode of adjusting the same as herein described for
practicing long range firing over a short range, only the outer or false barrel
or sectional cylinder used for sighting only being raised or elevated as
required, while the inner barrel is proportionately depressed and kept point
blank to the target, which target the bullet will strike if the sighting
and aiming of the outer or false barrel or cylinder for the long range be
correct.
I also claim the application of the principle as herein described to ordnance
and heavy guns for practicing long range firing over a short range only, or
for ordinary long range firing.
And whether the rifle barrel be placed at the fore part or at the back, in
the centre, or at the sides, or in any other position in the sham gun, or affixed
thereto, or to an ordinary gun in any position whatever, I still claim as my
Invention the using of a small rifle barrel in connection with a sham gun, or
affixed to an ordinary gun, first, for facilitating gun or rifle practice over
long or short ranges on land or water; secondly, for economising ammunition;
thirdly, for ascertaining the result of each shot, the whole of the result being
obtained with a comparatively harmless weapon.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick Robertson Aikman, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Third day of January, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
F. R. AIKMAN, (L.S.)