IMPROVE- MENTS IN KNAPSACKS AND POUCHES FOR THE USE OF SOLDIERS AND OTHERS
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Money Carter, of Somerset House, Monmouth,
in the County of Monmouth, Captain Unattached and Adjutant of the
Royal Monmouthshire Militia, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
Sealed the 19th September 1860, and dated the 26th March 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Money Carter at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
26th March 1860.
I, JOHN MONEY CARTER, of Somerset House, Monmouth, in the County of
Monmouth, Captain Unattached and Adjutant of the Royal Monmouthshire
Militia, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN KNAPSACKS AND POUCHES FOR THE USE OF SOLDIERS AND OTHERS," to
be as follows:-
My Invention relates to knapsacks and pouches, with the slings and belts
for the same, intended for the use of soldiers and others.
The knapsack is capable of adjusting itself to the various forms of men's
backs more completely than those hitherto in use, although it may be fully
and tightly packed, whereby its weight and that of the "kit" are made to rest

page_text: more perpendicularly on the shoulders and less on the weak part of the back.
This is effected by making the framework of the knapsack concave on the
side that presses against the back of the wearer, and straining the covering
over it. The slings or straps of the knapsack are capable of carrying the rifle
or musquet on the shoulder at "the slope," whereby the soldier or other
person can have the free use of his hands while walking. For this purpose a
metal holder is fastened on the knapsack strap that passes over the shoulder
of the wearer, and a metal hook on the outside of the trigger guard of the
fire-arm.
The improvement in pouches consists in giving access to the interior,
wherein the cartridges are contained at the end instead of at the top, as usual.
This is effected by raising the end which is hinged, and by making the sides
which cause the opening (which are also hinged) capable of sliding parallel to
the front and back of the pouch. The belts of the pouch are made to carry
the weight equally on both shoulders of the wearer by attaching two belts to
the pouch (placed behind the person), which belts pass over the shoulders
to the front, and are connected again to the pouch. These belts may be
dispensed with, and the quantity of leather on the front of the body reduced
by the use of two straps with a metal loop at one end of each. These last
mentioned straps may also be used as substitutes for the knapsack straps and
bars, should either of them be injured, by the addition of an eye to fit the
screw at the bottom of the knapsack.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Money Carter in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
25th September 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
MONEY CARTER, of Somerset House, Monmouth, in the County of Monmouth,
Captain Unattached and Adjutant of the Royal Monmouthshire Militia, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-third year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said John Money Carter,' Her special license that I, the said John Money-
Carter, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,, the

page_text: said John Money Carter, 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 KNAPSACKS AND POUCHES FOR THE USE OF SOLDIERS AND
OTHERS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John Money
Carter, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, 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 John Money Carter, 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
statement, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to
the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
My Invention of "Improvements in Knapsacks and Pouches for the Use
of Soldiers and others" consists in the modes herein-after described of con-
structing and arranging the parts of knapsacks and pouches, with the slings
and belts for the same, intended for the use of soldiers and others. The
knapsack is capable of adjusting itself to the various forms of men's backs
more completely than those hitherto in use, although it may be fully and
tightly packed, whereby its weight and that of the "kit" are made to rest
more perpendicularly on the shoulders and less on the weak part of the back.
This is effected by making the framework of the knapsack concave on the
side that presses against the back of the wearer, and straining the covering
over it. The slings or straps of the knapsack are capable of carrying the rifle
or musket on the shoulder at the slope," whereby the soldier or other person
can have the free use of his hands while walking. For this purpose a metal
holder is fastened on the knapsack strap that passes over the shoulder of the
wearer, and a metal hook on the outside of the trigger guard of the fire-arm.
The improvement in pouches consists in giving access to the interior
wherein the cartridges are contained at the end instead of at the top, as usual.
This is effected by raising the end which is hinged, and by making the sides
which cause the opening (which are also hinged) capable of sliding parallel to
the front and back of the pouch. The belts of the pouch are made to carry
the weight equally on both shoulders of the wearer by attaching two belts.

page_text: to the pouch (placed behind the person), which belts pass over the shoulders
to the front, and are connected again to the pouch. These belts may be
<lispensed with, and the quantity of leather on the front of the body reduced
by the use of two straps with a metal loop at one end of each. These last
mentioned straps may also be used as substitutes for the knapsack straps and
bars, should either be injured, by the addition of an eye to fit the screw at the
bottom of the knapsack.
Having thus stated the nature of the said Invention, I will proceed to
describe more particularly in what manner the same is to be performed by
reference to the accompanying Drawings, in which are represented the
improvements above referred to.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 represents the framework of the knapsack, which is of oblong form.
On the side of the frame, which is intended to be placed next the wearer's
back, are five bars a, a, slightly concaved, they are also dovetailed and screwed
into the edges of the longer sides of the frame, and across these bars on their
inner side are tightly stretched eight strips of cane b, b, being passed through
small holes in the shorter sides of the frame. The bars a, a, and strips of
cane b, b, together serve to prevent the kit from coming in contact with the
wearer's back. At each corner of the inside of the frame is fixed a small
bar of iron c; Fig. 2, which is passed through the wood for strength. To
cach of the bars on the lower corners of the pack is connected a leather
strap d, and to each of those on the upper corners a short strap and buckle e,
whereby the kit and great coat can be tightly pressed together. The bars c
are so arranged as to bring the straps d, d, into a diagonal position, as shewn.
All the outside of the frame, except the side farthest from the wearer's back,
is tightly covered with black painted canvass, and in the inside about half way
down on each of the shorter sides is tacked a flap f of the same material, so
that the linen and such like articles may be separated from the great coat.
On the upper and outer edge of the pack is attached a flap g, likewise of
painted canvass, and of sufficient size to cover a well-filled pack. This flap
with three short straps and buckles forms a secure covering.
Fig. 3 represents the mode of suspending the pack; h, h, are two leather
straps, which are increased in breadth at the parts which cross the shoulders
of the wearer. The upper ends of the straps are secured to the pack by
passing through buckles and keepers sewn on to the pack, as shewn, and the
lower ends are looped to admit the passage of the iron bars i, i; these iron

page_text: bars are susceptible of horizontal movement on the screwed pivots k, k,
Figures 4 and 5, fixed in the iron plates 1, 1, and they are screwed up to the
plates and tightened, as required, by means of the nuts m, m, in the form of.
thumb screws. The bars are so curved that they may set close to the body in
front and nearly so elsewhere; the plates 1, 2, on the lower side of the back
being adjusted accordingly, I cover the main portions of the bars with leather
to prevent them from staining the clothing; Fig. 4 shews a side view of one
of the bars; and Fig. 5, an underneath plan of the pack, shewing the ordi-
nary position assumed by each bar; Fig. 6 represents (full size) a metal
holder m and hook n, by means of which a rifle or musket can be suspended
on the shoulders at "the slope," without having occasion to use the hand.
The part o of the holder m is made so as to receive the strap h (Fig. 3) and
the part so as to receive the hook n, which has to be connected to the
trigger guard of the fire-arm. In order to prevent the fire-arm from slipping
off the shoulder, two or three layers of narrow strips of leather are sewn on
to the outer side of the strap, as shewn at q, Fig. 3.
Fig. 7 represents my improvements in pouches, which consist in giving a
more ready access to the interior by making an entrance at the end of the
pouch; is an angular projection (forming one end of the pouch, turning on
a hinge s, which is capable of being opened outwards, as shewn in the Figure,
when required to give access to the interior of the pouch, and of being moved.
into the position, shewn by dotted lines, when required to close the end of the
pouch. The angular projection or end r slides between two layers of tin on
the back and the same on the front of the pouch, and is prevented from
coming out altogether when moved from its dotted position to that indicated
by full lines by the edges of the tin at the inner end of the angular projec-
tion, and the corresponding part of the pouch being rounded so as to
prevent the former from passing out of the slides formed by the said two layers
of tin; s is a lid fitting over one portion of the pouch; and t is another lid
for another portion thereof; u is the space for the packages of ammunition
divided in the centre by a slide made of tin, which is intended to be with-
drawn when the whole of the ammunition is expected to be required; v is a
compartment for an oil bottle; and w, one for gun rags; x is a magazine for
copper caps on the top of the lid; s, a strap, secures the "cramp." The
pouch is covered with leather, and has a large flap or leaf, shewn at Fig. 8,
similar to the ordinary soldier's pouch; at the end of it there is a door of the
same size as the sliding end r, as shewn by dotted lines at y, at Fig. 7, which
when entirely raised permits the hand to enter the pouch, and when the hand

page_text: is withdrawn the said door instantly falls upon and closes the entrance. When-
ever the pouch is not in use the whole of the angular projection or end can
be concealed by its being pushed into the position, shewn by the dotted lines,
when the door or covering y falls down, and is then fastened and closed over
the end of the pouch by means of a strap and stud z. The sharp edge of the
pouch is rounded by the addition of a strip of leather sewn on, as shewn at
Fig. 9, for the purpose of preventing objectionable pressure from the pouch
when worn.
The pouch is worn behind immediately below the waist, and on
the side nearest to the wearer are two straps of double leather (to lessen the
motion of the pouch) with buckles, as at A, A, Figures 8 and 9, for the
belts, by which the pouch is suspended from the shoulders. Fig. 10 represents
the belts for carrying the pouch; B, B,,are straps, which are intended to pass
over the shoulders. The ends C, C, are connected to the buckles of the pouch,
and the surplus strap passes between the strap A, Fig. 8, and the pouch
spaces being made for their passage. These straps B, B, are each fastened in
front to a ring, to which are fastened two other straps with buckles, one B
crosses the lower part of the chest, and the other E is connected to the pouch;
Fig. 11 represents one of two exactly similar straps for carrying the pouch
when the knapsack is worn. By passing the knapsack strap h, (Fig. 3),
through the metal loop F, and buckling up the pouch by the strap G (as with
the belts previously described), the pouch will be conveniently carried, and by
its weight will improve the suspension of the knapsack on the shoulders. As
these straps support the whole weight of the pouch, the other straps shewn at
Fig. 10, can be dispensed with when the pouch and knapsack are not to be
separated. By their passing between the back of the wearer and the pack,
the knapsack straps alone appear in front of the body, which in warm weather
will prove of great benefit to the soldier. The straps can also be used to carry
the knapsack, the eye H being made so as to fit the screw pin k, (Figures 4
and 5.) The ordinary waist belt, as worn by the soldier and which carries his
bayonet when placed over the pouch belts behind, makes the carriage of the
pouch more compact.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, with the best means with which I am
acquainted for carrying the same into practical effect, I do hereby declare that
I do not confine myself to the precise details, berein-before described, as these
may be slightly varied; but what I claim as of my Invention is,--
First, the construction of knapsacks, with the framework concave on the
side that presses against the back of the wearer and the covering strained over
it, for the purpose described.

page_text: Secondly, the straps for suspending the knapsack shewn in Fig. 3, and the
rifle or musket holder shown at Fig. 6.
Thirdly, the construction of pouches with the entrance to the interior at the
end, as herein-before described.
And, lastly, the straps for suspending the pouch equally on both shoulders,
shown at Figures 10 and 11.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Money Carter, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, the Twenty-second day of September, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty.
JOHN MONEY CARTER. (L.S.)
Witness,
JOHN PRENDERGAST,
Serj. Royal Monmouthshire Militia,
Monmouth.