AN IMPROVEMENT IN TARGETS FOR RIFLE PRACTICE
Year: 1883

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Morris at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd June 1883.
"
RICHARD MORRIS of Blackheath in the County of Kent "AN IMPROVEMENT IN
TARGETS FOR RIFLE PRACTICE"
It is often convenient, when spaco is limited, to carry on rifle practice oither
with full sized or with miniature projectiles at reduced ranges, yet retaining the
same sighting as would be required for ranges of full length. My invention relates
to an adjustable target for this purpose. I provide an upright frame or bar of
iron or steel at the lower part of which I fix a plate or arm on which is a bull's
eye or spot to be aimed at, this being capable of being varied in size according to
the particular range determined for the sighting, so that it may represent at a
short range the visible appearance of the bull's eye at the long range. I provide
another plate or arm which can be slid up or down the upright frame or bar and
fixed at any required height thereon. This plate or arm carries a removeable card
or plate which is intended to be hit by the projectile. The upright frane or bar
is graduated with divisions signifying various ranges. As an example of the use
of this target, I will suppose that the marksman stands at 25 yards distance from
it, and that he desires to practise for a range such as 500 yards. He slides the
moveable arm up the frame or bar to the division marked 500 for 25 yards
distance, and, sighting his rifle for 500 yards, he aims at the fixed spot at the foot
of the Target. If he sights and aims correctly his projectile will strike the card
or plate on the moveable slide. There may be several sets of range divisions on
the target to suit different distances at which the marksman may stand from the
target
.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Richard Morris in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
22nd December 1883.
RICHARD MORRIS of Blackheath in the County of Kent "AN IMPROVEMENT IN
TARGETS FOR RIFLE PRACTICE"
It is often convenient, when space is limited, to carry on rifle practice either
with full sized or with miniature projectiles at reduced ranges, yet retaining the
same sighting as would be required for ranges of full length. My invention relates
to an adjustable target for this purpose, as shewn in elevation by Fig. 1 and in
sectional plan by Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings. I provide an upright
framo G at the lower part of which I fix a plate I on which is a bull's eye or spot
to be aimed at, this being capable of being varied in size according to the
particular range determined for the sighting, so that it may represent at a short
range the visible appearance of the bull's eye at the long range. I provide another
plate K. which can be slid up or down the upright frame and fixed at any required
height thereon. This plate K carries a removeable card or plate which is intended
to be hit by the projectile. The upright frame is graduated with divisions
signifying various ranges. As an example of the use of this target, I will suppose
that the marksman stands at 25 yards distance from it, and that he desires to
practise for a range such as 500 yards. He slides the moveable arm up the frame
or bar to the division marked 500 for 25 yards distance, and, sighting his riflo
for 500 yards, he aims at the fixed spot at the foot of the target. If he sights
and aims correctly-his projectile will strike the card or plate on the moveable slide.
There may be several sets of range divisions on the target to suit different
distances at which the marksman may stand from the target. The franie is
preferably provided with projecting sides H having inwardly projecting flanges h
to catch the fragments of the projectiles and prevent them from dispersing.
Instead of employing a plato K, obviously paper or other penetrable material may
be fixed at any required height on the sides H.
Having thus described the nature of my invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I claim:-The construction of target for rifle practice
substantially as herein described.
In Witness whereof I the said Richard Morris have hereunto set my hand and
seal this Nineteenth day of December in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty three.