ARMS AND ORDNANCE, AND IN THE PROJECTILES TO BE USED THEREWITH."
Year: 1860

page_text: ARMS AND ORDNANCE, AND IN THE PROJECTILES TO BE USED THEREWITH."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION. left by the said Peter Rector Smith at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
15th October 1860.
I, PETER RECTOR SMITH, of Essex
Gentleman, do hereby declare the
.
Street, Strand. County of Middlesex.
nature of the
nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ARMS AND ORDNANCE. AND IN THE PROJECTILES TO BE USED
THEREWITH," to be as follows, that is to say:
The object of the present improvements is, first. to construct small arms of
greater strength and durability than any hitherto known without additional
weight, and to render them more convenient to handle; and, secondly, to
improve the flight of projectiles, by changing the form and course of the rifle
grooves, and altering the form of the projectiles to be used from those hitherto
adopted.
With regard to small arms, I make the barrel outwardly gradually to taper
in a straight line from the brecch, to the muzzle, and enclose it within four
longitudinal steel ribs or rods, extending nearly the whole length of barrel, and
Price S1

page_text: fitting close to its surface. These ribs or rods are placed at suitable angles
from each other, and are firmly bound to the barrel together with a tube for
the ramrod (which latter runs into the stock) by a suitable number of steel
bands and fastenings, whereby the whole length of the barrel is rendered
stronger and less likely to twist than those hitherto in use, and the necessity of
a long stock avoided. The stock is made of iron or steel, and so skeletoned
out at the butt end, as to leave a bar handle across the bottom for convenience
of handling. The other parts of the stock, where possible, are made hollow,
so as to combine lightness with strength.
The twist of the grooves in the interior of the barrels or bores of guns are
greater in number in my Invention than are found in other rifles in present
use. The grooves themselves are deeper than usual, and of a triangular
shape.
My projectiles are made longer and more tapering in the conical part from
the body to the point than "conical" balls usually are, and their eminences
or projections which correspond in shape with the rifle, grooves in the
barrels or bores of guns used, extend only a short distance on the cylindrical
body of the projectile. The interior of these projectiles are hollowed in shape
similar to their exterior, with the exception of the eminences or projections.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Peter Rector Smith in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
13th April 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, 1, PETER
RECTOR SMITH, of Essex Street, Strand. County of Middlesex, Gentleman.
send greeting.
о
WHEREAS Her Most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent. bearing date the Fifteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-fourth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself. Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Peter Rector Smith, Her special licence that T. the said Peter Rector
Smith, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as 1. the said
Peter Rector Smith, 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. nse.
exercise, and vend. within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS

page_text: IN FIRE ARMS AND ORDNANCE. AND IN THE PROJECTILES TO BE USED THEREWITH,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Peter Rector Smith, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or
one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, 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 Peter Rector Smith, do hereby declare
the nature of my 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, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon, the same letters marking the same parts
as they occur in each Figure.
The object of the present improvements is, first, to construct small arms of
greater strength and durability than any hitherto in use, and that without ad-
ditional weight, as well as to render them more convenient to handle; secondly,
to improve the flight of projectiles in large and small arms, and the mode of
making them; and, third, to substitute a new form for the blade of the bayonet,
as well as to render the fixing of this weapon more convenient, and when
"fixed" more secure.
With regard to small arms, I make the barrel of the gun three feet in length,
and outwardly to taper slightly for about eight inches, then for about four
inches the taper increases, and from thence to the muzzle the taper is but
trifling. Four steel or iron ribs or rods are made to fit closely to the external
surface of the barrel, and are placed at equal distances from each other.
These ribs or rods extend along the barrel to nearly its whole length; at the
breech end they pass under the breech band into the stock, and at the muzzle
end they terminate about two inches from that extremity, and there serve to
give a firm holding to the socket end of the bayonet when fixed." Between
the two upper ribs or rods the hind sight lies, and between the two lower, a
tube for the ramrod is placed; these ribs or rods are secured in their places on
the barrel by four steel or iron bands, which have their inner surface made to
correspond with the external surface of the ribs or rods; the barrel between
the ribs and the ramrod tube, as shewn in Figs. 3, 5, and 6. Of these bands
the hinder or breecli one passes over the end of the stock, over the breech ends
of the ribs, barrels, and ramrod tube, and serves to bind them all firmly together.
This breech band is secured to the stock by a screw on either side, and has
upon its upper surface a projecting portion, which constitutes a part of the
hind sight, as seen in Figs. 3 & 5. The fore or muzzle end band serves to

page_text: bear the fore sight with its sliding bar, and gives attachment to a spring for
securing the bayonet when fixed." The other two bands are alike and
require no particular explanation beyond what has already been said and shewn
in Figs. 6 & 7. I place the fore sight on the fore or muzzle band, and on
a moveable bar or slide, in order to be moved to the right or left, as may be
required for the purpose of adjusting the line of sight; and the hind sight 1
fix on the upper surface of the breech band, as before observed, and lies forward
flat on the surface of the barrel, and in that position indicates the range of one
hundred yards. The body of this hind sight is a suitably formed solid metal
bar, hollowed at the under surface to correspond with the surface of the barrel
where it lies, and of suflicient length to admit of any ordinary degree of range.
Its fore end terminates in a circular eminence on its upper side, and is of
suflicient height, when lying on the barrel, to get the range of a hundred
yards. Around this circular portion or eminence on the sight bar, a groove or
notch is cut of suflicient length for the purpose of sighting at the highest as
well as at the lowest elevation. The other end of the sight bar is of a hinge
shape, with a curved shoulder on either side for the purpose of traversing over
the quadrant surface of the raised cheeks on the breech band. The hinge end
of this sight bar works in an opening or partial box, which is mortised and
cut out of a solid eminence, wrought upon the breech band for that purpose.
The fore part of this partial box is cut down to the surface of the band, to
allow the sight bar to lie forward flat upon the barrel, whilst the hind part is
closed up to the level with the upper surface of the sight bar when lying flat
upon the barrel.
At the extreme height of each quadrant check, a slight
elevation is left to prevent the sight bar from passing back beyond the perpen-
dicular. A bolt passes through these cheeks, and the hinge end of the sight
bar, on which the latter turns, and binds the extreme end of the hinge-shaped
part backwards and downwards against the back part of the partial box, which
is holiowed out suitably to receive it. By this arrangement the curved
shoulders of the sight bar are made to bind upon the quadrant surfaces of the 1
cheeks; the sides of the hinge end against the corresponding sides of the
cheeks, and the hinge end, as before stated, against the back part of the partial
box; the friction being thus equailed at any elevation, the sight bar is main-
tained at any required height.
As regards the interior of the barrel, the rifle grooves are cut of a triangular
or V-shape, and are made to pass around at an angle of about twice and a half
in a three feet barrel, or about once around in fifteen inches. This system of
rifling applies also to ordnance. The stock is made of malleable iron or steel,
with the butt end so skeletoned out as to leave a bar handle across the extreme

page_text: but end, for the greater convenience of handling, as shewn in Figs. 1 & 2.
The breech end of the barrel locks into the stock by means of a hook on the
breech extremity of the barrel, and a catch in the corresponding end of the
stock, and, when drawn down is secured by the breech band, as before stated
and shewn in Figs. 1, 2. & 3; whereby a complete and secure fastening of
the barrel to the stock is effected.
The projectiles for small arms are made a little more than three calibres in
length. The body or cylindrical portion of the ball is a little over one and
a half calibre, and the remainder tapers to a sharp point. On the body of
this projectile, are triangular eminences corresponding with the triangular or
V-shaped grooves in the barrel and taking the same twist. The base of the
solid ballis of a saucer" shape. The shell projectile is externally of the
same shape as the solid ball," but internally it is suitably hollowed for the
reception of the explosive material.
My mode of making the projectiles is by means of a mould constructed in
the following manner:- bore a solid cylinder of any suitable metal to about
one half through of the size of the body of the required bullet, and from the
other end bore another longitudinal opening to meet it, but of a larger size.
To fit and work in these openings, I have moveable bolts, the larger when
home reaches to the centre of the cylinder, and in the end of which I form the
cavity for the taper portion of the projectile. The other bolt, when about half
way in, leaves an open space suitably grooved for the formation of the body of
the bullet, the saucer shape at the base of the ball" is given to it by the end
of the bolt, as seen in Fig. 11. The manner of working this mould is by first
placing the bolts in their proper positions, and then after filling the mould with
molten metal, to drive the other smaller bolt home, by which the ball" is
driven out at the other end. The bullet is then completed by means of a swedge
which is somewhat similar to the mould. The base end of this swedge is formed
with a flat end of the circumference of the body, and extending from it is a cylin-
drical portion to correspond with the larger cavity in the bored cylinder. In the
end of this cylindrical portion a cavity is formed to suit the taper extremity
of the bullet. When this bolt or cylindrical portion is pressed home the
greatest circumference of its cavity concentrates with the cylindrical opening
from the other end, and with it forms the entire space for the reception of the
bullet. The cylindrical opening which receives the body of the ball" is
grooved similar to the barrel of the gun. In swedging the bullet, the
swedge is placed on its base, the "ball" inserted and driven home by a
bolt with its end corresponding with the form of the base of the ball," and
when the bullet is home a few blows with a hammer on the end of the driving

page_text: bolt, or by some other suitable means completes the swedging operation,
when the base of the swedge is removed and the ball driven through by
the driving bolt.
The bayonet, according to my invention, has the blade twenty inches long.
with a gradual increase of width from the socket end to within seven inches of
the point and from thence the blade gradually narrows and terminates in a
lancet shape point. The blade is of a quadrangular form, a transverse section
of which is shewn at Fig. 24; the broadest part being from side to side, and
the angles are sharpened by the interstices being hollowed out. The socket
part of my bayonet is formed to fit over the end of the barrel, the ends of the
four ribs or rods, and the spring down against the muzzle band; and is. there
secured when "fixed" by. a side spring with a hook at its extremity. Thus
the ends of the ribs serve to keep the socket from twisting, and the catch on
the spring hooking in a notch in the socket prevents the bayonet from being
drawn off. The. bayonet is liberated by pressing. down the spring with the
left hand and unfixed" with. the right. By this arrangement the "fixing"
and "unfixing" of the bayonet is affected in one motion.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Figure represents a side view of the small arm. gun entire according to
my Invention, at a scale of one-third of its full size.
A, A, indicate the barrel with the ribs or rods B, B, upon it, and, the way
they terminate at the muzzle end to give a firm hold to the socket of the
bayonet; C, C, shew the ramrod tube; D, D', D", D, are the four bands
with their attachments; E is the hind sight bar bearing on its fore end the
circular eminence a, around the upper circumference of which..the groove is
cut for sighting, and b is its hinge end attachment, better seen at Fig. 3; F is
the fore sight on the muzzle band; G, G, indicate the metal stock with its
opening H; Fig. 2. represents a longitudinal section of Fig. 1, and is intended
to shew the relative thickness of the barrel, and the, course of the grooves on
the interior, the mode of fastening the barrel to the stock, as indicated by d,
and the hollow portions of the latter, as marked by ", " Fig. 3 is a full
size figure of the parts represented, and is designed to demonstrate the mode
of connecting the hinge end of the sight bar with the breech band, the manner
of obtaining the elevation of the sight and. the binding purposes of the breech
band; Fig. 4. shews the hind sight bar detached; Fig. 5 is a transverse
section of the gun at full size through the hind band, in which is shewn the
bore of the barrel with its rifled grooves, the cut ends of the ribs or rods, the
ramrod tube, the, hind or breech band, and a portion of the partial box for the

page_text: hinge end of the sight bar to work in Fig. 6 represents a transverse section
through the second band, as situated on the gun, and Fig. 7 shews the same
band detached; Fig. 8 represents the full size appearance of the "hall"
according to my Invention, with the raised triangular eminences marked g, g:
Fig. 9 shews the base of the bullet with its saucer-shaped cavity and triangular
eminences Fig. 10 is a transverse section at the muzzle to shew the grooves
therein. Fig. 11 is a longitudinal section of the projectile mould, with its
different parts in their places, and shewing the cavity for forming the "ball":
h, he indicate the body of the mould; i, the larger bolt with its cavity to form
the taper end of the bullet, and j. the smaller bolt with its end shaped to give
the required form to the base of the "ball" is the orifice for pouring
the molten metal into the mould. and 1. 1. are the air holes: Figs. 12. 13, &
14 are representations of the detached parts of the same mould; Figs. 15
& 16 are transverse sections of the ends, of the body of the mould, and are
intended to shew the difference in the size of their orifices: Figs. 17, 18, & 19
are the detached parts of the swedge; m, m, represent the body of the swedge;
n, the base holt, and o, the driving holt; Figs. 20 & 21 are transverse sections
across the ends of the body of the swedge to shew the difference of the orifices;
Figs. 22 & 23 are two views of the bayonet: the former figure shewing the
form of the face of the blade together with the two openings for receiving the
ends of two of the ribs, and the opening between them for the catch of the
spring, and the latter the two other openings for the ends of the other two
ribs, and the bulge for receiving the spring: Fig. 24 is a transverse section
through the body of the blade of the bayonet, and shews the four sharp angles
or edges: Fig. 25 is a transverse section through the lower end of the socket
of the bayonet formed to fit as before described.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may he used or carried into
effect, I would observe. in conclusion. that I do not confine or restrict myself
to the precise details or arrangements which I have described or referred to, as
variations may he made therefrom without deviating from the principles or
main features of this my said Invention: but what I consider to be novel
and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent. is.-
First, the system of constructing small arms entirely of metal in the manner
and for the purpose herein-before described.
Second, the system of rifling both small arms and ordnance, as herein-before
set forth.

page_text: Third, the form of the projectiles, and the mode of making them in the
manner, and for the purpose herein-before described.
And, fourth, the form and construction of the bayonet, and mode of fastening
when fixed," as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I. the said Peter Rector Smith, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of April, One thousand eight hun-
dred and sixty-one.
(L.S.) PETER RECTOR SMICH.