Ethan Allen's Patent 30109

September 25th, 1860

  • Key Idea

    A metallic cartridge with a localized projection (lip) to contain the primer, reducing material use while improving strength and reliability.

  • Patent claim

    The invention claims a metallic cartridge constructed with a projecting lip for holding the fulminate, as described, to improve performance and safety.

Note : At first glance, the lipfire cartridge seems a strange development. The rimfire cartridge was already on the market and is much more practical. The first reason for this development is that Ethan Allen wanted to develop a cheaper cartridge that used only one-eighth of the expensive fulminate since this only needed to be in the lip and not over the entire circumference of the case base as with the rimfire cartridge. The second reason is that Ethan Allen thought he could make a stronger cartridge case. Manufacturing techniques in those days were not very advanced and it was not uncommon for the bottom of a rimfire cartridge to crack or expand when fired. With the lipfire cartridge this risk was significantly reduced, which was a big plus, especially for the larger calibers.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ETHAN ALLEN, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN METALLIC CARTRIDGES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 30,109, dated September 25, 1860.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ETHAN ALLEN, of Worcester, in the county of Worcester, in the State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and Improved Mode of Constructing Metallic Cartridges; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and letters marked thereon, in which drawings—

Figure 1 is section through the center of a shell of a metallic cartridge; Fig. 2 is a view of the rear end of same; and Fig. 3 is a side view of a finished cartridge.

The nature of my invention consists in constructing a projection or lip on a metallic cartridge for the reception of a fulminate.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction:

A are the sides of the metallic shell; B is the rear end of the same; C is the projection or lip; and D is the bullet.

By confining the fulminate to the projection C, I thereby save about seven-eighths of the expense of this compound, and lessen the liability in the same proportion of blowing off the cartridge-end, which often occurs in exploding those in common use. I also make a stronger head, or end, to the cartridge, which obviates the difficulty of the swelling back of the head of the cartridge, as is common in other modes of construction.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim therein as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is—

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is—

Constructing a metallic cartridge, with a projection or lip, for the reception of the fulminate, substantially in the manner and for the purpose above set forth and described.

ETHAN ALLEN.

Witnesses:
HENRY C. WADSWORTH,
GEORGE W. FAIRFIELD.