Firearms – Nipples and guards
Reexamination Certificate
1998-06-26
2001-05-08
Carone, Michael J. (Department: 3641)
Firearms
Nipples and guards
C042S051000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06226916
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention principally relates to muzzleloading antique firearms, and more particularly to ignition systems for percussion cap type muzzleloading antique firearms. Most particularly, the field of the present invention includes such percussion cap ignition systems that essentially eliminate outward flow from the ignited propellent and improvements to such systems. The present invention is also applicable to rarely encountered breach loading antique firearms that use percussion caps.
DESCRIPTIONS OF PERCUSSION CAPS, PRIMERS, MODERN-PRIMERS, AND IN-LINE, MUZZLELOADING WEAPONS
The definition of a firearm is found in 18 USC §921(a)(3) and the definition for antique firearm is found in 18 USC §921(a)(16). Those definitions are followed herein.
Percussion caps are small metallic cups having a coating of ignition source material on their inside bottom. In use, a percussion cap is placed over, and surrounding the end of, a hollow tube, or conduit, that leads to a propellant charge. Percussion caps are ignited by striking the outside of the bottom of the cup and percussively compressing the ignition source material against the surface of the end of the tube. The cups are customarily made of a ductile material such as a copper alloy. These devices have been known since at least 1815.
Two kinds of primers are in use. Both types of primers include small metallic cups containing an ignition source material. Both types of primers are ignited by striking the outside of the bottom of the cup and percussively compressing the ignition source material against a pointed surface called an anvil and both were invented about 1870. The cup of a Boxer type of primer contains an anvil crimped into the cup so that the anvil's point is imbedded into the ignition source material, thus such primers merely need to be held while they are struck. The cup of a Berdan type of primer does not contain an anvil, so such primers need to be held over an anvil while they are struck.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (BATF) of the U.S. Department of the Treasury introduced “modern-primers” with Industry Circular number 98-2 dated Nov. 9, 1997. It appears that the position of the BATF is that in-line, muzzleloading weapons using modern-primers are regulated firearms (as defined in 18 USC 921(a)(3)) because the definition of ammunition found in 18 USC 921(a)(17)(A) includes the word “primer” and the definition of an antique firearm found in 18 USC 921(a)(16) does not include the word “primer.” The Circular does not distinguish modern-primers from the Boxer and Berdan primers that have been essentially unchanged for the past 128 years. The Circular defines an in-line, muzzleloading weapon as “a muzzle loading firearm designed such that the firing mechanism (striker) is located directly behind the barrel” and such that “the striker moves forward in line with the bore of the weapon.” The effect of the Circular includes causing the preferred primary ignition source for in-line, muzzleloading guns not to be modern-primers. The present invention includes the use of percussion caps as the primary ignition source of in-line, muzzleloading antique firearms.
All of the above described primary ignition sources perform the same task in essentially the same manner while using the same materials. To protect the ignitioin source material contained within the cup of each of the above described primary ignition sources from moisture, and the like, a paper like cover is used over the ignition source material (herein called a membrane). All commercially available, primers (and, presumably, modern-primers) are supplied with ignition source mate that is much hotter, when ignited, than the ignition source material supplied in percussion caps. Thus the ignition of propellent, all things being equal, is more difficult when percussion caps are used than when primers (and, presumably, modern-primers) are used.
BACKGROUND
The design and use of muzzleloading antique firearms (muzzleloaders) are well known. Muzzleloaders include (1) a barrel (with an open muzzle and a breach fitted with a plug) that holds the propellant charge and projectile at the breach end; (2) a primary ignition source, such as a percussion cap or flash pan filled with gun powder; (3) a striking device that ignites the primary ignition source either by impacting the percussion cap directly or by directing a spark into the flash pan; and (4) a small passage called a flash port, located at, or near, the breach end of the barrel, that directs the flash from the primary ignition source to the propellant charge. The function of the flash port is twofold, it directs the flash from the primary ignition source to the propellant charge and it prevents excessive back-flash from the burning propellant out of the rear of the barrel Increasing the cross sectional area of the flash port tends to enhance the desirable effectiveness of directing the flash from the primary ignition while tending to increase the undesirable back-flash. Thus the design of a flash port is necessarily a compromise. Excessive back-flash is undesirable both because it reduces the energy imparted to the projectile and because the ejecta poses a hazard to the user and persons near the rear of the muzzleloader. The function of the aforementioned striking device can be effected by passing an electric current through an ignition source or other schemes that might not involve, or appear to involve, a striking.
Herein, the term “percussion lock firearm” is used to encompass all guns using a primary ignition source that is separate from the propellant. Such a primary ignition source includes percussion caps, primers of all types, and flash pans. Also included are such ignition sources when using holders, spacers, disks, buffers or other auxiliary accessories.
Muzzleloaders that utilize a percussion cap as the primary ignition source are conventionally called cap-lock muzzleloaders or cap-locks. In cap-locks, the flash port is generally integrated into a removable nipple that also supports a percussion cap. Cap-locks are widely used by modern day hunters, and are the primary subject of the present invention. A threaded hole in the breach of the barrel of a cap-lock is fitted with a removable nipple that is configured to hold a percussion cap. The nipple supports the cap in a position that allows a hammer like striking device to impact the cap and thus initiate the primary flash.
Many configurations of percussion cap nipples have been introduced that conform to certain standard dimensions. Each of these designs strives to deliver the maximum primary flash into the barrel to ignite the propellant, while limiting back-flash.
The desirable goal of delivering a maximum flash to the propellant suggests a larger flash port would be better. However, a large flash port would allow excessive back-flash, outward through the flash port, of the high pressure gas generated by the burning propellant. Excessive back-flash is undesirable. It poses a hazard due to the presence of hot gasses and flying debris near the operator's face. Additionally, as a result of back-flash, smoke, soot and unburned propellant tend undesirably to accumulate on the mechanisms located near the gun's breach. Further, back-flash allows some of the propellent's pressure, which is intended to accelerate the projectile, to escape, thus undesirably lowering the muzzle velocity of the projectile.
Misfires (propellant fails to ignite) and hang-fires (propellant ignites after a significant delay) are common problems encountered in modern cap-lock muzzleloaders. An accumulation of unburned propellant (soot) in the path of the primary flash contributes to both misfires and hang-fires. In order to maintain the muzzleloader's accuracy, it is desirable to swab the barrel between shots. However, the act of swabbing the bore tends to move soot towards the breach end of the barrel and thus to deposit soot in the path of the primary flash, resulting in a hang-fire or a misfire on the subsequent shot.
Deactivation of the
Buckley Denise J.
Carone Michael J.
McLaughlin James C.
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