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The Centre-Fire Cartridge With an Anvil (Boxer, 1866-1869) - History and How It Works
Beginner
About 15 minutes
Instructions
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Read Boxer's patent
Read Boxer's patent
His first claim is for "constructing the anvil to cartridges for breech loading fire-arms with shoulders or projections, so formed as to abut against the edge of the percussion cap, and thus to prevent its entering the cap to such an extent as to cause the ignition ... except when the cap is acted upon by the striker of the gun" (US 91,818, dated 29 June 1869; patented in England 13 October 1866).
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How it works, in principle
How it works, in principle
In a centre-fire cartridge the cap is in the middle of the base. When the gun's striker dents the cap, it is crushed against the anvil and fires, and the flame passes into the case. Boxer shaped the anvil so that, until the striker hits, it cannot be pushed far enough into the cap to fire it.
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Why it mattered
Why it mattered
A cartridge that only fires when struck by the gun is safer to carry, ship and handle. Centre-fire cartridges with the cap in the middle of the base became the usual design for rifles and pistols.
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Honest limits
Honest limits
From the text of US 91,818 (1869). Boxer's patent also describes the construction of the case; that is not covered here. This page gives no dimensions, compositions, charges or making steps, by design.
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