Lords Patent Loading-Chamber

Lord's patent loading-chamber, 1862. '...a most simple, durable, and inexpensive little contrivance recently invented and patented by Mr. W. B. Lord, of the Royal Artillery. It has for its object the deposition of the charge of powder used in either rifles or smooth-bored guns directly within the chamber of the arm, without allowing the interior of the barrel to be strewed with loose grains, as is inevitably the case when loading in the ordinary way...Every grain of gunpowder crushed between the internal surface of the barrel and the exterior of the projectile or wad serves, with the grease, wax, or condensed moisture, to assist in forming a paste which becomes hardened and condensed by each successive discharge, and, mixed with such particles of lead as are rubbed off during the rapid passage of the charge through the barrel, greatly interfering with the accuracy of the shooting and forming a fruitful cause of "stripping." In addition to a clean gun, which it appears to ensure, perfect freedom is secured from the danger of a burst powder-flask from breech ignition taking place. In this age of rifles and riflemen few who take an interest in firearms and their belongings will not see at a glance the value of this simple invention'. From "Illustrated London News", 1862. Creator: Unknown. (Photo by The Print Collector/Heritage Images via Getty Images)