Gas Check History?

[Ricochet]

When was the gas check invented? By whom?

[floodgate]

The gas check was invented by Ideal's John H. Barlow, in his patent No, 847,149, issued in March, 1907, and six bullets so cherried (#308284, #308290, #308291, 319295, #375296 and #321297) were introduced in Ideal Handbook No. 17 of the same year. The original design had a convex base, and several raised ribs to grip the bullet; it is stated that the check was supposed to drop off the bullet base at the muzzle (like a modern sabot or shotgun wad).

floodgate

[Ricochet]

Thanks!

[Glen]

Barlow's idea to put a little copper cup on the bottom of the bullet was derived from some experiments carried out by Dr. Franklin Mann in which he inserted brass screws in the bottoms of some of his cast bullets and was getting some really impressive accuracy. The GC was cheaper and easier to install.

[Ross]

The patent also refers to the rounded bottom of the cup, promoting obturation.
I suppose that with smokeless powder the slower ignition allowed more gas blow-by to "solder"(Barlow's term) the barrel, but was mostly misdiagnosed as base fusion from the hotter powder.
Thanks for the patent number, Floodgate.
Cheers from Darkest California,
Ross

[454PB]

I have an old box of Sierra .30 caliber gas checks, and they are convex. I don't know how old they are, but the price is still written on the box, and they were $1.75.

[Buckshot]

...............I read someplace but didn't bother to check further for any other facts or evidence, but apparently the British had been doing some experimenting with "Protected base bullets" and Dr. Mann became aware of it along with some details. of it's benefit.

While many armies worldwide still were armed with grease grooved lead boolits, or patched lead boolits until the mide to late 1880's or so, the 43 Spanish ammunition captured in Cuba during the Span-Am war was brass jacketed and bore arsenal manufacturing headstamp dates of 1877 and 1878.

...............Buckshot

[45 2.1]

The gas check was indeed done first in England. I used to have a book detailing the chronology (lost it in a house fire along with about half my gun library). Barlow copied the British.

[Ricochet]

Interesting history, thanks!

Screws, huh? That might be interesting to experiment with now.

[tanstafl10]

maybe a thumbtack would work, just a thought if you are going to experiment..Ricochet. :-D

[Ricochet]

Now we're getting down to brass tacks!

[w30wcf]

John Barlow did receive patent 847149 on the gas check as he designed it.
To see his patent and illustration go to www.google.com
enter: Google Patents
search: gas check for bullets

Interesting History!

w30wcf

[hydraulic]

Buckshot mentioned that old Spanish .43 ammo with the brass plated bullets. That's the one that our troops in Cuba in '98 called the Spanish "poison bullets". The brass would corrode and turn green and our guys thought they were poisoned. There used to be a lot of those show up at the gun shows. I bought a cigar box full of them, years ago, and pedaled them for 50 cents to kids for their shell collections. Haven't seen any rescently. They were made for the old .43 Spanish rolling block Remingtons.

[Son of the Gael]

It is not directly related, but is worthy of mention that the Union Army was using bullets with zinc washers attached to the base as early as the Civil War. The purpose was different, to scrape powder fouling from the bore, but it's one of those things that likely would have contributed to Barlow's invention.

[leftiye]

If you pursued the thumbtack ides, you might experiment with upside gas checks (or-gas seals). Use the pin to hold them on. Maybe cast them onto the bullet (booolllittt???) bases.