Belton flintlock
Encyclopedia
The Belton Flintlock was a repeating flintlock design using superposed load
s, invented by Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
resident Joseph Belton some time prior to 1777. The design was offered by Belton to the newly formed Continental Congress
in 1777, and a number of examples were commissioned and tested.
, with a single lock igniting a fused
chain of charges stacked in a single barrel, packaged as a single large paper cartridge
. Despite commissioning Belton to build or modify 100 muskets for the military on May 3, 1777, the order was dismissed in May, 15, 1777, when Congress received Belton's bid and considered it an "extraordinary allowance". After the war was over, Belton is reported to have attempted to sell the design to the British Army, also without success. Belton then began making superposed load flintlocks, which used a sliding lock mechanism, with the London gunsmith
William Jover, and attempted to sell them to the East India Company
. At least two examples survive, of pistols which utilize four touchholes, and these are housed in the Pitt Rivers Museum
at the University of Oxford
. The Belton sliding lock design was later improved and used in slightly more successful deigns, such as Isaiah Jenning's repeating flintlock rifle.
Superposed load
A superposed load or stacked charge is a method used by various muzzleloading firearms, from matchlocks to caplocks, as well as newer Metal Storm weapons, to fire multiple shots from a single barrel without reloading.-Design:...
s, invented by Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
resident Joseph Belton some time prior to 1777. The design was offered by Belton to the newly formed Continental Congress
Continental Congress
The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates called together from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the American Revolution....
in 1777, and a number of examples were commissioned and tested.
Design
There are no known surviving examples of Belton's gun; in fact, the only evidence of its existence is the correspondence between Belton and Congress. Belton described the gun as capable of firing up to "sixteen or twenty [balls], in sixteen, ten, or five seconds of time". It is theorized that it worked in a manner similar to a Roman candleRoman candle
Roman candle is a traditional type of firework, that ejects one or more stars or exploding shells.Roman candles come in a variety of sizes, from small 6 mm diameter for consumers, and up to 8 cm diameter in professional fireworks displays.Roman candles are banned in some countries due...
, with a single lock igniting a fused
Fuse (explosives)
In an explosive, pyrotechnic device or military munition, a fuse is the part of the device that initiates function. In common usage, the word fuse is used indiscriminately...
chain of charges stacked in a single barrel, packaged as a single large paper cartridge
Paper cartridge
Paper cartridge refers to one of various types of small arms ammunition used before the advent of the metallic cartridge. These cartridges consisted of a paper cylinder or cone containing the bullet, gunpowder, and, in some cases, a primer or a lubricating and anti-fouling agent...
. Despite commissioning Belton to build or modify 100 muskets for the military on May 3, 1777, the order was dismissed in May, 15, 1777, when Congress received Belton's bid and considered it an "extraordinary allowance". After the war was over, Belton is reported to have attempted to sell the design to the British Army, also without success. Belton then began making superposed load flintlocks, which used a sliding lock mechanism, with the London gunsmith
Gunsmith
A gunsmith is a person who repairs, modifies, designs, or builds firearms. This occupation is different from an armorer. The armorer primarily maintains weapons and limited repairs involving parts replacement and possibly work involving accurization...
William Jover, and attempted to sell them to the East India Company
East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
. At least two examples survive, of pistols which utilize four touchholes, and these are housed in the Pitt Rivers Museum
Pitt Rivers Museum
The Pitt Rivers Museum is a museum displaying the archaeological and anthropological collections of the University of Oxford in Oxford, England. The museum is located to the east of the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, and can only be accessed through that building.The museum was...
at the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
. The Belton sliding lock design was later improved and used in slightly more successful deigns, such as Isaiah Jenning's repeating flintlock rifle.