The Century of Inventions of the Marquis of Worcester / from the Original MS., with Historical and Explanatory Notes and a Biographical Memoir

by Marquis of Edward Somerset Worcester

No. XLIV.

To make a key of a chamber door, which to your sight hath its wards and rose-pipe but paper thick, and yet at pleasure, in a minute of an hour, shall become a perfect pistol, capable to shoot through a breastplate, commonly of carabine proof, with prime, powder, and fire-lock, undiscoverable in a stranger's hand.

NOTE.

The rose-pipe must in this case be formed like the sliding tubes of a telescope; that next the wards being furnished with a screw at the inner and capable of holding the whole of them together. A small quantity of detonating powder being first placed within, the pipe may be readily discharged by tightening of the screw.