A percussion muzzleloader relies on a good supply of percussion caps, & if they get damp they will not work. Unlike a flintlock that can still be used even if the lock should break, the percussion is not as reliable. The only way to use a percussion once you have no caps, is to remove the nipple & fire it holding a fuse in your hand, or by using a linstock. But if the gun has a snail drum as the one below has, this method is dangerous, because the fire through the vent is blown backwards towards the shooter, rather than sideway like a flintlock.
Many people assume that mountain men adopted the percussion arm as soon as it was available in the 19th century, but this is not the case. Anyone in a wilderness situation kept to their flintlock as it is far more reliable.
Note the back action lock & the snail drum on my Samuel Marsden 19th century .74 calibre fusil.
Note the "wedding band" that was popular on 18th century flintlock fusils.
Love your blog, and the wife just recieved a .54 caliber CVA flinter from her grandfathers estate. Kind of getting interested in it myself, and I was just wondering if you could explain how to use a flintlock when the firelock fails.
ReplyDeleteThanks,
Doc in Alaska
Hi Doc, good to hear you are getting interested. I will post an article for you now.
ReplyDeleteRegards.