Cap Boxes/Patch Boxes

[Swampman]

Were they really just covered tallow holes? I've been told by some pretty knowledgeable/well known folks in the hobby that they were normally filled with tallow.

 

[musketman]

Were they really just covered tallow holes? I've been told by some pretty knowledgeable/well known folks in the hobby that they were normally filled with tallow.

The poor-boy rifle has an uncovered tallow hole in the stock, it makes sense to me that the covered ones were for the same thing...

However, now days the patchbox seemed to have taken on another role, to store things like the cleaning jag, extra nipple/flints, ect...

 

[Legionair]

Thats not a bad question....

What was the original purpose for a patch box?

In mine I keep dry flannel patches for cleaning and 1-2 extra flints. There right where I can get at them, and I don't worry about losing them.

I've tried to open mine with greasy fingers, and it isn't easy, but I suppose it's an individual thing.....

Just an opinion....

LEgion

 

[RC]

I heard,the hole was fer grease to put around frizzen to keep water out..covering seems like a good idea..but then, they're on caplocks too...grease fer patches? just what i heard.. RC

 

I think they were used in as varied ways as the variety of men using them. Some of the old longrifles found out west were carrying now dried out but used to be greased shooting patches and a tow worm for cleaning. Some patchboxes had a hole drilled up into the stock from the patch cavity for the storage of the patch worm.
Don

 

[Zonie]

The extensive reading I've done about original rifles seems to indicate that few patchboxes ever held grease. At least that's what the people who have studied and handled them said.

As the patchbox was in use for at least 100 years I must assume it was used for storing important items like spare flints, jaw leather, patches, a screwdriver for the cocks jaw screw?...small things that are indispensable.

This item was refered to as a "Box" in the 18th century and only recently has it been refered to as a Patchbox.
Because they are absolutly necessary for shooting a Caplock, I have no doubts that Caps were stored in the Capbox.

 

[AZ-Robert]

Given the sequence I use to load and fire, I've always thought the butt of the gun was an awkward place to keep your patches. That had me suspecting the "patchbox" might actually have had some other use, but then there is this:

Travels Through the States of North America and Providences of Upper and Lower Canada during the Years 1795, 1796 & 1797[/i], as cited by Joseph Ruckman]The best of powder is chosen for a rifle barrel gun, and after a proper proportion of it is put down the barrel, the ball is enclosed in a small bit of linen rag, well greased at the outside, and then forced down with a thick ramrod. The grease and bits of rag, which are called patches, are carried in a little box at the butt end of the gun.

 

Thanks for the documentation AZ. It is always good to hear from someone who was actually there on any given topic. Swampman, now you don't have to wonder anymore. :winking: Now we have some info to share with our well known knowledgable buddies in case they missed this forum.
Don

 

[mmahlock]

You might find this interesting. In De Witt Bailey's book on British Military Flintlcok Rifles he states that the early Baker was equiped with the "But Trap" that had two compartments, one round for holding greased patches and the other rectangular for holding tools. The later models had the But Trap modified and reduced in size to a single rectangular compartment just for the tools. My sepculation is that carrying greased patches in the Butt Trap proved to be too cumbersome for practical use and getting out patches may have resulted in the loss of tools.

Also the description he gives of the "Ball Bag" worn on the belt in addition to the Cartidge Box was for carrying "loose patched balls"

Hope this is of some value. :hatsoff:

 

[Zonie]

".."loose patched balls"."

That raises an interesting question.

Was this in reference to balls which were loosely contained and were intended to patched at a future time?

Were the balls actually patched and loosely contained and if so, what kept the patches on?

Were the patches loosely wrapped around the ball which may have been loose or restrained?

 

[oomcurt]

Maybe Loreena Bobbitt could provide some guidance here......... :rotf:

 

[Swampman]

Here's a photo of an original 19th c. rifle. As you can see, the patchbox is partially filled with tallow. This gun was hunted with until the 1990s, so it's impossible to know when it was filled. It does look very old.