Cap Loader

I want to make a simple cap carrier/loader from heavy leather.

Anyone have any suggestions for making one or possibly a photo of the ones you made or bought? I briefly saw one on TV and it looked to be crescent/round shaped. Is yours carried around your neck or attached to your shooting bag or loading block?

All suggestions greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[musketman]

When I'm shooting muskets that require a percussion cap, I did use a leather capper...

It is a simple tear-drop style sewn (by the point of the tear-drop) to the inside flap of my shooting bag to keep them dry...

Just lift the flap to cap, drop the flap and shoot...

It holds 12 caps...

 

[RussB]

When I'm shooting muskets that require a percussion cap, I did use a leather capper...

It is a simple tear-drop style sewn (by the point of the tear-drop) to the inside flap of my shooting bag to keep them dry...
Just lift the flap to cap, drop the flap and shoot...
It holds 12 caps...

Great idea! Now, why didn't I think of that?

I have fiddeled around with so many "cap dispensers" I've lost count. From Ted Cash's best, fancy, pretty models, to Wal-Mart's bargan brand plastic's. If it wasn't the lip, it was the spring!
I finally settled on a leather strip, perhaps 2" wide by 6" long that I hung on a leather lace around my neck, then on my bag strap, then in the bag....It seemed to always be at the wrong place, at the wrong time.
Experiment with several more shapes and attachment locations wasn't much better...caps are a pain! Just one more reason to prefer a flinter....maybe?

Now it would seem there is hope from the magnificant mind of the Musketman. :what:

I like my cappers, but I hate the "itty bitty" caps that my big fat clumsy fingers have to deal with.
Musket caps are a bit better, even seem to stay in the pre-punched leather straps better, but you still have to deal with those caps with your fingers.

MM, I this just one more reason why you get paid the big bucks!... maybe?
What do ya mean ya don't get paid! :relax:

I guess I better try it before I get too fired up about it, but it shor nuf do sound good up front. Thanks!
Russ

 

Musketman
Under the flap is a great idea and I like the tear drop shape idea too.:thumbsup:

I found one in my sketchbook that is a semi-circle with the edge of the holes opened up to be able to pull the caps off. Its shape just seems a bit bulky. As RussB said too, I can't really feel the caps when handling them so a holder/dispenser should do the trick for me.

Thanks!

 

[musketman]

The flap has always been there, it is used to keep the things in the bag dry and in place, so why not caps in a leather capper?

It will always be in the same place, every time, it won't get tangled with the other things hanging around your neck and can be made to order with just scraps of leather and a hole punch...

 

[bdarin]

I have a book called "Making Muzzleloader Accessories" that shows a leather capper. It's round, leather, has holes around the circumfrence about 1/8" in from the edge. There's a slit from the edge to the hole to facilitate cap removal. I hope I've explained it clearly as I don't have a way to post a picture.:sorry: If you're REALLY interested, email me and I'll send you a scan. :RO: :thumbsup:

 

I've used that type for years. I prefer to have another piece of leather, 1/4" thick, but solid without holes, sewn & glued wiht contact cement to the back of the one with holes. The stitch line is just inboard of the holes. This stiffens the capper and allows a firm seating of the cap on the nipple. Capping the nipple with this capper is faster than with a steel or brass capper as when the wheel is filled (holds about 24 caps if 2 1/4" in dia), you can push it on anywhere wich barely looking at the rifle. Capping becomes almost instinctive gaining sight of the quarry while capping. IT is with this type of capper, I was able to load my 14 bore rifle in 8 seconds using a paper ctg.

 

MM, bdarin, Daryl

All good ideas. I made one in the tear drop shape but was not happy with the way I did the holes. I simply had too many too close together and when I put a cap in, the adjacent hole got too tight for the neighboring cap. No sweat, plenty of leather and a bit more knowledge now!

So my new game plan will be to pick a useful shape, I like tear drop or circular, punch all clean holes first, and stitch it to a backing piece of leather or leather strip, kind of like a welt. I think I can omit the slits or having the edge of the holes open for the caps to slide out.

I can barely feel the caps, and even when I do, I can't handle them very well. So I need something that I can fill with caps on a flat surface by just pressing them into the capper's holes.

No neeed for a pic, got plenty of good ideas. Thanks all. I think a flinter may be easier to use when fingers are not so sensitive anymore. It's like MM says, "Got Flint?" ha!

 

Thanks to Musketman and others for suggestions.

I played around a bit and ended up making this crude capper. It is made from about 1/8" thick leather (not sure of its actual weight)but it is as thick as the caps are deep. I skived the edge down a bit to make the leather a bit more flexible by the caps. All I have to do is just tip up all the caps on a flat surface, and being able to see the caps through the 3/16th holes, just kinda press them into the loader. They are are in tight and do not shake out. I use no hole slots but load them on the firearm by using a peeling motion. It's functional. I can't feel the caps very well when it's warm so I know when it's cold, there is no way I would not lose more of them than I actually end up using. This thing should resolve that.

I carry my shooting bag on my right side and was afraid of attaching it to the flap, fearing that it may be awkward to get the rifle in position to use it. Although the pistol would probably work OK. So I have it tied to the left strap of my bag along with my block, short starter and ball bag, each on their own leather thong. All except the ball bag are kept in the shooting bag until time I need them.

 

[musketman]

Very nice Frank... :redthumb:

 

[Stumpkiller]

Nice rosette, too!

If you poke a hole in the center you can thread a couple pre-cut patches to it. Shame not to use that open area. ::

 

Ha! Thought about making a real big capper and tying a sandwich to it! :crackup:

 

[Phlytyer]

Thanks Smoked. New to this game and I truly like your leather capper vs. the "sticks" I have seen. This will be a definite in my possibles bag.

Just happen to have some leather that will work great. :thumbsup:

 

Phlytyer

Good deal. Hope it works for you. Let me know if you care too.