"Crude" Conversions?

[hawkeye2]

I picked up a really old rifle a few years back. It is in fairly good shape for the age. I don't know if it was originally a flintlock or not but the stock does show signs that it has had work done on it over the years. It's basically a hardware store gun. The powder drum is six sided and looks like someone filed it by hand to get it that shape and crudely done. Still shoots excellent. It clover leafed at 25y first time out. I'd like to replace the drum some day and went as far as to buy replacements but I'd really like one that matches the gun and doesn't look so modern.

Moonman, that drum has been on that gun for what? 160 years or more. It's an important part of the gun's history and unique too. Personally if someone were to offer the gun to me for sale I would be willing to pay more to have the drum that has been part of the gun all that time rather than a recent replacement. I'm just the type of person who would go out of my way to point it out to everyone. Not only does it work but from your experience it sounds like it works very well.

 

[mooman76]

It shoots well but I don't entirely trust the threads on the drum. It didn't have a nipple on it when I bought it and not sure I got a good fit with the nipple I got. It's a safety concern and that is why I didn't shoot it more than I did.

 

[hawkeye2]

Given the possibility of bad threads and that you don't trust it then a new drum is a legitimate repair. There guns were made to be used and if they need a repair to keep them shooting that's OK, just save the old parts and document the work.

 

[Feltwad]

The drum and nipple was the most common way of flintlock conversion to percussion .These guns are part of our gun heritage and should not be returned to flintlock
Feltwad
Drum and Nipple Conversions

 

[Mean Gene]

:metoo: That was my feelings too about converting back to flint a hundred plus year old gun, the conversion that was done is a part of that guns history.
JMHO Gene