Fresh charge

[Homesteader]

I'm not entirely sure where to ask this, so I figured "General" would be a good place. Hope I'm right.

I've read about men like Wild Bill firing their pistols off every morning and reloading so they'd have good fresh charges for the day. Prudent, I guess.

What about their grandfathers? Did they also fire their flintlocks every morning, clean them, and reload them for the day? Seems like a flinter is more susceptible to moisture and mis-fire than a smokewagon, but I've never read about them doing that. It also seems that keeping a single shot charged, clean, and ready to go would be even more important.

I'm curious what (if anything) you all have read / think about this. Do you think Boone, Wetzel, Kenton, etc. fired their arms at least once a day, or did they leave them loaded until they needed them? Somewhere in between? What would you do?

Thanks for your opinions.

 

[tg]

I think I would leave it loaded unless conditions presented a possibility of moisture entry, that is how I hunt now and it works, I have not read any primary sources dealing with this, other than in the caplock era one party in the west had to remove the caps during the heat of the day or they might go off.

 

[Desert Rat]

That's an interesting question. Wild Bill and his palls were smart folks I'm sure but it does sound like a practice that would have been passed down. I think it would depend on where you were located and what you were doing. If you were deep in indian territory firing a shot in your camp every morning might not be prudent, but then it might be plain stupid to not make sure your firearm is going to go bang when you want it to. I'd think with their expierence and everyday use of the guns they probably had a pretty good idea when to pull or shoot a load. Like perhaps after a good rain, or maybe a foggy morning.

 

[Blizzard of '93]

Wild Bill had 6 shots U know, if first one did not boom then roll another one over.

 

[noworries]

....other than in the caplock era one party in the west had to remove the caps during the heat of the day or they might go off.

Hadn't heard that one before...that would highly suck!

 

[TANSTAAFL]

Wild Bill had 6 shots U know, if first one did not boom then roll another one over.

I would make that five shots, anyone who carried a SA C&B (or cartridge) revolver of the era with six was courting disaster.

 

[almrl]

I would make that five shots, anyone who carried a SA C&B (or cartridge) revolver of the era with six was courting disaster.

It would seem that if you had to carry such a revolver for "serious social work" a fully loaded weapon would trump considerations of safety. You "might" have a mishap but the other guy is "definitely" trying to do you harm.

But then, what do I know?

Old Coot

 

[nvbirdman]

That is a very interesting question, and just to throw some more popcorn into the pan, we've all heard of wallhangers that somebody caps the nipple and finds out it was still loaded and will fire on the first try.

 

[dlemaster]

I once saw a quote from the 1880's that said "If you need six pills in the wheel rather than five, you better get the hell out of there." I always thought that was interesting, wish now I could remember who said it, it might have been Bill Tilghman.

Regards, Dave

 

[almrl]

I can see your (or his) point at the poker table in the Long Branch, but at Gettysburg or Five Forks?

Or, even at the OK Corral. "OH, Wyatt, be sure to leave a chamber empty when we go meet the Clantons. You wouldn't want to get hurt."

Old Coot

 

[shmrck1]

"OH, Wyatt, be sure to leave a chamber empty when we go meet the Clantons. You wouldn't want to get hurt."

:rotf: :rotf: :rotf:
snake-eyes :hatsoff:

 

[FTW]

Bill's life depended on his skill with those navy colts.One missfire at the worst possible time would cause one to reload every day.If your life depended on your shooting ability,that much pratice is necessary.

 

[Todd Rickard]

The sixth chamber was never loaded. A man carried a bill rolled up in that sixth chamber to cover his funeral expenses.

As for fireing the flintlock to reload it... I think one would pull the load, if he had the option. Saves on lead, and even the old powder could be used for something (fire lighting, medicinal etc.). Our forefathers did not waste.

 

[flintlockmdj]

I have to agree with FTW. Wild Bills life depended on his pistols and the expense of firing them daily was a small price for insurance.

 

[CrackStock]

I would not want an extra hole in my leg on the way to visit the Clantons. If 5 won't do the job, then I'll carry an extra pistol or shotgun.

Actually, the Remingtons can be loaded with 6 if the hammer is down on on a notch between the cylinders. The Colts do not have these extra notches.

CS

 

[Dave Rosenthal]

I took out my Walker Colt and the hammer can be made to go in-between two nipples...but when bringing the cylinder into battery one could use both hands to make sure that you get a positive lock-up! The New York reload (having a second, third or even a fourth gun, ala Jose Wales) seems to still be better than a hammer down on a cap :rotf:

 

[paulvallandigham]

The problem with all single action replicas is that the springs, and internal parts are not designed for " fanning" or other fast fire techniques. Even modern SA revolvers have to have parts replaced before they can be used for speed shooting events, with any effect. The Walker Colt Replicas( I surely hope you would not be shooting any original in good enough condition to be shot!) are strong enough to allow you to turn the cylinder while cocking the hammer, and not worry that the next chamber will be indexed correctly assuming the gun is in good condition. Use the between chambers safety notch when shooting. But load 1, skip 1, load 4, cock, and lower the hammer on an empty chamber just to be sure when you decide to holster the gun. A .44 cal. ball in the leg and foot is not an aid for walking.

 

[Dave Rosenthal]

amen Paul! Remember the news clip of the cop with the Glock .40 doing a "safety demo" in front of a class of school kids? He said he was the only one in the room that had enough brains to handle the Glock .40, until he holstered the gun and pulled the trigger and the gun went BANG :shocked2: . Nuff said :youcrazy: . All the best, Dave