"Going Off Half-Cocked"

[roundball]

That old saying lives on today, having its roots back in the days of the Flintlock, and most people knows what it means when its aplied today.

But...what could all the causes have been for such an occurance to be so commonplace that the catch-phrase "Going Off Half-Cocked" became so entrenched back in our history?

 

[biliff]

Probably the muzzleloading era's version of today's excuse for crappy gun handling: "it just went off by itself".

 

[illuveatar]

I imagine that back in the days before the industrial revolution it was commonplace to find a lock mechanism with less than desired tolerances. Either the sear or the tumbler could have been made poorly or damaged such that the gun would fire inadvertently.

I recently added a double set trigger to my flinter and while "tuning" the set screws I found a point where the gun appeared to function correctly. However, about 1 in 10 times I found that at half cock the gun could be bumped or the trigger pulled to allow the hammer to come against the frizzen.

The problem was quickly resolved but I would bet that similar problems have existed since the flintlock was first conceived.

 

[Dphar]

Probably the muzzleloading era's version of today's excuse for crappy gun handling: "it just went off by itself".

Worn or poorly assembled locks are a problem.
Now and then.

Dan

 

[hanshi]

I think it may refer to folks being so caught up emotionally they go out and try to fire the gun not thinking to put it on full cock. At any rate we know what it refers to in modern times.

 

[necchi]

Either the sear or the tumbler could have been made poorly or damaged such that the gun would fire inadvertently.

That's the way I had it figured, maybe not so much made poorly or damaged as just plain worn out tumbler notches and sear, esp the old military surplus guns that many brought back from battle as issue or capture or catalog purchase.

It's been years since I was a NMLRA RO, but there's something about hanging weights from an old musket to check the actual saftey of the half cock yet today.

 

[paulvallandigham]

Until about the middle of the 19th century, all guns and lock parts were made of iron, with little or no control on the quality of the iron used. Those little "Hooks" on the half cock notch simply were not as strong as the ones we find on the steel tumblers used today. And, people still manage to break off these "hooks" today, altho not as frequently with the better locks made and sold in America. :hmm: :thumbsup:

 

[BigDeutscher]

I have always said "Dont go off half cocked"
As in how folks from my area of P.A. Talk.
We tend to cut out words ,that others,find important in their speech.
I can just see to old Germans in the woods Hunting .Suddenly there is a deer in the trail,
Fritz pulls up and sckweezes the trigger.. nothing!...The deer runs off .
Hiemie,smiles and says, to Fritz.........
dummer Kopf...... don't go off half cocked!
Deutsch

 

[Vaino]

I imagine this topic is prompted by your use of a "hammer stall"? :grin: "Don't go off half cocked" could mean don't act in a way that could produce less than satisfactory results or to act in unexpected ways because of a rash state of mind or indulge onesself in an "exercise in futility". "Don't go off half cocked" could also mean that if the trigger were pulled, nothing would happen {hammer wouldn't fall} which is just the opposite of what some "interpret" it to mean. Or...it could mean that the hammer could unexpectedly fall w/ dire results. As to possible reasons for the hammer falling from the half cock position, the reasons in the previous posts are all valid.....Fred

 

[roundball]

As to possible reasons for the hammer falling from the half cock position, the reasons in the previous posts are all valid.....Fred

And the situation is not limited to Flintlocks...most of the same reasons that would allow an accidental drop of a sidelock hammer would apply to both Flintlocks and caplocks given the similarity of the mechanics.
I also think the "going off at half cock" problem is not something that just sprang up during the relatively recent and brief caplock era...

 

[George]

I also think the "going off at half cock" problem is not something that just sprang up during the relatively recent and brief caplock era...

It's much older than that. European, probably at least 17th century, I would guess, and British, of course, which is where we got it.

Pteryplegia or, the Art of Shooting-flying, George Markland, London, 1727

Th' unheeded Muzzle pointed at a Friend
ӬMay instantly unthought Destruction send.
ӬSometimes the Cock may at half-bent go down,Ӭ
True Sportsmen therefore always mount the Gun.

The Pennsylvania Gazette
March 18, 1731
From Lancaster we have also the following melancholy Account, That on the 26th of February, one James Hendricks riding in the Wood, near Susquehanah with his two Sons, in pursuit of Game, as they pass'd in a narrow Path among the Bushes, the Father's Gun (which would fire at half-cock and had no Guard to the Trigger) went off and shot his Son James in the Back.

The Pennsylvania Gazette
October 27, 1768
Amwell (New Jersey) October 17, 1768. And they having discovered a Squirrel on a Tree, one of the Gentlemen presented; but the Object moving, he took down his Piece, and, as he confidently thinks, half cocked it. Whilst they were walking about the Tree, in order again to discover the Game, the Gun of the Gentleman, who had presented, being in his Hand, accidentally went off, and Captain Reading..... unhappily received the Charge in his Right arm,

The Pennsylvania Gazette
May 23, 1771
We hear from Chesterfield, in New Jersey, that on Tuesday, the 14th Instant, was suddenly summoned hence, in the 18th Year of his Age, by the accidental Discharge of a Gun (which it was supposed went off at Half Cock, by a Person attempting to remove it from the Place it stood in) Mr. EDWARD PAGE, jun. only Son of Mr. EDWARD PAGE, of that Place.

Spence

 

[Flint311]

Kinda like "treat every gun as if it were loaded" comes to mind...... because it can go off at 1/2 cock.

 

[cas]

Off topic.. but near topic;

Many years ago I was up "in camp" with a friend and we'd been shooting muzzle loaders that afternoon. He was having some issue with his rifle and had it all apart. I was sitting in a chair and I asked him to hand it to me. He asked what part I wanted and I replied "everything”¦ lock stock and barrel." he just kind of stopped dead in his tracks and you could see a giant lightbulb go off in his head. He replied "Oh my god."
A revelation. lol