Gun show musket cap find

[kh54]

Hey friends. I picked these up at a local gun show today. I had no idea that Eley was in business so recently. I had no hesitation buying these and I assume there’s nothing wrong with them. Any thoughts? (3 full tins)

 

[TreeMan]

Those are no where near recent production but they will work if they’ve been stored correctly. I’d guess those are at least 40-50 years old. I have some of those I got from an estate but mine had not been stored well and aren’t reliable to fire.

 

[kh54]

I just tried one from each tin. Perfect ignition. I hope the other 747 will work as well.

The Eley ‘tin’ is plastic. I like the Navy Arms tin. The third one just has a scrap of label on the side, white with red lettering but I can’t make out the letters.

 

[Whitworth]

Gold is where you find it

 

[appalichian hunter]

They look like they should be fine, nice snatch.

 

[JackP]

I got lucky yesterday, I found 3 tins of CCI musket caps new in a gun store. $11.00 per tin. Yea, I'm a Hog, I bought them all

 

[Notchy Bob]

Good for you, @kh54 !

I put an old but un-used nipple on a new rifle not long ago, and found when I got to the range the cone was sized for #12 caps! Fortunately, I had a tin of them with my kit, from a batch bought in 1968. They did what they were supposed to do. No misfires, and very positive ignition. I see no harm in trying a few of those caps, but I would absolutely save the tins.

I was surprised to read that the Eley caps were in a plastic container. I thought Eley went under long before plastics became all the rage. The container is a keeper, regardless.

Best regards,

Notchy Bob

 

[kh54]

I just spoke to a friend and BP dealer today. He's an old-timer (well, a few years older than me) who told me he knows of folks in the past using original, Civil War era caps and even powder! I don't think I could bring myself to do it. Isn't there more collectible value in stuff that old?

 

[kh54]

I was surprised to read that the Eley caps were in a plastic container. I thought Eley went under long before plastics became all the rage. The container is a keeper, regardless.

Too bad it won't fit/isn't appropriate for the presentation case for my 1849 pocket Colt.

 

[desi23]

Good for you, @kh54 !

I put an old but un-used nipple on a new rifle not long ago, and found when I got to the range the cone was sized for #12 caps! Fortunately, I had a tin of them with my kit, from a batch bought in 1968. They did what they were supposed to do. No misfires, and very positive ignition. I see no harm in trying a few of those caps, but I would absolutely save the tins.

I was surprised to read that the Eley caps were in a plastic container. I thought Eley went under long before plastics became all the rage. The container is a keeper, regardless.

Best regards,

Notchy Bob

Eley is still around, far better known for their superb 22 cartridge ammo nowadays. I would suspect the plastic "tin" is from the 60's or 70's. I still have one old "tin" like that which was repurposed into round ball stowage years ago. It dates from the 70's iirc.

I enjoyed your mention of #12 caps. I have an old Dayton Ohio marked rifle that uses #12 caps. I've only shot it a few times, tend to use my newer guns much more than the old timers. I was lucky enough to get a tin of caps with the gun and later found some more at a gun show. Not a common size at all nowadays.