How long can you keep a flintlock loaded?

[Feltwad]

I always think to leave a gun loaded after a days shooting is dangerous and stupid it is asking for trouble it is only a few minutes to un load and reload when needed.
Feltwad

 

[TNGhost]

1 No matter what brand or style, from pistol to cannon, a muzzleloader can be left loaded and expected to perform when called upon for decades to come.

2. Treat every gun you encounter as loaded until otherwise verified. (if you expect some one to not know or ignore that, mark it in some fashion as being loaded)

3. There is nothing quite so useless as an unloaded gun.

 

[Howard Pippin]

1 No matter what brand or style, from pistol to cannon, a muzzleloader can be left loaded and expected to perform when called upon for decades to come.

2. Treat every gun you encounter as loaded until otherwise verified. (if you expect some one to not know or ignore that, mark it in some fashion as being loaded)

3. There is nothing quite so useless as an unloaded gun.

True, and I have a shotgun on standby, hopefully concealed from small curious eyes, with a loaded magazine, BUT THERE IS NO SHELL IN THE BARREL. A loaded gun takes on different meanings than a gun that can be used quickly. There's not much different, to me, of a loaded muzzleloader or a cartridge gun with a shell in the barrel. Flintlocks have been known to shoot with just a spark into an unprimed pan, so is not impossible to happen. To each his own, and as someone who has grandkids around at times, a loaded gun takes on a more realistic possibility. Now the grandkids are about grown, but the great ones are showing up. I know from my own experience, when I was 10 years old, I dearly loved to check out my dad's guns whenever I got a chance, and kids still haven't changed that much.
Squint

 

[TNGhost]

Sticking a quill, toothpick or other "plug" in the touchhole of a flinter can easily remedy that problem, and quickly be removed when needed. For an additional level of safety a small piece of red tape with the word "Loaded" printed on it can be attached.

It will also help insure the integrity of the load.