Leather Hammer Stalls

[roundball]

Leather Hammer Stalls...It seems that Hammer Stalls are pretty standard among re-enactors.
Whether or not you might be a re-enactor, do you use a Hammer Stall other than for re-enacting?

Yes, At the range
Yes, While hunting
Yes, Both at the range and while hunting
No, Neither at the range nor hunting

 

[Mike Brooks]

They are silly.

 

[Greenjoytj]

I worry that the leather will impart its oil onto the face of the frizzen and edge of the flint.
Oil on these parts may cause a failure to produce a proper spark.

 

[Tony Logan]

I made some and only tried them on for fit. they are kinda cute I guess, like little frizzen mittens or a little frizzen hat. I just had some little scraps of brain tan and thats about all I could make with them. I never used them. I did ask about them on the forum and gots lots of feedback.
I dont know about the concern of the leather getting oil on the frizzen. my brain tan leather stalls arent oily at all, but my frizzen gets a coat of oil every time I clean my gun. No problems yet. no rust either.

 

[roundball]

I worry that the leather will impart its oil onto the face of the frizzen and edge of the flint.
Oil on these parts may cause a failure to produce a proper spark.

Not sure if you oiled the leather that it would prevent a spark...but I've never put any oil on any in all the years I've used them...they're just dry leather

 

[MSW]

i only use mine at the range, and i don't store the rifle with the stall in place.

by the way, that's a really nice looking rifle in the photo.

 

[tg]

I am alone when target shooting so I do not use the stall but always lay the gun with the barrel in a safe diretion and put a feather in the vent hole, I only use a very light coat of oil to protect the pan and fizzen after cleaning and remove this with dry patching and may be a bit of alcho. and this prevents and oil from going from stall to frizen, one could use several stalls also, keeping one for hunting only, to be used once all is made oil free, with some testing and fiddlin' around one can find what seems the best method for each individual and their gun/guns.As with many things finding the comfort level is a big part of any of the many little and large parts of the hoby, a lack of confidence in whatever one is doing can lead to major problems.

 

[BEP]

I use them. As I see it they're another safety feature. And, in my opinion, there is no such thing as too safe.

I don't preach to others about it but Roundball asked.

 

[Firelock937]

I never even heard of them until I started reenacting. Now I use them almost all the time. They are so simple and easy to use, I have come to think of them as I do a safety on a modern firearm.

 

[lakota]

I had to pull a stuck ball at the range last week and I found it comforting to have that leather covering the frizzen while I was doing it.

 

[RC]

Sitting on a deer watch...with hammer back..fully...seems deer can hear a click..but don't hear the stall come off....an yes i know...pull the hammer back while pullin the trigger,,....this works fer me...AND stall WILL stop a gun from firing....I've heard,,,,,,,,,, :wink:

 

[roundball]

I had to pull a stuck ball at the range last week and I found it comforting to have that leather covering the frizzen while I was doing it.

That's more risk than I'm willing to take even with a Hammer Stall...if I ever have to pull a ball I open the frizzen completely, brush out all the prime, and stick a piece of duct tape across the vent

 

[ApprenticeBuilder]

They are silly.

:thumbsup:

 

[scott taylor]

Been thinking about building or buying one. I tend to leave a gun loaded until a worthy target presents its self. Be good to have one on it while it lays around the house.

Scott

 

[410-er]

I started hunting from the stand like this also.Hammer at full with the stall on.Very quiet and seems safe.

 

[Rhett Griffith]

I have nothing against them, but I don't own one and have never really felt the need for one. :idunno:

 

[paulvallandigham]

I've always used my hammer stalls on my flintlocks. They are a Safety that simply can't be defeated, without conscious movement.

On a stand, sitting or standing, I carry the gun with the cock on the half cock notch, or lowered so that the flint bites into the stall. When I need to cock the gun, I put one side of the gun against my stomach, and my other hand over the lock, as I release the sear from the trigger, by holding the cock with my thumb, and pulling the trigger back. I hold the trigger back and cock the hammer back, release the trigger, and lower the hammer into the full cock notch.

NO NOISE What-so-ever.

My fore hand wrapped around the lock does more to conceal the small movement of my thumb and trigger finger than to muffle any sounds, but it will do that, too.

I have done this with friends standing as close as 6 feet away, and while I could "hear"?( more likely "feel" the click vibration up the bones of my fingers, hands, arms, etc.) the slight click of the sear coming back over the half cock notch, They could not hear it at all, not even when I asked them to listen for it.

I have had my friends do this same test, with me listening for the click, and I could not hear it either. So, its not a case where everyone I know has worse hearing than I do. :rotf: :surrender: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

 

[LRB]

They are silly.

:thumbsup:

Me too. :thumbsup:

 

[Matt PA]

For what my flintlock hunting crew sees and does every year hunting in the late flintlock season here in PA leather stalls are anything but silly......they are all but necessary.
Its after christmas in the Mountains of North central PA and ice and snow are almost guaranteed. It's steep, slippery and covered in head high thick laurel.

Falls are routine while pushing deer, laurel grabs EVERYTHING as you force your way around, into or through it, fingers get numb and we have up to 15-20 guys in proximity.
We many times find ourselves 7 or 8 deep single file up steep snow covered hillsides......

They might be "silly" for some people and controlled conditions,(and I don't use them in certain shooting situations either) that's not for me to judge.......but I can assure you they are very real safety equipment for our crew.

 

They are silly.

:thumbsup:

Me too. :thumbsup:

It's good to hear what the experts have to say. This is information we can all use. :haha:

I never use them because I think they are unnecessary. Just one more modern gadget.