More interesting conversions from flint

[Wes/Tex]

In the lines of the conversion Ricky showed of a converted pistol with a nipple installed into a frizzen base, here's a couple more to consider.
https://scontent-a-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/t1.0-9/1978606_10201471583647232_1903056793_n.jpg

This is probably an 1820's, possibly early 1830's, conversion with separate hammers and frizzens with installed nipples to convert to that new percussion system everybody's talking about!

This is a pistol made by pal Dennis Heckathorn using a scrap brass barrel turned by one of his G.I. buddies in Vietnam and then filed swamped octagon by Dennis and made into a flint conversion to percussion like originals.
https://scontent-b-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/t1.0-9/1450190_10201471368601856_1896356107_n.jpg

Another closer view of Dennis's flint-to-percussion conversion copy...phew! Hard to say!!
https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd...-9/10013622_10201471367361825_702382782_n.jpg

 

[Wes/Tex]

Claude and other moderators, only realized this may be in the wrong section. Though pertaining to conversions to percussion from earlier flint set-ups, these illustrate an original double smoothbore and a modern pistol reproduction. Please feel free to move this to the most appropriate section...this oops is on me! :thumbsup:

 

[cynthialee]

That is so cool!

Would have been allot cheaper than some of the other flint to percussion upgrades that were done.

 

[Wes/Tex]

Also found out from Dennis this evening he mounted a brass sheet in the pan to deflect the cap sparks toward the existing touch hole. Rather an interesting idea to improve reliability.

 

[Ken Cormier]

WOW those are way cool

 

[galamb]

That is so cool!

It is so cool. And think, if someone else hadn't come up with a different design that became the "way to do it" ALL our caplock's today may have used this ignition system.

 

[nwtradegun]

I have seen several trade guns with the pistol type conversions. only they had drums and the pan and parts milled off. they were frontier guns done in the early percussion period when they first came out.

 

[coloradoclyde]

Makes me want to order an extra frizzen. :thumbsup: :bow:

 

[Tumblernotch]

Get a load of this. Talk about lazy!

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2nd Model Virginia Manufactory Musket, early CW, Confederate.

 

[coloradoclyde]

Get a load of this. Talk about lazy!

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2nd Model Virginia Manufactory Musket, early CW, Confederate.

I actually like this idea just change the hammer and it's a flintlock again. easy way to go back and forth.

 

[Tumblernotch]

You would have to remove the nipple and plug the hole. It's hard to see, but that's a Belgian conversion.

 

[M. De Land]

I bet once the user saw the advantage of cap locks in wet weather they never went back to flint.
Still be nice to have the option in case caps were hard to come by.
People who lived in this time period had little time apart from keeping body and soul together to pursue historical re-enactment which is pretty much a modern notion. Mike D.

 

[coloradoclyde]

I must be missing something, it looks like the hammer is bent around the frizzen and the nipple is screwed in behind the frizzen. don't undestand why you would have to remove the nipple.

 

[pargent]

The SxS is done very similar to how Manton converted his Duelers , to allow quick and easy reconversion back to flint .

 

[Tumblernotch]

Well, it's like this. If you put a flint clock back on it and shoot it with flint, you're going to have hot gas blowing out of the nipple towards your eye. I forgot to mention that you would also have to drill out the touch hole first because the guy that altered this musket would have plugged it first thing. Now if a feller was to make a plug that would thread into either hole and seal good and had a touch hole liner and a cock handy, he could do a pretty quick changeover.

 

[pargent]

In the Manton way the touch hole liner is left in place, the dummy cock(frizzen) is a zero tolerance fit against the liner's outer face .

 

[Odentheviking]

I just picked up a book, "The Southern Arsenal", that has a picture of a Harpers Ferry Mdl 1816 that is converted this same way! Wonder if this was being done by a local Smith?
About 15 years back i bought a lot from the estate of a gunsmith. There was a lot of parts and pieces for conversion muskets/rifles. In this lot there was two musket nipples that were finished and hardened but had no touch hole drilled. I use them when teaching in the schools,(this way I can show the teacher there is no way for this musket to fire!), but i wonder if this was their real purpose????

 

[Tumblernotch]

You may have something there. It's also possible that they were unfinished nipples. I wish I could come across some musket parts like that.

I sent you a PM.

 

[Wes/Tex]

Keep in mind that these were mostly done during the time Virginia was trying to decide if it wanted to succeed or not. In fact, Virginia didn't commit to the Confederate States until after Lincoln issued the proclamation for 75,000 troops to suppress the rebellion by force. All the time this was going back and forth, the armories were trying to arm the state regiments any way they could. To convert a musket to percussion without having to remove all the original flint gear would certainly save on time...just about the prime consideration at the time!

 

[Odentheviking]

Keep in mind that these were mostly done during the time Virginia was trying to decide if it wanted to succeed or not. In fact, Virginia didn't commit to the Confederate States until after Lincoln issued the proclamation for 75,000 troops to suppress the rebellion by force. All the time this was going back and forth, the armories were trying to arm the state regiments any way they could. To convert a musket to percussion without having to remove all the original flint gear would certainly save on time...just about the prime consideration at the time!

Very True Sir and a good point!
In Cromwell's (sp) book ref. "Va. Manf. of Arms" he talks about this and how because the fight came first to Virginia many other state troops/volunteers were issued weapons from the Virginian armories. Many of these arms were Va. Mfg. Muskets still in the flintlock configuration.