Patch box?

[user 49399]

Do any of ya’ll actually put anything in your gun’s patch box. I never have.

Just wondering.

 

[ord sgt]

My patchboxes are for show. Nope, nuffin under the cover.

 

[tenngun]

Cleaning tow and worm

 

[Larry (Omaha)]

Do any of ya’ll actually put anything in your gun’s patch box. I never have.

Just wondering.

On my flintlocks I like to have a hole drilled inside the patch box for a touch hole pick to be inserted. I don't like it just laying inside loose. Comes in handy for me to grab if needed.
Larry

 

[Notchy Bob]

I have an old M1841 "Mississippi" Rifle, all original and in pretty good shape. There is a threaded hole in the wood within the recess of the patchbox, up near the hinge of the patchbox cover, that has an original spare nipple screwed into it. That was smart... A good place to keep a very small but necessary part, where it wouldn't get lost. It is my understanding that all of the original Mississippi rifles were outfitted with a spare nipple that way, and the "patchbox" was actually more of a "toolbox." The standard issue combination tool, which had a nipple wrench and two screwdriver blades, and a worm or "wiper," and possibly a ball puller, were all intended to be kept in the box. I would assume they would be stored in there with a hank of tow, which would keep the tools from rattling around and would also be used for wiping the rifle's bore.

Granville Stuart reported a neighbor of his, in Iowa in the 1840's, had a half-stocked flintlock rifle with a silver patchbox. It was used for keeping a couple of spare flints and a greased rag, which was used for wiping down the gun.

We have an old Tennessee rifle in the family that has an iron "banana" patchbox. It appears to have remnants of dried-out tallow in the corners of the recess.

I don't own a shootable rifle with a full-sized patchbox at this time. If I did, and the lid was good and secure, I would probably keep a worm, a couple of extra flints, a extra pick wire, maybe a jag and ball puller, and some tow or cleaning patches in it. Small items that are used for maintenance but might be hard to keep track of. This would reduce clutter in the shot pouch.

I do have a couple of percussion rifles that have the smaller receptacles that are more properly termed "cap boxes." These, in my opinion, are too small to be good for much and are pretty worthless for anything but decoration, in my humble opinion. I guess these would be a good place to keep a spare nipple, though, screwed in place as on the Mississippi rifle. I suppose one could also keep caps in them.

It seems to me that a full-sized patchbox requires a considerable investment of labor to install, so they must have been intended for some practical purpose. However, what actually goes into the "patchbox" was, and still is, up to the rifle's owner.

Best regards,

Notchy Bob

 

[TreeMan]

It’s a good place to stash your Wacky Tobaccy!

 

[Tumbledown]

Yes, patches.

 

[user 49399]

The spare nipple is a good idea. The patch box on my Thompson Center Hawken is too small to hold much so I never used it. My other long guns don’t have one.

 

[dave951]

While they may have been intended historically for some type of storage of spares, etc, I don't put anything in one on my rifles that are so equipped. That's not to say I wouldn't ever, I just don't see a need currently.

 

[Brokennock]

More of the "tools to make the rifle run" box for me, not so much on patches. Ball puller, patch worm and cleaning jag with a few cleaning patches or tow worm and enough tow for a cleaning, screw driver, a spare flint, and if there is room left a small bit of rag for cleaning things up and to keep stuff in the box from rattling.

This saves room in the shot pouch. With stuff for that particular rifle in the box of that rifle, all the bag needs is patching and balls, a small container of lube, and a cow's knee.

 

[Ames]

Flints and precut flint leather. Just in case.

 

[Treestalker]

My Zouave rifle has a spare cone screwed into the corner of the box, and I keep some patch material and spare winged musket caps in foil. Also a British silver half crown with Her Majesty's image on the front.

 

[Boatncamp]

Always keep a patch worm and ball puller in my T/C Hawken patch box

 

[PathfinderNC]

Patches in one, a jag and ball screw in another…. just whatever really.

 

[JCKelly]

The two old percussion rifles in my family had some lubricating grease in patchbox, probably 1890's usage.

 

[EC121]

About all I put in there is a paper with the load for that rifle and maybe a jag and a rattle stopping patch or two for the rod. It is much easier to carry stuff in the pouch.

 

[Cruzatte]

Do any of ya’ll actually put anything in your gun’s patch box. I never have.

Just wondering.

Yes. I keep a spare flint or two in my rifle's patchbox.

 

[tenngun]

The spare nipple is a good idea. The patch box on my Thompson Center Hawken is too small to hold much so I never used it. My other long guns don’t have one.

The patch box on TC and such guns was often called a cap box in that size.

 

[Gordoncourtney]

I like big ones so I make em that’s way on my flintlocks , you cannot get much in my percussion cape rifle round one. And can hardly call the butt plate on 577 martini one

 

[sheriff john]

Spare nipple, pre-cut patches.