Poachers Of The Georgian Period Beware

[Feltwad]

Enclosed is a image of a restored trip wire gun which became illegal to use in 1824 which maybe of interest to some members .Used by the large English estates to deter poaching also used in grave yards against grave robbers .
Feltwad

 

[Britsmoothy]

I also understand they were used against vermin Feltwad.

 

[FishDFly]

Oh, if it could only talk.

 

[Dale Lilly]

I also understand they were used against vermin Feltwad.

Two and four legged

 

[SDSmlf]

Definitely more deterring than the motion activated lights we use today, although there is a descendent of this item available today that uses blanks for $30USD. Can not imagine the liability there could potentially be if you used one.

 

[jdw276]

Enclosed is a image of a restored trip wire gun which became illegal to use in 1824 which maybe of interest to some members .Used by the large English estates to deter poaching also used in grave yards against grave robbers .
Feltwad
View attachment 114476

Scared me. I am from georgia here in the states. I was like uh oh......

 

[Robby]

Well, that certainly is an interesting piece of history, insidious, but very interesting none the less.
Robby

 

[Feltwad]

Records show that these guns were set on footpaths or tracks through a woodland gateways etc these were private estates and trespassing was not allowed They were set at a height of mostly 3 foot from the ground with three wires set at different angles the gun would swing to the position from which it was pulled and discharging the gun . They were not meant to kill a trespasser but to main the person with many dying later from gangrene no doubt some would has lost their manhood .The same practise applied to grave yards to deter grave robbers .they were gruesome things and many innocent people were maimed making them become illegal to use in 1824 but the steel jaws man trap was still allowed which was just has bad .
Feltwad

 

[FishDFly]

If someone survived they were sure to tell their friends, not a good place to be.

 

[3Setters]

They were not meant to kill a trespasser but to main the person with many dying later from gangrene no doubt some would has lost their manhood .

Would have been great to have for my X's boytoy sneaking in the house.

 

[jackpine54]

Poor Fred, he took a short cut through the neighbors woods and lost his manhood.

Very interesting piece.

 

[Britsmoothy]

Knowing my luck, just setting it up I would probably blow my own azz off

 

[leadhoarder]

That would be just the thing to deter porch pirates.

 

[rrebuck]

I went to the fithops.com site after seeing the earlier image and found these. SO, have any of you tried using these as priming caps on percussion guns? They're selling 3 packs of these for $5 and they're plastic, so they may stretch and hold onto percussion nipples better. I'm curious to hear any results.

 

[user 48702]

They must have had better luck with those in keeping the pan powder dry during humid or inclimate weather. I can't see the effectiveness for more than a day after being set. A trespasser hears "Klatch" and knew it was his lucky day.

 

[rafterob]

Back in the 70's i used the plastic caps on a derringer I had. They worked fine. I tried again about 10 years ago and could not get them to ignite my rifle.

 

[Britsmoothy]

Back in the 70's i used the plastic caps on a derringer I had. They worked fine. I tried again about 10 years ago and could not get them to ignite my rifle.

Don't they have a paper disc in the cap that is best removed??

 

[cynthialee]

View attachment 114630
I went to the fithops.com site after seeing the earlier image and found these. SO, have any of you tried using these as priming caps on percussion guns? They're selling 3 packs of these for $5 and they're plastic, so they may stretch and hold onto percussion nipples better. I'm curious to hear any results.

Yes, I have and I have found that if you add a small pinch of fine powder into the nipple you will get about 90% ignition.
They are too small for a standard nipple so you got to work them on and stretch the plastic without tearing it.

 

[Widows Son]

View attachment 114630
I went to the fithops.com site after seeing the earlier image and found these. SO, have any of you tried using these as priming caps on percussion guns? They're selling 3 packs of these for $5 and they're plastic, so they may stretch and hold onto percussion nipples better. I'm curious to hear any results.

Yes they will work but they need a little extra priming powder held in with hairspray. Better than nothing but just so

 

[GBG]

Knowing my luck, just setting it up I would probably blow my own azz off

Or I'd forget about setting it up, and then blunder into the trip wires myself.

First time I've seen one of these unusual pieces of history. There's always something new and interesting to learn about on TMF.