Silly idea or stroke of genius?

[vradin]

So.... I'm cleaning up some old wood turnings in the 'get back to them later" bin and come across a few partially finished bottle stoppers turned from cherry. Seems the stem dried too small for the bottle stopper insert to fit, about .475-.490. The thought struck that these would fit in the muzzle to keep the bugs out during storage, and also work as no-load indicator at camp where I have a 3 or 4 being cycled for shooting at a session.

The questions are- besides not being period anything, will plugging the barrel with wood and a lubed patch hurt anything? These are all CVA percs- and hammer is down on a folded lubed patch. I guess I'm worried about trapped moisture or other damage.

Then- what about a loaded indicator? No patch, but when empty drop the "plug" into the muzzle. No plug means no load. I can attach the plug sorta like the old cork guns from my misspent youth.

What say the experts? If it's a good idea I can make up a bunch for gifts for next summer's volunteers at the range too. If not, there's always the firepit to hide my woodworking mistakes.

vic

 

[musketman]

The questions are- besides not being period anything, will plugging the barrel with wood and a lubed patch hurt anything?

They are very much PC, they're called "Tompions", they go back as far as the Revolutionary War, maybe even further...

The purpose of the tompions were two fold, first to keep the barrel clean and free of dust and grit...

Secondly to help identify your muzzleloader in a hurry in a stack/rack of guns, tompions were made to order in an array of styles... It was easier for a minuteman to locate his gun by the tompion than it was to look for his serial number on the stock...

Tompions

 

[roundball]

When I first learned about Tompions it was related to the Civil War, didn't know they went back to the Rev War too.
Seems like the article left me with the impression that they were used to plug a loaded barrel, with references to large numbers of them being shot downrange...anybody know for sure?

 

[vradin]

The questions are- besides not being period anything, will plugging the barrel with wood and a lubed patch hurt anything?

They are very much PC, they're called "Tompions", they go back as far as the Revolutionary War, maybe even further...

Wow- thanks for the lesson and links :master: I haven't read all of the history but will soon. I guess I re-invented the wheel again.

Now a follow up... I have a bunch of these in various woods and shapes, any interest from the mods for prizes for the postal shoots or other competitions? BTW- the ones I have are all just under .50 I can make them to fit larger or smaller bores too.

vic

 

[musketman]

Now a follow up... I have a bunch of these in various woods and shapes, any interest from the mods for prizes for the postal shoots or other competitions? BTW- the ones I have are all just under .50 I can make them to fit larger or smaller bores too.

vic

PM Claude about your idea for prises...

 

[vradin]

Providing the photo links work- Here's a few that are heading to our esteemed host :master: as prizes or give-aways or what-so-evers.

note that these are for .50 cal, and seem to work best with a dry patch to snug it into place.

vic

 

[vradin]

Maybe this time the photo links will work- Here's a few that are heading to our esteemed host :master: as prizes or give-aways or what-so-evers.

These are for .50 cal, and still seem to work best with a dry patch to snug it into place.

vic

 

[kentucky bucky]

Don't feel bad about re-inventing tompions. I re-invented the bullet bag when I was a kid starting out in muzzleloading. A friend of mine was wearing a poncho one time and said that "It would be better if I could sow up the area below my arms and cut out the excess" I said, "congratulations, you just invented the COAT!".