SxS shotgun needs nipples

[Mousegunguy]

I have an English burmingham proofed shot gun (I believe it’s pre 1855) that has no nipples.
Seems like a dumb question but how would I find ones that are properly fitted?
Thanks

 

[William Lincoln]

First, are they threaded? If so, you will need a smith there , with experience in vintage
fowlers to measure and give their size-thread measure etc. A Smith can describe the
height and length of the nipple as well. This is a situation where measurements come
in and you need to bring it in to an experienced gunsmith. Once you know what you
need exactly, then you can search for it --or have it made. It also would be helpful
to know the Maker of the piece.

 

[Mousegunguy]

Yes they are threaded.
The gun came with nipples that obviously did not fit correctly.
The treads on the receiver look unbuggered.
The only markings I can find are ‘Clarke’ on the lock and two Birmingham proofs on the underside of the barrel.

 

[ZUG]

Take a small diameter wooden stick/dowel and dip it into melted wax to form a wax layer on the stick/dowel. Then insert it into the nipple hole and press it up against the wall of the hole to get an impression of the threads. Then lay it on a white piece of paper so you can clearly see the thread pattern. Lay a scale alongside of the thread pattern and count the thread points corresponding with the scale (use a metric/English scale for this). This should give you a very good idea of what threads are in the nipple hole. Good luck.

 

[ohio ramrod]

A simple way to check the size of female threads is to go to your local hardware store and buy one of each size screw of what they have that look similar and try each one until you get a match. Small screws usually sell for 15 to 20 cents each so for a dollar you can get a match.Mamy small hardware stores will let you take your barrel in and try the screws without having to buy more than the one that fits.

 

[Feltwad]

The standard thread for a UK made shotgun nipples are 1/4 BSF or 9/32 BSF
Feltwad

 

[megasupermagnum]

As Feltwad said, all the sources I found showed they were made with a few now obsolete thread pitches. I forget the exact years, but my SXS had proof marks for something like 1855 to 1868. Mine was threaded the now standard 1/4-28 when I bought it. It is very possible, and likely someone later on tapped mine to that.

As stated, I'd take the barrels to a hardware store bolt section. If you can't find a thread that matches, I'd look into tapping it to something modern myself. Track of the wolf offers 1/4-28 oversize taps and nipples up to .025" over. Depending on the condition of the threads, I might go straight for 5/16-24.

 

[Feltwad]

5/16 BSF is a UK musket size cap for the Enfield and such for a shotgun are too big .If a 1/4 BSF is too slack go for a 9/32 BSF .
Feltwad

 

[megasupermagnum]

5/16 BSF is a UK musket size cap for the Enfield and such for a shotgun are too big .If a 1/4 BSF is too slack go for a 9/32 BSF .
Feltwad

Where would you presume we find nipples with BSF thread? Has it even existed in the last 50 years? My only experience with it was on a very old BSA motorcycle, and after a couple days of calling around and asking, I finally found what I needed in a used bin he had laying around.

 

[Feltwad]

Here in the UK we have no trouble in finding nipples in BSF , if we do I just buy a tap and die set . Try Peter Dyson he does have a website and I am sure he will sell nipples that you require but they maybe pricy
Feltwad