Top touchhole

[tom in nc]

I see pics, unfortunatley none clear & closeup, of some matchlock guns with no priming cup & touchholes on the side of the barrel, but located on top of the barrel. My question is... How should the touchhole be made? Simply a tapered hole to contain a priming charge? No cover? Thanks.

 

[Sam squanch]

It read here I think, that some handgonnes had the priming powder mixed with a gum like substance to congeal it so it could be pressed into a cone shaped touchhole and stay put. My own handgonne has a cone shaped hole for priming. I sometimes use the very historical (not) method of keeping the priming in place with …… scotch tape! The match burns through it, but it may delay the boom.

 

[Flint62Smoothie]

No need to overthink it. A large diameter 90-degree countersink, like used to install White Lightning touch hole liners, would do it. Note - use a 90, not an 82, which is the standard size C'Sink.

I can take pictures of the THs on my Tannenberg hand gonne circa late 1300s and an early 1400s Hakenbucshe, if those would help you! Let me know ...

 

[wiscoaster]

....

I can take pictures of the THs on my Tannenberg hand gonne circa late 1300s and an early 1400s Hakenbucshe, if those would help you! Let me know ...

Please do!!

 

[TobJohn]

The rifle shop hackenbusche has a hole straight down and a counter sink.

 

[Flint62Smoothie]

See? Simple c’sink @ touch hole. My hackbutt is the same, here’s the Tannenberg hand gonne.

 

[rickystl]

The rifle shop hackenbusche has a hole straight down and a counter sink.
View attachment 278345

Hi Flint

Is the bore straight cylinder bore ? No funny business at the breech LOL ? How far does the bore go behind the vent hole ? Thanks.

Rick

 

[TobJohn]

Hi Flint

Is the bore straight cylinder bore ? No funny business at the breech LOL ? How far does the bore go behind the vent hole ? Thanks.

Rick

Do you mean mine or Dale’s brass handgonne?

I need to double check mine when I’m back in Virginia, but I am 90% sure it ends only a bit behind the touch hole and the rest is machined decoration to look like an original.

When cleaning it during building, I remember the bore being even the entire way down, without a sub powder chamber. It was a year ago now, so I could be misremembering

 

[rickystl]

Do you mean mine or Dale’s brass handgonne?

I need to double check mine when I’m back in Virginia, but I am 90% sure it ends only a bit behind the touch hole and the rest is machined decoration to look like an original.

When cleaning it during building, I remember the bore being even the entire way down, without a sub powder chamber. It was a year ago now, so I could be misremembering

Wooops. I should have been more clear. I meant Your's, Tob. When you re-check the bore, let me know about how far the end of the breech goes behind the vent hole. Did the barrel come already vented ? I'm thinking of using this barrel in a project. Thanks.

Rick

 

[TobJohn]

Wooops. I should have been more clear. I meant Your's, Tob. When you re-check the bore, let me know about how far the end of the breech goes behind the vent hole. Did the barrel come already vented ? I'm thinking of using this barrel in a project. Thanks.

Rick

Will do. It was already drilled and ready to go.

 

[russellshaffer]

I cheat and stick in a short fuse before loading.

 

[sgtsquid]

On my Tannenberg gonne I just drilled it straight and opened it up at the top with a tapered punch. That seemed to be more close to the original.

 

[Pukka Bundook]

I think you replied to another thread here, JK....?

 

[TobJohn]

See? Simple c’sink @ touch hole. My hackbutt is the same, here’s the Tannenberg hand gonne.

View attachment 278379

what tool did you use to make those double arrows?

 

[cyten]

I think you replied to another thread here, JK....?

he's done that in multiple threads here

 

[Flint62Smoothie]

what tool did you use to make those double arrows?

Wood burning tool with custom-filed brass tip, from brass 8-32 machine bolt.

 

[TobJohn]

Hi Flint

Is the bore straight cylinder bore ? No funny business at the breech LOL ? How far does the bore go behind the vent hole ? Thanks.

Rick

I am back in the commonwealth and took a look at my handgonne.

The barrel depth is a hair under 7 inches and the vent hole is up against the very back of it. I was also able to confirm that the bore is a straight cylinder.

 

[tom in nc]

The one partially shown in post #5?

 

[TobJohn]

The one partially shown in post #5?

Yep

 

[Pukka Bundook]

What calibre is that one Flint?