What is this?

[Brasilikilt]

Hey all

I found this in an online auction, and figured I'd post the pics here for discussion

Does anyone have an idea how it works?
The auction says that it's an experimental lock conversion for a Tower musket.

Thanks for any insight

Iain

 

[paulvallandigham]

Seeing the pivot pin under the device makes it clear that this is someone's idea of a " safety " for a cap and ball gun. That arm comes up and over a drun and nipple arrangement mounted in the barrel, and blocks the hammer from hitting the percussion cap unless it is pushed forward, pivoting it out of the way. This is really a " Hammer Stall ".

 

[wulf]

You got my vote.

 

[Bountyhunter]

Similar lock on this 1801 Prussian Cavalry Carbine. Notice how the capped nipple is protected.

 

[Stophel]

"Pistonschuetz". A cap/nipple protector/safety. Allows you to carry the gun capped, but hammer down. VERY commonly seen on 19th century German arms. Often done on flint to percussion conversions, replacing the frizzen and using the existing frizzen spring (as on the above carbine).

 

[eelclam]

This week I picked up an old book on early percussion firearms and it is full of odd locks in the transition between flint and percussion. Some were both flint and percussion so if the user ran out of caps he could switch back to flint others had small rods that held percussion pellet bits or little tube magazines for the pellets. The last photo posted Der Fett shows the pan and frizzen spring intact an indication that with a hammer and frizzen change it would be a flint ready rifle.The book does show a tower lock conversion.
The book is by Winant Lewis "Early Percussion Firearms". A History of Early Percussion Firearms Ignition - From Forsyth to Winchester .44/40

Bob

 

[Stophel]

I have that little book somewhere... I got it once by accident. The dealer was supposed to have sent me a different book.