black powder lesson - The Firearms Forum

fedupdon · 07-21-2008, 05:06 PM

was given a black powder rifle made sometime in the late 1700s or early 1800 the gun had hung over the fireplace for years when I received it the kids had been putting caps on the nipple and using it as a cap gun after removeing the nipple and replacing it with a cva nipple I found that gun had a old charge in it along with a letter saying the gun was put up in 1876 as a wall hanger it was luck the kids never got enough spark to set the old charge off the gun was rehung with no thought of ever firing it again

mrkirker · 07-22-2008, 10:12 AM

Be it of Black Powder or Smokeless Propellant, it's always best to assume that any firearm is loaded; old or new, known or unknown. If you are going to use it as a 'wall-hanger' you might want to consider disabling it, in a permanent fashion.

If black powder hasn't been compromised by moisture, it will remain 'live' for years and years. One of our regional CW collecters was killed recently when a piece of CW ordinance exploded as he was preparing it for mounting in a display.

TranterUK · 07-22-2008, 12:09 PM

If anyone has an old flint or perc gun hanging on a wall a quick check can be made by running a cleaning rod down the barrel, check how far it goes, then lay it alongside and see where it reaches too. If it wont go to the breech there may be something inside!

07-21-2008, 05:06 PM	#1
fedupdon V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 307	black powder lesson was given a black powder rifle made sometime in the late 1700s or early 1800 the gun had hung over the fireplace for years when I received it the kids had been putting caps on the nipple and using it as a cap gun after removeing the nipple and replacing it with a cva nipple I found that gun had a old charge in it along with a letter saying the gun was put up in 1876 as a wall hanger it was luck the kids never got enough spark to set the old charge off the gun was rehung with no thought of ever firing it again -->

07-22-2008, 10:12 AM	#2
mrkirker Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 3,067	Re: black powder lesson Be it of Black Powder or Smokeless Propellant, it's always best to assume that any firearm is loaded; old or new, known or unknown. If you are going to use it as a 'wall-hanger' you might want to consider disabling it, in a permanent fashion. If black powder hasn't been compromised by moisture, it will remain 'live' for years and years. One of our regional CW collecters was killed recently when a piece of CW ordinance exploded as he was preparing it for mounting in a display.

07-22-2008, 12:09 PM	#3
TranterUK Advanced Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Cambridge UK Posts: 5,103	Re: black powder lesson If anyone has an old flint or perc gun hanging on a wall a quick check can be made by running a cleaning rod down the barrel, check how far it goes, then lay it alongside and see where it reaches too. If it wont go to the breech there may be something inside! __________________ DVC - Diligentia, Vis, Celeritas - Accuracy, Power, Speed. The light at the end of the recession tunnel IS a train coming the other way!