Traditional Muzzleloading Association
Traditional Firearms => Flintlock Long Guns => Topic started by: Feltwad on January 24, 2013, 01:52:36 PM
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Just aquired an interesting flintlock sporting rifle ,it is a 69 caibre with 9 grooves and a 42inch iron barrel .The gun is full stocked in walnut with brass furniture and dates about 1760 or early, the unusal thing about this gun is it is a breech loader of the La Chaumettes system of the 18th and 17th century which was the forerunner of the famous Ferguson breech loading rifle .I have enclosed some images which may interest some members.
Feltwad
A Flint Lock will not sercure a chicken house door
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Nice Feltwad! Funny the idea didn't impress the armies around at that time. Way faster and safer to load under enemy fire.
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More images
Feltwad
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A wonderful piece to come upon feltwad!
I would definately date this gun later than the time frame you give due to the lock, lock panels and trigger guard.
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Seems like a good idea, if'n you don't drop the plug somewhere you can't find it. Ferguson's spinner guard is a great idea. And something I'd like to build----someday....Tom
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Except for the bore, that looks to be in wonderful condition for it's age. Has it been restored in any way?
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Does that hole go all the way through the sight/plug,.... and is it a combination "peep" sight of some sort?
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Except for the bore, that looks to be in wonderful condition for it's age. Has it been restored in any way?
and is it a combination "peep" sight of some sort?
I would say the stock has been restored because there is signs of worm ,but this must have been many decades ago, the gun came from a collector which had been in his collection for over 30 years and was in the same condition has it is now.
For the sight yes it is both an open v sight and peep sight.
Feltwad
A Flint Lock will not secure a chicken house door
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That sure is asome. I had no idea they made anything like that so erly on.
Thanks for shairring with us.
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Wonderful piece. Thanks for sharing.
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It's pretty nice to look at, too...
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nice felt wad . not sure how i would like the rear sight being a plug . but it sure seems that it would work .
now the question . is the hole in the plug for a lanyard to attach to so that the plug doesnt get lost OR is it an early peep sight ?
also lloks as if the butt has had a major repair dont to it at one time or another . can you tell how that was done . is it glued or is it screwed in place from under the buttplate ?
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nice felt wad . not sure how i would like the rear sight being a plug . but it sure seems that it would work .
now the question . is the hole in the plug for a lanyard to attach to so that the plug doesnt get lost OR is it an early peep sight ?
also lloks as if the butt has had a major repair dont to it at one time or another . can you tell how that was done . is it glued or is it screwed in place from under the buttplate ?
That's what I was wondering too,... the hole seems kind'a low for it to be used as a proper "peep." IMO
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nice felt wad . not sure how i would like the rear sight being a plug . but it sure seems that it would work .
now the question . is the hole in the plug for a lanyard to attach to so that the plug doesnt get lost OR is it an early peep sight ?
also lloks as if the butt has had a major repair dont to it at one time or another . can you tell how that was done . is it glued or is it screwed in place from under the buttplate ?
Captchee
Yes the sight is an early peep sight which lines up exactly with the front sight when shouldered .The stock has some time in the past been restored because of worm, I have not had the butt plate off but for the length of the stock restoration I would say it is screwed glued or dowled will take it off and see.Researching this rifle it seems that this principle of breech loading flintlocks along with other types was pretty common on sporting rifles up till 1810
Feltwad
A Flint Lock will not secure a chicken house door
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How is this rifle loaded. If the powder is dropped aft of the loading hole and the ball dropped in on top it doesn't appear that there is much resistance to hold the ball in place. If the the powder is dropped aft of the loading hole and the ball goes forward it looks like the chamber is really large or it uses a very large powder charge.
Just curious.
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Enclosed are the following instuction on loading of this rifle.
Unscrew the plug sight.
Pour in the required charge of powder.
Hold the muzzle up too settle the powder.
Drop in a naked ball.
Allow the ball to roll back onto the powder
Screw in the plug
Small charges are only required
The ball should be larger than the bore to shoot strong.
Feltwad
A Flint Lock will not secure a chicken house door
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Thanks. I assume then that the diameter of the bore at the base of the plug is smaller than the diameter of the breach area.
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Thanks. I assume then that the diameter of the bore at the base of the plug is smaller than the diameter of the breach area.
Thats correct, with a naked ball it would then enter the lands of the rifleing when fired
Feltwad
A Flint Lock will not secure a chicken house door